Chapter 6.

Charlie was feeling pretty down today, the hotel still hadn't had any new guests since it's reopening, and the riots out on the streets seemed to only be getting worse, despite Lucifer's best attempts to calm things down.

Charlie came down the stairs and entered the lobby, where Angel and Vaggie was watching the news on TV, "Has there been any improvements" asked Charlie struggling to maintain her usual enthusiasm.

Angel quickly changed the channel to a Verosika music show, "Do yourself a favour Char, don't watch that shit" he said, Charlie sank down into a seat next to Vaggie, she could only imagine how bad it must be getting.

Vaggie put an arm around Charlie, "Come on, a sad face doesn't suit you" she said trying to sound reassuring, Charlie let out a deep sigh, "I really thought that my Dad would have been able to stop all of these riots".

"Sorry princess, but your Dad doesn't exactly have much respect around here, that tends to happen when your out of the game for so long" said Husk from his usual spot at the bar, Vaggie gave Husk a threatening look, "What, I'm just being honest" shrugged Husk as he opened a bottle of whiskey.

Charlie pulled her legs up to her chest, "How are we supposed to show Heaven that people can be redeemed if they keep killing and rioting like this" she sniffed trying to hold herself together, Vaggie now put both of her arms around Charlie and pulled her close.

"What difference would it make, you saw how Heaven attacked the hotel last time, they clearly don't care about redeeming people" said Angel, "We have to keep trying, if we can redeem just one person then Heaven will have to listen" said Charlie as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.

Just then, they all heard a frantic knock at the door, everyone looked at the door as if it had just started talking, "Holy shit, did someone actually knock instead of blowing the door off" said Angel as he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Charlie gasped "What if it's a new guest, what if someone what's to work on redemption" with each word it sounded like her usual hope was returning, "Probably just some scam artiest salesmen" muttered Husk quiet enough so that the others wouldn't hear him.

Charlie jumped out of her seat and ran to the door with a spring in her step, upon reaching the door Charlie took a moment to straighten her clothes, neaten her hair and took a deep breath to calm herself, she had to make a good first impression on whoever their new guest was.

Unable to contain her excitement, Charlie threw open the door, "Welcome to the Haz... Emily?" Charlie couldn't believe her eyes, for a moment she thought that she must have taken some of Angel's drugs by mistake.

Standing right there in front of Charlie was Emily, and she looked like she'd just been dragged all around Hell twice, her face and hair was filthy, her dress was ruined, and she looked terrified and exhausted.

Just then, it seemed that whatever strength that was keeping Emily standing finally left her and she fell forwards, Charlie acted fast and caught Emily before she could hit the ground.

"Emily, Emily" called Charlie filled with worry, but Emily didn't respond, Charlie quickly checked Emily and was relived to see that she was still breathing steadily, but she did seem to have passed out.

A dozen emotions was running through Charlie all at once, worry, confusion, sadness, how was Emily here, why was she here, and why was she in such a terrible condition.

Realising that she was still holding Emily at the front door, Charlie pulled the angel inside and then closed the door with her foot, Charlie hoisted Emily up onto her shoulder and started to carry her into the lobby.

As Charlie reached the lobby she called to her girlfriend, "Vaggie, give me a hand with her", everyone looked at Charlie carrying Emily, some of them was shocked and some was confused, Vaggie was already on her feet and running to help Charlie.

Vaggie helped Charlie to support Emily, as she did so she realised who she was holding, "Wait, is this, Emily" she asked trying to make sense of this, "Yes, now hurry up and get her onto the sofa" said Charlie still very much worried about Emily.

The two laid Emily onto one of the sofas, she was still unconscious, Angel leaned over the sofa that he was laying on to get a better look, "Whow, that girl looks like she's been through Hell" he said laughing at his own joke.

But neither Charlie or Vaggie was laughing or found any humour in what Angel had said, Charlie looked like she wanted to cry and Vaggie was examining Emily's body, "Her, her halo's missing" said Vaggie looking white as a sheet.

Both Angel and Husk took notice of what Vaggie had said, "Er, wait, did you say halo" asked Angel all of the humour had left his voice, Vaggie nodded sadly, "Are you telling me that you just dragged a fucking angel in here" said Husk throwing his drink to the side.

"No, I mean yes, I mean Emily's not like that" stuttered Charlie, "Charlie, are you forgetting that the angels attacked us just a couple of weeks ago" said Angel now moving away from Emily.

"No, Emily's not like that, she's nice, she supported us" said Charlie trying to explain, "She's right, back when we was in Heaven, Emily was the only angel who sided with us against the exterminations" said Vaggie but there wasn't much life in her voice, "Well if she doesn't want to kill us, then why the hell is she in Hell" asked Husk.

Vaggie looked at Charlie sadly, "Charlie, she doesn't have a halo any more, that means" she said sounding completely devastated, she knew how Emily must be feeling, she'd been through this herself.

Charlie's hands came up to her mouth as she gasped, before she had been too concerned with getting Emily inside to fully realise what was going on, but now it all came to her, "She's fallen" she said in barely more than a whisper.

This sparked Angel's interest, "Fallen, you mean like, she been thrown out of Heaven, fallen" he asked, Charlie nodded "Yes, but why would they banish Emily, she was the sweetest angel I met while I was up there" she said.

"Isn't it obvious" said Husk as he retrieved his bottle and took a drink, the others all looked at him questioningly, "You said she was the only one who sided with you against the exterminations, clearly Heaven didn't like that" he continued as he chugged his whiskey.

"No, they wouldn't do that, would they" asked Charlie as she looked to Vaggie for answers, Vaggie could only sigh, she'd been left here in Hell for just showing a little mercy to a sinner, so if Emily had been speaking out against the exterminations, "Charlie, they, they might have" she said.

Just then, Emily twitched and squirmed as she let out a moan of pain, Vaggie immediately checked her, "Charlie, she's burning up" she said filled with worry as she put her hand on Emily's forehead.

Charlie started to panic, "What do we do, what do we do" she asked, Husk shrugged, "Don't look at me, I don't know anything about sick angels, well, except for that sicko" he said as he pointed at Angel with his thumb.

Charlie ran to Emily's side, the poor angel was breathing heavily, her face was red and she kept twitching, "Vaggie, what's wrong with her" she asked, "I, I don't know, I've never seen something like this, its like she's sick, but angels don't get sick, do they?" said Vaggie as she tried to help Emily.

"Charlie, try calling your Dad, he might know what's going on" said Vaggie turning to Charlie, "My Dad? Yes, my Dad, he'll know what's going on" said Charlie as she pulled out her phone and called Lucifer's number.

There was a tense moment as Charlie waited for her Dad to answer the phone, but then she heard his voice, "Hey Charlie" he said, Charlie immediately blurted out very quickly "Dad, we need you here now, there's an emergency".

At that moment a golden portal appeared in the centre of the lobby and Lucifer stepped through, "I came as soon as I could" he said as he returned his phone to his pocket.