Author note - Welcome back readers, so sorry for the wait. A quick shout out to the 38-48 followers/favorites, I am honored to get your support. Welcome to Taranodongirl1, Wolfpup59, and Slashxii, happy to have you along for the ride! Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 52: More than Anything
Charlie led the tour through one of the creepier hallways of the hotel, with Vaggie chiming in every so often as the two described the intricacies of the redemption program and the progress of the guests thus far to Lucifer while Alastor and Taylor brought up the rear of the group. While the trio walked up ahead, Taylor gave a sidelong glance toward Alastor. The deer demon put on an air of being calm and collected with a wide smile and easy gait, but they could spot the tells of his lingering irritation: the clenched jaw, the tight grip on his microphone, the slightest of furrows to his brow.
"Something the matter, chum?" He asked while keeping his gaze forward.
"Oh, nothing really." They replied casually. "I'm just trying to decide whether you're incredibly stupid or lucky after picking a fight with the King of Hell of all people. What's your beef with him? And don't tell me it's because he bruised your ego, you were on edge before he even arrived."
Alastor chuckled, his expression brightening as he turned to them.
"That is for me to know. But please, do guess, I'd love to know the theories!" He looked far too pleased with the idea, his cerise eyes glowing like embers in the darkened hallway.
Taylor rolled their eyes.
"Whatever, be cryptic. Go ahead and needle the King all you like, I won't stop you, but you'd be wise to leave Charlie out of it." They said deliberately.
His eyes narrowed at them.
"Is that a threat?" He asked with an edge to his voice that made no effort to hide his malice.
"More a warning. I won't let you toy with her emotions for your sick idea of entertainment." They replied protectively.
The two maintained tense eye contact as Charlie kept on her spiel about the hotel.
"So, once we have the proof that redemption is possible, this whole hotel will be full of demons wanting to check out into Heaven! We just need a little time to prove it. The sharing circles haven't been working as fast as I'd hoped…"
From behind them, the two heard Husk clear his throat and call out to Alastor.
"Hey boss. Can I have a word?"
Taylor spared Husk a quick glance over their shoulder before they left the two demons to talk, with a sickening snap and hushed conversation all they could hear before they rounded the corner with the others. From their position at the back of the tour, they observed that Lucifer maintained eye contact but they could tell he was off in his own world, making Taylor bristle in annoyance.
'Can't he at least pretend to be supportive? Ask a question or at least show a little bit of enthusiasm!' They brooded angrily.
The group moved outside to an upper-level balcony space as Vaggie took a turn at explaining about the hotel's role in redeeming demons, specifically their recent efforts with Angel Dust.
"And we've almost been able to find all of Angel Dust's drug stashes… almost." Vaggie specified before leaning back on the railing.
"So, once that's out of the way, it should be much smoother sailing." Charlie agreed.
Lucifer, still unsure, moved to look out in the sky as he tried to think of what to say.
"Well, that certainly is, uh… is-is something." He said absentmindedly.
Charlie looked nervously at him.
"So… what do you think?" She asked expectantly.
"About what?" He replied forgetfully.
Her voice grew gravely as she pressed him to remember.
"The hotel!"
Lucifer, realizing his error, sweated a bit as he tried to recoup.
"Oh, yes, it does… it does look much better now, doesn't it?" He chuckled before he got distracted, "But ya know, I'm thinking this railing needs work, one good push and you'd just go right over the edge!" He leaned over dramatically while gazing down and waving. "Whoopie, bye bye!" He joked before he held onto the railing and looked out into the scenery with a chuckle.
Taylor gritted their teeth at Lucifer's cavalier attitude, but kept quiet for Charlie's sake. Next to them, Vaggie had a look of incredulity.
"What? No, no, the plan, dad! What do you think about using the hotel to help Sinners?" Charlie, cried out in disappointed exasperation.
Lucifer took a deep breath before facing Charlie with a look of a parent tired of their child's antics.
"Alright, I mean, look… I love that you want to see the best in people, but these Sinners…" he said the last word with a look of distaste. "They're just the worst. I, I don't know how much you can realistically expect from them in Heaven." He said matter-of-factly before he pulled at his collar and leaned over the railing. "Hohoo boy, Heaven, is not exactly as carefree as you might think." He stood up and said in a frank tone. "Yeah, they have rules. Lots of rules, and they aren't very open-minded as you'd hope."
Charlie, maintaining her unwavering faith in her endeavor shot back.
