It was Tuesday, I remember it all to well. I could never forget that day. After everything I've been through, all the memories I had, this one was the one that stayed with me.
Anyway it was 7:30 in the morning. I was in bed sleeping peacefully. Dreaming about things someone like me would dream until I eventually woke up. It was a shame really, as I was actually having a nice dream this time rather than the usual nightmares. I laid back in my bed and stared at the ceiling.
I thought about my options on what to do but couldn't really make up my mind since it's usually the same thing everyday; nothing new or exciting. Not even someone to talk to or spend the day with. There's dad, but he's got his duties and unfortunately. . . so will I. But I don't care about them. I just want to live my life the way I want it, but when do I get what I want.
I threw the covers off my body, the cool air hitting my legs and talons. I then sat up straight and got out of bed, got dressed and walked out of my room and towards the kitchen where I was greeted with my mother on the phone while dad was drinking his morning beverage.
"Via, good morning my owlet!" dad greeted me with a big smile on his face.
"Keep it down, Stolas!" mom barked. "I'm on the phone."
I rolled my eyes at mother as she continued her phone call without telling me good morning or acknowledging my existence.
"Good morning, Dad," I said in my usual tone.
I then grabbed me a bowl, a spoon, cereal with milk, and my own morning beverage, before sitting down at the table next to dad. I then opened up the cereal box and poured it out of the box and into the bowl along with the milk. Afterwards I put the spoon in the bowl, got me a scoop of cereal and started eating.
"So, how did you sleep, Via? Pretty good I hope," dad asked me with a smile on his face.
"If you must know, I slept good. . . but then I woke up," I said mumbling the last part to myself.
"Well that's good, Via. . . and I take it that it was either a really good dream or you were sleeping so peacefully," dad guessed.
"A bit of both actually," I replied before taking a sip of my beverage.
Dad smiled before looking at the newspaper that was in the air. I raised an eyebrow as I noticed something on the paper.
"Dad, what is that?" I asked him.
His four eyes lit up before sighing in annoyance.
"Your mother is throwing a party for couples. . . tonight," he said making my eyes burst wide open.
"What!" I yelled in shock before snatching the newspaper away from him.
I then read the headline:
Not Divorced
--
Anniversary Party Couples Only
"Are you kidding me mother, another fucking party!" I yelled at her.
Mom rolled her eyes at me before shaking her head in disapproval.
"You see what you did, Stolas; our daughter thinks she can just yell at me like I'm some fucking servant!" mother yelled pissed off at my dad.
I breathed heavily in frustration and anger as I tried not to snap at my mother while dad frowned at her.
"Whenever you throw parties, I have to stay in my room like you're embarrassed of me!" I whined to my mother.
Mom just covered the end of the phone and looked at me in disappointment.
"It's not royal like for a Goetia to whin and complain; besides Octavia, it's not like you're in a relationship like your father and me," she said in embarrassment.
I just blinked at her with a frown on my face.
"Now be a good girl and stay in your room tonight unless you get a boyfriend. It's couples only for a reason sweetie."
"Ughhhhh," I groaned before getting up and storming off.
"Real nice, Stella," I heard my father say in anger.
"Well it's true, Stolas. You're even lucky I'm letting you come in the first place."
I could see my dad's face now, red and full of anger as steam comes out of his ears, but in all honesty, I'm just glad that I was able to get out of there before it got worse.
I walked out the front doors and the gate. The guards not bothering to stop me or ask any questions, which was fine with me since it's non of their damn business anyway.
After walking out and away from the palace I just walked. Nowhere specific to go to or someone to see; just walk until my talons hurt. And that's exactly what I did. I kept walking nonstop, thinking about my parents. How mom was acting and how they started fighting once I left. . . again.
I was so mad that I walked all the way into Imp City. I didn't mind though; I just needed to get away from there, besides I've been here before so it wasn't like I was lost. Though eventually I got tired and just sat down on a random bench.
