Mark, so glad to get a new reader and I'm grateful you're enjoying the story thus far.. I hope you stay till the end ;)
Now, I've seen some comments, specifically from Guillo1988 and L-Arteest123, discussing whether or not we will delve into Viol's sexuality and the possibility that she may be bisexual, just like Charlie, and the answer is no. First of all, because I never planned for Viol to have a romantic interest. This isn't the story for that. Secondly, because she sees Sera and Emily as parts of her family (you recall how she referred to them as "aunt" and "cousin" respectively) and it would be hella gross.
Now that we have that out of the way, enjoy this chapter!
Notes: English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistake I made.
"Today will be a motherfucking happy day in Hell"
Carmilla sighed to herself, as she recalled the lyrics of the Princess' song. When was the last time she heard them? She couldn't recall. Must have been from her young promising apprentice, Vaggie. Ever since Vaggie had stormed on her headquarters, demanding to spill her everything she knew about how to defend the angels, Carmilla has taken her under her wing. She taught her how to fight, how to defend not only herself, but also the people she cared about, and even revealed a thing or two about how to run her enterprise in case anything happened to her...
Carmilla hoped the last bit would never occured. She couldn't imagine how her daughters would react to that. Or how would she react if her daughters were at her place...
She filled her cup with dark coffee and was about to serve to Zestial, another Overlord whom she was close with and enjoyed conversing with him while drinking their morning drinks, when her phone rang out of nowhere.
She picked it up and answered in a nonchalant tone. "Hello?"
"Hey, bitch!" Vox' obnoxious voice was heard from the other side of the phone. Carmilla let an exasperated sigh. She could already predict that this was gonna be hard.
"Did Velvette tell you to call me that?" Carmilla asked, her face flashing from rage having to mention that cunt's name.
"No, though with your overall attitude, who wouldn't call you that?"
"At least I'm not obsessing over a red tampon who committed the great crime of rejecting my advances" Carmilla resorted, fully aware that Vox couldn't stand the very mention of his biggest rival.
Truth to be told, Carmilla never understood why Vox was always chasing Alastor around. The Radio Demon barely acknowledged the his existence, and even he did, it was always to taunt him and make a fool of himself around in public. She still remembered the outer humiliation that the TV demon received the moment he was informed that Alastor had returned, only for Alastor to instantly turn the tables in favor of him.
And boy, Alastor didn't stop there, though she didn't have time to recall the rest of his fucking humiliating defeats...
"I've told you a countless times already. I wasn't pursuing that fucker because I was in love, I pursued him because I wanted him to be part of our team and he said 'no'! Like, how can you make such a huge fucking mistake and get away with it?" He almost said in kne breath, trying and failing to keep his composure.
Carmilla didn't have time for his bullshit. "Yeah, whatever. What do you want at such an early hour?"
"So, anyway... Sorry for the late notice, but I wanted to inform you that today's meeting will take place at my headquarters. I have to show something truly important. See you later, bitch!"
"Who was it?" Zestial asked, taking a sip from his coffee.
"Who do you expect? Same bastard as always" Carmilla said in an indifferent tone.
"Vox? What did he want this time?"
"He claims today's meeting will take place at his headquarters. He wants to show us something 'important'" she said the last word in a mocking tone.
"Does that mean that we have to see Valentino and Velvette as well?" His tone didn't betray his true feelings for them, although it was common secret that him and Velvette didn't get along. Or rather to be more precise, Velvette couldn't stop herself from throwing jabs at him whenever she saw him. Though she mostly did it to get under Carmilla's skin, whom everyone knew she was pretty close with him.
"Do we have any other choice? They work at the same building as him"
They both chose not to discuss this furthermore and returned their focus to their breakfast. None of them were in the mood to guess Vox' intentions and even if they were, they could never guess.
"At least they got an actual meeting room for that occasion, instead one of Val's porn studios" Carmilla thought to herself once she and Zestial had settled down on positions close enough to Vox head chair. Not because either of them liked him, but because they wanted to hear what the Television demon would announce closely and whether it was worth their time.
By far, only eight people, including herself, Zestial and her daughters had appeared, filling the place with chatter. Rosie, the indisputable leader of the Cannibal Town who always chose to secure the well-being of her citizens first and foremost, Alastor, the Radio Demon with the sharp outfit who could rival even Vox in terms of ego size - she recalled how much his mere presence was enough to annoy her - Zeezi, the ginormous Dinosaur Demon who ruled her district with an iron fist and Jack Skelly, a demon with an aquatic theme and two horns sticking out from the top of his head that he used to torment his poor victim.
