Snowflake's Diary: Entry 48
It is SO good to write in you again, Diary. You cannot believe how much I missed you. Well, it's been about three days since we got back to the Pride Ring and so far, things have been going pretty well. Okay, sure, we had a rough landing when the portal opened up and shot us into the pool, but I digress.
As I had expected, Stella was NOT happy to see us when we came back. In fact, I think the very sight of us made her go into some kind of stroke given how much her eye was twitching. In fancy case, it was pretty clear that she wasn't expecting our return, meaning she deliberately sent us down to that fucking pit hoping we wouldn't come back.
But not to worry, I got my revenge. All it took was stealing that bitch's favourite perfume off her dresser, digging a hole in the backyard, taking a massive shit on it and then burying it. I tell you that evil bitch was screaming about it for hours when she saw it was gone! Mwahahahahahahaha!
Anyways, I suppose Wrath wasn't all bad. Daddy and I actually made a good few friends down there, even that sexy Imp girl turned out to be pretty cool. We even kicked someone's ass together… though for the life of me, I still can't figure out what that weird smell coming from her and Daddy was before we left.
Meh, it was probably nothing. Now we're back in Pride and ready for things to go back to normal. That's all for now, diary.
Snowflake, out!
As soon as Snowflake finished scrawling in her little book, she then quickly tucked it under the cushions of her basket and let out a small yawn before stretching herself out. After roughing it down in Wrath, she was all but ecstatic to be back in the lap of luxury again. Did that make her a spoiled pup? Maybe. But after spending a good couple of months posing as the pampered pooch for a member of Demon Royalty, there was no possible way things could get better for the tiny fox.
"Snowy!" she suddenly heard Octavia call out from the hallway… before hearing the four words that instantly made her fur stand on end. "Time for your bath!"
Okay, so maybe not EVERYTHING was better. If there was one consistent no matter which Ring she was in, Snowflake HATED being bathed! And given that Stella insisted that Octavia had her bathed daily since coming back from the dust-filled Wrath Ring, her dislike of them had only gotten worse. So much so that she immediately bolted to find a place to hide as soon as Octavia stepped into the bedroom.
"Snowflake?" the Goetia called out, scratching her beanie as she scanned the room for the speedy little Kitsune. "Where the fuck did she go?"
Meanwhile, down in the Servant's Quarters, Mick was finally getting back into the normal routine of his work. It was weird. As much as he complained about his job, it still felt great to be back in his uniform again. In a way, it symbolized that everything was now back to normal. It may only have been a couple of days, but regardless, it felt like he had just come back from a month's voyage and while everything was the same, he couldn't help but see things from a new perspective. Of course, there was ONE obvious change…
"There he is!" Buzz cried out as soon as he saw his roommate enter the kitchen. "Michael Fireclaw!"
Needless to say, the video of his fight with Scorch wasn't just seen among the Imps in Wrath. In fact, almost the entire household had seen it by now… Buzz and Jewel saw to that. What's more, because of said video, the entire staff seemed to change their view of the resident Cat Demon, whether it was for better or for worse Mick couldn't tell just yet.
"That's never gonna go away, is it?" he said with a heavy sigh as he went to grab an apron to begin his kitchen duties.
That question, of course, earned him a couple of laughs.
"Fuck no!" Buzz exclaimed. "This sort of thing is way too juicy to forget that quickly."
Mick let out an irritated groan at that. Bad enough that his roommate seemed to enjoy teasing him, but he had to choose the one time of day when a good chunk of the staff just happened to be in the kitchen at the same time.
"Oh, pay him no mind, lad," the Chef chuckled, slapping a hand upon Mick's back as he passed by him with a sack of potatoes and gave the Sinner a respectful smile. "But, for the record, the way you handled that fight… I must salute you, sir!"
The moment his fellow Sinner said those words, he did just that. Straightening his shelled back out and raising his right hand to his forehead, he looked as though he were acknowledging his long-lost captain. While it was Chef's way of showing respect, however, the display only made Mick feel a little embarrassed.
"Please, don't," he muttered, scratching his head when all of a sudden, Jewel's arm wrapped around his shoulder.
"Oh, come on, don't tell me you don't enjoy it, big boy," the Imp Maid giggled, giving the Sinner her usual perverted grin. "The fame, the popularity… the ladies."
