Angel Caido

Ever since Sir Pentious’ ascension to Heaven, Sera and the rest of the elders had decided to give the sinners a shot. The exterminations had been cancelled, for now, and Heaven and Hell had been working together to diminish the overpopulation in Hell by having the sinners redeem themselves. 

Emily and Charlie had been working double-time to make sure everything was running smoothly. 

They were a month in when Sera decided it was time to see the hotel in action. She would be accompanying Emily down to the Hazbin Hotel. 

The trip was short and uneventful, the portal taking them from their pristine headquarters to the homey lobby of the Hazbin Hotel. 

Sera was surprised to find the lobby not completely empty. There were a few sinners roaming about, pamphlets in their hands, listening to the radio demon as he conducted a tour. 

Emily grabbed Sera’s hand and pulled her up the stairs. “C’mon, Charlie must be in her office.”

Sera let herself be dragged by the cheerful angel and reminded herself to keep an open mind. 

They neared Charlie’s office and Emily knocked on the door before poking her head in. Sera heard the excitement in her voice as she greeted Charlie. “Hi, Charlie! Hi, Vaggie!” 

Emily was pulled inside by the princess and into a crushing hug. Sera could hear them chatting excitedly as she approached the door. 

Sera went in after Emily and nodded her head in greetings to the couple. “Hello.”

Charlie seemed to vibrate in excitement when she saw Sera. ”Sera!! Hi!! I’m so glad you could make it! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!”

She did a sweeping motion with her arms and beamed at Sera. Sera smiled. “Thank you, Princess. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress.”

Vaggie scoffed, her expression stone cold, but she didn’t say anything. Sera grimaced and gave her a weak smile. She knew the fallen angel didn’t like her, but she was trying her best! Hopefully that was enough. 

Charlie went up to her girlfriend and put her arms around her. “Vaggie is just as excited as I am, right, sweetie?”

In a monotone voice, Vaggie responded, “Yeah. Sooo excited.” 

Sera knew Vaggie would be watching her every move so, for Emily’s sake, she would try to make a good impression. 

“And I am… very…. excited to be here.” 

She looked over at Emily and received two thumbs up. Another weak smile was sent her way. 

Before it could get truly awkward, Charlie clapped her hands together. “Well, I think we should—“

Her words were drowned out by the sound of the door being slammed open. “You wanted to see me, your highness?”

Sera felt a shiver go down her spine and followed the sound of the raspy voice to its owner to see a gorgeous, tall, frowning woman standing at the entrance. She wore her long, white and black-streaked hair down and had sharp, claw-like hands that were crossed and grasping her forearms. Sera had never seen a more beautiful sight. 

She felt her wings flex in excitement of their own accord and looked around in a panic as she consciously closed them up. Luckily for her, everyone was staring at the other woman and it gave Sera the time to recollect herself. 

She had never lost control of her faculties in such a way before. Then again, she had never had an emotional reaction like this to anyone ever as she had always prided herself in staying impartial on all matters brought to their Heavenly courts. As such, no one had ever caught her eye before because she simply wasn’t interested. Until now. 

Suddenly, Sera was very interested. In a demoness. From Hell. Lord, help me.

Vaggie spoke up first. “Good to see you, Carmine, thanks for coming.” 

The tall woman rolled her eyes. “Well, when the Princess of Hell demands an audience…” Her eyes slithered over to Sera and widened ever so slightly. “But it seems you’ve double-booked, so I’ll get out of your hair.”

Charlie ran over to her and grabbed one of her massive hands. “No! Please! Carmilla, I really need to talk to you!”

Carmilla Carmine. Sera recognized the name. Emily had told her of the overlord’s involvement during the last extermination. How it was her love for her daughters that led her to discover the angels’ weakness. Sera had been shocked to see such an act of pure love originate from Hell. Sera had been loath to admit at the time that there might have been some truth to Charlie’s arguments about demons and redemption. 

Now, that small fact about the overlord just made Sera want to get to know her more even though she was berating herself for checking her out. Sinners and Saints should not mix. 

Carmilla sighed. “I already know what you’re going to say and the answer is no.”

Charlie scoffed dramatically. “How could you possibly know—“

“You were going to ask me to join your little group of sinners in the hopes of redeeming myself, but the answer is no, thank you.” 

Charlie pressed on. “But Clara and Odette—“

“My daughters have made their decision and I will support them in any way I can, but frankly I simply don’t feel the same way. I’m already funding part of your little experiment, I don’t wish to take part.” 

Sera felt herself speak before she could stop herself. “Why not?”

All eyes turned to her and she felt herself flush in embarrassment. The overlord’s red eyes narrowed in on her as she answered. “Because there’s nothing there for me. What am I going to do in my free time? Knit? Por Dios, I’m bored just thinking about it.”

