Veiled in Shadows and Brimstone

9

Charlie sat in her private office at the Hazbin Hotel, staring out the window at the darkened sky of Hell. She could sense the tension in the air as she awaited the arrival of her parents, Lucifer and Lilith. Her husband Alastor, the radio demon, was at the castle ruling over Hell in her absence. She knew Alastor was overprotective and would not want her to involve anyone else in this matter, but she couldn't keep it a secret any longer. As she waited for her parents to arrive, she fidgeted with the papers on her desk, heart pounding in her chest. It wasn't long before she heard a knock on the door. She took a deep breath and called out, "Come in." Lucifer and Lilith entered the room, their presence commanding and powerful. Charlie stood up to greet them, feeling small in their presence. "Hello, Mother, Father," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What is it, my dear?" Lilith asked, concern etched on her face. Charlie cleared her throat and began to explain, "There's been a situation at the Winter Ball nine months ago. A demoness named Roo crashed the event and claimed that Alastor had made a deal with her when he first manifested in Hell. She says she now owns his soul." Lucifer's eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous, "And what does this demoness want?" Charlie hesitated before answering, "She wants Alastor to fulfill his end of the deal, whatever that may be. Alastor confirmed it to me that night after the Winter Ball, but he didn't want me to inform you. He said he wanted to deal with it on his own." Lucifer and Lilith exchanged a knowing glance before turning back to Charlie. "This is no small task, my dear," Lucifer said gravely. "Roo is a powerful demon, and retrieving Al's soul will not be easy." Charlie's heart sank at the hesitancy in her Dad's voice, until her mother put a hand on her shoulder. "But we will do everything in our power to help you," Lilith added, her voice soft but determined. "Together, we can overcome any obstacle." Charlie felt a surge of gratitude towards her parents. Despite their tumultuous past, they were always there for her when she needed them the most. She knew that with their help, she could face any challenge that came her way. As the three of them began to discuss their plan of action, Angel and Husk watched over the children, doing their best to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Liliana, with her natural leadership skills, took charge of her siblings, keeping them in line with a firm but gentle hand. As the night wore on, Charlie felt a sense of peace settle over her. She knew that she had a long and difficult road ahead of her, but with the support of her family and friends, she felt confident that she could succeed.

🗝️later that night 🗝️

As Alastor walked back into the Hazbin Hotel, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Ruling Hell at the castle was always a daunting task, but he was grateful to be back with his beloved family. He made his way through the hallways, checking on each of his and Charlie's eleven children.

First, he peeked into Liliana's room. The thirteen-year-old was fast asleep, her blonde and red ombre hair spilling over the pillow. Alastor smiled softly before moving on to the next room where the nine-year-old twins, Aurora and Alarik, lay sound asleep in their beds. In the nursery, he gazed down at the sleeping faces of his four-year-old triplets, Damien, Noelle, and Nicholas. They were curled up together, their tiny hands entwined, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of love for them.
Lastly, he checked on the newest additions to their family, the three-week-old quintuplets, Dakota, Harmani, Gemma, Kieran, and Callan. They were all sleeping peacefully in their cribs, and Alastor couldn't help but feel blessed to have such a large and loving family. After making sure all his children were safe and sound, Alastor made his way to his and Charlie's bedroom. He pushed open the door and found Charlie sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression troubled. Charlie, darling, what's wrong?" Alastor asked, his voice gentle as he approached her. Charlie looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "I talked to my parents about your deal with Roo," she said quietly. "I asked them to help get your soul back." Al's ears flattened against his head. "Charlie, you had no right to-" he started. "I had every right, Alastor," Charlie interrupted, her voice firm. "I couldn't bear to see you suffer like this, to be trapped in a fate worse than death. I had to do something The tension in the room was palpable as Alastor glared at his wife, the anger simmering just below the surface. "You had no right to go behind my back like that," he snapped. "You had no right to involve your parents in our business." He growled. "I did what I had to do," Charlie said, her voice unwavering. "I couldn't stand by and watch you suffer any longer. I had to try to make things right." Alastor opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Charlie stood up abruptly. "I need some air," she said, her voice tinged with emotion as she headed for the door and made her way up to the roof. She needed some fresh air and a moment of peace after the heated argument she had with Alastor. She found a secluded alcove and curled up, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't believe she had let things escalate to that point with her beloved husband. As she cried herself to sleep, Alastor paced back and forth in their bedroom, guilt gnawing at him. He had yelled at Charlie, his precious wife and queen, all because she had tried to help him. How foolish he had been to push her away like that. When he woke up the next morning and realized she hadn't returned to their bedroom, he immediately went searching for her. Alastor found Charlie on the rooftop, asleep and shivering, with dry tear tracks on her face. His heart ached at the sight of her in distress. He took off his red suit jacket and gently covered her with it before lifting her into his arms. Carrying her back inside to their bedroom, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for his harsh words the night before. As Charlie stirred awake, she mumbled an apology, but Alastor shushed her gently. "No, my dear," he said softly. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. You were only trying to help me, and for that, I am grateful." Charlie looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "I just wanted to help you, Alastor. I didn't mean to upset you." Alastor kissed her forehead tenderly. "I know, my love. And for that, I am sorry. You are my wife, Queen, and mother of our eleven children, and I should have treated you with more respect." Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him, the love and forgiveness shining in her gaze. She reached up to cup his cheek, her touch gentle and comforting. "I love you, Alastor," she whispered. Alastor pulled her into his arms, cradling her close as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. "Try and get some more rest dear, I'll take care of our kids and the hotel for now" the stag replied as he tucked her into the bed.

