Daughter Dearest

thirty-five

Twenty-four hours later, a forty minute video was in Venus's inbox from Vox — a turn of events she hadn't expected so soon. As she watched, she soon realized it was a compilation from the past week. 

The times she arrived, the times she left, and the three hours between the times that went unaccounted for, as well as how many times a day she was there. . . And at the very end, from the one day Angel Dust hadn't been working, there lay the reason she was visiting the Vees Tower.

It was the opposite of what she had expected, and she almost enjoyed knowing the truth. . . But that knowledge of the truth also made her see things differently. 

For the time being, she pushed it to the back of her mind, with the mental note to be aware of her surroundings at all times. 

Venus joined Alastor in the kitchen, where he sat drinking his midday tea. His shadow welcomed her kindly, seemingly knowing what she was doing and helping her along the way with her own tea endeavors. 

“Hellish day we're having, isn't it?” Alastor hummed, bringing the cup up to his lips. 

The Asgardian goddess looked away from where the kettle was sitting on the stove with the fire lit beneath it, turning to look at Alastor. She could hear the acid rain beating down on the concrete slab just outside the door.

She smiled slightly, ignoring the way her gut twisted when she heard Lucifer's voice in the next room over. “It certainly is.”

Alastor hummed once again as the kettle began to whistle. 

Venus turned the fire off and picked up the kettle, pouring the hot water into her cup. The tea leaves immediately began to change the color of the water, but she left it alone so it would steep and be drinkable. 

Alastor opened his mouth to speak once more, but was interrupted by Vaggie slamming the door open and entering. She covered her face and groaned.

“Is everything alright?” Venus questioned, her facial expression showing concern. 

“I love Charlie, I do, but she keeps talking about her parents getting back together.” The former exorcist angel groaned. 

Venus's heart sank. “They're back together?”

“No. . . But she wants them to. She thinks they can work everything out, but I'm not sure. . . It's just. . . Can you talk to her?” 

The Asgardian Princess shook her head with a sigh, an ache falling into her heart that she wished she could be rid of. She didn't want to admit any feelings. Not yet — or ever, really. 

She also didn't want to get in the way of anything the Morningstar family could want. If that was Lilith sticking around, she'd have to get used to it and get over any feelings immediately. “No. I refuse to crush her dreams.” 

“Like her mother plans on doing?” Vaggie questioned quietly.
Venus's head whipped in her direction and Alastor's shadow suddenly became very interested in the conversation. 

“I beg your pardon?” She inquired just as quietly. 

Before Vaggie could speak, the door slammed open again. “There you are, Venus! I need you to come with me. . . Is everything okay here?” 

“Yes, darling, everything is fine. . . Let's go, shall we?” Charlie grabbed Venus's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen, the Asgardian having a chance to make eye contact with Vaggie momentarily before the door closed. 

★†★

“What are we doing here?” The bright room carried Venus's voice in an echo. Her and Charlie were walking towards the empty desk with a little golden colored service desk bell. 

“Dad told me I was requested specifically. . . I wanted you to come with me just in case it's like it was last time.” Charlie seemed upset at the memory. 

Venus squeezed her hand as if saying ‘everything will be alright’. 

It was then she realized she didn't get to drink her tea. So whatever reason they were there, had better be important. 

They stopped at the desk and Charlie rang the bell. A magical piece of parchment came from nowhere alongside a quill with golden ink, stopping before them. 

The quill was closer to Venus's hand, so she signed her name on the line before passing it over to Charlie. Once Charlie had signed her name, the two objects disappeared and one of the elevator looking doors off to the side, opened into a dark room. 

Venus and Charlie entered at the same time, the door closing behind them, momentarily enclosing the two of them in darkness before a bright light was turned on, revealing Sera and Emily. 

The younger of the two seraphim was practically bursting with excitement, to the point of being unable to sit still. 
“Greetings Princess Morningstar and Princess Venus. . . I'm sure you're wondering why you are gathered here today. I shall cut straight to the point —”

“Your hotel works!” Emily spoke excitedly over Sera, causing the other seraphim to sigh. 

“What?” Charlie breathed out, her eyes wide. “I mean — who? How? What?”

Sera waved her hand and Sir Pentious became visible to the two. 

Venus and Charlie gasped at the same time, and the Asgardian goddess felt her eyes sting with unshed tears. Venus hadn't mourned properly, it seemed. Perhaps she had been too caught up for it all to process.

“He was redeemed. . ? Venus, do you know what this means?” Charlie questioned, becoming excited. “It means the hotel still has hope!”

“It does. . .” She smiled at Charlie before stepping closer to Sir Pentious. “You aren't suffering up there? You're happy?” 

“There isssn't a day where I haven't missssed all of you, but all is well misss Venus.” He confirmed. 

“We shouldn't be down for long. . . But God believed it was time for you to know. . . There's a program in Heaven now, it's still in its early stages due to having only one member, but we do believe that your hotel will continue to succeed. . . Congratulations Princess Morningstar, you've provided Heaven with its first redeemed sinner soul.” 

Sera spoke, and then those in Heaven were gone from view and they were no longer inside the meeting room. 

“It worked!” Charlie cried, hugging Venus tightly. 

“I knew you could do it, Charlie. . . I always had faith.”
It apparently was more important than tea.