The alarm clock rang and Charlie turned it off, groaning sleepily. While she usually got up positive, that morning she was weighed down by the events of the day before.
Sleepy, she let her face fall back on the pillow. She didn't really want to start the day; she just wanted to curl up under the covers and pretend the world outside didn't exist.
If she got up, she would have to face the journey to the embassy and the impossible riddle Adam had mentioned. She didn't feel like it.
Vaggie, by her side, had woken up with her and, seeing that she was struggling to get up, tried to encourage her: «Charlie, honey, you have to get up. We have an important mission today.»
«I can't do it, Vaggie.» the princess of hell admitted.
Vaggie tried to comfort her: «Charlie, we have survived an extermination. This riddle however difficult it may be, it isn't the end of the world. We can find the solution by brainstorming together.»
Turning her head toward her girlfriend, Charlie had tears in her eyes: «Vaggie, you don't understand! After defeating the exterminator angels I assumed there would be no other major obstacles. Everything went smoothly for months, the biggest problems were recidivist sinners and those taking advantage of our hospitality. Then suddenly Adam appears and-I don't know if I can take any more pressure!»
Charlie clutched the pillow tightly, hiding her face in her arms as light sobs shook her body.
Shaken by the deep anguish that was tormenting her mate, Vaggie gently caressed her hair, hoping that gesture would at least offer her some comfort. She could not bear to see Charlie so downhearted; every sob, every tear broke her heart. Trying to find the right words, she gently held her in her arms, whispering to her in a calm, soothing voice: «Charlie, it's unlike you to give up this easily.»
The words were filled with love and deep trust. «You have to remember who you are, honey. You created this hotel against all odds, you overcame obstacles that seemed insurmountable, and you did all of this with a determination that few possess. Even when everyone laughed at you, you kept going, and now you are a light for everyone in here.»
Vaggie continued, her voice vibrant with affection. «You have the extraordinary ability to inspire and guide people. You saved me, you are saving many souls in this hotel, and even Headshot, who arrived recently, has already grown fond of you. You know why? Cause you're a pillar, Charlie. You are a lighthouse in the midst of millennia of darkness. True, everyone is counting on you, but don't forget that everyone is ready to defend you if necessary. And I, more than anyone, am here for you, because I love you more than anything.»
Feeling the love and support in Vaggie's words, Charlie began to calm down. The warmth of her touch and the gentleness of her words were like a balm for her weary soul. She inhaled deeply, trying to regain some of the inner strength that always guided her.
«I can't promise I can give one hundred percent today.» Charlie admitted as he stood up, but with a determined smile he added, «But with you by my side, I'll even move the mountains.»
Vaggie gently wiped away a tear that was still shining on her face and replied with a loving smile: «That's my Charlie.» Moving closer, she gave her a light kiss, a touch of her lips that contained all the love and trust she felt for her. Then, with a hint of complicity, she added: «Come on, let's get ready. The mission is waiting for us.»
The hall was buzzing with life, with guests hastily moving around, each heading to their daily routines. Conversations weaved through the air, creating a continuous background of chatter and laughter. In a quieter corner, away from the main chaos, Charlie had gathered with her friends. After the usual greetings, Charlie took the floor, her tone serious but determined: «So. I'm heading to the Embassy today to try to solve this riddle. It would be nice if you could all come with me, but I know the hotel still needs you. So, who's up for joining me and Vaggie?»
As the others were about to respond, a loud commotion rose from the top of one of the escalators. A tumult of falling objects and irritated people filled the air, accompanied by the unmistakable voice of Lucifer who, in a hurried tone, apologized to those present. All gazes turned toward the source of the noise, and Charlie could not help but sigh, a mixture of exasperation and affection for her father who, once again, had found a way to be noticed.
Lucifer's unmistakable voice, shouting «CHARLIEEEEEE!» echoed throughout the hall as the fallen angel rushed down the stairs, bumping into people and apologizing hastily to them. His appearance certainly didn't go unnoticed: he looked ready for an expedition into Cambodia's most remote jungle, with high boots, pants tucked into them, a brightly colored long-sleeved shirt, and a white fisherman's hat. In each hand he clutched a Schedoni-type suitcase, visibly overstuffed.
Lucifer reached Charlie breathlessly, dropping the two suitcases with a dull thud. «I'm ready!» he announced, trying to catch his breath as he stood up straight.
Charlie, visibly embarrassed and with an disbelieving grin, looked at her father and asked: «Dad...what are you doing? And what's in those suitcases?»
Lucifer, with the enthusiasm of a child showing off his new toys, bent down to open one of the suitcases. «Oh, just two little things for the mission.» he replied, beginning to pull out the items one by one. First a magnifying glass, then a calculator, an abacus, a pencil, pen and paper, two canteens of water, several juices, a portable umbrella, a Swiss Army knife... the list seemed never-ending.
Charlie watched the scene, increasingly puzzled, while the others tried to hold back their laughter. Each new item Lucifer took out of his suitcase seemed more useless than the last, but he handled it with the utmost seriousness, as if each one was essential to the mission.
Eventually, Charlie couldn't help but shake her head with an amused smile. «Dad, I don't think we'll need all these things to solve a riddle.»
Lucifer, without losing his enthusiasm, promptly replied: «Of course we do! A good detective is always prepared!»
Vaggie, who was observing the scene with a mixture of affection and pragmatism, intervened, trying to maintain a serious tone. «Lucifer, sir ... we really appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe it would be better if you left this ... equipment here at the hotel. We may need to be comfortable.»
Lucifer, somewhat disappointed but not completely discouraged, closed the suitcase with a theatrical gesture, making an almost dramatic expression. «All right, all right. But at least let me carry the magnifying glass!»
Charlie smiled, finding impossible to say no to her father in that moment. She nodded warmly. «All right, Dad. The magnifying glass is fine.»
Lucifer lit up, satisfied that he could contribute in some way to the mission. As he carefully placed the magnifying glass in his shirt pocket, Vaggie stated: «I guess Lucifer is coming with us, then. Anyone else?»
«Don't worry, Maggie.» said Lucifer in a relaxed tone «There's no need to bother anyone else, let's just take Headshot and go...» He stopped, realizing that the young man was not present.
«Uh... where is our security guard?»
Charlie looked around, also noticing Headshot's absence. «Yeah, where is he?» she asked, slightly puzzled.
Then it was Angel Dust who broke the silence, raising a hand like he was confessing something. «Ah, my fault. He drove me to work and spent all night trying to save me from content that I just didn't want to do. He succeeded, but we got back about dawn.»
