CH 39: You Didn't Know

(A/N: Be prepared for the longest chapter EVER.) 

The next day soon came, the day that Esme was to address the court for Angel's redemption. The previous night, Geneviève had refused to leave her mother's side, so now she rests on Esme's chest, curled up in a little ball. Esme's eyes flutter open to the sound of birds chirping and angelic instruments playing in the distance. She smiles contently, looking down at Geneviève with pride.

She would do whatever it took to stay here with her. To hold her close to her chest and never let go. She would risk herself for her child over and over again. She would cut open her own heart to pour for her if she needed it.

Her alarm clock snaps her out of her thoughts and she softly nudges Geneviève awake. "Mio cuore..." She says in a loving melody, "Time to wake up~" The child stirs and sits up on Esme's stomach, yawning softly while rubbing her eyes. Esme takes a moment to admire her. God, was she beautiful. She was amazed how even in death she was the most beautiful child she had ever seen. She resembled her father so much, now more than ever, but if she was being completely honest, it did pain her a little bit.

So, that whole time you were missing....that whole seven years...you were here? You got the luxury of seeing her, of holding her, of being here with her, and you didn't bother to take me with you?

What she didn't know was that it wasn't his doing. Being taken by chains to the pearly gates for Lilith's pleasure and game was part of the horrid deal he had made. The only upside to it was that he was allowed certain hours of the day to see his loved ones. Deep past his pride and his rough exterior, he did care for both his mother and child dearly. Had he been allowed to bring Esme, of course, he would have done so.

Just like most of the story, he kept a lot of details hidden from the world. From Esme, specifically, he never let himself open up to her in this new life. His goal was to protect her and shield her from himself. After all, if he had done that in the first place, she would have never perished. She would have lived an entirely different lifetime, free of him and his anguish. She was thriving in Hell, becoming the woman she was always meant to be. He didn't want to steal that joy from her and make her a fish out of water thrown into chaos that her mind would not comprehend.

Esme pulls Geneviève off her and gently places her on the mattress, wrapping the blanket around her. She sighs and goes to the bathroom to freshen up, washing her face and dabbing it with a towel. She was excited to be able to represent Angel in court today. Flashes of her memories flooded her mind of him running around Brooklyn as a young boy. He was full of life, sweet, and fun-loving. She wished she could have kept him there, but she couldn't protect everyone. She wondered if their lives together would have been different if she hadn't moved down South. Then again, she would have never been blessed with her perfect miracle in the next room.

She walks back in, turning her head to hear a knock on the door. She stretches softly as she walks over, revealing Sera standing on the other side. "Oh, Good Morning Ms. Seraphim.."

"Sera is just fine, Esme. May I speak with you for a moment?"

Esme looks back at Geneviève who is sleeping in the bed and sighs. "If we do, could it be outside? She's still resting." The two step out into the hallway and close the door. "Is something wrong?"

"Not at all, I'm just checking to see how you're adjusting given your returned memories."

"Perfectly, actually." Esme says, glancing at the door, "I'm so grateful to be back with her."

"Esme...you know you can't stay, right?" Sera reminds her with a softened gaze. "I'm sorry, but it's simply not allowed."

"I know.." Esme pauses, "If it's alright with you, could I have a moment with her after the hearing? To say goodbye."

Sera nods sadly, "Of course, we wouldn't want it any other way. Would we?" Esme smiles in appreciation. "Alright then, I'll see you at the hearing. No little ones allowed."

Esme smiles and chuckles softly, "Of course, Sera. I'll happily see you later." She walks back in the room and closes the door. A small tear falls down her cheek.

"Mommy..." Geneviève calls out. Esme wipes her face and turns to her,

"Yes, my dove?" She sees Geneviève reach out for her. She walks over and picks her up, holding her across her chest. Geneviève looks at her eyes and pouts softly, seeing the tears on her mother's face. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm okay." She takes a deep breath, "Why don't we have a talk?"

