Courtney Barnes walked through the front door of her spacious penthouse, kicking off her shoes she walked over to the large spacious bar and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a glass. Filling the glass up she headed towards her room.
Turning on the lights as she entered, she looked around the room and smiled. The room was large and spacious with two large dressers, a king-sized bed with silk sheets, a big bathroom with a shower and tub, and a big walk-in closet. All of this was hers now, the room, the penthouse, all the money and all because of Ray.
Walking over to the dresser she picked up a picture frame which held a picture of her and a much older man. Ray was a wealthy entrepreneur who owned a multimillion-dollar business, she met Ray when she was working as a waitress at a coffee shop, it was there that they struck up a conversation and inevitably ended up dating then got married. Now while Ray may have loved her there was only one thing Courtney loved about him and that was his money. Before she met Ray, Courtney lived in a shitty little studio apartment, now she had a massive penthouse, before she had to shop at thrift stores now, she wears Gucci. But this wealth and luxury didn't come easy, she had to put up with 3 years of that disgusting old fool. She couldn't take it anymore, he was already dying, she just helped him along. Smiling, she placed the picture frame down and took off her dress, tossing it in her hamper, she stripped off her lacy black underwear and tossed that in too. She looked down at her hand and saw her wedding ring.
"Thanks for everything Ray," she said before heading to the bathroom.
Turning on the water she waited for the tub to fill up then poor in some lilac bubble bath. She pulled out her phone and pulled up her music.
"What to listen too, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, ohh Verosika Mayday, that'll get things going," setting her phone to play, she set it down on the counter and plugged it into a speaker so she could still hear it while in the tub.
Courtney sat in the tub enjoying the music and lilac scented bubble bath, as she laid back and relaxed, she didn't notice the strange man with black hair and sunglasses move from behind her shower curtain and walk over to her.
Before she knew it the man put a hand on top of her head and pushed her under the water. Courtney squirmed and struggled trying to raise her head back above the water but no matter how much she tried the was unable to break free from the man's grip. She started to gag as she ran out of air and water filled her lungs, she reached up and tried to beat the man off her but none of her hits seemed to faze him. After a few minutes she stopped struggling and went limp, the man let go of her head and watched as her body convulsed and twitched before finally going still.
Dante wiped his hand on his jacket before turning to leave the bathroom, but before he did, he turned back to the tub and grabbed her left arm. Lifting it up he checked her pulse and yes, she was dead, looking at her hand he pulled the wedding ring off her finger and put it in his pocket. Going through the rest of her room Dante grabbed a big box of jewelry and stuffed it in his jacket, then pulled out his phone.
"Hey Loonie I'm all done here mind opening me a portal," he asked casually, and before he knew it a portal leading back to the office was opened and he walked through with his box of loot.
The next day in Imp City
Dante walked down the street of a large shopping district, Dante rarely came through this part of town as it was typically the stomping ground of snobby rich Imps and other high ranking hellborn, well those that dare to be seen in this shitty little slum of a city. It was one of those hellborn that Dante was even in this part of the city, clinging to his left arm was a young owl woman.
Stolas had asked Dante (rather begrudgingly) to accompany Octavia while she went out shopping, he could tell Stolas wasn't happy about it, but Dante figured Octavia wore him down. He really didn't want to be here, but Stolas was offering him a big sum of money, along with the handful of wallets he's stolen, plus the money he got from hocking that lady's jewelry so he didn't have to be worried about funds for a long, long time.
"So where should we go next, sugarpie?" she asked Dante in a sweet voice. Dante rolled his eyes, but as he did a thought came to his mind.
"Maybe now would be a good time to tell her how I feel, end this whole fantasy of hers, I know Loona would be happy about that," he thought to himself Loona had been pressuring him to finally tell Octavia how he actually felt but he had been waiting for the right moment.
"Now seems as good a time as any,"
"Look Via there's something we need to talk about," Dante said. Via turned to face him with a curious look.
