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Lilith watched with narrowed eyes as Alastor kissed Vox's cheek gently. Her eyes glowed red for a second as she thought about her husband and daughter. A part of her wanted to storm in there, yell at Alastor for building relationships when they had so much work to do, but she couldn't bring herself to be enraged. The sinner who was convinced no one would ever love him was now in a committed relationship with the Media Overlord of all demons. The most powerful sinner Hell has ever seen, the only demon who could rival her in bringing joy to her subjects.
Alastor picked well, to say the least. He picked a healthy partner who could hold his own ground and could kill others with a snap of his fingers. Lilith looked down at the ground before she huffed and vanished into the darkness. She reappeared just outside of the hotel. She made it so only Alastor could see her, and she knew he saw her. It didn't take Alastor long to come outside with a strained smile
“You picked well.” Lilith hummed. “I do hope you remember our deal though.”
Alastor’s ears wilted a bit. “He’s not a distraction, if anything he’s been a wonderful asset. Vox knows more than I could have found out on my own.”
“He better not know about your deal.” Lilith growled.
“You know for a fact he doesn't. My lips are stitched shut, Your Majesty.” Alastor narrowed his eyes. “I have been alerted to a change, however.” Alastor walked past Lilith. “Walk with me.” He ordered the queen like a peasant.
Lilith held her head up high but followed after the sinner regardless. “What type of change?” She asked.
“A seraphim has fallen. She has taken a liking to Vox and myself, but she's jumpy about why she fell.. It appears she fell after arguing with Sera.”
“I have discovered research of my own. There appeared to have been a third seraphim who was the one who casted judgment. She decided who went to Heaven and who went to Hell, but she didn't pick where they landed based on their living actions. She picked where they were based on how they would thrive.”
“Is she still alive?” Alastor asked Lilith with a wary gaze.
Lilith sighed and shook her head. “She fell when she disagreed with the extermination and she was murdered on the first extermination by an Archangel.”
“Why is it that the angels who disagree fall down to Hell?” Alastor asked. “Wouldn't that be a heavenly choice? Saving lives of people?”
“They don't consider any of you ‘people.’” Lilith scoffed. “You’re viewed as the scum of the earth. People who took freewill and made horrible choices with those decisions.”
“Lucifer said the same thing.” Alastor hummed thoughtfully. “That seems to be a common thought with angels. Emily hasn't expressed any thoughts like that though. It doesn't add up, though. What makes angels fall?” Alastor sped up his pace and spun around to face Lilith. “I haven't found anything. Vaggie was a former exorcist and she was abandoned by Heaven. She was still viewed as divine enough to regain her wings, while Lucifer and Emily never lost their wings.” Alastor's eyes glowed red for a second before he looked at the ground. “Unless…” Alastor trailed off.
Lilith tilted her head thoughtfully. “Share with the class. I know you're a clever boy, Alastor.”
“Lucifer didn't exactly fall, did he?” Alastor turned to look at Lilith with narrowed eyes. “He was casted out by Sera herself.”
Lilith quickly caught onto what he meant. “You think Emily was casted out too.” She hummed thoughtfully.
“Think about it, Queen Lilith. The sins don't have their wings. Only Bee has her wings, and from what Vox told me, she willingly came to Hell. The others were fallen angels. Banished to Hell for having ideologies that didn't fit into their agendas. Mammon's greed makes him disregard people's health, Asmodeus supports sex before marriage. Supports women not submitting to their husbands. Satan is a fiery ball of rage and argumentative.”
“Alastor. This is dangerous thinking.” Lilith narrowed her eyes. “You're suggesting corruption in the head seraphim. An accusation like this could lead to a war.”
“We're already waged one war and won.” Alastor pointed out dryly. “Heaven and Hell will never be equal until Heaven learns we are one of the same.”
Lilith heaved a heavy sigh. “I will continue to find whatever dirt I can about The third seraphim. I want you to find out what you can from Emily. Is she even aware that she has another sister? Does she truly believe she has fallen or is she aware of any corruption? Alastor, we are running out of time and that Lute has taken to threatening my daughter.” Lilith's eyes glowed a bright purple as horns began to appear on the top of her head. “I will only withhold so much self control if she dares to boss me around again.”
Alastor's ears pressed backwards. “Surely the others can know about your mission? Lucifer has been in complete misery since you left him and Charlie is holding out as much hope as she can, working hard to redeem her people to make you proud.”
“I wish they could. Whilst my deal with Adam may be broken, as long as the exterminations persist, I am not allowed to be in Hell. The only reason I can be in Hell currently is because of our deal, and we are running out of time on that.” Lilith walked past Alastor, her head held high as her dress flowed behind her. “I'm pleased you are helping my daughter, but I need faster results. We need the power of the third seraphim. Her powers didn't just vanish into thin air. Someone had to have inherited them or someone has them locked away. I will look for them in Heaven, you need to look here in Hell.”
“Naturally.” Alastor agreed easily. “I will do my best and try to nudge Charlie in the right direction, but her father despises me.”
“Did you get a deal with her?” Lilith asked.
“She owes me a favour. I'm warming her up slowly. She can't hurt anyone with this favour though.”
