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It was a rather normal day at the hotel. Well, as normal as it could be, a couple of days after the whole Vox fiasco. Charlie had yet to reopen to the public, choosing to care for her close ones in peace. Luckily, few sustained grave injuries.
Alastor had been hurt by Vox’s shark, she knew, but he rejected any and all offers of help. What a stubborn man. Angel Dust had yet to return. And he might never talk about it, but Charlie could see Husk was devastated. Cherri wasn’t in a much better state, though she managed to hide it a bit better. Nifty and Baxter had formed something of a team, which was surprising. But welcome ! Her hotel was all about companionship ! Vaggie was alright, thank god, and Charlie had been only slightly hurt, her injuries healing rather fast thanks to her half angel heritage.
Emily had sent word as soon as she could and she was alright, as was Heaven. Luckily, Vox’s shot had only done material damage. Though it caused quite the fright up there.
The one she was worried about was her father. To be honest, she’d been worried about him for a while. Lilith’s absence seemed to take a toll on him and he seemed to be… having a hard time in general. She just didn’t know how to help. He was her father ! She- she wasn’t used to this. To care for the one who took care of her for so long. Especially since he kept rejecting her offers.
But she could see the dark eyes, and the fatigue and the fake smiles. She was afraid for him. She was worried. He didn’t say anything about his capture, or the time he spent trapped in that machine. She only found out about that because Vaggie told her !
She was in the lobby, with everyone else, trying to coax the group into a game. Her father and Alastor were sitting far from each other. Lucifer seemed to be sulking. His childishness almost brought a smile to her face. Nifty was- making a jazz concert with roaches ? And Baxter was assisting her. Cherri was attempting -and failing- to talk to Husk.
Vaggi touched her arm, and smiled. She was so encouraging !
Charlie smiled and took a big breath. “Alright everyone ! Let’s play !” She cheered. It got everyone’s attention for sure. “I found this human game -Twenty questions ! I’ll ask twenty questions and everyone will answer one by one.” She caught a groan or two but ignored them, picking the first question.
“Ok ! Easy one to start, what's your favourite color ? I’ll start ! My favorite color is red !” She exclaimed.
“Surprising” muttered Husk. Well, at least he was speaking.
“My favorite color is also red.” Answered Alastor next to her. She smiled at him.
“My favourite’s orange.”
Answered Cherri.
“Green.” Husk grunted.
“Black !” Screamed Nifty. “Like roaches.” She giggled.
“It would have to be blue.” Answered Baxter.
“Hum-” Her dad hesitated. “Pink ?” “Pink ?” It seemed she wasn’t the only one surprised. Her dad flushed and nodded fervently. “Yeah. It was the color of my wings before- well, you know.” He explained with a lazy turn of the wrist, laughing awkwardly. And that was a sadder answer than she was expecting. Her worry grew just a tad.
“Mine’s red as well.” Answered Vaggie, the last in their little circle. She smiled at her girlfriend.
“Next. What’s a memory that brings you peace ?” She smiled. “Ok, when I was very little, Mom and Dad used to sing to me. Once, I had a nightmare and Mom took me to their bed and they sang to me until I fell asleep. With the warmth of the blankets and their warmth and their voices- yeah, it’s peaceful?” She laughed. She looked at Lucifer, who had the softest smile on his face.
“My mother always made the earthiest meals ! Her jambalaya is to die for!” He hadn’t spoken much about her, but Charlie had a feeling Alastor adored his mother.
“Bombs.” Was Cherri’s only answer. The blush on her face suggested she was thinking of something else though. Or someone else.
“I guess bartending with Angel ?” Answered Husk.
“When I hunt roaches and rats, they scream in fear !” Nifty was as odd as always, Charlie thought fondly.
“As a scientist, the memory of my successful experiments brings me pride.”
“I-” Lucifer looked surprised that his turn had arrived so fast. He started talking with a little laugh. “When Charlie was born, it was a miracle for Lili and me. We’d- hoped against hope that she would be alright and she was ! She was perfect, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. When she was still very young, only a couple of months at most, I walked in on Lili cradling her in her arms, murmuring the softest lullaby.” His eyes filled with tears as he spoke and Charlie felt her fill up as well. “When I saw that, I- I just felt so happy…” He was looking her in the eyes with so much love, she just had to rise up and hug him. “Sorry, I'm oversharing again, aren’t I ?” He said, laughing again.
“Of course not dad. It’s perfect.” She smiled in his arms. When she sat back, she saw Vaggie give an odd look to her father.
“I’m sorry sir- Er, Lucifer, can I ask you a rather personal question ?” She spoke.
