Chapter Text
The wonders of creation were hard to describe, seeing it happen before your eyes would be the only way you could truly understand the magnificence of it all, the way the atoms swirled and combined forming stars, forming worlds.
It wasn’t something Heylel had witnessed before, but today was the day. The day his father and some of the other angels were to begin the creation of a new planet called Earth, where father planned to create Eden - a beautiful garden that would rival heaven's own filled with many other lifeforms.
Truly an exciting time.
He wondered about the top deck of the palace, sticking to the shadows and yet being as close to the railing as possible as he looked down below, the preparations had already begun, and there would be a big celebration that would last for days upon the success of a new beginning being made by their father.
He watched as his fellow angels flitted about, and he would be lying if he said there wasn’t a spark of jealousy in his heart, a deep longing to join in and help create…
But it wasn’t to be, for he simply wasn’t allowed, it wasn’t what he was made for after all and if father-
His blue eyes widened as they locked onto his fathers, God stared back, clearly trying to look stern and authoritative, but it was obvious to see the amusement lighting up his face at the sight of his favourite and most beloved angel.
A smile tugged at Heylel’s own face, warmth and joy lighting up inside him despite the overlapping of his more negative feelings.
He stepped back from the railings and spun on his heels with a giggle as he attempted to run away - only to end up straight in his fathers arms.
God laughed as he swung his little dove around before setting him onto his feet, once more giving him that stern but amused look.
“What are you doing all the way over here? Don’t you have things to tend to elsewhere.”
Heylel huffed, “I’ve done all the chores you wanted me to do today father.”
God chuckled fondly as he shook his head, “They’re hardly chores my little dove, have you not been paying attention to your lessons?”
Heylel flushed at the mention of the lessons he had to do - that all angels had to do. Each lesson was tailored personally for them to prepare them for their purpose in life. Since Heylel was the last of the archangels to have been made, all his siblings already had done their lessons and were now fully committed to their duties - soon he too would be done with his lessons, his purpose a little more unique than most.
And very very stifling, though he knew better than to complain. Again.
“I have father, honest!” Heylel insisted, squirming out of God's hold.
His flush deepened when six eyes opened up all around him staring intently at him, reading his soul.
God hummed thoughtfully as he tilted his head, “You’ve not been skipping them again which is good, yet I sense doubt in you. Are we going to have issues again, Heylel?” This time the stern expression and tone was a lot more harsher, all signs of amusement gone, even the air seemed to grow cold.
Unbeknownst to Heylel the angels that had been working to prepare for the upcoming festivals had paused to look over at the two with fearful expressions.
“N-no father! I promise I’ll be good, it's just… there’s some things that aren’t really discussed in greater detail during the lessons and I can’t help but be confused and-”
The air around them lightened once more as God laughed, the angels sighed in relief and carried on with their tasks as Heylel stared up at his father with confusion.
“Worry not my dove, when the time is right you will understand those things more - they are topics to be discussed between you and I at a later time after all.”
Heylel slumped a little, still feeling rather lost with it all, “As you say father…”
“Now run along, I know for a fact there are things you still haven’t done.”
“But-”
“No ‘but’s’ Heylel, off you go now.”
Heylel bit his lip as God pushed him towards the other side of the palace, away from the preparations and away from the creation of Eden. He spun around and looked up at his father with wide pleading eyes, “But I can help!”
God just smiled and shook his head, “What would be helpful is you doing as you're told, I’m sure you don’t want your lesson times to extend do you?”
“No.” Heylel sulked, giving in and allowing himself to be led off, glancing back when his fathers hands finally released him.
“That’s what I thought my star, just think your lessons will be over soon enough - maybe in time for the start of the celebrations.” God said smiling widely
Something inside Heylel twisted up at the thought, though he tried smiling back, but it was hard to ignore the way his insides crawled with jealousy and fear of what fate had in-store for him.
Surely all would be fine in the end.
