Present of the Silent:
Do you know about the legend of Stingy Jack?
The condemned soul that roams the world unable to enter Heaven or Hell?
Who carries a single ember of hell in a hollowed turnip as his only light as he wanders?
Only ones who know about him were older Overlords or members of Ars Goetia unlike younger demons. To them, his story was nothing more than a fable they make jokes about over drinks or getting high.
Should take the warnings of their elders seriously
8*8
Trying to name his newest familiar was a bit of a problem for Corbin when he struggled with Cornelius' name. He was glad time spent with Asmodeus allowed him a chance to meet Fizzarolli. How his snake got his name, unlike black fur ball he was hand feeding at the moment. His aunt and uncle were more excited about him getting the traditional black cat over tarantula.
"When do I start hearing your voice?" He asked the kitten, "I am struggling here."
"Laiki," Zon answered him, "You have a girl."
"You can hear her?" Corbin looked at Zon.
"Bits and pieces," He passed him, "She is happy she finally found you."
"When will that be?" Corbin asked, "I hate that I am a late bloomer."
"Yet," Zon confessed about his progress, "You've befriended a Ars Goetia princess and gained Lucifer's favor, taught by two of the sins, and get along with the Radio Demon."
Bit of magic shown to him by Beelzebub was changing the size of objects during her last private visit. Had him planning on storing his spellbooks for easier access and usage. Followed by advice on how to train his empathic abilities within a year's time. He wouldn't need to wear his gloves any more in public and pick up a person's vibes.
"How are your wings?" Corbin changed the subject, "Since my aunt treated them."
"Wonderful." He was surprised.
Way she worked the healing potion into his wings and preen them for him was a strange kindness. Somehow triggered new feather growth from areas where some were ripped out. Once scarred tissue started to smooth out to the point pain was fading.
"I may be able to fly and use my full gifts," He countered, "I hear your uncle is almost done making room for you. Ready to leave us?"
"I don't know." He looked at his bandaged hand.
Care Lucifer went into helping him with the bandages this morning after Elanye woke him for work. Reminds him of many people he met outside the wrath ring since brought here. Flexing each one of his fingers to try and list them until he ran out of fingers.
"Something wrong?" Zon asked.
He struggled to answer as Elanye entered, rather excited about the letters and package she got from the postman. Stating actually getting mail through hell post was a first she never experienced. She knew the burnt ones addressed to Corbin were from his mother and twin. Package addressed to Corbin came all the way from grandpa's ranch in a wrath ring. Only thing that bothered her was one written in Gaeilge with a wax seal. Crest bedded in the wax was a grinning Jack-o- lantern.
"Uncail Jack." She suddenly became serious.
Way she tightly gripped the corner of the letter's envelope with joy vanishing from her eyes. Her lips pressed together until she looked like she was openly pouting to Zon. Who would have to ask who this Uncail Jack and why she hesitates with this letter.
"Today is just a hella of a day." Lucifer announced his presence.
Just instead of those glowing eyes full of joy at the sight of him looking his way with those soft smiles. Usual half bow coming from his longtime family servant and fellow fallen Angel. Odd tension that held a choking sensation was filling the room he entered.
"Your highness?" Zon tilted his head toward Elanye, "Not everyone is in a good mood."
"Unwanted mail from our black sheep uncle," Corbin pointed out, "He sends letters every now and then."
"He can't be that bad." Lucifer dismissed his tophat and cane.
To her side, he walked worried she was going to break over sight she seemed unable to handle. Moving slowly to hand Corbin most of the mail meant for him in that shorting gap. Only take hold of her hand with one his own while reminding her, he was here. Brought her a smile to her face while better explained through their bond. One that drew upon a face from her memories of her time in the living room. Face of a drunkard with silver tongue that disappointed an Angel left him blinking.
"How do you know him?" Lucifer ended up asking.
Learning that he was their great- uncle through a marriage into their family was an unwanted conversation. Seems one of their less talented aunts a few generations back fell for him. She was a kindheart witch with a minor talent for healing arts.
