Welcome back... I can't even do a startup now. Just enjoy the chapter. READ THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM PLEASE!
Chapter 6
"Open Doors"
To say William had a rough night would be an understatement... He alongside George have been seeking this supposed intruder all night and found absolutely nothing. Nothing opened, nothing stolen, no one killed or harmed. Both him and George turned back to taking care of the Carriage for the next day's journey, not getting even a time to sleep because of this dumb investigation... William was ready to just forget about this whole thing, but he still couldn't forget that short moment when he felt something... He knew he did... Whatever it was...
"It has to be... *yawn* gone already." William was very tired
"*grumble*" George wasn't so sure
"Ugh... I am NOT coming back to that Palace!" William said as he looked back at the house of Lord Stolas who not long ago drove off in his car, not even giving them a single glance "I can tell this place hates me."
"*grumble*" George corrected him, it hated everyone outside of this Goetia family
"Right, right..." William just nodded as he started dozing off again "And even that *yawn* is not certain..." And he slowly went off to slumber
*HALT*
Then suddenly gates have opened and the fancy car of their Owl lord came back and stopped not far from them, making William wide awake again. The one to get out of there was this shrimp. M... Maxxie or something... William did not care that much and promptly ignored him waving at them. George though returned the wave which seemed to made that shrimp frightened for some reason.
"I have to go now~ I'll tell Blitzy of this new side job I assigned you!" Their lord said happily as he drove off
Blitzy... William is sure this person owes him money, but he is too tired to think about it now. In fact he is too tired to think about anything. He went back to taking care of the carriage... He hoped to Satan or whoever else is there to file complaints to that he wont have to clean up after snow again... Slowly, but surely though he felt like falling asleep once more.
*HHN*
Suddenly the horse raised it's head for a moment, but slowly raised it down... Was it here again? No... Must have been something George did... Maybe touched some weird bone... At least that's what William hoped for. He just finished cleaning last parts of the carriage, making it dry for this new ride Lady Stella wanted alongside Lady Octavia and that Shrimp... William was glad it was over... so glad...
...
"*Grumble*" George informed William who quickly regained his senses...
He looked behind and he saw Lady Stella, Lady Octavia and that shrimp approach them. Lady Octavia in particular looked unusually elegant now. William never before saw her wear any kind of dress at least. Or he didn't bother to remember. But that was of no matter. He quickly opened the doors and bowed his head... And slowly his eyes closed
...
How good it was to be him! All those people admiring his style. All sounds of adoration and awe at him... How beautiful... And then he saw him in the crowd. A similar to him, but a bit taller imp with different horns compared to William's curved forward ones... Why was he here? Wait... were they... Adoring him?!
"Why the fuck are you here!?" William grabbed the hand of this fucking thief "I asked-"
Suddenly his moustache coiled around William's neck and the imp was about to bite his head off. William of course
*PUNCH*
Retaliated
"AAAH FUCK! STAY AWAY FROM ME YO-" William screamed and punched the shrimp right in the nose "Oh shit..." William said as he looked donw on the now bleeding from the nose imp "You okay shrimp?"
"Y-yeah... I'm..." Shrimp said while holding his bleeding nose "I'll... just go in now..."
"Yeah... okay..." William scratched himself in the back and closed the doors "Fuck, fuck, fuck..."
William cursed as he sat down next to George who immediately made the horses move.
"*grumble*" George said
"No comment..." William said quietly as he cursed at himself some more because he may have just harmed some honorary guest... "And just so you know... it's your fault as well!"
"*grumble*" Geroge politely disagreed
"Oh yes it is! You're the one that made me run around the entire castle and NOW I am like that! You and that imaginary entity!" William did not even want to look at him
"*grumble*" George reminded him
"Fuck off! Don't you see I want to forget about that!?" William got pissed off now
"*grumble*" George apologized
"..." William though said nothing other than just keep on looking at the road and listening to the angry horns of the cars riding behind them
Some time later
Finally they arrived at the Theatre. It was one grand building surrounded by Law Enforces and Order of Gates of Bone. William cared not for either of those. Ones are complete psychopaths who would burn down all of hell into even more of a smoldering shithole if they felt like there is not enough discipline and others are pathetic, aimless morons still drooling over a desecrated Goetia. Not like William would say any of those things out loud. He valued his Hellborn life more so than his Chaotic values. But he couldn't hold back his contempt for Great Governor's law and ones who are spreading it like a disease.
William tried to focus on something else. For instance at the fact that he should be soon opening the doors for... oh shit... William quickly got down from his position and opened the doors and Lady Stella and the others came out. The shrimp though seemed to be lost in his thoughts as he looked over the Theatre. William did not see anything that grand in it. But the imp seemed to come back to his senses with help of Young Lady Octavia and went towards the Theatre. William just closed the doors and sat down next to George again.
"So... are we doing the usual rounds?" William asked George who just shrugged.
Then something seemed to catch his attention and when William looked towards the Theatre he noticed that their passengers had some small argument with a Bodyguard who seemed to be agitated given how those blocking Thorns on her were reacting. William never understood why they bother with putting a bodyguard like that when there are knights around this place... Then again, maybe it's a simple formality and those knights are too proud to check some lists and tickets. But the argument seemed to be over with the bodyguard putting her tail on the floor and looking like she was just shot from point blank range. William cared not for it.
"So... can we go?" William asked George when suddenly
*HHNNG*
The horses raised their heads and started looking around
"Oh for fu-" William quickly looked at George who started to calm them down "No! NOT AGAIN!"
"*grumble*" George said... it was here it seems
"Satan... fucking..." William just grabbed his horns out of frustration "So what? You want us to follow it?"
William asked George who was still looking at horses who right now had their sight towards the Theatre... Or rather it's main doors.
"*grumble*" George suggested
"Fuck no... I'm not going to that filthy place!" William said with great contempt as he looked at the blasted Theatre
"*grumble*" George did not mind and just got down from the carriage
"What the fuck are you- WAIT!" Then George started walking towards the building and William quickly tried to stop him by grabbing his hands, but George just kept on walking as William was dragged behind him "Can you stop... Please?"
"*grumble*" George stopped and helped William get up from the floor
"You are a moron." William chastised George who still had his normal expression "You will NOT enter that place! And even if you do how do you plan on finding this thing? We couldn't find it that entire night!"
"*grumble*" George pointed out
"Yes, yes I believe in it... Ugh... I wish I didn't..." William just wanted to forget and not give a shit once more "But this means nothing. Even if it exists, we can't do shit about it! We can't find it!"
"*grumble*" George said while pointing at the horses
"What? You want to bring one of them there?" William asked and George without another word walked up to the Carriage
George made a gesture and made the one skeletal horse with purple glow in it's eyes bow it's head. George then looked around as if looking for something and in the next moment he started to violently pull the Horse's skull.
"WHAT A FUCK ARE YOU-"
*CRACK*
The bone in horses neck cracked and the skull fell off from it's body.
"We are dead..." William said as he looked at what is possibly their future state as well
*HHHN*
But then the skull made a noise...
"*grumble*" George petted the skull which still had it's glow and the body still somehow stood there and moved a bit
"It's alive?" William was quite dumbfounded, but it seemed rather obvious now that he thought about it "Wait! You want to bring this... there?"
William pointed back at the Theatre and George just nodded
"I... I am done with this job after this..." William said as he put fingers over his eyes "And let me guess... You want to somehow look for that thing with... this..."
"*grumble*" That was indeed the plan
"Ugh... I wont deter you from it right?" William asked and George shook his head "Ohhh... Fuck it... May as well. Seems more interesting than going around in circles..."
"*grumble*" George agreed and lead the way
"What am I doing with my life?" William asked and no one answered
William and George went up the stairs and suddenly they were stopped by a lot of guard thorns coming out of that hellhound.
"Tickets..." Hellhound said in a bored tone despite having her body stabbed by said thorns
"Umm..." Before George said anything William stepped in front of him, still remembering the argument this Hellhound seemed to have with Lady Stella "We are not here for any play..."
