AN: Hey guys, sorry for not updating this last month. Since it was V-Day month I focused on making a romance fic that month mostly but here we are back with another Starlight Wings. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Helluva Boss. Spiroz, Milton, and Mitzy is the property of DaniDraws who's permission I have to use this character for this fic.
Since Stolas was excited to meet Octavia's new boyfriend, he insisted that the family dress up for the occasion. Unlike his Dad and older hellhound sister, Spiroz liked dressing up for formal events; the only problem was that he hated going to those formal events. Everyone always eyed him because of his half-breed status, and he could feel each set of eyes gazing at him, often with hatred or disgust. He didn't think this was a big deal when he was younger, but after learning what most of Hell really thought of him, he soon learned to hate those stares. Still, he wanted to support Octavia, so he hoped that this night wouldn't be a terrible one. Everyone was getting ready to take a portal to the capital while gathering their last things.
Spiroz's father dressed in what he called "The First Date" outfit, which, according to him, was the clothing he wore on his first date with Blitzo and thought it was suitable for the occasion. It was the opposite of his husband, who didn't really like remembering that first date since it was "one of the biggest failures on my part," end quote, but Blitzo wouldn't deny his spouse looked "hot" in that outfit. Blitzo was wearing a purple Brillo-styled jacket with dark black trousers, a black dress shirt, black leather shoes with diamond pins, and a black pearl necklace that was an anniversary gift. Loona, naturally, went with a black gothic look for herself. A long and crocheted black lace long dress with a black skirt that went down to her feet. She wore a black spider-webbed veil cloak around her shoulders that covered her entire back and wore a black diamond choker around her neck with a glowing red ruby skull ring that Octavia gifted her for her last birthday.
Moxxie, Millie, and the twins were also invited to the meeting since they were pretty much family, and they thought it would be nice to go in matching outfits. Moxxie and Milton wore black and ivory-colored tuxedos and white pants with silver cuffs and black bow ties. Loona joked that the two looked like they were cosplaying as James Bond, but they only took that as a compliment. Meanwhile, Millie and Mitzy wore simple black v-neck dresses that went down to their knees while wearing high heels with razor edges on the bottom. Millie's suggestion in case they needed to deliver a deadly kick for any reason.
Finally, Spiroz himself decided to wear something from the Victorian Era of England, a time that both he and Octavia found interest in when reading about history. He chose to wear a light yellow shirt with a white cravat that held a dark green gem in the middle around his neck. His waistcoat was white as snow with golden feathery designs stitched in the lower edges. His tailcoat was blood red with golden buttons and the Goetia symbol in black stitched over the upper right side of his chest. Finally, he wore tan trousers with black dress shoes. He also had the Evil Eye necklace that Hedwig had given to him hidden under his cravat. He didn't want to part from it, even with the risk of exposure, because it felt like a part of his friend was with him whenever he had it on.
"Everyone ready? I want to make sure we're there on time," Stolas said as he sprayed himself with cologne.
"We're ready already, Pops," Loona said, texting into her phone while looking bored. "Let's just go already to see if this guy is someone we'll welcome into the family or bury outside the city in an unmarked grave."
"We only did that once," Stolas said with a giggle. "And to be fair, he deserved it."
"Considering he was suspect in six accusations of spiking the drinks of six other girls before we had our way with him? Yeah, I think we did good on that one," Millie pointed out with a bloodthirsty grin.
Spiroz remembered that incident. It took them forever to clean the bloodstains off the ceiling and walls.
"Do we really have to meet this guy? Can't we just see what he looks like on Octavia's social media accounts?" Mitzy complained as she tugged at her dress. "I feel like an idiot wearing this thing."
"So no different than usual?" Milton quipped, which nearly earned him a punch in the face had Moxxie not caught his daughter's fist.
"Kids, behave," Moxxie firmly said as the two stopped but still stuck their tongues. "We're going to support Octavia because we're all family here. Plus, this woman babysat you two when you were babies. It's the least we can do."
"Yeah, she was a pretty cool sitter," Mitzy said before smirking at Milton. "But Milton was really excited to see his favorite little waifu crush."
"Oh Satan," Miton grumbled as he facepalmed. "I was seven when I had that crush! I'm over it!"
"Then how come you didn't get rid of your little drawings of her until you were twelve?" Mitzy teased, which earned a few chuckles from the others.