Sera stopped herself from reprimanding the sinner for taking the lord’s name in vain. Instead, she smiled at the demoness. “There is something for everyone, I can assure you.” 

Carmilla smirked back, eyes raking over her before speaking, sending a flash of heat through Sera. “Hmm, I don’t need, nor want to find a new hobby, I’m quite content where I am.” 

Sera gulped. That smirk had made her lose her train of thought. All she could do was stare into those red eyes while waiting for her brain to supply her mouth with other words that weren’t: God, you’re beautiful. She had to get a grip. She was the High Seraphim for God’s sake. 

Vaggie broke the spell Carmilla seemed to have over Sera. “What about your daughters? Aren’t you going to miss them?” 

Carmilla glared at Vaggie. “Of course I will. But they can visit or call. I mean if the HighSeraphim is allowed to visit anytime she pleases, I don’t see why my little angels can’t.” 

That gaze was once more directed at Sera and she cleared her throat to try and focus on the issue at hand. “I’m sure we can come up with something, don’t you Emily?” 

She was shocked by her own response. Angels commuting to and fro whenever they wish? What next, demons taking leisurely strolls through the gates of Heaven? Sera needed to stop this nonsense. She couldn’t just say things to please that other woman. This was all just in her head. It’s been centuries since she’s travelled out of Heaven, of course the first pretty face she sees would turn her head. It didn’t mean anything. A silly crush at most. She could push through. 

Sera came out of her thoughts just to hear the tell-end of Emily’s idea. 

“… We can’t force sinners to repent, but keeping your family apart would be cruel.” And internally, Sera agreed. This woman had done the impossible for her daughters. Why should God punish her for loving them? 

Carmilla smiled amusedly at the eager angel. “Thank you.” Then she turned to Charlie. “Well, if that’s all, I have a business to get back to.” And she turned on her heels and left. 

Charlie’s smile fell and Vaggie went over to her and drew her in a hug, whispering comforting words to her girlfriend. 

Sera stared at the spot where Carmilla had once stood. Carmilla, who was now on her way out and who Sera might never see again, would have no excuse to see again. 

If it was such a silly crush, why did the thought of never seeing her again pain Sera? 

Sera was fascinated by this sinner, by her complexities. Her beauty has enraptured her, sure, but it was her love for her daughters that made Sera want more. For millennia, they had been taught that there was no love in Hell, that that’s what made demons irredeemable, for only lust and hate were found in Hell. 

But here Sera stood, surrounded by all these demons who could love, who could care for others. And now, one of these possibly redeemable demons was walking away and Sera felt bereft.

The thought spurred Sera to action and, without a word, she took off after the overlord. 

She heard Emily call out after her, but she ignored her. 

Using her wings to garner more speed, Sera caught up to Carmilla right outside the Hotel as she walked to her car. 

“Miss Carmine, wait!” She touched down right behind the arms dealer and saw her turn around with a displeased expression on her face. 

“Just Carmilla is fine.” She tilted her head to the side, a questioning look overtaking her features. 

Sera felt herself blush at the scrutiny. She couldn’t exactly explain why she had come after her, she just felt like she had to. Divine intervention or something of the sort. 

“Right. Well, I’m Sera. We weren’t properly intro—“

“I know who you are. You’re the woman who authorized the extermination and by extension almost killed my daughters.” 

There was no malice behind her words, she was merely stating the facts. 

Sera sputtered. “I- Well- Yes, that is true. But, it was a mistake. And I will continue to atone for it for the rest of my immortal life. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused. I thought I was protecting Heaven from an uprising.” 

Carmilla studied her for a second before nodding to herself and opening the backseat car door. “Come with me.”

Sera was stunned. “W-what?”

Carmilla sighed. “Get in. I want to show you something.” 

Now, Sera was nervous, she eyed Carmilla’s angel steeled ballet slippers warily. “Oh! I-“ 

The other woman rolled her eyes. “Relax, I’m not going to kill you. I merely wish to show you something. Something that will put your mind at ease over the whole extermination thing. Por favor?” 

It was Sera’s growing infatuation with the woman that made her get in the car. 

Carmilla slid in next to her and instructed her driver to go. “Let’s take the scenic route.”

“Sí, señora.”

With that, Carmilla sat back in her seat and looked out the window. At such close proximity, Sera felt her wings extend towards the other woman until her upper wing was slightly caressing Carmilla’s shoulder. 

Sera mentally chastised her body for reacting to her thoughts without her permission. Yes, she thought Carmilla was attractive, but that did not give her wings permission to start a mating dance to attract her attention. 

Embarrassed, Sera snatched her wing back and firmly pressed her back to the seat to stop it from extending again. “I’m sorry about that, these things have a mind of their own.”

