AN: Hey guys, another chapter. I want to thank FaroeKing, Shade Riley, and DaniDraws for helping me with the design of a character to make sure I was writing them right. Don't want to give spoilers away so read on to find out.

***

Death was a weird concept for those who dwelled in Heaven and Hell. From what Moxxie knew, the angels in Heaven were ageless beings who never aged, rarely got sick, and any sort of "death" was usually from artificial battles or simulations those inside its walls made for fun and excitement. This was thanks to the "grace" that was said to reside in all angels from those born in Heaven and gifted to those who earned it on Earth. This "grace" gave them the state of eternal life and power that God granted them. You only lose that "grace" if you become a "Fallen" such as Lucifer and those who rebelled with him who lost theirs after the rebellion.

You can kill an Angel, but they always come back to life eventually. Unlike demons, which could be killed permanently via Angel Steel, there was no proper way to kill angels unless you somehow managed to kill God himself. Even Moxxie believed such a feat was impossible, no matter how much the propagandists and priests of Hell liked to claim.

Upon dying, angels were either reborn into new bodies via reincarnation while others awakened in their formally deceased bodies if the damage done to the body upon death wasn't that bad. According to Rachmiel, who had been happy to discuss the culture and means of his home realm, there was a special place in Heaven known as the "Crystal Sepulchre" where all the bodies of the deceased angels were put to rest to awaken once their "grace" had been restored.

Death in Hell was a different story. It was a regular occurrence to the point that few cared at all if many demons died. In some places, even seeing children die was not seen with a vast black lash or much care. Because of this, death wasn't seen as a big deal unless it was permanent, and even then, it was still not seen as a massive deal unless you personally were affected. It made sense in a world where survival of the fittest was the norm, code, law, and doctrine. Personally, Moxxie hated it. He hated the idea of death being the "norm" of the world, even if his profession, both in his old and current life, was about it. If he was really being honest, Moxxie wished he had a career in music like he had dreamed once at one point. But every time Moxxie thought about that, he felt guilt and shame. Like he was unworthy of it all.

There was also nothing for a demon after an actual permanent death. You ceased to exist. End of story. Death by any other means was the same as for angels, reincarnation, or recovery in your body, but only the most powerful demons could do that. Still, there are funerals and graveyards and the like. One of which Moxxie was visiting was for two individuals that had once meant everything to him.

If you were to ask Moxxie about his parents, he would always say they were dead. Because the parents that he treasured, loved, and cared for were indeed departed for good. Permanent death. Most assumed it was because of an Extermination, but it was because Moxxie failed to protect them from his "birth family."

His so-called "Birth Father" and "Birth Mother," along with his "Brothers and Sisters," were never family in Moxxie's eyes ever since the day he lost the ones that genuinely acted like parents to him.

Walking through the multiple graves with two bouquets of flowers in his hands, a solemn and nearly teary-eyed Moxxie soon stopped before two tombstones that were no different than so many littered among the field. But for Moxxie, they were the two most important.

"In Loving Memory of Alex Esine

-Beloved Husband, Professor, and Teacher."

"In Loving Memory of Isabella Esine

-Beloved Wife, Teacher, and Singer."

Kneeling before the two graves, Moxxie laid the flowers on each of them before slowly touching both of the stone rocks. "H-H-Hey, Dad...Hi...Mom..."

***Sixteen Years Ago***

As far as houses go, Moxxie had to admit it was lovely. It was a three-floor house in a nice suburban area near the school. Professor Esine said the neighborhood has excellent restaurants, hang-out spots for teens, and a library with good books that he highly recommended. Moxxie, at first, pretended to listen, but figuring it would be good to know the lay of the land for his cover, he soon started asking questions about the residential area. As they drove, many folks waved at Professor Esine, which wasn't as surprising to Moxxie as his dossier said the music teacher was very well-liked.

They soon arrived at the yellow and red house with a garage, backyard, and a small garden upfront. It didn't stand out from the rest of the neighbors' homes, but Moxxie could tell from the outside that it was a cozy place.

"Home sweet home," Professor Esine said as he exited the car and helped Moxxie with his bags. "It's your home now too. We'll go over the rules and such after dinner. Sounds good?"

"Yes, sir," Moxxie said as he followed the half-breed demon into his home.

