The Forgotten Celestial (Hazbin hotel AU)

Chapter 11: Morning Shadows

The next morning came faster than I'd expected. I didn't even remember falling asleep, but I must have crashed hard after that close call with Lucifer. The hazy memory of his duck-themed room still lingered, making me shake my head with a small laugh. But the weight of the mission was still there, lurking at the back of my mind.

I stretched, rolling out of bed, trying to shake the remnants of sleep off. As soon as I got dressed, I slipped out of my room and into the hotel's lobby, where a strange energy seemed to hum in the air. Something was... different. Everyone was moving around more quickly, whispering amongst themselves.

I scanned the room and immediately spotted the cause of the tension. **Lucifer.** He was still here, lounging on a couch like he owned the place-which, technically, he kind of did. But there was something off about the way the other residents were acting around him. Normally, they were chaotic, loud, and irreverent. Now, they were almost... on edge.

"Y/N!" Charlie's cheerful voice broke through my thoughts. She waved me over with a bright smile, her usual enthusiasm undeterred. "Good morning! I hope you slept well!"

I gave her a nod, doing my best to mirror her energy, even though the sight of Lucifer across the room had my pulse racing. "Yeah, I slept great. What's going on this morning?"

"Oh!" Charlie's eyes lit up. "Well, since my dad's staying at the hotel for a while, we thought it'd be a great chance to... um... get some family bonding in." Her voice faltered a bit, and I didn't miss the nervous glance she threw in Lucifer's direction.

Family bonding. Right. I didn't envy Charlie's relationship with her father, especially considering how much was riding on her rehabilitation project. She was desperate for Lucifer's approval, even if she'd never admit it.

Before I could say anything else, I felt a presence next to me, and I instinctively tensed. **Alastor.** He appeared beside me with that signature grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Good morning, my dear," Alastor said, his voice oozing with cheerfulness that somehow felt more unsettling than comforting. "Did you enjoy your stroll last night?" His tone was laced with teasing, and I shot him a look, trying to hide the fact that his sudden appearance still managed to catch me off guard.

"I did," I replied, forcing a smile. "Though I think I'll be avoiding certain hallways from now on."

Alastor chuckled, his eyes flicking toward Lucifer. "Ah, yes. Our illustrious guest. Quite the presence, isn't he?"

I didn't respond, but Alastor seemed to enjoy the tension swirling around me. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Careful, Y/N. The King of Hell has a way of... noticing things."

I clenched my jaw. **Not helpful, Alastor.**

Before I could snap back, Lucifer's voice rang out from across the room, smooth and commanding. "Alastor, Y/N."

I stiffened. Alastor's grin widened, as if he found the whole thing amusing, and without missing a beat, he and I turned toward Lucifer. He waved us over, his red eyes gleaming with something I couldn't quite place.

As we approached, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Every step closer to him felt like walking into a trap I couldn't escape. But I forced my expression to remain neutral, suppressing the urge to bolt.

"Y/N," Lucifer said, his voice soft but heavy with authority. "You were rather elusive last night."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing steady. "I wasn't trying to be."

"Weren't you?" he asked, his gaze sharp and probing. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I have a way of sensing... **things**. Unusual auras. Powerful auras. And you, my dear, seem... interesting."

My blood turned cold. He was toying with me, but there was no denying that he had sensed something. **Damn it.**

"I don't know what you mean," I replied, keeping my voice as calm as possible. "I'm just here... like everyone else."

Lucifer smiled, but it wasn't a warm smile. It was a predator's smile. "Yes. Of course you are."

Alastor, standing beside me, chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the tension. "Well, well, looks like we have quite the enigma here, don't we?"

Charlie, sensing the rising tension, quickly stepped in, her bright voice cutting through the tension. "Dad! Y/N's just new here, she's still settling in. Why don't we give her a little space, huh?"

Lucifer's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he leaned back, seemingly satisfied for now. "Very well. For now."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, my mind racing. That was too close. **Way too close.** I couldn't let my guard down around him, not for a second.

As the morning carried on, the tension in the hotel remained thick. Charlie did her best to keep things light, organizing activities and trying to keep her father from prying too much into the residents' lives. But every time I caught Lucifer's gaze across the room, I knew I wasn't in the clear yet.

And then, to make matters worse, Alastor kept appearing at my side, watching me with that amused glint in his eyes, as if waiting for me to slip up. He knew something, too. Maybe not everything, but enough to make me wary of him.

For the rest of the day, I kept my distance, careful to avoid Lucifer's gaze. But I could feel his eyes on me every now and then, as if he was waiting-watching for any sign that I wasn't who I claimed to be.

I couldn't let him find out. Not yet. Not ever, if I could help it. But something told me that Lucifer's interest wasn't going to fade anytime soon.

**This mission just got a whole lot more dangerous.**