Noticing the way she emphasized that last part, Mick couldn't help but roll his eyes as he pried Jewel's hand from his shoulder, believing it to be yet another one of her perverted quips.
"I'm not THAT famous," he said, firmly dismissing the Imp's comment. "And there sure as hell aren't any ladies."
Much to his surprise, however, that statement only resulted in some stifled laughter from everyone within earshot.
"Uh-huh, sure," Buzz cackled. "Says the man who got himself a little action while he was down in Wrath!"
The moment the diminutive Imp said those words, Mick's eyes shrank in horror. Had he been eating at the time, he would have instantly choked.
"How'd you-!?" he tried to blurt out, only for Jewel to cut him off.
"Don't bother trying to deny it," she said, licking her lips. "I know the smell of sex all too well, and you REEKED of it when you came back."
Of course! Figures the resident pervert would figure that much out just from the SMELL! This was bad. This was VERY bad! If Octavia ever found out about this from any of the staff, Mick's chances of asking her out will be drastically hurt. Granted, it's not like he was cheating on her or anything like that, after all, neither of them were dating. But given what was going on with her dad, hearing that Mick had sex with an Imp before asking her out would definitely bring about some bad feelings. He had to nip this in the bud before it spread any further.
"So, spill!" Jewel demanded excitedly as she and the others began to gather around Mick. "Who's the girl?"
"Is she hot?" Buzz asked with his own mischievous grin.
"Can she cook?" the Chef added.
"Is she into threeways?"
It was at Jewel's depraved question that Mick finally snapped.
"ALRIGHT!" he screamed, his eyes fully igniting with blue fire as he directed his frustration at his fellow staff members. "All of you PISS OFF!"
Needless to say, the sudden display of fury caused all three of them to jump back in fright, a feeling which only grew when the sinner started edging his way towards them.
"Look, what I do and with whom I do it is my own business," he growled, pointing a flaming clawed finger at the three just as the same fire spewed out of his mouth like a scorching furnace. "So don't you all go shooting your mouths off to ANYONE about it… or I'll burn all of your tongues to a bubbling blob of grease, GOT IT!?"
Holding each other for comfort due to the terrifying Demon of Fire standing in front of them, all Jewel, Buzz and the Chef could do was frantically nod their heads in response.
"Y-yes sir!" Jewel whimpered, her perverted persona instantly replaced with that of a scared child, if only for that one moment.
Satisfied with their answer, every flicker of flame emanating from Mick's body quickly went out and the Sinner turned away from the three of them with a sigh of relief. Just as the Cat Demon was setting up to start peeling the spuds for the Chef, the three staff members he had just scared out of their wits soon began muttering amongst each other.
"Okay, when the fuck did Mick become so scary!?" Buzz asked with a gulp.
Scratching his chin in thought, the Chef too wondered the same thing. However, the more he mulled it over in his head, the more the answer seemed clear.
"When he started having affections for a certain lass upstairs," he said, sharing his speculations to the question.
Buzz, of course, remained completely confused.
"Linda?" he asked… only to receive a fist to the head for his trouble.
THUMP!
"No, you idiot!" the Chef snapped. "His heart belongs to someone a bit more… blue-blooded, shall we say?"
It was only then that Buzz finally got what the Chef was referring to, giving him cause to smirk. As for Jewel, the moment the resident Cook spelt everything out, a series of thoughts rushed through her head at once. Did Mick… have a crush on Octavia!? If that's the case, then no wonder Mick reacted the way he did just now. Soon enough, the Maid's sultry grin returned to her face with a vengeance as a new thought came to mind.
"Ooh, this is gonna be juicy," she commented, unaware of a fifth presence making his way into the kitchen just behind her.
"Ahem!"
Turning towards the sound of the voice, everyone, Mick included, saw none other than Pringles/Reginald standing in the doorway. Graciously passing by the others, he then made his way towards Mick with a firm step.
"Michael," he said, addressing the Cat Demon with his usual monotone voice. "You are being summoned."
Mick, however, did not like the sound of that.
"Oh no, I see where this is going!" he said firmly, remembering what happened the LAST time he was personally summoned by a member of the family. "I am NOT going for another delivery job!"
Pringles, however, only rolled his eyes at such an outburst.
"Calm yourself, young man," he said, his stoic expression not faltering for a moment. "It is Prince Stolas who is summoning you this time."
After hearing the name of the Demon in question, Mick immediately calmed down… albeit not by much.