Carmilla had decided to take Odette and Clara to her to teach them the lesson of putting up with someone's bullshit, even when that someone is a powerful Overlord who thinks he's real shit and stuff for a couple of insignificant exploits.
The Von Eldritch were absent as per usual. Carmilla could understand that they had much more important responsibilities in the Envy Ring, their place of origin, being royalty there, but it rubbed her on the wrong face that they never attained none of their meetings.
None of the Vees had appeared to this point, which caused Carmilla to roll her eyes. They were the ones who proposed the idea to have the meeting on their Headquarters and they had them waiting for at least thirty minutes. Given their notorious personalities, they probably planned to make a big entrance or something similar.
She would also much prefer it if there's was silence in the hall room, but since she wasn't the one commanding the meeting, she held her mouth shut.
Zeezie, the tall Dinosaur Overlord with the feathered fuchsia jacket, leaned towards Carmilla and whispered to her ear. "All these fuckers are trying to guess what Vox will talk us about" she chuckled. "But I know"
This caught Carmilla's attention. "How?" She asked her, heavily doubting her claims. It was a well-known fact that Zeezie was all big talks and loved to spread misinformation about her image. Velvette could follow her lead, if it wasn't for her large-proportioned ego.
"Uh-huh, first we'll make a deal?"
Carmilla wasn't fond of the idea. "What deal?" She asked, slightly angered.
"You'll supply me with 40% discount on your weaponry"
"40% is too much" Carmilla blankly said.
"Chillax, girl. I didn't ask you to give it for free" she extended her arm. "So, do we have a deal?"
Why would I need to secure an information that the Vees will announce to all of us in a couple of minutes? Carmilla thought to herself.
"No!"
Zeezie spat at her direction, calling her "Bitch!" and leaving.
Carmilla ignored her and turned to Clara and Odette. "Let that be a lesson, girls. Don't make hasty dealings when there's an even better offer"
The girls nodded in an agreement.
"Hello, everybody! Hope you didn't have to wait for long!" Vox greeted them, as if they were the audience in a talk show and he was the host.
Carmilla rolled her eyes.
"We waited far too long for you, my dear rival" Alastor said. "Perhaps you shouldn't have spent so much time on the mirror fixing your silly bowtie"
Most attendees laughed with Alastor's remark, even Carmilla, who didn't really like him.
Vox gazed at his bowtie ashamed, fixed for the last time and turned his attention to the crowd.
"Anyways... what I'm about to show will have you open your mouth and stare wide eyes! You won't believe it, I assure you! What I'm about to show you is-"
"The Leader of the Exorcists army!" Zeezie said out loud with a relaxed look.
It was Vox who stared at her wide-eyed and open mouth. "How did you know?" He blurted.
"A wizard never reveals her secrets" Zeezie said with jazz hands.
The Leader of the Exorcists army? Carmilla murmured to herself. Why that sounded familiar? And suddenly, she recalled! A few days ago, she and Rosie had examined the condition of Rosie's warehouses, for Carmilla wanted to take some angelic steel to create a brand new weapon and they had fallen into her. Carmilla never thought she would hear from her again. She believed that another Overlord had probably killed her. Speaking of which, she was glad that she didn't accept Zeezie's offer, given that she was the one who sent her at Zeezie's place.
The chatter between the Overlords started all over again.
"A real Exorcist? Impossible!"
"You took the word out of my mouth!"
"Is she dead or simply injured? I hope for the latter, so she can feel the pain when we torture her"
"No way! Vox is probably lying!"
"I am not lying, you assholes!" Vox protested, as if he was a guilty five-year-old who was caught stealing from the cookie jar. "I'm telling the truth and I'll prove it to you"
He gestured with his hand and, from the corner of the room, Valentino and Velvetter arrived, using their telekineses powers to lift the cage holding Lute from the ground and to land it in front of the Overlords' shocked gaze. Meanwhile, Valentino and Velvette stood proudly, enjoying their personal moment of glory.
"Here she is!" Vox barely contained himself from jumping up and down from excitement, like a little kid.
Most of the Overlords raised their eyebrows in question, highly doubting his claim about the truth of his words. Carmilla especially had no faith whatsoever. Vox? Being skilled enough to catch an angel?! And an Exorcist of all things?! The mere idea was enough to make her snort.
