Chapter Five: Rest and Release
Emily strode through the city, her eyes vacant of feeling. An angelic aura shone bright and strong, deterring any demon from standing in her path. Even the concrete beneath her footsteps split and cracked as the pissed seraph passed. Emily had no real direction or objective, just a desire to stay away from the one place she'd left home for.
Home. Only now Emily had began to consider how much that had been left behind so that she could help those that the angel understood very little. Believing Charlie to fully represent all of demonkind was a mistake, and though Emily had no intent to abandon the one who taken her in after leaving Heaven, it hurt seeing how hard it was too help her muse without any direction.
Lost in her own mind, Emily found herself not aware of her place in the city, until loud, pounding music pulled her attention to a nearby club that looked familiar. Emily was reminded of place that Angel and his friends had been hanging at when Heaven was evaluating redemption. Stepping inside, she saw demons on the dance-floor, at the bar, and lounging about.
Passing through, trying to avoid disturbing anyone and taking a stool in front of the open bar, Emily ordered a rum and cola. The bartender gave her a side glance, but passed the drink over in a gray tankard. A seraph's innate power meant no drug, bacteria, or narcotic could mess with Emily's senses. Downing a whole drink after another, nothing managed to give her a buzz, so Emily just sighed slipping further into her misery.
"Word of advise angel, take it easy on the drinks. Just cause you're not drunk, doesn't mean you'll not feel sick in the mourning." Twisting her head to see the speaker, Emily flinched seeing Clara Carmine from yesterday seating down next to her. She was not pointing a spear at Emily, granted. But Emily was wising up to how Hell worked, so she still scooted her stool an inch away for space.
"Don't worry, I'm off duty tonight. Mom's got a new load of cargo to sort through, so Odette's doing the heavy lifting." Clara waved her hand dismissively. This did a little to let her stool neighbor calm down, but not fully drop her guard. Finishing another drink, Clara ordered something called Beelzejuice. It was golden in color, and smelled strongly like Emily's favorite ice cream flavor, rocky road.
"Did Lucifer make that himself?"
"No that's a misconception. Beelzebub is the queen of hellhounds, and one hell of an actual party animal. Satan rules over all races of imps, and Lucifer is the fallen angel." Clara clarified.
"Huh, just another way to show how little I understand this place." Emily grunted ordering her own pints of Bee's juice. After getting the golden nectar down her throat, she could feel the barest touch of a buzz in her right hand.
"Aww, cant' fit in? It's like you're an angel in Hell or something." Clara said snidely.
"I'm trying to help people, a false god is going to destroy everything and everyone that I care about in Heaven and Hell, but all you sinners care about is slaughtering each other, instead of banding together against the actual threats!"
The whole club was silent. Even the DJ had shut the music off and every demon was staring at her.
"Make this a double." Clara told the barman, then sat Emily back down after shooting the crowd a glare to disperse the attention. She coaxed Emily into explaining in detail the truth about the seraphs and Yaldabaoth. Clara was quiet and attentive, only cutting in to ask clarifying questions. The beelzejuice helped gradually helped Emily relax and get on the level.
"Shit this needs to get to the other Overlords. Zestial vouched for you and his word carries with all of us except the Vees."
"But not the heirs, who can speak to the Sins, and unite the sinners and the hellborn." Emily griped woefully. Clara sighed and emptied her drink.
"Look Em, I'm going to repay the info with a little advise. Grow up. You can sigh, pout, and bitch to your heart's content. But nobody, and I men NOBODY in Hell is going to just up and put their lives on the line for anyone for themselves and whom they deem important."
"Even though the last extermination was canceled because Charlie and her friends teamed up with Rosie's faction? If Hell doesn't band together then the people that you claim to care about will all die, no question!" Emily insisted and Clara growled in frustration.
"You're not listening. The issue isn't that we all want to die, or we don't care enough to try and make alliances. The problem is that if the wrong people are in command, then we'll be stuck under the boot heel of those who could be even worse than 'Lesser Heaven'."
"All Charlie has ever done is fight for her people when they won't fight for themselves. I told Camilla that Pentious was sent to Heaven by Sabaoth, but that's still not good enough. What is it with Charlie that you all hate so much?" and to this Clara was quiet, then pulled out her wallet. She produced a photo of her family, smiling together.
"I seriously doubt that the sinners down here hate Charlie. We have the people we cherish, or they have nothing. Charlie's offer of redemption isn't substantial because the way she runs that hotel implies that my people, my family isn't good enough. That we need to conform to how Heaven insists how we should be instead of what makes us happy."
The two stared out one another without a word in between them, and Emily brushed the bangs from eyes.
"Fine, I'm sorry I got angry. Maybe the hotel doesn't yet have the best pitch, but is dying all together better than at least putting our differences aside to keep this realm alive?"
"We'll compromise, when the princess drops the idea of peace with Heaven, and works to support us and kill them. You're fallen right, so who's side are you on?" Clara shot back.
