"Wait, you can play the piano? And guitar? And sing?!" Verosika said.
"My Moxxie is a man of many talents." Millie said.
"And as his boss I know how to use all of them. He wrote I.M.P jingle, too."
"Only because you threatened with firing us, sir." Moxxie said dismissively.
"Oh come on! It is a great commercial! Do you ever get that stick out of your arse, Mox?"
"It is just a commercial, sir. I don't usually do those. Or that type of music."
"You don't usually do any music these days. An award winning musician who doesn't do music. At some point you stop being a musician and become… something else." Blitz said.
"Because I already have become something else and I am far past that point. I am an assassin. That's my job and I am a professional." Mox said.
"And a great one, too, honey." Millie added.
"Now, my music is for Millie's ears only. And yours, when you spy on us. When is that going to stop, sir?"
"When is what going to stop, Mox?"
"Nothing, sir."
"Wait, you said award winning? How old are you, Moxxie?!" Verosika said.
"Erm, ahem… " Moxxie said, then mouthed his age so only Verosika could see it.
"Hm. Interesting." Verosika said, frowning as she concentrated. "A golden record in 1993, no, ninety nine with 'Jamisaul and sons of god and sorrow' in alternative symphonic rock category? The album and titular 'Hellsong of love and destruction', right?"
"How to Heaven do you know that crap, Verosika?!" Blitz said.
"I was an edgy rebellious teen once too, Blitz. And you can't get more edgy and rebellious than calling yourself sons of god in Hell. And doing a mix of classical music and rock. Most bands do not take dead sinners and hellhounds, either. I listened a lot of small and alternative bands during that time of my life."
"So, why hadn't I ever heard of them?" Blitz said
"Turned out to be one hit wonder and then the band broke up after some suspicious deaths? I knew you sounded familiar, though I guess your voice changed after puberty. You were the second vocal and bass guitarist, right? The boy part of the band?"
"Yes. I was." Moxxie said tersely, through gritted teeth. Millie put a hand on his shoulder. "Easy, Mox." She whispered.
"Do you know what happened and who killed your band members?"
"He found out. Eventually. They are dead now." Millie said, in a voice that forbid any further discussion.
"Sorry. I was just curious. It was before my time. "
"You couldn't know." Moxxie waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, by the end of the evening you two are going to do some singing together." Blitzo said.
"But sir…" Moxxie started.
"No buts, Moxxie! You will do a song together and that's it! Apparently, Verosika is your biggest fan here."
"Blitz!" Millie said.
"You don't count, Millie, you are his wife." Blitz waved his hand dismissively.
"Fine. Although I don't see why that's so important to you, sir!"
"He wants to see the fat man sing, Moxxie." Loona said, with a grin.
Then they started to argue and it felt oddly familiar to Verosika, although she couldn't quite place the reason why. Everyone but Stolas, who watched their interactions with interest.
"Enough. I am going to take a piss. Try not to kill each other until I come back."
"Don't be long, Blitzy. I'll miss you." Stolas said.
"It's Blitz, you thirsty bird! And I am going to the bathroom, not the fucking Moon!"
"Blitzy?" Verosika said to Stolas, quietly, while the others still bickered. "That's a cute nickname. I call him Red."
"You were his lover?" Stolas said.
"Yes. I guess he has a type. Tall people in some sort of position of power. Or maybe we have a type and Blitz fits it… Don't know." Her voice turned to whisper "Did you find out about the second spine on the neck? It drives him wild if you blow on it. Or pet it."
"That's a new one. I did find out about the base of his tail and his left horn."
"Didn't know about the horn." Verosika said, with a smile.
"You need to nibble on the skin from where it comes out and pinch it slightly." Stolas chuckled. He was drinking heavily. They all were, except Verosika and Moxxie. Verosika because she was going clean and Moxxie because he was the designated driver.
"We will need to talk privately, the three of us. To come to some sort of arrangement." Verosika said. "My prince." She added, hastily. Despite being a huge star, Verosika was still just a commoner low-magic succubus and Stolas was a prince of enormous magic power. Formalities had to be followed and proper respect had to be shown.
"Does he love you?" Stolas asked, looking sad and serious all of a sudden.
