16. Forbidden room

Charlie, a tall and elegant hellborn demon with striking features, wandered through her father's castle. Her long, blonde hair with light coral streaks trailed behind her, and her black-tipped hooves clicked softly on the marble floors. She often found herself drawn to the forbidden corners of the castle, her curiosity always getting the better of her.

As she entered a particularly off-limits room, she marveled at the strange artifacts and eerie atmosphere. She barely had a moment to take it all in before she heard a familiar voice.

"Charlie! CHARLIE!" Lucifer's voice echoed through the room as he rushed in, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "What is my baby doing here?"

Charlie squirmed slightly in her father's grip and managed to slip away. She glanced around the room, her eyes catching on a peculiar, glowing sphere. "My little duckling, you know this room is forbidden," Lucifer said, his tone gentle but firm.

"Ugh, but daaad," Charlie whined, "this place is so interesting! And what is this?" She reached out toward the sphere before Lucifer could stop her.

"Wait, Charlie, don't touch that sphere!"

But it was too late. The moment her fingers brushed the surface, everything went dark. Charlie found herself standing in a void, surrounded by nothingness. She turned in circles, trying to make sense of her surroundings. "Hello? Anyone?" Her voice echoed back at her.

She started to walk, her steps tentative in the unfamiliar emptiness. After what felt like an eternity, she spotted a figure in the distance. As she approached, she realized it was a woman sitting at a table, calmly sipping from a cup.

"Ah, hello fellow prisoner," the woman greeted, her voice smooth and welcoming. "Welcome, welcome. Just sit." A chair materialized on the other side of the table, and Charlie hesitantly took a seat. A cup appeared in front of her as well.

"Thank you," Charlie said, still trying to process what was happening. "So, what's your name, little star?" the woman asked with a warm smile.

"You remind me of my father a little," Charlie began, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Ah yes, my father's name is Lucifer Morningstar."

The woman's smile widened. "Well, happy to see you, niece. Welcome to my humble nothingness. My name is Beelzebub."

Charlie's eyes widened in surprise. "So you are my aunt?"

"Yes," Beelzebub confirmed with a nod. "Would you like to have some tea?"

Charlie took a cautious sip from the cup in front of her, noting the strange taste. "It's not bad, but it's a bit… weird. Where did you even create this tea?"

"Aaah, yes," Beelzebub replied with a chuckle, "it was made from my fluids."

Charlie's face contorted in horror, and she tried to throw up, but nothing happened. Her eyes darted to Beelzebub, who was laughing softly.

"Relax, little star. It's not harmful. Just a bit of my essence to keep things interesting."

Charlie forced herself to calm down, her mind racing. "What is this place?"

Beelzebub's expression grew thoughtful. "This, my dear, is the void. A place of nothingness where I've been imprisoned by your father."

"But why?" Charlie asked, her curiosity piqued despite her discomfort.

"Because I angered him a little, and than lost a battle." Beelzebub said with a hint of bitterness. "Now, I exist here, in the nothingness."

Charlie glanced around the void, the reality of Beelzebub's words sinking in. "Is there any way out?"

Beelzebub sighed. "Not unless your father decides to release me."

They sat in silence for a moment, Charlie's mind spinning with questions and emotions. She looked at Beelzebub, trying to reconcile this woman with the stories she had heard. "What was it like? Fighting my father?"

Beelzebub chuckled, a bitter edge to her laugh. "It was… thrilling and terrifying. Your father is powerful, more so than any of us. But I thought I could best him, and I paid the price."

"Do you regret it?" Charlie asked softly.

Beelzebub's eyes met hers, filled with a complex mix of emotions. "Regret? Perhaps. But I've had a lot of time to think here. Regret isn't something that helps much in the void."

Charlie nodded slowly, her thoughts a whirl of confusion and sympathy. "What's it like being here? In the nothingness?"

"It's...isolating. Endless darkness, with only my thoughts for company," Beelzebub said, her voice softening. "It's a punishment, yes. But it's also given me time to reflect. Time to understand the consequences of my actions."

Charlie looked down at her cup, contemplating Beelzebub's words. "Do you think my father will ever forgive you?"

Beelzebub sighed deeply. "Lucifer is not one to easily forgive. He holds grudges, especially when it comes to challenges to his authority. But who knows? Maybe someday."

The void seemed to close in around them, the weight of eternity pressing down. Charlie shivered slightly, feeling the oppressive nature of the place. "Is there really no way out?" she asked again, her voice tinged with desperation.

"No," Beelzebub said gently. "Not unless your father decides to release me. And I doubt he'll do that willingly."

They sat in silence once more, the void echoing their thoughts. Charlie felt a pang of sadness for Beelzebub, trapped in this eternal prison. "I wish there was something I could do," she said quietly.

Beelzebub reached across the table, her hand resting on Charlie's with a crazy little smile. "Your presence here is more than enough, little star. It's been a long time since I've had company. Thank you."

Charlie squeezed her hand, feeling a strange connection to this woman who was both family and a prisoner. "I'll talk to my father," she promised. "Maybe there's something that can be done."

Beelzebub smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Thank you, Charlie. You're a kind soul. Just like your mother."

Charlie's eyes widened at the mention of her mother. "You knew my mother?"

"Yes," Beelzebub said, her smile bittersweet. "She was a gentle, loving soul. Much like you."

Before Charlie could ask more, the void began to shift again. The darkness pulled at her, dragging her back. "Looks like our time is up, little star," Beelzebub said softly. "Remember what you've seen here."

With that, Charlie was pulled back into the real world, stumbling as she reappeared in her father's forbidden room. Lucifer was by her side in an instant, his face filled with concern.

"Charlie, are you alright?" he asked, his voice urgent.

She nodded slowly, her mind still reeling from the encounter. "Dad, we need to talk about Aunt, I mean Beelzebub."

Lucifer's expression darkened. "What did you see?"

Charlie took a deep breath. "I met her. She's… she's not what I expected."

Lucifer sighed, his shoulders slumping. "There's a lot you don't know, Charlie."

As they left the forbidden room, Charlie couldn't help but glance back, her thoughts filled with the enigmatic figure she had met in the void.

(End of a chapter)