Storm decided to walk back to the hotel as he felt sleep rearing its head. Still, it felt nice, the streets empty, everyone at home asleep, (sort of), everything was quiet and peaceful, well for Pentagram City standards. It felt as if he had the whole city to himself, he looked up at the dark red sky and saw stars peeking down on him, and it felt peaceful,
He smiled, "I wish Angel could enjoy this to."
He blushed, just thinking about him made Storm's cold heart skip a beat. Everything about the spider demon was perfect, from his long toothy grin to his long kinky boots; wait was this just a crush, or did Storm feel something more? Before he could think of an answer, something caught his silver eye.
It was another little girl, she looked a lot like the other little girls he's been seeing, only she wasn't wearing pajamas or a pink hanbok. She was slightly taller, her clothes were dark washed jeans, red 'Converse' sneakers and a black tee shirt with a picture of 'Pikachu' from 'Pokemon'. She looked to be about twelve.
"Hey are you okay?"
The girl turned to him, and she was a dead ringer for Storm, he couldn't believe it. One could think they were siblings, or maybe father and daughter.
She had slight acne on her face and her raven black hair was short and heavily choppy; it looked like she tried to cut it herself. Wait badly cut hair? Why did this situation feel familiar too?
"Do you like my hair, I cut it myself,"
Her voice sounded like a mixture of a small child's and a young woman's; it was clear she was going through puberty.
Storm stood there speechless, before he could answer, the girl responded back.
"Mom and Dad are angry, they say I look like a boy, but I don't care, I want to look like a boy,"
He smiled, "You do you kiddo,"
His self-conversation came to a stop when a car honking caught his attention, he turned and saw a large black limousine about to run him over. In a wave of panic, he placed his hands out and a blizzard of snow was everywhere, within seconds the limo was a giant snowball.
Storm was in disbelief, "Holy fuck,"
He's still trying to get use to his new formed ice powers, even though he's been in Hell for a few days, or was it a week? However long he's been here, his powers are still something to get used to. One of the snow-covered doors burst open to reveal a male imp wearing a tuxedo and a limo driver hat. The imp sneered at him, obviously pissed that his jobs been interrupted by a random sinner.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"
Storm was at a loss as to what his excuse was, he couldn't say his truth because that'd just make things worse.
"I was out for a walk and got caught up in my thoughts,"
That was the only reasonable excuse he could think of, but sadly the imp wasn't buying it,
"Bullshit, your obviously high!"
Storm couldn't help but chuckle, the imp wasn't really that intimidating, he was 5'0 and he looked like an angry red lizard.
"Am I funny to you? You think I'm a 'Robo Fizzarolli'!?"
"I have no idea what that is, but if you insist, sure,"
The limo driver imp held his fists up and made a fighting stance.
"That's it lets go mother fucker!"
Storm couldn't help but laugh, this was too funny not to be a dream. This only made the imp angrier.
"That's right laugh it up, it won't be so funny when I punch your stupid face!"
Storm laughed harder, "Only if you can reach it,"
His laughing fit was cut short when a familiar posh English accent filled the air,
"Leon what on earth is going on?"
The imp apparently named Leon turned to the snow-covered limo and turned his tough guy act into a 180.
He cleared his throat, "My apologies your majesty this boy is making everything difficult; what should I do to him?"
Storm felt his confidence shrink a little, whoever this majesty is, he seemed like a big deal.
"Leon there's no need for violence, I'll deal with him myself,"
Leon smirked, "Yes sir, you're in trouble now kiddo, my boss doesn't take kindly to those who get in his way,"
The side limo door opened and out came a pair of long thin black legs with sharp talons; Storm felt his heart in his throat, scared to know who or what came with those legs, sure enough those long bird legs belonged to none other than Prince Stolas. The ice demon felt his knees grow weak, the owl demon had to be at least taller than Angel Dust, maybe taller than Valentino.
Stolas glanced down at the ice demon with his mouth hung open, the owl smiled amusingly.
"Hello there, my driver says your causing trouble, but I want to hear your side of the story,"
He tried to find the right words but his frozen brain's still processing what was in front of him. The prince bent down to Storm's level; the ice demon caught a glimpse of the owl's four red eyes peering at him. They weren't vicious or angry, they were filled with curiosity. Storm flinched when he felt Stolas's soft hand touch his chin.
Leon smirked, "Not so funny now ain't it punk?"
Instead of hurting Storm, Stolas gently shut his mouth,
Stolas chuckled, "Close your mouth, you're not a cod fish; but I must say your fangs are lovely, their white as freshly fallen snow."
Storm felt his cheeks blush and his anxiety settle, maybe this owl isn't so scary after all.
The imp's smirk turned to an annoyed frown,
"Your highness this sinner interfered,"
Stolas cut him off,
"Leon please, let him speak; I apologize for my driver, he's quite a hot head when he needs to be,"
Storm chuckled, "I noticed."
"Oh, you can talk, now then would you please care to explain why you're out this late?"
"I couldn't sleep, and I thought going for a walk would help,"
"Well, that explains your pajamas, but why didn't you hear the limo coming?"
Storm bit his lip nervously, should he spill his frozen guts to this royal stranger? He might as well, he doesn't know when he's going to see him again.
"I saw a younger version of myself, and I guess that turned off the distractions around me,"
Before Stolas could say anything, Leon laughed,
"My prince this sinner is clearly high off of Satan knows what and he's just looking for pity!"
Storm felt like turning the smug imp driver into a popsicle. However, the owl prince decided to handle it more gracefully,
"Leon! If you continue to test me, you'll be a statue in my garden; is that clear!?"
