Trials of the Unholy Miracle
(Charlastor Snippet Part ?? It's part of the same series of snippets I've posted but actually has nothing to do with Charlastor this time. Very much a Lucifer-centric story this time)
Lucifer had been ready to spend his evening in bed, surrounded by his legion of ducks, watching some telenovela, instead, he's put on trial for the breaking of an arrangement made over two centuries ago.
Standing before the angelic counsel brings back some bad memories, but the worst is yet to come when he learns he's not the one who'd broken the terms of the deal but his daughter. Join Lucifer as he's put on trial for his daughter's use of unholy miracles.
Lucifer felt a familiar buzz, one he hasn’t felt in a long, long time- long since before his and Lilith’s final spat. It’s such a familiar feeling, nostalgic; so much so, he doesn’t question the fact that he’s feeling it for the first time in over a hundred years. It greeted him like a hug from behind, like the days before when Lilith would stand close behind him, not to hold him, but as a beacon of strength. He finds himself sighing in contentment, how he’s missed this feeling.
His feeling of comfort doesn’t last long, gone in an instant, leaving him feeling cold and alone once again. Suddenly the plush comforter and mountain of ducks around him doesn’t seem like it’s enough anymore. For the first time in a long time, he feels the difference within his castles halls, devoid of laughter, devoid of warmth. Devoid of life.
His feeling of hopelessness doesn’t last long, rather he’s not given the possibility for it to last at all, lying in his bed, his perfect view of his tv is obscured, replaced by a gleaming portal- one he’s seen before. The last thing he’d seen before he fell, when they ripped the halo from his head and clipped his gilded wings.
For a moment, he allows fear to consume him, perhaps He has decided to finish the job. But then a moment of hope takes over, perhaps that feeling he’d had, the one that reminded him of longing glances and delicate embraces, is none other than his love returning.
A pale hand reaches through the portal, beckoning him from the comfort of his bed, the elongated claws are familiar and the hope within his heart grows. Perhaps his love is deciding to return, their family can be whole again. He can be whole again.
He wraps his hand around hers, entwining their fingers, feeling the thrum of his heartbeat pulse within his chest. He has so much to tell her, so much to apologize for. There will be time for that, first and foremost he’s going to pull her from this portal and envelope her into a bone crushing hug. He goes to pull her through and is met with resistance. No not just resistance, though, this feels like something else. This feels like defiance. He tries to let go, but it’s too late, he’s already within their grasp and is pulled through the portal.
So much for a touching reunion.
Lucifer’s pulled to the hard ground. Sitting up, he rubs his temple, trying to disperse the pain that’s beginning to set in.
“Lucifer Morningstar.” His name rings out, it’s speaker firm but familiar. It’s a voice he hasn’t heard in a very long time, but it’s hard to forget when you’d heard your name said by it so many times in your youth. Sera.
He groans as he stands, his vision swimming, “Sera.” He bites out.
“You are here before the council today to atone for your sins… Again.” She adds on.
His sins. The sin of love, of happiness, of individuality, those are things he’d once been guilty of. He allowed these things to cloud his judgment, lead him astray, and corrupt the woman that he loved. He didn’t deny his involvement in her corruption then, he doesn’t now. But he’s faced his punishment for many years, Lilith faced her punishment for many years. He’s integrated himself into the land of sin, capitalized on others who choose to sin since. To punish him now is unfounded, asinine, and so like Heaven. He wants to throw all of this in her face and more, tell her just how little her opinion of his life means to him. But as he stands up straight and looks around, it’s the familiar faces in the crowd that have him second guessing himself.
When his punishment was originally announced, a trial much like this occurred, where he was brandished not as a once admirable figure within Heaven’s ranks, but as a lowly miscreant. Thrown to the ground, forced to look up towards those deemed not just better than him, but holier than him, to receive his divine punishment. He feels every bit of the man he was after the fall. Weak. Small. Insignificant.
There’s got to be one face in the crowd who could lift his veil of pain, one single person who could reassure him that he’s none of those things. He looks around, searching for a long trail of blonde across pale shoulders. To his utter shame, he finds nothing. Just disgusted sneers of those who were once his comrades and friends.
“Where is my wife?” He tries to make himself sound brave, like he isn’t relying on her presence to alleviate his fears.
Whether Sera believes his strength or not is irrelevant, as she continues on with her original train of thought. “Today, you stand before the council to plead your case. You have broken the terms of agreement and as such are due to relinquish the mercy granted upon you.”
“Terms of agreement? Mercy? I’ve made no deal with Heaven. Last time I spoke to you losers I was torn to shreds and tossed into Hell- which hurt very much, by the way!”
Murmurs grow within the crowd, discontent with Lucifer’s tone and choice of words. Sera need only say two words to silence the room, though. “Charlotte Morningstar.”