"Then go away." Hellhound said bluntly
"Hmm... Now you see... that may be a problem." William said while getting a bit closer to the Hellhound who just put more thorns in front of him "You see... Our boss forgot to take something from her Carriage and we... want to bring it to her..."
"What?" Hellhound asked while looking at George "That skull?"
"Wh...Y- YES! Lady Stella would want this to be with her during the play!" William quickly readjusted
"Stella..." Hellhound repeated the name
"Yes... We serve Lady Stella at her Carriage..." William pointed back at the Carriage "Of course it would be a GREAT help if you let us through to her... otherwise we will have to give her... thorough explanation as to what made us incapable of delivering it to her..."
Hellhound looked back at the carriage with a hint of fear in her eyes and the thorns slowly moved back from William and nodded her head at the door while looking away. William smiled and moved forward and George as well who stopped before the Hellhound and gave her some Hellars.
"Hmm... This is more profitable job than I thought..." Hellhound said while William and George moved away
"You are too nice George..." William said and in his mind couldn't believe how easy that was
"*grumble*" George said
"It may give you trouble one da-"
*STOMP*
Then suddenly a Law Enforcer stood in their way. William quickly became quiet.
"Weapons..." Enforcer said
"N-none..." William said honesy
"*grumble*" George though took from his tux a very big shotgun and grenade launcher and dropped them on the ground with a loud *THUMP*
"(Where did he put those?)" William thought to himself
"Skull..." Enforcer pointed at the Horse Skull in George's hands
"Uhh... That is... a toy he carries everywhere with him!" William tried to come up with something "He... He feels scared and lost without it, you have to understand... My friend here... had a rough childhood..."
"..." Law Enforcer did not look convinced
"*grumble*" George confirmed while hugging the skull tighter
"What?" Law Enforcer did not seem convinced yet... or did not understood what George said
"*grumble*" George said while petting the skull
"Y-yeah... what he said..." William went on with George's manipulation
"... Eh... I have a brother like that..." Law Enforcer said while moving away "Go in."
"Th-thank you... sir..." William felt like he was about to puke when he said that
"Do not start anything." Enforcer warned
"Shall remember..." William said to the Knight in black and gold and went in alongside George
They actually made it inside... What a surprise that was. Now it came down to finding this thing... among all of the guests... Yeah that may take a while. The flame pillars underneath the ceiling were plentiful and illuminated many of the paintings. The one that caught William's attention the most was Paimon's... One of the greatest Demons on side of Chaos and Lord Lucifer. William still felt annoyed about not taking the job offer from him, but Lady Fostofella at the time offered a better deal... And who knows, maybe it was for the better. As much as William admired the shapeshifter who can tell if he wasn't going to screw him over somehow... Like for instance by making him work in his Labyrinth...
"*grumble*" George asked the skull
"Hmm..." William was taken out of his thoughts and looked at George "I don't think it can answer your-"
*HHNG*
Skull pointed at the doors to the main stage.
"*sigh* Why do I even bother?" William said and followed George and the skull
When they entered the next hall they were met with quite a lot of Demons going up and down towards their seats. George and the skull looked around while William out of boredom tried to maybe make out where Lady Stella is. That way they can avoid being spotted by her. Then suddenly he noticed not Lady Stella, but... a small Belethian with white fur and a black tux with a bone key on it, he did not pay them the slightest attention, but William knew very well who that was. Derangi. A damn Law Enforcer who turned many parts of hell into piles of dust and shattered memories. William looked away from him... He would never even dare look this thing in the eye and moved down the stairs.
*CRUSH*
But suddenly he was tripped by someone and he fell face first onto the floor.
"Hohoho... This never gets old." A female Goetia laughed and William was just full of hatred right now
He tried to get up from the floor and...
*SLAM* *DING* *DING*
Someone walked over him while making weird dinging noises. When William looked up he saw a weird Goetia in a more human like form with white skin, small beard and a moustache in a red jester suit with bells on his legs and on a weird red ear hat of his. This weirdo went into one of the seat rows.
"Grrr... I thought jesters are supposed to be funny..." Then again... maybe the joke was William himself
He slowly got up from the floor with assistance from George. The lights slowly became darker and George pointed at the bottom of the hall.
"It's down there?" William asked and George nodded
William did not know what else to say and both of them just went down there to look for something.
"Welcome Lords and Ladies, disgraced and damned, lost and discarded..." Some Goetia started doing a speech on stage, but William did not bother to listen
They went further and further down until they were very close to the stage. William looked around, but saw nothing besides the curtain slowly opening up. But then... in the corner of his eye he saw someone behind the stage... No... It couldn't be...
"That..." William slowly raised his finger there
George looked where he was pointing and immediately grabbed William's hand
"*grumble*" He protested
"Motherfucker..." William said as he saw that shithead who stole his style and without thinking went up to the stage
"*grumble*" George just facepalmed and followed
William without thinking went closer to the stage when suddenly another Reinforcer stood in their way. He had a tail sticking out of his backside and the sloppy way he put on the armor made it clear for William that it was a novice AND most likely a moron.
"Can't enter..."
"We can. Move." William said to the annoying knight, but he did not budge
Knight just looked over them and pointed at the backstage "Then why are you not there now?"
"Simple. You're in the way." William said without much patience
"*grumble*" George tried to deter William from this
"What he said. We are the actors here." William did not even listen
"Why are you not there then?" Knight asked
"Ugh... We were send for this prop" William pointed at the skull "Not our fault it was so hard to find! Now move before we will be late for our gig!"
"..." Knight looked over them again
"*grumble*" George finally relented and tried to help as well to William's delight
"..." Knight did not budge for a few more moments and looked at them some more then moved out of the way "Enter."
"Thank you..." William said with as much spite as possible and moved to the backstage alongside George "Tch, fucking idiot. Those Law Enforcers are a complete joke..."
'*grumble*" George warned
"Yeah. Yeah. We will figure out getting out later. For now I need to find..." Then William saw the thief, taking with that Winged Lion who moved away while taking some call "YOU!"
William quickly moved towards the similarly clothed to him thief with additional top hat while George just looked somewhere else. The thief just lazily looked at William.
"What is it? Oh..." Thief seemed surprised as he saw William... He better be "My, my. Didn't know I had a fan around here. Considering your suit and look you must be a big fan aren't you?"
"Yeah. Of your dead body." William said with great amount of venom in his voice
"Pardon?" Thief seemed dumbfounded
"DON'T PLAY INNOCENT HERE! You stole my thing!" William pointed at his moustache "I was the one who came up with it first and YOU copied it from me!"
"Hmm? You must be mistaken sir. It's already proven that I had this style first. You can ask the barber who made it himself that it was me. Wally Wackford who first had this brilliant idea." Wally said while playing with his moustache with pride
"WHA- WALLY?!" William couldn't believe it they even had similar names "That's why that fucker kept on talking about some Wally..."
"Are you done here sir?" Wally asked "I need to be somewhere el-"
"Oh nonono... We are going to have a longer talk. GEORGE!" William screamed for George
"Who? My name is Wally you-"
"Not you, you sad excuse of a parrot. Him." William pointed behind him
"There is no one there." Wally said while looking behind William
"What?" William looked behind and saw only the Horse Skull on the floor "What the fuck!?"
"Is... this your friend?" Wally pointed at the skull "If so... my condolences I guess."
"YOU!" William quickly grabbed the skull "WHERE IS THE DUMBASS!?"
The skull just blinked with it's strange light in it's eye sockets and did not stop looking at William.
"Ohh... Very clever of you paper weight. I MEANT THE GUY WHO CARRIED YOU!" William screamed at the skull which started looking in the direction of the stage
When William looked there a strangely similar to George imp with the same Ram like horns started happily running away.
"Hey you!" William called out to him "Where is the smelly imp that looks like you!"
"THE IDIOT SEEMED TO TAKE MY PLACE! I AM FREE!" Imp screamed out and ran away into the unknown
"..." William needed a second to process this "Oh no..." And then it hit him, but he quickly turned to Wally "YOU! STAY HERE!" and made him hold the skull while he quickly walked away towards the place where the skull was looking
When he got there he saw George standing in some weird line and had another, skinnier Imp close to him, they were waiting in front of the main stage where the actors were now performing. William quietly went up to him.