"Dad, please tell me I'm adopted and not related to her?" Milton begged.
"Sorry, kiddo, but you're Moxxie and Millie's boy. Got your births filmed right here on this tape!" Blitzo said as he lifted a classic VCR tape. "We can watch it when we get back home if you want."
"We are not watching that!" Moxxie shouted while everyone looked a little green at the thought before he pointed at his boss. "Why do you even have a recording of that in the first place?!"
"What's wrong with wanting to capture the starting few seconds of life of my darling little niece and nephew?" Blitzo said with his best attempts at an innocent-looking smile.
"I think Dad is right," Milton said with a deadpan expression. "You have a mental deficiency in your brain, Uncle Blitz."
"Eh, that's what pharmaceuticals are for, but enough about that. Let's get going," Blitzo said as Stolas opened the portal to the capital of Hell, Dis, where they walked through one by one until they found themselves in the biggest metropolis in Hell. The entire city was a giant bowl-shaped structure with the royal castle right in the middle below the lowest level.
As the capital, every sector was essential to them, either for cultural or government purposes. Such areas included the Tapestry of The Fall, which held the million-year-old depiction of the fall of the Fallen Angels from Heaven. The Cathedral of Shadows, home of the Church of Satan. And Station Tartarus, the main HQ of Hell's Legions. Currently, the family was in one of the middle levels right in front of a large indoor amphitheater and dining hall that was well known even in their ring: The Phantasma Gloria.
Inside the lounge, high-class demons in fancy suits and dresses were walking around or mingling as various waiters walked around with delicate glasses of champagne and light snacks before moving on to the main dining hall for dinner. Walking towards the rosy glass-tinted doors, the tall, dark lizard staff bowed and opened it for Goetias, who looked at the grand display with wide eyes. A few of the other guests noticed them but soon turned their attention to other matters, much to Spiroz's relief. The less attention they had, the better.
It didn't take long for Stolas to see his baby girl waiting for them at a soft velvet red guest couch with a glass of red wine in her hand and hooting to her. Smirking, Octavia rose from her seat, gently brushing her long hair with her hand, and walked over towards them. Having grown much taller since her teenage years, Princess Octavia was a beauty even among the Goetia thanks to her mother's genes (the one good thing she appreciated from her). Octavia wore a dark midnight sky dress filled with star constellations made with glittering diamonds while wearing black velvet long sleeve gloves that sparkled with silver glitter. She had her family house ring on, symbolizing that she was the Head of The Thirty-Sixth House of the Goetia Family with a bright silver crown above her head that was similar in style to her father's old crown. She had decided not to wear the same crown her forefathers and mothers had worn due to feeling her father should still be head of the house and not her due to politics.
"Via, my Starfire, you look lovely this evening!" Stolas joyfully cried out as he hugged his daughter and kissed her cheeks. "How have you been, sweetie?"
"Other than having to deal with noble pricks all day? I'm good," Octavia replied with a warm smile.
"Hey, Princess," Blitzo said, walking over and winking at her. "So are we getting wedding bells soon, or are you two still trying to get to third base?"
"Nice to see you haven't changed either, Father," Octavia said with a roll of her eyes but still kept her smile up before extending her grin. "And I went past third base a long time ago."
"That's my girl," Blitzo said, giving her a thumbs up.
"Does he have a brother?" Loona asked as Octavia shook her head, much to her grumbling. Still, the two step-sisters hugged before Loona sighed. "Just once, I'd like to beat you at something. What's the secret? Tell me."
"Honestly? Bumping into someone and having your coffee spilled on your clothes," Octavia shrugged.
"Seriously? That's so cliche," Loona laughed, which caused the others to do the same at the absurdity. "Wish I had that luck. But the only people I keep running into are guys who try to cop a feel between my legs before I rip their arms off."
Not wanting to waste any more time, Spiroz practically sprinted to his older sister and hugged her as tight as possible. Although surprised, Octavia soon replied with an equally strong embrace as she nuzzled her younger brother. "How are you, Spiro?"
"I missed you," he whispered as he closed his eyes to take in this moment. "When are you going to come home more often?"
