Chapter 12

A Cold Day in Hell

-x-

Andrealphus stepped to the side and pulled Stolas and Via through the portal, closing it behind him. They were tied up and gagged but otherwise appeared to be unharmed.

"Look who I found sipping espresso at an outdoor cafe in France!" Andrealphus showcased his hostages. "And with such sweet human disguises! I almost didn't recognize them. Imagine my suprise to find dear Stolas in seemingly perfect health!"

"Godammit Stolas!! What is it with you and bondage!!" Blitzø yelled.

"WHAT. THE. FUCK!" screamed Stella.

"Now that we are all ALIVE and present, lets talk." Smirked Andrealphus.

"I think 75% of your wealth and legions will suffice." Andrealphus spoke to Stolas.

"He's not giving Stella his whole fucking realm." argued Blitzø.

"Oh, little one, you misunderstand. Stella has proven she cannot handle such responsibility. Stolas will give them to ME."

"ANDREALPHUS!! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS TRAITOROUS ACTION!!" Stella shouted.

"Sister dear. As beautiful as you are, you do not have the intelligence of a quasit, therefore it is only logical that I recieve the spoils of your chaotic divorce. Now, when I say jump, little Imp, you jump or your sweet Goetian lover and his daughter will suffer."

He floated Stolas to himself and ran the tip of a blessed blade accross his cheek. A trickle of blood ran down Stolas' face. Tears formed in Octavia's eyes as she looked from her Uncle to Stolas to Blitzø.

Something in Blitzø fully snapped. A rumble echoed accross the sky and darkness rolled in like a storm, consuming all the light from the area. The squall took voice and echoed around Millie, Moxxie and Loona.

"Run. Get the fuck out."

The trio looked confused. Andrealphus wasn't reacting to Blitzø's orders? Had no one else heard him?

Millie and Loona looked at each other then to Moxxie. Moxxie nodded and slipped away leaving Stella alone, watching the events unfold.

A circle of black flames erupted from the ground and surrounded the garden and its assemblage of demons.

"What is happening here? How are you doing this while bound!?" Andrealphus demanded looking at Stolas.

The wind picked up and swirled around the space. The flames raged higher until they towered above the heads of the Goetian Royals.

"What do you think is happening you frigid cockpocket?" said Blitzø in a low demonic tone.

Blitzø began to glow a deep red and the sigil that was ill formed at the factory suddenly burned its completed pattern into the ground.

Andrealphus was shocked. Stolas was fascinated. How was it possible that the Imp was responsible for all this!

"You come and threaten those important to me and expect to be rewarded!?" Something rushed by them in a blur. Octavia was gone!

Andrealphus reacted by unfurling his tail feathers in defense. The temperature grew cold inside the darkness. He dropped his magical hold on Stolas and the owl hit the ground with a hoot.

"This isnt going to end the way you want it too you know." Andrealphus said to the tempest.

"How could it? I am a Marquise in the Ars Goetia. You are a lowly Imp with a few amusing parlor tricks."

Another rush of wind and Stolas disappeared as well.

"Get Out." Blitzø's voice echoed in Stolas mind as he suddenly found himself beside Via, outside the garden and outside of the flaming wall of darkness. Moxxie suddenly burst through the front door. He ran over and began untying Via and Stolas.

"Blitzø instructed us to flee your highness."

"Take Via and go. I will not leave Blitzø here to face that monster alone."

"But Sir!" Moxxie implored.

Stolas eyes glowed menacingly at Moxxie. "Protect my daughter."

"Sir, respectfully, I can't ptotect her against THAT" Moxxie gestured toward Andrealphus as ice fell from the sky just inside the garden. "Whatever Blitzø has planned, he doesnt need you there distracting him."

Stolas could see the red glow of Blitzø zipping around the gloom and the turqoise glow of a very angry Andrealphus. He felt helpless.

-x-

Blitzø stopped moving but the winds continued to whip chaotically around him. He stood calculating his next move then he saw Stella stand and stumble toward Andrealphus.

HOW DARE YOU !!" Stella screamed at Andrealphus. "You have power, you have your own legions! Why deny me my right to mine!!"

"Because, as I have previously stated, YOU ARE STUPID! No one with your level of incompetence should have that kind of power."

"YOU WILL REGRET THIS!!!" Stella held the extracted kunai from her arm and prepared to throw.

"Unlikely." A glowing line of magic shot forward from Andrealphus hand and wrapped around Stella's neck like a snake. She thrashed against her brother's icy grasp. The grip tightened until Stella hung limp and unresponsive.

" I feel like I should thank you." Blitzø smiled sinisterly.

"No need. Your death will be thanks enough"

Andrealphus shifted into his full demon form. He was a brilliant peacock with long talons and a head like a griffon. He breathed mist into the sky from his beaked maw resulting in piercing needles of ice falling to the ground.

The malestrom that was Blitzø circled around Andrealphus, ending 20 feet ahead of him in the form of an enraged glowing demon brandashing a carmine rifle. He was covered in hundreds of tiny cuts from the ice flechettes Andrealphus had created.

Blitzo saw movement near the garden door and Millie ran through, sinking her axe into the feathered back of the peacock. Andrealphus screamed and partially lost form. His own face appeared at the end of the griffon neck.

"I WILL END YOUR EXISTENCE!!!"

" Just try you broken ass sensu." Challenged Blitzø.

Andrealphus threw off Millie and lunged toward Blitzø the axe holding its place in his back.

Blitzø stood defiantly, his rage building. At the moment Andrealphus breathed ice toward him he burst into black flames melting the attack before It arrived.

Blitzø fired a blessed round into the peacock's chest.

"You overestimated yourself birdbrain. Now fold that party-fan-ass up and admit your defeat."

Andrealphus lost his demon form and collapsed to his knees. Millie's axe was still firmly lodged in position.

"Never, in the history of hell has a mere Imp had such power. What are you?" Asked Andrealphus.

"I am one PISSED OFF motherfucker!"

Blitzø put one final blessed round into Andrealphus head and the Goetia crumpled and fell to the ground, black blood freezing as it seeped from the body.

The black ring of fire disappeared. The darkness dissipated and the winds became calm. Blitzø swayed weakly and walked over to Millie. He crouched down to asses her injuries. She was unconscious but alive. The cut on her head was trivial.

"Goddammit Mills." Blitzø mumbled quietly. " I owe you one."

He stood again. Still glowing, he stumbled accross the yard to view his own sigil, burnt into the ground. He didnt understand it, but he was glad it existed. He sat on the ground in front of it as the last of his glowing energy left him.

Loona ran accross the yard. "Dad! Dad!! Fucking hell Blitzø, are you ok?"

"Hey, Looney. I'm ok. I'm proud of you sweetie."

Blitzø could see Moxxie, Stolas and Via running toward him in the distance. They weren't fast enough though. He passed out trying to stand to greet them.