The Devil. It's a concept that sparks endless interpretations, each one more intriguing than the last. Some see the ruler of Inferno as a beast with higher intelligence, while others envision a figure of unparalleled allure, serving as the ultimate manipulator. Some favor a more abstract approach, viewing the Devil as a unique manifestation in its own right.

Truthfully, the Almighty Ones and their children didn't have a set form by default. They could appear however they wanted to at any given time. Yet, the Devil remained rather consistent. There were a few changes throughout eternity, but the general idea remained the same.

The Devil, known as Lucifer, appeared as a bipedal creature. To compare him to a human would be a mistake. His body, while sharing some similarities in shape and limb count, was distinctly different. Even the most oblivious soul in Creation could discern the Devil's uniqueness after a few moments of observation.

The Devil's body was devoid of any familiar features such as wrinkles, asymmetrical markings, or textures. Whether you gazed upon him or dared to touch a part of his body, you would find that the King of Hell was unnaturally smooth. It was as if you were not touching him at all. But beyond this unusual 'skin', there was the head.

No ears, nose, nostrils, eyelashes, or something that imitated the structure of a skull. The head possessed a round shape, but that wasn't definitive. Much like the body, the head could contort and change depending on the Devil's wants, emotions, and so on. Yet, it wasn't completely featureless.

A headful of combed-back blonde hair was on top of Lucifer's head. A few centuries ago, he added several strands of gray to give himself a more mature and wiser visage. Expectedly, that only worked on anyone who wasn't in his family since they knew what the Devil was like regularly. Still, his kin did think it suited him, which was a win in his book.

The Devil's eyes starkly contrasted the rest of his appearance as they were pitch black while his body was a bright snowy white. Unlike the eyes of mortals, there were no irises or pupils. That trait was present among all of his kin and extended to the Heavenborns and Hellspawns. Regarding transformed mortals, it depended on what form they were given following their deaths.

Lastly, we examine the Devil's most consistent build. He preferred to be tall but with a decent bit of mass in his upper body. It wasn't accurate to say that Lucifer was "jacked", but you wouldn't want to fight him, either. And no, not solely because he was a Deity.

Altogether, the Devil had a striking image yet was remarkably tame. Admittedly, that was due to Lucifer's more devious side. He enjoyed spontaneous outings across Hell where he'd deliberately make himself as mundane as possible. Then, when he cornered as many Sinners as he wanted, he'd turn into some indescribable amalgamation that you wouldn't find depicted anywhere, even in religious texts and images!

But more often than not, Lucifer could be found in his workshop. He loved coming up with new things to toss into any part of Inferno that he desired. Of course, out of respect for his siblings, he'd give them a notice whenever he did something drastic, such as experiment on the Sinners. While appreciated, it's not as if the Sins minded. So long as their Brother didn't try that with any of the Hellspawns, which he would never do, they had no feelings about it.

With this year's Exorcism drawing near, Lucifer busied himself with ideas on what to do with the aftermath. The Devil was a big advocate of letting nothing go to waste. He always came up with a fun new repurposing of the Sinners' remains. Well, it was fun for himself, his Wife, his Daughter, the Sins, and the Hellspawns. To the Sinners, it was always ghastly.

The workshop was a mess, but that was nothing new. However, it hadn't reached its normal state of disarray just yet. The clutter was caused by many sketches, schematics, and other such drawings being strewn about the space. Currently, the Devil was busy brainstorming.

"Do I feed them to each other?..." Lucifer pondered aloud, idly taping a pen against one of the workshop's tables. "Hmm, no. I need to think of something that'll affect everyone. The Cannibals in Gluttony would consider that a gift..." He murmured.

The tapping carried on for another minute or two. Eventually, it stopped when the Devil's face glowed with excitement.

"The undead! That's what I'll do!" Lucifer exclaimed with an ear-to-ear grin. "Sins of the past! Ghosts from your former life! If the Sinners have rotting recreations of their friends, family, and enemies walking about, they're sure to-"

FWOOSH

Suddenly, a spire of flame erupted several feet from the Devil. Immediately, within the roaring heat, a familiar silhouette manifested.

"Charlotte?" Lucifer questioned as his Daughter materialized. When she was fully there, the fire went away. The process took less than five seconds.

"Father," Charlotte formally greeted him, which was a warning sign that the Devil was all too familiar with.

"..." Lucifer casually leaned against the workstation behind him. Additionally, he folded his arms over his chest. "Did you even read it?" He asked.

"No, that's why I'm here," Charlotte answered, coming closer. "I wanted you to do it for me. If you can spend the time to write out a message and bother Alastor to deliver it, then you can do the same to speak it." She told him as she offered him the envelope.