Dante took a deep breath and stuck his hands in his pockets, but before he could say what was on his mind, he felt something rattle around in his pocket. Pulling out his hand he saw something fall out of his pocket and hit the ground with an audible clink.
"What the hell?" he muttered to himself as he knelt down to inspect the object and saw it was a gold band with a large diamond on top.
Whoops must have missed one, Dante thought to himself as he picked up the ring. Suddenly he heard a loud gasp, looking up he saw Octavia wide eyed covering her mouth with her hands.
"Yes, yes, YES! I will marry you!" Octavia shouted, tackling Dante in a bear hug.
"Wait, What?" he asked, confused at what was happening right now.
"Ohh Satan I was so worried when you first said you wanted to talk, I thought you were gonna break up with me, thank god I was wrong," she said as she began pelting him with kisses.
"No Via listen I-" Dante tried to say something but he was interrupted.
"If you had broken up with me, I would have been devastated, heart-broken even I mean I don't think I could have lived without you," she said, nuzzling him, with tears in her eyes. Dante's eyes went wide at that statement.
"Ohh shit," Dante muttered in despair, this was not going to be easy.
At the office
"You guys are WHAT!?" Blitzo asked, staring at Octavia and Dante with an expression of utter shock.
"You guys are engaged… you guys are actually engaged?" Millie asked, completely dumbfounded.
"That's right, he proposed earlier today," she said, hugging his arm and showing off the ring on her finger. Dante looked at them with a nervous smile on his face, he quickly scanned the room and saw the confused and shocked faces but when his eyes fell upon Loona he felt a chill run up his spine.
The look Loona gave him burned intensely, her eyes were filled with anger, her left eye twitched, this was not the outcome she had expected when she told Dante to end things with Octavia.
Moxxie noticed the stare she was giving Dante and gulped fearing a fight, Moxxie quickly chimed in;
"Hey Dante, how about I give you some marriage advice in the breakroom?" Dante nodded and quickly broke away from Octavia and headed towards the breakroom.
"I think I'll help," Millie said following suit.
"I'm… interested in what they have to say," Blitzo said as he followed Millie, Moxxie, and Dante.
Soon it was just Octavia and Loona, both stood in awkward silence neither one saying anything until;
"I win bitch," Octavia said with a smug smile and stuck out her tongue.
Loona growled her fur standing up on end, Octavia took a step back worried that Loona was going to lunge at her, but instead she got up and marched over to the breakroom.
Suddenly the door swung open startling everyone in the room, Moxxie jumped into Millie's arms followed by Blitzo who jumped into Moxxies, Millie could barely hold the two up before falling over onto the floor. Loona turned her gaze towards Dante and proceeded to throttle him.
"Ack… Loona… let me explain," Dante managed to say as Loona choked him, but Loona didn't listen instead tightening her grip on Dante's throat.
Eventually the others got up off the floor and grabbed Loona trying to pry her off of Dante, but she wouldn't budge. With no other alternative Dante grabbed both her wristed and clamped down with as much force as he could muster. Loona yelped out in pain letting go of Dante and began rubbing her wrists, Dante took several deep breaths and rubbed his now heavily bruised throat.
"As I said before, let me explain," he said in a hoarse voice.
"Ok explain why you proposed to the skinny little slut!" Loona growled, baring her fangs.
I didn't propose alright, you know that rich lady I killed last week well after I killed her I stole a bunch of her jewelry and hocked it, but I missed one of her rings and it fell out of my pocket, I picked it up and Octavia saw it and thought I was proposing," he explained the whole story rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.
"Why didn't you just tell her it was an accident?" Millie asked.
"I tried, but she wouldn't let me," Dante said angrily.
"Well go in there and tell her right now!" Loona shouted pointing towards the door. Blitzo was confused as to why she was so upset about this.
"Now hold on Loonie, Dante can't just go in there and break her heart, remember who her dad is," Blitzo said in a worried tone.
