Hazbin Hotel: Singed Wings

Pentagram City, downtown. Two days later.

Okay, maybe William had been a bit hasty to start doing something about Project Light right away, because he did have a few pressing projects to take care of.

The first was to increase his combat potential, or to increase his survivability. The second, although it could be next to the first, was preserving his soul. Hell, it just won't let itself be fooled, somehow continuing its effects with perfect precision. Even if it is slow, comparable to the speed of continental plate movement, it will inexorably catch up with him. Not now, so in a century; not in a century, so in five or ten.

For now, his only chance for some kind of deliverance was to get close to Charlie, hoping that she would somehow ask her father to help the poor Sinner so that at least one soul could be saved... Or he and she would really find a way to take a soul to Paradise, and then the problem would solve itself.

"Speaking of Paradise... The very same one that recently sent an invitation to negotiate for Lucifer for... Lord of Silence, on behalf of Adam...", William thought, remembering this morning, a familiar letter sent by Lucifer, demanding him at a specific time, came down on his sleepy head eating breakfast.

"Apparently Adam was able to find a few minutes with his wife's savior... He won't seriously think that Lucifer could have helped Eve in any way...", William thought, walking towards the Embassy, through the parting Sinners, occasionally crushing the idiots who decided to try their luck and test the rumors by playing music right in his face....

And so these Sinners became instruments. Merged with guitar, drum and some other national instruments of other countries. Instead of words - music, at least they'll be useful that way... A couple of months, and then they'll return to their former appearance. William was an Archangel, and they were made to forgive the sins of souls.

"...And after all, if I can achieve intangibility, I can fly safely on my wings! No Sinner will be able to reach me, and if I can add the ways of Goetia, or even Sins, to the formulas, then there's no point in hiding...! Well, I'll have to hide my celestial nature one way or another, just to...", William thought about everything and nothing as he walked up the steps of the Embassy, unnoticed by anyone thanks to the Weave.

Even though he could use the same Weave to cover himself in the air, it was not a cure-all, for the Overlords had other abilities not accounted for by his formulas, and Entropy could play tricks on him, like making him a living beacon for the Goetia demons, piquing their interest.

He'd change his appearance, but his Messengers still get shot down periodically.

Anyway, a happy William, who had been in a high mood for the last few days, and even nightmares were less bothersome, strode through the grand hall of the Embassy to the "reception area," where he had to enter his name for the meeting.

Inscribing "Zephyr, Lord of Silence," humming some tune Charlie had invented, he tapped the top of his cane without making a sound or a beat. His fingers passed through the object, shifting into its spatial pocket, leaving bits of his 'suit' in that one. The formula still wasn't perfect, which meant volunteers were needed...

Meanwhile, William had found the right door of Paradise, remembering for a moment his days as an assistant to the Supreme Seraphim and filled with the joy of the world was ready to listen to all of Adam's dumb jokes! Even if he was drunk, he'd only sober him up so he could get him drunk again!

"You wanted to meet this Doomed Soul, High Angel?" - William almost sang as he entered the dark room, illuminated by the light from the corridor.

Albeit it was strange in that there were other Powers here, and in the place of projection...

The lights came on abruptly.

He was greeted by Paradise's familiar meeting table, filled with the entire cast of Shield Sisters, including their leader, Lute, sitting in chairs.

Lute herself stood next to Adam's intended seat, hands behind her flat back, without her usual Exorcist mask.

Frigg and Freya sat on the high backs of chairs, the former swinging her legs, gazing boredly at the ceiling, the latter swaying back and forth, nearly falling over, helping herself with her wings, imitating a swing.

Astrid and Eina were looking over some papers, Astrid was writing something and Eina was checking. Both were sitting at a desk, doing the work of the Division, William assumed.

Sigryn and Sanchi were either hovering, in the case of the former, or lying on the desk like Sanchi. It was like she was at home, lying in the place where they were negotiating with the Devil himself!

...Okay, maybe not in this room, but William was still somewhat perturbed. Considering that there are no more souls around, no more surveillance, if all of William's Weaves and senses are to be believed, and all of these souls are aware of Silence's identity....

"Sanchi, how many times do I have to tell you not to break discipline and lie down in official or important places!" - William sharply barked, causing Sanchi, out of habit, to immediately jump up from her seat, taking off abruptly.

"I beg your pardon, Master Virgil!" - Sanchi saluted fearfully under William's quiet laughter. The rest of the Valkyries, helmetless, similarly turned their attention to William, though Lut definitely spotted him right away.

"Master!" - Frigg exclaimed, barely missing the back of her chair.

"William." - stretched out Freya, smiling softly, flying up slightly and dropping to the floor of the hall.

