Part One
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, the start of the witching hour :Husk stared at the bottle, open but undrunk, that he had been staring at for half an hour. With an act of supreme willpower, he screwed the cap back on the bottle.
"I did fucking good. I deserve a celebration. But Rosie is right. I'm not on my A-game. And you?" Husk pointed at the bottle. "You're not a celebration. I know a faker when I see one."
The bottle didn't answer. Almost seductively.
Husk unscrewed the cap again.
There was a knock at the door. In the quiet of the witching hour, it felt much louder than it really was.
Husk set the cap aside and got up, moving for the door.
He opened it to reveal a very tall, lanky owl demon dressed in royal finery. His cloak held the cosmos.
Husk took a moment to stare before giving the practiced greeting. "Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel." Husk stepped aside. "I'm guessing you are Stolas. Please, come in."
"Why thank you." Stolas ducked down to get through the door. "My, this is a place. Charlotte spared no expense, I see."
Husk reached to close the door, only for the door to close itself. And lock. He stared at it with a concerned scowl, mouthing: the fuck?
He turned back to the visitor, who was now standing in the parlor. "I'll get Charlie. Would you like a drink?"
Stolas politely declined. "Oh no, I won't be here long."
Husk shrugged. "Suit yourself." He flew up the stairs and was soon knocking on the door to Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's bedroom.
Then knocking more firmly. "Hey. Wake up. Your Goetia is here!"
Husk stepped back, staring as there was no sound from inside. He tried pounding harder, his demonic aspect briefly flaring. "Wake up!"
Nothing. His aspect receded as his brow furrowed. "Hey, Keekee!..." He stopped, reached out, and pressed his hand flat against the door, feeling a slight vibration.
Husk jerked back. "You've got to be kidding me!" He glared at the door.
It's three in the fucking morning!
Husk huffed and stomped his way back to the bar.
Stolas was sitting primly in the largest chair in the parlor. "Problem?"
Husk rolled his eyes. "When Charlie insisted I get her the moment you arrived, she forgot that she's soundproofed her fucking bedroom."
Stolas pulled out his phone. "Well, if you have her number, I can give her a call."
As Husk divulged Charlie's phone number, Angel Dust and Crymini stumbled into the parlor from opposite hallways.
Crymini, dressed in a shirt borrowed from Cherri Bomb's closet, was keeping to the wall, hyperalert, switchblade in hand
"What's with the fucking racket?" Angel Dust asked groggily. "What's on fire?"
Then the spider demon saw Stolas. "Woah! Okay, worth waking up early for." Angel Dust put on a silky smile and slipped up to Stolas' chair. "Hey there, mister tall, dark and tasty." The spider demon batted his eyes flirtatiously.
Husk rolled his eyes. "Christ."
Stolas leaned back from Angel Dust, surprised and flustered. "Oh my! um... hold on." He turned away, focusing on dialing Charlie's phone.
Deciding there was no immediate danger, Crymini straightened up and walked forward, casually pointing towards Stolas with her blade. "Who's the rich fuck?"
Angel Dust shot her a look. "I saw him first."
Crymini barked a laugh. "You can have him. I'll take his wallet though."
Husk huffed. "Will you two knock it off!?"
Stolas whisked through the air - a swirling streak of feathery black - and took a seat on the opposite chair in the parlor. He looked relieved when there was an answer on the phone.
"Miss Morningst..." Stolas's greeting faltered. His eyes widened at what he was hearing on the other end. "Oh my. Well then... Hello, Charlotte Morningstar, this is Stolas of the Goetia. I have arrived in your parlor with the cure for your 'someone'." The owl Goetia grinned with slightly sadistic mock enthusiasm. "But please, keep fucking. I'm sure it can wait."
Stolas hung up. "I believe she'll be down shortly."
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel parlor, the witching hour :
The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the lingering scent of Charlie's shampoo.
Charlie was disheveled, wearing hastily donned clothes and still damp from the fastest of all showers. Her hair cascaded behind her, unbound. Her face was flushed nearly the color of her suit.
Charlie babbled, "Again, I am so so so so sorry for the wait!"
Keekee rubbed herself against Charlie's hooves.
"I'm sorry for having to interrupt," Stolas replied with a slightly vengeful smirk which he quickly hid by drinking from the mug of coffee - mixed with whiskey and maple syrup, provided by Husk.
Sitting on either side of Charlie, Emily and Vaggie were both blushing as well. They were both more completely dressed but likewise wet, Vaggie's hair hanging straight, Emily's Heavenly raiment clinging to her damp body.
Admittedly, the inclusion of the unfallen angel he had seen before had taken him by surprise. The Goetia had spit a little of that coffee at that sight. This was his second cup.
Stolas produced a thermos from his cloak and handed it to Charlie. "You'll want to have your friend drink this, all of it, right away.
Charlie's face fell a little at the idea of trying to get Alastor, in the state she last saw him, to drink anything at her insistence. But she banished that thought, instead embracing how thankful she was for that cure.
"Stolas, thank you so much!" She paused. "I'm really sorry to have bound you. Belphegor didn't tell me that I would be forcing you to do something."
Angel Dust jolted. "Wait, what?"
Stolas smiled. "It comes with being a Goetia, Charlotte. I'm used to it."
Angel Dust frowned. "Doesn't make it right." He quickly raised his hands at Charlie's saddened look. "I'm not blaming you or anything. I'm just... I've been there, you know."
Charlie nodded to Angel Dust. Then looked to the Goetia, telling him earnestly, "If I ever need your help again, I'll ask. And you can totally say no. I wouldn't blame you at all."
Stolas smiled. "Thank you. Hopefully, you won't have to. Especially for something like this." He pulled out the bullet.
"This is a truly nasty poison," Stolas explained, geeking somberly. "It attaches itself to the victim's limbic system, altering and amplifying emotions. Over days, it begins to affect behavior patterns. If a demon is strong enough to survive, it will completely rewrite their personality."
Vaggie frowned. "That explains a lot."
"Fortunately, the cure is easy to make." Stolas pointed to the thermos. "The cocktail in there also includes medicine that will speed shedding the damage."
Crymini frowned. "Why not just kill him?"
Charlie shot Crymini a dark look, but the puppy demon rolled her eyes. "Gramps was right. I've gotten clean before by dying."
Husk humphed.
"Oh that will work," Stolas agreed. "But bear in mind that death has never been a psychological reset for sinner demons. They don't lose their memories, for example."
The owl Goetia explained, "Victims who die come back without the poison, but the damage done can take months to reverse, and by then new habits have usually been formed. It would take a lot longer for their original mental state to reassert itself opposed to taking the cure. Several poisons from the Greed Ring are extra nasty like that."
Charlie stood up, thermos in hand. "I'll take this to him right away."
Husk suggested. "Might want to take the Key with you. I wouldn't trust just asking her."
Keekee sat and stared at him.
"If I didn't know better, Charlie," Husk added, "I'd think your cat is having some sort of midlife crisis."
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, the witching hour :
There was no answer when she knocked. Charlie slipped the Key into the door, turning it. The door wrenched open, banging hard against the wall. Enough to send an oval-framed picture crashing to the floor. Wind howled into the room, screaming through the open doorway. Charlie's face was lit up by sickly green broken by stark white flashes.
The back half of the room was shattered, the fragments of the bayou floating in a flashing abyss of eldritch light.