“If our luck persists, she'll be on our side completely and ready to claim her spot on the throne without any more favours needed.” Lilith hummed. “Either her or Emily. I want you to try and get a favour from that girl too.”
“What do you want me to use the favours on?”
“If it comes down to it, they will have to stand with us against Heaven. Whether they fight or not is not something we can force, but having the Princess of Hell, the Queen of Hell, the King of Hell, and the Fallen Seraphim stand against Heaven will be all Hell needs to truly fight back.” Lilith looked down at Alastor thoughtfully. “Come here.” She beckoned to the deer.
Alastor obeyed with little hesitation, his ears flat. His eyes screwed shut as Lilith forced him into his demonic form, his lips stitched shut with green thread.
Lilith carefully ran her claws down the side of Alastor's face before she undid one stitch. “Your boyfriend-”
“Partner.” Alastor managed to grit out, cutting the Queen of Hell off.
Lilith narrowed her eyes but didn't reprimand him. “Your partner, the little T.V. demon? I want you to tell him about our deal.” Lilith ordered as she stood up straight, snapping her fingers and forcing Alastor back into his regular sinner form.
“You are not going into a deal with him!” Alastor snarled as he glared at her. “Our deal was protection. You protect my chosen people from the extermination and from yourself by proxy.”
“Oh sweetie, I don't want your little partner in a deal. You're all I need to get him to do as I please.” Lilith grinned wickedly down at Alastor. “No. You said it yourself. He is a wonderful asset and I think he could find out about the third seraphim quicker than you ever could. He would love to help you in any way he can, of course. He isn't exactly your regular sinner, is he? He bleeds blue, does he not? While he is safe from me and the extermination, what's to say how the Hellborn would react if they discovered a royal sinner? They already despise you enough as is.”
“Vox isn't… royalty…” Alastor's ears wilted as he looked down at the ground. The blue blood, the cyan scabs, the sin meetings, his ability to get pregnant?
Alastor was dating a prince. Prince of what? He has no idea, but a prince nonetheless.
“You're wicked.” Alastor snarled at Lilith. “I'll tell him, but I can't guarantee he'll do as you please.”
“Works just fine for me.” Lilith looked so smug, but it quickly turned into a worried expression. “Keep a tight leash on him, Alastor. He powers all of Hell, and Heaven knows it. With Lute saying the deal is off, she might come for the sinners I deemed unharmable and the Hellborn we had pardoned.”
“Adam attacked Charlie.” Alastor blurted out. “The exorcists also attacked Sir Pentious egg things. Those aren't sinners.”
Lilith's eyes glowed red for just a second before she managed to regain control of herself. “Very good, Alastor.” She praised in a low, growling voice. “Have your ‘Vox’ do research on all the times they've attacked hellborns. I don't care if they killed them or not. I want to know every hellborn that was harmed in an extermination.”
Alastor could only nod his head as his orders were given by the one who held the tag he wore.
~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~
“Hey, Alastor.” Vox hummed. “Feel better after your walk?” Vox was laying in their bed, he was shirtless and just wearing a binder. This one was custom made by Velvette. Alastor helped design it but Velvette didn't trust ‘an old-timey asshole to make something like this’ so he wasn't allowed to do anything other than design it.
“Don't forget to take that off before bed.” Alastor ignored Vox's question as he set his coat on their nightstand. His mind was still reeling from the information that Likith told him. His partner was a prince. Royalty. Did Charlie know? Is that Lucifer kept giving Vox weird side-eyes? Was Alastor supposed to tell Vox he knew of his ranking? Was Vox even aware of ranking? He acted like a regular old overlord and never did anything regal. Alastor huffed before he kicked off his heels and crawled into the bed with Vox.
He laid on his side, his back facing Vox. He could feel Lilith's magic surge through him. Trying to make him tell his partner the truth.
“Alastor?” Vox propped himself up on an elbow and leaned over Alastor, his screen resting on Alastor's shoulder. “What's wrong?”
“I… have a deal.” Alastor spoke before he could stop himself.
“I'm aware.” Vox murmured. “You've been acting weird for a while now. I put two and two together months ago.”
“I have a deal with Lilith.” Alastor growled out. “She wants your help. She removed a stitch so I could tell you.”
Vox stayed silent but he began to gently rub Alastor's hips. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you, Alastor. Even if it means doing her bidding for a bit.”
“Do you remember when you landed in Hell?” Alastor asked with narrowed eyes.
“Sure I do. It was horrible and traumatizing.” Vox shrugged. “Why?”
“Did you ever see… any weird creatures? Say with three pairs of wings?”
“I saw one. Some male with a bad attitude, but he went back up to Heaven when I saw him.” Vox kissed Alastor's cheek. "Why?”
“That must have been Michael. No body with him?”
“Nope. Just gave me a blinding headache when I looked at him.”
“Vox… what I'm about to tell you, needs to stay between us.” Alastor finally rolled over and pulled Vox on top of him, setting his partner on his stomach while he held him by the hips. “No one can know. Not even Lucifer.”
Vox frowned but nodded his head. “My lips are sealed.” He promised.
“Lilith discovered some unsettling news about Heaven, and I need your help to track down a dead seraphim.”
“A.. dead seraphim?” Vox repeated with furrowed brows.
“I should start at the beginning. How Lilith and I got into this situation.”