Later that evening, Terra, Husk, and Angel finished moving her stuff upstairs with the help of the rest of the residents.
Now, everyone was downstairs sitting by the fireplace. Now that she was a resident, Terra knew her new housemates deserved a warning, so she gathered them there and told them the truth. Needless to say, they were surprised.
Lucifer spoke, "So, you're telling me that that prudish bellboy actually slept with a prostitute?"
"A former prostitute, short king," Angel corrected.
"Why should that matter? Don't make any difference now. Besides, I've partied with this girl a bunch. She's great!" Cherri said before turning back to Terra. "You know you're alright with me, girly."
"Thanks," Terra said with a warm smile. "I just hope I don't end up fucking you over by being here."
"I didn't think Alastor could feel love," Vaggie added.
"Come on, Vaggie," Charlie assured. "Anyone can feel love. We shouldn't be surprised that Alastor had connections in his past life."
"Alastor had a wife!" Niffty squealed excitedly. "How romantic!"
"As I said before, my mom and Alastor were never married," Terra interjected annoyedly. "She married my stepdad because Alastor was dragging his feet. And second of all, y'all aren't taking this as seriously as you need to. When he finds out who I am, he's going to flip his lid."
"She's right," Husk added. "I've known Alastor a long time. The Radio Demon doesn't take lightly to secrets being kept from him, especially not one as big as her. I've only managed to hide the fact that I even know Terra this long because he has never asked about her…"
"So, how did you two meet her?" interrupted Lucifer.
"That's not important right now, Your Highness," snapped Terra. "We need to make a plan to deal with Alastor. Don't any of you realize how dangerous the Radio Demon is? Haven't you heard about what he did to overlords back in the day or about what he does on his radio show? Have any of you seen what he's like?"
"A little bit, but you have nothing to worry about, Terra," Lucifer assured. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm the King of Hell. There's no one down here who is more powerful than me. I won't let the busboy hurt you."
"It's not me I'm worried about," Terra said, glancing at Husk. "What worries me is what Alastor will do to you guys when he finds out you knew who I was and didn't tell him."
"Oh, there's nothing to worry about," Charlie assured. "Alastor wouldn't hurt any of us."
Husk visibly cringed. Angel and Terra noticed.
"If you think that, you don't truly know Alastor or what he's capable of," Terra replied. "He was a serial killer when he was alive. God only knows what he had planned for me and my mother. He has a terrifying reputation down here for a reason. You can't trust him."
"I know," Vaggie sighed, gesturing to Charlie. "I've been telling her that since day one."
Terra looked at Charlie incredulously. She was dumbfounded as the realization settled on her.
"So, you know all this already?" Terra asked. "You know that Alastor is dangerous, abusive, and completely untrustworthy, but you trust him anyway? Do you not have any plan for dealing with him?"
"Well, Alastor has been helping us a lot up until now," Charlie said. "He defended our Hotel from Adam even when it got him injured. He has fought off every threat and helped us out so much. I don't think that'll change just because you're here."
Terra looked at Charlie in absolute disbelief.
"Has it ever occurred to you that the Radio Demon is doing all that because he wants something from you?" Terra asked.
"Too late for that," Vaggie muttered angrily.
Both she and Lucifer grimaced.
Terra's critical eyes softened.
"You sold him your soul?" asked Terra.
"I owe him a favor," clarified Charlie. "But that doesn't matter. I knew Alastor was a sketchy overlord when he first came here. I told Alastor that he could help for as long as he desired, and he has. Alastor was there when we needed him at the start, and he has continued to be here for us until now. I don't think that's suddenly going to change because you're here."
"You have never dealt with Alastor's wrath," warned Terra. "I want to get to Heaven, but the last thing I want is for you to get hurt because of me."
"I won't let him hurt anyone," Vaggie said, brandishing her spear. "If he tries, he'll have to answer to me."
"Me too," added Lucifer. "Like I said, King of Hell here. He can't outdo me."
Terra looked at Husk and back at the group.
"Make sure he doesn't hurt, Husk," Terra demanded.
"Terra…" Husk tried to stop her.
Terra continued, "Alastor will hurt Husk if he finds out he knew. I need your guarantee that you'll look after Husk."
Angel looked at Husk in concern. He knew the fear and shame behind his eyes.
"Don't worry," Charlie reassured. "We won't let Alastor hurt anybody."
Terra sighed in relief and sat back in one of the chairs. "I guess that's some relief. For now, I'm not sure Alastor even knows who I am. I'd like to keep it that way if possible…"
Everyone verbally agreed, except Niffty.
The group looked at her and she asked, "What?"
"Niffty, nobody can know Terra's Alastor's daughter," Angel said gently as if he were speaking to a child. "You've gotta promise not to squeal."
"Yeah, or Alastor will have it out for both of us," added Husk. "He can't know. Capische?"
"Uhhhhhhh…." Niffty visibly hesitated. "What if he asks really nicely?"
Husk facepalmed, "I'm screwed."
"Niffty, no! You can't tell Alastor!" pleaded Charlie.
"Why not?" asked Niffty.
"Because I'll hurt you!" Vaggie asserted.
