When they arrived at the exorcist compound Michael was irritated. Why? Because as they drew closer, they passed through multiple shoddy barrier spells. Nothing powerful enough to stop them of course, no these were made to both keep normal winners out and the exorcists in. Adam's handywork then, Sera would have at least done it properly.
"To think he went to these lengths to keep us from knowing. Why didn't I investigate this sooner?"
"I understand how you feel my son, but please don't be too hard on yourself."
"Of course father, let us focus on the task at hand then." pushing past the last barrier he felt his anger rise seeing Lute pushing another exorcist to the ground while pointing her sword at her chest. He'd hoped that after their defeat they would at least attempt to see the error of their ways but from the various wounded exorcists performing drills he knew he was wrong. "Failure! Do you expect to avenge Adam if you can't even defend yourself. Did you even read my report?! Did you forget how they repelled us! They have angelic steel and can actually put up a fight! Half of us dead within five minutes! We can't fail again, so what do we do?"
When the masked angel shrugged Lute pushed deeper drawing golden blood so out of desperation the exorcist thought on her feet. "We come up with better tactics?"
"So, you do have a brain. That means you're smart enough to remember this. Next time you fail me I'll have your wings, if that traitor Vaggie could grow hers back in hell then yours's will to." A moment later her sword was flung into a nearby wall as Micheal had blasted it away having heard enough. "You will do no such thing!" Lut blinked for a moment before she and the others rushed to greet them.
"Lord Micheal and God, God sir! Glad to see you've returned. I was just retraining the exorcists for when Sera gives us the green light to continue our duty."
"Duty? Are you referring to your secret yearly incursions into Hell? Because those have been cancelled. And as for my dear sister, well she's serving in Hell until her trial."
"Cancelled?! But my lord they killed Adam!" she then turned to God believing he'd be on her side. "All ordered by Lucifer's brat! Not to mention that traitor Vaggie. Please sire just allow us one chance and I promise I'll end the threat before it begins. By my hand we will purge hell of its vile royal line."
God took in a breath before summoning a chalice of water taking a long drink before he beckoned her closer his expression never changing from a calm smile. Micheal however took a few steps back. Naturally she dropped to one knee in front of him smiling as she waited for his official decree. She wanted to fully remember God herself giving her his blessing.
What he actually said was something far different. "My granddaughter."
"...sir?" Does he mean me? I mean he created Adam and Adam technically created us sooo- "Charlie, Lucifer's brat as you called her is my granddaughter along with Emily." her eyes shot open as her blood ran cold. "One that in the two hours I've known her have come to love just as much as my other children. And how couldn't I? Believing the best even in demons, showing mercy even to her enemies, not to mention her capacity for love. . Now what were you saying about wanting to kill her?"
"I-I just-" "No no no no No, you're not going to talk, you're going to listen." feeling his gaze she slowly nodded. "Good, now I'm truly disappointed in my first man, see last time I saw him he and Eve were just getting used to having wings. Now I find he's reveling in bloodshed and slaughtering sinners for fun every year. His own descendants I might add. Not to mention the fact that he's dead, now Sera's already being partially punished for her part. Now I created those two, I loved those two, they each brought me joy and performed their roles before I left." with each word everyone there felt the usually bright and calm atmosphere of Heaven shift. It got colder, darker. Even still Lute preferred this to what she knew was no doubt coming. "But you? I didn't create you; I don't know you. All I've seen from you is rage and pride and a delight and willingness to commit suffering. So, my one-armed little exorcist, you'll have to be punished. Starting with what you did to Vaggie."
Just by hearing her name she shot to her feet. "The traitor disobeyed her orders! She failed in her duty as an exorcist and spared a sinner and I punished her! She's lucky I spared her life. She's no doubt the reason Lucifer's weak spawn even put up that much of a fight." it was half a second later that she realized her mistake. Because that was when she noticed God was no longer smiling, he was very very angry. So, she tried to backpaddle "I mean I only did what was in best interest to Heaven."
"hmph, so you show fear of being punished but no remorse for doing it? A shame, so I think you've earned a time out."
At this she sighed in relief, until she saw Micheal looking shocked. "Father, you don't mean..."
"Only for a time. Yes, I think a minute or two in the void should be more than enough." with that he waved his hand and Lute for lack of a better world disappeared. One second she was there, then the was a blur of black then nothing."Now as for the rest of you here's what's going to happen. You're going to turn in your weapons, masks, uniforms, then you're going obey Micheal's orders and hopefully through his guidance we can get you on a proper less murder filled path. Any questions?"