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck..."
Charlie ran in, turning towards Alastor's bed, but not seeing him.
The flashes from the broken bayou were like being inside a thunderstorm. The difference in air pressure created a wind rushing to the back of the room. The roar mixed with the magnified hiss of radio static.
Charlie swiftly spotted Alastor laying on the floor on the opposite side of the bed next to a face-down cathedral radio. She scooped the Radio Demon into bed, propping him up.
Alastor was unconscious and unresponsive. He was barely smiling.
"Okay, okay, you are going to have to drink this..." Charlie frowned, looking about. "Okay, think, think... maybe a really long straw? I could pour it in without drowning him, maybe?"
"Holy wafers!" Emily gasped from the door, her words barely audible, the wind tugging at the feathers of her wings.
"Emily!" Charlie squashed the urge to scold her for following - Alastor would not approve of Emily seeing him like this at all. "I need some help!"
Emily stumbled to her against the wind, looking over Alastor with a compassion that transcended the young seraphim's rocky relationship with the Radio Demon. "Anything!"
"Can you... I dunno... open a tiny portal into his stomach that I can pour this into?" Charlie asked desperately. "Would that work?"
Emily cringed, not wanting to think about what would happen if it didn't work. "I don't think that would be a good idea."
Charlie frowned. "I think he'll swallow if we keep him upright. And pour really slowly." Charlie cringed, biting her lower lip. "And are lucky."
Emily blinked at that. "I'll get Husk."
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel bar, the end of the witching hour :
"I cannot believe I'm doing this," Husk stated.
Emily reminded him, "You said you wanted to use your power to help people."
"Not Alastor!" Husk sighed with a growl at Emily's pout. "Fine. I can't believe you're doing this either."
Emily reached out her hand. "I'm trusting you."
Husk shook his head. "Okay. This is a very simple favor Deal. The next person you tend to will swallow without choking for as long as it takes to drink the medicine you're giving him. In return, you owe me a favor of my choosing, specified before the deal is sealed."
Emily nodded, hand ready.
Stolas watched. "I must say, this sort of Dealmaking is highly irregular."
Angel Dust corrected, "This is fuckin' nuts."
Husk thought for a moment. "As for the favor, how about this: be nice and understanding with your sister all day today."
Emily glared. "Do you really want that to be something I'm forced to do?"
"You have a point."
Crymini suggested, "Just ask for a blowjob and be done with it."
Husk jerked, scowling and glaring. "Oh my fucking God, Crymini! Absolutely not! Fucking hell!"
Emily gasped. She whispered at Husk, "You can't say that." Then turned to glare at Crymini. "Rude!"
Stolas spoke up, "Might I suggest asking for her phone number."
Emily noted, "I don't have a phone."
"Iffin we're all makin' suggestions," Angel Dust offered, "Ask for a dance. At a time and place of her choosing."
"You know, that's not a bad idea. Thanks, Angel." Husk smiled at Emily, reaching out his hand. "The favor required in return is a dance. At a time and place of your choosing."
Emily grasped it. "Deal."
Runes of light erupted in the air and swirled about the two of them - hearts and diamonds, spades and clovers. The light show was vastly less impressive than the last one.
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, early morning breakfast:
Awoken by Keekee and drawn by the noise and smell of coffee, Cherri Bomb eventually joined the group in the parlor. With everyone awake, Charlie had called for an early morning breakfast, insisting it was the least they could do to thank Stolas.
Stolas insisted on conjuring some supplies from his own pantry. Now, the staff and residents of the hotel sat around the table, joined by Stolas, reveling in a meal crafted from fresh Wrath Ring imports.
Angel Dust admitted, "Ever since getting Fat Nuggets, I'd been avoiding bacon." He dangled a strip above his open mouth. "Why the fuck did I do that to myself?"
Between gobbles, Niffty mused, "I wish I could get ingredients like this for the Hotel."
Stolasa asked, "Have you tried visiting the other circles? Imp City is just a circle over, and the stores there get fresh imports from the Wrath Ring all the time."
Niffty blinked. "Other circles?"
"Pentagram City isn't the only city in the Pride Ring, Niff," Angel Dust explained, noting, "It's a bit of a commute though."
Charlie's face broke into a smile of inspiration. "Oooh. That's a fun idea! Maybe after Razzle comes back, we could all take a trip together."
Between forkfuls of seasoned eggs laced with cheese, Cherri Bomb commented, "Hey Crymini, I like your shirt. I have one exactly like it. Stain and all."
"I know," Crymini said. "Borrowing it. Niffty set my clothes on fire." The puppy demon wilted a little, ears flattening under Cherri Bomb's smirking stare. "Right, ask first. Sorry."
Cherri Bomb waved it off. "Don't sweat it. Looks good on ya."
Angel Dust glared at Crymini. "Speaking of askin': don't steal my phone. Ever."
Crymini blew off his recrimination. "Fine. I'm borrowing someone else's now anyway."
Half the people at the table checked their pockets.
Charlie announced, "It's mine. She has mine." She made a gimme motion at Crymini. The puppy demon grumpily handed over her phone
Charlie perked as she pocketed it, "Oooh, I just came up with tomorrow's lesson!"
"I want to be pissed," Angel Dust groused. "But it took them seven months to find all my drug stashes. So... self improvement takes time. The fact that Crymini is even here is kinda a huge baby step."
Crymini put in her earbuds and tuned everyone out.
Eventually, Stolas stood. "Well, thank you for the breakfast, Charlotte. It was lovely."
"Thank Niffty," Charlie said. "She's amazing!"
Niffty beamed at the praise.
Stolas smiled down at her. "Indeed you are."
The owl Goetia looked over Charlie, Vaggie and Emily. "I have to say, I'm happy to have met the three of you. It is a bit reassuring to see a healthy relationship that crosses so many social strata."
He leaned forward. "A bit of advice. Never, ever make the relationship contractual. Don't any of you ever let one of your partners think they have to be part of it."
Stolas straightened, a pained expression on his face. "That was my mistake. And I'm paying for it."
Charlie, Vaggie and Emily all quickly assured him that they would never, their words spilling over each other.
Charlie added, "And again, I am so sorry about binding you."
Stolas nodded to all three of them. "Seeing how easily you make Deals here, I was a little worried. But I'm pleased to hear the worry was for naught." He smiled. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off."
Charlie followed the Goetia to the front door. "Thank you again, Stolas. Without you, I don't want to think what would have happened to Alastor. But he's recovering. His room has even stopped falling apart."
Stolas blinked at that. Then bowed deeply. "Farewell, Princess Charlotte Morningstar, lovers and friends."
Niffty waved. "Bye!"
Cherri Bomb looked around crossly. "I swear if somebody here made another deal, I'm gonna shove a bomb up their arse."
Nobody admitted to anything.
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, early morning:
In a darkened back room, Emily watched Charlie unbox jugs of chemicals while muddling through a list of instructions by the light of Emily's halo.
Vaggie stood in the doorway. "Loves, why don't we go back to bed. We have a big day ahead of us, and we have done literally none of the sleeping part of sleeping together. If we can grab two hours, it will be better than building the Embassy on fumes."
Charlie unscrewed one of the jugs.
Vaggie's nose wrinkled. "Speaking of fumes."
