Chapter 17

After dinner, Charlie left the hotel to stay the night at the family home with her mother with the promise to return first thing in the morning.  The hotel was winding down for the evening and Alastor had decided to turn in early to further contemplate the events of the day.  It had certainly been a long one.

The day had started with the return of Hell’s Queen, only for her to divorce The King, knight Alastor, and by the end of the evening run off with the princess.  For someone so devoted to the hotel, Charlie didn’t even hesitate before abandoning it to run off with her free spirited and notoriously flighty mother.  Not that Alastor cared, of course, but it would be a shame to see this little redemption project of hers fail just because her mother returned and distracted her, especially now that it had proven to be fruitful.

Honestly, the more time Alastor spent around the three Morningstars, the more he was beginning to understand that, sadly, Lucifer might actually be the most competent of the trio, and wasn’t that a terrifying thought?  Sure, Lilith and Charlie were easily liked, they had the charisma and generous reputation, not to mention Lilith being a symbol of freedom and defiance.  However, all of that merely boiled down to perception, didn’t it?

It was easy to admire and adore the two women because they wanted all manner silly sentimental things for everyone.  The reality, unfortunately, was they were both a couple of flibbertigibbets running away with ridiculous pipe dreams.  It just so happened that sometimes things worked out for them, but Alastor was starting to suspect that had more to do with dumb luck and their overall likability than any sort of strategy or skill.  They were fortunate enough to make friends who were willing to compensate for their lack of competence and help out.

Meanwhile, Lucifer was starting to seem more like the fall guy, no pun intended.  He simply took all the blame upon himself, bore all the burdens, purposely made himself appear as a clown, and otherwise kept himself locked away where he couldn’t possibly be a bother to anyone.  All of this likely just to please Lilith, and now Charlie.  The hypocrisy was not lost on Alastor.

Sure, he was rather fond of both women, in his own way, but something vile and bitter seethed beneath him when he thought of how their sentiments were so freely given to all but the one man who deserved them.  They were so quick to defend sinners, the scum of humanity who earned their way to the pits of Hell, yet when it came to Lucifer, the man who they owe everything to, they criticize and, in Alastor’s opinion, practically slander him.

Did Charlie not describe him as an absent father who didn’t wish to see her?  That had been wrong.  Did both she and Lilith, who certainly had more than enough time to get to know him and should know better, not scold him for his disinterest and, at times, disdain for sinners?  Perhaps Alastor had also remarked rather harshly on that particular point, but at least he could understand it.  He knew the filth and depravity of the people who wound up here.  Unlike Lilith and Charlie, Alastor wouldn’t try to change Lucifer’s mind about sinners being detestable, because of course they were, but there were a select few who were at least of some standing, like himself.

Nevertheless, Lilith and Charlie would willingly extend their sincerest hospitality to even the lowest of the dregs all while ignoring Lucifer’s perfectly warranted concerns and chastising him for being too prideful and uncaring.  Wasn’t the entire reason he ended up so scorned in the first place BECAUSE he cared for humanity?  He gifted humanity with science, math, music, fire, AND, most importantly, free will.  Indeed, he has no improper pride.

It is merely that others fail to see his generous nature.  Too quick to condemn, to place blame, even for their own actions.  “The Devil made me do it” they say.  All he did was make them capable, nothing more.  He’s been too preoccupied with his own shame and guilt to bother with anything else.  Alastor understood that shame isn’t the opposite of pride, but the result of it.

Had Lilith truly not noticed his struggles all this time?  As perceptive as she is, had she really not realized that Lucifer didn’t need to atone for anything because he had done nothing wrong?  Where was HER shame in all of this?  Didn’t Lucifer give Eve the apple because of Lilith’s sentiments?  Did she not understand Lucifer at all?

Perhaps she did understand all of it and that’s way their bond failed.  She likely did blame herself but learned to deal with guilt more gracefully.  All of this was still very vexing for Alastor.  Even if Lilith understood and overcame her own flaws, she obviously failed to convince Lucifer of his own worth.  She failed to appreciate him and failed to show him he was valued.

Lilith at least obviously recognized that Heaven wasn’t exactly flawless, but even now she seemed to think it was the better option.  Did she believe that she and Lucifer made a mistake?  Did she regret it?  That would explain why Charlie was putting so much energy into getting souls sent to Heaven.  It wasn’t just about keeping them safe from executions.  She had clearly already succeeded in that.  And hadn’t Charlie mentioned something about listening to Lucifer’s stories of Heaven?  Clearly Charlie believed Heaven was a better place.

“Hmmm,” Alastor mused to himself, “I wonder if Lucifer regrets it.”  He looked at his clock.  It was late now, but not so late that a certain brooding king wouldn’t be wide awake ruminating somewhere.  Likely the bar, if not his room.  Alastor decided to check the bar first and grab some decent spirits in case he found himself having to approach Lucifer in his room.  Surely he’d allow him in if he came offering a nightcap.