"Fallen/Archangel." - stretched out both assholes, Astrid and Eina, apparently for the same reason and busying themselves with the paperwork from which the two were too eagerly distracted.

" Virgil." - Lute stretched out with a smile, strangely softly - Or just William. - immediately lived up to his expectations, that lousy girl.

"She deserves her share of the fun, just for putting up with Adam's bullshit and keeping it in check," William shook his head, taking off his 'costume,' white skin, and mask.

"Lut, Frigg, Freya, Astrid, Eina, Sanchi, Sigryn." - William nodded to each, smiling sparklingly at his companions for the first time in days. - "All just as beautiful and all just as busy with Adam's work."

"Touché." - Freya stretched, doing a short somersault in the air around his figure. - "And you're still going strong. There are fewer cracks this year."

"Really!" - Frigg exclaimed as she flew around him, running her hands over his skin. - "Fewer cracks indeed..." - Frigg stretched out in amazement. - "But you're in Hell, in that asshole of Creation, how did you...?" - Frigg whispered question after question, to the quiet chuckles of her battle sister.

" Please, Great Archangel, free us from the oppression of a cruel tyrant and despot. He is a misogynist and...!" - Astrid had no sooner finished her tirade than she was immediately slapped by Lute and then Sigryn.

"Yesterday she herself called him 'beloved husband' and 'benefactor of mankind' when he let our Othell rest, shifting our duties to the poor Guardian Department." - Lute shook her head, looking apologetically at William, who nodded understandingly.

"I'm glad you're still as cheerful as ever." - William smiled, sitting down in his chair with a tired sigh. - "But may I ask the reason for this abrupt invitation from Adam? By the way, where is he?" - William did not add a reason to the phrase. The Sisters of the Shield could supplement his words perfectly well by simply recalling the last couple of days.

"Still enjoying the company of his returned wife, William." - Lut smiled softly, covering her eyes. - "He sends you his greatest thanks and a request to come out to the next Slaying as well. You can even go with the Princess." - Lute laughed, eliciting chuckles from the other Valkyries as well.

"Seriously, what was that?" - Eina asked after she had laughed off, leaning on the back of her chair in flight, "lying down."

"Princess Hell actually wanted to try and cancel the Slaying, not just this year, but as a phenomenon in itself." - William shrugged, summoning a tea set and sweets that went out in a flash for all the Sisters.

"And to allow the Cursed City to overflow, and to stop controlling the souls constantly fighting for dominance and it's only a matter of time before another gang of Overlords gathers, eager to first take over Hell and then go to war on Heaven... What could possibly go wrong when one wants to abolish the only deterrent?" - Sigryn shook her legs, sitting down on the back of her chair, letting the sweets and cup of tea hang in the air next to her.

"I keep trying to get these thoughts across to the Princess and I think I'm making progress." - William shrugged, sipping from his cup of his favorite liquid. The rest of the Valkyries, similarly allowed themselves his treat of a hot drink.

"But still... how is Eve?" - William asked the question he was most interested in, raising his gaze to Lute.

" Blooming and plowing." - Eina shrugged, to Astrid's laughter. - "More energetic and active than little Emily in her worst years, and her desire to learn the latest events, clearly filtered by Adam himself accompanying her everywhere, borders only on yours." - Angel laughed, sipping some liquid from her cup and taking a bite of a chocolate chip cookie.

"...It's just as Sister Eina said, true to her mental state..." - At Lute's words, the other Valkyries tensed up somewhat, making William nervous. - "Strange. It's as if she's forgotten key events in her life, even if those are gradually coming back." - Lute looked at William suspiciously, squinting her eyes. - "She may at one time be vividly inquiring about some time of humanity, and at another seeking comfort in Adam's arms, asking for forgiveness or exclaiming about human injustice."

"That's the only way Eve could have kept her sanity intact immediately after the Ascension." - William shook his head, setting his cup on the cup holder, looking into the liquid. - "She may forget some important and precious memories for her soul, but she will be able to remember them later, when she is strong enough to face the darkest moments of her life with dignity." - William said, tapping his finger on the table. His cane hung by his side, ready to duck into his hand at any moment.

"...But how were you able to bring her back to Heaven?" - Frigg asked, returning to the table, who was also eating.

"I'll retell it in front of Adam. So as not to repeat myself." - William smirked at Frigg's pouting cheeks.

"Still, I'd like to thank you, William." - Lute stood up from the table, shortening her distance in an instant and....

Hugging him. Tightly. The other Valkyries followed suit, making it somewhat difficult for William to breathe.

