Chapter 48:
Closure
The lobby of the hazbin hotel was filled with pained yelps and huffs as the high seraphim laid on one of the sofas, all the while Lucifer was currently taking care of the giant gash in her stomach.
"You really gotta stop making this a habit, sis" the king of hell chuckled as he was currently busy stitching up Sera's wounds, who just hissed painfully through gritted teeth "Just…s-shut up and stitch me up…." While Emily had her hands glowing with angelic magic, hovering over the wound, helping the king as she tried to dull the pain for her sister.
All over the lobby, sinners, angels, hellborn demons and others were licking their wounds and patching each other up as the battle was won with as little bloodshed as possible as Lute observed the scene, leaning against a nearby pillar, arms crossed and a content smile on her face…..they made it….everyone made it…
"It still hasn't set in for you yet, hasn't it?" She heard behind her as Vaggie approached, slightly limping, held up by Charlie, Angel Dust following them suit.
Lute would cock up one eyebrow "What do you mean?"
Charlie would smile as she gestured to just above Lute's head, to the golden, glowing halo currently hovering above the former lieutenant's head.
"You did it…..you re-earned your place in heaven…..you were willing to sacrifice yourself to protect the hotel…."
Lute looked up at the glowing ring above her scalp as she ran a finger over it, it felt comforting and warm "I suppose so…..i mean, I know they're there….but it's like reality hasn't set in yet….it feels like a dream…"
Getting up from her spot, she flexed her back muscles as, with a flash of golden light, she summoned her new wings, flexing them as she felt the delight of using muscles she thought she'd never get to use again, the weight of the new limbs on her back feeling like the embrace of an old friend to her.
"You look good, Horns" Angel smiled, to which Lute chuckled "Have I changed that much?" as she walked to a nearby mirror and took a glance.
When she fell, her face hadn't changed much, only her eyes, the sclera of her eyes having been turned a nearly black, dark grey and her irises a sickly, greenish yellow…..but now….her eyes looked…..like they had before…..sclera colored white and her irises a warm, golden yellow….sure her pupils were still slits, but her eyes always did have a cat like quality to them…..it was strange to see her eyes looking normal again after so long.
When she smiled tho, she noticed her canine teeth were still fanged, causing a chuckle "I guess there's some demonic features I'll never fully get rid off…." As she ran a hand over her now golden horns, tho as she did, she would glance down, noticing her feet were still hooved…..and her smile turned into a solemn frown "I guess…..they will be permanent reminders of my past…."
Angel Dust would put an arm around her ""Eh I wouldn't say that, sis" to which Charlie added "Yea, I believe they are a symbol of your growth, you reached rock bottom and came out stronger and wiser"
As Lute gave this some thought, her smile once again returned as she grabbed Angel, Charlie and Vaggie into a tight hug "Thanks guys….for never giving up on me…I mean it…."
Tho once she let go, she'd suddenly be grabbed from behind into yet another hug.
Startled at first, she'd soften as she noticed the arms that grabbed onto her belonged to the former first man as she sighed and chuckled "…hi Adam" tho she'd be cut off by her former general yelping "Don't you even dare ever scaring me like that again, you crazy bitch!" his voice wavering slightly, and as Lute turned around to look at him, his face was a mix of several strong emotions, but most of all, relief.
"Hey, it's gonna take more than a gargantuan sea serpent demon to get rid of this old bitch" she smirked as she pointed confidently to herself with her thumb, giving the first man a cocky smirk.
Adam just chuckled, tho still highly emotional as he grabbed his 1 friend into another tight hug "I fucking love ya, dangertits" to which Lute gave him an awkward look, which Adam immediately followed by "Hey, I mean in a platonic way, you're my fucking bestie" as he let go and began to fidget with his hands "I just….wanted to say…thank you….for pushing me to be better….i….never thought I'd ever be here in this hotel, but here we are" catching Lute by surprise.
"I don't know….seeing you surviving….no….THRIVING….it made me wana try, ya know…" as he pulled something from behind his back "i….i wanted you to have this…."
The former lieutenant's eyes went wide as she accepted Adam's gift "Adam….your guitar….are you sure?"
Adam just smiled "Yea….you can have it, see it as a thank you for….well….everything…." as suddenly, a set of all too familiar long, blade like fingers draped themselves over Adam's shoulder, causing him to tense up and Lute to roll her eyes "What do you want, Ink?"
The tall spider demoness just gave one of her skin crawling chuckles "Oh don't be like that, little angel, didn't you miss me?" as she hooked one of her bladed fingers under the former exorcist's chin, tho Lute did not waver, causing Ink to release an annoyed growl and pull back her hand before regaining her composure.
"Let's just say, when I first went after Adam's soul…..i wanted to put a misogynistic pig of a manchild in his place….." as she then looked down at the sinner in question, tho this time, there was no malice in her voice, nor her gaze "But…..i'll be honest….i don't see him anymore…." As she approached Charlie "Your highness, I want to make a deal with you"
This put Charlie on edge as Vaggie switched into protective girlfriend mode right away, throwing herself in between the murderous overlord and her partner, brandishing her spear "If you want her soul, you'll have to go through me first"
Ink would blink a few times, before giving a condescending laugh "YOHOHOHOhoho, oh darling….not for her soul….an arrangement" as she casually shoved the angel aside.
"Princess, I want to change the arrangements of Adam's contract, including you into the deal" which caused the princess to raise her brow in surprise as Ink continued.
