Heart Of Stone

Chapter Eleven

LUTE'S POV
I find myself at the door of the High Seraphim's office once again  the morning after I sent Emily to Hell. I knock firmly and await her permission to enter the room.
"Who is it?"
"The lieutenant, Your Highness."
"Come in."
I open the door and glance around the room before entering. It isn't much different from the last time I was in here. The only major difference is there is soft classical music coming from a radio in the corner. The High Seraphim herself looks exhausted. I give a respectful bow before  sitting across from her.
"I appologize Lieutenant, people have been wasting my time all day. How may I help you?"
"I'm sorry to hear that, this matter is about Emily."
"Emily? What about her?"
"You told me to go to any means necessary to get her to understand that  having a redeemed sinner in Heaven is unacceptable. So I did what needed to be done."
She looks up at me then, obviously intrigued.
"What did you do?"
"I cast her out Your Highness."
"I understand. Unfortunately, we needed to do it. That would have been the inevitable outcome."
I nod and try not to look down. Something feels strange. I kind of miss her. No. Lute, you can not be feeling like this. You did what had to be done.
"Lieutenant, are you alright?"
"Yes Ma'am." My response is much quicker than I meant for it to be.
"Alright... I shall take your word for it."
I can't breathe. I need out of here. I need to get air.
"Pardon me, Your Highness... but I really must be going."
I stand quickly, feeling annoyingly shaky on my feet.
She gives a quick nod to me as I try to calmly exit the room.
Once out of the office, I go to the bench by the training area. It's quiet around here today, I'm extremely  grateful for that. My chest feels tight and it's hard to catch my breath. Why am I feeling like this? This is no way for an Exorcist to be feeling. I barely register that someone sits down beside me.
"Greetings Lute, whatever is the matter?"
I look up, immediately recognizing the voice before I see her face. The Mother of Hellspawn herself, Lilith. A mixture of emotions fill me. Lilith and I have never really been on great terms. While there is mutual  respect, in my eyes she is still a demon and I question why she's even  in Heaven. I realize I haven't answered her question and mentally kick myself.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty."
"Are you sure?  You seem upset."
"I am fine."
"Alright... but you do realize, Lute, that I am a mother. I can tell when you're lying."
I look at her at last, truly look at her. I see nothing but kindness in her eyes. Could this... demon actually be caring about me?
"I... there is just a lot on my mind right now Your Highness."
"I do understand that. Would you like to talk about it? I promise I shall not judge you."
I go to respond but my instincts are screaming at me not to. I'm strong, I can handle myself. I shouldn't be feeling like this. But the other part of me, the part that longs for someone's validation and support is telling me to speak up about how I truly feel. Fuck it. The worst she can do is invalidate or ignore me, which I am very used to.
"I have made a mistake... many mistakes."
"The best of us do. But what are you talking about? What have you done  to make yourself believe you have messed up?"
"I let my anger get the better of me. I let what I believe cloud my sense of what really mattered. I lost someone who truly cared for me by my own hand."
The Queen of Demons looks at me with nothing but understanding and compassion.
"Who is this person?"
"Emily..." Her name hurt to say aloud. My heart twists with emotional agony as I reflect on what I have done. The hurt in her eyes when I cast her out of Heaven is something that I promised her she would never feel with me.
"Were you two friends?"
"More than that. We were dating. But that may have been my other mistake.. Being in a relationship with the same gender in Heaven is very much against the rules."
"Yes, it is. But you know my personal opinion? You love who you love. It shouldn't matter what their gender is, where they come from, or who they used to be. What truly matters is if you and the other person are meant for each other. What matters is the love and light you bring into each others' lives. Why should it matter what other people say about your relationship? It's your life, and you choose how you want to live it."
I listened intently to her, letting what she's saying sink in. She's right, I know it.
"I cast her out of Heaven for her beliefs. And I've regretted it ever since. She didn't deserve that."
I see her wince and I look down. All I feel is guilt.
"That's definitely not an easy situation."
"No. It's not. And now I think she'll hate me forever."
"I'll tell you what, Lute. I'm heading down there soon to visit my family. I can attempt to talk to her for you. Explain everything I can. She can not return here, but maybe I can at least clear the air."
"That would be lovely, Your Highness. Thank you."
"It's no problem at all. And please, call me Lilith. Titles are much too formal." 
I nod and stand up slowly, trying to get my mind to slow down. Very similarly to Emily, I'm not quite used to people caring about me in any sense. It feels... good.

"Thank you, Lilith." I say quietly as I  bow and walk away from the Queen of Hell.
EMILY'S POV
I awaken on a couch very disoriented. Where the Heavens was I? I open my eyes and look around as all the memories of the night before come rushing back to me. I was in Hell, the Hazbin Hotel to be exact.
"Good morning, Emily."
I look around to see who had spoken. It was Charlie, the Princess of Hell herself. She and I had become fast friends when she came to visit Heaven for the first time.
"Morning, Charlie."
"How are you feeling?"
"I really don't know..." I admit honestly.
She nods in gentle understanding.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that... being cast out of the only home you've ever known."
"It's awful Charlie... down right awful. I just  feel so hurt and alone. I feel like I failed Lute. Heavens, I feel like I failed everyone. I was supposed to be a good Seraphim... always follow the rules, never question the order, but most importantly, never let myself be led astray by false emotions."
"But Em, you don't get anywhere without making mistakes. I know you're down here now... but it's not the end of everything. I'll be by your side and help you rebuild your life. All of us here in the hotel will."
"Thanks Char.... but there is something I need to tell you. And I don't know how easy it will be to hear. Or rather, I guess I don't know how to bring it up properly."
"Go ahead, I'm listening."
"You remember the last Extermination, right?"
"Yeah, I do. Where are you going with this?"
"You know how you lost a demon during the battle?"
"Sir Pentious, yes. How do you... wait. Did he go to Heaven?"
"Yes, he did. I just found out about it. That's why I'm down here. I knew from the moment I met you that redemption, no matter how crazy some of the angels make it out to be, was possible. He's now one of us and he's so happy. But the other Heavenly residents are not as... enthused. To make a long story short, Sera hid his true identity from everyone, including me, which honestly isn't very surpising although I shouldn't be saying that... anyways, I found out about him, I told my girlfriend, she got mad, we fought, and now I'm here."
I watched her closely after I finished rambling,  waiting for her reaction.
"So... let me get this straight. Redemption is possible, Sir Pentious is in Heaven, and you got sent down here because you think redemption is worth while?" 
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying."
I see a mix of emotions cross her face, but in the end she breaks into a bright smile.
"I'm still very sorry you're down here, but Emily, just think of what we can do! We have proof now that my mission will work! There are so many possibilities!"
I nod and begin to smile. "You're right! You are totally right!"
"So, will you work with me and my team? You can stay here for as long as you need, which that was gonna be an option anyways."
"I would love to, Charlie! Thank you!"
"Of course! I know we can do this! Now I have an amazing girlfriend, amazing friends and now my dad is coming back into the picture."
"And a mother."
We both jump as a new voice comes from the doorway.

**A/N**: Hey! I'm sorry these chapters are not as frequent right now. School has been absolutely insane. I promise I haven't  quit this fic. Hope you guys are enjoying  this!