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Chapter Text

Carmilla was a woman of business. Most would describe her as stoic, nonchalant, neutral, and dignified. You wouldn't find her messing around by any means. She only partook in the usual drink every now and then when things got to be stressful. Yet despite at this time of year when everything was stressful, drinking was off the table

Carmilla didn't drink a sip of alcohol in past several days. She couldn't afford to slip for even a second. Not when her daughters were in such a dangerous and life-threatening situation. They needed her at the top of her game.

As every year, Carmilla collected the discarded angelic weapons that were left behind by cocky exorcist. Said weapons are created of blessed steel, more commonly known as 'angelic steel'. The material was high in market value. It was the up most sturdy and durable metal that wouldn't bend to just anyone which made it a delicate art to turn it into her own weapons such as guns, bullets, and hand held weapons of her own design and preference.

Angelic steel was the only thing that could cause a wound that could not fully heal without at least a scar, hence how it killed sinners every year.

Carmilla perfected the craft of bending the metal to her whims. It provided her great riches, status, and luxuries for her and her daughters, though she was not one to be showy with it. Sure, she had a large territory and her home was exquisite, but she didn't waste time going around in expensive cars, or posting about big purchases. Unlike another overlord she knows.

Carmilla was careful when selling her weapons as well. Each owner signed a contract that instated each weapon could not bring harm against her, her family, or the souls she had under contract. It was a win win really. For her anyways.

But sinners have taken it upon themselves to collecting these precious possessions by themselves. This left dangerous weapons in the hands of dangerous demons. Ones Carmilla wouldn't have control over. Which is why instead of collecting after exterminations like she use to, she collects during. Resulting in much more dangerous and risky situations, but it showed high results. The overlord has done this for decades. Typically she sent her contracts out as well to cover more ground, of course only those highly trained. In the past decade, only 3 have died. All of which were younger and newer to the job.

This year, and the past few, Carmilla brought her daughters into the collection. They received more training than anyone and dabbled in smithing themselves. Carmilla knew her two girls were perfectly capable of themselves, but she still worried. She had an odd feeling about this extermination and couldn't shake it. Maybe Carmilla should leave them behind, just this once. Oh but she knew that wouldn't work. They wouldn't listen. They'd be out there anyway, and out of her sight where she couldn't protect them.

So, she brought them with. Her and her daughters wore matching sleek black outfits armed with angelic shoes and assorted accessories.

Carmilla ran in the front with Clara and Odette close behind. Exorcist flew by the dozens, the underside of their wings white with black strips disorienting sinners below. The three stuck to the shadows, darting out to obtain spears left in fresh corps. While they hid in an alley, angels flew over, killing every sinner in sight. Some kills took longer than others as the feral birds watched them suffer. The Carmines were not new to the sights and kept their focus straight. When the angels moved on, they dashed out, pulling out the now bloodied weapons. Sometimes it was a quick pull. Other times the pointed sticks had to be yanked through muscles or even bones.

It was a sickening job, but it paid off.

They traveled with their bundles, making their way back to the compound to be drop off. They did this constantly to keep their hands open and their weight, light. You cannot risk your arms being full in the chances of having to fend off against an angel. Even though the Carmines were notoriously known for fighting with their feet.

After dropping off their load, they set off again, traveling swiftly. So far it had been going smoothly. There wasn't even a scare. In the past, often they had made mistakes and made noises, attracting an angel or two's attention, but they always managed to get away. But this time they had avoided that all together. It was all going well, too well. Carmilla still couldn't shake the feeling in her gut. It was almost stronger now.

It was then when something out of the ordinary caught her eye. An angel flew over head, but it wasn't any normal exorcist. It was much larger with golden wings. It was their leader. Carmilla almost considered going after him and taking him down, but she had children and couldn't risk herself like that. Who knew if that was even possible.

It was odd though, seeing him fly about. He typically fluttered in the air and watched the bloodshed. There must be something going on. She frowned and brought her attention back to her daughters.

She did several quick hand signals, signally to move on to the next area.

After hours of hard work, extermination ended. Swarms of black and white wings rose toward the portal high in the sky to take them back to heaven.

But the Carmines did not rest. With the hanging threat of the exorcist out of the way, the three were able to search more freely. Though they did have to act fast, for the turf wars would be staring soon. With all the fights going on it would be dangerous to continue collecting, and demons would be searching for their own angelic weapons to kill their enemies that the exorcist missed. At least for the next few minutes it would be silent. It always was after the devastation.

-

Vaggie struggled to push herself off the ground. Pain shot through her entire nerve system, begging her to lay back down and succumb to darkness. But Vaggie was never one to give up on anything. She forced herself up, standing on trembling legs. Her hands waved unsteadily, trying to keep her balance. The muscles in her shoulder blades ache as they are connected to the ripped muscles of where her wings were ripped off. The waving of her arms only made it worse. She toppled over sideways, scrapping her arm and knee.

She winced and sat up to looked around. It was hard to focus or see in general. Her head pounded, partially from her head being slammed to the ground by lutes boot, but mostly from the trauma the angel endured on the left side of her face where her eye once was. She took a few deep breaths and closed her remaining eye. She needed a plan.

It was unlikely that anyone would come back for her. She lost her halo, meaning she had fallen. None of the exorcists liked her much anyway.

While she may not have her halo or her wings, she still had other features that would give her away as an exorcist. The most prominent one being her uniform. She'll have to discard it if she wanted a chance at surviving..

With every ounce of strength she could muster, she pulled herself out of the dark clothes. She slipped off her boots and gloves as well and added them to the pile. Underneath she her wore a white shirt and white skirt along with grey legging to help with any uncomfortable textures of the uniform. It sucked that she would not have shoes, but she couldn't risk anybody recognizing them.

With the outfit piled on the floor, she took several minutes to catch her breath. Everything felt worse now. The clothes had rubbed up against her raw back, making it more tender and agitated. Vaggie was constantly fighting back tears. Now was absolutely not the time or place to cry.

Once she thought she had enough strength, she picked up the clothes and crawled/dragged herself to the dumpster that sat in the alley. She grunted with every movement. It was not only her back and head that hurt now, it was everything.

Vaggie reached a hand up in attempt to grab the rim of the bin, but her arms matched her short stature. She sighed and used the trash to lean against as she heaved herself onto her feet. Her legs shook terribly and so did her arms as she brought them up with the uniform in hand to toss into the metal bin. It smelled absolutely disgusting.

She slid back down on her side, careful to avoid her back. She wouldn't be sad to see the uniform gone. Being an exorcist lost its flare years ago. When the facade of it all fell. Vaggie use to believe that it was an honorable holy duty. Cleansing the pits of hell of vermin that would disrupt heavens peace. She used to like killing.

But her eyes had open since then, and maybe that's why Lute took one. Heaven is scared. Vaggie had yet to hear of any valuable threat. Demons rarely even tried to fight back against the heavenly army, only when they are cornered and have no chance to live otherwise. But they couldn't do anything to them.

Vaggie had even seen demons risk their own lives in attempt to save another. Perhaps they were close friends that found one another in hell. Maybe couples, business partners, family. Either way they helped each other. Which was odd because Vaggie was taught there was no good in hell.

She knew it was false thinking to believe these little sprinkles of good could be common in hell. It is still hell after all. But sinners were once human. They had emotions. They all have good deep within them. Some much deeper than others.

Even the hellborn, creatures of whom Lute and Adam say are wretched beings born only of blasphemy and sins, still have emotions. They have family, friends, lovers, lives. They were off limits. Just like the little cannibal boy Vaggie had spared. He had to be one. Cannibals were a type of hellborn created to be the clean up crew of hell, specifically for after exterminations when dead bodies littered the streets. Vaggie could tell he was one by his large, pointed teeth and big, black, soulless eyes.

Adam always said that if a hellborn got in the way to plow through and pretend you never saw it. No one would notice if one or twenty went missing. But this boy wasn't in her way. She had followed him and cornered him. And he was scared. Scared for his life. The one she was going to take. He was just a child! One that was born into this lifestyle. He didn't choose to eat people! And he probably had a family that was worried sick by his disappearance. How could she kill him?

That's why she didn't.

Maybe she should have. If she had done her job, she would have been in heaven right now. Instead she was suffering in a dirt alley. She would probably die here. Even with her discarded clothes, there was still golden blood all over. Not to mention her wings lying on the ground. And her eye. And spear.

So she still had work cut out for her before she could even think of leaving this area. Perhaps she should just give up and find somewhere deserted to lye down. But then again Vaggie does not give up easily.

Even if she died, she didn't want her body to be devoured by cannibals.

The angel dragged herself over to her wings. She stared at them for several long moments. Just the sight of them sent stronger waves of pain throughout her back. Flying had been one of her favorite activities in heaven. Now that was gone. She let out a deep sigh before hesitantly reaching out and grabbing onto the bone of the outer part of the wings. It felt weird, touching your own limb but not feeling it. The sight of her detached and bloodied wings made her want to cry, but she couldn't. Not now

She started to drag the wings away when she spotted her other eye. The one that already started drying up. The one that had a larger cut in the middle from when lute stabbed her sword into it. The sight made her want to wretch, but she held it in, for now.

There would be a time for her to digest all that has happened and mourn all she has lost. But if she wanted to live she had to act now.

She reached for her discarded spear and poked it into the disabled eye to pick it up. She then crawled back to the garbage with all the items, crawling through a trail of her own blood. She went through the same process of trashing the wings as she had the clothes. Then she scraped her eye off the spear head and into the garbage.
All she could do is hope no one goes dumpster diving and finds them.

Then her legs gave out under her, and she slumped against the grimy metal. With her last bit of strength she slid her spear partially under the garbage, trying to hide it before blacking out.

-

Carmilla kept her eyes on her daughters while she yanked an axe out a dead feline sinner's torso. Something felt different. Like there was this looming presence. Having been worried with this all extermination, she simply couldn't put it off any longer.

Leaving her daughters to continue their collecting, she wandered off, walking down the streets in search of...something. She didn't know what exactly. She peered into each alley, some were empty, others held dead bodies.

Sinners were starting to emerge from their hiding spots. Some mourning the loss of loved ones, others hoisting weapons with the intent on fighting. Cannibals came out to feast on fallen bodies. Slowly hell came back to life with crying, gunshots, explosions. But everything felt quiet to Carmilla. Whatever she was looking for felt close. She absently plucked a sword out of a skewered demon as she walked by, still thinking about the business.

She glances into alleys, periodically venturing inside to grab a weapon. The upcoming one should have been no different. Check for Angelic weapons, collect or leave. And this one was a collect. She almost missed it, the spear slid halfway under a dumpster, but the gleam of it caught her eye. Like often, there was a body near by.

Carmilla walked in, assuming the demon was dead. Rarely does anyone survive an exorcist attack. But something stood out to her. There wasn't any blood anywhere. Not red blood anyway. Not on the girl. There was however, a golden-like yellow substance that was leaking from her that also was splattered in messy trails and puddles.

Carmilla hesitated to go further.

It looked like...Blood. But sinner blood was red, and hellborn blood was black. This was yellow. Perhaps it was some type of chemical?

Carmilla decided to investigate. She moved swiftly into the alley and towards the trail of blood. She followed it to the dead end of the narrow passage to where there was a larger puddle that had parts of it thinned and spread out as if something had been dragged through it. Then there were two splotchy trails from it to the dumpster. Carmilla bent down and observed the substance. What would have gold blood?

Obviously, she had an idea of what, but she had to make sure.

She stood up and walked to the dumpster the girl was slumped against. She sure looked dead. The same yellow liquid was smeared over her and was dripping from her eye while also pooling in a small puddle behind her, likely from an open back wound. Curiously, Camilla studied the blood that was wiped against the metal bin. With caution, she peered inside. Without thinking she let out a startled gasp.

Inside was more of the yellow- blood. It was definitely blood.

Angelic blood.

Inside the dumpster were two key factors that gave it away. One, the exorcist wings, torn from a body and left to rot, covered in the gold blood, and still connected to ripped muscles and broken bones. The second item was a discarded exorcist uniform, also drenched in yellow blood.

It was almost gold looking. Of course, angels would have gold blood. Those snotty birds thinking they are better than everyone.

As she continued to look, she noticed something else. There was what appeared to be an eye, though it was mangled. She looked down at the short girl next to her who was missing an eye. Clearly quite recently. Both the hole in her face and the disheveled eye were covered in the angelic blood. This was no coincidence. This girl was an exorcist, a fallen one at that, judging by the lack of a halo.

Did a demon do this to her? Could demons do this? Or did her own kind treat her like the sinners they kill?

It made sense that she hadn't recognized what she was at first. The girl before her was not what she had pictured an angel without its mask. Not with its grayish skin skin and white hair that deviated into a gray at the ends. She also never noticed how small they were.

Slowly Carmilla stalked around her, heading for the spear, and getting a good look at the girl. Who knows if she would ever get that chance again to examine a dead angel. She bent over to grab the spear and add in to her collection. As she tucked it into her bag, she felt a shift.

She jumped back from the angel, holding her leg up as she pointed the pointed shoe at the body. Looking closer now she realized that the angel was alive. It was breathing, but just barely.

Kill it.

Kill it now.

All her instincts told her it kill it. Kill the threat that endangers her family. An angel in hell meant no good. But what could an exorcist do without its wings or weapon?

Carmilla watched carefully as the angel's remaining eye flickered open weakly. Carmilla prepared to strike at any sign of attack.

Vaggie's eye fluttered open, she winced quietly in pain, her eye squeezing shut again. After a long moment she opened it again but barely. She blinked droopily as she tried to make out what was in front of her. Her head hurt so bad, along with everything else. Her vision was distorted due to only having one eye and it didn't help that her muscles around the missing one were still trying to work, only causing more pain to shoot through her.

The view in front of her seemed different. After a moment it moved. Her eye shot open (which caused immense pain) as she realized there was a demon before her. She glared at the sinner that held its weaponized foot at her while she instinctively reached for her spear, her hand blindly searching for it where last slid it under the dumpster. Her face dropped. It wasn't there. She risked a glance to check. It was gone. She looked back up and notice her spear sticking out from a bag around the demons shoulder, coated with blood, along with several other angelic weapons. Fuck. She took a shaky breath and glared back up at her.

This demon had large white horns decorated with black string. Something though seemed off about them, as though they were soft instead of hard like typical horns. Her glowing red eyes with yellow iris and thin, black, slim pupils stared intensely back at her, watching her every mood. It almost reminded her of a cat.

There was something else that stood out to Vaggie about the demon. She used angelic steel for her shoes which she also used as weapons. She had never seen a demon change the shape of holy metal. Strange.

She supposed this demon could hurt her too. Never in her life had she believed she could be hurt. Angels were supposed to be invincible. And she believed that too, until today. Maybe it was because she was fallen.

That's right, she fell...

So Vaggie wouldn't be able to fight back. Not without her spear anyways. Not that she probably could have done anything in her current condition.

Carmilla watched as the pitiful angel had tried to find its weapon only to realize that she herself held onto it. Despite the little being's clear pain from its condition, she still found the strength the glare at Carmilla, which she found amusing. She could tell the small angel had no strength and wouldn't be a threat for the time being. What should she do? Let the angel die? Kill it herself?

"Speak" She commanded. Perhaps getting more insight would help her make a decision, but the angel made no attempt to speak, only hardening her glare. So, she was a fierce little woman. Much like Carmilla herself.

Slowly Carmilla began lowering her leg, but not completely. She didn't see the point in killing the angel right at this moment. Maybe she could learn more about angelic steel through her or learn about how she was harmed and if she could replicate it somehow to give hell a fighting chance. She could learn all of heavens secrets with this one angel.

The little angel continued to glare, making no sign of submission. Carmilla tilted her head curiously. It seemed an exorcist would fight to the end. But judging from her blood loss, it wouldn't be much longer.

Carmilla fully lowered her foot and took a step towards the angel, much to Vaggie's dismay. Carmilla knelt and reached a hand out to her. Vaggie instinctively flinched away, only serving to smack her head against the dumpster with a loud metallic bang. Both woman wince, one out of pain, and the other from understanding the pain the other must have gone through.

Who knew that hitting your head when you already had a bad headache could make your headache worse?

Vaggie struggled to regain her composure. She breathed heavily and closed her eye. Maybe now was the time to admit defeat.

The hand reached out to her again, and this time she didn't see it, but rather felt it. She resisted every fiber of her being telling her to flinch again. The hand made no immediate pain but rather brushed the hair out of her face and had shifted over her eye socket. She weakly fluttered her eye open to see the demon's neutral expression.

Carmilla didn't know what to think. It would be a waste to let her die, wouldn't it? She's got spirit that's for sure. She could make use of her. But would it lead to more trouble in the end?

The angel's eye began to droop, and flutter shut, and her breathing weaken. Carmilla frowned. She didn't really want to let her die. Something maternal sparked within her. She thought about how it would feel seeing one of her daughters like this.

She reached out and picked the angel up, carful of the wretched wounds on her back. Vaggie panicked and squirmed, albeit very weakly as she was on the verge of passing out.

"Shh shh. Calm down Angel. I don't have current plans for you." She spoke as she went to walk out of the alley before pausing. She ignored the angels persistent struggle and turned to look behind her.

There was still gold blood everywhere, evidence. She frowned before pulling out her phone and dialing a number. Specially the number of a soul she had under contract. It rung for a short notice before the guy picked up. "Ma'am? Is everything alright?" He asked. Carmilla spoke firmly and clearly. "I need you to come to my location and clean up a mess. I may need you to collect a thing or two from a dumpster. You'll know what it is when you see it. You may bring Rufus and Darrel as well. What you see and clean and take must remain confidential. If you tell anyone I will not hesitate to behead you."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before he must have regained his composure. "Yes ma'am" and then the call ended.

