Chapter 50:
A beautiful sunset
"SIS!"
Lute hadn't been able to even set a hoof inside when her adopted brother, Angel Dust, had flung himself around her neck and had lifted her off the ground, hugging her tightly.
Seeing the 2 reunite, Emily wiped away a single happy tear at the sight as Lute couldn't help but giggle as she spoke "Yes you heard correctly, I'll be helping around the hotel" and as the tall spider demon put the angel down, Lute proudly pointed to her own chest with a thumb "So you'll be seeing me around allot more often from now on"
..
..
And true to her word, Lute was slowly becoming a regular face at the hotel again, deciding to share her story in the hopes of teaching some of the guests a valuable lesson, hoping to save them from making the same mistakes she had as she was just wrapping up another lecture, together with Angel Dust.
As the doors of the lecture hall opened and the hotel guests slowly trickled out, Angel spoke up "So sis, I'm heading out for dinner in the lust ring, Ozz invited me to join him and his boyfriend, Fizarolly. You and Em care to join me? I'm sure he'd love to meet the 2 of you"
The horned angel smiled "Dinner with the king of lust? Count me the fuck IN, from what I heard, he is an absolute sweetheart" after which she leaned in as she muttered "Plus, I'm sure Emily has loads of questions for him" to which the tall spider demon chuckled "Hehe, so much for little miss innocent, hu?"
At this, Lute gave him a playful smack on the back as she released a hearty laugh "HA, Emily? "Innocent" MY ASS! She might appear as a cinnamon roll taken humanoid form but I can assure ya, she's a FREAK in the sheets!" as she mimed brushing some dust off her shoulder with confidence, to which Angel chuckled "Hehe, are you complaining?" to which Lute answered "Ah hell nah! I consider myself one lucky lady"
"Who is a freak in bed exactly, honey?" Lute suddenly heard behind her, causing her to tense up as she slowly turned around "H-hey…b-babe….didn't see you there…" she muttered with an awkward smirk and a "deer in the headlights" look in her eyes.
There, behind her, stood Emily, a stern expression on her face, arms crossed and tapping her foot…before she burst out laughing and grabbed her girlfriend into a hug "Nah you're all good sweety, I was just messing with you" before she put the shorter angel back down.
As the 3 of them entered the lobby, they'd be greeted by Velvette and Ashley, who waved them down as the short fashionista spoke up "Hey lovebirds, hey Angel, y'all heard the news?"
They would give each other confused looks as Lute spoke up "What news, Vel?"
As the 3 of them joined the 2 overlords on the sofa, Ashley would speak up "Apparently Tempest…or "Olivia" I guess, has released every single soul under contract" catching the trio by surprise before Velvette finished with "Yea, she attended last Friday's meeting to announce her resignation as an overlord"
This caught Charlie's and Vaggie's attention as the princes asked "Wait….Olivia resigned?"
Before the words had left their mouths, Charlie felt a cold shiver run across her spine as a set of long, sharp talons draped over her shoulder as a eerie voice spoke in her ear "My my, do my ears deceive me? Tempest? The thorn in my side, the bane of my existence….resigned?" as Ink made her presence known, to the great annoyance of Ashley and Velvette as the latter spoke "Yea Ink, you'd know of these things if you had attended the meeting last friday….or just attended more in general instead of just staying in your own personal freaky little bubble" as Ashley waved her axe around "And you better get your claws OFF Charlie, ya creepy bitch" in a casual manner.
"She….quit?"
Everyone would turn their heads towards the source of the notice, to see Pablo standing there, a look of surprise on his face "So she….really gave up on revenge…if she has forgiven me….maybe I can forgive myself too….." he would mumble under his breath.
This was when the doorbell rang.
Knowing how excited Charlie got at the prospect of a possible new guest, the others didn't even have to think twice as they all smirked at the sight of the princess eagerly strutting towards the door.
"Hello and welcome to our home of healing, our respite of rehabilitation, the hazbin….ho…..tel….."
She would trail off as she looked at the person in the opening in surprise.
"Uhm….h-hello…." The figure spoke as she shyly waved a hand at the princess.
Curiosity overtook the others as everyone would try and peek around the demon belle, trying to catch a glimpse of who exactly was at the other side of the door…well….almost everyone….as Ink had slinked off into the shadows.
Everyone's eyes went wide at the sight of the demoness on the other side of the door.
She wore an old-timey dress in black with long, puffy, white sleeves, no shoes, allowing her reptile like feet to be on full display, her hair was in a bun, but with decorative plumes hanging on either side of her face, framing her slightly scaled cheeks in a almost cute way as she bore a slightly uncomfortable smile, her serpentine tail swaying slightly behind her…..
"Tempest?!" the others blurted out, causing the former overlord to wince "Uhm….Just…Olivia is fine…Olivia Scylla….my overlord days are done…." As she shamefully looked away "I've caused more than enough bloodshed…."
This caused Charlie to perk up as an excited smile creeped its way onto her face "Are you saying you're here because you're considering…." Olivia smiled "Redemption? Well yes" as she looked down "I've…..had time to think…I had paradise once…..i was granted entrance to heaven.….maybe…I can re-earn it…"
Vaggie would gain an uncomfortable frown as she spoke up "You do realize that-"
"Pablo is still there? Yes, I am fully aware….but….i think….i think I'm ready to close that chapter….or at the very least, I want to try"
Once she finished explaining, she gave the princess a mournful smile as she spoke "I know the hotel is doing better than ever before…and that it's quite busy but….g-got…..room for one more?"