He announced to his wife that they were home, and Moxxie took off his shoes and put his coat on a nearby coat hanger before taking a note of the inner hallway and living room nearby. Pretty much the standard typical house design for a well-paid teacher at a famous institute. There was peach and beige-colored furniture with a well-sized TV on display. A very nice music and sound set was connected to it as well as a music player. Fine china was displayed on a few stands, and pictures of various demons could be seen on the walls. It looked like a typical nice middle-class living room with all one needed to live comfortably.

Something that a good portion of Imps, like Moxxie, could never afford because of the system Hell was currently using.

Moxxie also noted all the structural weak points of the house before he noticed he was being addressed. When he turned around, Moxxie was surprised to find out who was standing beside Professor Esine, who had his scorpion tail around the waist of the other resident. It was in a loving and caring way to indicate the closeness of their bond, which quickly made the assassin realize that this was his wife. Moxxie had skipped over reading about the wife of Professor Esine since he assumed he would never really meet her, but upon seeing her face to face, Moxxie wished he had to prevent the shock on his face.

He didn't even need to sense their power to tell him that she was no average common-borne demon. They were way too beautiful, with a smooth pelt of brown hair and white spots around their neck. Their bat-like wings were carefully washed, and the bone density showed they had been carefully trained. However, that shock soon replaced confusion as Moxxie spotted two antlers upon their deer-like head, which only male should have had, yet their face was utterly feminine. While the upper body was feminine in biological structure (save for the eyes), the lower part was male biologically in design and size. It was almost like looking at someone who was half-male and half-female. When their voice was heard from their mouth, it was female yet more rugged and deeper than you would typically hear in a woman.

"It's nice to meet you, Moxxie," They said as they walked up and slowly wrapped their arms around the stunned imp while nuzzling them affectionately. Moxxie, in a stupor, had decided to soon respond with a hug of his own and soon recalled it as his first ever. He really never got hugged before. Not until now, at least. His parents had said they were proud of him, but that was the extent of their parental approval in physical-based interaction.

It was...a strange feeling, to say the least.

The wife (Husband? Mate?) of Professor Esine smiled warmly at him and continued, "My name is Isabella Esine. You can call me Isabella or Mrs. Esine. Or Izzy if you want to be a bit funny."

"I...um...thank you for letting me be a part of your household. Sir-I mean-Ma'am!" Moxxie bowed as low as they could while cursing themselves for saying something that might have been offensive.

Instead of being angry, Isabella giggled and shook her head. "Moxxie, don't worry. You're not the first demon to be confused by my appearance. I suppose I should explain who and what I am since we share no secrets in this house, but let's have dinner while we're at it?"

A slight rumbling noise from Moxxie's stomach made an answer for him, much to his embarrassment, despite wanting answers now. Not just for updating the I.R.A. new information, but he was legitimately hungry and could smell the meatloaf from inside the kitchen.

"I guess that means yes," Professor Esine chuckled as he and his wife guided Moxxie into the kitchen.

***

Moxxie had to admit this was one of the best-tasting meals he had eaten in a long time.

At the I.R.A. HQ, he and his siblings were given healthy but stale meals rich in protein and nutrients to keep their energy and health in good condition. His parents rarely, if ever, gave them something that tasted really good unless it was a special day. Such a feast presented to him by the Esines had all sorts of meats, veggies, potatoes, and more. Some of which Moxxie had never eaten before in all his life, but it tasted so good.

"They must not have been feeding you enough in that orphanage, huh?" Professor Esine said with a hearty chuckle.

"S-Sorry," Moxxie said as he remembered his manners and cleaned his mouth with a napkin. "I just never had a meal this good before."

"Well, I can make you anything you'd like while you are living here. It will be nice to cook for more than just the two of us," Isabella offered cheerfully, to which Moxxie blushed and nodded. "Now, I think I owe you a story about my appearance, correct?"

Moxxie was about to say yes, but he paused. For some reason, and he didn't know why, it felt wrong to ask something that seemed so personal after all these two had done for him. Sure, they were not really important for his overall mission and just a means to keep his cover, but they hadn't done anything malicious to him. In fact, they had treated him as if he was any other teenager despite being an Imp. It was strange to see this happening to someone who was told that all of Hell hated his existence because of how he was born.

He thought of the possibility of this being all a scam or plotting to lower his guard and do something to him afterward. But the honesty in their eyes was plain to see even without his training.