As expected, not a single hand rose. "Good to see we're all on the same page. Now I think it's been long enough so let's see how your former lieutenant is holding up."
When Lute reappeared, she was in the fettle position muttering "I'm sorry" in between sucking her thumb. To everyone that saw it looked as they she'd aged a thousand years in a minute. Micheal even felt pity for her. On the rare occasion he ventured there even he could only bare it for five minutes. And had his father's magic to protected him. The fact she was still sane was nothing short of a miracle. "So Lute, how did you like the void? Did you have fun? Did it help you to calm down?"
"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry."
"Yes, the void is rather terrifying I suppose. What with it being the birthplace of darkness and literally being the end of all things. Then again, I could have done much worse. In fact, I still might." his eyes darkened as he peered into her mind growing more irritated with each moment. She prides herself on her kill count!? Wait is that a fantasy of her wanting to harm Emily?! WHY!?...
...a potential threat!? He pulled back trying to repress the mental image of Sera telling her to simply break them and not rip them off.
"Perhaps I was wrong, perhaps all you deserve is a quick death." he'd just reached for her sword when Michael gently stopped his hand. "Father wait, perhaps there is another way. One more fitting to her crimes." curious he looked into his son's mind seeing the idea forming before chuckling. "That my son is why you're my right hand. I'll leave you to put that ball rolling." Though before he left, he used his powers and had the clouds swallow up their barracks and armory replacing them with a smaller version of Charlie's hotel.
With that being done he decided to check up on his other children. First, he teleported to the recovered garden of Eden where he saw Ariel lovingly tending to the flowers. Her long green hair tied in a hip length ponytail swayed back and forth as she moved to each plant telling them to grow big and strong as music played. "I see even after all this time you've kept Eden alive and well."
"Father!?" she questioned before launching into him squeezing him in a hug.
"Yes Ariel I'm back."
"For good this time?"
"Yes, for good this time. I've seen enough in the few hours I've been back to know I'm not taking any more vacations."
"Like what?" she asked looking naively pure. He then remembered as the archangel of nature being in nature was more her thing. And seeing as she'd begged him to move Eden up here and was known quite literally get lost in nature, he couldn't help but ask. "Ariel how long have you been here?"
"Not too long, a few centuries at most. Last time I left on checked up on Raphael. He seemed pretty worried about something called the black death. But knowing him I'm sure he can handle it, oh and I think I remember Sera mentioned something about a kid, no idea why she seemed so happy about a goat but I'm happy to see her loving nature."
"Riiiiiiight, about that..."
It took nearly an hour to tell her everything, and even more to make sure she understood. "So, I've had two nieces for centuries?!"
"Apparently." he showed her a picture of the two of them and she squealed causing the nearby plants to grow.
"And they're here right now? In Heaven? With Lucifer, who you said is also here?!"
"Yes, and I'm sure Charlie and Emily would love to meet you but as you can imagine I'm letting them have a sister night so please contain yourself until tomorrow."
"I can't wait to show them the garden." as she disappeared into Eden, he decided to seek out Rapheal finding him in the science district rushing from screen to screen. "Hello father."
"Rapheal, good to see you. I see you've been busy in my absence."
"Yes well, the world is ever changing and so my skills are constantly being tested. Diseases grow and evolve, and humans seem to always find a new way to harm themselves. Just last week Azazel mentioned something about a man doing something called a "volcano challenge" on something called toktick or something like that. Either way he died, shocker I know, but because he went viral, we have people trying to repeat it. So naturally people have been praying for guidance and healing from everything from burns to melted bones to volcanic gas poison. I swear every time I give them all the knowledge on how to stay alive and healthy the next day one human undoes all my progress. I even have a bet running with Gabriel that humans will go back to leeches within the next century just because some human says they're the true all-natural cure all."
"huuuuhh... well I make sure to send down a revelation. See if I can't help out."
"That would be greatly appreciated, now I suppose you're here to tell me about my nieces then? Or I suppose niece as I already knew of Emily."
"Yes, I want you to meet her."
"Already have, by sheer chance I ran into them when I was getting a snack. I must say Charlie is a lovely woman, lucky enough to inherit her father's looks while keeping her mother's height. Although from what I saw her hooves might need a proper trimming to prevent an imbalance in walking. I'll see to it myself naturally, even her blood is fascinating. A mixture of seraphim, demon and human." Before God could ask, he brought out a small red vial that even from here he could see the gold ichor mixed in.
