Shattered Innocence Ch. 02

This goes against everything you taught me!

Don't do this, Sera!

I'm sorry, Emily!

What's a pretty thing like you doing here?

Stop! Please!

It hurts!

.oOo.

Emily eyes shot open while quickly sitting up on the bed, drenched in sweat. At first, the angel was terrified as she didn't recognize where she was. But then, memories came flooding back. The girl pulled her legs up to her chest and started crying.

.oOo.

As she does most nights, Odette wakes up in the middle of night needing a drink. What made tonight different was that she is supposed to have a roommate, who is missing.

Odette places her glasses over her nose and sighs at the empty pallet on the floor.

The spectacled Carmine exits her room and finds her sister nervously pacing in front of her own bedroom. Walking up, muffled crying can be heard coming from the room.

"Clara," Odette whispers. "We were told not to bother her."

"I know," Clara whispers back. "But don't you hear that?"

"I do! But you know how much trouble you'll be in if you go in there," the bond feels relieved seeing her sister relaxing and turns around. "Okay. Let's just go back to bed, Clara, and Mom won't…" Then she hears the door opening causing Odette to sigh.

Clara walks in on the crying angel who immediately covers up at the sight of the demon.

"Sorry," the puffy haired Carmine walks up to her. "I should've knocked. I'm Clara," the door opens from behind her and in walks the other Carmine. "And this is my sister, Odette. We're Carmilla's daughters."

The angel looks away before hesitantly telling them. "I'm… Emily."

"Nice to meet you, Emily," spectacled one politely nods. "We should let you rest. We'll leave you…"

Clara sits on the bed. "Are you alright?"

"No," Emily flinches away while pulling the cover tighter around herself. "And I don't think I'll ever be."

"We're not going to hurt you. You know that?"

The angel doesn't answer.

Odette steps up to them. "We may not know you, but our mother has expressed interest in you and there's not many she'd show the kindness she's giving you outside of family and close friends. You don't have to be afraid of us."

"I can't help but being afraid," Emily confesses. "Afraid of being here, surrounded by people I don't know, and what might happen to me next. But right now, my biggest problem is," the covers are pulled even tighter. "I feel naked."

The Carmine's blink and Odette responds. "What?"

"These clothes," the angel starts blushing. "I've never shown so much skin and you two being here is not helping."

The sisters blinked again, and Clara cracked a smile.

"Emily. That's not naked. Trust me. I would know."

"I'm not sure you're the best judgement of that," the spectacled Carmine comments.

The puffy haired one turns to her sister with hands on hips. "And what do you mean by that?"

"Clara. If your shorts were any smaller we'd be seeing your underwear."

Clara looks down at her pajama bottoms. "Well," then looks back up at Odette. "At least I'm wearing underwear."

Odette has a tint of pink appearing on her face. "I thought we agreed that you will not tell anyone!" she then turns back to the angel. "If you like, you can borrow nightwear from my room. I am the more modest of the two."

"I don't know," Emily looks away. "I really don't want to trouble you more than what I already have."

"You will not be troubling us. You are our guest and as your hosts it is our job to make sure you're comfortable."

"Come on," Clara stands and offers the angel a hand. "I'll help you pick out something that would at least seem sensible." From behind, her sister glares at her. "You can even bring the blanket to make sure it matches the outfit, so you won't feel as embarrassed."

The Seraphim glances away briefly before accepting the offer.

.oOo.

Now wearing somewhat baggy pajamas, Emily is back on the bed with Clara reapplying a new set of bandages.

After a while, the angel asks. "Did you bring me here?"

"Huh?" the puffy haired Carmine looks up to blink at her. "Yeah. Don't you remember?"

Emily shakes her head while tensing up. "Anything after what happened is nothing but blurred images and muffled noise. It was as if I was awake but not seeing the world. But I do remember some voices and then I finally woke up here."

The Carmine looks at the angel worriedly. "What happened?"

"Did your mother not tell you?"

Clara shakes her head. "She only said not to pester you about it and leave you alone," she finishes patching Emily up. "Which I guess I should do that," the Carmine then stands to leave but a hand grabs her wrist.

"Wait!"

Turning back around, Clara finds the angel with a pleading look.

"I, I was alone when it happened, and I don't think I can go back to sleep. Can, can you stay with me? At least for a while."

The Carmine blinks a couple times before smiling and retaking her seat.

"Okay, Clara," Odette walks back in. "We've gone back and forth more than enough times. Let's head back to…" she stops seeing the look on her sister's face. "You're not coming back, are you?"

Clara shrugs.

The spectacled girl closes her eyes and sighs. "Where are the spares?"

.oOo.

Early The Next Morning

"Come on!" Odette whispers as she drags her sister across the hall.

"I'm coming!" Clara whispers back.

The blond girl forces the puffy haired girl into her room "We need to get back before Mom—"

"Before I what!?"

This sister's eyes widen. Standing there in Odette's room is their mother with her hair down wearing a nightgown. The woman glares at her daughters.

"Mom?" Clara steps up. "You see, I, uh…" she tried to come up with something convincing.

"I am disappointed that the two of you disobeyed me!?" Carmilla's face then softens. "But I'm proud that you kept Emily company. With what she's been through, it's not easy for anyone to open up. Human or demon. I was afraid about how this might affect her as an angel."

The two glances at one another, having the same question on their minds.

Odette finally asks. "What happened to her?"

"That is not for me to say. She has to tell you on her own. But please do not push her. Emily must be willing," the woman starts walking past them. "All I ask is that you comfort her when she needs it. Perhaps being around those closer to her own age will do her some good," she passes through the doorway before turning back to her daughters. "One more thing. I'm cutting your allowances for not doing as you were told." With that she finally leaves.

After a few moments of silence, Clara turns to her sister. "Look on the bright side. It would be like having another sister," and smirks. "This would mean you're no longer the youngest."

Odette merely fiddles with her glasses. "You may be older but that doesn't make me less mature than you."

This causes the puffy haired sister to pout at the counter.