Then, as if reading his mind, Isabella raised her hand with a comforting wave. "You don't have to worry about being rude, Moxxie. A lot of demons are curious about me whenever we meet. They can't tell if I'm male or female or anything sometimes. I've had to live with it my whole life, and I've accepted that such things will happen. Besides, if you are going to live with us, I'm happy to share more about myself with you so you can trust me."

"I...I see," Moxxie said as he cleared his throat. "Then, by all means, please continue."

Standing up and smiling brightly, Isabella winked before bowing, making Moxxie freeze. The bow she had done differed from the type you see done out of mocking or halfway. This was one done by rigorous amounts of training and discipline. After years of observing, tracking, and killing demonic nobility, Moxxie recognized a perfect high-class bow when he saw one.

"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Isabella Esine, but I was once formally known as Countess Isabella Goetia of the 55th House of the Goetia Bloodline. Second niece to Earl Furfur. Though I was disowned a long time ago when I decided I didn't want to live isolated from the world because of my family's shame for me."

This made Moxxie's head snap right up and gasp. He had been right about Isabella not being an average commoner demon, but he never expected her to be part of the Goetia family. Even if she was from an Earls family, one of the lower ranks of the family, Isabella, came from a place of power and prestige.

Of course, Moxxie's ears perked up upon hearing that Isabella was "disowned." He wanted to quickly know how such a thing had happened since "disownment" was rare among the families of the Goetia. Because of how precious they took their bloodline, those who dishonored their family were typically executed or locked away from the public for life. With disownment, there came a risk of the genealogy mixing with commoners, so it was rarely done.

"Surprising, huh?" Professor Esine said as he leaned over the table and kissed his wife on the cheek. "She shocked me when she told me on our first anniversary."

"You practically spat your drink at me," Isabella giggled.

"Forgive me, I'm just...trying to process this," Moxxie muttered as he rubbed his head.

"Well, it's a long story, but I take it you noticed that I'm...different physically, yes?" Isabella asked, and Moxxie nodded since it was the most glaring feature. "Many people wonder what gender I am when they first meet me. It's complicated, but I was born of both genders thanks to my father."

Sighing, Isabella looked sadly down at her hands folded on the table. "My father, Earl Furfur's second youngest brother, was particular about what he wanted as children. He wanted boys only, and he managed to get that with his first two children. When I was conceived, they learned that I would be born a girl. My father didn't take well to that, so he tried a magical ritual to change my gender while I was still forming inside my mother's womb."

"That's possible?" Moxxie asked with surprise while planning to keep such information in his mind to report about later.

"It's a ritual only the Goetia family knows, and even then, it's rarely ever done," Isabella sighed. "It used to be used a lot more often in the ancient days, but nowadays, things have changed with women allowed to be in charge more. However, my father and his line are not one of them. He didn't have a high opinion of women, so he sought to make me a boy like my brothers."

She chuckled and presented herself. "As you can see, it didn't take. My father screwed up, and I was still a girl but also a boy in various ways. I have male antlers, legs, eyes, and even my teeth are more masculine. But the rest of me is female. Sadly, I am unable to have children because the magical backlash did something to me that prevents me from having kids. Another thing that saw me as useless to the family since I couldn't even give them grandchildren to continue the bloodline."

The saddened look in Isabella's eyes nearly made Moxxie's heart nearly break and her husband quickly put a hand on her own which made her smile warmly at him. I wonder...did they do all this to...make me their child?

"I'm surprised your father let you live in the first place. I heard that they kill children they aren't pleased with," Moxxie pointed out.

"Well, that used to be done, but since so many of the Goetia are trying to compete with the Fallen to wrest control of Hell back from them, they ended that practice. They want to increase the family line so much that we'll eventually overwhelm them with numbers and influences. Because of that law, I was spared, but because of my "disfigurement," as they called it, I was rendered a shame to the family, so I was sealed into my own special wing in our home with only our Imp servants to tend to me. I didn't see my parents face to face for the first time until I was five."

Figures, unless they're perfect, nobles will never love their children, Moxxie bitterly thought.

"It took a long time for me to realize who I was, but over time I decided that, regardless of what others thought, I was a girl. I felt more comfortable calling myself that and since then I've always seen myself as a girl. And while I've come to terms with my male side, I choose to be female."

