Shattered Innocence Ch. 25

Clara drags herself into the penthouse with Emily not far behind and proceeds to throw herself onto the couch. The puffy-haired Carmine said something, but it was muffled by the cushions.

Emily asks, "What was that?"

She raised her head. "It's finally over!" and sits up. "Who knew that driving around would be so exhausting?"

"I told you that I didn't want to bother you," the angel takes a seat next to her sister. "I'm sure it would have been fine if I reschedule."

Clara smiles. "I like the fact that you would rein yourself in for us. But…" the older sister then places a hand over the younger's stomach. "You don't have only yourself to think about. This appointment was for my nephew. That's what's important. Besides," she sighs. "This was the last day and I finally get to make a certain call," and takes out her phone while getting up. "I'll be back in a bit, Em," and leaves the room.

Emily leans back and soon finds herself stroking her belly with a hum. "I can't wait to meet you."

The doorbell rings, and the seraphim stands up. "Not sure how much longer I'd be on my feet. You are growing after all," she answers the door and is surprised at who's there. "Velvette? I thought you were supposed to call ahead?"

The Influencer bites her lower lip. "You have no idea how much I f(bleep)ing hate doing this but…" she squirms a bit. "You wouldn't happen to have a spare room here, would you?"

.oOo.

On her way back to the penthouse, Carmilla was giving off an aura that tells anyone not to go near the Overlord. "I was supposed to be with Emily today! Instead, I had to deal with that pig because everything must be done on his time on his notice!" she enters her home, grateful that she'll be spending the rest of the evening with just her family and no one else.

"Girls!" she calls out. "I'm home!"

Immediately, two of her daughters ran up to her.

"Hi, Mom!" Clara gives a broken smile and Odette remains neutral.

The Matriarch looks between them. "Who's in trouble this time?"

"Mom," Odette steps. "Before you say anything, we know the rules, but this situation is different."

Not wanting to hear anymore of this, Carmilla walks past her daughters and into the living room where she sees the New Carmine sitting the couch with Velvette next to her.

"What the Hell are you doing here!?" her eyes narrow. "I strictly told you that you cannot come over without any prior notice! I want you out of my home now!"

Emily stands. "Mom, please listen—"

"I will not have her disrespect me in my own home! This is why I did not want you to affiliate yourself with a damn Vee!"

"Good for me, b(bleep)ch!" Velvette snaps. "I'm no longer a Vee!"

That caused the Arms Dealer to stare and blink. "What?"

Velvette lets out a growl. "Vox and Valentino decided that I wasn't up for it anymore. So, those two p(bleep)heads went behind my back to rack up on souls in order to get rid of me," she falls back onto the couch. "I don't have a job, no money, not even a home. I don't have anything."

Carmilla only gives a neutral expression. "It's to my understanding that you still own several souls yourself and surely you have a savings account."

"Yeah," the Influencer huffs. "But so many of them are tied to one another with those two idiots it's not easy to separate who belongs to who. Even then, it's nowhere near enough to be an Overlord. As for my savings? They're trying to claim all of mine as their own and locked me out."

"And what does this have to do with my family?"

Instead of answering, the former Vee crosses her arms and looks away.

"Mom," Emily walks up to her mother. "I know that you don't have the best relationship with Velvette, but she needs help. Is there anyway we could let her stay here? At least until she gets back up on her feet."

The matriarch looks from her pleading daughter to the Influencer. "Only if she asks herself."

Velvette lets out a growl. But then a hand is gently placed on her shoulder.

"Velvette," Emily speaks. "I know that you're very prideful, but this will give you a place to rest for a while."

The former Vee looks up at the Arms Dealer. "I need someplace to stay for a while. So, please let me stay until I can get things sorted out."

Carmilla narrows her eyes before saying. "Very well. But as long as you're living under my roof you will follow the same rules as my daughter's do," she then walks up to Velvette and offers a card.

The Influencer raised a brow. "What's this?" and accepts the card.

"This is one of the best lawyers in Pentagram City. She may not reinstate your status as an Overlord, but I know that she will be able to retrieve everything that's rightfully yours. And then some."

Velvette smirks. "You're not so bad, wind—" A hand is placed back on her shoulder and Emily gives her a pleading look. "Thank you, Carmilla."

"You're welcome, Velvette. We have a room set aside that I was hoping to turn into a nursery. You'll just have to settle with a pallet in there for now," the Overlord approaches the former Vee and gently places a hand over her shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze before walking away.

.oOo.

Velvette tosses and turns on her pallet. The Sinner growls while punching the pillow, just trying to get little comfort as she could.

The door then squeaks open letting a little bit of light in.

A familiar voice causes her irritation to melt away.

"Are you having trouble sleeping?" Emily walks in wearing a long nightgown.

"Of course I am!" Velvette snaps in a half whisper. "I've been sleeping on the best quality mattresses. I might as well be sleeping on a bag of bricks."

The angel sets herself next to the Influencer. "You could barrow my bed if you like."

Velvette turns to her with a small smile. "As much as I would like that, Luv, I'm sure your mum would ring my neck if she thought I stole your bed."

