Sacrifice

by NattTheCat

Summary:

Charlie has been working tirelessly for several years to establish peace between Heaven and Hell – to create some sort of non-hostile communication between the two parties. It has been like pulling teeth. Heaven refused to cooperate or compromise on anything, and her father had been slowly pulling away once again. A hopeless task, some would say, but she wasn’t backing down! She knew her redemption project worked – they had Sir Pentious to prove it – it was just a matter of getting Heaven and Hell to put their differences aside. Or well, Heaven mostly. But the negotiations were going nowhere, not even with the help and support of Emily.

Nothing was happening until one day, out of the blue, three Seraphims entered Hell unannounced. Who are they? What do they want? And why does her father look so angry and sad…?

Or:

This is gonna hurt. A lot.

Notes:

This thing began as a random AU idea that I spit out in a discord server. It.... may have gotten a little out of hand? Started off with maybe two pharagraphs, then five pages and now it's up at 21 with over 8k words🤣

BUT WHO AM I TO TURN DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE SOME TEAR-JERKING ANGST!? Hope y'all have strapped in and have your tissues ready at hand -- you're gonna need 'em. And do sound off in the comments what you think/feel or what youbelieve will happen next! ;)

This chapter was beta read by the WONDERFUL @luna_vulpes / KR Luna 🥹💗

Chapter 1: The Offering

It had been a few years since Adam’s untimely death, and the breakdown of Lucifer’s contract with Heaven – three years to be exact – and things had not changed much, either for the better or for the worse. Charlie wasn’t sure exactly what she had been expecting to happen after the exterminations came to an end. Perhaps some more open communications with Heaven? The slightest hint of interest from their side in her new and proven redemption project? Anything but the stonewalling she has been met with. The Princess of Hell has always prided herself on her patience and understanding, but even she was starting to reach the end of her rope. 

 

Of course, she still had one ally up in Heaven — her friend Emily, one of the high seraphims – but her efforts had also met similar resistance, although perhaps not as blatant and rude as Charlie had. It was incredibly frustrating, trying to establish a peaceful working relationship between two factions that refused to cooperate. 

 

In the beginning, she had been hopeful it would work, that despite the violent end of the exterminations they could still work out a peaceful solution to their mutual problem. Her dad had even been willing to sit in on potential negotiations with her. He had been open to rebuilding his connections to his former family – the people who had once condemned him to fall – for the sake of creating lasting peace.

 

That hopefulness had quickly come crumbling down after the first few meetings when her dad began pulling away once more. Charlie had tried in vain to make him stay, had pulled out any trick she could think of in order to get him to not give up . Yet the King of Hell only offered her a sad smile and wished her good luck, before retreating to his palace.

 

As time went on, it became all the more rare to see her dad around the hotel. The regression hurt to see…. Most of his time was spent in the palace library, squared away behind piles upon piles of ancient books written in languages long since extinct. Try as she might, Charlie couldn’t figure out what on Earth her father was up to. She didn’t know those languages, she didn’t recognize those books, and Lucifer remained frustratingly vague in his answers.

 

Yes, he was doing research, that much anyone could see. But what was he researching? Why was he here? What were all of those books about?

 

“You’ll understand eventually, Applepie. When the time comes, you’ll know.”

 

It wasn’t often that Charlie was reminded of her dad’s true age, but this was one of those times. For all that he portrayed himself as a fun-loving, if somewhat air-headed but easy-going guy, underneath that disguise, laid the mind of an ancient and calculating being. He was much smarter than he let on, much wiser than he ever showed, and no matter what Charlie said he would not budge or explain himself.

 

In a somewhat desperate attempt to get through to her dad, Charlie eventually convinced her aunts and uncles – The Seven Deadly Sins – to try and talk to him. But one after the other, as they take turns approaching their King for an explanation, they return empty-handed. 

 

Or perhaps empty-handed is the wrong word?

 

Satan had returned with a worryingly neutral expression. Her most volatile and easily angered uncle had been completely stone-faced, betraying none of his true emotions as he reported a lack of answers. He had offered her some encouraging words, along with vague advice to sure up the Pride Ring defenses before leaving in an uncharacteristic hurry.

 

Beelzebub had been much the same. Her normally excitable aunt had come back from the palace silently angry, but with no more answers than her older brother. She had given Charlie a tight hug before hurrying back to her own Ring and had been strangely radio silent ever since. 

 

Next up had been Mammon – the loudest and arguably most obnoxious out of all her aunts and uncles. The Sin of Greed was incredibly headstrong and rarely took no for an answer (even when he really should ). If anyone could weed the truth out of her dad, or at least annoy him to the point of accidentally spilling the beans, it would be Mammon. So when the man came back with an uncharacteristically serious expression and a lack of neverending bad jokes, Charlie started to worry for real. Even when her uncle assured her that her father was fine and that she needn’t worry, she couldn’t help the uncomfortable unease that had taken root within her.

 

Asmodeus had been the only one to return without any major change. Perhaps he was a bit more subdued than normal, but nothing that seemed abnormal. Still, he too had come back empty-handed when it came to answers, although he had given Charlie a bone-crushing hug and soft reassurances before saying goodbye. 

 

Was she imagining things, or had the Sin of Lust looked close to tears as he left for his own ring...?

 

Leviathan and Belphegor had not managed to get much information either. Both women had been strangely stiff upon their return, with Belphegor looking more awake than Charlie had ever seen her, and Leviathan having a stricken expression she couldn’t quite hide. They had obviously been told something but continued to promise the Princess that she had nothing to worry about and that she should return her focus to her redemption project. The Sin of Envy had left before Charlie could inquire much else, and although Belphegor had stayed longer, she offered no information. Instead, they had spent the day enjoying one another’s company while reminiscing about Charlie’s childhood. It had been a surprisingly welcome break from her otherwise hectic schedule, and the Princess felt unbelievably refreshed upon bidding her aunt goodbye.

 

Still, her father remained in his castle; so close that she could touch him yet so incredibly far out of reach. She could only hope that whatever he was researching, he’d find the answers soon.

 

Because Charlie missed her dad…

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Lucifer groaned as he slammed yet another book closed. The pile he had started with was slowly dwindling, and he had still not found a solution to his problems. Perhaps it was naive of him to hope to find an answer within his endless collection of ancient texts and books, but it wasn’t like he had much choice. 

 

Heaven made sure of that.

 

It had been eating away at him for almost three human years. His siblings would take turns attempting to approach him and try to sway him into signing a new contract; to sign away his power over Hell and submit to Heaven’s miserable rule. Maybe once upon a time, he wouldn’t have hesitated to sign said contract as long as it could guarantee Charlie’s safety. But his siblings had shown their hand…. They had proven that they wouldn’t keep his daughter safe, and would much rather see her wiped from existence. They had exposed the true intentions behind their first contract; to keep Hell at its heel and eradicate as many sinners as possible. They only seek to secure their own power, their own status quo .

 

Really, some things just never change. 

 

From that point of view, it hadn’t been a particularly difficult decision to refuse to sign another contract. Lucifer knew his siblings. He knew they would never be willing to compromise, to let him rule his realm in peace without their interference. They refused to let Hell be run without their input; to let it exist outside of their precious control.

 

Lucifer heaved a sigh as he reached for another book. He could see the writing on the wall; the quiet waiting game that both sides had settled into. Charlie may still be optimistically working towards a peaceful solution, but Lucifer knew it would never be accepted; that it would never last.  

 

He had witnessed this behaviour once before, in the lead-up to his original fall. It had been a calculated, violent event that he had been powerless to stop. And just like back then, he could tell something was being planned. Something was about to happen. Something big and bad . But he was powerless to stop it….

 

Try as he might, he cannot defeat all of Heaven on his own. He’d need to take his realm to war if Hell were to stand a chance of winning, and he was not about to doom his subjects – Hellborns and Sinners alike – to such a miserable fate. 

 

Because regardless of who would win, the losses would be too heavy.

 

Charlie doesn’t know Heaven as Lucifer does. She doesn’t know what violence they are truly capable of, what lengths they are willing to go to in order to get their way; to preserve their status quo…. She doesn’t know the true danger they are facing.

