Chapter 21


Earlier that morning…

At exactly six minutes after 10, there was a rapping on the front door.

It wasn't the sound of a hand knocking.

It was the sound of a cane.

"Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck he's here!", Charlie almost screamed.

"Babe, calm down.", Vaggie answered. "It's just your dad-"

" I know it's my dad!", she squeaked back. "I'm not nervous! I'm excited!"

"Coulda' fooled me.", Angel said as he sipped his morning Mai-Thai while leaning against the bar. "Not like you haven't seen him in a year or nothin'…"

"Well, at least we don't have to try and impress him this time.", said Husk behind the bar. "Speakin' of which...you seen those Imps anywhere?"

"Shhh.", Vaggie hissed. "Ix-nay on the Imps-ay."

The Princess took a big breath and cupped her hands around her mouth.

"He's Arrived!", she yelled in a sing-song voice. It rang up the stairs and echoed all throughout the Hotel. Some of the doors upstairs rattled with the noise.

She trotted over to the front door fretting at her jacket and tie. She slowly let out a deep breath, ending with a sigh.

She could feel the tears forming in her eyes as she threw open the doors.

"Daddy!", she squee'd.

"Charlie!", He squee'd back.

Lucifer Magne I, King of Hell and its infernal realms, happily embraced his daughter with a shower of kisses. He was dressed in his trademark white suit and tails, with his large white hat/crown on top of his blonde head.

"Oh, Sweety it is so good to see you again!"

"I missed you too, dad.", she said with a sniffle. "I'm glad you could come."

"Wouldn't miss it for anything, my little angel. That said…"

He looked behind him out to the fractured and broken street.

"I gotta say, the whole...uh, obstacle course approach to the front out here is definitely ambitious. You know I respect ambition, babe."

Charlie laughed nervously. "Oh, that. Well, you know that whole apocalyptic creature invasion we had a couple of weeks ago and everything."

"Really?", Lucifer answered. "Huh. I didn't notice. Really should get more into current events, what with me being King and all that…", he said while curiously scratching his chin.

Charlie's eyes slowly widened with horror.

"Charlie? I'm kidding!", he said with a slap on her shoulder. "Mostly. But anyway, where's your girlfriend? You two are still together, right? Right? Please tell me you didn't break up or anything-"

"Um, I'm right here.", Vaggie said as she peered over Charlie's shoulder. "Your Majesty. Nice to see you."

"Vaggie!", he shouted happily as he pulled the Moth girl into a crushing embrace. "Good to see you again! You treating my little girl right?"

"I do my best.", she managed to answer through squeezed lungs.

"I know you do, Vags." he said as he slowly released her from his arms. "I know you do. By the by, have either of you two heard from...you know?"

Charlie sighed and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. At most we've gotten a small trickle of info from up there."

"Huh. Well then…"

Lucifer reached up and straightened his hat. "No use worrying over something we can't control I guess. Now, I heard something about their being brunch?"

"It's on its way, dad.", Charlie answered. "You know how Coi is. He won't serve it until it's perfect."

"But he does have his new assistant helping him now.", Vaggie said. "So it shouldn't take much longer."

"Assistant?", Lucifer asked. "Wow. Your guest list really has grown exponentially hasn't it? Speaking of which…"

He pirouetted around to the bar. "I see some familiar faces!"

Angel got up and walked over. "Nice to see ya again, Big Daddy." he cooed at him.

"Ah, Angel Dust.", he said as he embraced the Sinner. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you big handsome devil, you...oh and I didn't forget about you, ya old sourpuss! How's the bar tending life, Husk?"

"Slightly less terrible than last year, your Highness.", Husk grumbled at him.

"Well, considering who you work under, I'd say that's a big improvement!"

"Could be worse.", Husk grumbled again. "Can't complain...no, actually I could complain. I could complain about a lot. But I promised Charlie I'd be nice today-"

"Feel free not to!", a staticy voice answered him. "We're only in the presence of the Royal Dwarf, after all!"

