Pride
And so began the relationship between an angel and a demon. Officially, she was going down there to help Carmilla Ascend as her new spiritual coach. Unofficially, which is to say, truthfully, Carmilla was taking her on dates. Always in Hell, for Sera could not fathom what bringing a demon to Heaven for a stroll through the Elysian Fields would do to the Holy balance.
Carmilla was fine with that. She had no interest in visiting the saintly halls. Sera, on the other hand, was dying to show the demoness all of the beautiful things Heaven had to offer. She knew there was no redeeming Carmilla, the overlord had made that clear, but that didn’t mean Sera couldn’t share this part of herself with the other woman.
But, even so, Sera was afraid to push it so they stuck to their nightly dates in the Pride ring of Hell. Carmilla mostly preferred to stay at home because she hated dealing with people, but on occasion she would take Sera Downtown or to the Entertainment District to do something fun.
Their public outings attracted some attention, but not enough for Heaven to catch on. So far, the Sinners and Hellborns had kept their noses out of their business, but Sera knew that at least Emily and Charlie and Vaggie knew of their relationship. And if they knew it meant Angel, Husk and Alastor knew. And if they knew it meant possibly all of Hell knew.
So for a few short months, Sera and Carmilla’s relationship was the worst kept secret in Hell.
Sera was now sure that Heaven possibly knew as well. She had no confirmation, but some angels could barely conceal their disgust whenever she walked by. And on more than one occasion her impartiality had been called into question on overseeing Charlie’s hotel. Sera hadn’t liked that. She thought that maybe it was time to show them that she could be with Carmilla and remain High Seraphim.
Which is why she was currently on her way to Carmilla’s to invite her to Heaven.
She appeared just outside Carmilla’s door and knocked. After hearing a quiet ‘come in’, Sera made her way inside. Carmilla was sitting at her desk fully engrossed in a document she was reading. Sera could tell this was Overlord Carmilla because her hair was styled in her signature horns. Usually, when they were together, Carmilla would let it down, something Sera loved.
Sera made her way towards the demon and sat properly on the chair in front of the desk. Carmilla, having expected one of her assistants, had still not looked up from her paper. Sera smiled. “Anything interesting?”
“Ay, carajo!” Carmilla’s eyes snapped to Sera’s in surprise. Sera saw how the immediate anger that had appeared at the intrusion melted away into genuine content. “¿Qué haces aquí, amor? I thought you were my assistant.”
Sera laughed behind her hand. “I noticed. Didn’t even look up when I walked in.”
Carmilla gave her an apologetic grin and stood up. “My apologies, my sweet. Let me make it up to you.”
Carmilla rounded her desk and leaned down to brush her lips against Sera’s. Sera sighed as their lips made contact and she lifted her hand to caress Carmilla’s cheek.
Carmilla stepped away and grabbed Sera’s hands to make the angel stand. With Sera now towering over her, Carmilla had to strain herself, even on her tiptoes, to wrap her arms around Sera’s neck.
“Well, now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, querida?”
As always, Sera’s wings enclosed around her and she tentatively put her arms on Carmilla’s waist. “I wanted to know if you’d accompany me on a stroll through the Promenade some evening.”
Carmilla’s brows furrowed. “You want me to go to Heaven with you?”
And that’s how Carmilla Carmine found herself impatiently waiting for Sera to come get her. She let her hair down because she knew Sera liked it like that, but it allowed her to rake her hands through it for the millionth time as she paced around her bedroom. By the time Sera got here, Carmilla’s hair would be a puffed up mess.
Carmilla knew what this was. Her being in Heaven meant everyone was going to know, officially. Their bubble would burst. She didn’t give a shit what people said about her, she could handle it, but she was afraid of what they would say about Sera. And make no mistake, Carmilla Carmine knew she was a fucking catch, but the thought of Sera having to choose between her and Heaven made her worry. She didn’t want Sera to lose her status and position because of her.
The signature flash of light alerted Carmilla to her presence and she immediately ceased her pacing to face her girlfriend. As always, Carmilla’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of her angelic partner. Sera’s halo always provided a glow around her face that made her violet eyes look heavenly. And those wings, Carmilla was obsessed with those wings.
Sera smiled as she took Carmilla in. “You look beautiful, dove.”
Carmilla blushed. Never in a million years would Carmilla ever allow anyone to call her pet names, but Sera… Well, Sera could call her anything she liked. “Thank you, amor, you’re looking radiant as ever.”