The rest went quiet as Blitzo's words set in. He was right if Dante wasn't careful if he just ended things with her right there and then she would probably be upset and not only that but Stolas, the overprotective dad he is would probably take it out on them for hurting his little girl, Stolas may love Blitzo but not even his prowess in bed could convince Stolas to forgive Dante if he broke Octavia's heart.
"Alright everyone don't panic, there's no way in hell Stolas and especially his wife would allow their daughter to marry some "lowly Imp" the minute she tells them you're engaged they'll tell her no and make you break it off," Blitzo said encouragingly.
Dante sighed in relief, normally he'd be upset at the idea of such noble arrogance but right now he wanted to hug Stolas and his bitch of a wife for their stuck-up arrogance.
The imps left the break room one by one but as Dante was about to leave Loona pulled him back and shut the door. Pulling Dante by his collar she brought him into a deep kiss. After a full minute they broke away leaving a trail of saliva, both breathing heavily.
"You're mine, you understand that, you. are. mine," she said in a stern voice, Dante nodded.
Loona let go of Dante and walked out of the breakroom back to her desk.
"Damn girl you just gonna leave me with blue balls like that," he said to himself, looking down at his boner.
At the Goetia manor
"YOU TWO ARE WHAT?!" Stolas and Stella shouted in unison, looking down at Octavia and Dante.
Dante gulped seeing Octavia's parents look at him with glowing red eyes. While Dante was terrified Octavia wasn't scared in the slightest.
"We're engaged," Octavia said matter of factly, clearly not intimidated by her parents' reaction like Dante.
Stolas and Stella looked at them with looks of utter disbelief.
"Via sweetheart, you're far too young to get married, you're still just a girl," Stolas said in a fatherly tone, with an undertone of worry.
"To hell with that, Octavia you are not marrying a fucking Imp! I don't know how long you've been seeing this worthless little shit but I have a feeling this is your father's fault," she turned to face Stolas scowling who shrunk back in terror.
"Mom, dad had nothing to do with this!" Octavia stated, putting her hands on her hips.
"Well actually when you think about it, it kinda is his fault," Dante replied nonchalantly.
"Huh what do you mean?" Octavia asked, unsure what Dante was trying to say.
"Well think about it we met when your dad came to Imp to look for a bodyguard right, well if he wasn't dating Blitzo then he never would have come to I.M.P, and he wouldn't have hired me to guard you," Dante finished explaining his thought when he noticed that Stella had intensified her glaring at her husband who was trembling in fear. Stolas looked over towards Dante and sent him an angry look, Dante on the other hand just sent him a shit eating grin.
That bastard did this on purpose didn't he?! Stolas thought to himself infuriated, but before he could say or do anything Octavia quickly grabbed Dante by the hand and dragged him off to her room.
Elsewhere in the manor
As Octavia dragged Dante through the many hallways and he looked around at the refinery and fancy décor of the manor, all of which made him sick.
There are children in Imp City who have nothing to eat and families who can't afford to pay their bills and yet these people can waste money on a pointlessly big house and tacky gaudy décor, Dante thought to himself bitterly, feeling nothing but hatred and revulsion build within him over this endless amount of greed and selfishness.
Upon finally arriving at Octavia's room, before going in Dante saw an imp woman wearing a maid's uniform walk by. Grabbing her by the arm Dante pulled her close and asked;
"Hey bring wine, lots of it, you can do that for me right?"
"I'm sorry but Master Stolas said that Octavia is not allowed to drink wine, except for one glass with dinner," she explained until Dante leaned in close, their faces only inches apart.
"Oh, come on sweetheart can't you just bend the rules just this once?" he asked in a soothing voice, the maid blushed.
"Well, I guess I can make an exception," she said in a flustered tone.
"Well thank you gorgeous, and remember I prefer red," Dante replied, moving away as she rushed off to get the wine.
"That'll make her hurry," he said to himself when she was out of earshot before turning to head into Octavia's room.
Octavia's room
"Welcome Dante to casa de Octavia," Octavia stated, spreading her arm in a grand gesture.
Dante let out a low whistle, he had already seen her room before but the sheer size and height of it still blew his mind.
