Devil’s Lock

by SeriousComplexHun

Summary:

The King of Hell is a being cloaked in mystery. Any and all accurate depictions were torn down from Heaven and hidden away, leaving only word spread from mouth to mouth about what he could possibly look like. A spell or charm, perhaps a ward, kept him from being remembered in his state.

This left the Ruler of Eternal Damnation a question for all but his dear daughter, wife and of course, the angel’s that saw him Fall.

Or, Lucifer confronts Vaggie.

Occasionally, the atmosphere in Hell was so bipolar that it got a wild hair up its ass and ignored the carefully curated humidity the thermostat provided from the naturally dry air. The simple answer was that it was likely the age and rampant neglect of the building making itself known in one of the most annoying ways possible.

But that wasn’t quite right either.

More so, the whole building felt heavy. Like how their resident Overlord could make a room feel suffocating whenever the news was on and another certain Overlord came on screen.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case today.

Moving the giant board Charlie had dragged into the lobby had been a task and a half but Vaggie had gotten it done. The sight of Charlie’s mental state scribbled across sticky notes and papers full of colored pencil drawings had been hidden away from any potential guests coming to checkout the hotel. Currently the princess was upstairs deep in a personal pep talk trying to hype herself up into finally calling her dad for help, and Alastor was who knows where leaving her to man the check in desk.

It was just her luck that when she got back that she was greeted with a single guest sitting regally in the armchair by the dead fireplace. A guest dressed nearly head to toe in pure, angelic white. They appeared to be staring deeply into the cold coals with their head propped up in their hand.

Normally, she wouldn’t immediately go over and greet a potentially new guest. Offer a glass of water if they chose to wait. But the cautious glares Husk was giving prompted her to visit the bar before making her approach. If their guest had already made an ass of themselves then she’d be more than happy to see them out. Especially if they had been harassing any of the staff or their residents.

Angel offered a little wave but remained otherwise indifferent to her. Too busy scrolling on his phone to be bothered.

“When did we get a visitor?” The why didn’t you come get me, was left unsaid. She didn’t like how uneasy he looked.

Husk shrugged, half absorbed in polishing a glass that was already sparkling. The hair on his neck down the length of his spine was sticking up while his wings and tail gave small twitches every few seconds. “Hell if I know. He came in when I was in the cooler fetching beer about ten minutes ago.”

“And you didn’t think to introduce yourself or welcome him to the hotel?” Vaggie asked incredulously. “Offer a drink?”

“Hey, I’m just the bartender. I make drinks. You, Charlie and Alastor greet guests. And if he wants a drink, he’ll have to sit at the bar because I’m not no damn waiter.”

Vaggie fought to suppress a groan.

“Don’t look at me, toots.” Angel waved her off. “I know about as much as whiskers over here. But I can talk to him if you want me to~”

“No. No flirting with guests.”

“Your loss.”

Grumbling a few choice words under her breath, she pushed herself away from the bar only to be stopped just as quick as she left.

“Wait, Vaggie. You might want to wait for Alastor or Charlie before going near him.” Husk warned lowly, eyeing their guest in case he heard them. “He’s not someone I recognize hearing about. And for him to be so casual in a place that is broadly considered an Overlord’s honorary territory, it’s very likely he is one himself and you shouldn’t go near him alone. Especially not if he’s this comfortable in Alastor’s territory.”

“This isn’t Alastor’s territory!” Vaggie hissed sharply but keeping quiet the very same. “This is Charlie’s hotel. And if I want to approach him, it’s nothing I can’t handle.” She had an angelic weapon after all. And there was only one line of Creation that couldn’t be harmed by it.

“Look, if he ends up killing you, just know you were warned.” Husk huffed. “People that are powerful are confident in themselves for a reason.”

Walking away, she heard Angel complain to Husk about the AC not working. Husk grumbled something about it not being the AC. And unfortunately, Husk was definitely right. The strongest beings tended to have a certain air about them. More so, they could affect the air itself. Make it heavier, stifling like it was trying to suffocate you. They could make it feel like a warm hug or being smothered to death.

Their guest didn’t seem to notice her approach, or was simply ignoring her in favor of reading one of Charlie’s stray drawings she had forgotten to grab in her clean up this morning. It was covered in a messy, frantic scrawl that depicted Heaven accepting a redeemed sinner into its gates.

She cleared her throat. “Hello, welcome to the Hazbin Hotel. How may I help you?”

Vaggie had been prepared for many things. None of which included how utterly beautiful he was when his attention was drawn to her. He looked distinctly, concerning like Charlie with the same pale skin and hair spun like molten gold peaking out from underneath the brim of his hat. Cheeks dusted in a perfect circle.