 

He opened the next book, quickly scanning through the pages. He would not allow Heaven to touch his daughter, to hurt her the way they had him. He would not force his people into a deadly war, he had no right to ask for their sacrifice after failing them for so long. No, he’d find a solution…. A way to protect his realm with minimal bloodshed. There was really only one way to accomplish that.

 

Forbidden magic.

 

Blood magic.

 

Tampering with the very fabric of life and death, using life energy to power a spell. It was forbidden for a reason and always required a hefty sacrifice. It was volatile, unpredictable and almost impossible to undo. 

 

It was exactly what Lucifer needed. 

 

Luckily for him, he knew that he had a book filled with forbidden spells somewhere in his vast archives. He very clearly remembered stealing it from Uriel many thousands of years ago, unwilling to let it remain within Heaven’s reach. Unfortunately, it had been broken up and scattered among his endless collection of spell books in an attempt to hide it from unworthy eyes. A great safety measure, but incredibly irritating when one couldn’t remember what books the spells had been hidden in. So Lucifer had simply resigned himself to looking through them all. 

 

Thus far he had found most of them, but he still lacked the one he was searching for.

 

The Spell of Ieshim.

 

Unused and untested because of the enormous sacrifice required, but theoretically sound. Relying on it would be a risk. A huge risk. But it was one that Lucifer was willing to take.

 

Because he was willing to sacrifice anything for his daughter.

 

Another book, more useless pages, a dwindling pile beside him. There was not much left now. 

 

Soon.  

 

He could only hope it would be before his siblings finally made their move….

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

It had been a normal day.

 

Actually, it had been better than normal. Despite the hostilities with Heaven and the general instability of her redemption project, Charlie had found her hotel filled to the brim. It was hectic, but incredibly rewarding work. Her friends and family had been gathered in the lobby, working their way through the recent check-ins and looking over the reworked activity schedule. Even her dad was there! Smiling and laughing and hugging her tightly every chance he got. After such a long time of him hiding himself away in the palace library, she couldn’t even begin to describe how wonderful it was to have him back. To feel his steady support at her side, ready to catch her if she ever fell.

 

That’s not to discount her friends and their enormous contributions to her cause – especially Vaggie and Alastor – but there was simply something special about having her dad there. It was as if she was a small child all over again, watching in wonder as he performed complicated magic with ease. In his presence, she was always shielded from the sadness of reality – however temporary. It was something she had found herself missing more and more as the tensions with Heaven had grown – to simply be a little girl once more, hiding away in the safety of her father’s wings.

 

It had been a wonderfully normal day, spent laughing in the company of her friends and her dad until Heaven had abruptly decided to make their move.

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

A large portal opened up in the sky. It brought back haunting memories from the yearly exterminations; of hundreds of exorcists flooding into Hell, weapons at the ready to kill indiscriminately. 

 

But no exorcists came through the portal. No armed soldiers, no waves of battle-ready angels, and no Adam . Instead, there were only three lone figures, each adorned with brilliant halos and three sets of wings.

 

Charlie didn’t quite know what to make of it. 

 

She could recognize who they were from their unique colorings. Gabriel in orange, Uriel in lilac, and Michael in blue. 

 

But why were they here?

 

There were no meetings scheduled; no upcoming negotiations or political talks. As far as Charlie knew, that was handled exclusively by her and Emily, seeing as no one else from either side was willing to meet for civil discussions. And Emily was definitely not among the group of Seraphims that just entered Hell.

 

Three of Heaven’s highest-ranking leaders…

 

Somewhere beside her, she watched her dad tense up and his pupils sharpen to a point. His claws extended and restarted several times as he glared up towards his siblings, slowly watching them approach with an unreadable expression. It was… uncomfortable to see her normally expressive dad put on such a neutral mask, but Charlie had no time to question it before her father headed out to greet their unexpected guests.

 

“Michael, Uriel, Gabriel…. What an unwelcome surprise!” Lucifer’s voice was tight as he spoke, simmering with barely concealed irritation when his siblings finally came within earshot. The three Seraphims remained hovering in the air, squinting their eyes in displeasure when her dad refused to unfurl his wings and meet them halfway; forcing them closer to the ground.

 

“Lucifer… It’s always a pleasure to see you!” Uriel hummed, a serene smile on her lips. It was an unsettling expression that reeked of insincerity. Still, her father only inclined his head in a halfhearted acknowledgment.

 

“Well, it’s good to hear one of us can enjoy this meeting.” Michael made a choked sound, but Lucifer didn’t pay him any mind. “So, to what do I owe the dubious honor of being graced by your oh-so-holy presence on this fine day?”

 

Charlie could see Gabriel’s eye twitching. Michael simply gave him a blank look, while Uriel appeared vaguely uncomfortable.

 

“Your manners could use some work, little brother.”

 

“And you three shouldn’t be in my realm unauthorized, yet here we are!” Lucifer shot back, folding his arms across his chest since his apple cane was nowhere to be found. “State your business and make this quick. We have other things to do.”

 

“Very well…” Michael huffed. With a wave of his hand, a golden parchment scroll appeared. Charlie felt a knot forming in her stomach…. A building dread she couldn’t quite place. He unfurled it with a flourish and offered Lucifer a cold smirk before he began reading. “ Lucifer Morningstar, you are hereby charged with the crimes of going against Heaven’s divine rule, undermining their authority, and plotting against the natural order of the world, as set out by God. As punishment, we want you to sign a new and improved contract giving Heaven control over Sinners’ souls, to handle as we see fit. Hell shall also be subjected to regular inspections to prevent any further corruption and plotting against Heaven’s divine rule. If you refuse, you will be brought before the Heavenly court – with force if necessary – to stand trial. If you fail to change your mind even then, you will be punished with immediate execution. ”

 

Charlie felt like she couldn’t breathe like her head had been dunked underwater. That just couldn’t be right. She could not have heard that correctly .

 

She threw a quick glance over her shoulder, searching desperately for her girlfriend. Vaggie stood frozen in the hotel doors, the color steadily draining from her face. Angel Dust was just a step behind her, giving the former exorcist a steadying hand even when he looked pale and unsteady. 

 

“It’s a quite simple choice, little brother…” Uriel’s condescending tone cut through the air, her previous serene smile taking on a much more sinister look. “You are Hell’s soul…. Without you, this place will slowly wither and die. And while you may claim to not care that much about Sinners, we know how you truly feel.”

 

“To be offered a new deal after the last one was broken so abruptly….. You should consider yourself grateful!” Gabriel continued, suddenly much closer than Charlie felt comfortable with. She couldn’t stop herself from grabbing onto her father’s shoulders, clinging to him just a little bit tighter and wishing for nothing more than to make the world stop spinning . To make the ludicrous nightmare they suddenly found themselves in go away. “After all, you may be immortal but you are not unkillable …”

 

Oh, Charlie did not like the implications of that tone. Not one bit. It made her skin crawl with discomfort and dread, seeing who was supposed to be her aunt and uncles looking down at her and her dad with such disdain and sadistic glee. 

 

Her nails dug into Lucifer’s shoulder. “Dad?” She didn’t know what she was asking him for. A solution? A miracle? To make this all go away? The angels weren’t wrong in their assessment of the situation…

 

Lucifer had sat her down and explained it all a long long time ago, when she was still a child. He talked about how Hell functioned, and how he acted as its soul. Hell couldn’t exist without him; without a life force to keep it tethered and real . Her dad wasn’t allowed to die. If he did, their whole world would begin to fade away– That couldn’t happen, she couldn’t lose her dad. She couldn’t . He wasn’t allowed to. He couldn’t die. He couldn’t he couldn’t he couldn’t he couldn’t—

 

A warm hand covered hers, gently prying her claws from Lucifer’s shoulder. The metal of his ring was cold against her skin as her dad extracted himself from her grip. Charlie wanted to protest; wanted to pull him back and scream at him to run and hide . But Michael was watching them closely with sharp eyes.

