I Wish You’d Linger Here

by ForeverxAxWriter

Summary:

“My name is-...Luke! What’s your name?” Alastor thought the pause was odd, but it didn’t stop him from slowly taking Luke’s hand and, since Luke was a boy’s name, deciding that he was just a very pretty boy.

“I’m Alastor. Nice to meet you.”
___

Lucifer and Alastor meet long before Alastor ever makes it to Hell, but are kept apart by circumstance. When Alastor finds Lucifer again, he decides to remind the Devil of their promise and to never let him leave again.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! Something to keep in mind for this AU is that time in Hell and time on Earth aren't in sync, so timing of events may be a bit wibbly wobbly compared to the canon. Tags may change as the story progresses!

Chapter 1: To Hell and Back Again

Lucifer portaled to the top of the stairs, just before his front door. Usually he would just portal straight to his office after the day he’d had, but the last time he’d done so Lilith had made a comment of how he was avoiding her by portaling around the house after their most recent argument. And while he wasn’t going to deny that he was indeed avoiding her, he just did not have the energy for any more jabs from his wife today. Not that it was likely she was home this time of day, but he’d at least make an appearance for the servants she insisted on having around. The meeting with the other Sins weighed heavily on him, each with their own demands of their king and each other and none of them willing to compromise to actually make progress. Just another screaming match between some of the only beings he’d consider family in this or any other realm.

 

As he stepped into the palace, an imp butler was already waiting to take his hat and coat. Another held open his preferred house robe and yet another removed his shoes to allow him to step into his house slippers. His bag was taken to his office, a generous glass of some brown liquor was placed in his hand, and with absolutely no effort on his part he was ready to lounge in one of the palace’s many sitting rooms to decompress. He walked through the palace, allowing his magic to flow from him to tell him that he was indeed alone. Or more accurately, his wife was not home. And so he made his way to his preferred reading room deep in the East Wing of the palace. He had decorated it himself, shutting down any input from Lilith when he claimed this room as one of his havens from the rest of Hell. 

 

The room’s walls had a rich brown wood that was panelled along the bottom. The wood itself had the finest seams of gold that sparkled gently in the light of the lit fireplace. The top portion of the walls were covered in a dark blue velvet wallpaper, the texture of the velvet reminded the fallen angel of the galaxies he’d helped create. The floors were tiled with a white marble that had artful cracks filled with gold that extended into the make of the fireplace and covered partially with a plush blue and cream rug. Above the fireplace a portrait of Lilith used to hang, but had been replaced in the recent centuries with different renditions of ducks. One of his favorite earthly creatures. The ceiling was enchanted to mimic any celestial body Lucifer wished to see in real time. It was here that he allowed himself to daydream of the before times. When he’d brought the first Light to creation and spread it light across the universe. Had flown through the darkest places like a comet and lived up to his title as Light Bringer.

 

He slumped into his plush chair and placed the untouched drink on the wooden table beside it. Alone with his thoughts, he stared into the fire. The questions Asmodeus and Beezlebub posed to him after the meeting regarding his wife and his apparent…unhappiness consumed his thoughts. Was he unhappy? He’d been married for almost as long as the existence of humanity, so that must count for something! But what was time to an immortal being? He certainly wasn’t happy now, alone in this gaudy palace that he’d hardly had a say in regarding decor or layout. But then who did he have to spend time with? The Sins he was still close to were busy with their respective Rings. His wife was…not here. The servants had all kept a respectful distance no matter how friendly he was. And his subjects, the Sinners that roamed the Ring of Pride…well, it was hard enough relating to the First Sinner and he’d known her since her inception. He couldn’t imagine he’d be able to make friends with Sinners who probably blamed him for being in Hell in the first place. No, at this moment he had no one.

 

He took a sip of the brown liquor. It was sweet and syrupy and burned as it slid down his throat. There was a smoky fragrance to it and it left him feeling warmer than expected. He emptied the glass and summoned an imp servant to bring the rest of the bottle. He felt he deserved to indulge tonight when another indulgent thought came to mind. Before the imp left, he asked for him to bring Lucifer a sealed box from his office. It did not take long before a bottle of bourbon and a teal box with the symbol of Lust etched on the cover was placed on the table beside him. Lucifer was left alone again before he could even utter a thank you. With a gesture, the bottle poured itself into his waiting glass as he placed the box in his lap. Inside sat a gold bangle with a large yellow-orange gemstone set in the very middle. A gift from Asmodeus, a ticket to get away from it all if only temporarily. And as long as he didn’t use his magic too much, Heaven surely wouldn’t notice his absence…would they?

 

It was almost impressive how fast Lucifer gave into the temptation of the Asmodean crystal. As he fastened the bangle to his wrist, he recounted the rules the Sin of Lust had told him to avoid being caught by Heaven:

 

1. Avoid overusing his magic. While Earth wasn’t devoid of magic, his magical signature would be too distinct for Heaven to overlook.
2. Do not overstay. The longer Lucifer stayed on Earth at one time, the more noticeable his presence would be.
3. Do NOT interact with the Humans. Asmodeus had made a point to drill this into Lucifer’s head. That unless he wanted to start a new religion, his ‘influence’ would be too much for a mortal mind to handle and he needed to just avoid them all together if he did not want to get caught. 

 

Simple enough. Lucifer wasn’t interested in being worshiped…anymore, at least. He remembered when he was a younger, bolder being. He’d spat on Heaven and their restrictions and simply portaled to Earth under his own power, delivering miracles in exchange for mortal worship. He was adored, feared, and desired and he fed off of that energy like an endless buffet. But he wasn’t that person anymore. Not for a long time. Lucifer shook his head before he could talk himself out of this. He’d been locked in a spiralling depression for long enough. Before he opened the portal, he allowed his magic to flow out of him just to make sure he was truly alone. Assured that this trip would be his little secret, he activated the crystal and stepped through.

---

 

The taste of dirt and blood really shouldn’t bother him at this point when these beatings would happen at least twice a week, but Alastor still felt that familiar burn of rage as he spat as hard as he could at the larger boy sitting on top of him. The bully jerked back as the mix of Alastor’s saliva, blood, and a bit of dirt struck home just below his right eye.

 

“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that, you fucking freak.”

 

He struck Alastor again with a closed fist across the face. The bully’s friends cheered while going through his book bag, probably already pocketing anything of value Alastor happened to have on him. After a few more strikes, the bully yanked Alastor up by the front of his shirt so they were nose to nose.

 

“When are you gonna learn that you and your whore mama ain’t welcome here?”

 

At the mention of his mother, Alastor mustered his strength to headbutt the bully in the teeth. He shoved the boy off while he was stunned and scrambled to his feet. He spat out another glob of blood and spit and raised his fists.

 

“You don’t get to talk about my mama like that without me whooping your ass,” he growled. If his mother had heard him say that she’d probably wash his mouth out, but he was gonna defend her honor if it killed him.

 

The group of boys rallied around their friend, looking ready to charge at him all at once. Hardly a fair fight, but he was used to these odds. Alastor took a deep breath, bringing his fists up to shield his face like his neighbor showed him. A tension fell over them to see who would break first when a stick snapped behind Alastor. He tensed, but didn’t dare turn around as he saw the looks of horror on the bullies’ faces. A growl like rolling thunder rumbled in Alastor’s ear before several barks rang through the air like gunshots. One of the boys screamed. Another wet himself. All of them scrambled to get away, running down the dirt road and leaving Alastor to face whatever beast was behind him alone.

 

He hated this. Bullies he could deal with, but a dog had him shaking. He hated dogs. Mean, dirty, evil beasts that would rip you apart if you looked at one the wrong way. He didn’t want to get mauled by some mangy stray. He wanted to go home to where his mother was waiting. Wanted to stand with her in the kitchen as she made all his favorite foods and they listened to the radio. He just wanted to protect her like she always protected him. He-.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

A sweet voice jolted him out of his spiral. Alastor spun around and saw a boy behind him rather than the dog he was expecting.

 

“Wh- where’d the dog go?” he asked shakily. His hands still clenched into fists.

 

The boy just smiled, covering his mouth with a delicate hand. “There isn’t one,” he giggled. “I made that sound.”

 

“You!? You were the one growling and barking!?” Alastor couldn’t believe it. He was sure that there was a rabid beast behind him with how the bullies ran with their tails between their legs. “Well, prove it! Bark again!”

 

The sweet voiced boy pouted. But brought his hands up, cupped them around his mouth and barked. Truly sounding like an angry hellhound. Alastor’s jaw dropped. The boy just grinned at him.

 

“You’re gonna catch flies with your mouth open like that,” he said, stepping closer to Alastor with his hands behind his back and leaning forward.

 

He snapped his mouth closed and blushed with embarrassment. Taking in the boy’s appearance, he wasn’t one hundred percent convinced they were a boy now that he was really looking at them. They were a little shorter than him, golden wavy locks framed their cherubic face with cheeks so rosy he or she looked like they’d put a bit of blush on. They had sparkling blue eyes and was dressed in fine looking white clothing like the rich folks in town on a Sunday. To top it all off, he was white. Not sickly looking, but pale enough that if they told Alastor that they’d never seen the sun before he’d be inclined to believe it.

 

The…kid got even closer to Alastor. A curious look on their face as they studied each other. They got so close, Alastor was beginning to lean back and step away before the kid suddenly pulled back smiling again. They held their hand out, an offer to shake hands like they were friends. Like they were…equals.

 

“My name is-...Luke! What’s your name?” Alastor thought the pause was odd, but it didn’t stop him from slowly taking Luke’s hand and, since Luke was a boy’s name, deciding that this was just a very pretty boy.

 

“I’m Alastor. Nice to meet you.”

 

Luke gripped his hand firmly and gave it a few enthusiastic shakes before letting go. The smile on his face was warm and genuine.

 

“I hope those boys weren’t your friends if you thought you were going to get mauled by a rabid dog and they just left you like that,” he chuckled, a little awkward.

 

Alastor gave his own nervous chuckle. “No. We aren’t friends. Um, not that I’m not grateful, but I don’t think you should be talking to me either. Not unless you want to get in trouble.”

 

Luke’s face fell instantly, his whole body jerked back like Alastor had physically struck him and Alastor immediately wished that he could take what he said back.

 

“Oh,” Luke said in a small, fragile voice. “I thought-... I thought we could-. But I guess you’re right. I should go.” His expression became watery and Alastor felt that if he didn’t do something to keep Luke from leaving, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

 

“No no no, don’t cry! Don’t leave! I didn’t mean it like that! Of course I want to be your friend!” Alastor rushed forward and, without thinking, wrapped his arms around the shorter boy. This close, Alastor could smell what he could only assume was Luke’s preferred soap. Sweet like a crisp, ripe apple and kind of fresh like the smell just after heavy rain. He squeezed Luke and petted his hair like his mother did when he was upset, which was probably the softest thing Alastor ever had ever felt in his whole life.

 

Luke sniffled, but didn’t pull away. If anything, he rubbed his face on Alastor’s rough shirt and wrapped his arms around the taller boy’s middle. “Really? You really want to be friends with me?”

 

Alastor pulled away just enough to look at Luke, his new friend. “Of course! Honestly, I should be asking you that. What are you doing here? Your kind don’t usually want anything to do with my kind?”

 

Luke tilted his head as if Alastor had said something strange. “What do you mean?”

 

“Well, you're you and I’m me. We aren’t allowed to mix.” Luke still looked confused. Alastor sighed and finally let Luke go, although he still stood within arms length of him. “You’re not from around here, huh? Where are you from?”

 

“Uh,” Luke looked nervous at the question. “I’m from...up North?”

 

“Huh, well, I’ve never been outside Louisiana. They must do it really differently where you’re from. But you’re in the South now and that means if we’re gonna be friends we’d have to keep it a secret.” Alastor took Luke’s right hand and wrapped their pinkies together. “You have to pinky swear so we won't get in trouble that you’ll keep our friendship a secret.”

 

Luke’s face became serious and he squeezed his pinky around Alastor’s a little tighter. “Keep it a secret, got it. In exchange, you have to promise…promise that no matter what we’ll be best friends forever!”

 

Alastor blinked a few times at how serious Luke was taking this pinky swear, but it made Alastor almost unreasonably happy for some reason. He laughed and smiled widely at his new, secret friend. “It’s a deal.”

 

As soon as those words left his lips, a warmth wrapped itself around Alastor. Like a sunwarmed blanket was draped around his shoulders. The wind suddenly whipped around them and a cacophony of birds and animals filled the surrounding area. Instinctively, Alastor pulled the smaller boy to him to shield him from the sudden gust, but it was over almost as soon as it started. Luke peeked up at Alastor, big blue doe eyes sparkling with affection. Alastor swallowed nervously before letting Luke go and stepping back to a more polite distance. As for Luke, he had a very satisfied look on his face. Like a cat that had caught the pet canary.

 

“Sooo, what should we do now?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I mean, what should we do? I don’t have to go home yet. Unless, you do?” Luke was still smiling, but seemed to wilt at the idea that his new friend might have to leave so soon.

 

“No, uh, I’m-...free,” Alastor said. Ignoring the fact that he actually was on the way to school. But he didn’t want to go to school if Luke wasn’t going to be there. That settled it in his mind. He collected his things, noting that his lunch was gone and his books had been stomped on. “Why don’t I show you my secret place in the bayou! Since we have to be secret friends, we can meet there and no one would be able to find us.”

 

Luke nodded enthusiastically and took Alastor’s hand in his own. “Lead the way then, friend!”

---

 

Lucifer was by his own nature a selfish creature. Many of his impulses were at the end of the day self-serving and often led to less than ideal situations. And he felt this may be one of those less than ideal situations. He had not intended to interact with any humans, let alone a child. His first time returning to Earth in eons and he’d already broken one of the rules set by Asmodeus. But he couldn’t help himself as he watched the little brunette get the shit beat out of him from the treetops. He’d always had a soft spot for the underdog and he had to give props to the kid when he’d fought back despite being out numbered. So after running off the bullies, Lucifer fully intended to disappear and continue enjoying his little vacation on Earth to watch her many creatures go about their day. 

 

But something stopped him. Maybe it was how pitiful the boy was after such a grand show of courage and righteous fury, shaking and frozen in place as if waiting for the ‘beast’ behind him to snap him up. Then again, he was just a child. Lucifer did not have much experience with children. The closest he’d ever been to one was during young Stolas’s birthday and engagement party. Awful stuff, the poor thing was weeping on and off the entire time. Either way, it didn’t feel right to leave the brunette alone on that dirt road. On top of revealing himself, in a sense, to a human child, they had accidentally made a deal. Nothing serious. A literal ‘pinky promise’, but still entirely irresponsible on Lucifer’s part. He should have broken it off then and there, erased Alastor’s memory, and returned to Hell to bury that damned crystal so as to never be tempted to escape to Earth ever again! What he didn’t expect was what happened next, which was that he’d had fun. 