"Charlotte, this is WHY I wrote a letter..." Lucifer sighed, briefly closing his eyes. "The last few decades have been needlessly awkward between us. Any time I try to approach you for conversation, it always becomes theatrical," He said.

"So says the clown," Charlotte remarked, wearing an unamused look on her face.

"Clown? Really?" Lucifer challenged before gesturing to himself. "Do you think a clown could dress this well? I think my vest and boots alone make me a lion tamer at the very least," He argued.

"Right there. That is the issue," Charlotte said, closing her eyes afterward as she breathed in deeply. "Unfortunately, I don't have the time to explore this any further. The others are waiting for me back at the hotel. Please, get on with it." She ordered, waving the envelope in front of him.

"How is Emily, by the way?" Lucifer inquired, hoping to keep the conversation going for just a tad longer.

Sadly, the Princess of Inferno had spoken her peace. With an extra waggle of the envelope, she asserted what the topic was.

"...Fine," Lucifer sighed again, taking the letter from her. Afterward, he sharpened the end of his index finger and slit the envelope open. Once the paper was retrieved, it was unfolded and read aloud.

"Dear Charlotte, I've written this message for you as I felt you'd be too busy getting everything going to have a quick chat with me. I just wanted to let you know about a few things I've done to help make the start of this venture you've gone on much smoother for you. Don't feel as though you need to respond through Alastor. I know you'll appreciate it.

Firstly, I've decided to appoint Alastor as an additional set of hands for you to rely on. We've already told him about the hotel, so it's not like we're spoiling anything. Besides, Alastor's experience both in life and death makes him perfect to have around. Plus, if you ever need to contact anyone quickly, his abilities will make that as simple as can be.

Secondly, I've gone ahead and told the rest of our family about what you're doing. I assumed you hadn't informed them yet since you were so busy with the hotel's construction and other related matters. Like with this letter, I sent Alastor to tell your Aunts and Uncles about the project before the Overlords gathered for their usual meeting. Amazingly, each of them seemed so stricken with surprise that they barely gave any reaction at the time. They all told me that they needed to go, and that was it. I'm sure you'll be hearing from everyone soon enough. Oh, and I haven't contacted your Aunts and Uncles in Paradise yet. They're busy alongside the High Angels with preparations for the Exorcism. If you'd like, you can handle that yourself! They'd be thrilled to hear from you!

Lastly, I've been bouncing around some ideas for marketing with your Mother. Obviously, any promotional materials would be made for the Sinner populations. I know you want to succeed with that spider boy first, but even if you do, which is NOT certain, those morons might assume it's some large-scale torture chamber masquerading as a hotel. So, we need to control the image ASAP. I was considering contacting a newswoman here in Pride who has just as much renown as Alastor. We could set up an interview! But before we do that or anything else, you need to tell me your thoughts about it all. Your Mother was INSISTENT that I not make any moves without your notice.

Your loving Dad, Lucifer."

When the Devil was finished, he moved his gaze from the page to his Daughter. He was met by a vacant expression that possessed no emotion.

"Charlotte?" Lucifer called, confused by this reaction. "What's going on? Did I not word something properly?" He assumed.

"...You...told...everyone..." Charlotte whispered.

"Were you listening?" Lucifer questioned. "I specifically told Alastor and our family about it. I haven't said anything to the larger populace yet." He corrected.

"Yes...and that's the start..." Charlie replied, eyes getting wider. "Our relatives are going to tell people that are close to them. Then, they're going to tell others on purpose or by accident, such as the Overlords. That's assuming that you didn't tell Alastor to go ahead and share this information with them OR one of my Aunts or Uncles did it instead. Regardless of which it is or if Alastor's played a part in it at all, anything that is shared is going to spread like a plague throughout Hell. By the start of tomorrow morning, everybody is going to know." She told him.

"Which is good!" Lucifer exclaimed, unsure of what the issue was. "Like I told you, we need to make the image what we want it to be. You know how stupid Sinners are. You can't view them all like Alastor or the other Overlords. They're simple-minded creatures who make the most outlandish assumptions and beliefs based on nothing but their imaginations. So, with their ignorance in mind, we-"

"WE?!" Charlotte roared, making her Father recoil slightly. "WHAT WE?! WHERE DID YOU GET WE FROM?! AT WHAT POINT DID I EVER SAY THAT THERE WAS A WE?!" She asked.

"..." Lucifer sighed for a third time as his shoulders slumped. "Charlotte, sweetie, I love you, but you can't handle this alone." He answered, putting his hands into his pockets. "Look at yourself right now. I've done nothing provocative, and yet you're already losing your composure. How long will it take for that Sinner you're helping to-"

"ANGEL DUST." Charlotte interrupted him.