"Adam has not been this alive and happy in a long time, and his children no longer suffer the fate of a lost mother and..." - Lute wheezed, squeezing him even tighter in her embrace. William's body could already withstand such a strain.

"If he's happy, we're happy too!" - Eina nodded at his back, pulling him closer to her. - "Especially those experiments of his..."

"Eina!" - Several Shield Sisters exclaimed at once, making William laugh out loud.

"At least he did something useful in the fucking Fall." - William laughed, grinning as he felt his palm slip out of Frigg's or Sancha's grasp, passing through the Valkyrie's palms, albeit a little 'wobbly'... a couple of quickly healed scratches, breaking a part of the Marks..... William still has a lot of work to do.

"So this is the reason for the gathering in the entire Embassy?" - Lute asked the somewhat embarrassed Lute with a smile as the Valkyries let him go free.

"...In fact, yes, but..." - Lute began, stroking her neck, explaining a rather amusing story to William.

Adam is still on his 'honeymoon', 'partying' with his whole family, nearly causing riots all over the Golden City, much to the anger of Sera and the other Seraphim, who laughingly turn a blind eye. Sera also understands, but resents it, for she is the one who has to deal with the consequences of Adam's mischief with Eve.

Such news pinched something in William's soul, but he tried to turn his attention to other details.

Adam and Eve are heavily "busy doing things." Why the First Man just couldn't get away from the important and necessary business of handing over a fucking basket of goodies right now!

Just in the spirit of any Slavs or Scandinavians, a basket covered with a snow-white, almost golden, handkerchief, slightly smaller than Lute's torso! Even Lt. Adam had a hard time passing it around, and the simple Weave nearly collapsed when William tried to lift it into the air.

Carrying it into his spatial pocket, William began to listen to the Valkyries' stories. About everyday life in Paradise, about Eve, about Adam and his family, about their reactions and opinions about William himself...

William concentrated on the latter, and got a very positive answer, even if they thought he was dead... Although Eve still wanted to meet and hug him, and given the tired, almost "fucked up" look in Lute's eyes when she remembered all the times she had corrected Adam and now Eve....

William felt really sorry for Adam's Right Hand, so he promised to develop a couple of enchantments especially for her, receiving a tired smile in return.

And so William's day went on. Outside the Embassy, he still had Overlord business and duties awaiting him, but these were the hours William could afford to relax, hardly the first time he'd ever been to Hell.

...Maybe for the second time, considering Charlie.

* * *

Silent neighborhood, Silent Mansion. The next day. Morning.

Outside the window, the north wind sang, washing over the art of Weaving, bringing the fresh scent of green spruce, with a touch of oak, pine, and a few other, more exotic trees of the Universe, creating a fragrance that was strange to the average soul, but so pleasant that it made it seem as if it made it easier to breathe.

It was snowing lightly, blanketing the areas closest to the Mansion, covering the main roads with a white blanket. There was a smell of fresh snow, so pleasant and soft it made him want to fall into the cold crystals and let himself bask in the blanket of ice. 

William took a deep breath. Breathed fully, allowing his mind a moment of such soothing emptiness, allowing the complex mind of the creature to stop the constant multiple calculations and planning. Allowing itself to rest, if only for a few moments, surrendering to the moment.

Why was William so content, so peaceful? Simply that his life was beginning to get better.

A squad of twelve Hunters, twenty Bestiaries and thirty Valorists brought word that William's raids on the Sinners, who were forming the likenesses of criminal gangs, had been successful. William even had "video" of the Hunters stalking, sabotaging and wreaking havoc, allowing the Bestiaries to drive panicked souls right into the steel embrace of the Valor, crushing the scum's skulls with such a satisfying crunch, taking their souls to the Bestiaries.

Another attempt at illegality, for all that these Sinners weren't needy. They had homes, jobs, stability, and some sort of protection from the Slayings. No, these idiots decided to "take more" and "become kings of life". Just because they were used to it in Hell, just because that kind of mindset is nurtured in the Cursed City. William would have wrinkled his nose in disgust, but he didn't want to spoil his mood by enjoying the cold wind with a mug of hot tea, wearing a bare sheath robe and his favorite slippers.

Then, William swung open the bedroom window, taking away the folded sheets on the tables and bed in a flash, allowing those to pick up the Weave. New calculations and practices to supplement yesterday's experiments on 'phasing' or shifting the shell.

"New successful experiments, messages from Adam and Eve, being ignored by Lucifer and Lilith, and a more open and pleasant relationship with Zestial and Carmila... It's all too good...", thought William, peacefully contemplating the snowy mountains surrounding his estate. Winter was slowly "going away", soon to be replaced by a green spring, with William's favorite weather.