I sighed as it was nice to rest a bit and escape the yelling and nagging from my parents. But then I heard laughter.
I looked across from me and saw a little imp laughing and giggling as it was running towards it's mother while it's dad chased it with a smile on his face. The mother soon wrapped her arms around her child in a hug right before the dad stood up and kissed the child on the head.
"I love you guys," the father said with a smile.
"We love you too, daddy," the kid said in the most adorable voice I ever heard.
I watched as the mom and dad kissed each other before breaking apart and walking away with their kid.
I felt tears running down my cheeks as I tried not to cry but I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I just let it all out right then and there.
"Umm, are you okay?" asked a soft and gentle voice.
I stopped crying and looked up at the person sitting next to me, studing him from head to toe. He wore a gray jacket with black jeans, and gray shoes. His hair was black while his skin was as white as my face, but what really got my attention was his eyes. They were black with white dots in the middle, but he had a line going through his left eye that was as red as blood.
I don't know why but I decided to answer his question, probably because I really needed someone to talk to.
"I. . . I'm just go-going thr-through someth-thing right now," I said while sobbing.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said in the same tone as before. "Whatever it is, it must be really hard on you."
"It is," I replied trying to stop myself from crying any further.
"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked me.
I stared at him in disbelief. He just smiled at me, patiently waiting for a response.
"I wouldn't be a burden would I?" I asked him and he just chuckled.
"No, not all. You look like you have a lot to get off your chest."
"Yeah. . . I do," I replied after wiping away some tears with my sleeve. "I just had no one to talk too."
"Well talking does help, and I'm a great listener," he told me while giving me a small smile.
"May I ask why you are offering me your time?"
"Well I have a guilty conscience, I guess I would feel bad if I just walked away instead of asking what's wrong."
I chuckled at him, amazed by his answer and honesty. It's rare to find someone like that in Hell. I looked at him and smiled a bit, my tears drying up.
"I've been going through some. . . family issues," I told him.
"Those are the worst types of issues aren't they?" he asked me in an upset tone.
"Yeah, they are," I agreed with him. "My dad and mother just keep fighting all the time and are too focused on their duties or throwing parties."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said to me in a soft tone.
"It's okay; you don't have to listen to me. You probably have better things to do."
"No, I want to listen," he said making me smile.
"Well can I lest know more about you?" I asked him, he just nodded.
"Sure, what would you like to know?"
"Hmm," I said while trying to think of something to ask him. "May, I ask what happened to your eye?"
"Oh, umm, some crackhead cut it with a straight razor."
My eyes widened at that as I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Oh, by the Heavens that's disgusting," I said making him laugh.
I couldn't help but laugh along side with him. We were just sitting there laughing like two complete idiots but it felt so nice to laugh that I didn't care if imps started staring at us like we were crazy, I was actually enjoying his company.
"I don't think I got your name," I told him after catching my breath.
"It's Alex," he said holding out his hand.
"I'm Octavia," I said as I grabbed his hand.
"Well it's nice to meet you, Octavia," he said while smiling as we shook hands.
"It's nice to meet you too, Alex."
I smiled at him even after we stopped shaking hands.
He just sat there, smiling back with an eyebrow raised.
"What?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Nothing, it's just so nice to be able to laugh and having someone to talk to."
"Well I can honestly say the same thing," he said with a smile.
"Say, would you maybe like to walk with me?" I asked while rubbing my arm nervously.
"Yes, I would Octavia," he said before getting up and holding out his hand.
I gladly took his hand and he helped me up to my talons. He then let go of my hand and we started walking enjoying Hell's sun and each other's company. Laughing at each other's stupidity or just talking about stuff like my mother's party fetish.
"Wait, it's a what kind of party?" Alex asked unsure if he heard me right.
"A couples only kind of party," I told him.
"God that's stupid and narcissistic as fuck," he said in annoyance.
"Tell me about it. She's a big party freak. I swear I can't remember at least on week where she wasn't throwing a party."
"Really; not a single one?"
