A Minute Worth 10 Years - Part 3

"Damn so now, even you are giving me the cold shoulder, but I guess that is what I deserve for scaring you earlier. So, I am sorry Venus, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me," said Charles as he crouched down and faced his daughter who was sitting on the cold ground.

With her lips pushed out and hands crossed with her eyes closed and head tilted towards the sky. Paying no mind to whatever this buffoon said as she waited patiently for him to bring her home.

"Sigh, alright if that's how you want to play… then remember, don't ask me for any chocolate when we return home, Venus."

"Wait, wait, I apologize... I should have never mentioned your status in our village, Dada. But please, I beg you, don't take away chocolate from me." Pleaded Venus with her puppy eyes and a face that just screamed pinch me after dropping the facade and acting like a kid again.

"Alright, alright apology accepted and I promise, I won't take away your chocolate so, let us hurry home before your mother starts panicking and wondering where we are. Since it stopped raining a while ago."

"Whatever you say, Dada," Venus giggled as Charles picked her up and gave her a piggyback ride to their house.

A few minutes later…

Creak.

"Hmmm... it seems that useless husband of mine, finally found our daughter; what a waste of sperm, and how does it take you almost twenty minutes to find a child?" Diana muttered upon hearing the front door open as she inserted an apple pie into a termite mound oven.

Creak.

"Phew, it seems she's still cooking," Charles sighed with relief as he did not see his wife camping in the living room, waiting for their return as he and Venus walked inside. However, he did notice there was light in the kitchen and the shadow of a person moving back and forth. 

Working hard to create a scrumptious meal for her family as the aroma of different dishes permeated the air.

"Mommy," Venus sniffled as she ran toward her mother and began crying, "D… D-Dada scared… retrieving… treehouse."

"What's the problem, sweetie?" Diana asked with worry yet before she could comprehend what was happening or perceive the mischief in her daughter's voice. She paused and placed the knife in her hand down gently and pieced together what Venus told her, 'Dada scared me while retrieving me from my treehouse.'

'Thought you could just scare me, Charles, and get away, huh? Now looks in trouble, you big meanie of a terrorist!' Venus smiled as she wiped the fake tears away.

"Fuck!" Charles cursed yet before he could run upstairs, his wife appeared behind him and gripped his shoulder.

Before asking a simple question, "Charles is what Venus said true and that's why it took you all so long to return because who nearly lost our daughter?!"

"Um, you see here's the~"

"Charles, don't make me repeat myself?" Diana said with an eerie calmness as she interrupted him and let go of his shoulder.

Forcing him to face the disaster he brought upon himself as his wife's eyes pierced into his very soul. Not giving him even the chance to lie as he knew better than to poke the hornet's nest and unleash the demon caged inside.

'… just type of family have I gotten myself entangled with? Coincidently, that girl's soul is still intact or else I would have truly screwed myself over.' Thought Venus as she stood behind Diana and watched everything play out. 

"Yes, honey, what she said is true and I'm sorry for causing you to worry and stress about us," Charles said with a somber tone as he gazed at his wife and lowered his head.

"Thank you for being honest, I know that it wasn't easy; now come here and give me some sugar! On second thought both of you go take a shower before coming back down to have dinner," Diana smiled as she walked back into the kitchen just in time to take the apple pie out of the oven.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Venus and Charles exclaimed as they dashed upstairs to go take a shower and freshen up.

Ding.

"And it seems the apple pie, so chop-chop as I don't go all today you two!" shouted Diana from downstairs as she began to decorate the dining table and place down the food.

15 minutes later…

Following the return of Venus and Charles, it was finally time to eat after they took their showers and said grace.

"Truly you outdid yourself yet again, honey!" Charles praised with a mouth full of food as he ate like a starving ghost who had not eaten in fifty years.

"MHM," Agreed Venus with genuine praise written all over her face as grease coated her fingers and mouth.

"Thank you, thank you, but that isn't what I want to hear; now Charles, what did the Chief say?"

"Gulp, can't we talk about this later, darling? As right now isn't the best time to bring up such sensitive topics." Charles said after taking a sip of water and placing down the food in his hand.

"Sensitive topic! This is our child's life we are talking about Charles for god's sake!"

"Diana, I know, but... sigh, okay he said flat out, 'No, and that it is an honor that God chose our child,' as if~"

"That fucking conniving bastard in sheep's clothing!" Diana shouted as she slammed her palm onto the dining table before taking a few deep breaths and returning to her usual self, "Then how come none of his or the past chief's children were chosen by God, huh? Surely, this cannot be a coincidence right, Charles?"

"I honestly do not know," replied Charles, "However, while you make a valid point, he is the chief and his word is law, Diana. Plus, if anyone disobeys his order their entire family could be killed and used as an offering."

"I know that Charles, but this has to be a lie?! For the God we worship, surely cannot be such a vicious and greedy being to the point where he wants to destroy our little family?" Diana said as she broke down into tears and hoped this was about all a lie.

Yet she knew better than to tell herself a lie for her village was the same way until the Messiah came. However, what made it worse was when Diana was finally beginning to calm down and wipe away her tears, she caught a glimpse of her daughter's face which was ghostly pale as if all the vitality had been sapped away.

But that was only one of the few things she noticed as Venus's entire body was shaking as if she was having a seizure. While her eyes were starting to roll back before she slipped out of her chair and fell to the ground with a thud, fortunately, her father caught her before her head hit the floor.

But this was only the beginning as a few minutes before Charles and Diana's discussion.

The original owner of this body, Venus Saint Clare began to throw a tantrum as she fought against Charlotte for control of her body. Almost succeeding in the process yet before it could reach such a point, Charlotte erased a portion of her consciousness and knocked her soul out, leading to the body having a seizure momentarily before she passed out.

'Tsk, such an annoying brat… just when will I be able to return home, O Lord?!' Charlotte sighed as she gazed at the sleeping Venus with disgust as she disappeared from her Soul Palace and took back control of this vessel.