Even so, William could not allow himself to relax completely. The experience of his earthly life, his work in the Third Circle, his interactions with Adam, and his entire stay in Hell had taught William that such strange circumstances were not normal. Things are going too well. Too good to be true.

Damn it, he wasn't even having his "normal" dreams tonight, instead he was having phantoms of either Sera or Emily or some other women. No, for once a healthy sleep was good for William, he dared to hope that it was either Sera herself who had used his gift, or Emily who had tried to follow his path and start doing something about their connection, but.... 

A worm of doubt, a hint of paranoia, and just a healthy rationalization told William that this could all be part of Hell's "Distortion" of the soul. Giving hope only to stomp it into the ground. William was just afraid of what might come next.

Lucifer might decide to make him a funny puppet for Charlie, Lilith might want to make him a slave to her voice and put him on a chain, Goetia might want to take out another sinner who could infiltrate the Earth bypassing their rituals and institutions, or Satan himself might decide to visit him at home, just to make his life seem like honey. There were too many options to worry about each one at once.

William closed the window, slowly sipping the slightly cooled tea and turning toward the kitchen. He must finalize his preparations for the arrival of his guests.

Or rather, the guest who had been out of contact for some time now, causing William to worry. Nowadays, he could afford to admit that he had grown somewhat attached to the remarkably honest, slightly naive, and strangely kind Charlie Morningstar. He could openly allow himself to worry about her, even if only for himself alone in this Mansion.

So when, to his letter to Lilith, he received a prompt reply, almost as soon as he had sent his letter through the Owl, as Constructor Charlie liked to call him, he was surprised, to say the least. In the letter, Lilith had written, though rather hinted that it would "be nice" for William to invite Charlie to visit. William could imagine the First Woman's own reaction to the amusing coincidence, but the date had been set, the notification from Lilith of Charlie's 'outing' to his home, or rather teleportation to the Mansion District, which he was soon to experience.

On the one hand, William regretted that he had allowed them to be separated, and that Charlie had met with such opposition to her ideas that she had abandoned her "dream", which horrified William, he didn't want to lose such a soul, he didn't want to be alone with this cruel and vile reality again.

On the other hand, William was glad, because in this way Charlie would be able to grow above himself in some way, allowing more sensible and sensible ideas to settle in his head.

"Maybe he'll even begin to see that, for a sinner, I know too much about Angels, Heaven, and details of the Universe that can't be obtained by man, even through Goetia...," William pondered as he finished preparing a light salad, in addition to a few other treats for the Princess of Hell who was about to....

*(Knocking on door)

"...Either that, Charlie just doesn't want to think of his best friend in that way... Maybe he just sincerely thinks that...", William thought, also contemplating a change of clothes. He'd never gone out in front of others in his robe before, Lucifer didn't count, so....

As a matter of fact, why not.

William did just that. In a white robe over an ash-gray body, shimmering with light gray runes, lines of energy that began to resemble his former shell, holding a dark translucent mug of tea, wearing pink fucking slippers with rabbit faces, he went to open the door for the Princess of Hell.

If it were the Sins themselves, if it were Lilith herself...

"Hi Zephyr, sorry to..." - Charlie started to say, momentarily embarrassed, staring at his clothes in silence. Her eyes roamed over literally everything. His skin, the runes, the robe, the tea and the grin, and the long, feathery ears peeking out from under his dark hair.

Charlie only avoided looking directly into the laughing blue stars in the dark whites of William's eyes.

"Good morning to you too, Charlie." - William saluted with that cup, tilting his head as he regarded his guest.

She was also "plain." Nothing elaborate or distinguished. A simple red cape dress, actually the same robe, only off, tied with a crimson sash. Her long and, as it turned out, quite slender legs were loose, shod in some kind of crimson barefoot sandals, and the dark nails themselves were claw-like. His long blond hair was gathered in a voluminous bundle on his head, tied up with either a rubber band with a bow or a purple bow.

Charlie was holding a small purse that William knew could hold much more than an ordinary bank vault, for it, like everything in the House of the Morning Dawn, had been created by Lucifer. 

" ...Y-good morning, Zephyr!" - Charlie smiled strainedly, trying not to look at his slippers, at which she cast occasional brief glances. - "Excellent choice in clothing!" - The Princess almost shouted, glaring at him, asking him to end this farce. William snorted, nodded, and stepped aside, letting the girl inside.

Charlie looked around nervously, as if seeing the room for the first time, as if trying to see if there were any traps or magical constructs, as she looked around the spacious living room with such attention and speed.