"Nope," I said while shaking my head.
"Damn, that woman throughs more parties than a high school student," he said making me laugh.
He smiled as he rolled his eyes at me. I was always home schooled, so I'd have to take his word on that statement.
"Enough about me; what about you? What's your parents like?" I asked him, interested in what he was going to say.
But he didn't say anything, he stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the ground.
"Are you okay?" I asked him a bit worried about him.
"Yeah, it's just that. . ."
"What?" I asked wanting to help him.
"It's nothing," he said not taking his eyes off the ground.
"Do they abuse you?" I asked in worry.
"What, no, no they are very loving and good people. They would never do that," he said not mad but in surprise that I would ask that.
"Then, why are you upset?" I asked him, trying to understand the situation.
"It's just that, the last time I've seen them, I was alive," he said sounding depressed.
"Oh, I'm sorry about," I told him, placing my hand on his shoulder.
He smiled at me before wiping a tear from his eye. I looked at him in concern. I never thought I would show or feel such feelings about someone other than my dad, but I did. . . it felt nice.
"It's okay, it's just how life works," he said while looking at me still a bit upset.
"Well let me be the first to welcome you to Hell," I said trying to help as well as being polite.
For a second I thought I made it worse but then I heard him laughing.
"God, you're horrible," he said making me laugh along side with him.
"Hey, I tried; doesn't that count for something?" I asked with a smirk.
"Hmm, I suppose it does goth girl, I suppose it does."
I rolled my eyes at the nickname but I wasn't angered or annoyed with him, but rather amused.
"Thank you, emo boy," I said testing him.
He looked at me with a grin on his face. He knew where I was going with that one.
"Okay, feather head, let's not go down that route," he warned me.
"Why not, you're the one who started it, you sin addicting freak," I said with a smirk believing that one got him.
"And I'm going to end it, you demonic otus."
I couldn't help but laugh at that one while he laughed along side with me. I haven't laughed this much since I was a kid; it felt good to laugh this much even if it was over something so stupid as name calling.
After a few seconds of laughing our heads off my stomach started growling.
"You hungry?" Alex asked me.
"Yes, I am actually; you didn't hear my stomach growling just now?" I replied sarcastically.
"I did. It sounded like a freaking motorboat," he said making me frown at him.
He just chuckled at me knowing that I wasn't mad, and how could I be? So far we were just messing with one another rather than trying to bring the other down with words that didn't phase us, but would be like bullets for others.
"What about you; are you hungry?"
"Yeah, I can eat," Alex replied.
"Okay then, follow me; I know a place we go to," I said before leading the way.
Alex followed looking around the city as if it was all new to him. And it probably was since most sinners don't leave Pentagram City. I don't blame them, I would stay there too if I was stuck in the Pride Ring.
"We're here," I said as we arrived at the diner.
"Brimstone Cafe? Hmm, better than what I would of chose."
"What name would have you chosen?" I asked him.
"Hell's Kitchen," he replied in a serious manner.
I face plamed at his answer as I tried not to laugh my ass off all over again.
"Oh my Satan that's stupid," I said trying not to smile or giggle at the stupidity and unoriginality of that name.
"You really think so, huh?" Alex asked me as he held the door open for me.
"Yes, I do," I said before entering the diner. "It's just so cheesy and lazy."
Alex walked in after me while thinking a bit.
"Hmm, I always thought it was a cool name."
"Really? It's so unoriginal and kinda obvious," I said before sitting down at a table in the back.
"Well ironically you're right about it being unoriginal," Alex said as he sat across from me.
"Ohh, so did you steal the name from a restaurant called "Hell's Kitchen" on earth? Hmmm?" I asked him while crossing my arms and smirking at him.
"No, I don't steal. . . well sort. . . okay yeah I steal but it's more of an inspiration from the actual Hell's Kitchen."
"Wait, there's actually a Hell's Kitchen on earth?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, it's a neighborhood in New York City."