"Holy shit, your room is bigger than my whole apartment," he said amazed, Octavia giggled.
Getting on her knees Octavia stuck her head under her bead and began digging through all the stuff crammed under them.
"Nope, not that, no, ohh hey there's that sweater I've been looking for months, ah here it is!" crawling out from under the bed, Dante saw she was holding a large black notebook.
"What's that, your diary or something?" he asked, looking at the notebook.
"Oh no, I don't show that to anyone, in fact I put a curse on it so that anyone who reads it other than me will go horribly insane," she said with a smile, Dante stepped back a little scared of her now.
"No, this book holds all my ideas for our wedding," she said excitedly.
"Plans for our wedding but we just got… how long have you been planning this?" he asked somewhat creeped out at the fact she's clearly been planning their wedding for a while.
"Ohh for about a month at least," she said casually, not noticing how creeped out he was.
Octavia handed Dante the notebook, he began flipping through it. He saw wedding plans, like the foods they would serve, the cake, a three-layered red velvet with vanilla frosting, drawings of what her dress and his suite would look like, hell there was even a drawing of them at the wedding with her dad and Dante's coworkers all clapping, he even saw Loona in the background crying.
God her drawings are as bad as Blitzo's, Dante thought to himself, cringing.
"God I could really use that wine about now," he muttered to himself wondering where that maid was.
"What was that?" Octavia asked.
"Ohh nothing," he replied
"Ok so what do you think Sugarpie?" she asked, looking at him with big expecting eyes.
"Well personally I like the red velvet cake, I prefer red wine to champagne, and I'm not that big on the suit-" Dante stopped himself shaking his head, closing the book he handed it back to Octavia.
"It's… fine Via," he said, Octavia took back the book and smiled. Suddenly they heard a loud smashing sound.
"Oh god again," Octavia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Your parents are fighting again?" Dante asked, cringing at the sounds of more smashing and yelling.
"It's nothing just ignore them," she said keeping a straight face, but Dante could feel she was more upset than she was letting on.
"Are you ok I mean if this is bothering you, we can head somewhere else if you-"
It's fine Dante I don't even care anymore about their stupid squabbles," she said defensively, he could tell she was lying.
Reaching out he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Octavia let out a yelp of surprise before rapping her arms around Dante and buried her face in his shoulder enjoying the sudden contact.
"You don't have to play tough around me Via if you're upset you can tell me," he said in a compassionate voice.
More crashing and screaming were heard, Octavia's eyes began to water as she buried her face in Dante's shoulder, Dante held her close gently patting her on the back.
"There, there, it'll be alright," he said in a kind voice.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, Dante pulled himself away from Octavia who sat down on her bed still crying. Dante opened the door and saw the maid from before standing with two bottles of red wine.
"Here this was all I was able to get," she said, handing the bottles to Dante.
"So, I was wondering do you maybe want to do something lat-" she was interrupted when the door suddenly slammed shut, the maid glared at the door before stomping off.
"Fucking tease," she muttered to herself.
Dante turned around and noticed that Octavia had stopped crying, heading over he sat down beside her. Using one of his talons Dante uncorked one of the bottles and began drinking, letting out a satisfied sigh Dante wiped his mouth and smiled at great taste.
Damn this is a good vintage much better than the crap I usually get, huh maybe I should marry her? Dante thought to himself, before quickly shaking the thought out of his mind.
Hah yeah right like I would marry a girl just for some good booze… right? He looked at the bottle then at her then at the bottle again, the rubbed his chin, Octavia noticed the look of contemplation on his face and asked;
"What's on your mind?" this jolted Dante out of his thoughts.
"Oh... uh I was just wondering do you want a sip?" he asked, handing her the bottle.
Octavia took the bottle and took a quick sip before handing it back to Dante who finished off the rest, much to Octavia's surprise.
"Wow you can really drink," she said, surprised at how Dante was able to finish half a bottle of wine so quickly.