"Don't forget to take off your shoes, dear." - William sang, taking another sip from his cup at the Princess's sweet squeak, who immediately ran to the threshold, taking off her shoes in a flash, surprising William with her skill, and then putting on her personal red slippers, brought to William's house long ago.

"Rough day?" - William decided to change the subject and the tone of the conversation as he escorted a sighing Charlie into the kitchen.

" In a way..." - Charlie exhaled, literally flopping down on a chair, placing her purse next to her on the chair next to her. William silently gestured for service and the rest of the treats. - "For the last week, all I've done is go to receptions for aristocratic families, make new acquaintances, keep my back straight most of the day, wear heavy dresses... And that's the way it is every single day."

Charlie literally lay on the back of her chair, holding her cup, from which she often sipped. William looked closely at her face and noticed the slight wrinkles and faint bags under her eyes. She didn't sleep well, though she always talked about the lightness of her sleep.

"What about your project?" - William said softly, leaning closer to her, taking a bite of a waffle from the vase. Charlie only sighed heavily in response.

"There wasn't time..." - With genuine longing and another strange emotion, Charlie replied, looking up at the ceiling. - "There was so much to memorize, so much to remember, that there just wasn't time for you and me to do our thing. Sorry..." - Charlie stretched out frustratedly, casting a quick glance at the nodding William.

"That's okay, sometimes it's good to take a break, even in your favorite activity." - William took another sip, answering in a nonchalant voice, catching Charlie's attention, who straightened up at the same moment, looking him squarely in the eye.

" You're not upset?" - Charlie said in that strange tone again. - "Couldn't you have come over to my house and asked one of my parents for my sketches? " - Charlie asked another strange question, raising an eyebrow rather comically. William didn't bother to suppress a chuckle.

"Nothing like that, it would have been hard for me to come up with anything without you, certainly you've heard my ideas for Sinners just fine." - William lifted his cup of tea, finishing his waffle while Charlie managed to get a chuckle out of herself. - "Besides, if I dared enter your house without your knowledge or invitation, I'd be quartered by Lucifer." - William shrugged, to Charlie's nervous laughter, rubbing her exposed shoulder.

"It wouldn't have been so bad..." - Charlie smiled strainedly, touching the treats, taking a chocolate-filled pancake.

"Lucifer would just turn me into a toy?" - William smiled, closing his eyes, savoring the hot drink.

"More like took lessons from you..." - muttered Charlie, averting her gaze, wandering them around the kitchen.

"Hmm...?" - William mumbled interestedly, raising one eyebrow. Charlie's cheeks flushed slightly, and she began to speak in a slightly detached tone, immersed in her memories.

"After you came home for Christmas, Daddy... started copying you?" - Charlie concluded somewhat perplexed, as if to ask her interlocutor, to which William simply nodded. - "He did start spending more time with me and Mom, but somehow..." - Charlie faltered, struggling to find a word that wasn't so much appropriate as not making the Devil look bad. - "'Stompy'? It's like he was trying to copy and prove something to himself rather than actually spending time with his daughter." - A quiet resentment was clearly audible in Charlie's voice, and William nodded, encouraging Charlie to speak up.

But, to William's surprise, Charlie shook her head sharply, as if to regain her senses, looking at William with a strange panic.

"But I'm just exaggerating!" - Charlie said quickly, palms out in a defensive gesture. - "It's just that his attempts were a little... childish..." - Charlie's voice quieted with each word, and her eyes ran around the room.

"...Then, could you tell me about your weekly encounters, if it's not a secret?" - William gently suggested a change of subject, for which he received a grateful nod from the girl, who immediately began the story.

"Oh, the last visit to Paimon's children went too hectic and exhausting." - Charlie exhaled sharply, regaining some of her familiar image. -" The head of the family is named Stolas, and his wife, Stella, which is like being the Patriarch herself, so strange she's been acting..." - Charlie began to recount the last time the family of Goetia's highest aristocracy had visited.

William did his best not to let Charlie lose her fervor, but even so, a few details were omitted in the story about how a nearly drunken Stolas had messed up a spell in some Grimoire of the Stars, showing Lilith and Charlie a black hole instead of a "two-faced sun," to the quiet scolding of Stella.

It was as if she was emphasizing this Stolas book on purpose, but that wasn't what William was interested in.

William hadn't looked into Charlie's soul, didn't know the story itself, but he clearly picked up on this change in the Princess of Hell's behavior. She wasn't lying outright, but rather just not telling the truth. Charlie had told him about her parents' private life and what kind of underwear the Sin of Gluttony used. It was as if they'd just started socializing, as if Charlie was wary of William, cautious with him.

