Chapter 32:

The heart knows…

"HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON?!"

Vaggie had both hands on the kitchen table as she glared down the overlord and the high seraphim.

Carmilla and Sera did not dare make eye contact as they just stared down at their own feet, almost looking like 2 teenagers that currently were getting scolded by an upset parent.

Rubbing her brow in frustration "Out of all people….You 2 were the LAST ones I'd ever suspect from something like this…something this….STUPID!" as Vaggie began to pace across the room, rambling out loud in frustration "It all makes sense now, so THIS is how you've been able to keep a steady supply of angelic steel in stock…" as the fallen exorcist glared at Carmilla, who looked away in shame.

"AND SERA…." Hearing her name spoken in such a manner, the tall, 6 winged woman flinched.

"Really?...REALLY?!" as she returned to the table and glared at the high seraphim through narrowed eyes "Do you realize what will happen if this gets out? If heaven hears that their leader, that the high fucking seraphim HERSELF has been giving away the ONE FUCKING THING that can kill angels….FOR FUCKING SEX?! If word of this ever gets out, do you realize how royally FUCKED the 2 of you are?"

Sera got up "Please, it was ME who instigated it, Carmilla wanted to initially discuss terms that would benefit both heaven and hell, if there's anyone to blame, it's me" tho the tall overlord put a gentle hand on Sera's "Sera….don't be daft…..i could have declined….but I lost myself in the moment….we are both to blame…"

Groaning, Vaggie rubbed her temples "You know what? You're both grown ass women, I can't deal with this shit right now. Charlie and I are about to perform a very risky ritual to possibly split Ink and Vallery apart and I really can't use your bullshit right now" as she poked the 2 of them on the chest assertively "You 2 got yourselves in this mess, you 2 fix it!" as she took a few deep breaths to cool herself off " I need some fresh air….for a while….AWAY from…" as she gestured with her hand "…..THIS…."

With one last Huff, the former exorcist stormed out, leaving Carmilla and sera along with the 2 Carmine sisters.

Taking a deep breath, Carmilla turned to her daughters "Clara, Odette….me and Sera need to talk…..alone….it won't be long…"

Nodding, the 2 Carmines left the room, after which the tall overlord leaned on the table with her elbows, head in her hands "Ai caramba….What have we done…."

Sera would sit down next to her "something incredibly stupid…" as she sighed…would this….finally be the time?

"But….Vaggie was wrong about one thing" This caused Carmilla to raise her head curiously.

"It wasn't "just" lust that drove my actions….." as she gently took a hold of one of Carmilla's hands "I have to come clean about something, Carmilla…..for a while now, i have found myself…..catching….feelings…."

Looking at her hands in Sera's at first, Carmilla would slowly raise her head upwards, their gazes meeting as she stared at the high seraphim with wide eyes.

"I have….been thinking about this for a while…..from this day forth….you shall be supplied with angelic steel….regardless of our arrangement….if you are willing to provide your service to heaven's artificers, as we initially discussed" as she attempted to lock her fingers into those of Carmilla.

Tho something caused her to pull back as the tall angel lowered her head, a solemn look taking over her face.

"I took away your agency by forcing you to sleep with me to save your business, to provide for your family…..i took away your ability to choose….that was unfair to you….so from now on, you are no longer obligated to do so….i want us to be together, not because you have to….but because you want to…"

She would once again raise her head, to which Carmilla saw fear in her eyes, but also a sliver of hope "And I WANT you to want to…..but I know I can't force you…"

Carmilla sat there for a while, staring at the taller woman, her face unreadable as she thought to herself "I figured she found me attractive ….b-but….." before she finally spoke up "Are you…..saying that you are….."

Sera cut her off "…In love with you?...yes….been for a while….."

The tall overlord let this news sink it "This…is allot…I'm going to need some time to….let this all sink in…"

Almost able to see the heartbreak in the tall angel's eyes, Sera responded "I…understand…take all the time you need…."

Her wings drooping down, Sera would slowly get up, create a portal and before Carmilla knew it, she was once again alone in the room.

Leaning her elbows down onto the kitchen table, Carmilla would burry her head in her hands as she mumbled to herself "Oh Carmilla….tu idiota….what have you done…."

..

..

The sound of a portal would echo through Sera's office when the high seraphim once again set foot in heaven….

"Sera….you IDIOT…you ruined EVERYTHING…"

She had officially lost any semblance of control over her emotions and internal monologue as slowly, she felt the wetness of tears as they began to roll over her cheeks.

"She DID say she looked forward to it….or was that just because of the steel? Could someone like her ever love someone like me? Especially after I was the one who initially green lit the exterminations….if I hadn't cancelled it…she could have….." As slowly, Sera's mind began to spiral.

As she slowly made her way towards her desk, she would slowly sit down, but once she glanced down, something on her desk made her heart break as the dams finally burst…..that blasted little doodle…..

Unable to keep back the torrent in her heart anymore, the tall seraphim collapsed onto her desk as her wails began to echo through the halls of the palace...

Wails that could only be the result….of a broken heart…

Though….unbeknownst to her…..somewhere hidden near the office, down the hall…..a tall figure with 6 wings, 2 small ones of them covering her eyes…..had been silently observing this scene….

"Oh Sera….how you have fallen from grace….no matter….things will return to the way they were "supposed to be" soon enough….." as the figure slinked away into the shadows…..