"Sir, I don't think you can read it." Moxxie said to Blitzo.
"No shit Mox! Now load it up into a translator or some crap before I blow my top!" Blitzo exclaimed, obviously annoyed that he couldn't read Stolas' Grimoire that was written in Angel speak.
"But sir, I don't know what's it's in, maybe if we-" Moxxie held the book that was shoved into his arms, holding it tightly.
"We are not asking Stolas to read it! We aren't idiots!" Blitz voice raised more, grabbing a whiskey glass and taking a sip before deciding to chug down the whole bottle. Blitzo was not only pissed off that Stolas was out of town for the week, but also that he was having trouble with using the book. Usually Luna would have no problem with using the spellbook to make portals to the human world, but for other spells…not so much. They had gotten trapped in a subway station for two hours last week because Blitzo couldn't read the teleportation spell they needed. "Just…" He paused, rubbing the bridge between his nose and sighed deeply. "Just figure it out..Mox." His tone died down a lot, being able to calm down himself like flipping a switch. He almost looked….guilty? But he kept those feelings down, but not trying to yell anymore than he has to.
Moxie looked to the side in confusion, but also curiosity. He took a small peek at the label of the book. He could read the title, clear as day. That was--odd. Certainly he couldn't really read it…..right?
"Alright then sir…." Moxxie trailed off, taking the book with him into the other room of I.M.P headquarters. He closed the door, and pulled the book from under his chest, looking at the scribbled text. He tilted his head slightly in confusion.
"Huh…that's—weird…" he mumbled to himself.
Moxxie continued to flip through the pages of the book, finding something in his reading level. Until he gets about halfway into the book, something catches his eyes. He didn't know if it was a spell, or notes, or just some historical writings. So he decided to read it.
"May the Angel's Grace fall from the pits of Eden, thou shall not be forgotten by the Lord, thou of The Fallen shall not forget the glory world..?" He ended the last sentence with almost a questioning manner. After continuing to read the rest of the long passage to himself, he was starting to get tired. Reading wasn't really his strong suit, something about the letters had made his head spin. Even if he could read it, which was a surprise. The blood red sun started to set in the city horizon on the Pride Ring. Casting a red and orange light over the sky. Moxxie sighed, and closed the book shut with a quiet thud.
There was a light knock at the door.
"Mox..? You in there?" Millie's southern accent was strong and calming to the touch. Moxxie set down the book on his end table, and a small, tired smile peered through his mouth.
"Yep," As he gave the go ahead, Millie walked into their room, and gave Moxxie a tired hug.
"Was work good today Mil?" He asked, accepting the hug. She was always so warm, his little piece of heaven in hell.
"Mhm, the client wanted us to kill a jumper for a club," she paused and a small chuckle came out as the two imps still hugged. "You can probably tell how that went. I think that Blitzo discovered how to 'Eye Bang' someone."
"Eye banging? That's still a thing?" He tilted his head a little with a questioning tone, but set his head on her shoulder.
"I guess so," Millie answered back, and a small sigh escaped her lips. She gave Moxxie a small kiss on the cheek. "Alright, I'm headed to bed, you following?"
"Yea," he said calmly. His glance turned to the book one last time, and he shrugged it off, heading to bed curled up with Millie by his side.
Later that night, Moxxie started to have a really odd dream. It was flashes of white and black in his vision. He started to toss and turn as his mind spun in circles. The dream was getting more audible, and clear.
All he could see was white. He was in a bright, white room, it was almost blinding even. White bed. White walls. White white white white…..
"The hell?" He questioned himself as his voice echoed throughout the room. There was something off….
His voice…
Was smooth, almost like silk. In a panic Moxxie put his hand over his throat, feeling his Adam's apple shift as he swallowed hard. His breathing was slowed down to an inhale a minute. The air had a scent of fresh roses and vanilla. It was odd.
Moxxie looked around and as he turned his back…
There was a mirror.
As he faced it, his skin turned so pale he looked almost transparent. His mouth dropped to the floor, his heart rate increased.
He had wings…..bright white wings. He blinked rapidly a few times, thinking he was hallucinating, but his new white wings stayed. His once yellow eyes were now a light blue, with hints of greens and silvers. A thin halo curled around his long horns, emanating a faint golden hue.
"I-" Moxxie was speechless. Before he could say anything, he was suddenly hit with a wave of vertigo from the shock and adrenaline, which caused his vision to collapse and fade away from the dream.
Jolting awake in a cold sweat and panic, Moxxie awoke in a frantic panic. But he was met by his wife's warm and smooth hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, obviously still half asleep. Her thumb brushed his shoulder lightly, reassuring him almost instantly.
"Mox….." Millie's voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible to hear, with a raspy tone of grogginess. She took a deep inhale and continued to brush her hand on his shoulder. "….it was—just a dream….go back to bed Mox…."
Moxxie got the message, putting his hand on Millie's hand. She took her hand off and turned around, falling back to sleep. He nodded slightly a few times, putting his hand over his white and scruffy hair. He took a deep breath in, leaning back on the bed frame.
He could feel something on his back….
He paused and froze, slightly rotating his shoulders. It felt like something was…rubbing? Against the wooden bedframe? But what?
There was a long pause. Until a quiet sound broke the silence.
A quiet flap……….of wings……..