Sighing, Octavia kneeled and put her hands on his shoulders. The princess stared into his pleading eyes with a sorrowful and regretful expression before whispering, "I'm sorry, little brother. I know how much you miss me, but I can't leave my duties. When I find more time to spare, I promise I'll come over and spend as much time with you as possible."
"I know," Spiroz whispered back as he took heart from the kindness coming from his sister's gentle and loving eyes. When Octavia was around to comfort him, things seemed to be not so horrible since he had his whole family around to support him against the world that hated him for merely existing. What I would give to go back to those days when everything was fine... or at least appeared to be.
"So, where's prince charming?" Millie asked, looking around. "You said he would be someone special and a surprise for us all?"
Octavia got up and nodded before motioning her hand over past the group. "I did, and here he comes."
The group turned around only to nearly fall over in surprise over who it was that was coming. Were it not for the black wings that were coming out his back, symbolizing him as a Fallen Angel, and his red and green snake pupil eyes, one could mistake him for a normal human being. His most human traits were his fair caucasian skin, young roughish facial structure, and dark black hair that covered the right side of his face in a slight downward direction. The clothing he was wearing was a Royal Guard uniform, but not just any uniform. He wore the uniform that stated he was Captain of the Royal Guard. Only one name popped into their heads since everyone had known of who he was: Samuel Qliphoth, Son of Demon Lord Samael Qliphoth. One of Lucifer's most trusted friends and allies who headed the entire Special Forces and Black Ops Division of Hell's Demonic Legions. Also voted among the top fifty most handsome demons in the pentagram by Witches Bitches Monthly magazine.
"...Oh, sister, you bitch..." Loona whispered in awe, which only increased Octavia's smile a few more inches.
The clothing he wore was a pure black tunic with red blood padding on his shoulders marked with golden lacing. Samuel wore a bright red stash in ancient demonic ruins over the golden buttoned tunic along with the symbol of the Royal Family, the Royal Guards, and the Seal of Samael. All displayed in proud obsidian black shown in the center diagonal part of the stash to show his alliances and ties. Various metals of rank displayed proudly over his right chest spoke of his achievements. While Spiroz was no military expert, one didn't become the Captain of the Royal Guard unless you could prove yourself both physically and tactically. A large guarded rapier was safely hidden in a black and golden sheath by his side. The crossguard was pure platinum with snake designs appearing to slither around the handle and palm guard with green emerald eyes that glowed like fireflies. The Captain soon appeared before Octavia, holding her hands and gently kissing her on the lips as she looked into his eyes and nearly cooed as if the serpentine gaze alone was hypnotizing her into a state of pure bliss.
"I apologize for taking so long in the bathroom, love," he whispered with his voice soft, bold, and noble, with a taste of his power hidden behind the tone. "Glad I made it in time."
"Oh, I knew you wouldn't leave me hanging," Octavia said with a wink, and it was at that moment everyone in her family knew that she was absolutely in love with the demon before her. Turning to them, she held her boyfriend's arm and placed her head on his shoulder. "Everyone? This is Captain Samual Qliphoth. Head of the Royal Guard and Son of Lord Samael."
"A pleasure to meet you all," Samuel said with a bow and a soft but charming smile. "I hope we get along well. Octavia has told me all about you, and I'm eager to get to know each of you."
"...Hot damn, Octavia! You know how to pick them!" Mitzy screamed with a lovestruck look of her own. "He's hot!"
"Mitzy!" Moxxie hissed as he pulled her back and nervously chuckled. "S-Sorry about that, my Lord."
Chuckling, Samuel merely said, "It's fine. I'm flattered."
"Well, Samuel, I had the pleasure of meeting your father a few times in my life," Stolas said as he walked forward and shook the man's hand. "He's a very noble man, and I've heard much about you. I'm honored to finally meet the demon who's stolen my little girl's heart."
"Actually, it's fair to say she stole mine," Samuel said as he grinned towards his girlfriend. "The moment I met her, I was smitten. I've never lost a duel before in my entire life, but the moment I gazed into Octavia's beauty, I felt as if I had been struck in the heart with a single blow."
"Oh, stop, you dork," Octavia laughed as she gently pushed her boyfriend's shoulder.