"I take it your life wasn't that great?" Moxxie asked.

"Well, it was a mixed bag," Isabella admitted with a sigh. "Most of my relatives thought I was a freak and had little interaction with me. I was hidden away as the cursed child among my family."

Isabella sighed and shook her head, looking so sad it was a complete flip of her previous cheerful personality. Professor Esine patted his wife comfortably, making her smile again before continuing, "However, I wasn't alone. I had an entire wing of Imp servants who practically raised me like family. In fact, it was my Head Maid who taught me to play music and sing. Practically, kept me sane all those years. I barely have any long-term memories of my parents and my brothers. All of them were horrible to me. My parents saw me as useless when it was found out that I was sterile, and my brothers mocked me to the point that they said it was better if I died, so I stopped being a shame on the family."

"How did you get out of that?"

"I made a deal with them when I turned eighteen. I wanted to leave the family, find a place to settle down, and learn music. I offered to personally sign any disownment papers and never return home, provided they gave me enough money to take care of myself for life. Best of all, since I'm sterile, they didn't have to worry about me having any children with commoner blood mixed with their own. They couldn't give me the papers to sign fast enough. Once it was all done, I left and never saw them again."

"That's...horrible..." Moxie admitted, but he wasn't surprised. Nobles cared more for their image than taking care of their family. Not like my family. We care about each other and the greater good of Hell.

"Honestly, it was the best thing to ever happen to me. I started to take part in music, got to teach it, and met my husband," Isabella said as she walked over to her beloved and kissed him. "I couldn't be any happier."

"Um, if you are both sexes, do I use they and them? I know you say you identify as female, but..."

"I use she/her," Isabella said with a smile while rubbing her hand in his hair. "I understand this might be confusing at first, but please call me she, her, ma'am or other female pronouns? I am a woman, Moxxie. Regardless of how I look. It's what I am in my heart and it's what I want to be. Regardless of what my asshole of a father wanted."

"Very well, ma'am," Moxxie said with a nod.

"Well, once we're done here, we can show Moxxie his room," Professor Esine chirped.

"My own room?" Moxxie asked with a surprised tone. He had never had his own room before. He always shared it with some of his siblings. They slept, ate, trained, and did everything together. Even the bathrooms were to be shared without any shame. The concept of privacy was...alien.

"Of course," Professor Esine said as he walked over and joined his wife in comforting Moxxie as the two hugged him, much to his surprise. "You're our guest here, Moxxie. And one of my students. We're here to ensure you are safe, happy, and fed. No matter what. I know it's not been easy, being an orphan and all, but we will treat you as if you were our own son. This is your home now."

"Always," Isabella Esine said with a shiny smile.

Moxxie looked at their smiling faces and felt unease in his chest. Not because he felt nervous or scared but because he could see they were being honest. Their care and affection for him were so evident that you didn't even need his training to see it. He couldn't understand. He was an Imp. The lowest of the low. Yet here were two demons of a higher rank (one even a former noble) looking at him as if he were their own child.

"T-Thank you," Moxxie said, and for once, that was not the mask that was speaking.

That was really himself.

***Present Day***

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," Moxie whispered as he rubbed his eyes to get rid of the tears. "I know it's been a while, but I thought I'd let you know that we finally started healing Blitz. Rachmiel is...well, he's very different from what I expected from an angel, but I guess he's okay. He's very nice, just like you two were for me. I feel he's dedicated to helping us, so I give him points for his spirit. It's just...a bit nervous to be around him. Although I think he's more nervous than all of us combined. You should hear how he talks sometimes."

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Moxxie's fists clenched. "I...I still don't know what to do about Tyson. I know what he wants, and he cannot have them. I swore my...creators would never continue their actions after I stopped them. I wish they just let them be executed, but they're determined to get their secrets from them. Secrets neither of them will give over, especially to the nobility they hate so much. I wish I had killed them back then, but I didn't...I couldn't...even though I didn't see them as my parents anymore, part of me held back."

Rubbing his arms, Moxxie continues, "Millie still doesn't know. I kept fearing that she'd hate me if she knew the truth. Or if it will do something to her pregnancy from the shock and pressure if it's too big of a revelation. Satan knows what her family will think. I still can't believe I'm going to be a father. Considering how I was made, I didn't even think I could, but...I just...am I worthy of it? For all the things I've done? All the innocent demons I killed? The chaos I made? What if Millie hates or wants nothing to do with me in raising the baby? And it's not just her. All my...well, my friends don't know either, even after I showed Blitz my serial number. I'm just so afraid that they'll look at me as a...a...freak."

