Chapter Text
Bel was sitting next to him with Charlie in her arms when he came to. She handed him a cup with a straw.
“Come on, drink up, you need to replenish your electrolytes,” she smiled. He sipped at it. Apple cinnamon. Not bad. “Lu, why didn’t you call me sooner?”
“Couldn’t move,” he grumbled. “I blame my Dad,” Bel sighed.
“How long?” She asked.
“What day is it?” He countered.
“Saturday,” she answered.
“Oh wow. That’s a long way from Thursday,” he sipped his drink. Horror crossed her face.
“The day I left!?” She cried.
“Wuz my due date,” he slurred. Bel sighed.
“I’m so sorry Lu,”
“Meh, we can both hate my Dad for jerking off while torturing me,” Lucifer shrugged.
“Lu, the fuck did you think?”
“I dunno, I was in a lot of pain and pleading wasn’t really working. So y’know, guess that became a thing,”
“I am so sorry I wasn’t here,” she cried. Lucifer shrugged again. He didn’t even really care. Everything was covered in a soothing haze.
He was left alone with his drink after that.
%^%^%^%
Belphegor paced back and forth, rocking Lucifer’s newborn infant (he was entirely too out of it to be trusted with her) as she listened to the phone ring. Finally, the other party picked up.
“Heya Bel, how can I help you out? Need me to watch Lu for a bit?”
“32 hours,” she spat. “I left him alone for 32 hours and he spent all of it in labour. I’m fucking stupid Oz!”
“Well fuck,” Ozzie cursed and a portal opened. Lucifer whooped.
“Look, Ozzie’s here!” He was so out of it. He stared between his legs. “I’m covered in blood,” he noted idly. Bel face palmed as she hung up the phone. “I! Am going to pass out now. Kay thanks,”
“Well fuck,” Ozzie repeated, staring at Lucifer’s limp body which was now covered in smoothie.
“ She’s healthy,” Bel gestured to the baby in her arms. “But he’s an entirely different story,” she sighed. “Between the blood loss, the trauma of going through labour alone and cussing out his Father for 32 hours, he’s going to need a shit ton of help.
“Well, good old Yaweh deserves to be cursed out, but certainly not fair on Luci,” Ozzie groaned. “I think the first step is getting him cleaned up,”
“Right, that’s why I called you. Can you handle that while I get her cleaned up?” Bel summoned a table to work with. Ozzie nodded.
~+~+~+~
Lucifer woke up to the sound of running water. He blinked and stared at the tub in front of him. Ozzie was flitting about.
“I am naked,” he announced. “And on the floor,”
“Thanks for stating the obvious, Luci,” Ozzie groaned.
“I have no idea what is happening right now!” he giggled. “I feel like I need to be worried about something,”
“How about you let me worry about getting you cleaned up,” Ozzie gently picked him up and set him into the warm water in the tub. Gold and black swirls spun away from his body. With a flick of Ozzie’s wrist, the water was clean again. But it didn’t take long for it to once again be dirtied by the blood leaking from him. Lucifer let himself be submerged in the water and turned off his breathing, relishing in the warm sensation and sensory deprivation.
He needed to be worried about something right now.
What was it?
Ozzie carefully washed the muck out of his hair and off of him.
“I’m forgetting something,” Lucifer muttered. “Something important,”
“Luci, I’m sure whatever it is can wait until after you get cleaned up,” Ozzie sighed. Lucifer shook his head.
“It’s really important,” he stressed.
“Okay, I’m sure it is, but right now you are covered in blood and various… labour juices,”
Labour.
He’d just had a baby.
“Charlie!” he yelped and tried to get up. Ozzie held him by the shoulders. “I have to- to-”
“Lu, Bel has got her, okay? Let me get you cleaned up, okay?”
“Oh,” he relaxed back into the warm water. “I feel gross,”
“Yeah, you just pushed out a baby, I don't think anyone is expecting you to feel the best,” Lucifer’s stomach growled.
When was the last time he ate?
Wasn’t it before he went into labour?
“I need to eat,” he groaned. Was his failure to eat affecting Charlie? Or did his body have some kind of failsafe in place for that?
Charlie would also need to nurse soon, regardless of if his body had a failsafe. His stomach growled again, this time it actually kind of hurt.
“Well, I’m almost done here, so we can get you something to eat then,” Ozzie smiled. He pulled the plug and lifted Lucifer out of the bathtub. He squeaked. “Uh, can you magic some clothes onto yourself?” That would be easier than trying to get dressed manually.