Emily coughed, appalled. "That's foul! What is that?"
"It's chlorine. I don't smell anything." Charlie checked the label. "It's supposed to be odorless." She looked at Vaggie and Emily. "Maybe it only smells to angels?"
Emily pouted firmly, "I am not bathing in that."
"It won't be this concentrated," Charlie promised her. "We're supposed to mix it in the water for the Hotel's new hot tub to keep the water clean." She re-read the instructions and re-screwed the cap. "I'm thinking this is a job for Niffty."
"Bleh. You have to do that here? We don't need to do anything like that in our pools. Heaven stays clean because it's Heaven." Emily perked. "Oooh, maybe I could just bring some clean water from Heaven for you to use instead?"
Vaggie shook her head. "Bathing demons in holy water just sounds like a bad idea."
"You think it would hurt them!?" Emily asked.
"I think we don't want to find out." Vaggie coaxed, "Seriously, bed. Just a nap."
Emily did not need more excuse to leave the room and its lingering odor. "Oh, Vaggie, I've got news: you're an angel!"
Vaggie blinked. "You're just realizing this?"
Charlie followed out into the hallway. She practically purred, "Yes, yes she is."
Emily stuck out her tongue at Vaggie. "I mean, Heaven still considers you an angel. Not fallen or anything. Which means you're free to visit anytime."
Charlie brightened, gasping ecstatically. "Oooh! You know what that means? Heaven dates!"
Vaggie gave a small smile at Charlie's enthusiasm, then frowned at Emily. "What did you do?"
Emily promised, "Nothing! The Golden Library is still recording you."
Vaggie stopped. "It is!?" Her remaining eye widened with sudden understanding. With a mildly cross tone, she asked, "Is that what you were checking when you traumatized yourself?"
None of Emily's eyes could meet Vaggie's staring singular one. "Maaaaaaaaaybe."
Vaggie cursed softly, "Tonta del culo."
She froze for a moment, her eye going even wider. "Wait, everything I've done while in Hell is on record?"
Charlie stared. "What? That's... uh... that's a problem."
Emily nodded. "But don't worry. Before I left, I had privacy filters on everything intimate you've done down here. And I've presented the Court with a proposition to restrict all of it, except for the Exterminations, to requiring a request to view. Which would still make it publicly accessible, but adds a bunch of paperwork."
The seraphim sighed. "I can't just make it forbidden. That would look like I'm covering something up. And Heaven needs to be able to trust that I'm being open and honest with them as their High Seraphim. But the whole ideology behind the records is that angels aren't doing anything that needs to be hidden. And that ideal doesn't apply to demons. So since Vaggie's record would also include the activities of demons, I can justify the restriction for the sake of Hell's denizens."
Charlie clasped Emily's hands in her own. "I... wow. Thank you, Emily!"
The three walked down the hall. Vaggie's demeanor becoming more morose. Which Emily quickly picked up on. "I have not brought joy."
Vaggie admitted, "No. I mean, I don't want to go up there. My life is here. With Charlie." She saw Charlie's and Emily's sad puppy faces and added quickly, "Although Heaven dates would be okay."
Emily happy-clapped while Charlie cheered, "YES!"
Vaggie continued, "But... it's another thing to realize that there wasn't a single angel up there who cared that I went missing and looked into it."
Emily nearly stumbled. "Oh... oh Vaggie..."
"It... is what it is." Vaggie stared at nothing.
"Vaggie, you have an angel right here who will never not care. I'm sorry I didn't know you before. But if you disappeared now, there would be Heavenly search parties. I swear it!"
Vaggie smiled a little. "Thanks."
Charlie started to add in her ditto, but it collapsed. "I really wish I could say I'd have the demons of Hell looking for you too, but demons don't really care about royal authority. Or missing people." She paused, then promised brightly, "But I could rally the hotel to look!"
Vaggie turned her smile to Charlie. "Thanks hon. That's all I could want."
Charlie stopped. Then waved her hands. "Wait, wait, wait. Shouldn't Adam have at least looked up how the first angel was killed? The information was right there."
"Not that easy," Vaggie said.
"I'm pretty sure Adam never set foot in the Golden Library." Emily frowned. "I've had to read some of his reports. I'm convinced he was barely literate."
"He was," Vaggie told her. "He just never liked putting in the effort."
She turned to Charlie and sighed with a frustrated frown. "First, Emily is right about Adam and the Library. He probably never even considered it. Places of education really weren't his scene."
"Second, unless it was a ranking Exorcist who died, finding information about an Exorcist is practically impossible. There's a safeguard against that." Vaggie chose not to elaborate on that. It was way too late and she was way too tired to open up that proverbial can of worms.
"Third, even ranking Exorcists were forbidden from looking the Exterminations up in the Library," Vaggie told Charlie. "Sera didn't want the Exterminations leaking out because a bunch of my sisters wanted to relish in footage of their sport. Just in case they tried to anyway, I suspect there was a very similar restriction on the army's yearly extra-Heavenly activities."
Emily nodded. "There was. That's actually where I got the idea. Not that it stopped Molly."
Vaggie wondered aloud, "How'd that happen again?"
Emily looked aside, steepling her hands and blushing slightly. "To allow her and Sir Pentious unfettered ability to research soul bindings, I maaaaay have issued some teeny, tiny blanket permissions as a seraphim that overrode those restrictions."
She looked back to Charlie and Vaggie. "Anyway, one of the first Proclamations that I issued removed that restriction completely. Every angel should be allowed to know the truth about the Exterminations."
Vaggie stared flatly. "About them? Yes. Be allowed to see them? No. For fuck's sake, Emily! You're not just traumatizing yourself, you're letting other angels do it too? I'm surprised Heaven's not on fire."
Day Seven - Belphegor's Estate, Sloth, morning:
The massive, writhing cloud of inky black consolidated into Frederick von Eldritch. He approached the dining room table, taking a seat opposite Lucifer. Belphegor and Sera sat at opposite ends, the latter slowly finishing the bowl of fruit salad offered to her for breakfast.
Sera looked up from her fruit, insisting to Lucifer, "I'll be in the company of your daughter, my sister, and the Dealmaker who has the power of a seraphim..."
Lucifer clarified, "Your power, you mean."
Sera frowned. "...so I am certain safety shouldn't be a concern. And no, Lucifer. I don't want to consider that power mine anymore. He can have it."
"There are so many things wrong with that sentiment." Lucifer groaned, "Not the least of which being that my daughter has recently proven to be a magnet for attacks."
Frederick grinned, watching the exchange. "Have I missed anything?"
Belphegor answered, "Breakfast."
"That's fine. I've fed."
Sera tried not to look directly at Frederick. "Welcome back, Revenant of the Black Below."
Frederick smirked. "See? I know it's just Sera's way of protecting herself from familiarity; but when she says it, it sounds cool."
Lucifer said, "I'm pretty sure anyone normal would just find it annoying."
Frederick smiled at the compliment.
Belphegor asked, "What news do you bring?"
Frederick spidered his fingers across the dining table in front of him. "My interrogations of the other fallen angel have revealed much. Mostly bad, I'm afraid.
Sera looked to Lucifer. "Is Hell always in a state of crisis?"
Frederick stated, "It would appear Victor is coming into his true aspect."
"If so, bad would be an understatement," Belphegor responded. "Explain."
