Morning had come, and like the previous days, Stella woke next to Camazotz with a smile on her face as had quickly become the norm. It was...nice. It had been so long since she had woken up consistently in a rather good mood that she had almost forgotten. Not that the nightmare from the first time or the fact that she still had to deal with Stolas hadn't tried to dour that bit of happiness.
The whole mess Stolas started by fucking an imp, making a mockery of his nobility and standing as a greater demon, infuriated her; let alone the fact he was still alive. She might have understood if it was a succubus, or an incubus; or hell, one of the aquatic ones, at least they were higher in classification and social status than imps. She would have even been fine if it was another goetia. But NO, it had to be an imp, one of the lowest lesser demons with a lifespan akin to humanity; It repulsed and offended her. Despite all the hatred and animosity she felt; the days where they were once a family, happier times, still lingered deep in her mind.
They might have been arranged, but despite that and ALL her misgivings and resentment for it, they still had managed to get along and grow to somewhat love each other enough through their ongoing interactions. Although she had often felt that Stolas thought it more of a fun experience, a game, during their courting and early years of marriage. There was a time he seemed to have grown into the dignified and respectful noble she thought he should be. But now, now he just seemed to be different. Not that he never acted as he had before, but still, his centuries long life seemed to have finally made him go through a crisis or whatever due to his long life now more behind him.
Sure he was still quite good to their daughter, admittedly a bit more than she had in recent years, but that didn't excuse what he had done and was continuing to do. Not to their status as greater demons, not to their standing as nobility, not to their daughter and what she'll have to face because of it, and not to—her. While she might have gotten a bit distant over time, Stolas was equally to blame for seemingly never being too into her. It wasn't like he never tried, but that he just couldn't truly love her. She was torn between feeling completely insulted that she apparently wasn't good enough, and understanding that he couldn't really love a woman now that she had Camazotz. Her mind then briefly wondered to the night of when she was kicked out, the interaction she had with Stolas causing her to briefly frown.
Stella sat up in bed, stretching before she and Camazotz shared a now routine morning kiss before getting out of bed and slipping on a robe. Like the mornings before she headed to get refreshed for the day, walking to the kitchen with Camazotz for some breakfast, her mind once more going over that night as she poured a cup of coffee and sat down, her eyes drifting to her right hand, the one Stolas had firmly gripped during their argument.
"Something bothering you my dear peahen princess?" Camazotz asked as she noticed Stella seemingly fixate on her right wrist, arm raised close to her.
"It's nothing." Stella said as she went to take a sip of her coffee.
"Doesn't look like nothing with how you were looking at your wrist." Camazotz pointed out. "You can tell me whatever is troubling you, you know that right? Plus, I can tell when someone is lying." she smirked.
Stella sighed, "It's just all this business with Stolas." Stella admitted, still refusing to say his name in a respectful manner. "He's still not dead yet."
"Wasn't it not long ago that you were telling him that Octavia needs both of you still?" Camazotz commented.
"Yes, well, I do have to keep up appearances." Stella replied. "Ideally Striker will finally kill the bastard soon. If he continues to prove incompetent though, I'll have to deal with him before he has the chance to say anything and just let my newfound agelessness you gifted me and being with you be my revenge as I outlive him."
A cruel smirk crossed Camazotz's lips. "Would you still try to kill him though?" she asked before sipping her own coffee.
"Possibly, maybe wait a while before hiring someone else, at least until Octavia is a little older." Stella mused.
Camazotz nodded. "Becoming ageless can give a bit more perspective, but an offense must always be paid for."
"You're death, you know when people are going to die and how, can't you tell me if he'll die soon?" Stella asked.
Camazotz chuckled before sipping her coffee. "I could…" She said with a coy smirk. "But that would just take the fun out of things. I know every potential death anyone can have, so it doesn't make any attempt Striker does any less valid. Remember, I am impartial, I play no favorites. Well, aside for one and only one at least." She said with a wink.
Stella blushed. "R-right."
"Though I sense there's more troubling you, given you looking at your wrist, tell me." Camazotz remarked.
"I was just...Thinking about the night Stolas kicked me out." Stella admitted.
"Ah, the night you called me." Camazotz commented. "You never did get the opportunity to talk about everything that happened what with our...intimate reunion." She said, a sly grin forming on her lips
Stella's cheeks turned a deeper red. "Yes..."
"Well we have some time before you need to return to your brother's estate and pick up Octavia, you can share with it with me now." Camazotz offered.
Stella nodded. "Alright." She said as she started to tell Camazotz, the thoughts of that night flooding her mind as clearly as though she wasn't retelling, but living it over again.
