Charlie's Angels - Pieces

by Kkat FoE

Preparations are underway for the wedding of Charlie, Vaggie and Emily! But Alastor has clued Charlie onto a great mystery that has ensnared both the Radio Demon and her own mother. As Charlie investigates, a threat to everyone in Hell and Heaven alike begins to take form. One with personal ties to herself and others in the Hazbin Hotel.

9. Let No One Separate

Chapter Eight

Let No One Separate

Week Six, Day One - The Beach, Heaven, daybreak:

The golden light of dawn sparkled on the waves as they washed rhythmically against the sand.

Lilith enjoyed watching daybreak. Heaven had times of truly breathtaking beauty. If all went as intended, she would be enjoying another one tomorrow.

Lilith did not expect things to go as intended. There was chaos in the system. That was, in fact, the whole point. So she had contingency plans. Still, it would be nice to return to the Beach. Nice, but not necessary.

Lilith stood up from the beach lounge chaise. In a departure from her normal beachwear, she was dressed in a flowing white gown with a sash tied around her waist. The sand fell off of it and her. Heaven's self-cleaning. Without it, years at a beach with sand getting everywhere would have been far from Heaven. As it was, it had not been without painful sacrifices.

She folded up the chaise and leaned it against one of the cabana's supports. A fleeting look towards the grass line and the bungalow hidden within Heaven's idea of tropical island foliage, plants which all looked like strange cousins of more familiar tropical vegetation from Gluttony.

One hand dug into the folds of the sash, pulling out a porcelain white key. The bow was shaped by feathery wings she had once mistaken as angelic. Within the center was a crown.

Lilith lifted the key, pointing it towards the empty air above the gentle dunes. The air shimmered and split, reality peeling back like plastic wrap near an open flame. Ephemeral liquid coral bubbled out of the fissure, spilling in all directions headless of gravity.

The cavity in Heaven hung open. And a majestic white pegasus emerged.

"We're taking a little trip, Love," Lilith told him as she slipped the Key to her Horse's Stable away. "My daughter is getting married."

Love understood.

---

Week Six, Day One - Imp City, daybreak:

The envelope had appeared before him in his study while he was reading the morning news. Thank Lucifer that Octavia hadn't pulled herself out of her room yet.

"What is this!?"

Stolas stood and waved the pages he had taken from the envelope before the image in the mirror. It was not his reflection. No, his father had replaced that. The Goetia Prince had forced communication with the Goetia patriarch the moment he had realized what he was holding. Normally, he liked reading. It was rare for him to wish illiteracy on himself, even if only in a flash of horror.

"Happy news," Paimon said, wearing the most infuriating smile. "Congratulations on your daughter's betrothal."

"To someone she doesn't know," Stolas questioned dryly. "From a family the Goetia have never fostered ties with?"

"Yes." Paimon didn't seem to pick up on his anger, but Stolas was willing to bet he just didn't care. "An exciting step forward. The von Eldritch family is one of the most powerful families in all of Hell. Their daughter, soon to be your daughter-in-law, is a figure of prophecy."

Paimon's voice grew colder. "...something you would know if you spent more time focused on your responsibilities. Sign the papers."

Stolas shook his head, tossing the papers onto his desk. He had a mind to set them on fire. It wouldn't accomplish anything, but it would be oh so dramatic. And maybe that would get through to his father where words never could. "I will not. Via should get to choose whom she marries. I want her to be able to have what I didn't have. I want her to be able to marry for love."

With a voice of aloof fatherly indulgence, Paimon reminded, "Such marriages are an extreme rarity amongst the Goetia. As you well know. And neither you nor she have any political capital to barter for such a luxury."

Stolas felt his heart squeeze. The pain accompanied a fire building inside him.

"You should be ecstatic that Octavia is being allowed to surpass her original purpose," Paimon continued in a tone of aristocratic benevolence. "No longer a mere precautionary heir, she will unite the von Eldritch family with our own. Their children will..."

"Children!?" Stolas squawked.

"Yes. Children. Plural. Frederick von Eldritch is a firm negotiator."

Stolas reeled, remembering all too vividly how he felt being told he was required to produce an heir with a woman whose childhood picture induced fear and dismay. Stolas pointed at the now-crimped pages. "According to this, he's over two hundred years old!"

On the other side of the mirror, Paimon mumbled, "And yet, according to his father, she'll probably be the more mature of the two."

"Octavia is seventeen!"

"For two more months," Paimon agreed drolly. "The marriage is, of course, to occur after her next birthday."

Stolas could see that Paimon was not moved. This was his daughter they were talking about. Her future. Her life! Yet his father just seemed annoyed at his protest.

"Do not feign that this is a surprise. Your own marriage was arranged when you were much younger." Paimon sighed. "You knew this was coming, Stolas. Sign the damned papers."

"I absolutely will not!" Stolas could not help balling his hands into fists. "I will not allow you to do to Octavia what you did to me!"

Paimon gave him a flat stare. "Correct. You have no authority to allow or disallow anything on her behalf."

"I am her father!" And there it was. The shouting he had been trying to avoid.

"Which might have meant something before you contracted an imp to have sex with you in exchange for using the sacred Grimoire which I gave you so he could run unsanctioned assassinations in the Living World," Paimon replied, his tone genial, his words scathing.

"Everything you have been allowed to keep, including the remaining months with your daughter, are at my grace. Which I will take away if you choose to become a problem. And once that illusion of authority is gone, nothing you say will have any weight whatsoever."

"So sign off on the marriage. The only damage you do by refusing is to your daughter's reputation. You're already an embarrassment. Leave it at that."

Stolas turned away, gripping the back of his chair. His body was trembling.

After a moment of silence, Paimon seemed to offer an olive branch. "There is one thing I have decided to allow you to do regarding your daughter's non-negotiable marriage."

Stolas turned a seething stare. He let out a beaten breath. And asked with measured politeness, "Oh? And what's that?"

"Give Octavia the happy news." Piaimon was unmoved by Stolas' wounded stare. "If she's anything like you, she's going to try to be difficult about it. I don't want to deal with that."

With that, the image of his father vanished from the mirror.

Stolas felt his hands tighten on the wood of the chair hard enough to splinter it. The anger and frustration broiled up until he couldn't see through his tears. He only heard the shattering sound and felt the reverberation of the impact as he smashed the chair through the mirror.

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel, daybreak:

Vaggie moved down the hallway, spear out.

Charlie and Emily were still asleep. Even morning people were decent enough to not be awake this early. Which was fine. The person she was going to have a little conversation with was not decent. When it came to the Radio Demon, Vaggie felt even person might be a reach.

"Are we going to talk to Alastor?" Emily whispered, making her jump.

"Don't sneak up on me!" Vaggie warned, holding a hand over her pounding heart. Okay, Charlie was still asleep. You know what? No, I'm not even taking that for granted.

"How did I sneak up on you?" Emily asked. "I have a halo."

Vaggie did not bother to mention her larger than average blind spot. She should have noticed the change in ambient light. She was too tunnel-focused. "Yeah." She put away her spear before saying, "Just want to have a friendly conversation."

"Of course you do," said a voice distorted by radio static. From behind both of them. Vaggie and Emily turned, Vaggie's spear again in hand. The Radio Demon solidified out of shadow, staring down at her spear. "I'm glad to see you still keep that handy."

"Me cago en el olivo que se uso para hacer el aceite con el que se engrasaron las bisagras de la tumba de tus muertos!" Vaggie cursed.

"Oh my," Alastor chuckled. "That was... actually rather poetic."

"It really was," Emily breathed.

The High Seraphim turned to Alastor. And since he had come in with the special effects, Vaggie's angelic wife rose to match, shedding her more human appearance for her full seraphim form.

"We needed to talk to you... about..." Emily's speech slowed as she stared at him with all of her eyes open. "OH!"

"Oh?" Vaggie asked, instantly alarmed. "What oh?"

"You don't have any chains anymore," Emily said honestly. "Except for your own. That's why we're meeting Death tomorrow."

"I am ready," Alastor said. "I do so hope you are still up to keeping your promise, Emily dear." He looked at her. "And you, Vaggie: I'd think you would be happy that I've called in Charlie's Favor now." His smile grew three times as pompous as before. "Isn't it a relief, going into this marriage with a bride who isn't bound to the Radio Demon?"

That... was actually a good point. She was happy about that. But not enough to be thankful to the bastard who used everybody's lives as bait to trap Charlie in a Favor Deal to begin with.

"What promise?" Vaggie asked. Please tell me Emily hasn't made another Deal with Alastor!

"I meant what I said," Emily told him. "Which is just as good as a promise. Even though I know you've cheated and will get your chains back."

"Oh," Vaggie said. "That's why. Emily is breaking your chain tomorrow."

"If all goes well," the Radio Demon agreed.

Vaggie felt a sinking sensation. "And you need me because Emily will need my spear."

Wonderful. He's putting me face-to-face with the end of life tomorrow because Alastor sees me as nothing more than a spear carrier.

It would be a lot more degrading if she didn't have just as low an opinion of the shitlord.

And so much for making him give up his chain on Charlie. Emily was invested, so this was happening no matter what. If anything, it was almost a relief that Alastor was pulling his trump card on something they would have done anyway. Almost.

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel, daybreak:

Angel Dust stared at himself in his bathroom mirror. At least his eyes weren't puffy or anything. After a bit of combing, he actually looked great.

Well, becoming diurnal almost worked.

He shouldn't be up this early. He was going to be nodding off during the reception. But he'd be fine through the wedding itself, and that's what was important.

Six bridesmaids. Well, four bridesmaids and two bridesmen. Himself, Crymini and Husk on the demonic right. Sir Pentious, Molly and Cherri Bomb on the angelic left. Okay, three and three if he counted himself as a bridesman. But he didn't. He was absolutely going to slay in that gown!

Oh, scratch that. Cherri Bomb's playing the reception. Or, at least, the first part of it. Nobody is going to be asleep. Not even Belphegor!

Angel Dust tilted his head, running one finger along his neck. His slender, graceful neck. He smiled fondly. Of all the body parts for a guy to have a soft spot for...

The spider shook his head, then headed out for coffee with his favorite neck appreciator. Might be good to get a thermos full for today. But then, he didn't want to be jittery. Not for Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's big day. He owed those women more than life itself. He had his soul back. And that wasn't something he would ever forget. He had a family here that so far surpassed the one he had known before that it wasn't even funny. And the best part of the old one was part of his life again because of it. There was no way he wasn't putting on his best face.

Besides, even if nobody else noticed, Molly would never let him hear the end of it.

He stepped outside his room and started towards the parlor when an odd, flashing light caught his attention. It was coming from the open door at the far end of the opposite hallway. Baxter's room. From this far, he could barely make out anything. But he thought he caught a glimpse of Razzle in the doorway just before the door closed.

His attention was drawn away by a clattering sound from the kitchen. His first thought was that Niffty was up. But that sounded like an accident. Second thought was someone stealing food. Crymini still sometimes did that. Although now more for that friend of hers in the Doomsday District than an ingrained need to squirrel. Angel Dust changed course for the kitchen.

---

Week Six, Day One - Imp City, daybreak:

Princess Octavia of the Goetia reached the door to her father's study at a dead run. Her talons skidded on the flooring as she grabbed the door, changing directions as she threw it open.

Her father was collapsed to his knees on a floor covered in broken glass. His study chair lay wedged partway into the standing frame of what had been a mirror. Her eyes swept the room, but she saw no sign of her mother or of whatever assassin she might have sent. Her gaze returned to her father, even as she moved in more cautiously.

He looked up at her as she entered, and she could see the tears in his eyes. The pain on his face. "Dad?" He wasn't bleeding. Her feet took her towards him as her eyes kept flicking to all the places in here an imp assassin could be hiding.

"I'm sorry, Via..." Stolas said, sounding hollow in a way that hurt to hear. "I-I tried."

"Dad? Are you okay? What happened? Tried what?"

Octavia's nerves felt electrified. But there was no sign of an intruder. No one was attacking. The only thing she could guess her father tried to do was destroy the mirror. Which wasn't so much a try as a grand success. The panic that started when she heard the crash - a sound she hadn't heard since her parents ceased living in the same house - was bleeding away. Leaving anger and worry.

"I'm... I'm fine, Via."

If he wasn't going to be honest with her, fuck it.

Octavia did not have much magic, but she had enough to clear the shards of mirror from around her father before he cut himself. She grasped her father's chair, pulling it out of the mirror frame. It was splintered but not broken. She moved it back to his desk.

"Please, Octavia..." her father said softly. "I don't want you to be in here right now. I... I'll explain everything later."

Those words hurt. But she knew he didn't mean them to. Besides, it was already too late. She reached out and picked up one of the crinkled papers scattered on his desk. Her own name having jumped out at her.

It was her personal nightmare. What she had been dreading since her parent's divorce. Octavia let out a haunted hoot.

At the sound of her distress, her father stood up. His voice seemed to harden. "We have a Royal Wedding to attend. Important people will be there. People I need to talk to."

He turned to her, but she barely saw him. Her eyes were locked on that page.

"I'm not done fighting yet."

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel kitchen, daybreak:

Crymini clambered up onto the counter to reach the higher cupboards. Jack was going to lock with her at the wedding, and she wasn't going to see him without slipping him one of those fancy plastic food containers so he could squirrel from the reception. He'd be eating best he has in his life, and that should fucking stretch.

It was early, but waking up early would require she had slept. The teenage puppy demon wasn't sure which scared away the sleep more, the wedding today or seeing big sis this morning. Probably the latter. Crym loved the moms and all, but fancy ceremonies really weren't her thing.

Crymini's ears twitched as she heard Niffty in the background, moving about the kitchen. Early to prep for breakfast, but maybe a lot of people had trouble sleeping?

She was going to be a bridesmaid. Which meant she had to stand in front of a whole cumdump of strangers who wouldn't be looking at her. She considered making a game out of it. Maybe not wear panties under her gown. In seraphim mom's honor! On the other paw, she had her gown tailored short. Figured she might need that for what she'd be doing before the bell rang. Probably best not to do that.

Crymini opened one cupboard after another. How did they have so much crap? She spent decades in the Doomsday District where all she possessed could fit in what she was wearing.

The whole ceremony was loosely based on the wedding daydreams that Vaggie had in her youth, but tossed a lot of the traditional stuff. No maid of honor. The moms weren't elevating anyone over the others. Behind the scenes, it was all a family effort.

Her real job was before the ceremony started.

A crash yanked her attention away hard enough she lost her balance, toppling backwards off the counter, her back hitting the floor with a smarting thud. At least she didn't crack her head.

The puppy demon scrambled onto all fours, looking around as a final clatter was added to the crash. She saw Niffty sitting among the copper pots and pans. The entire wall grid they normally hung on had collapsed. Probably while Niffty was climbing it. As she watched, Niffty picked up one of the pans off the floor, staring at it. Then started beating it against one of the pots in extremely un-Niffty frustration.

Crymini scampered over to her as Niffty began to let out a stream of cussing that Crymini would have been proud of. "Niffty!" She searched for words as the tiny woman's eye filled with tears. This was so fucking not about pots and pans. The forever teen knew last-straw breakdowns.

"Hey... uh... want to hug the puppy?" Crymini offered lamely.

Niffty looked at her crossly, sniffing. "I'm not drunk enough for that."

"Want to anyway?" Crymini offered again, holding her arms out. "Or hit me with a pan?" Taking one for the team was easy. Whatever had Niffty like this was bad.

Niffty looked from her to the pan in her hand and back. "Y-yeah." The tiny woman tossed the pan at her face, then lunged at her and hugged.

Ouch! Crymini rubbed her snout where the copper pan had struck her hard enough to snap her head back. A few drops of blood came away on her paw. She wrapped her arms around Niffty as the woman buried her eye into the puppy demon's modest cleavage and sobbed.

"He... he... he let me go!"

Crymini heard footsteps. She looked up at Angel Dust, her nose bleeding, her arms holding a sobbing Niffty.