Despite having done nothing but be bathed, when Ozzie set him back in the bed, he nearly passed out again. Bel had changed the bedding so it wasn’t covered in blood and sweat and whatever else came out of and off him when he gave birth. Tiredly, he propped himself up against the pillows. Bel walked into the room and handed him Charlie, who had also gotten cleaned up.
Tears flooded his eyes. Soft blonde hair covered the top of her head and her eyes were the same ruby red as his, staring up at him. She reached up excitedly and babbled. Lucifer laughed wetly.
“You’re perfect,” he smiled and tears ran down his face. “S-so perfect,” he sobbed weakly. Ozzie ran a hand through his wet hair.
“Really put your daddy here through it, didn’t you, little one?” Ozzie chuckled.
“AUNTY BEE IS IN THE HOUSE!” Bee kicked open the ajar door and announced. “And I brought food!” Bel smacked her.
“What is wrong with you Bee? Why are you so loud?” she huffed.
“Luci finds it endearing,” Bee protested.
“Yeah, when I’m not half asleep from cussing out my Father for making my life miserable. Because this one could never be at fault for anything, could you?” He wiggled his fingers in her face and she giggled.
“So we’re blaming Jehovah for this shit show then?” Bee asked.
“Yaweh,” Ozzie countered.
“You know neither of those are His name, right?” Lucifer asked. “It is quite literally just God,”
“Also those Jehovah Witness people are in a cult,” Ozzie smirked. Bee growled.
“Ah! Can I get the food before you throw it at Ozzie?” Lucifer smiled. Bee growled at Ozzie but set the tray on his lap. And then promptly tackled the Sin of Lust. Bel walked back into the room and yelped.
“WHAT THE FUCK!?” she yelled. Lucifer covered Charlie’s ears.
“Language!” he protested.
“We’re in Hell Lu, she is going to hear so much worse,” Bel groaned. “Beelzebub! Asmodeus! Get it together!” The duo pulled themselves off each other and stood up, casting the other glares. Lucifer laughed.
“He started it!” Bee huffed.
“You jumped me !” Ozzie protested.
“Cut it out you two!” Lucifer interrupted them before another argument could break out. “We’re mad at my Dad or Lilith, not each other! I’m sick of these petty arguments!”
“Great job you two, you pulled out dad Lucifer,” Bel laughed. Lucifer covered Charlie’s eyes and flipped her off.
“Bel, I wanted to say thank you for all your help through this. I know I wasn’t easy to handle. I really don’t want you to blame yourself for not being here. I’m all but certain that was divine intervention to make things more difficult for me,” Lucifer smiled sadly. “And you two were helpful too I guess,” he rolled his eyes.
“Yes!” Bee pumped a fist. “Fist bump!” She held out her upper right fist. Ozzie bumped it happily.
“Are you done beating each other up now?” Lucifer sighed.
“For now. Ozzie’s my bud, he knows it’s all in fun!” Bee looped an arm over Ozzie’s shoulders. The Sin of Lust rolled his eyes. Or at least that’s what he probably did. It was never easy to tell with him. Lucifer picked up a piece of toast and took a bite.
The food was gone more quickly than he would like. But he also got his fill. And Charlie took his being done as an invitation to claw at his chest and cry to nurse. He unbuttoned his shirt and let her at his chest.
“Well, I got my answer to who she looks more like,” Bee snickered, earning her another smack from Bel. “What? He’s an Archangel. We already knew she’d look more like him, it’s genetics!”
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Ozzie said with a frown.
“Meh, I don’t really care. She is adorable though!” Bee gushed. “Look at you, acting like you didn’t make your dad go through 32 hours of agony,” she cooed. Lucifer blinked. Huh. He knew it had hurt but it really just… wasn’t registering as much.
Maybe he was just tired. That was probably it.
“It did hurt, that’s for sure. But I don’t really… remember how much it hurt,” he admitted aloud.
“Your body releases hormones to help negate the trauma of labour. It’s a safety mechanism so that you don’t see it as a bad thing and you may yet have another pregnancy,” Bel explained. “When your Father gave you female reproductive organs, he also added all that in,”
Oh.
“So it’s fuzzy on purpose?” He blinked.
“Yeah. And if it wasn’t from hormones, that amount of pain would make clarity nearly impossible,” Belphe laughed sadly. “I know you don’t want me to feel bad about it, but I really do!”
