Geryon was sound asleep in his room at Blitzo's apartment. The alarm on his phone went off as he woke up to turn it off. He looked at the date and realized that today was the day he was going to visit Octavia and her family. He jumped out of bed and put on his robe before stepping out of his room. The first thing he did for his morning routine was to have a cup of coffee along with a bowl of his favorite cereal. Blitzo stepped out of his room with a yawn and noticed Geryon up and early. "Today is the day, isn't it?" he asked as he grabbed a cup to pour himself some coffee. Geryon nodded.
"Hope it is fine with you, Blitz," Geryon said. "I might miss work the rest of the day. Heck, I might come home late."
"Hey, don't let me step in your way." Geryon gulped up the last of his coffee and then got up from his chair to go take a shower before leaving.
Octavia was already up from her bed brushing her hair before putting on her makeup.
After Geryon had a relaxing shower and brushed his hair, he put on his armor and jetpack and then opened a window in his room. He held his backpack in his hand and flew out towards Stolas's mansion. He avoided some billboards along the way. He then safely lands in front of the front door of the mansion. He was nervous at first, but then regained the courage to ring the doorbell. "I got it!" Stolas's voice said on the other side. The door opened to reveal Stolas wearing his royal outfit. He saw Geryon standing in his armor. "Ah, Geryon! Good morning! Octavia is still getting ready, but in the meantime if Stella could mind herself, I could perhaps introduce you to her."
"Mind herself?" Geryon asked, confused. Loud smashing was then heard as Geryon had his hand hovered over his holster. "Is there something going on?"
"In a way, yes, but it is complicated."
"Something related to your relationship with Blitz, no doubt?" Stolas sighed and nodded as Geryon was correct. "Perhaps I could try to calm her down?"
"You could try, but might attack on sight."
"Trust me, I have ways of persuasion." Stolas then led Geryon into the room where Stella paced around angrily until she noticed Stolas.
"You have some nerve coming to see me, Stolas!" Stella said. She then eyed Geryon. "And with an uninvited guest."
"Stella, please!" Stolas reassured. "This is the demon who Octavia invited over with my approval."
"I don't care who this armored man is!" Geryon then wiggled his fingers around. "This doesn't involve you, boy! I suggest you leave before I call security."
"You think they would win against me?" Geryon asked with a grin under his helmet. "Even if they attempt to touch me, they will be taken down. Now, I suggest you calm down for the rest of the day and try not to ruin everything for me." Stella then threw a vase at Geryon who then quickly caught it. "Stolas, mind leaving us. Alone." Stolas then carefully left the room and closed the door. "I am an avian like you, ya know. I have always had a troubled past for the past twelve years since I first met your daughter." Geryon puts the vase down on a small table and sighed. "I trust you heard about what happened at Verosika's concert?" Stella thought for a moment and then remembered something as Geryon took off his helmet to reveal his face to her.
"Are you the boy who-"
"Ruined the concert? Yes. Let's just say that she made a mistake leaving an insult on me." Stella then sighed to calm down before she slowly approached Geryon. "Don't be alarmed when I say this, but I happen to work for a company that is runned by that imp you hate." Her eyes then widened at the revelation before she then smiled. She then stood in front of him with her hands on his shoulders.
"Nonsense. Any friend of my daughter is also a friend of mine. Just don't bring that imp who happens to be having an affair with my husband around me." Geryon's eyes widened and then shook his mind off of it. "So, Geryon was it?"
"You guessed right, your highness." Stella chuckled.
"Please, call me Stella."
"Okay, Stella."
"Perhaps while you wait for Octavia, you could...join me for a cup of tea?"
"Tea does sound nice. Just...let me change into something formal for your presence." Geryon then stepped out of the room to change out of his armor.
Geryon sat at a table outside with Stella in his casual outfit while having tea with her. He took a tiny sip as Stella asked, "So, tell me about yourself."
