Lucius couldn't remember the last time he slept so well. His old mattress with such poor blankets and covering hardly allowed him to have much warmth let alone any good amount of sleep but upon the mattress that was far too big for him and the blanket over him not only provided all the warmth and comfort he needed he finally was relaxed enough to dream. He found himself flying through the cosmos soaring through the star ways and seeing planets and meteors shooting across the endless blackness. He was having a time of his life only to be interrupted when a soft feathered hand stirred him from his sleep.
"Wake up, Lucius we have much to do and plenty to discuss." A Soft cooing voice said and, Lucius woke calmly. Though he hated that the first real dream he had was quickly taken from him the boy stretched out and yawned.
He rubbed his eyes and then looked up to see a familiar looking owl staring down at him with four red eyes that looked more friendly than scary. Most who would see red in their eyes would be in a state of fear but for, Lucius those eyes gave him comfort.
"Good morning to you, little one." Smiled the Goetia Prince. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes sir I did." Answered Lucius pushing off the blanket and looked over Stolas realizing he was wearing something entirely different from what he had on before. He took notice that he was wearing nothing but a red robe that barely covered much of his body. Lucius could see that his entire form was nothing but feathers. He was practically naked that made him shy away though nothing could be seen that would have procure such a reaction.
Stolas noticed the boys cheeks were lighting up and he chuckled with some soft hoots escaping from him. "Oh, don't be shy now there is nothing wrong. I assure your not seeing anything a child of your age would not." Assured Stolas reaching over and gently scooped the boy in his arms.
Lucius jolted slightly from being picked up so easily by the owl. How was it that he was very slim and didn't look to be well in strength, yet he carried him like he was nothing. Stolas held him close to his chest carrying him over to a long couch. The Boy laid his head upon the puff of feathers on, Stola's chest. It was so comfortable that he almost fell asleep against it. Stolas felt how the boy snuggled against him. It gave him a wonderful feeling. It reminded him of the times when his precious, Octavia was just as small and carried her in his arms nearly everywhere.
Once reach the couch he sat the boy down upon it keeping a hand on his shoulders. "Now then, Lucius do prepare yourself there is much to tell you and it may be news that will shock you to your heart. I will be completely honest with you." Began Stolas knowing what he was about to say would shake the boy to his very core.
"What is it, sir?" Asked Lucius concerningly. The shift in tone with Stolas voice did not make him feel pleasant.
"There is no simple way to put this but to put it bluntly you are in Hell. Away from the mortal realm and down below where all the sinners of the human world fall when they have committed atrocities in their lives that result in judgement for them to be exiled to the afterlife of the nether world." Explained Stolas and as expected the boys eyes went wide in shock.
"What?! So, I am dead! I was cast down here?! Were you sent to take me here?! What did I do?! I don't recall doing anything wrong? I just…" Lucius exclaimed feeling entirely lost and confused as well as afraid. The Fire in his room must have killed him. But why was he in Hell? He couldn't have possibly done something so wrong before? A Few name calls to bullies here and there but he didn't commit any crime he could have remembered doing.
Stolas kneeled down in front of him taking hold of, Lucius face making him look directly at him. "Calm yourself, child. What I have told you is true, but you're not deceased. Though from where I found you the fire would have entirely engulfed you which would have burned you to an unrecognizable state, yet I did not. You possess an ability most rare even to mortals. But I saved you from the smoke that chocked the life out of you."
Lucius felt tears starting to form. He didn't want to believe it but the owl that was hold him with such tender hands, yet it appeared he spoke the truth. He was in Hell. Which meant that the one who saved him was a demon.
"But if you are a demon why did you save me then? And if I am in Hell shouldn't I be dead then? And why were you on Earth in the first place?" Inquired the boy starting to calm down but he was now afraid of everything around him including Stolas even after all that did for him earlier.
"I was with an acquaintance of mine on business. I wanted to see how his missions would go and before we returned to our realm I heard your cries and intervened. You are a Mortal, and it goes against a great many rules and ancient laws, but I wanted to save you from being killed in a way that would have destroyed my own heart. I have a daughter and I would do anything to make sure she is safe and seeing how your loathsome guardians attempted to kill you for riches that enraged me. That is why I was gone for a time. I promise you that those responsible for years of hardships are enduring the eternal suffering that Hell is known to have in your primitive studies that have truths to them but not entirely." Explained Stolas.
Taking in what Stolas had said Lucius relaxed a little but knowing he was in Hell and talking face to face with a demon still made him uneasy. But hearing that his abusive guardians were dead and now were paying a heavy price for all the abuse made feel a little satisfied, but did it mean for him?