~ Time Skippy, The Trial ~

Esme sits with Charlie and Vaggie in the angelic courtroom, looking through her papers of notes she had brought up to discuss during the hearing. She straightens when she hears Charlie groaning, "Ooh nooo, not him again."

"Hm?" Esme looks up to see an obnoxiously smug angel flying across the room.

"What up, baby?" He sings, "Saw that you went to my manager, low blow Karen!"

Her name isn't Karen, it's Charlie...

"Who's he?" Esme asks loudly with a raised eyebrow and scrunched nose.

"Adam, bitch ~ thee original dick!" Adam crosses his arms and leans into his seat, putting his legs up on the banister.

"Ah..." Esme sighs, "so that explains..." She makes an up-and-down motion with her hands, "..this.."

"Ouch, who made you so judgey?" Adam smirks, looking across her body, "Gotta say babe, nice dress~"

Esme rolls her eyes and glares at him before pushing her papers close together.

I don't like you.

They're interrupted by the sound of Sera's voice, "We are gathered here today to determine whether a soul in Hell can be redeemed into the heavenly realm by means of this Hazbin Hotel. Princess Morningstar?"

Charlie sighs and Esme turns to watch her plead the case, "Thank you, Seraphim..." She clears her throat, "Webster's Dictionary defines redemption as-"

"Objection, lame and unoriginal!"

Shit, let her speak...damn.   Esme's face scrunches once more in annoyance.

"Sustained. No further dictionary references, please."

Charlie looks down and shuffles through her cards frantically. Esme looks over and sees that they're all just index cards with little drawings that she can only imagine Geneviève created with her last night. She sighs and turns to Vaggie,

"You let her do this?" She whispers.

"If you have actual evidence, then show it already."

"We have a patron right now who is making incredible progress." Charlie and Esme both smile.

"Who?"

"Angel Dust." Esme says proudly

"Oh, yeah, the porn demon! He's totally worth being redeemed." Adam sticks out his tongue and spits at the three of them.

Esme groans and wipes her face, "You'd be surprised." 

"If you know so much..." Charlie begins, "What do you think it takes to get into Heaven?" She points.

"Ummmmm, w-well, uhhhh...."

"UmMm weLL UhH~" Esme taunts, "What happened, cat got your tongue?" She smirks.

"Give me a fuckin' minute, okay?" Adam snickers, turning his back towards everyone. He turns back around with a smug smirk as he sends a golden scroll to Vaggie. Esme reads silently over her shoulder.

"Act selfless, don't steal, stick it to the man. Are you fucking serious?" Vaggie scoffs.

"Uh, yeah, sure got me here - didn't it?" He laughs nervously, "Right, Sera?"

She shrugs, "He was the first human soul in heaven."

"That was your first mistake," Esme says out loud. Adam glares at her.

"Well, I bet Angel is doing all of those things right now!" Charlie says surely. "Plus, Esme here knew Angel from his mortal life - she's here to share!"

"What? That's not allowed!" Adam protests.

"It has already been decided from higher above." Sera states.

Esme clears her throat and stands up, "Good Afternoon, everyone. I am he-"

"Wait, you're that fucking Siren - aren't you?" Adam asks. He laughs and nudges Lute, "Holy shit, that's where I know her! You're that fucking slut succubus HAHA! In heaven, Sera, seriously?"

Esme grits her teeth, "I'm no such thing..." She growls, her fangs slowly descending.

"Those pearly whites say something else, babe~"

"Adam, please..." Sera announces, "Esme, you may proceed."

"Thank you." She takes a deep breath and sighs, "Anthony was a good boy, I swear it! He was always loving, sweet, and kind. He has good intentions and a strong upbringing, he has many redeeming qualities."

"Then let's fucking see it, brah!" Adam snaps and forms a large orb of light showing Angel and the others in the bar as if in a movie.

"Your honors, may I present exhibit A." Charlie smiles.

Esme watches as the orb shows Angel sitting at the bar looking absolutely exhausted, "Good, I need a drink after today..." He sighs. He looks utterly broken, Esme appeared concerned and wondered what had happened to get him to such a point. They hadn't spent that much one-on-one time with each other. Most of her time was spent watching Alastor.