This... worried William. Listening to Charlie's further stories, with the pleasant tea, quiet music, and tasty snacks, William still couldn't get Charlie to talk to him in any way. She avoided any of his clarifying questions like fire, even to the point of absurdity. When he asked her the name of the Goetia family, she pretended to mishear it, and then parsed it with several explanations of their cruelty, danger, and arrogance.

" ...And yet, what's the big deal about just bowing your head when saying goodbye? Surely even royal blood can afford such an attitude to a family of the highest aristocracy." - William shrugged then, finishing his tea. Then he listened to another instance of Charlie's 'awkwardness'. The woman wrinkled her nose, averting her gaze.

" It's really not forbidden, but... Anyway, there's a lot of exceptions and nuances that would take a long time to list..." - Charlie laughed nervously, running her eyes around the room.

And that was the pace of the whole dialog. William felt as if he were being played with, as if Charlie had decided to make a silly joke, as if he were an idiot for not noticing such an abrupt change in tone of voice, such an abrupt change in behavior. William could have gotten angry, could have started to resent her, or tried to behave accordingly.

But he didn't. Instead, he smoothly slowed the pace of his questions, toned down his usual pressure, making their dialog, which had shifted to the living room couch, seem like a conversation between two good acquaintances, but in no way souls who had known each other for years.

"If that one really no longer desires such a relationship, then...," came the thought, bringing a strange relief, with a dash of disappointment. He wouldn't lose such a pure soul, perhaps the only honest and bright one in the place. It's just that, they .

" ...And then, my mother and I said goodbye, using the previously described rules that she made me memorize and repeat to myself even as we met, and then we..." - Charlie's words dragged on, as if she were leaving millisecond pauses with each new word for William's questions, for his clarifications, which were not forthcoming, which... angered, frightened, pleased Charlie? William couldn't understand what the Princess of Hell was feeling right now, but she had clearly decided to distance herself somewhat, either by cooling off or....

"Fucking hell..." - Charlie slumped back against the back of the gray couch. Her eyes seemed to have lost their core, and her tone became... begging? - "Are you sure you don't want to know the details of the Goetia family reunion?" - Charlie spoke slowly, as if in a pitifully slow voice, a tiredness in her eyes.

" Unless you want to express it to me, I have no right to..." - William began to speak steadfastly, covering his eyes and adjusting the belt of his robe until he was interrupted by a loud sigh.

"Please stop!" - There was no anger in Charlie's exclamation, no irritation, just a request. An aggressive request. Her arms dropped, and she leaned her head back tiredly, staring up at the ceiling. -"Come on... let's talk about something else..." - Charlie looked up at him almost lazily, asking with a faint smile. - "How are your projects going?"

In the past, William might have gotten angry at such inept attempts to manipulate him, might have stopped the conversation, driving out his soul, but he simply couldn't afford such an appeal to such an innocent soul sincerely trying to find answers.

"What's wrong, Charlie?" - William tried to put care, concern, and tenderness into his voice, which had long ago begun to lose its echo, returning it to its familiar sound. Princess Ada let out a long sigh, closing her eyes.

She remained silent, either choosing her words or simply giving herself a break from her earlier story. William didn't rush the girl, allowing Charlie to pull herself together and ready to accept any answer.

"Almost any," William admitted to himself, ring he decided to take a different path in this conversation. With a slight movement of his hand, William amplified the soft music in the background, making it more noticeable to his consciousness, allowing their minds to dip into the strings of tranquility, as well as serving a new batch of tea and coffee, to himself and Charlie.

The television playing something in the background, some movie from Earth from recent years, became part of the music playing, blending strangely harmoniously into the swirl of sounds.

" Remember the arrival of Von Eldritch at Christmas?" - Charlie began quietly, taking the mug of coffee in both hands, staring into the dark liquid that reflected the brooding purple eyes of the Princess of Hell.

" How your father didn't kill me on the spot, either the way he praised us both, al that preparation for the meeting and general divergence with you under his armpit?" - William jokingly enumerated, achieving a weak smile with a chuckle. Charlie sipped slowly from her mug.

" That too..." - Charlie exhaled, straightening up, looking at William. Her eyes were more suited not to a confident girl working tirelessly for her dreams, but to a surrendered, tired one. - "Then, when Daddy escorted us out into the hallway and we got separated, that's when the Seviathan..." - Was retelling familiar events to William Charlie. Slowly, watching William's reaction intently.

The failure of the Redemption dream, her neglect of her duties as Princess, her friendship with Sinner, his attitude towards Charlie, her inability to verify the truth about William's 'faith in the cause'...

William didn't interrupt, didn't joke or quip, he patiently let Charlie talk. He let her unburden herself.