One may think it not wise of Carmilla to put such risky things into the hands of a common soul. But she knew they were trustworthy. Plus, she had them under contract. They couldn't disobey orders from her.

The angel in her arms had just passed out, her breathing slow and weak. Carmilla frowned deeper and draped her sack over the angel to hide the blood. Then she stepped out of the alley and began to walk quickly in hopes of finding her daughters and returning home.

Things were about to become interesting

Chapter Text

Clara and Odette had been quite curious at the sight of Carmilla carrying the clearly injured woman in her arms bridal style. They were also particularly interested it the golden blood. Both had so many questions, ones that Carmilla had promised to answer, just not at the moment. Her and her daughters returned home and closed the curtains. They had collected most of the weapons at this point anyway, and she didn't want to leave them out there by themselves at this time. 

But she did put them to work right away. When they returned to their home part of the compound, Clara cleared off the couch and placed towels over it while Odette collected medical supplies and brought them over. Carmilla placed the angel onto her stomach on top of the towels. She grimaced at the soaked shirt and the blood that was already bleeding into her nice towels. At least it wasn't the couch. Clara and Odette eyed the girl suspiciously and looked at their mom in hesitance, but they didn't speak up. They knew that now was not the time to question things.

Carmilla sent them off while she got to work. She undressed the top of the small woman carefully, and discarded the clothes into a basket she had Clara bring. She grimaced at the sight of her back. Thick blood oozed all over, skin peeled back revealing torn tissues and ripped muscles. Muscles that tensed and flexed weakly even in the angel's sleep. 

What was she going to do? One thing that was for sure was that she needed to get it cleaned so she could see what she was working with and apply pressure to stop the blood flow. Then she would have to stitch her up? She'd never dealt with a wound quite like this. But it oddly hurt her seeing the angel struggling to breathe and fighting pain in her sleep. 

She brought a wet rag to the girl's back, slowly washing bits of blood off the wound. The angel whimpered in her past-out state and arched her back. Carmilla winced and pushed her back down before running more water down her back. The angel winced and groaned.

After the wound was cleaned out, Carmilla grabbed a needle and thread. This had to be closed up.

She had already disinfected the needle before she used it to methodically stitch the angel up. The wounds were wider in some places, making it more complicated. She didn't want to mess up the girl's back. So, she stitched what she could. Then she took a new wet rag and gently washed off the rest of the blood that surrounded the wound and what was all over her back. She gave it time to dry with the help of using another rag before taking a roll of bandages. For this step she had her daughters come back and help. They held the angel up so Carmilla could wrap the roll tightly around her back to her front. Then she pinned it and laid her back down, but on her side to avoid messing up her back.

Then she took another new wet rag and began to gently wash her face. Her hands carefully washed off the gold blood off the blackened skin where here eye once was. Carmilla thought about the eye and wings she saw in the dumpster. These wounds looked painful. She could only imagine what she went through obtaining them. There wasn't much that she knew about healing, and figuring out how to fix her face was out of her knowledge. So, she cleaned around an inside and applied disinfectant to it before wrapping the whole side of her face in bandages.

Taking notice of her scraped legs and hands, she lightly washed the grime out but did nothing to cover them.

Carmilla stood up and took a step back. She stared at the angel for a long moment before turning and heading to the sink to wash the blood off her hands. Clara and Odette looked between her and the angel before looking at each other. 

Carmilla washed her hands off, a little more ruffly than necessary. Then she turned back to her girls and saw their nervous faces. "Soooo...." Clara began. Carmilla held her large hand up as an unspoken command. They were not talking yet. The older demon walked to her cupboard and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a glass, pouring herself some. She looked down at the glass and then at the bottle. She honestly wanted to drink the whole thing, but that wouldn't be smart. 

She downed the glass and put in the sink to clean later and the bottle back in the cabinet. "We need to sort through and clean the new assets and make a chart for this year's losses for the overlord meeting. Then I must go through contracts and see if we have lost any souls. Other preparations will be needed for the meeting as well..." Carmilla sat down in the armchair, folding her legs and pressed a hand to her forehead. She was feeling the start of a migraine coming on.

Odette pulled out a clipboard, already starting. "Miss Morningstar should be working on the death toll." Carmilla nodded. "Would you like me to assign your contracts to decontaminating the steal?" Odette asked, looking up from the board. Carmilla stayed silent as she thought. 

"Go ahead, but I want the bag I had on the way back. There's something I need from it." She glanced over at the angel on her couch. Odette nodded and wrote a note on the paper. 

Then it was silent. Nobody spoke. There was this underlying tension that none of them seemed to want to be the one to bring up. Both girls slowly looked over at the angel. 

After another long moment of silence, Clara spoke up. "Is it...safe? To leave her like that?" Carmilla nodded. "I doubt she'd roll off and her bandages should be fine till tomorrow. Then they'll need to be replaced. I'm sure she'll continue to bleed." She finished with a sigh.  Clara cringed. "No, I mean- what if...what if she attacks us..." She trailed off

Carmilla paused. This made a new revelation dawn in her. She brought an angel into her home. Not just any angel, an exorcist. An angel built to destroy sinners like her and her daughters. Even if she's hurt, she might try something. Perhaps she'll be outraged at being cast out. That will make her even more dangerous. Angels could have abnormal healing abilities. What if by the time she wakes up she is completely rejuvenated? 

She knew these dangers when she picked the girl up. Why did she take the threat to her home? God she was so fucking stupid! And for what? To study it!?

She couldn't show her panic. "Odette... can you get some rope from...wherever it is we keep it?" Odette paused and looked at her in slight shock, but she didn't question it. She instead nodded and walked off. If she was going to keep a danger in her house, it needed to be secure. Perhaps she could lock it in a room? Or put it in a cage. That’s what it deserves after all the pain it caused.

Perhaps the best choice would be to make a deal, that is if she can get the girl to cooperate. 

Odette came back with a small bundle of rope which Carmilla accepted with a nod and walked to the angel. She examined her for a few moments before keeling down and wrapping the rope around one of the angels wrist and knotted it before tying the end to the couch, leaving enough slack for her to be able to move and eat when they need to feed her, but tied enough that she women be able to get away. 

She also tied her ankles to the couch. This way she wouldn't be able to get up and reach anything or attack. Carmilla doubted if this would really keep the angel down, but it is what she had to work with. Perhaps she could make angelic chains...

—

Carmilla and her daughters had left the room to speak. They were close enough to the living room to hear any disturbances the angel might make were she to wake. 

Clara and Odette looked at her expectantly. They were waiting on their mother's promise. Carmilla sighed. How was she going to explain the situation when she didn't fully understand it herself? 

"I know you both are wondering why I have brought an angel into our home." She started tentatively. Both girls glanced at each other before looking back at Carmilla, nodding. She took a deep breath. "I don't know why but...I felt the need to take her. I'm not sure what my plan is but, she was hurt and abandoned. I don't know why that is, but I couldn't leave her. I know she's dangerous, but I promise I will protect you. You just need to trust me." She looked at her daughters with almost pleading eyes. She didn't know why she was so desperate about this.

Clara and Odette's eyes softened. Neither of them seemed to know what to think about this. "Mom..." Clara spoke. "We don't mind. As long as you don't let her rampage around the house." Carmilla chuckled at that. "No no I won't let that happened." She smiled softly. "Do you think we can study it?" Odette asked. Her scientific mind already working. Carmilla nodded. "That had crossed my mind. I do not know what the end goal is, but I think she can be worth valuable information."

——

Vaggie had never been scared in her life. Not when she was created. Not when she learned her purpose. Not when she spared. Not on her first extermination. Not on any extermination. 

Not until now anyway.

The first time she felt true fear was when she heard the flutter of familiar wings behind her. She had been caught red handed and payed the price. She turned a blind eye to heaven by letting the child go and lost her eye because of it. They took her wings and halo so she couldn't return. And she was scared.

The next time she was scared was when she came to and was faced with a large and tall demon while she herself was defenseless. At the time, she believed she was done for, but she lived.

But now she was feeling afraid again, maybe even more so.

She hadn't died in that alley and now she was waking up again. Like before, everything hurt. The second her eye opened even the slightest, she was shocked by bright lights. Her eye squeezed shut and her head twisted away and throbbed. She groaned in pain as her eye muscles twitch around nothing. The pain instinctively made her want to curl into herself.

The movements stretched her back muscles, bringing attention to how badly they burned. Vaggie's hand gripped the fabric of whatever she was on and groaned while she cursed in agony. She wanted to cry but that could make the pain worse.

Forcing herself to open her eye, she glanced around the room. She felt like a lost child in an unfamiliar place. The walls were similar to heaven, white all around and fancy, though they had accents of red. 

Vaggie honestly thought she was back, that the angels had returned for her. Her punishment was over. At least the part where she thought she was in hell. But she still had to recover from her injuries.

But if that was so, where was everyone? Where was she? This place wasn't familiar to her. There was a window, but the curtains were closed. Perhaps she should risk the pain and suffer her way over so she could see where she was currently residing?

Maybe that's what she would have done had it not been for her restraints.

She hadn't realized till then, but her wrist and foot were tied down. Only one of each but that didn't make it much better. Panic shot through her system. There was no way she was heaven. This didn't happen in heaven. Some sick demon found her and tied her up for their own sick desires. Or maybe to simply keep her still while they tortured her. 

She pulled desperately against the rope despite the pain. Luckily adrenaline started coursing through her veins, so she barely felt it. She pulled and bit. Cursed and coughed. Kicked and pushed.  But she couldn't get either rope off. She could have gotten the one on her ankle untied had she been able to reach it, but her wrist restricted such. She was panicking too much to be able to even focus enough to try and untie her wrist. 

She wanted to scream and shout, scare off the demons likely nearby. She wanted her spear so that she could cut herself free, but no. The demon took it. She wanted to call for help and for the angels to come back for her, but she knew none would answer. 

Usually, she was more levelheaded than this, but after everything she had just gone through, her head wasn't spinning right. 

-

Vaggie growled as she pulled. She currently had her untied foot on the ground and was leaning forward and grunting. She had to get out of here before the demons returned. She thought she was going crazy, thinking she could hear voices, but no one appeared. 

Her muscles screamed at her, telling her to sit down, to let them rest, to let her back heal. But she couldn't. She had to keep fighting. Otherwise, she was never worthy of being an exorcist in the first place.

Waves of blinding pain shot through her entire body, making her want it to end just so it would stop. But she wasn't a quitter.

Hot tears streamed down her eye, but with how her other eye is messed up, the left side of her face burned even more than before. 

She couldn't take it anymore. She slumped down, her leg straining in its connection to the bed, her arm raised above her head unable to lower any further even with its slack. She breathed heavily and wince repeatedly in pain. God this hurt. She needed to get back on the couch to avoid more muscle pain. 

The angel tried to maneuver herself back up with much struggle. It pained to move at all and with all the stress she just put her muscles through, she was barely able to pry herself back on the couch. 

She panted heavily. Her head spun as her world spun around her. Before she could even realize what was happening, she was leaning over the couch and vomiting a mixture of blood and stomachs acid or whatever she ate recently. How long has it been since she ate? How long was she passed out for?

Her body shook weakly. All she wanted to do was curl up under her wings. But her wings were gone, and how she was restrained made it impossible to curl around herself. 

It all felt hopeless. 

Suddenly she flinched as small garbage can lined with a plastic bag was placed, in front of her, just inches away from her vomit. Her head flung up to meet the tall demon that had took her. 

Part of her wanted coward. A stronger part told her she was angel. 

She glared at the demon. Though, the demon ignored her and walked away. Vaggie stared after her in shock and confusion. 

Carmilla walked to the kitchen and bent below the sink and grab some chemical, a plastic bag, and paper towels. As she walked back, Vaggie momentarily thought the chemical would be sprayed into the bag before it would be wrapped around her head to strangle her. But that didn't happen. The demon merely knelt down and scooped a to puke up with the paper towels and tossed them in the bag. Once most of it was gone she sprayed the floor. The demon left to toss the bag and came back with a towel that she held under hot water. She sprayed the floor and rubbed it with the towel. When she finished, she tossed the rag out and throughly washed her hands.

The whole time Vaggie watched with her wide eye. Carmilla never broke her stoic expression. Vaggie didn't know how to feel. Relieved? Scared? Angry?

Carmilla came back and sat down on a nearby armchair Vaggie hadn't noticed yet. The demon crossed her long legs with their pointed shoes, clearly made of angelic steal. Her red eyes stared her down as they studied her. Vaggie never felt small like this before.

"What's your name." Carmilla spoke clearly and coldly. Vaggie didn't answer. She couldn't tell this demon anything. Carmilla's eyes narrowed. "I asked a question." She was once against met with silence. She let out a sigh. "Can you speak?"

Vaggie thought for a moment. "Perhaps knowing my name will encourage you. I am Carmilla Carmine." But the angel still did not reply.

Maybe Vaggie could just fake being mute. But then Camilla got up and approached her, then holding her shoe up against her throat. "If you do not speak, I have no use for you." Vaggie felt her stomach drop. This would be the easy way out but...

"I- I can speak." Her voice was airy and cracked. She needed some fluids to replace all the blood she lost. Carmilla stared down at her. "So, the angel finally found its vocals. Though they are not as gracious as they lead you to believe in the Bible. Tell me, what are you doing here? In hell I mean. I brought you to my humble abode." The demon lowered her foot and folded her hands behind her back.

Vaggie stares at her. How does one explain their fall? The demon understood that she fell right? "Humble? Hah...." She coughs. "This place is massive." Carmilla looked unamused. "That wasn't the question. I have the ability to out you to all of hell. I could earn a shit tone of money selling you off or letting others use you as a way to express their grief. I'd be careful what you say to me." The demon spoke coldly.

Vaggie tensed. All of hell would be waiting to get a piece of her. She's fucking fucked. "Is there... another choice?" She asked tentatively. Carmilla stayed silent for a long pause.

"Let's make a deal."

Chapter Text

"Let's make a deal."

Vaggie's whole body froze, and her face paled. She couldn't make a deal this demon. Not in a million years. She didn't know much about deals, but she knew they were no good. Her soul would be forever connected, and she couldn't break it.

Does this demon want full control of her?

Carmilla looked amused at her internal panic. "Don't be so alarmed angel. I do not currently have need for your soul." Sure, she wanted the angel's soul, but she was unsure how to play her cards in this particular instant in order to obtain it. Supposedly she could continue threatening her, but she only has so much time. She’ll have to play the long game. “But there is something I’d like.” She walked with her arms folded behind her back.

"I simply would like to set some rules. You will not bring harm on me and my family, or other souls I have under contract. I don't care about other demons. In return you will be safe here in my industry. However, if you choose to go against my wishes and hurt my daughters, your soul will become mine."

Vaggie mauled over her words. All she had to do is not hurt a couple sinners? That couldn't be too hard. Probably. Did she also imply that she would protect her?

But what if she messed up? What if she by accident hurt one of her girls? Or attacked a soul of her contracts? What if this demon got ahold of her soul...?

“Of course I am not just doing this all for free.” Vaggie looked at her tentatively but tried to keep a stoic impression. Carmilla hardly glanced at her. “I want intel. Every detail I want to know about heaven, you will give me to the best of your knowledge.” She stood directly in front of the angel.

"I will give you time to think about it. But right now, I have places to be." Carmilla stated and walked away. "You will remain tied until you make a decision. Though I'm not sure you want to risk not taking my deal." She said the last part threateningly.

Fuck

Fuck

Fuck

Fuck

Vaggie strained against the restraints. She had to get out of here, but where would she go? Would she have enough strength?

As she stressed against the couch, she felt something. Until now she had blocked out that she had been bandaged up. While she may be lying on bloodied towels, her back is wrapped in thick gauzes along either side and of the left side of her face.

Someone would have had to undress her to do her back. Shit did they do anything to her!? This is hell, one of the 7 sins is lust!

She didn't feel any discomfort in her lower area, and she couldn't really tell how her chest is as it is covered, so does that mean they didn't do anything? Maybe they did and she just can't tell over the blinding pain.

She took several steady breaths. It's all going to be okay; she'll be fine. She'll get through this. She has to.

—

Carmilla entered a building on the further end of the compound where she was meeting up with one of her souls. The building was full of angelic weapons and wash stations. The placed reeked of blood and death, but Carmilla liked to see it as progress.

Clara and Odette were already here and washing off the metals and disinfecting them. Carmilla examined their progress and nodded.

While they continued, Carmilla waited by the door in waits of Ruffas, a hellhound under her contract. He was supposed to be delivering a bag of...parts.

After a few more minutes, there was a knock. Carmilla opened the door and saw him standing awkwardly. He was shifting his weight anxiously as he handed the bag to her. "Remember, not a word gets out." She warned with a glare and shut the door. Her daughter's looked over at her in curiosity. "Don't worry mijas. Come take a look."

She walked to a counter that had been cleared of any dirt or objects before setting down the bag. The brown sack was stained with unfamiliar substances.

She reached in and pulled out a pair of black and white wings. Clara and Oddie stared in shock and confusion. "You took her wings!?" Clara asked in awe and maybe a tad of disgust.

The two girls figured out rather quickly that the woman was an angel even though Carmilla didn't out right say it. It wasn't rocket-science.