"Yes. And I love him too. But he also loves you and you love him. That's what makes it complicated." Verosika said.
"I see. That's why we must talk. The sooner the better."
"My place? Tonight or tomorrow?" Verosika said.
"Why not? You would have the home turf advantage there, though."
"I guess. Though you would have the guest rights, my prince. And you could always give me an order and murder me if I fail to comply with it. The more important thing is that we get to some sort of agreement, whatever that may be. I can only hope that it will be positive for everyone involved." Verosika said.
Stolas suddenly got a VERY serious look on his face, as if he is looking at her soul and tearing the flesh from her bones, to reveal her heart and read what is written on it. His four red eyes glowed. Verosika shivered.
"One must wield their power responsibly and everybody deserves some happiness. I would never intentionally hurt Blitz. If he wants to be with you, I won't stand in his way." Stolas finally said.
"I thought more along the way of him being with the two us at the same time. We both love him and he loves us both." Verosika said quietly.
"As beautiful as you are, dear, I do not feel at all attracted to you." Stolas said. "We will discuss it."
"That's all I can hope for." Verosika said. Stolas smiled, his eyes widened as he looked behind her shoulder and he turned cheerful all of a sudden.
"Fancy bathroom." Blitz said, choosing that moment to return. "Fancy bathroom in a fancy restaurant with good food. Too bad the whole restaurant is empty except for us. No music except for that on the tape."
"Blitzy, she rented the whole restaurant just for us. A private party. That's why it is empty." Stolas said.
"Damn it Verosika, I only asked for steak dinner. Why would you do that?!" Blitz said.
"Stolas is a prince and I am a popstar. Some security considerations had to be respected." Verosika said.
"You worked as a bodyguard, Blitzy. So you know all about security." Stolas reminded him.
"Exactly. So you know how hard it would be to protect both of us if the restaurant was full of people." Verosika said.
"Damn it you two! Are you ganging up on me already?!" Blitz said. Stolas chuckled and Verosika smiled.
"That's it. You and Moxxie, on the stage. Now!" he said, then pointed at her. "Do it, or I won't accept this task as completed and life debt paid. You two chucklefucknuggets will provide this evening's entertainment, not me. Let's see how well you synchronise with electronic piano, bitch."
Stolas laughed again. Verosika gave Blitzo her most radiant smile then slowly and proudly walked to the mic.
"It's called synthesizer, sir." Moxxie said.
"Damn it, Mox, I swear, you are all just fucking with me. You're my fuckin' employee, you gotta do what I say. Now get on the stage and perform already!" Blitz said. Now it was Millie and Loona's turn to laugh.
Moxxie turned the instrument on and adjusted the chair. Then pressed a few notes and tried some scales.
"What should it be, Miss Mayday?" he asked.
"Don't ask her, ask me!" Blitz shouted. "Start with the jingle. I know you hate it."
"Whatever. You're the boss, boss." Moxxie said with a sigh then gave her a tempo.
"When you want somebody gone and you don't want to wait too long
Call the Immediate Murder Professionals
Hand grenade or cyanide, we'll make it look like suicide
The Immediate Murder Professionals
We do our job so well because we come straight up from Hell
We'll kill your husband or your wife, we'll even let you keep the knife
We're the Immediate Murder Professionals."
"Kids die for free." Millie, Loona and Blitzo sang out.
"There, who is laughing now?" Blitz said. "That was good, right?"
"It was good, Blitz." Millie said. While they were talking, Verosika whispered to Moxxie.
"Next one, C to F. Like this." She said then hummed a tune.
"That song? They won't like it." Moxxie said.
"Screw them. This is for Jamisaul and you and me, Moxxie. Let me cover that song. Let's show them the true art." Verosika said.
"Fine by me." Moxxie said, with a wicked grin.
He gave her a powerful intro. You're not supposed to start a song with what amounted to 30 second long guitar solo and yet that is what they did. Even on a synthesizer it sounded powerful.
"Faithful fans have gathered here,
Satan will appear. Before the mighty showoff
They are in doubt.
"Apart from the girl up here,
There's no one like you, my dear,
Tasting my lips, no one but you and her."