"Well, there is not much to tell really," Geryon said. "Happened to be an inventor and assassin at I.M.P. That armor I arrived in was an inspiration from one of my favorite characters from a movie; Boba Fett. Just painted it to match the company colors. What about you, Stella? How did you meet Stolas? Was it by choice?"
"In a way. I was arranged to be married to him years ago when I was a girl. Way back before you were born."
"And your daughter? I take it that she is somehow an heir to the family." Stella nodded before taking a sip of her tea and put her cup down on the table. "If I may ask, what do you do to get the stress out of your system?"
"Normally throw things at Stolas."
"Awful method, but I may have another way if you want to hear it." Geryon then got up from his chair as Stella was about to. "No no. Please sit." Stella stayed seated as Geryon stood. "Tell me, what usually helps you relax?" Stella thought for a moment.
Stella
You see, friend, a woman with a temper
Now an ardent and eager princess
So fetch a brush and perfume
And lend me a more seductive tone
A cup, perhaps, full of tea
But what I would like
A massage
Stella then adjusted herself in her chair as Geryon tilted his head with a smile.
Geryon
The closest I'll ever give
Geryon then began to whistle a tune to himself as he stretched his fingers. "You seem to be in a good mood other than hanging out with Octavia, Geryon," Stella said.
Your wish is my command today
Catching fire
From one demon to the next
Stella
It's true, friend, love can always be hard
The blood to pound, the heart leap higher
What more
Geryon
What more
Geryon and Stella
Would demons require
Stella
Than love, friend
Geryon
More than love, friend
Stella
What then?
Geryon
Family!
Stella
Ah, yes, family
Geryon
Pretty family
Stella then hummed as Geryon whistled and cracked his knuckles. He then came to Stella's side as he then carefully took Stella's crown off of her head. He looked at it for a brief moment.
Now then, princess
Geryon then puts the crown down on the table before he stretches his shoulders.
Now to your purpose
Patience, relax
Revenge may not be the right method
Stella
Make haste, and you might even impress her, friend
Geryon
Of course
Geryon smiled as he finished stretching.
And who helps you around the mansion, princess?
Stella
Some servants
Stella then made a nice comment about Octavia. "She's a pretty little star," she said.
"Pretty just like you," Geryon said with a smile. Stella blushed at the reply.
"You are too kind, Geryon."
"Thank you. May I proceed?" Geryon then stood behind Stella.
"Yes, you-" Stella gasped as she felt Geryon's hands on her shoulders. She closed her eyes and smiled as she relaxed.
Geryon
Pretty demons
Fascinating
Sipping coffee
Or dancing
Pretty demons
Are a wonder
Pretty demons
Sitting at the window or standing by your side
Something about them cheers the air
Pretty demons
Stella
Mysterious
Geryon
Stays within you
Stella
Glancing
Geryon
Stays forever
Stella
Breathing lightly
Geryon
Pretty demons
Geryon and Stella
Pretty demons
Geryon then remembered his parents as he slowed down his massage.
Geryon
Turning off their light or
Combing out their hair
Even when they leave
They're still
Out there
They're there
Stella (overlapping)
Turning off their light
Combing out their hair then they leave
Even when they leave you and vanish
They somehow can still can remain
There with you
There with you
Geryon then gently puts the crown on Stella's head before she gets up to look at Geryon and then walks past him to look at the sky.
Geryon and Stella
Ah! Pretty demons
Geryon
At their mirrors
Stella
In their gardens
Geryon
Letter writing
Stella
Flower picking
Geryon
Star gazing
Geryon and Stella
How they make each other sing
Proof of myths as you're living
Pretty demons
Geryon
Princess
Geryon and Stella
Pretty demons
Stella
Yes
Geryon and Stella
Pretty demons
Oh, pretty demons
Pretty demons
Stolas cleared his throat hoping not to interrupt what was going on. Stella and Geryon turned to see him. While Geryon was happy to see him, Stella was now nervous to confront him. "Sorry," Stolas said. "I just wanted to inform you that Via is ready to see you, Geryon." Geryon turned to look at Stella who was smiling at him before nodding. "Her room is down the hall to the left from the front door." Geryon then walked past Stolas with a wink. Stolas then noticed something different about Stella. Maybe it was some way Geyon calmed her down or something else.
