Chapter 4:

Let the healing begin

"Alright everyone" A very chipper, excited Charlie spoke up as she stood before the fireplace, a group of sinners around her "Today's exercise is about forgiveness and letting go" she spoke as she let her eyes scan across all the faces staring at her.

On one of the sofas near her sat her partner, Vaggie, accompanied by 2 regular visitors, the social media overlord and former member of the Vee's, Velvette, and next to her, her adoring partner, the so called "Queen of anarchy", also known as the "overlord of kick-ass", Ashley.

As Charlie mentioned the exercise, Vaggie would get up and begin to hand out pencils and sheets of paper as the princess began to explain "What we're going to do today, I would like each of you to write down either one or a few things in your past that might have got you here that you regret OR something that happened back in your human lives that still bothers you to this day. Once you have some things, I would like to go around as each of you will take place here before the fireplace and read up some of these things, before symbolically throwing the list in the fire"

Listening intently, some of the sinners gave a confused look as what appeared to be a cannibal sinner woman raised her hand "and how would that work for us exactly"

Vaggie would smile as she spoke up next "It's been proven it can be a very healing thing, it allows you to metaphorically burn some bridges and help move on from the past" as she then gestured to the social media overlord "We have some volunteers here, Velvette and Ashley don't particularly desire redemption but they offered their support. Velvette, if you would be so kind to demonstrate?"

Smiling, the short fashionista got up as she joked "Sure thing, Feathers" as her and Vaggie would switch places, Vaggie now on the couch again and Velvette next to Charlie in front of the fireplace.

She would pull up her little list as she began to read up "One of the things I regret…..well….the self centered bitch I used to be….i'm not proud of how I used to treat people….but I vowed to do better….." as she turned around and tossed her list into the flames.

The small group of sinner demons gave some supportive claps as Charlie would put a hand on Velvette's shoulder "Wonderful demonstration Velvette" as the short overlord got back to her seat in-between her partner and Vaggie as Charlie turned to the small crowd "Alright, who wants to go first?" tho upon looking over the crowd of sinner demons, she would spot a shadow in the back, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed.

Upon realizing who it was, Charlie quickly darted in her direction as she eagerly bounced on the heels of her shoes "LUTE, so good to see you outside of your room"

The former lieutenant wanted to answer, but before she got a word out, the princess had grabbed her by her hand and began to drag her towards the rest of the crowd.

"Uhm, I d-don't think it's a good idea for me to be here…I don't want to make everyone uncomfortable" she tried to protest, tho this was quickly waved off by the excited princess "Oh nonsense, this exercise is for everyone, and as new resident of the hotel, that includes YOU too"

Upon being dragged into the small crowd, some of the sinners uncomfortably looked away, while others gave the former exorcist lieutenant a scowl or glare, causing the fallen angel to look away in shame as she tried again "R-really, c-charlie, I really don't think I should be here"

Plopping her down on the last, empty spot on the sofa, next to Vaggie, Velvette and Ashley, Charlie would answer "Lute, you are here because you feel remorse, right? Well, this is the perfect opportunity to show everyone that you're sorry and want to move on" as she gave the other guests a glare of her own "Shame on you all! Sure Lute has made mistakes, but we are ALL here because we want to change, to be better. This hotel is all about second chances and to provide help for those who reach out, and that includes Lute"

As the princess put her foot down, tho still in her adorable, pouty, VERY Charlie way, she would address the glaring sinners as if correcting naughty children.

She would once again turn to Lute "How about everyone else has a go first and you go last?" Charlie beamed at her, but as Lute tried to deflect her "I uhm….i don't know, I don't want to make the others uncomfortable, maybe it's best if I go back to my room and….."

Lute tried to object once again…..but she was instead met….with what could only be described as…"the nuclear option"….staring right into the princess's "puppydog eyes" as she pleaded "PLEEEEEEEAAAAAASE?"

Feeling as if her heart was pumped full of sugar extract, Lute would cave as she sighed "….F-fine…..i'll…..i'll sit it out…." Causing the princess to bounce up "YAAY!"

One by one, the sinners in the group would take turns taking place besides the princess as they would read up their respective list as they ceremoniously tossed them into the flames after, tho as this happened, Vaggie would lean into the fellow fallen angel as she whispered to her "Hey….i'm glad you decided to come" causing Lute to mumble "It was….either this or sulk in my room all day…."

However, the moment came where all other sinners had their turn and by now, everyone was looking at Lute with an expecting look.

Feeling all eyes on her, Lute wished she could just disappear then and there as she frantically looked in-between the small crowd and her own piece of paper, the list on it being quite extensive.

Feeling the many, judging eyes of the other sinners on her, Lute shrank away into the couch as she was slowly having more and more difficulty keeping her breathing under control, the only thing in her mind at this moment being her own, inner monologue "They…..are all looking at me….wanting me to fail…..and rightfully so…..i….i wanted to wipe them out once…..i….i don't deserve their patience….." as her mind began to spiral and the many, angry voices from her dream began blaring their way through her mind again.