"If I am not dead then what does it mean?" He asked next with Stolas retaking his seat next to him keeping an arm over him.
"You are still mortal, Lucius. Nothing about you has changed. Very much alive and well. But your being in Hell and not as a sinner is an issue. Something I must take care of immediately. Should anyone outside those that already know of your existence it will lead to a great many more problems. Allow me to rectify it right now before it slips my mind." Explained Stolas standing up and walked over to a small row of shelves filled with many assorted books lined upon them.
Lucius watched as Stolas went through each book trying to find the one he sought. He noticed that the demon was wearing slippers on his feet. He nearly let out a chuckle at the sight. The Demon liked to be comfortable. Already he was starting to question everything around him. If this was truly Hell which no doubt it was. No reason to deny that then why wasn't it a lake of fire or souls being tormented or devoured? Everything he recalled reading in Sunday classes or what little he read through the Bible. Everything was very peculiar.
There was obviously civility from Stolas. He owned a Palace as he said, and he wore clothing like a normal person. Walked and talked as well. This was beyond anything that Lucius could have possibly known about the realm where all those that committed sin would go. He was still afraid of being in such a place on his own, but Stolas had saved him and if he was going to do anything nefarious certainly he have done it by now.
"Ah! Here it is!" Exclaimed the Owl finding the book he needed upon the top shelves. Lucius saw it was a blue-looking book with golden borders with a red gem on the center of the spine. When Stolas opened it up a series of lights and flames came from it.
"What is that?" Asked Lucius.
"My Grimoire, dear boy." Answered Stolas as he flipped through the pages of the book to find the correct spell that he needed.
"It sounds special?" Wondered Lucius watching as the Prince was coming closer to the right page as the pages were slowing down in his turning.
"Quite!" Stolas agreed. "It is one of a kind. Given to me by my father to oversee my duties and fulfil them. This Relic contains powerful spells that are needed to fulfil my duties. One spell of which allows a demon to go into the mortal realm and return here via portals created from a spell in this book."
He walked over to Lucius standing over him finding the right spell for this occasion. "Now don't move, please. This won't hurt at all." Promised Stolas before waving hands over the book and blue flame enveloped his hand. Lucius wanted to question why was a flame blue and how was it not hurting, Stolas but then the Owl waved his hand over the boy and smiled seeing that the spell already taken hold over him.
"What did you do?" Asked the boy looking over himself. "I don't feel different."
"I cast a simple illusion spell. How it works is that unless someone has seen your true form in your case your mortal form you will appear as part of the Goetia family. And as luck would have it much like myself only your size and your feathers appear to be a shade of black with two blue eyes. A Charming look if I do say." Chuckled the Prince and closed the Grimoire and it floated away from his hands setting itself back on the shelf where, Stolas had retrieved it earlier.
"Did that book just float away?" Lucius gasped seeing how the Grimoire just fitted itself back in place. It was incredible.
Stolas was amused by the simple magic he was using, and it seemed to fascinate the boy to a great extent. "Yes it did. I am quite fluent in all sorts of magic. It comes from extensive use of the Grimoire. But more about that later. Now we must get you into something more befitting for you. Those clothes you have are rather plain and I don't think you wish to continue wearing such garments that remind you of lesser times."
Lucius looked over himself again. Its true his clothes were a bit tattered and burned slightly. He was in need of something else, but this Owl already was doing so much for him. "Are you sure? I don't want to rob you or anything? I don't know what I can do to pay you for this? Or does money not have a place here?"
"Its true down here in Hell we use currency. And my family's affairs have great fortunes. Money is not something to be worried about and please you are not stealing from me at all. I am proud to give anything that you need to make your stay with me comfortable. Please give me a moment I am certain I still have something from my youth that would fit you. You're just the right size for it." Stolas turned away and walked towards his closet opening it and, Lucius saw a lot of different types of outfits. Some clothes looked plain while others looked more luxurious and fashionable.
Stolas slipped a few of the outfits aside that were far too big for the boy until he reached the very end of the rack and found a familiar looking outfit complete with pants that he added to it years ago. "Ah! Just the very the one." Stolas beamed as he took the clothes off the hanger and hung them over his arm and walked back to, Lucius.
"Here you are. This will certainly do." Stolas presented the clothes to Lucius on the couch and the boy looked it over when the Owl handed it to him.
"Wow! These are so nice! Very smooth." Marveled Lucius feeling how the attire felt over both the maroon tunic with six linked golden buttons down the breast of it and navy-colored pants that had dots on them that looked to be stars by his guess. Lucius expression changed to concern looking up at, Stolas.