"Smooth talker," Blitzo muttered before he got up and crossed his arms while staring at Samuel without any sort of care. "Hi, Sam. Name's Blitz. Octavia's step-father. Now, Stolas might be the gentle and nice daddy, but I'm the tough one." He pointed his finger at the amused Captain. "You might be the Head of the Guarding the Royal Nancy Pansies, and you might be the son of some Lord or whatever, but Octavia's my daughter even if not by blood. So you treat her wrong, and I'll skin you alive and make you into a purse to sell on eBay."
"Dad, come on," Octavia muttered, rubbing her forehead.
"Relax, Octavia, I understand," Samuel said as he nodded. "I assure you, Prince Blitz, that you will not need to worry. I promise I will honor Octavia as my lover and treat her right."
"...Did you call me Prince Blitz?" Blitz asked with his eyebrow raised, as did a few of the others in surprise. Technically, since he was married to Stolas, he was legally a Prince now by marriage, but rarely did anyone ever give him the respectful title.
"You are married to Prince Stolas, are you not? This makes you a Prince in the eyes of the law," Samuel said before nodding respectfully also to both Loona and Spiro. "Just as your daughter here is Princess Loona, and your son is Prince-Heir Spiroz because of that marriage."
"...You know what, Sammy?" Blitz said with a slight smirk as he held out his hand. "You might be alright."
Samuel nodded and shook it back before addressing the surprised siblings. "And have I your approval as well? Please note that Octavia has told me that our fellow nobles look down on you for various reasons. Please, rest assured that I will not see you as anything other than equals and, hopefully, family one day."
"Even me?" Spiroz asked as everyone looked at him. "Because...you know what I am, right?"
Samuel walked over to Spiroz and placed a hand on his shoulder with a sigh. "I know that you are the younger brother to someone I care very much for. While I admit that the circumstances of your birth are unnatural, I will not hate you for something you had no control over. I care not for your birth status. I only care about making you approve of me dating your sister."
"...Well, you got a good start already," Spiroz said with a soft smile.
Perhaps this event won't be a disaster?
After more introductions and a few drinks, everyone decided to get their table before the main show began so they could order their meals in time. The acts at the establishment were always random and made a secret to surprise guests, and they included various performances ranging from musicals to comedies. You didn't know what you would get as a show for the evening, but the theater had a nearly one hundred percent approval rate with each one.
Upon sitting down and ordering their appetizers, conversations were kept simple as everyone got to ask questions about Samuel or how he and Octavia were doing in their relationship. The two never stopped holding hands and always smiled at each other with such sweetening looks that they could be mistaken for cupids in love. Spiroz himself felt torn about this. On the one hand, he was delighted his big sister was dating someone that seemed to like her, and the feeling was mutual. On the other hand, this meant that she would devote more time to her lover instead of at home. Having Octavia be forced to become Head of the family and move to the capital was hard for everyone, especially Spiroz since Octavia had been one of his emotional pillars growing up.
She had been the one who had to explain to him what "abomination" had meant after her mother called Spiroz that. She also had to explain why most of Hell didn't approve of his existence. There had never been a moment in his entire life that he had never cried or felt utter despair that matched what he had felt on that day. That was the day everyone from his family to his best friends tried to comfort him, but that pain still lingered even now, years later.
No, don't go all depressing now, Spiroz thought to himself. We're here for Octavia, and her boyfriend seems to be okay. Please don't ruin it for her.
"So, Spiro," Samuel said as the owl-imp snapped out of his thoughts, "your sister told me you like learning and reading. Are you planning to become part of the academic field when you're older?"
"Oh, well, I don't know," Spiroz said with a shrug. He didn't think much about his future, mainly because he didn't know if any field of employment would accept him. Unlike in the human world, there were no laws that prevented you from not hiring people based on their race, gender, or even sexuality. Discrimination was perfectly accepted in Hell to the point where it was the norm. "Maybe I'll just do private practice? I mean, it's not like I need income or anything with my family being wealthy and all."
"Well, that's your choice, but you should consider trying to go for something like college to broaden your horizons," Samuel said, being polite. "Any particular field you wish to focus on in general?"
"Well, I have been getting really into angels and Heaven," Spiroz said. His eyes widened as he realized what he said as everyone was staring at him in surprise.
"R-Really? Well, this is news to me," Stolas said in surprise.
"Us too," The twins replied at the same time.
"What made you want to get into studying those assholes?" Blitzo asked, eyebrow raised.