"Oh… I see," he uttered, understandably still feeling somewhat suspicious. "Understood. Lead on, then."
With that final word, Mick then proceeded to take off his apron, straighten himself out and follow the Butler out of the kitchen.
"Hey, Mick!" Buzz suddenly called out just as he was about to go through the door. "Before you go, I gotta ask… was it just standard sex or was there butt stuff?"
CLANG!
"W-worth it!"
Those were the last words Buzz ever said before the frying pan Mick threw in his face knocked him out cold.
"Urk!"
Soon enough, Pringles had led the Cat Demon through a familiar corridor that led towards the Prince's study. While that wasn't a surprise at all, what DID shock him, however, was the sight of Linda stepping out of the aforementioned room with eyes as big as dinner plates.
"Liddy?" he said, grabbing her attention. "Everything okay?"
At first, Linda said nothing in response, seemingly too shocked to utter a single peep. However, after a few short seconds, she managed to squeak out at least two syllables.
"Uh… huh…"
Needless to say, Mick did not like the sound of that. Whatever happened in Stolas's office had obviously traumatized the poor girl. Was the same thing about to happen to him? Was it really THAT bad? Only a few more seconds, and he was about to find out.
"He's waiting for you," Pringles finally said, gesturing a hand towards the doors
With one fearful gulp, Mick proceeded to give the door a good firm knock.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Enter!" he immediately heard Stolas's voice say through the wood.
This was it, no turning back now.
"You wanted to see me, your highness?" Mick said, turning the handle and poking his head through the door.
Looking into the room, he found the Demon Prince staring out a window with a terrifying regal stance, briefly shedding his usual flamboyant persona and looking like a true lord of the house. In all honesty, it was a rare occasion to see Stolas looking like this, but whenever he did, any member of staff knew that it meant he was being serious about whatever was currently going on.
"Ah, Michael, glad to see you've arrived promptly," he said, not taking his eyes off the window and keeping his back turned to the Sinner. "Of course, I expect nothing less from you at this point… Please, have a seat."
Not wanting to test the Goetia's patience, Mick quickly did as he was asked and took a seat on the surprisingly comfortable chair in front of Stolas's desk. After a brief moment of silence, the Prince turned his head completely around like the owl he was, making the Cat Demon both unnerved and surprisingly a little jealous at how easy he made it look. Turning the rest of his body to face the Sinner in the chair, Stolas then walked over to the desk and slammed a hand on its surface… before suddenly sliding a crystal bowl filled with candy towards him.
"Chocolate?" he offered, his smile briefly returning for a moment.
Not exactly what Mick was expecting the Prince to say, but definitely better than what he thought it was going to be.
"Uh… thank you," he said, not wanting to insult the Prince by declining his offer and taking a single piece of candy.
After another brief moment of silence, the Prince spoke again.
"I suppose you're wondering why I summoned you," he said, earning a small nod.
"The thought did occur, sir," Mick admitted, his nerves going into overdrive with worry.
"Well, in that case, I shall be blunt," Stolas replied, causing Mick to gulp. "Michael, you have become… noticeable as of late."
Given the way Stolas emphasized that particular word, it was a wonder that Mick didn't jump out of his seat there and then.
"Is… is this because of those Voxtube videos, your highness?" he asked, fearing that all those Crazy Cat videos were finally coming back to bite him in the ass.
"In part, but not entirely," Stolas answered, only adding further confusion for the Sinner. "You see Michael, ever since you arrived in my home, you have been at the centre of quite a few notable incidents… The Voxtube videos, the fight with Ipos's son, and let's not forget the events that transpired during Hurricane Pruflas."
The more Stolas spoke, the more Mick began to fear the worst. However, his fears had yet to reach their pique since the Goetia Prince had yet to finish speaking.
"Now, that's not to say you aren't a valuable employee," the Owl Demon continued. "Your skill set has always been beyond the expected standard, and you have impressed me to no end… but to be honest, I believe it's time to make a few changes in this house."
This was it! He was done for! Every mess Mick had gotten into was clearly listed in some kind of black book and his excursion to Wrath must have been the final nail in the coffin! After everything Stolas had just said, this could only mean one thing!
"Oh fuck, you're FIRING me aren't you!?" Mick all but screamed, pulling at his ears so tightly, it almost looked like he was about to tear them off.
