Chapter 30:
A foreboding storm
Ever since Sera's blessing and Lute's love confession, everything had begun to pick up pace for the fallen angel as she definitely hadn't expected Emily to show interest as the 2 of them had begun to go on frequent little dates.
Where Lute preferred more active engagements like rock-climbing or going to a shooting range, or heading to clubs and dive-bars, Emily preferred the cozy simplicity of ice-cream parlors, botanical gardens and cute little pastry shops.
The 2 of them were currently found on a blanket in the quite extensive gardens of the hazbin hotel, enjoying a picnic, unaware of their secret observer from one of the hotel's many balconies.
Sighing contently at the scene, angel Dust was leaning on the balcony's railing with his elbows as he spoke up "I know you're there, Vags"
Landing next to him with a giggle, Vaggie retracted her wings "Jeeze, you got eyes in the back of your head or something?" to which Angel just smirked as he gave her the jazz hands with his lower set of arms "Spider, we got multiple eyes" as the pink "freckles" under his eyes blinked, causing Vaggie to give a curious "hu" as she joined him at the railing.
"Just look at them…don't they remind you of a certain powercouple?" Angel smiled.
Vaggie chuckled "Well, they aren't officially a couple…."yet"…." as she cocked her head slightly "…but yea…yea I can see the resemblance" as the 2 of them reminded her of her and Charlie a bit.
It was at that same time that Charlie was leading one of the hotel's latest residents, Pablo, through the corridors "Ever since coming here, you've been making great strides, sir Pablo. You can be proud of yourself" she spoke with a smile.
"I try my best, your highness" Pablo would answer, to which Charlie interjected "Oh none of that please, it's just Charlie" with a smile as, by the time they arrived in the lobby, Lute and Emily had moved their activities inside as well as the 2 were giggling and snickering, it was honestly adorable to see.
That was until the sound of the doorbell rang, followed by 3 sharp knocks.
Bouncing towards the door with a pep in her step, the princess eagerly threw the door open for everyone to see as she happily exclaimed "Hello and welcome to the hazbi….oh….it's you…."
Her face would drop to a annoyed glare as the shape of the first man, Adam, stood in the door opening.
"Uhm….yo….sup….." he mumbled uncomfortably, his bat wings flitting anxiously.
By now, Vaggie had joined them, pulling out her spear as she glared at her former general "Haven't gloated enough, shitlord?" as behind her, Lute poked her head out and gave him a hopeful glance, mouthing the words "You know what to say"
The former first man uncomfortably rubbed the back of his head "Look…..i guess…..i'm sorry and shit…."
This caused Charlie to perk up "Wait…..you're saying you're here to….be redeemed?" to which Adam looked away, rubbing his arm.
"Ohhhh no, bad idea" Vaggie piped up as she stepped in between her girlfriend and the former first man "Charlie, you can't seriously be considering this, right?"
Taking a deep breath, Charlie spoke "Well….i'm not exactly happy to see him either….buuuuut the hotel IS all about second chances…sooooo…." After which, she gave Vaggie those infamous, pleading eyes.
Unable to resist her charm, Vaggie reluctantly relented "uuuuuhhhggg…..fiiiiiiiiine….BUT I'm keeping a VERY close eye on him.
After checking the first man into the hotel and assigning him a room, it wasn't long until Adam now sat on one of the sofas, surrounded by angry and mistrusting glares from the other guests.
"This seat taken?" He would hear next to him, as when he looked up, he'd be met with his former lieutenant and only friend "Knock yourself out I s'pose" and as he said so, Lute plopped down.
"Look…..i'm sorry about what I said about your wives" Lute spoke, which surprised Adam "I was angry and frustrated….i shouldn't have taken it all out on you like that…."
"No…no…you're right" Adam interjected "….i used to think I was untouchable….on top of the world…..but I guess you punched me in the face with the fucking truth…." To which Lute gave him a playful shoulder bump "Hey….i'm glad you came her anyway….you did the right thing…."
The 2 of them would banter a little more until suddenly, the weather outside began to pick up.