Yeah, motherfucker I haven't forgotten about you. There's a reason we ain't watchin' your life.

Her eyes widened as she sees Cherri offer him some pills, suggesting that he should down the drugs to forget about all his troubles. She looks up and sees the court looking at one another, clearly passing judgment.

Come on, bambino....make good choices.

"Ehhh, I don't know." Esme smiles seeing him hesitant, but her smile soon fades as she watches him gladly accept free shots, "Fuck it, let's do it!"

"Heavenly people, what more do you need to see?" Adam questions with a smug tone of voice, "The porn star chose a night of debauchery. That's not a soul worthy of being in Heaven!"

"Objection!" Esme shouts. The court turns to face  her, "How do you know he's a porn star in the first place? Shouldn't you be steering clear of such unholy media?" She smirks.

"I...umm..."

"Are you really telling me you've never had a drink with friends at the end of a hard day?" Charlie questions.

"Uh, we don't have hard days? It's fuckin' heaven, bitch!" He leans back, "You seriously going to sit there and pretend like this behavior is okay?"

Charlie growls in frustration and Adam leans forward, "What do youuuu think?" He sings to Vaggie.

"I - I - I have to go to the bathroom!" Vaggie jumps up and walks away.

"What? Vaggie, can't you hold it?! Ughh!!" Charlie pulls her hair in aggravation.

Esme places a hand on her shoulder and stands up to once again address the court, "Anthony will make good decisions, please, we have to keep watching."

There's a short pause before Sera answers, "Very well, the court will allow it."

"Fuck, yes!!~" Charlie beams. Esme smacks her arm lightly to raise her awareness of the shocked and horrified faces of the courtroom. "I mean, heh, thank you~"

The orb shows the group several shots later gathered around a table. Nifty leans over it, "Everything's spinnyyy hehehe~"

Angel laughs, "Ha, I think you're done tiny." He takes the shot from her, causing her to whine and reach up.

"C'mon bitch, she can handle a little more!"

"She's like ten pounds soaking wet, and - oh shit where'd she go?" Esme watches as Angel follows Nifty around the club, picking up after her messes, and watching her carefully. She smiles.

"See?" She says out loud. Adam rolls his eyes.

"Angie, what the fuck are you doing? You're supposed to be relaxing, not playing nanny."

"Look, she ain't used to this scene." He argues, "I just don't want her to end up in the gutter like I used to."

See? How could you all refuse to see this? He has a good soul!

Esme watches the group converse, but freezes when she hears Angel growl, "Valentino..."

"Yeah, I'm here all the time, they know me~" The dreaded moth gloats. Esme rolls her eyes and cringes at his voice. "You're gorgeous, do you need a job? How many dicks can you suck?"

Angel goes to leave when he realizes Nifty is missing. He gasps seeing her approach Valentino, running after her. "'Cuse me, get out of my way." He pushes through the crowd, reaching for her before she can get to Val.

"Holy shit, Angel Dust~" He purrs, "What's the matter baby, couldn't stay away from this dick?"

"Funny." Angel scoffs.

"Who's this chiquita?" He leans in, "You bringin' me fresh meat?" He jumps back as Nifty goes to snap at his fingers. "Oi~"

"I just want a taste~" She grins.

"Weird, but there's a kink for that - I'm sure!"

"Fuck off, Val." Angel sneers, standing up with Nifty on his back.

"Excuse me?" Valentino questions.

"I said fuck off." Angel says sternly, "You ain't fucking with any of my friends."

"You forget who you're talking to? I had your sorry ass bent over for fucking years."

"Yeah, but you don't anymore. So, fuck off." He gets smacked across the face, blood oozing from his mouth, landing face first across the floor.

"That fucking fish can't protect you forever. The moment she's gone, I'm gonna make suffer." He spits.

Esme jumps up, leaning over the podium with a panicked expression.

Oh bambino, I'm so sorry.

"Fucking dickhead." Cherri mutters.