Alastor stepped out from the kitchen doors and into the lobby, cheerfully twirling his cane. He was followed by Mimzy, who was wiping her hands on a white smock.

"Of course you'd be here, Bambi.", Lucifer mumbled with a smug sneer. "But look here! Mimzy, wearing an apron? Are you Coi's new assistant?"

"Wha? Oh, not at all yer Highness!", she responded with a blush. "I'm just helping Coi finish up with Brunch. Niffty's also in there trying to keep the bug population at a reasonable volume...but hey, nice to see you again Your Highness!", she said with a slight curtsy.

"Likewise. And I suppose that Baxter is locked up in his laboratory?"

"He'll be down later on.", Vaggie answered. "He's doing some last minute security adjustments…I think."

"Wonderful. Now, how about the wee-little fuzz babies...oh, there you are!"

Purring against his boots was Kee Kee, her single eye closed in bliss as she affectionately rubbed up against the King.

"Kee Kee, my widdle baby! How have you been? Did you miss Daddy? I bet you missed Daddy!"

He reached down and picked up the cat, hugging them close to his face.

"Aw, Daddy missed you to! Now are your brothers here with you?"

"Razzle's upstairs with some of the guests.", Charlie said. "Dazzle is….out. Doing some last minute errands!"

Alastor slithered up in between the two, his smile looking smugger than was typical for the Overlord.

"I wouldn't worry too much, Your Majesty. Me and Charlie run a tight ship."

"...Riiight.", Lucifer said responsibly. "By 'ship' you must mean the cruise liner crushed into the side of the building."

"Ha ha!", Alastor laughed sarcastically. "That was part of the original building, if I remember correctly. You drew up the plans, after all."

"Ha ha!", Lucifer laughed back. "If I remember correctly it was originally a galleon on the side. The cruise liner was your idea."

" Ha HA!", Alastor cackled in response. "Oh, I cannot wait to catch you in the parking lot you scrawny piece of sh-"

He was interrupted by a monotone voice at their feet.

"The original plans also included a roller coaster. That has yet to be installed."

Both Lucifer and Alastor looked down to see Lester, wrapped in his signature cloak and looking off in some general random direction.

"...That's….right, actually.", Lucifer said. "I could never figure out where to put it without ruining the building's structural integrity. And who might you be?"

"This one is called Lester, O Star of the Morning.", Lester replied matter-of-factly.

"...Well, you're a funny little fella.", Lucifer answered cheerfully. "Isn't he a funny little fella, Charlie?"

"Oh, we've quite enjoyed having him stay with us.", Charlie answered as she strolled up to the two.

"He really likes that Hell Ring model you made years ago."

"Really now?", Lucifer asked. "That old thing? Huh. Well then, would you like me to make you one, Lester? One for your room?"

"I...uh…", Lester answered, stunned at this random generosity. "….That would be rather nice. Yes."

"I'll get it right on it, then! Later! You know, after all of this Extermination shit is over and done with so...rain check?"

"...OK.", Lester answered, confused.

They were then interrupted by a soft, curious voice.

"Hello?", Shakie asked tentatively.

Lucifer turned around to see the Felinoid-sinner shyly descend the stairs.

"Good morning! And who might you be?", he greeted her cheerfully.

"Oh, my name is Shakie...um, Your Majesty?", she answered.

"Ah, Shakie. Right, right. Is this the one you were telling me about, Charlie?"

The Princess trotted up to Shakie, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Not quite, dad. She's a recent guest. The one you're talking about is probably still asleep."

"Yeah…", Shakie said, still rather shy. "She was still snoring when I got up. Most of the other guests are on their way down. But it's nice to finally meet you, sir! Um...you're…"

"A bit shorter than you thought?", Lucifer answered. "I get that all the time. Take a wild guess where my little girl gets her height from!", he said with a grin. "But it's lovely to meet you to, Shakie. Charlie thinks the world of all of you. So…"

He threw his arms wide. "Stand by for a bone-breaking bear hug! C'mere!"