"These are our people, Dad. I… I have to try!"
Lucifer, becoming increasingly more aggravated with her insistence on the matter, replied bluntly.
"Our 'people' Charlie, are awful! They got gifted free will and look what they did with it! Everything is terrible!" He wheezed in exasperation. "I just don't want you to put yourself on the line for people like—"
Taylor couldn't take it any longer. Standing up from their spot against the railing, they interjected.
"If I might say something, sir?" They said, keeping their tone level.
Everyone turned in their direction before Lucifer replied irritably.
"And who are you?"
"Dad, this is Taylor, one of our guests, remember?" Charlie reminded him.
"Charlie, it's fine. I just wanted to say you're painting us Sinners with a pretty broad brush. There's no doubt there are some real scummy folks that deserve to be down here, sure, but there are just as many decent ones doing their best to get by and would love to do better, be better, if given the chance." They sighed sadly. "I know because I work with so many day in, day out who were victims of circumstance, preyed upon, or even had no choice but to do questionable things to keep themselves going!" They said candidly as they approached the two royals. "People are tired of the way things are and there's a spark of hope right now, we just need to foster it to prove things can be different! This hotel can be a way to show that people can get a second chance!" They said earnestly.
There was a pregnant pause before Lucifer started to chuckle ruefully.
"Ho ho, if I had met you a couple thousand years back, I might have believed you, but the fact of the matter is, second chances don't exist. What's done is done, and this" he gestured to everything, "is it! To think otherwise is just naive, childish thinking." He said dismissively.
"Dad!" Charlie said sharply.
"What?" He said defensively. "It's the truth!"
"Why can't there be?" Taylor challenged. "Just because it's what's been done since time immemorial, that automatically means nothing is allowed to change, to get better? Well guess what? People and times change, for better and for worse!" They pointed their finger at Lucifer. "You offered Eve free will because you thought she deserved better, a second chance than the lot in life that was laid out for her." They seethed. "Something changed between you and Lilith that made you two split—"
In a flash, they were gripped by the front of their shirt before they were shoved back roughly and they found themselves leaning dangerously over the railing of the balcony. They took a cautious glance at the drop below and noticed a lot of activity at the front door.
'Are those catapults?' They thought confusedly.
Snapping back to reality, they looked forward and Lucifer's furious eyes blazed red as his horns had appeared and an orange flame burned between them.
"Dad, stop!" They heard Charlie cry.
"You'd do well to remember who you're dealing with. While my daughter might be fond of you, you're speaking out of turn!" He threatened, voice thick with bass.
'Might as well go for broke.' They decided as they narrowed their eyes.
"You talked about how Heaven isn't open-minded. Right now, you're acting just like them." They said curtly.
Lucifer opened his mouth to speak, but a loud thud shook the hotel, causing him to release his grip before Taylor went over the edge.
"Taylor!"Vaggie and Charlie cried.
They calmly cupped their hands to their mouth as they watched the trio gaze down at them from above.
"It's okay! I'll see you downstairs!" They yelled as they turned over and focused. Two flames ignited from their back and spread to become wings as they caught the wind and glided down the side of the hotel. As they descended, they spied dozens of shark demons on the ground, some holding a battering ram, others loading catapults with flaming boulders, but all were armed to the teeth with guns and melee weapons. They landed on the second-floor balcony before they threw a stream of fire to get the battering ram group to halt their efforts to break down the front door.
"What's your problem?! This is a Morningstar property; you'd do well to stand down!" They yelled into the crowd.
They heard what they presumed to be the leader or the shark demons shout.
"Mimzy! We know you're in there, you lousy bitch!"
Taylor groaned in frustration.
'Of course it's for Mimzy. These must be the same loan sharks that passed by the club way back then.' They thought as they addressed the group again. "You want her? Fine! You can have her!" They turned to go inside but they heard the catapults swing and a barrage of fire balls slammed through the windows and into the hotel. They heard screaming and Niffty cry out about the windows from inside.
"Oh, that tears it." Taylor muttered angrily before they changed their wings out for tendrils and cloaked themselves in yellow flames. They jumped down into the fray, grabbing and tossing shark demons aside with their tendrils, throwing walls of flames toward the catapults, igniting them as they deflected bullets away from them and subsequently ricocheting them back at the shark demons. They heard a thud behind them as the front doors were forced open. Gnashing their teeth, they continued their counterattack on the invaders as they heard Lucifer smugly lecture Charlie from the doorway over the din.