 

“As she said, it’s quite a simple choice.” Gabriel chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly as he summoned another scroll into one hand, and a feather quill in the other. “And since we all know what you’re going to pick, we can skip the pleasantries and just have you si–”

 

“No.”

 

For a brief, blissful moment everything seemed to stop. The endless background noise of Pentagram City faded away; the flapping of the angels’ wings quieted down – Charlie was pretty sure she even stopped breathing for just a few seconds. But then the world kicked back into motion.

 

Uriel stared with a slack-jawed expression at her father, while Gabriel was still processing his words with a blank look. Only Michael had enough wherewithal to pull himself together from the shock as his face twisted into a furious expression. An ice-cold wind was suddenly tugging at Charlie’s clothes; enveloping them all on the grounds in front of the hotel. Like an invisible force pressing down on them, she struggled to take a proper breath. Freezing blue eyes blinked in and out of existence across Michael’s wings, all of them zeroed in on her dad.

 

“ No? ” He echoed, a polyphonic choir layering over his voice, sounding just a bit incredulous. “You are refusing the Heavenly court?”

 

“I am.” Her father’s tone sent a chill up her spine. She had never heard him sound so… cold before. Detached? Unmovable.  

 

Her hands were trembling against her chest.

 

Michael’s eyes visibly twitched. “ I advise you to remember what happened the last time you went against the court, little brother…. ”

 

Her dad simply offered his brother a sharp, dangerous smile. “Then let's hope I’ve learned something for this round, then shall we?”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

It was with a quick, precise hand movement that Lucifer sent a shockwave towards his siblings. Taken off guard, none of them had the slightest chance to react before they were sent flying far across the Pride Ring. 

 

He took a deep, steadying breath. That wouldn’t hold them off for long, but it would be enough for him to do what he had to.

 

Before he could even turn around, Charlie was already throwing herself at him, clawing at his jacket in a desperate hug. 

 

“Charlie I–”

 

“Dad y-you need to run! ” And oh, the desperation in her voice absolutely broke his heart. “W-we— We need to call the Sins! Uncle TanTan will know what t-to do a-and— And Auntie Levi can hide you! Yes exactly! That gives us time t-to plan a-and–” Tears were already streaming down her cheeks, even as she continued to hold Lucifer in a death grip.

 

“ Why are they here?! They shouldn’t be here! We didn’t do anything!” He lifted a hand to gently brush through her hair, silencing her rambling thoughts just in time for the other hotel residents to make it out onto the plaza. 

 

“W-We need to mobilize quickly-” Vaggie said, sounding slightly faint even as she gripped her spear. “Contact the other Sins, and the Ars Goetia! I– I know they have standing armies of Hellborn soldiers. This– This is tantamount to a declaration of war !”

 

Charlie trembled in his arms as her girlfriend spoke, clinging to him just a little bit tighter. Her friends gazed at her with undisguised worry and fear. Not even the almighty Radio Demon seemed to be immune to the bleak situation before them; gripping his cane just a bit too hard.

 

Faintly, Lucifer could hear Vaggie discussing possible strategies and solutions in the background – seemingly mostly to herself – but it sounded muted and muffled. All his focus was on his daughter. It felt so selfish of him, in a way, to hug her tighter as she mumbled about calling the Sins.

 

It hurt – oh God did it hurt because he knew what was coming. After all, it was his plan. He knew what effect it would have on Charlie, on Hell , but he didn’t exactly have a choice. If he did, he wouldn’t have changed a thing about his life. To help his daughter realize her dream, to help make Hell a better place, to see Charlie smile and laugh and be happy . He wanted it to go on forever; the small slice of Paradise he had found in his eternal punishment. A glimmer of happiness. His beautiful, wonderful daughter.

 

Lucifer gave her another tight squeeze, forcefully swallowing his emotions before pulling back. Charlie looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, saying something he didn’t register. He could already feel Eden – his lifelong companion, the golden snake who had seen him through so much – begin to levitate as he reached up to take off his hat; feeling her curl herself around his horns. His daughter was staring at him now, confusion and apprehension coloring her expression. It would have been an adorable expression, had the situation been less grave.

 

“I need you to listen to me here Charlie, and do exactly as I say, alright?” She scrunched her nose in that special way she did whenever she was about to object, but Lucifer was quicker. “Firstly, I need you to hold onto this for me. Keep it safe and don’t let it go.” He pressed his hat into her hands, forcing her to take it lest it end up on the ground. Vaggie’s nervous planning had come to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to observe the two Morningstars – periodically glancing up at the sky with poorly concealed fear and apprehension.

 

“Secondly, I need you to stay with the hotel . No matter what happens, you will stay here until the Sins arrive. Vaggie and Alastor will protect you, but you need to stay here and not intervene.” An annoyed burst of static came from the Radio Demon at the mention of his name – at being ordered around so easily by the King of Hell – but folded surprisingly quickly underneath Lucifer’s withering glare.

 

Do as I say, just this once….

 

“Dad, what are you–”

 

“Confirmation Charlie, please.” He cut her off. “Will you do as I say?” His daughter gave him an apprehensive look, nervously chewing her lip before letting her shoulders drop.

 

“Yes, okay. I’ll do as you say.” She sighed, hugging his hat close to her chest. “Keep this safe, and stay with the hotel…. But what are you gonna do?”

 

Now that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? He was going to do something stupid. Something oh-so-risky and stupid while praying it will work out. Something dangerous and idotic that will hurt Charlie to her core.

 

But he doesn’t have any other choice, now does he?

 

Lucifer didn’t reply. He reached out to wipe a tear from his daughter’s cheek one last time before taking a step back. With a wave of his hand, the pentagram hanging in the sky far above the city began to glow. It was an ancient spell – one he hadn’t activated in thousands of years – left over from the first war. He could practically feel how it creaked and groaned like old, unoiled machinery as he forced it awake, slowly but surely grinding the rust off its gears. A few seconds later, a large shield burst forth; encasing the Pride Ring under a see-through golden barrier. 

 

Charlie and her friends were craning their necks looking up at the sky; following the shield’s path as it neared the hotel. It seamlessly covered the building but began lowering towards the ground at the edges. Her sinner friends were quick to take a few steps back, ensuring they were on the inside of the barrier. Vaggie tugged his daughter back as well, and threw Lucifer a distraught look when she realized where he stood.

 

The shield touched the ground with a glass-like cling. On one side was the Pride Ring and the entrances to the rest of Hell, now safely sealed away out of Heaven’s reach. 

 

On the other side stood Lucifer, and somewhere far away were his siblings, who were surely on their way back at that very moment.

 

The King could see the exact moment it dawned on Charlie what he had just done; her eyes widening in a stricken expression “Wait, no– Dad you can’t–!”

 

“I’m sorry Charlie, but this is a fight I must take on alone.”

 

“No no no— You can’t–” She repeated, wrenching herself from Vaggie’s grip as she stumbled her way towards him. “You can’t win! Y-you know that! They– They’ll kill you!” Her fists hit the shield with an echoing noise, clawing desperately at the see-through gold but it wouldn’t budge. “Dad, no! Stop— Please no! No no no no no no—”

 

Lucifer just offered her a sad smile, holding up a charred hand on the other side of the barrier.

 

“When you were born everyone hailed you as the Heir of Hell, the Heir of Pride. I never really understood why, because I was never intending to leave…” He sighed, a wistful look entering his eyes. “You’ve already accomplished so much, my little duckling. I know Hell will flourish under your rule.”

 

He hesitated for a moment, taking in Charlie’s desperate sobs and cries. 

 

“You’ll make a good Queen of Pride…. Perhaps you could even use it for something positive? Make something for people to be proud of. Make my greatest failure into your greatest strength.” It almost physically pained him to tear his gaze away, step back from the barrier, and unfurl his crimson wings. He only had so much time before his siblings recovered… Before they return to bring him in.

 

He doesn’t intend to make it easy.

 

“I may have never had much pride in myself….” Lucifer whispered, throwing his daughter one last look. “But you, Charlie, you make me the proudest dad of all”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

All of Hell was in a state of panic. 