I couldn't take it anymore; I let out a loud laugh while banging my fist on the table getting the attention of many imps and demons.
"Go ahead, laugh it up," Alex said calmly.
I did what he said and let it all out.
"HAHAHA, you sinners and your demon worship," I said while laughing not even trying to stop.
"Well I'm actually Christian."
I stopped laughing and looked up at Alex in shock. My beak hung open as I stared at him.
"What?" Alex asked in confusion.
"You said that you're a Christian."
"Yeah, so?" he said while shrugging his shoulders.
"But you're in Hell. . ."
Alex just sat there and blinked at me.
". . .Doesn't that bother you?" I asked feeling bad for him.
"No, not really," he replied with the same normal tone as before. "I'm here because I've done things. . . things that I'm not sure if I'm proud of or not."
I sat there thinking about what he just said. It was short and to the point but it felt he wasn't telling me something, but I don't know what.
We both sat there in silence, not sure what to say to the other but I can tell that we were thinking the same thing.
"Hello, welcome to Brimstone Cafe; my name's Dorothea and I will be your waitress for today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"
Alex and I didn't answer her no doubt making her mad, but she just stood there not saying a single word. It took a minute or two but Alex spoke to her while I sat there thinking to myself.
"Umm, yeah, I'll just take a water," he said not taking his eyes off of me.
"Out of all the things to drink he chooses water, how original," she said in a sarcastic tone. "What about you ma'am?"
I still didn't answer her as I found myself lost in my thoughts that it was like I couldn't hear anything but my own breathing.
"Ma'am? MA'AM!" she yelled making me jump in set while snapping me back into reality. "Are you going to order a drink or just sit there staring at a fucking table?"
"Uhh, I'll take a coffee," I said as if she didn't just yell at me just now.
"Not a single alcoholic beverage, ughhh what's it with newcomers these days," she said as she walked off.
I looked at Alex who was still looking at me. He didn't say a single word nor did he smile. It honestly scared me a bit since he would smile most of the time except for bringing up his parents. Even then I easily cheered him up afterwards.
"Alex," I said making sure that I had his full attention. "Please talk to me."
Alex looked at me and sighed.
"What do you want me to say?" he asked in a formal tone of voice.
"Anything, even if it's bullshit. I just don't like the silence between us," I told him truthfully.
"Okay," he replied as he looked up trying to think of something. "Well shit, I can't really think of anything. Is there something else you would like to know?"
"Yes there is actually," I said thinking about our earlier conversation.
I really want to know what he meant by "bad things" but at the same time I'd rather wait till the time was right and we know that we can fully trust and understand each other. Though in all honesty, I do trust him, and I kinda understand him, but I don't know if he does with me. . . I get it that.
"Okay, ask away."
"Why. . . why are you in Imp City?" I asked deciding not to ask about the sins he's committed.
"I've been stuck in Pentagram City for six weeks now, so I thought I would explore the Pride Ring some more," he explained.
"Six weeks huh? That's pretty recent," I said just as our drinks arrived.
Alex nodded before taking a sip of water.
"Yeah, I know," he replied emotionally.
I sighed at him, wishing that I could understand what it's like to be damned here but I can't.
"Are you ready to order?" Dorothea asked sounding as inpatient as a two year old.
"Yeah, I'll take the hash browns with gravy," Alex said while looking at the menu and pointing at the item.
"Okay and for you miss?" she asked in her usual I hate my job tone.
"I'll take the waffles," I said as I handed her the menu, not making eye contact with her.
Neither one of us did. We would either stare at the table, menus, or each other. I have no idea what she looks like and I don't care either.
"Okay, it will be out shortly," she while leaving the two of us, not bothering to take away the menu from Alex.
We both sat there in silence not really sure what to say to the other once again. Our food arrived and we both started eating in complete silence. The only sound was our chewing. It took a few seconds but I managed to break the silence.
"So how are you liking Hell so far?"
I immediately cringed at that, realizing how stupid that question really was. Alex looked at me in shock but quickly started laughing at me.
