After Octavia had finished packing and getting ready to stay the weekend with her mother she went to join her father as they waited in the living room. It didn't seem like they waited long until there was a knock at the door, the two going to answer it and seeing Stella. Octavia noticed a shift in her father as he saw her, not quite the usual demeanor he had been having, but one closer to like what he had when she was young. Even her mother seemed to take note of this as she looked at him, though she also seemed less ready for confrontation.
"Stella." Stolas greeted his estranged and soon to be ex-wife.
"Sto-" she paused ever so briefly, as though fighting every urge she had to call him as she had for a good while now. "las. How...are you?" she asked, it seemed like she was doing everything she could to stay civil around him.
"I'm fine." he replied. "And...you?" Stolas asked in return. The tension in the air was palpable, it was like both were trying to up the other in being cordial. It was not just awkward, but rather annoying in all honesty. Octavia didn't know which was more preferable, her parents not hiding how they felt or this.
"I'm well." Stella replied. "Andrealphus says hello by the way."
"Oh does he now?" Stolas asked indignantly.
"Yes." Stella stated. "And while I'd rather not discuss this in front of our daughter, the terms for our divorce are ready for you to look over. Andrealphus suggested Richest Cup but I'd prefer to keep this as private as possible, so you have the option of here or at his palace."
"When?" Stolas asked.
"Monday, but if that doesn't work for you then maybe we can work out a different day." Stella answered, keeping a cold business demeanor about it.
"I'd rather not immediately have to leave Octavia as soon as I get her back." Stolas stated. "Would Tuesday work?"
"Tuesday works for me, but as I said, where?"
Stolas thought for a moment. "His place, I don't want to have it with our daughter around, she's dealt with our arguments enough."
"Agreed, I will tell Andrealphus." Stella concurred before looking to Octavia. "Sorry about that, how have you been Octavia?" Stella asked a bit more warmly, causing both Stolas and Octavia to blink.
"I've been fine…" Octavia replied.
Stella smiled slightly. "That's good to hear." Her response once more somewhat surprising Octavia and her father. "Stolas." Stella said as she looked at the older owl demon. "I'll be taking Octavia to meet someone, it might turn into a stay for a night, maybe two, then we'll be at Andrealphus'."
Stolas arched a brow at the information as he looked at Stella. "Okay...good to know."
"Don't worry, I'll inform you if anything changes, and make sure to have her back here." Stella added.
Stolas continued to look at her. "Oddly considerate of you…"
"I can be considerate, or have you forgotten that as well?" Stella remarked before clearing her throat. "But that's besides the point, I just wanted to let you know in case you reached out later and we're not at Andrealphus'."
"Very well, thank you for informing me." Stolas said before looking to Octavia and giving her a hug. "Take care my little Owlette, I'll see you Monday."
Octavia smiled a bit as she hugged Stolas back. "See you Monday dad."
Stolas looked to Stella after he and Octavia stopped hugging. "Take care...Stella." He said, willing himself to be polite.
"You too...Stolas." Stella replied with just as much effort, though not before exchanging a brief sneer with him before Stolas returned inside his palace.
"So who's this person you want me to meet, some boorish aristocrat that can't be bothered to lift a tea cup because they're too wealthy?" Octavia asked as she looked at her mother while they walked away from the door, seemingly not too thrilled. At least she wouldn't be around her uncle for hopefully long though, she'd much rather deal with whoever her mother wanted her to meet than be around him.
Stella blinked, how long had Octavia been this moody? Granted she hadn't been paying that much attention in recent years but still, it brought back a somewhat weird sense of deja vu. "No." She replied. "They're actually someone quite special. I think you'll like them...I hope." Stella added as they stopped outside the palace gates.
"Octavia arched an eyebrow as she looked at her mother. "Someone...special?"
"Yes, quite special." Stella said with a slight smile as she opened up a portal.
Octavia was caught off guard by her mother opening up a portal, having not seen her do so before. Had she always been able to and just refuse to do so, or was it something she just recently learned to do? Then there was this person her mother wanted her to meet, why would her mother be hoping that she'd like them? She never cared about stuff like that before, just how special was this demon? Then there was what she could see beyond the portal, an elegant palace far more grand and regal than any she's seen before decorated in the symbols that seemed to represent...death.