The spider demon gave her a What the fuck? expression. Crymini shook her head in equal bewilderment.

---

Week Six, Day One - Stigma Penthouse, Heaven, early morning:

Cherri Bomb stood once again at the second floor window.

God, the mornings here are breathtaking. She'd never get used to them. It was almost painful to pull her gaze away, but she had a scheduled portal to catch outside the gate in a few minutes.

She heard Mikhel's voice from the kitchen. "It is just beginning to really dawn on me that we are all going to Hell."

Cherri Bomb laughed at Mikhel's confession. "Really, ya cunt? Just now?"

"Yeah, well, for you it's a return to your old bombing grounds," Mikhel said. "For us? Keep in mind that angels going to Hell..."

"Has a bit of a Stigma?" Cherri Bomb challenged.

"She's got you there, Mike," Razor said, although he looked just as nervous.

Cherri Bomb looked him over, determined to guess what species he resembled before anyone told her. The head wings and lack of fur made her originally think coatl. But after Penty had joked about the band needing a serpent, she'd tossed that guess.

I should just chalk it up to "angel". The world could end before I figure him out.

But she wasn't going to abandon the challenge. "Look, ya wankers. E drilled in that the Heaven Embassy is scripturally Heaven, whatever that means. So y'all ain't going t' Hell so much as goin' half a block outside your comfort zone. Me? I'm going to Hell!"

"Got a whole morning I'm spendin' with my little sis." She checked herself in a mirror. No atomic bomb boob window today. She was going down in the Heavenly raiment she appeared in at the Gate. Wanted to show it to Crymini. "Don't forget to bring my drip for the concert."

"Makes us sound like fucking cowards," Jasmine spoke up from the couch.

"Don't want to be?" Cherri Bomb challenged. "Hang around after the reception. Spend some time among the Sinners whose slaughter ya used t' serenade."

"Ouch!" Razor hissed. "Don't sugar coat it."

"For you? Never!" Cherri Bomb laughed. The laughter they returned wasn't comfortable laughter. But then, it shouldn't have been. But there weren't no hard feelings either. "Come hang with my old crew. Love for them to meet my new one."

"We'll see what kind of reception we get at the reception," Mikhel said. "But might take you up on that. Now get before you miss your portal. We'll make sure your outfit is waiting for you."

"Have fun with your 'sis'!" Jaz called after her as Cherri Bomb opened the door and flew out.

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel bar, early morning:

Husk saw Charlie approach. He knew what was coming. Ever since they all learned about Charlie's whiteboard project, he had known it was a matter of time.

Husk floated over a cup of coffee. He knew all their preferences by now. Dark roast, taken with four sugars, no cream. Charlie wanted sweet black coffee, not dessert. She and Emily may be practically twins on many levels, but coffee preference was not one.

"Thank you, Husk," Charlie said, sitting down and taking the cup out of its aura of angelic light. "I need to ask you about Death."

"Saw that coming," Husk admitted. "How much do you know?"

Charlie waved a hand. "I know Alastor works for a Horseman of the Apocalypse. That he is chained to one. I've suspected it was Baron Samedi since Alastor gave me that Book of the Loa. You confirmed it last night. That's about it."

The woman paused, then added, "Oh, and he disappeared from Hell about when mom did."

Husk nodded. "I don't know much, but I've known Baron Samedi had a chain on Alastor for roughly eight years now."

Charlie pinched her forehead. "I've been so stupid."

"Hey, the me you've known most of this time wouldn't and couldn't talk about Alastor's secrets," Husk growled gently. "Even after I was free of my chain. Alastor threatened to tear my soul apart and turn me into a radio scream if I let it slip."

Charlie gasped, looking mortified. "He what!?"

Husk's ears flattened. "Yeah. I probably wouldn't have told you anything if you came to me a week ago. But after last night? Fuck him. If he wants to come for me, we'll find out if High Seraphim power trumps his Other bullshit."

Maybe he'd just put some space between himself and Alastor. Floating shit around was fine and all, but part of him was aching to unleash something more substantial. The fucker had it coming.

"When Alastor disappeared nearly eight years ago, I didn't know the why. But I knew the who. The fucking Baron possessed me to deliver a message," Husk told her. "And no, I don't know what it was. My memory of that hour is nothing but black. And I'm happier that way. When Death possesses you, you're lucky to be breathing when he's done."

"Possessed you?"

Husk grumbled, "Yeah. That's how Loa talk to people. It's supposed to be consensual, but I signed my consent away when I sold my soul to the Radio Demon."

Charlie looked appalled. "That's horrible!"

"It wasn't fun, no." Husk cast about for any other details that might help. "That was just after Alastor's yearly post-Extermination broadcast, so we were at his old radio tower. The one Vox tore down after the Radio Demon went missing. Niffty was somewhere in the building - Alastor liked to summon his favorites to congratulate us on surviving - but she doesn't really know anything. After the Baron, Alastor said he had some loose ends to tie up, and he sent us off. Didn't see him again until nine months ago when he yanked me into the hotel."

Charlie nodded. "Niffty knows Alastor has a chain, but not to whom." Her expression lit up a little. "And that was sweet of him. Making sure you were okay!" Her expression collapsed into a scowl, her left hand curling into a fist. "I can't believe Alastor threatened you like that!" She looked upwards, towards the radio tower. "I need to have a talk with him."

The fucker is forcing you to lead your wives into a not-proverbial Valley of Death and you want to give him a talking to about threatening people?

"He is not a good person, Charlie," Husk warned. "At best, his goals may align with yours."

Husk scrunched his eyes shut, feeling a sharp pain through his head as Charlie said, "I still want to believe that he and I are friends."

---

Week Six, Day One - Crymini's bedroom, early morning:

If there was any worry that Crymini would be cut at her for dying, lil sis blew it the fuck up with the tackling hug. Followed by a snarl of, "I should beat the afterliving gold out of you!"

Cherri Bomb laughed and hugged her back fiercely. She normally wasn't a hugger, but then neither was Crymini. This was special circumstances. Fuck anyone who said different.

"You can jump to the front of the line any time," Cherri Bomb promised.

"Sorry it took so long," Cherri Bomb said. "I really should have come visiting first thing but... fuck, I'd say I had to get my shit together up there, but that would suggest I've done so."

Crymini glared. "Fucking right you should have!" But her tail was wagging traitorously.

Crymini's glare shifted to awe as she really looked her in the eye. "Wow. Whole new angel body. I am so fucking jealous!"

Cherri Bomb flaunted. "Yeah. When ya get up here, Heaven will do ya right." She'd been thinking about this. "Age you up to something you're comfortable with. Get rid of the heat. I'm betting you'll still be a puppy though. It's just too you to toss."

Crymini stuck her tongue out. But she could tell lil sis loved what she was hearing. "Yeah, well, if Heaven doesn't have fleas, I can cope."

"No fleas in Heaven," Cherri Bomb promised. "And trust me, that nose of yours will be a fucking blessing up there!"

Crymini's ears perked. Then flattened. "I'd have to get up there first. Not exactly a model Sinner."

Cherri Bomb pfft'ed. "Like I was?"

"Hell no," Crymini barked. "We weren't dank, but fuck. How'd you get in?"

Cherri Bomb loved Crym's brutal honesty. She felt her smile fade. "Ask myself that every day."

"Well, you're in!" Crymini said, not letting her dwell on that. "If you ever meet one of mom's elusive Elders Above, put in a good word for me."

If I ever do, it will probably be them cunt punting me back down here. "Damn straight I will."

"Now, whatcha want t' do?" Cherri Bomb asked. "My morning's all yours. After, we'll hit City Center together. I'll introduce you to the band. They're a right bunch of cunts. You'll like 'em."

Crymini nodded, her ears swiveling. "While we're there, I'll face you to Jack."

"Bunny boy ya danced with at Neon Ant Farm?" Cherri Bomb asked. "I remember." She paused, then let out a breath, the star in her eye turning up towards her halo. "I remember a ridiculous amount of crap."

"Yeah. Jack's solid." Crymini told her. "He's a fucking trash fire, but he's our kind of trash fire."

Cherri Bomb laughed. "Can't wait t' meet the cunt!"

---

Week Six, Day One - Promenade, Heaven, morning:

"It's a beautiful day! Sunshine and rainbows!"
"It's a beautiful day to get married!"

Emily swooped about, singing happily, delivering joy and bursts of angelic confetti.

"It's a wonderful day! Polish your halos!"
"It's a wonderful day to get married!"

Emily stopped to give and accept hugs from the angels she met who motioned her in. All around her, the souls of Heaven joined in the revelry. Singing and dancing across the promenade.

"Sing for joy! Hallelujah!
We raise our voices higher.
Throne bless this special union!
Tonight the stars shine brighter."

Emily squeed at the sight of Molly and Sir Pentious, already in their bridesangels outfits. They both looked so good in gold! She recognized some of the angels around them. Pravuil. Albert. Eustice was swatting at an over-curious Voxtek drone. Archimedes was doing a completely unnecessary final polish of the lenses on the outdoor extension of the Heavenly Projector.

"Sing for love! Hallelujah!" Molly and Sir Pentious sang, greeting Emily happily.

"We all join in the chorus.
And let no one separate,
What love has bound before us!"

Emily swooped into a hug from the serpent angel. And then one with her closest friend.

"It's an amazing day! Joy and good blessings!"
"It's a glorious day to get married!"

"Everything is perfect here," Sir Pentious told her softly, not wanting to interrupt the song. "Ready to head down when you are, Missss Emily."

Molly just squeed, bouncing on her spider feet. Which made Emily squee again. The two of them hugged and bounced, squeeing together, wings flapping with excitement and joy.

The light of morning bathed the promenade in uplifting beauty. The Courthouse cast a calming shadow. The smells from the promenade were a tantalizing mosaic of scents from food being offered freely to those who gathered early for the impending event. Everywhere, angels sang.

"We fill our glasses with wine,
"We break the bread unleavened!"
"And celebrate eternal love,
"In Hell as it is in Heaven!"

Emily broke away and flew high, belting out her song to everyone.

"It's an exquisite day! Thanks for sharing it with me!"
"A miraculous day to get married!"

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel second floor hallway, morning:

One of the wheels on the laundry cart was squeaking.

Lute stopped the cart in front of the next room. She had to take demon form just to push it around properly. Housekeeping was not a one-armed job.

Niffty rode atop the cart. She checked her sheet. "Room 24: light turn."

Lute stared at the door. "Okay. Let me know if I do anything wrong," the fallen angel told her friend. "If I miss a thing, don't let it slide."

Niffty nodded firmly. "Got it." Her friend's voice lacked her normal enthusiasm.

Lute knocked. The door opened. The room was empty. "Thank you, Keekee." Niffty had persuaded the hotel cat to do this. No way Lute was carrying Keekee around in her pocket. Lute began to work the room. She started by checking all the lights. Niffty watched.

The hotel had a vast number of rooms, and very few were in use. Alastor's room was the only one occupied above the third floor. But Niffty gave every unused room a light turn once every two weeks and changed the linens once a month. Just to keep the room from getting dusty or stale. She spaced them so she only had to do a dozen a day.

Today was the wedding. Niffty was supposed to be the flower girl. Lute had volunteered to take on all the light turns before hooking up with Velvette. This was Niffty making sure they would be done to her standards.

"Talk to me," Lute told her as she worked.

"He let me go," Niffty said. "He said I didn't do anything wrong. But what if I did? Alastor lies."

"If you did, I'm sure he would tell you. Just to make you miserable," Lute suggested. Two and a half months in Hell, and the Radio Demon might be the only demon she had met who was even close to what she had grown up believing a demon to be.

"I am miserable!" Niffty whined.

Lute stopped what she was doing and returned to the cart. "Would it help if you found someone else? Maybe Husk?" She'd trust no one more with a chain on Niffty's neck.

Niffty made a face like Lute would expect from Angel Dust if someone suggested he fuck Molly.

"Sorry. My bad. How about Seviathan?" That seemed to perk Niffty up. "Can he do chains?"

"I don't know," Niffty said. "I'll ask him when I see him."

I am trying to help my closest friend find someone who she can sell her soul to.

Enslaving a soul for eternity was ostensibly one of the most evil acts imaginable. Second, perhaps, only to eternal torture. Anything more heinous but finite paled against the vastness of infinity. Even her own sins paled, and she was a murderess with an Exorcist blade.

But Emily and Husk changed everything. Chains could be broken. And demonic Deals were being written which allowed escape.

Nothing about what she was suggesting to Niffty felt evil. It felt like helping a friend.

"If you're not feeling up for the wedding, why don't you come stay with Velvette and I today." Lute really wanted some time to talk with Velvette alone, but that was suddenly not important. "You should be with friends today."

Velvette's an Overlord, Lute thought briefly. But she refrained from suggesting Niffty consider selling her soul to Velvette.

"No," Niffty said firmly. "Today I'm supposed to throw flowers at people!"

Lute felt herself smirking. No reality existed where she would correct that.

"Hey," Angel Dust called out as he rounded the corner. He walked up to the cart. "You feeling any better, Niff? Need anything?"

"I need a bad boy who wants to keep me and isn't going to suck."

Angel Dust's eyes widened a bit. His gaze met Lute's and she gave a slight nod. "Yeah, I can't help you there."

"But I do have something for you," Angel Dust told Niffty. He smirked at Lute. "Turns out someone else is spending the day working too." Lute didn't bother to explain the chores would only take a few hours.

"We've got mail." Angel Dust handed Niffty a pink envelope. Then advised, "Don't burn it. She perfumed them, and it stinks something awful if you do."

---

Week Six, Day One - Baxter's Laboratory, morning:

The laboratory hidden behind the magic door was strangely comforting. It had seemed dark and gloomy at first. But his eyes adjusted swiftly. Now it was almost like midday. The ozone made him want to sneeze. And there was a salty smell that wasn't great. But beneath it was another scent that wrapped him like a hug from Charlie.

Razzle looked up at the photos on the wall. Stark black and white images of humans with rifles and helmets. Planes with stacked wings. The picture most cared for was a group of men on the bow of a ship, toasting something. He wondered if it was a marriage.

Razzle flew up, almost pressing his nose to the picture. There was one man...

"Good eye," Baxter congratulated. Razzle looked at him curiously.

"It was the Great War, and we were going to change it," he said with a touch of bitterness. "But somebody else changed it first."

Baxter moved about, setting up something. He spoke with melancholy. "When I appeared here, the only thing I wanted was to never again be too late. Clearly, not done so well. But at least I can try to make up for it."

Razzle landed next to him. He didn't really understand, but it was nice to have someone else who talked to him. Sera was the first since Charlie grew tall. He remembered when Sera invited him to the table. But Emily's sister didn't live at the hotel. Baxter did. Sort of.

The anglerfish demon's next words surprised him. "If you are going to start breathing fire, you need to learn how to control it." The ones that followed surprised him even more.

"Your progenitor can breathe fire," Baxter said. "You and Dazzle were never meant to. Lucifer would not have wanted companions for his daughter who might accidentally set her aflame. But now that you are condensed, it seems the original limitations no longer apply."

Razzle stared questioningly, feeling almost dazed.

Baxter smirked. "Did you think I created your entire genetic code from scratch? I am amazing, but even I am not that good."

He turned to the apparatus he had been working on. "Now, let me see if I can help you."

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, late morning:

Tom Trench lounged on a chair pilfered from Cafe Magne, watching people arrive as his crew shot preliminary footage.

The media had begun arriving around dawn. Representatives from nearly every media outlet. Tom had arrived two hours ago from 666 News to report live from the scene. Katie Killjoy remained in the studio, preparing to give Heaven a ruthless verbal teabagging the moment everything wasn't perfect ten seconds after the stroke of noon. The ceremony would begin when the bell rang from the belltower that replaced dead Adam's tower of compensation.

The VoxTech drones had been circling for two days.

