Stolas was walking through the hallways of his mansion with a novel in his hand as he passed by Via's room.
He peaked through her bedroom door to see her sending a couple of text messages with a yawn before pulling up her blanket for the night.
The owl demon prince smiled softly as she went to sleep, a happy owlette. Admittedly, he hadn't seen her this relaxed since her mother started having her tantrums about him and Blitzø's partnership.
Speaking of...
When Stolas shut the door silently, he heard a talon scratching at stone and instantly frowned, knowing who it belonged to.
"I always wondered what he'd look like in stone." his ex-wife smirked evilly, looking at the Striker statue. "Sedimentary, in your case."
"I don't suppose you had other plans for him?" remarked Stolas hatefully.
"Granted, he was incompetent." Stella replied. "But, even if I have to do everything myself, I always have a back-up plan."
STOLAS - "That doesn't make you as bright, thinking you can just waltz into a house you don't associate with much."
STELLA - "I did tell you I like tormenting you, darling."
STOLAS - "Even so, you've got a lot of nerve showing your face around it. And I 'really' mean one, striking, nerve."
STELLA - "Ohh, someone mad about a divorced one coming to visit? I wouldn't blame you, even if I wanted to."
STOLAS - "No, but I would, for everything I now know you've put me through. Why are you here to begin with?"
STELLA - "Which is why I'm not exactly 'here' here."
And she was right. She was actually still at home in her ice castle, owned by her brother Andrealphus, using a holographic message machine, and Stolas began putting his hand through her hologram.
STELLA - "I suppose us Goetias are the kind of demons with moments of recompense, in terms of the line between magic and science."
STOLAS - "Yeah, you're right, wow. I don't think there's been a time of magic where I touched you."
Stella then rolled her eyes in disgust by that statement, before turning her attention to Via's room.
STELLA - "I see our daughter's finally comfortable."
STOLAS - "I'd slap those talons away from that door if you had one on you."
STELLA - "So what, I take it you have a full custody plan now?"
STOLAS - "It took you long enough to recognise? Shocker."
STELLA - "Shocker if what? I did or I didn't? Not that I care still."
STOLAS - "Well you should! This is the Goetia future you're speaking the name of, whether you'd like to or not. One future you could still take interest in."
STELLA - "Please. Even the fantasy of whatever future you're thinking of is unpredictable, and everyone in this family knows it. This needs to be the future of Hell you're speaking of."
STOLAS - "And what in Hell is the relation to what we're discussing?"
STELLA - "I'd tell you, but once again, it'd imply that I gave a shit about our marriage, as you oh-so say I don't. But in any case, I do. That, and I'd have to start at where it was first established."
STOLAS - "Established?"
STELLA - "You want to know why I was betrothed to you, Stol-ass?"
STOLAS - "I mean, when I first found out I was to you, I cried like I cacked myself as a baby. On, my, fucking, birthday! So like you said; it'd imply if I actually cared."
STELLA - "Well it'd certainly imply you think exactly like Octavia at her age.'
STOLAS - "Because of the fighting we've done her entire life, plus the three years beforehand!"
STELLA - "Okay, that too, and also the fact that hell-borns beneath us believe in nearly too much. We've read all the stories on their world beyond ours, because we're the only hell-borns who see the light for what it is. Like, how bewitching the term 'dream' is, and how dull the ones down here are to still believe in it. I was taught that when I first caught my hunt at two, so if I can't teach that level of combat to you, I'd at least show her an example of who will, whether you're here or not."
STOLAS - "Maybe there's demons like that, but you seem to be forgetting, you're believing in a dream right now."
STELLA - "One I could save Octavia from before it falls to her too."
STOLAS - "Well good luck! Leaving your care meant she now wants nothing to do with it! After all this time, this imagery you've forged on her own father, she's happy. Isn't that why she's here in the first place? It's certainly why I am! Power or no, I don't see things this way.
STELLA - "Of course you don't. You and Morningstar's worm speak alike."
STOLAS - "Don't compare me to Charlemagne like that!"
STELLA - "What? Am I not fit to speak her name either? *chuckles* Or are you just tough around me now? I can take a fist. Come on, right here."
Stolas stuttered as Stella showed him her sinister beak of a smile, but then looked back at Via's room and sighed with confidence.
STOLAS - "No."
STELLA - "No?"
