Old faces


        I feel like I haven't slept well in an eternity at this point. These reports on the extermination have been a complete hell to compile together for Carmilla for the meeting. I would rather shove this paper down my own throat than do this bullshit again. Year and year, over and over, I compile these depressing reports on how many sinners were wiped off the face of Hell just because. I swear, this extermination is some sick joke Adam concocted to piss everyone off, so he could get his heavenly boner on. I finally toss the stack of reports against the wall as I scream into my hands. These reports remind me of how futile everything I do is; no matter how many semi-qualified malpractice doctors I can get to work for me, sinners still die. In the end, they die a brutal, painful and probably terrifying death. Alone. Meko paws at the stack of papers as I debate whether to light them on fire and tell Carmilla about an unfortunate event that occurred in my office. I had a patient spontaneously combust. There was nothing that could be done, and before I could do anything, Meko decided it was snack time. A knock on my door interrupts my frustration as I glare at the entrance debating whether I should tell Soran to fuck off or not.

"Are you alright in there, my dear?" The sweet voice of Rosie rings through the door, taking me by surprise as I bash my head into my palm a little out of pure frustration.

"Rosie, now's really not a good time for a visit," I inhale a deep breath as she disregards me and gradually opens the door nonetheless.

"Oh honey, you shouldn't be alone right now. Your depression is filling the hospital hallways; people are going to start thinking this is a death hospital with the aura you're producing," she saunters over to the pile of paper and knees down to carefully pick the stack up piece by piece, straightening out all of the creases and bent edges. "I see the reports have you down in the dumps again; Alastor usually helps you sort all these out. Which probably makes it a bit easier for you to swallow the numbers." Rosie goes over the reports I have finished quietly as I remain sitting there. "Soran said you have hardly been eating or sleeping for weeks now. I know this ain't over some statistics for Carmilla; you know I am always here to talk with, right? I know you have been in your funk since Alastor left town, but there is something else eating away at you; it has been for years now. I have seen it when I come for tea, even your hair is lighter than before. Would you please tell Aunt Rosie all about what's keeping you up at night?" She sits down in front of me with a concerned look as she carefully places the paperwork down in front of me.

"It's difficult to explain; it really is. Whenever I would get like this, Alastor would come up with some dumb plan to take my mind off of everything. But he's gone now, Rosie and I don't know if he will ever return, and I hate that he left. Why didn't he at least say goodbye or say when he will be back? He just fucked off without another word; I thought we were good enough friends that I was owed a letter or even a quick messenger pigeon! And then there's this stupid hospital! Every year more sinners just die, and there isn't a damn thing I can do; he was right, Rosie! My Dad was right about this place; it's meaningless. I can't even help them anymore, Rosie! The pain is getting too much to handle; it's too real. No matter how many times we bring a sinner back, there's still another extermination next year," I snap, losing my mind as Rosie sits there with her usual polite smile, absorbing all the garbage I just dumped on her.

"Honey, I don't think you truly realize what you have achieved on your own," she takes my hands in her own and forces me to look at her. "Never in hell has there been a soul to open a hospital to save sinners. I have been around a long time, and I can fairly say that your hospital is something extraordinary, you have taken some of the sickest souls and healed them. You have rehabilitated doctors and nurses to work in the medical field again. Because of your hospital, extermination isn't the definite end anymore. Your dad was wrong; he was very, very wrong, and if he ever came to see what you have done, I know he would be astonished and proud. I am proud of you, don't you ever forget that. You are exhausted, Vesper; you need to get some sleep and eat something. You are burning out, and your thoughts are racing all over the place."

Rosie P.O.V:

When Soran called me saying Vesper looked like she was about to die, I thought the kid was joking, that was until I went to visit her. For as long as I have known her, Vesper has always been missing a special spark. Often, when I would come over for a visit, she would space out. Staring off to nothingness, usually looking out the window. I would sit there and wonder what in Hell she could be thinking about so hard. A hole was in her soul, and for a while there, Alastor patched it up. The glow in her eyes was much brighter, and she would laugh with the two of us often. Her smile was radiant, and she was much more relaxed and less concerned about the thing that was always weighing on her in the deepest part of her brain. Since Alastor left, she has been depressed and has been spiralling over these past few years. She has guarded herself to the point where all she does is work; I really have to get this girl a boyfriend. I am worried about her lack of socialization as of lately, she is young and needs to be out more, getting in trouble and finding love. The first time we met as official Overlords, I knew she didn't recognize me; we had met long before that moment when she saved me from the brink of death. I don't think I could ever vocalize how much I owe her. I don't have the heart to bring it up because I know she had to experience my pain for days after. The injury I received was gone with a purple glow, like magic or a blessing sent from Heaven, yet she had to feel every part of it. She really needs to get out more to meet new people instead of dwelling alone.

"I can't sleep. I need to get this report done before tomorrow; if I don't, it'll be a very brief meeting," Vesper stresses as the poor thing reaches for the pile of paper again. I place my own hand over hers to stop her.

"I will help you with the reports; calm down. You have done most of them already," I pick up a pen and start where she left off as she silently mirrors me and picks up her own pen, quietly getting back to work. I quietly observe her for five minutes as her eyelids start to flutter, and her head starts to sway as the fatigue chips away at her body. I carefully caught her head and gently laid her down on the desk; what I wasn't expecting was for her to transform. Her wonderful purple hair slowly turned golden, and the famous red dots appeared on her cheeks. I keep myself from making any noise of surprise as I curiously observe Vesper, who is not, in fact, Vesper anymore. But the long lost eldest Princess of Hell, Vera Morningstar.