By the fire every damned will sing,
And praise the gracious queen,
By the fire every damned will dance,
And praise the handsome lord,
*instrumental*
Forever and ever they will be one,
The maiden and the fair, they fell in love!
"Where ever you go you'll be with me,
With our daughter by our side,
Together, to the bitter tea,
Together to turn the tide,
My first born and my last,
A beautiful gift from you to me,
The princess and the Queen.
Carry on, we shall carry on!
Carry on, always carry on!
*instrumental*
Though we departed from Heaven
In bitterness,
we shall carry on,
Carry on! We shall carry on!
She's the little cutie from her lashes to her toes,
Her eyes are lit with fire like the future of her foes,
Her little golden curls will crown the throne she overthrows,
And proud it still stands,
Until the world ends,
Our glorious banner of love!
Snow white her hands, and golden her hair.
She's not the one, not yet the Queen,
When we are spent and all has been seen,
She will rule fair!
So some and take my hand,
Then proudly it will stand,
Until the world comes to an end,
Our glorious banner of love!"
Moxxie did the solo and there was silence.
"What to fuck was that shit?!" Blitzo shouted. Yet Prince Stolas, of all people, seemed moved by the song.
"Now stop screwing around and sing Mustang Dong next!" So Verosika did.
Then they did "Who let the hellhounds out" to a loud participation from the audience.
"Who let the hounds out?
Woof, woof , woof woof!
Out of hell and into the world?
Woof, woof, woof woof!
Into the world to sniff the sinners out?
Out,out , out out! All out, out out.
To chase the sinners and drag them down?
Down, down, down down.
Who let the hounds out?
Woof, woof, woof woof!"
It was followed by one of her own songs. And one by Moxxie, called "Oh Millie". There was more singing and drinking and fun and jokes and some more bickering. While he could still talk, Blitz relieved Verosika from her obligation to him. Since they were the only ones sober, Verosika and Moxxie talked about art and the bitch of a business that is show business. She learned a lot about Moxxie's past, that he was a theatre kid, a teenage boy in the boy band and how he learned a lot about guns and why.
Time flies when you are having fun but all things must come to an end. Vortex approached her half an hour before they were to leave.
"Something has changed, Verosika. I can smell it in the air. Some sort of magical charge all around the building. I tried phasing through the walls with my hellhound magic and it didn't work. Something is blocking it."
Verosika's eyes widened in realization.
"Prince Stolas is a known teleporter, portal master and space sorcerer. They want us to get out through the doors, not walls or through portal."
"I don't like this one bit. Shall I call backup?"
"No. They are probably monitoring the phones and blocking communication magic and would attack the moment we try to contact anyone. We shall continue as if everything is normal. Only, you are going with IMP employees."
"My contract is with you. I am to protect you, Verosika. That's what I am paid for."
"And to listen to my orders and I order you to protect IMP employees, Vortex! They will get out first and you are to ride with them in the car and protect them as you would protect me."
"Understood."
From her stage, Verosika had a good view so she took a stock of the situation. Loona was passed out on the table, her mouth spread in a smile, or at least a toothy grin. Stolas ended up snoring under the same table while Millie kept muttering and giggling to herself. And kissing and hugging Moxxie from time to time for no apparent reason.
"So, a final call?" Moxxie said to Verosika.
"Yes. You drive the girls home. I'll take the guys."
"Blitz and Loona live at the same place."
"I can't just drop Prince Stolas back at his house in the defenceless state he is in right now. He'll get murdered. I promised I'll give him guest rights and that means keeping him safe. Besides, I need to talk both to him and Blitz. Tomorrow morning at my house is the best place and time."
"Just keep them both safe. Promise me you'll keep them safe!" Moxxie said.
"I promise. I swear on my talent and magic."
"That should be enough." Moxxie said.
Verosika checked on Blitzo. He was in his "singing to himself quietly" phase of intoxication, which meant that he could barely walk and was slurring his words. She talked to him for a couple of minutes, then he went to wake Loona up.
"Wakey, wakey, Looney Tooney." Blitz said.
"Wh-? Just five more minutes, Da- Blitz!" Loona said.