"I did. And I believe these feathers can be quite valuable, especially considering the lack in supply of them." She trailed a finger down a feather. Then she thought about the broken angel on her couch. These use to be hers...

She couldn't dwell on it though. Exorcists are vile beings, and she didn't need to feel bad about using their parts for profit. "Perhaps they have strong durability. We can turn it into some type of weapon. Maybe make some arrows. Then we could make bows and sell them along with them."

She grabbed a glove and pulled out something else from the bag. The eye. Clara and Odette stared in disgust. It was no doubt the angels. "What... what could we possibly use that for?" Clara asked. Carmilla hummed. "I'm not sure. We will run test, but if it turns to be useless, we will simply sell it."

Then she grabbed the last item from the bag, an Exorcist uniform. "Again, just something we may end up selling or perhaps keep as a trophy. Though that's just vile." She set it down. "I do wonder though, why there was no mask? Something to look out for later." She pondered.

"I would like to take some blood samples from our guest as well. Maybe combining it with angelic steel could do something." She walked over to the bag of weapons. One sat further away. The one she requested. She pulled in open and took out the weapons to lay them out.

Which one was it again? Hmm... oh! This is the one.

Carmilla picked up the spear she found the angel with. Most likely hers. She may be able to bribe some information out of her. Though she didn't really want to leave the dangerous weapon in the hand of a dangerous being. Not until she gets that deal.

Should she wash it before presenting it? Or should she wave the angels sins in her face?

Either way there is work to be done. She walked back to the wings and plucked a feather. "Odette dear, can you freeze these wings and the eye? I'd like to preserver them. Maybe we can set up some system for regenerating new feathers." She held her chin while the other arms wrapped around her waist holding the feather. Odette nodded while Carmilla stood in thought. "Of course, mother." She placed the wings and eye back in the bag and tied it shut before taking it to freeze them in a different part of the industry.

Carmilla set the feather down by the exorcist outfit and spear before grabbing a bag of weapons to start cleaning alongside Clara. Her large hands washed the white metals under the faucet, not too worried about damaging them as they are extremely sturdy, but more careful about hurting herself. These weapons would leave a permanent scar even with the shallowest cut.

When Odette came back, she left her washing station. "I have something I want to work on. Will you two be ok in here by yourselves?" Both her daughters nodded. "Good. Remember to be very carful. I'll come check on you later." She grabbed an empty bag and put the angels spear in it, along with the feather. "Oh, and don't clean the uniform. It's more authentic with dirt and worth more. Probably."

——

Vaggie had nothing to do besides think and writhe in pain. What would happen to her if she didn't agree to the deal? Would the demon kill her? Sell her like some exotic creature?

It would be nice to have this place as a safe place, but what did she mean I would be safe here? Like she would protect me? Or just not outright attack. I might have to ask her to be more specific... who even are her daughters that I'm not aloud to hurt? What if I hurt one of them on accident? Then I lose my soul! I can't lose my soul- what am I going to do?

She thought and thought. What did she have to lose at this point? Well, her soul obviously, but if she stayed in line, that wouldn't happen. She is- was a good soldier. She can behave and listen. It's just new circumstances... it's only one rule. One order. She used to kill, now she just can't kill specific demons. It's just like how she can't kill hellborn.

If she doesn't make the deal, the demon may leave her tied up as she doesn't trust her. How long can she survive like this?

Just then the door creek open and in walked the demon of her spiraling thoughts.

Carmilla gave her a glance before setting down her bag and walking to the fridge. Vaggie couldn't exactly see what it was from her position, but she could only imagine some type of torture devise. Soon the demon came into sight with a glass of... orange juice? The tall woman held it out to her, expecting her to take it. "You've lost a lot of blood. This will help." Hesitantly Vaggie reached out and took it. She gave it a quick sniff to which Carmilla rolled her eyes and walked away.

Vaggie took a small sip. It didn't taste off. Despite wanting to be careful, her thirst was getting the better of her. She quickly downed the whole glass, but her throat still burned. She wanted to more.

Almost as if the demon read her mind (which she hoped wasn't the case) another glass was presented before her along with a tray of crackers and meat. "Eat what you will. I have work to do" she placed the tray on the C-shaped end table and walked off, leaving the angel alone again.

Vaggie eyed the food hungrily but hesitantly. She used her free hand to grab the tray and set it on her chest so her tied hand could hold it while she took a cracker and ate it slowly. It tasted fine. She stacked some meat between two crackers and ate it before taking a sip of orange juice.

It didn't take long before she finished. She wasn't completely full, but it would do for now. It was better than having nothing in her system, especially after she threw up earlier.

Maybe she could ask the demon to turn on the Tv the next time she passed through if she was just gonna leave her alone like this.

___

Carmilla sat down at her desk, setting the feather down next to her computer and the bag containing the spear on the floor. She'd have to hide that somewhere the angel wouldn't find it. Not that she should be finding her way into this room anytime soon.

She turned on the computer and using her large keyboard to match her large hands and logged in to check her email. Carmilla wasn't usually an electronic type of gal, but there are just things that they are needed for.

She has 3 new messages.

One was from Charlie Morningstar with the year's death toll. 2% higher than last year. Camilla sighed and checked her other emails. One was an overlord double checking the annual meeting time and the other was a demon wanting to buy a gun.

With a heavy sigh Camille took the information from Charlie's email and uploaded into a system that would put it into a graph.

She frowned as she looked at the new addition to the awkward incline. The deaths keep rising every year. It wouldn't be long before they are reducing half of hell.

Though, they did lose an angel. Possibly a very weak one as they kicked her out, but a loss for them, nonetheless. She hummed to herself and clicked along her keyboard as she wrote her report for the meeting tomorrow.

By the time she had finished, two hours had passed. It was due time that she checked on her daughters and the angel.

She walked out of her office and into the living room. The angel was staring up at the ceiling. Carmilla wondered about the girl's pain tolerance. If it wasn't good, the angel must be suffering a lot. With that in mind, Carmilla walked to the kitchen and opened a cabinet where she pulled out a container of pain meds. She then presented them to the angel.

The angel looked suspicious as she took them, but it was clear she was in pain. She read the directions and poured two in her hands.

"...water?" She asked tentatively. Carmilla nodded and went to get her a glass.

Vaggie sat up slightly and took the pill and her water. She groaned and laid her head back down. Carmilla couldn't help but relate it to when Clara or Odette were sick.

"What's your name angel." She said angel with a twinge of disgust. The angel half opened its eye to peer at her. "I'm not telling you anything, demon." She retorted. Carmilla glared down at her. "Rethink your choice." She said coldly. After a long pause the angel spoke again. "It's Vaggie..."

Carmilla raised her eyebrow. "Vaggie. Really? That isn't funny." She deadpanned. The angel looked at her in annoyance. "Well, it's my name. Or keep calling me Angel. I don't care." She feigned indifference.

Carmilla scowled down at her, her red eyes now glowing faintly. Usually, she was great at keeping her emotions down, but there's a lot of things causing her stress at the moment. The extermination, the upcoming meeting, the literal angel on her bed.

Vaggie tensed, surely now was when the demon would give up on her, but Carmilla took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "We will speak again later." Then the demon walked out of the house, closing the door.

Carmilla took long strides back to the cleaning area of the compound to check on her kids. It was getting late, and they'd have to clean up for the night.

She walked in and saw that they were almost done, with only one more bag to go. Wordlessly she grabbed 3 weapons and began to clean them herself.

Soon they were done. All of the weapons had been laid out and organized as they were cleaned. At some point they'd need to check inventory to know what weapons they need to restock by melting these ones.

Carmilla led her daughters out of the building and walked home with them. Other souls were getting ready to leave as well and head back home to then come back early tomorrow. Guards swapped with the night shift after a successful day of no breaches.

"I must warn you that the angel has awoken. She acts tuff but I believe I can sense that she is actually quite scared. It must be a big shift to fall from heavenly grace. But you'd must remember, we don't know why she fell, and it could be because she is too dangerous for them to risk." Her daughters look at her nervously and nod. "And don't worry. I'll protect you two. The angel won't hurt you. I swear it." They both smile up at her before hugging her. Carmilla bent down and hugged the both of then back.

The three of them walked into the house, both Clara and Odette immediately looking over at Vaggie.

Vaggie looked tired and defeated, but the pain medicine was kicking in making it slightly more bearable. When she heard the door open, she looked over. Her eye widens at the sight of two more demons along with the tall one she had been speaking to.

"Girls, this is Vaggie." Both of their eyes widen, and they turn to look at her. "Seriously?" Clara asked. "Like- Vagina?"

Carmilla groaned and Odette glared slightly at her sister. "I don't know but-" she was cut off by Vaggie speaking. "Yea. Thats what I was named after, and I quote, "the best thing ever." Corny as hell I know." All three demons blinked at her in surprise. "Well," Carmilla coughed awkwardly into her fist. "This is Odette and Clara." She gestures to them respectively. "These are my daughters. They are who you would lose your soul for if you were to harm them."

Vaggie looked them over. Clara seemed to be looking at her in amazement while Odette seemed to be studying her. She felt like an animal in a zoo.

"So, about our deal." Carmilla stood in front of her daughters and looked down on Vaggie with her head tilted up. "Have you made up your mind?" Would Vaggie take the deal or would she become cannibal food.

"I... have some conditions I'd like to add." She spoke firmly. Carmilla raised an eyebrow. Vaggie forced herself to sit up, one leg stuck out as it was tied, and her arm being tied kept her from sitting fully up. Not to mention the pain that coursed through her as she moved. "Fuck." She whispered.

The Carmines waited as she got situated. "About the part where I would be safe here, I'd like to make it more specific, as in you'll protect me." Carmilla hummed noncommittally. "And the part about hurting you or your kids would cost my soul, I'd like to change it to purposefully hurting them. Accidents happen and I don't want me bumping into them to cost my soul."

Carmilla thought it over. They were fair request that would hardly change her original proposal, but the second term would take from the chances of acquiring the angel's soul. She took a deep breath.

"I'll agree to your terms. So do we have a deal?" Carmilla reached out her hand, glowing red waves of powers circling about it. Her eyes glowing the same shade of red.

Vaggie stared at the hand. She'd never made a deal before. But there was alway a time to try something new. She tentatively reached hand out and placed it into Carmilla’s to shake on it. "Deal." Suddenly, the room felt unbearable heavy as magic weighed it down. Red cracks crawled up the walls and curled up her arm. Vaggie’s eye glowed gold and her back hurt worse than it had.

The red lights turned into a magic chain, binding her and Carmilla together by their deal. The chain around her wrist was connected around Carmilla's as well, but it seemed like the demon was more in control. Their hands released and the room crept back to its normal appearance. The chain faded away and Carmilla stepped back, completely fine after the whole ordeal. Vaggie however wheezed as she fell back against the couch. The spell had taken every last bit of energy from her.

"Good night, Vaggie." Carmilla ushered her daughters out of the room. She never did enjoy the rare occasions they witnessed her deal making. But now they would know what she was doing to protect them. They all went down the hallway and disappeared.

Vaggie wanted to speak up, to protest. They didn't untie her. She was in pain. So much had happened, and she was exhausted. But she was also scared.

Chapter Text

There had been short periods of sleep that her body gave into during exhaustion, but her mind did not rest. Images of gore and scenes of betrayal paced her mind, seeping into her dreams, or more her nightmares. 

The look of fear on the little boy's face, him cowering away from her because to him, she was the monster. But she is an angel, and he is a demon, so that can't be right. 

Most exorcist would find pleasure in the sinners suffering, but it felt wrong to Vaggie. This isn't what an angel should stand for. They shouldn't represent wrath, murder, pain, and suffering. They should represent light, peace, and mercy. 

Mercy. She gave the boy mercy. A decision that would leave a permanent mark on her.

It happened so fast. One moment the boy was running off and the next her face is impaled. 

Gold took over her vision and blinding white pain shot her nervous system. 

Gold

Pain

Eye

Ground

She fell to the ground, scraping her hands as she tried to protect herself from the impact. She couldn't see, not clearly anyway. The left side of her face felt soaked. Was that blood? It was blood. She tried to open her eye to see through it, but she couldn't. Not only did it bring excruciating pain, but there also was to be something off.

Her bloodied, detached eye rolled on the ground. She lost her fucking eye. It was cut out.

Lute's sword stabbed into it. Blood squirted out. Her blood. 

She wasn't supposed to lose blood, the sinners were. Was she paying the price of letting the boy keep his?

A boot slammed against her back, shoving her into the cemented ground. She felt a pair of calloused hands grip onto her wings.

She knew what was coming, but there was nothing she could do.

The hands pulled; the strength of the owner stronger than her connection to the limb. The nerves snapped, veins popped, muscles tore, all in a sequence of pure agony and desperate despair.

Vaggie woke up in a cold sweat, stringing upwards against her restraints, tears streaming down her face, her back burning like the fiery pits in hell. She tried to sit up, failing, panicking, yelling. 

No one answered.

Having just woken up from a nightmare, her mind was in blind panic, and the room was dark, and she couldn't tell where she was. She feared that she loss both eyes and was fully blind. 

There was no one around to comfort her and tell her that it was ok. To sooth her and tell her it's over, or that it never happened. 

She strained relentlessly against the restraints, giving her more rope burns than she had already obtained. Despite only one arm and only one leg being tied down, it felt like she is fully strapped to the bed. Claustrophobia was nothing Vaggie had felt with before, but at the moment she was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe in the increasingly smaller feeling area.

She yanked against the rope and pulled her body forward. Suddenly, there was a snap. The front of her body flung off the couch onto the floor. The apparent bowl of cereal was knocked over, the contents spewing over the floor as the bowl shatters. Her ankle kept her lower half still up. 

She breathed heavily. The whole ordeal severed a whole other rank for pain. It felt like her back wound tore open judging by the increasing wetness.

The fall snapped her out of her panic slightly. She was able to look around more clearly. It wasn't as dark as it felt like just moments ago. Judging by the light coming through the curtains, it was day, or at least morning.

Then she realized, her arm is free. The rope broke. She can untie her leg now too and escape! Vaggie forced herself back up on the couch and sitting with her hands down on her ankle working the rope.

She was getting out of here.

——

Carmilla stood at the head of the long overlord table in front of a large graph that showed the death toll of each extermination. Each year it was rising higher and higher. 

The demon sorted through papers on the table and checked her list of matters to be discussed. Odette sat to her right on the other side of a tall chair, a chair reserved for a dear friend of Camilla.

Clara sat to her left, silently reading a news report. Everything was set up for the meeting. 

Eventually overlords began showing up, the first one being Zestial, an old and powerful demon. He took the right-hand seat to Carmilla. "It's good to see you old friend." Zestial smiled. "Thee feeling tis mutual." He spoke in an old timely voice and manner before other demons began arriving, typically in groups or pairs. They filed in and sat in their usual seats. While they came in, Odette checks their names off on a list clipped onto her clipboard. There were the same usual demons missing, ones that haven't attended in years. No one knew whether some were even alive or not. Then there were the ones that had died recently on extermination day. Always few to none.

By the time it was time for the meeting to start, there were only a few empty seats remaining. They would not hold up for them.

"Greeting everyone. I'm glad you all could make it. Let us begin." Few demons looked bored, resting their heads in their hands or resting their head on the table. Some payed attention and listened.

Camilla's large hand pointed up at the graph. "This year's extermination was more deadly than the last as per usual. Death rate went up 2% that's 6000 more sinners than last year." Some demons grumbled in response, cranky about losing souls under contract. 

"The turf wars have yet to settle, causing more damage and destruction. We need-" she was cut off by the doors being swung open. Everyone's heads turned to face Velvette, a doll demon that specialized in fashion. She walked in without looking up from her phone. 

Carmilla narrowed her eyes. This behavior wasn't uncommon. Typically, only one of the Vees would show up. Vox was always on time if it were him. Valentino- well he never came. And Velvette always liked to make a show of herself. 

The overlord plopped herself down in her seat and tapped away on her phone, Turing and posing to take a photo. She captioned it and posted it. Carmilla took a deep breath. "We are glad you were able to join us today, Velvette." The fashionista didn't look up from her phone. "Yea yea suck it."

Carmilla fisted her hand. Then she felt a hand on her arm. She looked down to see Zestial's hand gently holding her and him looking at her in concern, shaking his head.

The demon sighed and relaxed her fist. "As we were saying-" Velvette slammed her hands down on the table. "There's an outcast among us!" She shouted. Everyone stilled before silently glancing around at each other. No one understood quite what she meant.

Except for Carmilla.

She tensed and clenched her fist staring at Velvette. Carmilla remember to compose herself before speaking. "Elaborate." Velvette smirked and pulled up her camera roll on her phone. "After extermination day, Vox's handy man was out surveying for potential souls when he stumbled upon something unordinary." She held her phone up with a picture of an alley painted in a yellow substance. Everyone stayed quiet and looked in confusion as the demon turned her phone so everyone could see.

"Must you act so brazen when we are in the middle of a very important meeting?" Carmilla turned to her papers to act as though she was uninterested when in reality, she just didn't want Velvette to see her eyes were glowing slightly red and her shoulders were tense. 

He must have got there before my men arrived to clean up the mess. Ran through her mind.

Velvette shook her head in annoyance. "Do you not get what this means?" The short demon stepped up onto the table. "It's blood! Golden blood! Who would have golden blood? Angels!" She scowled. Gasped filled the room. Carmilla took a deep breath. "How can you be sure it is blood?" She asked. Velvette slowly smirked. "He took a sample and brought it to Vox who then tested it."