 

It had happened so fast – oh so fast – nobody really knew what was going on. Angels were back in the Pride Ring. High Ranking Angels. And they were speaking to Lucifer and his daughter. They had brought out a contract – the picture had been blurry and just barely uncorrupted enough to broadcast, much to Vox’s dismay. Nobody knew what was said, but the next moment the King sent the angels flying .

 

It happened so fast – oh so fast – and then the shield burst into existence. It covered all of Pride, providing a precious safety to the Sinners and Hellborns who were still in the dark about what was going on. Was their King protecting them? How? And w hy?

 

But most importantly, would it hold?

 

It happened so fast – oh so fast – when a battle began in the sky high above. The three angels were back with a vengeance; weapons drawn and ready for a fight. It was Lucifer Morningstar who faced them, 3 vs 1. It was an explosion of colors as magic clashed against magic; rocking the world around them.

 

It happened so fast – oh so fast – but Lucifer was holding his own. It was a vicious battle, where neither side was pulling their punches, but it was even . For every hit their King took, he gave one just as bad. Golden blood splattered across the shield, but nothing reached the denizens below. They were safe , and Lucifer was fighting for them. 

 

The blue angel took a slash across his face, the purple one almost lost her arm and the orange one received a gash to his torso.

 

Red eyes flashed across the sky.

 

Was the Morningstar winning?

 

It happened so fast – oh so fast – and suddenly their King was stuck down. As he fell towards the ground, the angels grabbed him with golden chains. He put up a weak struggle, but not even the Devil himself was invincible.

 

It happened so fast – oh so fast – and all of Hell could only watch as Lucifer Morningstar was forced through a portal, and then he was simply gone.

 

Chapter 2: Sacrifice

Summary:

Lucifer faces the Heavenly court. Charlie can only watch from afar.

Notes:

LUNAAAAAA

Thank you so much for suffering trhough beta reading this angst dump, and for the AMAZING edit at the end🥹💗

A lot of this fic/the scenes in it were 'composed' to "No One Mourns the Wicked" from the Wicked movie, specifically the following timestamps:
0.00-0.20
2.40-3.52
6.02-7.27

To everyone--- Get your tissues, this is gonna hurt

Well, wasn’t this a familiar scene?

 

Lucifer tugged at his chains – mostly out of curiosity rather than an actual struggle – as he held back a laugh. His siblings must truly be paranoid to put him under these many restraints. Or perhaps scared was the better term?

 

He shifted his wings the best he could, actually feeling a bit annoyed that they decided to chain up all six of them. What did they think he was going to do, ruffle his feathers at the jury? He wasn’t exactly in any condition to fly. Two of his wings were definitely broken – the lower left and primary right – and he didn’t have any magic to spare for healing.

 

No, all of that energy was still being funneled into keeping the shield active – to keep Hell out of Heaven’s reach. It was exhausting work, but Lucifer had been through worse. Besides, it wouldn’t last forever. Before long, the barrier would be powering itself. He just needed to keep it up until that time came. 

 

He shifted again, this time attempting to rearrange his limbs. Chains around his ankles and his wrists? Michael was such a paranoid freak sometimes. If Lucifer had thought the restraint around his neck was ridiculous, he had actively held back laughter when presented with those chains. And forcing him to kneel before the Heavenly court as well? His siblings sure had a morbid sense of humor – or perhaps it was simply irony at work?

 

With his arms chained above his head, there wasn’t much Lucifer could do about the blood running down his face. It had slowed to a trickle at some point, but that didn’t make it any less annoying. Though, he took a small comfort in knowing it was making his siblings uncomfortable.

 

After all, God’s most beautiful creation was never meant to bleed.

 

He could vaguely make out the shapes and sounds of people moving around in the darkened courtroom. It was clear that nobody had expected his refusal and subsequent resistance, leaving them to scramble to put together a trial. The injuries he inflicted on Michael, Uriel, and Gabriel likely didn’t help – he took a special sort of glee in that – and they all required healing by Raphael before the trial could commence.

 

Lucifer was unsure how long it had been when the lights finally turned on; revealing the full-seated Heavenly Court, with his dear siblings at the front. Startled gasps rippled through the pews at his appearance, followed by hushed murmurs. Micheal sat in the judge’s seat dressed in an appropriately boring attire but with a new, barely healed, scar across his face. The scowl he wore told Lucifer everything he needed to know about the upcoming trial.

 

“Well then…” He hummed, meeting his brother’s gaze head-on. “Let the show begin. ”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Charlie was going to throw up.

 

She was going to throw up while sitting on the ground outside of the decommissioned Heavenly embassy, surrounded by her friends and clinging to her girlfriend like a lifeline. 

 

It wasn’t real. 

 

It couldn’t be real.

 

She chanced another glance up at the sky, but quickly hid her face against Vaggie once more with a wounded noise; sobs wracking her body.

 

It was real.

 

Faintly she could hear horrified gasps from others around her. It seemed as if all of Hell had been pulled out onto the street, staring in muted horror up at the sky. At the live projection being broadcast in the air, on the other side of the shield.

 

A broadcast of her dad’s trial in Heaven.

 

“Please…” She whispered, pressing her face tighter against Vaggie.  Her father’s hat was squished between them, still clutched tightly in Charlie’s hand. “ I just… I just want him to come back home… ” 

 

Her girlfriend murmured words of comfort as she carded a hand through Charlie’s hair, but they sounded dull and meaningless as another familiar voice sounded across Hell.

 

“Welcome all members of the High Heavenly Court. We gather here today to decide the fate of one Lucifer Morningstar. Let the trial begin.”

 

She was going to throw up.

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Lucifer felt his eye twitch as Michael read out the opening statement, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Who, exactly, were they attempting to fool here? They all knew that the outcome had already been decided – or rather, Lucifer had two options; death or subservience. Neither of them were particularly appealing, but he knew which one he’d rather pick….

 

“.... -ken the contract allowing Heaven oversight and jurisdiction in Hell.” Michael’s voice cut through Lucifer’s wandering thoughts, forcing his mind back to the present. He had evidently zoned out at some point and zoned back in just in time to hear his brother discuss a sugar-coated version of the Extermination deal. “This shows how he poses a clear danger and threat to not only Heaven but our Heavenly order as ordained by God. Moreover, he–”

 

“Now hold up, I didn’t break jack shit .” Lucifer spit out, causing a ripple of gasps through the courtroom. “Your exorcists were foolish enough to kill a Hellborn, throwing the whole deal out the window the second Dazzle took his last breath. I simply reacted in defense of my daughter after that.”

 

Azrael’s feathers visibly ruffled at the interruption; his face twisting into a mildly constipated grimace. “You killed Adam, the First Man!”

 

“I distinctly did not , but whatever. Get to the point of this already.” Lucifer rolled his eyes, ignoring the affronted gasps as he centered his gaze onto Michael once more.

 

His brother scowled back before quickly scolding his expression into something more neutral. “The point is that the contract is null and void. Without Heavenly oversight, you and Hell have shown to be blatant threats. Killing our exorcists, murdering the First Man, refusing any and all negotiation efforts–” Lucifer wanted to scream, but valiantly held his tongue. “We have extended you and your daughter grace for three years now… Today, we were forced to make a drastic decision; to come down and speak with you ourselves…”

 

Oh boy, here we go….

 

“Three of us journeyed into your realm – Gabriel, Uriel, and I – to offer one last chance at peace. Accept Heavenly oversight, just like decades prior, or face trial with the chance of execution.” Michael went on, gesturing to himself and the siblings in question. Uriel hid it well, but Lucifer could still see how her arm had yet to regrow – if it ever would. Gabriel was still hunched in on himself, clearly hurting from the vicious slash to his torso. “We were instead met with violence . We were met with a battle , without provocation or cause. A battle that saw us all taking damage in order to bring you in to face proper justice for your crimes.”