 

The rest of that day on Earth, the human child, Alastor Lucifer’s mind supplied, had taken him to explore the ‘bayou’. Told him about the animals and plants that inhabited the ecosystem. Talked about his school, his mother and her cooking, and how he hated his neighbor’s dogs. It felt good to have someone trust you and to not have every interaction be transactional. Lucifer was eons old, but try as he might he could not recall the last time when someone simply enjoyed his company for the sake of enjoying it. No expectations. No hidden meanings. Just pure, innocent companionship. But, oh, how that day filled him with Light. So much that he could feel the Grace that flowed through him grow brighter. He shouldn’t be surprised, humans were made in the Creator’s image. A whisper of the Creator’s Grace was etched into each human soul until they crossed into the afterlife. And Earth, with all of its wretched flaws, was probably the closest he’d ever be to returning to Heaven. Lucifer sighed as he retreated to his empty bedroom. He did not know it then, but it was ironic that Alastor, with his righteous fury and awkward kindness, had probably rekindled what little faith the Devil had in humanity.

Chapter 2: Rooting for the Anti-Hero

Summary:

More of Alastor's nature appears. Lucifer feels guilty and wants to fix things. Lilith makes an appearance.

Notes:

Quick author's note, Lilith is NOT the bad guy. I don't know yet if there really is a "bad guy" outside of what is canon in the show. But the Lilith bit in this chapter does come across as manipulative. I assure everyone that Lucifer is 100% into his wife's advances at this time. If you've ever felt touch-starved for a particular person before, you may understand the context of what Lucifer is feeling with Lilith's sudden change of heart.

The years passed. Alastor and Luke kept their friendship a secret for as long as possible. After that first day playing in the bayou, they decided to meet every Sunday after church. That way they wouldn’t get in trouble with their parents, Alastor had reasoned. And it worked for a while. Until Alastor’s mom had caught the boys together one Sunday afternoon while they played under their willow tree. It was their willow tree because Alastor had carved their initials into said tree and there was a hollow at the base where they hid all their most precious gifts to each other. Just another thing that was just for them.

 

By now, they had grown into young men together. Alastor had become tall and willowy while Luke stayed relatively short and quite petite even when compared to his friend. Today, they sat quietly in the shade of their willow tree to escape the oppressive summer heat. Luke was reading a book Alastor had given him and Alastor was carving something with his pocket knife. It was peaceful and Alastor couldn’t imagine anywhere else he’d rather be.

 

Luke closed his book with a dull clap and sighed. “I think it’s about time I head home.”

 

“So soon? It’s only been a few hours,” Alastor said nervously, setting his project aside. “Don’t tell me you’re finally tired of my company.” Alastor always disliked when they had to separate and he wasn’t eager to when they had just come together again. Lately, their meetings were becoming farther apart and it had been nearly a month since the last time he saw the blonde.

 

Luke turned to his friend and placed a reassuring hand over his. “Never. I could never tire of you or your company.” The rough feeling of the bandages wrapped around Alastor’s hand made Luke frown. “I wish you’d be more careful. You always seem to be hurt when I come to see you.”

 

Alastor twitched under that concerned gaze, but didn’t pull away. Couldn’t pull away and just chuckled to brush it off. “I’ll try, but you know me. Clumsier than a drunk on my best days.”

 

“Uh huh.” Alastor could tell that Luke had stopped believing his excuses a long time ago, but he always respected his choice not to share. Even if it obviously upset him a little.

 

“Don’t worry about me, mon ange. But if you’re really concerned…you could make sure I don’t get into any more accidents as long as you’re here. And Maman is making your favorite shrimp etouffee for dinner.”

 

Luke chuckled as he stood up and Alastor held his hand the entire time. “As tempting as that offer is, I do have to go before I’m missed. My sister is having a party and I would never hear the end of it if I did not show up. You know how family can be.”

 

“Yes. Family,” he bit out the end of each word. His irritation getting the better of him. Alastor turned away to look out over the bayou, but didn’t get up or let go of Luke’s hand. Instead he gripped it just a little harder, rubbing his thumb over Luke’s knuckles.

 

“Alastor, please. I have to go,” Luke said gently, but he didn’t pull away. 

 

Alastor continued to hold onto his friend’s hand. The irritated look turned closer to anger as he stared out into the green landscape that usually brought him comfort and peace. “And why should I let go? I haven't seen you in weeks and when you finally deign to grace me with your presence, you say you must leave again after only a few hours? We used to spend the whole day together every Sunday and now it is as if you can’t wait to get away from me. Do I not matter to you anymore, mon ange? Your family has you every other day of the week. This is supposed to be my day. Mine,” Alastor growls out quietly. As angry as Alastor felt, he’d promised himself to never raise his voice in anger when it came to his loved ones. Vowed to never be like him.

 

Luke only huffed and petted Alastor’s hair like he was a child throwing a tantrum. “Alastor, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get away from my responsibilities. I promise I’ll be here next Sunday. Now, please, I can’t leave if you don’t let go of my hand.”

 

Alastor stood up, but still did not let go. His fierce gaze met Luke’s gentle one which only angered him more. He hated how calm his angel was, like he wasn’t also upset that the world was trying to separate them over and over again. He loomed over the short blonde. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, mon ange. I seem to remember us promising to be the best of friends for all eternity, but best friends don’t abandon one another for weeks on end without a word or warning. Every Sunday, I wait here like a fool from sunrise to sunset. Hoping that my best friend will make an appearance today. Like. We. Promised.”

 

The venom in Alastor’s voice as he spat their pinky promise to each other back at Luke was not unfamiliar. Remembering the first time he’d had to cut their clandestine meeting short, the brunette had not been happy and had thrown quite the tantrum. But his possessiveness did not seem to bother Luke. In fact, it seemed to amuse him more than anything. He raised his free hand to rest it on Alastor’s cheek, smiling gently at the taller man. The scent of Luke’s favorite soap washed over Alaster and slowly, he loosened his grip enough for Luke to bring his other hand up to cradle Alastor’s face. His expression had relaxed to mildly irritated at this point, but Alastor allowed himself to be comforted this way even if he was still annoyed.

 

“I promise I will be here next Sunday at sunrise and I will not leave until we’ve had dinner with your lovely mother.” Luke says with a conviction that reminded Alastor of his pastor during a sermon. 

 

Alastor brings his own hands up to gently hold onto Luke’s wrists to keep his hands in place, leaning down to gently bump their foreheads together. “Please do not break this promise, mon ange, or I may never forgive you.”

 

For a peaceful moment, the two men lean against each other. A quiet comfort against a world that would keep them apart on so many levels. And then the moment is shattered with a loud belch and the disruptive stomping of someone who was unfamiliar with the path to their secret spot. Alastor spun around, keeping Luke behind him as his father invaded their little clearing. Clearly, the burly man was drunk. In one hand he held a half empty brown bottle, but his eyes were sharp with an accusatory glare that had Alastor pinned in place.

 

“hic. So, this is where you run off to, eh boy?” The large man takes a deep swig. “And who’s that little cocksucker behind you? Whores in town won’t give you the time of day, so you sneak off with some fairy to get your rocks off?”

 

“Do not speak to him that way, you bastard!” Alastor yelled, stepping forward with clenched fists. “Luke, get out of here! Go home!”

 

“Oooh, your name is Luke, huh?” the drunk slurred, leaning around to take a better look at the blonde Alastor was trying to hide. “Well, when I’m done beating some sense into my boy, how about I show you what it’s like to be with a real man?”

 

The smell of his father’s alcohol laden breath. The blatant disrespect of his friend. That hateful glare daring him to do something about it. It all made Alastor’s blood boil.  He roared and charged at his father. Surprisingly quick for a drunk, Alastor’s father punched him in the face causing him to stumble back into Luke who catches him and keeps him on his feet.

 

“Go!” Alastor shouts again, his voice more pleading than anything. He doesn’t look back, but he hears steps fading behind him and hopes that Luke will remember him fondly. Because there was no reality where father and son both walked away from this fight alive.

 

Alastor spits out a glob of blood and squares his shoulders. He’d been itching for this. Dreamed of the day he could watch the life leave this man’s eyes with his hands wrapped around his neck. But Alastor was a realist. Even if his assailant was drunk Alastor knew his father would probably win this fight. He was unarmed and not particularly strong compared to the bulwark of a man. The mind was willing, if only the body could match his wit with strength. Then something shiny caught his periphery. His pocket knife was on the ground where he’d left it. Almost half way between the two of them. His eyes flickered briefly between his father and the knife before he lunged for it.

…

Lucifer ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Hoping and praying to a Creator that he knew wasn’t listening that he would get to Ms. Charlotte’s house before Alastor’s father beat him to death. He knew he could take care of it, knew he could kill the man with a gesture. Make it so his dear friend and his wonderful mother never have to suffer under that man again like he knew they were for so many years now. But then he would risk Heaven noticing he was here on Earth. Risk losing one of the few things in this universe that made him happy. And Lucifer was a selfish creature. So he ran, putting his trust in Alastor to hold on long enough for him to get help. Lucifer pumped his legs as hard as he could and prayed.

 

As soon as he saw the familiar shack, he screamed as loudly as possible. “Ms. Charlotte! Ms. Charlotte, come quick! Alastor’s in trouble!”

 

A tall full bodied woman stood up from a rocking chair on the porch. “Luke? What’s wrong!? Where’s Alastor!?”

 

“He- in the bayou,” Lucifer panted out. “His father-.” He forced a large gulp of air down his throat. “He’s gonna beat him to death, we have to hurry!”

 

Ms. Charlotte was already grabbing Lucifer’s hand and dragging him behind her as she ran to their meeting place in the bayou. She’d warned them when she first found out about their friendship that Alastor’s father would not be happy and to do everything they could to keep it a secret from him. But truth be told, Lucifer felt this was inevitable. Because of course the universe would spit on anything or anyone who made him happy, but if he wasn’t someone to defy the powers at be then who was he.

 

They ran as fast as they could, but had to slow down as they made their way through the dense vegetation of the bayou. Ms. Charlotte had begun praying under her breath as they neared the clearing, but couldn’t hear anything. No shouts, no struggling, just the ambient buzz of the cicadas in the sweltering heat. When they finally burst into the clearing, Ms. Charlotte stopped dead in her tracks causing Lucifer to run smack into her.

 

“What!? What’s wrong!? Alastor!? ALASTOR!?” Lucifer panicked, pushing past the woman.

 

The first thing he registered was Alastor’s father on the ground, bleeding from several places on his chest and neck. Next, was Alastor himself, sitting atop said man covered in gore with his pocket knife in hand. A gift from Lucifer for a past birthday. Alastor was panting and shaking, not acknowledging the pair as Lucifer slowly stepped closer.

 

“Hey, Al,” Lucifer said gently. “Why don’t we put the knife down, huh?”

 

From here, Lucifer could tell the man on the ground was already dead. Behind him, he could hear Ms. Charlotte say another prayer. For whom, he wasn’t sure, but he’d hoped it wasn’t for the dead bastard. Lucifer stepped closer, enough to lay a grounding hand on Alastor’s shoulder. He felt him jump as soon as he touched him, but kept his hand firmly on Alastor’s shoulder.

 

“Shhh, it’s okay. It’s over now,” Lucifer whispered. He couldn’t see his face, but he could only imagine the pain Alastor was feeling at this moment.

…

The blood on his hands was warm and sticky. The body was still warm underneath him as blood sluggishly leaked out of several stab wounds. He knew someone was there, two someones in fact. The most important people in the entire world to him were standing there as he…reveled in the gore. His blood was hotter than it had ever been and he could not help the smile that stretched across his face as he relived the moment he sunk his precious pocket knife into that bastard’s neck.

 

He felt a small hand land on his shoulder, yet another source of warmth that made him shudder as the crisp scent of apple washed over him. His angel had come back to him, of course he had. He was a fool to think Luke would abandon him, surely he must be just as overjoyed as he was that the man underneath him was finally a corpse. But when he turned towards his friend the look on his face was not joyful at all. Luke moved slowly as if any sudden movement might spook Alastor and eased the pocket knife out of his hand. He looked at him with pity and an empathy that felt much older than either of them. Alastor didn’t like that. Didn’t want to be pitied because this was not a pitiful moment for him. This was his triumph. He’d slain his and his mother’s tormentor. They were free of him and his abuse. The three of them should be celebrating! But as Alastor turned to look at his mother, all he saw was more pity, grief, and a woman on the edge of panic staring at the carnage wrought by her own flesh and blood.

 

“Oh baby,” she whimpered as she gathered him into her arms. “Oh my sweet boy, what have you done?”

 

He allowed his mother to pull him away from the corpse. Away from his angel who was examining his handiwork with a foreign, calculating look. The bloody knife was held loosely in his hands. Alastor felt an ache in his head, the whole situation was so frustrating. He understood that he’d just killed his father, but his father was also an abusing, cheating, drunken bastard that no one on this green earth would miss. Perhaps he should not expect to be praised for this, but the pity in Luke and Maman’s felt worse than any reprimand or disgust. It made his skin crawl. He wanted to squirm out of Maman’s arms and return to the bloody corpse. Where he felt powerful. Where he felt in control. But his wriggling only caused Maman to hold him tighter, petting his hair as she whispered things she thought would comfort him.

 

“Ms. Charlotte, I think you and Alastor should go home and let me take care of this.”

 

Mother and son froze. They turned their attention to the blonde and watched as he began shoving at the body, moving it closer to the water.

 

“Luke, honey, what are you doing?” Charlotte said breathlessly. Like she couldn’t believe her eyes.

 

Luke just continued to grunt and struggle against the large corpse. “Nothing, Ms. Charlotte. I’m just,” and Luke turned his head to face the pair with almost an eerily cheerful smile. “Getting rid of some trash.” 

 

Alastor felt something loosen in his chest. A ball of fear and anxiety he hadn’t realized had nestled itself behind his ribs and against his heart since his mother and Luke had arrived in the clearing. A small wave of relief washed over him as he watched his angel try to get rid of the evidence, but now was not the time to examine that. For now, Alastor gently unwrapped his mother’s arms from around him. Reverently, he kissed her hands and cheeks.

 

“I’m okay, Maman. I’m sorry for scaring you,” he said, nuzzling against her sweetly. Like he used to when he was small. “But I think Luke is right. You should go home for now, we’ll take care of this mess and be home before dark. By the way, I invited Luke for dinner, so I hope you don’t mind the extra mouth to feed.”

 

Charlotte was still in shock as she stared at her son’s bloody face. She briefly closed her eyes and Alastor could tell she was saying one of her silent prayers. When she opened her eyes, they were clearer. Filled with the same determination he’d seen time and again when they were expecting harder times. With a deep breath, she stood up and dusted her skirt off. She looked weary, but she wasn’t shaking anymore.

 

“Well, I suppose if you’re helping Alastor…clean up, I don’t mind the extra mouth to feed,” she said with a smile, though it did not reach her eyes. They could tell she was putting up a front as much for herself as for them. “Don’t take too long. And make sure you clean yourselves up before coming home. I won’t have you tracking mud into my house.”