“Of course ! I mean- it’s the whole point of this, right ?” He looked at Charlie like he was anxious, while laughing.
“I- You said, you were worried about Charlie’s health as a baby. She was a miracle ? What- I mean, was she- ?” Vaggi struggled to finish her question.
“It’s alright.” He reassured. “Charlie wasn’t- wasn’t our first try for a child. I’m afraid your mother had a number of miscarriages.” He said, sombre. “
Oh.” Was all she found to answer.
“I mean, we didn’t understand until later, but being cast out and thrown in here wasn’t our only punishment. Lilith- She was cursed to bear no children.” Lucifer didn’t seem to notice, but everyone was focused on his story. Later, he would regret it, feeling like he was terribly oversharing, but right now, all he could see was Charlie’s eyes, begging for answers. So he gave them.
“We lost- lost many. Too many, and each and everyone of them broke your mother down. She was devastated.” He sighed. “So at one point, I proposed we try differently. She refused at first, completely against the idea. We fought quite a lot about it.” He winced.
“What was your idea ?”
“Oh. Um.. I mean - Urg, Charlie, this wasn’t how I wanted you to find out. You were never supposed to find out.” He passed a hand through his hair nervously. Charlie grabbed both her father’s hand, sitting on the edge of her seat with a soft smile on her face to comfort him and encourage him to continue.
“I- I- You know, I’m not quite like you ?” He started. Charlie gave him a confused look. “I’m an Angel. Fallen, perhaps, but still. I’m not sure how angels are created nowadays ?” He said turning to Vaggie. “Anyways-” He cut her off before she could start explaining. “I- along with a few others, were directly Created by God. We were made before gender or sexes existed. I’m technically -what’s it again ?”
“Non-binary.” Husk answered. Charlie smiled at him. He had a way of understanding others under any conditions, which was very impressive.
“Yes, that.” His father nodded. She’d have to ask him later which pronouns he preferred. “But, I’m also a shapeshifter. Which means, I’m also whatever I want to be. It wasn’t difficult to um- give myself the necessary parts for a baby…” He seemed even more awkward than usual and it took a minute for Charlie to understand why.
“Wait- You- You’re the one who gave birth to the princess ?” Cherri asked, looking rather shocked. Charlie couldn’t judge, she was probably making the same bewildered expression.
Lucifer nodded. Charlie was in disbelief. Her dad was actually her mom ?!?
“I hope this doesn’t change your opinion of me too much, duckling.” He whispered, avoiding meeting her eyes.
Charlie charged forward and gathered her father in her arms. Placing her head on his shoulder, she felt him heave a sigh of relief.
“Of course not ! I love you, dad and I always will.” She felt her father return her hug and smiled. Silence lasted for a little time as father and daughter embraced before Alastor ruined the moment.
“If I may, sire.” Lucifer growled softly but didn’t interrupt the demon. “Why was Lilith so against your proposal in the first place ?” A couple of people nodded or hummed in affirmation and Charlie watched as her father resigned to share his entire life story to her friends.
“Lilith- she…She wanted children so much. The losses- she never went further than the first trimester of the pregnancy before we lost the baby. It was hard. When I proposed my idea, she refused outright, refusing to hear what I had to say. Too afraid to lose another. And well- she wanted to be the one who carried the child to term, wanted that deep connection only mothers feel as they nurture their children.” He paused. “But- well, there was no other option. And we both wanted children so much. Wanted to create a new soul, born entirely of us, whom we could care for and protect and shower with our love. So she said yes.”
“But- she said…” Charlie started. “When I was young, she used to talk to me about the pregnancy and labor and- well everything ! As if she’d carried me herself.”
“You were never supposed to know. No one was.” Lucifer answered. “At first, she said she didn’t want me to be endangered during the pregnancy, so I hid. I mean, what if a sinner found out and decided to harm us ? What if Heaven found out ?” He paused, swallowing. “But I know her. I’ve known her for millennia. She wanted to be your mother, and no matter how much I insisted that it didn’t matter, that she would always be your mother, a part of her doubted that. So she said- no one would know.“ A sombre silence fell on the room.
Charlie couldn’t believe this. And yet- her mother had been absent for almost eight years now and she still couldn’t believe it either. Maybe- maybe it was time to question her image of her mother. Like she did her dad’s. The only completely unaffected one was Alastor (partly because Nifty and Baxter had left the room while Charlie wasn’t paying attention.) He was grinning, as he always was, seeming almost amused by the story. For the first time, Charlie almost doubted her trust in him.
“So-” Cherri started, clearly hoping to cheer the mood slightly. “Pregnancy, huh ? Any weird cravings ? Embarrassing stories ?”