"These are very fine. I'm not sure if I can wear them." He said and, Stolas put hands on his hips with a bemused expression.
"And whyever not?" He asked.
"I never wore anything like these before. This is very high-class material. I just don't know if I should wear something I have no right to." Answered Lucius.
"Well, you are now going to be part of this family now, Lucius. My family. And whatever class that you believed was over you in the mortal realm is no longer. You will have much to look forward to here and that particular outfit is what I used to wear in my youth. It will look ravishing on. I insist you wear it." Stolas gestured.
"If you're sure that's okay. I don't want to ruin something that means a lot to you." Replied Lucius still unsure about wearing something that looked very luxurious. He never came close to wearing something of it. Not even seeing anyone back where he came from have something even remotely like it.
Stolas chuckled. Lucius obviously had come from a very common family. Perhaps lower than that given to what was attempted upon him. He has a great deal to learn. "You're not. Now please dress yourself or would you like some assistance with that?"
When Stolas said assistance immediately Lucius blushed imagining the Owl seeing him without anything on. "Oh no! No! I can handle it!" He nervously replied putting his hands up defensively.
Stolas resisted the urge to laugh at loud. The Boy was modest too. "Very well. I'll turn around." Stolas turned around to give the boy some privacy and, Lucius hastily discarded his shirt and pants. He took off his socks and shoes leaving only his undergarments on and quickly put on, Stolas old outfit. The Pants and shirt slipped on him easily and was snug when he finished. "Alright I am ready."
Stolas turned back around and was amazed by how well his old clothing fit the boy as a glove. "Marvelous! Simply Marvelous!" He exclaimed happily holding his hands together turning his head down. His eyes beaming at how extraordinary the mortal child looked in his old attire.
"How does it feel?" Stolas asked. Lucius got off the couch and paced a few steps. To get a good feel for it.
"It is wonderful! I could never have imagined wearing anything close to this before!" Beamed Lucius feeling like he was royalty wearing it.
"Very good. I am happy it satisfies you." Stolas grinned before offering his hand to him. "Come along now. Allow me to show you my palace."
Lucius took Stolas hand, and they were about to leave when, Lucius remembered he was without footwear. "Uh…sir I forgot to put my shoes back on!"
Stolas stopped then looked down to see, Lucius bare feet on the floor. Funny how most demonic folk had different types of feet, but mortal feet had something unique about them. "Oh! Right, I shall have to commission you for something your size but for now I think I still have an old pair of slippers in my closet."
Together they went to Stolas closet and reaching in the back behind some of the hanging clothes Stolas found a pair of pink slippers that look small enough for, Lucius. "Here these will give you some comfort for your soles."
Stolas placed the slippers on the floor in front of Lucius and he slipped his feet in them. "Comfort? These are great! I barely feel the floor! I never felt anything like them in my life!" Bubbled Lucius happily taking a few steps in place. "You really keep everything from your childhood with you?"
Stolas nodded. "I do! They possess a great sentimental value to me. If you do not have anything memorial from your past then you will soon take for granted what you have now." Explained Stolas. "Now let us be off. There is much to see and there are those I wish to introduce you to. They deserve to know who will be staying with me from now on."
"Who would those be, Sir?" Asked Lucius as they went up to the door of the bedroom.
"No need to be so formal, Lucius. You may call me, Stolas." They came up to the door and, Stolas opened up to show a great hall lined with portraits that showed Stolas upon them some of them having other people of his kind in them. Some had a small female owl in them while other shown him with a white owl that looked to be rather menacing, and she did not look too happy in them. Stolas did mention he had a daughter which meant he had to have a wife too.
"To answer your question, I would like to introduce to you my daughter, Octavia. Then the acquaintances I was with in the mortal realm. They already know of your existence and presence here in my palace and in hell. It is best we introduce you properly and discuss what we must do to ensure that your existence is kept secret from others, and I can make sure your life will be much more suitable than the one you had before." Explained Stolas as the two of them walked through the halls.
As they walked Lucius could see how lavish Stolas palace really was. With so many grand pictures it seemed he had one for all sorts of occasions. Portraits that showed great regalness. Joyful occasions. Some of them had to have his daughter in them with her being very young and spritely. While some showed she was a lot older and a bit moody in them. It seemed she changed a lot over time. Some pictures even lacked Stolas wife which certainly had to be his wife.
"Pardon me, Stolas?" Inquired Lucius. "I notice some of your pictures around have a white owl in them. Isn't that your wife?"