He wrapped his arms around Shakie and hugged her tight. The Sinner blushed terribly.

...She didn't hate it, though. His embrace was warm and comforting.

Quite a bit like Charlie, now that she thought about it.

The room was then filled with the sound of a ringing bell and the rolling wheels of an enormous serving tray.

"Brunch is served.", Coi called out. Krol (ringing said bell) trailed behind him, enormous bags hanging under his eyes."

"Somebody please get me an energy drink.", the Kobold-Sinner grumbled. "I've been up since 5 in the goddamn morning to help this fucker make this shi-whoa."

He came to a screeching halt in front of Lucifer, a small bit of embarassed sweat trickling down his face.

"Oh, look!", Alastor interjected. "It's the only other person in this building shorter than you, Your Majesty!"

"...Whatever. I'm too tired to care.", Krol responded. "All hail His Majesty, I'm getting a fucking Red Bull."

The short Sinner turned around and trudged back into the kitchen...only to stop mid-step.

"Wait a second, what does that make Nifty then?!"

"Forgive him, your Highness.", Coi said. "It's been a busy couple of days."

"Waah!", Krol loudly growled as he pushed the kitchen doors open, disappearing back inside.

"...Alright, gonna ignore that.", Lucifer said. "So, what's on the menu for this morning, Coi?"

"Mr. Alastor assembled the menu, as it happens, Your Majesty.", Coi answered. "Eggs Sardou with Shrimp, Beignets prepared in the Creole fashion, Andouille Balls, and Cafe au Lait to drink."

Lucifer looked back over at Alastor, who was smugly adjusting his tie.

"...Coi, I'm going to trust you on this one. Please don't disappoint me."

"I'd never think of it, Your Highness.", Coi responded.

"Hey! Are those beignets I'm smellin'?", Lucille yelled from the top of the stairs. Her and Fern swiftly made their way down the stairs, followed by several of the other guests.

"Whoa!", Lucifer exclaimed. "You're a big girl, aren't ya? And that's...that's uh...that's a lot of women."

Lucifer peered at the crowd of guests, all of whom were struck dumb at his presence.

"That's...quite a gender ratio, Charlie."

"Yeah…", The Princess answered. "A lot of them were originally from Valentino's business."

"...Huh.", Lucifer said.

He clapped his hands together. "OK everybody, line up. You're all getting your properly requisitioned royal hugs. Starting with you, big lady!"

Lucille put her hands up. "Uh, could we maybe eat first? I'm kind of starvin'".

Lucifer wanted to pout...but as much as he hated to admit it, those beignets were calling his name.

"Fine. Coi?"

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"Start serving. Alright, everybody: let's eat ourselves into a coma!"

The entire lobby broke out in cheers as Coi lifted the covers from the serving trays.

Soon, the room was filled with laughter and humor. The King began worming his way through the crowd as he gobbled up beignets, personally introducing himself to all of the newer guests.

Charlie really did love all of these Sinners.

She even called them her family.

Lucifer, who had been so lonely for so long, was happy to have as many new foster children as possible.

But he still didn't see the one that Charlie had discussed with him last night.

The really unusual one.

He didn't have to wait long.

Six minutes before 11, another Sinner he had yet to met took a tumble down the stairs. Not a quick tumble either, but a long, draw out head-over-heel fall that was as spectacular as it was (probably) embarrassing.

The poor woman was finally put out of her misery when she landed face first onto the lobby floor, the momentum sending her careening across the carpet until she stopped a mere six feet from Lucifer.

The carpet burn almost certainly hurt.

Lucifer looked at the embarrassed Sinner as her eyes slowly opened up to peer at him.

He couldn't help himself.

"Wuh-ho-ho! Clean up on aisle you!"

He turned to his daughter, a big doofy grin on his face.

"Eh? Eh? See what I did there Charlie?"

Charlie just sighed, exasperated.

"Yeah, dad. Hilarious."

CHAPTER 21 END