Charlie was surprised by the revelation. «He really did it?»
«Yes, he was foolish and reckless.» Angel Dust admitted, with a half-smile. «But I'm glad he did.»
Charlie, well aware of Angel Dust's complex situation and Valentino's oppressive control over him, felt deeply touched by Headshot's selfless gesture. She, too, had previously tried in vain to persuade Valentino to be more lenient with Angel, but without success. The fact that Headshot had risked so much to protect Angel showed a bond of loyalty and affection that didn't go unnoticed.
Vaggie, always ready to take the opportunity to tease her lover, gave Charlie a gentle nudge, accompanied by a sardonic smile: «I told you he got attached.»
Charlie blushed slightly, but her smile betrayed a mixture of pride and affection.
Lucifer, who in the meantime seemed focused on other matters, tried to remark: «Yes, a lovely gesture, but we need the big guy! Can't he catch up on sleep some other time?»
Charlie shrugged, showing a mix of understanding and resoluteness. «Not after he went out of his way to protect Angel. He deserves to rest.»
Lucifer tried to reply, but stopped himself, realizing that it was better to be discreet. He wrapped an arm around Charlie's shoulders and, with his back turned to the others, lowered his voice, making their exchange private. «Char Char... We need Headshot for the... you-know-what. We need divine intervention for the riddle, and you-know-what could be the key!»
Charlie sighed, maintaining a calm but firm tone. «Dad, it's just a riddle. If it's really that complicated, we'll have Headshot come straight to the embassy.»
Before they could continue, Vaggie approached them, noticing the unusual closeness between father and daughter and asked with a raised eyebrow: «What are you discussing?»
Charlie and Lucifer jolted slightly, answering in unison and with some awkwardness: «NOTHING!»
Vaggie stared at them, suspicious, but eventually decided to leave it, though she would keep an eye on the situation. «Well, then it's the three of us. It's not the ideal formation, but we can do it. Besides, with Lucifer by our side, any problem will be nothing more than a detail.»
Lucifer puffed out his chest, visibly pleased by Vaggie's confidence. «Exactly! With me by your side, nothing can stop us!»
Charlie nodded, her gaze determined and resolute. «Perfect. Angel, you and the others stay here and keep an eye on the Hotel. And, Angel... as soon as Headshot wakes up, let him know he can join us if he's feeling like it.»
Angel Dust made the "OK" sign with his hand, accompanied by a reassuring smile. «Will be done, Charlie. Don't worry.»
Charlie, ready to go now, turned toward the door, cheering her girlfriend and her father on in an energetic tone: «Very well, folks. We're off!»
Vaggie and Lucifer shared a knowing smile, then followed Charlie out of the Hotel, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them at the Heavenly Embassy.
He was in the cellar again. This time there was no fanfare outside his prison; he was even hungrier and thirstier, and his nose hurt. His tormentor lifted a brand from the fire, where he had held it for several minutes: the reverse writing on the iron was glowing fiery red. The man muttered a few quotes from Leviticus and approached Eddie, half-naked and vulnerable.
Eddie tried to pull on his chains again, to no avail. He was too weak to pull in serious earnest. The tormentor threatened him, telling him that if he didn't stay still, he would switch to the scalpel again. Then, without mercy, he planted the searing brand on his side.
Eddie jolted awake, his heart beating wildly. The nightmares showed no sign of diminishing, plus he felt guilty for poor Louis, whom he had put in trouble to save Angel the day before.
Shaking his head to banish the bad memories, Eddie looked at the Deus Ex Machina on his wrist. «You know, it wouldn't hurt if you gave me dreamless nights.» he told it, like it could answer him. The bracelet remained mute, offering no comfort.
Eddie sighed, trying to pick up the pieces of himself. His nights were plagued by nightmares in which his tormentor gave him no rest, and his days were weighed down by guilt and responsibility.
His mind went back to the cellar, to the details that made that nightmare so real: the smell of burning iron, the heat of the brand, the prayers whispered by his tormentor like a cursed chant. Each night, that memory recurred with painful accuracy, leaving him more and more exhausted and desperate.
He looked at the bracelet again, searching for hope, for a sign. But the Deus Ex Machina was just an object, unable to respond to his deepest desires. Eddie knew that the only way out was within himself and that he could rely only on his own strength to heal from the trauma.
Before he died, he would have been praying Thor to help him in his quest for inner peace, but after waking up in hell, a hell that seemed far more Christian than Norse, all that was left of his old beliefs were some peculiar swearing and an obsessive dedication to exercise. Faith in Thor had been replaced by the brutality of his training, a way to keep his mind busy and his body strong.
On that note, it was time to get down to the gym.
He dressed, grabbed his headphones and blasted "Mary On A Cross," companion of many adventures. The music pounded in his ears, creating a barrier between him and the outside world, allowing him to focus only on the rhythm. Every beat, every note, gave him the strength to keep going.
Walking into the gym, Eddie felt a little lighter. The familiarity of the machines, the weights lifting and falling, all contributed to an environment where he could feel safe, if only temporarily.
He began his workout with a series of warm-up exercises, preparing himself mentally and physically for the work ahead. With each movement, he felt his body respond, his muscles tensing and relaxing, his heart beating faster, his mind clearing. The memory of the nightmare faded.
He felt a flap on his shoulder that made him turn around. «Oh, hi, Cherry.» he greeted his friend as he took off his headphones.
«Hey, Headshot! Angel told me you saved his ass tonight!» she said, punching him in the shoulder.
«Ah, it's nothing, I gladly did it.» replied Eddie, trying to keep it down.
Cherry smiled at him, leaning against a weight machine. «Well, he described you as a hero. A very stupid and reckless one, but still...»
Eddie huffed, frustrated. «Aargh. Same old Silly.»
Cherry, with a reassuring smile, stood up from the machine on which she was leaning. «Ah, don't take that wrong. Angel really cares about his friends, more than he cares about himself. If you knew how many times I proposed him to blow up the V Tower with Valentino in it, but he always forbid it. He said he didn't want to put me in danger, that Val is too powerful, and ... that he wasn't always so bad.»
Eddie, taken aback, froze. «Wait, what?»
Cherry sighed, bitterly. «It's the classic cycle of abuse. First the asshole beats you up, you decide to leave him, but then he shows up with roses or some other bullshit and, stupidly, you give him another chance. And the cycle repeats. It went on like this for years, and even now, somehow, continues. Angel knows that Valentino is not the "Val" he knew, but a small part of him still hopes that "Val" exists. It's all that bastard's fault, he love bombed him so much at the beginning of their "relationship"» Cherry exaggerated the last term by making quotation marks with her fingers «that now Angel is having a hard time breaking free.»
