Hazbin Hotel Season 3

Chapter 15: Killer with a Heart of Gold

A/N: First comment gets a shout out in the next chap!

Lute felt excitement build up in her chest with every stride she took, powerful and long through the carcass that was Hell. The air was pungent and her skin was boiling in the heat, sweat dripping down her unmasked face, but it hardly mattered.

Adam's alive, she thought to herself giddily. I have to tell him. I have to.

Nervous thoughts flitted through her mind as she tried to imagine how it would be when he saw her. Would he laugh? Stare and make a joke about the long scar wrapping around her arm? She could already see herself by his side again.

This time, they would lead together. They'd show Hell, show it their worst.

Together, together, together, she chanted in her head, matching the syllables to her steps on the ashy ground. In the distance, she could see the hotel, shining bright through the bloody mist. Her smile faltered as she reached the field where they had fought and her breath started coming out in short pants that had nothing to do with her tired legs, the out-of-training muscles.

Live. The voice that had haunted her vengeful dreams spat. Live, knowing you only do so because I let you, the failure.

Lute shivered slightly, despite the sweat rolling down her shoulder onto her healed arm, healed but for an ugly scar, and the heat glaring at her. She had killed many, some of the ways so grotesque, but nothing would ever haunt her more than the look on that - that betrayer's face. The look of not anger, but of pity. Pity for her! The now commander of the exorcists!

Anger began to swell in place of anticipation and now the shivers were not from memories, but adrenaline that she could feel pumping through her veins, fueling her.

I'm going to find Adam, she thought to herself. And then we'll leave this wretched place.

When she reached the hotel, something made her hesitate and her head swiveled, taking in the light pouring out through a window. She slinked across the wall to the window, which was open, voices pouring out.

"...were a good husband, Adam. And a good father. You gave me the life I deserved."

Lute froze, recognizing the voice. It can't be. But as she peeked inside, her heart dropped to her stomach. Eve was there. Adam was kissing her. Kissing her and looking at her the way Lute wished he would look at her.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Lute told herself, shaking. Of course Adam won't like you. Not when there's Eve. Fucking Eve.

Her ears were ringing, and the sound drowned out the sound, before it all came back again at once. "I am ready to terminate my deal."

Lilith, fucking Lilith spoke next, on Lucifer's arm. "And I mine." She said, smiling at the stupid princess like they were just one big happy fucking family again.

"Me too," Adam said, holding up a bright blue paper, pulling Eve closer. Lute stared at his hand on Eve's waist, the fingers that usually had cuts from guitar strings, but had no bandaids today, splayed across the white fabric of the dress. It was like Adam didn't... he wasn't Adam anymore. Not without the cuts and swears and confidence.

Lute looked away. Sure, she was being weak, but she couldn't stand to see Adam looking at Eve that way. With that much love. He looked so happy. How?

Her eyes fell on a gun. It gleamed golden in the evening light. Angelic. Picking it up, she tested the weight in her hand. The metal was warm, like her spear. She looked back at Eve, who was smiling at Adam.

All the sound drowned out again, and Lute could feel her thoughts panicking. It's Eve, she thought to herself desperately. She poisoned Adam. Hell poisoned Adam. I-I have to heal him, I have to get rid of the infection.

Tentatively, she put down her spear and picked up the gun.

"Three...two..." Lucifer began counting, and the timing was so perfect, she wanted to laugh as she aligned her gun. He's counting down me killing his old fling.. "One."

As soon as the last syllable was uttered, she pulled on the trigger, but a split second before, the strange sinner with dark hair locked eyes with her, turning just a bit, just a bit, just an inch, but it was enough that-

Bang!

Lute let out a small gasp, stumbling backwards as she saw the bullet hit the sinner in the head, because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was like in slow motion that she saw him fall, in slow motion that Adam and Lilith seemed to look towards the window at the same time, in slow motion that she fell to the ground, hoping, hoping, hoping they didn't see her as she sprinted away, running, running, running away. Her spear fell behind her as she run, but she couldn't care less, stumbling over the bloody rocks.

What have I done? She thought to herself desperately, but as soon as she was far away from the hotel, she slapped herself on the cheek. It wasn't like she hadn't killed any sinners before. Fucking hell, she'd killed kids, and she had ripped out Vaggie's wings and eye because that bitch had refused to kill them with her. So why do I feel so guilty?

Maybe it was because she wasn't used to killing with guns - that was Adam's specialty. She enjoyed kills, and guns didn't offer the same satisfaction. But... that still didn't explain the way her stomach was lurching.

Lute shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, hating how weak she felt. She was never weak. It's because Adam saw, she told herself, the image of his grief-stricken face flashing behind her closed eyelids, as if he had actually cared for that stupid sinner that probably deserved to die. But... he needs it. He needs me to remind him that this isn't where he belongs.

By the time she had ceased trembling and the portal was open again, the only regret sitting in her heart was that she hadn't killed Eve. Next time, she promised herself. I won't miss.