A handful of Sinners had begun to filter in during the morning hours, adding to the scattering who remained from the night before, camping out for the concert or reapplying the graffiti that the building continuously self-cleaned away. The latter had stopped roughly an hour ago when security associated with Verosika swept them from the scene.

By the time he arrived, the lack of crowd and lack of action had lured most of the media vultures to sleep in their vans or to congregate at the Cafe Magne for decent coffee and overpriced breakfast confections.

The coffee ran out an hour ago, making the Pentagram City media the latest victims of the round of minor shortages. A story Tom Trench thought merited more attention than a showpiece about Lucifer's princess and her lezbos getting hitched.

Nothing crippling. Yet. Nothing major. Yet.

Reigning rumor was that the population of Pentagram City had finally grown enough that the other Rings were struggling to keep them supplied. Or worse, beginning to refuse to. Without an Extermination on the horizon, they had maybe a few months before things started to get ugly.

Tom sat up at the arrival of a white luxury car in the styling of an elongated Living World Hispano Suiza Carmen. The arrival of the Carmines was the first event to draw the media vultures from their slumber. When an Overlord makes a personal appearance for an event outside their territory, that is at least worth some gossip.

A few yards away, a journalist from The Daily Cumrag started talking loudly as she typed into her phone. "In just under an hour and a half, we'll see if Heaven has gone from wasting our lives to wasting our time. What are you expecting? Comment below, and don't forget to like and repost!"

Carmilla Carmine got out from the passenger's side of her vehicle then reached in and tilted the seat. The elongated design accounting for the back seats that the two Carmine daughters slipped out of. The demon in the driver's seat re-started the car, circling it around towards the parking lot across from the backside of the Heaven Embassy. The lot had been cleared of trash and non-functional vehicles for the event.

A few reporters were already headed their way. One look from Carmilla stopped them. Amateurs.

Tom's eyes widened as Rosie, the Overlord from Cannibal Town, moved to greet Carmilla. When did she arrive? And how had he not seen her before?

And she wasn't the only ones that Carmilla Carmine allowed close to herself and her daughters. Tom Trench's jaw dropped as a fucking angel dropped out of the red sky, carrying an underaged hellhound in her arms. The hellhound got dropped and the two started talking with the Carmine daughters like they were old friends.

Tom Trench turned to his main cameraman. "Tell me you're getting this!"

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, late morning:

"So, you're Bombshell's 'little sister'?" The koi-scaled fish angel smiled. "You're cute."

"I will bite off your fingers," Crymini growled.

Cherri Bomb backed her up. "She will."

Pointing, big sis faced them to her. "Crym, this is Razor. He's bass guitar and vocals. Jasmine. Keyboards. Needs her fingers. Mikhal. Drums. Cunts, this is Crymini."

The trio gave her waves and greetings. Crymini's eyes were locked onto the drummer.

Is my cycle kicking in? What the fuck!

"Okay, I want to fuck Mikhal," Crymini said. "Like, right now." There was no point in saying anything else. Dude's body was chiseled out of sex or something.

Cherri Bomb laughed. "I had the same reaction."

"We can share."

Razor threw up his hands. "What is it with you, Mike?"

Mikhal was looking uncomfortable. She immediately knew why. "I'm eighteen. Have been for thirty years. Don't get dank."

Before the angel could respond, something truly dank ripped through the air, leaving her gagging.

A burbling black fissure tore into the ground about twenty feet away and the black beneath vomited up two figures.

Crymini immediately recognized Seviathan. His outfit was even more formal and haughty than his usual pinstriped green tux. His expression echoed that of everyone who got a whiff of their arrival. She guessed the pitch black man with him was Frederick von Eldritch.

Lute was a decent person under her layers of horrible. And beyond that, she was part of the family. This fucker had taken Lute when she was at her most vulnerable and tortured the living fuck out of her. Crymini was not a fan.

Her growling caught their attention.

"Not a fan of abominations, I take it?" Frederick said with an oily smile, looking them over.

"Just not you," Crymini snapped. Fuck. Fucker is Lucifer's friend. "Enjoy the wedding."

"Father," Seviathan said, closing his eyes. He looked done with everything.

Anything he may have intended to say beyond that was cancelled as the air filled with the sound of Heavenly trumpets. Crymini looked around, then to Cherri Bomb. Her big sister looked just as confused. So did the angel band.

As the Heavenly fanfare crescendoed, the fucking sky split open!

The tear became a circle of brilliant light and blue sky directly above the Heaven Embassy. All around, demons looked up. Some gasped. Some screamed. Frederick summoned a black tarp from someplace godless and covered himself and his son as they ran for the Embassy doors.

The circle continued to grow, revealing wisps of fluffy-wuffy clouds that Crymini swore only existed in Charlie's imagination. Tiny specks of light flurried around them like the swarms of fireflies. It took Crymini a moment to realize they were the halos of angels.

Crymini cringed back, feeling a (completely rational, fuck you) surge of fear as she watched the light from above spread closer and closer until it washed over her and she was standing in the late morning light of Heaven.

Fucking warn a girl, moms!

Crymini stared up, then at Cherri Bomb. The light was warm. Gentle. Her heart was pounding behind her tits. But as her panic subsided, she realized she liked this. This was a taste of Heaven. More than she ever really believed she would get.

"I want to get up there with you so bad, sis."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, one hour before noon:

The portal opened and the trio stepped out of Imp City and into the late morning light of Heaven.

"Oh my," Stolas said, blinking. "Well, this is certainly unexpected."

The imp standing beside him stared upwards. "Is that fucking Heaven? Holy shit." He blinked. "Well, I guess that makes sense. Lucifer's daughter is marrying angels."

Even Via was knocked out of whatever goth girl mood trance she'd been in all morning. Wait... "Unexpected?" Blitz stared at him. "You're officiating this thing, and they didn't tell you?"

Blitz was dressed in his finest. Which still paled compared to the extremely over-the-top finery of Stolas. The starfield inside his cloak was purple this time. The whole I.M.P. team could hide in the ruffles of his cravat.

Beside them, Octavia let out a soft hoot, staring upwards.

"I suspect they wanted this to be a surprise," Stolas said.

Blitz frowned. This thing was all Stolas had talked about for a week. Now? There was something muted about him. Maybe it was just his rich Goetia idea of professionalism, but Blitz didn't buy it. Something felt off.

"Okay, Stolas. Remember, this is these bitches fucking wedding. So everything should be focused on them," Blitz said, reminding the Goetia Prince of his conditions for attendance. "Don't make this about us. No shout outs to me. No just like my darling Blitzy comments. Just focus on them. I hear you even mention my name and I walk."

"Yes, Blitz. I can do my job."

Blitz's brow furrowed. "Okay, what the fuck's up? Are you okay?"

Stolas nodded. Then took a deep breath. "Actually, I'm not. I need to ask you to do me a favor."

Oh, that was probably not good. If it was sexual, it would have to wait until after the wedding. No way Stolas could get fancied up again properly in less than an hour. If it wasn't, that meant trouble. "What kind of favor?"

Stolas pulled out his cell phone. "I'm sending you some pictures. Take a look around. See if you can find any of these people. If you can, send me a message. But don't engage them."

"Dad?" Octavia questioned, sounding worried.

"Who are they?" Blitz asked, scrolling through the unfamiliar faces. He'd expected Stella and Striker.

"Abominations," Stolas warned. "All of them."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, fifty minutes until noon:

Charlie stood at the open window, staring upwards at the sky. "OHMYGOSH! It's so beautiful!"

She was in one of the chevets, the one she visited for her therapy sessions. These rooms were really the best place to use for their final preparations. There was a back way out that didn't reveal them to the mass of people waiting. It would just look weird to see two of the brides rush out the back of the Embassy just so they could walk in through the front.

"Yeah, it really is," Angel Dust agreed with a note of wonder. Before replacing that note with sternness. "Now turn around and hold still so I can pin this corsage on you."

Pfft. There was nearly an hour before the bell rang. No reason to be impatient.

"I'm sure Em isn't giving Molly this much trouble," Angel Dust tried. Charlie turned, projecting her best I bet she is look.

"Okay fair, she probably is. But when she's done, Molly will have Emily fully dressed. And I intend to do no less." He stepped closer to her and worked to affix the corsage to the breast of her tuxedo. A burgundy flower to match the lining of her otherwise very classical tuxedo.

There was an ill-timed knock on the door, followed by an "Ow!" from Charlie.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Angel Dust finished attaching the corsage and hurried for the door as Charlie rubbed at her left breast. He opened it to find a distressed-looking serpent angel.

"Could you take Niffty?" he asked, slithering so Angel Dust could see their little gold-clad gal riding on his tail. She looked strangely out of it. "She was throwing flowerssss at people. I had to hypnotize her to get her to sssstop."

Sir Pentious slumped, hissing. "I don't like doing that."

"As someone who's been on the receiving end, it ain't no picnic," he replied without resentment as he picked up Niffty. "Hey there, Niff. Let's go talk, okay?"

Niffty nodded, shaking off the effect. "Okay."

Charlie looked between them. "What's going on?"

Angel Dust winced. Literally nothing they just said should have sounded like anything other than Niffty being Niffty. What a time for Charlie to learn to read the room. "Niffty's going through..."

"Alastor broke our Deal," Niffty answered crossly. "He let me go. I'm not convenient."

"...that," Angel Dust concluded. "The red guy really didn't make a lot of friends yesterday."

Charlie's fingers rose unbidden to her throat. She let out a breath. "No, he did not."

She strode over and took Niffty, setting her on the sill of the open window in the light of Heaven.

Charlie looked Niffty in the eye. "I'm never letting you go," she said with a smile. "We're family, okay?"

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, forty-five minutes until noon:

"Glad you could make it!" Beelzebub smirked as Asmodeus took a seat next to her on the belltower balcony overlooking the Embassy's nave.

"Fizzy wanted to introduce me to his friend Angel Dust first," Asmodeus smiled back. "I hired the Sinner a while back for one of my little ventures up here. Finally got to meet him."

Beelzebub could tell Ozzie liked the person he'd met. And from what she'd heard, the friendship was good for Ozzie's boyfriend.

"How are your little ventures in Pride going?" Queen Bee asked. The Deadly Sins may have stayed primarily to their own rings, but all of them had some tendrils in each other's. She had the Golden Ring restaurant in Pentagram City. But Ozzie had steered clear of Pride and the First Circle in particular. It was good to see him expanding.

"Better than expected," Asmodeus admitted. "Lucifer has shifted from indifferent to amenable. The Overlord who made the industry such a nightmare has been replaced with one who is actually reaching out with offers of cooperation."

"Someone less toxic?" Queen Bee asked hopefully. The last guy could give Mammon a run.

"Don't know yet. She can be a bit creepy and comes on way too strong. Even for me. But she is an absolute kinky mess, and her enthusiasm is endearing."

"How about you?" Asmodeus asked.

Queen Bee considered how to answer. "I'm watching that one," she said, indicating the puppy demon in the scandalously short golden sleeve of a gown. "She's a cutie."

"I can see why," Asmodeus joked. "Thinking of a threesome of your own later?"

"Are you?" she teased back. "That Angel Dust guy?" But Ozzie had it wrong.

Beelzebub had been tasting the energy of everyone around her. Not intrusively; it took actual effort not to. Love, excitement, anxiety in a heady rush from nearly all the people she would expect it from. The vibe from Prince Stolas was a little off, but not bad. There were abominations in here - which surprised her - and they always tasted at least mildly rancid. She knew not to read into that. The rest? Most of them weren't people she would invite to a party. There were a few, but it was clear that the vast majority had no real interest in the happy throuple. She suspected many of them didn't even know the names of all three brides.

"Have you met the brides yet?" Beelzebub asked as her eyes followed the puppy demon.

"Not yet," Asmodeus admitted. "Why?"

Beelzebub had chosen to sit up here to keep an eye out. Match anyone whose energy spelled trouble. Anyone (other than the von Eldritch men) whose vibe was just bad. She was ready to intervene for Princess Charlie's sake... but it turned out she didn't need to. That puppy girl was already on the job.

Just wait until you meet Emily. "Oh no. That would spoil the surprise!"

---

Week Six, Day One - Porn Studio, Vees Tower, late morning:

"Oooh! Would you care for some blood?"

Zestial's eyes widened a little, watching the pink, triclops cat-demon flutter over to the conference room bar. There was a pink fridge built tackily into the wall which she opened to reveal two pitchers filled with that familiar dark crimson liquid. From where he stood, he could tell more about the donors than he suspected she would ever know. And that the blood was being preserved from coagulation by some magic, probably her own, rather than medical additives.

"Do you prefer a Stacy or an Edmund?" Emberlynn Pinkle asked as she looked at her choices.

The new dealmaker for the Vees turned to him. "Although if you prefer straight from the tap, I'll have to call in Relga." Emberlynn frumped a little. "I was hoping to offer Vanexa by now, but she hasn't signed yet."

The smile returned. "She'd totally be down for it," Emberlynn promised. "I know. I have an eye for these things." She giggled and pointed at her forehead. "It's the middle one."

Some sort of kink sense? Zestial had heard of stranger powers gained by Dealmakers. That could be useful in the pornography business. The Vees were cripplingly short-sighted, but even they likely wouldn't throw away such an asset too quickly. Perhaps things here were not as he first assumed?

Zestial summoned a cup of tea. "My apologies. I hath brought mine own refreshment." Regardless, he was hardly fool enough to sup on a drink provided by another Overlord. (Save for Camilla. Definitely not by the Vees or one of the employees.)

Emberlynn pouted, looking like she had put effort into being able to supply a drink for him.

"Why wouldst thou seek my advice?" he asked, redirecting her back to the conversation before.

He had come more out of curiosity than any other motivation. It made sense that a new dealmaker who believed she was being groomed for an Overlord position would want to take the measure of the Overlords who would be her greatest rivals and threats.

That wasn't going to happen. There was no way Vox and Velvette were going to promote some newly-minted Dealmaker to any sort of partnership as one of the Vees. He had a suspicion.

"Because you're like a vampire, right?" Emberlynn asked with clearly prurient interest. "You would know others who would be interested in participating in vampirism and bloodplay films! I'm even thinking of a new weekly series... wait, can real vampires be filmed?" The catgirl demon tilted her head. "I mean, even if the reflection thing is real, it's all digital now, so that shouldn't be a problem."

"I hath appeared in the photographs of cellular phones," Zestial answered, confused. "Although I cannot imagine there be much profit in catering to such niche fetishes."

"Niche?" Emberlynn said, baffled.

"Yes. I can scarcely imagine there be much intersection between vampirism and porn," Zestial admitted, finding the woman's proclaimed interest bizarre. "Still, if I were to direct any thine way, and they doest agree, thou wouldst seal them under Contract, wouldst thou not? I wouldst like to see one such Contract before offering aid to thine... endeavor."

"Not much vampire porn?" Emberlynn was staring at him in wide-eyed disbelief. She focused on the truly important part of his statement only for a moment. "Sure. Here." The novice Dealmaker waved a hand to summon up one of her Contracts and tossed it towards him. Then returned to her aghast melodrama. "Vampirism is, like, one of the holy trinity of porn! Along with tentacles and feet!"

Zestial cocked his lack of eyebrows at her. What?!

She stared at him in shocked silence. He took the moment to open and scan over the Contract. Ah, there it was. There had been rumor that the Vees had a clause in their Contracts to shift ownership. But until now, there had never been a Dealmaker amongst them foolish enough to openly allow other Overlords to view their Contracts.

And the wording confirmed his suspicions. The phrasing delineated Dealmakers, not Overlords. That way, someone brought aboard like this Miss Pinkle would believe the Contracts were equally beneficial. Which may even be technically true. Vox and Velvette were using Emberlynn Pinkle to regain many of the souls they lost with the death of Valentino. And once she had, they would kill her and take those souls for themselves.

The final clause caught Zestial's eyes. While still in Pinkle's writing, the terminology and flow of the writing changed drastically. He recognized Husker's craft. The clause gave a back door, allowing the soul to break the Contract themself. But only if that is what they absolutely wanted without doubt or coercion.