Velvette walked down the table. "An angel in hell! An exorcist I'd bet considering the timing." She hadn't found the wings or uniform. "I suggest we go on a man hunt and kill it!" An overlord shouts. Velvette grinned wildly. "Yes! This could be our key to fighting heaven! Give ourselves a fighting chance!" Demons murmured and nodded in agreement. 

If Carmilla hadn't already made a deal with the angel, she could have just traded her off to avoid trouble. But now she must house a being that others would be tearing at the bit to get to, she was stuck. 

Vox has cameras everywhere too that they could find her on. Fuck.

Carmilla glared at Velvette. Holding a hand up she demanded attention. "Velvette, sit down, won't you? This is not on the agenda for today's meeting. Perhaps another time we can discuss-" Velvette scoffed. "What's your problem? Are you too old to realize our souls are at risk with that- murder on the loose?" Carmilla wanted to mention how about everyone in this room is a murdered but refrained from doing so.

"I'd argue that this is far more important than any other bullshit you have to give us." Velvette jabbed. Carmilla slammed her hands down on the table, making everyone else flinch.

"Show some respect Velvette." She warned. Velvette raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I must ask, why are you so worked up over this?" She slowly paced towards the arms dealer, still on the table. "I don't know what you're talking about." She said coldly. 

"Don't think I haven't been catching your little reactions way over here. The tensing at the mention of an outcast, the fist at the pictures of blood, the constant narrowing of your eyes at me as I speak of an angel. You know something don't you." 

"You're speaking out of line." Carmilla kept her composure. But Velvette kept speaking. "You out of anyone should be concerned about an angel in hell. You know what they are capable of, seeing as you work with their very weapons. Is it perhaps that you are harboring a new weapon?"

Carmilla glared at her. 

"Or are you just to scared that if you reveal its location, it will harm your daughters~"

Carmilla snapped. "This meeting is over. I will not stand here and listen to you belittle me."

Everyone in the room looked around, unsure of what to do. After a hard glare from Camille, they started packing up their things. They'd have to reschedule for another meeting later on. 

Velvette glared at Carmilla for long several moments before sighing and walking away and pulling out her phone. "Whatever bitch. I'll find out what you're hiding sooner or later."

Soon most of the demons left, leaving only Carmilla, her daughters, and Zestial who had decided to stick around. He stood up, about 4 heads taller than Carmilla. 

The arms dealer held her hands on her head as she tried to calm herself down. Clara and Odette looked at her nervously, both understanding where her stress had been coming from.

Zestial placed a hand on Carmilla back. The demon looked over at him. 

"Does thy knoweth what happened to thee angel?" 

Carmilla sighed. "I am not discussing this." Zestial frowned. "Thy's stress is prominent." Carmilla folded her arms. She knew she could trust Zestial, but should she dump such secrets into him?

"Tell me Carmilla." Carmilla took a deep breath. "The angel... is recovering. In my home." She admitted. Zestial's green eyes widen. Apparently, that had not been what he was expecting. He thought Carmilla had killed the angel and disposed of it. 

"Is thou safe?" He asked her in concern, glancing at her daughters. Carmilla nodded. "I made a deal with her. She can't harm me or my daughters." She wrapped around them as they stood next to her. They both leaned into her embrace. 

Zestial sighed. "Thy would like to meet thee angel." He wanted to see for himself if this angel would cause problems. Carmilla shook her head much to his disappointment. "I think that would not be wise. She went through a traumatic event and is in immense pain. Despite her rough exterior I can tell she is scared." Carmilla frowned and looked down at her girls. "I have her tied up as well as of now. I will untie her when we get home. I just didn't need another thing on my mind right now."

She looked up at Zestial. "Speaking of which I really must get going. It was good seeing you friend. We will keep in touch. I will have to set a date to discuss further of the topics that were skipped today." She went to stuff the rest of her stuff into her work bag. Zestial got the hint, yet didn't really want to leave her, but he knew she would not be pleased to be pushed further. He bowed lightly and departed.

The three girls packed up in silence.

——

Vaggie had freed herself from her restraints. There were rope burns and imprints in her ankle and wrist that hurt but not as badly as her back did right now. She must have broken her stitches or ripped more of her skin open. 

She tried to stand up, but her body was immediately shocked with more pain causing her to fall back down to the floor. The angel breathed heavily. Her back was soaked now. Blood had seeped through her bandages.

She was so dizzy, but she was determined to survey the premises. If they left her tied, then there must be something off about the deal. Why else would they keep her trapped? The deal was supposed to keep her from harming them, yet they were afraid to let her free. 

While she may not be able to stand, she is able to crawl. It was humiliating but it would get the job done. Or so she thought.

The angel reached with her arms forward, (a painful movement) and pulled while her feet pushed. Her back wounds erected intense pain. She stopped to breathe after one foot.

I can do this

I can do this

I will do this

Even though the blood seeping through bandage was spreading to her sides, she pulled herself another foot. 

Pull

Push

Rest

Repeat.

Repeat repeat repeat repeat.

She continued this process until she reached the hallway. Not really having a plan, she pushed her way through. As she inched through, she glances into rooms with open doors. One appeared to be a bathroom, another a bedroom, but the others were closed.

What was she even doing? What the hell was she looking for? What would she do? What happens when they come back, and she is off the couch? The deal will supposedly protect her, but there was no punishment put in place if they were to hurt her, only the other way around- Fuck!

She cursed herself. She could find something to protect herself with, but if she hurt one of them in the process, she'll lose her soul and be in an even worse position.

She's stuck.

Vaggie could hide, wait to heal and then bounce, but she couldn't do that without proper care. 

Blood dripped to the floor. Her bandages were heavy with gold blood. 

Drip

Drop

Drip

Her raspy breaths came in short intervals. The angel racked her brain for an idea, but the pain and blood loss were overpowering her adrenaline.

She tried to pull herself up to stand but was disappointed as her muscles gave out underneath her. Vaggie laid against the floor in a fetal position.

Her vision darkened. It was soon she passed out. Maybe this time she wouldn't have to wake up.

Chapter Text

Carmilla stepped out of her vehicle and waited for her daughters to get out and join her. The driver tipped his hat to her and drove off, going to wherever it is he goes as he waits for new orders from the overlord. The demon sighed and rubbed her forehead. The day had only just begun but it was already a headache. Yet there was still so much to do.

She was still on edge from the meeting and just wanted to have a drink, check on the angel, and lay down, maybe talk with her daughters. That would be nice.

Carmilla took her keys, unlocked the door, and walked in. Odette and Clara followed in behind.

Immediately something felt off. It wasn’t clear whether she smelled something, saw something, or heard something, but the aura of the house had changed. Carmilla swiftly walked to the couch. Her stomach lurched at the sight of broken rope, a shattered bowl with breakfast all over the floor and carpet, and blood smeared on the ground, and most alarming of all, no angel.

Odette walked up to her mom in concern and confusion while Clara was walking to her room, only to freeze and gasp. Camilla's head flung to the side to make sure her daughter wasn't in danger. She quickly walked over to see what her daughter was paling at.

Carmilla froze at the sight of dribbled drops of blood trailing down the hall. Odette flicked on the lights.

In the previous darkness lay the angel, motionless in a puddle of blood, similar to how Carmilla first found her.

The mother rushed over and checked her pulse. Still breathing but it was weak. Like this morning, the angel was pale. Shit- she should have done something sooner.

Clara and Odette watched as their mother picked the angel up and cradled her carefully in her arms, making sure not to rub against her back wounds.

"Clara dear, please remove the old dirty towels off the couch. Odette would you please grab some fresh ones?" That was all they needed to hear before rushing off to do their task.

Carmilla walked slowly with the angel knowing that her daughters would have to get the couch situated before she could set her down.

She should have used better restraints, had a bodyguard in here even. Now the angel is hurt again, and they more than likely had to start the process of sealing her up all over again.

Luckily, her daughters were efficient workers. One of the many things that simply made them so great. Clara stripped the couch and dropped the towel in the laundry room before returning with a cloth and a garbage bag to clean up the cereal and broken bowl. Odette brought out some fresh towels and diligently covered the couch, doing her best to make sure that it was covered enough to stop blooded from oozing onto it.

Carmilla set Vaggie down on her stomach while Clara and Odette carefully picked up the broken pieces of the dish and placed them in the bag while avoiding stepping in the spilled milk. By this point some of the liquid had dried but it was still damp, meaning it couldn't have to long ago it happened. That is why they had a chance in recusing Vaggie once again. Had they returned much later, it simply would have been too late. If it hadn’t been for Velvette getting on her nerves… the meeting would have gone on much longer. And they would have returned to a soulless house.

Carmilla could picture it, the angel pulling forcefully and the rope snapping, her arm hitting the cereal as she lurched forward. Anger or desperation fueling the small woman’s escape, only for her to end up being far to weak and feeble to get anywhere. Perhaps it was not exactly, but that is what she predicted.

Carmilla was not all worried about her daughter picking up the broken shards of glass. It was less dangerous than the weapons they deal with on a daily basis.

So, while they tended to that, Carmilla collected the first aid kit, a bowl of water and rags, a garbage bag, and washed her hands. Then she kneeled down next to the angel. She took a sharp pair of scissors and carefully cut the soaked bandage off her back with precision. It pealed back slowly, pulling off bits of shriveled skin.

The stitches had definitely broken along with her wounds cracking and opening. The demon worked on removing the previous stitches, doing her best to avoid discomfort for the angel but trying to work quickly. She doubted that Vaggie would wake up right now. She lost to much blood. But it would be best to get everything done quickly incase she did become conscious.

With the stitches gone, Carmilla went through the process of cleaning and disinfecting the wounds. She really didn't want them to get infected. That would be a whole other problem.

She tossed the wet, bloodied rage into the garbage bag and took another, dipping it it the water and ringing it out before rubbing the angel's back.

When she was satisfied, Carmilla preceded to redo her stitching. Hopefully, this time they wouldn't be disturbed until they were ready to be removed. If Vaggie made it through this, they were going to have to have a long discussion.

The girls had long finished cleaning the spill and had now moved onto cleaning the floor of the angel's blood, though Carmilla did take notice of Odette taking a sample of it. Who would she be to be concerned of that? Whatever her daughter used it for would come around to help her anyhow.

After the troublesome act of stitching up the twitching muscles, Carmilla pulled out a fresh roll of bandages and wrapped the angel up. When she done, she inspected Vaggie's eye. The bandages around it seemed fine, still mostly white but there was the disfiguration in color in the middle. It was the gold yellowish color, but that was likely from earlier when it simply wasn't done bleeding when she put the cloth on. Perhaps she should change it while's she at it.

And she did.

Carmilla gently peeled the cloth away and grabbed a new roll. She couldn’t help the sense of pity at the sight. The black hole in her face an empty void of what use to be. Almost symbolizing the loss of heaven since the loss of her halo wasn’t something to be physically seen.

She diligently wiped the wound off before wrapping it back up. No more of that.

She walked to the sink and washed her hands. While she did so, she stood in thought.

How could she prevent this from happening again? Perhaps leaving the girl tied was the wrong decision. So, should she leave her untied? But that didn't feel safe for either the angel or Carmilla's family.

She sighed and turned off the faucets off. Clara and Odette sat at the kitchen table pretending to be looking at their phones, but Carmilla could tell they were watching her.

Maybe the best way to handle this situation would be making the angel more comfortable? At least until she recovered enough to start giving up details.

"Girls..." both look over at her. "Would you help me set up the guest room?" Their eyes widen in surprise. Clara looked between her, the angel, and the hallway. "Seriously?" She asked incredulously. Carmilla nodded. "Perhaps it would be better to lock her in there rather than keeping her tied to the bed. Also do remember that I made a deal with her. She is unable to harm you." She reassured as she grabbed a juice from the fridge and set it down on the C-table for the angel when she woke up. She has lost a highly concerning amount of blood, but she is an angel and that did not seem to be stoping her.

Her daughters watched as she walked down the hall, heading to the bedroom. Clara looked at Odette who looked back at her. Hesitantly they got up and followed her.

Carmilla stood in the middle of the room. They'd take out anything that could be potentially harmful or problematic. The sheets would need to be changed as they have collected dust after not being used for so long. Speaking of dust, the room is due for a dusting. The door's lock will need to be tested, same with the windows. Every window in the compound was heavily enforced and bullet proof, including these windows, so she didn't need to worry about Vaggie breaking through them. But she would have to make sure the angel wouldn’t be able to find a to open it.

The room wasn't much but it did match Carmilla's taste. The walls were more modern looking with its whites that match her angelic weapons, though the light coming from out the window gave it all a purple tint. The bed lay with its head against the middle of the right wall. It had a black blanket and a white pillow with a black X covering it. It matched the angelic Xs that's lined the lower part of Carmilla's legs down to her shoes.

Next to the bed is a nightstand. It would be nice to put food, drinks, and pain medicine for the angel when she awoke. In the corner of the room was a black armchair, something she could sit on if she were to need to watch over the angel.

Thinking of it, she should really put a camera in here. Maybe one not so discreetly in the corner? That way the angel would know better than to try anything.

While she thought, she directed Clara to take care of the bed while she sent Odette to getter the feather duster. If the angel's wings turn out to be useless, perhaps she could at least have a one-of-a-kind duster made out of the angel's feathers. Or perhaps that is a little to cruel for her liking.

She herself went to inspecting the room for future problems. It wasn't like this room was unkept, it just was not often used, meaning cleaning was typically left to a minimum unless someone was to stay over, which wasn't often. Actually, she wasn’t sure they ever did have someone stay in this room. Perhaps one of the girls’ friends many years ago, but they have long ditched any relationships due to everyone being pieces of shit. But what else can you expect from hell? It’s not like they were perfect either. They aren’t in hell for no reason. Even though their mother is mostly at fault for their damnation, they could never blame her.

She looked under the bed. It was empty, but it was a place Vaggie may hide stuff under. Should she block it? But how? This will have to be added to her growing list.

Next, she looked inside of drawers on the nightstand. As expected, they were empty, because who puts things in drawers of unused rooms? Certainly only crazy people.

The dresser was empty as well. She'll have to get the angel some clothes. Maybe she still has some of Clara's old clothes? The girl loves to shop; there must be some pieces she's not fond of anymore.

She turned to face her girls, Odette dusting surfaces while Clara made the bed. She might also move the medical supplies in here as well. That way if an incident like this happens again, she’ll be prepared.

Carmilla walked out of the room and headed towards the living room. She watched the angel from the hallway.

Vaggie was barely breathing and trembling in her unconscious state.

Despite it all, Carmilla did feel bad for her. While she didn't know why the angel was casted out, she felt like it could have happened without the extra pain. Carmilla still wanted to know how the angel got hurt. Was it by demon or by angel? Was it something she could replicate?

Although- trying to recreate an angel harming devise while she had an angel in her household, likely wasn’t the best idea.

She walked over to Vaggie and kneeled down; her large hand lifted and felt the angel's forehead. She frowned. It was warmer than before. She might be sick. That's not good. The last thing they need was for her to get a fever. She is already weak as it is.

Carmilla got up and grabbed some ibuprofen to set down next to the juice she left her. Then she walked over the closet of the living room and pulled out a thin blanket, one that was adorned with shapes of pearly weapons and laid it upon the girl. It was enough to bring a small sense of comfort without causing to much heat. The angel subconsciously curled into it, much to Carmilla's surprise, but then after thinking about it, it made sense. Her daughters liked to curl up when they were sick, why would it be different for Vaggie? She may not be a child but being the soldier she is, and after what she had gone through, it only made sense to seek comfort in what could not hurt her.

Carmilla sat down on the floor next to the couch and brought a hand to gently brush the angel's short hair.

Eventually Clara and Odette came out of the room having decided their work was done. They paused as they saw their mom with the angel. They were both unsure how to feel about the whole situation still, but they figured it would be alright. Odette was excited to study the angel, and Clara hoped to have another friend if Vaggie could be friendly. An angel would surely be a better friend than a sinner. Though an exorcist/fallen angel would not have been her first choice.

———————————

Carmilla placed the folded clothing into the dresser drawers. Both her daughters had been kind enough to lend Vaggie some of their older stuff that they could no longer fit into comfortably anymore. It was one thing Carmilla could check off her list, assuming they fit the angel. Worse case scenario she'd have to buy some new clothes.

Next on her agenda was to get that security camera installed. She had picked it up from their warehouse where they replicated one of Vox's designs but without the trackers that allowed him to hack into them and added angelic blockers. They could hook up to her phone and computer only, which also have gone through a similar process to avoid the video demon from accessing her information.

By the time she finished setting it all up, Vaggie still hadn't woken. So, Carmilla carefully picked her up and settled her onto the bed, pulling back the covers and sliding her under. The fallen angel weakly muttered something incoherent along with letting out a wince. Carmilla then moved her juice and pain medicine onto the nightstand.

Silently she walked out of the room. As she slowly closed the door, she looked at the angel, then it clicked shut and she locked it.

With that done, she walked to her office. Shutting the door behind her, Carmilla went to her desk and pulled out from under it the bag that had the angel's spear. There wasn't anything special about it, she doubted that the angel cared about it considering most exorcist discard multiple anyways, but she knew its holder and maybe that was worth something.

Stuffing in back under, she pulled out the feather. It was in good condition, ruffled a bit at the top but that could be smoothed out. Carmilla took out her sketch pad and began to make a rough outline of its shape.

As far as she was aware, the feathers were almost indestructible and even sharp. If she could make a model that kept the bristles held and place, it could prove to be a good knife.

