Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Good houses go to Heaven.

St Peter was at his post at the pearly gates, book in hand and waiting for the next person to arrive. He didn’t have long to wait as there was a flash of light, bigger than it normally would be, but Peter just shrugged it off and launched into his typical welcoming speech. “Welcome to Heaven, may I please-?” his question trailing off as he blinked and saw what was right in front of him. Instead of a person, St Peter saw a large colourful house. “-have your name?” he managed to finish his sentence with a surprised squeak.

He blinked and then rubbed his eyes for good measure.

Nope the house was still there.

Then the front door opened on its own, making what looked like a waving gesture, at least that what Peter interpreted it as. Peter gave the house an awkward wave back. “What the fuck?” he muttered to himself as he picked up the phone mounted on his stand. He dialed the Head Seraphim’s number, hoping he wasn’t going to interrupt her doing anything important. However he really had no idea what to do with a house of all things at the front door.

- - - -

Sera who was currently taking a break, was enjoying a nice cup of tea and a book when her phone on her desk started to ring. Scowling slightly as she put down her book, she grabbed ahold of the receiver and answered the call. There better be a good reason, she thought to herself, annoyed by someone interrupting her break. “Hello this is Sera speaking, may I please know why you have called me?”

St Peter’s voice, oddly shaky, came through the receiver. “S-sorry to bother you Head Seraphim, but there’s a bit of a strange situation at the pearly gates.” Sera immediately straightened in her seat, concern etched into her frown. Anything strange happening right at the Pearly gates was cause for concern.

“What kind of situation St Peter?” Sera asked, getting to her feet, ready to leave her office with as much haste as she could muster.

There was a pause, and a small bit of hesitation before St Peter answered her question. “Uh well, there’s a house in front of me, and I have no idea what to do about it.” Sera blinked, taken completely off guard by what St Peter had just told her. There was a what?

“I’m sorry there's a what?!?”

. . . .

Sera, with a curious Emily joining her (Sera would have stopped her, but she knew Emily would likely just sneak off to see what was happening), flew to the Pearly gates, and saw that what St Peter had said was true.

A house had somehow found its way into Heaven, and from the fact it was moving on its own, it was alive somehow.

Sure why not?

Sera’s seen weirder.

Sera and Emily flew down to greet the house and St Peter. “Welcome to Heaven. I am Sera, high seraphim and current leader of Heaven,” Sera greeted the house, only to realise that she couldn’t actually understand it.

Emily, always happy to meet new people, gave her own greeting as well. “Hi I’m Emily, but you can call me E, Emi, Milly any of them would do.” she said greeting the house with her usual levels of enthusiasm.

The house rattled its windows in response, Emily tilting her head to the side as it did so, almost like she could understand what it was saying.

“It’s nice to meet you Casita!” Emily apparently could understand the house. Okay.

Well at least they knew the house was called Casita now.

“There’s someone inside you?” A rattle of tiles shake in confirmation. “Okay,” Emily said with a nod, “we’ll check on Mirabel for you.” The front door opened and before Sera could caution Emily to not run into strange places, she ran right on in.

Sera sighed and moved to follow her.

- - - -

Emily didn’t have to go very far to see the girl Casita had told her about. She was sleeping on the floor of the courtyard. She had black curly hair and freckles on her face. She was wearing a white blouse with colourful butterfly stitching, as well as a teal skirt that went to her ankles. Emily didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings, focusing all her attention on the young woman on the floor.

She sat down near Mirabel, and figuring that the stone floor wasn’t the most comfortable thing to be resting your head on, moved Mirabel to rest her head on Emily’s lap.
Emily just had to wait until Mirabel woke up, and from the way she was stirring, Emily didn’t have long to wait.

Mirabel eyes somewhat bleary, woke up and was greeted by Emily’s smiling face. “Hi there.” Emily greeted, enthusiastic but quieter than usual. “I’m Emily it’s nice to meet you.”

“Uh I’m Mirabel.” The glasses wearing girl said, sounding completely lost and uncertain, which made sense to Emily. She had just died after all. “Where am I?”

“You’re in Heaven.” Emily told her, making sure her tone was gentle and soothing as possible. Not wanting to give the cute girl in front of her a shock.

