Chapter 24

"Alastor? I need your help."

The grinning Overlord, still basking in the glow of his culinary triumph, turned to see Chay in a distressingly sweaty sweater.

"Well now, it certainly must be serious if you're coming to me...and not with a single ounce of coercion!"

Chay heaved a heavy sigh. "Look...you and I both know that the clock is ticking and my window of opportunity is closing fast. You've already done a lot for me by even introducing me to Carmine in the first place, and I know you don't do shit like that for free."

"Oh, that one was a mulligan, Miss Ong.", Alastor replied. "I just wanted to see what would happen when I threw you into the mix. You're a proper social hand grenade, darling!"

"…Right, whatever. My point is: I know where Ella is...and maybe the moonrock as well."

That got the Radio Demon's attention.

"Ooooh?", he said as his head slowly cocked to the side.

"I know where she is, and you might be the only person I know who might be able to get me there. On top of that, you're the only other person I know of who can teleport."

Alastor's grin grew wider.

"I'm not the only person, dear. You do have His Royal Majesty to call on-"

"Someone talking about me?"

Chay nearly jumped out of her clothes as Lucifer seemingly materialized right behind her. Her heart beat so heard she swore it was trying to claw it's way out of her chest.

"Jesus fucking H. Huckleberry Christ on a-fuck.", she finally managed to exclaim. "That was...it's...Your Majesty, I beg you, please do not sneak up on me like that."

Alastor rolled his eyes as the ear tufts on his head flattened in annoyance.

-Huh, so those really are his ears.

"Were you seriously just waiting for someone to mention your name, Your Highness? Fishing for compliments really is beneath you, you know…"

"Yeah yeah yeah shut it, Bambi. Chay, baby, doll face. I couldn't help but overhear you being in a bit of a bind…"

She eyed the diminutive king suspiciously.

"….And you know, I'm just so fond of all of you guys. Charlie thinks the world of every single one of you, and if you're good enough for my daughter, you're good enough for me. You need something? Just tell me. I'm can get you anything and everything in all of creation!"

Lucifer was practically sweating his makeup off of his face.

"...That won't be necessary, Your Majesty."

His smile sank with disappointment.

"I mean no offense, sir, but what I need requires some serious discretion...and you are not discreet. At all."

His frown grew even deeper. His eyes were actually starting to get watery.

"...Charlie? I need an adult!", Chay yelled.

The Princess practically trotted over to the group, an enormous glittering smile on her face.

"Oh my goodness! You're finally bonding!", she squeed. "I'm so happy that you and my father are getting along! Right, dad?"

"Right!", the King responded with a teary smile. "Bonding! That's what we're doing!"

Chay rolled her eyes. She started to understand where Charlie got her blind optimism from.

"I meant no offense, Your Majesty, I promise.", Chay said, desperately trying to defuse the situation. "But you're just too recognizable for what I need to do."

"And the sashaying strawberry over there isn't?", he replied with a huff.

"He's not the ruling Monarch of Hell, Your Highness.", Chay answered calmly. "I'm a detective. This is my job. I can't have-"

"OK, fine.", Lucifer interrupted, now dead serious. "I get it. I'd be a giant target on your back. It's just...you sure there isn't something I can do for you? I've met with just about everyone else in this building and you're the one outlier."

"Uh…"

Chay looked at Lucifer as he gave her the biggest pair of puppy eyes she had ever encountered in her afterlife. She briefly looked over at Charlie, who could only look away with a shrug.

Just humor him, she mouthed at her.

"...Fine", Chay finally answered. "You can give me a hug."

Lucifer's eyes grew so big with excitement that they nearly fell out of his head. He wrapped his arms around Chay and squeezed her tight. Charlie looked on with hearts in her eyes.

Chay looked between the king and the princess as Lucifer embraced her.

Something about all of this still bothered her deeply. So much so that she felt a hollow weight pressing against her chest. Something like a lump even began to form in her throat.

-Something's wrong with all of this. Why?

