As the morning rays began to slowly filter into the room, the sleeping Princess began to stir.
She rubbed her eyes, let out a wide yawn, and after a few groggy seconds of scratching her head, turned to greet her lover at her side.
"Good morning, love." Charlie murmured, still half-asleep.
No response came. She turned — and found Shakra's side of the bed empty.
Confused, Charlie called out to her, but when no answer came she simply got up and padded towards the bathroom connected to their room.
Rubbing her eyes once more, Charlie began her early morning routine — cold water to the face, soap worked in slowly, the familiar sting pulling her fully awake. When she finally looked up at the mirror, a note was waiting for her.
She grabbed a towel, dried her face, and plucked the note from the glass.
"My dearest Charlie, I'm sorry to be leaving on such short notice, but Lady Celestia has summoned me alongside the many leaders of Hell — and some from Heaven as well. I'm not quite sure why, but she has informed me..."
Charlie's voice slowed as she neared the end. Her breath hitched.
*"It's about Prince Stygian."*
Her grip went slack. The note drifted to the floor.
Shock hit her first — then her breathing quickened as adrenaline flooded her system — and then, all at once, a wide smile broke across her face.
"Ahh! Something's finally happening!" Charlie jumped in excitement. After fifty years, news of her brother had finally reached her.
She grabbed her toothbrush and rushed through the rest of her routine, already buzzing with energy. The princess had no intention of being left out of this.
Darting out of the bathroom, she quickly picked out her usual clothes, threw them on, and bolted for the main exit.
Passing through the hotel's hallway, she caught a glance at the room Eve was currently occupying — and immediately felt her face burn red at the memory of what she'd walked in on last night. She shoved it down into the deepest corner of her mind and kept moving.
At the front door, Charlie grabbed the knob — and stopped.
Standing there with her hand on the handle, she hesitated. *Would it be like before?* she thought. *Would her brother be the same... or would she be the same sister he remembered?*
She shook her head, clearing the doubt away. With a flame rekindled in her eyes, she turned the knob and opened the door.
The morning sun hit her full in the face. When her eyes adjusted, she found herself looking at the most unlikely pair.
An exterminator stood directly in front of her — and beside her, though at a noticeable distance, was an imp girl in armor as dark as the night itself, gripping an axe far too large for her frame.
"Uhh... hello?" Charlie gave them an awkward wave, and both responded in kind.
"Greetings, Princess." The exterminator straightened, hand to her chest. "My name is Sergeant Vaggie. I was sent to watch over you under direct orders from the High Seraphim herself."
The imp girl dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
"Your Majesty. Knight Sergeant Millie of the Knights of House Morningstar. I was sent to safeguard you under direct orders from His and Her Majesty, Lucifer and Lilith." She rose smoothly back to her feet.
"...What?" Charlie stared at them both, utterly dumbfounded.
"This is all very nice, guys, but if you don't mind, I'll be heading to that meeting now." She adjusted her bowtie and moved to step past them.
The two shifted — closing the gap just enough to block her path.
"Hey!" Charlie sidestepped. They moved with her.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Millie said, "but our orders are to keep you safe and inside."
"As are mine," Vaggie added.
"Can't you make an exception?" Charlie smiled awkwardly. "I am the princess, after all."
"No means no, Princess," they said in unison.
Pouting, Charlie turned around and trudged back inside, the two soldiers falling into step behind her.
Once in the lobby, she turned and looked at them both.
"So," she said, perfectly calm. "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm sorry, Princess, but that's classified. The leaders of Heaven and Hell are discussing the matter as we speak." Vaggie replied.
"But *I'm* a leader — technically. I am the Princess of Hell."
Millie winced. "Not to be rude, Your Majesty, but you're kind of... how do I put this... a blabbermouth."
"What! I am *not!*" Charlie dropped into the nearest chair with a pout.
"I'm not saying you are," Millie said carefully. "It's just that you get a bit... emotional when it comes to your family."
"I — well..." Charlie opened her mouth, then closed it. "Okay, fine. But why is Dad there? He's *way* more emotional than me!"
Millie tilted her head. "Well, Your Majesty... who's going to stop him?"
Charlie raised a finger to object — and found she had absolutely nothing. She let her hand fall, stood up with quiet dignity, and headed for the kitchen.
"You two must be hungry. Come on, I'll make breakfast."
Without a beat of hesitation, Millie followed.
Vaggie lingered a moment longer. Taking orders from the daughter of the Fallen One hadn't exactly been on her list of comfortable things — but she took a slow breath and followed them in all the same.