" ...And so, after my attempts to refute Seviathan's words in any way, I..." - Charlie suppressed a barely perceptible shiver in her hands. - "Decided to try to find out... to try to 'figure out' your friend..." - Charlie grinned bitterly, pressing her bare feet to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. - "In so many idiotic ways that I got more confused than I got anything clear..." - Charlie said tiredly, muttering the words into her lap.

William... wasn't angry. He couldn't be angry, or offended, or even laugh at the 'adult' demon's earnest attempt to 'unravel Sinner's lies'. Ta just wanted to know if William was truly following her, if anyone truly thought her ideas weren't meaningless, that she had any chance at all.

" I understand if you're angry, and also if you want to-" - Charlie interrupted, feeling William's surprisingly warm hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head from her lap, looking up in surprise at the softly smiling William.

" Remember what Lucifer cited as my reason for being in Hell?" - William spoke softly, staring at the gray movie on the television. "The Prince" or 'The Dictator' by some good actor.

" ...Did Michael send you here?" - Charlie answered cautiously, sniffing her nose, looking at him with genuine hope.

"That soul...", suppressed the urge to shake his head, William grinned.

"As is usually the case with Lucifer, that was only a half-truth, or rather an understatement." - William decided to share the details of his past, the few that he dared to speak out. Charlie made no attempt to remove his hand, but William still lowered it to the couch next to her thigh. - "Michael did participate in my Fall, but only as the one who delivered me to God's judgment." - William chuckled softly, covering his eyes, noticing the interested purple gaze on the edge of his vision.

" The truth is, I only noticed the silhouette flying at me. There was no fight, much less resistance, I could offer. Didn't want to." - William smiled bitterly, reluctantly, sinking into the sensations, emotions, and thoughts of the past.

" You didn't... want to?" - Charlie asked puzzled, moving closer, trying to look up into the light blue stars. William suppressed a chuckle, for she was beginning to resemble her old self again. An inquisitive girl who forgot about privacy and propriety when something hurt her interests.

"It's not just my secret, I just can't tell it fully, no matter how much I want to." - William shook his head, finding some excuse not to explain the whole story. - "But, I swear on my soul and Aether, the fact that it involved me, your father, and Eve," William grinned, watching Charlie's eyes widen. - "as well as my ambition, which necessitated such a strange alliance and led me into the situation that left me with a broken spirit, unwilling to even resist Michael's capture."

William spoke easily, to his surprise. He had thought that such memories would resonate painfully in his soul for a long time, preventing him from delving into those mistakes in any way, and here it was. Right in front of Charlie, probably the only soul that was willing to really listen to William in Hell right now.

" I wouldn't advise asking my father...not right now for sure." - William smiled, getting the same smile from Charlie. - "But even if he says no, I'll tell you the story Charlie." - William's words were reinforced by an unexpected action.

On the spur of the moment, just on emotion, William decided to open his soul. You could say he did the opposite of a "look into the soul" operation, naturally showering Charlie with his emotions and experiences, naturally receiving a dumbfounded look and a sharp sigh.

"I actually have secrets from you, Charlie. They may not be to your liking, they may change the way you feel about this soul, but one day I'll tell them to you. I promise." - William's eyes lit up, and for a moment they were the same as they had been when he was an angel.

" ...S-thank you?" - The unsure answer only made William laugh, which immediately released the tension of the moment. Charlie supported the Fallen Archangel's laughter with her own weak laugh. - "But how do you know I won't like what you have to say? Maybe I'll be a more mature and understanding Princess of Hell?" - Charlie said jokingly, though she still had some of her recent tension in her eyes.

" Because it's directly related to what your parents did and relates to your beliefs." - William blinked, looking toward the window, where he could still see the falling snow. He felt Charlie rest her head gently on his shoulder.

"Is it really that scary?" - Charlie asked quietly, to which William simply nodded, which Charlie felt as well. He was still "opening up" his soul to the one, literally the only way he could think of, giving assurance of his honesty. The demon would be able to recognize even the hint of a lie.

"I'm afraid, Charlie. Really scared." - William was surprised at his own frankness, mentally cursing the contagiousness of Charlie's kindness, but not even thinking of suppressing this outburst of revelation. - "Afraid of your reaction, afraid of... myself." - William sighed, going a little deeper than mere "pouring out his soul.

"How can you be afraid of yourself?" - Charlie asked in a cautious voice, as if afraid to scare him off with a word.

"If a man burns himself, he will dread the pain again every time he looks at the diluted flame." - I dryly spoke the first analogy that came to mind. - "So it is here... I've made too many mistakes, both to myself and others, to want a repeat of all that pain, not just mine."