She shook these thoughts out of her head as Lucifer slowly let go of her. His embrace had been surprisingly warm and pleasant.

Much like Charlie.

"Alright...Alastor?"

The grinning Sinner nodded at her.

"We need to leave in one hour. I need to track down Lester's family. Any idea where that might be?"

Alastor scratched his chin. "Not quite, my dear...but I think I know how to find out. But why not simply ask our little friend himself?"

"I saw how he reacted to his grandfather.", Chay responded. "I'm not putting him through that again."


"Alright, people! Let's get this show on the road! Crowd in and no pushing!"

It was around noon when Fyewackett finally descended the stairs, yawning and wiping his eyes. He could hear Vaggie calling for all of the guests into the lobby. He slipped around the crowd and made his way into the kitchen.

He figured he could grab a bite to eat from the pantry, even it if was some cold cereal.

What he found were two things:

A snoring Krol lying on top of a pile of sugar bags, with little bits of sugar levitating around his breath.

And comrade Gishram, sucking the yolks from some raw eggs.

"Morning.", she said.

"...Yeah, good morning.", he replied back, somewhat confused. "So...what were you doing last night?"

"Stuff.", she replied. "My job, mostly."

"...Kay.", he answered back. "Good to know. Where'd you get the hat?"

He pointed at the enormous and tattered black stetson hat on her head, with her horns poking out through it.

"Don't worry about it.", she replied through a mouth full of yolk.

Fye didn't reply back. He just gave a curt nod and made his way to the pantry.

"So I'm guessing you know that Lucius and Viola-"

"-Flew to HQ for last minute preparations. Yes.", Gishram finished for him. "They safely touched down a couple of hours ago. According to our friends at IMP, the whole city is getting ready to go into lockdown."

"I'm not surprised.", he replied as he grabbed a box of corn flakes. "Blitzo is probably nailing pieces of wood to every window in that building as we speak."

"No, Moxxie is doing it.", Gishram responded. "You know Blitzo doesn't do any of that himself."

Fye grunted in the affirmative. "Well, I'm gonna go watch Charlie give her speech. You?"

"Jude told me that Bodfish was spotted near the Vee tower..", she answered. "I'm gonna go do some reconnaissance and see what he's up to."

"Really? You gonna give Chay that information?"

She popped and entire egg into her mouth and bit down. "Let the bitch figure it out herself.", she said.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever.", he said through a mouthful of cereal.


At around 12:15 in the afternoon, on the staircase leading to the lobby, Charlie finally took the proverbial stage. Vaggie, being her faithful bodyguard, took her place next to her.

Somewhat misty-eyed, she looked around at the enormous crowd that had gathered. All of these new guests...no, these new members of her family were excitedly bumping shoulders with each other, their eyes rapt at attention.

Compared to the dire circumstances of last year, the entire situation seemed so much more hopeful. Before, it was only herself along with Vaggie (oh Vaggie, my beloved), Angel Dust (I'm so proud of you, Angel), Husk (thanks for being there for Angel), Baxter (how could I ever repay you), Niffty (I couldn't ask for a better cleaning lady), and Mimzy (you've more than made up for anything you did before). She could see all of them near the bar (minus Baxter, but he was probably watching from his lab).

There had also been the large number of Cannibal Town volunteers but…

I'm sorry, guys. I'm sorry I couldn't fight for you more.

She saw some more faces pop up in the crowd. She saw Fyewackett in the back eating corn flakes, and the other little Imp woman wearing a new hat. She saw Shakie near the front, grinning and giving her a light wave. Lucille and Fern were in the back, with Fern riding on top of Lucille's broad shoulders.

She looked a bit closer and found Chay in the middle of the crowd, with Alastor next to her. She was so happy that the formerly quiet and insular Sinner had apparently bonded with so many of the other guests. Chay seemed to have so much turmoil inside of her, but Charlie was determined to help her find whatever peace she could.

Near the back was Lester, carefully hiding next to the couch and trying to stay out of sight.