He paused, looked up at the stones holding his adopted parents, and knew what they would say. If they really did love Moxxie, they would love him regardless of what he was. And that honestly was always the best policy. We never kept secrets in our house except one. Mine. If I had told you the truth... you'd be alive today.

Was he really going to let what happened in the past happen again because he was too afraid to tell the ones Moxxie loved who he really was?

"No...I can't," Moxxie sighed as he slowly reached for his cell phone and called his wife.

"Hello? Moxxie?"

"...Millie? I...I need to tell you something..." Moxxie forced himself to say. He had to say it now while he had the grit, or he was never going to later.

"...Does this have to do with whatever you are keeping from me?"

Moxxie couldn't help but chuckle at how brilliant his wife was. Most assumed Millie was all brawn and had no brains, but that couldn't be far from the truth. "Yes. I'm sorry, honey. It's... it's a lot, and... I've been trying to say something...but I couldn't...but I need to talk to you."

"O-Okay, just come back and-"

"No, I want to prove that I'm serious about this. Let's... let's meet where we had our first date. The cafe we went to after our break on that day. When I finally asked you out for coffee and lunch," Moxxie said.

"You mean that same day you first tried asking me, you panicked and spoke in six different languages? I thought you were processed by a ghost or something, so we tried to get it out of you," Millie giggled.

Chuckling, Moxxie nodded. "Yeah, that day."

"Okay, but you better be honest with me, Moxxie. You've really been worrying me."

"Trust me, Millie. I will, and when I do? You'll understand why I'm more nervous than a mouse in a room full of cats."

***

Millie put her phone down and sighed. If she wasn't worried before, she was now highly distraught. Millie hadn't heard Moxxie sounding that broken in a long time. Combined with the fact that he was calling from what she assumed was his parents' graveyard, she was sure this had something to do with them. Looking back now, Moxxie had only been vague about his past, and Millie never really focused on it that much because she didn't think it mattered.

She knew that one's past didn't necessarily mean everything about them, and Hell was full of bad people who did terrible things in the past. Millie herself was a mass murdering psycho with more bodies buried in the graveyards back home. Well, the ones that they found anyway. Fuck, the whole reason they had that angel in Stolas's home was because Blitzo was suffering from his past.

Millie knew Moxxie would do everything he could to protect her, especially from himself. She was determined to tell him that whatever it was, he was keeping from her? She would listen, maybe get angry for keeping it from her, but she would never stop loving him. Millie promised that day on the altar that the two of them would be together in life, death, and everything in between.

Getting her shoes on, Millie made her way to the door while shouting, "I'm heading out! Moxxie wants us to meet in private!"

"Excuse, Mistress Millie?" Reginald said from behind, getting her attention. He calmly walked over to her with a bunch of letters and a small white box with a pink bow. "One of the servants just returned from your apartment with your mail for today. Do you wish to look at them?"

Millie was about to dismiss it for later until she noticed the box. "What's that?"

"Seems to be a gift. We haven't had the chance to inspect it and-" Before Reginald could finish, Millie grabbed it excitedly and tore it open. Her eyes dazzled upon seeing that it was a necklace with a bright green gem between a red pentagram pendant. A note was in the box, and it read:

Hey, sorry, I'm still busy at the moment. But I figured I'd get you an early "Congratulations On Getting Pregnant" gift. See you soon,

Tyson.

"Aww, that was nice of Moxxie's brother," Millie cooed as she put it around her neck. "Fits perfectly."

"You look well with it, Mistress Millie," Reginald complimented.

"Thanks, Reg, but I gotta go now. I'm going to see Moxxie. You can check the rest of the letters if you want. Don't worry about us for dinner!" Millie said as she left the mansion wearing her new pendant.

***

Stella could remember the first time she made food for the Hazbin Hotel crew; it was still one of the strongest memories that had helped her in the past six months. It was about three weeks into her time there when it was learned that it would be Alastor's turn to cook for the group, and nobody was looking forward to it. Not because the Radio Demon was a lousy cook, but because he always made hot and spicy stuff that was too hot for anyone to enjoy. Stella wasn't even sure sometimes if the Radio Demon was trying to prank them with how much hot food he made or trying to burn their insides out.