"Fuck it..." Angel stands up, wiping his face, "It was worth it." He walks away.

I'm so proud of you, Anthony.

"See!?" Charlie shouts, "He did everything on your checklist! He was selfless, he stopped Nifty from stealing, and he stuck it to that moth man!"

"Uhhhh, well..."

"Words are not your strong suit." Esme chuckles.

"Then, why isn't he here then?! Hmm?" Adam insists.

"Yeah..." Emily chimes in, "Why isn't he here?" She turns to Sera who looks away. The court shrugs.

"Wait, none of you know what gets someone into Heaven?" Charlie questions angrily.

"This questioning stops now." Sera says sternly, "We know when a soul arrives. We know when they pass divine judgment. It is our job to ensure these souls are safe."

Emily pauses, reflecting on the scroll in front of her.

Emily: But she was right, Sera. She showed us a soul can improve.

He saw the light, Sera. Checked all the boxes that you said would prove a person deserves a second chance. Now we turn our backs, no second glance?

Sera: It's not as simple as you think. Not everything is spelled in ink.

Esme stands before the court, shaking her head in disbelief. Charlie stands next to her growling to herself.

Esme: It's not fair, Sera...

Vaggie: Careful, guys, keep a cool head...

Charlie: No! Don't you care, Sera? That just because someone is dead, it doesn't mean they can't resolve to change their ways. Turn the page, escape infernal blaze!

Sera: I'm sure you wish it could be so, but there's a lot that you don't know!

Esme shakes her head frantically, stepping away from the podium to protest this idiocy. She opens her mouth to speak when she's cut off.

Lute: What are we even talkin' about?! Some crack-whore who fucked up already?!

Esme's eyes widen at the exorcist's complete disrespect of Angel, her skin morphing to an icy blue and her fangs quickly dropping from her mouth. Her ring shines brightly and green magic appears around her.

"Esme..." Vaggie warns, reaching for her.

Lute: He blew his shot, like the cock in his mouth. This discussion is senseless and petty.

Esme growls and begins to levitate in the air, her eyes shining brightly and an eerie melody escaping her throat.

"Get her down!" Sera shouts. Suddenly golden chains shoot up from the floor and wrap tightly around Esme's wrists, yanking her to the ground. She yelps in a pained screech, coiling over and panting as she feels the chain draining all her power. A yellow electricity spreads up her arms as she screams, "FUCK!"

"No!" Vaggie shouts, running over to her. Esme is clearly pained, her skin slowly turning to soft honey, until there's a bright flash and she slumps over on her knees.

Adam and Lute: There's no question to be posed! He's unholy, cased close! Did you forget that Hell is forever?

Vaggie runs over to the front of Esme, lifting her head in concern, but when she does she sees that what kneels before her is a weak woman. Dimmed green eyes and dark hair covering her face, she is shown in the same grey dress she used to carry her daughter in. She's frozen in time, barely able to move, fight, or argue.

No power, no fangs, no song.

A mortal soul, kneeling before them, weakened, and risking extermination like all the rest.

Adam: A man only lives once, we'll see you in one month.

He walks over to Esme and pushes Vaggie out of the way, lifting her chin to look at him. He traces up her chest with his hand, causing the young woman to shudder weakly underneath him.

Adam: Gotta say, I can't wait to..."

He grabs a hold of her chin and pulls her toward him.

Sera: Adam...

Adam: Come down and exterminate you ~

Emily gasps, "Wait!"

"Shit."

She flies down to Esme and looks at her with pity, causing her to turn her head weakly to avoid her gaze, "What are you saying? Let me get this straight. You go down there..." She motions to Esme, "...and kill these poor souls?

"You didn't know?"

"Whoops."

"Guess the cats out of the bag~"

"What's the big deal?"

Emily turns to Sera with disbelief, terror, and shame spread across the young seraphim's face, "Sera, tell me that you didn't know..."

Sera: I thought, since I'm older it's my load to shoulder. You have to listen, it was such a hard decision! I wanted to save you, the anguish it takes to, do what was required....