"monster"

"murderer"

"Tyrant"

"BUTCHER"

"HYPOCRIT"

"You don't deserve redemption…you deserve to ROT"

"LUTE!" A loud voice next to her snapped her out of her spiral as she now became aware of Vaggie's hands firmly holding onto her wrists.

As Lute looked at her hands….she saw she was firmly clutching clumps of hair….white hair…HER hair…as well as her fingernails being covered in golden, angelic blood.

Following the trail she left, she was able to pinpoint the origin to her own upper arms.

In her panic, she had apparently tightly dug her nails into her own arms again, strong enough to break skin, before starting to pull at her hair.

Darting her eyes across the room, instead of the bitter glares from before, the sinners around her looked shocked.

Sighing in relief, Vaggie let go of Lute's wrists as she spoke "You back with us?" which received a subdued nod from the fellow fallen angel.

Her face plastered with worry, Charlie approached Lute "Oh my gosh, I didn't mean to push you, that was so inconsiderate of me, I'm so, so sorry"

"It's…..it's ok….Charlie…" Lute spoke "It's…..just something I have to….learn to deal with I suppose…."

Charlie would grab one of lute's hand apologetically "NO, it's NOT ok! I shouldn't have pushed you….if you're not ready yet, I understand"

Looking into the princess's large eyes, filled with concern, then at Vaggie, her brow furrowed in worry, Lute would take a few deep breaths as she repeated Angel Dust's words to herself "in through the nose…..out through the mouth….i'm here….i'm safe….." before looking up "No….i….i have to do this….." as she grabbed her list, took a deep breath and got up as she stood before the fireplace, facing the crowd.

"There's…..many things….i regret…..many people I've hurt…..and it took getting the shit kicked out of me by almost the entirety of pride to knock some sense into me….to make me see...that everything i was made to believe...was a big, fat lie..." As she began to list off some things from her list.

Unlike before, the small crowd of inners didn't avert their eyes, they didn't even glare, they just looked at her with a newfound respect….

"….in short…." Lute finished "….i've done allot of things I'm ….not proud of….but I want to do better….to BE better….if you all would give me a chance…." As she turned around and as per Charlie's instructions, tossed her list into the fire….

"From this day on….i promise….there's no more "Lieutenant Lute of the exorcist army", no more "Vendetta, member of the Vee's" and no more self-proclaimed "High executioner"…..today…I'm just Lute…."

And as she watched the paper begin to smolder and curl in on itself in the flame, a weird weight fell from her shoulders as she took a deep breath before Charlie would put a hand on her shoulder "You did well" she spoke as she smiled.

Shortly after the exercise, a small group of sinners stayed behind as they began to socialize amongst each other, tho as Lute passed by them, ready to head back to her room, one of them, the cannibal lady from before, would wave her down "Uhm, excuse me?"

Catching her by surprise, Lute turned to her as she began to fidget nervously with her hands "Uhm…c-can I help you?"

Another sinner, a cat like demon stepped forward "What you just did there…was pretty brave….i guess we were wrong about ya"

Lute blushed as she looked down "Thanks I suppose….i'm trying ….."

But just as the small group of sinners was inviting her to join them at the hotel's bar, a sound went off that immediately send Lute into high alert, her shoulders tensing and her eyes shooting wide open as she began to break out in a cold sweat.

Her phone….

With a trembling hand, she pulled out the device as she anxiously stared at the screen…..

"Vallentino…"

Knowing what would happen if she didn't, she begrudgingly picked up "H-hey….boss…." as she was met with a verbal onslaught loud enough to be heard by everyone surrounding her.

"No Val….of course not Val…..yes Val…of course Val….yes I'll be there in 30 minutes…" Lute answered as the rest was just about to make out the pimp overlord on the other line screaming "YOU BETTER, YOU UNGRATEFUL WHORE!"

To this, Lute swallow a lump in her throat as she answered "Of course Val….i'm coming" as he sneered back at her over the line "NOT OFF CAMERA, YOU'RE NOT" before hanging up.

The moment the pimp overlord hung up, Lute lowered her head as her shoulders slumped.

Vaggie looked wide eyed as Charlie stood there, a hand covering her mouth as by now, Angel Dust had also joined them in the room, having overheard the conversation "Holy shit…he didn't even treat ME like that…."

Taking a deep breath, they saw Lute straighten her back, cock one hip to the side and gaining a half lidded gaze in her eyes, which made Angel Dust's skin crawl….because he recognized this…..it was that same mask he had worn himself for all those years under Vallentino.

"I…..am needed in the studio…..i have to go" Lute spoke, and as she sauntered off, Angel mumbled to himself under his breath…

"Hang in there….."