So when Stella offered to cook instead, everyone was willing to give it a shot since they were terrible cooks save for Nifty, and even then, she often wasted too much food by making six times the amount needed. However, when Stella was finished, practically everyone demanded she cook their meals forever. And that was how she became the head chef of the establishment.

Outside of making food for the entire staff and the occasional guest who only stopped by for the free food and board, Charlie had often hosted soup kitchens for the city's poorer communities. Most originally didn't attend because the food wasn't that good. But when Stella joined? It was a different tune. The former princess often made food to feed over a hundred or more demons while also making sure none of them were coming to steal anything. Charlie may have been too kind-hearted for her own good, but she was not stupid and made sure that any "bad" behavior was punished. Of course, this led to Alastor using his position as "patron" to be given these "bad demons" personally, leading to a lot of screaming that nobody wanted to know what was happening.

The demons got the message and promised to be good.

"Phew," Stella said as she put the messy apron off her neck and into the nearby laundry basket in the kitchen. "Glad that's over."

"Ugh, my paws are sore. I'm gonna need a jacuzzi for the next three days," Husk moaned as he started washing his hands in the sink.

"Is it big enough for three?" Angel Dust, taking his hair net off and ensuring his top was spotless, asked as he grinned at a confused Husk. "For me, you, and my dick. It's gonna need a lot of room, Baby Cat."

"Take your dick and drown with it," Husk muttered while rolling his eyes.

"Thanks for helping me with the food, boys," Stella said warmly to her friends, who nodded in return. "Now we just got to-"

Suddenly a red and white blur zoomed into the kitchen with the last of the dishes and silverware balancing perfectly on her hands and head. "I've got the dishes! I'll get started cleaning these things right away! Absolutely filthy! Talk later! Scrub now!"

A split dash followed, and Nifty went to work at the sink with a huge stack of dishes at such high speed that everyone was sure it would be all gone within half the hour.

"Who needs a dishwasher when you got a Nifty?" Angel Dust joked as he pointed to the tiny one-eyed cyclops. "So about that jacuzzi?"

"Forget it. I'm heading to bed," Husk muttered as he made his way out one of the doors that the kitchen held.

"I'm down for that, too," Angel Dust said while following the cat.

"Alone!" But Angel Dust followed regardless, much to Stella's amusement. She had a bet with the others that those two would get together sometime in the next year or so.

Exiting the kitchen and walking past the dining hall that Razzle and Dazzle were cleaning together (both waving silently at her while she nodded back), the swan demoness made for the main entrance hall, where she smiled upon seeing Charlie there but quickly frowned upon seeing Alastor. Of all the people in this hotel that Stella got along with, Alastor was the least she liked, and knew she wasn't the only one. Everyone tolerated him at best or was too afraid to get in his way since the Radio Demon was unlike anything Stella had ever seen.

While technically an "Overlord," Alastor had more power than most sinners ever gathered in hundreds of years, which he managed to do in decades. His presence and essence were oozing with the word "WRONG" all over in bright neon red. For the most part, she did everything she could to ignore him despite his numerous quips and attempts to get under her skin. Said Radio Demon soon noticed her staring and grinned while his eyes began to have an amusing spark.

"Well, Stella. You've certainly filled a bunch of hungry bellies. I've never seen so many skinny people look so full. It's like a transformation of a skinny, hungry caliper into a big fat butterfly that can't lift its wings to escape a dreaded spider coming to suck its guts out," Alastor said with a grin and a wink.

"Aw, that's nice of you to say, Alastor. Creepy but nice," Charlie said with a big smile. "You rarely give out compliments."

"Of course I give compliments when needed, my delightful naive princess. After all, those cannibals will surely love their little hunt tonight!" Alastor claimed

"Cannibals?" Stella asked in confusion as she and Charlie looked at each other.

"Yup! It's the annual Cannibal Collective Convention tonight in Pentagram City! The C.C.C.! Every year cannibals from all over the nine rings come together to share their love of the flesh of the living! And every night on the first night, they host a late night snack hunt in which they, with legal permission, hunt down any homeless person to cook on a grill for a little midnight meal!"

"...And you failed to mention this before?! We could have given them shelter for the night!" Charlie complained with fury on her face.