Lucifer laughed. “Oh yeah. Charlie was a very energetic baby -if you can believe it-” he whispered loudly, making the whole room laugh at her expense. “She just had to kick all the time and she kept on jumping on my bladder like it was a bloody trampoline.”
Charlie never knew any of this. Her mother always told her of the hardships of pregnancy, never- never this. It was odd, learning about yourself from before you were even conscious of your own existence.
“She always demanded apple pies. Like, it’s a normal craving, but after eating apple pie for months on end, you get a little tired of it. Ooh and pancakes ! lots and lots of pancakes.”
“Any… difficulties ?” Alastor asked, smiling from ear to ear.
“Oh, yeah. I won’t lie and tell you it was easy.” Her father answered. “Growing a kid is difficult. And well, I wasn’t quite made to do that ? Sure I was capable of it but it wasn’t supposed to ever happen. An angel making a baby the human way ? Unheard of.” Vaggie nodded next to her.
“We certainly never heard of this in Heaven.” She confirmed.
“Well, anyways, I was pretty sick for the first trimester. A completely new experience for me, and quite humbling. And well, I’m already pretty emotional but god I was ten times worse.” Charlie saw Husk wince and chuckled. “I swear, I have no idea how your mother tolerated me, I was all over the place.” Lucifer chuckled.
“But all of it -all, good and bad, was worth it when I held you in my arms.” He brought a hand to her cheek, his gloves soft on her skin. “Labor was hard and I can barely remember any of it but then- I heard you cry and Lilith put you in my arms and I felt as though my whole existence was all for this exact moment. The moment you joined me and I felt your skin on mine, I felt right for the first time in a long while.” Tears gathered in his eyes as he spoke, looking at Charlie like she hung the moon and stars herself.
“And then- then it kept getting better.” He whispered. “If I thought your birth was the best moment of my life, I was severely wrong. Because then, you grew into the woman you are today. And I got to witness that. I couldn’t be prouder of you. Heaven isn’t worth even a slither of your smile.”
“I love you, my star.” He whispered, his forehead against her. Charlie hadn’t even realized tears were running down her face.
All of the sudden, an unexpected knock broke the gentle peace brought by the king’s words. Charlie startled, along with her father and well- most of the room. Really everyone but Alastor; though he too looked surprised. They certainly weren’t expecting anyone today. The hotel was closed until further notice.
Perhaps it was Angel ! Turning to Husk and Cherri, a glimpse of hope in their eyes, she rose to greet their guest. Walking toward the door, the group hovering behind her, she didn’t notice her father standing back, with a proud smile on face. She opened the door with a bright smile, only to be quite disappointed.
An unassuming man was standing at the door, a man she’d never met before. Not Angel Dust. Her smile slipped before she gathered herself and greeted the man.
“Hello. I apologize, the hotel is closed right now ! But we’d love to welcome you at the reopening !” She spoke, confident.
“Greetings.” He spoke and Charlie suddenly froze. This was important. The way he spoke and held himself… With a single word, he spoke of power.
She felt herself back away by instinct, and the group behind her did the same.
“You must be Charlotte Morningstar. You have caused quite the stir, my child.” The stranger stepped in the hotel with impossible grace. Charlie felt frozen in time. Not quite knowing what to do faced with this man.
“I am looking for a special little star. You wouldn’t happen to have seen him ?” They asked.
“What ? Who-” She started but was cut off.
“You-” Lucifer whispered. He was still standing in the lounge area they were enjoying just moments earlier, face deathly pale -which was impressive for an angel with white skin- and tears in his eyes.
“Ah. there you are, my star.” Charlie’s mind caught on the words, finding importance in them yet unable to decipher it. Her father took a step forward, shaking.
“What are- Why ?” He couldn’t seem to form a coherent sentence.
“I have missed you, my star.” Voice soft, they commanded the attention of the room. “I have been gone too long. Heaven has grown proud in my absence. They have clipped your wings. This has lasted long enough.”
“I don’t understand. You ordered this.” Her father answered. Charlie could feel the answer she was looking for right on the edge of her mind. She knew this figure. But how ?
“I did not. I ordered you to be cast down, yes, but that was the extent of my order. Heaven, in its sin, chose to cast their judgement on you. They were cruel. I am here to rectify this mistake.” Lucifer looked like he was about to kneel over. Seeing this, the figure walked to Lucifer and brought both hands to his cheeks. Under everyone’s disbelieving stare.
