Chapter 19:

2 halves of a whole

Outside of the heaven embassy, pride ring, hell:

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The short vixen demoness known as Vallery Lavender was anxiously pacing back and forth, fumbling with her fingers as she was joined by the angelic arms dealer, Carmilla carmine "They're taking so long….what if something happened and the meeting can't continue?" she nervously rambled.

The tall overlord looked down at the shorter sinner with sympathy "Sera has certain formalities that need to be done before we can continue, don't worry, Zestial kept the whole rest of the day free for us, we'll be on time, Charlie and Vaggie just need to finish this before we can move on"

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Inside the embassy, the princess and her partner were just finishing up the last bit of paperwork as they were about to get ready for their meeting with Zestial, Sera possibly joining them.

It was during Sera signing some papers that something caught Charlie's eye, an enamel pin on Sera's robe…

"Psst…Vaggie" she whispered to her partner. "What's up babe?" the former exorcist muttered back.

"On Sera's robe….under her right collarbone…." As the demon belle began to gesture towards that spot with her eyes.

Following her girlfriend's gaze, Vaggie's eye settled on a pin…..and as she saw it, her eyes periodically went wide as she leaned back into her girlfriend "Is that the bi flag?" to which Charlie added "You think she even knows what it means or she just has it because it looked pretty?"

The sound of Sera clearing her throat caught their attention, their heads shooting towards the tall seraphim, who just smirked without taking her eyes off her work "You do realize I'm sitting right across from you and can hear every word you 2 are saying, right?"

Chuckling to themselves awkwardly, Charlie spoke up "Uhm…Sera…that pin…."

Finally taking her eyes off her work, she spoke "Yes? What about it?"

This time, it was Vaggie's turn "Do you….you know….know what that flag means?"

Looking down to the little enamel pin, Sera chuckled "Well yes, it's the bisexual pride flag, what about it?"

"Are….are you saying that you…." Charlie carefully pried "Is this you…"coming out"?" to which the tall seraphim just sighed and gave them a warm smile "I…..have learned a thing or 2 about myself recently…..and it's time I accepted all facets of myself… I suppose you 2 will be the first to know….yes, I'm coming out…..i'm bisexual"

Charlie gave a loud, excited gasp, while Vaggie just gave a smirk "He, called it. Took you long enough" to which Sera asked "Was it really that obvious?"

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Vallery finally sighed in relieve as the princess and her partner emerged from the building, followed by the elegant, yet imposing form of the high seraphim herself.

Clapping her hands together, Charlie spoke "So, we all ready?" to which she received several nods, after which she turned to Carmilla and gave a polite smile and gesture with her hand "Miss Carmine, lead the way"

Giving a wordless nod, Carmilla turned around and began walking, gesturing for the rest to follow her as they began to make their way through the streets of pentagram city.

The small group turned many heads, it wasn't every day that people got to see not only a powerful, influential overlord just strolling around, but one accompanied by the princess of hell herself AND the tall, regal form of the high seraphim as the small group slowly made their way to a large, eerie, yet elegant looking villa on the outskirts of the city.

As the weapons dealer would approach the door and gently knock a few times, the door would be opened not long after by a sinner dressed in sophisticated looking attire, bowing at the tall overlord before her "Lady carmine, sir Zestial has been expecting your arrival" as he stepped aside and gestured for the group to enter, before closing the door behind them as he held one arm on his back and the other arm outstretched "May I take your coats?"

A little while later and the butler sinner led them through the halls, there was a slightly creepy, yet refined atmosphere in the home as the butler stopped near the 2 large, wooden double doors of what one would guess to be a study "m'lord will be awaiting you inside" before bowing and walking off, probably to another one of his usual tasks.

As they entered, they were met with large plush armchairs, luxurious carpets and the entirety of the back wall covered with an impressive array of bookshelves, with many titles belonging to some of the greatest authors in history, as in the middle, between the bookshelves, sat a large fireplace, a green flame burning within and several busts displayed on the mantle. It was clear, Zestial had a love for classical theatre and fine taste.

Their eyes fell on one of the armchairs, as there sat the spider overlord himself who, the moment he saw Carmilla enter, stood up and the 2 exchanged a friendly hug "Carmilla, mine dear, enchanted as always, old friend. Mine sincerest apologies thou had to wait so long, it hath seemed my schedule hasth been…..rather booked" as he would gesture to the large sofa and armchairs "But where art mine manners, please sit, make thyneselves comfortable" before he would lay eyes on the tall form of the high seraphim, to which he extended a polite hand "May I say, it is truly an honor to be in thyne presence, your radiance" as when she offered him her hand, he brought it to his face and kissed the back of her hand.

Surprised by the gesture, Sera's brow perked up. This man carried himself with an air of sophistication and etiquette, and Sera was pleasantly surprised, returning the gesture with a polite nod of her head "The feeling is mutual, sir, but please forgive me, we are not here for me" as she stepped aside and gestured to Vallery "We hoped you could help us with our friend here, it seems her situation is rather…."unique" so to say"

The tall overlord would tilt his head as he gave the short sinner a curious lookover "Mine apologies, milady, but thou art…somehow familiar to me, have we met before?"