He was fucked! He was totally FUCKED! Not only was he about to lose the best job he has had in years, but this meant that he'd never get to see Octavia again! Worse still, he'd never get to tell her how he felt! This was a disaster! This was a calamity! This was… hilarious to Stolas for some reason?
"Hoohoohoohoohoohoohoohoo!" The Prince hooted, covering his mouth in vain to hide his laughter despite finding the Sinner's reaction exceedingly funny. "No, no, no, my dear boy! I'm not doing anything of the sort."
At those words, Mick went from being terrified straight back to confused.
"I… I'm afraid I don't quite follow, sir," he said honestly, raising an eyebrow.
When Stolas finally managed to calm himself down, he took a moment to clear his throat before speaking again.
"May I inquire something of you, Michael?" he asked the Cat Demon, who once again gave him a confused glance.
"Of… of course, your majesty," he said, giving Stolas cause to lean back in his chair with thought.
"Back in the Dark Ages, when people were God-fearing and knights roamed the lands of Europe, they followed a set of rules; The Rules of Chivalry," Stolas elaborated, much to Mick's further confusion. "Now, answer me this…In these rules, a knight is sworn to uphold the value of a set of virtues… but which two virtues did they seek to uphold the most?"
While he may not have understood the point of Stolas's question, Mick nevertheless tried his best to answer it.
"Honesty and Integrity, sir?" he eventually said after a moment's thought, not completely certain of his own words.
At first, Mick thought he might have said something stupid, given the way Stolas was staring at him… however that quickly changed when a small smile appeared on the Goetia's face.
"That is correct," he said, much to Mick's relief. "Do you know why I ask you this?"
Mick, of course, shook his head in response.
"Because, my dear Michael, those are two of the most difficult qualities to find in a person in this day and age… even more so when you live in Hell," the Goetia Prince continued, doing his best to elaborate his point. "And as of late, I have noticed that YOU, in particular, have shown the kind of honesty and integrity that I have not seen in a Sinner in a very long time. Which is why I have come to a most important decision…"
Now Mick was really on the edge of his seat. What kind of decision could the Prince be talking about? If he wasn't firing him, then could it be that he was getting an official position at last? No, no, he wouldn't make such a speech for something like that. Just what was going on!?
"Michael Nikos," Stolas finally said in an eloquent tone. "From this day forth, you are to be given an important new position in my household… Attendant and Bodyguard for my dear Octavia."
…
"Say what now?"
Did he hear that right!? Stolas… Prince Stolas… one of the biggest overprotective fathers the Sinner had ever seen… was asking him to be Octavia's BODYGUARD!? No fucking way!
"I know, surprising, is it not?" Stolas chuckled, seeing Mick's confusion as clear as crystal. "But I assure you, you aren't going mad. After careful consideration, I believe this is the best course of action."
"Are… are you sure, sir!?" Mick exclaimed, still finding everything difficult to accept.
Having a good understanding of Mick's personality at this point, Stolas understood why he would react this way. As such, he couldn't help but let out a small sigh.
"I realize that this may come as a shock, Michael, but allow me to explain," he said, quickly regaining Mick's attention. "Ever since you arrived in my house, you have shown exceptional qualities. What's more, behind every incident I have previously mentioned, you always had a noble reason for being there, particularly for the sake of someone else. You saved my daughter more than once, you defended her honour, and need I mention the way you can hold yourself in a fight?"
The more he thought about it, the more Stolas's reasoning seemed to make sense. Not to sound his own horn, there was truth to the Goetia's words. Even some of the Voxtube videos were the result of Mick trying to help someone else. Saving Apple in Imp City, and beating the shit out of Scorch after he attacked Chimp, just to name a few. Of course, Stolas wasn't done speaking yet.
"What's more, there are many in this house and beyond who vouch for your character without question," the Goetia continued, surprising Mick even further. "If you ask me, Michael, I couldn't ask for a better bodyguard for my daughter if I wanted to."
Mick just couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not only was Stolas offering him a job that would guarantee getting closer to Octavia, but the other Demons in the house agreed with his decision? But who? Buzz? Jewel? Maybe the Chef? Out of all of them, Stella was a DEFINITE no. Still, if Mick hadn't been so flabbergasted at that moment, he would have been humbled to hear that he was thought so highly of.
"So what do you say, young man?" Stolas eventually asked. "Are you prepared to take on the task?"
