Chapter Text
“Alright lutenists listen up! There is nothing stronger than the trust of comrades in arms. The most important thing is never leaving another solider behind. You don’t know what those beasts are capable of. If you see a sinner coming anywhere near another angel, you attack! If you are busy with another low life, finish the job and move on out! There are no gold medals for making a sinner suffer for longer ladies.” Vaggie spoke with her hands on her hips as she walked along the lines of new requires.
New angels on the job always made things a little more chaotic. Sure they were all fully trained and qualified, but no obstacle course or virtual reality simulator could prepare them for hell. New requeues could be so flighty.
“I will hear no whining, no moaning about ‘Sapphire got to pull the leg of a sinner! I never got that chance.” Ladies your one job is to end as many souls as possible. No theatrics required.” Vaggie walked past a specific group of young women as she pointed at them.
“There are a lot of wild cards in hell. You must expect the unexpected. Do. Not. Let your guard down! Do not turn your back to a sinner. So not give them an opportunity to claw at your wings.” She explained.
“None of those dumbasses are going to try anything. Your wasting your breath Vaggie.” Lute smirked.
“Most of them dive out of the way or run. Like that’s going to help. I once saw someone from cannibal town try to run up a wall to escape me! What is this fucking looney tunes?”
“Watch your fucking language Lute.” Vaggie attempted to hide her smile as she saw the expression on her face change.
“If your anything like our hot headed sister here, you may well put the entire mission in jeopardy. The second you get cocky, you go down. Sinners may be pathetic but they’re desperate. You never know what one of the feisty ones will do when backed into a corner.” Vaggie waved off the other angel with her hand.
Lute glared at Vaggie and balled her fists. Punching another angel in the arm the second she heard her snicker.
“If one of them gets there hands on us what do you think that means for the rest of us. Do you really want to take it up with Adam? Or would you rather come to me?” The white haired woman asked with her arms folded across her chest.
After being met with a few seconds of silence she spoke again. “That’s what I thought.”
“You spend all your time showing off about how well you can make a demon cry and plead, and by the end of the day you have a low body count. “ She patrolled the area.
“You.” She pointed. “How many sinners did you get last year.
“134 ma’am!” Skylar spoke with her arms by her side.
“Well done. This time try move a little faster, cut some time off your hands.” Vaggie flapped her wings.
“How many did you get ma’am?” A young angel asked out of curiosity.
“500 last year, 9,783 over all.” Vaggie spoke with her chest puffed out.
She could feel a certain pair of ember eyes burning into the back of her skull. She knew who it was.
“You think hell is just like the shitty VR sets Adam gave you? Don’t be naïve. The pride ring is a free for all when anyone can try anything. That’s why you stuck to your sisters and never let them down. Buckel up buttercups, because today is the day you girls become women.” Vaggie placed her helmet on as the portal opened.
Vaggie flew through an ally way of cannibal town. She had spotted a short man who just fled a building. Many of the residents had taken refuge in there. As soon as the building came down her sisters tackled the ones too stunned to move. Vaggie saw a few stranglers get away and whistled to alert some others. She was going to need some help.
Lute rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue before following Vaggie.
Flapping her wings she chased the man into a corner. Remember her own words from earlier that day she gripped her spear close to her chest. Expecting him to lash out. This freak could try eat her if she wasn’t careful.
“PLEASE. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.” The man covered his face and curled himself into a ball. Pressing his back against the wall. Trying to make himself look as small as possible, he dragged his legs up to his chest.
Vaggie looked on in confusion.
“I….i don’t want to die. I’m so scared. I’ll do anything just….leave me alone.” He croaked out.
Vaggie felt something tug in her chest. The grip on her spear loosened for a split second. She grabbed it tighter once more.
She lifted her spear, but stopped. She didn’t know why. She just couldn’t move forward.
“Please….don’t kill me.” He lifted his face and stared into the angels eyes.
Vaggie felt something catch in her throat. What was she doing? After what felt like an hour of starting, but was just a few seconds she whispered “Go. Run. Quick.”
The man took his chance and left, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Ducking into a man hole as his small body could just about fit.
“You bitch.” She heard a familiar voice call from behind her. Vaggie couldn’t even turn around before she felt a powerful grip on her wrist.
Charlie Morningstar opened the doors to her palace, as soon as the last siren ended. It was safe to go out. From her pocket she pulled out a flair gun, aiming It to the sky. Sending colourful fireworks shooting across the red sky of hell. She took a deep breath in through her nose and out through her mouth. In her other hand she held a first aid kit.