“I wanted you to be free, my star. You were always my greatest Creation. You were never meant to be crushed by the weight of Heaven’s expectations. I planned for you to be free, free to live life fully. You were meant to grow, to change. I realize now the mistake I made, placing my trust in Heaven.” Lucifer was frozen, silent tears running down his face, into the figure’s hands. They were gently rubbing circles on his red cheeks.
“They shall be punished for this, my star. For taking away your joy.” They reached for Lucifer’s neck and Charlie ran toward the duo, worried, oh so worried for her father, who had never looked so small.
But she couldn’t reach them in time before their hand grabbed a bright golden chain, wound around Lucifer’s neck and snapped.
A bright light filled the room, all witnesses covering their eyes. Charlie felt as though the world had turned on its axes.
Change. Historical change had happened. Right here and now, in this room.
Charlie lost all sense of time. She could no longer hear, or see, or even feel. When it finally settled, she opened her eyes to a heartbreaking scene. Lucifer, her dad, was sobbing into the stranger’s chest, kneeling on the floor, wails so agonizing they sounded almost like screams. She turned when she felt a hand catch hers, suddenly realizing she was now on the floor as well. Vaggie was looking at her. She looked worried but also relieved. Charlie smiled softly at her before turning back to her father. She knew now, whose presence graced them. A portal opened suddenly on the other end of the lobby.
Charlie was going to need a good night’s rest after all this, really.
“Lucifer Morningstar, you have broken the accords of the contract, and for this sin-” The figure stilled almost as soon as it was out of the portal. Here stood an angel she knew not, and Sera, Lute and Emily spilled out of the portal as well. They all seemed frozen, as she had been, faced with the holy presence in the room. All fell to their knees, bowing deep.
“Ah. I was awaiting your arrival, Micheal.” They spoke, arms wrapped around Lucifer, still sobbing. Her dad seemed scared as he gazed at the angels gathered meters from him. A hand on his mouth, hiccuping with the force of his emotions, he looked small. Like a child. Oddly, the sight relieved Charlie as much as it worried her.
“Your-”
“Do not speak.” Their tone was soft. Calm. As it had been since they stepped into her hotel. The Angel stopped. “I have been disappointed. I prided myself in my flawless creations but, it seems, flaws are a part of nature. I cannot erase them from either my Creations or my actions.” They spoke. “You have made mistakes I had not expected you to make. You have shown cruelty you were not designed to show.”
The figure, Micheal, was kneeling close to the ground, so close Charlie suspected they wanted the ground to swallow them whole. Micheal, the sword of God, kneeling to the ground. Quite a sight.
“You shall be punished for it.” Micheal pressed his forehead to the ground, seeming overcome by grief. They turned their attention to the angels.
“Sera. Your desperate attempts to keep heaven safe have proven sinful.” She nodded, graceful as always. Charlie admired her just a bit, despite what she had done, what she allowed. “Yet, it was out of worry. I cannot be harsh.” Emily sighed in relief. Rather loudly. It brought a smile to their face. “You will remain by the ones you have sworn to protect.” Charlie could see tears leaking from Sera’s closed eyes. “But you shall be dismissed from your duties. You shall not have the power to bring harm another soul again."
“Lute.” The exorcist flinched. “You were created behind my back. Against my orders. You were created to destroy, to harm. Everything we stand against. You have gone mad with grief for the first man, Adam.” “You shall be destitute. Stripped of your power. Stripped of your purpose.” Charlie heard a gasp from all angels. Purpose meant something. Something she didn’t understand. “And you shall be for as long as you have tortured the souls of others. But rest, knowing you shall meet your end and rest alongside Adam when the time comes." Lute nodded, looking vaguely disturbed.
“Michael. You have hurt the very one you swore to protect. Beyond measure. Yet, knowing of the guilt you carry, I cannot find myself to be harsh on you. My eldest. My First Creation.” They sighed. “I shall deal with you later.”
That last sentence seemed to hurt the angel more than anything else. It was like his entire body turned heavy.
They turned to Emily.
“Emily. You were created behind my back as well, but I take pride in you. You fought for change and fairness. You shall be rewarded for your efforts. I shall make you our ambassador in Hell, in charge of the relation between Heaven and this hotel.” Emily squealed, looking at Charlie, who smiled brightly at her.
They turned back to Lucifer.
“My star.” A hand caressed the fallen’s cheek, like he was the most precious thing Created. Charlie could see a mirror image of her and her dad and she smiled. “You were too young for all this suffering. You were never Created for such sadness. Today, you are freed. Fly, my star, as high and far as you can. Dream, as I have taught you. Create.” Lucifer smiled, bringing his wrists up to dry his tears.