"In fact, you kinda have, old friend" Carmilla spoke as she got up and stepped forward. Placing a hand on Zestial's shoulder, she gestured to Vallery as she spoke "Vallery here is the original host of this body…a body previously claimed by the one known as Ink"

The ancient overlord's brow rose in surprise, to which Sera sighed "It is…a long story" as she gestured to one of the chairs "You might want to take a seat" as Sera and Carmilla began to explain….

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Once their story came to an end, Zestial slotted his fingers together as he closed his eyes in deep thought "Hmm…..i see….." as he turned towards Vallery "Thyne situation is truly unique, in all my years, I hafth never heard of anything like this"

Furrowing her brow, Vallery spoke "B-but…..you can help me, right sir?" she asked in a pleading tone after which Charlie stood up, addressing the ancient overlord "We're trying to uncover why Ink has been the one in control for so long"

Zestial pondered for a moment, before he got up, walked over to his extensive bookshelf and began scanning through tomes "If thyne theories are correct…..and young lady Lavender truly hasth her soul cleaved in twain, then the problem is clear" as he seemingly finally found the book he was looking for, an ancient looking book with a lock on it…a journal….

He's return to his seat before bringing the old tome up to his face, blowing a layer of dust off of it before undoing a lock on the side as he opened it and began flipping through the pages, the ancient looking parchment probably almost as old as he was.

"In the ages down here in hell, I hafth begun to keep a journal to document mine findings" as he flipped through notes and slabs of research text, before finally settling on a page, resting his finger on one particular selection of text.

"The souls acquired through a contract are bound to the proprietor's soul…and since thou houses 2 souls within thyne body…..the contracts are linked to the soul of lady Ink….and not thyne own…."

"So…." Vaggie piped in "Let me get this straight…. Ink is an overlord but Vallery isn't?" to which Zestial would nod "Correct, which is why lady Ink hast hafth control over her for so long, she is simply more powerful"

Sighing, Carmilla spoke up "Well, it pains me to say it but Ink is becoming too dangerous….she has attacked Alastor and he barely survived…seemingly she made an anonymous purchase of angelic steel dust and has infused her claws with it….as well as a custom set of retainers for over her teeth…." As with a sigh, she sank back into her seat, rubbing her temples "And that's not even her worse offense…."

Seeing the distress his old friend was in, Zestial got up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder as his face was riddled with worry as Carmilla continued "She went after Charlie….." as she looked up at the ancient overlord "If she's willing to kill a member of the Morningstar family…who knows what other horrors she's capable of….i hate to say it…. the amulet currently holding her back is a good temporary solution but…Vallery needs to be the main host of that body again…."permanently"…. Ink has to go"

Hearing this, the tall spider overlord glanced around the room, but as he observed the faces of everyone present, Everyone seemed to be in agreement, even Charlie begrudgingly nodded "She…..she almost…."

The princess shuddered as she thought back to Ink's attempt on her life "What if she goes after someone else?"

Sera took a step forward "A grim task…..i had hoped that when I gave the order to put a permanent stop to the exterminations, I'd never have to see a mortal soul sentenced to non-existence ever again….but Ink has become too unstable….for the safety of hell and its royal family, it has to be done….Ink has to die…."

The old overlord would remove his hat as he gave a heavy, defeated sigh "I am afraid it is not that simple, lady Sera…." As he gestured to Vallery "Since their souls were once one and the same, they are bound to one and another…..one cannot perish while the other remains….if one were to be erased, so too must the other…."

He would bow is head "My sincerest, deepest apologies….i hoped I had hafth better news for thee"

As the news set in for her, Vallery began to slowly hang her head "So….i'm stuck with her…forever…."

She'd be snapped out of her dark thought by Charlie sitting next to her and putting a hand on her shoulder "It doesn't have to be the end, Vallery" as Vaggie sat down on the other side "Yea, Charlie is right" before she made eye contact with her girlfriend "Hey maybe your dad knows of something, I mean he IS the king of hell after all"

With a smile, Charlie bounced back on her feet "YES, I mean, my dad was there when eden was created, I'm sure if there's anyone who knows of a way to help Vallery here, it's him!"

As everyone's spirits were lifted once again through the unwavering optimism of the princess, they would thank Zestial for his valuable knowledge before making their way back to the hotel, making a small stop at the heaven embassy where Carmilla and Sera broke off from the main group, who'd make their way back.

Carmilla would approach Sera "High Seraphim, would you perhaps have time now?" Feeling her cheeks heat up suddenly, Sera suddenly found her mouth dry as she had trouble forming a cohesive sentence "Uhm…yes of course, the meeting you requested" as she recomposed herself….

"I do believe I am free the rest of the day yes, so I don't see why not"