Stella walked into what, for the time, was still her and Stolas' home after needing to be away from Stolas for a bit. At first she was just going to talk to him about their current arrangement, but as she walked through the palace she noted the mess it was in; that alone irked her. where were the servants
Could Stolas not be bothered to order them to keep the place tidy or even do so himself for one evening? The more she saw, the more irritated she become, especially when she saw bottles of absence littered about. Great, he was drunk, and likely passed out or throwing a drunken pity party. Let alone the fact there was the spilled bowl of cereal on the floor. The more she saw the more angry she became. How could a prince of hell, a centuries old being, fall so low?
Then she heard it, the singing coming from what was, and likely in time will have once been, their bed room. How could he have become so dramatic? He used to be more stoic, commanding, proper royalty, but now he was acting like he was in his early years again. It infuriated her, especially when she got closer and heard that, like she suspected, he was singing his heart out in pity for himself. To hear a prince of hell crowing on in self pity, when he was once admirable and someone she found herself to like well enough, really got on her nerves.
"The fuck are you doing?" Stella asked, holding back as much of her irritation and anger as she could, though it still seeped through.
"Reflecting…" Stolas replied mournfully.
"Well stop!" Stella demanded. It's annoying to hear you screeching your silly woes all the time! You're a fucking PRINCE of hell, act like it! I'm not the one who caused this mess, YOU are, so man up and accept some fucking responsibility!" she derided.
"Why are you still here?" Stolas asked as he looked at her with narrowed eyes. "You leave with Via on weekends, but then you stay around the house despite everything." he added in his still somewhat drunken state, though not drunk enough to not speak coherently.
"Do you think I like tormenting you? That I want to keep reminding you of what you did? Give me some credit, while I am tempted to...very tempted, I stay here because our daughter needs SOME stability during all this." Stella chided, though from how Stolas looked she wasn't sure if he heard all of what she said or just select pieces.
"I know what I did!" Stolas shot back. "I would feel bad if I hurt you, but we both know I didn't do that. You and I were arranged, you for your family to have higher standing and for me to birth a precautionary heir to the Goetia family, nothing more! I tried so hard for so many years to make it comfortable for us, to have this family, but it was never enough! The ONLY reason I've endured your constant insults and cruelty was for that girl to have a normal life." He added, confirming he only heard bits of what she said,
Stella narrowed her eyes at Stolas, his drunken ranting getting under her skin far more than any insult. Constant insults and cruelty? After the CENTURIES they spent together, getting to know each other better, trying to have a child not just because they were told to but because they actually did want one, and actually being a happier family than some of their peers? He was going to ignore or forget ALL of that? Sure she didn't make it easy sometimes, but she tried as well despite her own misgivings and conflicted feelings. And then there was how he just referred to Octavia, while she admittedly hadn't been the best mother here and there, she still tried more than hers ever did with her. While it was likely just a slip of tongue, it brought forth old memories...memories she despised.
"Octavia…" Stella said before Stolas could continue.
"Excuse me?" Stolas asked.
"Her name is Octavia, and you will refer to her as such even when you're drunk or we're arguing, not that girl." Stella said with contempt.
"I didn't mean it like that, I'd never be that callous towards Via!" Stolas exclaimed, offended at the insinuation. "And don't you try to act all high and mighty when I've looked after Octavia like a good parent should; you only do enough as is!" He countered.
"That doesn't mean I don't care for her any less!" Stella argued.
Stolas scoffed. "Since when? I don't ever recall you considering her feelings or what she might want to do. We both know you could care less."
"Did you honestly forget that I actually wanted her too?" Stella asked. "That I was willing to try and try and try again until we had her? I was even willing to try anything that might help us be more successful at having an egg! I put in as much work and effort as you did." She countered.
"Oh don't play the wronged spouse that did everything you could, it doesn't suit you. You were never that great a mother to her." Stolas snidely remarked.
Anger flashed in Stella's eyes. "Who's the one that cared for her when she hatched?! That during her early stages of life was there for her EVERY waking hour to make sure she was alright, to feed her! Or did you forget that unlike a number of royal families I CHOSE to not have a nurse maid take care of her, that I worried day in and out about her well being when she was so helpless!"
Stolas just sneered. "And how long did that last? I seem to recall that more often than not when Octavia had nightmares and called for us both you told ME to take care of it."
"More often than not?!" Stella retorted. "I'll admit I told you to go every now and then, but only on nights when I was too exhausted." She countered.
"Too exhausted?" Stolas asked in slight disbelief. "From what, tea parties and laying about?"