Eddie, in disbelief, asked: «Wait, did they really have an affair?»
Cherry nodded, with a veil of sadness in her voice. «At first, yes. That's how Valentino trapped him: he promised him affection, well-paying employment in something he loved to do and all the drugs he wanted. Once Angel signed, he showed his true colors. I still remember his face like it was yesterday: Angel was heartbroken. As far as I know, by contract their relationship must continue, even as an act, but Angel confided in me that every day he feels less connected to Valentino. Especially since he has entered here. But you haven't heard anything from me.» she concluded, trying to give a wink, although with only one eye it looked rather strange.
Cherry settled on the machine and began to exercise, while Eddie pondered deeply about Angel's situation. He felt anger growing inside him, but also a new determination to protect his friend.
After a moment of silence, Eddie finally broke the ice. «Cherry, do you know how to terminate an Overlord's contract?»
Cherry, surprised by the question, looked at him with concern. «Hey, buddy, lay low! You've already accomplished an impossible deed, take a break! And anyway no, you should ask Charlie. Or Lucifer.»
A flash went through Eddie's mind: he had promised himself the night before to talk to Lucifer about it, but forgot.
Without a second thought, he sat down on a random machine and began lifting weights with a rush that worried Cherry.
«Headshot...that's how you hurt yourself.» Cherry warned him, but Eddie dropped the weights with a thud and stood up abruptly.
«I'm done, I've got to go!» he declared, heading at top speed toward the locker room, leaving Cherry speechless and with a mixture of concern and admiration for the young man's courage.
The Heaven Embassy loomed imposingly upward, with the clock tower touching the red sky of Hell. Vaggie, Charlie, and Lucifer walked through the massive golden doors and found themselves inside.
Just like last time Charlie came there, the interior was desolately empty. Despite the dazzling light and golden reflections, the atmosphere exuded a palpable feeling of eeriness. The gleaming walls almost seemed to muffle the sound of their footsteps, while the air was imbued with a strange solemnity.
Charlie shivered, wrapping her arms around herself for comfort. «I forgot how creepy this place was.»
Vaggie, determined as always to protect her girlfriend, replied firmly. «Well, we should try to hurry and get the fuck out of here then. Did Adam say how to get into the crypt?»
Charlie nodded, trying to remember the details. «He said to look for an X-shaped button on the east side of the room.»
Lucifer, with an enthusiastic smile, wasted no time. He took out his magnifying glass, like a detective dealing with a mystery, and immediately set out to find the button.
It took a while to find it: a small relief on the wall protruded just at shoulder height, including the button itself. If they had not known it was there, they hardly would have noticed it by chance. With a firm gesture, Lucifer pressed the button, and a dull noise filled the room.
A panel slowly began to slide off from the floor near the north side of the room, revealing an opening leading to a staircase. The darkness below seemed to engulf the light, promising a journey into the unknown.
Charlie, Vaggie and Lucifer, aware of the mystery and danger that awaited them, exchanged one last glance before proceeding. Together, with the determination of someone who knows there is no way back, they began to slowly descend the stairs leading to the crypt. The silence between them was palpable, broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps.
Charlie and Lucifer turned on glowing orbs, emitting a soft light that contrasted with the surrounding darkness. Lucifer, with a confident smile, took the initiative to lead the group, while Charlie, as if wanting to protect Vaggie by placing her in the center, closed the line. The staircase seemed interminable, wrapped in a heavy, almost suffocating atmosphere.
At the end of the long, cramped walk, Lucifer illuminated the entrance to a narrow, wet tunnel, the walls exuded an ancient dampness, and the passage forced those who walked through it to bend over. As they observed their surroundings, they noticed concave slots on the sides of the tunnel, each perfectly shaped to accommodate a glowing orb.
«Hey, girls, look.» Lucifer said, pointing at the slots with a touch of excitement in his voice. «It's like it was created especially for this kind of spell.»
Charlie, pondering the idea, asked with caution: «Do you think it might activate something if we insert our orbs?»
Vaggie, ever the practical and risk-taker, replied with a slight nod of assent. «Well, we might as well try.»
With a mixture of hope and curiosity, Charlie and Lucifer approached the slots and gently placed their glowing orbs in them. As soon as the orbs were embedded in the recesses, a subtle vibration went through the air, like an ancient mechanism awakening after eons of silence. The light from the orbs propagated along intricate incisions carved into the tunnel walls, following a path that glowed like veins of hidden energy. The bright lines expanded, transforming the darkness into a cascade of light that gradually revealed the entire passageway, eventually revealing the entrance to a large hall at the bottom.
Driven by renewed enthusiasm, Charlie, Vaggie, and Lucifer advanced briskly through the now illuminated tunnel. As they progressed, they realized that the passage was much shorter than they had initially thought-the perception of darkness had deceived their senses. Now, with light guiding them, they found themselves immersed in a story carved into the walls themselves: an epic tale of creation and the Fall.
Each step revealed new details: angelic figures shaping the universe with grace and power, followed by epic battles between the forces of light and darkness. The narrative culminated in the tragic fall of Lucifer, depicted with a mastery that blended beauty and despair. Charlie, fascinated, felt a knot tighten in her chest as she watched the depiction of her father's downfall. Father who, after a quick glance at the walls, immediately looked away, she couldn't tell whether out of remorse or something else. Vaggy, while acknowledging the splendor of the art, kept her gaze alert, focused on the approaching destination.
When they finally emerged from the tunnel, they found themselves facing a vast majestic hall. Here, too, the walls were decorated with brilliant designs, continuing the story begun in the tunnel. In the middle of the hall, an imposing stone altar immediately caught their attention. It was richly decorated with angelic symbols, emanating an almost tangible presence of sacredness and mystery.
The light from the globes illuminated the entire room, creating an atmosphere suspended between sacredness and mystery. Every detail seemed charged with history, and the trio stood still for a few moments, breathing in the solemnity of the place. It was clear that they were facing something ancient, powerful and probably dangerous.
Charlie, wide-eyed, murmured reverently: «This is ... incredible.» Her gaze was caught by the angelic altar in the center of the room. A powerful energy seemed to emanate from it, like a silent call that penetrated deeply inside her, pulling her toward it. A shiver ran down her spine as something ancestral urged her closer, like the altar itself was calling her with an irresistible song.