"Just who is this person?" Octavia asked as she looked to her mother.
"You'll see." Stella said with a warm smile Octavia hadn't seen in years.
"Alright…" Octavia said as she followed her mother through the portal.
As they stepped through the portal the palace seemed all the more grander and foreboding, if not a bit intimidating. There was just the air of unease about it. As they approached the entrance, Octavia watched as her mother knocked on the door, a skeletal like winged imp opening it a moment later.
"Ah, Lady Stella, Welcome back." Skittle greeted. "I see you have brought the young lady Octavia with you like you mentioned." The imp said, his demeanor ever so professional.
"Yes, could you have a servant take my daughter's things to a room?" Stella asked, shocking Octavia who had only known her mother to demand things of the help.
"I shall see to it forth with." Skittle complied.
"Thank you Skittle. Is she in her music room?" Stella asked.
"Not presently, she's in her throne room." Skittle replied.
Stella nodded before looking to Octavia. "You can leave your things with him, come along."
"O— kay…" Octavia said, more surprised than confused at the sudden cordial behavior of her mother towards those lower in class than her. She set her things next to the winged imp who bowed as she did so.
It felt so...surreal, if not completely unreal; what the actual hell was going on to make her mother seemingly more pleasant to the lower class? Maybe it had something to do with whoever this woman was that her mother wanted her to meet. Octavia could pick up a feeling of anxiousness from her mother, just how important was this woman and why did her mother want her to like her so much? Questions that hopefully would be answered as she followed her mother through the palace.
The palace was as opulent and grand on the inside as it was on the out, every ounce of it screamed nobility and power. Although there wasn't anywhere near the sense of vanity or typical pomp that she'd see in the likes of her uncle's palace. It felt more...matter of fact, if that could describe it. Like the fact it was as regal as it was wasn't due to anything other than the fact that the demon that lived in it was just that high up without flaunting it. Then there were the other servants she'd catch glimpses of, all different species and yet all with a skeletal look to them, if not full on skeletal in certain areas like their heads.
As they reached the door to the throne room Stella knocked on the door, a female voice telling them to enter followed shortly. As the doors open Octavia looked on at the elaborate room. It was elegant, sophisticated, properly regal and royal. But what drew her eye was the shadowy form on the throne that was busy observing portals to various places and sending and receiving ominous arcane eldritch energy through them that Octavia could hear screaming emitting from before closing them off.
The figure than stood as it went through various animal forms before shifting into a primarily bat-like female demon. She was just about a head shorter than her grandfather, Paimon. Elegant yet eerie eldritch green hair similar in makeup to that of Asmodeus' hair went down to just over her shoulders with the skull of a jackal and a goat on either side, giving the woman three heads so to speak much like the king of lust. She was of average, if leaning on a somewhat slender, build with curves and features that would make some succubi envious. But what left the biggest impression was the fact she wore attire Octavia only saw noblemen wear, cape and all.
"Ah, Stella, welcome back." Camazotz said with a smile, her four static white eyes focusing on Octavia's mother before shifting over to Octavia as a fifth one centered on her forehead opened up. "And Octavia, how nice it is to finally meet you." she said as she moved over to the two.
"Thanks…" Octavia said as she looked at Camazotz, feeling a bit uneasy. "...wait, finally? Welcome back?" Octavia thought out loud.
"Yes, well, you're mother has been staying with me off and on...so to speak." Camazotz clarified.
"And she's...talked about me?" Stella inquired.
"A little." Camazotz replied. "But I knew of you since before the day you were hatched." She smiled.
"What?...How?" Octavia asked in slight astonishment.
Camazotz grinned as she looked at her. "Because my dear little one, I know all from the moment they begin to exist."
Octavia looked at Camazotz in bewildered awe. "Who...are you?"
Camazotz grin widened. "I, am death. And while that is my one true name, I go by many more. You name a god or goddess of death and I am them. But the name I have chosen to go by is Camazotz, just felt fitting and right."