Frederick told them, "The other fallen angel was infected with a weaponized variant of the plague. One tailored specifically to be fatal to angels."
Sera dropped her fork which clattered into her bowl and stared directly at the von Eldritch for the first time since meeting him the morning before. "Tailored to angels?"
At Frederick's nod, Sera's demeanor collapsed into horror. Lucifer fared little better. "Is there any real chance this virus doesn't live up to Victor's ambitions? He's only tried it on one angel. A fallen one, at that."
"I wish that were likely," Belphegor said. "But considering what Victor was empowered to be? It is best to assume Victor's new creation is at least as bad as he intends it to be. And potentially much worse."
Sera made a strangled sound.
Frederick agreed. "Wherein lies the only mitigating news. This strain of his is so powerful that a demon contracting it should show symptoms almost immediately and be dead within hours. But according to my son, a canid demon was bitten by the fleas Victor used in his experimentation to no ill effect."
Lucifer blinked. "So Victor's toy is so engineered for angels that demons are immune?"
"Where is this demon now?" Belphegor asked.
Frederick replied, "Presumably back at Charlie's hotel."
Lucifer and Sera both jumped up, simultaneously shouting, "WHERE?!"
Belphegor calmly stated, "Lucifer, you should warn your daughter immediately."
Lucifer fretted. "But... but the demon didn't get sick, so Charlie's safe, right?"
Belphegor took a moment to consider. "Most likely. But there is a high chance the demon is now a carrier. I will need a sample of her blood to be sure. We should have her transported to Saint An's."
"That might be hard," Frederick told her. "Apparently, she is a sinner demon."
Sera looked to the Sin of Sloth with distress. "If she's a carrier, can she pass it to Emily?!"
Belphegor cocked her head. "That would depend on if she brought any of the fleas back with her."
"My son assures me that would not be the case. In his words, 'Niffty was all over that.'" Frederick smiled. "And I have scourged the area of Victor's Clinic of any remaining pests."
Lucifer's brow furrowed. "How, exactly?"
Frederick chuckled darkly, "My dearest, oldest friend. Haven't you learned not to ask questions you don't want the answers to?"
Lucifer laughed uncomfortably. "I didn't say anything."
Sera was beside herself. "Please! Is Emily in danger?"
Belphegor consoled her. "That is very unlikely. If the demon was a carrier, the demon would still have to bleed, and that blood would have to mix into Emily's own. It is Hell's experience that it is very hard for anything other than another angel to make an angel bleed."
Lucifer puffed out a breath. "Okay, we just need to tell Emily to avoid angelic steel for a few days while we find Victor and put him back in his cage."
Frederick frowned. "He's in the wind. I have a description of his vehicle, but he could be anywhere in Pride. It would be foolish to assume he's remained in the first circle."
Lucifer pushed down his own fears and considered that, "He'll want to return to it if he wants to play with his new toy." He looked to Sera. "You were right. I was wrong. You need to be with Emily today. Unless Victor knows where Lute is, you and Emily are his only targets."
"So I'm bait," Sera realized.
"I wasn't saying that."
Frederick said, "Yes, you are. And yes, you were."
Sera frowned but nodded. "Better me than Emily."
Day Seven - Outside the Courthouse, Heaven, morning:
Molly and Sir Pentious stood in a forest of building supplies on massive pallets. Sir Pentious slithered between the rows, performing a final checklist while Molly flirted with the provisioner.
Returning to Molly, Sir Pentious reported, "Yessss. Everything Emily ordered is here." He noted. "I really like the new windows."
Molly giggled. "All of them? Or just the stained glass one of you?"
Sir Pentious gasped dramatically. "What? Molly, do you think me vain? You wound me. Oh to my very core."
Molly's joy was broken by a scream. Sir Pentious could see panic on her face. Someone just screamed. In Heaven.
Molly broke into a run.
Sir Pentious slithered after her, but was unable to keep up with the four-legged spider angel.
They ran around the side of the Courthouse, racing in the direction of the sound. Molly turned one of the building's corners and disappeared in a brilliant flash of light.
Sir Pentious heard an angelic voice ring out like a church bell. "Cease this at once!"
Sir Pentious caught up to see Molly standing just outside a ring of angels. At the center was one of the angels of the Court, their head a blaze of angelic fire around golden rings of eyes. At their feet was an angel whose face and hair were gold with blood. Drops had stained one shoulder and the chest of her Exorcist uniform, and pooled on the golden street below.
"Return to your homes, pending the summons of the Court. This is over."
A bird angel glared down at the Exorcist. "This isn't over until every one of these fuckers is cast down! I know my mother deserved to be down there, but she didn't deserve to be killed! She... she could have gotten better!"
Molly was frozen, all her eyes open in horror.
Sir Pentious slipped past her to the hurt angel. "Here, let me help." He got her to her feet.
The Court angel lowered their voice. "Please, Sir Pentious, guide her to the infirmary. Thank you."
The Exorcist's eyes opened wide at the name. She violently shoved Sir Pentious away from her, stumbling back towards Molly. "Don't touch me!"
Sir Pentious cringed back. "Sssssorry..."
Molly grabbed the stumbling Exorcist and slammed her up against the Courthouse's outer wall. "He was trying to help you!"
The Exorcist glared at Molly, one eye swollen and filled with golden blood. "Are you on their side too?"
Molly hissed. "I have family down there too! I'm sure as fuck not on yours!"
She spun, tossing the Exorcist back towards Sir Pentious, who caught her before she could fall. "Now accept his help! We're taking you to the infirmary."
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, morning:
Charlie put away her phone while the others reacted to the news.
Crymini was barely keeping herself from screaming in frustration. "One little bug bite and now I'm fucking Typhoid Puppy?"
Charlie looked apologetic. "That's what dad said. Pretty much."
Vaggie grabbed Emily by the back of her collar as she swooped to deliver comfort hugs to Crymini. "Nope. You two stay at least six feet apart at all times."
"Ugh!" Vaggie grumped but remained firm in the onslaught of Emily's weapon-grade teary puppy eyes.
Charlie said, "Dad says we just have to make sure Crymini doesn't bleed on Emily when she's bleeding. That seems super easy."
Angel Dust looked Crymini up and down. "Better focus on keeping Emily safe. I saw how Niffty and Crymini looked coming home. Keeping the kid intact might be a lost cause."
The puppy teen growled. "I'm not a kid." She sat down aggressively to show her frustration, and immediately got a lap full of cat.
Angel Dust teased, "You are totally a kid."
Charlie waved. "Well, then we need to keep Emily away from angelic steel weapons. Easy."
Vaggie added, "Or other angels who might hurt her. And since Lute is under lock and key, there aren't any angels in Hell who would do that."
Emily watched everyone talking about her. "I'm not a porcelain doll."
Crymini petted Keekee with a look of rebellion.
Husk scoffed, "Well, that's not going to happen. Crymini should stay here. Besides, we need someone to watch the hotel. And you can't leave me behind this time."
Charlie's eyes widened. "You think we'll run into people wielding angelic steel during the rebuilding?"
Husk stared at her dryly. "Yes."
"Who? Why?"
Husk closed his eyes for a moment, pained at having to point out the obvious. "You are building a new Heaven Embassy. Out of Heavenly materials. What do you think their nails are made out of?"