"I've watched Adam grow from a pig of a man into someone who wants to try…..so here is what I'm proposing" as she tapped her fingers together "You let me have free reign to wander in and out of the hotel, so that I can observe his progress, and possibly find some entertainment in his fuck-ups, and as a counter offer, the moment he becomes eligible for redemption, my ownership of his soul will become void, allowing him to ascend" as she extended her hand "Do we have a deal?"
Everyone looked at the spider overlord with wide eyes as Charlie mumbled "You…..you're serious, aren't you?"
The tall demoness laughed "YOHOHOhoho, oh darling, why wouldn't I be?" as she wiggled her hand for emphasis "So? Do we have a deal or not?"
Charlie squinted her eyes as she pointed a stern index finger at the tall demoness "No loopholes, no "fine print", and you are not to harm the other guests, be it physically or mentally"
"Hmph, I wouldn't dream of it. Honestly, your highness, who do you take me for?" Ink scoffed in an overly acted, dramatic way.
Exchanging a glance with Vaggie, neither could find any lies in the words of the "baroness of blood"
Considering her options, Charlie took a deep breath as she took the tall black-widow demon's hand as black energy mingled with her own fiery red one as the bargain was struck, all the while Ink did not break eye contact as she used her other hand to scratch a X into the skin of one of her collarbone "As agreed, Adam shall be allowed to ascend, and none of your guests are to be harmed….cross my heart…" and as they let go, Ink creepily hooked one of her bladed fingers under Charlie's chin as she leaned closer, whispering to her in an eerie way "And I am nothing if not a woman of my word…."
After this, she stood back up to her full 8ft height, cocked one hip to the side, placed one of her hands on said hip as she spoke "Now then….i shall be on my way" as she gave one last creepy smirk and sauntered off…
Shivering, Charlie whispered to herself and her girlfriend "Uhg….i'll never get used to her…" to which Vaggie answered "Yea….you can say that again, babe….creepy bitch…."
As soon as the uncomfortable conversation was over, Adam would begin to cheer as he and Lute decided to celebrate with shots, allowing Charlie and Vaggie to catch up with Sera, who, by now, had her injuries fully stitched up as she was sighing in relieve "Hey Sera, good to see you're alright"
The high seraphim gave a chuckle "Well, alright is a big word, but I'll live" before her face took on a more serious expression "I do not wish to intrude, but perhaps, may I borrow a moment of your time to talk about that "Ink" woman, daughter of the Morningstar?"
Sighing, the princess corrected her with a smile "Sera, for the last time, it's just Charlie" to which Sera responded "Yes, of course…my apologies…old habit" before Charlie spoke "But….what is it you wanted to talk about?"
Taking a deep breath, Sera spoke up "Are you aware that there are 2 souls co-existing within that body?"
At this, Charlie's eyes went wide as Vaggie spoke "Wait, you're saying there's 2 people in there?"
"Yes I am" Sera spoke as she continued "And one of them has a stronger connection with the body then the other one….and it's NOT Ink….". Charlie squinted her eyes "Are you saying that…." To which Sera cut her off "That Ink is not the original host? Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying"
Charlie and Vaggie exchanged a wide eyed glance after which Sera spoke up "I believe it was only fair for you to know, I felt it was my duty to inform you" as she was slowly helped up by several sinners "But I believe it is time for me to return to heaven" as she gestured to Emily "Emily, I'm still weakened by my injuries, would you be a dear please?"
Emily perked up as she flew to her sister's aid "Of course Sera, I'll make a portal" tho she'd glance over her shoulder at Lute "Do you have one minute?"
Following her sister's gaze, she'd smile "Of course, take all the time you need". Quickly flying towards her partner, Emily happily piped up "So….now that you've re-earned your divinity…are you…..ready to go back home?"
Lute's eyes widened at this statement as she looked between her partner, then Sera, then Charlie and Vaggie, the 2 of them giving her a proud smile "You've worked so hard for this, Lute…." Charlie spoke, as Vaggie added "You've earned it…..go….you can go home…."
She would approach her ex-girlfriend turned friend "But….Vaggie, how about you? Don't you want to go back to heaven?...to go back home?"
The former exorcist chuckled as she swung an arm around her girlfriend, giving Charlie a peck on the cheek "Nah….i already am home….i'm exactly where I need to be" as she gave Lute a wink.
The 3 of them exchanged one last hug as Lute approached Emily, gently taking her hand into her own and looking into her eyes with a warm smile "Yea….i think I'm ready babe….let's go home…."
And as the portal opened, and the 3 of them stepped through, they were send off my the entirety of the hotel, waving and smiling, tho not before Lute heard Angel Dust yelp out "Oh Horns, before I forget….tell Molly I said hi…ok?"
Smiling at her found family, Lute spoke one last time "I will….big brother…" as the portal closed…..
Author's note: Slowly trying to wrap up loos ends and character archs, yes the story is slowly comming to a close but there's still a bit to go before it trully ends.
And as some of ya have probably noticed, i might have sneaked in a hint to a possible "Anarchy demon part 3" but i'm still debating where to go with that and if i'll be able to to.
With "a lesson in humility" i had a rough concept of where i wanted to go and what kinda story i wanted to tell but with this next possible story, i only have a rough idea.
BUT what i DO know is that i want to explore Ink as a character more.
She actually has a backstory which i never touched upon and i want to explore her past and why and how she became the way she is,
not to mention that i have been toying with the idea of a few spin-offs, as well as some "One-shots" about the dayly lives of these characters.
But that'll all come eventually, and i'd love to hear people's thoughts on these ideas.
But for now, hope you enjoyed this chapter.