"George what the FUCK are you doing?!" William asked his clearly mentally handicapped friend
"*grumble*" George proudly said
"What do you mean HELP!? The fucker ran away from here with a speed of sound and called you a moron! What is wrong with you!?" William quietly screamed at George and his moronic point of view
"*grumble*" George said and put on his hand on William's shoulder
"... Really?" William couldn't believe it right now
"Next scene!" Someone screamed out from the stage as the curtains closed and scenery was being changed
"*grumble*" George said while walking towards his destiny
"George? What the fuck are-"
Then suddenly Wally grabbed him by his tux
"Now now... You don't want to go there. There is a certain plan every actor needs to go along with. And I don't think you just storming in there would go unnoticed by every Knight in here." Wally said in condescending tone while holding the skull under another arm of his
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WAIT THERE!" William pointed out
"Who said I need to listen to you? Besides. I wanted to see how it will turn out." Wally said while looking at George "My, what a beautiful friendship you have there."
"Fuck. Off..." William tried to get out of this fucker's grip, but after some struggle he decided to just watch what will happen next, this thief was surprisingly strong
"How empty... I feel like an empty bottle of a few thousand year old wine... Fermented and cared for, for hundreds of years... Now empty in, but a single moment... The food loses taste, the drinks lose strength, the touch means less... Colors of life slowly fade... Leaving only embers from once inextinguishable flame..." The actor said with rather convincing imitation of sorrow in his voice and went closer to one of the two impish servants there, one next to George "How can I make it burn once more?"
*SLAM*
And quickly grabbed the imp and slammed it very hard against the floor, making it's innards and blood explode onto the stage. Now William started panicking. He wanted to scream at George now, but he wouldn't listen. What to do... WHAT TO DO!? Then an idea came to his mind as he looked at the skull Wally was holding in his second hand.
"Hey... May I... Hold it?" William pointed at the skull
"Yeah... Sure." Wally gave him the skull
"Okay... GEORGE!" That was the loudest quiet scream William ever made, it seemed to be loud enough to get George's attention "You... Forgot to say goodbye to... him."
And William showed him the skull that a quiet
*hhng*
"*Grumble*" George nodded and walked towards them slowly
"Hey! Vhat tha fack ar yu-" and the actor soon followed him and the curtain closed
"Ohh..." Wally then quickly let go of William "Well... you can find me in the changing room... If you will survive." and walked away
George just petted the skull and tried to say something until the actor showed up
"Vat ar yu doin you littl zhit." Actor said with rather odd accent and tried to grab George before there was heard sound of laughter and clapping "Vat?"
"Well... That is a... interesting change." The winged Lion said as he flew towards all of them "Audiences seemed to have enjoyed this slight change and yet... I don't think I was told of there being any."
"Vat... I mean..." Ars Goetia tried to say something, but the Winged Lion raised his hand
"No need to explain anything sir." The Lion just shook his hand "I trust your better judgement. Just make sure those changes don't interfere too much with the play."
"..."
Nobody exactly knew what to say as the Lion went away.
"Hmm... Great thankz to yu Imp." Actor knelt down and patted George on the back "Yur courage and devianze tovardz ze zcript iz admirable."
"*grumble*" George just bowed his head
"Right... Sorry, we need to go for a moment." William said and quickly grabbed George by the hand and brought him to the changing room "Do NOT do that ever again! YOU HEAR ME!"
"*grumble*" George apologized as he followed William and held the skull in his hands once again
"Okay... Let's just go deal with our little thief." William said as he opened the doors to the changing room where only Wally was
"Oh... Seems you both are okay. Great, wonderful..." Wally said with a very passive aggressive tone
"Yeah right. Now we can talk for real." William said as he closed the doors
"Riiiight... But can it wait? My most ravishing scene is coming and I would prefer to not miss it..." Wally said with great pride
"Wait... You are an actor here? You are going to play there now?" William wanted to know if he heard it right
"Why yes I will, will be most pleasurable one... or so I heard..." Wally seemed to enjoy this fact
"Really?" William said
"Yes..." Wally repeated
"Really?" William said again
"Yes." Wally got a visibly annoyed
"Really!?" William said once again
"YES RE-"
*SMASH*
William quickly took the skull from George's hands and threw it with all power at Wally, knocking him out.
"*grumble*" George asked
"Simple. This fucker stole my style and I..." William picked him up by his shoulders "I... will take his role." William said and slowly dragged Wally's body towards the nearest closet, he had some trouble with it
"*grumble*" George offered
"No! I can... do it." William said while trying to get him closer to the closet, but having great trouble
George then suddenly came forward, placed the skull on nearby chair and grabbed his legs. Both of them dragged him towards the closet and locked him up in there.
"Ugh... I could have dragged him there on my own." William had his pride hurt
"*grumble*" George said and patted him on the back
"Okay, let's go." William said and both of them left the changing room
"Next scene!" Winged Lion screamed out from the stage's side "Where is Mr. Wackford?"
"About that..." William quickly went up to him "There has been some issues with-"
"Ah there you are." Suddenly the Lion started pushing towards the concealed by curtain stage that had quite a few bodies on it, both living and alive covered in blood. The stench was nauseating. What kind of role did this guy sign up for?! And most importantly... Why does he think he is that thief?!
"Wait, wait a minute. My name is Will-"
"Yes, I know. Get out there. No time to lose." Winged Lion pushed William onto the stage "Okay, everyone seems to be ready."
"Very gud..." The main actor walked towards the stage as soon as the Winged Lion said that, but on the way looked at George who was holding the horse skull "Ah. Perfect! A good prop to make the environment more varied. Thoughtful of yu my dear Imp."
"*grumble*" George wanted it back
"Oh thank yu dear." And the actor was blissfully unaware
This whole thing made William think as he was lying there among the bodies, blood and horny demons... What even is this play? And then the curtain unveiled them and the creepy orgy has started and that is when William remembered a colorful tv add for this particular Play... He is on Road of Passion. And he was about to be murderfucked... And the fucking Wally will still take credit.
And then after a while he felt someone grab him and pull him closer and immediately he was reminded of that damn nightmare he had not long before that. As that damn actors face got closer, William did something stupid, but oh so satisfying.
*PUNCH*
William punched the pervert right in the face and fell on his feet and got very angry as he looked at the fucking nobles all around watching this shit, among which he saw Lady Stella, this psycho Derangi and that unfunny Jester. He had enough of those demons. He had ENOUGH!
"OOOH YOU THINK YOU ARE ALL SO SMART HUH!?" William screamed with all his strength at the audience, those self righteous pieces of shit "YOU ALL THINK YOU ARE GOING HERE TO LEARN AND TEACH! BUT I CAN BET MY HORNS MANY OF YOU ARE HERE JUST TO SEE AND ENJOY THIS SHIT!" He pointed at the very explicit scene on stage "YOU HIGH AND MIGHTY PIECES OF SHIT! YOU SELF RIGHTEOUS FUCKWADS!"
William lost his breath for a moment from all this screaming.
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
Then some demons started to clap. Was this a joke?
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
No... No it was not... William decided to just turn and run away. On the way he grabbed the skull from other Demon's hands. He decided already, he is out of here! Now only to take George and-
"Hmm..." Suddenly the Winged Lion appeared before him "Interesting performance... Mr. Wackford."
"I...I..." William did not know what to say that wouldn't get him killed
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
"*grumble*" George said while clapping from the side
"I must agree with this individual. It was a very good example of acting and I can tell the crowd is greatly entranced by it. Maybe you do have a future in this industry. But please inform me of any script changes at a later date."
"I... Wait... What did you call me?" William asked
"Hmm? Is mr. Wally more to your liking?" The Goetia asked
"Wha? NO! I'M-"
"Later mr. Wackford. I need to take care of some business." The Goetia then left, leaving William dumbfounded "I gave that fucker another win..." Then he turned to George "Wait for me here. I have to kill him."
