Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 48

Warning, unsettling material in this chapter. Depictions of sexual abuse trauma.

Meanwhile, Angel was reporting to Solomon what he and Alastor had learned from Dr. Schwartz. Although it didn't seem to relate to anything in the present, all he had told them was about Valentino's backstory. Yet that was enough to give everyone a good idea on just how twisted of a demon he was.

"I have met some sick F*s in this business reverend but this one takes the cake." Angel said. "This freak not only offed his old man but he married his old woman. He totally supports incest. How sick is that?"

"It's sick and depraved but not unheard of." Solomon said. "Demons and humans like him have the ridiculous notion that same blood means pure. Even though throughout history people have been born hideous and deformed due to inbreeding."

"Are all moth demons like that?" Angel asked.

"Well considering their culture was influenced by the Egyptian royalty, they may have been in the beginning. But according to Vaggie's D.N.A results, her parents didn't share the same blood. So I'm assuming her clan abolished that method, until her brother came along of course."

"How the hell does someone get that twisted? Did the parents screw him up or something?"

"I don't know. I've tried to get Vaggie to talk to me about it but she doesn't feel comfortable enough to do so and given the circumstances, I can't say I blame her."

"Hey Solomon, can I ask you something about her?"

"You can certainly ask but I can't promise you an answer."

"It's just that I've noticed that whenever Valentino is even mentioned, she's different for a minute. She flinches, or she shakes and then she had that crazy outburst the other night."

"Well her brother is evil and insane, I think anyone would react that way if they had a relation to such an individual."

"I know but I can't help but feel there's something missing here and why is Valentino looking for her anyway? Do you know?"

"I do but I can't say. This is something she confided in me and begged me not to tell."

"But why would she tell you and not the rest of us?"

"For the same reason you told me about how you ended up abandoned in that sewer and swore me to secrecy."

Angel was quiet for a moment, taking a moment to think and understand his reasons. However the comparison made him even more curious and concerned. Is what happened between her and brother just as bad as what happened between himself and his sister?

"On a different subject, I have some good news. I think I may have figured out where Valentino will strike next."

"Where?"

"It's only a hypothesis mind you, but they've re-built and re-modeled the museum that you cleared out a few weeks ago and they're also getting new exhibits. One includes weapons, armor, and jewels from the Aztecs, rumored to have once belonged to the Moth Demon Clan. If Valentino is as proud of his race as I suspect, then he'll believe these weapons, armor, and jewelry all rightful belong to him and will take it."

"And that's when we nail him?"

"Maybe. I don't want to take any chances with this one. He sounds unstable, unreasonable, and willing to do anything to get what he wants and that's a dangerous combination. This requires careful planning, research, and patience. You go on back to training and I'll give you an update on what our next move."

Angel did as he was told but as he trained in the hall, something was gnawing at him. He felt there was something amiss with their information and the relation between Valentino and Vaggie. She always acted so strange whenever he was brought up and Angel wanted to know why. At first he tried to just let things be and to let her have her secrets. Probably because if she ever caught him snooping, she'd lop off his head. But that something about this whole thing just kept on gnawing at him. It gnawed and gnawed at him all day, despite his best efforts to ignore it. Finally it got to him so bad that he had to ask questions and he went right to the source.