They weren't even listening to the movie playing, which was already ending, judging by the picture. There was a character in a military uniform giving some kind of speech to some nice music.

"Wouldn't it be better to just try it again, taking the mistake apart and fixing it?" - Charlie reminded him of his own words, not even joking, but genuinely wanting to be supportive, to help him through the pain.

"It's much simpler until it affects you. You can't fully understand a tired university student until you're in his shoes. You can't recognize the fear of losing a relationship with a loved one, thinking about the simplicity and ease of your own, until you yourself are on the verge of a breakup. You don't realize the real fear of death without having been on the brink." - William said, each example deepening his memories.

His first days as an undergraduate, filled with so many different colors. His first relationships and the difficulties of communicating with his sister, with whom they had then cooled and almost stopped talking. He remembered the fear of that experiment, wanting to avoid death, remembered the first thoughts of his "flight", remembered the last moments before Michael's flame didn't consume his shell.

"And then you realize that every situation is different and your emotions get in the way of thinking soberly." - William rubbed his face with the palm of his hand as Charlie placed a reassuring hand on his thigh. - "You'll fear repetition, you'll fear making things worse, you'll belittle your skills as inadequate... You'll avoid your fear simply because you created it with your own hands." - William was no longer talking to Charlie, he was talking more to himself, forgetting about "sharing his soul" with Charlie.

William... has to admit that he's procrastinating on trying to study the souls he's mutilated. Must admit that he's just... afraid to do anything about all those souls. He's afraid that he'll make another mistake, that he'll do more harm.

This, William was finally able to say to himself, albeit with shame and contempt for himself, but...

"It's a start..." - Charlie stretched out, rubbing her head against his shoulder, causing a small chuckle to appear on William's lips. - "The important thing is to recognize the problem first, right, and then work on it?" - Charlie asked, making William laugh louder.

"That's right, baby. That's right..." - William stretched out, stroking the head of a contentedly breathing Charlie. She exhaled a natural "contented moan".

"You know, compared to this, my worries about what Seviathan said seem a little childish." - Charlie said with a hint of melancholy, rubbing her cheek against William's shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her and stroked the top of her head.

"Every excitement has its worth, even something as silly as worrying about the words of a demon that wished to besiege and hurt you with them." - William grinned, sensing the same grin on Charlie's lips.

" Who knew that this 'evil and manipulative' Sinner would actually reveal his soul." - Charlie grinned triumphantly, smiling almost sinisterly.

"Especially since only an evaluation of the actions of a loved one, in relation to themselves and others, can show you the real purpose of the soul." - William nodded emphatically, playing off his usual lecturing tone, causing Charlie to laugh.

"Are you going to teach the centuries-old Princess of Hell how to live and think properly again?" - Charlie asked playfully, cocking her head slightly at his shoulder.

" Someone has to gather the ocean of your thoughts into a coherent pile and voice the obvious." - William laughed, gesturing for a tray of treats and serving hot drinks to replace the cold ones. - "Especially since you yourself like to be praised and have your thoughts supported." - William "poked" Charlie's head lightly with his own fingers, getting only a hearty chuckle from the ringing voice.

"That's where you caught me by the hand..." - Charlie smiled, watching a movie on the TV for the first time that evening. - "By the way, would you like to get together again the day after tomorrow... to plan future 'raids'?" - Charlie faltered slightly, alluding to the past nights when she had sat up late at his place, talking about her new ideas for the Atonement for hours at a time.

Though, it seemed to William, Charlie just wanted a repeat of that evening. Away from his ever-patronizing parents and responsibilities.

"You're not going to give up your efforts to bring Sinners' souls to Paradise, are you?" - William asked slyly, handing a hot cup of coffee to Charlie, who smiled confidently.

" Don't even think about it. You, mister, are going to Paradise sooner or later, and then you're going to take me to Eden!" - Charlie exclaimed, stretching out her arm and...

knocking over a flying vase of Earth chocolates.

" Ouch!" - Immediately covered the bruised spot with Charlie's mouth, though the latter was definitely by natu....

William shook his head again.

"Don't change, Charlie. Don't change..." - William stretched out, watching with suppressed laughter as Charlie first looked indignantly at the flying dishes and then bestowed his "offense" on him.

Later in the evening they did not think of discussing anything more serious. They both decided to enjoy the quiet afternoon together, playing, discussing, and just strolling around the grounds of the Mansion of Silence.

Charlie was no longer moping, once again actively burning with energy and enthusiasm. William only hoped that she would keep him, especially when she heard his story, and also, face the "dark side" of her goal.

One way or another, William would be by her side, supporting her every step of the way.