The shaft would have to be reinforced to make a good handle. The fluff in the bottom part might be an issue, but she would fine a way to deal with it, maybe recycle it for something different.

Carmilla worked out a few designs before putting it away for the day. She had plenty of stuff to do. Leaving her room, she went out of the house to get work done.

Chapter Text

Clara and Odette walked through streets of hell with sealed wooden crates followed by sinner souls owned by their mother. Odette held a list that she double, tripled, quadruple checked as they went address to address, not wanting to make a mistake. They had done that before, and it had not been an easy fix.

All deals regarding weapons had been made in advance so they didn't have to worry about that.

While Odette walked in the front, Clara strolled a few feet back, whistling, and swaying side to side. "Sooooo" Clara caught up to Odette. "What to ya think about Vags?" Odette raised an eyebrow at her. "The angel is an asset." She spoke simply. Clara looked unsure. "Well perhaps but..." Odette looked back at her. "But what." Clara rubbed her neck sheepishly. "Maybe she could be a good friend?" Odette looked at her questioningly before Clara continued to speak. "And well, you really don't hang out with demons our age-"

"For good reason." Odette countered. Clara shrugged. "Sure. You don't want to hang with bad people which is typically all of hell. Buttttttttttt Vaggie isn't from hell! She's an angel. She has to be somewhat good." Odette rolled her eyes. "That thing is fallen meaning it is just as much of a sinner as everyone else is here, not to mention it is a mass murderer."

Clara frowned. "Well... we don't know why she fell. That's why we need to find out!" She skipped along side her sister. Odette hummed and turned them down the street. "That is not our top priority though it may be something to start with I suppose." Clara grinned.

The two sisters walked down the path leading up to the Vees tower. Their mother was always strict about their visit there. They were limited to 10 minutes in the territory, were not allowed to make deals, make extra small talk, or speak at all to Valentino.

Both of them were ok with that, neither had any desire to stay longer.

Odette walked up and knocked on the door. Immediately a camera was shoved in her face. A moment later Vox manifested in front of them. He looked them over, is eyes narrowing slightly before he smiled. "Ahhh. It's always a pleasure to see you two." It always disturbed to the two how his mouth moved considering he doesn't technically have one.

"We have a delivery." Odette stated wanting to get out of there. Vox took the paper she handed to him. He looked it over. "Ah huh. New batch of guns for the piss baby. It's a fucking mystery what he does with all those. Leave em by the door. I'll have my assistant collect them." Odette nodded and signaled a sinner forward and set the box down. She and Vox nodded before walking off.

So they continued on the rest of their route before making their way home.

——-

Vaggie woke up once again. While she was rightfully scared, something was different this time. While everything still hurt so fucking bad- maybe worse even, she was more comfortable. Cracking her eye open to face the inevitable headache, she was surprised to see her location had changed. She wasn't on the couch or even the hallway she passed out in. Instead, the angel found herself on a queen-sized bed under a blanket. The sheets and blanket were noticeably cheap, which made sense. If Vaggie bled all over them they would be hard to wash, but why had she been moved to a bed in the first place?

It's not like her captors cared about hospitality. Vaggie could understand why it just was a struggle for her to deal with.

As she sat up, something else clicked in her mind. She wasn't restrained. Did they trust her to leave her to her own devices? They had the deal on her, but that still doesn't explain why they hadn't untied her earlier. And why wait till after she escaped to let her free?

They probably locked the door. She didn't really have the strength to get up yet, not when the bed felt so good. But she could examine her room. Looking over to her side, she noticed on the nightstand were several items. She reached over and grabbed the pills. If they killed her then so what. She wasn't supposed to have lived anyway.

To help swallow, she took the orange juice box and poke it open and took a big swig. It tasted so good at the moment that she jugged the rest of it.

She was still thirsty. And hungry. Very hungry. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. The angel needed food in her system, especially after taking pill, or else she'll just puke them up again. Speaking of puking, she was quite nauseous.

Just then she heard the sound of footsteps. Warily she looks at the door and pulled the covers closer to herself.

The door opened with a small creak as the tall demon lady walked it.

Carmilla eyed her like a hawk as she walked past the bed to sit down on the armchair. She crossed legs and looked over at the angel. Vaggie nervously fidgeted with the blankets, rubbing the fabric back and forth between her fingers, but she still managed to glare at Carmilla.

The demon huffed. "Must you be so dense?" Carmilla peered over to the nightstand. "I see you are intaking well. Do you need anything else?" She asked with a slightly tilted head.

Vaggie hesitated. "Food?" She asked softly. Carmilla blinked, then nodded and stood up. "Do crackers work well? I'm unsure you'll be able to keep much else down." Vaggie nodded. Carmilla then left to get her a snack.

Vaggie sat there alone in silence. Quiet with nothing but her thoughts. Why was the demon being gentler today? Why is she getting her food?

Soon the demon came back with a bowl of hell crackers. She placed them on the nightstand and sat down before Vaggie reached over and took it and began munching on them.

"Careful, don't eat to fast. You'll get sick." Carmilla warned. Vaggie didn't want to obedient with a demon, but she did have a point. Though she was already feeling sick.

"So, tell me, Vaggie. Why have you fallen?" Vaggie froze before sitting up straight despite the pain. "That is none of your business, demon." She spat like a slur.

Carmilla narrowed her eyes at the angel. "I am simply trying to protect my family. I need to know whether your fall was in bad ill or worse ill." Carmilla could hardly imagine that angels took falling lightly. Vaggie would have had to of committed a massive sin. "It... I- it isn't relevant to you." Sorta a lie but not fully.

Carmilla frowned. "Little angel, you are in hell now. Whatever sin you have committed won't be unique. Though I do assume it must be worse than the countless murders by your hands." Vaggie felt like she was being trapped, manipulated. And why did she feel embarrassed? Embarrassed about showing mercy to a child? She excused it in her head as not wanting to show weakness to the demon.

Vaggie looked away. Carmilla furrowed her eyebrows. Just then Vaggie felt herself began to hurl. The angel hunched over on the bed, her contents spilling all over. The bowl she had, tilted and spilled the crackers.

Carmilla quickly stood up and swiftly walked to the bed. With her large hands she reached to the angel's hair to hold it back to keep it from getting dirtied despite its short length. The angel flinched away only for her panic to be interrupted, and she hurled again. Vaggie winced in pain. "Shh shh it's ok." Carmilla instinctively wanted to rub her back, but she knew that was the wrong choice. So instead, she opted for rubbing her shoulder.

Vaggie wheezed, and coughed, and sputtered for several long minutes. When she did eventually ease down, Carmilla let her go and took the crackers which were thrown. With a heavy sigh she placed it on the nightstand before leaving the room.

Vaggie sat alone with the stench and taste of her own vomit. Tears pricked her eyes. Her stomach was empty, her head throbbed and her back burned. Her arms and legs were sore, and her heart and soul were broken.

Her wings are gone. Her eye is gone. Her halo is gone. Heaven is gone. The exorcist army is gone. Her life is gone. Everything is gone.

Flight was no longer an option. Half her vision was taken. Heaven's safety was taken. Friends were taken. She was truly alone.

She started crying but couldn't pinpoint exactly when the tears started.

Her eye throbbed and she curled into herself. But then Carmilla came back into the room. The demon paused as it took in the pitiful sight. She slowly walked over to the bed and set down items she came in with. "I don't know you, nor do you know me. We both have our reason to be distrustful of each other. I get that. I'm sorry for what happened to you." Carmilla said as she gently took the blanket away from Vaggie's so she could clean it. The angel stared sadly as it slowly crept of her.

"But... we can help each other. I help you heal, house you, feed you. In return, you give up information I seek." After examining the sheets, she decided they needed to be changed. After a moment's hesitation, the demon walked over to the angel and carefully picked her up. Vaggie panicked and attempted to hit her, but Carmilla caught her hand. "Remember our deal, Angel." Vaggie felt her blood run cold.

Carmilla gently set Vaggie down on the armchair before stripping the sheets. "I will throw these in the wash and replace them. Then I will give you some water and something to get that awful taste out of your mouth." Carmilla took the sheets and blankets and left.

Vaggie sat there confused with tear marks fresh on her face. What the fuck just happened? The demon was being somewhat kind to her? Offering her help? Helping her? And why the fuck did she let herself cry in front of her? Has she really fallen this low?

What did she mean by information though? Stuff about the exorcist, or heaven in general? Vaggie wouldn't be willing to give up either, not as of now anyway. Though that was their whole deal so she wouldn’t really have a choice.

Vaggie sat shivering on the seat. Was it cold in here? God, she felt so weak. Damn it she must have gotten sick. Fuck life.

Carmilla came back with new sheets and a blanket. They looked just like the ones before. The demon spread it over the bed and tucked the sides and corners under the mattress. Then she looked over at Vaggie. She frowned and her trembling state. "I would say the medicine should be kicking in soon to help with your fever, but you likely threw plenty of that up. And I wouldn't suggest taking more until you get food in your stomach that you can keep down." Carmilla spoke as she went to pick up Vaggie against who didn't fight this time.

Carmilla gently placed the angel down, careful of her injuries, before pulling the blanket over top of her. "Please rest. You are ill and I do not need you passing out on me. Sleep, and when you wake up, we can test your intake again. You will need food to recover." Vaggie stared up at her with her wide eyed while she held the blanket close.

Carmilla looked down at her with an unreadable expression before sighing and walking off. "I'll leave you for now so that you can relax. I understand that you are very stressed. You've had a highly emotional and painful feeling days." With that Carmilla walked out and locked the door.
—-
Carmilla walked to her main factory in the middle of her industry. Two guards stepped aside as the door opened for her to enter. She walked tall on the angelic ballet slippers. Her expression was almost always a glare when working.

She stepped through the halls; Turing too walk through a pair of large metallic doors. Her large hands pushed them open with easy as she entered. Inside were sinner souls she held, all holding clipboards and looking through boxes. Carmilla glance around at each of them. They all seemed to be working fine.

Walking in further, Carmilla went to a conveyer belt that slowly brought through cleaned material needed to make guns. The pieces travel to a group of sinners that inspected the pieces with delicate precision.

Walking up to a crate and opening it showed bit of extra pieces from previous weapons. Carmilla picked up and handful before sealing the box shut. She once again walked around to check everyone's progress.

Once the stocks were in, she would have to get to work smithing. Really, she should get to work on that now, but her mind was on other things.

She headed to a large room. It’s smaller than the main room she had just been in, but it was bigger than any ol' office. She set the angelic steal down, flicked a few switches, grabbed some tools, and sat down.

While hell wasn't exactly the empty wastelands of pit of fires that burned nonstop and forced you to be punished in this damn place for all of eternity that people lead you to believe, it is still hot. So hot that you can reach temperatures almost impossible on Earth. And with a little magic can be easily controlled and heightened.

Carmilla sat a crucible dish onto a hot plate. It heated up extremely fast to the extravagant temperature. It's a mystery how physics worked in hell. On earth, it would have exploded by now.

The dish wasn't large like other ones she owned, but it wasn't the smallest either. The large ones wouldn't be needed for her current intention. To keep it from melting, it was enforced with angelic steal and enchanted with some sorcery like all of her other tools were.

Picking up a pair of flat tongs, she picked up a piece of angelic steal. The tongs had a flat mouth good for holding weapons and were durable enough to not melt in the hellfire. Unlike this angelic steal. She carefully dropped the blessed steal into the dish. It didn't change for several long moments, before taking out her key ingredient. A seraphim's feather. Lucifer's feather.

It had been many a decades ago when Carmilla obtained the priceless appendage. And despite it being so long, it still almost looked brand new. Such was the power of a high holy being.

Carmilla and Lucifer went way back. Never had they been close, but they had spoken on few occasions. Particularly before he fully gave up on hell and went into hiding. They used to lightly converse on meeting topics. He was the one that actually elected her as the head of the table.

At the time she had been making bank on selling regular exorcist blades. She had yet to crack the code on changing them in anyway whatsoever. She tried method after method, but they all failed. That was until she got an idea.

It costed a fortune, and a strict and liable argument + a heavily detailed and soul binding deal, but she got a feather.

What Lucifer, the king of hell would even do with the tens of thousands she paid she'll never know. He was able to poof it into existence. Maybe it was simply to know how serious she was about the whole ordeal

If her hunch hadn't worked, there was a high chance she'd be bankrupt by now. But it worked and now she was one of the riches and most powerful overlord in all the Pride ring. All was swell.

All she had to do was lightly brush it over the burning metal and its powerful magic would affect the material and make it more malleable. Lately she had noticed the effect was ever so lightly delayed, but just barely. Who knew how long its magic would last. Maybe Lucifer would allow her to invest in a new one when this one died out. Or maybe the exorcist's feathers would be strong enough. Just another thing for her to test.

It the crucible dish, the metal slowly started to sweat as drops of it melted off into the bowl. Even this small piece would take a long time to melt enough for her to bend it to her will. Perhaps she should start on getting other chunks melted as well.

While that worked, she got her next station set up. Heading over to another area, she pulled out a dense block of metal that was scathed due to year of work. Hammering and burning material had warn down over time. Perhaps it was time to replace it. Not at this moment though.

She set that out and grabbed her rounding hammer and set it down next to the block. Peeling off her cloak and hanging it up, Carmilla rolled her shoulder and checked the metals progress. The metal look fairly malleable now she didn't have a mold at the moment so fully melting it wouldn’t do all that much good, but it did need to be easily manipulated.

Once she was decidedly satisfied with its condition, she picked up a pair of crucible tongs fitted for the size of the dish. She clamped it around the hot cup and lifted it off the hot plate.

Walking over to the metal block, she took out the brightly white shining metal in the container and poured it on to a metal block in a ruff form of its final form that she would then shape. Once it was out, she set the crucible back on the hot plate and turned it off before being her attention back the hell fire heated metal.

It was bright. Very bright. She hands to squint to see it properly without going blind.

Picking a pair of tongs, she used it to pinch the metal into more of curved state before picking up her hammer to wack the impurities out of it. With each hit she refined the rare steal. Each hit took immense strength. Even if it was bendy, it was still blessed steal. Luckily, she built up a strong set of muscles that and the work much easier.

After it was shaped correctly, she checked its dimensions. It was close to what she wanted but not precise enough as she preferred. Hammering it a few more times heightened it to her desire. Before doing the last step, she pulled out a thin, long metal stick that was duly pointed at the end. Using it she engraved a shallow groove in the middle of her curved metal. Once satisfied it didn't change the measurements, she let it cool for a few moments before taking a tong and picking it up. Walking carefully, the demon brought it over to a large basin of room temp water. Usually, cold water worked better but she didn't have time to replace it every time she worked.

She dunked the still burning hot steal under the water and held it there for several moments as the heat boiled the water and created a mass of steaming bubbles.

After several moments the bubbles died down, she lifted the shifted metal out of the water. It changed dark for half a second before returning to its natural white beauty. It would keep its shape now.

She placed the cooled steal down on a counter and began putting her tools away. After everything was placed back in its spot, Carmilla picked up the smooth bent piece up in her hand and examined it.

This should work perfectly.

Chapter Text

Odette stood clipboard in hand, peering over this year's new assets. All weapons had been lined out and organized while cleaned, making her job of documenting them much easier.

"20 spears... 12 swords, this weird sword, 5 hatchets, 8 axes..." And the list goes on. Over the years, the exorcist weapons have become more abstract and varied. It used to be mostly spears, but now they've strayed to other weapons. Perhaps they were finding ways to speed up the process. The death toll has certainly increased. 

Though many of the weapons that had been discarded would not hold their original glory. Most things like hatches and other small weapons will be recycled to something more practical. Sinners often prefer spears, swords, and long-range weapons rather than some of the weird things the Carmines have found.

Odette did some math on her paper. "A total of 158 new weapons. Not the worse but... definitely not the best. Doesn't help that we quit collecting early." Odette turned as she spoke to Clara. The darker skinned sinner with the curly white hair looked over at her in boredom. "Yeaaaaa..." she agreed though she hadn't been paying the best attention. Odette rolled her eyes half-heartedly. "I'm going to bring this to mom." The pale skinned sinner with the blondish hair and red glasses stated before heading out the door.

-

Carmilla sat in her office of her house. She had her newly shifted steal in her hand, and A large flight feather in her other. Wrapped around her head was a band that connected to a small magnifying glass positioned in front of her eye. The demon peered down through it as she worked on carefully fitting the thin feather into the groove of the metal. It fit well once she got it in, but it was defiantly going to need something to keep it attached.

Sighing, she took out her sketch pad and looked through her designs. She had known before hand that she'd need a stabilizer along with several over small pieces, but now that she has the main piece, she'll be able to make them.

When she went to put her book back, she spotted a small leather journal in her drawer. Carmilla raised an eyebrow and took it out after setting the sketch pad within. 

Her large hands awkwardly turned over the cover and flipped through the pages. Every one of them were blank. Thinking of it now, this was going to be a drawing book before she got her bigger one. So now she really had no use for it. After setting it down on the desk, she got an idea. 

-

Vaggie had time to relax. Was she still extremely anxious? Yes. Was she scared? Yes, but she would never admit that. Is she in pain? Of course. Did she feel sick in her stomach every time she moved? Yeah. But at least the medicine was helping with her fever and headache. And other pains.

Was she bored? Out of her mind.

There wasn't much to occupy her mind other than the pain and spiraling thoughts, neither of which were good. 