“It’s better that He pulled that. Because if He wanted me to be alone during labour, He could’ve very easily just dumped me into another dimension until I was done,” Lucifer groaned. At least this way he didn’t have to deal with that.
“Feeling less bad about it now,” Bel gulped. Lucifer nodded.
Charlie pulled away from his chest and yawned. Which subsequently made Lucifer yawn.
“How about you two get some sleep and we’ll work on getting everything ready?” Bee offered.
He should’ve protested. They didn’t need to do that.
But he fell asleep before he could.
~+~+~+~
Single parenting was hard. Oh sure, the Sins were there in some capacity, but they had lives to get back to and Rings to run.
Not that he didn’t as well.
His tired haze of sleep was broken by wailing cries. Groaning, he flopped out of bed and walked to Charlie’s crib. She quieted as soon as he picked her up, and promptly started clawing at his shirt.
Instead of opening it like he normally would, a thought flashed through his mind and he got the urge to throw her.
Shut up! I’m trying to sleep!
He sent a duplicate to handle Charlie after that, and she clearly wasn’t happy with that but he didn’t trust himself.
No. No! What kind of parent had those thoughts about their child!?
Maybe he should call someone?
So they can know how terrible you are? That you wanted to throw your own infant?
He choked back a sob. He was terrible !
If he told someone, what would they even think?!
Charlie finally calmed down after 3 hours of her desperate cries and his own panic. By that time it was morning and she was put back to sleep.
Bee walked through his bedroom door with a giddy look that dropped upon seeing the horrified look on his face.
“Lu? Luci, what’s going on?” He just sobbed. She went to hug him but he pushed her off.
He didn’t deserve to be comforted! Bee’s face softened.
“Oh Luci, you aren’t terrible, I promise. Those are normal thoughts,”
“ No! She’s my baby ! I love her! I shouldn’t think about- about- throwing her !” He cried. “I’m the worst!”
“Lu, shut up and listen to me. You are not the worst for having those thoughts. You’re exhausted and still packed full of hormones. Your body is in shock from the stress of giving birth and taking care of a child nearly alone ! Even without that, it’s normal to have those kinda thoughts. It’s called postpartum hun,” Bee explained.
“‘M not evil?” He muttered. “For wanting to throw her for a second and thinking about telling her to shut up?”
“No, Lu, you aren’t. This stuff happens , okay? As long as you recognize that it’s wrong, you’ll be fine,” Bee ruffled his hair.
“B-but sometimes I just look at her and I-I feel nothing ! I should see her as the best thing ever but sometimes I just see her and feel lost ,” he shuddered.
“Lucifer, even without the hormonal mess you’re depressed. And I get it, you feel terrible for having that emotional disconnect with your own child who you birthed, but it isn’t your fault. You could barely get out of bed on your worst days before this and now you’ve got a whole other person who needs you to take care of them when you can barely care for yourself!” She protested. His head slumped and eyes slid shut and he had to jerk his head up to stay awake. Bee ran a comforting hand down his back and it made him want to sleep even more. “Luci, get some sleep. I can handle the little one for a bit,”
“Can I use you as a pillow?” He asked. She laughed and nodded.
*&*&*&*
Lucifer had always been a very physical person. It was the first thing they learned about him upon the Fall and their own creation. Once he recovered from his body being ripped to shreds enough to wake up , and they’d gotten introductions over with, he started cuddling Bel. They’d assumed it was because he was literally a child who was cast out by his family, but it kept happening whenever he got close to someone. Lilith, that bitch, had said it was odd behaviour and he started hiding it more. But in moments like these, it would come out a lot more. And with Bel because they could all agree that Bel was like a giant stuffie, especially Lucifer.
Her theory had a few factors to it. If they got him really drunk (which was a task with his Angelic tolerance, on top of being an Archangel), he’d mention things about his Angelic nature. How they were social creatures who were always in contact with each other physically, especially the children. And how he had seven siblings who raised him with him at almost all times, touching, cuddling, spending time together. There was also the fact that he’d been so forcefully ripped away from them. Lilith had spotted him in the Garden and seen his beauty, and no one could deny the testament that Lucifer Morningstar was God’s most beautiful creation. She’d also seen his insecurity and exploited it quickly, his desperation for validation making it easy. And then she shared the Apple with him, and then he gave it to Eve who shared it with Adam, condemning the duo to Hell, the new pit that had opened, for their actions. And Lilith wasn’t a physical person. She’d touch him during sex and to caress his face to symbolise her ownership of him to others, but she never gave him the simple cuddling he craved. The trauma of everything made him easily latch onto the first people who showed him kindness.