Sera lowered her gaze as she smiled. “Thank you.” She looked back up at Carmilla. “Well, are you ready?”
Carmilla sighed. “No.” She saw Sera’s pout and crossed over to grab her hands. She looked up into Sera’s eye and gave her a flirty wink. “But, who cares. I’m going to show these bitches who’s boss.”
Sera groaned, trying to cover up a smile. “Carmilla! Language!”
Carmilla feigned a frown and batted her lashes at Sera. “Bless me, Mother, for I have sinned. ”
Sera mock-glared at Carmilla, but the smile threatening to overtake her lips ruined the effect. “You are here by absolved of your sins, Carmilla Carmine.”
Carmilla sighed dreamily. “Dios es grande!”
Sera shook her head in mock disappointment. “What am I going to do with you, dove?”
Carmilla smirked and wrapped her arms around Sera’s neck as Sera’s arms and wings enclosed around her. “I might need to go to confession if you want me to answer that truthfully.”
“Carmilla!” Sera groaned.
And in the blink of an eye, they were gone!
Soon, they were at the gates of Heaven and Sera was giving Carmilla a proper tour. Peter began his usual welcome song, but Carmilla rolled her eyes halfway through and demanded he shut it. Peter huffed and flew away muttering about sinners and bad manners.
Sera took Carmilla to the Promenade and down to Cherub Town and finished the tour at a local ice cream shop. Carmilla was bored out of her mind, but she didn’t let Sera know. She ‘ooh’d’ and ‘aah’d’ at all the right moments, but she just couldn’t deal with all the happy go-lucky bullshit. She knew what these people really were. She knew what they pretended to be. It’s why she turned down Charlie.
Still, she couldn’t hurt Sera, so she kept her mouth shut. The only people who knew her true thoughts about Heaven were her daughters. And they still wanted to try and redeem themselves. And Carmilla was fine with that. They truly deserved it. They should not have had to pay for the sins of their mother. Neither should Sera.
“You’re awfully quiet, dove. What’s wrong?”
Sera was staring at her thoughtfully and Carmilla instantly felt remorse. “Nada, mi cielo. Just thinking of my daughters.” And you.
Sera gave her a sympathetic smile. “They’ll be well taken care of once they Ascend. And you can see them whenever you like.”
Carmilla nodded. “I know. A mother worries, that’s all.”
Sera hummed her agreement and stood, her wings stretching after being folded in for so long. “Come then, let us go see them now.”
Carmilla smiled at her thoughtfulness. “Alright.”
Before Sera could wrap her wings around her, a few angels approached them. She saw Sera straighten up out of the corner of her eye. They all had halo’s with different symbols on them denoting their position and they all had four to six wings each. They eyed the couple warily.
“High Seraphim, what is the meaning of this demon disgracing our saintly halls.”
Carmilla rolled her eyes and was ready to fire a sarcastic remark when Sera raised a hand to still her.
“Azrael, Michael, this is Carmilla and she is doing nothing of the sort. She is here as my guest.” Her voice was cold and distant, a tone so monotone, Carmilla had to look twice to make sure it was Sera speaking. Except, it wasn’t Sera, it was the High Seraphim. Carmilla had never seen her like this before. She couldn’t say a part of her wasn’t loving it.
“Don’t you think bringing Lucifer’s spawn here caused more than enough damage? Now you want to parade your little pet project around, as well? What will the good souls of Heaven think? A High Seraphim with a Demon Overlord?”
Carmilla saw Sera’s eyes narrow in a deathly glare. “Charlie Morningstar has done more for Heaven than you two combined, Azrael. We owe her our gratitude for proving that sinners can be redeemed.” The two angels recoiled at the insult but could not refute her point. “Furthermore, Carmilla is not some ‘pet project’, as you put it, she is someone I care very deeply for. And it is not up to you to judge me.”
Carmilla reached out a hand to try to rein her in, to tell her it wasn’t worth it. She wasn’t worth it. “Sera–”
“God would never approve!” Azrael spat out.
Sera expanded her wings to her full width. Carmilla couldn’t watch, not this time, not when the consequences of her words would be so disastrous. “God can take it up with me directly!”
“Sacrilege!” Michael gasped.
“Blasphemer! How dare you?” Azrael snarled.
“How dare you call my judgment into question. I am High Seraphim! I am the right hand of God and I–”
A flash of light and a roll of thunder and everything went black for Carmilla.