"I get that a lot," Dante replied opening the other bottle but before he could take a drink he heard a sniffle he looked over and saw that Octavia had started crying again.
Quietly sighing Dante put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"Look I know this is painful but you gotta keep your head up this storm will pass and things will get better," he said Octavia looked at him with bloodshot eyes.
"You really mean that?" she asked.
"I do," he replied with a smile, Octavia reached over and pulled him into a hug.
Thank you," she uttered, choking back tears.
"It's like I said you just have to stay strong and push through," he stated.
"Is that what you do?" she asked him, a look of sadness came over Dante lucky for her she couldn't see.
"Yeah," he lied, lifting the wine bottle to his lips and started drinking.
Two weeks later, Dante's apartment.
Dante paced back and forth in his living room, on his couch sat Millie, Moxxie, and Blitzo all of whom were trying to calm him down.
"Dammit, Dammit, Dammit! She's still going through with this!" he yelled frustrated.
"So, I'm guessing the plan to have her parents forbid her from marrying you didn't work?" Moxxie asked sarcastically, earning him a glare from Dante. Dante quickly turned his attention away from Moxxie and focused it on Blitzo.
"Blitzo, can't you talk with Stolas, make him be more forceful with her about this?" he asked his boss, frustrated.
"Hey man I've tried but the bastard is too nice he can't bear to break his little girl's heart," Blitzo said rolling his eyes.
"It's not like he has room to talk," Moxxie said, Dante pinched the bridge of his nose frustrated.
"FUCKING DAMMIT!" he shouted punching a whole in his wall, looking back at the couch he noticed the others were clutching each other in fear.
"Sorry," he said, embarrassed at the loss of control.
Getting off the couch Millie walked over to Dante and grabbed his hand.
"Look sweetheart I get you don't want to hurt her feelings but I think it's time you deal with her yourself," Millie said her voice sounding like an angry mom trying to get her kid to do his chores.
Dante sighed;
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Dante pulled his hand away from Millie and headed for the door.
"Where are you goin?" Millie asked, confused by why he was leaving.
"I'm doing what you said, I'm going to end this right here and huh" as Dante opened the door he saw standing before him none other than Octavia. To say Dante was surprised was an understatement.
"Oc-Octavia why are you here?" he asked, utterly shocked by her sudden appearance.
"Hi Dante, there's something I need to talk to you about," she said in a distressed tone, looking down at the floor.
"All right what's up?" he asked, wondering what was on her mind.
"N-not here can I come in?" she asked, looking around the hallway as if expecting something to pop out and grab her.
"Uh I kinda have guests over," he said moving aside, letting her look into his apartment and see Blitzo, Moxxie, and Millie sitting on his couch.
Octavia scowled at the sight of her dad Mister.
"Fine, can we at least go to your room?" she asked, clearly not comfortable around Blitzo.
"Uh sure whatever if it's that important to you," he said, Octavia took his hand and quickly led him to his room and closed the door behind them locking it.
"Wow, already consummating the marriage, she really doesn't waste any time," Blitzo said in a crass manner.
"I highly doubt that's what's going on sir," Moxxie said, annoyed at his boss's inappropriate behavior.
"Well only one way to find out," Blitzo said, getting up and putting his ear to the door to listen.
Moxxie was about to say something when Millie got up and followed Blitzo's lead. Moxxie shrugging followed suit.
In Dante's Room
"Alright we're alone, so what's up?" Dante asked, looking at Octavia who stood fidgeting nervously. He looked over at the door, he was almost certain the others were listening in but he didn't care.
"I'm sorry, Dante but I think we need to call off the wedding," she said in a sad voice, her eyes on the ground.
Dante was surprised to say the least he didn't know what she had come here for but he was sure it wasn't that.
"Wait really?" Dante cleared his throat realizing he sounded too excited.
"Wait, really why?" he said again trying to sound more upset.
"It's-it's just that, my parents are really upset, my mom keeps freaking out and yelling at me and my dad, mostly my dad," she explained, sounding uncomfortable.