"My, my. Zpectacular performanze!" Suddenly the actor came and made William stop in his track
"Hmm... Yes. It was quite wonderful ri-"
"I KNEW yu vere my lucky imp." Then the actor turned towards George
"What... B-but I WAS THE ONE WHO-"
"I can tell that zuch a zcript change could come from no other than one zo brave as to walk away from stage without a zingle word." Actor patted George on the back
"..." William was at a loss for words
"*grumble*" George said and pointed at William
"Hmm? Ah yez... Yu." Goetia then slowly came towards William, making him quite nervous... he wondered if he was angry about that punch "Vonderful perfomanze!" Apparently he was not "I can tell yu have a vonderful future in thiz art!"
"Umm... thanks..." William did not know what to say, someone actually completented him for once
"Yez, yez. That iz vhy I zhall make yu and mr..." Actor pointed at George
"George..." William added
"George here to have a zpecial roll in future zcene." Goetia happily said
"Wait... REALLY!?" William got excited now
"Vhy yez mr. Vackford..." Actor said
"For the last time... I AM NOT-"
A bit later
"I want to die..." William said
Him and George were now wearing a very strange suit made in image of lord Asmodeus with the skull head being for some reason in the middle of it, William on the right side and George on the left, this costume was dressed in clothes similar to so called King of Lust, but was clearly made of much cheaper material and the feathers on it's tail were made of human bird. William had no clue why they made the skull be in the middle and he did not care. He just felt rage while George seemed to enjoy this costume they both had to control in order for it to stand properly with it's strange mechanisms. Right now they were in the scene where they were giving character of Pargon the Asmodeian Crystal.
"Oh King of Lust. Give this Demon access to the human world! Let the void be filled! LET ME FIND SOMETHING TO BURN, SO MY FLAME OF PASSION CAN LIVE A BIT LONGER!" Pargon asked Asmodeus
From what William read of the script they are supposed to make him go through 3 weird challenges before he can actually get them. Involves lots of singing, dancing and some weird poses...
"Uhh... sssure." And William had none of it and manipulated the right arm where he previously put a small prop serving as the crystal
"GGRRR now they are RUSHING this story! What a joke!" Someone from the audience said and when William looked there he saw that fucking Jester
"Found ourselves a critic... Fucking clown..." As far as William was concerned he was doing them a favor
Curtains closed and lots of murmurs were now heard from the audience. Some positive and some negative. Seems like going with changes is less and less desirable and William at this point should probably quickly walk away from here. He saw that the main actor has been talking once again with the winged Lion and they walked away for some reason, but not before the Lion gave him a rather suspicious look. William knew it was time to go... As he looked around the stage he saw some small holes and underneath there seemed to be an empty space. In fact there seemed to be one trap door not far from them. He wondered though what it was for. But no matter. They were about to go.
"George... We are getting out of here. We had our fun right?" William asked George who just nodded
Both of them got out of this weird suit and George took the skull. William carefully opened the trap doors when no one was looking and both went underneath. There was surprisingly quite a lot of space here, but sadly no way in sight of actual exit. Why was this place here? They wandered about this place, saw some unused costumes and props all around, then they heard something...
~First they said no more... Then they shed their skin...~
Someone... singing?
~Thirdly went to deep void... And then felt void within...~
William and George quietly went up to... the imp in a weird environmental suit that looked like it was made of a rock like substance, he did not wear his helmet and was eating some sandwich between verses and he was sitting on some weird chest. They quietly went up to him.
~The laugher got quiet... the cage closed it's gates...~
...
~The hatred bloomed... as they sealed their fates...~
...
~Book and the sna-
Finally the imp noticed them
"-ake..."
*SMASH*
William quickly threw the horse skull at him, knocking him unconscious.
"*grumble*" George couldn't help, but notice the pattern
"Hey. It's effective." William said
"*grumble*" George had to agree
"Now what in all the circles was he sitting on here?" William carefully examined it
He noticed a numerical lock on it with 3 numbers. Quickly he chose 666 as if that would ever be...
*click*
It was... Bless this unimaginative land.
"Well... Easy enough. Let's see the-"
*ssssssSSSSSSSFFFFFW*
"GGGGGGGGHHH" William barely held himself from screaming and quickly shut the chest as the light from within burned parts of his skin
William wanted to scream now with all his heart and dark essence, but he swallowed it up and felt as if his soul just imploded on itself. He never felt more pain in his life.
"*grumble*" George offered and pointed at his mouth
"I'm not THAT desperate." William knew it was stupid idea "Fucking Heaven's Light. Why the fuck do they... oh right..."
Then it hit him after he remembered what Play this was... But he could never know they use this stuff for real.
"Fucking Goetias... Psychotic pieces of shit, the lot of them..." William quickly went as far away from this chest as he could, George followed
*muffled voices*
Then they heard some voices not far from them and when they listened to what was said William recognized voices of the actor and that winged Lion.
"Zo yur zaying ve have to... Get rid of him..."
"We found Mr. Wackford in the closet just now... This new favorite of yours must have knocked him out."
"Makez no zense... ."
"Somehow it happened. Must have been a very recent thing. You could say mr. Wackford got.. Wacked.. hehehe... ehhh... wait a moment"
Then William heard some sniffing. William was quite anxious... did he found them out?!
"*grumble*" George quietly said
William came to him. He was looking through a hole in the floor. When William got to look through it he saw what was happening... Goddamn Lion sniffed some of the light from his desk... William could never understand why they were using this thing like that.
"Ahhh... Okay... Your new favorite is some thirsty for fame weirdo. We have to get rid of him."
"No... Zomeonez framing him... I can prove it!"
"He will be apprehended after the next scene. That is all. Now go out there."
The actor moved out of the room while the Lion sniffed some more light and drank some wine to it. Weirdos.
"Ugh... This keeps getting better and better George." William said, but there was no reply
"George?" William asked and saw not far an opened door to the stage. When he looked down he saw the skull alone again, this time with George's top hat on it "Do I even need to ask?"
The skull tried shaking itself. William just groaned and went to the new doors. When he got out he saw that he was on the right side of the stage. When he looked up he noticed that a new scene was already playing and now George was on the edge of the stage in the broad view with a goddamn wig on him.
"What in all the circles are you doing?!" At this point William was convinced George is suicidal
"*grumble*" George said
"Tell him goodbye?! What's wrong with-"
"Ahh The Ripe fruit of humanity! Are you one to sate my void?" Suddenly the actor got close to George... well he was dead... Time to find a new friend... Somehow...
"*grumble*" George said his goodbyes
"Aaah... It iz yu my muze... Yu must run from here... It iz not safe for yu my good friend..." Okay what the hell is he doing? "Maybe... Yu can ran from thoze... horrid accuzations. I zhall hold those fiendz off... And convinze them of yur innozence..."
"*grumble*" George thanked him
"Now go!" The actor dropped George on the floor and ran towards the backstage.
George himself rolled off from the stage and landed perfectly on the floor.
"I... I... I'm done..." William said as he made George go under the stage again and put the top hat back on his head
Thankfully there were doors on the side of it as well and they managed to sneak out of that place without many people noticing... Then the fires came back to the hall and it illuminated and William could hear sounds of an argument on the backstage. That actor really was saving them... Weird...
"I'm very sorry. There have been some repeated... technical issues throughout this play. We are taking a short break to make sure recent problems are ironed out..." The winged Lion spoke to the audience taking their attention
"Never again do this kind of thing... Understand!?" William said to George who looked sad on the floor
"grumble" George grumbled
"For fuck sake..." They continued on, but then George stopped in his track "What... now?!" William asked, but then he saw the skull in his hands looking at something... Something... above them?
As William got closer to George suddenly he felt it... This chill... But it was... far more present... It was like the reverse of touching that light under the stage... But as he looked around he saw... nothing. But the skull and George were looking at something... Something was here... Standing next to them. Then the skull turned on it's own in George's hands and looked at... Lady Stella and that shrimp.
"What is going on?" William asked George who said nothing, just watched
"*grumble*" It's watching them
...
...
They need to leave... Now.