He doubted the Vees would have approved of that, but he knew from over a millennia of experience that the number of souls who would actually be able to activate that was minute compared to the number who would be enticed to sign by it. Souls grew resigned to their chains. Some even grew comfortable with them.

Movement drew his attention back. Emberlynn had crawled onto the conference table. "Zestial, Zestial, Zestial!" Her voice was odd and husky, her eyes... her third eye was open wide, her others half-lidded and... wait, was she flirting? Was he being flirted with right now? What was happening?

"Oh, you sweet, Twilight-deprived summer child!"

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, fifteen minutes before noon:

Octavia slouched in her chair and tried to make herself as not-there as possible. She wished she had her beanie or at least something to pull over her face.

She jolted as the canine demon leapt the back of the empty chair beside her, claiming it. Octavia had half a mind to tell the girl these seats were reserved for the Goetia family. But she wasn't a fan of throwing the Goetia name around, they were hardly a family anyway, and the seat wasn't being used. So fuck it.

"Who dragged you here?" the canine asked. A teenager, from the looks of her. Probably the only one here close to Octavia's age.

"My dad," Octavia admitted. "I'm here with him and his... boyfriend. Why?"

"Giant fucking crowd. More fuckers here looking to be seen than actually care about the happy throuple." Crymini cocked her head. "And one bird who doesn't want to be here at all and ain't trying to hide it. More honest than most of these cunts."

"Yeah, well..." Octavia stopped, really looking at the teenaged puppy demon. Spiked collar and matching cuffs at odds with the fancy dress she was wearing. Short enough she needed to be more careful how she sat but it did give her plenty of freedom of movement to go vaulting over furniture. More importantly, it was the same sparkly golden color as the bridesmaids. "You're part of the wedding."

"Pfft. Like I'm throwing flowers or some shit," the teen scoffed. "Hotel moms are getting married," Crymini answered. "Good to see them happy."

Octavia stared forward. She wasn't sure if she was being checked for trouble or if the girl was just scoping company she thought she could relate to. Didn't matter.

After a moment of quiet, she asked, "Are they?"

"What?"

"Are they happy?" Octavia stared ahead. "I mean, do they even like each other?" The young Goetia turned to look at Crymini, a scowl on her face. "This whole marriage is being pitched as a big, symbolic union of Heaven and Hell. It's political. Did they even have a choice?"

Crymini's brow furrowed.

After a moment, Crymini answered, "Fuck yes. They're practically married already."

The puppy teen pulled a leg up, putting a foot on the chair. Which Octavia noted she really shouldn't be doing in that dress. "You're right. This whole deal is to be official and symbolic and shit, but they'd been calling each other wife before coming up with this. You can't imagine people more in love."

Crymini looked upwards. "Or more really into each other. They had to fucking soundproof their room."

Octavia stared a moment. Then screwed her eyes shut and chuckled with bitter amusement. "Oh, that I can imagine."

Something caught the puppy demon's attention. She looked away sharply, then turned, hopping crouched onto her chair. "Be right back."

Octavia watched the girl leap, jumping wedding guests and hitting the side aisle, running towards the back on all fours.

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, fifteen minutes before noon:

Charlie paced. She checked the clock. Fifteen minutes still. Just like the last three times she checked. Had time stopped somehow?

Any moment, her dad would open the door, and lead her out, around the Embassy and then inside again, through the main doors. Down the aisle.

The bell hadn't rung yet. There was no reason to panic.

What if she messed up her vows? She was so nervous the words were tumbling all over each other like a small mountain made of kittens.

Charlie's muscles locked at the knock on the door. Oh for fuck's sake! Dad did not need to knock. Had he been waiting outside for her? Was there a miscommunication? Had the clock stopped and everyone had been waiting on her?

Those and a good two dozen other worries played kitten tumble mountain in her head as her muscles unlocked and she practically teleported to the door, grasping the knob and opening it. Her mouth was open, half a dozen things vying for their spot as the first thing to say to her dad.

Charlie's everything crashed. The person outside was not her dad.

"Hello, hellkitten."

It took but a moment to straighten up, putting on a stern look. "Seviathan."

"What?" Seviathan smoozed. "I can't wish you a happy marriage?"

"Of course you can," Charlie told him. "And you have." She pointed towards the hall behind him. Her ex-boyfriend was the absolute last person she wanted to see minutes before her wedding. No, check that, his sister was. Seviathan rated only second last.

A cold chill ran through her. "Helsa isn't here, is she?"

"No," Seviathan said, his tone earnest and calming, banishing that chill. "Helsa said she had more important things to do today," he said in a tone that made it clear that sentiment was Helsa's own and not shared by the rest of the family. Or, at least, not by him. "She took the limo. We had to schlorp here."

Charlie allowed herself a little chuckle at that. "So, you really just want to wish me happiness?"

Seviathan nodded. Then undercut the sentiment by admitting, "And I wanted to see Niffty."

Charlie felt her protectiveness flare. She knew Seviathan and Niffty got along. Just like Niffty got along with Lute and Velvette. Well, not just like. But she didn't really want to think about that. Charlie cared tons for Niffty, but gosh could that woman pick 'em.

"Niffty is... going through a lot right now," Charlie said. She wanted to follow with don't make it worse. But that was alarmingly uncharitable. "She could use a friend she's close to."

"Well, then my heaping tire fire will have to go on Hell's back acre," Seviathan said with a scowl. "I'd ask what happened, but better if Niff tells me herself."

That caused Charlie to pause. "Sev, are you okay?"

"Other than my skin literally trying to crawl off of me right now?" he said, pretending it was a joke.

Charlie winced. She hadn't considered how being someplace scripturally Heaven would affect abominations. That made his effort more meaningful.

Before she could inquire further, she was rescued from the conversation by the approach of her father. Lucifer greeted Seviathan briefly.

"Hey, next time you see my dad, could you beat some sense into him?" Seviathan asked him.

Lucifer cocked an eyebrow. "About anything specific? Or just in general?"

Seviathan looked at Charlie, then leaned down and hissed something into her dad's ear. She watched her dad's eyes go wide.

As Seviathan walked off, Charlie asked, "What was that about?"

"Nothing concerning you, your wedding or the hotel," he assured her with a smile. "A family issue." He added after a beat, "Not concerning Famine."

Charlie nodded, trusting him. The real takeaway was that Seviathan had something unpleasant going on, and he still put Niffty's well being first. She really liked that side of him.

"You ready?" he asked her.

Charlie was surprised to find that she was. Between Seviathan's cordial interruption and her dad being here with her, Charlie's anxiety attack had evaporated. She actually felt ready to do this.

"Now," his smile grew infectiously. "I have to do what should be the hardest thing in my life, but instead feels like the most wonderful moment since your birth."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, fifteen minutes before noon:

Sera sat down on a bench outside the front of the Heaven Embassy. The previous Embassy didn't have these. But then, who would have chosen the previous Embassy as a place to rest, even for just a moment?

Fifteen minutes before the ceremonies were supposed to start. Soon, she would be walking down the aisle with her little sister clinging to her arm. She would be giving her little sister away to marriage. Her little sister, who was the High Seraphim.

And she would be walking an aisle that was scripturally Heaven, under the light of Heaven. Not as a seraphim of Heaven, but as a demon. Fallen. If this wasn't for Emily, she wouldn't step foot into that place. She had no right to.

"You look like an angel," the stranger observed as he invited himself to sit on the bench next to her. "Wow. I thought God hated me."

Sera looked down at the mangled stuffed rabbit demon. Hell continued to surprise her. "I am fairly certain, if there is a God, I am as far from His good graces as possible."

"I'm farther," he stated. He wore a ratty shirt and jeans that smelled recently washed in something unpleasant, and a toolbelt of prosthetic hand replacements. He stuffed a hand into one with pincers like it was a glove, and used it to pull out his cell phone.

"I doubt it."

She saw his good ear swivel. Sera watched the demon use a second tool glove to text: Crym. Can't find you. I'm outside next to the tall one.

"That won't work," she warned. "The building is scripturally Heaven. Hell's cell service doesn't cross the threshold. Normally, sound barely can." The Heaven Embassy was a quiet and peaceful sanctuary, regardless of what was going on right outside its doors. That had not changed with the new building. "Although that is due to change when the bell rings."

Specifically for the marriage ceremony, so those not inside can watch it on television or listen to it on the radio.

"And normally, I would have nothing better to do than to be your landmark," Sera added, "But I'll be going inside in about five minutes. When the bell rings."

The stuffed rabbit demon groaned. "Spear me. Nothing's easy. Ever." Sera felt an internal flash of pain as she quickly surmised how spear became that kind of slang.

He hopped back to their previous topic. "You doubt it?" His frown grew into a smirk. "Okay, challenge accepted."

"Jack," the demon introduced himself, turning towards her. "In the Living World, I worked with computers. Tech support by day. In my off hours, I set up a system where people could exchange information anonymously, hidden from the eyes of law enforcement."

His smirk faded to a frown. His tone grew dour. "I knew the dank shit it was being used for... yes, including that... and I didn't care because it was making me money."

"Believe me, I am not the same person I was when I was alive. I've seen enough suffering down here to have grown a conscience. And I've experienced being helpless enough to shit empathy." The smirk returned, but it was grim. "And that, sister, is the only reason I haven't caught on fire just being here."

"It does not work that way," Sera corrected him. Obviously, or the bench would have gone up in flames before Jack spotted it. "It would be a poor Embassy if it did."

He was waiting. For Emily's sake, she opened an extra few eyes and checked if any of the prosthetics on his toolbelt were angelic steel before answering.

"I was the angel who signed off on the Exterminations."

Jack's eyes widened. He looked her up and down, clearly reassessing. Sera smiled grimly back down at him. "I am not the same person either. It doesn't absolve me of anything."

Jack laughed harshly. "Well fuck, you win."

"Allowing centuries of mass murder is at least a slight step down from facilitating child porn," the mutilated stuffed-rabbit demon agreed. "Congratulations on being the shittiest of the two of us."

Sera held out her hands towards Hell. "Behold my prize."

Jack replied, "At least you have fingers."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, twelve minutes before noon:

What was one of the Skullfuckers doing here? What was any of Merri's gang doing here, especially that one?

Crymini raced over top of the pews, dodging or jumping over wedding guests, ignoring the shouts. Ignoring how many people she was flashing.

Her final bound took her into the back of the last pew, right next to the too-familiar demon with the body of a hand grenade. "Heya, Mills!" She'd learned his name since their last encounter.

Crymini twisted and dropped into the empty seat next to him. "Last time I saw you, I was pulling your pin to ditch Merri's crew." She whistled. Mills had his whole torso painted in a black and white semblance of a tuxedo. He actually looked fancy. Almost a shame to scratch.

Mills looked nervous. She supposed he should, considering she blew him up. "Didn't know you cared about the royals." Crymini put a paw on him. Felt a little tremble. "On your own? Or did Merri send you?" His eyes were darting around, but not like he was looking for help. Crymini gave a little scratch. Just a warning. "And who painted your drip? Looking vicious!"

Mills' head jerked towards her, his eyes locking on her claws. Crymini pulled her hand back, feeling a little abashed. That may have been too far. "Sorry," she apologized, ears tilting back. "You can barely see it."

The teenage puppy demon's eyes widened. They were tiny scratches, but she could see them very clearly. He was silver underneath!

The fucker's plated in angelic steel!

Mills locked where she was staring and jerked away, going for his pin.

Crymini launched herself at him, her tackle toppling the pew and sending them crashing to the floor as she fought him to keep that pin in place. "Some help here!"

Mills drove a knee into her crotch, getting a yip, and rolled, knocking her into the floor. Her head hit the Embassy carpet. She kept her grip on his pin, but the paw on his spoon slipped.

Mills pulled his pin. Crymini grabbed it with both paws and tried to slam it back into place. If she couldn't, she was perma-dead. And so were a lot of people.

A silver wedge came down from above, jamming its sharpened point into the hole, locking Mills' spoon in place and pinning his head to the floor. Crymini looked up to see Carmilla Carmine. She was keeping Mills from exploding with the tip of her right shoe.

Step on me momma! ...What the fuck am I thinking?

People were getting out of their chairs. Nobody was running. It was so fast they barely registered what was happening. There were gasps and even a short scream.

"Stand back!" a voice said. It came from the Goetia minister or priest or whatever the fuck he was. The crowd parted before the giant owl, his hands glowing with deep violet energy. Beside him floated a huge, fancy book surrounded in the same dark light.

Crymini jumped away from Mills, her hands still holding his pin, as violet-black energy tore beneath them, opening a portal to someplace so deeply and cosmically Other that it hurt to look at. Mill's body sank into it as Carmilla danced back. The portal shrank and popped out of existence with a starry flash.

"Great work, Crymini. Thank you, Stolas," Carmilla said. "I don't suppose we can question him?"

Around them, people were only now realizing that maybe they should have panicked.

"I'm afraid not," the absolutely unnecessarily tall owl said. "I sent him to Azathoth's realm in the farthest eldritch reaches of the cosmos. By now, there's nothing left of his soul to retrieve."

"Fucker was silver," Crymini growled. Carmilla Carmine nodded. She had seen. Nobody else knew what she was talking about. Silver was their own slang.

The Overlord frowned. "The Vees."

Crymini scowled back. "They probably plated him, but he was a Skullfucker. Gang in the DD." She stood, looking around, trying to spot any more of Merri's gang before they could scamper.

She didn't. But she spotted somebody else scampering. Fuck. "I'll be right back."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, just before noon:

Jack watched Crymini blast past him, running on all fours. Stopping briefly with her nose to the pavement.

"And there goes Crym," Jack said, shaking his head. "Something's up."

The fallen angel next to him turned, looking towards the building with worry.

"If something was up inside, Crym wouldn't be running out here," Jack assured her. "That woman runs into problems, not away from them."

Sera sighed. "I know the type."

Jack nodded, returning to the conversation they'd been having for the last several minutes. It was interesting. Talking to someone who had been involved in the Exterminations from the other side was eye-opening, to say the least.

"Anyway, as I was saying, I lived in the Doomsday District. Your party line was my reality. Pride's overpopulation is dank. But sister, your management was a disaster. The Exterminations were a shitshow."

Sera scanned like she'd had more than her share of armchair quarterbacking and was resigned to it. "What would you have done?"

"Did you ever even consider making the Exterminations voluntary?"

Sera blinked. "I will admit that never occurred to me," the former High Seraphim admitted. "I can imagine Adam's response. But I really do not think the moral issue with the Exterminations was a lack of consent. Do you?"

Jack nodded. He honestly did. "Look, Crym and me, we used to off ourselves the night before the Exterminations to make sure we survived them. But I knew Sinners every year who went out and just stood there, letting those holy bitches tear 'em."

Sera stared at him, aghast.

"Like I said, we lived in the DD." Jack shrugged, laying out the truth. "There are plenty of people every year who reach the point where they just can't take it anymore. And it ain't like they should hold out for their afterlife to get better. This is Hell. Things never get better. That's the point."

"Jack," Sera scolded gently, like she was his mother or something. "Hell doesn't get better because nobody who has had the power or resources to help it be so has also had the will and drive to try."

She motioned back towards the Embassy. "Today, we celebrate the union of those who do."

Jack frowned, giving that some thought. He didn't have to, and part of him didn't want to, but that would be a waste of his one chance to talk to someone like Sera. And so he did. And fuck if it didn't make sense. "You realize the deep irony in having the Pontius Pilate of the Exterminations tell me life in Hell has meaning and shouldn't be thrown away."

Sera countered, "You realize the irony of someone who took such drastic measures to live suggesting otherwise?"

Fuck, she was good at this.

Above them, the bell rang out from the bell tower, sounding euphoric.

"That's my call," Sera said, standing and turning towards the doors. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Jack."