"Ooooh, pain!" Niffty said excitedly.
"Vaggie, no!" cried Charlie.
Just like that, everyone in the group except for Lucifer and Terra erupted in an argument.
Terra sighed and leaned her head back on the chair. "God, I'm dead. Aren't I? Coming here was a mistake."
"Why did you come then?" a voice asked.
Terra looked up to see Lucifer standing next to her.
"You knew your daddy would be here," continued Lucifer. "You knew you'd have to confront him if you came, but you came here anyway. So, why take that risk? I'm not trying to judge. God knows I'm in no place to. I just know that facing your fears takes guts. You've got to have a reason you're doing it."
Terra took a deep breath. "There's someone I want to see again. Her name is Louise. She was my girlfriend. You care to hear more?"
"Sure," replied Lucifer. "This is a place of healing, so we got to start somewhere."
Terra smiled and continued, "We were both girl geniuses who got into college. She was 16. I was 15. We were the youngest girls at Southern University in Baton Rouge and some of the few women. We were so much younger than everybody that we spent most of our time with each other. We were both science majors who specialized in chemistry. She was more interested in medicine. I was more interested in geology. We would spend hours talking about science, music, and whatever else. She was so smart, so gentle, and so warm. Over the years, we bonded, and we fell in love.
"We had to keep it secret from everybody because in those days you risked losing everything for being queer. The only ones we told were my immediate family and a few mutual friends. My mama used to be a prostitute under a madame. She had many friends who leaned that way so she understood it when I told her I was bisexual. My Daddy, Beau, loved me and supported me no matter what. My little sister Chloe didn't quite get it since she was still a kid, but she was happy for me. I want to see them too.
"Anyways, Louise had this ex named Roy. He was a monster who couldn't accept that she was moving on to better things than being the little submissive housewife he could control. He bothered us at all hours. He sent letters. He called. He even tried to visit her. We had to move apartments several times. The cops were useless. They didn't care about the problems of two colored Creole girls. We couldn't do anything about the threats other than ask our male friends to sleep over. Eventually, after a few confrontations, the idiot started staying away.
"We thought it was the last of him, but we were wrong. Roy broke into our apartment on Halloween 1953 and hid there waiting for us while we were at a party. Louise didn't see him, but I did when I went home early. He told me to leave. I wouldn't. I picked up a knife and tried forcing him out. We got into a fight. I stabbed him in the back multiple times. I didn't care if he died. I would not let him hurt Louise. The bastard was dying from his wounds, but he used the last of his strength to throw me out of an open window. I fell and I ended up here, but so did he. I had only recently turned 20. The only thing that made me feel better was that Louise was safe."
"Oh," Lucifer said, sadly searching for the words to say. "I am so sorry."
"I accepted that Heaven rejected me and that there was no way that I'd ever see Louise again," Terra said. "But now that there's proof that God has let a sinner into Heaven, then maybe there is a chance for me too. I want to see Louise, my family, my friends, everybody. If it's possible, I have to try."
"I can understand that," Lucifer said. "Listen, we made it happen the first time. We'll try our best to make it happen again. Okay?"
Terra smiled. "Thanks, Your Highness."
"We'll all make it happen!" Charlie interjected.
Terra looked around to see that everyone had paused her argument to listen to her.
Charlie was shedding tears.
"Uh, are you alright there, princess?" asked Terra.
"Your story is just so sad," Charlie said before hugging Terra. "We'll help you however you can!"
"Thanks, princess," Terra said, patting Charlie's back. "Wait a second."
Terra's phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. Charlie backed off while she pulled her phone out.
Terra read the message, and her eyes grew wide open.
"It's from Zestial," Terra said fearfully. "Apparently, Alastor knows about me and knows I'm at the Hotel. DAMMIT! Zestial, why are you so slow at texting?! The Radio Demon could be anywhere by now! FUCK! I need a drink."
"Why don't we go out?" suggested Cherri. "It might help you chill out a bit, Ter."
"I'm down for that," Terra said. "But only if two of my three favorite men come with us. I'm feeling uneasy."
"Of course, hon," Angel chimed in.
"You know I go for any reason to drink, darlin'," Husk said.
"Wait, isn't she here to start working on her redemption?" asked Vaggie. "Partying will offset that."
"Sir Pentious and Angel didn't offset their redemption when they went out to a bar," argued Charlie. "I don't think getting a drink will do her any harm."
"True, but the press is still hounding us," Vaggie reminded. "How do we get around them?"
"I think I can help with that," Lucifer offered. "We have bars in my district that normal sinners don't usually frequent. It's a fancy place that caters to higher-class demons like the Ars Goetia, royalty, sins, or overlords. The press shouldn't bother you there."
"We still might run into the Vees," Angel reminded them. "That'd be the last thing we'd need right now."
"Then how about my place?" suggested Husk. "I may no longer be an overlord, but I still own my bars and casinos. Other overlords and people from Alastor's crowd don't usually stop by, so we wouldn't be bothered. We'd be able to drink in peace. It ain't as popular as it once was, so I doubt the press would bother us either."