William without thinking pushed George out of there. This was freaky... way too freaky... William and George left that hall... But William took one last look back at the place close to the stage where that thing is supposed to be... Should he tell someone of it? Or... Maybe it's an... opportunity... To truly make something of himself.
As they left the hall they saw that the main hall was mostly empty, except for Lady Octavia going towards the bathrooms and that damn Jester again walking towards the exit, both of them were clearly very angry. William wanted to give the jester a piece of his mind after how he stomped on him, but then...
*FWWWSH*
He disappeared... A golden fire column from the ceiling flew up to him, swallowed him up and it flew through the main doors and leaving some weird feathers behind...
"What... I..." This was a weird day...
"*grumble*" George was right... they should go...
Some time later from Moxxie's point of view
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Stella suddenly screamed out to high heaven as she finally let go of both Octavia and Moxxie's hands and put them over her eyes, screeching louder and louder!
What was going on?!
"MOM! WHAT'S WRONG!?" Octavia tried grabbing her hands
"Lady Stella! Please calm down" Moxxie tried to speak to her as well
"-AAAAaaaa...aaa...aa..." Stella seemed to finally calm down and her screaming turned into heavy breathing
From all around Moxxie could see some nobles turn their sight towards Lady Stella and several conversations were started.
"Most intriguing... Although it is odd for someone like her to have... such a reaction." Lord Derangi could be heard
"Ohohoho... Can't wait to talk about it with my friends"
Dammit... was this... his fault? Moxxie felt terrible for her right now. But what's worse she seemed to still be lost in her mind.
"Lady Octavia." Moxxie took Octavia's attention "We need to get your mother out of here."
Octavia just quickly nodded and helped Moxxie get Lady Stella to get up. They lead her slowly towards the exit to amusement of several nobles... It was all wrong... all so horribly wrong...
They pushed on further towards the exit. The flames under the ceiling illuminating their path.
"Dad..." Lady Stella said in a very... alien tone compared to what Moxxie was used to
Both him and Octavia and stopped. Moxxie noticed that she was looking at the ceiling, she looked at the painting of Furcas's victory over Leviathan.
"My lady?" Stella did not respond so Moxxie turned to Octavia "Young lady we need to move on."
"Right. Right..." Octavia agreed and they moved on again
Thankfully the doors were open, but there were few feathers on the floor. They had a strange glow to them, but Moxxie kept on moving with Lady Stella. They carefully went down the stairs unbothered by the Knights and the security Hellhound and thankfully the Carriage was still there... Although there was a lot of blood and innards scattered across the street... and for some reason the driver of the carriage George had a wig on which he was wearing his top hat. Moxxie also noticed that the butler had burns on his hands and was covered in blood as he opened the doors.
"Wh..what happened to you?" Moxxie was confused
"Long story. One I wont tell. Ever." William was quite blunt "What with her?" William pointed at Stella
"Long story... We need to go... Please..." Moxxie wanted to get out of here quickly
"Right... Get in." William moved out of the way and all of them entered the carriage
The doors closed and they helped Stella sit down. Octavia sat next to her and held her hand and Moxxie across from them. The Carriage itself started to move once more.
"What... happened?!" Octavia was clearly horribly worried
"I don't know! I didn't do anything! I promise!" Moxxie quickly defended himself
"I know it's just... uh... What is happening to mom?!" Octavia asked and looked at Lady Stella
She was still breathing heavily and was holding her hand over her stomach for some reason.
"She... seems to be in some kind of shock..." Moxxie said carefully "I... I have no idea why..."
"Okay... We... we need to calm her down... Somehow..." Octavia said and Moxxie agreed
Moxxie tried to think of something, but then he remembered... He looked at the ceiling and saw the void... That's it!
"P...Peace" Moxxie tried to use the gesture, but nothing happened, he forgot it only works with Lady Stella "DAMMIT!"
"What are you doing?" Octavia was obviously lost
"Um... I..." Moxxie tried to explain, but then an idea came to mind "Octavia! Do that gesture!"
"What?" Octavia did not understand
"It will turn on the Peace setting!" Moxxie pointed at the void above them "Say peace and do... this gesture."
Moxxie tried his best to recreate it. Octavia just nodded and made the gesture
"Peace."
For a moment nothing happened and Moxxie's heart was about to sink, but then the first snowflakes started falling and soon it was nicely snowing. Moxxie felt more peaceful... He could tell Octavia and Lady Stella did as well.
"Oh... Wow." Octavia seemed to be in awe as she looked at the snow
"You... never saw it before?" Moxxie asked
"I... don't remember... Maybe as a child... Seems like a good way to put kids to sleep." Moxxie had to agree
Slowly, but surely Stella's breathing calmed down fully. She seemed to be in right state of mind once again as she looked towards Moxxie...
"Mom?" Octavia tried to say something
"My Lady?" Moxxie tried too... but there was something... strange in the way she looked at him
...
"Dad?"
Okay... This made Moxxie unnerved. What was she? Why?
"Dad. Don't leave! Please..." Stella's voice became like that of a scared child "I... I don't understand please I... I don't want to be..."
"Mom? MOM!" Octavia tried to get her attention, but it was for naught
"..." Moxxie couldn't say anything on the other hand, he felt so awkward right now
"Please... I..."
Stella's POV
I don't want to be alone!
BANG BANG BANG
Father's figure was calmly sitting across from her, looking with his bright eyes into hers, looking like two bright, white stars floating on top of turquoise waters. Holding his sword on his lap. The banging on the door grew louder. The handle of the sword slowly turned... the angel's wing fell and demon's arose... angel covering her father's current grip... The snow fell on it so... beautifully, so peacefully. Father's figure slowly faded into the snow.
I am not leaving you... I will be looking over you Stella... But it is up to you to learn your lesson.
Dad... Please...
Be calm Stella... Do not lose yourself in fears and doubts... Do not fall prey to that weakness for it shall lead to mistakes... and they lead to Failure... Find Peace in Confusion.
Dad?
Her father's figure almost fully dissipated into the snow. The Carriage's walls along with him. The landscape stretched out into infinity filled with tall frozen mountains. The snow everywhere... And the banging still kept on being louder... She got up on her small feet and finally...
BANG
The doors have been opened
Moxxie's POV
"MOM!" Octavia screamed as she saw her mother lying unconscious on the ground "Mom WAKE UP PLEASE!" she knelt down and tried to get her to wake up
"Lady Stella!" Moxxie quickly got to see what happened, thankfully it looked like she was just sleeping...
"Wh.. I... WHAT IS GOING ON!?" Octavia was very distressed
"Calm down Young Lady please!" Moxxie tried to calm her down
"Calm down?! My mom is lying right here! What are you-"
Moxxie did the first thing he thought of and... hugged her. For some reason he thought this would calm her down... It was quite hard due to their size difference, but it seemed to work.
"It's going to be okay..." Moxxie then after a moment pulled himself away from her and looked at sleeping Stella "She... she is just sleeping."
"But... why?" Octavia seemed to have calmed down and looked closer at her mom
Moxxie had no idea...
"Should we... get her some help?" Octavia asked
"I... Maybe we should get her to your house for now. For now she is just sleeping and..." Moxxie then remembered the amused nobles watching them as they left "I feel like she would only get angry because it would make even more people aware of this... incident."
"Right..." Octavia said and put her hand on her mom's head
Moxxie hoped... that at least she had good dreams...
Stella's POV
Stella slowly opened her eyes. She was sitting in the middle of a snowy landscape. Calmly breathing in and out... A serene moment. No distractions... No doubts or fears... She was at peace... As she looked around she saw nothing besides falling snow, heard nothing, but gusts of wind carrying the falling snowflakes. Felt nothing, but the cold touch of the snow. Although she saw something else... A shape covered in snow on her right side. Slowly she rose up and walked towards it... Swept aside the snow and...
Stolas...
Stolas was covered in snow... His head looking down with a miserable expression. His body... unmoving, frozen... Dead. Stella felt serenity as she watched it, no more distractions... no more chaos... no more mistakes... But it looked strange. It was like he was holding something in his arms. Stella looked down and saw that he was holding something... or someone... Must have been the imp... She slowly took care of the snow, but...