STOLAS - "I don't care what you think of us, not with what's come around. But I do know the future of Hell does lie within the family's perspective. I'm okay with whatever they choose to believe in, but I have my share of dreams too. Just like Lucifer. It doesn't mean I'm against them, but that it's the rebellion from you that makes it a threat. It's you, Stella, who forces that onto them! Not me! You choose to make a point on the realm's peace and law, but it's like you don't even know who's point to listen to that isn't your own. Believe me, I know! Because I tried! I've tried it with Blitzø, and I've come to realise it doesn't fit that much. I fell like you said I would, but only from my grace, no matter how many threats you threw. Including the statue out back, and not even you! I'll never fall to them, because I'll make sure to give Via the normal life she deserves, whether she's destined for the family throne or not, as long as I get my bargain's end. Neither of that should make me your next prey, cannibal! So fly off! Masticate on whatever you desire, of mice or me! But next time you want me, no matter the army, mine will be prepared to have none of your intended mercy, wing from wing!"
As Stolas finished, Stella soon growled loudly at him, causing him to gulp as she backed him up to the wall.
When he bumped into the wall at the end of the hallway, Stella then lifted a talon close to his neck and traced it along like she was about to kill him. But instead, she just laughed.
"Glad I could show you an example." she chuckled. "Embarrassment: 1. Me: 1... and a half."
"Fuck it." panted Stolas, feeling his neck to see if no blood was drawn from her talon. "It's not my first blow with you anyway."
"Indeed not." Stella retorted. "Mark my words though, Your Highness. Everyone in Hell needs to know this iron-fist part in themselves sometime, even if it means our Via. Or else, she'll end up like the rest, along with you, your band of mis-shits, and even... that little human of yours." she then cackled with a more evil smirk saying the little boy's name.
Stolas then gasped with protective anger.
"How would you know that?!"
"A bird of prey has ears too, my dear." replied Stella gracefully. "One must know how to use them."
"Do not involve him, Stella!" Stolas quietly exclaimed. "Our family feud is tied to only them. If you lay one claw on him...!"
"You'll do what? We both know now you don't have the biggest hit.' his wife laughed. "Besides, the difference between a claw and a talon, is that claws belong to man-eating hellhounds."
"Preposterous! Blitzø's daughter would never eat him. I watched her swear by it."
"Who said it had to be that one?" remarked Stella, making Stolas' head tilt in her confusion.
MEANWHILE...
Poor Balin was still being circled by the growling hellhounds of Queen Beelzebub's Gluttony party.
The entire I.M.P gang, Tex, and the boy shut their eyes as they were about to close in for the kill.
"Shit! I can't watch!" gasped Moxxie as he pulled a bushy hound tail to his face so he couldn't see the mauling.
Soon, Balin remembered something from earlier. He still had his backpack on, and in it, he grabbed out a rubber ball without making too much of a sudden movement and raised it high in the air.
It confused the imps for a moment, but when the boy started squeaking it, the hellhounds immediately became brainwashed to it.
Even Vikki and her posse bolted through the pack and straight to Balin on all fours, panting like normal dogs, before the rest of them joined in as well.
"How, in the fuck, is he doing that?" Tex said, mind-blown at this.
"Yeah. We might wanna avert our gaze." suggested Loona as they covered their eyes with their paws.
Balin was honestly surprised to see the entire pack playfully following the ball in his hand, but still played along with it.
"Oh, you puppies like the ball, don't you?" he said playfully.
"Puppies?!" exclaimed Moxxie quietly.
"Who wants da ball, huh?" he started cooing to them, as Ruffette the Dalmatian jumped high for the ball. "Uh-uh-uh! Down..." Balin said, as she kept panting happily in a downward dog pose. "Good girl."
"Awww." smiled Millie once again. "So cute."
"Now, in exchange for not eating me..." Balin then threw the rubber ball to the exit of the living room. "FETCH!"
The entire party of hounds began chasing after the ball, including Vikki and her two others.
"HA! Some guard dogs!" laughed Blitzø.
Just then, a different hellhound flew into the room with the ball in her mouth.
She then spat it out into her hand, cleaned it with a hanky, and handed it back to the boy.
"There you go, cute little guest of honour." she said.
It soon turned out to be the fox-like hellhound sin, Queen 'Bee' Beelzebub, herself.
"You're... you're Queen Bee?" said Balin in awe of what she looked like, before kneeling. "Your Majesty."