Emily turns to Esme once more and stares at her, watching how small streams of tears leak from the embarrassed and ashamed woman's face. "To think that I admired you..." She turns around quickly, flying in front of Sera's face,

Emily: I don't need your condescension. I'm not a child to protect!

Was talk of virtue just pretension?

Was I too naive to expect you to heed the morals you're purveying?

Charlie sighs in exasperation, "That's what the fuck I've been saying!"

Charlie and Emily: If Hell is forever, then Heaven must be a lie!

If angels can do whatever, and remain in the sky.

The rules are shades of grey when you don't do as you say.

When you make the wretched suffer just to kill them again...

Vaggie bends down to hold Esme's arm, checking on her as she breathes weakly.

"I was told not to trust in angels..."

"By her?"

"HA! She should know."

Vaggie stands up, walking over to Charlie nervously, "We should go."

"No! Don't you see? We've come so close. Look at them fighting, they're at each other's throats."

"Don't you act all high and mighty. Did you ever think your little girlfriend might be a liar?"

"Don't, Adam please!"

"What's the fuss? Why hide the fact that you're an angel just like us?"

Charlie gasps and her voice trembles as she hits the floor. Vaggie runs to her, "Charlie, please, I can explain..." She whispers.

Meanwhile, Emily flies to Esme and uses her magic to break the chains around her, catching her as she slumps forward and slowly turns back to an icy, oxygen-deprived, blue. She pants in relief, feeling her body become her own once again. She looks up at her, "Thank you..." she says in a whisper.

"I'm so sorry..." Emily says, her voice cracking and small tears forming in her eyes.

Sera takes in a deep breath and sighs, "I'm sorry, but this court finds that there is no evidence that souls in Hell can be redeemed."

Adam smiles with excitement, "Oh, fuck yes! I win!" He turns to Charlie and Vaggie, "Suck it bitches!"

Esme walks over, stumbling slightly, still recovering.

"You better save the date cunts, 'cause we're coming to your hotel first." He threatens in a dark tone as he snaps his fingers, opening a portal back to Hell.

"WHAT?!" Charlie shouts, "No, no, you can't!"

Esme gasps, feeling herself being pulled to the spinning light, "NO!" She shouts, clawing at the floor in desperation. She winces seeing Vaggie and Charlie get pulled away. She looks to Sera, who watches in disgust, "YOU SAID I COULD SAY GOODBYE TO HER! YOU ABSOLUTE COWARDLY BITCH!"

"Tell Charlie not to give up on this!" Emily shouts, "I'll figure something out, I promise!"

But, it's no use, as The Siren is pulled back through the orb and disappears.

"That wasn't called for Adam, she had a child..." Sera sneers.

"Yeah, but did you see the looks on their fucking faces?" He bursts into laughter. "It was...ahem, sorry." He flies away.

~ Back in Hell ~

There are no words to describe the earth-shattering, Hell breaking, supernova-creating scream that poured from The Siren's mouth.

An anguished, desperate scream, of a mother being separated from her young once again without being able to say goodbye.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Angel screams, falling from the couch to Esme's piercing death screech. He struggles to crawl to her, the sonic vibration pushing against him. He finally reaches her and holds her close, "ES, WHAT THE HELL?!"

She pants, cries, and growls, nearly pulling every strand of hair out from her head.

"What's all this about?" Alastor sighs from the bar, shaking his head from the intense screech Esme just released.

Her eyes widen at his voice, immediately turning a bright fuming green. She snaps her neck around, narrowing her eyes at him.

"𝓨𝓞𝓤!" She screams, flying across the room and pinning him down. Her claws wrap tightly around his neck in a fury.

And so, chaos ensued. 

~ Author's Note ~

I REALLY hope you all enjoyed that chapter. That was by far the longest one I've ever written. It took HOURS! 

I was going to upload two chapters today, but honestly, I'm WIPED! 

I hope you all are enjoying the story so far, and are ready for Esme to kick some Bambi ass! 

~ Artemis 💗🦌

~ Word Count ~

3,761 (YEAH, I KNOW!)