"Ya see? This is exaaactly what I'm talking about, Charlie! You build something nice; you invite people in and offer them everything and they just bring violence and chaos to your doorstep. It doesn't matter how well intentioned you are, they're always going to disappoint you."
Throwing the battering ram into another catapult, they lashed a tendril at the guns of a group of demons, cutting the barrels off, before clotheslining the wielders and lobbing them down the hillside. A shark demon came at them with a club, but they wrenched the bludgeon from them with a tendril before slamming a flaming fist into their chest, sending them and a few of their buddies flying.
The sky above the hotel suddenly took on an eerie green glow before they heard Alastor's amplified voice call out.
"A reminder to all, not to mess with the Radio Demon!" He announced before a sinister laugh rang out and shadowy tendrils flew out from inside the hotel, skewering and tearing shark demons apart and smashing the catapult, sending the remaining shark demons into a frenzied panic.
'Ah, crap.' Taylor thought before they put out their flames and headed for the entrance to get out of Alastor's way. They saw Mimzy at the door reveling in the killing before a giant radio dial-eyed Alastor stomped out of the front door. As he spoke, his unmoving grin glowed with each word.
"I will devour each and every one of you!" He bellowed gleefully as he stepped over Taylor and started his massacre.
Reaching the front doors, they shot an enthralled Mimzy a withering look before giving an appalled Charlie a comforting pat on the shoulder and pointedly ignoring a smug-looking Lucifer as the trio watched the terrifying and monstrous Alastor killing and devouring the loan sharks. They joined Angel, Husk, and Sir Pentious, who were watching the melodrama happening between the father and daughter with interest.
Lucifer nodded once as he obliviously resumed his self-righteous lecturing while body parts were splattered all over the front door.
"Mhm, ya see? What I tell ya? Charlie, Sinners are violent psychopaths, hell bent on causing as much pain and destruction as they can. There's really no point in trying." He said with a smile as he leaned back on his cane victoriously.
Charlie, aghast and at her wit's end as she witnessed Alastor eat a shark demon alive, turned to her father unhappily.
"Dad, stop! They're defending this hotel!" She turned to see Alastor's rampaging. "It may be a bit more sadistic than I'd hoped, but he's doing it for me!" She turned away from him as she hugged herself defeatedly. "How come he can have faith in me but my own father can't?"
They saw Lucifer's vainglorious smirk shift to genuine hurt at the statement. At that moment, Angel nudged a bag of popcorn Taylor's way as they looked to the side and saw the others watching the scene unfold with snacks.
"Ooh, drama." He said while taking a handful. Husk took a sample from his bag as well.
Taking the offered popcorn with a shrug, they followed Angel, Husk, and Sir Pentious to get a better view of the tail end of Alastor's onslaught while still being able to see Charlie and Lucifer's soap opera play out.
After having his fill, Alastor shrank back to his normal size and spoke out in a content voice.
"Oh, I missed getting to let off steam!"
Mimzy checked that the coast was clear before approaching Alastor happily.
"Oh Alastor! What a fantastic show! Bravo! As always. Thanks for helping lil' old me out of a tough spot, you're always such a pal!" She said appreciably. A railroad debris suddenly fell close to her, surprising her. "Oops. Heheh… sorry about the mess, but I'm sure the little bug can take care of it for you."
Despite his raised spirits, Alastor spoke to Mimzy in a peeved tone.
"I think you should go, Mimzy. Now."
Mimzy, shocked at the statement, played it off as him trying to joke around.
"Oh, pfft, Alastor, you're such a kidder you! Haha, you are so funny!"
Alastor's eyes narrowed in irritation as he spoke more forcefully.
"I mean it. You deliberately brought danger to this place just to have me clean up your mess. I can't have that here."
"But you love taking care of me! What, you don't actually give a shit about this tacky place, do ya? Come on, I know you." Mimzy snapped, incredulous to his dismissiveness. She sauntered over to him and poked his chest with each word. "You-heartless-son-of-a-bitch~"
Alastor casually removed her finger.
"You are welcome if you actually want to give redemption a shot." He booped her on the nose before moving to stand firmly before the hotel with his microphone in front. "But I think we both know that's not really your style, so you need to leave."
Incredibly insulted, Mimzy turned away furiously and flipped Alastor off as he scampered away angrily.
"Fine! Who needs ya? Have fun with ya lil' princess and ya lil' hotel. See if I care!"
Taylor, watching with delight, called out to Mimzy as she stomped away.