"He is a nice boy," Stella said. "Why wasn't I told about him sooner?"
"Well, I was until you started an argument the other day."
Geryon arrived at the door to Octavia's room. He knocked on the door until it opened slowly as he touched it. He slowly stepped in the room as the door then slammed behind him which made him jump. "Okay?" he said. "Is this an old game of hide and seek?" He then heard giggling and turned his head at the source of the giggle and then looked away as he played along by looking around the room. "Oh, you think darkness is your ally?" He then chuckled. "You forget that you merely adopted the dark." He then got closer and closer to Octavia's location and stopped without looking at her. "I was raised in it. Molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was about sixteen. And by then it was nothing to me but..." Geryon then opened the curtain to see Octavia hiding as she gasped. "...blinding." The two then laughed before they greeted properly with a hug.
"It is so good to see you, Geryon," Octavia said before she noticed something different about Geryon. "And not wearing the armor the last time I saw you."
"Just had some tea with your mother. She was...interesting until I calmed her down."
"Impressive. One of these days, you'll have to teach me and my dad how to do that." Geryon rolled his eyes at the thought.
A few hours later while talking to Octavia, Geryon laughed at a funny story of her life at the mansion. Octavia then decided to change the topic. "What kind of music do you listen to?" she asked. "I usually listen to depressing punk music."
"I don't know about music being depressing, but I do listen to almost anything, including symphonies. Like some songs used in movies."
"Ah, I see what you mean. Do you have one in particular that is your personal favorite?" Geryon then took out his phone as he scrolled down his playlists.
"Well, there was one that I liked that was sung by this guy named Andrea Bocelli. At first I didn't understand some of the words, but when I introduced it to Loona, she said that the language was Italian most of the time." Octavia then looked confused. "It's an Earth thing."
"Oh! I get it now." Octavia chuckled nervously.
"I know I have it on my phone somewhere if you wish to hear it with me."
"I would love to." Geryon smiled and found the song on his phone then pressed play.
*insert "Because We Believe" song by Andrea Bocelli*
As the song started, Octavia was surprised by the sound of the Italian language which then later on changed to English. The tune also sounded nice as well as she rocked her head slowly side to side with a smile. Geryon then puts his phone on the table then offers his hand to her. "Care for a dance?" he asked. Octavia blushed at the request before she took his hand to stand up with him.
"I actually never danced before," Octavia confessed. "At least not with a partner."
"Just follow my lead." Geryon placed his hand on Octavia's waist as she placed her hands on his shoulders and began to slowly move around before more lyrics came in. Later on during the instrumental part, she placed her head on his shoulder and smiled as they enjoyed the moment together. When the final verse came in, Geryon twirled Octavia which made her giggle and then brought her back to him when the song finally ended. "How was it for your first dance?"
"It was fun, but you probably need to keep up the pace next time." Geryon blushed at the comment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Octavia snickered before laughing.
"I'm only just teasing you." A knock was then heard at the door.
"Dinner is ready, you two," Stolas said.
"We'll be right there, dad." Octavia then looked at Geryon with a smile. "Shall we?"
"Of course, princess." Geryon then opened the door for Octavia and then followed her.
Geryon sat next to Octavia at the table with her family as he ate his dinner. He then began to hear bells ringing outside the mansion. His eyes widened as he dropped his fork which caught the attention of everyone at the table. Octavia then placed her hand on his shoulder which made him snap out of it and looked at Octavia then her family. "I'm sorry," he reassured. "It's that time of day."
"Time of what?" Stolas asked.
"The bells are ringing outside. Can you hear them? Beautiful, aren't they?"
"Yes," Stella agreed. "So many colors of sound and so many changing moods."
"It is the same time that my...parents were shot and killed by an imp."
"Really?" Geryon nodded. "I am sorry to hear. Do you remember what that imp looked like?"
"Stella!" Stolas said. "Please ignore that question, Geryon."