"Well, I…" Mick tried to reply, only to choke on his own words. Stolas let out another sigh.
"You're my daughter's friend, are you not?" he asked, earning a confused nod in response. "Well, if it helps, SHE is the one who asked for this. My daughter seems to trust you, young man… and frankly, so do I."
That was it! All defences were instantly gone! How could Mick possibly say no to THAT!? Not only was a Goetia Prince putting his faith in him, but Octavia was the one who came up with the idea!? Knowing that, there was only one answer the Sinner could give… before he even realized what he was doing, Mick rose from his chair, proudly stood before Stolas's desk and bent his knee before him.
"Your highness… I'd be honoured to serve as your daughter's bodyguard!" he declared, his voice filled with pride and respect.
Seeing the Sinner bowing before him like a knight to a king, it took every ounce of willpower for Stolas not to burst out laughing. And yet, the way the Sinner showed such enthusiasm for the task that was bestowed upon him… it was enough to make Stolas feel a bit of pride himself.
"Well now," the Prince said with a smile. "Shall we make the arrangements then?
Before long, Mick and Linda were following Prince Stolas through the corridors of the mansion. As it turned out, the reason Linda looked so shocked earlier was that Stolas had given her a similar position. From this day onward, she was to be Octavia's personal attendant, in charge of daily personal needs such as clothing and other assorted tasks. To summarize, while Mick was in charge of Octavia's protection, Linda was in charge of her personal welfare.
"I hope you two understand what a unique opportunity you have been given," Stolas spoke up, quickly grabbing Mick and Linda's attention. "Normally, we don't have personal attendants since many consider it an outdated practice. Of course, that's not to say it doesn't have its perks for all parties involved. As such, I expect you both to give it your all in service to my daughter."
Hearing that, Mick and Linda shared a look of certainty, giving each other a small nod.
"That won't be an issue, sir," Mick replied with a respectful bow of his head.
"Y-yes," Linda added nervously, still feeling somewhat unnerved in Stolas's presence. "N-no problem at all."
Giving the two an approving nod, Stolas continued leading them through the corridors. After a few minutes of awkward silence, an amused smile appeared across the Owl Demon's beak as a certain thought came to mind.
"You know, it's funny," he said. "I say that the practice was outdated and yet I still remember the one servant during my childhood who served as my father's butler. I can't recall his name, but I suppose HE could be considered my attendant. Hell, he certainly did a better job raising me than my father did."
Mick, of course, couldn't help but raise a curious eyebrow at that.
"That would be King Paimon, yes?" he asked, letting his voice slip out before he even had the chance to hesitate.
"Yes, that is… correct," Stolas replied, raising his own curious eyebrow. "I suppose Octavia has told you about him?"
Realizing he must have brought up a deeply personal matter, Mick immediately felt a little sheepish.
"Briefly," he answered honestly. "But I can't say she went into much detail."
"No, I suppose not," Stolas replied with a sigh. "Not that there were any details to give, mind you."
At this time any other Demon would have kept their mouth shut after hearing that. However, Mick's curiosity was the very definition of the cliche that surrounded his certain species.
"How'd you mean?" he asked, finding himself somewhat surprised when the Goetia Prince didn't hesitate to share his story for a second.
"Let's just say while Paimon was a shitty father, one could argue that he was an even worse grandfather," he said, much to Mick's further intrigue and disgust. "In fact, one could count the number of times he came to see her on a single hand."
"Wow, what an asshole!"
Snapping their eyes wide in shock, both Mick and Stolas turned their heads towards Linda, who in turn slapped her hands over her mouth with a mortified expression as she realized what she had just let slip out.
"P-please forgive my outburst!" she whimpered, her whole body shaking in fright. "I-I didn't mean-"
However, much to Linda's surprise, Stolas merely laughed in delight. Furthermore, Mick had to stifle a few chuckles himself as a smile of pride stretched out from beneath his mask. Seems like Octavia had been rubbing off on the adorable Imp in all the best possible ways. At the very least, she was becoming a little bolder than when she first arrived.
"There's no need to apologize, young Imp," Stolas stated reassuringly, somewhat calming Linda's nerves a bit. "That actually describes my father perfectly. In all my 36 years in this pit, the only Demon I had ever seen him show any ounce of respect to was Lucifer himself."
Hearing that, Linda allowed herself to let out a sigh of relief. However, there was something about that last part that she found immediately baffling.