Was he Lucifer? All the depictions of him were all made out to be contradicting of each other. Charlie once told her about the wards that kept sinners and Hellborne alike from being able to recall his appearance. That only if he allowed himself to be seen, would they remember.

The man blinked at her. Dead, lifeless eyes lost in disassociation gained focus, taking in her appearance, before purple lids narrowed into a glare like she was the scum that fell from Earth to walk Hell. Then like he hadn’t truly been bothered, the glare blinked back into indifference.

He smiled, all teeth and fake interest. “Good morning. I hope you all aren’t too busy for guests, but I saw the refurbished state of the place and had to take a peak of how this stupid, little dream had been coming along!” His eyes danced around the room like he had already looked around and decided it wasn’t anything worth to see. If she still had her wings, they would have bristled at the short, mocking laugh that left his throat. “Not very well I see with that godawful decor choice, but it’s better than some can say.”

Vaggie’s eyes narrowed. Crossing her arms as she beat down the urge to smite him. His grin, a faux expression of friendliness, felt like ridicule shoved down her back. “The decor can be tacky, yes. But it was done by our sponsor that we are very grateful to have despite his prickly attitude.”

“Your sponsor?” The man echoed before he laughed. “The Radio Demon. Oh, I’ve heard of him and I—quite— honestly can’t believe he’d be bothered with a place such as this. But I don’t particularly care what a sinner is up to these days. Now, have you seen Charlie? An unfortunate little birdie has make a mistake and I’d like to make sure I have my facts straight.”

Maybe Husk had been right of needing Alastor to dissuade the situation with his presence.

Nonetheless, she pushed on. Straightening in a way that would have made her wings spread out like a warning. “She’s busy but I can write your name down and ask if she’s expecting anyone specific today she hasn’t told me about. So what’s your name?”

“Not important.” He quickly said, annoyed almost but biting it back. “Look, this conversation is wasting precious time. Where is miss Morningstar?”

“She’s busy.” Vaggie reiterated. “But I can go tell her someone is waiting to meet with her if I have a name.”

“Look, I’d go find her myself but I don’t want to accidentally spring a heart attack on her. So, kindly fetch her.” When she refused to move, he sighed. Exasperated as the paper smoldered into ashes in his dark fingers before falling listlessly to the floor. “At least she has loyal staff for this silly place. I well and truly keep meaning to stop by and visit but I just cannot fathom entertaining this idiotic idea for more than a few minutes. An utter waste of time that could have been spent—“

Vaggie drew her spear on him in an instant. “Even if you are a guest, I will not tolerate someone badmouthing Charlie in our home.”

The coiling serpent in her gut withered like a wounded animal. Dread dropped like a heavy weight from her chest to her stomach. The recognition of fight or flight that she had made a mistake.

“I’d recommend,” he begun slowly, “for your own sake, that you put that spear down or commit and drive it through my heart. If your going to pull a weapon on someone, you better use it because you’ve already given the thought in both your mind and theirs that your unwilling to listen. That any chance they had of being heard out and reasoned with became null and void.” He took a deep breath to center himself. As if he was trying to keep himself reasonable and calm. “Also, I wasn’t badmouthing Charlie. I was badmouthing her dream for this hotel. The redemption of sinners. Very different.”

There is very few Vaggie has ever met that hasn’t shied away from an angelic weapon being pointed at their neck. Close enough that the sharp edges shimmered in the light and left sparkles dappled across his skin. Even an angel would coward away.

But he didn’t move from his perch. Didn’t shy away. Only grinned. Unbothered like she was holding up a phone trying to show him a picture she’d taken.

It was faster than a blink. The only familiar, comforting weight of home was snatched from her steel grip.

He held it like it was no consequence. Like a toy it was examined almost wholly uninterested. It was discarded all the same.

The sickening crack of the hardwood floor being split open like a gunshot rang out through the lobby and down the halls. She heard someone at the bar jump, stool screeching in the frantic rush to get a weapon to defend themselves. The poor rug didn’t even have the hope of a chance of softening the blow.

“Now,” he begun lowly, leaning towards the edge of the chair, “you better explain yourself, quickly, as to why an exorcist angel is so openly disrespecting the stipulations of our contract.”

Vaggie froze. That uncomfortable feeling of being the whole focus from someone you were powerless against creeped up the back of her neck and doused her in fear. “You— Your Lucifer…”

The Devil smiled. Overjoyed she got it right without having to be told. “You’d be spot on, dear Angel of Death. Answer the question.”