"Go ahead laugh it up," I said after rolling my eyes as a blush covered my face due to embarrassment.
"Okay, okay," he said as he stopped laughing. "It's hard to explain. I used to hate it but now I don't think it's that bad."
"Hmm, well that's good to know," I said before taking another bit of my waffles.
"Alex, did you have any friends on Earth?"
Alex looked up at me with a blank expression on his face before answering me.
"Yeah, I had friends. . . why you asking?"
"What was it like?" I asked not answering his question.
"Well some of them I don't even know why I was friends with in the first place, but the others were some of the best people I've ever known."
"Well I'm glad you had some real friends," I said a bit saddened.
"Did you not have any friends growing up?" he asked tilting his head a bit.
I looked down at the floor before looking back at him and answering his questions.
"No, at least not real friends," I said.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," he said emotionally.
"It's okay, it's not your fault people down here are assholes," I said a bit harshly.
It didn't bother him though. He just nodded his head in agreement. It's true what I said about people down here, but I don't know about humans. They seemed worse than demons but the human sitting across from me doesn't seem bad. If anything he was nice and kind, however he could be one of those "wolf in sheep's clothing" types, but he didn't seem like it as most sinners would reveal themselves right then and there.
"Well that's actually not true."
"How, so?" I asked raising an eyebrow at him.
"You're not an asshole," he replied.
I couldn't help but smile as a blush covered my face.
"Awe, you're cute when you blush," he teased me.
"S-shut up," I told him while pulling my beanie down, hiding my face from him.
"Well it's true," he said making me tighten the grip on my beanie.
He just chuckled at me before sitting there and waiting for me to say something. . . At least I think he was still sitting there. I pulled up my beanie slightly where only one eye was visible. He still sitting there smiling and laughing at me. I stopped hiding my face from him but didn't make any eye contact due to the blush still marked on my face.
"A-are, y-you fl-flirting wit-with m-me?" I asked, strutting every single word as I started shaking a bit.
"What, no. I'm just complimenting a friend, is that okay?" he asked not offended but rather curiously.
"Y-yeah, i-it's j-just. . ." I stopped and looked at him, my beak hanging open in shock. ". . . Friend?"
"Well yeah, I know we've just met not too long ago, but yeah I'd say we're friends."
"Why would you want to be friends with me?" I asked him still surprised that he called me "friend."
"Because I actually like you, Octavia."
I looked at him, smiling a bit.
"I like you too, Alex. You're the only one who's actually talked and listened to me, and I just want to say thank you for that," I told him as I tried to hold myself together.
"You're welcome," he replied giving me a soft smile.
I smiled back pulling myself together before I start crying again. Despite the appearance and attitude I'm really an emotional person. With how my parents have been acting lately and the fact that I had no one to talk to, how could I not? But today was different, today was the day I met my very first friend. A sinner of all people but I didn't care, it was nice to be able to sit down and talk to someone and for them to listen made it even better.
We then paid for our food, only leaving the waitress a twenty-five cent tip due to her being annoying and judgmental. We imagined her disappoint and once again laughed our asses off.
We continued walking around the city as we both had smiles on our faces and curiosity of what to do next.
"What would you like to do now, feather head?" Alex asked while messing with me again.
"Hmm, I don't know, what would you like to do you sin addicting freak," I replied, believing that this one would get him this time.
"Okay, that one actually hurt this time, but, I'll let it slide," he said playfully.
I of course laughed at him. There was just something so funny about shutting a sinner up. Though it wouldn't last long but I'm glad it didn't as I never got tired of hearing him speak. And he acted like he felt the same way about me.
I then felt my phone vibrate in my pocket after we walked a mile. I took my phone out of my pocket and saw that my dad was trying to call me. I answered it, placing it to my ear.
"Hello, dad," I said happily.
"Via, where are you at? Is everything alright? Are you alright?" dad asked, freaking out.
Normally this type of thing would get on my nerves but not today; today I had a smile on my face as I happily answered my dad.
