Chapter 11
Lilith stood from leaning over the balcony to face Alastor directly. It appeared she was quite serious in request for him to escort her and relay to her all the latest happenings in great detail. Alastor consider her proposed outing for a moment. On the one, hand he had just broken free from his constraints under Rosie and the two had yet to properly speak on it. Furthermore, he’d be away from the hotel and, therefore, away from Lucifer. Alastor knew that after Lucifer’s display of power and Vox’s very public reveal of his inability to harm sinners it was only a matter of time before someone else got the idea to approach Lucifer.
On the other hand, Alastor being seen in the company of the queen might be beneficial to his reputation. She had said no radio broadcasts, but a public stroll together would certainly be enough to get the denizens wondering. Not to mention there may be opportunity here for him to get a deal with Lucifer through his continued acquaintance with Lilith, even if they were now divorced.
“Very well, My Dear. I do owe Rosie a visit myself to discuss recent affairs, particularly of our own. You’ll likely hear of it anyway, what with the two of you being so friendly and forthcoming with one another as I recall, so I may as well get it out of the way. I suppose I can catch you up as we walk.” Alastor gestured towards the stair and Lilith linked her arm in his as they preceded down the stairs. An entirely unnecessary and presumptuous act in Alastor’s opinion, but he supposed he could tolerate it. He was her escort after all.
Lilith, of course, knew exactly what she was doing. They were in hell. Why not enjoy a bit of mischief? More to the point, she simply wished to observe Alastor and Lucifer and their reactions to certain provocations. Alastor was tense in response to her touch and proximity, but obliged her. Now she just needed to wait for Lucifer to notice.
Before Lilith and Alastor could make it across the hotel lobby to the door, Lucifer caught sight of them. “Hold that thought, Charlie,” with that he bolted from his seat at the bar to standing just in front of Alastor and Lilith blocking their exit. “Excuse me, Bellhop, where are you taking my wife?!”
“Ex-wife, Lu.” Lilith corrected him.
“R right, sorry,” Lucifer stuttered out sheepishly, “ex-wife, but still very important person who I still love and don’t want anything bad to happen to and definitely don’t trust leaving alone with this guy.” Lucifer glared at Alastor.
Lilith laughed, “don’t worry. Alastor is my escort. He won’t let anything bad happen to me.”
“Red guy? Uh no. nope. Nuh uh. He’s exactly the sort of person one SHOULD worry about.”
Alastor rolled his eyes, “oh will you kindly stop holding us up and making a fuss over your own insecurities,” he glared right back.
“Insecurities?! This has nothing to do with insecurities, buddy, I simply don’t trust you!”
“I am not your buddy and what have I ever done to deserve your lack of trust, or at least the benefit of the doubt? Hmm?”
“Benefit of the doubt? You’re the radio demon!”
“Who YOU claimed to have never heard of. Honestly, of the two of us it seems I’m the more trustworthy, Father of Lies.”
“Don’t you call me that! You watch your mouth or I swear I’ll…”
“Not right now, boys, please.” Lilith stepped in. “As amusing as your little tiffs are, I’d really like to be on our way so that we may be back in time to, perhaps enjoy a family dinner together? Unless you’re too busy or have made other plans, Charlie?” Lilith called over to her daughter.
“Oh! Actually, family dinner sounds perfect! I guess we will see you when get back, mom!” Charlie tugged her father away by the arm as she spoke.
“B but! But!” Lucifer tried to protest, but Charlie pulled him back to their seats at the bar.
“Come on, dad. Mom said she’d be back, and we’ll all have a nice dinner together. Besides, you can trust Alastor. Mom seems to trust him, and he’s been pretty reliable so far. I’m sure everything will be fine.” Charlie would be more reassuring if she didn’t sound a bit anxious herself.
“But he’s the radio demon!”
“Exactly!” Charlie tried to sound confident. “Who better accompany mom than a terrifying overlord?” Charlie laughed nervously.
“Lilly can take care of herself. She has never needed an escort.” Lucifer practically growled his words as Alastor turned to give him one last curt little figure wave before walking out the door with Lilith.
“Ta ta, Dear Lu,” Alastor called back over his shoulder as the door closed behind them.
That bratty little punk was practically dripping with condescension. Lucifer was seething. “Anyway, it’s him I don’t trust.”
Charlie sighed. “You trust mom, don’t you?”
“Of course I do! She’s the queen of hell! You mom knows how to handle the people, especially sinners. That’s exactly why she doesn’t need that dumb red busboy.”
“Daaad. You just said you trust mom, so maybe, I don’t know, trust that she has a reason for taking Alastor with her? They didn’t say where they were going so maybe they’re getting something for dinner tonight. Alastor is the one that usually does the cooking, so maybe mom asked for his help?”
“It’s supposed to be a FAMILY dinner! No way am I letting Alastor cook our family dinner. He can cook for himself and the rest of the hotel, but I’m cooking OUR dinner.”
“Uhm…oookaaay….but, dad, do you even know how to cook? I mean other than, like, pancakes?” Again, Charlie laughed nervously.
“Hey, I can cook things other than pancakes! Now, what should we have?”
“Maybe we should wait for them to get back, just in case they are out shopping for ingredients or something.”
“Oh, yea, sure that makes sense.”
Lucifer seemed dejected again so Charlie offered, “but maybe you can make something for us to have for desert in meantime.”
“Yes! Desert, of course! Wow, great idea, sweety! Hey, how about we make it together? Just you and me?”
“Oh I saw a desert when Vaggi and I were in heaven that I really want to try! Do you think we can make it, dad?”
“Sure, how hard can it be?”
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