"I'm sure it wasn't," the demon rabbit insisted. "But I'll take it."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy parking, just before noon:

Mi appleages. Y R right. Best day evr!

Stolas read the message again. He had been mildly surprised that Blitz hadn't been there for the grenade demon. But that was by his own doing. In the commotion, he had missed a text. Not, however, the one he had been hoping for.

"I was able to find him when he was trapped in the Living World by the human government," Stolas reassured himself aloud as he searched. "I can find him in a parking lot."

The lot was full. Everything from a fairly grand luxury car to a couple shipping company vans. And parking etiquette had been largely ignored, turning it into a small maze.

He ran into the silken tent flap and brushed it out of his face. And stopped, blinking, as he took in the interior of the circus-like tent of fine white silks and strung lights of alternating red and gold. Not a big top, but a smaller tent that was being used to keep a single animal. One which had entranced his Blitzy, who was laying on a hay bail, kicking his feet and staring in wonder.

For once, Stolas couldn't question Blitz's fascination. The stately white pegasus was nothing short of majestic.

Stolas looked back at the tent flap which concealed, he presumed, the parking lot he had just been in. And concealed the portal entirely from the other side. He turned around again and froze as the tall, blonde woman whom he had seen in many portraits walked into view, caring for the pegasus. The circus tent made sudden sense.

"Y-your Majesty!" Stolas stammered briefly, bowing. He had not been expecting this.

I am officiating her daughter's wedding! Of course Lilith would be here. What decent parent would miss their daughter's wedding day?

A voice in the back of his head suggested he knew one less-than-decent ex-wife who probably wouldn't be bothered.

"Good morning, Prince Stolas," Lilith said, her voice as dangerously enchanting as he'd heard it described. "Thank you for doing my family the honor of officiating Charlotte's wedding."

"Th-the honor is all mine, Your Majesty."

A dark thought followed: I am on a personal mission to stop my own daughter's marriage before she has even met the man and decided for herself that she doesn't want it. Am I wrong to?

Blitz looked up at his voice. "Stolas! Just... just look at him!" His eyes widened at seeing the Prince still bowing. "Oh, you know her?"

Stolas felt a slight pain. He straightened up. "Blitz, this is Lilith. The Queen of Hell."

"Oh!" Blitz stared at Lilith. "Hello, your queenliness. Sorry for intruding. Your tent-stable-thing is invisible, but really easy to stumble into."

Stolas fought off a wince. "He is not wrong."

"What's his name?" Blitz asked, his attention already fully recaptured by the Queen's pegasus.

Lilith smiled. "Love." She stroked the bridge of the pegasus's nose, getting an affectionate nicker. "Because together we conquer all."

Stolas' romantic soul gushed at that. "Oh, that's beautiful!"

Blitz gave a disappointed grunt. "Ehhh."

Wait. A chill washed over him. "Queen Lilith, did you come here riding this pegasus?"

Lilith looked at him. "Don't you have a wedding you should be officiating?"

"My deepest apologies, Your Highness," Stolas said hesitantly. "But I believe I have been given a message for you. Although I am admittedly loath to pass it on."

Lilith's eyes squinted ever so slightly. She beckoned him to do so.

Stolas produced a box from inside the violet starfield of his cloak and offered it to the Queen. He cringed as she opened it, revealing the core of a thoroughly rotted brown-mush apple covered in squirming larva. At the center where the stem should be was a tiny, balefully-staring red eye.

"She didn't give me her name," he told her. "She said you would know."

"Oh, I do."

Stolas remained frozen just a moment, then beckoned his imp beloved. "Come along, Blitz. It is time for the wedding." They were probably waiting on him.

Blitz fell alongside him as they walked through the silken tarp and back into the dingy parking lot under the Heavenly sky. "An absolutely perfect horse like that, and she named him Love?"

"I take it you don't approve."

Blitz scoffed. "That's the gayest thing I've heard all week, and I'm at a wedding for three women."

Stolas rolled his eyes. Then lifted a hand to his breast. "Well, I think it's poetic."

"Stolas, I have the heart of a poet. And I'm telling you, it's lame."

"Oh you do, do you?"

"Yeah," Blitz boasted. "I kept it last time I offed one. Just for conversations like this."

---

Week Six, Day One - Alley behind Cafe Magne, noon:

Sometimes being able to track by scent was good. Not often. Not in Hell. But this was one of the rare moments when Crymini didn't simply hate practically everything about the body Hell saddled her with.

The bird girl was huddled in the shadows. Without canine senses, the only things that would betray the Goetia was there were the glow of her eyes and the faint gleam from the stone on her necklace. Shadows embraced the girl. Her body language screamed expertise in being unseen.

Octavia rolled her eyes as the canine wedding bouncer found her again. "You remind me of a hellhound I know."

Crymini huffed. "Story of my afterlife."

Octavia turned to walk deeper into the shadows of the alley next to Cafe Magne. "You don't need to tag after me. I'm not a threat."

That much seemed obvious. "Okay, what are you?"

The teenage Goetia stopped, shuddering. "I'm doomed! That's what I am. I'm almost eighteen."

Crymini felt a growl at the back of her throat. "Be thankful you can get older."

Octavia spun to face the puppy Sinner. "Why? So Paimon can marry me off to somebody I don't even know? Force me to have sex with someone I don't want to?"

Crymini's ears shot up. That was so not what she was expecting. But the raw emotion in the girl's voice drove it home. "What the fuck? Are you serious?"

Octavia nodded, wrapping her arms about her. "Dad's gay. Didn't stop Paimon from forcing him and mom. I might as well just be an egg-factory for whatever man Paimon decides needs to extend the Goetia line."

"And you're a..." Crymini started to guess, only to be cut off.

"I don't want to have sex with anybody." Octavia practically shouted without raising her voice. Crymini could see the dew of tears.

"That's not even the point," the owl teen hissed, wiping those beads of moisture away before they could break loose from her lashes. "It all came out in the divorce. My father spent his entire life engaged then married to someone he never loved and who never loved him. Just to have me. I'm the end of a contract."

"Mom never had any power. And dad couldn't wait a year longer to burn down every bit of political pull he had to protect me from becoming the next him. He'd rather sleep with his... with Blitz."

"Fuck!" Crymini growled. "That whole thing sounds really rapey."

Octavia agreed vehemently. "It is."

Crymini couldn't help it. Maybe it was residual adrenaline from a few minutes ago. Maybe she was still processing bullshit from last month. But the story of this girl she didn't even know was making her angry. "I don't know anything about your mother, but if someone tried to stick me in her position, things would be on fire!"

Octavia stared at her. Then looked away. "I always thought mom was just distant. I didn't realize I was a fucking chain."

Slowly, she sank down until she was sitting on broken alley asphalt among the garbage, getting her nice dress filthy. "And if I'm forced to have kids I don't want, am I going to be any better?"

The connection was like a slap to the snout. Oh. That's why I'm angry. Crymini dropped down to sit next to her. "Probably not. Mine wasn't."

The puppy demon didn't want to get into the whole story. But at the owl princess' look, Crymini offered, "She tossed me away. I don't even know if dad knew I existed."

They sat in silence together. Crymini suspected she might be missing the opening ceremonies. She didn't care. The moms would be alright.

"Burn the system."

Octavia blinked. "What?"

Crymini turned to her. "Can this Paimon guy force you to get a divorce?"

Octavia stared, unsure of what the Sinner next to her was driving at. "I... don't think so. Goetia divorces aren't... easy."

Crymini nodded. "If it was me, I'd marry someone who I vaguely liked and who gave zero shits about the deal - someone who would let me just be me on my own - just to keep this Paimon guy from being able to force me into something he arranged."

---

Week Six, Day One - Stable of the White Horse, noon:

Lilith had been ready to step out when the Radio Demon found her.

Love nickered.

"This is ill advised," Lilith told him with a frown as he stepped into the Stable.

"Oh indeed. If someone should catch us leaving together, imagine the rumors that would circulate," Alastor said with a wave of his hands. "Someone short might even wonder if we were meeting to get our stories straight."

"Tread carefully," Lilith warned.

Alastor's smile never faltered. The incessant radio static never dipped. "My apologies." He should have left it at that. But he didn't. "It is just that I have met the man now. And he doesn't live up to expectations." He shrugged. "But then, things would have been different if he did, wouldn't they, my Queen?"

Lilith stared. That was just sad. She wouldn't be so easily baited. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Do you ever regret it?" the Hand of Death asked her.

"Regret?" Lilith checked. "No. There are many things I wish would have been different. But I have always made the best possible move. I do not regret doing so."

"Ah," Alastor said. "Well, as they say, if wishes were Horses."

Clever.

"But even today?" Alastor tested, walking around her, his microphone held behind his back. "This little visit seems..." He feigned searching for the right words before choosing her own. "...ill advised."

She gave him no sign that he might be right. But this was her daughter's wedding. She would not be absent. Even if her daughter would only learn of the fact long after.

"I have done nothing I regret today either," Lilith said. Although perhaps this conversation should be counted.

"And how about taking the White Key for yourself?" the Hand of Death asked in a curated tone of false conversation. "It was meant to go to Charlie."

So that was his motivation. He was having regrets. And where she had maintained her Free Will, Alastor had not.

Lilith smiled. "That makes it the best move I have ever made. And I have made quite a few." There was nothing she wished would have been different that stemmed from that particular choice alone. "Besides, my sweet girl doesn't have it in her to be Conquest."

Alastor stood up straight, twirling his microphone. "Oh, now there I have to disagree, my dear."

"In the span of a month," the Hand of Death extolled, "Your little Charlie led an army of cannibals in Hell's first victory against Heaven. She ended the Exterminations, and forged relations with Heaven that have culminated in a union bound though marriage. She orchestrated a media blitz that rendered Hell's Overlords incapable of acting against her. "

The Radio Demon's grin grew. "And as a cherry on top, Charlie had Eve's little attempt to infiltrate the Final Game permanently disabled."

"All, I should add, without a Horse."

---

Week Six, Day One - Vees Tower, shortly after noon:

"God fucking dammit!"

Lute watched Velvette storm in front of the wall-sized theatrical television, blocking the image of a small man in a gas mask reporting on the foiled terrorist attack. She had muted the volume to listen to the woman.

"I knew Valentino had set something in motion," the fashion and social media Overlord seethed. "We told him to call it off, but Heaven fucking forbid he spent his last day not fucking us over." She growled, fingers curling like claws.

"Valentino was behind this?" Lute questioned.

Velvette spun. "Who knows!? You would think his being dead would remove any motivation his pawns might have had to go through with it. But it certainly matches his style." She huffed. "So people are going to assume it was the Vees whether it was Valentino or not."

Lute offered calmly. "People are aware Valentino is dead. And this was sloppy enough to be a solo effort. Plenty of demons in this city have excessive reason to want to take out angels."

That was, in fact, our entire plan a few months ago.

The argument broke Velvette's storm. "Maybe it's a good thing we haven't taken any retaliatory actions over Valentino's death. Keep ourselves out of the spotlight for a change."

"You aren't going after the head of the table then?"

Velvette shook her head. "There's nothing resembling evidence to connect Valentino's assassination to Carmilla Carmine. Best to just let it drop. The public doesn't give a shit anyway." She sighed, deflating. "Now I just have to keep Vox from doing anything stupid."

Lute nodded, but felt a concern. Velvette had said before that the Vees couldn't be seen to do nothing. It might be smart, but it would look weak. "Will the investigation have been enough?"

"It will have to be," Velvette said. Her eyes narrowed, suddenly assessing Lute. "You only came along for your Horseman. Since when have you cared about who killed Valentino?"

"Since I figured out who it was," Lute admitted.

Dead silence.

Velvette stared at her, eyes narrowing even further, glowing.

"And were you planning to share this with the rest of the class?" Velvette finally asked, her voice dangerously low.

Lute responded flatly. "No reason to."

Velvette closed her eyes. She turned away, silhouetted by the giant TV screen.

"So where's that leave us?"

"No reason that should change either," Lute said honestly. The clues had been scattered in the words of Helsa, Husk, Velvette herself...

Valentino was a business partner. And frankly, not a good one. Sure, he brought in the money and the Contracts. But he was a big, stupid liability that was going to get us all fucked.

Because nothing says innocence like inserting yourself into an investigation.

Souls who are ravenous can help the Union breed,
But you don't even want what you pretend to need.

She couldn't prove it, but over the month her suspicion had become a certainty.

"I was an Exorcist," Lute said, standing up and walking to Velvette. "Do you think I care that you killed a demon?"

Velvette stood in silence. Then let out a breath. "I suppose it would seem to pale. I'd say something about quality over quantity. But nobody saw him the way Vox and I did."

Lute hesitated. Then put a hand on Velvette's shoulder. "I'd understand. I consider Adam the best man I've ever known."

Another moment of silence.

"It was a good plan," Lute told her.

The beautiful fashionista threw herself back onto the couch. "It was a fucking great plan... until my patsy got herself very publicly dead hours earlier in a hospital lobby in Sloth."

Lute failed to suppress her chuckle. "No plan survives encountering the Hazbin Hotel."

Ironic. They're a bunch of idiots, and they still manage to turn the tables on anyone who opposes them. It's almost like the hotel is led by Conquest.

"Fuck it," Velvette grumbled, picking the remote back up. "I've got friends there now."

The Overlord unmuted Tom Trench as Lute joined her again.

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, shortly after noon:

The Heaven Embassy was saturated with beautiful music. A melody filled with gentle joy, delivered with a spanish flair.

Just outside, Charlie fretted. Crymini, where are you?

Below her, Niffty clutched her basket of flower petals with a slightly subdued excitement.

Charlie's phone began to play a combination of urgent drum beats and fuzz guitar. Crymini's favorite cover of a song from the Living World: Animal I Have Become.

Charlie quickly pulled out her phone. A single text:

Everything is fine, mom. I'm going to be late. Start without me.

The term of found family affection warmed Charlie's heart as the message banished her worst worries. Simultaneously, they drove a pang through her heart. I wish mom was here!

"Is everything all right, Charlie?" Sera asked, standing with Emily, who was doing her best not to be an anxious mess. She knew Sera had tried to get a message to her mother.

Charlie put on a smile. "Yes. Crymini is okay, but wants us to start without her." The words brought an awwww from Emily. Her halo briefly flared.

Charlie turned and nodded to her dad. He moved to her side and she took his arm. Next to them, Sera gave hers to Emily. The younger seraphim squeaked in eagerness, her wings flapping. Charlie's heart swelled, an amusing thought saying that Sera was Emily's anchor, keeping her wife from ascending to Heaven by her sheer nervous bliss.

Inside the Heaven Embassy, the music shifted, announcing the bridal walk.

The doors swung open, revealing the filled Embassy pews. At the end of the nave, Stolas stood tall, smiling gracefully, dressed in royal blacks and purples, the inner lining of his cape a shifting violet starscape. Before him, to the right, stood Angel Dust and Husk in matching golden gown and tuxedo, both smiling warmly towards them. On the left, Cherri Bomb, Molly and Sir Pentious formed a line of beautiful halos. Molly barely contained a squeal of joy. Razzle stood near Stolas' feet, ready with the rings.

And in the center stood Vaggie, practically glowing as she saw Charlie and Emily. Dressed in a sheer white gown with scarlet trim and sash around her waist. The dress was backless, and Vaggie had her wings out, delighting Charlie enough to squeak herself. The dress was a glove down to Vaggie's thighs where it flared out in layers of ruffles that let the scarlet dance. She even had a new matching eyepatch. Charlie drank her in. Her face. Her hair. Her wings. Her lips.

"We can't just skip the wedding and go straight to the honeymoon, can we?" Emily breathed. Charlie laughed, having been thinking exactly the same thing.

Niffty was staring in soft awe, her eye wide. The heavier emotions that had been weighing on her this morning had clearly evaporated. Charlie had the sneaking suspicion that Niffty was shipping her and her wives with newfound fervor. She couldn't blame the little woman one bit.