"Awww, you really are cute." she giggled. "Please, call me Bee. Because my boyfriend here told me so much about you, and what a kind little pup you are. Or should I say... kind little human, now?" she then booped his nose to make him giggle.
Bee soon looked up to see Loona as she slowly stands next to him.
"Oh hey, bitch! How've you been, girl?" she greeted, giving her a big hug with all four arms.
"Fuck, she's hugging me! Say something casual this time, Loona." she panicked to herself, before huskily saying "S'up, Bee." and clearing her throat to continue talking. "Long story really."
"Not much? After all this time, you could've shown at another party?"
"I did, actually. Once." Loona then giggled nervously. "But my dad, uhh... had to pick me up after a little sauce incident."
As Loona pointed to Blitzø with her thumb, he nervously sweated looking at the queen.
"Hey... Foxy? Was that your name?" he chuckled. "Listen, I hope there's no hard feelings for last time I was up in this joint."
"Of course there isn't, Loona's dad-boss-dude." replied Bee.
"Only-on-paper, by the way." added Moxxie for her, making Loona a little flattered.
"Besides, I'm picking up a..." the queen began sniffing Blitzø's head for any good auras. "An okay vibe from you this time."
Bee then turned to M&M and said "Nice to meet you too." before turning back to Balin.
"Now what's your name, party puppy?"
"My name is Balin Johnson." the boy replied in his cute smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Bee."
"Ohhh. You're so adorable." said Bee rubbing his face.
"Yeah, he gets that a lot." chucked a now calmer Loona. "Mainly with his disguise, but what's not to like about the little guy in about a week?"
"A week? Well, how're you liking Hell so far?" the queen then asked him, on her knees.
"It's very cool." replied Balin again. "Every day is like an adventure now. Even though there are demons out there, I love it so much."
"Really?" said Bee playfully, like she got it as a compliment. "That's beautiful to hear."
"I think you're beautiful too, Bee." the little boy smiled.
"*GASP* You think I'm pretty?" Bee spoke in a stunned tone. "AWWW! Aren't you just sweet." she then cooed. "Come here and give me a hug." she opened all four arms for him to walk over and cuddle with her. "Welcome to my party, baby."
"I'm happy to be here." sighed Balin, nuzzling into her fuzzy fur.
Beelzebub returned the nuzzles as she gave him soft cheek rubs with her thumb.
"Hehehehe, that's my little Balin." Loona chuckled lightly, as she quickly gave him a kiss on the cheek while the imps weren't looking.
"Hey, kid!" a young male hellhound from earlier walked up to the boy, along with a few others. "What happened out there? We remember you tossing a ball to us."
"Oh, uhh, I, uhh, well..."
"Wait, let me guess... we tried to kill you, didn't we?" the hound interrupted him.
"Yeah."
"Oops. Sorry 'bout that, little bro." another female hound said in guilt.
"It's okay. It's not your fault." said the boy. "I was being a little careless with myself."
"No, don't think like that." said Loona sympathetically.
"He's just being polite, Loona." Bee replied to Loona with a warm expression.
"Nope, she's right." said Ruffette, then pointing to Vikki. "She's the one who made us provoke it." Vikki took it with great offence hearing that. "So... we're sorry, bud."
"Apology accepted, Ms. Dalmatian." he replied with a small smile. "Can I hug you for real this time? Is that okay, Loona?"
"I don't see why not." his caretaker shrugged as Bee handed him to the Dalmatian hound.
"Oh my dog, you really are cuddly." cooed Ruffette as she squeezed him and rubbed her snout along his nose like a friendly dog. Soon, she came up with her own idea for some childish fun. "Say... is it true humans like it when their Earth dogs give them kisses?"
Loona accidentally let out a snicker as Balin widened his eyes at the question, knowing what she meant, which made Bee a little confused.
"Uhh... nope?"
"Too bad. Here I come, in three... two..."
Balin was about to squirm away, but then felt Ruffette as she slowly started licking his face with her eyes closed.
"S-S-S-Stop!" he giggled. "Hehehehehehe!"
"Why would you want me to stop?" she teased. "You really do taste good."
Ruffette just kept on licking him and making him squirm, while everyone else went back to partying by order of the Queen Bee.
"I didn't know we could do that." she then whispered to Tex.
"A hound's still a hound, apparently." he replied with a chuckle. "The irony."
A/N: See y'all in the next chapter.