Even Mammon, who was usually one of Hell’s worst (he really wasn’t as bad as they said he was), had quickly grown attached to the strange young man who’d brought them to life and been terrified. He’d shower their younger (in every sense except physical) brother with gifts like he’d do for no one else. Where he’d normally make something quickly and cheaply to sell it, for Lucifer and those he cared for, he’d spend hours perfecting it, like with the projector he’d excitedly showed her. His main issue was his Greed making him forget that his employees were people, but he also knew that and had learned to accept it. The others usually helped regulate it, but when Lilith started pulling Lucifer away from them, they all started falling apart, letting his behaviour get out of hand.
Bee herself was also a very physical person, by virtue of her instinct to overindulge through parties. And she knew Lucifer had always appreciated her extroversion to his introversion allowing them to bond quickly and form a very personal connection that she knew he didn’t share with anyone else. For her he’d take risks, and show off pieces of himself that would otherwise stay hidden. He was far from quiet about his sexuality, his nature as the Devil and Lilith’s abuse making it incredibly obvious, but he’d also be modest unless at one of her parties. Heck, he normally wasn’t a social person unless there, when he’d talk about his interests and adorably infodump about them to anyone who’d listen, when normally he’d struggle to do that. She never let the miniskirt go because he’d been stunning and clearly loved exposing his femininity in a safe way.
Hopefully this experience won't ruin that.
Ozzie, though his stereotypes and assumed personality would indicate otherwise, was one of the most mature of the group. He knew how to comfort anyone through a difficult situation, and his infatuation with Lust was more about letting yourself exist in every possible way that you wanted without judgement. His ability to see people’s sexual experiences was a mixed bag more often than not. With Lucifer it allowed him to know how to comfort him when exhaustion from Lilith’s demands broke him, but with others it could scare them off knowing he knew about their traumas without them telling him. He was also the second most well mannered of the Sins, the first place going to Leviathan. The two of them had always been the negotiators of the group, Ozzie’s sexuality and abilities allowing him to recognize their most intimate desires and whims, making it easy for him to know if they were worth their time and how to talk to them. He was also the only one who knew a single thing about preening and would help Lucifer with it when he could, the two of them being the only ones with feathers in the group. Bee had tried to learn but she was a Glutton for everything but responsibility and struggle.
Bel was most of the group’s favourite. The only exception was Lucifer, actually, who’d formed a connection with her and Ozzie in their immediate voiced attachment to him. Bel was not quiet about her status as group teddy bear and mom friend (coined by her of course). With almost everyone, she’d figure out their physical issues as quickly as possible so she could get back to resting, but with them? She’d level buildings if it meant finding the solution. She hadn’t hesitated to assign herself as Lucifer’s doctor when Ozzie broke the news about his pregnancy, knowing that her knowledge could help him with whatever he was going through. That’s how Bee knew about postpartum issues. And if Lucifer was a physical person, then Belphe was a physical existence . Her soft catlike body fur had a soothing effect and her woolly hair made a perfect blanket, which Lucifer latched onto quite literally. She wasn’t allowed at Bee’s parties because her calming energy could quickly ruin the vibe. Bee would rather she hadn’t started holding out on the party drugs, but for some reason she was under the impression that Bee was addicted ! Which she wasn’t. Gluttony wasn’t fun if it got ruined by addiction making it a chore.
Lev was an enigma to all of them, even Lucifer. They idolised him, seeing his creation as perfection that all should strive to meet. If Bee didn’t know better, she’d say that they were the one who started all the Devil worship. But Lev wouldn’t stand for getting him confused with Satan. Lev was really just weird . They simultaneously saw themself as the best of the group and envied the others’ best traits. It was like Lucifer's ego and self hatred but also completely different. Other than Lucifer, who could change any part of himself on a whim, they were the best shapeshifter and could masquerade as one of the others in a pinch. They’d learned that much after they made a dare with Satan to see if they could run Wrath better than him.