"Honestly, I don't know. I know there are innocents in Heaven, and that Hell doesn't deserve to be eradicated." Emily stood up, used the last of her pocket change to pay the tab, then flew out the club and into the night.
She passed over the pentagram, looking up to her old home in melancholy, still feeling lost but not willing to surrender to such a defeatist ideology of destroying everyone who saw things differently. The sinner's wanted to stop Heaven, the hellborn desired to stand over the sinners, and Heaven aimed to eliminate anyone that could potentially threaten their ability to rule over mortal souls without question.
It also didn't help that deep down, a small part of her felt that the naysayers may be right. Charlie's only chance of success wasn't redemption, but defeating her opposing rivals, but who were the one's holding the true power in Hell? The Overlords, the Sins, or the royal family?
Now seeing how divided and scattered everything was, it made Emily consider that there was little she could do to change the worlds around without nonstop fighting, and that killed her on the inside. The hotel came into sight, and when Emily landed on the roof, she hadn't expected Vaggie to bust though the doors to the stairs and charge at Emily.
Tired, upset, and not in the mood to fight, Emily unleashed a black of power to smack Vaggie down and waltzed right past her. Vaggie cried out her name but she was ignored as Emily slammed the door behind her. Instead of taking the elevator, the angel walked down ten flights of stairs in order to avoid talking to anyone, and hid in the shadows to make it to her room undisturbed.
Closing the door behind her, Emily cast her clothes off as the juice in her gut was beginning to churn and rumble incessantly. After forcefully expelling the unnecessary fluids in her body down the toilet, the still very naked angel flopped on her bed just as Charlie knocked the door open and ran over to Emily's bed before she could pull the covers up.
"EmilywherewereyouIwassoworriedIneverblamedOHFUCKI'MSORRYEXCUSEMEPLEASE!"
Charlie dashed back out of the room and shut the room. Too tired to give any shits whatsoever, Emily sighed, and rolled over to sleep the day off. Ten hours later, the less sick seraph kicked the covers off, jumped on the floor, slipping a tiny pair of shorts, and a black tank top tied in the back. Stepping out in the hallway, Emily heard voices in Charlie's room, the light inside shining though the cracks.
Deciding that this couldn't be put off any longer, she knocked on the door thrice and stepped back allowing the door to open revealing a very disgruntled Vaggie who's good eye narrowed at Emily. Charlie called for her girlfriend to allow Emily in, and she walked past Vaggie without a word.
"Sorry about yesterday, I'll admit that I shouldn't have avoided you guys. I just needed some time to process all the changes in my life that I hadn't thought through when I came to Hell"
"I understand. I've been thinking about what happened and I recognize that there's been this barrier between myself and my people. I've never truly made and effort to understand them because my mother always was able to rally the populace by her voice alone." Charlie rose from her bed and began pacing in her room.
"If we can get the angels in Lesser Heaven that will change their minds and fight with Hell against the Demiurge, but we need to do it direct and personally. Your idea of how to approach Baxter should be the basis of how we reach our patrons. Instead of forcing them together and making it happen, we can get to know each sinner for who they are and what it is that's keeping them from pushing forward."
Charlie's speech was at least a little rousing, Vaggie gave a small applause, but Emily still has another question.
"Let's say we manage to connect with every sinner on a personal level, and angels back home are willing to join the rebellion. What happens with when our forces are contested by the hellborn. You're technically one of them, do you believe your own kind will be able to ascend?" Emily's question gave Charlie pause, and her girlfriend heaved a heavy sigh.
"I think odds are the hellborn were spared because they can't access Lesser Heaven whatsoever. Technically Charlie is half-seraph, so Lucifer and his daughter should have a fighting chance. As for anyone born in Hell, there's just no clear answer." Vaggie explained, making Charlie sit back on her bed with a depressed look.
"I wanted to give sinners an opportunity to leave, and grant the hellborn full rule over hell after the Pride Circle was cleared out. I don't think Yaldobaoth will leave them alone, but we have no proof to convince them to help us. My dad hasn't had any luck with the sins, baring Uncle Oz and Aunt Bee, but Satan, Belphegor, and Leviathan aren't willing to cooperate. Mammon always sides with whatever will get him quick profit."
"So as long as the other heirs still have beef with Charlie, there's a chance the sins will either ignore the first wave of attack on Pride, or add their own assault on the opposite side, so it'll be a war on two fronts." Vaggie's voice was laden with dread. Hearing the bigger warrior between them speak with a fearful voice pushed Emily over the edge.
"Then we need to make them listen. If protecting these sinners is worth fighting for, then the hellborn need to accept what the Princess of Hell had decided. Their none compliance is putting our people in danger, so we need to find some way to get those sins to sit down, shut up, and follow orders. The ones about protecting people, of course." Emily clarified after her rant. Vaggie actually smiled at Emily for the first time since the meeting yesterday.
"I agree, but that means putting up a fight, and those sins are not going down easy. Also Oz and Bee don't really have the same level of power as Satan or Mammon." Charlie nodded at this.