 

Another gasp rippled through the court, and all eyes were directed towards his siblings. All of a sudden, the jury and spectators took notice of the vaguely hidden injuries with a dawning horror. Lucifer had to say, it was a smart play on Michael’s part. Seraphims were difficult to injure, and even harder to keep injured. The only real exceptions were wounds caused by Holy Weapons….. Or other Seraphim. Showing a court full of lesser angels what damage Lucifer was capable of inflicting on some of their strongest… Yeah, it was a smart and easy way to paint him as uncontrollable and dangerous.

 

“You were contained in the end, and the two choices now stand before you once more, Lucifer.” Michael continued, his voice echoing through the room with a cold finality to it. “Accept the new and improved contract of Heavenly oversight, or face execution for the crimes of attempting to overthrow the Heavenly Order and violently attacking seraphim sent into your domain on a peaceful mission. Do you accept, or refuse?”

 

And just like that, all eyes once again settled on Lucifer with tense anticipation. With the grace of a well-practiced judge, the choice regarding his fate had been left in Lucifer’s court. Or rather, the illusion of choice. Neither of the options given were appealing in any way, and would both end in the destruction of Hell in some capacity. Either it crumbled in his absence – because without a powerful being acting as its soul , Hell would slowly wither into nothingness – or he could watch as it was torn apart by Heaven; unable to intervene as who knows how many of his subjects were tortured and killed. Not very nice choices, eh?

 

But then again, Lucifer had already made his choice long before this even trial began.

 

He smiled up at his brother; a cold, fake smile with far too many teeth. It was one he had used often on his court to cow Painmon into submission or force the Sins into silence. He could see Michael’s feathers ruffling in alarm, subtly reaching for his sword despite the fact that Lucifer couldn’t possibly pose a physical threat with how he was chained up.

 

Two simple words left his lips. “I refuse.”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Husk swore under his breath as the Princess let out another anguished sob – as all of Hell collectively gasped in shock and horror.

 

“I refuse.”

 

Even through the screen – even across different realms – Husk felt his skin crawl when he saw the way Lucifer smiled at his brother. And judging from said brother’s reaction, he felt exactly the same. Feathers ruffled, wide, panicked eyes, and a hand on his weapon. 

 

Yeah, Lucifer Morningstar certainly knew how to unsettle people even when he was at an enormous disadvantage. That smile… It simply looked wrong in far too many ways. Too big, too wide, too tight . Too cold, too sharp, too many teeth . 

 

Husk had to tear his gaze away, landing instead on Alastor who stood stiffly right next to him. Judging by his stance, not even he was unaffected by this whole ordeal. 

 

He chanced another glance at the broadcast – at Lucifer’s unnerving smile – and then back to the Radio Demon. “Boss, what do you think?”

 

Alastor’s ears twitched, a hand coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he sighed. “The madman is actively provoking them, egging them on to go through with it—” A warble of static cut through his last words, laced with pure annoyance and disbelief.

 

Husk simply hummed in response, looking out over the crowds that were still growing by the second; all staring up at the sky in horror. “Think he finally lost it then?” 

 

“No….” Alastor gritted out, sounding exasperated beyond belief.  “As much as it pains me to admit it, Lucifer Morningstar is no fool. He’s irritatingly intelligent in the situations where it truly matters.” 

 

“So….?” Husk prompted, no longer following the other’s train of thought. He threw a glance toward the Princess, still clinging tightly to Vaggie as she attempted to comfort her. Angel and Cherri were by her side as well, looking equally as distraught and at their wits end about what to do. The girl was still clinging to her dad’s hat, the one thing he had given her before activating the shield; before taking on Heaven on his own .  “What does that mean?” 

 

His gaze moved over towards Niffty, who was uncharacteristically quiet where she sat by the Princess’ side. Occasionally she’d reach out and gently stroke her hair before pulling back, clearly unsure of how to help. She looked over towards where Husk and Alastor were standing; her gaze pleading for help, to make all of this stop .

 

Alastor gripped his cane a bit tighter; his claws leaving indents in the red metal. “ It means that he has a plan… I just worry it is a plan that Charlie will not like…” Or that she can’t handle, went unsaid.

 

Husk couldn’t help but silently agree with that assessment. Whatever Lucifer Morningstar was planning, it was big and had the undeniable possibility of going very very badly. He could only hope and pray that everything worked out….

 

And that Charlie would get her father back in the end.

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Lucifer watched with no small amount of satisfaction as Michael attempted to regain order in the courtroom; banging his gavel several times after he had snapped himself out of his shock. Such a dramatic reaction from a group of people that regularly wished for his non-existence… In the end, his brother was forced to resort to magic usage; flashing a bright blue light through the room that quickly startled the jury into silence.

 

“Lucifer please,” Johpiel was the first to speak, turning her attention towards him with an almost pleading stare. “can’t you be reasonable just this one time and pick the peaceful option? Especially when you’re given a choice. ”

 

“A choice you say, eh?” Lucifer scoffed, watching with mild interest as his sister visibly flinched at his words. “The illusion of choice perhaps, but I’d hardly call that a true choice. It’s simply a way to stack the cards against me and force me into picking the option you want.” She stubbornly refused to meet his gaze, choosing instead to keep her eyes trained on the marble floor. “Not much of a choice then, now is it?”

 

“...We don’t truly wish to see you dead.” She countered quietly, completely disregarding Lucifer’s argument. “You’re still our brother, no matter the horrors you’ve committed.”

 

Anger flared hot and bright in his chest, and he felt his false smile turn into a true sneer even as he attempted to remain calm. So many centuries later, their condescending attitudes never changed. Everything was always his fault. He was making them do this, he was forcing their hand; he was the only one responsible for whatever happened. Never them.

 

It hurt, to some extent, that his siblings were so incapable of change. Millenia could go by, yet they would forever remain stuck in their ways. Even Jophiel, who spoke with an empathetic tone and tears in her eyes, wasn’t truly having a change of heart. No, it was all for appearances’ sake and to pull on his heartstrings. A pitiful attempt to make him not force their hand.

 

After all, a public execution wouldn’t be a good look on Heaven’s part.

 

“Oh so now I’m suddenly your brother again?” He chuckled, eyeing his sister with barely concealed resentment. “Please do tell, what actions have upgraded me from the honourless scoundrel I was last time we spoke?”

 

“Be serious for once, Lucifer!” She shouted back, flashing an impressive number of pink eyes in frustration. “Don’t make us do this, don’t make us kill you– ”

 

“I’m not making you do anything .” He spat, just barely resisting the urge to bare his teeth. Still, his abrupt change in tone caught everyone off guard. Good. “I have been open to negotiations since the contract was broken. For three years my daughter and I have been attempting to find a middle ground where we’d both be happy. I wasn’t the one who refused every option put forward, refusing to compromise on even the smallest detail.” He shifted his gaze ever so slightly, boring into Gabriel and Uriel sat just beside their sister. “ I wasn’t the one who illegally entered another realm and put forth the ultimatum of death.” 

 

Jophiel made a strangled noise, somewhere between a gasp and a sob, but he paid her no mind. If she couldn’t bear to hear the truth then perhaps she should not have agreed to participate in the circus. 

 

Vaguely Lucifer registered the taste of blood in his mouth. One of the cuts on his face had opened back up and was dripping down his face once again. Not exactly comfortable, but it seemed to make the jury visibly uneasy. He offered them a smile filled with blood-stained teeth. “I won’t pick the easy option simply because you want to rid yourself of your guilt. If you go through with the execution, my blood shall be on your hands, no one else's.”

 

“ Quiet !” Michael’s voice thundered through the room, followed by the clang of his gavel. “You are speaking out of line, little brother.”

 

“Tch, when have I ever spoken in line? ” Lucifer shot back, raising a brow in question. “Perish the thought that somebody speaks the truth…” He shook his head, jostling his chains with the movement. They really went overboard in the restraints. Seriously, what did they hope to accomplish? 

 

“Your blatant powerplay isn’t painting a particularly flattering picture,” he added dryly. 

 

Another eye twitch from his eldest brother. “You know not what you speak of. Heaven is simply acting in defense of its own security, against the threat posed by you. ”

 

“And what a threat I make, minding my own business and aiding my daughter’s redemption project.” Lucifer rolled his eyes, putting as much sarcasm into his voice as he could muster. “ Truly the horror of horrors.”