It's not like she could get up and find something to do, she was in too much pain. And what in here would there be for her to do? She doubted there was much of anything. She wouldn't be able to leave the room to find something, at least she assumed the door was locked. Not like she could get up and check.

With a heavy sigh, she turned her head into the pillow and let out an agitated scream. It felt good to just let her emotions out like this. It was less painful than wiggling around in bed and hitting the mattress.

She laid there for several long moments faced down in the bed. Maybe she should just let herself suffocate like this. She could already feel the strain in her breathing. 

Then the door opened.

It startled her. She had not even heard the approaching footsteps.

Turning her head, Vaggie spotted Carmilla closing the door behind her as she walked in. What did she want now? What was she holding?

"Hello again. I'm hoping you are feeling at least slightly better?" The demon asked her. Not knowing what to really say or do, Vaggie nodded slowly. Carmilla hummed. "I don't see anymore vomit so I'm assuming you don't have any more to give." The demon spoke simply. 

Carmilla walked over to the bed and Vaggie pushed herself back on her side. Just then Carmilla brought her hand up to Vaggie's face. Vaggie yelped in panic and shot backwards. Carmilla's hand recoiled in shock as she stared down at the now shaky breathed angel.

Vaggie stared up at her in fear as she griped the front of her shirt. Everything hurt but at the moment especially her eye. Carmilla's finders were long and white. Just like Lutes sword had been. 

She hadn't expected the hand, so when it was suddenly in her face, just like Lute's sword had been when she took out Vaggie's eye, Vaggie rightfully thought her other eye was a target. If she had anything left in her stomach she probably would have puked it up due to the sudden rush of fear.

The angel slowly took slower breaths as she noticed Carmilla's taken aback expression.

You fucking showed your weakness Vaggie good job. Now you look pathetic.

"Are you alright Angel?" Carmilla asked in confusion. Vaggie looked down, too embarrassed to keep eye contact. Carmilla frowned. "I had only wished to check your temperature. Whatever else you thought I would attempt, it is incorrect." Carmilla tried to easy her nerves. 

Vaggie dug her nails into her arms. "You can do that." She muttered. She braced herself this time for the demon's incoming hand. It was as large as her face.

Carmilla felt the angel's temperature. A bit warm. She let a sigh. "It's warm, not as bad as before but that's because of the meds. It won't take long for you to get better. Buts that's only if you have what you need. I will fetch you some water." She pulls away and leaves, but not before setting something down on the dresser near by.

When the demon left, Vaggie tried to look over at it. It looked like some kind of book. Vaggie painfully propped herself up to try to see it better. Definitely some book. Then she heard footsteps coming back. They sounded like quick little tinks from her ballet like shoes.

Carmilla came back into the room with a glass of water like she said she would. She slowly handed it to the angel as if to avoid startling her again. Vaggie took it and carefully brought to her lips. As the cold liquid travels down her sore throat, she gulped in down greedily.

You are sinning. Slow down.

When the thought occurred, the liquid was already gone. She punched herself mentally. Only in hell for what, a da- wait, how long had it been? 

Carmilla watched her expectantly. "Would you like more?" She questioned as she took the cup back. Vaggie didn't look at her when she nodded. Carmilla got up and left again. 

When she went to the kitchen, she grabbed one of her water bottles engraved with angelic steal. Was it a practical use for the metal? No, but if she ever did end up needing it, she could alway melt it down. Why not have a little fun with it? Clara had actually suggested it to her a few years ago and made the design. Carmilla planned to hold onto it as long as she could.

She filled it up with water along with a layer of crushed ice cubes. Odette always liked to suck on them when her throat burned. 

Picking it up by the handle she brought in back to her guest.

The angel accepted it and quickly went to take a drink but just as quick restrained herself to sip slowly. Carmilla tilted her head slightly as she studied every movement. It was peculiar that the parched angel would hold herself back. Though she supposed it was more beneficial this way and less likely for it to come back up. Maybe she just has a strong sense of self control. 

"I assume that you find my presence uncomfortable at them moment so I shall leave you to your devices. I would also expect though that you are rather bored. So," Carmilla walked to the dresser and picked up the journal she had placed there earlier and brought to the angel to show her. She held it up as she spoke. "I want to offer you this journal to write in, whether it's to express your pain, wariness, or loneliness by the detachment from heaven. Or you could simply draw if that's something you do." Carmilla finished by setting the book down on the bed with a pencil within the girls reach. "I will not read it.

A darker part of Carmilla had briefly considered giving the fallen angel a quill to write with. Simply to put up a threatening front. Though after a brief consideration quickly shot the idea down. The angel was already struggling to keep stuff down. Seeing a feather may be troublesome for her.

Vaggie hesitantly reached out and took the items she flipped the book open. The pages had a brown tint to them, getting this journal was rather old. But there wasn't a word in it. The angel gripped the book slightly. "Thank you." She said quietly but loud enough to be heard. She didn't look up, to ashamed that she was thanking a demon.

Carmilla's eyes widen lightly in surprise. She hinted a smile before returning to her usual stoic expression. "Rest well. I'll see you tomorrow." Carmilla then left the angel alone.

-

Carmilla had revived the insights earlier and just now logged them into her data system. Most weapons that were to be melted down would be turned into bullets or gun parts. Those always have been the most popular choice. Though Carmilla would be saving some to make a bow. She had a splendid picture in her mind. 

The demon had Odette bring the items that would stay as are as of now in the warehouse located next to the factory with the other weapons. The rest were left in Carmilla’s l smelting office where she was currently melting it all down. She watched it carefully. 

She had taken a small bit of the sample of Vaggie's blood that Odette had taken and pounded it into the crucible. Marvelously. it worked like the feather. Not to the same extent but it was something. Perhaps there were other uses as well.

When the metal was taken out, most was poured into molds. The rest were shaped into her own designs. Like the bow she just made. After hours of hard work, she had restocked 5 swords, 3 more spears, 80 packs of bullets, and 12 guns. While it may not seem like a lot, it costed an arm and a leg. So, it didn't sell out to fast. She had worked up a sweat and just couldn't wait to shower and head to bed. 

After dropping the new assets off at the warehouse house for her souls to put away, she headed in for the night.

-

__________________________________

Dear diary, journal. 〰️〰️〰️

I've been staying with a demon for idk how long. 2 or 3 days? I've fallen asleep a few times.

Everything hurts. I don't trust them.

Carmilla if you read this fuck you

__________________________________

Her first entry wasn't anything spectacular but it kinda helped to just do something even if very little. She still doubted that Carmilla wouldn't read it. Perhaps the demon casted a spell on it so everything she wrote was transferred to a second book in the demon's possession. 

Maybe she could just draw. But right now, she was tired.

Maybe tomorrow would be better.

Chapter Text

Vaggie woke up it was the middle of the afternoon, at least that’s what time she thought it is. Carmilla was off at the rescheduled overlord meeting, but she had left a new bottle of water on the nightstand for Vaggie to drink.

Good thing she did because Vaggie drank the rest of the water she got yesterday.

Last night Vaggie's was once again plagued by nightmares. Both her eyes were cut out, and she was blinded. Her own spear was used to stab hole after hole in her wings. She tried to take off but only flew a few feet before crashing down. Her wings were yanked off and her hand stabbed into. Her head was pulled back by her hair as her former lieutenant brought her sword to Vaggie's throat and sliced it just enough to draw blood. "Sinful filth has no place in heaven." Then the weapon was driven into her throat.

Vaggie had woken up gasping for breath, covered in a cold sweat, awoken in a dark room. She was once again scared.

Fear wasn't a common emotion for exorcist, but it certainly was becoming a trait recently.

It took a long time for her to calm down. Of course, the dream was a lot more brutal than what actually had occurred, but that didn't make what happen to her any better.

She just wanted a hug.

And a shower. God she fucking stunk. But would she have the strength to even take one? Being hurt fucking sucks.

There was still grime attached to her from that disgusting alley and the scent off sinner blood that lingered. Not to mention the smell of her own blood and the immense amount of sweat.

How long would it be before she would be strong enough to shower?

And man, she was hungry. She didn't feel very ill anymore thankfully. She suspected her angelic body had something to do with that. She doubted anyone else would have gotten better this soon in her current position. But maybe that meant she could eat now? But she couldn't get food. She'd have to wait till the demon came back.

Letting out a resigned sigh, she flipped her head again the pillow and pulled her blanket closer. They were the closes comforting thing to her wings that there was to offer at this time.
———
Carmilla exited the meeting building. There were no Vees there this time, thank the heavens for that, but she was still worn down from it. They wouldn't have another meeting for a while now which meant she could focus on work.

She headed home mid afternoon. She wanted to finish a few projects and check up on Vaggie. Walking into her house she took notice of the silence. Clara and Odette must be out and about. She went to her cupboard and looked through her items. What was the least likely to upset the girl's stomach? Maybe she should go for something with protein.

Maybe she could fry up some eggs or cut up some meat. First, she should probably check up on the angel to see how she's doing.

With that in mind she walked to the angel’s room and gave a light rap on the door before walking in. The angel turned its head to her and blinked. Carmilla walked to the bed and slowly reached her hand out to the angel's head. "Hmm interesting. You don't seem all that ill anymore. Is that perhaps an angelic trait?" She asked, but she got no answer. She sighed.

"Are you hungry?" That got the angels attention. Vaggie's eye drifted away and she nodded. Carmilla nodded back and left.

A couple eggs and slices of meat should work fine.

Maybe she should have asked how the angel liked her eggs. Without much to go on she decided that sunny side up would work. She also took out a package of summer sausage and cut off several slices. When the finished the eggs, she placed them on the plate with the meat and presented it to the angel.

Vaggie's eye sparkled at the sight and smell of food. She almost started drooling. She dug in, albeit her pace was slow. She did not want to throw this up.

Carmilla watched silently. There was so much she wanted to know. How old is Vaggie? Why is she so short? What information could she give her about heaven? Does she know stuff about the weapons she uses?

"I've been thinking about your recovery." She spoke slowly. Vaggie paused to look over at her. "I am not sure to what extent your back muscles were damaged. You'll likely need physical therapy. Maybe regular therapy as well." She mused.

Vaggie looked away and ate a slice of meat. "I can figure that out on my own. Why do you bother telling me, demon." Carmilla smirked lightly at the attempted insult. "Because I am willing to help you." Vaggie looked back at her suspiciously. "Haha and what the catch? You want my soul? A way to access heaven?" She snarked.

Carmilla shook her head. "As enticing as the idea of having an angel's soul is, I have little hope in bargaining if off you. As for information? I do not seek a war with the birds. I have my daughters to think about. Though, there is other information that I do speak were you willing to provide." She said ominously.

Vaggie stared at her. "What kind of information?" She asked skeptically. Carmilla grinned. "I assume you're quite aware about you and your sister weapons choice. I would like your help in my business."

Vaggie tilted her head. "What business do you run that has any thing to do with our weapons?" It wasn't hard to put together, it was quite obvious, but she wanted the demon to say it.

"I deal in weapons. I am hells top arms dealer. You and your sisters discard hundreds of angelic weapons on exterminations, that I then collect and sell. I'm curious is you have tips or any knowledge" She spoke. Vaggie stared up at her in slight shock. She knew that the other exorcists would dispose of their weapons quite often, even she herself lost a few, but the one she had been using she had for a while. But no one ever gave it a second thought about what demons in would do with them. Vaggie kinda thought they'd poof out of existence, clearly not. Maybe the others knew this and purposefully left weapons in hopes the sinners would kill each other to keep the numbers down until next year. It wasn't the worst plan.

"Uhh..." If she thinks I have something she wants, she'll keep me around. "Yea I could maybe...tell you a thing or two." But what happens when she finds out you don't know shit about the weapons the high seraphim and Adam give you?

The demon smiled but it lacked warmth. "Good. We will work on the evaluation sometime within the next week. On another note, you need a wash." She stated. Vaggie rolled her eye.

"I will run a bath for you. I don't need you dirtying more of my sheets." She snarked before walking out of the room, oddly leaving the door open, as she walked down the hall to the bathroom. Vaggie stared out the door. Vaggie couldn't even walk 24 hours ago. How is she supposed to clean herself? Was it safe to even get water or soap near her wounds?

She heard the water running. She'll just have to find out.

Carmilla squirted a small bit of gentle soap into the running water to create bubbles that would help wash the angel and cover her. She couldn't add too much though, it probably wouldn't be good to get that in her wounds.

Carmilla let the water run while she went to the closet to grab her one of her towels and placed in near the tub. They could probably change her bandages now, so she grabbed a roll and put it on the counter. Then she saw the tub was reaching the top and stopped the water before walking her way back to the angel bedroom.

"Are you ready?" She asked. Vaggie nodded and started to scoot to the edge of the bed, wince quietly at every movement. Carmilla slowly walked up to her as she pushed her feet over the bed. "Easy angel." Vaggie pushed herself off the bed and stumbled and moaned out in pain. Carmilla easily caught her and wrapped an arm around her lower waist. Vaggie flushed in embarrassment and looked away, grumbling. "I can walk myself." Carmilla chuckled but didn't respond. Instead, she helped the angel's slow pace to the bathroom.

Once they entered, Carmilla shut the door behind them and helped Vaggie down on the side of the tub. Vaggie looked over at her uneasily. Did this demon expect to watch her bathe?

"How much are you able to move your arms." Vaggie blinked. "Uhh." She went to roll her shoulder only to immediately hunch in pain. "I thought as much.” The demon sighed. "You are in no condition to do this yourself. I ask you to let me help." She was being at least somewhat genuine. Carmilla herself would not get any pleasure watching the injured girl get bare before her or have to wash her body. She wasn't that kind of demon. It would be just like washing her daughters when they were younger. Except Vaggie is an adult.

Vaggie stared at her rightfully wary about the situation. She glanced down at the tub. There were enough bubbles to hide the lower part of her body. But would this demon sexualize her? She wouldn't be able to do anything about it, she half the woman's size! But if Carmilla did want to do anything unholy, wouldn't she have done it already? Unless she finds it more fulfilling if her victim makes themself more vulnerable?

Silently the angel nodded. It hadn't really been a yes or no question, but it was understood between the both of them what she meant. "I'm going to take off your shirt now then. Keep your arms out in a less painful way." She instructed. When Vaggie seemed ready, Camilla carefully grabbed the bottom of her shirt and raised it up her body until she reached her shoulder. The demon then lifted it over the angel's head. Then all she had to do was slide it down her arms.

Vaggie looked down at her bandaged chest. That would probably have to be removed. It was almost like the demon could read her mind with its next comment. "Would you rather remove your bottoms or the bandages first." Vaggie thought for a meant. "Bandages, please." She said quietly. They first removed her head bandage before Carmilla gently guided her to face away so that she could undo the pins. Slowly her large hands unwrapped the fabric until the angel was left with her upper half naked.

Vaggie quivered slightly and awkwardly covered her chest. "Do not feel uncomfortable girl. I have to urge to look or touch. Now I'm going to need you to stand up for your pants." That was easy for her to say. She wasn't an angel in hell. But Vaggie's stood up, though thinking that she'd get the pants off herself. She pulled them down with her underwear to save time, but the second she bent her back, pain flared up. She almost fell fell forward but Carmilla caught her with a frown before silently pulling the pants the rest of the way down and waited for Vaggie to step out of them.

Thoroughly humiliated and defeated, Vaggie's let herself be led to the tub and slipped in, sinking into the bubbles. She brought her knees to her chest so that they would cover her breast.

She felt herself dissociating as Carmilla's large hands begin to gently pour water into her hair. Is this what life would be now? Would she ever be able to accomplish simple task on her own again? Was she simply going to be a pet to this demon? Maybe she should give her soul now to get it over with. She doubted she will keep it for long anyway.

What was heaven doing without her? Did the other exorcists notice her disappearance? Did they care?

Did her fall mean anything?

Carmilla slowly tipped the girl's head forward after applying shampoo. They didn't need it running down into her wounds. Though she still did have to be careful about her open eye wound. She poured water repeatedly while she scrubbed her hair. They could use the shower head, but Carmilla was concerned she'd accidentally spray the water against the sensitive wounds. But she doubted Vaggie really cared. The angel looked like she hardly even knew where she was at the moment.

Was it wrong to feel sympathy for this angel? To want to tell her it would be alright? Was she was becoming attached to the exorcist? If so, why? Simply because she hasn't attacked?

For some odd reason, she just felt like there was something off about her fall, but then again, she didn't know anything about it.

"Tell me angel," she spoke softly. "What sin did you fall to. Was it wrath? You sort have alway stricken me as such. Or perhaps it was sloth. Did the work become boring to you and unfulfilling?" The angel didn't respond. Carmilla frowned, maybe she was incorrect. "Without knowing the circumstances I'd rule out gluttony, as far as I'm aware everything in heaven is limitless. But then again it has also described as lack of self control. Did you try to harm someone in heaven?" She slowly rubbed soap down Vaggie's sides and on her back, careful around the wounds. "I doubt it was envy by the way you look at me. Although maybe you were jealous of the freedom us sinner have compared to you who was shackled down and bound by commands."

The most she got as a respond was the angel blinking slowly as she continued to stare down at the water. Carmilla let out a sigh. "Was it pride? Did you find yourself too good for your work?" Finally, the angel shook her head. So, she is listening. "Let's see what other sins are there, oh yes greed. Did you want more bloodshed? Are you down here to kill more and more?" She didn't mean to sound accusing, but the angel slightly turned her head to glare at her through her single eye. "I guess not." She sighed.