Octavia?
*Thump* *Thump*
Her body... unmoving, frozen... Dead. Something in Stella's mind and chest started to hurt... No. It's not supposed to be like this...
Why?
Stella shook her head and looked behind... There were more shapes all around her... Those ones though more clean... Nameless imps, hounds and even Goetias... Kneeling with their heads on the ground. Their bodies... unmoving, frozen... Dead.
*creak*
Suddenly she heard something... As she looked beyond those bodies she saw a piece of the landscape open itself like a door... She went passed the bodies, but one of them had a... sword at it's side... It's body still glowing
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
Stella shook her head and went towards the doors... Her hand reached out to them, but her hand stopped right before touching them... Something was... wrong.
Do not lose yourself in fears and doubts
She looked behind... The bodies now bowed to her once more... With the one with a sword besides it now being at the front. His body shining so much more.
That is correct.
She couldn't lose herself is doubt... Not to let fear take over... She was beyond that... All of that... She grabbed the doors and slowly opened them. On the outside the first thing she saw was a night sky, lit by uncountable amount of stars, some just being born and some dying, everchanging nebulas moving as if they were alive and galaxies of all shapes and sizes colliding against each other...
Then she looked down and saw a landscape of Chaos... The buildings all looking stretched out into impossible shapes, some intertwining with one another, some as if being made out of rooms with no walls... Then there were trees of all colors in strange, crooked shapes, as if they were hit by something which shaped their trunks, all of their deformities looking as if they were repelled by what they were surrounding in half a circle... This thing being...
Doll?
A Doll... Looking like one of the ones she used to have... Ones her mother... But... Something was off about this one. It was larger definitely than those and it had a strange smile sewn on it. It's eyes being yellow buttons, wearing a strange tuxedo with stars over it's red wool skin, two black and white horns with white wool hair and a bowtie with G and M... Strange looking doll amidst the Chaos... and what was stranger was that...
*creak* *creak* *creak*
It waved at her... creating those creaking sounds whenever it moved. This doll it... It looked like... Someone she knows. It's...
No one important... No one...
Stella knew this... She knew it...It was...
*creak* *creak* *creak*
Frustrating. So frustrating...
*creak* *creak* *creak*
With every creak her anger grew. And grew... She wanted it to be quiet...
*creak* *creak* *creak*
Quiet
*creak* *creak* *creak* *creak* *creak* *
QUIET!
*SLAM*
She closed the doors with all her strength. It was quiet again... finally... When she turned back though the bodies were gone. Only Stolas and... wait... He didn't hold Octavia now... It was some round object. Stella got closer to see and... it was a cracked egg with a hole on top of it and Stolas was looking at the hole. Stella came closer to look and...
*Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
Get out... get out... GET OUT!
Stella quickly turned around and came back to the place where the doors were before. She touched the air and could a solid object and when searched a bit more she felt a handle... She tried opening them, didn't work, then tried pushing... Didn't work.
*FWWW*
Then she heard a weird sound and all around this realm started to... getting smaller. The air all around became like solid walls and they were closing in on her... Alongside Stolas's corpse. And the snow slowly disappeared, leaving only empty void.
No...
Stella quickly turned around again and tried pushing those damn doors again. She pushed with all her strength, but it was for naught. The walls were getting smaller, that corpse was getting closer. She had to get out... NOW!
*PUNCH*
Stella out of desperation punched the invisible doors.
*PUNCH*
*PUNCH*
Again and again
*PUNCH*
*PUNCH*
*PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH*
*PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH* *PUNCH*
She punched and punched, tried to breaking them... until
*PUNCH* *BREAK*
Her left arm broke... It shattered like glass leaving everything below her shoulder missing... And this wound was bleeding... and hurt... Stella turned around and the corpse was still getting closer, she wanted to get around it, but the walls were already too close... She was tired... She sat down and just watched the corpse getting closer... Her head was getting very heavy now... She felt pain...
Please...
Finally the corpse stopped right before her face, she had no choice, but to face it. She wanted to close her eyes, but she couldn't... She looked down once more into the hole of the egg... It was there... It was exactly like that time... It's body so small... unmoving, frozen... Dead. No... wait... it... moved...
No...
It's tiny head moved... It's eye met hers.
No no no...
*craaa*
Y-you are dead...
She felt something welling up in her eyes...
*CCCRAAAAAAAAAAAAA*
"YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Stella opened her eyes and grabbed the imp above her with her right arm
"MOM! STOP! STOP!" Someone grabbed her hand when she looked she saw... Octavia
Stella blinked once... then twice... Looked back at the chocking imp and quickly let her hand off of him. She was... back in her bedroom. She was in the bed. Her left arm was back as well... It was a dream...
"My Lady..."
Moxxie's POV
Moxxie spoke to her, trying to get her attention...
"You're crying..." Moxxie pointed at her eye
Lady Stella seemed confused as she touched her eye, looking at the small droplet of water on her finger as if it was some alien entity.
"My Lady..." Moxxie got up while holding his still hurting neck "You need to tell us what is going on."
Lady Stella was quiet... She only looked... confused. Moxxie up until now never saw her like this. She herself now had all kinds of emotions on her face... It looked like she was... frustrated. And her hand once again was on her stomach.
"Damn it... Why..." Lady Stella said quietly
"Mom... What's happening?" Octavia tried taking her hand, but as if by instinct she pulled it away
"I... I can't..." Stella's face was again twisted by all kinds of emotions "I can't... Why I can't?"
"Can't... what?" Moxxie was afraid of what she was trying to do
"Those... emotions... I have to..." Stella's face was twisted with pain
"MOM!" Octavia suddenly screamed out and took her attention "What are you trying to do?!"
"I..." Stella's face was slowly getting more neutral, albeit it looked like it took great amount of effort "I... try to make them... gone."
"Wha!?" Moxxie couldn't believe it "You... You are trying to supress them?! My Lady I..."
"WHAT!?" Stella screamed at him with great rage
"...I... This is dangerous!" Moxxie had to say it despite how scared he was "Now it makes sense... It makes sense what happened." Moxxie just put hand on his face in disbelief
"What is it?" Octavia asked him
"What are you trying to say?" Stella was clearly very annoyed and so was Moxxie
"You... I think you were supressing your emotions for so long that... that everything you refused to feel... hit you all at once." Moxxie tried to explain it simply
"I... I don't understand..." Stella said and Moxxie at this point was not surprised
"My lady... How long were you doing that?" Moxxie had to know
Lady Stella though was quiet and just looked to the side at her family photo with her parents... Moxxie already felt the answer will be bad...
"I made sure... to not fall prey to those distractions from before this picture was made... I did what I had to. I feel no shame in that" Stella tried to sound confident, but something was wavering in her voice
"You are... My lady... You were supressing your emotions... For almost 800 years..." Moxxie couldn't even begin to imagine this "My lady... this is insanity! You could have hurt yourself! This is beyond imagination what you were doing! THIS IS THE RESULT!"
"Mind your tone Imp!" Stella warned him
"I have to agree with him mom!" Octavia said "How can you look at what happened right now and still think it was worth it!?"
"Yes. Tis' has been almost 800 years and yet I had endured. I was at peace, unburdened by by fickle sensations, able to do my duty to the best of my abilities, get through all the hardships without losing sight of my goal... That is until..." Stella turned towards Moxxie once more with clear spite in her eyes
"..." Moxxie said nothing
"But if an Imp can undo it then how do you know it wouldn't happen sooner or later either way?" Octavia tried to protest
"It... it may be my fault My Lady, but..." Moxxie on the other hand did not "But what's done cannot be undone... Now the best thing I can do is help you get through this."
"... What makes you think I need your help with that imp?" Stella was still angry
"I WANT TO TRY!" Moxxie let his emotions out "If only... as an apology."
"..." Stella was quiet
"Apology? But you didn't-"
"Octavia..." Stella turned towards her "It is time for you to leave."
"Wha? But..." Octavia tried to protest, but one look from her mother made her stop "I..." Octavia turned towards Moxxie "Good luck..."