"Yes, dad, everything's alright. I'm just in Imp City with a friend is all."
"Ohh thank Satan, you're okay and. . . Wait, friend?" he asked in shock.
I could see him now, his face full of excitement that his precious owlet has made a friend so I tried to prepare for his outburst.
"Yes, dad, I made a friend today," I said being a bit sarcastic.
Alex shook his head while giving me a stupid looking smile. I rolled my eyes at him. In return he gave me a smirk so I tried to ignore him, but it was hard as he kept making stupid faces while doing stupid things such as dancing or mimicking my actions.
I tried to hold in my laughter while waiting for dad, to answer me, but I wished I took the phone away from my ear.
"Ahhhhhh! My little owlet has finally made a friend!" he screamed like a drama queen.
"I'm so happy for you, Via. I remember you told me when you were five years old that you wished that you had at least one friend and now you have one. Do you remember that, Via?"
"Yeah, dad, I remember that, you didn't have to bring it up," I mumbled.
"Well anyway, when are you going to be home? I'm still worried sick about you, Via."
I rolled my eyes again but this time in annoyance though I was happy that dad cares enough to make sure that I'm okay.
"I'll come home, whenever mother's party is over," I said in a serious manner.
"Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow morning, Via," he said in annoyance but I know it wasn't because of me.
"I'll see you then, dad," I replied also in annoyance.
"Okay, Via. I love you my precious little owlet," he said lovingly.
"I love you too, dad," I said while smiling.
Despite our ups and downs, I know my dad loves me and I love him too. We then hung up and I put my phone back into my pocket. I then looked at Alex who had the biggest and stupidest smile on his face.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
"Nothing, just nice to see that a demon has a healthy relationship with her father," he said before he continued walking down the street.
"I. . . Don't know what to say to that," I said to him while trying to think of something.
"Well I guess kindness really does get people to shut up," he replied in a smart ass tone.
I lightly punched his arm while glaring at him, but he didn't take it seriously and neither could I.
We kept walking as we talked to one another about many different things and many different people from both Hell and the living world. I didn't ask what it was like though since I didn't really care to know and he knew that so he would change the conversation whenever we stayed on a certain one for too long or if one of us felt uncomfortable.
After awhile we turned around and walked back to the bench and sat down resting for a bit as it started getting dark.
Alex looked up at the Hell's sky and admired it. He tilted his head as if he was examining the sky.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I asked, snapping him back to reality.
"Yeah, it is actually. Never would thought I would say that about this place, but it's nice," he admitted.
I nodded, understanding what he meant.
"To tell you the truth if it was reversed and I met you on Earth and we're were sitting down, looking up at the night sky, I would feel the same way you do now."
Alex smiled at me as if he was that one particular sinner that kept smiling, except his was warm and harmless. No games. No tricks. Just a boy who enjoyed the company just as much as I did. That's one thing I've noticed, we both had a reason to smile, to be happy. And none of that was because of sin or addiction, but instead was our friendship.
"Hey, I uh, need to get home before it gets too late," I said before getting off the bench.
"Would you like for me to walk with you?" he asked nicely.
"No, no it's fine. I don't live too far from here," I replied, refusing his offer, not wanting him to meet my parents especially at this time of day.
"Okay, then. I guess, I'll uh see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that would be nice."
"Okay, then, I'll see you tomorrow, demon girl."
"You too, human boy," I said before turning around and walking back home.
I stopped and turned my head around and watched as he started walking in the opposite direction as me. I smiled before turning my head back and continued walking home.
"I'll see you tomorrow, friend."
Well that's chapter one for my new story "The Light in the Dark." I had this planned for a while now. I hope y'all like it. And don't worry, I'm still continuing Sinful Addition, I'm just about done with chapter one. I'm sorry it's taking a while for those of you who like it, I've just been busy with other things. I'll try to finish it as soon as I can and will continue this one as well. Thanks for understanding and have a great day/night