Stella clenched her fist, her anger rising. "I might not have as many or as important duties as you, but if it wasn't for me we wouldn't have much of a social life with your bookish nature! I took care of the social business on top of looking after Octavia and my own duties to the Goetia family while you did your studies and duties!"
"Please, you barely have to do much at all!" Stolas shot.
"And yet I still have responsibilities! I do what I have to, and then some, to be of use." Stella shot back. "I'll admit that after centuries of being together and finally having Octavia things started to sour, but there's equal blame here and you need to realize that YOU are the one that caused this mess and take some FUCKING responsibility and accept the consequences!" She argued. "Even if that means putting up with me until Octavia is of age and possibly out of the palace. THEN we'll take care of this; and trust me, it's no picnic for me either."
Stolas blinked, seemingly at his end, and possibly gaining more bravery from his drunken state. "I cannot do this anymore, I want you out, now!" He asserted.
Stella's face contorted into barely restrained contemptuous anger. "What do you mean out?"
"I mean out!" Stolas exclaimed. "Out of this palace, out of my life, we are getting THE divorce!"
Stella's eyes went wide in shock, the insinuations that would be made by their divorce running through her mind, let alone the reaction of...her parents. "You can't be serious! Do you realize you're going to cause an even BIGGER fiasco all for some lowly imp! An imp, might I remind you, that has passing similarities to one you knew from centuries ago!"
"That's not why I like him!" Stolas protested. "He's exciting, bold, unique! For a demon who's life is only but a flicker he lives it to the fullest, always striving for more, for better. He's also been better to me than you have in recent years and has attractive traits, Not that you really have that many to begin with." He argued.
Stella narrowed her eyes at Stolas. "Why you insolent-"
A vindictive smirk then formed on Stolas' lips. "How does it feel to be out done by an imp? To have lost to a lesser demon because you were too much of a bitch? It must sting, to know what status you and your family gained might be all taken away because you couldn't do the most simple thing required for us to be a happy family." Stolas callously added.
Anger, fear, and rage all swirled in Stella as memories of her parents berating and treatment flooded her mind. "How dare you!" She said in pure rage as she without thinking raised her hand and lowered it to slap Stolas. "What do you think the rest of the Goetia family will think? Andrealphus-" But before she could continue she was caught off guard by Stolas catching her hand, the surprise of it and how tight his grip was snapping her back to slight calm, though she still glared at him.
"I don't care what your arrogant brother thinks!" Stolas said as he glared back. "And the only thing the Goetia family wanted from our marriage is already seventeen so it's over, I'm done!"
Stella narrowed her eyes before pulling her hand away, "Fine!" She said in relative calm, composing herself so as not to stoop to Stolas' drunken level. "I have no desire to stay in the place of a traitorous embarrassment. You have fallen from the grace you once had, from who you once were, and I KNOW you'll pay for it." Stella said as she turned to walk away, only to stop at the door frame. "Oh, and Stolas?"
"WHAT?!" Stolas shouted.
"Fuck you!" Stella said before storming out. Going to gather her things and calling her brother before heading to his palace, knocking on the door when she arrived.
"Yes?" said a servant before seeing Stella, who immediately threw her things at the lower demon.
"Fetch my brother!" Stella demanded as she stormed in.
The servant nodded as they struggled with the luggage, quickly rushing off to fetch Andrealphus. It didn't take long for the peacock demon to stride into the foyer with his typical pomp and confidence, his expression quickly shifting to the best sympathetic look he could muster. Although he looked concerned, Stella knew never to fully trust anything he did, unless his benefiting from the outcome was assured.
"Stella, my poor sister, glad you made it safely." Andrealphus said as he gave her a quick hug. "I could hardly believe my ears when you told me Stolas kicked you out over the phone. Such a disgraceful thing…" he said as he looked at her, though Stella only half believed that he was being sincere.
"Yes, well, he'll get what's coming to him." Stella said as she fumed a bit.
"Oh yes I'm sure, especially if you remember our dear parents lessons." Andrealphus commented in an ever so subtle condescending tone. "I'd hate to hear that you've grown lax in the centuries since your marriage."
"Of course I remember!" Stella snapped.
"Just making sure." Andrealphus said as he played it off. "After all, you did have a fair bit of trouble doing so when we were younger."
Stella narrowed her eyes. "Now listen here you prick I-"
"uh uh! What would mom and dad say about us quarreling? Especially with what you're going through right now?" Andrealphus pointed out only to notice Stella immediately back off. "Oh my, they don't know yet?" He asked in faux surprise.