Octavia left the room and closed the doors behind her... The awkward silence lingered in the room for a few more moments. Finally Stella spoke up.
"How do you plan on helping me?" Stella asked
"I... Uh... Maybe... we can try by talking for now. Maybe letting me know of your burdens could... ease that pain up and help you control it once more." Moxxie was not sure if this was the right answer, but it was one he believed in
"... And why would I share my burdens with an imp? How can I know you wont use anything I say against me?" Stella asked
"If I wanted to do that I already would..." Moxxie argued back "But I do not want to do that. What I want now is to help you and your family! You are free to not believe me and I can't blame you for it, but I want you to know that I want to help."
"..." Stella remained quiet, it was like she was looking through Moxxie "And if I agree?"
"Then I will be here to listen... And I promise on my life I wont reveal anything I'll hear here." Moxxie said with great conviction
"..." Stella remained quiet once more
"If you are unsure then... Maybe we can talk about... one thing at a time." Moxxie tried to persuade her "Would that be sufficient?"
"..." Stella was silent "... Fine. One topic."
Moxxie rejoiced in his mind. It was a huge step... But... towards what? Moxxie started feeling anxious now as well. Then he saw that Stella still kept her left hand on her stomach... And...
"My lady... What... what was that dream you had?" Moxxie asked "This could be our... first topic."
"Dream..." Stella repeated quietly and remembered "I..."
"If... if you feel it's too much then we can-"
"518 years..." Stella said
"What?" Moxxie was confused
"That's how long my marriage was..." Stella said as she clenched her hand a bit more "A deal between our two houses... A contract of Sun and Moon... One of my duties was to make a proper heir to both of our houses..."
"I... what?" Moxxie was lost... how did this relate to his...
Then his thoughts went back to her words when she woke up...
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!
"Who was supposed to be dead?" Moxxie asked as he felt a horrible chill run throughout his body
"..." Stella said nothing, but her face was twisted by pain
"H-how old... Octavia is?" Moxxie was slowly piecing it together
"17..." Stella said in a weak voice
"(518)" That would mean it was... 500 years since they married... despite their duty being... Oh no... "W..was she your..."
Stella looked at him with the eyes of a long dead corpse...
"No..."
...
Moxxie wanted to run away from there and never return... He wanted to jump into the depths of Envy ring be devoured by Leviathan himself.
"I... I'm so sorry..." Moxxie didn't know what else to say "I..."
Stella just raised her right hand
"It took me 500 years to convince him... To try again." Stella said as she looked away towards the balcony nearby
Moxxie did not want to hear anymore... He didn't want to... No... he had to listen... He wanted to help, but...
"Did... did they had a..." Moxxie tried to say it "N-name?"
"... I... I never thought of one... For him..." It was clear it was hard to talk about
"My Lady I..." Moxxie wanted to get closer to her, but... No... He got closer, got on the bed and put a hand on her shoulder "It-...it's okay... you shouldn't push yourself..."
"..." Stella just looked back at him, there were no tears, there was no sadness either... just a face of a very tired person... Finally Stella turned her head away "Just leave..."
"..." Moxxie took his hand from her shoulder "I... I will be back tomorrow... if you still..."
"Your duty... is not over..." Stella said without looking at him "But... leave now... please..."
Moxxie bowed his head and slowly got up from the bed... Before opening the doors though he looked back at Stella once more, still lost in her thoughts
"I wont tell anyone..." Moxxie reassured her "I promise..."
There was no reply... Moxxie did not know if there could ever be one. He slowly opened the doors and got out into the hallway and closed the doors behind him. As he looked to the left side he saw Octavia sitting against the wall with her hands over her wrapped around her knees. She was looking at the floor. Moxxie hoped she did not hear...
"Are you okay Young Lady?" Moxxie knelt down
"Y-yes... I'm okay." Octavia turned towards Moxxie "I was just thinking... about what just happened."
"I see..." Moxxie sat next to her "And... did you hear what we were..."
"No... I... It's mom's business... not mine..." Octavia said and Moxxie hoped it was true... but if not then... no... he shouldn't push this subject
"Young Lady I... I'm very-"
"Eh... Maybe... let's talk about it somewhere else..." Octavia slowly stood up "What do you think?"
"I... Okay." Moxxie agreed, sitting in the middle of a corridor doesn't seem like a good place to talk of such things
Octavia lead him somewhere, through corridors and finally to the big staircase. She went down the stairs and turned towards one of the halls behind them at the bottom. They walked on until they arrived at the large, but barely lit dining room, mostly illuminated by the stars on the ceiling and few candles.
"This... this is the place where the party will be." Octavia said
Moxxie looked around and he found it appropriate. There was definitely a lot of space here for such an event and the piano itself could be moved here as well. He wondered how it will look once that day arrives. Octavia though moved to one of the windows that were on it's right side and opened them. On the other side there was a large balcony, looking out into the landscape of Hell. Skyscrapers, were all around, the city below was shining against now much darker sky and the small bright dot on the sky surrounded by a giant halo could be seen as well. While much closer near the palace were several trees and Moxxie could even make out a large silhouettes of Golems protecting the palace's walls. The Balcony itself was adorned with all kinds of symbols of sun and moon and underneath it were some gargoyles as well. Moxxie wondered if they are also alive.
"Quite a beautiful view." Moxxie had to say... from certain angles there could be found a certain beauty even in hell
*TSK*
Then Moxxie heard a strange sound and when he looked at Lady Octavia she had a small fire on top of her index finger of her left hand and the... lit cigarette in her right. She quickly put out the fire on her finger with her breath.
"Hmm?" Octavia noticed him staring "You want one too?"
"N-no I just... I didn't know you... I..." Moxxie did not know how to react
"What? You have a problem that I smoke?" Octavia soudned confused
"I mean... you are not... and... ugh..." It was awkward for Moxxie
"Does that matter if I'm not adult?" Octavia asked while holding the cigarette between her index and middle finger "Not like it can kill me. I'm going to live most likely for eternity so..."
"I just... Well..." Moxxie just couldn't help it, but the words were hard to let out "*sigh* It's okay... It's your choice... I just... I still don't..."
"Okay, okay." Octavia relented and started to push the lit part of the cigarette on the stone handrail, putting out the flame "No cigarettes... You are pretty strict little Possum."
"Please don't call me that..." That was the last thing Moxxie needed
"Okay... Sorry for that..." Octavia scratched the back of her head
"Why did you bring me here?" Moxxie asked "Outside of... that..."
"Hah... I just wanted to talk. About what happened today..." Octavia answered
"I'm sorry..." Moxxie felt terrible about what happened today "I... I wanted this to turn out better... I'm sorry for making such a mess."
"I... You don't have to apologize... Not your fault it turned out like that. I don't think anyone could expect that..." Octavia clearly tried to cheer him up
"Still I... I feel like I just made things worse..." Moxxie though couldn't shake off his guilt
"... I wonder though... Why did she react like that to your words?" Octavia said while making it clear she listened to them, Moxxie didn't know how to feel about it "She seemed very convinced about what she believed in... At least until..."
"Giving purpose to Eternity..." Moxxie repeated his words "I... I honestly don't know if I even fully grasp that concept..."
"But it seemed to affect mom..." Octavia pointed out "I just... wonder why it all came crushing down so hard on her after hearing it"
"I don't know... really..." Moxxie was honest
"... Still it did affect her... And... I can understand what you meant. At least I think so." Octavia said while supporting herself on the handrail "It's a... nice concept. A hopeful one... Maybe that is what made her react like this. It was a sense of hope."
"Maybe..." The thought of giving lady Stella hope was... nice... "But... it could be something else as well... Like doubt."
"Doubt in her approach..." Octavia said
"Maybe... or both... or neither..." Moxxie had hard time thinking about it
"... You know, I have to ask you something." Octavia said and Moxxie just looked at her and nodded and Octavia looked again at the landscape "Why do you care?"
"Huh?" Moxxie was surprised by this question
"I mean... your job is to make her a song... not be her therapist. Especially since you can't let her know who you really are..." Octavia turned towards Moxxie again "Why put yourself at such a risk? Why do you care? Do you expect some reward for it? Money... House... My mom...What is your goal?"