“Charlotte? Charlie? What’s she got to do with this?”
“The deal you made with God. Have you forgotten who granted you mercy and provided you and your sinner wife the miracle of life? Who gave you your daughter?”
Horns sprout from Lucifer’s head as he changes into his demon form. “She’s got nothing to do with whatever you think has been done. She’s pure, she’s light- she’s just like her mother!”
“Before or after you encouraged her to fall with you Lucifer?” Sera bites back. “Like it or not, your demon spawn-” A surge of flames coming from Lucifer causes Sera to pause, she takes the time to right herself. After a deep breath she tries again, “Like it or not, your daughter is the reason you are here today. She’s been performing unsanctioned- no, unholy miracles!”
Angels around the room erupt in outrage. Lucifer feels himself start to panic. Him being on trial is one thing, but his daughter, his miracle. It’s too much to bare, she’d never survive the wrath of Heaven. He barely survived it’s wrath.
“Liar!” He bellows. “Charlie couldn’t have used a miracle, she’s a succubi- like her mother! She’s only capable of the power of persuasion. Hell-” Gasps erupt from the crowd, like the mention of his home is scandalous. “She hasn’t even mastered that yet. To say otherwise is akin to acknowledging angelic blood. Which I’m not. Not anymore…”
Sera looks around the room, unrest has taken hold, and their audience no longer sits peacefully, waiting for Sera’s final judgment. Now they demand blood, Lucifer’s for falling and his daughter’s for desecrating the sanctity of miracles.
“Her unsanctioned usage of unholy miracles has claimed a life, severely injured another, and caused irreparable damage to sinner assets and Heaven’s image.” Sera continues, “This is in direct violation to the agreement you made centuries ago.”
“How-”
Sera cut’s Lucifer off, “Do not misunderstand Lucifer Morningstar, you are not here today to argue accountability. You have already been found in contempt of your agreement. You have been brought before this council today to atone for your sins.”
“My sins?! But I’ve upheld my end of the deal. I haven’t raised a finger to a sinner! I’ve stood by as you slaughter my people.” He pauses, heaving in a few deep breaths, before starting again, though this time, much more subdued, “I’ve done as I was told.” Desperation begins to leak into his voice, a sign that the severity of his crimes is now setting in. It brings Sera back to that day, centuries ago, where he stood before the council, his fate already decided, much like it is today.
“Let me remind you what you agreed to. When you got on your knees and prayed, all those years ago. You didn’t beg for forgiveness, or plea for someone above to understand your actions. No, you wept, hoping that the merciful God above would take pity on you and your sinner wife. That He would grant you the gift of a child, in your desolate castle, among your demonic subjects and their impish pets. And mercifully, he responded:
With my grace, life shall be kindled where none has been allowed to root. A child shall be granted to Lilith and Lucifer Morningstar. In exchange for such divine mercy, Morningstar shall neither hinder nor obstruct Heaven’s cleansing. No command, miracle, or act of sovereign authority shall be used by the Morningstar’s to impede Heaven’s judgment. Furthermore, no bearer of the Morningstar name shall raise hand, power, or miracle in harm against the souls of the damned or divine, for now until eternity. Should this covenant be broken by any bearer of the Morningstar name, you Lucifer Morningstar shall be called before Heaven to atone for the sins of his family.
“Furthermore, no bearer of the Morningstar name shall raise hand, power, or miracle in harm against the souls of the damned or divine, for now until eternity.” Sera repeats. “Now tell me, do you still wish to feign ignorance? Do you still wish to claim your daughters innocence?!”
“You are cruel.” Lucifer spits with such vitriol it has angels in the wings flinching.
His proclamation has no effect on Sera, though. She’s seen this song and dance before, centuries ago he’d claimed Heaven was cruel and he has since received many lifetimes of punishments, though it’s never been enough. It never will be enough. So, Sera thinks it will do him well to remind him just who he’s talking to.
“That’s where you are wrong Lucifer Morningstar.” She says, “Cruel is being granted God’s gift of life and squandering it. No, I’m not cruel. I am just.”
Lucifer lunges at Sera, no plan as to what he would do, only the sheer instinct to maim the woman before him that threatens his daughter- to protect the only thing in his life worth protecting. He’s caught before his feet ever leave the ground, angelic soldiers wrestling him to the floor, forcing him to prostrate before their Seraphim.
Undeterred by his actions, Sera continues on. “He is infinite in his wisdom, but even His creations are capable of surprising Him with what they do with the life they’re given. Charlotte Morningstar, born of archangel and succubus blood has surpassed the limits God intended. She’s desecrated the sanctity of miracles and, subsequently, has become a threat to Heaven’s light. Henceforth, she is to be returned from whence she came- not a mothers womb, but Heaven’s light!”
“No!” Lucifer fights against those who restrain him while angels roar with excitement.