As for Satan, he was quick to rage, sure , and that was well known, but he was actually the most emotional of the group. If he wasn’t raging he was Bee’s favourite, his usual good natured attitude having a wonderful savoury taste to it that she could relish for the rest of eternity. It was a coin toss if they decided to leave him alone with Lucifer. They’d either end up sparring and having a great conversation or everything in a six kilometre radius would be destroyed by Satan goading Lucifer on to let his anger out. Which was fine when it was in the remote fields of Wrath, the lush remote forests of Gluttony or the wide open sea of Envy, but the busy metropolis of Lust and the bustling cities of Pride couldn’t take it. Nobody cared what happened to Greed because it was all ripoffs and bootlegs anyways. So they avoided that because letting God’s favourite Angel with powers second to only His get that angry was risky . Lucifer always felt terrible about it but Satan had claimed it to be ‘necessary destruction’ EVERY TIME.
They all had aspects of Lucifer, or did he have aspects of them? They had raised him for 3000 years before he properly matured.
And they’d fallen into that enjoyable routine and friendships. But this was clearly changing everything .
For one, he’d finally seen Lilith’s true colours. And branded her of all things! It was badass, but such odd behaviour for Lucifer. Which might seem like a weird thing to say about the Devil, but they’d all come to know him as the sweet little Angel who wanted to see the best in everyone and could barely hurt a fly unless a member of his family was hurt by it. And seeing that ruthlessness and monstrosity from him meant it had happened.
He’d been broken.
And it was Lilith’s fault! She’d taken the perfect sweetness that made him what he was and then twisted it into anger and bitterness.
Lucifer never considered himself. He’d go from believing he was a God worthy of just as much if not more worship than his Father to hating himself on a dime. That was the problem with all their Sins. They ruled the Sin, sure, but in the same way it ruled them. But despite it all he’d never hurt someone for hurting him.
Because God had told him he deserved it. That he was some strange mistake. A thrill for the Almighty.
But Lilith had managed to find it. His breaking point where he hurt someone for his own sake. Well, to some extent it was more for Charlie’s sake but ultimately he’d branded her with his name for her belief that she could own him.
For two, he was also filling into the ‘dad’ role super easily. Almost too easily.
They didn’t need him to be the dad friend. They had Bel.
Charlie crying broke her out of her thoughts. Lucifer startled awake and immediately fell onto the floor. He scrambled to his feet and picked her up, cradling her.
Bee smiled. They’d be okay.
~+~+~+~
Lucifer’s recovery time was cut way shorter than he would like. Adam and his army of ‘Exorcists’ would be coming down in less than a week. And the Sinners were panicking.
And he didn’t like Sinners but nobody deserved this kind of thing.
It was just so uncharacteristic of Heaven.
But not of Adam.
So to say he had meetings lined up would be an understatement.
The Sins also had their own workload to catch up on.
“Make sure she gets her nap. A-and if anything happens that you think I should know about, call me. This is her favourite toy and she prefers the purple and pink bottles over the blue one,” Lucifer frantically explained to the babysitter he’d hired. It had taken hours to find them, so many applicants were unfitting.
“Your Majesty, I promise no harm shall come to your daughter,” the imp assured. “I will give her the best of care,”
“Yes, you’re right. I’m just anxious and all. I trust you, and Charlie likes you,” Lucifer took a deep breath and reluctantly handed her to them. His watch started beeping, telling him to hurry up and leave before he was late.
It had been almost a year since he’d been in an Overlord meeting and this was far from an easy thing to talk about.
“Welcome back, Your Majesty. I’d love to take the time to give you a proper celebration, but we have a bit of a tight timeframe. I’m sure you understand,” Carmilla stood and announced. Lucifer nodded curtly. “We don’t know what to expect with the Extermination. That is a problem . All we know is that these Exorcists have plans to slaughter us indiscriminately, other than Hellborn,”
“This could very well cause all of us to lose a great number of Souls that we have under contract,” the radio fucker spoke up. “We have to figure out the best course of action to protect those we own,”
Lucifer certainly wouldn’t put it that way, but it could’ve been worse. And he did have a point.
“Okay, but we can’t just gather them all in one place. If they get into it they’d all be screwed,” the gambling Overlord spoke up, paws folded on the table.
“Yeah, that’s a pretty major concern. Really, it seems like there isn’t a good way to protect ourselves. Unless we could get into the lower Rings,” Vox shot him a pointed look.
“The circumstances of letting Sinners into the lower Rings is much too difficult to save a substantial number of you,” Lucifer sighed. “I’d be able to get maybe two or three Sinners down in the week,”
“Mayhaps this shall be a consideration for thou in coming years?” Zestial asked. Lucifer shook his head.
“It’s too risky. No offence, but I don’t trust immortal Sinners around my mortal citizens. It’s a consideration I have to take into account,” he explained.