“Thank you.” He whispered. He smiled up, a bright smile Charlie hadn’t seen on her father before. A child-like smile, full of wonder and pride. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He turned to her and gestured to her to come join them. She walked to them, finally standing from the ground, before kneeling to take her father’s hand, smiling at him.
“Charlie. I have heard of you. Thank you, for showing this world the errors of its ways. You are quite impressive, young child.” She smiled.
“Thank you.”
“This hotel is hereby declared as a haven.” As they spoke the words, Charlie felt heavy magic settle in the very wall of the hotel. “No soul shall be harmed here.” This was a blessing. A real one.
They stood, bringing both Charlie and her father up with them. Lucifer was drying his tears still, as wave after wave hit.
“Till we meet again, my star.” And just as fast as they arrived, they were gone, taking the angels with them.
Lucifer had one hand raised, as if it would bring them back. Charlie laid her hand on his shoulder and he turned to her with the most devastating emotions swirling in his eyes.
“I’m free, Charlie.” He said, a smile forming on his face. “I’m free !” He screamed in delight, bringing both arms high above his head.
“You’re free !” She exclaimed, despite not quite knowing what it meant. Before she could ask, her father laughed, gathering her in his arms, wings flaring. They were airborne in seconds. Lucifer was laughing and smiling, and Charlie felt like this was a glimpse of who he used to be. She laughed alongside him, both tired and ecstatic before this surreal situation. After seeing she seemed to be quite confused, he gently deposited her back on the floor, and hugged her tight.
“Dad ?” She started. “What do you mean ?”
He looked at her, seemingly remembering something. “When I was cast from Heaven, they took measures to ensure I would never be a danger to them. This is why I cannot harm sinners for example. They sealed away a big part of my power, shutting it away behind their pearly gates, sure I’d never access it again. But It’s back now !” He threw his arms up, spinning on his heels.
He freed his wings again and now, Charlie noticed the difference. They were a soft pink. They suited her father better than the red one. It seemed to be the only physical change brought by this freedom, if one ignored the delighted (real) smile gracing Lucifer’s face. With his wings, he released a wage of pure power, filling the hotel with warmth and soft glitters. Almost like tiny stars. He conjured ducks, spinning around him, spreading light and joy. Charlie felt as if her father was a different angel.
“Ooh, I know what to dooo !” He sang and Charlie suddenly had the feeling her father hadn’t changed at all and was about to make an impulsive decision.
With a snap of his fingers, three figures stumbled in the hotel’s lobby. Before him now stood Velvet, Valentino, holding Vox in his hands, and finally Angel. Charlie was about to cry out for him, as were Husk and Cherri but a sudden, unbearable pressure stopped her.
Seconds ago, Lucifer had been the embodiment of joy.
Now he was the embodiment of Pride.
He stood, silent and stoic before his subjects. The new pressure seemed even worse for the Vees, who fell to their knees. Lucifer waved a hand and Charlie felt watched. Then he spoke.
“Sinners. You have disrespected me, my rule and my daughter. You have attempted the unthinkable and went against Heaven, for your own personal gain. You shall be punished.” His presence was heavy, thousands of voices speaking as he did.
And yet, the Vees payed it no mind. Well, Vox. He would be their undoing.
“Riiiiight. And what are you gonna do about it ? We all know you’re powerless. A useless angel with clipped wings.” Vox laughed, not understanding his situation. Velvet and Valentino seemed much, much more worried. Almost scared.
“For your punishment, you shall be stripped of your power and influence.” Lucifer brought a hand forward, a mirror image of minutes before, and yanked. Three chains appeared around their necks (though Charlie couldn’t quite tell how it worked for Vox, who currently had no neck). Lucifer pulled on the chains and the Vees collapsed, screaming. “Learn Sinners. As this is the fate that awaits you should you be unwise enough to go against me.”
Charlie heard a gasp and turned to see Angel, with a similar chain around his neck. It was disappearing ! Lucifer- he’d stripped them of their deals ! Rendering them null and void, taking their power from them. They’d be forced to survive hell as the lowest of the low. Had they not nearly blown up Hell and trapped her father in a box, Charlie might have felt bad for them. Well, never Valentino, he was a piss of shit.
But that meant Angel was free ! She watched as he was embraced by Husk and Cherri, tears streaming down their faces, relief obvious. With another wave of the hand, the three past overlords were gone and the heavy presence with them. Lucifer smiled at her, looking very proud of himself.
Charlie chuckled at his antics before going for a full blown laugh. He was impossible… She ran to him, hugging him, inviting all her friends, with arms wide open. Vaggie and Angel started towards them, dragging Husk and Cherri with them. Alastor remained behind, looking an odd mix of satisfied and disappointed.
Well, he’d get over it.