"Fuck. He's right," Vaggie said, quickly clarifying, "I mean, they're not Exorcist weapons forged to destroy souls. But they are still angelic steel. And even if they weren't, angels can hurt angels. So Emily could hurt herself by accident."
Charlie whimpered at the thought. "Okay. Husk is right. Crymini and Niffty get to stay behind and greet any new guests. Please make them feel welcome. And don't steal anything from them."
At Crymini's sour glower, Charlie offered, "Maybe see if you two can get the hot tub working?"
Charlie turned to Emily, "Also..."
Emily interrupted. "I have to be there. And I have to help with the work. I'm the Ambassador. It's my Embassy."
Charlie said, "I know. Just... no power tools, okay? There are other ways to help."
She turned and crouched down, looking Keekee in the eye. "I'm trusting you to help Crymini and Niffty with the hotel, okay? Make sure new guests can come in. And keep out anyone who means harm."
Keekee rolled over and began licking herself.
Angel Dust snickered.
Charlie's phone rang. She pulled it out, answering, "Hello?" She listened, brow furrowing. "Yes, that's me. Who are you?"
"Oh! Oh yes, I know Angel Dust. He's amazing. And he's making tons of progress. Really, now that his chain is broken, I expect Heaven will be scooping him up any day now."
"Yes, that's what the Hazbin Hotel is for! To help rehabilitate sinners so they can go to Heaven. We've already had one success! If you're interested, we would love to have you come..." Charlie's excited pitch train was derailed by the voice on the other end. "Oh. Oh, okay. Sorry. Yes. Yes, he is."
"The chain of his demonic pact with Valentino." She saw Angel Dust cringe, mouthing What the fuck? at her. "Um... I maybe shouldn't have told you that. I don't think he wants me talking about that with... oh. Right."
"Um... I dunno. You'd have to ask him that. I could pass you to him. Or give you his number. Do you have Angel Dust's number? Oh, you do. Okay."
"Bye." Charlie looked at her phone a moment before hanging it up.
Angel Dust was struggling to reign in panic. "What... Who was that, Charlie?"
"That was Asmodeus. He said you listed me as a reference?"
Day Seven - Pentagram City center, late morning:
"We all know, three weeks ago, Sir Pentious rose,
And proved that Heaven's Gates were never really closed!"
Charlie sang as she and the others from the Hazbin Hotel gathered together at the graffiti-covered ruins of the Heaven Embassy. Vaggie joined in, singing in harmony with her partner.
"Don't you know, two weeks ago, our Emily,
Was made Ambassador of the Heaven Embassy!"
Emily joined the song as they looked down into the shallow crater with its pool of melted metal and glass. She was wearing her shirt which proclaimed I'm fine!
"Oh hello, one week ago, the laser show,
But that's okay, that tower really had to go!"
Emily waved with glee as a massive portal from Heaven opened, Molly and Sir Pentious singing as they ushered a golden hovercraft through, hauling the first massive pallets of supplies.
"Oh hey! It's now today! Angels and demons have come
To work together to build us a new one!"
Emily swooped over, giving first Sir Pentious then Molly a hug.
Vaggie tensed when Molly followed up the hug with a brief kiss. Charlie wrapped an arm around her, giving her a knowing snug.
"Sorry," Vaggie apologized quickly as they watch Emily converse animatedly with the other angels.
Charlie booped Vaggie's nose. "I'm so lucky things happened the way they did. If you came to Hell by falling, you'd have landed in the Envy ring and I'd never have found you."
Vaggie glared and pfffft'ed. "I forgave Lute. But if you want me to thank her, you're crazier than she is."
Emily, meanwhile, had stepped back, holding Molly at arms length. "Are you okay? Why do you have blood on you? What happened?"
"Long ssssstory. Well, actually, short story. Angels were beating up an Exorcist. We helped. The Exorcist, that is. To get to the infirmary."
Emily's pupils dilated. "What?"
Molly said, "Emi, I think we need to spend tomorrow working on that speech for Heaven. And maybe figure out what to do about the Exorcists."
"What do you mean, what to do? Angels do not kick other angels out of Heaven." Emily glanced back towards Charlie and Vaggie, giving them a little wave. She dropped her voice. "Molly, you know that."
"Yes," Molly agreed. "But maybe house arrest wouldn't be a bad idea. Confine them to the Courthouse?"
Sir Pentious frowned a little. "I'm not a fan of that."
Molly winced. "Sorry. I'm sure we can think of something better."
The spider angel drew herself up. "Later. First, presents!"
She shouted over to the others. "Cherri Bomb! Check it out!" Molly waved her arms, showing off Sir Pentious.
Sir Pentious waved awkwardly, smiling.
Molly called out, "Healthy and whole and ready to do a sex! Many sex! We'll build an Embassy with lots of rooms so you can do a sex in every one of them!"
Cherri Bomb laughed, her mood suddenly improved. "Ha!" The cyclopean demon leapt over and scooped up the heavily blushing snake angel while laughing. "Holy fuck, it's great t' see ya again! They been treatin' ya good up in Heaven?"
"Y-yesssss?"
Cherri Bomb said, "They better be!"
Angel Dust hugged Molly from behind.
Emily squeed happily as Molly playfully cried out, "Help! I'm being attacked by a giant spider!"
"Here, Emi." Molly passed a couple packages to Emily. "I'd give these to your girls myself, but I'm hopelessly trapped."
Angel Dust snickered.
Emily giggled and looked at the packages, which were labeled Charlie and Vaggie. She danced off to deliver the presents.
"I'm guessing these are our new shirts." Charlie said as she and Vaggie took their gifts from Emily. Charlie cocked her head, nodding towards a bit of still-standing structure. "Let's go change."
Emily started to follow, then looked down, realizing she was already wearing her I'm fine! shirt. There was the briefest look of loss in her eyes before she was distracted by the opening of another portal. This time, from somewhere much more pink.
"Sera!" Emily swooped over and embraced her sister as she and Lucifer stepped through.
"It is good to see you too, little sister."
Lucifer watched, smiling at the reunion. He then turned, looking around. His eyes fell on the winged feline demon standing apart, watching everyone else. He scowled a moment, then put on a smile as he approached. "Good morning... um... isn't it?"
Husk smirked knowingly. "Good morning, Lucifer." He let it be awkward for just a moment longer before noting, "Husk."
Lucifer smiled. "Of course. I knew that. I know the names of all of Charlie's friends." His smile disappeared as his eyes traced the chain back to Sera. "So, you're the one."
Husk nodded. "I'm the one. You planning on smiting me?"
Lucifer frowned. "The thought has occurred to me."
Husk stepped back.
"But I won't. Not because you are Charlie's friend. Or because Sera is standing up for you. But because for the last two days, she and I have had three meals together. Until that chain, I couldn't even get her out of bed."
Husk cocked his head. "You care for her."
Lucifer looked away. "There's a lot of work here. I really can't stay, but maybe I can help get things cleared before I go."
"Ah. More than she has cared for you."
Lucifer turned back to Husk, but saw Charlie and Vaggie approaching. "Charlie!" He smiled moving past Husk. "And Vaggie!"
Charlie waved happily. "Dad! I'm so happy you could make it! Please say you're staying! We could use the help. And I'd love to spend some more time with you!"
Lucifer paused, "Well... maybe for an hour. Glad to see you're..." He paused again, taking in their matching I'm doing fine! shirts. "...doing fine."