…

They didn’t immediately start once Charlotte had left them. They simply sat side by side next to the body for a while in silence. Alastor had made a few false starts to break the tension between them, but immediately thought better of it when he saw the focused look on Luke’s face. It felt like the entire bayou was holding its breath as Alastor waited for Luke to say or do anything. Eventually, Luke did move. He began unbuttoning his shirt.

 

“Uh, L-Luke, what are you doing!?” Alastor asked, quickly averting his eyes when he’d begun removing articles of clothing. From the corner of his eye, he could tell that Luke had stripped down until he was in his underthings. It was ridiculous for Alastor to feel scandalized, they were both men for God’s sake. But in all the years of their friendship he’d also never seen his friend so…bare.

 

“Ms. Charlotte said to clean up before returning home and it’d be easier to clean up if we’re not completely covered in blood. Don’t worry, you’ve already done the hard part. I can do this part by myself if you want to wash off the blood and head back.” There wasn’t any levity in Luke’s voice and it made Alastor feel somewhat guilty for putting his friend in this situation. “I-. I’m so sorry, Alastor.”

 

The whimpered apology had him whipping his head towards Luke. He watched as tears gathered at the corner of his angel’s eyes that were filled with some sort of misplaced guilt. Fat drops dripped down his face and he moved to start shoving again. “No, mon ange, why are you crying?” Alastor couldn’t help himself as he pulled the smaller man to him, using a clean part of his sleeve to wipe away the tears that kept coming.

 

“Because this is my fault,” Luke sobbed. “You did this because I was here and this is all my fault. And now there’s no going back and your mother saw it and-.”

 

“Sshh, hush now,” he cooed, holding the blonde close. “None of this was your fault. That man had it coming, believe me. He was a…a real monster. And whether you were here or not had nothing to do with that or what happened.”

 

For some reason, Alastor’s assurances only made Luke sob harder into his chest. “I don’t want you to be punished for this,” he wailed. “It wasn’t your fault he was a monster! I ruin everything just by being around! You don’t deserve to be punished for this!”

 

Alastor felt his heart drop. “Luke, I don’t understand. Are you saying you’re going to turn me into the police?”

 

“No! I’d never,” Luke sobbed and clung harder to him.

 

“Then what are you talking about?” he sighed. “I promise we’ll be careful. No one will catch us and my mother would never turn us in.”

 

Luke only shook his head and continued to quietly sob and shake in his arms. He sighed again and simply held his friend close, rocking them back and forth to comfort him. The corpse wasn’t going anywhere and it would be easier to hide any blood stains if it was a little darker anyways.

…

Lucifer sat on his friend’s back porch, a cigarette held loosely in between his fingers. He didn’t really smoke, but enjoyed the smell more than anything else. The sound of Alastor doing the dishes and the summer crickets had him feeling melancholic, like the happiness he’d found in this double life he was leading was going to come to an end soon. He supposed either way that was up to him. Neither Heaven nor Lilith had noticed his trips to Earth. As long as he gets his work done they leave him to his own devices, but how sustainable was this really? 

 

He recalled the third rule Asmodeus had set and thought about how his mere presence could cause a human soul to stray from the path of Light. How he could effortlessly enthrall and manipulate mortals, even if he did not mean to. And he really didn’t mean to. He didn’t want Alastor or Charlotte to fall into Hell just because he couldn’t stay away. But Alastor had committed the sin of murder, more so than that the victim was his own father. Describing that piece of shit as a victim made Lucifer grit his teeth, but there was no way around it. At least he knew that that man was where he belonged, burning in the Hellfire like the wretch he was. There was no way he’d made it through Heaven’s Gates and if he did, Lucifer had half a mind to demand his pound of flesh for the suffering Charlotte and Alastor went through.

 

The creak of the screen door brought Lucifer out of his thoughts. Charlotte had come with two tall glasses in hand and held one out to him. He took it and gave her a small smile before taking a sip. The sweet tannic taste of her homemade sweet tea spread pleasantly through his mouth. Perfect for the humid night air and for a while, they simply enjoyed a companionable silence. Lucifer knew he made her uncomfortable. Whether it was because of his white skin or because her godliness could sense who he really was, Lucifer didn’t entirely know. So there they stayed with each other before Charlotte finally spoke up.

 

“So…,” she started. She made several other false starts before taking another deep drink of her tea. “Sometimes, when I look at my boy I see that sweet, shy thing that would hide behind my skirts at church. And then I blink and…and I see a young man who doesn’t quite fit into the boxes this world wants him to fit into. Too dark for some and too light for the rest. And then you came along and… Well, I know you two are close. But it’s just one more thing that makes him not fit what’s expected.”

 

Lucifer stayed quiet. Could feel that she wasn’t finished and just needed a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. So he sipped his tea and waited.  He also noticed that he could not hear Alastor washing the dishes anymore.

 

Charlotte eventually found her words again, “I don’t expect you to understand what it's like, living as we do. But I know you care about my boy and he cares about you. I don’t think we can stay in this town anymore, Mr. Luke. And it hurts my pride that I have to ask for your help after all you’ve done for us today. But I can barely make enough money to support the two of us as is. And folks are gonna start asking questions when my husband doesn’t show up to work for too many days. And-.”

 

Lucifer placed a gentle hand on her knee to interrupt her spiral. She finally turned to look at him, eyes watery with barely held back tears. He smiled gently at her. “I won’t let anything happen to you or Alastor.” He removed his hand before continuing, “I’m not close with my own parents, but I can tell you love your son very much. And you’re right, I do care about him. He’s very precious to me. To be honest, seeing how you dote on him makes me want a few children of my own! Be the father mine never was to me,” he sighed. Inside, they hear something drop on the floor and turn in unison.

 

“Boy, you better not be eavesdropping or I’m telling you right now you’ll regret it!” Charlotte yelled with no real heat to it, but they both chuckled when they heard a thump and a few heavy footsteps going away from the back of the house.

 

“I’ll help you both any way I can. I have a few connections in New Orleans if you’re wanting to move. And it should be easier to find work in the city. You won’t have to worry about anything.”

 

Charlotte got that watery look in her eyes again. “Thank you. You’re a good man, Luke. Even if you don’t believe it yourself.”

 

Lucifer froze for a second at her remark, but didn’t get a chance to reply before Charlotte went back inside. For her to describe the literal Devil as a good man was laughable. But he couldn’t deny how he felt the Light inside him flutter happily.

 

---

 

When Lucifer returned to the palace, the first thing he intended to do was go to the Ring of Lust personally to talk with Asmodeus. He was sure the Sin would welcome the random visit, but before he could portal away a knock came from his office door. An imp butler came and bowed before addressing him.

 

“Your Majesty, the Queen wishes to see you.”

 

He blinked at the imp in surprise. It was rare for Lilith to want to see him, but if she was sending servants to fetch him rather than ambushing him out of the blue it probably meant she was in a good mood. He swallowed nervously and cleared his throat.

 

“Please tell my wife I will join her shortly,” he said with his kingly voice. The one he only used for official business.

 

The imp bowed and left Lucifer alone for the moment. He took a deep, calming breath and wondered what she wanted. They hadn’t had an argument for quite some time, but then again they had not interacted directly for about the same amount of time. They’d leave handwritten messages for the servants to deliver at most and Lucifer could not recall the last time they’d even shared the same bed. But he had other things to worry about and the sooner he finished with Lilith, the sooner he could visit Asmodeus. He spread his magic out and found Lilith waiting in her office in the West Wing of the palace. Whether or not it was intentional, he and Lilith had essentially split the palace between the two of them and they tended to stay in their respective wings. He summoned a portal to her office and stepped through, trying his best to hide his nerves with kingly grace and confidence.

 

“Lucifer,” she purred at him from her desk. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with half lidded eyes that had him on edge immediately.

 

He took a grounding breath. “Lilith. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

 

“Now, Luci, don’t be like that. Can’t a woman just want to see her husband? You are still my husband, aren’t you?”

 

Lucifer clenched his hands that he’d kept behind his back. He’d forgotten to replace his wedding ring in his haste, but allowed a cordial, affectionate mask to fall on his face. “Of course, I am. Apologies, I’ve been tense as of late.”

 

“Oh? Well fortunately for you, I have a somewhat immediate solution to ease some of that tension. I’ve been thinking of that proposition you made a few months ago.”

 

“Proposition?”

 

Lilith chuckled and stood up. She stalked around her desk and towards Lucifer. When she was close enough, she brought her hands up to cradle his face and brought hers closer. “Yes, you silly thing. About producing an heir to the throne of Hell. After some thought, I see the benefit of having an heir to secure our continued rule and it’s only natural for us to want a little one as husband and wife. And, to be honest, I think a little one running the servants ragged would bring back some life to our home.”

 

Lucifer shuddered, Lilith’s voice caressing his mind and making him feel lighter than air. It had been so long since he’d had any affection from his wife, it caught him off guard with how intoxicating it was. “Lili,” Lucifer gasped, noticing Lilith’s smile at his old nickname for her. “Do you really mean it? Oh, Lili.” He leaned up and nuzzled her cheek.

 

She hummed contently and brought him closer to her, guiding his head to rest against her plush chest and wrapping her arms around him. “There’s my sweet, little temptation. I’ve missed you so, my love. How about we start tonight? No better time like the present, right?”

 

Lucifer hummed sleepily, allowing himself to be guided by his wife through one of her portals to their abandoned bedroom. Forgetting completely about his desire to visit Asmodeus.

Notes:

I have no self-control. Updates are going to be sporadic, but if I have a chapter done then it's getting published, baby!

If you spot any typos or grammar errors, I'd appreciate them being pointed out so I can fix them. Any comments or constructive criticism are welcome! Thank you for reading!

Chapter 3: Ghost

Summary:

All good things must come to an end.

After the ‘incident’, Alastor and Charlotte had moved to the outskirts of New Orleans with Luke’s help. His contacts found a quaint home just outside the city for them and a job in a grocery store for Charlotte that paid fair enough that they could afford a few luxuries. When Charlotte brought up paying Luke back, he shot her down immediately. Instead, bargaining for some of her famous jambalaya for him to take home. Alastor had flourished in the city. He'd found his passion for music and his calling as a radioshow host with a local studio. He’d made friends in the juke joints and speakeasies with the equally free spirited people that frequented them and his days and nights were filled with music and dancing. Charlotte didn’t entirely approve of her son’s choice in friends and his notable absence from church every Sunday, but she was happy that he’d found something to be passionate about. 

 

At the studio, Alastor’s colleagues noticed a particular pep in his step. It was Alastor’s 27th birthday today and he could not be more excited to get home. A week before, Alastor received a letter in the mail from his dear friend. While they tried to stay in touch as much as possible, it was understandable that their Sundays could not be reserved for only each other anymore. Alastor had a job and, of course, they’d moved away from each other physically. Instead, Luke promised to write every other week and to visit him at least once a month. His stays also became longer, usually arriving Friday night and staying until Monday morning. The letter Alastor received this time said that Luke would be arriving on the night of Alastor’s birthday and staying an entire week, even offering to rent a hotel room if that was too much hosting for Charlotte and Alastor to handle. Of course, they scoffed at the notion of Luke staying anywhere else, but their home. He even had a designated room. Which really was just Alastor’s room and he’d just sleep on the couch. Either way, Alastor could not help feeling light as a feather all day. Constantly glancing at the clock to see if it was quitting time yet. 

 

“Alastor, I swear, you’ll make yourself sick counting the seconds.” Agnes, a pretty young woman who joined the studio as a secretary, chuckled. She was one of the few colleagues at the studio Alastor actually enjoyed working with on a regular basis. “Now are you gonna tell me what girl has got you in such a twist? Did Mimzy finally wear you down?”

 

“What? No, not at all! I just have some very exciting plans this week!”

 

“Oh, you’re taking off for the week? What’s the special occasion?”

 

“My 27th birthday! And a special extended visit from an old friend of mine.”

 

Agnes squinted her eyes at Alastor. A smile slowly spread across her face as she seemed to find what she was looking for in Alastor’s expression. “An old friend, huh? Must be a very special friend to get you this worked up.”

 

“I don’t know what you mean, Agnes. I’m perfectly calm.”

 

She giggled, but didn’t contradict him. “Well, how about you go ahead and leave early, then? I’ll finish up here for you. My birthday gift to you,” she said with a friendly wink.

 

“Agnes, you are a saint,” Alastor said, jumping up and immediately packing his things before Agnes could take back her offer. “You have a swell week, you hear? And thank you again!”

 

Quick as lightning, Alastor was out the door and making his way home. And while the excitement of Luke staying a whole week with them was part of his giddiness, he’d also planned something special that night for his angel. He’d finally saved up enough to rent a place of his own and he was planning on asking Luke to move in with him. They could make it a real bachelor pad where they could do what they wanted when they wanted, just the two of them like the old days. When he’d told his mother what he was planning, she just smiled strangely at him and said that as long as he was happy she’d love and support him. Alastor wasn’t entirely sure what she meant by that, but he’d had a lot of practice hiding his inner thoughts from her and just hugged her in thanks.

 

When the bus pulled up to his stop, he hustled out and hit the ground in a brisk jog. The smile on his face felt like it would never fade as he made his way home.

 

---

 

“Lilith, I don’t understand what you want me to do!” Lucifer yelled. His clawed fingers raked through his unkept hair. 

 

“I want you to fight back! Heaven demanded we allow them to come here and let them massacre our people and you just rolled over and let them!?” Lilith shouted back.

 

“No, you do not get to claim I just let this happen! I did fight back! I fought tooth and nail for them to only hold the Extermination on our Ring! I demanded that they spare our Hellborn, who did not have a choice in being born here! I demanded that they allow the Sinners to protect themselves and that they were to give ample notice before every Extermination! I’m protecting who I can, including our daughter! Who would be in danger if we went to war with Heaven!”

 

“Not good enough, the Sinners are our people too and they deserve our protection!”

 

“Sinner’s had their chance! I gifted them Free Will, the ability to prove to the Creator that they were worthy to stand in the Light! And the ones who ended up down here with us wasted that opportunity!”

 

“And what about the ones who didn’t have a chance!? Those who had to turn to sin to survive, what crime did they commit beyond living within the circumstances given to them by fate!?”

 

“What do you want me to say!? That Heaven is unfair and that the actions of an individual should be judged within the context of their situation!? Because I agree with you!” he screamed. “I think it’s bullshit that Heaven gets to move the goal post to get into Paradise and that the way they judge if a soul is worthy is arbitrary at best! I doubt even my own brethren truly understand why some get a pass when others don’t! But I! Can’t! Change that!”

 

Lilith’s hair began whipping around as if caught in a whirlwind. Her dark horns elongated and curled around menacingly. “What is the use of all your power when you can’t even defend your kingdom!?”

 

Lucifer responded in kind, his horns bursting forth and wreathed in flame. His six wings raised him above Lilith, flames leaked out the corner of his mouth. “I don’t know!”