"No, And I'd prefer they not." Stella asserted. "I can deal with this MYSELF, I just need a bit of time." She added. "I already have plans to come out on top hopefully should the divorce go through. Which...is why I've come to you." She admitted.
A smug expression formed on Andrealphus' face. "You want me to aid you in the proceedings and making the terms of the divorce of who gets what."
"Yes…" Stella answered, not fully wanting to admit it.
"What do I get out of it?" Andrealphus inquired.
Stella rolled her eyes. "If you help me come out on top, keep our parents from knowing, AND we get enough out there to show Stolas' traitorous affair, you COULD be his replacement."
The smug expression on Andrealphus' face turned into a devilish, opportunistic grin. "Oh, I do like the sound of that. Perhaps this can be more of a boon than a failure for our family. If things turn out perfectly, I know our dear parents might not be as disappointed, might even be somewhat proud; instead of seeing you as the...failure of the family." He added, the way he said the last words more of a twisting of the knife to have some amusement at her expense.
"It's not my fault." Stella said as she restrained her anger. "And I'm NOT a failure."
"No, of course it's not." Andrealphus said, the condescending tone seeping through his words. "And you're not a failure. At least, you won't be if we succeed." He said with a deviously sly smirk, oh how Stella HATED him right now, he was always insufferable in one way or another. "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is handled, just like old times. Just leave the work to me while you rest or whatever."
Stella stared daggers at her brother. "If I wanted to be condescended to I'd have-"
"Stayed with Stolas despite him telling you to leave? Or go to dear mom and dad?" Andrealphus asked, causing Stella to shrink back a little. "You always were so dramatic and defensive. I am welcoming you to stay here after all, not that you really have much of a choice." he smirked. "That is, of course, you're willing to risk staying in a hotel and our parents finding out about that." Stella stayed quiet. "I thought not, you are smart after all. Anyway, I need to start preparations, do make yourself comfortable." Andrealphus added before walking off.
Stella just frowned, he was right, he was fucking right and she HATED it. She already feared her parents finding out, and she was willing to suffer her brother lording it over her for his amusement even though he agreed to help. He did act nice when she brought Octavia around, but the looks and subtle remarks he'd sneak to her were worse than any dagger. He KNEW she would never DARE to stay anywhere other than a palace, especially after how they were raised, and he just could not resist rubbing it in. She wished she had someone to talk to, anyone, that could truly get her. A wish that seemed to be a possibility as she remembered someone she hadn't talked to for a long time, someone she had almost completely forgotten about, Camazotz.
It had been centuries since she last saw her, even during gatherings of the Goetias, which she found odd at first but had then over time just chalked it up to the other woman just being too busy, which had saddened her a bit. Would Camazotz even still remember her, or even maybe offer some help? It was definitely not certain, but she had to try, anything was better than prolonged talks and dealing with her brother. Stella set out to find a servant to call Camazotz, or at least try to remember if she knew her number herself.
"And that...is what happened before I called you." Stella said as she finished telling the story to Camazotz.
Camazotz nodded. "I see...sounds like quite the trying experience."
"It was." Stella said as she rubbed her forehead. "Just recounting it is causing a headache."
"Well at least you have me now." Camazotz smiled as she placed a hand on Stella's. "And once all this is over, you can forget it ever happened, like it was a bad dream."
Stella smiled. "Yes, I'll be happy once this nightmare finally ends and I can solely focus on just us."
"Something I rather look forward to." Camazotz said as she gave Stella's hand a gentle squeeze. "So, got any plans for you and Octavia?" She inquired.
"Actually, I was thinking of maybe just picking her up at Stolas' then maybe...coming back here." Stella replied.
"Oh?" Camazotz asked as she arched a brow.
"Yes, I don't want her to find out about us in the same way she found out her father was a im-" Stella paused. "Found out her father liked to suck dick. I want to tell her properly, introduce you properly."
"Do you think she'll handle it well?" Camazotz inquired.
"I...don't know." Stella admitted. "Possibly not, but hopefully better than how she found out about Stolas. You won't mind her staying here would you?"
Camazotz smiled. "Of course not! She's more than welcomed and always will be. Plus it'll be nice to meet her."
Stella smiled. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Besides, if things go as well as they hopefully should, she'll be my step daughter." Camazotz said with a smirk.
Stella blushed profusely, "R-right." She said before composing herself. "Anyway, I also have to prepare for going over the terms of the divorce over who gets what with Andrealphus as well as Stolas...that will be fun." Stella muttered. "Still, I can at least have some fun seeing Stolas squirm and be on the same page as my brother. I just hope Striker finally manages to do his bloody job, not that he was my first choice."