"He's an in- law that lived in Ireland for centuries after losing his wife and child in witch hunts in the UK," Elanye explained using her white orbs, "He married a member of Bloodline that still lived in England. They had a single daughter with plans to relocate to his homeland."
"The witch hunts happened." Corbin recalled the family tales.
Lucifer saw all this in her orbs when he recalled the treaty alcoholic from his memories being so different. Man depicted in those orbs was a family man with a caring smile. Who lived for his own daughter throughout the stages of her life before her death. Holding her on his shoulders when she wanted to get higher or taking her for strolls. Taking her to the theater for plays and readings of poetry to teach her culture. Shopping at local open and street markets when everyday errands. Nothing like the selfish man, he was when Lucifer first met him with whiskey on the breath.
"Hand it over," He offered Elanye his other hand, "Might as well make a day of this."
He was the one that sliced open the and removed a simple piece of paper. Enchantment to translate the words from Gaeilge to English was done by Elanye. Which had Lucifer looking over wording asking if Elanye came to visit with her love interest for a private visit.
"Road trip?" Zon tried to make a joke.
8*8
Once more Zon was tasked with watching Corbin when Lucifer personally took Elanye top side. This time around he wanted to get the boy's nose out of a book and outside. Taking him to part of the inter gardens that looked like a training area with equipment. Untouched target dummies and storage shed was still locked away. Made up a place that has remained untouched since the last time a single knight trained.
"… was a time when members of these royal guards sparred on these grounds," Zon recalled in old times, "Lessons that were learned."
"Why am I here?" Corbin didn't understand.
"To put the knowledge you've been acquiring to practice," Zon opened his wings through slits in the back of his clothing, "Times you're not always going to be so lucky."
He made a point by drawing attention to a lifeless golem around 200 cm tall and made up terra from hell and crushed bone. Had him drawing a core from his inner pockets in a careful manner. Words he chanted are then burned into the surface of this core.
"You have a 15 minute time limit to defeat him with low level spells," Zon backed away from the golem, "Nothing higher."
He then planted a timer down on a nearby stump that was acting as a table for Corbin to see. Debating on with drawing his hand from the button to instantly start the timer. Knowing what he was doing was going against instructions about keeping Corbin from harm.
"If I win," Corbin removed his gloves and his grandfather's gift, "I want help in creating brooms for my aunt and me."
"And if I win or lose?" Zon asked him.
"You win, We do this until you allow one to use top tier or advanced spells?" He asked, "You lose, how good are you at creating a magical broom?"
Zon gave Corbin a chance to lay his personal effects and familiars aside while impressed with this boy. Going on to wait for him to tell him to withdraw his hand from the timer's button.
"Ready?" He asked Corbin.
Corbin gave the signal for him to remove his hand to start as the golem came to life and charged Corbin. Brought on the memory of when his grandfather's fanged bulls during mating season. Keeping them in a separate pin and away from the females was a chore. Trying to get them back in when they break out once or twice. Brought a smile to Corbin's face when he slammed the ground with a freeze. Forming the training area into a rink made of a thin layer of ice Golem slid on. To only find his balance when he was slowed down and advanced on Corbin.
How Zon left him when he retracted his wings upon sensing someone walking past the entrance gate. He didn't have to hurry to greet them since this someone carried a familiar aura. One belonging to none other than the princess of hell and her girlfriend. Peaked his curiosity since he didn't remember Elanye informing her to come. Into the foyer he appeared to open the door and greet the two. Shaking off the frost from his shoulders that Corbin's freeze spell brought when he casted it.
"Welcome your highness and Lady Vaggie," Zon bowed to them as they entered, "What may I ask why you're here?"
"Charlie misses having her dad and Elanye around." Vaggie explained.
"We thought we would drop in and see how everyone is doing," Charlie held up a guile with chocolate mousse, "So?"
"Sorry for your plans, but your father took Elanye to the living world for romantic getaway." He recited Lucifer's lie.
"The brat?" Vaggie asked about Corbin.