"Wait, DEATH?!" Octavia exclaimed. "As in literal death?!"
"Well I certainly don't mean metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or theoretically, or any other fancy way." Camazotz commented with a sly smirk.
Octavia blinked. "I thought death was an..."
Camazotz continued to smirk. "Angel? Yes."
Octavia blinked. "So you're a fallen angel?"
"Just like our good ol Lucifer, or Lu Lu as I like to sometimes call him." Camazotz grinned, chuckling a little. "Though I'm just as much demon too...and eldritch. As death I have reign over every realm."
"Whoa…" Octavia commented. "But wasn't the angel of death also a…"
"I can change EVERYTHING about me my dear, hence why the interpretations of me are so different across various human societies." Camazotz explained with a wry grin.
"Okay...and the various animals related to you…" Octavia asked.
"Yes?" Camazotz asked.
Octavia blinked. "Why cows?"
Camazotz smirked ever so slightly. "Because dear Lu Lu is a sore loser."
Octavia blinked. "What?"
"I beat him in a contest of musical skill and in return he started spreading among certain humans that cows were associated with me." Camazotz explained.
"So they're not?" Octavia asked.
"Nope." Camazotz replied.
"Huh." Octavia remarked.
Camazotz smiled. "Thank you for asking respectfully about the cow thing by the way, those who don't tend to...well, you know." She grinned devilishly, causing Octavia to look at her in shocked panic. "Joking my dear. Well, somewhat." Camazotz chuckled. "Anything else you're curious about?" Camazotz asked with a smile.
"Not really, other than how my mother knows you and why she was hoping I'd like you…" Octavia replied.
Camazotz continued to smile as she looked at Octavia. "I've known your mother since she was very young, though I'll admit our meetings were sporadic at best. We still knew each other well enough and I was there for her in particularly tough times in her life. Two were by chance, the other two, not so much." she chuckled.
"...How old are you?" Octavia asked.
Camazotz grinned. "I am ageless my young one. To you I might seem millennia old, but seeing as I do not age, I cannot say. Mostly because I was around before time and thus time does not hold anything on me. I did keep count once for fun when the big guy introduced it, but eventually lost count...and interest."
Octavia looked at Camazotz in awe. "Whoa."
"Now, as for the second part of your question, I believe Stella is best suited to answer it." Camazotz added, causing Octavia to look at her mother.
Stella turned to face her daughter. "You see Octavia, I was hoping you'd like her because…" She sighed. "Because well, I've started...seeing her."
Octavia blinked a bit, shock forming on her face. "What?"
"We've started dating...I thought I should let you know while it's still relatively new." Stella explained.
Octavia stared at her mother, shock still on her face as it slowly morphed into what could be best described as bewilderment mixed with shock that was boarding on exasperation. "...What the FUCK mom! You too?!"
"Octavia I can explain." Stella insisted.
"What, like how dad can explain wanting to fuck some weird red guy?" Octavia asked with doubt. "Did either of you even want a family to begin with?!"
"Of course we did, it's just…" Stella tried to explain.
"Just what, complicated?!" Octavia exclaimed as tears forming in her eyes. "Because all I'm seeing is that you two would rather fuck anyone else and just hate each other! Did you even want me to begin with?! Was I even wanted?! Or was I just an attempt to try and maintain a doomed marriage or just an obligation because everyone else had one?! Or was it me?! Did I cause all this?!"
Octavia's tearful words cut Stella deep, a feeling of thinking the same of her own parents rushing through her mind as she quickly went to tightly embrace her daughter. "No! Lucifer no!" Stella said as she held Octavia. "It's not your fault, it will NEVER be your fault, nor did we not want you or anything like that."
"Then why, why is our family falling apart?" Octavia asked. "You and dad seemed to love each other when I was younger. Sure you had fights here and there, but you still seemed happy." She argued. "But now it seems like you never did really love each other due to something that even dad can't seem to explain. Let alone the fact your fighting has made it to where I can't spend time with either of you without it being a problem or causing promises to be broken."
Stella looked at Octavia, her eyes softening to like how she would look at her back when she was still a hatchling and was so fragile. "Oh my little cosmic princess, I'm so sorry. you deserve an explanation."