“I’m in what?”

Chapter Text

From me in the future to me in the past

Vaggie Carmine-Morningstar went to bed with the two women she loved with all her heart, and found herself in a place she didn’t really expect to see in her dreams. It was the nursery she stayed in, back when she was Mirabel and back when she was alive.

After the cluster-fuck that was the trial in Heaven, she had began to get more and more flashes of Mirabel’s memories, remembering her past piece by piece and eventually remembering who she used to be. It got to the point that she really couldn’t deny it any more, the fact she used to be Mirabel Madrigal. That and Sera had confirmed it when she had asked the Head Seraphim after the attack on the hotel. Sera had also handed Vaggie a journal that the fallen angel had entrusted to her before her memories were erased.

Despite the fact Julieta was right about that, Vaggie’s relationship with the adults of the Madrigals was still a fraught thing, the lingering hurt making it difficult to hang around them and spend time with them. Her relationship with her cousins and her sisters, in complete contrast, was a pretty good one all things considered.

But enough about that, the room was cast in shadows, and looking out the window showed that it was night. Vaggie couldn’t hear much aside from the sound of stifled sobs coming from the bed in the corner, these sobs were the ones people made when they tried to be quiet and not draw attention to themself. “Hello?” Vaggie quietly asked making the sobs stop, as the one underneath the covers held their breath. “I’m not here to hurt you, I promise.”

There was a rustling of someone coming out from underneath the covers, and out popped Mirabel Madrigal. Well that confirmed to Vaggie it’s just a dream. “¿L-lo prometes?” Mirabel asked, her voice shaking and hesitant with sorrow. Her vibrant green eyes wet with unshed tears. Looking at Mirabel lets Vaggie see how the young girl’s features match up with Vaggie’s. The way her eyebrows sloped, the shape of her eyes and other miscellaneous features. All of them matched what Vaggie could see on her own face whenever she looked in the mirror.

“Lo prometo.” Vaggie said making sure her voice was gentle and even, doing her best to reassure the kid. Thankfully that seemed to do the trick, as Mirabel seemed to calm down ever so slightly.

“Are you an angel?” Mirabel asked, making Vaggie turned to see, that yes, she had her wings out. She quickly dismissed them, and they faded away with a small flash of light.

Vaggie chuckled slightly. “Something like that.” she answered the younger girl. “What’s got you all upset?” she asked sitting down on a nearby chair.

“Today was my gift ceremony,” Mirabel glanced down, Vaggie realising what was happening, “I-I-I didn’t get a gift.” Vaggie had heard the story before. On a Madrigal’s fifth birthday they would get a magical gift from the candle. All of them bar Mirabel of course. “D-did I do something wrong?” Vaggie’s heart broke at hearing a little girl say something like that, like she actually did something wrong. Vaggie just wanted to wrap the girl in a hug like she knew that Charlie would. There also was the unspoken question that Vaggie could hear in Mirabel’s words. The question of if she was worthy of love, a question that Vaggie had struggled with and still somewhat struggled with, her doubts still whispering in the back of her mind.

“Fu-.” Wait Vaggie probably shouldn’t swear around a kid. “Heck no kid, I doubt you did anything wrong. Besides you don’t have to prove yourself to be loved, I promise.” Mirabel gave a slight start at that, but Vaggie continued, telling her the words Vaggie wished she could have heard when she was younger. “You are worthy of love, and one day you’ll find people that love you for you.” She would meet Sera, Emily, Charlie, Lucifer, Carmilla, Rosie, all those people and more. “I know that for a fact.”

“You promise?” There was a glimmer of fragile hope in Mirabel’s eyes. Vaggie wanted to protect that hope.

“I promise.” Mirabel began to yawn, exhaustion clearly catching up with her. “I think someone’s tired.”

“I’m- ha- not tired.” Mirabel tiredly said. Vaggie chuckled good naturedly, watching Mirabel slowly drift off.

“Good night Mirabel.” Vaggie said, walking up and tucking Mirabel into bed. “Sweet dreams.”

- - - -

Vaggie woke up with a smile on her face, something Charlie noticed immediately, due to the fact she, propped up on her elbow, was watching both of her girlfriends sleep peacefully, Emily was still dead to the world, snoring adorably. “Good dream?” Charlie asked the fallen angel.

