Lincoln looked uncomfortable having a talk with a nasty piece of work like Stella. Stolas told the boy a great deal of hate and nastiness about his now ex-wife. "Look, i'm sorry if Stolas cheated on you." said Lincoln, trying to be nice with her at least. He didn't want to feel her wrath, especially the first time she met him. The kid never forgotten how hard she lifted him and gripped his arm. This elegant lady (or her definition of elegant) was stronger than she looked.
"No, you do not have to apologize." said Stella. "Honestly, i don't care who he sleeps with... mostly. But if it's an imp, that is just a crime against demonology!"
Making a gulp of fear, Lincoln probably had the right to fear her. She probably had an unpredictable temper problem. Now he wished Loona was here to protect him once again since she protected him the last time. Alas, she wasn't here to protect him this time, and he was kind of on his own. "Right, Stolas told me that your marriage was only arranged to have a precautionary heir to your family, and that's all." he turned away. "And i'm sorry if your marriage wasn't happy."
"I said you don't have to apologize, right dear?" Stella looked a little annoyed.
"Just trying to be nice and polite, that's all."
"I see." Stella was quiet for a moment, but then she asked: "Have you always known you were royal?"
"Admittedly, no. But it's no big deal. I tried spreading it in Scotland, but it ended in a big fiasco. But everyone over there likes me and my family now, and... i just wanted to feel special like my own sisters and feel accomplished. Besides, times have changed, and there aren't really any places where you can assert your dominance over everyone... at least not on Earth. It's different than Hell."
"Yes, i noticed." Stella said. "But, there are some countries where there are still tight monarchs or dictatorships around. Eritrea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, shall I go on?"
"You've made your point, Stella."
"Good. In Saudi Arabia, women are not even allowed to drive a car."
"What?"
"Yes. It's true."
"I have heard how brutal Eritrea and North Korea is, and... nothing against the people, but Hell is better than those places... in a way."
Stella laughed like how Loona and Verosika laughed earlier today. "Quite the comedian, aren't you, Lincoln?"
"Nah, that's my sister Luan's job." Lincoln admitted.
"So, how would you like to feel truly royal and feel like you are the king or duke of everything? We both have many things in common, Lincoln. You want to feel special and accomplished, so I think i can help you with that."
"Well, i don't really care about being in charge of people... not anymore. I mean, i have my family so that's what counts. But... why are you like this? I mean... Stolas told me that you strangled dogs to death when you were a kid."
"That's none of your fucking business you little-!" she realized that she was losing her composure, and Lincoln silenced her.
"My family's asleep, don't want to wake them up." Lincoln whispered.
"Right. My apologies. But yes, that was none of your concern. And... i've always been pressured to be posh and perfect all my life." said Stella. "Especially by my parents... and my brother."
"You're brother?"
"Yes. Andrealphus, the Marquis of the Goetia family. Unfortunately, he ranks lower than my bastard of an ex-husband." she sounded rather bitter. "Because i would love to see him freeze Stolas to death after sleeping with a disgusting imp in the first place."
"Whatever problems you and Stolas have, it doesn't have to be between us. And you told me to stay out of your way."
"That, my dear," said Stella, "was before i discovered your royal ancestry, as i have mentioned to you before. But now? Now this is completely different. I can make you feel like a special boy. Someone to be remembered by for generations to come. Boundless treasures and wealth, all the girls you can ever have in your life. Stomping above the poor and lower class."
Lincoln sounded a little shocked by Stella's classist attitude. "Wait a minute, whoa whoa whoa, i don't want to crush anyone beneath my feet. No. I'm not an evil person. Besides, i don't want to turn into a snobbish person again." he remembered the time he became a self-absorbed asshole when he won a free limo ride and hung outh with that old rich fuck before. "Last time that happened, i almost became a monster."
"I see. But i can help you become a better boy." Stella urged.
All of this was making Lincoln think of the famous story, the Snow Queen a little bit, except Stella didn't have icy powers to go with that icy heart of hers. "What exactly would you do?"
"It is your choice." said Stella. "But, you know, i was thinking i can give you a tour of my new home one of these days... well, it's my brother's own palace admittedly. But i'm sure he wouldn't mind having you come inside. He took me in after that Stolas divorced me."
"At least you got a place to stay."
"Perhaps. But it's better to have a place of your own."
"Look, i've got done hanging out with Verosika so i just want to relax and take the load off, you know?"
"I understand. Another time, perhaps."
"So, Stella? Can i ask you something?"
"Very well. What is it?"
The kid was hesitant and finally asked: "som why are you angry a lot of times?"