 

“False bravado will scarcely help you in this situation, Lucifer,” Michael stated coldly, glaring down at him from behind his judge’s podium. “Do you even fathom what you are asking for when declining this deal?”

 

Lucifer twitched ever so slightly, fighting to keep his cool in the face of such a condescending tone. “I knew my fate very well from the moment I refused…”

 

“So you’re giving up then?” Michael raised an eyebrow.

 

Lucifer let his silence speak for itself. They didn’t know what he had planned, and he wanted it to stay that way. Let them believe they’ve won, lull them into a false sense of security and let their pride do the rest.

 

Isn’t that ironic? Pride was supposed to be his sin, yet it is Heaven that embodies it best of all.

 

“Hm, I didn’t see that one coming. But better late than never, I suppose!” Michael gave a half-hearted shrug. “Your attempts to ruffle feathers on your way out will be in vain. No one here holds any sympathy for you, no matter the claims you make. After all, you are the father of lies.” 

 

Ah, there he went again. It wasn’t much of a surprise, yet it was still fascinating to listen as his brother made sure to poison the jury pool against him. Not that Lucifer ever had any hopes of winning the trial – he wasn’t that delusional – but he had expected perhaps a few votes in his favor. Listening to Michael not-so-subtly remind the court of who stood accused – of the rumors and stories and warnings told about him – he knew that nobody would come to his defense. After all, everything he had said up until that point had just been effectively discounted as lies , despite both Lucifer and his siblings knowing he hadn’t spoken a word of dishonesty.

 

He couldn’t help the disbelieving laugh that escaped him. “Bold words coming from someone who knows the truth .”

 

“ Enough! ” Another clang of the gavel echoed through the room once more, cutting off any further discussions. “The accused has spoken. It is time for the court to decide his fate…. All in favor of the accused, say aye! ” Michael turned to face the jury with a carefully neutral expression. The place had fallen deathly silent, with not as much as a peep being heard. Lucifer almost expected to begin hearing crickets echo through the silence. A whole minute passed without a single noise. “... All against the accused, say no! ” This time, the answer from the jury was a loud, unified no that bounced off the walls; sharp and heavy with implications. “The no’s have it.”

 

I’m so sorry, Charlie. I hope you will be able to forgive me for this, for the pain you will undoubtedly feel…

 

Just know that I love you, more than anything…

 

“It has been decided then…” Michael announced, a self-satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “On the authority granted to me by the Heavenly Court, I hereby sentence you, Lucifer Morningstar, to be executed , effective immediately. ”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

“ NO!! ” Charlie’s anguished scream echoed across the Pride Ring, cutting through the disbelieving, deadly silence that had followed the court’s decision. “THEY CAN’T– STOP, NO! THEY CAN’T DO THAT–! HE– HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!” Her demonic form was on full display; pitch-black horns crowning her head and a long, sharp tail whipping dangerously behind her. The Sinners close by all eyed her warily even when her friends attempted to calm her down.

 

“NO NO, LET ME GO! I CAN’T– I CAN’T LET THEM—” She clawed weakly against her girlfriend’s wings and Alastor’s shadows, still clinging tightly to her father’s hat. 

 

“My dear, you can’t just–” Alastor’s words trailed off into a static warble as he just barely managed to duck underneath a swipe of the Princess’ tail.

 

“Charlie please , you need to calm down!” Vaggie urged, forced to take a step back as several feathers were caught and ripped out. She had to swallow back her tears and sweltering, blind panic . It felt so unreal. Just hours prior everything had been perfect, all of them sitting together in the lobby and discussing the future of the hotel. And now? Now Charlie’s father – The King of Hell – was about to be publicly executed….

 

How did one even kill a Seraphim?

 

“CALM DOWN!?” Her girlfriend roared, turning her red, glowing eyes towards Vaggie. Black tears stained her cheeks and clothes, giving the Princess an almost feral look. “T-THEY HAVE MY DAD! A-AND THEY ARE GOING T–TO– TO KILL HIM! ”

 

And Vaggie truly didn’t know what to say to that. She threw a desperate look at Alastor, but the demon looked equally as stumped as her. How does one tell someone to calmly watch their family member get executed?

 

“THEY’RE LYING! ALL LYING–!” Charlie continued, glaring up at the sky and the projection on the other side of the shield. “W-WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! THEY– THEY WERE THE ONES WHO ATTACKED US! IT’S NOT FAIR!” And with that last roar of anger, it seemed as if all fight drained out of her. In the blink of an eye, she plummeted to the ground in an ungraceful heap, wrapping her tail around herself as she hugged her dad’s hat; careful to not stain it with her tears. Alastor barely managed to catch her before she hit the pavement – both he and Vaggie breathing a small sigh of relief. 

 

As much as they’d both love to rip Heaven a new one, that just wasn’t in the cards for them. If Lucifer Morningstar did not have the power to withstand their forces, what hope would a gaggle of uncoordinated Sinners have at beating them? Vaggie wanted nothing more than to crash into that courtroom and free the King from his chains – to stop the execution in its tracks. But they had no way of reaching Heaven. Their embassy had long since been decommissioned, and Hell was currently encased underneath one of Lucifer’s spells. Could they even leave? She didn’t know….

 

Carefully she sat down next to her girlfriend, pulling her into a hug underneath her wings. Charlie didn’t waste any time burrowing into Vaggie’s side with hiccupping sobs. “It’s just not fair… T-they can’t take him…. Please, ” she choked out between tears. “make it stop… J-just make it stop !” 

 

Still, she peeked out from underneath her girlfriend’s wings. Even as she continued to cry she kept a steady eye on the projection far above them; on the visage of her father, injured and powerless, yet refusing to show an ounce of fear.

 

“My dear, do not do this to yourself…” Alastor sighed, his voice uncharacteristically strained as he gently rearranged Vaggie’s wings in order to hide the projection from view. “Don’t force yourself to witness this.”

 

If she didn’t know any better, Vaggie would have sworn that it sounded almost like a plea. A plea for Charlie to not put herself through the pain of watching her father die . 

 

For once, she agreed with him.

 

“Hon…” She sighed, pulling her girlfriend closer. “Don’t look, don’t torture yourself–”

 

“ No. I– I need to watch this—” Charlie snapped, suddenly beginning to worm her way out of Vaggie’s arms the second she realized the wings wouldn’t be moving. “I can’t– I can’t abandon him. Not now–” She clumsily stumbled to her feet, that white hat clutched tightly in her hands. She turned her face skywards, putting on a shaky, brave face in an imitation of her father. 

 

“I want to be with him till the end… Even if it hurts. ”

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

This was not how things were supposed to go. This was not what they had planned for. This was not what they wanted.

 

Uriel didn’t understand where it had all gone so horribly wrong. They knew Lucifer – or at least they thought they did – and through all of his millennia ruling Hell, he had never acted this defiantly before. There had been better and worse moments, of course, as things were wont to fluctuate over time, but something about this act of rebellion was… different from all the others, and she wasn’t sure why. 

 

She and the others had done many things to Lucifer throughout the centuries, some more necessary than others, and some perhaps harsher than the situation called for. Still, their youngest brother had always acquiesced to their authority in the end; whether willingly or by force. The vague threat of death had always been enough to deter him, even when he was at his lowest point.

 

So what has changed? Why has he suddenly given up ?

 

Nothing about the situation sat right with Uriel. She very much agreed with what Jophie had said. Despite their deeply twisted and troubled relationship, Lucifer was still their little brother; the last one to be made, the brightest star in the sky, their father’s favorite . Once upon a time, he had been incredibly precious to them all, especially Michael. Perhaps that was why he was so harsh on him now? Why he had no qualms about going through with the execution despite various protests?

 

Lucifer’s betrayal had cut him the deepest, and he had never quite recovered. Any pain and anger he felt were attributed to their youngest. And perhaps he was the cause for a majority of it, to some extent. He certainly never made things easy and put up a resistance wherever it would be the most inconvenient. 

 

But never anything like this .