Vaggie let out a small and content chuff before answering.

“Yeah it was a good one.”

- - - -

Mirabel, once she woke up, wrote off her encounter with the angel as a dream. But even still she took the one eyed angels words to heart, and no matter how bad things got, she would clutch that hope close to her heart, so close it would burn.

Even when she forgot Mirabel Madrigal, a small ember of hope would remain. Allowing her to preserve even when the odds were against her.

Chapter Text

Late nights and sleepless mornings.

Sera couldn’t help the fear that was surging throughout her body as she bore witness to the roots of sin trying to take root and bloom, she was flying high above them and she didn’t feel the slightest bit safe. The roots looked wrong, they had no shadows, looking at them hurt even Sera’s eyes, they bent and twisted in a manner that would tear apart most roots, the eyes dotted haphazardly looking wildly in all directions. They felt wrong- like an aberrant existence, they felt like someone had concentrated all the evil and sin in the world into a vile flower one that emerged from a hole in the world, that Hell had unleashed upon the world. Many brave souls fought to hold back the encroaching tide. The lucky ones were the ones who were killed instantly turning to ash and dust. The unlucky ones were consumed alive, and still screaming in agony.

Blood was falling from the sky like a twisted mockery of rain, staining the world with a sanguine hue. Sera could feel the blood pool in to every nook and cranny. The sun did not shine and the moon was fragmenting and the air was screaming like the damned. Conquest had been unleashed. A mother’s mercy was being given to those who did not want it. Part of the world had an edge that should not exist. The laws of the world were being broken. The world was in danger.

The roots of █ █ █ seek only to subsume, once they take █ █ █ █ they shall bloom a vile flower of █ █ █. One’s perceptions of the world shall █ █ █ █ █ and blur together. One who walks this █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ █ path shall not █ █ █ █ █ in their current form. One must define their own path to █ █ █ █ in this twisted world. Fail and you will be consumed by the █ █ █ █ █.

She dodged the fireball heading right at her, reminding her she was fighting in a war, and that she should really focus on that. She shot a glare at who attempted to attack her, and was greeted by the sin of Gluttony himself Beelzebub. He was an enormous purple fly, with red compound eyes and four clawed arms. “Ah Sera,” the demon lord buzzed, his voice like a chorus of flies speaking in unison, “little lapdog of the tyrant of law, what brings you to this little garden of freedom?”

Sera scowled, her wings beating furiously while she tightly gripped her spear. “What do you think?” she angrily spat at the demonic fly. “We’re here to stop you.”
Beelzebub just laughed, taking Sera off guard momentarily. “What’s so funny?” she furiously demanded an answer.

“Oh how little you know. This is the start of a war against the dispensation of the universe itself.” Beelzebub didn’t have the mouth to smile, but Sera could tell he was smiling mockingly at her anyway. “You won’t be able to stop us.”

“You dare rebel against God’s order!”

Beelzebub sighed, like he was disappointed in Sera, and Sera had no idea why. “I see you’re just another zealot. I will leave you with just one question, providing you survive, that is. Do you know why your precious God was so eager to fight this war?” Beelzebub didn’t give Sera time to think or answer, lunging right at her to kill her.

- - - -

Sera woke up her bed with a gasp, her breaths short and sharp, her eyes searching for any signs of danger. She gazed round her room, seeing that it wasn’t a war torn battlefield, found it was just another nightmare. Or rather a memory from back during the war she had to remind herself, she was alive, she was safe and she was fine. Most nights she could sleep without interruption but sometimes the memories came to the forefront, like it did this night.

She glanced at the alarm clock she kept on her bedside table, and noted with a great deal of annoyance that it was two in the morning in Heaven. She pondered on what to do, she could go back to sleep but she was most likely going to have another nightmare, she could just lay here awake but her thoughts would keep dredging up painful memories. So eventually she decided to get up and make herself a cup of tea in order for her to relax, it also gave her the opportunity to reassure herself that Emily was fine, that she was alive and that she was safe.

Her abode at night was a quiet place, cloaked in a gentle and peaceful darkness. Sera first made her way to Emily’s room, seeing that Emily’s door was wide open allowing Meowy to come and go as she pleased.

