Author's note: Yaay, the site is back up!
Today's chapter is a bit of a shorter one as i'm also kinda struggling with a bit of writer's block, but i should still have a decent few chapters cocked and ready to go to gain inspiration again so, should be all good.
Anyway, ya'll enjoy this one.
Chapter 7:
The sin of regret
It had been a few days since the overlord meeting and the tense introduction of "Ink" as Charlie and Vaggie were currently in the lobby of the hazbin hotel, sitting on one of the sofas and going over a pile of different papers strewn across a nearby coffee table.
Ever since they managed to convince Lute to come out of her room, the former exorcist lieutenant had gone to take Vaggie's advice to heart and had begun attending more activities as the other hotel residents were slowly warming up to her.
The pair was going over their shared lists of ideas and notes as the doors of the lobby opened and in came walking the spider demon Angel Dust, followed by his new boss, Asmodeus, or as Charlie knew him and Vaggie also came to call him "Uncle Ozzie" followed shortly by Charlie's dad, Lucifer "My my, Angel I got to say, you really are something special" the tall rooster demon spoke fondly as the ex-pornstar chuckled "Damn, getting complimented by the embodiment of lust himself, I'm flattered" he answered in a combination of teasing and genuine pride as Lucifer would add "Well I'm glad things worked out the way they did" as he would look up to see his daughter.
Upon seeing the princess, the shorter man would speedwalk over and grab both his daughter and in-law into a tight hug "Hey my favorite girls, how's business in the hotel?'
Charlie would happily pipe up "Couldn't be better, we JUST had yet another resident check out into heaven not long ago" before exchanging a uncomfortable glance with her partner.
"….however, we might have to warn you both of our…..newest guest…."
Asmodeus would step closer, embracing his niece and her partner into a hug as well before asking "And who might that be?"
Almost on cue, Angel Dust would pipe up "Ok before y'all go on the defensive….she's changed since last time y'all saw her…like….ALLOT….she's nothing like the person you knew before…."
At this, wisps of fire began to swirl around the king of hell as slowly, his horns and tail emerged "Charlie….don't tell me you're harboring that warmongering PSYCHOPATH Lute here within your walls?!"
Her own demonic form spilling out, Charlie put her foot down as she yelped back "It's not like that, you didn't see her when she arrived on our doorstep!" to which Vaggie joined her partner "please, Charlie is right…I didn't want to believe it at first too when I saw her but…she's changed…." As Vaggie looked down at her feet, remembering her own past actions for a moment "She feels regret….shame…"
"Charlie, sweetie" Lucifer softened a bit, tho still in his own demonic form, gripping his daughter's shoulders and giving her a pleading look "I just don't want you…" before glancing at Vaggie "…."both" of you….to get hurt….people like her…."
"NO, DAD…" Charlie angrily quipped back, her tail angrily lashing behind her, cracking like a whip, catching the short devil by surprise, causing him to drop his demonic form "….if you even DARE to say "people like her don't change" then the door is right there" as she angrily pointed at the hotel's entrance "It's the very foundation of what the hazbin is all about….second chances"
Suddenly feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder, Lucifer would look up to see the spider demon, Angel Dust give him a pained smile "It's true….all of it…Sir….i….i helped her a few times….recovering from panic attacks…she's nothing like what she was before.."
Confused and worried, the king of hell would glance over at his fellow sin, Asmodeus, who gave a nod "The least we can do is hear them out, Luci….."
Sighing in defeat, Lucifer would look up at his daughter with a determined look "Alright Charlie…sweetie...i trust your judgment….but I want to speak to her personally….get a feel of her, in a sense"
As Charlie exchanged a glance with Angel Dust, he would give a nod, understanding what she was trying to say as he spoke "I'll go get her….be back in a bit, toots" as he quickly moved up the stairs….
..
..
"I don't know, Angel" Lute would mumble out, fidgeting with her hands as she looked down at her own feet.
It was the first time properly seeing the fallen exorcist without boots on, so it was quite a surprise for the spider demon that instead of humanoid feet, the fallen angel sported little, goat like hoofsies, not unlike those of the princess.
The 2 of them slowly made their way towards the lobby, tho Lute was still resistant "The last time they saw me….i was…." She averted her gaze "Let's just say I don't….like the person I was before…"
"Exactly " Angel would speak up "This is a great opportunity to show them that that person isn't who you are anymore" as he had an arm around the fallen angel "Just answer some of their questions to the best of your abilities. Plus, you for me, Charlie and Vaggie of ya side" as they would round a corner and reach the stairs down to the lobby…..
..
..
Reaching the lobby, Lute would swallow a lump in her throat and break out in a nervous, cold sweat as there, on one of the sofas, sat the king of hell, Lucifer himself, and on another one, all for himself due to his sheer size, sat "the" Asmodeus, the king of lust, in the flesh….
Seeing her, the 2 sins would straighten their backs, they faces serious and unreadable as Lute begrudgingly made her way closer.
"…Lute…" Lucifer would sternly address the fallen angel, who averted her eyes as she looked down at her feet before squeaking out "….s-sir…." Before Asmodeus would add "Have a seat" as he gestured to an armchair that was facing the both of them.
The king of hell would clear his throat, causing Lute to flinch, before he spoke "I have…..been informed by my darling daughter you…sought out her hotel here to seek out…redemption….is that correct?"
Still too afraid and ashamed to meet his gaze, Lute would slowly nod "….a-affirmative….s-sir…."
The 2 sins would exchange glances, seemingly being a tad surprised by the fallen angel's subdued demeanor before Asmodeus spoke up "and I suppose it's true then you came to deeply regret your decisions, correct?"
Lute had to keep herself from shaking as she tried to ground herself, taking deep breaths as she answered "…..s-sir….the word "regret"….wouldn't do it justice…."
Narrowing his gaze, Asmodeus would exchange another look with Lucifer before returning his attention to Lute "Girl….i want you to look at me when I'm talking to you…it's not very polite…."
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Lute steadied herself as she forced herself to look upwards, to meet the tall, rooster like demon's gaze, but something happened the moment she looked him in the eye.
The moment her gaze met his, Asmodeus's eyes widened "Luci….doesn't that look in her eyes remind you of someone?" he spoke as the short sin of pride first would look up at him in confusion "Ozzie, what are you talking abo-…." Before his gaze fell downwards and he looked the former exorcist lieutenant in the eye…
There….for a moment….he saw….himself…..right after giving Eve the fruit of knowledge…..right before he was cast out…. As the voice of the other angels periodically rang in his mind, stirred from memories long buried "…Lucifer….what have you DONE?!"
When he had heard his darling daughter took in the former exorcist lieutenant, he had expected to be met with the same disrespectful, arrogant, warmongering monster they brought down 3 years ago…..but that was not what he saw in her eyes….
…regret…shame…..guilt….pain…..
"…..Charlie…..you were right…" He mumbled under his breath…
The 2 sins would exchange a look, as Asmodeus spoke again "How does…..Vallentino treat you?"
At the mentioning of the moth demon, Lute would flinch as her breathing became erratic, which told the king of lust all he needed to know as he would look at Lucifer in horror
"Luci...what have we done…"