"A small donation, one I promised to repay of course."
"Okay well just try not to ask for anymore."
"Relax father I meant no harm. I was only curious to how Lucifer did it. You were quite mad at Lilith, so your magic was quite potent. Perhaps I'll ask him when I'm done with my work. Yes, and I should run a few tests on him to make sure he's still healthy as Hell's climate is rather hazardous."
He left thankful that his son was still dedicated to his work.
God had just gotten a block away when he felt one of his children approaching at high speeds. "FAAAATTTHEEERR!" knowing the voice he turned just as Chamuel nearly crashed into him. "You're back! I just heard the news! You're back! Lucifer is back! And I have two nieces!" he let out a slightly painful laugh seeing Chamuel still looking like a child even after all this time.
Then again that's when we were all a family. Now he finds out Lucifer is back, and he's got two nieces, to him this much be the best day ever.
"Yes Chamuel I'm back for good and you have two nieces. As for Lucifer we'll he's not back for good, but he will be up here for some time as we work some things out."
"Finally! I've waited eons for you two to patch things up! I knew that if you could just talk you could start forgiving each other. And now he's finally back in Heaven after eons! Where is he?!"
"He should be in his room sleeping by now."
"I'll go join him!" with that he was gone. Happily soaring through the clouds and to his estate. "He always did see him and Michael as his big brothers. Knowing Lucifer, he'll try to resist but wind up inviting him to sleep together like old times."
Taking his lead God decided to check in on his granddaughters. With a thought he teleported outside Emily's room faintly hearing voices. "Charlie? Emily? Vaggie?" when he didn't get a response, he gently pushed open the door and had to hold himself back at the adorable sight that greeted him.
Atop a massive pile of pillows and blankets was Charlie with Emily snuggled up next to her with Vaggie on Charlie's other side. The voices he'd heard came from the tv that was showing what he believed was a movie.
Well now, this sight does take me back.
Looking at them he was reminded when he made Lucifer and Michael and how even as kids they were inseparable. After turning off the tv he started out the door when he remembered his talk with Raphael and got a bit curious.
Now normally he'd never peer into his children's souls without their permission but it would be easier to know them without having to look a scrying orb for hours. Besides I'll make it up to them later.
First came Emily. Focusing for a moment his eyes began faintly glowing pure white as he saw Emily's soul. Withing seconds he saw how her soul was like a full moon in the night sky, well a moon that had six wings and a halo but still.
Then he moved to Charlie. He'd be lying if wasn't more then curious about hers. What he saw next confirmed not only was she indeed Lucifer's child but a ball of excitement as her soul like her father's was a sun. A bright pink sun with horns and what he was sure was a set of wings, though hers seemed to be hidden.
Yet to tap her full potential huh? Well don't worry your grandpa will make sure you're up and flying before you leave. But what's this other bit?
It was incredibly faint but he could make out a small green line circling her soul. Curious he delved deeper and frowned.
What is this? Kind of looks like the proof of an oath, or promise maybe or...
...wait...
Using a bit more power he touched it hearing Charlie's worried groan. "Deal."
That's when he saw the memories of her deal with the demon overlord known as Alastor. How he'd come to her when she was distraught and promised to help in exchange for a favor.
It took all of his restraint to not make a single sound as he felt just how worried she was about this. How fearful she was that his favor would force her to do something terrible. Even if he had promised it wouldn't hurt anyone that still left a lot he could ask for.
But worse he felt how Charlie was planning to keep her word as Alastor had kept his. Oh Charlie, you honorable girl you. You'd probably be mad at me if I broke this wouldn't you? Even if you'd be relieved, you'd be guilty about it later.
Then again there was something he could do.
Placing a finger on the green line before forcing his own power through it overpowering it and changing the terms a bit...As well as sending a little message.
"I know you can hear this Alastor so listen up. When Charlie returns, you're going to call in your favor. And it will be for her to get you some special coffee from Heaven. Nothing more, agree to that and I'll withdraw my power." the string reacted violently shaking before settling down and he heard his raspy pain filled voice. "Understood." with that settled God withdrew and came face to face with Vaggie's shocked eyes. She opened her mouth, but he simply smiled and motioned for her to not speak.
Thankfully she just mouthed the words "Thank you" before hugging Charlie once more.
Down in hell Alastor clutched his arm still feeling the golden electricity that moments before had been arcing across his arm causing truly unbearable pain. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted to accept the new terms, but he was smart enough to cut his losses. "That coffee had better be the best in creation." only that would alleviate his pride.