Spiroz wanted to curse himself for dropping information like that. Truth be told, he was very much interested in Heaven and angels in general ever since he became friends with Hedwig. The perception demons had of them was really off the charts, and he trusted Hedwig to be honest with him. Learning about the opposite afterlife realm had been like reading a book for the first time for him as he sometimes would go home and write notes about what he had learned. Hedwig might have been learning from him to become a demonologist, but Spiroz wouldn't deny he had been learning from her as well. Does this mean I want to be an angelologist? Is there such a thing?
"I...I just got curious about them when we started learning about them in school," Spiroz lied, keeping his eyes downward. "We know so little, so I wanted to learn more."
"What's there to learn about them?" Blitzo snorted. "They're a bunch of holier than thou pricks who think that just because they got an all-mighty being on their side, they can boss around people and kill whoever they deem to be evil."
"Not to mention they are so obsessed with saving humans that they practically are willing to do anything to save the ungrateful bastards," Moxxie muttered as the words "stupid cherubs" were heard afterward.
"Plus, how many years have they spent killing demons? And they claim to be the beings of love and forgiveness? Hypocrites much?" Loona growled as she gently clawed the table.
"Honestly, Spiro, you're better off not taking care or focusing on angels," Stolas whispered with a heavy sigh. "I lost my parents to them, you know? One of the exterminations, and I still have nightmares of it. There may be peace between us, but demons and angels will never get along. Nor should they. It goes against the natural order of things. They hate us, and we hate them. Nothing more needs to be said."
Octavia looked at her little brother with sympathy, and the twins were just confused, but everyone else was merely nodding in agreement with Stolas's statement. If there was any sign that Spiroz knew that he couldn't tell his family his friendship with Hedwig, then it just carpet-bombed right in front of him as he felt his heart sink. He had forgotten about his grandparents' deaths at Exorcists' hands during Extermination Day. Granted, it happened a long time ago, way before he was born, but for a long-lived demon like Stolas, it was very close. Not to mention the incident in which his other father and his teammates met those cherubs that attacked them during one of their jobs. A part of him felt guilty that he was betraying his family by being friends with an angel, yet a more significant part of him told him that they were wrong.
Hedwig had been nothing but kind, generous, and happy with him, and he felt the same way. The thought of even never seeing her again was painful to him despite only knowing her for a short time. Was it because he finally had a friend of his that was of his own age, or was it because she didn't judge what he looked like despite not knowing the true story of his birth?
I need to tell her...that will decide everything, Spiroz vowed as the conversation soon went elsewhere. The next time he met her would be the moment he told the whole truth about himself. I honestly don't know who to pray to for this to work out? God? Satan? Or maybe just wish fate itself?
An announcement soon came that tonight's show would start soon as the lights in the restaurant began to dim. The enormous performance stage in the back was slowly lighting up with blue lighting as the symphony music playing in the room soon went silent.
"I wonder who's going to be performing tonight?" Millie asked, accepting another wine from their waiter.
"The establishment always keeps each act a secret, but I did hear rumors it's some kind of comedian and show performance from a former regular. He hadn't been seen here for a bit, but that's all I know," Samuel said as he shrugged.
"Huh, well, let's hope he's entertaining," Blitzo said as they all turned their attention to the stage. The lights were now out entirely as a stage light focused on the center stage where a large green flame erupted and slowly grew. Suddenly, a voice sounded clownish, insane, and yet also demented, which made everyone but Spiroz, the twins, and Samuel all freeze up. "OH, YOU HAVE TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME?!"
"Dad?" Spiroz asked in confusion as his father facepalmed.
"Ladies and germs! Demons of all ages! Sinners, succubus, and simps alike! Get ready for a show by the one and only, demonic clown of hilarity, and handsomest of all the jokers of the jesters...'
"Oh no," Moxxie whispered as he went pale while Millie gripped her steak knife a little too hard.
"Well...shit..." Stolas muttered in a rare display of cursing.
"Seriously?!" Both Loona and Octavia growled, which surprised the latter's date.
"Will someone tell me what's going on?!" Milton asked in annoyance.
"It's him..." Blitzo muttered in both disgust and despair. With a heavy sigh, Blitzo said, "My ex-boyfriend."
In a flash of demonic flame, bursting from the green fire, their entertainer slid to the front of the stage.
"FIZZAROLI!"