Stolas sighed slowing his pace. "You are correct, but we have gotten a divorce. You won't be seeing her in the palace, and it would be best you never saw her at all." He said feeling very spiteful towards the one who caused him years of misery. Only recently did he finally find the courage to stand up to her and get the true divorce that he wanted.
"I'm very sorry." Apologized Lucius.
"No need. It was best for us both. Stella may not have understood it, but I knew she and I were not for each other from the start. A Mutual separation."
"How is your daughter handling it?" Asked Lucius next feeling bad for Stolas. With as kind as he is he didn't believe one such as him could go through such an ordeal.
"She is coping but I fear the duress is still taking its hold on her. Perhaps with you in the palace it may assist her. I do hope your mannerisms, which have been very pleasant so far, I must say will continue as we are here. This my daughters quarters." Stolas explained as they stopped in front of a closed door and within it music could be heard playing rather loudly. It sounded grim and depressing.
"Strange taste in music." Thought Lucius. He heard his share of music from students and those he could have classified as friends and all that he heard at his former home but music such as the type he was hearing from, Octavia's room truly was not his type but who was he to judge about it.
Stolas knocked on the door politely. "Oh, Via! Please come out and introduce yourself to the newest edition to our family." Called Stolas in a sing song voice.
The Music shut off in the room and, Lucius heard soft steps approaching the door and it opened up to reveal an owl that stood mid-height of Stolas. She had a pink dress on with yellow stars on it and a black shawl over her. She had a beanie cap on that looked hardly fit for someone like her to wear with short grey hair going down past her shoulders. She had on black leggings and black heeled boots on.
She stared down at Lucius with pink bright eyes. Like her father she didn't appear menacing at all. She was a demon but something in Lucius told him she was trustworthy like, Stolas.
"Uh…Hello." Lucius nervously introduced offering his hand to her. "I'm Lucius. I am very grateful to you and your father for allowing me to stay here."
Octavia was still unsure about this. Her father was risking a great deal more than he had by having his affair with the head of I.M.P. She seen mortals before having had a very unpleasant trip to the city of Lost Angeles.
"Charmed. I am Octavia Goetia." Octavia introduced offering her hand to the boy and he graciously took it and shook it calmly.
"Its an honor to meet you." Lucius got a glimpse of her bedroom behind her and was amazed by what he saw. He could see all sorts of taxidermy material of creatures of all sorts. Her ceiling line with stars and a telescope that stood in front of a window.
"Wow! Your room is amazing! I never seen anything like it before!" Lucius beamed catching Octavia by surprise.
"It is?" She asked looking behind her. Its true she had a lot of things, but she hardly ever thought her room was anything really special. Just a place to take cover when her father and mother were having one of their tiffs and she can escape from the harsh reality she was living.
"Yes! I never seen a room such as yours. I can't express how incredible everything you have is in it." Bubbled Lucius feeling so envious of Octavia. She had far more than anyone he ever known.
Stolas chuckled at the sight. Octavia was flushing by Lucius complements. Perhaps they will become good siblings in no time at all as he hoped.
"Well…its just a few things I like that's all." Admitted the young teenage Goetia.
"Still, you have great taste. I could never imagine seeing such a wonderful display in my life." Continued Lucius praising Octavia for such an assortment she had in her room.
She was rather embarrassed by the compliments, but it seemed Lucius was different among mortals. She still had her doubts but maybe she could give him a chance. "Well maybe later I can show you some of my things. Would you like that?"
"I would love that. Thank you Octavia." Smiled Lucius looking up at her with a precious look and she couldn't help but return the smile. For a human he was a little charmer and not just to earn trust and ruin it. He seemed quite sincere.
"Wonderful! It pleases me to see you both getting along. Now come along, Lucius I just received a text that my acquaintances will be arriving shortly. Shall we be off?" Insisted Stolas and, Lucius nodded.
"Sure. Maybe we can talk more later, Octavia?" Asked Lucius and she nodded in return.
"That would be nice." She replied before returning to her room shutting the door behind her and turned back on her music. The only thing that, Lucius didn't like was her taste in music, but it was okay. No one was perfect and maybe there was a reason she would listen to such kind?
"She seems very nice." Complimented Lucius and Stolas nodded with a smile.
"She certainly is. I have raised a very suburb owlet." The Prince said before taking Lucius to a stairway leading down to the main hall. As they stepped down the stairs Lucius took notice of many odd-looking creatures that were red in skin. Peculiar markings and horns. Some short and pointy while others curled up. Some were at work dusting or sweeping the floors while one of them waited down below at the lobby.