His answer came when a blast of wind shear with a chilly edge followed by the roar of golem's roar. Created this haunting howl noise was loud enough, that Charlie and Vaggie were speechless.
"Left him to take down a golem," Zon guessed Corbon was doing ok, "He's doing fine by the sound of it."
"Are you nuts?" Charlie finally spoke.
"What were the limitations you left him with … " Vaggie was curious about what Zon had Corbin doing.
"What is wrong with you two?" Charlie asked Zon and Vaggie, "Will he be hurt or worse?"
"I have confidence in Corbin," Zon stepped sided, "If you don't believe me, go check on the boy."
Off Charlie ran out of worry after she handed her dish over to Vaggie mumbling about Zon being former guardian ranked Angel. Which didn't surprise Vaggie when she was welcomed to sit down. Which she did as Zon secured the front door behind her.
"What was heaven's excuse for booting you?" Vaggie asked him.
"I sided with Lucifer and Lilith on grounds one should choose who they fall for," He smiled, "I have never come to regret my decision."
He then went on to show Vaggie where she could leave Charlie's dish by taking her to the kitchen. Which gave her a chance to look at changes breathed back into the mansion. She stuck with the original interior design with just a tad adjustment at everything.
"She has a nice taste." She was impressed with Elanye's work.
"You're not the first to say that," He pointed out, "One of the sins said that also during one of her visits."
He spoke of when Beelzebub had her last visit a few days ago, she was still showing Corbin Empathic taste. Which started to resort in Corbin able to detect everyone's sense of taste. She didn't need to start off slow since he already knew the basics of his gift.
"Now I can not enter a room with him becoming aware." Zon was proud of Corbin's progress.
8*8
Charlie ended up having the hotel's newest activity be held within her father's mansion for Corbin's safety. She didn't want a repeat of Zon's form of outdoor fun to be repeated by the teen. Giving each resident a chance to watch the teen when entry wanted. Just the board games he liked playing were a little harder for even basic demons to understand.
Angel Dust tried playing vintage battleships with Corbin a few times and kept losing to him. He became argumentative when his usual teasing and taunting didn't allow him a single win. Husk and Vaggie played a vintage game of conquer and conquest of the world with him. Learning the kid had a tactical mind under that sarcastic tongue. Niffty simply played vintage games of I Am Sorry and Mouse Trap without a fuss. Since when she didn't win the first time against Corbin, out came her needle with pieces flying everywhere. Alastor was the one that brought vintage board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue. Not giving an ounce of leeway to Corbin when they played.
"Why don't we play more friendlier games?" Charlie asked Corbin after hearing what everyone else did with him, "Do you have anyone you want to play with ?"
"Husk and Alastor," Corbin plainly answered, "Maybe Vaggie."
"I get that Angel Dust and Niffty didn't take well to losing." Charlie recalled.
Zon had to use recovery magic after Niffty kept stabbing the board when a bug appeared during play. He then had to supervise again when Angel Dust's insults got x- rated.
"Game of life," Corbin asked about the hell version of the games, "Your dad bought to play it with me, but then my aunt and him had to leave."
"Let's play anyway." Charlie was up for a game .
Dazzle and Frazzle also joined in as two other players with Cornelius and Corbin's Black kitten watching. After the pieces were divided up among four figures and who went. A steady pace started up with Zon not needing to keep watch.
"Why does your aunt and uncle have you playing those other games?" Charlie asked between spins.
"Not them," Corbin answered, "My grandfather."
Charlie recalled the old men she met in the wrath ring on the rural farm from months ago. After showing her father and her around his property and reviewing her rules. He gave them a key and left them to do as they pleased until they left his home. He came off kind of rough and only spoke when he needed to be addressed. Only softened when he spoke about a portrait of his late sons and wife above his mantle.
"His way of preparing me for hell," He spoke up, "Doesn't want anything to happen to me."
"He sounds like the type that cares." Charlie didn't understand.
"More like he doesn't want me to suffer the same fate as his sons." His answer bothered her.