Sera poked her head through and using the light of the moon to see, was very relieved to see that Emily and Meowy (who was using Emily’s stomach as a pillow) were sleeping peacefully, gentle snores coming from the resting angel. Meowy cracked her eye open, and upon realising it was just Sera closed them again.

Sera made her way downstairs to the kitchen, flicking on the lights as she entered it. She made a beeline to where she kept the kettle and the teabags, getting them set up.

As she waited for the kettle to boil, Sera leaned against the kitchen counter, feeling an exhaustion that laid deep in her bones that ached constantly. She could hear the pitter patter of tiny cat feet race towards her, meaning Meowy thought Sera was going to feed her at two in the morning. Sera glanced towards the kitchen entrance seeing Meowy sit near her food bowl waiting patiently for food. “It’s not breakfast for you yet Meowy.” she chided the cat, knowing that cat didn’t care. “Emily will be up in a few hours and she’ll feed you then.” A begging meow was Sera’s response. “No means no Meowy.” Meowy looked at her pitifully, but Sera’s will was iron clad.

Sera sighed and walked over to where Meowy was sitting and picked her up in her arms. She cradled the now purring cat in her arms. “Would hugs be suffice?” She took Meowy’s purring as a yes.

Sera felt herself relax slightly as she felt the cat’s rumbling purrs with her arms. Soon enough she could hear footsteps coming down the stairs meaning Emily was awake, and knowing Meowy it was probably because she used the seraph as a launchpad.

Emily didn’t look fully awake yet, her hair was sticking every which way and her eyes where still half lidded. “Sera why are you up?” Emily asked with a small yawn.

“Just bad memories nothing more.” Sera replied softly, still cradling Meowy in her arms.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Emily asked, her kindness shining through even when she was still half asleep.

Sera shook her head, not wanting to go back to those memories in the slightest. “It’s a kind offer, but I’m not ready to talk about it.”

Emily looked like she wanted to ask more but whatever expression she saw on Sera’s face dissuaded her. “Okay then.” Emily wrapped Sera in a gentle andloving hug. “But remember I’ll always be there for you, just like you promised to be there for me.” Sera couldn’t help the small smile on her face thinking about that day. Everything was so new and scary to a younger Emily, and Sera promised her that they would always be there for each other.

“Thank you Emily.” Sera said. The kettle let off steam, telling her that it was done boiling the water. “Would you like some tea?”

Emily nodded her head, so Sera handed Meowy over and got to work. Once both angels had gotten their tea, they sat on the back porch, silently enjoying each other’s company watching the sun begin to rise. They were fine, they were safe and they were alive.

Chapter Text

To gaze at the distant sky

Rosie woke up in her wife’s bed to find that she was alone. Blinking her eyes, she felt around that indent Carmilla had left in the bed, and found that it had long gone cold. It looks like Carmilla was having trouble sleeping again.

Frowning slightly in annoyance mixed with concern, Rosie got out of bed, already missing its alluring warmth and comfort, but making sure her wife was okay was a higher priority. Rosie had insisted that if Carmilla had trouble sleeping, that she was to wake Rosie up so the cannibal could help her get back to sleep. However Carmilla, often the chivalrous one, often refused to do so, leaving Rosie to eventually wake up and go looking for her, in order for the cannibal overlord to drag her wife back to bed. Thankfully Rosie knew where to look, as when Carmilla had trouble sleeping she often went to the same place.

She made her way to the balcony that was attached to their shared bedroom and lo and behold, there she was, leaning on the railing while gazing up at Heaven with her bright red eyes. Carmilla made quite the sight on this moon lit night. Her long white hair, usually done up, was falling down to her calves. Rosie loved running her hands through Carmilla’s hair, enjoying how it felt through her fingers. Her night gown a simple black affair, hand stitched by Rosie as a gift made her look absolutely delectable. But that was beside the point.

Carmilla looked back and like Rosie expected, her face was a conflicted and completive one. “Hello Rosie.” Carmilla said, her voice somewhat rough. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“Psssah,” Rosie said with a wave before reaching up and gathering up Carmilla in her arms, “I know for a fact that I asked you to wake me up if you had trouble sleeping. Remember?”