It turned out that wouldn’t be necessary.  Lucifer was at the bar as Alastor had expected, but what he hadn’t expected was for HIM to be the one bar-tending while Husk was the one having the apparent break down.  ‘Will wonders never cease?’  Alastor sighed.  It would appear he would have to try and persuade Lucifer to share his thoughts later.  Right now he needed to nip this particular pathetic behavior in the bud.  He couldn’t have a soul under his ownership acting so unbecoming, especially over what Alastor presumed to be the absence of their resident porn star.  Feelings were such infuriatingly messy things.  “My dear, Husker, do pull yourself together.”  Alastor slid onto the bar stool next to him.

“Come on, Red, cut him some slack, will you? He just lost his good friend, not that I expect YOU to understand.”

For some reason that jab didn’t sit well with Alastor.  It set off a very unpleasant sort of feeling deep within in him and he retorted scathingly, “I don’t believe I was talking to you.  I don’t care that you suddenly decided to reduce yourself to hotel bartender, if that’s how you choose to spend your evening than so be it, but this matter is between Husker and myself so do kindly butt out.”

“Uhg! Can you two assholes both just shut up and let me drink? I didn’t ask for either of your opinions and I already know neither of you give two shits about me or Angel, or anyone here for that matter. You’re both just looking for another opportunity to get into another damn pissing contest with one another now that Princess ain’t here to babysit you. Neither of you understand anything cuz you’ve been out of the loop this whole goddamn time and NOW you wanna act like you care? Psh!”

“Actually, Husker, I do care. You see, I still own your soul, so I am unfortunately quite put out by this silly display of a downtrodden true has-bin. You’re a former overlord. Don’t tell me you’ve sunk so low as to have forgotten how we deal with things?”

Husk blinked away his confusion as he processed those words. Slowly his eyes lit up with comprehension and renewed ire, not towards Alastor, but towards the bastards that used, hurt, and still held Angel captive.

Alastor noticed that change in Husk’s demeanor.  “There’s my good man.”  He flashed his menacing glowing smile.

“So what’s the plan, Boss?”

Lucifer wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but he could see that these two were definitely up to something and wanted no part of it.  ‘Nope.’  He’d gotten himself into enough trouble lately and he still wasn’t completely convinced Charlie wasn’t still at least somewhat mad at him, despite their emotional family dinner.  “Whatever it is, count me out. I don’t know anything, I didn’t hear anything, I wasn’t even here. I’m going to bed.”

“Oh contraire, mon ami, with Husk and myself out, who will man the bar and keep watch?”

“Wait, WHAT? You expect me to bar-tend while you two go off to do Hell only knows what?”

“And why not? You were doing such a good job. Besides, you seemed perfectly willing earlier.”

“Listen, Mr. So-Called Knight, you work for me now, not the other way around.”

“Hmmm, technically I work for your wife. But never mind that, I thought we were both doing our best to help Charlie. Are you telling me you can’t watch the lobby and maybe serve a few drinks while we take care of this little Angel Dust matter?”

“Ex-wife and I really don’t think it’s a good idea for anyone from this hotel to go picking fights in the middle of the night, especially right after the latest fiasco.”

“Who’s picking a fight? All we’re doing is retrieving one of Dear Charlie’s missing friends from a bad situation and bringing him home. Imagine how delighted Charlie will be when she returns home in the morning to find him here safe and sound and to know that you assisted.”

“I know what you’re doing, Alastor, and these methods won’t work on me.”

“Ah so you DO know my name.”

Lucifer growled.

Husk decided they had wasted enough time with this bickering bullshit.  “Look, whatever issues you two have, can’t you just hash them out later? Those shitlord Vees could be doing anything to him right now. I know you’re ‘The King of Hell’ and ‘The Sin of Pride’ and all that bullshit, but all you gotta do is ACT like you’re bar-tending, ya know? I do it all the time. Mostly just keep an eye on things while we’re out and don’t let us get robbed blind.”

Lucifer ran a hand down his face and sighed dramatically.  “Just make it quick and don’t bring any more trouble back to the hotel.”

“Excellent! And just as a precaution, Nifty here will keep you company!”

Nifty giggled maniacally as both Husk and Lucifer bristled in surprise and wondered ‘where the fuck did she come from’, but neither commented.

Lucifer had a bad feeling about all of this, but these were Charlie’s friends and one of them was in need, so if all they needed from him was to play nightwatchman for a few hours while the others slept, well, he could do that.  It’s not like he planned on sleeping tonight anyway with his thoughts still lingering on the events of the day.  He looked at the strangely hyper-vigilant maid Alastor had left to ‘keep him company’ and asked, “so, care to tell me why you’re really here?”

“Alastor said not to let anyone get too close to you, so I won’t.”  She smiled a slightly dangerous smile that suggested she was enjoying her assignment.

“Uh huh?”  Lucifer stared at Alastor’s disappearing figure as he and the bartender headed out into the night.  ‘Did Alastor just assign me a bodyguard? Isn’t Alastor the one about to do something probably both stupid and dangerous? Why does he think I need the bodyguard?’