Periwinkle eyes flew open as Emily awoke with an exited squeak. The heavenly glow of morning streaming in through the stained-glass window as she threw off the covers and ran to her dresser to get ready. Today was the day! The day she got to go to Hell! … in a good way.
The young angel rushed about her morning routine with barely contained glee, she was so full of energy that she had to stop and calm herself down for a few minutes. It partially worked.
When the clock finally chimed nine she literally flew down the stairs to meet Sera and St Peter. Peter looked nervous and Sera... well, Sera looked unhappy. The smaller seraphim knew she was not thrilled with this plan. But someone had to go down there to give Charlie the good news about Sir Pen. And given all that had happened she was adamant it be done in person, not over hologram.
Emily was actually quite excited to see Hell, she'd never left Heaven before. She'd read a lot of books about Earth, but she knew next to nothing about Hell. Other than the whole fire and brimstone thing, that is.
She'd been quite surprised to learn they had hotels, what else did they have? Did they have shops? Museums? Art Galleries and Fountains? What is like a proper city? Gasp! A ZOO!? Just thinking about it made her so giddy she wanted to squeal.
She landed softly in front of her older sister and her friend, but she couldn't help but bounce up and down on her toes she was so eager.
"Are you sure about this Emily? None of this really necessary, we can easily just send them a message through the normal channels."
"I'm sure Sera, someone needs to make the first step." She tried to reassure her sister.
Sera still didn't look convinced, she had wanted an Exorcist to escort her but Emily had shut that down immediately, given what Adam had been doing down there surely bringing an exorcist would be problematic. No, they needed to extend an olive branch.
Not that she was sure an exorcist would even have been willing to go. They'd all been very tight lipped since they'd returned without Adam and a huge chunk of their Sisters. There were even some who were permanently wounded, how could that even happen? Most wouldn't leave their dormitory and there was a rumour Lute wouldn't see anyone.
She supposed she would have to wait for the inquiry to find out what happened. Whenever that would be, no one would tell her. She hoped she'd be back in time. Oh! Maybe she could help and ask Charlie about it! She couldn't wait to see her again.
"Emily are you even listening to me?" Sera started her out of her thoughts. "There are Monsters down there Emily, this really is a completely unnecessary risk for you to be taking." Sera seemed exasperated. Peter looked even more nervous than he did before.
"Yes! Yes of course! We'll find out the location of the Hotel from the Embassy and head right there, no talking to strangers or sightseeing, I promise." At least not until they had a guide to show them around, she added to herself.
The tall Angel sighed in resignation, glancing at the wall clock. "Well then, we had better get going if you're going to catch the portal."
As they exited the administrative building and began their walk down Heaven's resplendent streets, Emily couldn't help but noticed the conspiratory glances that were being shot in their direction by the usually friendly morning crowd.
It was with some discomfort she realised they were primarily looking at her Sister.
The voices of winners whispered in hushed tones as they past them, the events of the trial had supposed to be confidential but it hadn't taken long after Sir Pens arrival for the minutes to leak. Sera had pressed her on if she had been the one to do it but Emily had professed her innocence emphatically.
In the end, the older seraphim had believed her but she had to admit it had hurt. The idea that her beloved big sister didn't fully trust her anymore.
Something unwelcome panged in her heart. Had she ever? A little voice chimed in from the back of her mind. Exactly how long had these exterminations been going on behind her back? Another thing to ask Charlie.
The uncomfortable sensation in her chest rose up to her face and threatened to bring tears to her eyes. She'd never felt this feeling before, she didn't know what it was called. It wasn't sadness, at least not how she understood it. It was worse, raw, and it threatened to consume her.
She pushed it back down, she would deal with it later she promised herself, though she wasn't sure she believed it. Right now she and Peter had a diplomatic mission to complete.
The golden gates loomed over them as they approached, she'd never noticed how oppressive they could be before now. She shook the feeling away, what a horrible thought to have.
"I don't suppose there is anything I can say to change your mind Emily?" Sera's eyes looked weary as she silently plead with her not to go.
The smaller seraphim flew up to meet her sister's imposing height… wait imposing? Where had that thought come from? Ignoring it she took Sera's hand in hers in one last attempt at reassurance. "I'll be fine Sera, don't worry. This is a happy occasion, and with the news I'm bringing I'm sure it's going to be a happy day in Hell too.
With that the gleaming gates cracked open and she and a very nervous Saint Peter departed to the waiting portal that had opened up just outside the Heavenly Realm.