Hazbin Hotel Season 3

Chapter 10: You Didn't Know

A bright white flash made Sera momentarily dizzy as another camera went off. The crowd of angelic reporters were all buzzing with anxious questions, each one thrusting their microphones into her face. "Sera, what do you have to say about the disappearance of a local winner and the lack of your sister's public appearances?"

"Uh..." Sera tried to gather her thoughts enough to form a response. She fiddled with the front of her robe nervously, a habit she hadn't done in a while. She tried to keep her voice level. "We have people searching for the missing winner, and I promise we are doing everything to find her." She couldn't bring herself to address Emily.

Another reporter, this one wearing a bright purple jacket, spoke up. "Sera, have you heard the alleged stories of an egg-man running around?"

"I-what?" She said, startled. Taking a deep breath to regain her composition, she cleared her throat and said clearly, "I hear your concerns, but I assure you, no harm will ever come to an angel as long as I am in charge. Everything is under control. Please remain calm, and the conflict with Hell will be resolved as soon as possible." Sera glanced at Lute, who was watching her from afar with an unreadable expression. "Adam's death was unfortunate," Sera continued, "But the loss of one angel, no matter how powerful, will not break heaven. Nothing will."

Sera turned around and stepped into her office, ignoring the murmur of voices that grew after she closed the door. Sighing, she pressed her hand to her forehead, eyes watering with unshed tears. The bright, golden lights of her office, which were usually calming and welcoming, threatened to blind her.

She made her way over to her desk. Piles of paperwork sat upon it, disheveled and messy. Heaven is falling apart...There were so many files on inter-dimensional travel, theses on the redemption of sinners and the falling of angels, reports on the dead exorcists, plans to build a statue in Adam's honor...

It was all too much. Sera couldn't keep up with every problem that seemed to fall from the sky. She couldn't keep running around by herself, putting out fires as quickly as they started. The people are restless...they need Emily.

The phone rang, making her jump, knocking over a pile of newspapers with the title, 'Deviled egg-men taking over Heaven?' She grabbed it and held it up to her ear. "Hello?"

There was a small exhale on the other side, a pause and she almost considered hanging up when the person on the other end finally spoke. "Sera?"

Sera's heart seemed to stop. It was her voice. The soft, angelic voice of her little sister. The voice she thought she would never hear again. She used another hand on the phone to keep it steady and her voice wavered. "Emily?"

There was a little laugh. "Yeah, it's me."

"Emily!" All of a sudden, Sera's relief vanished and was replaced by something more like anger. "What were you thinking, going to Hell? You could have been killed! And taking winners with you?" The thoughts that had swirled around Sera's mind for the past week were overflowing now, running out of her mouth like venom. "You could have destroyed Heaven's reputation, not to mention putting all three of you in danger! Now everything is falling apart up here due to your lack of forethought!"

"I-" She heard Emily swallow. "I'm not a child, Sera."

Sera's throat burned with resentment. "Then don't act like one. Come back to Heaven and do your job." Her voice softened. "Come back home."

Emily sighed. "Sera, I can't." Sera opened her mouth to speak, but Emily cut over it. "Hear me out, Sera. Please."

Although she was angry, hurt, and scared, Sera held her tongue. I will not lose my sister again. "Okay."