Sticking her head out of the window, Vaggie spoke up "Looks like a storm is coming, guess we can expect some acid rain" tho as she said this….Alastor would tense up, gripping his cane anxiously, almost as if he recognized this "Oh no, my dear…..this is no ordinary storm…"
Vaggie and Charlie looked at him confused at first, but they changed their minds when the rain droplets began to hit the window…and began to go upwards…
Another glance out of the window confirmed Vaggie's suspicions as a shadow had begun to make its way up the walkway towards the hotel when a voice began to call out.
"Princess Charlotte Morningstar?! I've come to bargain!"
Charlie grabbed Vaggie by the shoulders as she began to nervously shake her around "ohshitohshitohshitVaggie whatdoidowhatdoidoWHATDOIDO?!" as the unmistakable voice of the deep-sea demon rang out from outside.
"It is unwise to invoke the wrath of the storm, your highness…..the tide waits for no one….i am a patient woman but even I have my limits!"
Slowly pushing the door open, a shaking Charlie stepped outside, followed by Vaggie, wings out and angelic spear at the ready as the princess spoke up in a shaky voice "M-miss Tempest….to what d-do we owe the pleasure of this v-visit?" to which Vaggie would add "Why are you here?" in a stern tone, Charlie finishing with "A-are you….considering r-redemption?"
Unceremoniously inspecting the fingernails of one hand, Tempest didn't even meet Charlie's gaze as she spoke "A little birdie told me….that iis to say….i had been informed that your "darling little hotel" is currently housing someone…."
Summoning a sudden wave of water, Tempest would ride said wave as she ended up mere feet away from Charlie and Vaggie, making them flinch "…Someone that I'm looking for" as she slowly stepped closer, putting a finger under the princess' chin "I sincerely hope…that my informant was wrong…for your sake….and the guests of your hotel…"
Tempest would be met with the tip of an angelic spear as Vaggie had jumped in between the short overlord and her girlfriend "BACK THE FUCK OFF, BITCH!"
Raising a single eyebrow, Tempest spoke up "Perhaps you're new….and haven't heard about my methods…" As she whipped her hand up, as if pulling at some invisible force.
When she did this, tendrils of water erupted from the ground and wrapped themselves around Vaggie, who yelped out in shock.
"Let me make it as clear as possible for you to understand…every"thing" and every"one" who gets in the way of my goal is an obstacle…." She spoke as the tendrils moved Vaggie's face mere inches away from Tempest's.
"And you know what I do with obstacles?"
Vaggie shook her head.
Suddenly, the tendrils hurled the fallen angel towards the hotel "I ILIMINATE OBSTACLES!" as Vaggie crashed against a wall with the sound of cracking concrete as Vaggie clattered to the ground with a pained grunt, her left side screaming in pain as a small trickle of golden blood ran down the corner of her mouth.
"VAGGIE!" Charlie yelled as she ran towards her girlfriend, trying to help her up "Are you alright, hun?"
Giving her a pained grimace, Vaggie slowly got back to her feet as she clutched her side, recognizing the telltale sign of several broken ribs "I'm fine, babe….i'll live"
Theyr little moment of tenderness was interrupted by the sound of a gag and a scoff.
Glancing at the source of the sound, the found Tempest looking at them in disgust "Uhg…."love"….nothing but a big LIE…."
By now, Tempest had begun to close in on the fallen angel, circling her like a hungry shark as she stopped behind her and whispered in her ear "Piece of advice…..spare yourself the heartache and betrayal…some day, your precious little "love" will run out….and when it does….don't come crying…and don't say I didn't warn you…..little angel….."
Tempest would give a disappointed, yet stern sigh as she fixed her coat "But very well then…..i shall take my leave…." As she began to walk down the path, leaving the premise.
Tho just before she completely disappeared through the cast-iron gates, the glanced back over her shoulder one last time.
"BUT…..dear princess…if my informant turns out to be correct….and whoever I'm looking for is indeed housed within your walls…mark my words…..i will be back…" as she vanished…..