Vera P.O.V:

I shoot up from my desk in a panic; I don't even remember falling asleep, to be completely honest. I search the room for Rosie, but she is long gone, and the completed report sitting in the center of my desk with a little note taped to the top.

"Next time, just ask for help; Auntie Rosie will always have your back!" I yawn and stretch out my arm that had pins and needles from me laying on it for so long. I glance over to my right to see a meal prepared for me as well. I know Rosie is behind all this generosity; I would trade my soul for her cooking. I happily munch down on the potatoes and gravy and eat the entire bowl of jambalaya and munch on the salad she made as well. A small knock on the door takes my attention away from my food for a brief second.

"Yep?" I ask in between bites.

"Hey, it's Charlie, the Princess from the other day. Can I come in?" I almost spit out the mouthful of food I had, and then I started to choke on the food like an idiot. I pound on my chest in an attempt to dislodge the stuck food, and finally, Meko slaps me hard on the back. I wheeze for air and try to make my way over the door, only to trip over Frazzle, who was coming to see what all the commotion was about. I land face-first onto the ground, causing my nose to start gushing blood everywhere. I frantically get on my feet and open the door calmly as my baby sister stands there looking at the chaos that I had just induced in my office.

"Uh, is this a bad time for you? Cause I can totally come by whenever works for you," she smiles sheepishly, her attention span lacking as her gaze lands on Meko, who was picking at the food I left all over my table. I could see the stars literally form in her eyes as whatever she was saying came to an immediate halt.

"AHHHHH SHE'S SO FUCKING CUTE!" she sprints over to my twin-tailed fox and scoops her up into her arms. Meko stared at me with a look that said, get your damn sister under control. I stand there, nose still dripping everywhere, just watching Charlie adore the furry little creature. Her smile is so wide and carefree; I remember the one time we found a Hellcoon (Racoon) in the woods; Charlie was brushing his hair and painting his nails and giving him the best spa day one could have as a Hellcoon. She named him Pufferfish and wanted to keep him as a full-time resident of the Morningstar manner. Until our Dad saw Pufferfish and let out a girlish scream. He also passed out when Charlie tried to hand Pufferfish to him; regardless, there was a new rule set by our mother that we could no longer adopt random creatures we came across in the woods.

"So, what can I help you with today, young princess?" I grab a napkin from my pocket and hold it to my face as I walk back over to my desk and start to clean up the mess of my own making.

"I just swung by to thank you again for saving Vaggie. The sinner I brought in the other day is doing great, thanks to you. I was wondering if you wanted to get some food sometime; it will be my treat. I think we could be great friends if you really wanted," she smiles at me and carefully sets Meko down on the desk. Yes, yes, yes! This is it; I can get back in Charlie's life!

"Sure, are you free tomorrow? I have an opening at noon to step out of the office for a bit," I smile as my nose dries up, and I toss the tissue away.

"Excellent, I can't wait! I also have one more question for you. Since you run most of the hospitals and clinics in Hell, you have a pretty good knowledge about a lot of different sinners from all the different rings, right?" she sits down in front of me and interlaces her fingers on my desk as her puppy dog eyes bore into my heart. When did she become less of my little sister and more of an adult?

"Yes, I have a pretty good record of a lot of sinners if they ever went to a doctor under my watch. I have treated a lot of the deadly sins and Overlords. My client list is a very long and broad list," I tell her; I move the reports from in front of her and to the side.

"Have you ever treated someone who looks like me? She would be a bit older now, and she always kept her hair a lot shorter than mine but she still would have a red piece of hair in the middle of her hairline. She is pretty short, like five foot three. Her name is Vera Morningstar; I'm worried that something terrible has happened to her. I was hoping that she might have been in one of your hospitals by any chance. I know it's a long shot, but I've run out of ideas on how to find her. You may have some record of her. Did she ever come here to get treated or just for a check-up?" Charlie looks at me hopefully as my heart shatters into a million little pieces. She has been looking this entire time for me? Part of me wants to scream, "I'm right here, Charlie! I've been here the whole time trying to change Hell!" The other part of me is a coward; every time I think of changing in front of her, my heart aches with anxiety.

"I have had your sister as a patient a handful of times. Your older sister is in great health, and when she comes by, she speaks highly of you often. I think your sister got a little lost on the way home, Charlie, but I promise you she will find you again when the time is right," I smile lightly at my sister as her face contorts, and then tears form at the corners of her eyes as I rethink everything I just said. My little sister starts sobbing hysterically as I get back up from my chair and rush over to her with some tissues.

"I didn't mean to make you cry; that wasn't my intention at all-"

"No, it's not that! She's alive and well, and my sister is fine. She may not be here with me now, but she isn't gone. I will find her no matter how long it takes or where she may be!" Charlie jumps out of her chair, wiping the last of her tears off of her cheek. "Thank you for everything, Vesper. The information you have given me is invaluable; I will see you for lunch tomorrow!" she sprints out the door like a bat out of Hell as I remain there stunned. I sit back in my chair, and for the first time in a long time, I laugh; I sit there laughing for what feels like ages until my stomach hurts too much to keep going.

Dear Charlie,

There is a special aunt in my life named Rosie; she came by today to help me when I wasn't strong enough to ask anyone to help. I think you and Rosie would get along well; I haven't met a lady so generous and caring, but I hope you can meet her one day for tea. I aspire to be as graceful and caring as Rosie, someone who you can rely on and someone who is always there to lend a helping hand. Someone who takes the time to listen and care. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Love, Vera

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