"Wait… 36 years?" she uttered, giving the Goetia a confused glance.
Even Mick was confused with that particular number, so much so that he had to say his piece on the matter.
"I thought you and the rest of the Goetia family were centuries old… no offence!" he said, once again finding himself surprised when Stolas let out another small laugh.
"None taken. It's a common misconception," the Prince said, choosing to elaborate when his answer seemed to make the two even more confused. "You see, my father must have sired a great many children over the centuries, and sadly, he hasn't been that attached to any of them… myself included. As such, whenever an assassination or the annual extermination actually managed to claim the life of a Goetia, my father thought it best to simply sire another one and give them the same name."
Needless to say, both Mick and Linda were shell-shocked when Stolas told them that. Especially when Stolas chose to lean down and whisper the last part into their ears.
"In truth, my full title is Prince Stolas the THIRD," he said, causing both their jaws to drop. "The other two, as you can guess, are no longer around."
Linda, of course, cringed upon hearing that part.
"Oh…" she uttered. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be," Stolas quickly replied, appreciating the gesture but brushing it off nonetheless. "I've never actually met any of them, so it makes no difference to me."
So all this time… Stolas wasn't any older than the average Demon? What's more, he was only 22 years old when Mick first arrived here in Hell!? And the misunderstanding that he was centuries old was all built around the fact he had older brothers with the same name!? If that was the case then that would explain how the Chef got permission to lead the staff from Prince Stolas multiple decades ago. Most likely he was referring to one of the previous ones.
And it was the same thing with ALL members of the Goetia family? Lady Stella too? Granted it was common knowledge that Octavia was only 17 but Mick figured that was simply because she was new to the family. But no! She was born when Stolas was barely a couple of years older than she was now. As all this new knowledge began to rush through his brain, Mick quickly started to feel a headache coming on.
"Ah, here we are!"
Thankfully Stolas managed to snap the Cat Demon out of his stupor as he came to a stop outside a specific door… Octavia's bedroom door.
"Uh… w-what is this?" Linda asked nervously, feeling just as confused as Mick was at that moment.
Once again, Prince Stolas had to elaborate on his actions.
"As required of a personal attendant, the both of you will be moved to an adjoining room next to Octavia's chambers," he explained, much to the pair's further shock. "That way you can respond to her needs promptly and be at her beck and call whenever she needs you."
If there was any moment that Mick would think that he was suddenly in a blissful dream it was this! Not only was he going to stay at Octavia's side every day, but he would also be sleeping in the room next to hers!? It sounded so… scandalous and exciting… However, there was one thing that he suddenly had to point out.
"But… there ISN'T a room next door," he said, pointing at the blank wall that stretched down the corridor until it reached the corner.
Stolas, of course, only smirked in amusement.
"Not yet," he retorted smugly, before stretching out his arm and snapping his fingers.
As soon as the eerie blue sparks flickered from the Owl Demon's fingertips, something suddenly started happening on the wall behind him. Where once there was a simple oil painting of a venus flytrap, suddenly the canvas melted away and ran down the wall like blood before the frame stretched out and contorted, turning into a bronze door frame before the wall within it crumbled into dust, revealing an oak panel behind it. Within a matter of seconds, a brand new door appeared in the wall just a few yards away from Octavia's. The moment it came into existence, both Mick and Linda were left in a state of awe.
"Okay, I'm not gonna lie," Mick uttered, pointing at the new door in the wall. "That was fucking awesome."
Once again, Stolas let out a giddy laugh.
"It was, wasn't it?" he commented feeling no shame in letting a little smugness ooze out. "Shall we look inside?"
Not needing to be told twice, Mick and Linda quickly took the lead and nervously placed their hands on the doorknob. Opening the door, they both found themselves intrigued by what awaited them inside. In a way, it almost reminded them of the bedrooms in the Servant's Quarters, only… better. A long, narrow room with a small dividing wall and curtain-covered walkway in the middle. On either side of the curtain were two identical sleeping areas for the pair of them, each with a soft bed, a small table, a wardrobe and a small wooden chest at the foot of each bed. What's more, the whole room smelt entirely of lavender, most likely from the potted plants that hung off the wall. If Mick and Linda didn't know better, they would say that this would be a cheap, yet comfortable room they would have in a nice hotel.
"You're free to decorate however you wish, of course," Stolas spoke up, gesturing towards the empty walls void of anything save for a single mounted shelf. "It is to your liking, I hope."