"Who was your first choice?" Camazotz asked curiously
"A business called the Hellhound Organization for Untimely and Necessary Deaths, but apparently they were too busy to take the assignment and suggested some others I could use." Stella explained.
"I see." Camazotz commented. "Well I can attest to their capabilities and can see that they might have been too busy, I was there when Carnavont picked out his team and provided the means for the business to start."
Stella blinked. "You did?"
"Yes." Camazotz replied with a smile.
"But why?" Stella asked. "They're just…"
"Hellhounds, lower class?" Camazotz asked with a smirk before continuing, moving to look out a nearby window, "Carnavont, amused me. His desire to make hellhounds more recognized and elevating them beyond the very bottom of the social casts is something I find rather novel." she explained. "It's not often you see an individual fed up with the status quo and wanting to change things among demons, most are just used to and accept it. So I'm humoring him, if only to see what how he either succeeds or likely fails, for my own amusement. And because I rather like some of his traits."
"He will fail, as all like him do in hell. We have these casts for a reason." Stella said very matter of fact.
Camazotz smirked. "Possibly, but the only true certainty is, well...me." she chuckled. "While the odds are he will fail, I won't say it's impossible, just VERY slim."
"The notion of it is still laughable, hellhounds rising in the social order." Stella scoffed as she walked over to Camazotz.
"Now now, just because they are lesser demons does not mean they deserve such ire." Camazotz commented. "They have proven useful and there's no real harm if they do end up rising up the social ranks a little."
"Beelzebub would never let that happen." Stella stated. She might never have met the sins, but she knew enough about them.
"Of course not, but it'd be fun to see what happens, how far he goes or falls, wouldn't you agree?" Camazotz grinned. "And remember, I'm not exactly one to care about or enforce the social order per say, if my staff is anything to go by."
Stella blinked, sighing slightly before speaking. "I suppose it would be amusing to see what comes of this hellhound and if anything comes of his foolhardy ambition."
"That's the spirit." Camazotz said with a smile. "Whether he succeeds or fails is irrelevant to me, all I'm after is the amusement of watching him try." she added. "Now then, we have a bit more time before you need to leave and I need to start my duties for the day. Want to practice your fencing some more? You've been doing quite well."
Stella smiled a bit as she faintly blushed. "Thank you, though I'm not as good as you." she said, thinking back to her first go at fencing. It was exhilarating to say the least, and enjoyable. But she knew Camazotz was flattering her, recalling how she was barely able to do much or really keep up.
Camazotz chuckled. "But you'll get there, with more practice you'll definitely become quite the formidable opponent."
Stella blushed a bit more, the kind of encouragement Camazotz was giving her was quite foreign. "Alright, sure." She said with a smile.
"Excellent!" Camazotz beamed. "You'll be one to be feared in no time."
"You think so?" Stella asked.
"I know so." Camazotz smirked. "And who knows, maybe you'll try some more things."
"Maybe…" Stella said with some doubt.
Camazotz smiled some more. "Now then, let's get to practice. And when you get get more experienced, we can shake things up with it."
"Shake things up how?" Stella asked curiously.
"Why, by making it to where for each hit the loser has to remove a piece of clothing." Camazotz replied with a coy smirk.
Stella blush profusely, taken aback by the answer only for a moment before smirking herself. "I like the sound of that…"
"I thought you might." Camazotz chuckled.
After having some breakfast, Camazotz and Stella headed off to partake in some fencing. As they walked through Camazotz's palace Stella's mind wandered, trying to figure out just how Octavia might react to her hearing about Camazotz and what she might could say just in case. Then there was the whole divorce proceedings with Stolas on top of waiting for Striker's next hopefully successful attempt to kill her soon to be ex-husband.
One thing was certain though; no matter the outcome, she had to come out on top. Not just for her sake, but Octavia's as well, Satan only knew what her daughter would go through if the Goetias found out about everything Stolas was doing, that his sleeping with an imp wasn't just an idle fancy. His head would roll and Octavia would never hear the end of it, best he die in a tragic accident or an assassination attempt than potentially on trial for treachery against the Goetias.
Sure the attempt on his life was mostly for her own wounded pride and vengeance, but Stolas had essentially just sentenced her to not just a potential fall from her position, but a reduction in her lifespan and power back to that of one of the lesser Goetias if not worse, let alone the potential wrath of her parents. Thankfully she didn't have to worry about that too much anymore thanks to Camazotz, though she could still hardly believe that a woman like Camazotz had an attraction for her; which was very mutual. Still, she had to ensure none of what Stolas did would EVER effect Octavia, and she would do ANYTHING to ensure that never happened.