Lucifer stumbled forward as Emily hugged him from behind. "Lucifer!"
"Hello, Emily."
Lucifer's expression became neutral as he took in Emily's I'm fine! shirt. "Oh. Well that's a statement. Yes."
Emily waited for Sera to approach before asking just a little too loudly. "Soooo, do I start getting to call you 'dad' now too?"
Vaggie's eye widened. Then narrowed as her hand rose to her face, the woman becoming briefly lost in thought.
"Emily..." Sera stopped, staring.
Charlie blinked innocently. "What?"
Vaggie was pulled out of her thoughts, looking up to see Lucifer's and Sera's expressions. Vaggie looked at Emily, then down at her own shirt, and over at Charlie's. "Carajo."
She began to blush brightly, roaring, "MOLLY!"
Charlie's eyes darted between the shirts and she quickly became as red as the sky above Pentagram City. "Oh!"
Emily caught on immediately after and swooped over to the two spider siblings who were doubled over in laughter. "Stop teasing the Ambassador!"
Cherri Bomb and even Sir Pentious were snickering.
Sir Pentious looked at Emily, abashed. "Ssssssorry."
Cherri Bomb doubled down, "I'm not. Great one, Molly!"
Emily huffed, then flew back to her girlfriends.
Charlie fidgeted. "Should we... take them off?"
Husk asked, "Why? Everybody's seen them now. And construction can be messy work."
Fighting through her own blush, Emily said, "Well... at least Molly made sure they weren't lies anymore."
Day Seven - Hazbin Hotel, noon:
Crymini was double-checking the hot tub, just making sure there weren't any loose hoses or other obvious issues before filling it with water.
"And who might you be?"
Crymini jumped, hair rising on the nape of her neck. "Depends. Who the fuck are you?"
Alastor stood in the doorway to the hot tub room, hiding behind his smile. "I asked first."
Niffty dashed in. "Alastor! You're back!"
Alastor's eye twitched slightly and there was a soft hiss of radio static. "Indeed. Where's Charlie? And who is this?"
"Charlie's gone to build the new place for the angels. This is Crymini. She's really fun, especially in a fight. She finds stuff. Once she had fleas, but not anymore. And her blood is poisonous to angels, so we're making a giant bathtub."
Crymini gave Niffty a brief glare, then told Alastor, "What she said."
"A..." Alastor slumped a little against the doorframe, the air crackling around him. "... new guest, should I presume?"
Niffty nodnodnodded. "Yep! Along with Seviathan, but not really, and Leonard, but he's dead now."
Alastor took that in. "Apparently, I missed a lot while I was away. But I'm back now."
"Or, at least, will be," he amended. "After I take care of a few errands. Let Charlie know when you see her, won't you Niffty?"
Niffty nodded. "Got it!"
Alastor turned and walked out, using his staff to hide a slight limp.
Crymini stared at the empty doorway. "That's the fuck everyone's been freaking about?"
Niffty perked. "Ooooh, I should go too!"
Crymini frowned. "Where are you going?"
"Date!"
"Again? That's what, three this week?"
Niffty swooned. "Yes!"
Crymini stared down at the empty hot tub. "And what, I'm supposed to run the hotel by myself?"
"Nope! You have Keekee." Niffty dashed out.
Crymini stared. "Fuck it. Everybody here is insane. Full-blown, call-doc-needle, rubber-room-ready crazy."
Day Seven - Pentagram City center, noon:
Sera leaned over the embassy plans. "All right. Let's start simple. Look at these plans and write them in light over the grounds."
Husk looked from Sera to the plans and then to the plot of land in the center of Pentagram City that was, on some technical level, Heaven. The rubble had been cleared, largely thanks to the assistance of Lucifer. Now the real lessons would begin.
"Okay, how?" Husk asked.
Sera frowned. "What do you mean how?"
Husk's brow furrowed. "This isn't natural to me like it is to you. How do I do that? Do I focus? If so, on what, where? Is there some sort of mediation or something?"
Sera considered that. "You have already summoned angelic light. How did you do that?"
Emily watched.
Sir Pentious slithered up next to her. "Thisssss is going to take a while, issssn't it?"
Emily nodded.
Angel Dust commented, "We may have been too optimistic with the term rebuilding day. Maybe rebuilding week."
Cherri Bomb groused, "At this rate, rebuilding month."
Sir Pentious suggested, "I like rebuilding fortnight." He smiled wistfully. "It hasss a nice ring to it."
"Well of course. Things like this take time." Molly tilted her head. "Did you really expect to just montage through it in an afternoon."
"Thisss is Hell, Misss Molly. You'd be ssssurprised." Sir Pentious sang, reaching in Charlie's general direction in the most musical theater way possible.
"Did you know, six months ago, she took me in,
Charlie offered the hope that I could redeem my sins"
Backlit by the floorplan of light that Husk was sketching across the ground, Cherri Bomb sang back snarkily,
"Don'tcha know, three weeks ago, ya professed love,
Kissed me, ya cunt, then fuckin' vanished above."
Angel Dust added as the floorplan behind them became a full wireframe of angelic light:
"Then hello, one week ago, our reunion,
"You had Pentious, and I saw Molly again!"
Husk sang back at them as he began highlighting the building materials to be assigned to each part of the angelic wireframe,
"What the hey, yesterday I barely knew a thing,
"At this rate I think we'll be done by evening!"
Sera stepped back, staring at what was happening around her. "This..." Sera dropped her voice to a whisper only an angel could hear. "I can't believe she was right."
Emily whispered back, "Who?" She never got her answer because her girlfriends' conversation distracted her.
"Okay, I officially give up." Vaggie stopped pushing the wheelbarrow of screws she was hauling and looked to Charlie. "You were right. I was wrong. Hell is literally built on the power of musicals."
Emily giggled, "Or, at least, this part of Heaven is!"
Charlie fist-pumped. "Fuck yes!"
Charlie straightened up, stowing her grin, and put on a refined voice. "I mean, I graciously accept this theological victory. Thank you, Vaggie."
Day Seven - ?, afternoon:
Her heart hammered in her chest. Her body had locked in a terror paralysis. Her nerves screamed to flee.
I don't flee. I fight!
She knew this, but her body and instincts had forgotten. This was then, before Adam trained her to fight. Even before they killed her. She could smell the alcohol on their breaths. She felt the bruises spread across her back and legs as she was slammed against the wall. She bit back a squeal as one of them roughly wrenched her Bible from her hands.
This is a nightmare. Just another nightmare that abomination is forcing on me.
It didn't matter. The pain was vague, ethereal. The fear was acute, like knives in her mind.
They had taken everything from her. Even, eventually, her life. Everything but the one thing they could never take. The fact that she was right!
Heaven wasn't paradise. Heaven was vindication.
I've lost Heaven. The Elders cast me down. And the Elders never make mistakes.
Victor's voice floated back. "Let's see what's at the core of you." The words were always slightly different, the intent always the same.
The thing disguising itself as a plague doctor had tried. He'd pierced and bored, cut and dug. Trying to find the core of her in her body. With a fierce spark of pride, she reveled in his failure. He learned nothing, but she had learned Who he was. What he was. He had let it slip.
Her guts churned as the brutal, relentless headache flooded back. She was in the basement clinic. Victor was holding up the borer. "This is going to hurt."
