Shattered Innocence Ch. 27

Velvette is holding her phone out. "Morning, Luvs! Thought I'd give everyone a tour of the new studio," she turns the device to show off the large room with busy sinners running around. "We are still in the middle of rebranding so it will be a while before there's a full showcase. But thanks to my new assistant," she then with a smug grin, whispers. "Vox's old assistant, We have a new name," the Influencer lifts her phone up to show a sign. "Velvette's Boutique! Keep an eye out for the first issue of our new magazine where on the cover we'll also be debuting our newest model. You all know him, you love him, and I'm sure many of you made love to him," the camera now shows a certain Spider Demon in the middle of getting measured. "Angel Dust!" she announces, and Angel faces the camera with a smile of his own before the device is turned back to the former Vee. "And as for my Overlord status. I must thank many of you, Luvs, for offering your souls to me. Just a little more and I'll be back on top. I'll share more when I can. Bye, Luvs! Kisses!" with that, Velvette blows a kiss at her phone before ending the stream.

"Let me get this straight," Angel Dust voices. "Because Val tried to f(bleep) you over you f(bleep)ed the over and I'm you're reward for that?"

"Uh, Duh!" the former Vee spat out as a female jester robot walks up with a tray offering her a glass of wine. "You and a few others," she gladly accepts the drink.

"Uh-huh. And I don't have to suck anyone's d(bleep)?"

Velvette cackles. "Nah! That was Valentino's fantasy. Me? I just want to be on the top. I especially want to be above those two f(bleep)ers. But he didn't make it easy. Val tried offering his entire studio and the rest of his souls just to keep his favorite. Which makes you being here all the more sweeter. Got a problem with that?"

At that, the former film star shakes his head. "None at all. I've always f(bleep) him up without actually needing to f(bleep) him."

"Good! Now then," she looks the Spider up and down. "White's definitely your color but I think you could use a little more red. Kayla!"

The Star eyed Sinner runs up to her boss. "Y-yes, Ms. Velvette?"

"Find something red for my model. Now!"

"Yes, Ms. Velvette!" and the Sinner was quick to leave.

"Now," Velvette turns back to her model. "To get you into makeup and—"

A familiar voice calls out. "Angel!?"

Angel feels something tackling into his side. "Woah!" he looks down to see a familiar grey skinned girl. "Emily? We're hugging now?" he smiles while returning the hug.

"Yeah," the young seraphim backed away. "I've gotten better recently."

"Good to hear," he then looks down and notices Emily's protruding stomach. "You should cut back on the sweets. You look like you're about to pop."

Emily looks down and rubs her belly. "Not yet. I'm almost at the halfway mark."

"Halfway? What are you…" the sinner looks the angel up and down and he realizes. "Oh… I'm sorry, sister."

"Don't be. I'm actually kind of excited," the New Carmine beams. "Sorry that I haven't been around. I'm not really allowed to return to the Hotel. My Mom's worried about Alastor."

"To be fair, Smiles is a bit of a creep."

"So, how's everyone doing?"

Angel rubs the back of his head while looking away. "Not gonna lie. It's not so good. The meeting with Heaven didn't go well and now we're going to be ground zero for Extermination. Since returning, Charlie has locked herself in her room, sulking. Not that I blame her. How can we possibly handle an immortal army with spears pointing at us?"

Hearing this, Emily thought for a moment and was about to say something.

"Angel!" Velvette snaps at her new model. "Makeup, now!"

The former film star is then dragged away, and Emily could only watch.

"I know that look, Luv," the Influencer turns to the seraphim. "I know you want to help. It's what you do. You know something and I suspect what it is. But I have to warn you. I only own Angel's soul part time. The rest of the time, he's on his own and he lives at that sh(bleep)hole of a hotel in that Radio F(bleep)er's territory. Because of the Pact, you cannot go and help them. Only way around that is if they come to you specifically. Now," Velvette then puts a smile on her face. "What brings you here, Darling? Not that I'm not glad to see you."

Emily turns away with a small blush. "I kinda missed having you around. So, I thought I'd come and visit."

"And your Mum's okay with that?" she notices the angel nervously glances away and the former Vee realizes and a smile creeps on her face. "She doesn't know."

"No, she doesn't. I told her that I wanted to go and look at baby stuff alone. Which wasn't a lie. I'm just taking a detour and Sy was more than willing to bring me here. Though, I think that's only because she technically works for me."

"That b(bleep)ch is still around!?" the Influencer's eyes widen. "I thought for sure Carmilla would scare her off by now."

"Not for the lack of trying, but Mom is warming up to her. She admires Sy's persistence and Clara does seem to really like her as well."

Velvette looks up. "Maybe I should be persistent."

"Persistent about what?"