Before she could realize it, Charlie moved, unconsciously approaching the altar like she was in a trance-like state. But Vaggie's firm grip on her shoulder made her wince, abruptly bringing her back to reality. Her fiancée looked at her with concern, her eyes fixed in hers: «Careful, Charlie. We don't know what we're dealing with.»
Charlie shook her head, trying to free herself from the overwhelming feeling pushing her toward the altar. Even though she came back to her senses, she still felt that latent instinct, an almost primal desire to get closer. It was a force fighting against her rationality.
Lucifer, who had been watching in silence until that moment, took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the altar. In a calm but firm tone, he said: «Maggie is right. This place can be dangerous. Stay back, I'll take care of it.»
Charlie opened her mouth to protest, but Lucifer stopped her with a wave of his hand, his face serious and determined. He was not only the caring father in that moment, but also the fallen angel, aware of the magnitude of what they had before them.
Cautiously, Lucifer took out his magnifying glass and approached the altar, scrutinizing its every detail with meticulous attention. His hands, usually sure, moved with unusual delicacy, like he was afraid of awakening something dark.
After a few moments, he found what he was looking for: a small X-shaped button, hidden on the front edge of the altar, so tiny that without a magnifying glass it would have been impossible to spot it.
«There's another button here.» he announced, informing Charlie and Vaggie in a grave voice. As he pondered his next move, the seriousness of the moment became palpable, enveloping the room like a veil.
For a few moments, he analyzed every detail of the altar, trying to guess what that button might be for. However, despite his experience and knowledge, he could not decipher the mystery. With a resigned sigh, he made a risky decision.
«Charlie, Maggie.» he said, the tone of his voice full of determination «I'm gonna try to press it. If anything goes wrong, I want you to run away. Don't argue.»
Charlie opened her mouth to protest again, but her father's firm gaze convinced her to hold back her words. Lucifer, calmly as one who knows he has no other choice, pressed the button.
A deep, eerie noise spread throughout the room, a sound that seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth. The walls shook slightly, and Vaggie, by instinct, armed herself, preparing for the worst. The silence that followed was charged with tension, like the moment before a thunderstorm.
Then, with a mechanical snap, the altar began to sink to the floor. Lucifer, with surprising promptness, leapt backward, avoiding being dragged downward with the altar. The hole that had opened in the floor quickly closed with a panel, but not before three new panels opened on the opposite wall.
From those new gaps, three platforms began to rise, revealing three tall and majestic idols. Their forms were humanoid but stylized, reminiscent of the ancient idols from the Cyclades. Each wore a symbol on its chest: "Alpha" on the first one on the left, "Beta" on the middle one, and "Gamma" on the last one.
The symbols on their chests began to glow, filling the room with an intense and mysterious light. Then, from the floor, another platform emerged, on which was lying a scroll tied with a ribbon.
Lucifer stepped forward, carefully picking up the scroll. He gently opened it, and a satisfied smile formed on his lips as he stated: «We have the riddle!»
Charlie, visibly thrilled, sprinted up to him and hugged him tightly. «You're great, Dad!» she exclaimed, her voice full of pride.
Lucifer blushed slightly, caught in a moment of tenderness. He was happy he made his daughter proud, and for a moment he melted into that simple gesture.
Vaggie, who until that moment had maintained a tense posture, exhaled a long breath of relief. The atmosphere, however, quickly turned serious again when she asked: «All right, what exactly does it say?»
Lucifer returned his focus to the parchment, running a finger over the ancient writings as he read aloud. «It's ancient Greek, but I can easily translate it.» he began, in a tone that quickly grew more solemn. «It says, "In front of you are three oracles: Truth, Lie and Folly. Truth only ever tells the true, Lie only ever tells the false, and Folly randomly decides whether to be truthful or to lie. They can only be questioned individually and only answer questions that allow a "yes" or "no" answer. While they understand your language, they answer only with "da" and "ja", but it is unknown which of the two words means "yes" and which means "no". Your goal is to establish their identities by asking three questions to which they can answer "yes" or "no". If you fail in your task, you will only be able to try again the next day."»
A tension-filled silence fell in the room as the three gathered around the parchment, exchanging confused and bewildered looks. The riddle they faced was as intriguing as it was complex, and the idea of having to solve it in three questions seemed almost impossible.
Charlie, with a slightly furrowed brow, looked at her father and asked, almost in disbelief: «Dad, are you sure this is what it says?»
Lucifer nodded gravely, his expression dead serious. «Very sure. Now I understand why it takes divine intervention to solve it.» The tone in which he spoke left no room for doubt; he knew the riddle was a challenge worthy of their efforts.
Vaggie, visibly frustrated, snatched the parchment from Lucifer's hands and angrily turned it over in her fingers. «There must be the solution somewhere!» she exclaimed, her voice strained, as she desperately rummaged through the folds of the document for a hidden clue.
Lucifer and Charlie tried to gently retrieve the precious document from Vaggie's agitated hands, fearing that he might damage it. But Vaggie, caught in impatience and disbelief, seemed completely immersed in her frustration, unable to accept that an enigma could be so tricky.
With a quick and precise gesture, Lucifer managed to take back the parchment without ruining it. «Maggie, calm down!» he warned her, although, as usual, he got her name wrong. «This scroll is essential. If we forget the riddle, we're done.»
«But this must be a joke!» blurted Vaggie, her tone charged with exasperation. «There's no way that in order to get to a phone I have to burn out my neurons with an enigma that clearly has no solution! I would rather have been fighting the Kraken at this point!»
Charlie tried to calm her, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. «I know, Vaggie, I know. Adam warned us that it would be complicated, but if we join forces and reason together, we can find a solution.»
Lucifer, examining the riddle on the parchment again, added: «It won't be easy at all, and it will take a lot of thinking, but there is a chance, however small, that we can pull it off. And if we really don't succeed, let's remember that we have an ace up our sleeve.» Lucifer cast a knowing glance toward Charlie, emphasizing their confidence in the resource they had at their disposal.
Vaggie, still agitated, took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. «You're right. I need to take a moment to reflect. Let's figure out how to solve this damn puzzle.»
Lucifer huffed: «Well, now paper, pencil and pen would have really come in handy...»
Eddie walked out of the hotel gym, determined to find Lucifer. He went up to the suite where he knew he could find him, but there was no sign of him. He walked all over the various meeting rooms, asking around, but had no luck. Husk was busy with Adam, and his replacement had no idea where Lucifer was.