"No, I'm not saying that. It's stupid." Lucifer responded. "Who names themselves that?" He questioned.

"IT WASN'T HIS CHOICE!" Charlotte shouted.

"..." Lucifer's face conveyed utter befuddlement. "Wait...didn't...you already free him of his contract?..." He inquired.

"Of course!" Charlotte replied, starting to calm down.

"...So...he CHOOSES to retain that name?..." Lucifer asked.

"Yes. It's a complicated issue, Father. Angel doesn't want to be referred to by his original name yet. Like with Angel Dust, it carries a lot of negative history. But his original name, for far greater reasons, is much harder to accept than the one he has now. He might've received it from someone who betrayed and abused him, but it's easier to go by that moniker as he views it as his mistake. Angel wants to wear the name proudly in the future as a way to humiliate that person. In short, he intends for his name and the identity associated with it to become something positive and empowering." Charlotte answered.

...

...

...

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Lucifer clicked his tongue while shaking his head. "See? This is what I'm talking about. Sinners are unbelievably idiotic. That Sinner is creating more work for himself than there needs to be. Just make a new identity. Come to think of it, isn't that what you're aiming to do? You're trying to get these mistakes to be reborn without us doing it for them. You're going above and beyond for the stains of Creation who refuse to better themselves or evolve into something greater like the Overlords. Whether on Earth or in Hell, the Sinners decide to remain in this purgatory-esque state of existence rather than do something about it. Honestly, I praise you for your patience, Charlotte. I could never imagine myself putting up with such inane company for any amount of time. I'd likely kill myself to make a swift escape." He told her, hoping that she'd appreciate the compliment at the end.

That did it. There was nothing left. The Princess's soul settled like a boiling kettle removed from the stove. The fiery anger, the steaming annoyance, the bubbling displeasure, it all went away.

"Charlotte?" Lucifer called like he did before, noticing how his Daughter seemed to reset.

Without saying a word, Charlotte turned around and departed. She could've exited in the same burst of fire that she arrived in, but she chose to walk back to the hotel. She needed the time that the journey would take to clear her mind.

"Hey! Charlotte!" Lucifer called again, more worried this time. "Say something!" He requested.

The Devil would be denied. Silently, he watched as his child left the workshop and entered the corridors of their castle. Lucifer thought to go after her but decided against it. Apart from the work he still sought to do before the Exorcism, he knew that there'd be another visitor before long. When that happened, the King of Inferno was likely to be reminded that Hell hath no fury.

A Short While Later, Near The Happy Hotel...

Unsurprisingly, the Royal Family of Hell was recognized wherever they went. That was most truthful in the Ring they knew as home, which was Pride. Furthermore, the Hellspawns of Pride were familiar with the Princess. When she was a girl, she happily ran, skipped, and played throughout her local environment.

With that established, you can imagine how shocking it was for any Hellspawn to see their Princess not smiling. The face-wide expression of joy was debatably her most well-known trait! Yet, if the Princess was ever in a worse mood than simply not smiling, that was a REAL stunner. Seeing the Princess down in the dumps was quite possibly the saddest thing in all of Inferno!

Alas, even though today was such an instance, no one could muster the courage to speak to the Princess as she walked through the capital. Her body language wasn't exaggerated in some way, such as hunching over or appearing cartoonishly depressed. The Princess just didn't look right. And, if you tried to feel her soul, you were hit with a calm but unsettling mixture of emotions that made you want to soak in a cold shower.

Overall, the Princess was experiencing a tough time, yet the Hellspawns of Pride didn't know why. Sure, they all heard about the growing tension between her and her Father, which wasn't new by any means. Still, she'd never been THIS bad. Did the Princess and the King fight? Was it not like their usual family disagreements or spats?

Due to the lack of courage, the Hellspawns could only speculate for now. No one attempted to whisper to anyone else until the Princess was back at her hotel, which was at the center of the city. The Happy Hotel, as it was named, hadn't been given a grand reveal or announcement. Everyone assumed that it would happen after the Exorcism, which was more important for now.

"..." Charlotte had her eyes closed as she approached the hotel. It's not as if she needed them to see. Really, they were just there to give others, mainly Sinners, something to look at during conversations. "Okay, in and out, in and out," She recited, doing her best to return to normal.

Charlotte didn't want to derail the remainder of the first day by bringing home dirty laundry. So, when she reached the front doors, she ensured that everything was stored in its dedicated mental compartment. Once that was accomplished, she grabbed the doors' handles and pulled them-

"AW, COME THE FUCK ON!" Angel Dust yelled at the top of his lungs as he threw a pillow at the floor. "IT'S BEEN CLOSE TO A CENTURY SINCE I DIED, AND YOU STILL SUCK?!" He questioned.