"That leaves Lust, but you've seen fairly normal to me. I haven't seen a pining look in your eyes. So, what is it? What caused you to fall." Vaggie looked down and ever so slightly pulled her knees closer.

"I... I didn't follow an order." If wasn't necessarily a lie. They were always under order to kill on extermination day, but there had not been an immediate command at the time of her.

Carmilla hummed as she washed the angel's neck, sending a shiver down her spine. If an angel could be killed, Carmilla could snap her neck. "You don't exactly sound sure of that." She mused. Vaggie tilted her head away. The demon slowly traveled up her back. "Was it an act of defiance such as Lucifer?" Vaggie tensed. That was right, she couldn't mention the devil around the fallen angel.

"Mercy."

Carmilla paused and her eyes widened slightly in shock. In more public circumstances she would have quickly regained herself, but the angel wasn't looking anyways. Mercy? What did she mean by that?

As she slowly began washing her again in silence she gave it a long thought. Exorcist were built to kill. If one did not kill, it would be considered defected would it not? That must be what happened. But her injuries... there is more to the story is there not? But looking at Vaggie's tense form, it wasn't the right time to inquire any further.

Buttttttttttt

She slowly washed Vaggie's shoulder in a massaging way, hoping to ease her nerves. "You don't have to elaborate, but I am willing to listen. It may help to get it out." Vaggie didn't respond. She had this off look in her eye. "Or you can write it out in that journal." She suggested. If this angel was ever gonna amount to anything, she needed to live with what happened. She needs therapy that she may not be willing to get from a demon.

Vaggie scoffed. "Why? So you can read it?" Carmilla glared lightly at the back of her head. "That journal is your privacy. I will not read from it without your permission." Vaggie wasn't sure if she should believe her.

"Unless you're uncomfortable with washing your front, you're gonna have to do that yourself." Carmilla said suddenly before passing a bar of soap to the angel. Vaggie took it and slowly trailed it down her chest while trying to only use her elbow as moving her shoulders to much upset her back.

After a few minutes she is done. Carmilla sets the tub to drain and motions for Vaggie to stand up. When she does, Carmilla wraps the towel around her. Vaggie stepped out of the tub and onto the bathmat while keeping the towel close to her. She then sat down in the edge of the tub again, feeling like a wet dog. Carmilla when to the cabinet and pulled out a blow dryer. "You ok if we use this?" She asked as she plugged it in. Vaggie nodded.

Carmilla turned the power on low and ran her finger through the angel's hair as she swayed the heat over it. Vaggie sat in silence throughout it all. It was warm, grounding in away, let threatening as the demon's hands were each the size of her head. Once the hair was dry after a few minutes, she put it away.

"Can you face me so can check your eye wound?" She asked. Vaggie looked up at her. The angel didn't have much of any emotion showing. It almost concerned her. Maybe she should have Clara hang out with her. They'd be closer in age. Wait, how old is Vaggie? She looks like she's in her twenties.

Carmilla examined the banged-up eye socket. "There is still no sign of infection. I would say you need to wear bandages for another week and then we can try without them for a while. Does that sound good to you?" Vaggie nodded slowly. Carmilla walked to the counter to grab the roll she left out, but then in the mirror she caught Vaggie looking at herself. She looked defeated.

Carmilla frowned but didn't say anything. Instead, she simply put a new cast around the angel's head before having her lower her towel so she could check her back. The stitches were fine and there didn't seem to be any complications, so they bandaged that back up.

Vaggie had awkwardly accepted the new pair of clothes that she then had to let Carmilla help her with. It was a baggy t-shirt that when just down below her butt and a pair of sweatpants. It was comfortable at least, but she was much more use to living in her uniform.

Carmilla had helped her back to her room and left her to be by herself. She needed that after all that had just happened. She might avoid bathing till she could do it herself from now on.

No matter how disgusting she felt.

Chapter Text

TW: Gun violence, Past character deaths, suicide.

——————————

Clara poked her head into the hall. No one was in sight. Tiptoeing quietly, she made her way to the guest bedroom where the angel lay. She slowly pushed open the door and peered in. The angel seemed to be dissociating.

-

Vaggie had spent the whole day staring at the ceiling. She couldn't feel anything- well no she was immense pain, but emotionally it was all gone. Hours pasted and she didn't move. She didn't have reason to. Nothing mattered anymore.

*Knock, knock*

Vaggie blinked, blinked again, and turned her head to the door. It wasn't Carmilla like she had been expecting, but one of her daughters. What was her name again?

Clara slowly walked in and eyed the angel. Vaggie watched her warily. "Mom's out today. I'm suppose to take watch you." Vaggie blinked at her. Clara smiled nervously looked around. "I'm Clara by the way." She stuck her hand out for Vaggie to shake. Ah yes that's who this was. She must have forgotten Carmilla introduced them. Good because like Vaggie was thinking earlier, she hadn't remembered her name.

She looked at the offered hand and hesitantly raised her own hand to shake it and pushed herself up a bit. The angel winced slightly as the movements irritated her back.

Clara pulled back and looked at the angel awkwardly. "So can I get you anything?" Vaggie looked at her silently. She didn't really need anything right now, so she shook her head. Clara's awkward smile lessened. "Well, uh... I guess I'll go then and come back later." As she turned to leave, Vaggie spoke up.

"You’re a sinner, right? But you’re also a kid. Sinners can't have kids... how did you fall? What sin could have possibly done to deserve hell at such a young age?" Clara turned to Vaggie in shock. That was a loaded question from someone she only said like what 10 words to?

"Uh why do you want to know? So, you can decide if killing me is worth it?" She half joked. Vaggie just stared at her unnervingly. 

"W-well..." Clara started. There couldn't be any harm telling her. She can't do anything to them. It's not like Clara thought her, her sister, and her mom really did anything bad.

"Momma's weapon dealing days didn't start in hell." She said softly as she sat down in the end of the bed. "She had a not-so-legal business back on Earth. She sold weapons to...bad people. Some of those same people are likely down here too." She spoke evenly but there was an underlying sadness to it. "Never knew our dad. Mom said he was a bad man so he's probably down here as well." She shrugged. "Left before me and Oddy were born. Anyways, mom brought us into the business at 15. We were less suspicious for delivering firearms. So, we were also affiliated with bad people. I guess divine judgement wasn't too fond of us."

Vaggie frowned. It didn't really sound like they did anything to bad. Illegal what they were doing but they weren't the ones using the guns. Those people deserve hell. They could always be leaving out detail though. 

"How...did you die, if you don't mind me asking. You don't seem old." Clara laughed bitterly. "It's not a fun story."

———

 Carmilla peeked through the blinds of her office. Sirens wailed as police car raced down the run-down street. She narrowed her eyes. 

Gun shots through the air. An explosion was heard in the distance. Carmilla mused that this place would be no different from Hell. She shut the blinds, walked to her desk, and opened a desk door. Inside was a revolver. She took out and slipped it into a holster on her belt under her shirt. 

Then she stepped out the room and down the hall. She wished she could afford somewhere nicer for her daughters to grow up, but she never did have enough money to move to the big city. It wasn't fair of her to bring her girls into a world of crime. One day they would have enough money. They wouldn’t have to live in a dangerous city anymore. They could move somewhere small, nice. Where gunshots don’t ring through the night.

She hadn't wanted to bring her girls into the business, but there wasn't much hiding it anymore. She needed the extra hands. The coppers were already onto her. No one would expect a couple of teens to be selling out handguns. 

Guns weren't uncommon to own here so the police wouldn't be all too suspicious as long as they did it right. Carmilla would never give them the more dangerous firearms. 

"Odette!" She called. A young teen, bleached hair and mixed skin came around the corner. "Yes mother?" She asked. Carmilla ushered her to the kitchen. "I got a buyer for a Glock-19. I need you and your sister to take it over. A Vixen Venber, 245 12th street. It's the east side of town. I have to meet up with another customer who is supposedly unhappy with a previous purchase." She grumbled the last part and pulled out her phone. "Damn bastard wouldn't know good quality if it shot him in the face." She scowled. 

Odette was sent off to retrieve the gun and find Clara, whom had darker skin than her but also bleached her more curly hair. Together they left the house and walked discreetly downtown. The gun was kept in Odette's belt since she's the oldest. There was an occasional gun shot here and there that could be heard, and the sound of broken glass. So far, it's been a pretty calm day other than this morning when there was that speed chase. 

The two sisters rounded a corner and walked up the pavement to a house and up a couple stairs. Wasn't the worst place in town. Definitely on the richer side. 

Clara knocked on the door and stood back. The door opened slowly. It was dark inside and neither of them could quite make out the person in front of them. "Are you

Vixen?” Clara asked. The man chuckled deeply. "Why don't you come in little ladies. Odette tensed and instinctively put an arm in front of Clara to keep her from going in despite knowing that she wouldn't. "We can't stay. Answer our question or let us go on with our business." Odette said coldly.

The man snickered. "I'm afraid you won't be goin nowhere Carmines." Both girls' eyes widen. A second later three men were rushing to the stairs. Odette immediately pulled out her gun and ripped the safety off before firing two shots. One hit the closest man in the chest and the other another guy in the arm. The first guy fell backwards into the second guy who cried out in pain and gripped his arm. The two fell down while the third kicked the gun out of Odette's hands. While she was distracted by that, the man in the doorway behind her pulled out a sack and roughly pulled it over her head.

Clara panicked and pulled out her own, smaller gun but struggled to get the safety off while she watched her sitter get knocked out. A shot rang through the air. The bullet when my straight into her sister's assaulter's foot. The man cursed and lifted his bloody foot. The last man behind her suddenly placed a sack over her head and tightened it. She dropped her gun in shock. She shoved her arms back at him but missed. The next thing she knew—she was hit in the head and blacked out.

Carmilla drove downtown to where Valero, a past client, wanted her to meet. She hadn't liked the man when she had first dealt with him, and she wasn't liking him now. She pulled over on the side of the street and stepped out. She kept her hand on her belt, or more so her gun, as she walked to a dark alley. She could see the man near the back leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette. 

"Ah~" he breathed out a puff of smoke. "The you are bebé." He pushed himself off the wall. Carmilla narrowed her eyes at him. "Let's get this shit over with. What's your issue. I sold you a perfectly good firearm. Are you to dumb to figure out how to remove the safety?" She snarked. He chuckled darkly. "Oh Carmilla~ you are so naive. Those daughters have done a number on you haven't they." She smirked. Carmilla immediately growled and pulled out her gun. "Keep them out of your filthy mouth perra!" 

The man raised his arms submissively with a chuckle. "Oh, calm down. I’d say you have nothing to worry about, but things happen." Carmilla's eyes widened. "What did you do." She snarled. "Oh, nothing yet. And I won't if you give me what I want." He frowned calmly at her. 

She scowled at him. "Your bony ass wouldn't be able to do shit. On less you have any other means for me to be out here, I'm leaving." She turned to walked out of the alley, but it was swiftly blocked by four figures. Two large men and two teenage girls. Carmilla felt her heart drop. Her daughters wore brown bags over their heads and had their arms tied behind the backs with a gun pointed at their heads. She quickly brought her gun up and aimed it back and forth between the men.

"Ah ah ah! You wouldn't want to accidentally hit one of your daughters now would you~" He brought up one of his own guns. Carmilla heard a small click and recognized the pistol immediately. She took a deep breath. "You underestimate my aim, but I would rather keep blood off my face. What is it that you demand?" She asked skeptically.

"5 thousand dollars, hard cash. And a supply of guns. Otherwise, the girls get it." Carmilla grit her teeth. She didn't have that kinda of money or likely anywhere near the number of guns he'd want. But she can't let them hurt her daughters. 

"Tic-tock Camilla." He warned. Carmilla took a deep breath. "Take your hands off my daughters." She directed to the two men. The two of them didn’t falter and only shifted the guns closer to their heads. "I don't have the money." She scowled. Valero sighed. "Disappointing. He nodded to one of the men. Before Carmilla could react, a gun shot.

Carmilla watched in horror as her eldest slumped to the floor, dead before even reaching the ground. The bag oozed with fresh disgusting red blood. Clara trembled in her spot, scared she would be next. 

"Odette! No!" Carmilla shouted with tears in her eyes. She shot the man that took her daughter from her in one quick moment, blinded by grief. Unfortunately, this triggered the other man to pull the trigger and offed her youngest. One more shot to that man’s head

Carmilla wailed in grief and rushed to her fallen angels. "No no no!" She cried. Tears ran unfiltered down her face. She desperately ripped open the sacks in hopes the girls weren't actually hers and just some decoys. But they were unmistakable even with the blood. She gripped them tightly.

"Tsk tsk tsk. If you only cooperated-" Several shots rang through the air. Val was shot a dozen times. Even when they were he was down and obviously dead, she did now stop. With tears in her eyes and fired nonstop. When she ran out of bullets, she dropped the gun, fell to her knees, and wailed. 

She held her daughters until their bodies were cold. She had not stopped crying. The grief consumed her. Eventually she went to Valeros's men and picked up one of there guns.

This work was meaningless without her girls.

One final shot was heard that night. She'd see her girls again in heaven.

———

Vaggie stayed sitting on the bed while Clara laid out on the end, keeping her distance. "How long ago was it?" They had to have been here for a while if Carmilla was the top arms dealer.

Clara sat in silence for a good while and Vaggie almost thought it was too fresh and she shouldn't have brought it up. 

"Three decades ago?" Vaggie looked at her in surprise. "Huh.... It must suck being stuck as a kid." Clara shrugged. "There's no laws restricting us from anything. But some extra hight might have been nice." She chuckled weakly before sighing.

"Mom likes to joke about how she's able to keep her kids forever. That she won't have to see us grow up. But... I can tell she wishes she could. She blames herself everyday for what happened." She said quietly.

Vaggie frowned.

"I didn't really catch what your sin was." Vaggie stated softly in hopes for more clarity. Perhaps the sinner was leaving it out. The worst it sounded like she did was shoot someone in the foot in self defense and be apart of a business she didn't have a choice over. 

Clara stayed silent. Vaggie tilted her head. 

"We aren't told what our sins are. I guess selling weapons to bad people, knowing they will use them for bad things isn't very good." She let out a defeated sigh. "So, what sin landed you in hell?" Vaggie paused. She could tell her. After all she did just reveal her own stuff. "It wasn't... really a sin." She said quietly and looked down. Clara tilted her head.

"I made the other angels look weak with an act of disobedience." She admitted. She continued, ignoring Clara's look of surprise. "I went against orders." She looked up at the ceiling. Clara stayed silent. Vaggie let out a sigh. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Clara offered. Vaggie glanced in her direction. After a long pause she began to speak. "It was any other extermination day. I flew down and killed." She avoided making eye contact with the sinner. "It was all going fine until...." She trailed off. Clara looked at her expectantly. "There was this little boy." She said distantly. "I cornered him." She looked down.

"I was going to kill him- I should have. But I hesitated. I've never hesitated. I let him get away." She scowled at herself. "An act of mercy is sinful in my leaders' eyes. "I had my wings and halo stripped. That's it." She finished. 

Clara stared at her in shock of what was revealed. "...you had mercy. And you lost heaven for that? Isn't that what heaven represents?" She asked bewildered. Vaggie looked down at the bed in thought. "I... don't know anymore. My whole life feels like a lie..." she trailed off. Clara looked empathetically at her. " I'm sorry." Vaggie looked up surprised. "For what?" Clara looked away. "For you having to struggle with that. Anddd having to go through all this. You're not that bad, angel." Clara smiled softly.

Vaggie's eye widen. "Oh...uh, you're not to bad yourself, sinner." She smiled wonky. It felt like they had come to an understanding of each other. 

Maybe things won't be too bad. It was nice to have a friend down here.

Chapter Text

Odette examined the dry blood sample. It would be better if she had a fresh liquid sample, but she was sure the angel would not be cooperative. So, she had to make do with what she had.

She took a small portion and placed it on a glass plate under a microsphere and peered within. The substance was a brownish color now that it dried. The structures looked strong. Relatively similar to sinner blood, but more stronger appearing.

She wrote down a few notes in a journal before setting it aside. There were other things the blood could be studied with, like mixing it with regular blood or adding it to angelic steel. But she did not have access to the first option at the moment- well she could use her own blood but... no. The second way, she thought, would be better if she could mix it with the steel, but she'd have to wait for her mother for that.

So, she packed up and cleaned her utensils. She'd make way home for now. A good nap would be appreciated.

The young sinner walked through the compound, examining other souls along the way. When she reached home, she clicked open the door and walked in, shutting it behind her.

She stretched her arms and walked through the hallway towards her room but paused when she noticed the guest room open. Curiously, she peeked inside and gasped at what she saw.

Her sister was lying on her stomach facing the angel. Both looked over to her at hearing her gasp.

Vaggie tensed. Clara smiled. "Hey Oddy! All done for the day?" Odette walked it hesitantly eyeing the ex-exorcist. "What are you doing with this... thing, Clara?" Clara looked back at the angel. "Vaggie is not a thing, she's a person."

Odette tilted her head up. "Shes an exorcist. She is not safe. Stay away from her. She's dangerous. Mother would be furious." Clara narrowed her eyes. "Mother has spent time with the angel and she never reported any sign of attack. Plus, we've been talking. She’s not all that bad." Odette rolled her eyes. "She's a fallen angel." Clara sat up. "Did you never learn to not judge a book by its cover?" She raised her eyebrow.

Odette scoffed. "That's how you pick out what book you want. If the cover is uninteresting, you're not gonna pick it. If it looks dangerous, you'll stay away." She gestured to Vaggie. The angel watches awkwardly. Should she say something or just stay out of it?