His eyes were glued to her, watching her every move.

At the bottom of the stairs was her father, holding his hat to his chest. He offered up his hand.

"The floor's yours, kid.", he said with a wink.

She took his hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Thanks, daddy.", she said.

She cleared her throat and clapped her hands together.

"Thank you for waiting, everyone!", she said. Her voice carried throughout the entire lobby, bringing the crowd to silence.

She took a deep breath and calmly exhaled.

"I...want to thank every single one of you for being here. I know that everyone is probably a little bit jittery considering the date, and I honestly don't blame any of you. I know that most of you were not here when the last Extermination came…"

She closed her eyes for a moment, seeing all of the images of last year flashing before her eyes. The fire, the destruction, the chaos, and those desperate hours holding out against the horde.

"But I don't think I need to repeat it all to you. Many of you came here after the news had spread: the one lone building that had successfully fought off the Exorcists and won. But that victory came at a cost. The building suffered, obviously. We lost an entire floor that had to be rebuilt but…"

She closed her eyes again. The images of all of the Cannibal folk who had put up a fight against the Exorcists...and lost.

"...there was an even greater cost than that. Our friends over at Cannibal Town had taken up arms in our name. While we were under siege, they bravely took up the front to defend us while we retreated into the Hotel to fortify our defenses. Most of them...didn't survive."

And yet, Rosie is still there willing to help me. To help us. And I have no idea why. There were still so many mysteries she still didn't understand. Still so many dangers to face...including…

She frantically shook her head. Now was not the time.

"But in the end, we won. And now we're here...you are here. Because you believe in my silly little dream."

"We love you Charlie!", came a shout from the crowd; Fern clapping and whistling loudly from Lucille's shoulders. The lobby erupted in boisterous cheers.

The Princess's face could barely contain her smile.

"Thank you.", she replied as the crowd once again quieted down. "I love you to, Fern. I love all of you. I call all of you family, and I mean it. I didn't have any siblings growing up…but I do now."

She looked down at her father, his eyes glistening with pride.

"And my father feels the same. But to get to the most important thing for today."

She gripped her hands behind her and rocked on her feet.

"Last year, when I made this speech, I decided that if we were going to face the Exorcists, then we should do it without any regrets. I won't lie to you: although our defenses and our chances are better than they were last year, we are still going up against Heaven's armies. They are strong, they are relentless, and they kill on sight. We managed to hold out last time, but not without great sacrifice. But I can also tell you this: our fortifications are stronger, our security is stronger...and most of all, our resolve is as strong as it can possibly be. I will protect you with every last bit of my power. All of us will.

She reached up and fiddled with her bowtie.

She cleared her throat one more time as she signaled one more time to Vaggie, who in turn signaled to Razzle and Niffty near the front door.

"So, with all of that said...the doors to the Hotel are open!"

Both Razzle and Niffty grabbed hold of the newly installed doors and (gently) threw them open, letting the red afternoon sun pour into the lobby.

"Go out there and enjoy yourselves, and live today however you want because…"

She began to feel that anxiety again. The same kind she felt the last time.

"...because we don't know what tomorrow will bring, but we still have today. Have a great afternoon, everyone!"

Once again, the lobby erupted in cheers.

Charlie step down from the stairs, wiping nervous sweat from her brow.

"You did awesome, babe", Vaggie said, giving her an affectionate peck on the cheek.

"That you did, Char-Char.", Lucifer said with a squeeze of Charlie's rosey cheeks. "Of course, that was just the easy part."

"I know.", Charlie said somberly. "I think we should go talk to Baxter real quick to see if he needs any last adjustments for our security. We also need to sweep all of the nooks and crannies to make sure they're sealed shut."

"Sounds good, babe.", Lucifer said. "Just, uh...just one small question."

"Yeah, dad?"

He pointed at the now thinning crowd.

"When did you hire those mangy Imps?", Lucifer asked.

Uh oh, Charlie though to herself.

CHAPTER 24 END