"It would be nice to visit the old place," Terra agreed. "Let's do it."
"Unpopular or not, the press could still find us there," reminded Vaggie.
"I'll deal with them," Terra shrugged, getting up from her seat and heading to the elevator. "Now, let me slip into something nice. It's my first night out in forever."
"Why haven't you been out, honey?" Husk said, following her. "Is Zestial being an overprotective hard ass again?"
"No, I've been working," Terra complained. "With the panic about the Exorcists, you would not believe how much people out there were losing their minds. I had everyone asking me for help either rebuilding or doing mercenary work. Carmella kept me especially busy. I earned some good money, but good Lord, was it exhausting. Any time I did have off was spent reading or playing the piano. I haven't had much time to socialize outside of Zestial, Carmella, and her daughters, but we've had a good time. Lately, I've been reading about Egyptology and talking to Zestial about it."
"Just like you did with me?" Husk said with a smile.
"Husk, I never knew you were an intellectual," Angel commented as he joined them.
"You don't live as long as I do without learning anything," Husk shrugged.
"It would explain why you are so smart," Angel said warmly.
"I see you're still a nerd," Cherri teased as she joined too.
"I find it's a good way to pass the time," shrugged Terra.
"Wait a second," Vaggie said, jumping in front of them. "Is that it? Are none of you worried about dealing with the press? They have been vicious. We need a plan for dealing with them."
Terra, Husk, Angel, and Cherri looked at each other knowingly.
"We'll deal with it if it happens," said Terra, before continuing to the elevators.
"How can you be so confident?" demanded Vaggie.
"Y'all fought angels. Didn't you?" reminded Terra. "It seems to me y'all can do anything. And now that I'm here, I can give you the backup I didn't before."
"Terra, it wasn't your fault," Angel interrupted.
"I still could've helped y'all with your angel problem," Terra argued. "My powers extend to controlling angelic steel."
"So, why didn't you come to help?" Vaggie asked, feeling a bit agitated. "We could've used all the help we could get."
"Vaggie!" Charlie rebuked.
"It's a valid question," Terra shrugged. "First, I didn't know that angelic steel worked on angels. Neither Carmella, her daughters, nor Zestial told me so that I'd stay out of the fight. I had to find that out from Angel later. We fought and made up about it already. Second, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I feared seeing my biological father. It wasn't until I found that this place actually worked that I thought it was a risk worth facing. Now that I know there's a way to see everyone I loved, I'll risk anything."
Vaggie smiled understandingly and looked at Charlie. "Love has a way of giving you more courage than you ever thought you could have."
Terra looked at the two ladies smiling at each other and said, "Thank you for understanding. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must slip into something less comfortable but much prettier. You're all invited up. After all, Husk's place is fancy."
"Does your place have a dress code, Husk?" Angel asked. "I didn't know you had a high-class side."
"Of course," Husk said. "I told you I was an overlord once. I ran a high-class establishment before I got stuck doing the Radio Demon's dirty work. Usually, I run a classy joint and expect everyone to dress accordingly. However, considering that I don't have the power I once did, I don't think I'm in any position to demand you do anything on my account."
"That doesn't mean I won't do it, Husker," Terra said with a smile. "You know I always like getting beautiful for your club."
"You're beautiful as you are now," Husk complimented.
"Thanks, but I'm still dressing up," Terra said, striding by him. "I've earned it. And yes, Cherri, you can borrow my makeup."
"Fuck yeah!" cried Cherri.
"See you soon," Terra waved to Vaggie, Charlie, and Lucifer as the group finally reached the elevator.
"So, do you like her?" Charlie asked her dad and girlfriend. "I love her already! This is going to be great."
"I will admit that she has good intentions, purer than anyone who has joined yet," admitted Vaggie. "I like her, but I'm worried about her dad."
"I think I can handle him," Lucifer said. "We have nothing to worry about."
"You won't always be around, Your Highness," Vaggie rebutted. "We have to find a way to deal with Alastor when you aren't around."
Charlie sighed, "You have a point. Look, I'll talk to Alastor and make sure there aren't any problems between him and his daughter going forward, but I think that this could be a good thing. I mean, their relationship is something that needs to be redeemed. We can make that happen."
Lucifer and Vaggie looked at each other and then back to Charlie.
"Uh, Charlie, as a former estranged father, I need to tell you that a reconciliation between a father and daughter is not something you can force," said Lucifer. "No offense, but Alastor seems like a fucking prick on his good days. If anything, I think Terra is justified. I mean, her biological father was a serial killer. She has every reason not to trust him."
"I know that, but I still believe good things can happen here," said Charlie. "We can help Terra get to heaven and make up with her old man. It'll be great."
"Not every relationship is meant to be redeemed, Charlie," Vaggie warned her. "We don't know if this one can be redeemed. Terra hates Alastor with a burning passion, so I wouldn't try to force it. You only risk driving her away if you push too hard."
"Okay, I got it," Charlie said. "We'll take baby steps. But for now, let's get ready to go!"
With that, Charlie rushed to the elevators to prepare for a night on the town. Vaggie and Lucifer looked at each other nervously for a second before following her.