🗝️ Several hours later 🗝️

As Alastor was overseeing the redemption activities of the patrons at the Hazbin Hotel, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the progress they were making. The hotel was bustling with activity as demons and sinners alike worked towards redemption under his watchful eye.

Meanwhile, his wife and Queen, Charlie, was upstairs in their private quarters, resting. He had just finished feeding Kieran and Callan, and had settled them down for a nap while Liliana, their 13-year-old daughter, was currently feeding, Dakota, Harmani, and Gemma, with the help of her shadow tentacles that she had inherited from Alastor. Just as Alastor was about to turn his attention back to the redemption activities, everything around him suddenly shifted and distorted. He felt a burst of surprised static escape his lips as the surroundings cleared to reveal a cave made of obsidian rock. Sitting atop a makeshift throne in the cave was a demoness, her presence commanding and powerful. Alastor's ears lay flat against his head as he growled a single word, "Roo. "The demoness smiled, a sinister glint in her eyes as she spoke, "Ah, Alastor. It has been nine months too long since we last met." Alastor sharpened his smile, masking his unease as best as he could. He knew this demoness held power over him, a fact emphasized by the glowing red chain attached to a shackle around his neck, a clear sign that she owned his soul. With a hard tug, she forced him to kneel in front of her. "What do you want, Roo?" Alastor asked, his voice a mix of defiance and submission. Roo grinned wickedly, her sharp teeth glinting in the dim light of the cave. "Do you know what happened nine months ago, Alastor?" she purred, her red eyes boring into his. The stag remained silent, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what she was hinting at. He knew that his wife and Queen, Charlie, had disappeared for 16 hours because she had come to this cave to retrieve his soul, but he had not been aware of the full extent of her actions. She came in here with bodyguards," Roo continued, a smug smirk playing on her lips. "She declared war on me, Alastor." Alastor's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He had known that Charlie had come to this cave to save him, but he had never imagined that she would go to war over his soul and figured out that Roo must've threatened her. He felt a surge of pride and fear at the thought of his wife's fierce determination. When Alastor did not respond, Roo grew impatient and taunted him further. "Do you care about your wife, Alastor? What about your eleven children? Do you want them to suffer because of her foolishness?"Alastor's heart clenched at the mention of his family. He knew that Charlie was strong and resourceful, but he also knew that she was no match for Roo's power and cruelty. The thought of his loved ones in danger made him struggle against his chains, a low growl escaping his throat. Roo chuckled darkly, enjoying the sight of Alastor's inner turmoil. "You see, Alastor, you are at my mercy. Your wife may have declared war on me, but in the end, it is you who will suffer the consequences."