"No. Gotta go home, with M en M en M en M en…. Moxxie will drive you an' drop you off."
"What about you?" Loona asked.
"Gotta talk with Vero-chika. I'll sleep at her house."
"It's a big house. Don't get lost and forget to come home, Blitz." Loona said.
"I won't. Now go with them."
Moxxie got out of the restaurant with the two of them and drove off in his and Millie's car, with Vortex riding shotgun. They were not followed.
That left Stolas.
"Coo. Why ish there f-four of yah? I can make for of me, shee?" Stolas slurred when they grabbed him under the armpits and hauled him to his shaky feet. He then used some of his magic to make 3 copies of himself, book included.
"Can make shix. Can make some of them dupes –sh ssh- sober. Shee?" He said. "I can make them drive me home! Or drive your car home! I can even make you look like me!"
He proceeded to do just that. His survival instincts were very acute, despite the deep inebriation.
"Alright, 3 of your dupes can drive IMP van back to Blitz's place and three of your dupes can drive your car back home. But you are coming with us!" Verosika said.
Nine Stolases came out of the door at about the same time, in triads, two carrying the third one. One triad sat into the IMP van, the other into Stolas's limousine and the third one into Verosika's car. They drove together for some time, until they separated at the crossroads.
"We are being followed." Blitz said, still under Stolas illusion. Their car was the last in a column, with Stolas limousine being in the middle and IMP van being first. As they came closer to the crossroads, Blitzo stood up, spread his illusiory wings and shouted at their followers.
"Come on, if you think you are hard enough. Come get me, you jerkshhh." And shot his flintlock at the nearest stalker vehicle, pulling it from what appeared to be his illusionary chest. "Come and get me, fa-fuckers, what are you waiting for! Venit, vaginae unum! I'm right here, you arsheholes! So come and get some! Waaah, cluck cluck cluck." And so on, trying to goad them into action.
Verosika, still looking like Stolas, went home to Lust ring, Stolas car went to Greed ring and IMP van went forward towards IMP city. In the rear view mirror Verosika noticed that both IMP van and Stolas car were followed by black vans she assumed were filled with spooks. Her car was cabriolet, very open to sniper fire and a tempting target, with some jerk wearing quite an obvious illusion making noise and trying to ensure they were followed, so it had to be a decoy, right? While van and limo were armored and armed and the first and second in the column so they had to be the real deal. Nobody bothered with an obvious decoy. It would be suicidal if they weren't a decoy and nobody was that insane or drunk, right?! After half an hour of nerve-shaking night drive, Verosika could hear hooting snores on the back bench. It was another hour and a half of driving before they reached the safety of her home, with Verosika nervously scanning the road behind and before her.
Once they entered her villa, Verosika let out a relieved sigh. The magic camouflage dropped. They put Stolas into her guest room. She helped Blitzo undress the prince to a point then waited in front of the door for Blitz to come out after he finished the rest.
Blitz let out an impressed whistle once he got out.
"Wow. So, how many dicksh in Hell you have… have hat… have had to head had… had had to sucksh to get all of tha…?" Blitz asked her.
"Loona asked the same thing. Not that many and it felt like winning a hot dog eating contests for me." Verosika said.
"Cute." He said. "I feel tai… taired and sh- . Sh-. Shatty and my vision is so blurrrry. Where did you prepare for me to sleep?"
"You can share the bed with me or choose the second guest room to spend the night at."
"Your bed is more comforta- comfart- comfer- nicer. Just don't get any… any ideash, ok? I'm taken."
"Come here, you hunky piece of a boyfriend, you." Verosika said and dragged him to her bedroom.
"Like old times." Blitz whispered as she undressed him then herself, until they were both in underwear.
Then she put him to bed, turned the lights off, covered them both and lied down with her back to him. Verosika listened to his breathing, back to back to Blitzo, and didn't let herself sink to sleep until she was sure he was asleep.
She woke up in the morning with Blitz hugging her from behind without any memory of when he got into that position. What she was absolutely certain of was that they didn't have any sex that night. Verosika was sober and Blitzo was drunk. You don't do that, even if you are a succubus. Not unless you are getting paid a lot to do it. And never to the people you care about.