“Well, I personally think it’s a fun toss up! It allows for Hell to get shaken up,” the Cannibal Overlord chuckled. “But I can understand the hesitance for such a change,”
“So is our best option really just to hide !?” The porn Overlord slammed a fist onto the table. He should really tread carefully if he didn’t want Lucifer to hand him over to Ozzie.
“It’s unfortunate, but it really seems that way. We need to work on fortifications. Are there any ways to make the Angels either avoid us or not be able to access us?” Carmilla turned to Lucifer. “I don’t know how these Exorcists work. It’s really hard to say. For right now, I suggest spreading out across the city and hiding in inconspicuous places,” Lucifer suggested.
“I suppose that shall have to do,” Carmilla sighed. “Onto the next order of business-”
Outside, Sinners frantically tried to fortify their homes and others were just laying down on the street, accepting their fate. Lucifer stepped over a sobbing rabbit demon. He found the alleyway he was looking for and straightened his collar.
“If freewill is a Sin…” he prompted.
“Then I don’t want to be a Saint,” a feminine voice finished, a form materializing in the shadows.
And then he was in a bone crushing hug.
“Luc, you never come to see me anymore!” She complained after pulling away. “You had a kid and never told me! I heard you finally got sick of Lilith,”
“Those two were more meant for each other than they could ever know,” he snorted. “Maybe my Father did know what He was talking about,”
“You got a cig?” She held out a hand. He summoned one for her and lit it with a flame above his thumb. She took a long drag and blew it into the alley. “Remember when you complained to me that your period was your body punishing you for not getting pregnant? Still believe that?”
“Seriously, I’m sorry you had to go through that shit. Sure, Lilith was an ass but at least I
had
a bed! You had to sleep on the ground with fucking
Adam
!”
“Lu, he’s a jerk but he’s my jerk. You might like him if you gave him a chance,” Eve took another drag of her cigarette, ears twitching.
“Maybe when he isn’t leading an army down here to kill indiscriminately,” Lucifer huffed. “And respectfully Eve, he’s a dick. Fuck, the dick even,”
“Yeah but you’d tap that if you could,” Eve quirked a brow.
“If only for the idea that I’d have fucked all three of the original humans,” Lucifer laughed. “I am a dirty little slut after all,” Eve snorted.
“I fucking hate you, you know that? Also, still not over the whole rabbit thing!”
“I had zero control over your Hell form and you know it. Besides, rabbit Sinners aren’t exactly uncommon,”
“Was that a fucking joke !?” She cackled. “You think the wards trapping me here will ever go away? I’ve gotten sick of this building. I wanna visit your kid,”
“I’m sorry Eve. I don’t have any idea what exactly is keeping you bound. It seems to be a combination of a Soul deal and the ambient magic of Hell,”
“Just come and visit more often man,” Eve smiled sadly. His watch started beeping. “And I guess that’s your cue. Have a good day Luc,” Eve swirled back into the shadows. Lucifer sighed.
He went back home after that and relieved the babysitter of duty. He sat in a chair, rocking her idly while his head felt like it was full of static. Exhaustion clouded the edges of his thoughts and made his body feel a little floaty and disconnected. His eyes slid shut, the soothing sway of the rocking chair lulling both him and Charlie to sleep.
He was woken up an hour later by her cries. Tiredly, he forced his eyes open. She was staring up at him and wailing while shifting uncomfortably.
“Oh, did you have a poop?” He booped her nose and smiled. “That’s okay, Daddy will clean you right up,” he snapped his fingers to summon the changing table and set her down before pulling a diaper out of the bag he kept in the living room. She squirmed as he changed her diaper, but settled down once it wasn’t touching her skin. The skin was red and irritated. “Oh, looks like somebody has a diaper rash. Guess these won’t work anymore, huh?” He helped up the diaper he’d grabbed. With another snap of his fingers, it was replaced with one for sensitive skin. Charlie giggled at the sparkles that swirled in the air as he did. With quick precise movements, he changed her diaper in less than five minutes. Once that was done, he hoisted her back up. The action was getting more difficult. “Well, aren’t you a big baby? Only three months old and you’re giving Daddy a hard time when picking you up,” he laughed. She cooed in his arms. “Yeah, so happy and healthy, you are. My perfect little Charlie,”
Who keeps me up at night and doesn’t care about my needs . His face drained of colour and he set her down in her bassinet before running to the washroom. He’d been having more of those wayward thoughts lately and just flashes of rage that he couldn’t ignore. When he asked Bel what to do about it, she told him to set Charlie down and step back for a few minutes to calm down. She was adamant that he didn’t shake her. And while that idea terrified him, the urge didn’t go away. It made him feel sick, the way his body and head were acting right now around her. His own emotions and thoughts felt contradictory and made him feel like a terrible parent.