"No, she…" the seraphim paused then looks up in thought. "You're right. She definitely would have. Mom is pretty overprotective of me and my sisters. Knowing that I'm not used to the stuff down here, she tries to shield me from the worst of it. Especially the things she's done," the angel looks down. "But I'm not stupid. I know that my mother has done some pretty bad stuff. But when I thought I'd never find kindness she showed it to me and now," she places a hand over her growing stomach. "I went from having no family to growing one and I owe it all to her and my sisters."

Velvette glances at the angel's belly. "I've done some pretty f(bleep)ed up sh(bleep) to, darling. Do you see me any different?"

"I figured. I'm not sure about the exact process but I doubt you become an Overlord by being nice. But I am certain you have some bit of goodness in you."

The former Overlord lets out a chuckle. "How can you be so sure?" her hands are then taken.

"Because of when I was exposed to you and the, uh, tv guy, you helped me. There was nothing in it for you. I have a feeling if it was anyone else, I wouldn't be here now," Emily then lowers Velvette's hands onto her belly. "and neither would he."

The Influencer can feel a blush growing but took notice of the last part. "He?" she pulled her hands away and raised a brow. "The runt is going to be a boy and you're keeping it?"

"Yeah," Emily places a hand over her belly. "How the baby is born would not be their fault. I've chosen to love them no matter what the gender."

Velvette looks down at the girl's abdomen. "You're definitely stronger than me."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," the former Vee turns away. A set of arms then wrapped around her.

"You looked like you needed a hug," the New Carmine smiles and the former Overlord smirked in return.

"Thanks, Luv. But I don't think that's going to make me feel better."

Emily then thought for a moment. "I might have something," she hefts herself up and holds her hand out to the former Vee.

Velvette stares at the hand before accepting the offer. She is then led to the angel's room who leads her to the bed to sit down.

"Let's see," the seraphim looked through her stuff. "Here it is!" and picks up a small box before going to sit next to the former Vee. "Not too long ago when I was getting gifts for my family, I saw this and for some reason thought of you."

The Influencer eyes the tiny box before accepting it and her eyes widen slightly when opened it. It was a small heart locket with a red V carved into it.

"I figured you had a thing for hearts given that nearly everything I've seen you in had them and the V for obvious reasons."

It was so simple yet precious. Velvette could not remember the last time she received a gift. "Thank you, Luv," she wasted no time putting on the piece of jewelry before hugging the angel. "Now then," the former Overlord breaks a part and stands up. "Best get out of here. Don't want your hag of a mother to walk in while alone with you. Who knows what that fossil will do," she then lets out a laugh. "She might have a heart attack and actually die only to end up back here again."

Emily lets out a giggle while shaking her head. "Goodnight, Velvette."

"Night, Luv!"

As soon as the former Vee shut the door, she had to refrain from letting out a scream from the voice behind her.

"I guess I should be grateful that you're not calling me a hag to my face," Carmilla eye's narrows. The woman then approaches her. "It's late. Let's head back to bed," and leads the former fellow Overlord back to the spare room. "I'll see about getting an appropriate bedding for yourself."

That had honestly surprised Velvette.

"Don't be mistaken. I'm not doing any of this for you," the matriarch turns around. "If it wasn't for Emily, you would not be here. Once we get your situation settled, I not only want you out of my home, but I also fully expect you to pay every penny I spend on you." With that, the woman leaves the room.

Velvette lets out a huff before getting back to her pallet.

.oOo.

Sera was going over some paperwork when the door to her office opens.

"Hey, Boss B(bleep)!" Adam walks in along with Lute as if he owns the place and casually takes a seat across from the High Seraphim while his lieutenant stands behind him. "What up?"

As the Leader of the Seraphim, Sera refrains from showing any emotion to Adam's very casual behavior. He is after all the first man and deserves some leeway.

"Adam. There is something we discuss about your half year Extermination plan."

"Ugh!" the first man rests his head and elbow on the desk. "You're not gonna cancel it because of that little slip up?"

"Not at all."

"Huh?" both the Leader of the Extermination Army and his first Lieutenant were surprised.

"In fact, it's more important than ever that it happens," Sera passes a file. "I found Emily."

"Really?" Adam takes the file and opens it. "Where's the brat been…" he pauses. "The f(bleep)! She's in Hell!? How the f(bleep) did she end up there!?"

"I cannot say," the High Seraphim had to choose her words carefully. It is after all the best way to avoid lying. "It seems she's being held by an Overlord known as Carmilla Carmine. She and her daughters are Arms Dealers. Making money by selling weapons made from our own weapons left after every Extermination," she briefly glares at the two but soon regains her composure. "You may do what you wish on Extermination Day. But I insist you send a team to retrieve my sister. No matter the cost."

Adam rubs the back of his neck. "That won't be easy. We never bother with those Overlord f(bleep)ers because they board themselves up. They're tough targets to get to."

"Adam," Sera clenches her fist. "Please. Just bring her back. Bring her back and I'll see about setting up the Half Year Extermination as a permanent occurrence rather than this one-time use."

That puts a smile on the first man's face. "Will do, Boss. Lute!" he turns to his lieutenant.

"Sir!" the Exorcist straightens her posture.

"I still want you with me while we take down that Hotel. But I trust you to pick our best soldiers to rescue the lost angel."

"I will only select the best, Sir!" she salutes.