Moxxie had no good answer. Although he could sense the worry on Octavia's voice.
"Goal..." Moxxie repeated "Would you believe me if I said I don't have one?"
Octavia gave him a small glance showing clearly that she doesn't fully buy it
"I... really don't know..." Moxxie said and looked again at the city "I guess I just... want to bring something good to this world, even as a good for nothing Imp. To help your mother smile, to help your father with this abuse... to help you with your life. I guess I just want to bring some beauty into this world. Something worth living for..."
'You are serious..." Octavia said while also looking towards the city "You... really want to help us..."
"I want to help... as best as I can..." Moxxie said while looking down from the balcony
"For someone your size you sure put a lot on yourself." Octavia pointed out "It may break you, you know."
"I know..." Moxxie was well aware of that fact
Moxxie looked at Octavia once more seeing her stare into the city, as if searching for something, anything among the sea of lights illuminating this Hellscape. Moxxie could tell how much she was going through... he hoped that he would be able to ease her burden in any way...
"I will try Young Lady..." Moxxie wanted to convince her... or maybe convince himself "Try keeping your head up. It may help you at least, even if just a little."
"Thanks." Octavia gave him a small smile, it made Moxxie smile as well
Both of them stared some more at the view... It made Moxxie think of how isolated this place felt. There was such beauty in it, but... it was so isolated as well. Moxxie couldn't imagine ever living here... And that may be for the better. He tried to think of maybe a new topic to talk about.
"Umm... How long are you... well... smoking?" Moxxie did not know why he chose this topic, but it did bother him
"Hmm? About a year or two... Why?" Octavia answered and it made Moxxie feel strange
"It's just... your parents know that? Or are you-"
"I'm not hiding the fact I smoke... Not that much anyway..." Octavia looked to the side for a moment "But... I don't think they even care about it... or can even notice it."
"Oh... Even your dad?" Moxxie asked
"Do you see him around here?" Octavia asked while pointing at the entrance to the balcony
She had a point... Stolas still wasn't back. He probably got around with Blitzo again... But why not here?
"I can tell he loves you though... I can't imagine him not caring about it." Moxxie said and this made Octavia look down onto the ground under the balcony
"I know... But it more often than not feels like he doesn't see me as... well me... He cares about a child, but... I have no idea how much he truly cares about me. Does it make sense?" Octavia turned towards Moxxie
"I... I think so..." Moxxie at least hoped he understood "I... don't think I need to ask about..."
Octavia just shook her head
"... What about the rest of your family?" Moxxie wanted to know, maybe this will help him understand this whole family better "Like... King Paimon maybe..."
"My grandpa... he is... scary." Octavia looked away for a moment "He has a very weird sense of humor... and I can't help, but be unnerved by him whenever he is around."
Moxxie could relate to that. He heard some horrific rumors about Paimon and his tricks... Specifically about his Labyrinth.
"And... what about others?" Moxxie hoped there was something better there
"My grandma, from my mom's side is also strange... different than grandpa Paimon, but still I feel uneasy around her." Octavia looked into the distance "Uncle Real is the most approachable I guess, although he is also strange... I can never tell what he is feeling or thinking. It's like I'm reading a book with all of it's pages being rewritten in random places."
Moxxie had to agree... Lord Andrealphus is... odd to say the least. And almost caused Millie's death at that.
"And... what about other uncles or aunts or... Furcas..." Moxxie especially wanted to hear about the last
"Never met other uncles or aunts. Apparently there are so many they wouldn't even know from which brother I am from..." Moxxie could imagine that "As for grandpa... He always seems to keep his distance... I don't think I ever got to talk to him. It's like he avoids me... And I don't know why."
Strange... Moxxie wondered what that was about. But what he could tell was that this wasn't a happy family.
"I'm sorry this looks like that." Moxxie felt bad for poor girl
"Eh... It's okay... I just... I just wish things came back to how they were before... Before they started arguing so much, back to when it was all peaceful." Octavia's tone became more sad now "At least... that's what I though... until today."
"There seems to be a lot of problems between them." Moxxie pointed out out
"Yeah... But it was so... quiet before... Peaceful..." Octavia's tone now was more nostalgic
"Sometimes... silence can be more frightening than any amount of noise..." Moxxie said while still remembering the event from yesterday...
"True... I guess I... I just didn't notice that..." Octavia admitted "Or... I didn't want to."
He really should change the topic.
"Also... that power you used to lit that cigarette up..." Moxxie showed his index finger "What was that?"
"You mean this?"
*TSK*
A small ball of flame appeared on tip of her finger once more.
"It's just a spell I learned." Octavia said and looked at the flame
"Who taught you?" Moxxie was interested
"I taught myself..." Octavia said, but did not seem boastful about it
"Oh... Your... parents don't teach you?" Moxxie was curious
"Dad sometimes does... Mom mostly teaches me how to behave and act like a proper noble... Sometimes she tried to teach me a spell or two, but it doesn't seem to be her forte..." Octavia for a moment took her eye off the flame
"I see..." Moxxie still wondered what was up with that Grimoire of hers... but it probably is something he should ask Stella about "Also this flame..." Moxxie pointed at it "Can you... shoot it?"
"Shoot it?" Octavia was lost obviously
"You know... like this." Moxxie made a finger gun and pointed it at the city
"Oh... I tried that sometimes... But it mostly just flies few centimeters away and falls down. Look." Octavia pointed her finger at the city as well
*bang*
The ball of fire flew a bit and then sadly fell. Thankfully it disappeared before it hit the ground and set any fire.
"But I can do this." Octavia then created another flame and started bouncing it on each of her fingers
"Hehe... that's pretty good." Moxxie had to admit, it was pretty interesting "Are you... into magic?"
"I don't know... It seems fun, but..." Then she broke the fire ball with her finger and made it disappear "I'm more of a... music person."
"Oh! What music do you listen to?" Moxxie was honestly interested
"Punk rock..." Octavia answered and this answer seemed rather obvious
Then Moxxie remembered that one song on Stella's cellphone. She must have been the one who set it there.
"I'm not a fan personally, but I can see why you like it." Moxxie was honest "Do you just listen or..."
"I do try to play on a electric guitar." Octavia answered
"Hmm... Anyone teaches you?" Moxxie had an idea
"No... not really... I'm trying on my own with... varying results." Octavia looked then at one of the windows at the palace... one that was clearly broken before and was in middle of being fixed
"If you want I can help you. I'm not an expert at this instrument, but maybe I could help you out." Moxxie offered
"Hehe... Thanks... But maybe you should focus on my mom for now..." She had a point "But thank you... Hehehe..."
"Is something funny?" Moxxie asked... he hoped it wasn't another possum joke
"It's nothing it's just..." Then she looked down the balcony once again "I think you are the first person to... ever ask me about those things."
"Oh..." Moxxie did not know how to feel right now "I... I'm just..."
Octavia kept on looking down with a rather sad smile... For some reason Moxxie wanted to hug her... tell her it's going to be okay... It was like...
*THIS IS THE POINT OF NO RETUUUUUURN*
Suddenly Moxxie's phone started ringing. When Moxxie looked he noticed it was Millie.
"Eh... I guess I have to go..." Moxxie said sadly
"Before you go..." Octavia then approached Moxxie and hugged him, Moxxie did not know how to feel about it, but... it felt good... And he hugged her back "Thank you... Truly..."
Octavia then stopped and got up again
"Want me to help you find the exit?" Octavia asked
"I just need to answer that..." Moxxie said with a smile and Octavia nodded with a smile as well
Never could Moxxie imagine... How much he would care for family such as this... For a smile of a child that wasn't even his... He couldn't fail at this... He couldn't.
To be continued
HAHAHAHAHAHA. The most recent episode! I SWEAR I didn't copy it with some of those scenes! I swear! This shit just lined up so perfectly I couldn't wait for my Boy Tailsfan to finish editing it! I wrote it today. Before episode aired! I swear... Still... hope you enjoyed the chapter... I got myself energy for the whole decade now.
