1 Prologue

"Ugh! Do I really have to? I mean c'mon, it's not big deal if I don't go, there are so many others doing it-"

"That's enough, Allie." Lucifer gave me one of those annoying dad looks. I stopped my complaint mid sentence and crossed my arms over my chest, scowling across the table at him. "You know the rule. Everyone five years dead or less has to complete the assignment."

"Y'know, Dad, maybe if we just let her stay? One exception to the rule?" Charlie suggested mildly, putting a hand on my shoulder. Charlie wanted me to stay too, because I was the only person her parents allowed her to talk to at the current moment. That was because I was supposed to be teaching her that life wasn't all cupcakes and rainbows, but we got off track a lot.

"I know you want her to stay, Apple, but failure to comply to the assignment could result in extermination."

"It's true," Lilith chimed in, "and none of us want that."

I sighed heavily. I was going to be so bored up there. What was the point in poking at someone who's going to Hell anyway? It's not like that fate is undecided.

"Fine, fine," I grumbled, "But I'm not gonna like it."

At that, Lucifer laughed. "You don't have to like it, Alaska. Just get the job done and you can come back, everything will go back to normal."

Charlie pouted a little and hugged me from her spot standing behind me. Lilith got up and hugged me as well. Lucifer just came over and patted the top of my head tentatively.

"We're gonna miss you," Charlie said, squeezing me gently.

"Yes, we will," Lucifer agreed, "But you'll be fine. It's not that bad, really."

"You're going to be great at this, I know it." Lilith smiled at me. I half smiled back.

"Thanks you guys... wish me luck, I'm going to be bored to tears." I sighed again and stood up. Charlie finally let go of my shoulders and we all said one more goodbye to each before I left the castle.

"Ugh," I groaned to myself, "This is gonna suck."

My assignment was already waiting for me, Lucifer had said, so as soon as I got home I needed to be on my way. Part of me thought about stalling as long as I could, but my better judgment overrode that plan. It was going to suck, sure, but I still had to do it, so there really wasn't a point in trying to stall anyway.

This better be worth it, I thought bitterly.

You never know, chimed a little voice in the back of my head, it might be.

I laughed aloud at myself. "Yeah right. I'll believe that when I see it."