Emily's Fall 2: Rising Above

Ch. 14: Conflicting Feelings

Velvette was back in the park, sitting against a tree and holding her head as she thought about how much of an idiot she made of herself in front of Verosika Mayday.

"What is wrong with me? I've never felt like this before." She said to herself.

Before she lost her status as an overlord, and because of her experiences before her death, Velvette has never bothered to find or experience love again.

Not only because it would get in the way of her work but because...she didn't want to have her heartbroken again.

'First I was dumped at prom in a humiliating fashion, then I was raped, tortured, and killed when I tried to find love again.' Velvette thought, trying not to cry before she pulled her cloak hood over her head to hide it. 'I don't need someone to love me or need to love someone. I'm done with it.'

"Hiss." Razzle let out as he and Dazzle flew next to her.

"Go away, you little twerps." She said, not even looking at them.

Sensing her negative feelings, the two goats did the only thing that could cheer Velvette up. They began to lick her face.

"What the fuck?! Get off me!" Velvette said as she pushed them back, but they slipped past her arms and keep attacking her face with licks.

She did her best to not laugh, as it did tickle.

"S-Stop it-Hahaha- you little basta-hahaha- Or I'll stu-hahahahaha!" Velvette tried to say between her giggles.

Before she could stop herself, Velvette wrapped her new arms around the mini goat demons and pulled them close.

"This makes me miss my cat." She said, hugging them.

Mr. Snuggles, the only true friend and light of her life when Velvette was alive.

The single driving force that made her terrible life with her family and her terrible school days decent before her death.

"I... I guess I should get back to the hotel." Velvette said, feeling a bit better now.

The two goat demons pulled away and nodded to Velvette, happy that she's feeling better.

She stood up and patted any dirt off her new outfit but kept the cloak hood up, she still didn't want to be recognized.

"Lead the way, boys." Velvette said to them.

'I hope no one sees me.' She thought.

Velvette walked through the park with the goats, heading back to the exit, but didn't see someone else in the park gazing at her.

"Velvette?" She asked, surprise.

"Fuck. I need a better disguise." Velvette mumbled, before taking the hood off.

She turned to the person that recognized it, someone from the Cannibal District that she was "friendly" with a few times when she came for something to eat.

"Hi, Rosie." Velvette said.

"Don't you just "hello" me! Come here and give me a hug!" Rosie said as she rushed over and hugged Velvette. "Sweetie, it's been too long since I've seen you and it looks like you're finally back on ya feet!"

"Yeah well... guess I couldn't mope for all eternity like I planned." Velvette said, glancing at the Hazbin Hotel in the distance. "The Princess won't let me."

"Princess? Are you telling me you're staying at that hotel Alastor is supporting?" Rosie asked as she pulled back and noticed Velvette's new arms. "Holy Hell, where did you get this arms?!"

"I guess I should start from the beginning." Velvette said as Razzle and Dazzle flew next to her. "So... it kind of started a... I don't even know how long it was, but exorcists attacked the hotel."

"What?! But it's not even close to that time of year!" Rosie said in shock.

"We assume it was a rogue attack but moving on." Velvette said, gazing at her right arm. "... I lost an arm to one of them."

"But can't you just-"

"It was CUT off, I couldn't remove it. Anyway, I took a blow for the little Princess Lucy and nearly died because of it." Velvette said as she scratched her head. "And the thing is...I didn't have to do it but my body just moved before I could think otherwise. I barely knew the kid for a few days and I risked my life for her."

"Ha, that sounds like being a good friend." Rosie said with a small grin.

"But I'm a fucking adult! I can't be friends with a kid, she needs friends can we own age." Velvette said, crossing her new arms. "But the thing is-"

"There's no kids her age except in the cannibal district?" Rosie asked with a grin.

"Yes, that." Velvette said, before changing the subject. "How does that even work? I want to say hellborn, but... then you couldn't be an overlord, because they can't climb the hierarchy."

"Oh, honey... I'm never telling you." Rosie said, grinning smugly.

"Oh, come on!" Velvette shouted with a groan.

"Nope! Now, since you're out and about with a new look and new hands, how about you join me for some lunch?" Rosie asked before whispering. "I know a place outside of the cannibal district that secretly serves flesh as burgers. Their medium rare with bacon and cheese is to KILL for."

"Oh, that DOES sound good." Velvette said.

Her stomach growled loudly, making Velvette realize just how hungry she really was after being in a small coma for a few days and how long it's been since she had some sinner/hellborn flesh.

"Hehehe, there's the hungry beast I know." Rosie said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah, she's still here and still hungry." Velvette said before gesturing ahead. "Lead the way, my cannibalistic companion."

The goat familiars looked at each other before shrugging, deciding it was still best to follow Velvette as Emily had ordered them too.

Plus, they could get some treats out of this if they behaved and did their jobs.

And who would deny a free treat?

'At least this will take my mind off that new general manager Asmodeus hired.' Velvette thought, trying not to blush again.

"Oh, don't think I don't notice you blushing." Rosie said, grinning wider. "You got someone on your mind."

"No I don't, you're crazy." Velvette replies as she looked away.

"Maybe but I know a love struck girl with I see one. Come on, talk to Mama Rosie." Rosie said, pulling Velvette closer as they walked.

Knowing it was better to just get this over with instead of hiding it, Velvette spilled her guts.

"The sin of Lust has his studio here after all the shit Val did, and now his general manager is at the hotel while he goes back to Lust." Velvette said, "She is by the far the best looking demon I've ever seen."

"Uh huh, keep going. Do you know her name?" Rosie asked, very invested.

"It's the succubus pop star, Verosika Mayday. Don't know if she's retired or not." Velvette said, putting her cloak hood back in to hide her blush.

"Oh shit! That big a deal, huh?" Rosie said in surprise. "No wonder you're acting like a school girl."

"Well this school girl needs to grow up. I told myself that I would never love again after what happened." Velvette said, gazing at the ground as she put her hands in her pockets. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, maybe it's time to open your heart to love again. It's been a long time since "those days."" Rosie said, smiling softer as she put a hand on Velvette's shoulder. "Besides... not like she could kill you, you are under the princess' protection, and you're owned by Lucifer, so really, you're a hands off when it comes to hell."

"Yeah, like that makes me feel better." Velvette said with a blank expression.

"Well, I'm sure a bit of food will make you feel better." Rosie said, patting Velvette's back.