It HURT.
Another voice, crueler. "Answer my questions and the nightmares stop."
The abomination from the deepest pit. Frederick, or so he'd introduced himself. The terror that threatened to make her heart explode, the cold fear that cut into her nerves, they were gifts from him. Victor had violated her body at a level far deeper than rape. Frederick had violated her mind.
"Do you have any phobias? Don't tell me. I like to find out for myself. And if you don't, you will."
"I won't tell you a fucking thing, you soulless monster," she'd spat. Compared to the last guy, Frederick had seemed like a step down. At first.
"Good. That will make this more fun."
The nightmare shifted. She was running, her muscles tired and burning. The panic pounded in her head, trying to destroy that kernel of self-awareness that told her this wasn't real. It was real, and she had to run or she would die. Permanently. Because she was one of them now. She deserved death.
She stumbled, crashing to the broken asphalt of one of Hell's endless back alleys. She felt them surround her. Her sisters. She looked up, her heart thumping so fast it hurt. Her body cringing like a terrified rabbit. She expected them to all be herself. Or, sickly, that cunt Vaggie.
They were all Adam.
"Please no."
Adam sneered at her. "You thought you deserved Heaven? Love? Power? God, you're more pathetic than I thought, Lute. Fuckin' die already."
She curled into a ball. No longer needing Frederick to suppress her fight instinct. She was fallen. A demon. She deserved death. She was what she hunted.
"Answer the question," Frederick's voice cut through the nightmare.
"I don't know!" she wailed back. "I don't know anything else!"
"Let's see if a few hours reliving the worst moment of your existence jogs your memory."
This is a nightmare. This already happened. Please, please, please don't do this to me again!
Another voice, soft, hesitant. "Father, she's had enough."
"Don't interrupt my work, boy, unless you want to spend the next week reliving all your least favorite memories of your mother. ...Now, where was I?"
No, please no!
The nightmare shifted once more, and she was in the worst place imaginable, far more so than Hell.
She was at the Throne.
Please... just let me speak...
They did not. The Elders began to carve at her soul, peeling it away, getting to the true core of her. There was no pain. It was pure, existential anguish. She wasn't meant to remember this. Even the Throne was not that cruel. But Frederick had made her remember it anyway. All of it. Over and over again.
Victor had violated her body. Frederick had violated her mind. The Elders Above had violated her soul.
No more. Please!
The nightmare shattered.
Day Seven - von Eldritch Estate, afternoon:
Lute jerked awake, drenched in sweat. She kicked, the heavy chains clattering, and pushed herself up on her remaining arm. She looked around frantically.
Her cage. The "date collection" room. She was still here.
Frederick, mercifully, was not. He had gone. He'd been gone for hours. It was, she told herself again, just a nightmare. A vicious one, likely fed by the power of the Other that the abomination had used on her. How many more nights before that faded?
She curled up against the back of her cage, wiping away her traitorous tears.
A cry from someplace nearby caught her attention. A sharp crack. A yelp of pain. A moan. Someone else was being tortured in the next room. Another moan. Lute scowled hatefully as she realized that wasn't a sound of agony. No, quite the opposite.
"Hell is meant to suck a lot," she whispered to herself. But this was beyond the pale. How much more trauma until there was nothing left of her?
"I don't deserve this," Lute insisted. But she remembered the Throne. She remembered being pulled apart until there was nothing left but the very core of her being. She remembered how pathetic she felt. How the Elders Above looked and found her wanting. They decided she deserved this. And the Elders Above were the greatest of angels. They don't make mistakes.
It was the truth at the center of her universe. And it was a lie.
"They made a mistake," Lute decided. "Even I don't deserve this. Nobody deserves this."
The noises in the next room had stopped. The door at the far end of the "date collection" room opened, revealing part of the room beyond. Somewhere out of sight, a very stark and low-set light blasted the visible wall, desaturating the grotesque wallpaper above the silhouette of a body laying limply on the floor.
Something slipped in.
Lute drew herself up, even as her heart cringed, and put on a brave face for her next torturer.
The demon who entered didn't even seem to notice her. She was a tiny thing that skittered about. She took a mat and tossed it over the blade of the wooden horse, then scampered up it to reach the line of whips and crops hanging from a line of wooden pegs. She chose a cat o' nine tails, tugging it down.
Lute's eyes widened then narrowed as she recognized the little she-demon. The skin-tight black latex thing she was wearing threw her at first. But the moment the demon turned around, Lute recognized the sinner who killed Adam.
Niffty playfully whipped the cat o'nine tails and cackled.
"You!"
Niffty blinked. "Oh, hi Lute!" She looked towards the open door. "Seviathan's resting." Her eye narrowed, her pupil shrinking, her grin cutting across her face like a knife. '"After he heals, it's my turn to be punished!"' Her laughter was like a crackling fire.
Lute's face twisted in revulsion.
Niffty's attention was caught by the tattered suit hanging on the wall near the door. "Ooh, I remember that date!"
This was the demon who killed Adam. And she was going on dates and having freaky sex in the next room?
Lute lunged forward, the chain to her manacled wrist pulling taut just as she grabbed one of the bars at the front of her cage and pulled her face to it. "Hell is forever, so I've got a very long time to find a way out of this. And when I do, I'm going to make you pay!"
Niffty turned back to Lute, jumping down from the wooden horse. "You're a mess."
Lute's eyes widened. She would not be judged by this sinner!
"Not compared to what you're going to look like when I get my hands... hand on you," Lute snarled, grateful for this demon being here. Something to hate gave her focus. Let her ignore the nightmares.
Niffty looked at her missing arm. "Oooh. I forgot." She frowned. "The Valentino in my head loves you anyway. Even more for tearing off your arm like that. But I don't know if the real one will."
Lute felt derailed. "What are you talking about?"
"You and Valentino!" Niffty said with a terrifying smile. "Seviathan and I are going to help you get together before the cannibals eat you."
Lute felt her gut drop. Her mind asked, Are they going to kill me first or just eat me alive?
She wanted to seethe and scream I will not be a victim! but the last several days had brutally proved her wrong. Again and again.
Niffty walked up to the cage. Lute tried to grab at her through the bars, but she was at the end of her chains.
"I know you aren't the Lute in my head," Niffty said. "But I really, really think you and Valentino could find true love and be happy. He's evil, just like you."
Lute's glare dissolved into a stare. "I'm not evil."
Niffty laughed. A lot. And then even more.
Lute growled, flexing her wings. But the laughter continued longer than she could maintain it. Disturbingly longer.
The silhouette on the wall outside shifted, sitting up. From the room beyond, she heard a familiar voice. "Hey, girl. Ready for round four?"
Father, she's had enough.
Memories began to flood back to her. Small, secret mercies from the abomination's boy, slipped in between the long sessions of horror.
Niffty spun, the angel in the cage completely forgotten. "Yes!"
Lute watched as she raced out, disappearing into the room beyond. But her silhouette rose up on the wall, several times the size of the she-demon herself. The figure of the male embraced her.
Lute closed her eyes and whispered, "Adam..." She loved him. And while he never said it. Or really acted like it. She knew he loved her too. It was something she was right about.
And that lowly, disgusting creature in there killed him.