 

It had Uriel second-guessing their whole plan, even if she knew it was far too late to back out now. They couldn’t stop. They needed to set an example, to show the consequences of disobeying Heaven and threatening the worldly order. Lucifer wasn’t allowed to be spared now that he had picked his fate. But still… Was there something she was missing? A stray clue or breadcrumb that could lead to an answer? As much as she hated to admit it, Lucifer was frustratingly cunning when he needed to be. However, the best explanation she could come up with felt… lackluster. It was obvious that he was forcing their hand – that much had been clear from the start – but she was stumped as to why. Why force them to go through with this? Why give up his own life? They all knew he wasn’t making it out of this alive.

 

Because not even Lucifer would be naive enough to expect Michael to have mercy on him…. Not after Eden.

 

It all seemed like such a pointless endeavor. His daughter was still far too young and wide-eyed to put up much more than a token resistance against Heaven’s forces. His little stunt with the barrier wouldn’t last, because no one in Hell except for him had the magic necessary to keep it going. Even Lucifer wouldn’t have been able to power it indefinitely. 

 

So why?

 

Why why why why why why why why—-

 

The sharp, tell-tale sound of the unsheathing of a sword yanked Uriel out of her musings. Immediately her gaze was drawn back to the center of the courtroom, where Lucifer remained chained up and bleeding.  She had avoided looking at him for most of the trial. There was simply something about his demeanor – his eerily calm, almost bored, acceptance of his own death – that set her teeth on edge in the worst possible way. It made ice creep through her veins, robbing her of a breath she didn’t truly need yet filled her with an uneasy sense of doom. She didn’t know of a single being in all of creation – dead or alive – that would conceivably face their end with such an air of indifference.

 

Yet here Lucifer was, his face betraying nothing more than an eerie calm.

 

Michael stood before him, his Holy Weapon drawn and at the ready. The white metal of his sword gleamed in the light as he lifted their brother’s chin with the tip of his blade. “Any last words?”

 

A stifling silence stretched through the air, only broken by the faint sound of rattling chains as Lucifer looked up to face his executioner. Those red eyes seemed to bore through anything they faced like molten lava; an unforgiving, unstoppable force of nature.

 

The Devil offered them all a bloodstained smile. “ May Father have mercy on your soul. ”

 

A gasp rippled through the audience, and Uriel saw Michael hesitate for just a split second.

 

“He will.”

 

She almost didn’t want to watch, but couldn’t allow herself to look away. A strained, wet gasp tore itself from Lucifer’s lips when Michael’s sword pierced his chest, which quickly dissolved into a harsh gurgling noise as blood welled up in his mouth and dripped down his chin. A pained expression flashed across his face. His magical core had been destroyed, and as Michael pulled his sword out his life force was quickly draining away, lost in the golden ichor pooling at his feet.

 

Another hacking cough – hard and labored – escaped his lips. Michael simply huffed, giving their brother a pitying look as he sheeted his weapon. He reached out a hand, gently running it through Lucifer’s blonde hair before gripping it tightly; yanking his head back to look him in the eyes.

 

Red eyes that were quickly growing dull.

 

“May Father have mercy on you , and forgive you for the Sins you’ve caused.” He said, voice laced with venom. “Perhaps your death shall finally bring some peace to the universe… ” Uriel knew what was coming next, yet she couldn’t help but flinch as Michael grabbed Lucifer’s snake-shaped halo and tore it away, cruelly breaking any connection he had to it. 

 

Jophiel muffled a sob somewhere beside her.

 

And that should have been it. That should have been the end of Lucifer Morningstar. Left injured and disconnected from his halo, he should have ceased to exist right then and there.

 

Yet he remained.

 

A rough, echoing cackle filled the room; cutting through the silence like a knife. Michael stood frozen before their brother, looking equal parts bewildered and furious as he glanced between Lucifer and the halo in his hand. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, it happened.

 

The snake-shaped halo crumbled away into dust .

 

The chains rattled when Lucifer threw his head back with laughter; a loud, maniacal sound that filled Uriel’s heart with ice.

 

Michael gaped at him, his voice rough with panic. “ What have you done!? ”

 

Lucifer simply looked up at his brother through messy hair and offered him a deranged, bloody smile. "You have just sealed your own fate"

 

For what happened next, Michael didn’t have the time to react. None of them did . A familiar polyphonic voice echoed through the room, strained and rough from millennia of disuse.

 

“Vita ad vitam. Moritur corpus meum, fiat anima mea in aeternum protector meus et sanguis meus…..”

 

Uriel felt her entire being shudder under the force of the spell, her knees buckling and almost sending her to the floor. 

 

No.

 

She forced a stiff breath into her lungs, pushing through the blind panic coursing through her system in order to mentally recount her extensive collection of spell books.

 

It can’t be …

 

She did it three times, yet kept coming up one book short. One book was missing. 

 

The Book of Forbidden Spells.

 

The Book of Blood Magic.

 

“Oh no. ”

 

 “....Quamdiu stat, protegetur domus eorum.” When Lucifer uttered those last words, all of Heaven shook, and in a blinding flash of light, the blood pooled underneath him burst into white-hot flames. 

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

“ What’s happening!? ” Charlie’s voice sounded strangled with panic even to her ears but she couldn’t help it. She had Vaggie’s hand in a death grip, barely managing to keep her breaths even as they stared helplessly up at the sky; at the golden shield which flickered precariously between solid and broken. “ What is he doing? ”

 

She didn’t know what to do . She almost hadn’t been able to watch it all, struggling as she tasted the bile in the back of her throat. She wanted to vomit and scream and cry cry crycrycry– It was awful, absolutely horrific to witness. 

 

A sword through his heart. Eden ripped away. Violently killed by his own family . How could they do that? How could they go through with it!? How could they be so cruel while still preaching about virtue and forgiveness?

 

And yet…. As Eden crumbled to dust, and a look of panic washed over her father’s siblings, Charlie didn’t understand. What was happening?

 

She could see him speak – could see his lips moving – but the sound wasn’t being picked up. It wasn’t being broadcast. The projection shook as Michael moved towards her dad before he burst into flames . 

 

Bright, brilliant golden flames.

 

They engulfed him whole, from the tips of his wings to the bottom of his feet. They swirled around him, pulsating with each ragged breath he took. Charlie could almost feel the heat radiating in her chest, warm and hot and burning—

 

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she felt a sharp pain in her hands. With a yelp she was forced to let go of her father’s hat as it tore itself through the air, making her stumble back in surprise. Beside her Vaggie couldn’t quite strangle her scream, barely catching Charlie before she fell over. 

 

Lucifer’s golden crown landed on the ground with a hollow thump , hardly even registering as everyone watched the hat in awe; twisting and writhing through the air while golden flames consumed it. As seconds passed its shape began to change… Gone was the familiar silhouette of white and red, replaced instead by that of an unfamiliar halo.

 

An unfamiliar halo in the shape of a star that was cracked through the middle , and crowned by seven spheres of light. A red, an orange, a yellow, a green, a blue, a pink, and a purple.

 

The Seven Rings of Hell.

 

It didn’t remain hovering for long. As soon as its transformation stabilized – when its true shape had returned – it soared up into the sky. Golden flames whirled around it in a dizzying display, leaving behind a faint trail as it traveled upwards until it met the flickering shield; the one thing keeping Hell protected from Heaven’s wrath. 

 

As soon as they touched, a rainbow-well of colors burst across the sky. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple— It was blinding in its intensity, forcing Charlie to look away lest she wish to damage her eyes. Bright spots still danced behind her eyelids, foreign and disorienting as she tried to find her balance once again. 

 

She was unsure how long the light lasted – seconds?? minutes?? – but as it finally dissipated she could see the broken halo remained in the sky, encased in an ever-shifting orb of color. More importantly, however, the shield was intact and no longer flickering. Gone was also its golden hue, replaced instead by the same barrier protecting the halo; vaguely see-through and constantly shifting between colors.

 

Hell was safe.