 

Their shouting match is interrupted by the creak of the door and a very small voice. 

 

“Mama? Papa?”

 

Lucifer and Lilith immediately tamp down their flared demonic forms. After Charlie was born, they promised each other that they would never argue in front of her. But keeping that promise became more and more difficult as time passed. Lucifer sagged at the sight of his little duckling and kneeled down to open his arms to her.

 

“Come here, kiddo, what’s wrong?” he says gently, folding her into his embrace when she runs to him.

 

“It was time for my story, but Razzle and Dazzle wouldn’t go get you and Mama so I came looking for you instead.” Charlie burrowed into Lucifer’s neck and whimpered. “Why were you fighting? Is it because I spilled my juice on the carpet again?”

 

“No, oh my dear sweetling, we’re not mad at you. Baby, we’re sorry we were loud,” Lilith cooed. She did not lean on Lucifer, but reached around to cradle Charlie’s face with one hand. “Mama and Papa were…we were just trying to figure something out, sweetling.”

 

Charlie reached out for her mother and Lucifer held her out for Lilith to take into her arms. Moments like this weight heavily on him. As much as he wished it, Charlie’s birth did not mend his marriage like he’d hoped it would. He’d hoped that a child would give them common ground, a place to meet in the middle regarding Hell and how they should lead it. He’d also hoped it would relight the love they felt for each other when they’d first met in Eden. Unfortunately, miracles didn’t happen in Hell. This did not diminish his love for Charlie in the slightest nor did he place any blame on her for the loveloss between him and Lilith. It was just another part of his punishment that he’d have to accept for now as he watched Lilith take her away, presumably for storytime before bed.

…

Lilith found Lucifer in the greenhouse. A facsimile of the Garden of Eden that Lucifer tended to personally. None of the staff were allowed in unless under direct orders from Lucifer himself. He sat there on a wooden porch swing whose frame was covered in Heavenly Blue morning glories and for a brief moment Lilith’s heart ached for what they’d lost between them. Lucifer was always beautiful to her, but he seemed to glow whenever he sat in his garden. She sighed and grounded herself before approaching the fallen angel.

 

“Luci,” she called out to him quietly. “I think it’s time we talked.”

 

She saw his shoulders raise and quiver before he wilted once more. Scooting to one side, he patted the space beside him for her to sit on the swing with him. She sat and, for just a moment, allowed herself to find peace in this garden with her husband. She knew he would not be the one to break the silence and so took her time to organize her thoughts.

 

“We had a good run, didn’t we,” she said humorlessly. She placed her hand between them, an offer of comfort as she continued. “But we can’t keep doing this, Lucifer. I know we both want what we believe is best for our people and for Charlie. I just don’t believe we can agree on what that is anymore.”

 

Lucifer was quiet for a while, but Lilith simply waited as he’d done for her. Slowly, he inched his hand towards hers until their fingertips brushed together. “Then if we can’t work together, what should we do?”

 

She sighed and kicked her feet to gently swing them. “I think,” she paused. She could feel tears welling up behind her eyes. “I think it’s time we moved on from this. I don’t want to leave Charlie, I love our daughter. But I don’t think I’m the parent she needs if she’s expected to lead Hell one day. And let’s be real, you’ve taken the lead in rearing her this whole time anyways.”

 

“Lilith, no. She needs you just as much as she needs me,” Lucifer says, holding her hand like it would keep her from leaving them. “Even if we’re not together, even if we can’t agree on how to lead Hell, we can at least work together to raise our daughter.”

 

She sniffed and chuckled, wiping her tears away with a handkerchief. “How is it that I’m leaving you, yet I’m the one in tears.”

 

Lucifer had enough tact to turn away from his first love’s tears, but never let go of her hand. To be honest, he felt he should have been sadder now that the end was here. And he was sad, but he also felt lighter. Like a weight was moved off his chest.

 

“Lucifer, I don’t want to be Queen anymore,” Lilith confessed.

 

“Wha-!? I’m sorry, what!? But I thought you loved being Queen of Hell!”

 

She sighed, “I enjoyed leading our people. Reminding them that they weren’t just Sinners, but free souls that could be more than what Heaven deemed them to be. Just like you taught me.”

 

“Lilith.”

 

“And I know that if I wasn’t chained down by the crown on my head, I could do more. I could truly lead the Sinners. Help us all rise against Heaven and their unjust rules!” Lilith stood up and began gesturing passionately. Illusory images came to being as she ranted. “Just imagine what we could accomplish if we were to organize, if we could bring the squabbling Overlords to heel! We could make Hell into our own Paradise, we could be the envy of Heaven! And if they try to take it from us, we’d show them the true meaning of Hellfire! Rend them from the skies and nourish the hellish ground with their corpses,” she hissed.

 

“Lilith,” Lucifer said barely above a whisper. He placed a hand on her forearm to get her attention, knowing how she got when she became impassioned with her cause. “Lilith, I understand. And I agree with a lot of your points. If we help the Sinners organize, guide them so they are prepared. Then maybe we can avoid a total blood bath. But revenge against Heaven is pointless! Focus on what we have here, on making this place Paradise like you said. We don’t need to care about what Heaven thinks.”

 

“But you do, Lucifer,” she said, yanking her arm from his hold. “That’s the problem. You do care what they think. That’s why in a few weeks there will be a legion of angels blotting the sky to rain death on our people. And that’s why I’m leaving. You and the crown.”

 

“Lili, please, I need you. Charlie needs you! Please, don’t do this!”

 

“Good-bye, Lucifer,” she says coldly before blackish purple flames engulf her form and she disappears.

 

---

 

The night was getting late. Charlotte had put away what was left of dinner and she and Alastor now sat quietly together in their living room listening to the new radio she had bought him for his birthday. Alastor had come home early from the studio and, much to his mother’s joyful annoyance, had cooked up a storm for Luke to enjoy when he arrived. Jambalaya, red beans and rice, shrimp etouffe, and bread pudding for dessert. All of the blonde man’s favorites. They were both equally excited to see their friend, but as the night slowly marched on Alastor became more and more nervous. While Luke had not specified the exact time he’d arrive, he did say he’d be there for dinner and it was nearly nine o’clock.

 

Charlotte looked up from her book for what felt like the hundredth time as her son’s restless foot tapped away. “Alaster, if you keep bouncing your foot like that, I’m going to make you sleep outside.”

 

“Sorry, Maman. It's just getting late and-. Well, I’m excited to see him.”

 

“I know, baby, but things happen,” Charlotte sighed, “Maybe he got delayed and isn’t going to make it today. Why don’t we turn in for tonight. I’m sure he’ll be here by to-.”

 

A heavy knock cut her off and Alastor was out of his chair and at the door in a blink. He yanked the door open and looked ready to pounce on who he was sure was Luke when he froze in place. Charlotte quirked a brow at Alastor’s back, expecting a lot more laughter from her boy when he was greeting Luke.

 

“Alastor? Who is it, honey?” Charlotte called. She stood up from her chair and slowly followed after him. She moved around her son to see a tall police officer at their door. Her heart immediately picked up speed as she ran through any and every reason a police officer would be at their door. Were they here for Alastor? No, they would have arrested him as soon as they opened the door. Did they find her ex-husband’s body? But it had been so long, surely that body was long gone. Reclaimed by the bayou. She looked to her son to see he wasn’t looking at the cop, but rather what the cop was holding. She gasped and gripped Alastor’s arm as she felt her knees weaken. The cop was holding a wrapped gift, but more importantly in his other hand was a familiar brown leather bag.

 

“I’m sorry to bother you folks, but may I come in?”

…

Alastor felt like he was a radio and all he could pick up was static. His mother did most of the talking to the policeman as he was having a hard enough time remembering to breathe. He picked up bits and pieces. A mugging at the bus station. The suspect had a knife. It was over before anyone could do anything. The ambulance didn’t get there in time. The body didn’t have any identification, probably was taken during the mugging. The only clue they had was the leather bag with a tag that had this address on it. They could come to the station tomorrow to identify the body. The body. Not the person. Because he wasn’t a person anymore, he was just a body.

 

It felt like the officer was here for hours and then he was suddenly gone. He’d left the suitcase behind. His mother was taking him to his room. She left the gift next to him and the suitcase at the foot of his bed. Everything felt wrong. He should be on the couch because Luke’s things were here and that was supposed to mean Luke was here. His skin was too tight. His hair felt itchy. His hands ached to do something. His jaw was sore from clenching, but he couldn’t unclench. Like if he did, something ugly and inhuman might slip out of his mouth as his heart broke to pieces. 

…

He was still awake when his mother came in to get him. His face ached from crying throughout the night. The gift and suitcase were just where she left them. He hadn’t crawled into bed properly, had just let himself fall back when he did not have the energy to sit up anymore. Still dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. Because he’d bought the new outfit with the intention of showing it off to Luke. And if he never took it off he could pretend that he was just waiting for him to arrive so he could show him. Because he’d rather live in the delusion that he was just waiting for his angel to come visit than face the reality of knowing that he never will. Because it wasn’t fair. None of it was fair. He felt more tears stream down familiar tracks as his mother just sat with him. Let him feel his grief as a shuddering sob was ripped out of him because he was too exhausted to hold it back. 

 

She took him with her to the police station. The same police officer walked them to the morgue. It was cold there, and it made him anxious. His angel didn’t like the cold very much. He must be so uncomfortable. They are brought to an exam room. His mother says he can stay outside, that she’d do this for him. But Alastor shook his head. He needed to see. He needed to confirm with his own eyes that this was a trick. Because there was no way his angel would leave him like this. She just looked at him sadly, but he’d show her. This was some mistake and when they walked home from this cold place, Luke would be waiting for them there on the porch. Apologizing profusely about missing his train and his luggage being misplaced and this would all be some disgusting mistake because-.

 

Because he looked like he was sleeping. He was just paler than normal, but of course he was. It’s so cold in the room and all they had for him was this thin sheet. Why weren’t they keeping him warm? And the sorry excuse for a pillow supporting his head was just a folded towel, honestly, terrible room service. He felt bile rising to the back of his throat. He felt his hot tears running down his face again. He touched his angel’s hand and it was cold. Why was he cold when he’d burned so brightly? He was always warm, this obviously was an imposter because his angel was always warm, always moving, and so full of life that being next to him felt like witnessing God’s most beautiful creation. But this imposter on the cold metal table was nothing like that. It was too cold. It was too still. It was completely devoid of signs of life. And that can’t be true because that would mean that his angel was dead…

 

He does not hear the sounds that come out of his mouth. He barely feels his mother grasping at his shoulders to pull him away from his angel’s body. Because that’s all he was now. Just a body.

…

Alastor doesn’t remember when he got home. He holds the gift in his lap, gently stroking the carefully pressed folds and colored paper. His eyes were still sore, but then again he’d not stopped crying. With a reverence he didn’t know he was capable of, Alastor gently unwrapped the gift. He was careful to not damage the wrapping paper. He considered it just as precious as the gift inside. He folded the wrapping paper and set it aside. In his lap was a picture frame. It was turned face down. He could tell it was a good quality frame and knew it would not break easily. Alastor still couldn’t bring himself to handle it with anything less than sacred reverence. As he turned it over and looked at the picture, he immediately felt the burning sensation of more tears bullying their way out of his eyes. It was a pencil drawing. The subjects were himself and Luke as they napped together under their willow tree. Luke’s head was resting on his shoulder. Alaster’s head was pillowed by Luke’s soft, blonde hair. There was a nondescript book in Luke’s lap. Alaster simply held his free hand, their fingers were intertwined. In the corner was a signature, Luke Magne. It was beautiful.

 

---

 

Lucifer sat quietly in his room. He was well and truly alone again. Lilith had left the palace about a week ago. As part of her alimony that Lucifer forced her to take, he had a sizable villa on an undeveloped hill on the other side of Pentagram City built for her. On a map, it was almost like how they split the palace. Lilith’s territory to the West and Lucifer’s to the East. She also took most of the staff with her. Not that Lucifer really minded, but it made the palace feel even more empty. He needed to address the change in power soon. No doubt the Sins at least could feel it when Lilith rescinded her title as Queen of Hell. Unsurprisingly, he’d received a report from Zestial Morde not long after she left that there was an extreme powershift in the Overlords who held territories on the western side of the city. Lilith Morningstar had named herself the Black Queen of the Overlords with many of them falling in line. Even without his power backing her, Lilith had amassed her own power during their millenia in Hell and she was already making waves. This put him on edge of course, especially with his knowledge of what she planned to do with that power. Just another thing he’d have to juggle. 

 

He brought up his wrist where the Asmodean bangle was. Cradled it close to his chest, wishing the human on the other side to know he shared his grief and loneliness. A quiet sob escaped him as he recalled the sound Alastor had made when they showed him his ‘body’. It was a fake, obviously. Something he’d cooked up with a bit of magic. Easily fooling the humans into thinking it was a real body and he was a real cop. And while Lucifer never doubted he and Alastor were close, he never expected how broken the brunette would be. He yanked the crystal off his wrist and threw it across the room. He couldn’t be tempted to return to them. No more lively Sunday dinners. No more quiet reading in the shade. No more double life. Without Lilith, the entirety of the crown’s responsibilities fell to him. Not to mention Charlie, who would need him by her side for a few decades at least. No, this was for the best. Better Alastor think him dead and be allowed to move on than to think he’d been abandoned by Lucifer. He just hoped that he wouldn’t see him or Charlotte in Hell any time soon. Or ever, as much as that hurt his heart.

Notes:

Once again, I have no self-control. I just wanna post it as soon as I get it all out, man. Hope you guys don't mind. Thanks for reading, as always!!

Chapter 4: Intermission

Summary:

Events that happened after Lucifer faked his death and before Alastor joined the Hazbin Hotel. Not necessarily in chronological order.

Notes:

This may or may not be that last chapter I post before the new year, but who knows. If so, Happy New Year, everyone!! See you all in 2026!!

Lucifer sat at his desk, surrounded by stacks of bureaucratic paperwork, and quietly worked through each form meticulously. Checking and double checking his work as he went until his eyes began to cross. He plucked the glasses from his face to massage his eyes with a tired groan. It had only been a few weeks without Lilith and he already felt he was drowning under their collective loads. As of right now, he only had a few imps to keep the occupied portions of the palace clean and organized and a few hellhound bodyguards to keep Charlie safe when he wasn’t around and Lilith couldn’t take her, but he needed a dedicated staff to help him deal with the minutia of all this bureaucracy or he was going to go insane. He could clone himself in a pinch, but it wasn’t the permanent solution he needed. No, as prideful as he was, he needed help. He reached for the phone on his desk and dialed perhaps the next best person besides his ex-wife to help him with this.