“I know.” Carmilla replied, leaning into the hug. “But I feel like I’m bothering you if I do so.” The ‘I hate bothering and burdening the people I care for with my problems’ went unsaid, but Rosie heard it loud and clear all the same, knowing her wife well enough from their years of marriage. It was something they were working on together.

“Carmilla,” Rosie began, “I love you, every part of you, and I don’t mind you bothering me, in fact bother me whenever you need me.” She meant that completely.

“I love you too. I know but it’s hard...” Carmilla trailed off.

“Because you were taught to rely only on yourself.” Rosie finished, having had this conversation with her wife before. “I know it’s hard but I believe in you.”

Carmilla’s lips twitched up in a slight smile. “Thank mi amore. I’ll try.”

“Any time Cammy any time and besides all I ask is that you try.” Rosie replied, happy to see Carmilla smile. “Same nightmares as usual?” she asked, knowing that Carmilla’s past was a heavy thing and one that weighed on her. What she had done had repercussions that could still be felt to this very day.

Carmilla gave a small but exhausted sigh before answering. “Yes.” she replied softly, turning her head to look back up at Heaven. She didn’t need to say anything more, Rosie had long grown familiar with Carmilla’s demons. Rosie just tightened her grip, knowing Carmilla found it grounding. The silence was a familiar and companionable one.

Eventually Rosie spoke up again. “Let’s head back to bed shall we? It’s late and we need the rest.”

“We do.” Carmilla said in agreement. So with Rosie leading her by the hand Carmilla went back to bed. Rosie got herself settled in while Carmilla did the same.

As they got themselves comfortable Carmilla asked. “Could you hold me?” her voice was shaky as she asked Rosie that.

“I sure can.” was Rosie’s gentle and loving response. Rosie shifted over and began to hug Carmilla from behind, feeling the other overlord relax in her embrace. “Good night Cammy.” she whispered lovingly to her wife.

“Good night mi amore.”

Chapter Text

The day god was struck down

God was in his Heaven but not everything was right with the world. Heaven was at war with Hell itself. His angels were fighting to make sure Hell would not impede the creation of the true paradise. Where everything would have its proper place as declared by Him. The world would be at peace and His praises would be sung for eternity.

He was sitting on his throne, thinking through his next moves. In the beginning He was omnipotent, able to see all that is and all that will be, until on one auspicious day, Lucifer tempted Eve to eat the fruit of knowledge, after that his power waned, he was able to see less than He was used to. He was still strong yes, but diminished in a way He despised greatly. It was all the fault of those who went against His grand design, Lucifer, Lilith, Eve. He punished the first two by casting them down into Hell. The third was consumed by something He did not devise or create but existed nevertheless, the roots/origin/end/bones that laid below the dark.

After Eve ate the fruit/receptacle of knowledge/burden/sin she became much greater/lesser than a human/monster/god. What remained/bloomed of her was a shell/terminal/fragment/void of her former/current/future self.

The throne room of Heaven, a grand place fitting for His majesty and grace, was usually occupied solely by Himself until he heard the door opening and the sound of soft footsteps echoing off the marble floor. He looked up from His thoughts and saw a cloaked figure walk towards him, a glowing sword on their back. The cloak hid their features well, and when He tried to peer into their being and see who was approaching him, He found her couldn’t do it, He saw nothing. It was like seeing a hole/hollow/pit in the world, a void/emptiness where there shouldn’t be one.

[WHO ARE YOU?] He asked, His voice demanding an answer. [YOU DARE APPROACH ME?]

“.....” the figure said nothing at first, His anger grew at His question not being answered. They drew their sword, the steel glowing in the light of the sun. They spoke, their voice disguised by some unknown means. “Why did you start this pointless war?” He could swear He could glimpse grey eyes that almost silver, with shimmering tears falling, deep in the shadows of the hood, but it was gone as quickly as it arrived. “Why are you throwing us all into the meat grinder, nothing could be worth all this suffering and death.”