"Go ahead, Niffty," Lucifer whispered.

The tiny woman nodded eagerly and started skipping down the aisle as she paved the way down the nave with flower petals.

Charlie squeezed her dad's arm. Lucifer took the first step. The rest followed.

---

Week Six, Day One - Night Owls, Heaven, shortly after noon:

From the rooftop of Night Owls, Glen and Zee cheered as High Seraphim Emily joined her wives, projected eighty feet tall over the promenade, visible to all of Heaven. Their cheer was joined by angels in all Districts.

Eustice zipped off, the bumblebee cherub disappearing into the hologram.

"Dearly beloved," Stolas began, the Goetia demon towering regally over all of them. "We are gathered here today, both below and above, to witness the union of these three wonderful women - Charlie, Vaggie and Emily - in official matrimony before the eyes of all in Heaven and Hell, from the Throne upon the Highest to the farthest eldritch Depths."

Eustice returned, whispering to Glen, "She remembered her panties."

---

Week Six, Day One - Hazbin Hotel rooftop stairwell, shortly after noon:

She leapt up her stairwell, one step at a time. Making her way towards her zenith. The metal door at the apex of the stairs clanked and swung open at her want, giving exit to her roof.

All the giants were gone except for the new one, the fox giant who had kept her present. Even the other new one who smelled like dinner. (He was not dinner. She knew better.)

Her giant had left the fox one to greet any other new giants that Keekee allowed in. Keekee was in charge. The new one understood that and submitted herself to being nuzzled and giving pets.

The rest had gone to watch her giant and her giant's angels tell everyone they were mating. Giants have bad noses so need to be told these things.

Her favorite had a good nose and didn't need to be told. She left with intent to hunt. Not alone this time. With the giant who left and became an angel. Just like her giant wanted. That was good.

Keekee was happy.

She slid outside through the open door. Metal trees holding bright lights rose even higher. But she would meet him here. She had known of him before she woke up, but they had never met.

Keekee was curious.

So, she believed, was he. She watched the white pegasus approach with the grace of a cat. He landed on the rooftop, clopping his hooves. He whinnied a greeting. She meowed back.

They stared at each other. She could feel the questions hanging between them like drying pieces of fish wanting to be consumed.

Who are you?

I am Keekee. Who are you?

I am Love. What are you?

I am Cat. I am Key. I am Hope. I am Home... but only for a time.

He was not Key. But yet she could sense the Key that was very much a part of him.

What are you to me?

Keekee stared at him, cocking her head. Her ears twitched. She did not know the answer. She could only determine what they were not.

They were not siblings. They were not enemies. Nor rivals. Nor opposites. Nor allies. Nor friends.

I am the better choice.

Why are you better?

I am Cat.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, shortly after noon:

As they walked back across the street towards the Heaven's Embassy, Octavia found herself idly considering the puppy Sinner's suggestion.

The Goetia princess took the long way around the row of parked vehicles, most of them belonging to news outlets. She watched Crymini just climb over them. Showing way too much again with that short dress. Probably leaving little claw marks.

Her dress was probably ruined, but Octavia didn't care. Her dad bought it for the wedding she was missing. Necklace too, although that at least had meaning.

The biggest problem with Crymini's suggestion was that Octavia didn't really know anyone like that. She didn't exactly have a lot of friends to choose from. Most of her social circle were other teenagers dragged to Stella's parties. And none of them had shown any interest in keeping in contact when the divorce started.

Her only real option was Loona. But the more she thought about that, the worse it got. She didn't know enough about Loona to know if the woman would ever want a real marriage, but Octavia wouldn't feel right locking her Hellhound friend out of that possibility for Loona's future just to protect her own. Plus, Blitz was Loona's dad. And that would be a whole big mess that Octavia wanted no part of.

Octavia met back up with Crymini as the puppy teen was giving the finger to somebody.

"If it was you, who would you ask to marry?"

Crymini blinked. "What? Oh..." She gave it a moment of thought before answering, "Jack, I guess. He's a friend. We respect each other. And he'd do me the solid without expecting anything."

Octavia found herself envying the puppy demon. What she wouldn't give for a friend like that.

"He's got urges, sure," Crymini said. "But Hell stuck him with the body of a plushie." Crymini shoved a demon blocking their way, then let Octavia pass first. "I mean, I wouldn't mind giving the guy a hand job, but I'm not ever going to be interested in fishing stuffing out of my cunt. And he's at peace with that."

Octavia grimaced. Way too much information.

"Hey, join us at the reception," Crymini offered. "We'll help you keep your mind out of the dank."

"Fuck, the mom's are already doing their thing," the puppy teen said, ears pasted back. She fished out her phone. "Look, I've got to go for a bit. But let's exchange Sinstagram crap. If you need a friend. Or just, you know, ears, shoulder, set of claws - let me know."

Octavia appreciated the offer. She could use a friend. But the First Circle was a bit far to go to just hang out.

Crymini gave her an earnest look. "Also, the Princess' hotel is a great place to crash if things get ugly and you need a break. I can set you up there, no problem." Crymini pulled out her phone and started poking at it. "Trust me, the Hazbin Hotel is a great place to be to not be someplace else."

That... sounded like something she might need. Octavia pulled out her phone.

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy, early afternoon:

Heavenly light shone through the stained glass windows, breaking into dazzling colors. Charlie, Vaggie and Emily stood facing each other, holding hands as the music began. The light notes of a piano. They were singing their vows.

Nothing could be more appropriate. She was so proud her eyes were already wet before the first words were sung. Her daughter sang first.

"You listened and you gave me hope.
Stood by me when it all seemed lost."

Charlie looked to Vaggie, her eyes filled with love. "My heart first beat when I met you,"

She turned to Emily, singing in turn, "Then beat again when our paths crossed."

A guitar joined in, playing in harmony to the piano. It was such a sweet melody.

"I vow I will cherish you both.
I will listen to you and learn from you.
Accept the aid you give to me.
Support you in everything you do."

A drum beat kept a gentle rhythm as Vaggie began to sing:

"You took me in, forgave my sins
You trusted me and helped me grow
Through you I learned to love myself.
I love you more than you could know."

The drums were joined by the sound of castanets, adding a special flair to the beat.

"I vow I will cherish you both.
I will be your armor and your partner.
My victory is your success.
I'll share your tears and share your laughter."

The piano changed, replaced by the more vibrant notes of a church organ. It was Emily's song now.

"Your love outshone all of Heaven.
When one tried tearing you apart.
You are my happiness and joy.
The song that's playing in my heart."

The final instrument to join was a harp. Of course it was a harp. As much as Lilith was drowning in the beauty of it all, she couldn't suppress quiet laughter.

"I vow I will cherish you both.
I dedicate all that I am to you.
Together we will build a dream
That will survive whatever we go through."

The instruments all blended together and rose towards a crescendo, playing off each other in the most amazing symphony. The three brides' voices rose in unison, her daughter's voice blending so perfectly with her wives that Lilith could not separate it apart.

"Though the future is uncertain,
We commit to facing it together.
It is by our choice we forge this
Union for the rest of our forever."

The music swelled, then faded. The three women sang together, one final line for the outro.

"And love lasts because we choose to make it last!"

Standing tall above them, Prince Stolas spread his arms. His grimoire floated upwards, opening. The air rippled above them and split, spilling out an eldritch, cosmic light.

That was Razzle's cue. The little goat-dragon flew over, holding an apple-shaped pillow with six thin rings on it. Lilith dabbed at her eyes as her daughter slipped a ring on each of her wives, then accepted one from each in return. Each pair of thin rings sealed magically into one.

"By the power vested in me as a Prince of the Ars Goetia," he announced. "I formally proclaim the union of Vaggie, Emily and Charlie Morningstar. Witnessed by Heaven above and Hell below, under the gaze of the Creators, before the Elders and the Powers, by the Virtues and the Sins. What love has joined together, let no one separate."

Lilith felt her heart swell to bursting. She wanted to cheer. She wanted to sing!

Prince Stolas smiled. "You are now encouraged to kiss and fornecate." Then leaned and whispered something softly to them that made all three blush profusely.

Lilith slipped from her seat and made her way out, hoping she was unnoticed.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, early afternoon:

Stigma was on stage, and Cherri Bomb clearly had a lot of input. Angel Dust suspected this was the first wedding band to employ this much pyrotechnics. Not that they needed the spectacle. The music ripped and tore. But wow, were they putting on a debut. The bass guitarist's voice was sharp honey, delivering something between a song and a rap:

"You pour rain on the fire then say it ain't so,
Tell me not to resist, just go with the flow,
Try to put me to sleep, but inside I know,
That a little struggle is good for the soul!"

"KISS MY REBELLION!" Cherri Bomb screamed, launching them into the final chorus. Her draconic cherry-red guitar was practically on fire.

Cherri's outfit was clearly a riff on Charlie's battle dress. Angel Dust suspected the guitar was a custom inspired by Razzle and Dazzle.

All around him, many people were dancing and having a blast. But hardly everyone. The wedding crowd looked evenly split between those taken aback and those absolutely here for it. He spotted Crymini dancing with her stuffed-rabbit buddy and an owl girl who looked related to Prince Stolas. Beside Angel Dust, Sir Pentious cheered on Cherri Bomb's new band, waving color-shifting glow rods that looked like he'd invented them himself.

"Your kind of music?" Angel Dust asked, wondering briefly how Adam's overgrown ego handled being on stage with a drummer who was hot enough to be Angelic Satan.

"It is now!" Sir Pentious exclaimed.

As the song ended, Angel Dust overheard Queen Bee telling her boyfriend, "I didn't know what to expect from a band of angels, but Stigma is fire!"

"That last number was absolutely not a wedding song," the sexy hellhound noted.

Bee laughed, "And they don't give a shit!"

Angel Dust glanced over at where Molly was talking to Asmodeus. He waved to Fizzarolli.

Molly and Asmodeus were deep in pleasant conversation. Laughing. Flirting. Angel Dust caught them both looking over at Emily, who had changed into her bunny suit for dancing. With a flash, Emily was wearing her wedding dress again.

He heard Ozzie say to his sister, "Oh yeah. Bee was right. That girl is a whole mess of kinks!"

On the concert platform, Cherri Bomb took center stage. "Thank you, everyone! And thank you to the Hazbin Hotel newlyweds! You three are all Morningstars now. If only because Charlie's the only one of you with a last name."

That got some laughter, including from the happy throuple.

"Before we give this stage over to Verosika Mayday, we have a special number. A request from one of the brides to her partners. And with a very special guest musician."

Angel Dust watched with surprise as Carmilla Carmine took the stage. She was carrying a Spanish guitar on her back, custom made for the swan demon's large hands. The drummer brought out a stool for her to sit on. The bass guitarist was now wearing castanets, and the keyboardist had pulled out a violin.

As Cherri and the drummer retook their places, Vaggie walked up in front of the stage, beckoning Charlie and Emily to follow her. She had a sultry smile that she wore to lethal effect. With a tantalizing flourish, she pulled at the sash on her wedding gown and it came off, along with the entire lower half. Away went the ruffles, the gown becoming a single sheer glove with a provocative lower cut lined with scarlet and a curving slit up the side for easy movement.

A tango gown. Vaggie had Velvette make her a custom wedding dress with a tango conversion.

Damn!

The music began, and Vaggie began to dance to it. Sexy. Rambunctious. Almost toying with her wives as she danced with and around them. Charlie and Emily in turn falling into perfect step without any idea what to expect. Hell was magical that way. They were practically instruments that Vaggie was playing.

Angel Dust wasn't into women, but even he had to fan himself as Charlie dipped Vaggie, running the tip of her tail down the cleavage Vaggie's dress teased.

His phone vibrated. Just once. A text. He didn't want to pull his eyes away from this, so the texter would have to wait until the dance was done.

Cherri Bomb's electric guitar came in, performing a surprising counterpoint to Carmilla's Spanish guitar. The tango had a fiery energy that just flooded into Vaggie's dancing.

Molly had stepped up next to him, and gave an appreciative whistle as Vaggie slipped behind Emily, wrapping around her. Crossing her arms over Emily's chest in a seductive move before slipping away.

Angel Dust was struck by the memory of Vaggie's story: I swear, if it wasn't for those flamingos, I never would have spent a year learning Latin dance.

A second buzz on his phone. Another text. Next to him, Molly reached into her cleavage, pulling out her phone. She'd just gotten one too.

Okay, that made it worth maybe glancing away. He fumbled out his phone, not taking his eyes off Vaggie, who was spinning between her partners. The looks on Charlie's and Emily's faces said they were both beyond compromised. They were Vaggie's tonight.

Angel Dust shot a quick glance down at his phone.

Come to the parking lot behind the Embassy. Bring Molly. No one else. - Arackniss

It's about mom.

Angel Dust turned to Molly. She was holding her phone, looking back at him. He nodded, and together they started to make their way through the crowd. He didn't notice they were being followed.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, afternoon:

Sir Pentious marveled at the amount, variety and utter richness of the food on display. Heaven was an unparalleled culinary delight, but Queen Beelzebub seemed determined to challenge that. He couldn't name half the food here, and it all looked better than anything he'd eaten in all his decades in Hell. Including Lucifer's conjurings.

The pièce de résistance was the wedding cake. Alternating layers of angel food cake and devil's food cake, just as anyone would expect, but riddled with a honey marbling straight from the Queen of Gluttony herself. A hellhound was cutting and serving slices.

Sir Pentious was moving towards it when a wonderfully familiar voice rang out below him.

"Heya, boss!"

"Eggie!" Sir Pentious cheered with delight as he swooped his long lost egg boi into an embrace.

"Old boss was right. You look good as an angel," Frank told him.

Sir Pentious blinked. "Old boss?" He looked around. His eyes widened as he saw who was in a far corner, talking with Razzle. "Well, if it isn't my old colleague-slash-rival!" He said, slithering up to the two. "Hello, Baxter." He knew the anglerfish demon well. They had made eggs together. Not like that.

Baxter looked ever so much like the proverbial fish out of water. Baxter didn't like social events. And this was a big one. "I'm ssssurprised even a wedding between Heaven and Hell could pull you out of your laboratory!"

Baxter looked up and scowled. "Yes. Well, I will be going back into it now. I have had enough of tolerating people for the rest of my afterlife."

Razzle surprised Sir Pentious by pouting a little at that.

"You are free to stay," Baxter said, as if Razzle would have valued his authority over Charlie's. "You are welcome in the laboratory later. Just remember: always close the door."

Okay, now that was a real surprise! "I sssseem to recall you don't allow touristssss."

"Razzle isn't a tourist," Baxter stated, cleaning his glasses. "You were a tourist," he added as he put them back on. He began to walk away.

"I was a tourist!?" he gasped, offended. "We are fellow scientists!"

"No," Baxter corrected, "I am a scientist. You are just an inventor."

They were interrupted by the sound of swearing in Spanish. Sir Pentious turned to see Vaggie stomping past, fists clenched, glaring upwards.

"Te voy a dar una hostia que te vas a morir de hambre en el aire!"

Sir Pentious' gaze traveled to what caught the new bride's ire. And cringed a little. The billboard above the concert had changed to feature an image of Vaggie in a technically decent but still extremely provocative pose and outfit based on a much lewder cut of her wedding dress.

Congratulations to the Happy Throuple!
We wish eternity of married bliss to the Morningstar wives!

In celebration, Velvette's is offering free a Wedding Dress
skin for the Vagyna 2.0 model to everyone who submits a
Royal Honeymoon-themed story to the website below.

Oh my Heaven.

"Excuse me." Sir Pentious' attention was pulled away from the billboard by the sudden appearance of Prince Stolas. "Have either of you seen Frederick von Eldritch?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I'll look around," Sir Pentious offered. "Baxter...?" But Baxter had taken the chance to exit stage elsewhere. Sir Pentious sighed. "Nevermind." He turned back to the Goetia prince. "You take the park and I'll take the concert?"

Stolas nodded and the two parted, each looking for the eldest von Eldritch.