…

The Ars Goetia were some of his favorite Hellborn. Maybe it’s because they reminded him of Heaven in a bittersweet nostalgia kind of way. Or maybe it was because it was so easy to ruffle their literal feathers. Whatever it was, Lucifer usually enjoyed his interactions with them. So when he’d phoned Paimon with a request to send one or two of his court to work for him, he was overjoyed when a young Stolas and Vassago arrived at his door. They, along with a small team of imps, would be helping Lucifer as interns more or less. He’d delegate what needed to be done and they would be able to help him focus on what needed his personal attention. It didn’t take a lot for Lucifer to convince Paimon that this would be good for the pair’s education regarding their own Goetic duties considering what the boys’ futures were within Hell.

 

“Boys, it’s good to see you both!” Lucifer welcomed them with open arms. They bowed out of respect before allowing the king to give them each a brief hug.

 

“The pleasure is ours, Your Majesty,” says Stolas. “I must say, when my father said you'd requested us to help you with your kingly duties, I was beside myself with excitement.”

 

When the servants took the princes’ bags, Lucifer noted that both of them at least acknowledged the imps with a small nod. The small gesture of thanks made him feel assured that he’d requested the correct Goetia for this job. He would not have his staff be unnecessarily abused if he could help it.

 

“Mi rey, we are both very excited,” Vassago said with puffed plumage. “Where would you have us start?”

 

Lucifer smiled at the eager young princes. “I’ll have you start by having dinner with me and my daughter. If you both are going to be living and working here, I feel it is important that you get along with her.”

 

“Ah! La princessa, it has been too long since I’ve seen her! She was so sweet during King Paimon’s last ball!”

 

“Yes, I remember she was quite smitten with you, Vassago. I’m happy you remember her.”

 

They chatted while Lucifer led them to the small dining room he used when entertaining only a few people. Charlie was already sitting at the table with Razzle and Dazzle keeping her occupied. As soon as she caught sight of the two princes, she squealed and came running.

 

“Cousin Stolas! Cousin Vassago!” She hugged their long legs with enthusiastic affection. “Papa said that you were coming! We’re going to have so much fun together!” she yelled excitedly.

 

Charlie was like that. Friendly, affectionate, and often trusting to a fault. She had wormed her way into the heart of all the palace staff with her genuine kindness. It made part of Lucifer anxious that his daughter had such an open heart much like he had before the Fall, but for now he set that feeling aside. Reminding himself that she was safe here within the palace and that she had time to grow out of any naivety. And so he watched as Stolas scooped up the little princess and tossed her gently into the air. The pair of red, winged goats he’d made for her hovering close in case of an accident. Yes, he’d made the right decision.

 

---

 

“Alastor, honey, you know I care about you, but I have to cut you off! You’re making yourself sick!” Mimzy said with a mixture of concerned friend and exasperated business owner.

Alastor groaned with his face pressed into the bar. Mimzy was being entirely too loud and his cup was entirely too empty. He slapped the bar, not caring what he was doing as long as they would fill his glass. “Don’t care, Mimzy! Just-hic. Just give me the bottle if you’re not gonna pour me another one!”

 

“No! I’m calling your mother to come get you! Buster, no matter what he says, don’t give him any more and don’t let him leave or you’re fired!”

 

The broad shouldered bartender grunted, but didn’t say anything in response. In a fit of childish bluster, Alastor tried to lunge over the bar to get to the bottles on the other side. Only for Buster to literally hold him back with one arm while he flailed uselessly to try and get more alcohol.

 

“I am a grown man and I will spend my money how I want to! And if that means drinking the night away, then that is my goddamn right, Mimzy!” he yelled. Still pathetically flailing half on top of the bar. “You’re not my wife! You can’t tell me what to do!”

 

“No, but I’m your friend, doll. And right now, I’m all you got until your mother gets here. Now, do you want me to lock you in the bathroom or are you gonna behave and I can have Buster here lay you down on the sofa upstairs.”

 

With a huff, Alastor just went limp on top of the bar. At first, Mimzy thought he’d finally tired himself out, but then she saw the telltale shudder and heard the sniffling start. “Oh no, we are not doing this again. Buster, bathroom!”

 

The large man sighed, but followed her instructions. He slung the willowy drunk over his shoulder and carried the poor sod to the bathroom so he could at least cry without drawing the attention of the whole bar.

 

---

 

Charlie looked at her collection of crayons with the same concentration she’d seen her papa look at his work. She was with her mama this weekend because her papa was meeting with Heaven all day and then with her aunts and uncles all day tomorrow. It made her sad because her papa always looked extra sad on Heaven days. But that was why she was making sure that this picture was perfect. She was gonna give it to her papa as soon as he came to pick her up.

 

“Charlie, sweetling, what are you thinking so hard about?”

 

“I need to pick the best colors for Papa’s gift,” she said with the seriousness of Hell’s royal princess. It made her mama smile.

 

“Well, that’s pretty important. What are you coloring for Papa?”

 

“I’m going to make a family picture with you and Papa and me together again. That’s when we were all super happy, so if Papa has a picture of when we were super happy then he’ll be super happy.”

 

Lilith inhaled sharply, but didn’t contradict her daughter. She was such a sweet, little thing, but Lilith sometimes forgot how perceptive Charlie could be. Even now, Charlie had turned her eyes from her picture to her mother and Lilith could tell that she’d been caught.

 

“Mama, why do you live in a different house from me and Papa?”

 

Lilith, not for the first time, felt out of her depth. She didn’t have the luxury of knowing what it was like to be a child. She didn’t know how to explain in a way Charlie would understand that she and Lucifer had grown apart and while they both loved Charlie very much, they did not love each other. Not in the same way they did before. She could only sigh and pick up her daughter to settle her on her lap. She could only try her best.

 

“Charlie, sweetheart, what has Papa said about all this?” she asked, letting Charlie lead the inquiry.

 

Charlie’s face scrunched up as she thought about what to say to Lilith. “Papa said that you and him still cared about each other, but that you both needed space. But, Mama, the palace is so big and your house is smaller than the palace! I don’t understand how this is more space than the palace with me and Papa!”

 

“Yes, Charlie, this house is a lot smaller than the palace. But I think what Papa meant was that we need space from each other,” she said gently.

 

“I don’t understand,” Charlie whimpered.

 

“Well. Your papa and I changed, sweetling. We don’t think the same way anymore and that makes it hard for us to get along and hard to be around each other all the time.”

 

Charlie started to tear up and Lilith felt herself begin to panic. “Does that mean that you and Papa are gonna change again someday and not want to be around me!?” she wailed.

 

“No no no, never ever will that happen,” Lilith said, holding her crying daughter close and tightly. She felt her own eyes begin to sting with unshed tears. “You will always be our daughter and Papa and I will always love you. Nothing could ever change that.”

 

Lilith’s assurances didn’t stop Charlie’s tears and it broke her heart. She could only hope that she and Lucifer could love their daughter enough to fill in the gaps they’d left in Charlie’s heart by divorcing. Mother and daughter held on to each other until one of the servants had come to let them know dinner was served. By then, the princess had cried herself to sleep and left Lilith to gently rock her back and forth like she’d done when Charlie was an infant.

 

---

 

Charlotte had had a quiet dinner alone again when she heard the front door open and watched Alastor stumble into her house smelling of alcohol and cigarettes. It had been a while since her son had visited her, but Charlotte took it all on the chin like she always had and was just grateful he was able to stumble his way home safely. She guided her son to the living room and thanked God that he hadn’t vomited on himself this time around. It had been three months since Luke’s death. It was hard on both of them, especially when Luke’s family did not allow them to attend his funeral. They were not unkind and had actually thanked her and Alastor for caring for their son, but they were much more reserved than him and did not want to make anyone uncomfortable at the service. It was only after Luke was buried and the service was long over did they get a chance to pay their respects to Luke. 

 

“Alastor, you can’t keep doing this,” she sighed as he melted into her couch. “One of these days, I’m gonna have another policeman knocking on my door saying they found you in a ditch and-... Baby, I don’t want that. Why don’t you come back to church with me? Ms. Simone has been asking if you’d be willing to play the piano for the choir again.”

 

Alastor just grumbled and threw his arm over his eyes. She knew he was hurting, but he was letting the grief destroy him and she wasn’t about to let it just happen. Charlotte grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him forward to force him to look her in the eye.

 

“Wha-! Hey, what-!?” He grabbed her wrists, trying to lean away from her.

 

“Now you listen to me, young man,” she hissed. “You’re going to take a shower because you smell like the floor of a juke joint. And then I’m gonna feed you and sober you up. And then, after you’re sober, we are going to talk or so help me God I will put you over my knee so fast it’ll make your head spin.”

 

Alastor swallowed nervously, now wide awake. He hadn’t seen his mother this angry in a while and he knew she meant it when she was like this. As quickly as he could, he made his way to the bathroom to clean himself up before she decided to make good on her threat.

…

She watched her son as he slowly chewed on the leftovers she’d heated up for him. His hair was still damp from the bath and he was already looking contrite with each mouthful. Eventually, he put this fork down and they just sat in the quiet for a while. Alastor sagged into the chair, wishing he was anywhere but here. But there was no getting out of this.

 

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, not meeting his mother’s eyes. “If you could let Ms. Simone know I’m not available this Sunday, but I’d be happy to play next Sunday if I can pencil it into my calendar.” 

 

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her son and he shrunk just a little bit more in the chair. Any levity he was trying to bring to the conversation was immediately shut down with that look.

 

“Alastor. You already know I’m disappointed. Now, are you going to talk to me about what’s going on with you?”

 

He sighed and shrugged, “What’s there to talk about?”

 

“Well, how about how you haven’t been to work in a few weeks? And don’t ask me how I know, a mother has her ways. And then there’s how you’ve been openly breaking the law wandering around drunk off hooch and who knows what else? I’m shocked you haven’t been arrested yet! And another thing-!”

 

“Stop!” He cut her off before she listed every mistake he’d made in the last month. “I’m a mess, I understand! Just…give me a moment, Maman. Please.” He covered his face in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees.

 

“Honey, I know you’re hurting. I am too, but you can’t let Luke’s d-.”

 

“Don’t! Say it. …please, Maman. Don’t say it,” he gasped like the words would physically hurt him. “I know he’s gone. Buried six feet under a headstone I visit every chance I get. But if he’s gone, why do I feel as if I’m still waiting for him to knock on our door? A part of me, some crazy, stubborn part of me, feels as if he’ll just pop up in my life again and we could go back to the way things were. And all I have to do is wait. Maman, am I crazy?”

 

“Oh, my sweet boy,” she cooed. She pulled her chair closer to him and rubbed his back, feeling the way he shook under her hand. “Baby, you have to let go. Luke would never have wanted this to keep you down, you know that. And if God’s willing, I’m sure we’ll see him again.”

 

Tears were running down his face again, but he held back the broken sobs trying to escape his throat. “It’s not fair, Maman. It hurts so much, sometimes I hate him for it. And then I hate myself for thinking it.” He leaned on her shoulder, wiping snot on his sleeve. “I just don’t know how to move on.”

 

“One day at a time, baby,” she said. “One day at a time.”

 

---

 

“Wow, that’s a new one. I must say, a soul like yours is unlike any I’ve seen. I can grant you power. Power beyond what your mortal mind can imagine. The most powerful Sinner in Hell. But!” the disembodied voice chuckled. The spectral hand caressed his face like a mother would a child. “You must do something for me. And until you complete this task, your soul will be mine.”

 

Alastor grinned. Unafraid of what this hellish being had in store for him as long as he was allowed to hunt his prey for the rest of his eternal damnation. “It’s a deal.”

 

As their hands came together, a sickly green lightning sparked from where their hands joined together. Alastor could feel the power flowing to him as the deal was sealed, until something happened. Golden ribbons overtook the green energy and he could feel the power leaving him once more. The spectral hand jerked out of his grasp and the feminine voice on the radio yelped like they had been struck. A pulse of energy suddenly knocked Alastor on his back, rattling the entire cabin. Snuffing out candles and nearly causing the radio to fall off the mantle.

 

“What just happened!?” he growled.

 

“Well, um,” the voice stuttered. “It would seem, our deal was interrupted.”

 

“Fuck! By who!?”

 

“I’m not sure, dearie. But someone more powerful than I, that I guarantee. You, my dear, are under someone’s protection. How…interesting.” Even if he couldn’t see a face, Alastor could hear the smile and hunger in that voice.

 

“And what does that mean? Don’t tell me I’m meant for Heaven after all I’ve done? I certainly don’t have an angel on my shoulder whenever I go hunting.”

 

“Ah ha, no! I can already tell, you’ll be dragged down here the moment you breathe your last breath! No, this just means if we’re going to be making a deal, it can’t involve your soul.”

 

“Well then, I am at your service! What can I offer you to make sure my hard work here isn’t a waste?”

 

“Hmm, how about your favor?”

 

“My…favor?”

 

“Yes! I’ll help you become the most powerful Sinner in Hell and in exchange I, and any one else I name, are under your protection as long as they aren’t trying to oppose you. And of course, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the protections you already have with whoever that may be.”

 

“Hmph, I suppose having friends in high places, so to speak, would be advantageous.” Alastor made a show of thinking on these terms, as was his nature as a showman. “Very well, it’s a deal.

Notes:

We're about to get into the meat and potatoes, my friends! Thanks for reading as always!

Chapter 5: Build It and They Will Come

Summary:

Alastor meets the Princess of Hell. Lucifer has some concerns regarding Heaven.

Notes:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

AU Notes: For anyone wondering, because of Lucifer’s more active role as King of Hell and in Charlie’s life there are some changes to the vibe of the Ring of Pride as well as characterizations for how some of the main cast are. There is also the major role Lilith plays in how Pentagram City is run as she is considered the leader of the Overlords who reside within her territory. That being said, I am still trying to keep characters as “in character” as possible with these environmental changes in mind.

“Gooooood evening, listeners! This is your favorite radio show host, Alastor, back again with some breaking news! A juicy little rumor has been making its way through our city’s streets. Apparently, Hell’s very own princess, Charlotte Morningstar, is going into the hospitality business! Talk about a public servant, am I right? *laugh track* All jokes aside, not only is Princess Charlotte opening a hotel, but according to our reports she plans to redeem Sinners in order to give them a second chance at going to Heaven! Well, isn’t that something. Truly an ambitious endeavor and one I intend to follow very closely. Well, until next time, dear listeners! For now, I leave you with this classic little number by our man, Louis Armstrong.”

 

Alastor flicked the neon ‘ON AIR’ sign off and leaned back in his chair. Another successful broadcast under his belt. He mulled over whether to turn in early for the night or indulge in a bit of entertainment before bed, but the choice was made for him when he felt a familiar tug at his chest. Rosie was calling. She did not call on him often, but when she did it was no doubt going to be interesting. He donned his coat and summoned his staff, stepping effortlessly into the shadows that carried him through Cannibal Town to Rosie’s lovely shop and abode. A quick glance and Alastor could tell she’d closed up shop a touch early. Curious, but not unusual considering she was expecting him. He knocked gently on the front door of the shop and it wasn’t long before the cannibalistic Overlord was there to let him in.