"Right, also Beelzebub is pretty close to Satan and Bel personally. She may not fight us, but it would take a damn good argument to get her to help."
"Then shouldn't we address her first, make it clear her hellhounds will be in danger? If she still doesn't listen then," Vaggie was quickly cut off.
"I know, but I don't want to fight everyone. The Overlords, the Sins, angels, a false god. I want to help people, give them something better than nonstop violence. I just feel like we could become as bad as the Vees if we can't figure this out through talking!" Charlie loudly ventedand Vaggie reached her breaking point.
"Well I'm sorry that everything isn't perfect all the time Charlie. I'm sorry words can't convince everyone that you are willing to fight for them until you won't. Actions speak louder than words, and we need to act if Hell is going to be fully united. You've lived down here long enough to at least know that much."
Charlie was shocked into silence, and Emily slowly started to head for the door to leave the very uncomfortable atmosphere. As she reached the door, Charlie hiccup cut through Emily's resolve. Turning back to her friend, Emily walked over and leaned down to lift Charlie's face up by the chin.
"Listen Charlie, I see what you want and I respect it. I also heard what Bephoma said yesterday and I don't believe she has even the smallest ability to understand what's at stake. You swore to defend these sinners because the need you. If the Hellborn won't listen then make them listen. This is your kingdom, it's time to take charge." Emily declared looking into Charlie's golden eyes.
The princess didn't respond immediately, but Charlie did lower her gaze and nod slowly. Vaggie left her chair to sit next to next Charlie and lean her head on the taller girl's shoulder. Charlie remained quiet, until she took Vaggie's hand rose from the bed.
"You're right. I hate to admit it, but we have to get the sins and Overlords on our side, or out of the way. Only if they pose a direct threat to us." she insisted and Emily smiled in return.
"Of course. This isn't a dictatorship, just an incoming war." the seraph said, trying to sound positive. Vaggie shook her head with a light laugh, then glanced at her watch.
"I guess we should decide who deals with which sinner. Anyone want to take Angel?"
"I will, we're already friends, so I think I'll still make progress with him. Baxter doesn't seem so bad, but we don't really know him. Maybe the newbies should get aquainted?" Charlie suggested throwing a side wink at Emily.
"Are you sure about that? I wasn't much help with your old schoolmates."
"Ignore them, they were strait up assholes. You're kind, smart and easy to bet along with. I'm officially appointing you as the hotel's first hostess and redemption assistant. Besides Vaggie who's also my bodyguard."
"Eh, getting them to listen to orders doesn't really help with redemption. Better that business go to someone that has leaned to appreciate Hell." Vaggie chimed in giving Emily a pretty nod of approval.
"Then I won't disappoint. Give me two months and Sir Pentious will have another reptilian friend in Heaven." Emily stated proudly.
"Pretty sure Baxter an amphibian." Vaggie muttered but was drowned out by Charlie and Emily's enthusiasm. The seraph had found her enthusiasm again, and now Vaggie was having a hard time ignoring Emily's beautiful grin. How her eyes lit up when she was excited.
'Crap I don't need this, but it's nice to see her so happy.' Vaggie thought wistfully.
The three got fully dressed, cleaned, then headed downstairs together. Once they reached the main foyer, Emily was quickly bum rushed by the rest of the hotel staff that had missed her.
"Good thing you made it back safely. Thought some demon had got the drop on ya." Husk said polishing another glass.
"Hey I've still got my angelic power. Though it's weird that I've been fallen for two days but don't feel demonic." Emily ran a hand over her scalp, looking for horns.
"Well my dad chooses to add demonic features to his appearance to fit in and match my mom. Actually Vaggie you don't look that different from what I saw at the hearing." Charlie looked into Vaggie eyes, trying to spy any difference.
"Can't say I have any demonic energy or features after three years. I guess only mortal souls change after reaching Hell. Honestly a little grateful for that." Vaggie shrugged and Husk chuckled to himself.
"Sure you wouldn't want a demon eye to balance yourself out." he quipped, but shut up after a Vaggie glare.
"Might even get a descent set of tits out of it too." Angel joked sneaking behind Emily to order something at the bar. He looked rough, with small bruises lining his limbs, and his hair muffed up. Charlie immediately ran to get a first aid kit, then rushed back to start attending to Angel. He sighed but still allowed her to strip off his jacket, and apply alcohol and ointment to him.
Emily swallowed failing to not sneak a gander at his slender figure, then asked for some water from Husk. Her throat was still sore from expelling beelzejuice. He wasn't impressed with her choice of drink last night.
"What we're you trying to get jumped. That stuff can knock out hellhounds five times your size." he chastised.
"I drank three tankards and only got a little sick. I have no real good idea how much it would take to get my really drunk." Emily brushed off, but Charlie still bristled at this.
"Please promise you'll at least message me if you go off. I was worried sick."
"I promise, but don't worry. Barring your dad and the other sins, I doubt anyone else in Hell can hurt me."