Finally, after checking every possible place, Eddie walked into a relax room. There, lying discomposedly on an armchair, was Angel Dust. His head was resting on one armrest and his legs on the other, while with cell phone in hand he was scrolling absent-mindedly. The headphones were placed firmly over his ears, completely isolating him from the outside world.
Eddie approached with a firm step, but Angel, immersed in his music, did not notice his presence. This allowed Eddie to glance at his friend's cell phone, discovering with surprise that Angel was listening to "Mary On A Cross" in that moment. Eddie gave a satisfied smile: it was nice to see that someone else appreciated his favorite song.
Determined to be noticed, Eddie lightly touched Angel's shoulder. Taken by surprise, he turned his head, but when he saw that it was Eddie, his face relaxed into a relaxed smile.
«Hey, Headshot.» greeted Angel, removing his headphones and letting them dangle around his neck.
«Hi, Ange.» replied Eddie, returning the smile. «Have you seen Lucifer?»
«Uh, yes.» said Angel, trying to remember. «Charlie took him with her to the embassy. They told me to tell you to join them as soon as you woke up.»
Eddie nodded, relieved. «Great! Thanks, Ange, I'll get to them right away.»
He was about to leave already when Angel stopped him with a slight wave of his hand. «Wait a minute, Headshot. I have to warn you about something.»
Eddie turned around, intrigued by his friend's serious tone.
Angel, with some concern in his voice, continued: «At the V Tower, the employee you knocked out has complained to human resources. He said that someone attacked and drugged him and then stole his clothes. Right now, no one knows exactly what happened, and the lobby cameras weren't working last night, but I would suggest you be careful.»
The news hit Eddie like a punch to the gut. Years of experience as a hitman and he had neglected one of the most basic things: checking the cameras. His luck had been incredible. «The cameras weren't working? How come?»
Angel Dust shrugged, clearly puzzled. «I don't know, the images were distorted. It's strange, but that's how it is.»
Eddie took a fleeting glance at his bracelet, a barely noticeable smile appeared on his lips. «Then you're good for something." he thought. "Thanks for the warning, Ange. By the way, next time you go to Valentino's do you mind if I drive you again? In my haste to leave, I left the clothes I had when we arrived hidden in the downstairs bathroom. I definitely need to retrieve them.»
Angel Dust brought a hand to his face, clearly in disbelief. «Holy shit, I'm talking to a walking dead man.»
Eddie smiled, trying to downplay the situation. «Don't worry, I've done this before. I've hidden them in a place where no one will be able to find them. The real problem will be drying them.»
Angel looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and affection. «All right, but no heroic acts, okay?»
Eddie raised one hand in oath, while the other rested it on his heart. «Promise!»
Angel insisted again: «Headie, for real. Be careful. The Vees can be very vengeful.»
Eddie reassured him again, winking: «And I can be extremely elusive, don't worry.»
Eddie turned and walked away. Only as he was about to leave the hotel did he realize that Angel had just given him a nickname. «Did he call me Headie?» he wondered to himself, a bit startled.
The situation inside the Embassy's secret room was becoming increasingly complicated. Despite their efforts and concentration, they could not come up with three questions that could determine the identities of the three idols. Each proposal proved inadequate, and time seemed to slip away without them making any progress.
«What about asking them to reveal their identities, pretty please?» proposed Charlie, with an edge of optimism in her voice.
«They only answer with "yes" or "no", Charlie.» her father reminded her, in a tone that allowed no objections.
Vaggie, increasingly frustrated, hit a wall with her fists to vent. «Damn riddle! Damn room!» she screamed with each blow, her voice booming in the sacred environment. «Why the fuck did you create such a difficult enigma!»
«You're only hurting yourself this way, Maggie.» remarked Lucifer in a flat tone, concerned for Vaggie's safety.
«MY NAME IS VAGGIE!» screamed the young woman, enraged with confusion and frustration.
Charlie sighed, too immersed in the problem to scold her girlfriend. "We are thinking too simply. A riddle of this magnitude requires a more sophisticated solution.»
«Well, there is a solution.» Lucifer said, trying to offer a glimmer of hope. «There are three oracles and three possible identities, which means there are six different combinations. We could come here every day and try to guess their identities until we find them.»
«I don't think that's a good idea, dad.» replied Charlie, skeptically. «We don't know if their identities are stationary or if it changes day by day. Truth could be the one on the right today and tomorrow it could be the one in the middle. We're in danger of wasting too much time.»
«We are not suited to solve a riddle of this complexity.» Vaggie admitted with resignation. «It would take someone with great logical skills to find the right questions.»
«We would need Sir Pentius.» added Charlie, sad at the thought of his late friend.
«Nah, he would have a hard time, too.» Vaggie replied, trying to accept the situation.
Giving up, Lucifer appealed to Charlie: «Call Headshot.»
Charlie, uncertain of the meaning of her father's words, asked, «Excuse me?»
«Call Headshot.» repeated Lucifer decisively. «If we need divine intervention to solve this riddle, then we must call him.»
Intrigued, Vaggie asked: «How could Headshot help us? He's definitely smart, but I don't think he can solve such a complicated enigma.»
Charlie looked at her girlfriend and then at her father, unsure of what to do. It was Lucifer who cleared up: «We'll explain it to you when he's here. But you must promise not to talk about it with anyone.»
Vaggie, while not fully understanding why the two were evasive, decided to trust them. Charlie, with some reluctance, picked up her cell phone and selected Headshot's contact.
Eddie flew through the red sky of Pride Ring, heading toward the embassy. Despite the potential danger around him, the cold wind at high altitude was invigorating, and he let the feeling of freedom envelop him. He had considered using the car, but Angel's words had given him second thoughts: it was safer to fly and keep the car tucked away from prying eyes, at least until the situation calmed down.
Suddenly, his phone rang in his pants pocket, interrupted only by the sound of the wind. The melody of "Mary On A Cross" in 8-bit version echoed through the air, a familiar call that made him smile. Eddie pulled out his phone and looked at the screen, which showed Charlie's name.
With a quick, precise gesture, he answered the call as he continued flying toward his destination.
«Charlie? What's going on?» asked Eddie, the tone of his voice mixed between concern and curiosity.
«Headshot! Good thing you answered.» replied Charlie with a tone of urgency but also of relief. «We need you. We're at the embassy and we're stuck with the riddle. We need... you know what we need.»
Eddie cast a glance at Deus Ex Machina: «Yes, I figured it out. Lucky for you I'm on my way right now.» he said, as he began the landing near the embassy.