 

“Alastor, dearest, how are you? Thank you for stopping by on such short notice. I insist you join me for dinner, I have a lovely thigh roasting in the oven.”

 

“Rosie, I would be a fool to pass on a chance to have a meal with you.”

 

The pair made their way to Rosie’s kitchen table. Since their deal over a hundred years ago, they had become quite close. What started out as merely a means to an end for the two of them had blossomed into a wonderfully fulfilling partnership. He kept out the riff raff from both their territories and Rosie made sure to throw something, or more accurately someone, interesting at him once in a while. With her help and guidance, he’d made a name for himself within a year of arriving in Hell and was named an Overlord not even six months after that. A truly meteoric rise by most anyone’s standards. Besides that, Rosie was definitely the Overlord he spent the most time with even when taking their deal into account. He helped her finish setting the table as she took care of finishing the food. It was charmingly nostalgic and soon they were sitting for a lovely Sunday roast dinner. Wine was poured, meat was carved, and the clinking of silverware filled the air as they ate. They were in no hurry to discuss business, if that was on the docket today. They simply enjoyed each other’s company and the delicious food.

 

Rosie delicately dabbed her mouth with a cloth napkin before clearing her throat. “Now Alastor, I had heard your broadcast just before I called you here. And what a show, let me tell you! I have no idea how you’re still an eligible bachelor with how popular your show is!”

 

“Mmm, I’m sure you remember such frivolous things hold no sway over me, Rosie. Although I am glad that the broadcast was up to your standards, it was your request after all.”

 

“Yes yes, and one more favor paid for in full! I swear, if the radio thing doesn’t work out, you should try becoming a banker with how obsessed you are with our little checks and balances.”

 

“Yes, well, you know I hate to leave a debt unpaid.” Alastor looks at her over his wine glass as he takes a sip. A delicious red wine from Rosie’s personal stash, how generous of her. “Now, I have a feeling this isn’t a social call. What is it I can help you with, my dear?”

 

“Oh, I don’t need any help! I’m quite peachy at the moment, thank you!” Rosie laughed and took a sip from her wine glass. “Although, there is something you could do for the aforementioned Princess of Hell. Nothing big, just a small favor. Certainly something that would put you and I in the King’s good graces, if you catch my drift.”

 

At the mention of the King of Hell, Alastor couldn’t help his ears flick with interest. Lucifer, the Sin of Pride, the Fallen Angel, and the most powerful being in this afterlife. Alastor had never seen the king in person and he’d refused to tune into any broadcast shown on the infernal televisions Vox seemed to have in every corner of Hell. There used to be a statue dedicated to the royal family in Cannibal Town, but it was taken down after Lilith had stepped down as Queen of Hell and had been replaced with an artistic rendition of the Seven Deadly Sins. All that is to say, Alastor knew very little of Lucifer other than his reputation. He ruled over Hell as a whole, but only directly oversaw the Ring of Pride. There were rumors as to how much power Lucifer actually had over the Sinners, but with the Sins and Hellborn at his command there was no doubt that he could punish any Sinner that stepped too far out of line without much effort at all. The King did not even bother to deal with the Overlords directly. That seemed to be entirely done by Lilith. As much as she was no longer the Queen of Hell or his wife, the majority of the Overlords considered Lilith their voice at the political table of Hell. He’d seen the woman at nearly every Overlord meeting he bothered to attend and he could not help but admit there was an unyielding aura of power about her. Alastor could only imagine the power Lucifer wielded if he allowed such an obvious threat to his reign to have control over the most powerful Sinners in Hell and for him to seemingly not care at all. He acted as if for all intents and purposes that he was as untouchable as Heaven’s own pearly gates. To have Lucifer’s ear had the potential to elevate a mere Sinner to the highest of heights in Hell and it made Alastor’s mouth water at the thought of all that power. 

 

“I can already see those gears turning in that little head of yours,” Rosie chuckled and clapped her hands to get his undivided attention again. “So how about it? I’ll introduce you to our darling princess and you make sure not to forget who your friends are when you’re sitting at the Morningstar’s table?”

 

Rosie outstretched her hand, sparkling rose gold energy swirled around it. A low whine of radio feedback permeated the air. There was nothing stopping Alastor from going it alone and introducing himself to Princess Charlotte. Rosie was not enacting their original deal and forcing his cooperation. And perhaps that was why he didn’t stab his long time friend in the back as he shook her hand. They cackled together as the green-black lightning intertwined with the rose gold ribbons, sealing their contract. 

…

A few days later, Rosie had led them to a decrepit building at least seven stories tall. It was surrounded by a chain link fence with ‘DO NOT ENTER: CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY’ signs posted every ten feet.  Many of the lower windows were broken and Alastor could spot several sizable holes in the exterior walls. When she asked him to make the announcement about this supposed hotel, he’d assumed that it was nearly ready for its grand opening, but this place looked more like a ruin than a path to redemption. Nonetheless, Rosie led them deeper into the property to the back of the building where a silver trailer was parked. Alastor’s ears perked up at the sound of voices coming from the trailer as Rosie merrily walked right up to the door and knocked. The voices inside ceased immediately before a shuffling sound could be heard and the door opened wide. Before the pair was a young woman who Alastor assumed was the princess. She had startlingly white skin with red circles on her cheeks and was wearing a simple white shirt and red pants with suspenders. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a low, loose ponytail and she looked delighted at least to recognize Rosie.

 

“Princess Charlotte, darling! How are you? Hard at work, I see, and is that Vaggi hiding in the corner? Come on out, the two of you, I have someone I’m dying to introduce you to!”

 

The young woman, Charlie, stepped out of the trailer with a smile. Behind her was another young woman with greyish skin and white hair, Vaggi, Alastor assumed.

 

“Ms. Rosie! Please, call me Charlie! Only my mom calls me Charlotte.” They shook hands before Charlie turned her attention to Alastor. Holding out her hand, she smiled at him with a disconcerting amount of genuine pleasure like he wasn’t a feared Overlord and they weren’t in literal Hell. “Charlie Morningstar! And I’m assuming your the friend Ms. Rosie keeps talking about?”

 

He took the hand and gave it a firm shake. “The pleasure is all mine, and truly what a pleasure it is! I am Alastor, Radio Demon and radio show host extraordinaire! Perhaps you’ve heard my broadcasts a time or two?”

 

“Yes, I’m a huge fan! My dad and I used to listen to your radio show at the palace! We actually heard your show earlier this week saying you were interested in the hotel. I was so excited and actually wanted to thank you for that. When Rosie said she was going to help us gain interest in the hotel, we never expected a segment on your show.”

 

“Of course, I am ever your loyal servant, Princess Charlotte,” he said with a flourish and bow. “And if there is anything else I can help you with, you need only ask!”

 

“Please, call me Charlie. And this is Vaggi,” she said smiling. “Anyways, we’re just really grateful.”

 

“Oh, Alastor, you’re such a charmer. You know she’s much too young for you!” Rosie teased.

 

Charlie’s face grimaced, “I actually have a girlfriend, Ms. Rosie.” She threw her arm around the so far silent Vaggi. “Been together for quite a while now actually.” 

 

Alastor turned his attention to his fellow Overlord, a twitch of an ear telling her that she had pressed one of his buttons. “Rosie, dear, don’t be crass. We’re in the company of royalty.”

 

“Oh ho ho, you know I’m kidding. I know you’re an ace in the hole. Anyways, I have to be going. You take care of my girls, you hear me, Alastor!” 

 

The trio watched her leave before Vaggi spoke up, putting herself in between Charlie and Alastor. “So, now that we’re done with introductions, what exactly is your angle, Overlord?”

 

“Vaggi!”

 

“Babe, this is the Radio. Demon. He literally broadcasts the screams of his victims almost every night. You can’t honestly believe he and his cannibal gal pal aren’t scheming something.”

 

“Well-.”

 

“No, the last time we trusted a demon with your vision, we got conned out of our apartment and were saddled with this!” Vaggi pointed at the barely standing building next to them. “So, out with it, Demon! What are you planning?”

 

The whine of radio feedback pierced the air for a brief second. “Why would I be planning something, dear Vagene? And even if I was, I don’t have any reason to tell you. But if you insist on distrusting me,” Alastor hummed, stalking a tight circle around the pair. “How about we make a deal to assuage your concerns?”

 

“Not my name and definitely not happening,” Vaggi growled.

 

“Well then, you’ll just have to trust I have your best interests in mind. Unless, Ms. Charlotte would like to throw her metaphorical hat in this ring?” Alastor shifted his eyes to Charlie, his smile widening just a fraction.

 

Charlie’s lips thinned, looking at her girlfriend and then back at the red demon. “Just to be clear, you’d help us with the hotel. Deal or no deal?”

 

“Why, yeees! I thought I made that part clear, I intend to help you on your road to success! Or failure. To be honest, who knows? No one’s ever escaped eternal damnation, but I have a feeling it will be quite entertaining either way.”

 

“Wait,” Vaggi stepped in again, “You’re here for your amusement? Do you even believe in redemption?”

 

“HA HA, no. Frankly, I don’t care to even set a toe in Heaven. I find Hell to be quite charming and an endless source of entertainment! If I had to spend eternity in the mundanity of Heaven, well, I’d simply perish! No, my dears, it is not because I believe in redemption that I’m interested in helping you. But the entertainment value of watching wretched, hopeless souls struggle to escape their fates? Practically priceless!” Alastor cackled cruelly. 

 

Charlie and Vaggi couldn’t hide their disgust for his reasoning, but the fact that neither of them were chasing him away immediately made him think that perhaps their desperation outweighed any qualms they had accepting his help. He decided to press on.

 

“Humor me,” he said with a hand on his chest and a slight bow. “Humor me in that I do not wish to get in your way. I wish only to help with your project so long that it remains entertaining for me. I will even help you fix this place up and run the hotel as your hotelier!”

 

The pair looked at each other before Charlie chuckled nervously and said, “Could you give us a minute?” and stepped away to speak quietly with Vaggi.

 

Alastor watched them as they tried to keep their conversation quiet and he humored them by at least turning his attention to the building itself. Thinking a show of good will was in order to seal his victory, he summoned his shadow minions. The small gremlins cackled and turned to their master for their orders, ready to wreak havoc at his command. Instead, he silently commanded them to begin the simple task of clearing debris. Sorting building materials that could be reused and disposing of the trash. He kept one ear on the young women’s conversation just so they wouldn’t sneak up on him, but was focused on the task at hand. Alastor smiled as his minions worked, already imagining how Lucifer would reward him for helping his precious daughter. 

 

“HEY! What are you doing!?” Vaggi shouted.

 

“Why, isn’t it obvious? I’m helping. And don’t worry, it’s free of charge,” Alastor said in a somewhat condescending singsongy way.

 

“See, Vaggi, even if he doesn’t believe in it now, he’s still helping out. And he has influence among the Sinners! This has to count for something. Please, babe? Trust me to know what I’m doing.” 

 

“Charlie, I only trust you. …but I guess as long as no one is making a deal with him…”

 

“Wonderful!” Alastor suddenly appeared between the two of them, but kept enough space that he was touching neither. “Why don’t we celebrate this new and fruitful partnership with some bubbly, eh?”

 

He materialized champagne flutes and a chilled bottle out of thin air and handed the bottle to Charlie with a flourish. “Why don’t you do the honors, dear Charlie?”

 

“What happened to ‘Princess Charlotte’?” Vaggi eyed his sudden shift in familiarity with her girlfriend with suspicion, but took the two flutes he handed to her.

 

“If we’re going to be business partners, I feel being able to drop more formal titles around each other is perfectly reasonable. Now, if you please.” He gestured to Charlie who was holding the bottle and looking in between the two unsure.

 

Charlie smiled nervously, “I’ve never opened champagne before.”

 

“It’s alright, my dear, I believe in you,” Alastor said, but the smile he had didn’t seem directed at her as much as he just happened to be facing her direction.

 

---

 

With the Radio Demon’s help and the resources he had at his disposal, construction of the new Happy Hazbin Hotel was actually making progress and would be ready to start accepting guests by the end of the month. At least that was what the report from Charlie said as Lucifer read over it. To be honest, it was less a report and more a friendly letter she’d sent to his office. Probably in an attempt to dissuade any more urges he had to step in as word had reached him that his daughter was now living in a trailer at the construction site of the hotel instead of the penthouse apartment he’d cosigned for her and Maggie Vaggi. When she informed him of her project she had also told him that under no circumstances was he to assist or interfere. That she wanted to do this on her own. To prove to Hell that she was on track to take the reins when it was her time. When he reached out to Lilith to take advantage of the obvious loophole in her request, she had already given her mother the same talk. No help from Mom or Dad allowed.

 

“Sami?” Lucifer called out and soon an older imp dressed in a typical butler’s uniform appeared beside the king. “If you could send a missive to Prince Stolas? I’d like to see him within the week. It is not urgent, but please let him know that I am calling on him personally.”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty. Will that be all?”

 

“Yes. Oh, and please let the cooks know I will be having dinner in my office.”

 

“I’m afraid that is not possible, Sire.”

 

Lucifer looked up from his documents and turned to the imp. Sami, or Samiel VII, and his family had served the house of Morningstar for generations and this loyalty had Lucifer imparting a certain amount of trust in these particular imps. So when his request for dinner to be served in his office was rejected, he was more curious than annoyed.

 

Sami continued, “You have a dinner scheduled with Lady Beelzebub and Lord Asmodeus tonight, Sire.”

 

“Ah, I completely forgot! What time is it?”

 

“Half past four o’clock, Sire. The Sins are set to arrive in an hour and a half. And I suggest you get ready,” Sami chuckled goodnaturedly. Typical in the way a loyal servant may tease a kind master. “I shall send Prince Stolas your message, Sire, and have a bath drawn for you.”

…

In the time since Lilith stepped down, Lucifer had more or less stepped up as King of Hell. He’d made an effort to show his people that he was their king and that they could trust him to have their best interests in mind. It had taken years of negotiations and the precarious balancing of powers, but eventually his efforts had paid off. The Ring of Pride was once again a shining ruby jewel in the palm of Lucifer’s hand and the power that came with it was intoxicating at times. The lawless ways Sinners and Hellborn treated each other were by and large a thing of the past thanks to Lilith’s direct guidance as an Overlord. And while all of Hell’s citizens still exhibited all forms of sin, their Pride was at the forefront. The Ring of Pride was respected by the other Rings again and the crown’s power had never been more prevalent.

 

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. It seemed that more and more Sinners arrived every day, while fewer and fewer Winners, according to Heaven, were making it onto St. Peter’s list. This made Heaven antsy, which made them dangerous. At their last meeting, Adam pushed for the Exterminations to happen twice a year to help curb the burgeoning population. Lucifer shot it down, but being the only one representing Hell’s interests as a whole, he knew it was only a matter of time before it was brought up again. Possibly by a higher order of Heavenborn and then they’d really have a problem on their hands. Lucifer never had any reason to have anyone other than himself and a scribe at these meetings with Heaven, but with these additional pressures he had things he needed to consider before the next meeting. Hellish roles that long sat empty and needed to be filled.