"It's fine," Geryon reassured. "I will tell you. For it is a tale of a boy who met a monster."
Years ago...
Geryon and his parents were walking in the streets of Imp City as they made their way home.
Geryon (narrating)
Dark was the night where the story begins
At the streets of Imp City
Geryon's father found a shortcut to get home faster as his mother asked, "Where are we going?"
"Shortcut," Geryon's father said. "We'll be home soon."
Three avian demons walked silently
After leaving Loo Loo Land
The three stopped at the other side as they heard footsteps approaching.
But a trap had been sprung for the family
And they turned in fear and alarm
At a figure who was dressed
Like a cowboy in the movies
The Bells of Pride Ring
Geryon hid behind his mother as an imp in a cowboy outfit approached aiming his revolver at the family.
This imp had a bandana
Covering his face
With his yellow eyes glowing
The imp shot the father who stood in front of the mother and Geryon.
As the boy got scared
Inside
When the imp shot the father
The imp looked down at Geryon's dead father and then kicked him in the face to move him aside. "You didn't have to kill him!" Geryon's mother pleaded.
"Nothing personal, darling," the imp said. "Just business." Geryon's mother quickly picked up Geryon and started to run back from where they came from.
They ran!
Geryon looked back over her mother's shoulders to see the same imp pursuing the two. The two later on lost him as the mother cried out, "Help! Somebody help!" The imp came out of hiding as he aimed his revolver and shot the mother causing her to drop Geryon a distance away. He slowly looked up to see his mother lying dead on the ground and rushed over to her side.
"MOM!" Geryon shouted. The imp was reloading his revolver as he approached Geryon.
"Such a pretty face she had," the imp said. "Shame that you will be joining her, boy." Geryon looked up to see the imp now aiming his revolver at him. He was about to pull the trigger until a random imp citizen came out and stood in front of Geryon.
"STOP!" the citizen cried.
"Out of my way, vermin. I have a job to do."
Imp Citizen
See here the innocent blood you have spilled
In the streets of Imp City
"I am guiltless. She ran with the boy and I pursued."
Now you would add this boy's blood to your guilt
For what? Money?
"A job is a job!"
You can lie to yourself and those who follow
You can claim that you haven't a qualm
But you never can run
Nor hide from what you've done to the eyes
The very eyes of the now orphaned boy
The citizen approached the sad Geryon as the imp looked at the boy in realization. When the citizen turned around, the imp simply just vanished.
Geryon (narrating)
And for one time for the imp's life
For fame and glory
The imp felt a twinge of fear
And decided to spare the boy
Geryon placed his face on his hand as he sighed. "What happened then?" Octavia asked.
"I pointed the citizen to where my father was shot so that they would be laid to rest," Geryon said. "While he was at it, I just decided to...run away from all of it. That was when that news report happened the next day."
"The same day my dad told me you and your family died."
"Yes."
Geryon
As I was locked away
Where he won't find me
"I stayed in the city alone and forgotten. And who knows that someday..."
That imp would soon realize
It was a deadly mistake
To let me live
"That was when years later, someone found you and trained you to be a fighter," Stolas said. "Someone who really understands."
"Loona..." Geryon whispered.
But here's a riddle to see if you can
Solve this mystery
Who is the monster and who is the man?
Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells of Pride Ring
The bells outside stopped ringing as Geryon got up from his chair as he was finished eating. "It must've been hard for you, Geryon," Stella said. "I'm sorry."
"Thanks," Geryon said as he looked at the time on his phone. "I think I should probably head back to Blitz's place."
"Actually, I have a better idea for you," Stolas said before making a request. "Why don't you spend a night here with us? I'll let Blitz know so he will understand. Besides, you probably look exhausted from telling us that story. What do you think, Via?"
"I think that is a wonderful idea," Octavia said. "He can use one of the spare rooms in the mansion."
"I agree," Geryon said. "Thank you for your hospitality tonight." Stolas then got up from his chair.
"I'll show you to your room," Stolas said as he gestured to Geryon to follow him.