"Must have slipped the mind, but hey! Look at the bright side, Princess! Not only did you feed one group of starving people, but you're also going to be making a bunch of others full with a big fat hobo-flavored feast later!" Alastor chuckled as he twirled his cane. "Well, I'm going to head to bed early. See you later in the morning!"

Stella was tempted to just say something to the bastard, but she kept her beak shut after thinking it wasn't worth it while Charlie rubbed her forehead in a mix of frustration and concern. Sighing, Stella put a hand on her boss's shoulder and said, "Don't listen to him. He's just...well...he's just a dick."

"Thanks, but you'd think I would have known he was planning something when he started helping out with the service," Charlie muttered as she shook her head. "I don't know how I will help him get better."

"No offense, Charlie, but you don't need to help every demon in Hell become a better person. Some people can't be saved," Stella replied as she gave her a small smile. "You need to stop thinking too big and start small. You're already helping Angel Dust and me with our problems. And I'd like to think we've done better. Or at least Angel has."

"Well, that's thanks to you," Charlie said with a proud look. "You really helped him open up more. Plus, it's just nice to see that he's not getting used by Valentino as much, thanks to your help."

"Yes, well, I personally have always hated that flesh seller. So helping Anthony while preventing him from getting used by that dirtbag is a double win for me," Stella claimed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and the two looked at each other in surprise as they wondered who it could be. "Maybe it's one of the homeless demons?"

"Maybe, but let's check it out," Stella said as she took the lead and prepared to open the door. It wouldn't be the first time some jackass tried to do something to them, be it a prank or an attempt to cause harm.

She wasn't expecting to see a squad of her ex-husband's Shadow Guards on the front doorstep led by a familiar figure. "Grimbeak?! What are you doing here?"

"Stella," Grimbeak said with a neutral tone, but she noticed a hint of disgust and winced upon hearing it.

"Oh, you must be the security team that Prince Stolas has sent us," Charlie said as she came into view, and all of the Shadow Guards and Grimbeak bowed. "Um, none of that, please? I'd rather you just forget about royal manners at the moment."

"As you wish, Princess."

"Charlie."

"Charlie," Grimbeak stated as he walked inside with the Shadow Guards. "As per the agreement of my master, the Great and Powerful Prince Stolas, he has sent some of his finest Shadow Guards to be placed under the command of you and your staff. They will follow your orders to the letter, save for anything considered a threat to my Prince and those close to him."

He then glared at Stella and narrowed her eyes, which made her turn away while rubbing her left arm. "He has also had them swear to keep Stella's presence a secret from all outsiders. I also understand that she is one of your staff now?"

"Um, yes," Charlie said with a nervous smile. "Stella may be a hotel resident, but she is also the head of our kitchen. In fact, if you desire something to eat, we have leftovers she made."

"No offense, but I don't want to eat anything she's made," One Shadow Guard snorted. "You never know what kind of parasites might be infesting it."

There were a few snickers, and Stella shut her eyes while lowering her head. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. The shame of it all still weighed in her mind, and old self-hateful feelings she had been dealing with for months were threatening to burst out of her chest. Even though Stella knew that she had nothing to do with putting the Nightmare Parasite inside Blitzo, Stella was still responsible for causing the situation to happen in the first place. She also knew why Stolas wanted her presence a secret.

Octavia.

Stella would give everything to see her one more time, but she also knew if it ever happened that Octavia would just look at her with those same hateful eyes on that night. The night she disowned Stella and outright refused to ever speak to her again.

"The only thing I want is for you to leave and never come back. I never want to see you again, and I never want you to talk to me again. You're dead to me, Stella."

Suddenly, a brief burst of power made everyone freeze, and all went as quiet as a grave. For a brief moment, it felt like they were all at the mercy of a scythe ready to cut their heads off, and Stella swore she saw sweat at the brow of even Grimbeak. All eyes slowly turned to the one person who hadn't reacted to the sudden burst of horrifying and terrible power that had plagued the entire hallway for five seconds but felt like a lifestyle in that small moment. Charlie coughed into her hand a bit before giving a small warm smile, but her slitted and glowing eyes were anything but friendly.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. "Must have been what I ate. Tends to make my power fluctuate like that. I believe you said something about my co-worker, resident, and friend, Stella?"

