Shattered Innocence Ch. 10

Clara is heard saying, "Hey, Em?"

The Seraphim is shaken awake.

"Huh?" she lets out a groan while sitting up before mumbling. "Five more minutes…"

"That was fine an hour ago," the puffy-haired Carmine tells her. "Also, half an hour ago, and even fifteen minutes ago. But we're leaving in ten minutes."

"What!?" Emily jumps out of the bed and starts digging through her clothes to throw something on all the while repeating. "Shoot, shoot, shoot!"

Clara watches on as the angel hurriedly gets dressed. "I thought you were just tired because of the nightmares," she looks down as Emily freezes in the middle of putting one of her boots on. "But you haven't had one for a little while now. So, I thought maybe you're just not a morning person. But it seems like you're just not able to wake up most mornings."

Emily continues finishing getting dressed. "I'm fine." A set of hands then rests on her shoulders.

"You're not fine, Em," the Carmine then hugs her. "We know you're not. We also know that you don't want us to know. You feel like you're a burden. But you're not. You're family," she walks around to look the seraphim in the eyes. "I didn't tell you this, but Mom got you a doctor's appointment."

The angel's eyes widen. "What!? But I don't need—"

"Please, Emily! Stop!" Clara suddenly grabs the seraphim by the shoulder. "We are worried about you! Yes, you seem okay most of the time, but you have these bouts of throwing up and you've complained more than a couple times about cramps nearly a whole day. Do you have any idea how selfish you're being by not letting us help you?"

Emily blinked as she'd never thought about it like that. The girl honestly thought she was helping them as she felt that she had been bothering them since arriving.

"Okay," the angel eventually slouches while letting out a sigh. "I'll go. Without a fuss."

Clara then hugs her. "That's all I ask. Now then," she then pushes Emily back. "Let's get you dressed."

"But I am dressed?"

"Not properly," the Carmine looks her up and down. "Dress is backwards, boots on the wrong feet, jacket inside out, and that belt isn't the type that's supposed to be over your boobs."

Hearing that, Emily looks down and sees the disaster that is her outfit of choice and soon blushes a bit.

"Now, I'm up for a fashion statement and all. But this…" Clara gestures to the seraphim's appearance, "… is just embarrassing."

.oOo.

Carmilla walks into her office where she finds Clara, Odette, and Emily waiting for her.

"Clara, Odette," the woman takes her seat and passes an envelope to the spectacled Carmine. "We have a bulk order for parts from our best customer."

"Should we treat this as any other order?" Odette examines the file and notices a change in address and hums.

"Sir Pentious may have been an admirer of…" Carmilla sneers a little. "the Vees but he is our most loyal customer. I would like you and Clara to deliver the shipment. Perhaps seeing Carmines personally tending to him would encourage more orders."

Emily then speaks up. "Can I go with them?"

The Arms Dealer looks up at the angel and first wanted to say no. But the woman knows that she can't shelter her forever. "Emily. Are you aware what we do here?"

"You make and sell weapons, right?"

Odette turns to her incredulity and fiddles with her glasses. "You're okay with that?"

"I, I can't say that I am," she looks down. "But who am I to judge? You guys have to do what you can to survive here in Hell. I understood that since you told me about the Angel."

The matriarch closes her eyes before opening them. "You may go, Emily. Just brace yourself as Sir Pentious is a man. And be back before two," she then starts going through her paperwork.

"For my appointment?"

Carmilla then jolts her head up to stare at the seraphim before turning her gaze to the sisters and Clara shies away from her mother.

"Emily, I…"

"I understand," the angel cuts her off. "You're worried about me and just want to make sure I'm alright. I insist that I'm fine, Carmilla. But if seeing a doctor will make you feel better," she then smiles at the woman. "then I'm okay with that."

The matriarch blinks a couple times at that before smiling. "Thank you, Emily," she then gets back to work. "Now, hurry up. Don't want to keep our client waiting."

With that, the three girls leave.

After a while, Carmilla's intercom goes off. "Ms. Carmine! There's an Onyx Phobos on the line."

"Thank you, Tooth. Patch him through," she then answers the phone. "Hello, Mr. Phobos. Thank you for calling. I have the meeting room set with your preferred refre…" the woman's eyes narrowed as she tried keeping the distain out of her voice. "Mr. Phobos. This would be the third time we rescheduled… Yes, yes. Sorry. Shall I set the appointment, or would you like to do the honors?... Very well," as soon as Carmilla hangs up, she unceremoniously plants her face on the desk.

"Thou's having trouble?"

Carmilla couldn't help but smile at the sound of that voice and looked up to see her fellow Overlord carrying a tray of tea and an envelope.

"Zestial," the woman sighs as the tray is set on her desk and the Spider Sinner preps a cup for her and himself. "Something like that."

"Apologies for barging in. But your underling gave me permission," Zestial then picks up the envelope to pass it over to her. "He also requested that I give this to you," and finally took a seat across from the woman.

Carmilla accepts it and briefly opens it to make sure everything was in order. "Thank you, Zestial," she then takes a sip of her tea.

"If I may ask, is this potential business partner worth it?" the Ancient Overlord inquires. "He seems rather irresponsible and from what I have heard he is far from respectful to those around him. Why even consider a deal with him?"

The Arms Dealer looks down at her desk before getting up and walking over to the window. "I've always known that this job was dangerous and was more than willing to put myself in harms way for the sake of my company. But during the last Extermination, both Clara and Odette were put in danger. I'll be damned if I allow any further harm to come to my daughters," she turns back to her friend. "But I cannot just let my business die. What we need is manpower. Hellborn manpower. And Phobos Industries has that," she goes back over to her desk to sit down. "Since Hellborn is exempted from Extermination, they will be able to collect the Angelic Weapons so we can continue without endangering my girls. Even if it means compromising my beliefs. Enough about business," Carmilla puts her hair down. "I want to relief myself from this stress."

At that, Zestial smirks before undoing his cloak.