Chapter Text
Emily cried as she watched through orb, looking down at the Sinners of Hell as they were slaughtered every year. Her sister, her own father, and everyone else in Heaven approved of it. She didn't understand it, they were all souls, all human souls, and yet they got sour treatment. Emily couldn't stand it any longer...
Little did she know, the very Princess of Hell had the exact same thought....
At the end of the rainbow there's happiness
And to find it, how often I've tried
But my life is a race
Just a wild goose chase
And my dreams have all been denied
Why have I always been a failure?
What can the reason be?
I wonder if the world's to blame?
I wonder if it could be me?
I'm always chasing rainbows
Watching clouds drifting by
My schemes are just like all my dreams
Ending in the sky
Some fellows look and find the sunshine
I always look and find the rain
Some fellows make a winning sometime
I never even make a gain
Believe me
I'm always chasing rainbows
Waiting to find a little bluebird
In vain
Emily walked into the High Sanctum of Heaven where she found her sister and grandfather G discussing the recent advent, "Emily" G smiled softly, "what troubles thou?" Emily sighed, "I believe Sinners deserve a second chance so please allow me to prove Sinners in Hell can be redeemed! I heard that the Princess of Hell is doing something similar...it couldn't hurt to—" G lightly set his finger to Emily's lips, "ssh...I understand your sorrows, I shouldn't have allowed the Exterminations in the first place, but you in secret can go to Hell and try your plan" G responded softly, "you'll be appointed a guard though. I don't trust the Sinners down there" Sera stated, G smiled wider and snapped his fingers summoning a phone, "Adam. I'd like to borrow one of your Exorcists..."
An Exorcist soldier was then escorted by Adam into the Sanctum, she had one...golden arm. Adam lightly pushed her, "this is Lute. She's the best soldier I could grab Big Man" Adam instantly flew off leaving the Exorcist with Emily, "Lute your job is to be Emily's guard and protector, to watch her and ensure no Sinner or demon harms her. But do not attack unless provoked, understood soldier?" G stated, Lute nodded and followed the younger Seraphim out the door.
In Hell, Charlie and her boyfriend Seviathan Von Eldritch put up fliers for Charlie's redemption project. "Char, honey I think we need to think about this a little more, Sinners wouldn't get redeemed just because."
On the left point of the Pentagram a new white, light purple and gold building appeared, Charlie ever curious, of course dragged her boyfriend to see the new building. "Welcome new comers! I'm Emily and we're starting a place to redeem Sinners into Heaven" Seviathan groaned already knowing the smile on his girlfriend's face that was about to appear. "You're an actual angel! I'm Charlie, I'm the Princess of Hell, and oh my God this is amazing! We literally have the same idea and everything!" Both Seviathan and Lute scoffed, both glaring at each other while the two Princess seemed happy to find their counterpart, "allow us to help you!" Both princesses said in unison.
"I was thinking of calling this place Safe Haven" Emily added, Lute groaned and pulled Emily to the side as Seviathan did the same with Charlie, "what are you thinking? That is the enemy! They could easily be pulling a trap, she's literally the Princess of Hell/Heaven!" Seviathan and Lute glared at each other again, the two princesses looked at each other, "both of us have a dream and besides we're like the same person!" Emily and Charlie said in unison.
Both Lute and Seviathan cringed, "you know what fine Charlie, if this is what you want then I'll respect you. But second they betray us I'm killing them both no questions asked" Seviathan stated, lightly moving his girlfriend away from the two. "Forgive him, he's all bark no bite" Charlie lightly patted her boyfriend's cheek.
Lute's golden fingers twitched near her sword hilt, eyes narrowing at Seviathan's threat. "Likewise," she muttered under her breath, watching the demon prince like a hawk tracking prey.
The two princesses, oblivious to the tension, began sketching plans on a hastily conjured chalkboard—Charlie with enthusiastic pink swirls, Emily with precise golden script. "We need a good musical number! And maybe a first patient" now that the thought has entered the Princess's head the two were already brainstorming...