 

“What’s on your mind, Luci?” Beelzebub, or Bee for short, asked around a mouthful of food. Her large ears flicked to and fro at the sound of more food being brought in by his staff.

 

Queen Bee, the Sin of Gluttony, and Ozzie, the Sin of Lust. The two of them had always been Lucifer’s favorites even if he would never say it out loud. He loved all his Deadly Sins, beings that came into creation after he’d tempted Eve with the Apple of Knowledge. They were not his children although he was already ancient by the time they were personified. He considered them more like his siblings. But these two were the funnest to be around and thus his favorites. They always seemed to have time to spare for him and usually were his staunchest supporters during meetings with the rest of the Sins.

 

“Oh, you know. The usual,” he said vaguely.

 

Bee and Ozzie just looked at each other and then back to Lucifer.

 

“You know, you could tell us anything, right?” Ozzie pressed. “Is it Lilith? I know you guys have been divorced for nearly two hundred years now, but you were with her for a long time, Lulu. Why don’t you let me set you up with someone?”

 

“Ozzie, for the last time, I’m not looking to get into a relationship right now. I promise I’m over Lilith, but I’m just not looking to get into something right now.”

 

“Well then, why do you look like Mamm pissed in your soup?” Bee retorted.

 

He chuckled, not meeting either of their eyes and focusing on his plate of food. “I’m just thinking. That’s all, okay? I promise, I am fine.”

 

“Lulu, baby, please. You know you can’t keep anything from us and if something’s bothering you, you know we want to help.” Ozzie laid a large hand on Lucifer’s shoulder. “So why don’t you swallow your pride and share with the class?”

 

Bee snickered at the dig at Lucifer’s Sin, but the fallen angel just rolled his eyes at the joke. “Fine. I’ve been thinking of my most recent meeting with Heaven.” A grim and tired look came over Lucifer. “They’re trying to get me to agree with allowing Exterminations to happen more often. Twice a year instead of once. Something something, concerns about population control.”

 

His fellow Sins narrowed their eyes, recalling the day of carnage when the Extermination first happened and how unprepared Lucifer was for the fallout. The Exorcists had targeted the most weak and vulnerable Sinners and had rained destructive Heavenly beams of light on the city as a whole, culling nearly two thirds of them and destroying over half of Pentagram City in one night. Lucifer wasn’t just Hell’s King, he was the architect of the entire realm and the pillar on which all of Hell is built upon. Such a blow to Pride’s population and the tidal wave of ruthless destructive energy had weakened Lucifer and all of Hell had felt it. Neither Sin was eager to see a repeat of their brother to be brought so low or for their respective Rings to be put in danger by proxy again. Thankfully, the subsequent Exterminations have never been to that extent, but Heaven’s desire to increase frequency was certainly disturbing.

 

“So, what did you all agree on?” Ozzie pressed.

 

“I refused to allow it. The Sinners suffer enough as it is here, but I have a feeling it’s not the last time I’ll hear about this concern.”

 

“Good, and fuck those fuckers anyways if they try to push it! It’s not our fault they suck at letting people through their fancy door and ours is wide open,” Bee growled, her demonic form flaring slightly. “And it's not like any of their concerns hold water. Over population? You’re literally able to conjure more Hell. And with all that juicy energy you’ve been collecting, I bet you could even form another Ring! In your sleep! With a hand tied behind your back!”

 

“I think that’s what Heaven is getting at Bee,” Ozzie pointed out, “Lulu hasn’t been this powerful since…ever, actually! Hell is buzzing with potential energy. And Heaven is quaking in their boots. Not to mention fewer and fewer Sinners are being exterminated because of Lilith’s work.”

 

“From Heaven’s perspective, we’re primed for an uprising,” Lucifer said. “But war with Heaven is the last thing I want. And I feel like if I showed them that I have the realm under control and that Hell means no harm, they could be convinced to leave us be. Maybe end the Exterminations all together.”

 

“And how’re you supposed to do that?” Bee questioned. “You’ve said it yourself, Heaven is about as agreeable as Satan on a good day.”

 

“I’m not sure, but-,” Lucifer paused and his siblings could see the lightbulb go off in his head. “Actually, I may have an idea of who could help me.”

 

---

 

“Oh, hey, I got a text from Dad!” Charlie exclaimed. “And he wants to come by to see the hotel!”

Chapter 6: King and Lionheart

Summary:

The Overlords meet and Alastor has some fun. Lucifer asks his daughter for a favor. Lilith makes another appearance.

Notes:

hehehehehehe. >:3c

The hotel’s construction was going smoothly with Alastor’s help and guidance. When Charlie announced that Lucifer wanted to preview the hotel, he insisted they work double time so as to not disappoint the king with their progress. The renovations would be finished within the week with the help of his gremlins working around the clock and a few Sinners that owed him some favors, Charlie and Vaggi had ordered the furniture and decor to be delivered once the building was ready to be furnished, and they were already booking reservations for Sinners interested in the hotel. If it was because they believed they could be redeemed or because of the Radio Demon’s very public interest in the hotel, who’s to say. Now that he knew Lucifer actually supported his daughter’s little project, Alastor was eager to show just how helpful he was. Which is why when Charlie asked him to bring invitations to the hotel’s grand opening to the next citywide Overlord meeting, he didn’t hesitate to enthusiastically agree. Not only was this another chance to endear himself to the princess, but the fact that he would have the power to pick and choose which Overlords had the chance to rub elbows with Hell’s upper crust made the envelopes tucked safely in his coat even more valuable. 

 

He strolled down the streets of the Industrial District humming a tune and looking every bit the powerful Overlord he knew he was. He relished the way lesser Sinners would scramble to get out of his path like roaches in a suddenly lit room. It being the semiannual meeting of all the Overlords, he’d decided to have his Second accompany him. Especially since they would be spending more time together as bartender and hotelier at the Hazbin, it felt appropriate to remind him who exactly owned his soul. Husk walked to his right, the winged feline Sinner shuffling his favorite deck of cards as he scanned the area with an air of nonchalance. 

 

During his time as an Overlord, Husk controlled a sizable territory in the Entertainment District made up of glamorous casinos, luxurious buffets, and a grand theater showing off Pride's up and coming talent. But as every gambler knows, luck can be a fickle thing and Husk was down on it when Alastor had come knocking. One too many bad hands on his part and Alastor had him in chains. Although unlike the Radio Demon’s other victims, something about Husk made him decide to spare him instead of adding his screams to the evening broadcast. Going so far as to allow Husk to keep his powers and continue managing his original territory, so long as Husk sent a steady stream of souls Alastor’s way as tribute. An Overlord in all but name. And while they certainly weren’t friends, they had grown to see the other as more or less an ally. 

 

Husk drew a flask from his pocket and took a swig. “So, Boss, anything special about this meeting? You don’t usually have someone tagging along.”

 

“Hmm, could it not be that I simply miss your company, ole boy?”

 

“Heh, you already got my soul in chains, Boss, no need to butter me up. So, what’s the play?”

 

Alastor did not turn towards him, but Husk could feel his fur stand on end as the Radio Demon’s ambient static whined a touch louder. “My dear Husker, if you must know I was given the responsibility to distribute the invitations to the grand opening of Ms Charlotte’s darling hotel to the Overlords I deem worthy. Especially since there will be some high profile individuals in attendance, it would not do to let just anyone come to the soiree.”

 

“And any particular reason why she doesn’t just ask Lilith to do this?”

 

“HAHAHA, that’s the best part, my friend! She’s asked her parents to not interfere with this little experiment of hers. And so she must rely on us to do this for her,” he hissed with glee. “It’s simply the most ideal of situations, wouldn’t you say? The deck couldn’t be more stacked in our favor.”

 

“Hmm, so I’m here to what exactly? Extra muscle? Need me to protect you?”

 

The sound of an elk’s bugle briefly cut through the air. Green stitches appeared along Alastor’s joints as he whirled around to jab Husk’s chest with his staff. A green chain collar clicked around his neck with the other end wrapped around the Radio Demon’s free hand. “Do not presume I need your protection, Husker, remember who you’re talking to.”

 

Husk flattened his ears as the sudden weight of the chain brought him to his knees. He didn’t answer back. Didn’t defend himself. But he never broke eye contact with Alastor. A small act of defiance that made his master’s sinister smile grow wider. Green stitches at the corners of his mouth struggling to stay in place. And just as quickly, Alastor was back to his usual self. He even offered the end of his staff to help Husk up off his knees. Carrot and stick.

 

“But being prepared is something we can both get behind, yes? We are entering the lion’s den and I’m afraid God isn’t going to send an angel to seal their mouths if they sense any weakness.”

 

Husk hummed in agreement, but kept quiet when he noticed a familiar blue limousine coming up behind them. Alastor didn’t show any signs of acknowledging the car, but Husk knew better and was hyperaware of the tension that filled the air around them. The limo’s passenger side pulled up to center the Radio Demon’s reflection in its tinted window before it lowered to reveal one of the biggest fish in the Entertainment District. Vox peaked out of the car, smirking at the pair like they were the same kind of pathetic souls that scrambled at an Overlord’s mere presence.

 

“Alastor! Still no car, I see. Radio sponsors not paying you enough? Such a shame to see an old pal so down on his luck. Why not let me give you a ride, I bet you’d even enjoy it? SYKE! FUCK YOU, YOU FUCK!!” Vox crowed at them before the limo peeled away down the street.

 

Husk just curled an eyebrow at the cloud of dust Vox left behind, the TV Demon never learned the art of timing when it came to his insults or jabs. Then again, when verbally jousting with Hell’s number one radio host there were few who could actually keep up with Alastor’s wit. Given he had the chance to respond before his opponent ran away. But Vox’s poor timing just made him seem even more pathetic as they stood in front of the building Carmilla was hosting the meeting in. Alastor simply chuckled, patting the invitations hidden under his lapels. Not even Vox could dampen his mood, Husk supposed. Falling back into step with him as they entered the building.

 

Vox and the other Vees were the last Overlords to arrive at the meeting, much to Alastor’s amusement. And because of their lateness, the trio were relegated to sitting far from anyone that really mattered at the meeting. There were no assigned seats other than Lilith’s place at the head of the table, but where one sat and in relation to whom said a lot about an Overlord’s place in this fraught hierarchy. Closest to the head of the table was their hostess, Carmilla. Nearest to her were Zestial and Maestro, two of the most powerful Overlords by way of simply being two of the oldest. Alastor had taken a seat a respectable distance from the head of the table with Rosie. Husk being here as his Second also appeared to be the right move as Carmilla had her daughters with her and several other Overlords had brought Seconds of their own. When everyone had settled at the long table, the double doors behind the head of the table opened. Lilith gracefully stole the attention of the entire room. Dressed in a tasteful dark purple velvet strapless dress, a pure white fur shawl draped loosely around her middle, and her obsidian horns on full display. Per usual, her mere presence made the air in the room feel stifling. Like the American South during the height of Summer. Every Overlord stood from their seats, the Seconds that lined the walls stood at attention, and all that could be heard was the rhythmic clicks of the Black Queen’s heels as she made her way to her seat. Her entourage included two armored hellhound guards and a Goetic demon who pulled out her chair for her to sit. 

 

Lilith leaned back into the chair as it morphed into a black throne and Alastor, not for the first time, wondered if that parlor trick was only for Overlord meetings or if it just happened whenever she sat down. Either way, once she was settled, the Overlords took their own seats in unison. The Goetic demon conjured a stack of papers and walked around the table, placing a stapled packet in front of each of them. The front page had been embossed with the seal Lilith had adopted as an Overlord. A stylized filigree owl clutching a serpent in its talons, the image contained in a crescent moon.

 

“Thank you for taking time out of your schedules to be here,” she said. “I expect today’s meeting to be particularly long and appreciate everyone’s patience as we go over each topic. We will break around noon today. If no one has any pressing announcements, let us begin. If you will all open your packets, we will begin by going over today’s agenda.”

…

“So, Alastor, how’s your little pet project going? Your darling Nifty had stopped by my shop for your usual lunchbox the other day, but I never got the chance to chat with her! Ever the busybody, that one! And you haven’t stopped by since I introduced you to the princess,” Rosie chuckled. “I hope that means things are going well?”

 

The meeting had paused for lunch and the Overlords were moved to a larger space with a buffet set out for them to pick from and tables spread out for more intimate conversations. Although none of them really needed to eat, they all politely partook in Carmilla’s hospitality. It was an important chance to socialize on neutral ground. Reestablish alliances, exchange rumors, and, of course, observe fellow Overlords. Rosie thought ahead and packed food for the three of them to share to avoid the buffet line. Graciously packing something that was more agreeable to Husk versus the pair’s usual cannibal fare. Alastor wasn’t wasting time and used this chance to more or less gauge who to give an invitation to and what they could offer him in return. He’d led Rosie to a spot that wasn’t the center of the room, but close enough that their conversation could be picked up by any who was curious. A strategic move to chum the waters and see who’d bite first before he cast his net.

 

“Mm, everything is going quite swimmingly. Ms. Charlotte and I have found our stride and expect the hotel to be ready in less than two weeks. Speaking of the hotel,” Alastor grinned, reaching into his coat and producing a cream colored envelope sealed with the royal seal in apple red wax. “I have a gift for you, an invitation to the grand opening of the Hazbin Hotel. I promise, the party will be the place to be! I’m told on good authority the King and all the Sins will be there to show their support for the princess and it’s invite only! A truly an exclusive party.”

 

Rosie gasped loudly and snatched the envelope from his hands. She caught on to his plan and laughed loudly enough to draw attention to their little corner of the room. “Alastor, you shouldn’t have! Oh, I’ll need to contact my tailor! This requires a whole new outfit if I’m going to be chatting with King Lucifer!” she cackled.

 

He could feel the eyes on him as soon as she started waving her envelope around and the smile on his face turned predatory. “Now now, I only have a few invitations. It's a shame, but I can’t invite everyone, my dear. Best to keep it hush hush for now.” This was a lie, of course, but the effect was immediate.

 

The ground shook as Zeezi’s shadow came over to the three of them. “Hold on, what’s this I hear about an exclusive party? You better have an invite for me, Radio Demon!”

 

“Why, Zeezi, I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”

 

The saurian Sinner growled, but she only huffed hot air at him. “Okay, we both know your game. What do you want for one of those fancy invitations?”

 

“Invitations? To what?”

“To a party with the King!”

 

“The King is having a party!?”

 

“Invite only and he’s the bouncer!?”

 

Soon, their table was surrounded by Overlords vying for an invitation from Alastor. Rosie looked positively ravenous when Prick and Hatchet started offering Sinners for her butcher’s block in exchange for her envelope. Even Husk was being fawned over as if he could put a good word in for them, the former Overlord grinning cruelly as they plied him with exotic alcohols for a prize he had no right to. Suddenly, a spark of blue electricity parted the crowd. The Vees strut together like a demented high school posse with Vox in the lead, a manic smile stretched over his flat face.