«Really?! Oh, thank goodness. You can find us inside the crypt, inside the main hall. The door is open.» replied Charlie, relieved
Nearing the end of the descent, Eddie replied: «I'll be there before you know it.»
He closed the phone as he put his feet back on the ground. Reabsorbing his wings, he entered the embassy.
The embassy appeared sadly empty, his footsteps echoing sinisterly in the large room. At the far end of the room, he found the open panel revealing the stairs leading downward, with a dim light shining in the distance.
He entered without hesitation, focused only on reaching Charlie and Lucifer. But as he went deeper, his breath grew heavier and heavier and icy chills ran through his body. The darkness seemed to tighten around him, the walls compressing, trapping him and taking his breath away. The cold penetrated his flesh, causing him to feel excruciating pain.
Eddie could not understand the cause of that reaction until he realized that the environment he was in was awakening terrible memories. It was dark, narrow, and damp, exactly like one of his most distressing nightmares. The memories overwhelmed him violently: the threatening voice of his tormentor, the unbearable pain of the beatings, the hot iron burning his skin, the knives opening deep wounds. With his heart beating wildly and his breathing labored, Eddie struggled to keep calm and keep moving downward. It seemed like an endless descent, but as he descended, the light shone brighter inside the crypt, driving away his demons.
Arriving at the bottom of the stairs, Eddie took a big breath, feeling a sense of relief as he walked the last few feet to the lighted tunnel. When he saw the other three beyond the tunnel, a smile of contentment formed on his face. «Hey there, I'm here!» he announced, happy to have finally caught up with the group.
The others looked visibly relieved to see him. Charlie, with an expression of great relief, immediately went to hug him. Eddie, initially surprised by that warm gesture, returned the embrace with affection. He quickly pulled away, however, after seeing how Vaggie was looking at him. «Oh, it's a good thing you're here.» Charlie said in a voice filled with gratitude. «This riddle is impossible!»
«Is it really that bad?» asked Eddie, curious.
«Our brains are on fire.» Lucifer admitted with a light laugh.
Eddie decided to momentarily postpone the question he had to ask the king of hell and offered to help them: «All right, explain to me what this is all about.»
Lucifer took the floor: «In a nutshell, we have to determine the identities of these three idols with only three questions whose answers can be "yes" or "no". The problem is that the idols answer with "ja" and "da", and one of them lies, another always tells the truth, and the last one answers randomly.»
Eddie attempted to articulate a solution, but as he thought about it, he realized the complexity of the riddle. «Yes, there seems to be a need for divine intervention here.» he admitted, twiddling his fingers as he approached the idols. «I'll see what I can do.»
A thick, palpable silence fell in the room. The trio's eyes were fixed on Eddie, full of hope and expectation that he would find the solution.
Eddie positioned himself in front of the tall statues, looking at them from below. Without a real strategy, he decided to show the bracelet he wore on his wrist. Nothing happened.
He then tried to give orders, though he was not entirely convinced: «I, now ... with the Deus Ex Machina ... order you to ... abandon your task! And to reveal the Heavenly Telephone!» But, once again, nothing seemed to change.
Not knowing what else to try, Eddie took off his bracelet and showed it again to the idols, repeating the command: «Abandon your task and reveal the Heavenly Phone!»
Still nothing.
Keeping on showing the bracelet, Eddie began to speak to that object.
«Dude, you blacked out the cameras, you can do that too.»
The bracelet did not make a movement.
Eddie began trying to wake it up by slapping it with his finger, «Come on, man! C'mon! You're a Deus Ex Machina, be a Deus Ex Machina!»
After more taps, there was no change.
Vaggie, embarrassed and confused, observed the scene. «Ooooook...what am I seeing?» she asked, in disbelief.
«Our last hope going up in smoke.» replied Charlie, visibly beaten down.
«COME ON, YOU STUPID THING!» Frustrated, Eddie threw the bracelet away, but it magically reappeared on his wrist. «Ah, you know how to do that!» blurted Eddie, turning to the bracelet with irritation. «Go ahead and do whatever the fuck you want!»
«Ah, is that supposed to be a magic bracelet? Is that why we needed his help?» asked Vaggie.
«It's not just a magic bracelet. It's the magic bracelet.» replied Lucifer, explaining. Charlie added: «What Headshot is trying to use is the "Deus Ex Machina", and ... well, it's literally a piece of the Creator. It's omniscient, omnipotent and has a will of its own.»
Vaggie's one healthy eye opened wide, shocked. «You're telling me... that he!» she said, pointing at Eddie with a sweeping gesture «Literally holds divine power?! That divine power?!»
«Yes.» replied Lucifer «And if he can't solve the problem, that means we have to find a solution ourselves.»
Vaggie, grabbing her hair in desperation, exclaimed: «This is crazy! How did it get into his hands?!»
Charlie, with a thoughtful look, replied: «That is a question to which we have no definite answer. All we know is that Kitty found it in a pawn shop and gave it to him for his birthday.»
Vaggie shook her head, trying to rationalize the situation. «I can't believe we're facing a riddle with a bracelet that is a piece of ... of God and doesn't seem to want to know how to help us.»
Lucifer let out a heavy sigh. «I admit it's quite a mess. But, as is true with everything, we have to find a way out on our feet. Maybe the bracelet is testing us. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned here.»
Eddie, still frustrated, looked at the bracelet on his wrist. «Well, if it's testing us, let's make sure we pass it. We have three questions, right? Let's find a way to figure out who's telling the truth, who's lying, and who's improvising. It's not the strangest thing I've done.»
In the Hotel, Husk found himself enduring yet another torture: Adam, the former exorcist angel, was pestering him with endless tales of his old conquests and self-praises. Every sentence was steeped in boastfulness, every anecdote a glorification of his past. Husk continued to listen with almost superhuman patience, even though every fiber of his being longed only to grab a bottle of scotch, empty it to the last drop, and sink into an ethyl coma to escape that pounding monologue. The bartender let out a deep sigh, casting a blank look at Adam, silently praying that that incessant stream of words would soon run out. But Adam did not seem intent on stopping.
«And then, there was that time when I drove a legion of demons out of a city. It was around two thousand five hundred B.C., and there was this guy who messed up a little too much with black magic. I mean, if you're going to play with magic, then limit yourself to a few mushrooms, right? But no, he had to summon a whole horde. So I stepped in, threw a few lasers and, BAM!, everyone went home. Good times, back then!»
Husk nodded slowly, paying no real attention: «Wonderful, indeed.»
Adam, completely ignoring the sarcasm, continued in a tone full of himself: «Ah, I know, I'm just great. And then there was that time I was at a party, we were drinking and...»