Carmilla chuckled, her deep tone sending shivers down her wings. “No harm done.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence and Sera took the time to look out the window. At first all she saw was a blur of lights and colors, but eventually Carmilla’s driver slowed down enough for her to make out what was outside. What she saw made her recoil and avert her eyes. She could feel a blush invade her cheeks. 

“Heavens!” Sure, Adam was a bit… fresh at times, but nothing he’s said or done will ever compare to the horrors Sera had just witnessed.

Carmilla chuckled again and when Sera turned she was surprised to see Carmilla already staring back at her, a smirk adorning her lips. “Not what you usually see out your window up there?” 

Sera cleared her throat and shook her head. “Not at all.”

“Hmm. I figured.” 

“Why are you showing me this?” Sera had guessed that Carmilla had had no actual destination in mind. 

Carmilla slid closer to Sera, prompting three of the angel’s wings to unfurl and curl over the arms dealer as she invaded her personal space. Sera gulped. 

Carmilla nudged Sera’s chin with her thumb and once more the Seraphim was gazing out the window, Carmilla’s chin coming to rest on her shoulder as she did the same.

“Do you see these sinners?” Her voice was low and deep next to Sera’s ear. 

Sera, now rendered speechless by the woman’s proximity, merely nodded. They were currently driving through a quaint street filled with people dressed in Victorian garbs. Their eyes were completely hollow and some, Sera could see, had razor sharp teeth. As they passed near a shop, Sera noticed that what was on display was not candy or chocolate bars, no, this shop sold limbs and tongues and all sorts of human remains. Sera grimaced in disgust and shuddered when she realized she was in the famous Cannibal Town. 

Sera closed her eyes as they kept going down the street, not wanting to witness anymore atrocities. “I’ve seen more than enough.” 

“Then you should understand that Heaven has nothing to worry about.” 

Sera turned to look at Carmilla, their noses almost touching. “What do you mean?” 

Carmilla sighed and leaned back in her seat, Sera’s wings pressed behind her. “Hell would never rebel. It’s too divided. That’s how the overlords want it. The more divisions, the more souls an overlord can own. It would take a miracle to get us to agree on something as big as a rebellion. It’s simply too taxing to even think about. And something about us sinners is: we like to take the easy way.” 

The car was now turning around, back to the hotel. Sera was losing time. 

Carmilla continued, “Besides, the only person who could ever bring all of us together is working on redeeming souls for Heaven. It’s Charlie you need to keep on your good side.” 

She was right of course. Sera could see that now. And seeing as Charlie was currently working to help Heaven, well, Sera truly had nothing to worry about right now. A huge weight off her shoulders. 

“What’s in it for you? You’re losing souls, aren’t you?” 

Carmilla shrugged. “There will always be more. And my daughters wanted to try it. How could I say no?” 

And that was that. 

They were nearing the hotel now, Sera could see its shiny sign at the top of the hill. She turned to Carmilla and her breath caught. Carmilla was bathed in the soft light that entered through the tinted window, making her eyes shine a dark red. She was surrounded by Sera’s wings, the feathers poking through her hair. Sera had never wanted before. Lust was a deadly sin after all, but here, in this car, Sera was ready to commit sin. And she was sure she would not be confessing afterwards, for there would be nothing to repent for. 

Carmilla’s eyes narrowed as she took in Sera. Her gaze travelled up and down, from her flustered face, to her outstretched wings, slowly encircling them both. Carmilla smirked. 

“Ah. Ya veo.”

“What do you see?” 

“You. Fighting against your natural instinct. Your wings say you want me, but your eyes betray your panic.” Carmilla slid closer to her, her hand coming to rest on Sera’s waist. “Breath, Sera.” Sera took a stuttering breath, her eyes closing. At the close proximity, Sera’s wings came to enclose Carmilla in their embrace and Sera did not have the strength to stop them. 

Carmilla huffed amusedly. “I really was not expecting my day to end like this.”

Sera opened her eyes to stare at the demoness. “Trust me, neither did I. I mean, I don’t even know what this is.”

“Well, it’s simple. You want me. Which is incredibly flattering by the way.” Carmilla caressed Sera’s cheek and leaned in. Against her lips, she whispered, “And while I wasn’t keen on you from the start, I must admit, there’s something about you…” 

And just when Sera thought their lips would meet, Carmilla pulled away. “We’re here.” 

But before Sera could regret all of her choices that night, Carmilla grabbed her chin in her hand. “I expect to see you again. Whatever you have to say to Emily to excuse your presence here, make it good.” With that, she crashed her lips into Sera’s and Sera saw stars. 

Their lips slotted perfectly together, Carmilla taking the lead. Sera had never done this before, but she knew she never wanted to experience this with anyone but Carmilla Carmine. 

Carmilla pulled back and smirked at the dumb-struck expression on Sera’s face. “Ay, mi amor…” 

And Sera beamed at her.