The Goetia lady looked like she was about to explode again, but something came to his mind, and she said: "I don't know why." she then laid her right hand on her face. "It's always been that was as long as I can remember. Besides, i always love everything my way and my parents always taught me that a princess should always get what she wants." It was making Lincoln think that maybe Stella is like Lola, but probably a little more prone to get mad. Was Stella bad as Stolas said she was? or is she probably misunderstood?
Of course, everyone in Hell pretty much as a somewhat shitty personality, so he decided not to think about this too hard. overthinking hurts and it can cause severe headaches if the overthinking goes on for a period of time. "I take it your parents put a lot of pressure on you?"
"Yes. Always 'Stella do this, not that' or 'if we ever see you go to that place again, we will give you the thickest ear in hell'. Those sort of threats."
"Sounds like that family takes pride in being royal."
"You have no idea," said Stolas' ex-wife. "But enough of that. It's how i was raised to be." then she got off the couch. "Anywho, i need to get back to my brothers' palace. He probably needs tending to his ice garden right now. A pleasure being in your... abode, i suppose." then she vanished back to Hell with her magic. Lincoln was alone again in the living room. These demons were making Lincoln all the more interested in curious, and he wondered what it would be like if he ws a demon himself. Ah, but he was a good boy and he would still prefer to go to Heaven.
Another day had passed and Lincoln was just watching some Dream Boat with his family, who are all better than before. "Glad you guys aren't sick anymore." Lincoln said
"Dude, we couldn't agree with you more." said Luna. "And sorry if we scared ya yesterday."
"Yeah, is there anything we can do to make it up to you?" asked Lynn.
"No, it's fine. Stuff like this happens out of nowhere."
"We should probably find a good thank you gift for Clyde and your friends." said Lori. "They did literally help us."
"Good idea." said Leni. "Maybe a trip to Dairyland would be fun. Or the zoo."
"I'll think about it." said Rita.
"Maybe we can throw them a thank you feast." said Lynn. "I have my own restaurant after all."
As the show ended, a knock on the door was heard once more and Lincoln probably guessed who it was. He ran over to it and answered it to reveal Loona again. "Hey kiddo."
"Hi Loona."
"You want to hit the arcade with me and Tex like we said we would?"
"Sure."
"Hey sport. Wait a minute." said Lynn Sr "we want to talk to you."
"Am I in trouble?"
"No, it's just a talk." Rita pointed. "And this involves Loona too."
The disguised hellhound rolled her eyes. "This better be important."
"It is, trust me." said Lynn Sr. They both went up to the family. "So what happened yesterday? We know we scared you and you were with Loona."
"Nothing." said Lincoln. "I was just hanging out with Loona at the arcade, that's all. Yep just spending some time with her."
"I promise, he is safe with me." said Loona. "Have a lied to you before."
"Well you kinda have a low opinion of us, dude." said Luna. "And you called Lola a... you know."
Indeed, Lola hadn't forgot the time Loona called her a bitch, and she growled at her in response. "I told you, didn't I? I say what I want, when I want."
"Even if there are children here?" Asked Lori
"Children, adults, doesn't matter." Loona pointed with her arms crossed.
"Please just tell us what is going on." said Rita.
Lincoln was silent and said: "what makes you think something is going on?"
"Well what are the odds of a human having fangs in her mouth like Loona does?" said Lucy. "It makes her look like a werewolf that hasn't transformed yet."
"It's just a birth defect. That's all." Loona pointed. "And there are people that are born with disorders too. Autism, cerebral palsy, or having one finger on each hand, and you don't complain about that, do you?"
"That's a good point." Lana said.
"And besides, I saw how scary you guys can be when sick." Loona pointed. "And I noticed that there are crazy things happening in this family."
"Also a good point." said Lola.
"Can you excuse us for a second please?" Lincoln pulled Loona and they were in the kitchen. "I hope they're not onto us."
"Just keep denying and we'll be fine." Loona pointed.
"We can say... that you come from a government lab."
"What? And have that braniac sister of yours experiment on me?"
"Let me think. Let me think... a-ha. I'll just tell them you like sharpening your teeth."
"Ok that's a good cover." They went back into the living room. "So here's the truth." said Loona to them, "I like to sharpen my teeth and make myself look like a monster."
The family all went "oh..." and bought it, much to Lincoln and Loonas' relief.
"So if you can excuse us, we have to..." something was rising inside Loona and then she let out a big sneeze, accidentally transforming back into her true hellhound form, making everyone look shocked. "What?" Loona didn't notice. "Something on my face?" She looked in her phone screen and realized she accidentally got herself compromised. "Uh-oh."
"OK, ok." said Lincoln. "You caught us." She sighed in defeat. "Loona is a hellhound."
Everyone looked even more surprised.