The princess didn't even hesitate as she threw her arms around the short deep-sea demon as she began to excitedly yelp "OF COURSE WE DO! If it's a second chance you're looking for, you've come to the right place!"
As Olivia was led inside, she made brief eye contact with Pablo, who gave her a solemn smile and a wave.
Just for a moment, he swore he saw that same rage on her face, before Pablo saw her take a deep breath and return the gesture.
Checking her in at the front desk, Olivia would suddenly feel a hand on her shoulder, and as she glanced behind her, she would see the now newly redeemed angel, Lute standing behind her with a proud smile on her face "I knew you'd make the right choice"
and once the former sea serpent overlord was assigned to her room, Lute pulled her into a tight hug as she spoke "Welcome to the hotel, I promise you, you won't regret this"
..
..
Wandering the halls of the hotel, Pablo has never been in a happier mood since the big fight with his ex those 3 months ago.
Never had he imagined he'd be forgiven and yet, those 3 words still felt fresh in his mind "I forgive you…." As he strolled up to one of the balconies overlooking the lobby.
He'd usually come here around the end of the day to think, decompress and to watch his friends…..
Except this time, when he approached, he wasn't alone….
"Uhm….O-olivia…didn't realize you were here…" he nervously stuttered.
The former overlord gave him a glance over her shoulder as she mumbled "Oh….Pablo….didn't hear you approach…"
Even after forgiving him, seeing her still made the wolf-eared sinner tense as he was just about to turn back around "I'm sorry….i d-didn't know this spot was taken. I-I'll leave you be" he stuttered out as he wanted to leave, but right as he was about to head off, Olivia spoke up "Pablo wait…"
He froze up as he slowly turned around, but instead of hostility, the former overlord tapped the railing next to her gently "Let's….let's talk…."
Hesitating for a moment, he would glance back over his shoulder at Olivia, who just gestured to the stop on the baluster next to her with her head.
Contemplating for a moment, Pablo eventually sighed as he walked back and leaned his elbows on the railing.
For a few minutes, there hung an uncomfortable silence between the 2 sinners.
"Look, Olivia, I'm sor-" Pablo was cut off right away.
"I know you are….now that I'm no longer blinded by rage….i can see it in your eyes…." As she took a deep breath "….as you'd probably expect….i don't particularly trust you.."
Lowering his head, the wolf eared sinner mumbled "I know….i figured as much….can't blame you really…"
Clearing her throat, Olivia caught his attention again "I wasn't done…..i don't trust you….BUT….you were willing to hand yourself over to protect this hotel…..that takes guts…." As she turned her gaze his way "You took accountability…..and even if I didn't see it back then…..you were fully willing to deal with the consequences…." As the next thing she did, surprised him….she smiled….."And for that, you have earned my respect"
"So…" Pablo asked "….maybe…one day….you WILL maybe trust me again?"
Olivia shrugged "Maybe…or maybe not…that completely depends on you and what you decide to do with your time in this hotel"
As they had their little heartfelt moment, both sinners returned their attention to the lobby, just basking in each other's presence.
"I….i did genuinely love you back then….you know….that wasn't a lie…." Pablo spoke as this time, it was Olivia's turn to be surprised as she softly mumbled "You…you "did"? I….i thought you deceived me….."
The wolf earned man closed his eyes and sighed "Not deception….blinded by greed, yes….but no, that love was real, I never lied about that"
Once again, silence fell between the 2 demons…..
"Can I just say…..as terrifying as you were, you were a badass back then" Pablo blurted out, causing the sea serpent demoness to blurt out a chuckle "Oh really? You mean during that fight?" which was met with a shrug from next to her as Pablo spoke "Just saying it as I saw it" before it once again fell quiet…..
"What is heaven like?"
That question surprised Olivia "….i….don't know really….i was so blinded by grief and revenge….i never really paid attention….." to which the rooster tailed man responded "So…in a sense….if we get redeemed….we'll technically both see it properly for the first time?"
Olivia gave this some thought "Yea….yea I suppose you're kinda right there" tho she'd finish her statement with "Tho I don't think it's a matter of "if"…more a "when" really…"
"What do you mean?" Pablo asked, tilting one of his wolf ears down in confusion.
As she returned her gaze down to the lobby, she continued "I can see you are trying…ACTUALLY trying….so who knows…." As she sighed and actually placed a hand on Pablo's shoulder "Keep going like you are now….and one day….you will be allowed to ascend …."
For the first time in over 200 years, Pablo felt his face subconsciously pull into a wide smile "Maybe….when we both go up there….we could even be….friends one day?"
Meeting his gaze, Olivia smiled
"Hmm….."friends"….yea….i like that idea….."
The end...
...for now...
Author's note: And with that, Lute's and Tempest/Olivia's character archs have come to a close...
Which means the story is almost as good as done...
Originally, i wanted to add more chapters, but it didn't make any sense to do for this story, and it was actually starting to feel like this was a good moment to slowly work towards an ending, Lute has redeemed herself, Tempest is defeated and Olivia finally forgave and moved on...
Ink is still...well...Ink...but i'd like to say we aren't entirely done with her yet...the eerie spider demoness still has all sorts of facets to her as she, not unlike a certain radio demon, is one big, creepy mystery...so stay tuned...
I still have an epilogue planned but as of now, "A lesson in humility" the sequel to "The anarchy demon" has come to a close...and it has been a joy writing this and i hope y'all enjoyed as you tagged allong with me on this journey.