"But sir,"
Stolas red eyes glowed, "Thou shall not test me!"
Leon crossed his arms and pouted like a child; the whole scene made Storm snicker.
"Now then how about I give you a ride back home?"
"That'd be great thanks,"
They glanced over to the limo still covered in sheets of snow,
Stolas chuckled, "I don't suppose you can get rid of the snow?"
"Sure thing,"
Storm waved his hands and the snow reversed itself. Stolas was in awe, Hell doesn't have much snow; well, other than his brother-in-law who thinks he's all that just because he makes a snow day with the snap of his fingers.
"Where do you live?"
"The Happy Hotel,"
Stolas turned to Leon who's still pouting,
"Leon if you'd be so kind to take us to the ever so famous 'Happy Hotel'"
The imp uncrossed his arms and sighed, "Yes sir."
They climbed in and drove off to the desired destination, the limo had a purplish-blue color scheme and the size of it was catered toward the owl demon's tall frame. The seats were wide and narrow and there was lots of leg room; at least Storm didn't have to worry about being cramped. The icing on the cake was the 'Ars Goetia' crest in the center of the floor.
Stolas chuckled, "Speechless again?"
Storm blushed, "Sorry, I do that a lot I'm noticing."
"May I ask, was what you saw really your younger self? That's quite interesting and I'd like to hear more,"
Storm rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "I don't know if you'd believe me."
"My dear boy, I've heard of many unbelievable things, that turn out to be truer than Hell itself,"
What's that mean? Is Stolas dreaming just like him?
Storm took a deep breath, "Okay, here goes,"
Storm explained everything to Stolas just like he did with Angel Dust; unlike most he's told his dream theory to, the owl prince stared in fascination. He's heard of sinners not believing their dead and thinking their asleep, but this was taking it to a whole new level. Apart of Stolas felt pity for the snow demon, the poor thing's in deep denial about dying and his's brains allowing him to convoy this preposterous idea.
"You probably think I'm crazy right?"
Stolas chuckled, "Only just a little, but who isn't a little insane?"
"I guess you're right."
"When you keep seeing the little girl that look like you, are you sure she isn't someone else?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is she your little sister or, your daughter?"
Storm doubt it, if he got pregnant and popped out a kid, he's pretty sure he'd remember something that major. As for little sisters, he doesn't recall any siblings.
He shook his head, "I don't think so."
"No? Well then, why do you think you can feel her emotions in these so-called dreams you have?"
"Some dreams feel real that you swear it's like it happened,"
Stolas decided to take a different approach.
"Okay tell you what if you can answer these simple questions flawlessly, I'll believe you and your dream theory, deal?"
Storm was confused but decided to play along,
"Deal,"
"Excellent; first question, what's your middle and last name?"
Storm tried to think but all that came to mind was blanks.
He shrugged, "I don't know."
"Hmmm, interesting, next questions where did you grow up and where do you live now, and don't say the 'Happy Hotel,'
Once again nothing but blanks, did he have a house?
Storm shrugged again.
"Alright then, these next questions should be simpler; I know you can answer these in a breeze,"
Storm wanted to believe it, but with all the blanks he's been drawing, he wasn't so confident.
"Do you have a favorite snack, movie, or a hobby you fancy?"
Storm ate various foods down here, but were they, his favorite? The only movies he's watched so far is 'Toy Story' and 'Frozen,' he loved and enjoyed them but were they his favorite too? As for a hobby, did he even have one; does trying to control your ice powers count? Storm's blank look and gaping mouth made Stolas think he really didn't know.
"No answer?"
Storm shook his head, the prince sighed with concern. His denial's stronger than the owl prince thought. Awkwardness filled the air, and they felt it.
"Sorry I made this weird, just drop me off here and I'll get out of your hair,"
"You didn't do anything wrong, your just being honest,"
"Some how being honest makes me sound more unstable than I already am,"
Stolas placed a hand on the ice demon's chin and tilted it upward; Storm felt his cheeks darken thinking he's going to get a kiss.
"What your experiencing is normal for someone like you in this situation,"
Did Stolas know what's going on?
"I don't understand,"
"I may not know what you're going through but I've heard of stories like this, and the aftermath can be either happy, confusing, sad, or dark. When you receive your memories from your previous life, it's up to you to decide where you go from there,"
Storm didn't know what to add to that; memories from a previous life, is that what his dreams really are? Before he could interject the limo stopped Infront of the 'Happy Hotel' Stolas let go of Storm's chin and opened his door. The ice demon scooted out of his seat and stepped out.
"Thanks for the ride, Stolas,"
He grinned, "Pleasure's all mine,"
Just before Storm turned away, the owl prince interjected with one last piece of advice.
"These feelings your harboring won't last forever, eventually everything will come together and make sense,"
Storm just gave a small smile, "I hope,"
"You don't believe it now and that's okay, but in time you'll understand your strange feelings,"
Storm chuckled, "Good night, your highness."
"Good night, Storm, I hope you find what your missing,"
Storm watched the limo drive off until it disappeared, he gently opened the door, and everything was still as quiet as he left; he carefully went back upstairs and thankfully everyone's still asleep. He quietly entered his room and crawled back into bed. As he fell back asleep, Stolas's words stuck to him like honey. Was the prince, right? Was everything he's experiencing not really a dream, but the strong possibility that, he's dead.
End of chapter 18, Will Stolas get through to Storm or will he have to learn the hard way? There's more to come, thank you for being so patient.