"But you haven't given her a chance!" Clara pleaded. "She has done something disgraceful enough to fall from heaven." Odette growled. Clara glared at her sister. "You don't know that." Vaggie tensed. This sinner knew of her disgrace. Would she out her and use it against her?

"She's not like the others!" Clara tried to explain. "She's a murderer!" Odette shot back.
"So are you and mom!"

The room went silent.

Clara seethed for several moments before forcing herself to calm down. Odette looked oddly to the side. "I can't speak for mom but on my part, it was self defense. Her kills were not always the same story." Odette said eerily calm as she glanced at the exorcist.

“So, what got you to hell anyway.” She snipped.

Vaggie cleared her throat. "Well... in a way... it was selfdefense? I mean- we were told hell was uprising, that sinners were out of control, and the only way to prevent an inevitable war was to lessen the population." it’s what they learned.

"We- Or I didn't- I thought... I was... we- it was wrong. I have seen little to no evidence of sinners so much as attacking an angel. But I alway- it doesn't matter anymore." She's looked off to the side. "I don't have much reason to assume. But I suppose there is alway the chance that over population will lead to trouble."

Clara and Odette look at each other. Was the angel unsure about her occupation? Had that had something to do with her decisions landing her in hell? Despite what Clara knew, she didn't have the detail and thoughts of the exorcist during the event.

"How did you lose your eye? Was it by a demon?" Odette asked suddenly. Clara shot her a small glare. Vaggie froze slightly before opening her mouth. "Uh... it was by my lieutenant?" The sisters tensed. The angel’s own second in command did this to her?

So, an angel hurt the angel. Does that mean only angels can hurt angels? Also, ouch.

"How...?" Clara wanted to be more respectful, but her curiosity was too intense. Vaggie looked down. "I'd rather not give some sinners such details." She tried to sound cold but there was a slight waver in her voice.

Odette gave Clara a look when Vaggie gave the obvious insult of calling them sinners. "It’s clear you want to use what I tell you to hurt the other angels, or myself. I won't let you."

"We do not wish for war." All three girls jumped at the voice front the doorway. Carmilla stood there, looking in. Eventually she stepped through and walked towards her daughters and the angel. "A war against heaven would be risky. It would put my daughter's lives at jeopardy. I won't let that happen." She hugged the two of them. Vaggie tilted her head. "Isn't that what you sell weapons for?" Vaggie asked. Carmilla hummed. "I merely make a profit off it, perhaps it is a little risky. But to be fair, I was unaware angels could be hurt until a week ago."

Vaggie sat silently. That was true. Her and her sisters alway presented themselves like they are invincible, and in a way they were. But now Vaggie had been hurt, but could she die?

"I would merely like to know how you, an angel, had obtained such injures so that I can use it to protect me and my girls if ever necessary. You already seem to taken a liking to them. Would you like to help me protect them from your kind?" Carmilla said so calmly is freaked Vaggie out. She shook her head. Carmilla sighed. "Have it your way. Girls let's go." She motioned for Clara and Odette to follow her which they did willingly.

What the fuck.

______________________________
Dear journal,
What is life
______________________________

Vaggie sat with her back to Carmilla as her bandages slowly peeled off. They have held her back stitched and wrapped up for 7 days. Meaning she's been here for a week. The last time they changed them was when she had her bath, which was 2 days ago.

While her back still hurt like shit, it was feeling better. She could sit up easier and used the bathroom by herself this morning, of course not without stumbling. But she made it. And now it was time for fresh bandages, which really should be changed everyday but they skipped it yesterday.

It was awkward to have the woman remove the last layer hiding her body, like she was undressing her. The white fabric is tossed aside before Vaggie felt the large hand on her back trailing down near her wounds. The demon let out a curious hum as Vaggie turned to look at her. Carmilla had a puzzled expression. "Your wounds are... fully sealed. That's odd. It should have taken longer, especially since they were still rough the other day. Quite strange. Do you angels have faster healing abilities?" Vaggie nodded slowly. Actually, she had no idea, angels didn't usually get hurt.

"Marvelous. I wonder if your blood has something to do with it. And if I can harvest that power..." Her clawed hand pressed against the left wound. Vaggie flinched. Carmilla blinked as she studied her. Vaggie was looking at her warily. Camilla frowned. That was an inappropriate thing for her to say out loud. With a loud sigh she spoke again. "Apologies. It would be cruel of me to use you for your blood and rather against our deal. Please do not worry. But perhaps you would be willing to give a sample? After you have the chance to replenish your supply. You lost a lot of blood not long ago and need all of you have right now."

Vaggie stared at her silently. It didn't seem that she was too keen in giving any more of her gold up. Carmilla sighed again. "Alright. Anywho, it looks like we can take off these stitches. Just hold still and try to relax."

Vaggie was instructed to lay down on her stomach while the demon took a thin scissors and washed them. The angel braced herself as Carmilla place one hand on her back to hold her down while the other was used to weave under the stitches and cut the knots before the thread was slowly pulled out. Vaggie's wince and shivered at the feeling. Then they had to do the same for the other side.

"All done. You have quite the pain tolerance. Tell me on a scale of 1-10 how bad it hurts when I touch certain places on your back." A finger was placed on the edge where no wound was visible. "One." Carmilla hummed and move her finger to just right next to a wound. Vaggie sucked in her breath. "Four." The hand moved to just on it and pressed lightly. "...six." Then she rests her palm on the middle of the wound. "8... maybe nine." Carmilla frowned. "So, it seemed you are still in quite the pain. May we move to your eye? I want to see its progress." Vaggie nodded and slowly sat up before slowly turning around with her arms covering her chest.

Carmilla cut and unwrapped the bandages. "Hmm." The area around her eye was charcoal black but otherwise seemed fine. Is that color normal? "Does it hurt?" Vaggie nodded. "I bet that's been causing some headaches for you. I hope the medicine has been helping." Vaggie nodded again. Carmilla sat silently.

"Does it ever get better?" Vaggie asked quietly without looking up. Carmilla blinked in surprise. "Pardon?" Vaggie turned her head away shamefully. "The pain. I mean…and everything else I guess…" Carmilla thought she felt her heart break. Here she was, a mighty overlord demon, housing a broken and fragile angel. She should be tormenting the thing, but here she was wanting to comfort it. It was a clear cry for help even if muffled. She could see in the little dove's eye that what she really meant was something among the lines of loneliness. "I can't say for sure... I know I've had my fair share of mistakes that have led me into dark situations. But yours is different. I suppose you have to choose how your life goes. Find someone to rely on might be your first step."

Vaggie sat in thought. There were only demons down here. How was she supposed to trust them? Carmilla couldn't help but feel bad for her. "You know, if you help me with what I want, I can help you. You can rely on me." She said earnestly. "You just want to use me." Vaggie snarked. In away it was true, but there was apart of Carmilla that wanted to help her. "You must understand we are in hell. I can't just do anything for free unless it is for one of my mija." Carmilla could tell that she didn't want help, and she could be seen as weak for such charity.

"Look, we don't need to talk about this right now. How about you try on some clothes?" Vaggie finally looked up at her and hesitantly nodded. Carmilla walked over to the dresser and pulled out all the donated clothes. She set the folded pile down in the bed. "If it's not too much, you could try everything on to decide what you like and what fits." The demon suggested.

Vaggie crawled over to the clothes while still covering her chest. There were a few bras, tank tops, t-shirts, sweatpants, a skirt or two. She looked at the bras. They would probably irritate her back to much right now. So, she grabbed a simple tank top and turned away to put it on. Carmilla looked away despite the girl facing away already to provide extra privacy. Carmilla had no intention of making her uncomfortable.

The tank top was a little big, but it would work. Though she could try on other sizes. "I could leave if it would make you feel more comfortable." Carmilla said softly. Vaggie paused before nodding. The demon got up with a curt nod and walked to the door. "If you need anything just holler. I'll be back later." Then she closed the door.

Vaggie examined the pile of clothes. Now she could do this more comfortably. She took another tank top and tried it on. Then the other. She kept two she liked in a pile and tossed one that was way too long aside. Then she moved onto t-shirts. She first picked up one that was most likely supposed to be a crop top considering its length compared to the others, but it ended up almost being the perfect size for her, just a little to short to be comfortable. She tossed it aside and tried on the others.

One shirt was big and baggy. It would work as a nice night shirt, keep. Another shirt had to odd of a texture, discard. By the time she had sorted through all the clothes, she was exhausted. She now obtained 5 shirts, 2 tank tops, 2 pears of sweatpants, leggings, a sweatshirt, 2 jeans, and a skirt. She wore currently the sweatshirt and leggings as she laid down.

It felt a little odd not having the bandages wrapped tightly around her, and that her face was fully uncovered. It was like a loss sense of comfort in these dark times.

Don't have a panic attack. Don't have a panic attack.

Carmilla knocked on the door making Vaggie nearly jump out of her skin. It upset her back causing her to wince. "Come in." She said after evaluating herself and deciding she was decent. The demon slowly came in. "I assume you've chosen some outfits?" Vaggie nodded. "That's good." Carmilla took the disliked pile into a bag before nicely folding and tucking the keep clothes back into the drawers. "It's not a lot, not even a week's worth, but we can make it work till we can get you some of your own choosing."

Vaggie paused. They were going to buy her clothes? Wait whose clothes were these? They were too small to be Carmilla's, except for maybe a large t-shirt but she couldn't imagine the elegant demon wearing such a thing. Must be Clara and Odette's clothes.

"Do you mind if I take some measurements?" Vaggie shrugged. Carmilla had her step off the bed and lean against the armchair while she maneuvered the tape measure around her. Though there were some places she didn't understand how would help with her clothes. Either way when the demon was done, she sat back on her bed.

"I'll be able to get some stuff for you, though I'd have most luck shopping in stores for imps. You are quite short. Are you all like that? Exorcist I mean." Vaggie tensed slightly as she looked away. "Uh...we are rather all short for angles but... I myself am considered short, yes." Carmilla raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason for that? Oh, are you heaven-born or did you have a life on earth?" To many questions. Vaggie didn't want to answer the first. But the answers tied together. "Uhm…us exorcist like many other angels are heaven born- made?" Carmilla waits for her to elaborate. "Like, we are all sculpted. Each and every one of us. Adam loved to send his early time as commander carefully sculpting and carving us out of clay while thinking of the perfect names."

Carmilla took notice of an underlining uneasy in the angel's words as she spoke. "He wanted our army to be numerous, so he built and built. He always made sure to proportion us to fit our wings and armor while also making us more appealing to him. Bigger racks and asses." Vaggie frowned as she subconsciously covered her chest. "We vary in hight, but that's mostly his fault. He never wasted time with measurements. Though most exorcist were a decent and relative size to each other." There was a small strain that appeared in her voice. "I was the last one made from the specific batch of clay he had. Number 275. But by that time the contents were... limited." She said awkwardly looked away.

Carmilla was starting to see where this was going. "There was only so much for each part. He used most of it for my wings. They had been beautiful, strong and powerful. I loved my wings." She said quietly. "But the clay lacked the supply to average my hight. My other more feminine features were also disregarded. Despite all of my lacking, he still gave me the highest title. The best thing ever he said. I can't really disagree, but it never felt like I deserved it." She grumbled. Carmilla off handedly noted that Vaggie might be gay.

"I had to work to get to the top. Heaven is supposed to be about having no troubles, but I found complications around every corner. My hight and size didn't work well with my wings. They were too big, so I had to work extra hard to grow my muscles. I flew flew flew and flew. Until I couldn't anymore." Carmilla looked at the angel before her and imagine her with the wings she had. She never considered the sizes.

"I worked my ass off to get to the top. I used my hight to advantage. I was lighter and more agile. I didn't waste time gleaming over kills. I killed killed and killed. I raised to the top. I was on the front lines." She stared off at a wall. Carmilla continued to listen silently, glad to learn more. "I-... I had worked so hard. All for it to be taken away." There was a slight growl in her voice as she gripped the blanket. "I made one mistake, and it was all taken from me." Carmilla noticed an angry tear in her corner of her eye.

"Would you go back?" Vaggie paused and looked over at the demon. "What?" She asked confused. "If they offered you forgiveness and gave you back your halo, would you take it?" Vaggie froze. "I- uh..." she thought about it. Heaven never had been the nicest to her, but it was safe. Or so she thought. She didn't feel safe anymore. How could she look Lute or Adam in the eyes? "I..." Carmilla placed a hand on her shoulder. Vaggie looked up at her with her large eye. "I know we don't know each other much, nor do we have reason to trust each other, but you don't have to be afraid. You are safe here. Focus on your recovery."

Vaggie looked away. "I have to work all over again." Her voice wavered. Carmilla frowned. "Get up." Vaggie looked back up at her in surprise. "Get up. We are trying something." Vaggie began to push herself to the edge of the bed. "Uh ok." Carefully she lowered her feet to the floor and stood up. She used to bed to guide herself over to Carmilla who was standing at the end of the bed.

"How bad does it hurt to stand?" Carmilla questioned. Vaggie hesitated before answering. "It sorta depends? If I'm kinda hunched it's not to bad, but if I bend over that really fucking hurts. It also hurts to stand straight up." She admits. Carmilla hummed. "Can you take a few steps for me? Walk to the bathroom." Vaggie awkwardly listens and slowly and carefully walks into the hall towards the bathroom. Not only did it hurt but it was so wobbly and uneven without the usual weight of her wings. Carmilla examined the way she moved and her facial expressions. Every sign of pain being mentally noted.

Vaggie made into the bathroom and leaned against the counter as she breathed deeply in need of a break. She looked up into the mirror, before freezing at what she saw. Her disheveled hair. Clothes other than her uniform.

Her scarred face.

Carmilla came in behind her. "You appear to be able to walk decently but you seem...tired." She trailed off at the end as she saw Vaggie's pained expression as she looked in the mirror. Carmilla felt her heart drop as the angel lifted a hand to its missing eye. She placed an arm on her shoulder. "I think it looks cool." She tried to comfort. Vaggie didn't respond. She just stared longingly. "It's vile." Carmilla frowned. How could she help her?

"Let's focus on your pain. Can you lift your arms?" Vaggie took a few more moments to stare at her reflection before sighing and turning away to face the demon. Begrudgingly she lifted her arms halfway before wincing. Carmilla gently grabbed her arm. "I noticed your wounds were partly on the shoulder blades. Your muscles are snapped. They'll take time to recover. You'll just have to be careful with that, but you're also gonna need to start working out. Your muscles have not been getting much use. They are going to become weak, and your recovery will become a lot more difficult." Vaggie considered her words. It wouldn't be different than her usual workouts in heaven. This would just include pain.

"Got anything in mind?" She asked tiredly. "Every morning when you wake up, I want to slowly and carefully stretch. Don't push yourself too hard. Try to move your arms a centimeter higher each day. I also noticed earlier that you walk slow. While you back would a won't directly affect your legs, I understand you are in a lot of pain. But I would recommend trying to walk more. You can wait till tomorrow or start today. It does not bother me."

Vaggie sighed. It looked like she was going to be the weak one again for a while. But she's over come it before she can do it again. "I've got this."
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Velvette rode through the streets with her personal chauffeur. She texted on her phone the whole time. The tinted windows gave her decent privacy for the short, unorthodox trip. It was unusual for the fashionista to be discreet, it was totally out of style, but sometimes it payed off.

There had been a post the other day that Velvette immediately had Vox override and get taken down, perks of controlling all of hells electronics.

Velvette had spoken privately in the dm's of the person who posted the picture. Thats why she was currently driving to meet them with a bag of money. She could force the sinner to hand over what she sought, or kill them if they did not give, but they were rather cooperative. It didn't take long to come to an agreement that hardly left an itty-bitty dent in the mass monopoly of the Vees'.

Perhaps they simply didn't understand the grave meaning of what they found and what it represented. This item changed everything. It overruled the tides. It was official proof.

The car pulled over on a street on the edge of the inner city near the border of cannibal town. Nearby the sinner lived, and a day or so after the extermination (Velvette was unsure of the exact details) and found it. They only posted about it yesterday, and Velvette was determined to obtain it.

She stepped out of the vehicle, shutting the door behind her. She pulled out her phone and scanned around. Then she heard a whistle. Raising an eyebrow, she turned to see the sinner walking down the street towards her with a bag in hand, per Velvette's request that the object go unseen. The bag had two symmetrical odd bumps that stuck out on each side.

Velvette grinned and strides towards them. The koala sinner eyed her skeptically and held the bag back as they approached each other. "Where's the cash." Velvette rolled her eyes. "The back of da car. Prove this is the real deal before I even think about lettin ya see it." She growled. The koala's ears folded back and her lips gave way for a snarl. "Fucking overlords having no class." Begrudgingly the sinner opened the bag and pulled out Velvette's desire. The overlord examined it with a grin on her face and nodded.

The sinner sealed it back in the bag and the two of them walked to the car for Velvette to grab the money. "So where did you find this gem anyway." Velvette questioned as she pulled out the duffle bag. The sinner shrugged. "It was in the middle of the street amongst the dead bodies. Just down there." The koala gestured. The overlord hummed. That wasn't far from where she found the blood.

They exchanged bags. "This stays between us. Got it?" Velvette glared as she warned the sinner who simply nodded. "I didn't have much use for it anyways. Not like ya would have let me keep it. May as well make cash off it." They said simply and walked off with the cash. The overlord rolled her eyes. She had to get this back home.

She could feel a new meeting coming on.