Heart Of Stone

Chapter Thirteen

VAGGIE'SPOV
"She's actually back! Like, actively in this very Hotel! I can't believe it Vaggie!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her excitement.
"I know babe. I'm so happy for you."
"I just can't wait for you to meet her! She will LOVE you! I told her she could meet you during her tour of the place."
"Charlie, are you sure about this? I mean... you know what I used to be. She is the Queen of Hell... and I used to kill her people. Your people..."
I look down feeling  that very familiar guilty feeling I always get when I bring up this matter. It's so fucking hard to let my past go. I feel her hand on my arm.  It's warm and I let it ground me.
"You said it yourself, it's what you used to do. You're not like that anymore. And besides, one of my mom's philosophies is, it doesn't matter what your past looks like, it's what you shape your future to be. She will see that you are totally different from that Exorcist. She will see that you make me happy, that we are a team, for eternity."
I take a deep breath and nod.
"Yeah... you're right. Yeah, I can do this. It's just your mother..."
"That's right. Come on, let's go meet her!"
We walk to the Hotel  lobby and my eyes land on someone who looks very similar to my girlfriend. I suddenly feel very self-conscious and stupidly nervous. This is the Queen of Hell. When she notices us, I give a respectful bow as my formalities from being an Exterminator resurface. She gives us both a warm smile and approaches.
"Hey mom! I told you how I would introduce you to my partner. Well, here she is! Vaggie, this is my mom!"
"Hello, sweetheart."
"Hello Your Majesty, it's lovely to  meet you."
"And you as well, my dear. Now tell me Charlie, how did you manage to score such a pretty and polite  young woman?"
I felt my cheeks flush a little at that comment and looked to my girlfriend, curious as to what all she would say in reply.
"Well... I don't know how much she's comfortable with me saying."
"Go ahead, mi amor, tell her. She's your mother, she has the right to know."
"Alright... well, she was an Exorcist Angel. But she's now a fallen. I found her shortly after her fall, brought her aack here... and the rest is history."
"I see. You were under Lute weren't you?"
I tense a little at the mention of my ex lieutenant's name but nod regardless.
"Yes ma'am, I was."
"Let me take a wild guess, she's the reason you ended up down here in the first place."
"Yes."
"What was her reasoning? You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable."
"No, it's fine. I spared a Sinner child during my last Extermination. Lute took it as a sign of weakness and betrayal and cast me out."
I see Charlie  wince at the story and reach over to take her hand. I know she doesn't like what happened to me. Lilith just shakes her head in what I assume is disbelief.
"I'm so sorry, Sweetie."
"It's alright, ma'am. I'd do it all over again if it meant being with your daughter. She's the one who saved me."
"I can see that you two are definitely perfect for each other."
I share a loving smile with my partner and we both nod.
"So, shall we start the tour babe? I know you promised your mom one."
"Yes! Let's do it!"
She stands up excitedly and takes one of my hands and one of her mom's. I relax knowing that her mom is okay with me. The more time that goes by, the more I realize I'm ready to do what I've been planning. Now, it's only a matter of when and how.
EMILY'S POV
"Come on Emily, it's not that hard. Just pick up your dang phone and text her already! It's not that difficult! All you gotta do is say, hi Lute. Or hey... or hello...?"
I pace around my room at the Hazbin Hotel rambling to myself. I know it's stupid but it's not like I have anyone I'm that close with down here right now. Well, besides Charlie, but she's busy with her mom.
This room feels strange and unfamiliar. Not like my room back in Heaven. It's a nice space though... but I still am very uneasy about it.

I miss Lute so much and all I want to do is reach out. I want to tell her I'm sorry. I want her to hold me again... to love me again... I pick up my phone for what seems to be  the thousandth time and scroll to her contact and click on it.
"Okay, I'm doing it. I'll do it."
At last, I  start to message her.
Me: Hey...
She responds so quickly that it actually surprises me.
Lute: Hello, we need to talk.
Me: Yeah, we do.
Lute: Can I just call you? It will be much simlper.
Me: Yes, of course.
She calls me and I take a shaky breath before answering.
"Lute, I'm so so sooo sorry for everything. I never wanted to make you mad. I never wanted you to be ashamed of being with me. I just... I..."
"Hey, slow down. No, I'm sorry Em. I was a bitch. I should have never sent you down. I let my hatred for demon kind rule over my love for you. I let myself believe that loving you was a sin... But I now realize that you were the first one to ever truly love me unconditionally."
"I miss you so much." My voice comes out quivery as tears of relief fill my eyes.
"I miss you too my Seraphim."
"Can we start again?"
"Em... I just don't know how it will work..."
"I know... but we can figure it out. We always have..."
"Yes, but, this is different."
"How?" I didn't mean to sound desperate, but to be honest, I was started to feel it.
"You're down there, I'm up here. There's no way in Heaven or Hell that we can make this work anymore."
I feel my heart twist with pain and longing.
"Lute... please!"
"I..."
"You said it yourself, I love you unconditionally. We can make this work for now until we can figure something else out. Please, don't give up on us... just give it a chance! Please!"
"Fine... I... I guess we can try this."
"Oh my gosh thank you thank you thany you! I love you!"
"I love you more, Em. I'm so sorry I did this to you. How are you settling in? Are you somewhere safe?"
"Yes, I'm at the Hazbin Hotel. I know how you feel about the place but it's one of the safest in Hell. I'm settling in okay, the people here are surpisingly nice."
A long pause passes before she responds. I can tell she's choosing her words carefully.
"I'm glad you're doing alright. I'm glad that they're at least treating you well."
"Yeah." I have to stifle a yawn. Jeesh, I've barely caught up on sleep lately.
"You sound tired love."
"Yeah. Haven't  really been sleeping much."
"I understand... but can you do me a favor?"
"Of course. Anything for you.  What is it?"
"Try and get some rest for me. You need it, I can tell."
"Alright, I'll try."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you, Lute. I needed this. I needed to know that you still loved me... that you wouldn't be mad at me forever."
"Oh Em... I think that's what I didn't realize until now. Nothing can ever change how I feel about you. And it was extremely fucked up of me to do what I did. And I'm sorry...  Now, go to bed."
"Okay okay! I will! Good night!" I'm giggling as I lay down on my bed and turn out the lights.
"Good night, my beautiful Angel."

**A/N**: Hi! Sorry again for being so spotty with updates! I promise chapters are still in the works! Thank you for reading!