Potions and Coffee | 𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻 & 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓮

Chapter 24 - Desperation

Charlie was more nervous than she thought she would be while waiting for the portal that would take her to Heaven. She paced in the parlor trying to get her thoughts together. She knew that Vaggie wasn't Alastor's biggest fan, but surely she would do it for her?

"You ok, sweetie?" Lucifer appeared behind her, making her jump.

"Uh yeah, I'm ok. Just...waiting on the portal." Charlie painted on a fake smile for her dad. By his fallen face, she knew it didn't fool him.

"Everything will work out, Charlie." He said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She nodded and placed her own hand on his own.

"You'll keep an eye on Alastor while I'm gone?" Lucifer nodded with a rough sigh.

"Certainly not how I would like to spend my Saturday, but for you I'll do it." Charlie knew that Lucifer helping her with this couldn't be easy. He wouldn't care if Alastor burnt to a crisp right before his eyes. Even though he had his annoying quirks, she had to appreciate that he was slowly getting better at supporting her no matter what it was. The portal opened suddenly, a swirling vortex of black and beyond that, pure golden light. Charlie took a deep breath and looked at her father once more before stepping through. The last thing she saw before the portal closed was her dad waving slightly, an odd sad smile on his face. 

Charlie had to adjust to the environment change before she could walk to the golden gate. Her stomach got slightly nauseous and her head began to spin. She did some breathing exercises before she approached St. Peter. He looked down from his pedestal and immediately recognized Charlie.

"Ms. Morningstar! Is Sera expecting you?" He asked as he flew down to meet her. His robe glittered gold and light blue, his smile wide like Alastor's but much more pleasant to look at. His blonde hair stayed put in one place and Charlie inwardly asked how much hairspray he had to use to achieve that or if it was just an angelic thing.

"Um actually no. I need to see Vaggie." Charlie stood awkwardly, not really knowing what to do with her hands so she settled for the classic Alastor pose: her hands behind her back, stiff spine and head held high.

"Oh of course! Follow me!" St. Peter let the gates open with a loud groan. They walked in and Charlie was hit with a wave of a sweet scent that wasn't too overpowering. The air up here felt so much more clear and clean which always reminded Charlie how awful the air in Hell is. Once you live there though, you get used to it until you fill your lungs with this. Charlie breathed deeply to enjoy every bit of it she could get. She followed St. Peter to a large building that was white and a light shade of lavender. She had never been here so she was actually excited to go somewhere new. 

They walked in and Charlie immediately took note of all the art on the walls. Many beautiful Greek inspired paintings lined the walls, each one surrounded by solid gold frames. She looked up and saw that the ceiling was high like a place she had read about in a book called the Sixteenth Chapel. It domed upward and in the middle was the most beautiful crystal chandelier she had ever seen. It looked like a waterfall of diamonds were paused in mid fall. She almost ran into the front desk from not paying attention. 

"Hello Evangeline! We are here to see Vaggie, please! She's expecting a visitor." St. Peter jerked his head in Charlie's direction. From how Evangeline looked at Charlie, she knew exactly who she was. She wasn't so much snobbish, but more wary than anything. She was beautiful though. She had long chestnut hair that reminded her of a chocolate fountain. Her eyes sparkled cerulean and Charlie couldn't help but nearly get lost in them.

"Of course, let me see if she's available." She recovered her worried look with a dazzling smile, her teeth bleach white. Charlie suddenly became very self conscious of her own teeth. Evangeline went through the back door and returned maybe 5 minutes later.