“Okay, okay. These are normal thoughts and feelings. That’s what Bel and Bee said. Completely normal. Get your shit together,” he jabbed a finger at himself in the mirror. “You’re just tired and full of hormones. It will go away. And you can go back to feeling bad about yourself in the usual way!”
But what if they just said that to make you feel better? The voice in his head taunted. He gripped the sink and took more deep breaths. You’re violent and terrible. You’re the Devil. You shouldn’t be a parent. He sobbed. Why was this so difficult?! His thoughts were right, he was a terrible person who shouldn’t be allowed to be a parent. He never should’ve had Charlie.
But that wasn’t fair on Charlie. She shouldn’t get to exist just because he’s such a mess? It was how things were, and she only wanted to be a person. So even if he hated himself and hated her sometimes, he had to push through and be a good parent.
Stupid, stupid, STUPID! His thoughts raged. He screamed and punched the mirror, glass showering around him. Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as he panted and sobbed.
It took him nearly half an hour to calm down, and Charlie was screaming in her bassinet when he came back out. She only settled down when he picked her up and cradled her to his chest, shushing her and promising that he was there.
And he got another sleepless night, Charlie unwilling to settle down if he wasn’t touching her. He was too scared to fall asleep like that, what if she crawled off the bed and fell? What if she smothered herself in the blankets?
When Marian got there in the morning, he’d already set her down in the bassinet for her to take care of. The imp smiled and once again promised her the best of care.
“Well, I have a meeting with one of the Goetia that I have to get to, so I’ll see you when I get back,” he smiled and made his way to the door.
“Sire? Are you alright? You look exhausted. Surely they can understand the need to postpone,” Marian grabbed his sleeve and looked at him with sympathetic eyes. “I know I needed more than a few months to recover after having my kids, and to just spend with them,”
“I appreciate the thought but I have a Realm to run and Heaven is sending down an army to kill Sinners in 2 days,” Lucifer sighed. “Thank you for taking care of her. She’ll be staying in Lust with Asmodeus starting tomorrow until after the Extermination. Make sure your family is in the Lower Rings before I block travel between them and Pride the day after tomorrow,”
“Of course Sire. I’ll see you in a few hours,”
The Goetia was a stork woman with pale features and cold eyes. He was greeted by an imp butler at her door, and he welcomed Lucifer in, leading him to the meeting room. She was sitting at the table in the room, sipping tea. She invited him to sit.
“Welcome to my home, Your Majesty. I am Selphet, and I wanted to speak with you about the Hellborn and Ars Goetia in regards to this upcoming… Extermination,” she started.
“Hellborn are at no risk of being killed during the Extermination, as per my agreement with Heaven. I do still advise spending the next few days in the Lower Rings, as I will be closing transportation between them and Pride starting the day before the Extermination itself. While I doubt it will happen, I have concerns about Angels getting into the Lower Rings,” Lucifer assured her. She nodded.
“Of course, but what of the Hellborn who chose to remain in Pride? Because you must recognize it as a possibility? How do we know these Exorcists will not kill them anyways?”
“I understand your concern. I will know the instant a Hellborn dies to an Exorcist and will jump in immediately. It’s my main reason for remaining in Pride, other than it being the Ring I rule. If Heaven breaks their end of the deal, then the Extermination shall be called off indefinitely, so I doubt it will be a concern, as they are careful in matters such as these,”
“And what of your infant daughter? Where shall she be during this time?” Selphet asked with her head cocked. Lucifer bit back the urge to snap at her. It was an understandable question.
“She will be spending three days in Lust with Asmodeus. It is far from ideal but I want her to be as safe as possible. I highly suggest any Hellborn under the age of a year are kept in their native Ring, or with a trusted family member,”
“Of course. Thank you for your time, Your Majesty. While you’re here, you wouldn’t mind answering some questions about unrelated issues, would you?”
“No, of course not. Enlighten me,”
He hated politics. Selphet was one of the better Goetia to talk to, and he might enjoy her company again at a later date, but he was stressed out of his mind right now and not ready to send Charlie down to Lust for a few days. The idea of being away from her for that long was daunting.