She felt her toe catch on something, looking down she saw the leg of a dead shark demon. She bit back a sob that threatened to leave her throat. Squeezing her eyes shut. Now was not the time for crying. There were sinners out there who needed her help. So many of them were injured. Though it was rare a sinner got away from an angelic blade, it happened. If there was anyone out there who had any chance to living another day she had to help.
As the blonde woman turned around a corner she heard groaning coming from an alleyway. Her red eyes scanned the area until she saw a woman slumped against a garbage can. She turned on her heels and bolted towards her.
The woman was short, with pale grey skin. She wore tasselled bob haircut and a white dress. She was breathing. She was moving, but barley. She looked as if she were in agony.
“Ma’am! Are you ok? Can you hear me?” She asked the woman with worry etched on her face.
The poor stranger was missing an eye. All that remained was a black empty socket.
Charlie fell to her knees and tried to force a friendly smile.
“Hey it’s ok. I’m not here to hurt you. My name is Charlie, I just want to help.” She spoke in a soft voice. This poor woman must have been through so much. She didn’t want to frighten her.
“I can see that your hurt….is it ok if i?” She asked as she leaned forward holding the bandage.
Vaggie’s one remaining eye widened in surprise. She flinched as the woman reached out to touch her. The shooting pain in her eye socket still darted through her brain. She raised her hand and covered it. Averting her gaze from the other woman.
“Oh- I’m sorry. I was just worried. You don’t have to let me…” The tall woman trailed off as she stared at the ground.
Reaching her other hand forward she gestured to the first aid kit, she had gotten the bandage from. “Is it ok if I patch you up?” Charlie spoke in a soft voice.
Vaggie stared at the woman for a few seconds. She could feel her heart pumping with adrenaline. She knew she shouldn’t speak to demons. Epically not the hell born kind. What if they came back to finish her off?
“Gah-“ the pain shooting from her back was too much to ignore. She nodded her head at the woman.
Charlie set off to work as quickly as she could. Gently lifting the woman’s chin with her hand. Carefully whipping the underside of her eye, with a cotton wool bad. There was no sign of blood, but she just wanted to make sure everything was clean.
She reached her arm around the back of the short woman’s head, wrapping the bandage around the left side of her head. She ensured that every inch of the socket was covered. Using one hand to hold it in place, and the other to grab the scissors.
As she had been bandaging her eye she noticed the scars on the woman’s back. She winced, a feeling of discomfort along her own spine.
“Can you turn around miss? I’d like to clean the wounds on your back.” Charlie requested.
Vaggie heisted for a moment. She slowly got to her knees and turned around. Checking over her should all the while.
Charlie picked up a bottle of water and poured it down along her back.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH” Vaggie gripped her hands against the wall in front of her.
“I ‘m so sorry! I didn’t mean for it to sting. I just need to clean your wounds. Oh you poor thing….What did they do to you?” Charlie pleaded.
Vaggie stayed silent pressing her lips together.
She placed her hands on the ground as she felt a towel being gently dabbed along her back.
“Can you sit up? I need to bandage the cuts on your back.” Charlie asked with a tiny smile on her face.
Vaggie huffed and sat up. Staring over her shoulder. “What do you want? I don’t have any money.”
“Oh I don’t want anything from you. Don’t worry, you don’t have to pay me back.” The blonde woman reassured her with a smile.
“Qué quiere esta mujer?” Vaggie mumbled under her breath.
“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at the woman. What was she trying to pull?
“Your safety is more important than anything like that.” She explained as she gently moved her hands along the bandage, ensuring they stayed in place.
“Bullshit. You don’t even know me.” Vaggie mumbled.
“I guess your right about that. So what’s your name?” Charlie asked as she worked down along her back.
“Vaggie.” She spoke bluntly.
“That’s a super pretty name! Short for Vaggatha? That’s a Hispanic name right?” She asked with a smile.
“No. Just Vaggie.” She explained. Wincing in pain as Charlie touched a particularly sore spot.
“Sorry Vaggie!” Charlie really was doing her best to be gentle.
“There we go. Your all patched up. Now can I see your hands?” Charlie asked as she extended a hand.
Vaggie held her hand to her chest. Looking the woman up and down sceptically.
“I saw there were some cuts on it. I have some anti-bacterial wipes.” She smiled and showed her a packet.
“Some what?” Vaggie asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.
“You know they get the dirt out!” She explained with a cheerful smile.
“Yeah I know what an anti-bacterial wipe is, I’m not stupid. I mean why do you have all this stuff anyway?” Vaggie asked pointing to the first aid kit.
“I always go out after the extermination. So many souls are left clinging to life here. I need to help them, I cant let them just slip away.” She explained with a saddened look on her face.
Vaggie stared at the ground. She was certain nobody had every gotten past an angel and lived. Well….before her anyway.
