Adam's revenge // swap

Part 4.

Emily pov: *High Angelic Meeting*

Emily glided into the High Angelic Courtroom, the weight of unspoken questions pressing down on her. The air crackled with a tense energy, a stark contrast to the usual serene atmosphere of these celestial halls. 

Angelic figures, their wings folded in a display of deference, filled the tiered seating. At the head of the room, perched upon a throne of polished cloudstone, sat her sister, Sera. Her platinum hair, usually vibrant, seemed duller than usual, a stark contrast to the steely glint in her eyes.

Emily took a seat beside her sister, a subtle gesture of solidarity amidst the growing tension. A hush fell over the court as a silver-haired angel, Azrael, the Keeper of Records, stood before the dais. He cleared his throat, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. 

 "The agenda for today's meeting," he began, his voice dry and official, "is to address a matter of potential insubordination."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. Insubordination? Who could they possibly be referring to? Her gaze darted around the room, searching for some hint of transgression, some telltale sign of who might be in trouble. But the faces held an air of watchful curiosity, offering no clues.

Sera leaned towards her, her voice barely a whisper. "Don't worry, Em. It probably isn't anything major." But Emily wasn't convinced. The way Sera's hand tightened on the armrest of her throne spoke volumes.

Azrael continued, outlining a series of "irregularities" reported from the lower echelons of the celestial network. Reports of unauthorised communication with denizens of Hell, specifically, with the infamous Hazbin Hotel. A collective gasp rippled through the court. Emily's stomach tightened into a knot. This couldn't be good.

Suddenly, accusations flew. Angels, usually known for their measured pronouncements, erupted in a flurry of outrage. The whispers of dissent Emily had heard simmering amongst some of the higher-ups boiled over into open criticism of Hazbin Hotel and its very existence.

One particularly vocal angel, Uriel, a portly figure with a booming voice, slammed his fist on the polished marble table in front of him. "This is madness! These sinners are beyond redemption! Interfering with their suffering is blasphemy!" Murmurs of agreement echoed through the court.

Emily, her heart pounding in her chest, knew she had to speak. She couldn't let them paint Hazbin Hotel as an affront to Heaven. She stood up, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed the court. "With all due respect, Lord Uriel, isn't a chance at redemption the very essence of our faith?"

A hush fell over the room. All eyes were on her, some with a hint of disapproval, others with a flicker of support. "We preach forgiveness, yet condemn these souls to eternal suffering without even a chance to prove themselves worthy," she continued, her voice gaining strength with each word. "Isn't that lack of hope that truly fuels their despair?"

A fierce debate erupted, a clash of ideals. Sensing the growing pressure on Emily, Sera decided to intervene, wanting to take the attention off her sister. "Enough!" her voice rang out, silencing the room instantly. "Emily speaks from a place of compassion, but we must also consider the order and stability of the celestial realm. Unchecked contact with Hell could have unforeseen consequences."

Sera's words, while seemingly neutral, held a hidden message meant only for Emily. It was a thinly veiled warning, a reminder of the potential cost of her defiance. If Emily pushed too hard, advocated too openly for Hazbin Hotel, she risked being labeled a renegade, ostracised, or even worse, exiled.

Emily swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn't reveal Adam's mission, not yet. But she also couldn't stand by and let these angels condemn an idea without understanding its potential. Taking a deep breath, Emily formulated a plan. She decided to try and change the topic, to broaden the conversation and take some of the focus off Hazbin Hotel.