"Master Stolas." The Creature greeted him with a bow and arm across his chest. His horns curled entirely, and he spoke in a formal manner as he along with all the other apparent servants were wearing maiden uniforms and suits. "Your guests await you at door."
"Very good Pringles." Stolas replied and he picked his pace to the main door. Lucius noticed all the servants and the butler as he guessed were staring at him. He was the first mortal in the Palace, and they never saw one before. Sinners on occasion outside the walls but never within the palace.
Lucius kept close to Stolas feeling nervous around the many creatures looking at him curiously. "Don't worry about them. They are the Palace servants. They have sworn to secrecy, and they will not harm you." Assured the Prince reaching the door and opening it up.
When the doors opened up Lucius finally saw outside the palace. And it fascinated him as well as terrified him. The Sky was blood red. He noticed the sun if that is what it was red with a pentagram upon it. There was a grand city outside the walls. Hell seemed to be a lot more civil than what was expected but, Lucius figured not to let the sights fool him. He was in the realm where the worst people go. Despite what Stolas had said he couldn't help but feel worried some more.
Awaiting the both of them at the bottom of the stairs were creatures of the same kind like in the Palace but the three looked a lot different. One looked to be a business suit while the other to his left appeared to be female with black torn pants and cold-shoulder crop top. While the one to the right was taller than the other two wearing a tattered grey colored coat with red buttons down the breast and black knee-high boots with a red skull charm across his neck.
The Female looked eager while the one next to her was very nervous but the tallest one had a very impatient look on his face with his arms folded. "Alright Stolas what's the idea of calling us here?" He demanded.
"I wanted to properly introduce you all to my newest acquaintance. This is Lucius." Introduced Stolas putting the boy in front of him with his hands over his shoulders.
"Well, isn't he quite a cutey for a human boy." Giggled the Female coming up to the child and already as explained by her boss the boy was not to be harmed though, Blitz was still very upset Stolas would even consider doing what he was. She came up to him and offered her hand. "Howdy there, I'm Millie!"
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Millie." Lucius nervously said shaking her hand that looked very sharp and her grip was significantly strong, and she only just was tall as he was.
"Oh! Gentlemen like!" Millie squeaked and pulled the nervous looking one up to the boy next. "This is my husband, Moxxie!"
Moxxie took a quick look over the boy seeing that he was not a real threat. "Pleasure, I guess." He shook the boys hand but looked up to Stolas. "Are you really sure about this, your highness? I thought the spell was supposed to make us see him differently?"
Stolas eyes went wide in shock. The Imps were seeing Lucius in his human form. But that couldn't be unless. He shot Blitz an angry look. "Might I inquire how they are seeing him, Blitz?"
The Tall imp shrugged his shoulders innocently. "What? I took a picture of him when you brought him down here and showed it to them."
Stolas slammed his hand across his beck frustratingly. "Has anyone else seen that photo?"
"Just my daughter." Replied Blitz pulling out his phone and showed a picture of Lucius unconscious in Stolas bed.
"Delete that this instant!" Demanded Stolas.
"Fine, fine don't get your feathers in a twist!" Blitz immediately deleted the photo from his phone and then gave the kid a warning glance.
"Names Blitz the O is silent kid. Don't even think of causing any problems for me and my company!" He warned pointing a finger at him and, Lucius looked away fearfully.
"I won't do anything I promise!" He whimpered but Stolas shot Blitz and angry glare.
"Manners Blitz! I assure he won't be any harm and I will not tolerate any mistreatment." Ordered the Prince. "Now that you all have been acquainted I trust from now on we will be careful, and no more mistakes will be made?"
"Yeah, yeah no problem." Blitz grumbled as if this situation was just like a bomb waiting to be blown for sure.
"Not at all." Promised Millie giving the boy a wink. She had killed many humans before. Most were just scum waiting for the blade but, Lucius didn't come off as someone to be worried about.
"We will carry out as ordered, your highness." Promised Moxxie.
Stolas nodded in approval. "Very well. You're all dismissed. I must see to Lucius needs now." Waved Stolas and without taking a moment, Blitz stomped away with the others of his company each giving Lucius one more look before they disappeared around one of the entrances and a van was started and drove off.
"Cars too? Wow! This is place not like what I expected." Said Lucius in surprise. He had a great deal to learn and understand about Hell but then his stomach grumbled.
Stolas heard what came from the boy and grinned. "Well, it seems I have been neglecting you. Come along. Let's go to the kitchen and find something for you to eat."