"I think we need an ice breaker, you two don't look like you two want to be in the same room" Emily pointed out, Seviathan and Lute glared at each other before Seviathan exhaled, "your majesty? Your Seraph? Whatever title you hold forgive me but you angels aren't exactly well liked among Hell and that one is parading around in the exact gear she kills our own with," Emily nodded "alright Lute take off your helmet" Lute didn't question the command from the Seraphim and exposed her pale face and white hair, Emily lightly blushed before it vanished, "alright see she's just like us! Now anything else we can do to break the ice Prince of Hell?" Emily questioned, Seviathan chuckled lightly, "I'm actually a marquis...I hope to be king alongside Charlie but you never know..."
"I got it! Why not we say one thing about ourselves?" Charlie suggested, "like... I love musicals!" Emily instantly beamed "I love musicals too!" Seviathan chuckled, "I like to host parties and live it up" Seviathan said, Lute looked away "I like to follow orders, get things done. Speaking of which I decided an actual plan for your project my Seraph...and Princess..." Emily and Charlie listened closely, "we don't need anything extravagant. We just need to find a sinner who's down on their luck and hoping for a chance at a better life," the three were rather impressed by Lute's big explanation, the two Princesses were already out the door in a matter of seconds though.
"So...My Seraph, huh?" Seviathan joked as he and Lute slowly caught up with their partners, "it's respectable" Lute replied simply, "I don't call my girlfriend 'your majesty'" Seviathan retorted. Lute blushed lightly, "we're not in a partnership," Seviathan raised an eyebrow, "do you want to? I mean you're in Hell now! Whatever class structure Heaven had, drop it and live your beautiful life!" Seviathan pulled a flask out of his tailcoat and took a swig. "When we're not busy with their hotel, I'm taking you out to party! I'm talking pizza, wings, strip club, movies, galore!" Lute tilted her head, "the hell's a party?" Seviathan chuckled assuming the former lieutenant was pulling his leg.
"You're joking right? Yo Em! Char! You need to hear this!" Charlie and Emily instantly ran back to their partners, "Lute has no idea what the hell a party is or I'm assuming anything fun" Seviathan stated, Lute sighed, "it was all training in the Exorcists...we took breaks to sleep but that was it. It's all I've ever known" Lute explained.
The silence that followed was thicker than Hell's sulfur fog.
Emily's hands flew to her mouth. Charlie's eyes welled up with actual tears. Even Seviathan's usual smirk faltered: his flask hovering halfway to his lips as the reality of Lute's confession settled over them like ash.
"Right." Charlie clapped her hands suddenly, the sound making Lute flinch. "Change of plans. First rehabilitation project: Lieutenant Lute."
"What—"
Before Lute could protest, Seviathan had already slung an arm around her stiff shoulders, his grin returning tenfold. "Oh this is gonna be beautiful. First lesson: dancing. Specifically, the kind where you accidentally elbow someone in the face."
Emily giggled as Lute's pale face flushed crimson. "I-I don't think—"
"No thinking! You're going to have a normal life, we can't be a team unless all of us are at our best and I know deep inside you're more than a soldier!" Charlie declared, "I'll be with you every step of the way" Emily reassured, "what's something you always wanted to do but never got to?" Seviathan asked "I don't know I've only ever trained..." Lute responded confused, "what are your opinions on movies?" Lute tilted her head, "Adam blared the TV he never really let us watch it though" Lute explained, Charlie thought for a moment, "how about books?" Lute shook her head "I've only read Art of War" Emily twitched, "I've had it! Adam treats you and the other Exorcists like tools and I'm done! You never got to have a life! And you can't be angry because this is all you've known!" Emily smashed Lute's mask, she was surprised by her own aggression, "I'm sorry—I don't know where that came from..." The three all hugged Emily.
"It's all good, but I think we're going to be very good friends, I'm proud to help run Safe Haven" Charlie admitted. Seviathan took another swig and smirked. "Let's party!" The four new business owners partied like they were teenagers, Emily stepped out for a quick moment and contentedly sighed before looking at Heaven, "I'll make you proud grandfather"