Lute opened her eyes again, glowing red and she gripped the bars of her cage with both hands as she stared at that silhouette dancing on the wall, slowly being enwrapped by...
Okay, those were tentacles.
Lute's demonic aspect faded abruptly as she pushed herself as far back in her cage as she could and resolutely kept her eyes closed. But she could still hear what was happening in the next room. And that was an entirely different kind of torture.
Day Seven - Pentagram City center, afternoon:
Angel Dust and Vaggie drove the last nails into the wall frame laying on the floor, then stepped back as a soft light enveloped it and placed it standing in position. Charlie and Sir Pentious moved in to secure the upright frame in place.
A golden portal opened. Molly stepped through, holding bright pastel boxes. "Break time! Heavenly confections!"
Emily swooped through, closing the portal, as Molly began to pass around pastries from Heaven.
"Just be sure to save a cinnamon roll for the cinnamon roll," Molly instructed.
Emily rolled her eyes.
Cherri Bomb snickered, "So I'm not the only one who thinks that? Good to know." She looked over the selection. "Wow. Ya must have an Aussie baker up there. These are done right."
Angel Dust took a creme-filled donut. "How could you not? Look at her."
Emily flew down, taking the cinnamon roll at Molly's insistence. "I better get a donut too."
Vaggie teased, "Just think of it as meeting Rosie halfway."
Molly smiled. "I made sure to bring enough for everyone to have their fill, Emi."
Soon, everyone was enjoying several minutes of rest and sweetness.
Emily sat down between Sera and Husk. "You're doing amazing, Husk!"
"Heh, thanks," Husk said. "Your sister's a good teacher."
Molly finished her first donut and wiped her hands before hopping up and moving back a little. She pulled out her phone, taking a picture of everyone.
Charlie jumped up as soon as the spider angel was done. "Ooh, ooh, here let me hold it so you can get in!"
Molly shrugged, "Sure. But it really isn't the same without you, Vaggie and Emily all in the shot."
Charlie gave her a smirking glare as she took the phone from Molly.
Molly walked over to Angel Dust, wrapping her arms around him and posing for the picture. Then grabbed a second donut.
"Okay, why am I a cinnamon roll?" Emily finally asked. She took a bite and yummed, licking her lips, then her fingers. "Are you saying I'm sticky?"
Angel Dust couldn't help himself. "Bet you were sticky this morning."
Emily froze in the middle of sucking the glazing from one finger, her face flushing.
Sera said, "So the shirts really are accurate."
Charlie hid her face.
Vaggie growled at Angel Dust, fighting and failing to find an expletive that wouldn't bother Emily and that Angel Dust couldn't twist to make things worse. "Could you not!?"
Molly perked. "Oh Em Gee! That's right! You got the Charliegasm protectors! Come on, Emi: deets!"
Sera said flatly, "Please no 'deets'. I'm eating."
"Fair." Molly sat down across from Sera. "It's actually pretty keen of you to be helping like this. I really didn't expect that." At Sera's slight flinch, she added, "It's great to see you and Emily together too."
Sera could not disagree. "Thank you, Molly."
Molly's expression shifted to one of concern. "How are you... handling everything?"
"It is an adjustment, but nothing I cannot handle," Sera lied. "I am doing well."
Emily stared at her.
Molly nodded. "Okay, now tell the truth."
Sera sighed. "You are an annoying spider."
Vaggie said, "Runs in the family."
Angel Dust smirked.
Sera looked at everyone. They were all looking back at her. Waiting patiently. Even Emily.
"I am resigned to it. But the truth is, I have not been handling it. Until the chain I forged with Husk, I wasn't even able to begin to. The most I've been able to do is accept that I deserved to fall. And that was not difficult. If anything, I am surprised it took the Elders Above so long to act. My fall has been coming for a very long time."
She could not keep a little bitterness from her voice. "If complacency and an unwillingness to rock the ark are a path to Sloth, and they clearly are, then maybe some of Them should be down there with me."
Sir Pentious slid over, looking up at her. "Do you... want to talk about it?"
Sera looked at him with surprise. "Why? These are my problems. And I brought them on myself."
Sir Pentious fidgeted awkwardly. "I know is sssssounds crazy, but Charlie has taught ussss that ssssharing our feelingssss helps. And it really doessss."
Charlie happied at Sir Pentious.
Husk agreed. "Yeah, trust me, sharing the load is a huge help."
Sera felt Emily take her hand and squeeze it encouragingly. She closed her eyes. "Fine. I just... don't want to deal with it anymore. Any of it. I spent my existence in Heaven under pressure. Needing to keep everyone safe. To keep everything running without any issues. Without any reason for discontent. When Adam told me you... demons... were uprising..."
"I have spent longer than I remember being the person I thought I had to be rather than someone I wanted to be. I sinned. I allowed the Exterminations because I believed they were necessary not because I thought they were moral. I knew they were not. What I let Adam and his Exorcists do weighed heavily on me every year. And at times, I turned to even more immoral avenues for solace."
I am in Hell. Fallen. My greatest sins are laid bare. Why lie about lesser ones. What is the point in maintaining a façade?
Angel Dust's eyebrows rose. "I didn't think they had drugs in Heaven."
"They have Molly," Cherri Bomb reminded him playfully.
"Ha!" Molly blew a raspberry at her.
Angel Dust huffed. "Don't even start."
Husk said, "I'm thinking wine."
Sera admitted, "Husk... is not wrong. There were times I indulged beyond what was decent. But I was speaking of adultery. There were times I took refuge in the arms of a woman who, while separated from her husband, was not truly divorced. I am the very symbol of angels making mistakes."
Molly's eyebrows rose just as her brother's had. "Well, if it's any comfort, can't fault you for that one. Everyone needs the comfort of another. And in my experience, most separations are because there's something toxic about the relationship. So it may have been a blessing for her too."
Sera looked at her in surprise. "That is kind of you to say, Molly."
Husk questioned, "There are toxic relationships in Heaven?"
"They are extremely rare," Molly insisted, "And Heaven facilitates separation and healing. But, well, Adam was a thing. So yes."
The spider angel paused. "And now I'm wondering if the husband is in my polycule."
Sera assured her, "Given that he is in Hell, probably not."
Angel Dust noted, "That is a lot of separation."
He turned to Sera, "Look, I dunno if I'm really someone you want to hear from. But I have a lot of experience being someone I don't want to be because it was someone I felt I had to be. I was forced to do horrible things. And then I did shitty things to try to feel in control."
He spread his arms. "These people are the ones who pulled me out of that. Your sister included. Hell, her and Husk most of all."
Angel Dust grinned as he sang.
"You should know four months ago, a companion,
Helped me see I'm a loser but not alone.
And you know, nine days ago, your Embassy's,
Angels learned to break my chain and set me free."
Husk joined in.
"So we grow. Eight days ago, my Contract burned,
My own soul was freed and my power returned"
They look expectantly at Sera, who sighed. Rolled all her eyes. And sang.
"And although, two days ago, you took my grace,
That chain has freed me to live again in this place."
Charlie was smiling at her. A lot.
Sera huffed. "You're all incorrigible."
Angel Dust laughed. "It's our most redeeming feature."
Sera stared at him, shaking her head. She could not help but smile just a little.
Emily leaned against her sister, smiling a lot. "See! Happiness in Hell isn't a bad thing."
"I... never said it was."