«Let me guess.» Husk interrupted him: «You banged two hundred women in one night?»
«No, not two hundred...» said Adam pretending to be humble, then rejoicing «...only a hundred and fifty!» and burst out laughing.
Exasperated beyond repair, Husk threw a fist against the bars, finally interrupting the former angel: «You're lucky I'm forced to stand here and listen to your bullshit. The legions, the casual sex, the wars... no one cares about it! If it were up to me, I'd leave you here alone to rot!»
Adam, caught off guard but not wanting to show weakness, replied in a tone mixed between mockery and offense: «If that is the case, I wouldn't have chosen you for company either. I would've rather had a hot chick as a company than you and that ... wax statue.» he pointed to the guard: «But at least you could appreciate some interesting stories.»
Husk stared at him, his eyes filled with controlled disdain: «Do you really think I'm that naive? I can see right through your frame of false self-esteem. You brag about being important, but the truth is that you mask the fragility caused by the abandonment complex you have been dragging around practically since you were born. First Lilith, then Eve, then you were kicked out of Heaven... And you pretend to be superior because, despite being the First Man, you feel like the lowest scum. Ironic that, in the end, you actually became one.»
Adam, struck to the heart by Husk's words, lost his composure for a moment. «How... DARE you talk to me like that? I am the fucking First Man!» he blurted out, his voice trembling with anger and frustration.
Husk, with a bitter, sardonic smirk, replied: «Yes, and you're in hell behind bars anyway.»
Adam gripped the bars of the cell tightly, trying to retort: «You... YOU...» But the words died in his throat.
The harsh reality of that situation seeped into him like a poison. Past glories were now only faded memories, and even millennia in heaven did not change the fact that he was now in hell, locked up like a common sinner. «You're an asshole.» he finally said, almost whispering, his voice laden with bitter surrender.
«Yes, an asshole who tells the truth, even when it hurts.» Husk replied, without a trace of irony. For the first time, there was no contempt in his voice, only a kind of detached empathy.
A heavy silence fell in the cell, laden with unspoken reflections. Adam, sitting on the bed, no longer looked like the arrogant and confident First Man, but just a wounded and defeated man, crushed by the weight of his own choices. Husk, observing him, realized that, for the first time since he had been forced to spend time with him, he no longer hated him. In fact, he was beginning to feel a kind of pity.
With a deep sigh, Husk leaned forward slightly, breaking the silence: «Listen, how about I go retrieve a bottle of Chianti and you tell me something other than your conquests, whether military or amorous?»
Adam looked at him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. «Like what?» he asked, his voice lower, almost vulnerable.
«Like... how you felt when Lilith left you.» Husk suggested, without a trace of sarcasm. It was a sincere question, an attempt to get beyond the facade.
Adam stared at him, his gaze oscillating between disgust and surprise, like he didn't believe anyone could ask him such a thing. But there was also a spark of curiosity, something he might not have felt in a long time.
Husk continued, in a softer tone: «Sometimes it's good to let out some bad feelings. I'll take the wine anyway, so think about it. I'll be back in ten minutes at most.»
Without waiting for a reply, Husk turned and walked out of the room, leaving Adam alone with the guard, who observed the scene without a word.
As he watched Husk walking away, for the first time in millennia, the First Man found himself wondering, "What did I do to end up here?"
«Maybe I could destroy one of them and ask the others if it's dead, so that we'd have a definite answer!» proposed Vaggie, now exasperated, her voice charged with frustration.
«It's not that simple! This is a structure of heaven, it cannot simply be torn down like it's a toy!» retorted Lucifer, the tension evident in his tone. He, too, was beginning to crack under the pressure of the riddle.
Charlie, at the center of that situation, was on the verge of collapse. Anxiety and frustration consumed her, to the point that her eyes filled with unshed tears. Her usual determination seemed to slip away, leaving her vulnerable and distraught.
Eddie, seeing the state Charlie was in, decided he could not stand by and watch. With a determined expression, he planted himself in front of the statue on the right and, without hesitation asked: «If I asked you if you were Truth, would you say "yes"?»
The answer came immediately, a deep, resonant voice that filled the room: "Ja."
For a moment, silence fell in the room as everyone tried to process the answer. Eddie, reflecting aloud, said: «Okay, there are two cases. Either "Ja" means "yes" and he is Truth, or "Ja" always means "yes" and he is Lie.»
Vaggie wasn't convinced at all, and with a growing expression of anger, she retorted curtly: «Or he is Folly, and you just wasted a question, Headshit!»
Eddie instantly stiffened, staring at her with icy eyes. «"Headshit"? You better tell me you got the name wrong by accident!» His voice was low and menacing, ready to explode.
The tension between the two grew at a dangerous pace, until Lucifer, in a firm, authoritative tone, intervened: «That's enough!»
An icy silence fell in the room, and everyone turned to Lucifer, who continued in a more measured tone: «We've been in here for hours, we're all tired and frustrated. The last thing we need is to jump on each other. Headshot has already used a question, so we might as well continue with his strategy. If we can't solve the riddle today, we'll come back tomorrow with a fresher mind.»
Eddie nodded, trying to calm the tension that hung over the room. He decided to test his theory and improvised two more questions, turning to different statues to decipher the meaning of the monosyllables uttered by the idols.
He approached the statue on the left and asked in a confident voice: «Are ripe strawberries red?»
The statue replied with a resounding "Da."
Then he moved to the statue on the right and, looking at it carefully, formulated his second question: «Are my eyes purple?»
The statue replied flatly, "Ja."
Eddie quickly reflected on the answers he had obtained. «Ripe strawberries are red, and my eyes are purple...» he muttered to himself, trying to connect the dots.
Finally, he raised his voice to declare: «I believe the idol Alpha is Truth, Beta is Madness, and Gamma is Lie.»
Immediately, a red light began to shine on the symbols of the statues, which slowly receded into the floor, causing the altar to re-emerge in the center of the room. The group held their breath, but the altar revealed nothing new: it was clear that the answer was wrong.
Lucifer observed the scene and, with a look that tried to mask frustration, commented: «Well, let's look on the bright side. I think I understand the meaning of their monosyllables. "Da" means "yes" and "Ja" means "no". After all, ripe strawberries are red, while your eyes are purple, Headshot.»
Vaggie, still a bit skeptical but clearly more relaxed, concluded: «Then we've gone halfway.»
The energy in the room was beginning to fade, and darkness slowly advanced, swallowing up the last traces of light. The group immediately knew it was time to retreat. They had made progress, but the complete solution to the riddle would have to wait.