"Nothing, Luv," she then wraps an arm around the New Carmine's shoulder. "I just gave a digital tour, but you have the honor of seeing this place in person."

.oOo.

"And here we are, Luv," Velvette announces. "That brings us back to a full circle."

"Wow! How did you manage to get this much done in such a short time?"

With a small gleam in her eyes, the influencer tells the angel. "Don't underestimate what can be done with the right motivation… and also a lot of money. Money is important."

At that, Emily shrugs as she understands the concept. "I can't wait to see this place when everything is finished."

"Maybe I can invite you to a private shoot sometime," Velvette smiles as the robot jester returns to offer the former Vee a drink and she subconsciously accepts. "Of course, I'd rather you be a part of the shoot, but I guess there's a few years before that option is even on the table."

"Yeah, But Mom is actually open to the idea of me being a model," the tray is then lifted in front of the young seraphim, and she reaches up to it not thinking anything of it.

"Are you crazy!?" Velvette tosses the tray away while screaming at the robot. "You see the condition she's in, Kitty! You can't offer her alcohol! Maybe I should ship you back to the factory in pieces!?"

Who knew that a robot could shiver in fear?

"Velvette…" Emily places a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. I wasn't actually going to drink it. But I was taught that it was impolite to turn down an offered drink."

The Influencer eyes the angel before snaping at Kitty. "You're lucky that she's here. Now go and f(bleep)ing serve the models!" and with that, the robot's hardware couldn't work fast enough as it leaves the former Vee's sight.

Velvette takes a deep breath and notices everyone staring at her. "What the f(bleep) are you looking at!? Get back to work!" she then turns to her guest with a smile. "Sorry about that, Luv. How about I get you something else to drink. Coffee, tea. Maybe some pickle juice? I know that pickles are your thing."

The seraphim giggles. "That actually doesn't sound too bad, Velvette. But maybe next time. I've been gone for a while now and I really should go before my mom finds out where I am," she and the former Vee flinch at the new voice.

"She already has," Carmilla is standing behind the two, glaring at them with a certain driver nervously by her side. "Ms. Symone called Clara and was one speaker. I just so happened to be in the room when Velvette's new studio was brought up," the Overlord glares at her oldest daughter's girlfriend.

"I'm, I'm sorry," Sy flinches.

"I didn't tell her," Emily steps up. "I didn't tell Sy that I wasn't supposed to be here. I only had her take me where I wanted to. Don't punish her for my mistake. I'm the one responsible."

"I'm not upset that you came here, Emily," the matriarch approaches her daughter. "I'm upset that you did not trust me enough to tell me where you were going."

The seraphim looked away. "I figured that you wouldn't let me given where you stand with Velvette," a hand is then placed on her shoulder.

"Velvette may still be a little rough and respectless," Carmilla eyes the Influencer who lets out a huff. "But we are on better terms. To the point where I trust her with my daughter."

That surprised both Velvette and Emily and a small smile appears on their faces, but the angel's soon drops as her mother continues with a glare.

"However! That doesn't change the fact that you went behind my back. I let the incident with the Hotel slide but this time you believed you were going against my wishes, and I refuse to look the other way. I want you to go to the car I arrived in and when we get home I will discuss your punishment. Am I clear!?"

Emily looks down. "Yes, Mom," she then turns to the former Overlord. "I guess I'll see you some other time, Velvette."

"Look forward to it, Luv," the Influencer smiles. "Kisses!"

The angel smiled and was expecting either an air kiss or a couple pecks on the cheek as usual, but her eyes widened as their lips met.

Velvette backs away, seemingly oblivious to the stupor she left Emily in, "Bye, Darling!" and turns to walk away.

Emily had no idea how long she was standing there and barely registers Sy waving her hands in front of her face.

The one-eyed Sinner then asks, "Uh, was that really your first kiss?" her eyebrow curves in a questioning manner.

"Huh?" the seraphim look at the driver and briefly glances at her mother who has a sad knowing look. "It wasn't my first…" Emily's face fell at the bad memories but then one of her hands reached up to her lips as they curved into a small smile. "But it was the first to be pleasant," with that, the New Carmine turns and walks out of the building.

Sy shakes her head and with a chuckle, jokes, "Guess it won't be long until there's yet another addition to the Carmines." Then, a shiver runs down her back and notices the glare from Carmilla.

"I'm not ready for such talk," the Arms Dealer leans over her employee. "For any of my daughters!" she lets the threat linger before backing away. "Symone! Once you deliver the car back to the garage…"

The driver sighs as she knows she was getting fired and removes her hat.

"You should come over for dinner," Carmilla turns and starts walking away.

"Huh?"

"Clara has been begging that you come over so that I can get to know you better."

Sy could only blink while placing the hat back on her head.