 

“And what’s got everyone so excited, friends? Did Alastor finally drop dead?” Vox sneered.

 

Hook. Line. And sinker. Radio feedback whined through the air as Alastor stood up with a flourish and smile. Summoning his microphone cane and not too gently tapping the pointed handle against Vox’s sternum. “HA, no. I was just saying to our colleagues that I had a few invitations to an exclusive party being hosted by the Princess of Hell. Nothing serious, just a little soiree to celebrate the grand opening of our hotel. It just so happens that the who’s who of Hell were going to be there. Old Hellborn money. The Deadly Sins. Even Lucifer himself will be coming down from on high to mingle with the common folk! And you’re. Not. Invited.”

 

Vox clenched his fists, his signature blue electricity sparking off of him as the screen that served as his face glitched. “WHAT!? AND YOU HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN WHO’S COMING!?”

 

“Ahahaha haaah ahA! Well, yes. The princess asked me to personally pick and choose which Overlords would be attending. And just like how I’ve been keeping your pesky little toys away from the hotel, I intend to do the same for their master. Can’t have the riff raff ruining the evening, now can we. Husker, if you would clear the table. Rosie, dear.” He turned his back to Vox, holding out a hand to help her out of her chair. “I believe lunch is over. Shall we?”

 

They left the crowd and ignored Vox as he hurled insults and threats at their backs. Just as they left the lunch room, Alastor heard the distinct sound of glass breaking and he couldn’t help the smile of delight that stretched across his face.

…

The rest of the meeting went smoothly, even if Vox had to excuse himself for ‘technical difficulties’. Alastor refrained from handing out any more invitations, but the glances he noticed from the other Overlords made him think he would be having company over some time soon. As they began packing up, the Goetic demon serving Lilith approached him.

 

“Overlord Alastor, if you wouldn’t mind staying behind. My Lady wishes to speak to you in private.”

 

Alastor grinned with delight when he heard the excited whispers behind him. A private audience at the request of Lilith was a big deal and he could practically feel his influence growing. He straightened his coat and gestured for the Goetia to lead the way. Before they passed through the door Lilith had exited, the Goetia turned to face him again.

 

“I’m afraid your Second will have to wait here.”

 

“Oh, of course. Husker, be a pal and wait here,” Alastor said in a singsongy voice, like he was speaking to his pet rather than a fellow.

 

“Whatever you say, Boss.”

 

“Worry not, your master shall be returned unharmed,” the Goetia assured Husk. Whether it was because Husk seemed suspicious or because he was Alastor’s Second, it didn’t matter as the pair left the feline Sinner at the door.

 

---

 

As Lucifer passed the fence, he felt the unmistakable caress of a barrier pass over him. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it definitely was not from Charlie. It lacked her signature and her magic was not this advanced to begin with. The Radio Demon, perhaps? Either way, as soon as he passed the barrier, the cell phone in his pocket began blaring. He yanked it out just in time for it to burst into flames.

 

“What the-!? Damn it, I just got that phone!”

 

“Dad!” Charlie screamed excitedly and threw herself at Lucifer.

 

“Char Char!!” Lucifer easily caught his daughter, allowing his wings to flair out as he took them both into the air to spin her around. “How’s my baby girl? Daddy’s missed you so much, you haven’t visited in ages! Also, my phone literally exploded? Any reason for that?”

 

“Dad, I was at the palace for dinner like yesterday,” she giggled. “Sorry about the phone thing, though. Alastor has a thing about tech, especially VoxTech. We’ve compromised and he lets tech made by Carm Industries through, I’ll get you a new phone later.”

 

“Huh, what a weirdo. Anyways, don’t worry about it. I’ll take it up with that Sinner later,” he said as he set her down. “How are things? Is Ma-Vaggi with you?”

 

“No, she’s running errands before the stuff we ordered comes in. It’s just you and me today, figured we could have some Daddy-Daughter Time?”

 

Lucifer got a little misty eyed and hugged Charlie again. “Of course, Char Char! I love Daddy-Daughter Time!” he dramatically sobbed.

 

“Dad! Calm, deep breaths!” Charlie laughed, completely used to Lucifer’s antics. “The hotel doesn’t have any furniture and we still have to replace most of the carpet and wallpaper, but the building itself is all fixed up! We’ve updated the plumbing and electrical and patched up all the holes and broken windows!”

 

Charlie leads him around the grounds first, showing off the herring bone pathway that wound around the hotel. She explained that they planned to have the landscapers plant flowers that could survive the acid rain and beautify the property. She also planned to add benches and a small court for outdoor activities. And Lucifer couldn’t help but smile at his daughter’s enthusiasm. She didn’t know it, but she was acting just like Lucifer did when he was shaping the first galaxies and it made him ache with love for her. His greatest creation by far.

 

“Are you listening, Dad?”

 

“Huh, wha-? Sorry, I was thinking. What did you say?”

 

Charlie looked at him with concern, laying a hand on his shoulder. “You okay? I know you get lost sometimes. Did you want to end the tour for now?”

 

“Charlie, I’m no spring chicken, but I’m fine. I was just thinking about how proud of you I am, that’s all. Now, how about you show me the interior?”

 

Charlie didn’t look entirely convinced, but she just wrapped her arm around him and gave him a firm squeeze. “Okay, Dad. Let’s go inside.”

…

They ended the tour in what would eventually become Charlie’s office in the hotel. She served him some tea and snacks as the excitement of spending the day together wound down. “So, Dad, tell me honestly. What do you think?”

 

“Well, Charlie, it sure is something. I can see your vision for everything is very clear and that’s important for any project,” he said, adding several heaping spoonfuls of sugar to his tea. “But I have to ask, what exactly is your plan for redemption?”

 

“Well, I was hoping you could help with that. You’re an angel, one of the first! Do you have any inkling on how souls are sorted?”

 

Lucifer sighed and for a second he looked ancient beyond comprehension. Charlie forgets sometimes that her father may have been in Hell for ten thousand years, but he existed long before that. Existed even before light itself. And so she waited quietly knowing that these conversations, the ones that touched on Heaven and his life before Hell, were hard on him.

 

“I don’t, I’m sorry, Charlie. I was cast out of Heaven before there were Sinners and Winners, so I have no experience with what their expectations are when it comes to sorting souls. All I can say for sure is that there have always been more Sinners coming to Hell than Winners going to Heaven. It’s been a point of contention between our realms for quite some time now and it's why Heaven insists on the Exterminations.”

 

“But I thought Heaven was supposed to be all about forgiveness! Why wouldn’t they have a way for souls to prove they deserve Heaven after death?”

 

Lucifer shrugged, “Your guess is as good as mine, kiddo. Actually, I was hoping I could ask you a favor. And maybe you could get some answers of your own from the source.”

 

“A favor?”

 

“Yes, a favor. I know you know how I feel about Redemption and that hasn’t changed, but if we could prove that the Sinners are harmless. That there isn’t a grand scheme to overthrow Heaven. Then maybe we could stop the Exterminations. And I was hoping that you’d be willing to explain your plan with the hotel at the next summit with Heaven to help me convince them. At the very least to pause the Exterminations until we definitively prove that Redemption isn’t possible.”

 

Charlie looked at Lucifer with hope filled eyes. “Dad, that would be amazing! But why the change of heart?”

 

Lucifer grimaced, but he didn’t want to hide the truth from his daughter. “In the last meeting with Heaven, they brought up reworking the treaty they have with us. Specifically regarding the Exterminations. They want to expand the number of Rings affected and they want to hold the Exterminations twice a year. Your Uncle Ozzie and Aunt Bee brought up a good point the last time they were over for dinner, I’m getting stronger and it's making Heaven nervous. For ten thousand years, the power that came with ruling Hell was split between your mother and I. But with her stepping down, it all comes to me now.”

 

Lucifer held out his hand and allowed his Grace and Hellfire intermingle. Charlie watched in awe as her father’s power took shape, golden light and ribbons of red flame coalesced in his palm before a burst of heat and light made her turn away. When she could stand to look again, in Lucifer's black hand was a little black ball. He offered it to her and when he slid it into her hand a large eye appeared on the ball. Slowly, the ball uncurled itself to reveal a mostly black cyclops cat who began purring in her hands.

 

Charlie gasped and held the cat to her chest, “Oh my god, you got me a cat!?”

 

“Hehe, I made you a cat. I know you said you don’t want any help with the hotel, but I hope that you’ll make an exception for this little girl. She’ll be the embodiment of the hotel and its guardian as long as you will her.”

 

“Thank you thank you thank you! I promise I’ll take care of her and the hotel! And don’t worry, Dad! We’ll stop the Exterminations. Together!”

 

“Together.”

 

---

 

Alastor was led through a series of halls. The industrial architecture slowly morphed into something more art deco, not his cup of tea but he acknowledged it was at least cohesive. His eyes hungrily consumed every detail when he realized he must be inside Lilith’s home or something close to it. He was brought to a large office where Lilith was behind a desk reading over a document before she excused the Goetia and gestured for Alastor to have a seat. He did and quietly waited to be spoken to, grinning all the while.

 

“Alastor,” she said, tucking the document into a drawer and turning her full attention to him. “I’ll cut to the chase as I’m sure you know we are both very busy people. What intentions do you have with my daughter?”

 

To his credit, Alastor didn’t flinch. Even as the air around him seemed to compress to a suffocating degree. “I’m not sure what you mean, My Lady.”

“Do not play coy with me, Sinner. If you have ill intentions for my daughter, I will find out and I will make you suffer for it. Not to mention the king and the Sins. If you value your continued afterlife, you will answer me.”

 

The pressure was starting to become uncomfortable. He could feel his shoulders and neck begin to protest as he fought not to collapse into the chair. “I swear, Queen Lilith, I have no ill intentions towards Princess Charlotte,” he gasped out through gritted teeth.

 

Lilith narrowed her eyes. With a gesture, her black flames formed a circle around him and slowly inched forward. She was going to burn him. End his afterlife. Incinerate his eternal soul until there was nothing left for him to regenerate from. Or at least she was going to try. Just as those flames came close to consuming him feet first, a pulse of golden light extinguished them. It did not repair the toe of his charred shoe, but shoes could be repaired or replaced. The pressure eased with the flames gone and Alastor simply grunted uncomfortably as he straightened himself out.

 

“Was that entirely necessary?” he growled.

 

Lilith simply smiled at him, unbothered that her attempt at his afterlife was stopped. “No, but I have to have my fun somehow.”

 

“Perhaps, but I would prefer that you find it elsewhere next time,” he grumbled as he stood to leave. “Oh, and I assume you won’t need an invitation to the grand opening?”

 

“No, I already received mine from Charlie. But Alastor, I’m serious. If I catch a whiff of you putting my daughter in danger, well, we both know I can’t kill you. But remember, my dear Overlord, there are worse fates than death in this afterlife.”

 

---

 

When Alastor returned to the hotel, Charlie was just locking up the building. A strangely familiar magic permeated the air as he stepped out of the shadows. At first he thought that it was Charlie trying a new spell, but that wasn’t where the familiarity came from. It felt like a memory. Like when he reminisced about steaming pots of jambalaya and cast iron cornbread. Or the feeling of ivory keys under his fingers and bright spotlights overhead. He was briefly lost in this feeling when something curled around his ankles. He looked down to see a one eyed cat, purring and rubbing its bulbous head against his pants. Gently, he leaned down and picked up the creature to read the tag on its neck.

 

“Keekee?” He read out loud. The cat purred louder at the mention of her name, pressing her head under his chin. And then he smelled it. Crisp, sweet apples. Earth after a heavy, cleansing rain. And something new, spicy and warm. Cinnamon.

 

“Al, you’re back! You just missed my dad. And I see you’ve already met the newest member of the Hazbin Hotel!” Charlie bounced up to him excitedly. “This is Keekee! My dad made her for me! Aw, and she really likes you.”

 

“Yes, she is, um, quite the enchanting little creature.” Alastor scratched Keekee’s ears gently and the cat’s purr rumbled in happiness.

 

Charlie looked at him curiously. “You okay, Al?”

 

This snapped the Radio Demon out of it and he gently returned the cat to Charlie. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be! I was just stopping by to renew the barrier. Can’t have any unwanted guests stalling our progress with our grand opening so soon.”

 

“Oh, did you hand out the invites? How many Overlords are coming?”

 

“Well, I was able to give one to Rosie, but didn’t have a chance to hand out the rest. Busy meeting. I’ll get to it tomorrow, don’t you worry about that.”

 

“Oh, no worries! Well, I’m finished locking up. I’ll see you tomorrow, Al! Have a good night!”

 

“Um, Charlie! A moment, please. You said your father was here to visit?”

 

“Yeah, I told you he wanted to preview the hotel. Why?”

 

“Was he…alone? Did he have someone with him? Another Sinner, perhaps?”

 

“No, it was just him. Although, his phone did explode because of your barrier, so you might want to prepare for him giving you a few choice words for that,” she chuckled nervously.

 

“Do you–.” Alastor had to pause to catch his breath. He was panting like an animal. His chest felt tight and his cold, black heart was hammering against his ribs. “Do you happen to have a picture of your father?”

 

“Yeah, of course I do. But, Al, you look like you’re about to faint. Are you sure you’re okay?”

 

“Please, Charlotte, I need to see him! I need to see Lucifer!”

 

Charlie was taken aback by his sudden outburst and the use of her full first name, but she pulled out her phone. More concerned that her friend looked like he was going to be sick than the sudden obsession with her father.

 

“Here, this was taken today during his visit.”

 

The ambient noise that usually followed Alastor suddenly cut out. He reached out, taking the phone from Charlie, and cradling it gently in his hands. In the image was the last person he expected to see in Hell. Of course, it was not an exact match to his memory. This person looked more androgynous and doll-like, his skin is a pearly white with bright red circles on the apples of his cheeks. Blonde hair peaked out from under the tall, white top hat he was wearing and the yellow sclera and red irises are stark opposites of what he remembers of his beloved friend. But there is no mistaking him for anyone else. Not with how beautifully he smiles, even if it’s not directed at him. Not with how something bright and warm surges to life within him. Alastor feels his chest ache with longing and recognition, he forgets where he is as Charlie calls his name. Of course, it was Lucifer. Of course his angel was the King of Hell. Because who else would be worthy of his adoration. After Luke–, no, Lucifer… After Lucifer left his life, he’d never felt anything remotely close to what he felt for the fallen angel. Oh, how he felt like a fool to think that his beloved friend was anything less than a divine being. Now fate has brought them together again and he had every intention of never letting him go.

Notes:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! ENJOY THE CLIFFHANGER!!

Notes:

Jesus H. Christ, it has been a while since I've posted anything. But I've got Hazbin on the brain and I didn't go to Bible Study for the Devil from the Bible not to smooch his Executioner! If you spot any typos or grammar errors, I'd appreciate them being pointed out so I can fix them. Any comments or constructive criticism are welcome! Thank you for reading!