Nobody noticed the black and malachite limousine as it entered the roundabout in front of the Heaven Embassy, its wheels rolling to a stop.

---

Week Six, Day One - Stable of the White Horse, afternoon:

"Did you enjoy your little outing?"

Love gave her a stately whinny.

Lilith brushed the white pegasus, checking him over gently. "Sorry, Love, but our brief sojourn into Hell is going to be extended a day or two."

She looked down at the box holding the message. "I have a move to make."

Lilith felt the presence of the man she truly loved as soon as he entered her Stable.

"Were you really going to come here and leave again without even saying hello?"

"Luci..." He was standing right behind her. She looked down, but did not turn to see him. She wanted to. Yet there was a solid weight that made it hard to move.

"So what was it?" Lucifer asked. There was a change in his voice. It was stronger. Yet somehow slightly muted in character.

She did turn. Looking down at him. Taking in his face. It held the courage she had yearned to hear before.

"Did I do something? Or was it really just this Conquest thing?"

"You're looking better, my love," Lilith said, finding the ability to smile, even if the smile was strained. "It warms the heart to see. Did you... finally accept help from Bel?"

Lucifer nodded. "Thank you for having her brew that. Having her keep it for me."

"I hoped and prayed for a long, long time to see you like this." Her eyes traveled down her angel until they rested on his hand. "And you are no longer wearing your ring."

Lucifer started to turn away, casting his eyes downward, but Lilith insisted, "No, don't look away. I am thankful. You deserve happiness. I pray you can find it with someone." She reached out to touch his face, but her hand hesitated. She no longer had the right. "Don't let me be a chain holding you back."

"I had happiness," he told her, taking her hesitant hand. "With you. And you are the only one I ever hoped or wanted to find it with again."

But that wasn't true. She pulled her hand back. She hoped he was not lying to himself. "No. We had love. Truer than the apple. Deeper than the pit. But you did not have happiness. Not for more than fleeting moments. The darkness in your head went deeper still."

She gave him an earnest and loving look. "I hope now you can." A gentle smile.

Lucifer stared into her smile. She could see the love behind his eyes. The yearning. She felt it too. But it was not to be. "Before you think it, that is not why I left. And after the things I have done, you wouldn't want to find it with me."

"Was it why we separated?"

Lilith would not lie to him. But she would not say the words that would hurt him more deeply. So she said nothing. She could tell he read into her silence. It felt like being cut open. She changed the subject rather than leave them standing there bleeding.

"Cain's gone."

"Cain?" Lucifer frowned, tripped up by the shift. "Wait, as in Cain and Abel?" They weren't exactly names thrown around at the dinner table. "What does Cain have to do with anything?"

His reaction was a victory. Lucifer never knew him beyond a reputation more folklore than fact. Charlie wouldn't either. "He was my Hand," Lilith told him, thankful to no longer have use for the centuries-old secret. "When the call came to sequester, he refused. They made an example of him."

"They who?"

"You know."

The way his eyes narrowed, she could see that he did. "If They were willing to eliminate Cain, there was no length to which They would not go. They would not harm a Horseman directly, but They had other targets to use to force compliance if one refused. Even Death has someone he cares for."

"I won't be forced. I make my own decisions. So I called in my Favor and sequestered myself where I chose." Lilith told her husband. "Where I could continue my project. And where I would not be completely separated from every single person I cared about."

All but one.

Lucifer closed his eyes. "I know about you and Sera." She could hear the pain accepting that truth caused him. Pain she had caused to one she had never wished to see suffer.

"Sera was there when I needed someone and it couldn't be you." Lilith prayed he could understand.

When he opened his eyes again, there was no hardness. Only a search for understanding, for truth. "Did you love her?"

"She's the woman who Created me," Lilith answered, giving him the truth he sought. "I have always loved her. But not as I love you."

"She's like a mother to you?"

And then he said that. Well, he had a right to his hurt. And maturity was never one of his vices. "No more than Adam and I were siblings. Or you were with her."

Lilith sighed. "Sera and I have always been close, my love. Even when I so badly wanted to strangle her." Times that had been increasingly common in the last two centuries. For reasons Sera was not entirely to blame for. But still mostly.

To be fair, dear husband, we were married for millennia. I have wanted to strangle you a time or two. But Sera has a habit of strangleable behavior.

"Seraphim don't have to breathe."

"So you see the problem."

Brief smiles shared between them.

The two stared at each other in awkward and poignant silence. Both overflowing with love for the other. But while only feet apart, there was a vastness between them as great as the distance between Heaven and Hell. And the bridges had been burned.

"I've missed you so much, Lily," Lucifer said, his voice wet but steady. "Charlie's missed you. She's been calling you, and you never answered."

"I... did not know that," Lilith said, turning away. She felt the heat in her eyes that preceded tears. She did not want him to see that. If they fell as he watched, they would erode his strength. "Voxtek service doesn't reach Heaven."

"Yeah, well, I hear that's about to change," Lucifer commented, almost casually. "Like, literally right now. It's supposed to be announced at the reception. Which you are missing."

She felt his hand on her hip. His voice had a firmness which she once feared he had lost entirely. "Lilith, you came all this way to see Charlie get married. Don't leave without talking to her."

"That would be a troubled conversation, Luci. Today, I want nothing but happiness for our daughter."

---

Week Six, Day One - Heaven Embassy parking, afternoon:

"...have you done with our mother, Arackniss?" Angel Dust's voice cut through the parking lot.

Husk slipped around the luxury car, catching up to the spider siblings. All three of them.

"I'll let you see her," the short, black spider promised. Wasn't much to guess that was the big brother Angel and Molly spoke so endearingly of. "We're going to take a little trip first."

"Jonathan?" Molly asked, a touch pleadingly. "What are you doing?"

"Unless you're taking us directly to mom," Angel Dust said, "I am not interested in going to a second location with you."

Fuck. This was a little too much get in the van. Complete with using their mother as candy.

Husk stepped forward. "I've got a better idea." All three spiders turned. Molly looked the most surprised. "You be decent and bring your mother to the Hazbin Hotel. You'll have a nice family reunion."

Arackniss snapped two of his fingers. Husk heard metal doors slide open on multiple shipping trucks in the parking lot. Imps poured out. Of course he was going to do this the hard way.

Husk smirked, holding up his hands as they were enveloped in a fiery angelic glow. "Send your minions back into their cages," Husk warned. "Don't start a fight you can't win."

Arackniss' face fell. But only for a moment as the small black spider took Husk's measure. Then he smiled. A confident smile Husk did not like at all.

"Trust me," Husk discouraged. "You don't know what you're dealing with."

"But I do now," Arackniss said. "I am the Hand of Famine. Famine rides with me. And you..."

Arackniss strode up to him, not afraid at all, with a confidence that read as centered rather than cocky. "You're just an addict threatening to throw his latest addiction at me."

What?! Husk's eyes shifted as he immediately thought of how good using his... no, Sera's energy felt. How consequence-free it was. How easily he had stopped drinking. He didn't need alcohol anymore. He had something better.

"Go ahead," Arackniss grinned thinly, looking up at him. (God, he was barely taller than Niffty.) "See how that goes for you."

More than a lifetime of gambling had made Husk very good at reading people. Arackniss was not bluffing. The light around Husk's hands faded.

"Now!" Arackniss ordered.

Husk jumped back in alarm as a blast of flame shot past him, striking Molly, bathing her in orange fire. Angel Dust shouted in dismay. Molly screamed, but not a scream of pain. The imp with the flamethrower wasn't unleashing hellish fire.

"Sorry, Molls!" Arackniss said, dashing to her as the flames devoured Molly's bridesmaid gown. He reached up between her now exposed breasts and drew out the cupid crossbow. The golden arrow notched into it glimmered and became lead grey.

"Jonathan! What the..." Molly's shout was cut off as Arackniss fired an arrow into her. "Ow!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "So that's what the sleep ones look like."

Husk began running at the black spider. Arackniss spun towards his brother as Angel Dust was pulling out his tommy guns. Fuck, the little guy was fast! Husk didn't dare use angelic power, so he extended his wing, taking the arrow.

He felt woozy within three steps. He saw Molly already asleep on the broken pavement, the last threads of her gown still burning away. Heaven's tranquilizers did not fuck around.

"Husk!" Angel Dust shouted to him as he stumbled. "If we're not back in one day, come get us. Bring the fucking cavalry!"

The spider turned to his short big brother, putting away his tommy guns and lifting his arms in surrender. "Okay. Coming quietly. Take us to our mom!"

Hell swam into blackness. Husk didn't feel himself hitting the pavement.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, afternoon:

"Hey! Great to see you! The band's amazing, right?" "How are you? You good? Need anything?"

Queen Bee buzzed about the reception party, playing hostess. Making sure everyone was having a great time. She was positively drunk on the positivity. Wooo!

She spotted Tex at the tables. He'd taken the prime spot and was dishing out for the guests. And, if she wasn't mistaken, flirting with the drummer from Stigma. Bee didn't blame him. Fuck, that boy was hot. Bee caught Tex's attention, winked and blew the hellhound a kiss. If Tex swung them a threesome with the drummer, that would be just the perfect cap for the day.

Queen Bee looked up. Being under Heaven's sky was so strange. She preferred Gluttony, but there was a vibe that was just serene. Wholesome in a tasty way.

Bee's ears perked as she caught the voice of one of the brides. "...sure. After Wrath. When you can walk again." Oooh, honeymoon talk!

She looked over to see the happy throuple talking. Princess Charlie had her horns and tail out, and was kissing the neck of one of her angels. Or nibbling. Definitely nibbling. She watched as Charlie turned her head and just leaned against her like she was a vertical bed, casting a glance towards the Heavenly sky.

"It's all so beautiful. So perfect." Charlie sighed. "I just wish mom would have been here."

Huh?

Bee buzzed down, landing before the newlyweds. She gave Princess Charlie a smile. "Couldn't help but overhear and, hey girl, she was here."

Charlie blinked, her face going neutral. "What?"

"Yeah," Bee grinned. "I tasted her the moment she entered the building. You don't forget how Lilith tastes."

Charlie stood up straight. "Mom was here?"

"And let me tell you, she loves you something fierce," Bee told Charlie. "She was so proud of you and so happy for you it was making me dizzy."

Charlie looked stunned, but a smile was breaking through. "Is... is she still here?"

Bee checked the energy around her and shook her head. "No. She slipped out while you three were being so adorable about who got to kiss who first. Haven't caught her energy since."

Another taste hit her and Bee nearly gagged. She remembered that taste, like sipping charcoal and sewage. But it was far, far worse than the last time. Nasty. Filled with malice.

Oh fuck no!

Bee gave Charlie and her angels a slightly strained smile. "Hold that thought. I'll be right back."

Queen Bee shot into the air again, swooping over the party, looking for the source of that foul energy. She spotted her. The girl was walking towards the park from a black and malachite limo parked in the roundabout between the park and the concert.

The Sin of Gluttony landed in front of Helsa von Eldritch, blocking her path to the party. "You're not invited. Leave now."

Technically, everyone was invited. But there was no way Charlie wanted this woman at her wedding reception. And there was no way Beelzebub was going to let that energy anywhere near the party. This girl was poison.

Helsa stopped, staring. She shifted her weight to one hip, smiling daggers. Not intimidated at all. "So you're her." The woman was wearing pink-trimmed black, the coat lined with furs, and holding a large umbrella to shade her from Heaven.

"Beelzebub. That's right," Bee smirked proudly. "And for your sake, I suggest you see how fast that vehicle of yours can get you out of City Center. Better yet, out of Pentagram City. I am not fucking around here."

Helsa stood with a haughty poise, grinning infuriatingly. "Not until I've given the newlyweds my congratulations." Her grin grew worse. As did the energy coming off of her. Downright murderous now. "You are so much the last person who wants to be getting in my way."

That was it! Queen Bee's voice became a roar. In an instant, she grew, towering over Helsa von Eldritch. "LEAVE NOW! FINAL WARNING!" Her every word blew back the tentacles that masqueraded as the woman's hair.

In the back of Bee's mind, a small part of her was screaming that something was wrong. Being huge was consuming too much honey.

Queen Bee's eyes locked on Helsa's. She had to give the woman some credit for still standing her ground. But the abomination had seconds before Bee painted the pavement with whatever Helsa had instead of blood.

"You have no idea who I am, do you?" Helsa sneered.

She could taste a sublayer of energy from the fucking bugs in that crude ichor. A vibe all its own. Nastiest thing she had ever tasted. She wanted to vomit. And Beelzebub never wanted to vomit.

The world around her had desaturated. Only Helsa remained in living color. That scream in her head was telling her that she was drawing on far too much energy for what were parlor tricks. But it was easily ignored. She didn't feel drained; if anything, Bee felt flushed.

In the background, other screams joined the one in her head, but they barely registered.

Grey shadow fell across City Center as dark clouds closed above. There was a rumble of thunder. Helsa's smug vanished briefly as she glanced upwards with a calculating expression. Still, she wasn't moving fast enough, and Bee was fucking done with this.

"You had your chance!" Beelzebub roared.

Beelzebub reared up, pulling from her honey, her cauldron churning. In her mind, she could already see the filthy smear that Helsa von Eldritch was going to leave.

Blue fire exploded between her and Helsa. She heard Asmodeus roar: "BEE! STOP!"

The desperation in Ozzie's voice shocked Bee out of her focus, and immediately everything felt horribly, horribly wrong. Her cauldron was broiling. She felt overwhelmed, disoriented, sick. She blinked, her body giving a wretched spasm, and turned to look at the von Eldritch woman.

Helsa looked upwards again, then at Bee, frowning and backing away. "Got what I wanted."

Beelzebub spun, looking around, shrinking back as nausea and lightheadedness nearly bowled her over. The screams she had heard before were all silent. Everywhere, there were bodies.

The abomination retreated, swallowed into her limousine.

As it rolled away, Bee's eyes caught the sight of the cannibal Overlord on the steps of the Embassy. She was holding the Radio Demon in her lap. He was staring into the sky with a look of calculation. Both looked wrecked.

She turned, the motion making her feel grotesquely ill, until her eyes found Tex. He was laying on the ground, unmoving. There was blood.

No!

The Ring tilted and the last vestiges of equilibrium evaporated. Queen Bee felt herself falling. And felt Ozzie's arms catch her.

"...what happened?..." She asked. But passed out before he could answer.

---

Week Six, Day One - Vee's Tower, late afternoon:

Lute watched as Velvette pulled a bottle from the wine rack, double-checking the date. Her expression said: expensive and worth it. They were celebrating a wedding. And the roaring success of Velvette's little Wedding bonus. Vaggie's rage had been caught on the news.

Velvette would absolutely deserve that slap if it came. The Overlord boasted that she was actually looking forward to it.

Lute had no idea if she would like wine. Adam drank beer, and he was always open to share a pack with her. She tried a few times. But trauma from mortal life left bad associations that kept her from being able to really enjoy it. Adam respected that and was cool about it. More than the people at the hotel would be able to process.

Lute had something else she was considering drinking instead. She pulled out the Love Potion and set it on the table, staring into the soft, promising glow of the potion.

Velvette stopped in the dining room, her smile fading.

"What are you doing with that?" she asked pointedly.

Lute sat back, looking at her. "Seriously contemplating drinking it."

Velvette's brow furrowed. "And when it wears off? You're stuck with memories of love you don't have. And of sex that makes you sick. I thought I made that clear before."

"I've been in love," Lute replied. "I know what it is like to lose it, and I can handle it." She sighed. "I have a whole afterlife of memories that fill me with revulsion. This wouldn't be anything new."

Velvette frowned. "Also not the kind of experiences you want to double down on."

Lute stared again at the glowing potion in the bottle. "I'm not looking to fall in love. I just want to give myself an exception. Even if it's just for one night."

The fallen angel turned to her friend. "I don't want to be alone. Not tonight. Especially not when there is somebody I wish I wanted to be with. And who, if I'm not mistaken, wants to be with me."