...Huh. Alright. Charlotte needed to assess the scene before she was noticed. Everyone, including Alastor, was gathered in the main sitting area of the lobby. Emily and Viola were on a couch beside each other, while Alastor and Angel Dust were on the couch opposite them. Alastor's mouth was open, and a radio broadcast was being received. Before Charlotte could deduce what it was, the answer revealed itself.

WHACK

"HOLY SHIT!" Angel Dust shouted in surprise as his mood instantly changed in reaction to that sound.

"It's a straight line through left field, folks! The shortstop missed the chance to catch, and it looks like Peterson is going to reach second before the ball is thrown!" A voice not belonging to Alastor was providing commentary on a mortal sport known as baseball. Like his voice, this one was coming from his mouth.

"HELL YEAH!" Angel Dust cheered, throwing his arms into the air.

"That's good, right?" Emily asked. She and Viola had been given a quick rundown of this sport before Alastor started playing the broadcast. However, the women weren't sure they grasped everything yet.

"You bet your ass it is!" Angel Dust answered. Due to his excitement, he didn't realize how informal he was being with Emily, not that she minded at all. "If these lousy hitters can get another good swing in, then they'll be able to-"

At that moment, Angel Dust spotted someone standing at the entrance. When his eyes met hers, the conversation changed.

"Oh, Charlie, you're back," Angel Dust said, lowering his limbs. Upon hearing that, Emily and Viola turned their heads to look at the front doors.

"Hey, guys, sorry I took longer than I promised..." Charlotte sighed while stepping inside. "After I talked with my Dad, I wanted to go for a walk. It was a productive conversation, so I had a lot to think about." She informed them.

"Nah, I get it. Family stuff's always a lot," Angel Dust assured her, accompanied by a knowing nod from Emily. "Besides, we've had this beautiful bastard with us during your absence! This guy can get radio broadcasts from Earth!" He happily exclaimed, now pointing at Alastor. When he became the focus, he waved at Charlotte by wiggling his fingers.

"Yup! That's one of his many abilities," Charlotte said with a smile, coming over after she closed the doors. "Have you guys been listening to this ever since I left?" She inquired.

"Eh, we flipped around a bit, but I was quick to think of a baseball game. Luckily for me, the Chicago Clubbers were having a match!" Angel Dust replied, giddy as could be.

"Angel did his best to tell us about the game of baseball, but I think he left out some details." Emily chimed in. Viola nodded in agreement. "However, I can hardly blame him, he's so happy!" She added with a smile.

"Huh, I didn't know you were a fan of sports Ang-"

WHACK

"GAH!" Angel Dust yelped. Instantly, he fixated on the broadcast again. Just because Charlotte was home didn't mean that Alastor stopped receiving the transmission.

"Oh, that's not good. That ball's coming in at a perfect angle, making for an easy out. But Peterson's still gunning for home! The ball flies from centerfield! Peterson's ahead!...And he's safe!" The voice described.

"YES! HOLY SHIT!" Angel Dust hollered, pumping his fists. "HE DID IT! HE GOT HOME!" He carried on.

"Home? Did the player leave?" Emily questioned. The poor thing was so puzzled.

"Er, no," Angel Dust said, awkwardly smirking at her cluelessness. "Hey, Charlie, you know about sports, right? Can you help a spider out?" He requested.

"I know about the sports of Hell and Heaven, but I've only done light research on those from Earth," Charlotte told him as she sat down with Emily and Viola.

"Oh, great..." Angel Dust sighed. "Hey, Al, how about you?" He inquired, looking at the antlered Sinner.

In response, Alastor pointed to his mouth. The gesture was meant to ask whether or not he should turn off the broadcast so he could speak, which Angel Dust understood.

"NO! Do NOT do THAT!" Angel Dust quickly exclaimed, waving his arms wildly. "Look, I'll try to explain as the game goes on. It's the bottom of the third right now, so we've got plenty of time. Plus, it'll be easier to do between the innings and during the other guys' turn." He decided. "That is, if we can hear the rest of the game, Charlie," He added, not wanting to overstep.

"Of course, Angel. So long as everyone else is okay with that." Charlotte permitted.

"I'm more than okay with it! This is fascinating!" Emily said.

Viola gave a nod of approval only because Emily was on board. Alastor enjoyed playing any kind of broadcast, so he had no objections to offer. Thus, for the next few hours, this odd assortment of souls listened to a riveting game between the Chicago Clubbers and the Maryland Marigolds. All the while, the group engaged in pleasant conversation whenever Angel Dust wasn't screaming to get to know each other better. Of course, the more in-depth aspects of each person wouldn't be explored until the game was done.