"Don't let the door hit ya on your way out, bitch!"
Husk, rather amused at Mimzy's departure as well, glanced Taylor's way.
"You know Mimzy?" He asked, curious.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you someday." They said quickly before turning back to watch Charlie and Lucifer's melodrama unfold.
"This is really getting good." Angel Dust noted, fully engrossed.
Lucifer had retreated back into the lobby as Charlie followed after him.
"Dad, just… help me." She pleaded.
Lucifer, feeling despondent and ashamed, replied tensely.
"I… I can't."
"Why can't you?" She said confusedly.
Lucifer gripped her by the shoulders and replied frantically in a bid to get through to her.
"Charlie! You don't understand. Heaven never listens! He gestured to himself. "They didn't listen to me," he turned away and waved his arm dismissively, "they won't listen to you!"
"You don't know that!" She shot back.
Lucifer whirled around, tears pooling in his eyes as the memories came back.
"I do!" He said angrily before he slumped and turned away defeatedly.
Lucifer began to sing forlornly about how he tried this all before as he summoned a golden flame. Tossing it to the ground dejectedly, he described how his dreams turned out to be too hard to defend. Charlie, seeing the representation of his aspirations on the floor, went to pick it up, but Lucifer grasped her hands and brought her to her feet as he declared that he wouldn't lose it all again.
Lucifer's face grew sorrowful as he recalled the higher ups that, spears at the ready, cast him away because he wanted to do something worthwhile for humanity. He stared up at a worried Charlie before he saw the spears pointed at her. Eyes widening in fear, he quickly pulled her away so he would take her place before declaring that she is the only thing in his life worth fighting for, more than anything. Hugging her protectively, he vowed to shelter and adore her.
Stepping back from the embrace, Charlie spoke incredulously.
"Dad, I don't need you to protect me from this."
"I just don't want you to be crushed by them like— like I was." He replied morosely as he turned away from her.
Charlie, finally understanding where her father was coming from, recalled a pivotal moment that the two shared. She sang about how when she was small, she didn't know him well, but when Lucifer told her fantastical stories about his lofty dreams, she was enthralled and became inspired to follow and fight for her own ambitions and goals, just like him.
Turning to the other hotel residents, she took in all their faces: Husk's neutral one, Angel's awestruck glance, Sir Pentious's teary-eyed look, Vaggie's loving visage, Taylor's supportive smile, Alastor's ever-present grin, and Niffty's cheery regard before she proclaimed that she had to save her people more than anything, touching everyone with her infallible devotion to them all.
Lucifer gazed proudly at the woman she had become with tears in his eyes before walking up to her with a genuine smile on his face. He admitted that he'd been dying to find out who she was, to which Charlie admitted she wanted the same. Lucifer fondly commented that she took after him before she joked that it took him long enough to figure that out.
Singing and dancing together, the father and daughter sang about how they hoped that now that everything was out in the open, they could start things anew and not be kept apart again. Lucifer unfurled his six wings before summoning a massive portal above the two. Hugging her close, Lucifer flew up and carried her in the pocket dimension as they happily sang about how they are both a part of each other. Lucifer vowed to support her dream, no matter what would happen as Charlie sang that it was all she could ask for.
The two hugged each other warmly as they refrained that more than anything, they were grateful that they were father and daughter before gently descending from the portal and back into the hotel lobby. As it closed and Lucifer's wings folded away, Sir Pentious remarked tearfully.
"Aww, that was ssssweet."
Lucifer, on board with helping her but still wearing a look of concern, confirmed with her.
"Ok, I can get you the meeting but once you're in Heaven, I won't be able to go with you. Will you be okay?"
Charlie nodded confidently.
"I'll be fine."
Lucifer stared back; eyes full of pride.
"That's my girl. Haaaa… good luck kiddo." He said with a smile before he stood back and a veil of red mist swirled around him and he vanished.
Vaggie strode over to Charlie with uncertainty.
"The next part is going to be scary. You ready?"
Charlie gazed at her girlfriend, brimming with confidence.
"I'm ready." She hugged Vaggie before continuing, "cause you'll be with me!"
Vaggie flinched and spoke reluctantly.
"In spirit, right?"
"In Heaven!" Charlie said cheerfully.
Vaggie winced at the prospect but feigned enthusiasm.
"Yay!"
As the two remained locked in their embrace, the gears in Taylor's head started turning.
'I got to get back up to Heaven, no matter what.' They mused as they began their planning.