So eager for divine punishment to be doled out, yet completely oblivious to the anguish they perpetuate. Returning Charlie to Heaven’s light would be a death sentence for her, he can’t bare the thought of living in a world where such a thing comes to fruition. She’s the only thing he’s ever done right, despite what Lilith may think. Charlie is the best of him and her mother, he knows she can fulfill her dream of redeeming sinners, she need only the chance to prove it possible. So, Lucifer does the one thing he swore never again to do before this council of angels. He begs.
“Seraphim.” The use of her full name draws not just her attention, but the attention of all in attendance. It isn’t just her name he’s used, but an acknowledgment of her position and power. “My daughter is young and doesn’t know the extent of the power bestowed upon her. She’d never willingly harm another. Sinner or not, she values life. She values God’s gift.”
Sera quirks a brow at Lucifer, to force him to his knees before her is one thing, but for him to willingly accept the position is another. She’ll hear his plea, though that doesn’t mean she has to agree with it either.
“With your grace, please allow me to correct the wrong being done. Give me the chance to educate her. Miracles are foreign in Hell, unheard of; to perform one, unholy or not, is completely unfounded. Allow me to teach her how to control it, to avoid using it. I know she will oblige. I swear to Him that she does not yet understand what she’s done, how she’s doing it.”
His plea is genuine, truly he does sound remorseful. Though, whether it’s for not thinking such a thing is possible or for not expecting her to master it without his knowledge, she does not know. Either way, she knows the power that the spawn of The Morningstar holds is far too powerful to be left to chance. It must be destroyed. His child must be des-
Angelic trumpets sound, halting Sera’s train of thought. The clouds above part, allowing golden rays to shine down on the Angels below, or rather, one specific angel below: the fallen angel.
The hands holding Lucifer’s head down don’t allow for much movement, but he’s been here before, he knows what those trumpets signify, he’s no longer at the Seraphim’s mercy, but at the Speaker of God’s.
“My child…” she starts, signaling to those who restrain him that he’s to be released, “It certainly has been a long time since your light has shone within these halls.” He understands her words are meant to be bright, to speak of happy memories, but all they do is sully his mood further and cause him to curl within himself more.
He intends to spend this entire conversation on the floor, in the same position, begging for his daughters life, but he’s granted mercy, when a golden hand reaches for him in his periphery- close enough to convey her desire to help him, but far enough away that gives him the space, the ability to decide whether or not to accept it. Every part of his being desperately calls out for him to take her hand. But bitter memories prevent him from doing so. Instead, he stands on his own, tear stricken face on full display for all who witness.
The Speaker leans forward to wipe his tear, but is halted when he moves out of the way on instinct. She forgets he’s been burned by Heaven’s touch before.
“While your light has been dimmed it still exists, you are still a child of God. After all, within these very halls you once held rank.” She muses, “ Though, to see your light again, is troubling. The child-”
She’s cut off by Lucifer, “Charlotte…” He says firmly, then softens it to, “Charlie.”
The speaker takes a moment to ponder his reaction. Strong, firm, protective. Then continues, “Charlie, has broken the terms of your arrangement. You know better than most what defiance entails.” This has Lucifer bristling.
“She doesn’t know about our arrangement. I doubt she even understands what she’s doing! Charlie would never do undue harm on another.”
“Nonetheless, action must be taken. Sin is sin, my child. Intention does not allow for exceptions.”
“Please, I can’t-” He pauses with a shuddering breath, “I can’t lost her too.” It’s a quiet admission, a private one, reserved for the only being standing between Charlie living to see another day and becoming another ray of God’s light.
The Speaker looks at the being before her. Once revered and respected, now a shell of a man begging for mercy from the very beings who cast him out. It speaks volumes in regards to his strength, his perseverance, and his love. Lucifer had once risked everything for the woman he loved and here he stands, once again on trial for loving too much. Before The Speaker is not a fallen angel, but a broken man seeking God’s grace and mercy.
“He is a merciful God.” She concedes, “He will grant this final prayer.”
She speaks louder, for all present within the council to hear, “Charlotte Morningstar has been granted mercy, a second chance.” Quieter, she speaks to Lucifer directly, “Do no squander this Lucifer Morningstar, as this is an opportunity not even you could afford. Teach her how to control the use of her powers and guide her towards the path of leadership without them. Her goals are lofty ones, but she has exceeded His expectations once before, who’s to say she will not again?”
Lucifer’s given no time to respond, as a portal opens beneath his feet and for the second time in his long, long life, Lucifer falls from Heaven’s grace.
When he lands, it’s not into the rough landscape of Hell that greets him, instead it’s the plush comfort of his down bedding. He’s got no time to appreciate the care of descent this time, though, as there’s only one thing on his mind: he has to talk to Charlie.