 

Her heart leaped in her throat. A treacherous feeling of hope and safety invaded her chest, filling her with such bone-deep relief that she almost collapsed on the spot. She wanted to jump and scream with joy, to celebrate and rejoice in their sudden victory. She felt utterly euphoric until she shifted her gaze back to the projection…

 

It still hovered on the other side of the new barrier, but it flickered precariously as angels scrambled around in a blind panic. No sound was being transmitted, but it didn’t need to. The picture it showed was enough.

 

Back in Heaven, Lucifer’s body hung lifelessly in his chains. His once glowing porcelain skin had turned a dull gray, still covered in golden ichor, yet even that seemed to have lost its luster. His eyes were closed – finally at peace – but a faint smile remained on his bloodstained lips.

 

Her dad was well and truly gone. And Charlie? 

 

Charlie finally broke.

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Since the beginning, Hell had been a loud and active place. There was always something that was happening, be that a battle, an argument, a party, or something else. Hell was never silent, not even at night. Hellborns and Sinners alike kept it going around the clock, no matter what day it was. For centuries, that had been an indisputable fact.

 

Hell was never silent.

 

Yet on this day, silence reigned over the Pride Ring. The streets were filled with people – from the high-ranking overlords and seasoned Sinners to the young hellhounds and civilian imps – yet they were all silent. Nobody spoke a word, frozen with shock and uncertainty. They gazed up at the sky, at the colorful shield protecting their realm. They looked at one another, attempting to confirm if it was actually real. Only a single noise broke through the oppressive silence; the echoing sound of anguished sobs.

 

On this day, Hell was silent as its Princess mourned .

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

Charlie sat on the cold asphalt in front of the decommissioned Heavenly embassy, staring out into space as she attempted to process her thoughts. Her tears had long since run dry, turning her burning grief into a dull, pulsing sorrow. The world around her simply felt unreal. It simply couldn’t be like this, it couldn’t have happened.

 

Yet each time she clenched her fist, she was greeted with a harsh reminder. The smooth metal of the golden crown had long since turned warm in her tight grip – small and elegant as it was – but it still brought her a mixture of heartache and comfort to have it close. She could still sense her dad’s magic signature lingering in the metal, strongly imprinted after so many centuries of wear and use. A soft sensation, like the morning sun hitting ones skin or the radiating warmth of a hearth.

 

Familiar, comforting, and safe.

 

But she’d never get to experience that again, now would she?

 

Charlie could hear the approaching behind her. Heavy. Buzzing. Warm. She didn’t tear her gaze away, allowing it to remain staring into nothing. She didn’t want to go back to reality, to the place where her dad didn’t exist anymore. It hurt. It hurt so, so much that it felt like she was being torn in two. She just wanted it to stop, for something to make the agonizing ache in her chest go away .

 

The war hand that landed on her shoulder didn’t magically make her pain go away, but it did make it ease ever so slightly. She leaned into the touch, just like she had done so many times before. Satan didn’t need to say anything – none of the Sins did. Charlie could feel their grief, could feel it in the air with the vague taste of ozone and saltwater coating her tongue. It felt akin to a weighted blanket being draped over her shoulders; heavy and cold, yet an odd comfort. 

 

“He’s done…” She finally whispered, her voice rough from crying for so long. Satan hummed a muffled affirmative.

 

“He’s really gone…” She repeated, swallowing thickly. “... And you all knew.” The empty silence from her aunts and uncles was an answer enough on its own. She felt her heart break once more. “Was there really no other way…?”

 

“None that wouldn’t have resulted in thousands of deaths…” It was Asmodeus who answered her, his voice somber and choked with emotions. “I’m so sorry, Charlie. We wish there was something else we could have done but–”

 

“But your father made his choice.” Satan interrupted, carefully using his large hand to turn Charlie around and help her stand. She almost wanted to protest, but any objections died on her tongue as she took in the sight of the Sins – her family – all visibly drowning in sorrow, yet resolute to project a strong image. Anyone else may have been fooled, but Charlie knew her aunts and uncles. Asmodeus’ flames were tinged a deep purple from his grief, Beelzebub’s hair lacked its normally vibrant colors, Belphegor’s candlelight appeared weak and sluggish, Mammon was dressed in dull, dark clothing, Leviathan’s scales and fins weren’t glowing like normal and Satan’s body lacked its otherwise ever-present veins of lava.

 

Charlie wasn’t the only one who was mourning. The Sins had lost Lucifer as well… A father, a brother, a dear friend.

 

“He… He knew what Heaven's response would be, and he was willing to pay the price if it would guarantee a peaceful realm. A safe place for you. ” Satan continued, gently reaching out to brush the hair out of Charlie’s face and wipe the tears from her cheeks. His hands were incredibly warm, and she leaned into the touch, allowing his other hand to pry Lucifer’s crown from her death grip. “He did what he had to, and now the rest is up to you.”

 

Charlie gave him a blank stare, not quite understanding what he meant until she felt something being placed in her hair. The other Sins stood behind Satan as he put Lucifer's crown on her head. They each gave her a bitter-sweet smile – tinged with both pride and sorrow – before sinking to their knees in a humble bow.

 

Satan’s voice rang out across the city, loud and clear. “ Long live Charlotte Morningstar, Queen of Hell. ”

 

She felt her breath catch in her throat, panic suddenly clawing at her insides as she watched her family kneel before her. Glancing around, she quickly caught the eyes of her friends. They were staring at her with jaws dropped, looking unsure of what to do. All except for one.

 

Alastor stood off to the side, gently rubbing at his throat while staring up at the sky. He looked…. different in a way Charlie couldn’t quite place. His magic felt less restricted, his body was more relaxed and at ease, and his smile— His smile was no longer forced. Gone were the painful green stitches hidden under layers of glamor, Alastor seemed free .

 

The moment of observation didn’t last long. Within seconds, Alastor had caught her staring. Charlie almost wanted to apologize, but before she could utter a word he offered her a soft, genuine smile. 

 

“Ah yes…” He hummed, voice crackling with static as he began making his way towards her. “These are perhaps not the ideal circumstances – I highly doubt anyone wished for this to happen – but… You are a good leader, my dear. Despite everything that Sinners are, you truly care for us and can somehow see the best in even the darkest souls…” He trailed off, stopping just a few steps away. Charlie held her breath, unsure of where her friend was going with his… surprisingly touching speech.

 

She didn’t have to wait for long.

 

“I look forward to serving under your rule, Your Majesty.” Alastor gave her one last cheeky grin before sinking down on his knee in a deep bow. His voice carried far across the Pride Ring, ringing through every speaker and radio as he spoke: “ Long live the Queen, Charlotte Morningstar .”

 

Charlie didn’t have a chance to respond. After Alastor fell to his knees, it was as if the rest of Hell could suddenly breathe once more. One by one, the people of Pentagram City sank to their knees, chorusing the same thing:

 

“ Long live the Queen. ”

 

Even Vaggie offered her a loving smile as she bowed before Charlie.

 

That day, Hell lost its King – fallen to Heaven’s merciless blade – but they gained something new; a fair, loving Queen, and the protection her father’s sacrifice afforded her realm.

 

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽ 𖤓 ☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

 

                                                                                           

Notes:

For anyone who cannot read cursive--🤣

Spell of Ieshim translation: “A life for a life. As my body dies, let my soul forever become my blood’s protector.” “As long as it stands, their home will be protected.”

Criteria:
1. You must be killed by the enemy you wish to shield against/keep out.
2. You cannot remain within the shielded area yourself.
3. A part of you must remain within the shielded area to channel the magic through.
4. Someone of your bloodline must remain alive and living in the shielded area.
5. The spell must be uttered with your last breaths/on the brink of death.

A clarification as well: Alastor's weird behaviour after Hell was cut off from Heaven was because when the spell activated, it also severed any contracts between people on different sides of the shield. In other words, it broke Alastor's contract with Lilith, giving him back possession of his own soul.

With his sacrifice, Lucifer gave Al his soul back.

 

Anywho! Please tell me what you thought of this fic💕 It's really not what I usually write but I needed to get this saddness out💀

Sorry not sorry for the heartbreak🤣

Lots of Love,
Natt🩷

Notes:

:)