Everyone in the hotel was silent as they all stared at the glowing letter on the table. Merely moments before the air was filled with chatter and laughter.
Leave it to heaven to bulldoze through their peace and quiet.
An almost blinding flash of light had lit up the room before leaving the ethereal parchment behind.
Dread boiled away at Lucifer’s insides as he stared down at the missive, trying to conjure up the strength to grab it.
But ever the coward, he remained frozen where he was, his daughter on the other hand was quick to recover from the shock. Charlie snatched the letter from the table with shaky hands, taking a deep breath before she unscrolled the parchment and began to read through its contents.
Her brows furrowed as she read on with a confused expression before her eyebrows shot up and she looked over at him, “Dad, they want you to go to heaven, they mention the hotel but… there's nothing about me, shouldn't I be the one to go?”
In theory yes but… “Let me read through the letter sweetie.”
Charlie handed it over, and Lucifer was proud to say that despite the fear and anxiety gnawing away at his insides, his hands didn’t even shake as he took the missive and began reading it over.
Just like Charlie had said, there were mentions of the hotel and its redemption scheme, it seemed to be written by someone who found the idea ‘cute’ but ‘stupid’ - which given the ones that could have written this, that seemed fitting.
What they had said in regards to Adam and his exorcists however was perhaps a little more concerning - especially since they did indeed request his presence in heaven…
He frowned as he read on and then re-read it all again.
If he didn’t know any better he’d say they’ve already come to a decision on the matter and have a punishment in mind already… Oh who was he kidding, of course they’d already played judge and jury on the matter.
Now he was just left to face the executioner.
He couldn’t help but sigh tiredly, his shoulders slumping as he folded the letter and tucked it into his jacket before pushing his chair back and standing up.
Forcing himself to smile as he looked at the concerned expression on his daughter's face.
“Dad…”
“Don’t worry sweetheart, I can handle it.”
Charlie frowned as she watched her father start to walk away, she shook her head and rushed ahead, coming to a stop in front of him.
“No dad, I can’t let you do this alone! It’s my hotel they’re talking about, it was my fault Adam targeted and attacked us and I…” She took a deep breath and reached out, taking both her fathers hands into her own, “I don’t want you to face this alone - because you aren’t alone. I know you don’t talk about heaven, but you still reached out to them on my behalf to get that meeting and now because of that - because of me - you might get into trouble, I won’t let that happen!”
“Charlie sweetheart, I’d rather be the one getting into trouble than you-”
“No dad, I’m coming with you to heaven whether you like it or not!” Charlie said, staring down at him with such a determined expression on her face he couldn’t help but deflate, how could he ever tell his strong little girl no.
“Alright alright, fine, you can join me - but please sweetie you musn’t let-”
Charlie squealed and pulled him in for a hug, “Oh this will be great! Another chance for us to prove ourselves for the good of all! Maybe this time we can truly convince them to end exterminations forever.”
Lucifer didn’t have the heart to tell her how unlikely that was.
As he walked back to his room at the hotel, the letter held crumpled in his fist, his mind floated back to a time long gone.
He didn’t know how to make Charlie understand that heaven wasn’t as kind and merciful as she seemed to believe it was. Where she got such ideas from he didn’t know, he was surprised she still even thought there was hope to be had with them considering all that had happened.
Still.
He was reluctant to be the one to crush his daughter's dreams.
Entering his room he headed straight to his desk, penning out a quick response to the ‘invitation’ heaven had oh so kindly sent him, sighing deeply to himself as he sent this message off and waited for another response.
He was just so tired of all of this.
It was a never ending story when it came to heaven, and each interaction he had to have with them left a bad taste in his mouth.
He was still trying to decipher what his last conversation with his… with God had meant, the eldest being having implied…
He shook his head, he should know better than focusing on the words of false idols, words meant to gaslight and manipulate him.
A spark of light startled him enough to make him wince and hiss, another letter appeared before him, merely confirming the time for when the meeting between them all was to take place.
Which was in twenty minutes .
shit.