[TRUE PARADISE IS WORTH THE SACRIFICE, YOU ARE GIVING YOUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF THE PERFECT FUTURE, EVERYTHING WILL BE IN ITS PROPER PLACE THERE WILL BE NO SIN NO SUFFERING NO HELL NO NEGATIVE EMOTIONS, THERE WILL BE ONLY JOY AND PLENTY I WILL BE IN MY HEAVEN AND ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD]

“This is not a future I can accept or condone, your paradise is a meaningless one without emotions that you seek to sever. It would be one soaked in the blood of the innocent and damned alike. Is that truly your idea of paradise?”

[YES, YOUR REFUSAL MEANS NOTHING]

“I see, then there’s is no more to discuss.” The sword was pointed at Him, He tried to stop them, but anything he tried did nothing. It was like trying to destroy nothingness. Like trying to destroy what had become of Eve/the second/the root. His eyes widened in realisation, as He figured out how this figure was doing this. They had been shielded by that damnable root or one of its many terminals.

The figure sprinted towards Him, sword ready to strike.

It struck true, piercing the heart of God. He could feel His very being corrode, He was being undone.

As God was struck down, the hood was blown back revealing someone who He never expected to see do such a thing.

[WHY? YOU WERE ONE OF MOST FAITHFUL ANGELS, WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WHAT DID THE ROOT OFFER YOU?]

“Simple I want this war to end and killing you would help accelerate that,” the traitor shook her head. “They offered me one thing only. A means to finally strike you down, which I must pay the price for soon enough, but if it means saving those I care for, then it’s one I would pay again and again.” Cracks began to form on the sword that was consuming God, blinding light spilling forth.

The sword shattered, and in turn God shattered too.

He no longer lived. His presence was gone, and all His angels would soon be aware of His death.

God had been struck down. Leaving only an empty throne and shattered steel fragments. When this was discovered, it would be found that it was a prototype weapon made of a substance that would be called angelic steel. It was one that was reported missing only a day ago, and no one knew who stole it. As everyone who knew about the research project would have alibis.

The angel put her hood back up, knowing what would happened if someone like her saw leaving the throne room, especially after what she had just done.

Besides there was a price she needed to pay.

Chapter Text

File number 61 R.O.S

Roots of Sin

Status as of xx/xx/xxxx: Slowly waking.

Threat level: Apocalyptic.

The roots of sin are a curious existence- they are much older than should be possible, it typically takes the form of red wooden roots that have eyes of all shapes and sizes dotting its surface- all of them looking every which way, but has on occasion been seen to flower, each flower is one of seven different colours. What reason it flowers is unknown. The roots themself seem to act instinctually at times, chasing whatever catches their eye, like someone chasing a distant dream. It has been sleeping for many many years, the last time it was close to awakening it was during the last Heaven/Hell war.

List of know flower colours:

Blue

Purple

Red

Yellow

Silver

Green

Orange

What these colours represent is uncertain, but one theory posits that each colour is one of the seven deadly sins.

The full extent of the size the root system is unknown, but estimates place it as large as Hell itself, and it’s slowly growing as well. How large it currently is or will get is unknown.

Location: the root system is mostly found beneath Hell itself, growing alongside it at the same slow rate. But it is highly likely that it goes deeper than that, we’ve only managed to do surface level scans, and what we’ve found shows something truly enormous.

Peculiarities: the root system isn’t just a mindless entity that grows and grows. It’s intelligent, and has its own plans. It can interact with people using terminals, individuals that have been absorbed by the root system. It is not known whether or not any part of the absorbed individual’s personality or souls survives the process but the terminals do have access to the original’s memories. Many terminals seem to be people we have no record on, and searching for any information has turned up nothing. However some terminals seem to be copies of people who still exist in their original form, an example of this is the terminal that is an exact copy of exorcist lieutenant Lute. How this occurred is uncertain as the Lute currently residing in Heaven is the original one that was recruited by Adam to join the exorcists. Another point of interest is that while each terminal is part of a greater whole, they have degrees of individuality and differing priorities meaning they can easily end up conflicting with each other due to pursuing different goals. Thankfully for the most part the terminals are content to stay in the root system beneath Hell, however there have been reports of known terminals been seen elsewhere such as [DATA CORRUPTED]

Known terminals of note: Eve, Lute, [DATA CORRUPTED]

Known abilities: absorption of living entities, high speed regeneration, hemokinesis, Oneiropathy, deal making, [DATA CORRUPTED]