Whether that was meant to be a joke or not, Mick couldn't help but answer the Goetia in delight.
"Very much so, your highness," he said, giving Stolas cause to smile even more.
"Fantastic!" he declared. "Right, with that settled let us get your new contract signed."
Alas, even though there had been a vast number of reasons to feel ecstatic, there was still a large, throbbing doubt weighing on Mick's mind. In all the hype of the new room and the perks of being by Octavia's side, he had almost forgotten about it. However, now that Stolas was rummaging through his pockets in search of the new contract, the Cat Demon had to say his piece.
"Uh… sir, before we make anything official, may I speak freely?" he asked, much to Linda's confusion and Stolas's curiosity.
"Go right ahead," the Goetia Prince replied with a nod of his head.
Taking in a deep, nervous breath, Mick let out all his concerns in one fell swoop.
"You were there when I lost control back in Wrath," he said bluntly. "And yet you still trust me with your daughter's safety. Forgive me, but I would have expected you more likely to have thrown me out of the house, I just don't understand what it is about me that you find so trustworthy."
At first, no one spoke a single word in response, taking this moment to absorb the Cat Demon's words and take them to heart. Before long, however, Stolas gave Mick the biggest surprise of the day by placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"It's because you're so quick to say such things that I CAN trust you," he said just as bluntly.
"B-but I'm-" Mick tried to say, only for Stolas to cut him off.
"Michael, ALL Demons are dangerous," he said. "You're just a prime example of how far one can go when pushed too far. Humanity has existed for a very short time and during that time one aspect has remained the same… The Primal desire for survival. Sure they have their layers of what some would call 'humanity' keeping it locked away, but when those layers are shed, willingly or not, humans and Sinners as a whole will regress into that brutal and terrifying stage… and as I've mentioned before, it is that ferocity that makes you a worthy protector for my daughter… Does that clarify things at all?"
Does it? In all honesty, Mick was half expecting Stolas to be vague with his answer, not delve into a full-on philosophy lesson. Still, no matter which way one looked at it… there was no doubt that Stolas truly meant what he said. Somehow, Mick had earned the Goetia Prince's trust… and he sure as fuck wasn't going to let that go to waste.
"It does, your highness," the Cat Demon replied with a firm nod.
"Good," Stolas replied, his smile quickly returning to his face. "Then let us get started."
At that moment, Stolas pulled out a small stack of paper stapled together, undoubtedly the new contract Mick and Linda were meant to sign. However, there was something about the very first page that stood out from everything underneath… namely that it was a sheet of blood-red parchment that Mick had seen shortly before his suspension.
"A Cursed Papyrus," he uttered, giving Stolas cause to nod again.
"Indeed," he replied. "A formal way to make the contract binding for all three of us."
So that's how it was going to play out, eh? A contract that was literally going to have Mick sell his soul to the service of the Goetia family… Well, so long as it's Octavia who he's selling his soul to… then that's a small price to pay. Luckily, Linda appeared to be of the same mindset. While she may have been shaking like a leaf, Mick definitely heard her mutter the words "do it for her" under her breath. Seems like she really has taken a shine to Octavia since she's been here.
"I'll give you two a moment to look it over," Stolas continued. "Don't want to have any misunderstandings now, do we?"
Nodding their heads in understanding, both Mick and Linda began to skim the contents of the contract.
I, the undersigned, do hereby swear agreement to the terms and conditions therein regarding the protection and assistance of Princess Octavia of the Ars Goetia. All of which is to be upheld until the time when my employer releases me from service or should I fall in the line of duty.
Should any of the listed conditions be broken by either employer or employee, the appropriate clause shall be placed into effect immediately and this contract shall be declared null and void until the proper conditions are met.
After that, there was a dotted line underneath where Stolas would sign his name, along with a second one directly underneath for Mick and Linda. After that first page, the contract listed all the terms and conditions for the pair of them. Skimming through each one, the contents looked pretty standard for a contract, with mentions of a pay raise, benefits including funeral expense payouts, just to name a few details. And on the plus side, it appeared as though this new contract made it so that Stolas would be paying both Muck and Linda directly so there was no chance of Stella making alterations even if she wanted to. Seeing no obvious cause for concern in the fine print, there was only one thing left to do.
"You know the procedure, yes?" Stolas asked, earning an affirmative nod from the Cat Demon.