“Luci, why don’t you just come down with us? I don’t mind you visiting and you wouldn’t have to be away from her,” Ozzie placed a hand on his shoulder as he frantically made sure everything was in order. Lucifer shook his head.
“The Sinners are my people just as much as the Hellborn. I have a duty to protect them to the best of my extent, and I promised Adam and Sera a meeting afterwards,” he sighed. “Thanks for taking care of her, Oz. You’re a great friend,”
“Of course babe. Just try not to push yourself. You already look exhausted and I doubt you’ll get any sleep with her away,” Ozzie squeezed his shoulder and stepped back. Lucifer picked up Charlie and nuzzled her face before telling her she’d seen him soon and handing her to Ozzie. The Sin of Lust smiled and walked through the portal. Lucifer sighed. He had work to do.
He swung open the door of the balcony he addressed Hell from. There were a shit ton of reporters gathered around, ready to record his announcement and share it with the entire Realm.
“Citizens of Hell!” Lucifer addressed the crowd. “The day after tomorrow marks the first of Heaven’s annual Exterminations. Hellborn are once again asked to make their way to the Lower Rings by the end of the night, as access via the Pride Ring will be unavailable starting at midnight, until midnight on Extermination Day. If you haven’t left the Pride Ring by then you will be here until access reopens. Sinners are warned to avoid grouping up, as if you are found all of you will be killed. The best way to stay safe is to keep out of sight and stay on the move,” he took a deep breath. “I wish you the best of luck. Overlords will discuss the redistribution of land the day after if any die. Enjoy what may be one of your last days alive,” he turned around and walked back through, the doors closing behind him. Only then did he let his tears fall.
So many Sinners were going to die because of his actions. He may as well have done it himself. A wet angry sob crawled its way out of his throat. They were far from innocent, but surely they didn’t deserve this !
The next day went by in a haze. His exhaustion and anxiety turned it into a soupy mess he could hardly remember. And now here he was, standing on the edge of his balcony as the shining light of Heaven grew over the horizon, indicating the dawn of a new day. It was almost 8:00, the time the Exorcists would be coming down and wreaking havoc for the next 12 hours. The large clock in the middle of Pentagram City, acting as the Heaven Embassy and the new Extermination countdown, struck 8 times and a glowing golden hole was torn in the sky, hundreds of figures clad in black and white flying through, led by Adam’s golden cloaked form. Lucifer leaned against the railing, watching as they swooped into the streets and started slaughtering indiscriminately. Crimson blood flooded the already red streets of the Pride Ring, splashing onto the animated masks of the Exorcists, who wore wide grins as they stabbed Sinner after Sinner without a care.
It was terrible.
Finally, after the endless fury of the Exorcists had killed thousands, the clock struck 8 times, indicating the end of their time. They all flew back through the portal. Lucifer teleported to the Heaven Embassy with a sigh and signed his name.
He was greeted by Adam and two of his ‘Exorcists’, clad in black and grey attire with white stripes and helmets covering their human-like features with imp-like horns. Adam also wore one of these masks, but it was much sleeker and more menacing than the girls’.
“Hey Luci. This is Lute and Vajie, a couple of my Exorcists. Lute is my lieutenant and second in command, and Vajie is my best killer. They’ll be joining the meetings,” Adam grinned, the yellow light of his mask very expressive. Lucifer sighed.
“And what of Sera?” He asked, taking a seat. “Will she be joining our meetings?”
“No! She has better things to do than listen to your dumbass,” Adam snickered. ‘Lute’ laughed along but ‘Vajie’ remained silent, staring at the door.
“Right, of course. Give me the rundown please,” Lucifer sighed.
“Straight to business I see. Only straight thing you’ve ever done,” Adam guffawed. Lucifer ignored his jabs and waited. “Right. We killed 5,694 Sinners in the past twelve hours. As promised, no Hellborn demons were touched, all of the girls given equipment in their masks to distinguish between them and Sinners. This will resume every year at the same time for twelve hours from 8 am to 8 pm yada yada, you know the whole spiel,”
“Of course. Is there anything else I should know or can I go pick up my daughter now?” Lucifer asked with a flat look.
“We didn’t get Lilith. But I looked for her! And Eve was also impossible to find,” Adam huffed. “I can’t believe your tranny whore ass stole
both
of my wives!” Lucifer stood up and started walking away.
“I can’t say about Lilith, but Eve still loves you. If you ever have intentions other than murdering her, come and ask me and I might take you to see her,” he closed the doors behind himself.