“Charlie! I think your dad’s here!”

By some fortune of something looking out for them, Angel had perfect timing. His shrill yell would draw someone. Hopefully Charlie and not Alastor.

That fortune was short lived as Lucifer’s hand snapped up, a silent order to be quiet. An order no one wanted to dare test with his razor sharp focus on Vaggie. Intense and unblinking like a predator finally let off chains and being able to tear its stalked prey to shreds.

“And here I thought the family resemblance was uncanny!” Lucifer laughed in good nature. Thank to God amused. “Took you long enough to notice. I’ve got to say, you’re all very unobservant. Normally that would get you killed pretty quickly not to take notice of your surroundings. An Overlord or Goetia certainly wouldn’t have taken such blatant disrespect.”

Lucifer laughed again. He sounded young. Nothing like how she expected the Ruler of Hell to sound like. Scooting back into the chair he’d taken over had Vaggie relaxing somewhat.

The casual ease took some of that suffocating weight off him.

“Anyways,” Lucifer started. Giggling at a joke he didn’t find funny. “I’ve tried ignoring your presence. Maybe you were being kept somewhere by some nameless sinner and tortured for all the suffering you’ve committed, but it’s been brought to my immediate attention that an exorcist has been hanging around my daughter. Not only is your prolonged stay in Hell deeply violating, but also disrespectful. It’s bad manners to have your host hunt you down when you’re trampling about their home without a word. A letter would have sufficed you know. But no. Not a fuck you. What do you need. Nothing.”

He was right of course.

Hell’s domain was his. All Seven Rings were made because of him. To walk uninvited through Hell without being a dead man was an insult.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” She hesitated.

What was she supposed to say? That she was Fallen like him? That her halo and wings had been taken. That she’d been abandoned because she’d shown mercy. Lute was cruel like a sinner. Crueler than anyone she knew.

“Didn’t…?” Lucifer prompted. Giving her a moment. “Didn’t what? Speak up, girl. Adam surely taught you better than that. You’d never get a word in with him if you stumbled and hesitated all over yourself.”

Correct again. Adam had no qualms talking over you if you didn’t speak louder than him. He’d listen if you were saying something he found amusing, but it was mostly Lute that could make him laugh. His lieutenant was in step with him every second of the way. Conversations with them only told everyone else what they were thinking because they already knew what the other would do.

“Good golly, I do not have time for this.”

A flick of his wrist was the barest second of a warning. Her heart opened up and spilled down her chest. Pleasantly warm but gentle like an angel’s wings brushing against her cheek.

She felt exposed. Worse than if she stripped down to her birthday suit in the heart of Pentagram City. This was difficult. Like every part of her was on display to be picked through in mild fascination. Nowhere to hide any of her mistakes or the sins she’s committed.

His eyes softened.

And everything locked back up. Hidden from prying eyes that could only have seen if they were the King.

“Did— Did you just look into my soul?” Vaggie stuttered out, grabbing at where she could feel her heart beating a mile a minute. There was no pain like how she’d seen sinner’s chains pulled and tugged on like a stubborn dog that refused to listen.

“Yes, I did. Horribly violating is it not? To have the most vulnerable and valuable thing you have pried open. Your anger towards Heaven and love for my daughter is acceptable enough to let this transgression slide.”

If that was what it took to earn his pardon, she’d be okay with it.

“Thank you, sir—“

He was quick to cut her off. As if not to be seen as soft or weak. Still angelically kind despite it all. “But don’t jump to the assumption I won’t kill you just because you make Charlie happy. You’re in my home as an unwelcome guest and I suggest you see to it that you don’t overstay your welcome.”

His voice was softer. Kinder. He could try to be tough and mean but he was an angel first and that kind dreamer hadn’t been beaten down yet. It was inspiring. And comforting. Almost.

“Yes, sir.” Vaggie said, bowing sharply.

“Ah, wonderful! Now, where is she?”

Notes:

Pilot Luci my beloved. I wish Lucifer immediately called Vaggie out on being an angel when they met. Thinking Charlie already knew and just casually outing his daughter’s girlfriend.

I had a bit more in my notes with Lucifer and Charlie talking but I don’t won’t to write anymore. Might make it a series or another chapter. Honestly it’d be fun.

Lucifer still can’t harm sinners though. Because I think it’s fun if he’s spicy but no one’s dared try to do anything. Maybe. Dunno. I can’t decide if he should be able or shouldn’t. The angst would be so good though.

Have a wonderful day/night and take care!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Devil’s Lock