"My dad is taking the fact that we're getting married really hard, he finds the fact that after the marriage I'd move in with you is really upsetting," she stated, rubbing her arm. Dante nodded his head before doing a double take.
"Wait, wait, wait, move in?" he asked, completely dumbfounded.
"Yeah, I mean if we're gonna be married we gotta live together and my parents won't let you stay in the mansion so I figured I'd move in with you," she explained to Dante, whose eye began to twitch.
"Hey I know your job doesn't pay much, I got plenty in a trust fund so we don't have to worry about cash," she explained, noticing his apprehension.
"I- you know what whatever, just tell me why are you suddenly breaking things off?" he asked, trying to get to the point.
"Well, it's just that I don't think I can't leave my dad, not yet anyway i feel like he still needs me. He's going through a lot and me being there I think it helps him stay sane," she states, lifting her hand and pulling off the ring.
"I'm sorry," she said, handing the ring back to Dante with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Dante took the ring and put it in his pocket, as he did, he saw Octavia begin to cry. Feeling bad he pulled her into a hug.
"Don't worry about it, I'm good," he said in a relaxed tone. Octavia smiled, giving Dante a kiss on the cheek.
"You're an amazing boyfriend," she stated happily, Dante frowned at the mention of that word breaking the hug he looked Octavia in the eye.
"Look Via we really need to- "Dante was interrupted when her phone started ringing.
"Hello, oh hey dad alright I'll be home soon," she hung up the phone and gave Dante an apologetic smile.
"Sorry sugarpie but I gotta go later," she stated, walking out of the room and out of his apartment before he could finish his sentence.
Once she was gone the members of IMP came into his room. Blitzo smiled and patted Dante on the back.
"See kid I told you this would all work itself out," he said excitedly.
"Yeah," Dante replied giving Blitzo an annoyed look, while he may have gotten out of his accidental engagement, he still had to find a way to finally tell Via he wasn't interested in her.
Whatever I think of something tomorrow I'm tired, Dante thought to himself just glad this whole ordeal was over.
Epilogue
Dante and Loona walked out of a small café and took a seat at one of the tables outside the shop. As they sat down, they each took sips of their drinks, Dante had a cappuccino while Loona had a latte.
"So, were you able to get out of the wedding?" Loona asked leaning forward, obviously she was dying to finally know if her boyfriend was able to get out of it.
"The wedding's been called off, you don't have to worry," Dante replied, placing a hand on Loona's. Loona visibly relaxed leaning back in her chair.
"I will admit it was pretty sexy seeing you get all jealous," Dante said with a smirk, Loona just rolled her eyes at the remark.
"So you told her that you don't have any interest in her right?" Loona asked, taking a sip from her latte.
Dante's eyes went wide and he looked away nervously, Loona narrowed her eyes.
"You told her, right?" she growled, baring her fangs.
"I tried but she left before I could," Dante explained nervously, Loona pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.
Dante sighed reaching into his pocket looking for his phone, while he did that, he noticed something in his pocket, pulling it out he saw it was the ring.
Ohh yeah, I forgot it was there, he thought to himself.
Dante inspected the ring, laughing to himself how a single ring could cause so much trouble. He was taken out of his thoughts by a loud gasp. Looking up he saw Loona covering her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide in shock looking down at the ring.
"Oh my god, are you?" Loona asked, utterly dumbfounded.
"NOPE!" Dante shouted, throwing the ring away.
The ring flew through the air heading towards a couple sitting next to Loona and Dante.
"Hey thanks for taking me out for coffee sweetheart," an imp woman said in a joyful voice.
"Yeah, I think we should-OW!" the guy yelled when something hit him in the back of the head, before landing on the table with a loud clink.
"The fuck?" he asked, confused, picking up the ring.
"Oh my god, YES, I will marry you!" she shouted pulling the guy into a tight embrace, everyone at the café began clapping while the guy looked utterly confused.
End
Hey everyone I hope you all had a good thanksgiving, I'm sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't be afraid to tell me what you all think. Thanks for reading.