“Every year?” She asked. Vaggie had to admit, it was kind of endearing that she tried to help strangers every single year.
Charlie nodded her head. “Wait, did you not know the extermination happens every year? Did you just fall into hell today?” She gasped and covered her mouth.
Vaggie nodded her head.
“Vaggie….that’s awful. You must have been so scared and confused. You poor thing i-“ Charlie placed her hand on her heart.
“You must be so scared and confused.” Charlie empathized with the woman. Being in hell for the first time is scary enough, but surrounded by angels? That was cruel. She didn’t have anywhere to go. She knew no one who would let her in.
“Every year the exterminator angels come down from heaven. They kill sinners in order to keep the population down. We are overpopulated and heaven doesn’t want to take the risk of us rising up. Its so cruel.” Charlie trailed off as she looked at the make shift eye patch.
“You were lucky enough to get away from one. What happened?” The blonde titled her head.
Vaggie’s face dropped and she went silent. She looked away from the woman, not wanting to look into those pretty red eyes.
“it’s ok if you don’t want to talk about it.” Charlie spoke with a soft smile. “You must have really been through an awful day.” She removed her jacket and placed it over the smaller woman’s shoulders.
Vaggie’s remaining eye widened in surprise at the gesture.
Charlie fastened the top button of the jacket and allowed the rest to hang loosely down Vaggie’s back. She was a lot taller than her so it draped across her body. It was quite cute actually.
Charlie smile and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. This woman was very beautiful. She looked even more so wearing part of her suit.
“I know we just met but, you don’t have anywhere to go. If you’d like, you can stay at my house? I have more than enough room.” She offered.
“I…..” She paused for a moment to think. It was stay with this woman or sleep on the streets. God knows what could happen to her here. She was told not to trust demons but she didn’t have much of a choice, plus she seemed harmless and friendly.
“I’d like that Charlie.” Vaggie smiled.
Charlie squealed happily and lifted the woman up to her feet. Causing Vaggie to gasp in surprise.
“Holey shit. When you said you had plenty of room you weren’t kidding.” Vaggie stood at the golden doorstep of the castle. “Are you really rich or something?” She didn’t recognized the name Charlie as one of the overlords she was told to watch out for.
Charlie blushed in embarrassment. “Well….i am the princess of hell.”
“Your WHAT?” Vaggie gaped like a fish.
She had all the information on the princess of hell Charlotte Morningstar but they were never shown pictures of her. Why would they? They were told to stay clear of her, and she should be in the palace so no need to avoid her. Just don’t bust the doors down.
“Your highness.” Vaggie did a small curtsy.
Charlie wave her hands. “No, no! There's no need for that. Just Charlie is fine!” Being called your highness made her feel strange.
Vaggie stood up once again. “But your…Royality what were you doing on the streets?”
Charlie smiled “Like I said, my peoples safety is more important to me than anything. If I could stop the cleanse I would. But I can’t so…for now I just do my best to help where I can.”
“That’s….very kind of you Charlie.” She spoke softly as she looked at her.
Charlie responded with a chuckle and modest shrug.
“You must be exhausted having to hide from those monsters all day. Let me show you to your room.” Charlie beckoned her hand as she walked towards the stair case.
Charlie opened the door to a large bedroom. “Tadaa!” She sang cheerfully as she presented the room.
Vaggie was taken aback.
The bedroom was covered with golden wallpaper, with Appels decorating it. There was a king sized bed with a large golden canopy hanging over it. A large window that opened up to a balcony.
“Charlie thank you but…this is too much. I cant stay somewhere like this. Surely it belongs to someone way more important.” Vaggie spoke with her hands placed on her stomach.
Charlie waved her hand. “Oh don’t you worry! This is your room now. You deserve it as much as anyone in my family.”
Vaggie gave her a shy smile.
“Theres a bathroom over there in case you need to freshen up. But please don’t take a bath for at least 12 hours, the bandages will get wet. I’ll put on new ones tomorrow.” Charlie smiled as she opened the door to the bathroom.
Vaggie looked into the bathroom, an en suite was not exactly what she was used to.
“I’ll let you get some sleep. My bedroom is just down the hall if you need me Vaggie. Sleep well.” She spoke in a cheery tone as she walked out the door, and closed it for privacy.
Vaggie collapsed on the bed and stared at the golden canopy. What the fuck just happened. Her entire life was flipped on its head. A few hours ago she was the number one exterminator angel in her group. Now she was shacking up with Lucifers own child.
She buried her face in the silky gold pillow and grounded. She would have sat up all night, contemplating her life. But the softness of the pillow causes sleep to overtake her.