"Ehhh," The Shadow Guard who spoke earlier the insult gulped as he was put on the spot. Even his fellow guards soon backed away from him upon seeing how much trouble he was in. "I...I..."

"Because I would hate to hear someone bad-mouthing one of my close friends and confidants. One who is very sorry for what she did and is here to try and repent for that. A means by which she had done wonders. I know that there is some history between some of you, but I need to remind you that not only am I the one that you are serving under orders from your master, but I am also the Princess-Heir of the kingdom which you reside in. And as such, my word in this hotel is the law. And when I say you will obey Stella's commands just as you would mine, the words I should hear from you is: 'Yes, Charlie.' Do you understand?"

"Y-Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Ahem?"

"Y-Y-Y-Yes, Charlie!"

"Good! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! Now why don't I show you your rooms and the layout of the place! We can discuss security stuff tomorrow! I hope we can all get along and become friends!" Charlie cheered happily as she motioned for the guards to follow her. Wordless and shaking in their armor, they proceed to do so without glancing at Stella.

Stella and Grimbeak stared at the retreating group before he gazed over at the former princess. "What did you do to get her to befriend you like that?"

"Honestly, it wasn't that hard," Stella answered with a shrug while smiling. "Charlie's just that kind of girl you can get along with regardless of who you are."

"I see," Grimbeak said before returning to his natural calm expression and nodding. "Then I will take my leave."

"Grimbeak?" Stella asked, which made him stop cold. "I know you have no right to heed my orders since I am not your Princess anymore, but please continue to watch over everyone back at the palace."

"...I always do, Stella," Grimbeak said before he was gone in a flash of shadows.

***

The sun was just about to set down as Millie ordered her second cup of coffee on one of the establishment's many outdoor dining tables. She had been waiting for half an hour for Moxxie to arrive, and she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous about this. She decided to try and think about what it was that her husband would confess to her, but, for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what it was. Moxxie was very different from most imps in that he was sweeter and kinder than most. He never tried to hurt anyone unless they really had it coming. Even in their jobs where they targeted people who didn't deserve to die (not that Millie cared since being a successful assassin means letting go of your morals), Moxxie was always the one who just did the background stuff while she and Blitzo went wild.

Her family never fully approved of their marriage because Moxxie wasn't the typical Wrathian-born Imp they wanted her to marry: tough, hardworking, rugged, and down to earth. Moxxie was all these things but in a gentler way that held a sense of artistic aura that she admired because it was so different from the norm.

This is why she tried to think about what Moxxie was hiding from her.

Was he once an angel that fell from grace?

Was he the son of a mafia boss?

Was he secretly the love child of Lucifer and some Imp?

Okay, that last one might be a bit much, Millie, she thought to herself as she sipped her coffee before noticing her said husband walking towards the cafe's outdoor dining section. But I'll find out soon.

"Hey, honey," Moxxie said softly as he walked up and kissed her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take so long."

"It's okay, Moxie," Millie replied as she put her hands on his once he sat down. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

His face soon panicked before he forced himself to calm down and take a deep breath. He lowered his face and closed his eyes, making Millie worry more, but she kept her mouth shut and waited patiently. Even if a part of her was more anxious than a possum on crack.

"Millie, what I am about to tell you... I'm sorry I kept it from you all these years," Moxxie whispered while stroking her hands. "I never met to lie or keep it from you because...I was ashamed of it. I thought I had thrown it all way and was free from it but with my brother back...I kept denying that I had to tell you this because I feared you leaving me. Hating me for what I've done, like I hate myself. But I can't run away from this anymore. Not when Tyson will do whatever it takes to get back at me."

"Get back at you?" Millie asked, confused. "Sweetie, I thought you and Tyson were-"

"We are brothers, but there is no love between us," Moxxie growled as he held her hands tight. "Tyson wants to kill me. He wants to kill you. He wants to kill our child. Because-"

"Wait, why did he send me this pendant if he really wants to do that?" Millie asked as she showed her husband the jewelry. Moxxie's eyes widened upon hearing this and then went pale-faced. "Moxxie? Are you-"

Before Millie could finish, Moxxie swiped the pendant off her neck and threw it toward the store. Before she could question why he did that, there was a large flash of light, a booming sound, and the force of a truck that knocked Millie off her seat.

She heard Moxxie screaming her name before things went black.