And yet, staring at the captured Exorcist for a second time, her mouth went aghast. He was right. He really had managed to capture one. 'Cause right in front of them laid the much-tortured body of an Exorcist angel. And not just any Exorcist angel, but...
"That's right! Their leader!' Vox declared and gestured with open arms.
Lute's pristine white hair had been stunned from the constant electric hits that went through her whenever she threw herself at the bars. Both her face and her body were covered in bruises, the cause of them being quite obvious to anyone watching. Her mouth was half-open, as if she was in the middle of cursing them and her glassy eyes looked at a vacant post behind them.
She was... utterly pathetic. The Overlords recalled a time where even the brief mention of their names would send thrills through their bodies, that they would evacuate the Pentagram City in search for a decent shelter, where even they, the indisputable top dogs of Hell, would cower in fear and flee from their presence. And now...
Dear good lord Satan, look at that mess!
Anyone could go and punch her in the face if they wanted and she couldn't even bat an eye.
Carmilla couldn't believe that she almost felt bad for her. One of them had once tried to kill her and her daughters, had she not killed her on the spot. Lute, specifically, was well-known for her viciousness, her callous attitude and the merciless she showcased to the Sinners that were unlucky enough to cross her path.
No!
She shouldn't feel bad about her, for had she been in Lute's place, Lute would enjoy her humiliation.
"And I have great plans for her"
She snapped from her thoughts and turned to face Vox, who had gained the focus of everyone attending the meeting.
Truth to be told, Carmilla wanted to hear his plans about the Exorcist, despite not holding him in high regards. Vox went on and on about how he desired to make a public humiliation of her, where he could chain her in the middle of Pentagram City and he'd charge highly the Sinners who wanted to take their anger over her via hitting her, assaulting her and torturing her to death. Or until her spirit was broken.
Carmilla couldn't stand hearing him. Not because she was against violence but because she believed Vox let a great opportunity slip from his hands. If she was in his place, she would ask the Exorcist information about Heaven, its Hierarchy, where the hell they get angelic steel to build all these weapons that can kill a dead soul permantly, who's the strongest angel, what's the difference between a Heavenborn and a Winner, if there's indeed God etc.
At one point, she grew so tired from Vox' constant yapping, that she took Clara and Odette with her and left the Vee's Headquarters to return to her own base. Screw the claims about being patient, even with people you personally dislike. Everyone had a goddamm limit to themselves. At least, Velvette wasn't her usual cocky self.
She was so deep inside her thoughts that she didn't pay attention to her daughters' questions at first.
"Mom, what are we gonna do with that knowledge?" Odette asked.
"Huh, what knowledge?" The weapon dealer asked almost baffled.
"That one of the Overlords holds the leader of the Exorcists army captive" Clara said.
Carmilla looked at Hell's sky, with its usual never-changing red hue. It was ugly as fuck, but after so many years in this Hellhole, she was accustomed to it. What caught her attention was the Heavenly portal up above in the center, the primary reminder of where the Sinners could have ended up, had they taken better choices in their past mortal lives. Even the ones with wings, even the ones who could reach the portal, could not pass through it.
A thought crossed Carmilla's mind and narrowed her eyes, examining it. "Why hasn't Heaven informed us about their missing Exorcist? She wasn't just a regular soldier, she was their Leader" she said.
"Maybe because they don't want to put to so much empathis into this?" Odette proposed. "It would tarnish their image, plus a lot of the denizens may take the chance to rebel once they find out and they don't want to risk it"
"But why haven't they done anything to bring her back?" Carmilla kept asking.
"Maybe they have, they just don't want to put all the attention onto them and they're being silent" Clara said.
"Probably..." Carmilla murmured to herself and pulled her phone. She sent a text to Vaggie that their weekly training session was confirmed for today and that she would meet her in just about thirty minutes from now. The former angel replied almost immediately, with a bland "ok, see you there, M'dme". "Girls, you can return home all alone, if you want. I have to meet Vaggie now"
Clara and Odette nodded in agreement and hugged their mother, while they waved her goodbye. Carmilla lectured them about the usual warnings: "Be careful when crossing the road" and "never take drugs from demons you don't know. We have plenty ones at home" and headed to her and Vaggie's training ground.
Soon, a familiar silhouette with long gray hair and a bow decorating them appeared on the entrance...
Truth to be told, I wanted to focus on what the Vees planned to do with Lute, but since this was mostly a Carmilla-focused chapter, I couldn't manage to fit it into it. Maybe in the future...