As they made their way toward the exit, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, replaced by a faint hope: after all, they had made a step forward anyway. The group exited the crypt, and the doors closed silently behind them, as if the room itself wanted to grant them a break.
Lucifer sighed deeply: «Well, that was an adventure. Maggie, I'm counting on your discretion regarding the Deus Ex Machina.»
Vaggie, still slightly irritated, sighed. «My name is ... ehh, never mind.» She decided not to insist.
Lucifer then turned to Eddie, trying to reassure him: «Headshot, I'm sorry the bracelet didn't work as we hoped. Maybe it will intervene on something else. And, Charlie... I recommend you to lie down, as soon as we get home, you look pale. Do you want me to call the limo?»
Charlie, still shaken by the tension from earlier, nodded slowly.
Lucifer pulled out his cell phone and sent a quick message: the limo would arrive in a few minutes.
While they waited, Eddie made use of the quiet moment to approach Lucifer and talk privately. «Excuse me, Lucifer, do you mind if I ask you a question?»
Lucifer looked at him curiously, nodding: «Of course, Headshot, you can ask me anything.»
Eddie took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. «It's about Angel...»
Lucifer grimaced, remembering recent events. «Ah, yes, poor boy. He told me you saved his skin last night.»
Eddie lowered his gaze slightly, reflecting. «Yes...exactly. Forgive me for asking, but ... do you know how to terminate an Overlord's deal?»
Lucifer paused for a moment, surprised by the question. «An... Overlord's deal?»
Eddie nodded, determined. «Yes, I know, it's a long shot, but...I've seen how Valentino treats him. I can't just pretend that everything is fine. How do I tear up Angel's contract with Valentino?»
Lucifer, visibly embarrassed, ran a hand through his hair, reflecting. «Well...unfortunately, it's not that simple. It's not a mere legal document, but a magical pact. The Overlord themself can decide to free their subordinate or they can "give" them to a peer, but if you're talking about outside intervention... well, only an angel can do that, and not just any angel... a seraph or higher.»
Eddie suddenly lit up with hope: «Wait, but you are an angel, and a seraphim too! You could set Angel Dust free!»
Lucifer shook his head with a sad, almost resigned smile. «Oh, Eddie, I'm glad you have such faith in me, but the truth is more complicated. I could at best buy Angel's soul, but I can't free it. Yes, I am a seraphim, but I no longer have the grace.»
Eddie stared at him, puzzled and bewildered. «Does it change...anything?»
Lucifer looked into his eyes, and in his gaze mingled sadness and ancient wisdom. «It changes everything, Headshot. Grace is the essence of creation, the divine energy that can break infernal bonds. Without it, I can do nothing but observe. To break an infernal contract requires the creative energy of Heaven, and I ... no longer have it.»
Lucifer's words weighed like a boulder on Eddie's heart. He lowered his gaze, feeling frustration and pain make its way into his chest. It seemed that his mission was doomed to failure before it even began.
But Lucifer, noticing Eddie's breakdown, continued in a softer, more understanding tone. «However...» he began, drawing Eddie's attention «...if we could use that phone, we could ask for help from someone who still has that grace. Charlie told me about someone named Emily, a seraphim who might be the key. She seems to like the idea of redemption, and if we let her know that freeing Angel would bring him closer to Heaven, she might be willing to step in and terminate the contract between him and Valentino.»
The shadow of hope that Eddie had lost moments earlier began to rekindle within him. With renewed determination, he lifted his gaze, staring at Lucifer with a new flame in his eyes. "Then I have one more reason to solve that damned riddle." he said, his voice full of determination. He couldn't afford to fail; Angel's freedom depended on it.
As the day was drawing to an end, Eddie stood on the Hotel's highest balcony, a quiet, secluded spot with a panoramic view that spanned the entire city below. It was a common-use space, but rarely did anyone venture there, especially at that time of evening. Eddie, sitting on a stone bench, had his old guitar in his hands, a faithful companion he hadn't touched in years. The dust of memories had settled on it, but that evening, after all this time, he felt the need to rediscover it.
With slow, precise gestures, he began turning the keys of the strings, making sure they were stretched to the right point. Each tuned string brought with it a wave of memories, and when he finally plucked a chord, the resulting sound was surprisingly melodious. However, the dilemma of what to play still remained. He considered "Mary On A Cross," but discarded it almost immediately: it wasn't the right song for that moment. He needed something that reflected his feelings, a melody that could touch his heartstrings.
Inspired, Eddie began to slide his fingers over the strings, finding the right rhythm and melody. His voice, subdued at first, made its way into the night air as he began to sing:
"When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all, and the blood's run stale
I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide
No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come
When you feel my heat, look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close, it's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide"
As the notes wafted through the air, Eddie was unaware of how appropriate that song actually was for the moment. Below him, in the hotel, many were facing their own inner battles. Charlie, for example, had retreated to her room as soon as they had returned, spending the rest of the day lying in bed, watching TV with Vaggie while munching on junk food without talking too much. The weight of responsibility was slowly crushing her.
Angel, meanwhile, had deliberately ignored all of Valentino's messages, at least those that weren't forcing him to return in the studio. Sitting on the bed, with Cherri beside him offering her unconditional support, he was trying to find a moment of peace amid the darkness of his past.
Husk, in a rare moment of spontaneity, had voluntarily shown up at Adam's cell with his dinner: well-cooked ribs and a bottle of cool red wine. Adam, who until a while before had only seen him as a jailer, gave him a smile, as he recognized in him a familiar presence in that hell of loneliness.
Molly, meanwhile, was in her room when a notification caught her attention. It was a comment on her personal blog: someone was harassing her by suggesting to kill herself. With a heavy sigh and a lump in her throat, Molly deleted the message, hoping it would be her last. But she knew it wouldn't be.
Lucifer had taken refuge in his workshop. He found solace in creating small things, and that evening he was working on a new duckling. Inspiration had come to him thinking about Charlie: he wanted to create one that looked like her, with the intention of making one for each person he loved. A simple gesture, but one that had deep meaning for him.
Eddie continued to sing, his voice now fully immersed in the melody:
"They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go
Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how
When you feel my heat, look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close, it's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide"
The song ended on a delicate note, dispersing through the air like a silent prayer. Eddie realized that that song was not just for him, but for all the troubled souls in that Hotel, for all the people he had come to know and love. He lifted his gaze to the horizon, with a new awareness. Perhaps, he thought, tomorrow would be a better day.