Velvette sighed. She put the wine on the table and sat down. "Look, Lute. I've been teasing, and I don't tempt unless I'm wanting to put my other lips where I'm putting my mouth. But the last thing I'm interested in is a lover who's going to wake up disgusted about being with me."

The bitterness with which she said that told Lute there was more to that than was clear on the surface.

I'm not into chicks. But is that me, or is that just what I was taught and what I've made myself believe? It's not like I've never found a woman attractive before. Velvette's attractive. Fucking Vaggie's attractive. So how much of my revulsion is sanctimonious bullshit? And how can I tell if I don't tear all that shit off and stuff it in a closet for a night?

She stopped at that thought. Okay... fucked choice of metaphor.

"I'm... rather hoping that I won't," Lute told her. "I just need to open my mind a little."

Velvette stood back up. "Well, I don't want to take that risk." She walked away from the table.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, late afternoon:

Stolas groaned, blinking at the unnatural light shining in his eyes. He was laying down. He felt ragged grass under his cheek. There was a ringing in his ears. His insides felt simultaneously twisted and numb. He wanted to vomit, but he didn't have the energy to.

"Thank Heaven!" a pretty woman's voice said. It sounded familiar. "How do you feel?"

"Like I overdosed on a bad mix of all my medication," Stolas said, fighting to clear his vision. The face of the angel came into focus. Emily. The High Seraphim. The light was from her halo. For the briefest moment, his mind entertained the ludicrous notion that he had died and gone to Heaven somehow. "What happened?"

From overhead, he heard Lucifer shouting Charlie's name.

"Famine," Emily said succinctly. An answer that didn't make much sense given all the food. Or the hostess. But those thoughts withered under a surging concern.

"Via! Where is Via?"

The angel took a moment to respond. "That isn't a name I know," she said, holding out a hand meant to be calming. "Crymini is with an owl girl who kinda looks like you. Would that be her?"

"Yes!" Stolas nodded, pushing himself up feebly. The Ring tried to spin. "Is she all right?"

"I don't think she's woken up yet," Emily told him. "But she should soon. Asmodeus stopped Beelzebub before she killed anyone."

What?! "What do you mean? Beelzebub attacked?"

"Queen Beelzebub faced off against Helsa," Emily said. Her eyes narrowed, glowing white. "Asmodeus says Famine weaponized her cauldron. Instead of tasting everybody's energy, she started gorging on it. And not just emotions. Beelzebub didn't even know."

Stolas started looking around. There were people collapsed everywhere. Demons and angels alike. Emily's sister, the fallen seraphim, was kneeling, holding Belphegor in her lap. The Sin of Sloth's candle was alarmingly dim.

He spotted Lucifer helping his daughter to her feet. The King of Hell directed his daughter's attention towards them, then to a nearby table where her other wife had been laid out comfortably under the watchful care of the Overlord of the cannibals. Next to her, the Radio Demon was holding the flower girl who, like Vaggie, was still unconscious. He looked ragged.

The princess lurched towards the table but collapsed to her knees before she could reach it. Beside him, Emily visibly fought the urge to let go of him and run to her. But continued to help.

"Was anyone not affected?" Stolas asked in amazement. "How is everyone?"

"I think the only ones here who didn't collapse were Asmodeus, Mr. von Eldritch and me. Queen Bee fell ill as soon as Asmodeus chased Helsa off." The angel's wings drooped. "Asmodeus is worried about Belphegor. And we're missing people."

Frederick von Eldritch! "Where is Mr. von Eldritch?" Stolas queried. "And who is missing?"

"He left, carrying Seviathan with him," Emily said as she helped him to his feet. He was unsteady, but able to stand with only a little support.

Fuck. He missed his opportunity with the boy's father. He would have to create another. He hadn't let Octavia down; this was just a delay.

"Lead me to Via, please," he requested, thankful the angel was spending so much time with him when there were others scattered everywhere.

A winged feline Sinner landed on the other side of Emily, stumbling groggily. "What the fuck happened?!" He was wearing a golden tuxedo, badly rumpled. One of the bridesmen.

"Famine," Emily repeated. "Have you seen Molly or her brother?"

"He took them," the feline Sinner growled. "Arackniss. Their brother."

Whatever else there may have been to that conversation was lost to him as Stolas saw Octavia. She was awakening, aided by the company of a hellhound and a very strange rabbit Sinner.

---

Week Six, Day One - Imp City, early evening:

The black and malachite limousine drove down the streets of Imp City. The two vans that traveled in caravan with it broke off, heading deeper into the city while the limousine turned towards the warehouse district.

At Lilith's slightest nudge, Love banked, following behind it. Keeping high enough to stay in the other Horse's blind spot.

The von Eldritch limousine turned onto Bridge #6 and began crossing it. The pegasus followed, his rider focused on the Horse below. The vehicle left the bridge, slowing as it entered the maze of warehouses.

Lilith guided Love to sweep around and land in front of it.

The moment the white pegasus touched hoof on the asphalt, his coat and wings catching the deadlights of the black limousine, the other Horse came to a calm, sharp stop. There was almost an air of professionalism about it.

Lilith slipped off her Horse and stood in the deathly hard glare of the high beams. And waited for Helsa to step out. She couldn't see through the glare, but she heard the jaws of the limousine's midsection yawn open. She heard the high heels clopping forward on the pavement.

"Lilith," Helsa smirked as she stepped into the light, her grin filled with dagger-like teeth. "So nice you finally came down and rejoined the game. Missed having Conquest on our side."

Lilith fixed her with a stare. "You brought pain to my daughter's wedding day and you think we are on the same side?"

"We are both Horsemen."

"And who told you Horsemen were all on the same side?" Lilith asked coldly. "You were chosen specifically because you would be a rival to my daughter. War thought the conflict would help you and Charlotte grow into your full potential more quickly."

Helsa flinched. But stood her ground. "Yes, well, if we don't work together, They'll just wipe everything. This is the only chance we've got. Especially if they've got Death!"

"You should have considered that before surrendering to your own appetite for chaos."

"Yes, I took the opportunity to fuck with Charlie," Helsa owned. "But it wasn't just for fun. It was strategic." With one hand on a hip, the barely two centuries old abomination leaned forward and tried to school the First Succubus. "You realize the Hand of Death is grooming your precious daughter, right?"

Lilith Morningstar began to slowly walk towards Helsa von Eldritch, a dominating sway in her step, a look as cold and sharp as angelic steel in her eyes.

Helsa sighed. "Look, I already got the warning..."

"You got his warning," Lilith interrupted. "Now you are getting mine."

Helsa swore as Lilith lifted her gaze upwards and began to sing. At first, just a beautiful sound, resonating through the warehouses. But soon, she added words.

"The angel survived. But Lilith thrived,
Empowered demon-kind
Through her voice and her songs,"

The First Succubus sang, her voice majestic and terrible. The Union imps came to listen, spilling out of the warehouses like rats to the pied piper. Scores of them. Nearly two hundred.

Helsa shifted her weight to one hip, crossing her arms. But she could not fake being unimpressed. These were her legions. Her locusts. Her swarm! And Lilith was playing them like marionettes. She wasn't even drawing on the power that was hers as Conquest to do it.

"If you think you are my equal,
You're gravely mistaken.
You're just a child whose toys can be taken.

Helsa scowled. Her expression said she knew what was coming. It was practically a classic.

"If you again come at my family,
You'll learn how ruthless I'm willing to be.

In perfect unison, the imps pulled their weapons, pointing blades and barrels beneath their chins.

"This will be your only warning."

The sound was a single report of thunder coming from all directions. The falling of blood and bodies was the briefest of rains.

---

Week Six, Day One - Pentagram City Center, early evening:

Above the pentagram, the Heavenly sky was the most beautiful array of colors.

In the City Center park, Charlie Morningstar was doing everything she could to be there for everybody.

Which at the moment meant exchanging Tex's bandages for ones from Heaven. Queen Bee's hellhound boyfriend had been cutting the wedding cake for her guests when Helsa showed up. The cut was shallow but long. The Heavenly bandages were already mending the wound.

The media was going to be a nightmare for a week or two.

Charlie took a moment to watch Vaggie being a one-woman wall against the reporters. An attack on the reception that incapacitated multiple Overlords and a Sin. The news vultures were surging to stick their cameras and microphones in the faces of everyone just regaining consciousness.

Charlie was just in time to see Vaggie punch out Tom Trench.

"Is Bel all right?" Bee asked raggedly. Charlie turned back to her. She had never seen Beelzebub look so subdued. Her colors were muted. The cauldron of her belly swirled with a rainbow mix that bled into grey.

"Dad and Sera took her back to Sloth," Charlie told her. "Sera will call when she wakes up." She emphasized that. Not if but when.

"I took so much from her," Bee bemoaned. "Bel isn't exactly a fount of energy to begin with."

The hellhound with her, Tex, leaned over to stroke Bee's forehead. "Hey! Hey, it wasn't your fault."

It was Helsa's.

Charlie felt her hands clench into fists at the thought, her horns growing from her head. She forced down the anger. That wouldn't do anyone any good right now. She looked about for the next person who needed aid.

Emily waved to her from where she was passing out bottles of... something miraculous. Charlie wasn't sure what, exactly. Angels who had witnessed everything had started arriving with medical aid before Emily could even ask. The people who drank it were recovering quickly.

Charlie waved back. Then she spotted one of the angels from Stigma beginning to stir.

"This is why you don't mix uppers, downers and battery acid." Queen Bee was trying for levity.

"Everyone is going to be fine," Charlie assured her as she started towards the angel. She turned, walking backwards while telling Bee, "Including you. And I'm pretty sure you got the worst of it."

"Yeah. The next few days are gonna suck," Bee laughed weakly. "Bad enough gorging on Bel, but it's going to take days for my cauldron to purge what I drank from Frederick and his boy."

Charlie gave a wincing smile then turned back around, on her way to help.

---

Week Six, Day One - Vees Tower, evening:

Velvette sat back down next to her. "My body ain't exactly bloody human."

Lute shrugged. "Whose is?"

Velvette's eyes slid up and down the impeccably human body of the albino angel.

Lute interrupted before Velvette could unleash whatever snide comment was on the tip of her tongue. "Harpy eagle."

Velvette blinked. Then looked her over again. "Wait, seriously. You're a..."

"Harpy," Lute confirmed. "I'm very aware of the irony."

Velvette cocked her head. "I thought being stuck in a body you don't love was a Hell thing."

Lute could confirm that. "It is. Until I fell, I loved my body. I was perfectly at ease in it." She frowned thinly. "Now, not so much. And the irony has only driven home why."

There was a small stretch of quiet. Velvette broke it before it became awkward. "I'm a doll."

Lute looked at her.

Velvette pulled down the shoulder of her dress. "I design my fashion to cover the joints that I can't with makeup. And I am supernaturally good at makeup. But... any lover is going to notice."

Lute took that in. That explained so much. The changing outfits. The changing hairstyles. Hell, the whole fashion thing.

Velvette pulled the shoulder of her dress back up. With a warning jab, her friend insisted, "I am anatomically correct. Where it counts." With a look aside, the Overlord muttered, "Can't grow hair down there, but I can make sure that stays fashionable."

Lute remembered the way she pulled her hand back from the bottle of Love Potion. The move had read as self-conscious, but Lute only now understood why.

How much of what you do is powered by a need to feel beautiful and wanted in a body that you fear isn't?

And that is why Velvette didn't want to take the risk. Because she didn't want to be rejected for her body by a lover.

Lute understood.

But if the Love Potion wore off leaving her nauseous at the thought of having been with Velvette, that wasn't going to be because of what Velvette was.

Lute stood up. "I'm going to dump out that Love Potion. You can watch if you'd like."

"I trust you," Velvette said before deciding to get up and follow anyway.

The two women walked into the kitchen and to the sink. Lute unscrewed the bottle, giving it one last look before turning it over and watching the glowing liquid splash into the basin.

"Velvette, I want to want you," Lute professed. "And maybe I can if it wasn't for everything drilled into me from childhood by a church that didn't know a fucking thing about anything. I just need a way to get past... all of that."

"I get that this sucks," Velvette said, "Welcome to Hell. I'm guessing it's meant to suck a lot."

Lute had to laugh. Briefly and bitterly. The last of the potion gurgled down the sink.

Lute put the empty bottle on the counter. "I believe I know another option. Something that will help strip away the crap without inducing feelings that aren't real. I just don't know how to get it." She took a deep breath. "I want to make sure you're good with me trying before I do."

Velvette crossed her arms beneath her breasts. "Okay, I'm listening."

---

Week Six, Day One - Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's bedroom, night:

Charlie couldn't believe Helsa! That woman had no limits and no shame!

"We should stay and help Husk hunt for Angel Dust and Molly," Vaggie stated. None of them were getting ready for bed. "After... the thing with Alastor and Death. Assuming we all survive it."

Charlie was sitting in her favorite chair just so she wouldn't pace.

"No," Emily said, shaking her head. She had the window open and was sitting on the windowsill. The opening above the pentagram still had an hour before it closed. Somebody was setting off fireworks in Heaven. They couldn't hear them from here, but they could see the flashes and sprays of colors. The gunfire in Hell almost never matched an explosion, making it surreal.

Vaggie had made Emily promise to close the window before getting naked.

"I offered to help and Husk said not to," Emily told them. "He wants to do this himself. Husk promised he will orb-call us if he needs help."

"Makes sense he's taking it personally," Vaggie nodded, pacing for both of them. "And if we all went in, that would be the perfect chance for Helsa to spring a trap. Maybe we shouldn't give her the predictable opportunity."

Charlie agreed. She trusted Husk to call if there was a way they could help. Plus, it would probably be best to get out of Pride for a little while. Especially with the media frenzy.

"And I'm certain we will survive meeting with Death," Emily said with confidence Charlie wasn't feeling. From her expression, Vaggie wasn't feeling it either. But Emily reasoned, "Alastor's plan wouldn't end at getting his chain broken. Assuming I even get the chance to do that."

Charlie felt Emily was right. If she knew Alastor, he would have a plan. Or several. But then, she hadn't seen this Favor coming, so how well did she really know the Radio Demon?

She glanced over at the dresser drawer where the Book of the Loa was tucked along with her dry erase markers. She should read that last chapter again. The Goetia's personal essay on what they believed was the reason that Louisiana Voodoo became a playground for entities from the Other. She had told Alastor something that got his attention, even though it was wrong.

Vaggie smiled. "So we're still on for the honeymoon week, starting tomorrow, post Death."

Emily nodded eagerly. "Starting in Wrath!"

Charlie smiled. "I am looking forward to it..." Her heart seized slightly. "Wait, Wrath?" She stood up. "Are you two still on that?"

Vaggie grinned. "We're going to need this week-long honeymoon since it's going to be a few days after the first before you can walk again."

Emily giggled. "I'm wondering if we can actually get her to crack the bedrock!"

Charlie's face wanted to drain of color and blush hotly at the same time. "Mercy! And! Restraint!" God, they were going to be the death of her!

Her wives were laughing.

She couldn't help but smile too. After today, she was happy to see it. Today had been the most wonderful day of her life. And yet there was a big chunk of awful in it. Like finding an eye in your ice cream.

I will listen to you and learn from you.
Accept the aid you give to me.

She meant every word of her vows. And those were chosen very deliberately. "Vaggie, Emily?"

They looked to her with love and anticipation. Charlie reached out to them. Without hesitation, they closed the distance, each taking a hand.

"Girls, I know I've been... stubbornly in my head about the whole power dynamic thing, thinking of it as an issue when neither of you have one." She loved them so much more for how they were listening. Not annoyed or dismissive. "I trust you to let me know if there is any issue before it becomes a problem. Just..."

She swallowed. Then took their hands and brought them to her throat. Where the chain and collar none of them could see or feel was.

"I don't want either of you to ever feel like I can make you do something you don't want to do."