At that moment, Stolas pulled out a tiny glass vial filled with an eerie red liquid and uncorked it. After that, he took one of his talons and pricked his finger, allowing a single drop of blood to spill into the vial. Once this was done, Mick and Linda followed the Owl Demon's example and used one of Mick's claws to cut their own fingers, allowing them to add their blood to the vial. After that, Stolas recorked the vial and gave it a small shake, mixing the contents a little before he suddenly started chanting something.
"Communi sanguine pacti sumus!"
The moment the last syllable was uttered, all of a sudden the room went dark and the liquid inside the vial began to froth and steam, giving off a faint, blood-chilling glow. About two seconds later, the room appeared to return to normal and the red liquid inside the vial turned pitch black… the ink for cursed contracts.
"Right," Stolas spoke up, startling the two Demons in front of him due to them still being in shock from the spell. "Who's first?"
Before Mick and Linda could even begin to rethink their actions, it didn't take more than a few seconds for three signatures to be written down on the Cursed Papyrus, two for the new employees and one for their official employer. When the last of the Is were dotted, the ink seemed to literally BURN into the contract as if it were being branded by a hot iron.
"Aah!" Mick yelped, suddenly feeling a searing pain in his palm.
"W-what's happening!?" Linda squealed, feeling a similar pain on her own hand as she collapsed to her knees.
Having never experienced the effects of a Cursed Papyrus before, it was no surprise that the young Imp had no idea of the side effects such a deal would entail. As part of such a binding magical contract, all parties involved were branded with a black cross on their palm, one which acts as a tether to the deal. Should anyone try to break the deal written on the Papyrus, the brand will magically act on the listed ramifications.
After the moment of pain subsided, Linda allowed herself a sigh of relief as Mick helped her back to her feet. Seeing the marks on the Sinner and the Imp's hands, Stolas then smiled in delight as he held up the contract in pride.
"Congratulations!" He declared. "You both are now officially my daughter's bodyguard and attendant!"
As much as Linda wanted to scold someone for not warning her that she would feel such pain beforehand, she had to admit that the new title sounded all the better now that it was official. Needless to say, Mick felt exactly the same. To him, this was undoubtedly one of the finest moments in his afterlife.
"Now Mad Munn will be here later this afternoon to fit you both for your new uniforms," Stolas continued, somewhat giving the two young Demons their first set of instructions. "You can also boycott any duties you had today and may spend your time moving any belongings you may have up here. Once you're both settled, you shall begin your official duties first thing in the morning. Any questions?"
However before either Mick or Linda could even give a response…
SMASH!
"DAMN IT, SNOWFLAKE! GET BACK HERE!"
Snapping their heads towards the open door at the sound of Octavia's screams, Stolas, Linda and Mick managed to catch a glimpse of the Goetia Princess just as she was chasing a suds-covered Snowflake through the halls, undoubtedly the result of yet another failed attempt to give the Kitsune pup a proper bath.
"Maybe we had better start TODAY?" Mick pointed out, clearly seeing that Octavia was in dire need of assistance.
Raising an eyebrow, Stolas couldn't help but agree.
"Yes, perhaps," he said with a nod. "Better go after them before Stella catches them."
Nodding their heads in understanding, both Mick and Linda left their new room and immediately started running after Octavia and Snowflake down the hall. However, before he got more than a few feet away, Mick stopped for a moment to turn back to Stolas as he exited the room after them.
"Thank you, sir," the Cat Demon said, his voice filled with a newfound sense of respect and admiration for what the Goetia Prince had unknowingly done for him this day. "Seriously… Thank you."
With that final word, Mick turned away and continued running, leaving Stolas alone in the corridor. Watching the Sinner disappear from sight, the Goetia couldn't help but smile with pride.
"This is good." he declared, feeling a little smug over what had just happened. "This is REALLY good."
Needless to say, knowing that he had made his daughter happy by granting her wish brought Stolas a sense of accomplishment that only a devoted father could feel in such situations. So much so that he felt that nothing could spoil the moment.
"Stolas, you are officially the best dad ever!" he boasted to himself. "Via will be ecstatic, Linda can finally move up in the world, and I can rest assured, knowing that Michael will be keeping my little girl safe at all times… even at night… because their rooms are… next door… to each other…
…
"OH, SWEET FUCK! WHAT HAVE I DONE!?"