"But will I really get one?" Octavia asked.
Stella nodded as she looked at her, letting go of her daughter as she composed herself to her usual demeanor. "The truth is, me and your father were arranged. I wasn't really to thrilled about it and he...well, he was more scared. I didn't like him at first, in fact I only tolerated him and did whatever I could to make things somewhat difficult." she started to explain.
Octavia looked at her mother with narrowed eyes. "Sounds like you wanted to sabotage it."
"I did at first." Stella replied without ant regret or shame. "But over time he did grow on me enough to love him to a degree, though I couldn't really fully love him as I've recently come to realize." Stella added as she briefly glanced at Camazotz. "But at the time I didn't quite no why. Or rather, tried to ignore why. I can assume he did the same...or was still utterly naive enough to think the whole thing a game. There was a point where we thought it could work, and like I said we did want you, but it seems we just deluded ourselves. Why your father didn't have the balls to tell you the truth is beyond me."
Octavia looked at her mother as she listened, listening rather intently. For as blunt as her mother was being she was at least getting an explanation about the whole mess. Still, she was wondering just how truthful her mother would continue to be.
"We did try, and there was some love there for a while, but we just weren't really compatible in any way that could make things last. I was content to play the role of a good wife, but through his ignorance and my own admitted expectations from my upbringing along with my falling into habits of comfort, things just soured."
Octavia looked at her mother. "And neither of you tried to fix things?"
"I doubt there was any fixing it, even if we tried or wanted to, and your father would say the same." Stella replied in a very matter of fact tone. "I could have waited till you were old enough to not be dragged in the middle of this but he had to cheat on me with that...imp." She said in disgust. "Granted, I'm not innocent in the fiasco either. I can be a cruel and vindictive bitch and take pride in that. But your father crossed a line. There are standards that must be kept, as well as values and a reputation that must be upheld within the Ars Goetia. Just know that whatever I do during all this is not just for my sake, but yours as well. I don't want what he did affecting you."
"So what, you just immediately hopped to someone like HER to save face?" Octavia asked as she looked at Camazotz who merely smiled.
"No." Stella answered. "Like Camazotz said, we've known each other a fairly long time through brief interactions. And through those interactions I found myself feeling things I didn't really feel for your father. But do not mistake that as I thought of her all the time even when I was with Stolas. She was the one to come on to me, and I accepted those feelings I buried. And unlike your father, I didn't want to keep this a secret from you or have you find out in an inappropriate way because I want to do the right thing when it comes to me and you."
Octavia arched a brow. "And that's supposed to make up for years of us not being all that close, you suddenly wanting to be a good mother?"
"No, I'm not as naive as your father. I won't try to even think I can make up for it." Stella said bluntly. "But What I can do, what I intend to do, is to be as good a mother to you as I can be within the capability of who I am. I can't promise to suddenly be as nice as Stolas or anything of the sort. I am who I am and I won't apologize for it. But what I will promise, is to start trying to be there for you more and be a bit more of a mother, more so than mine was to me, sound reasonable?"
"Yeah…" Octavia said with a slight smile.
Stella smiled back a bit. "Good. And...I hope that, in time, you'll accept that me and Camazotz are seeing each other."
Octavia blinked, not expecting her mother to care so much about what she thought about her seeing someone "I—think I can I can do that, eventually. Besides, meeting death herself is kinda cool…"
Camazotz chuckled a little. "I can be pretty cool, yes."
Stella smiled. "Good. Now then…" she said as she got a bit more to business. "What's this about breaking promises?"
Octavia averted her eyes briefly. "It's nothing…"
"Octavia, I need to know what promise has been broken by me or your father, please." Stella softly pleaded.
Octavia sighed. "Dad's promise to take me to see Azathoth's tears. It was on the day you two were arguing about your things being moved and it caused him to forget and be focused only on the shit between you two."
Stella blinked; she had known about Azatoth's tears from her own parents and studies, a unique practically once in a life time to greater goetia event that could only be seen once by some in their lifetime or not at all. Sure the deadly sins and Lucifer himself could definitely see it multiple times, but only because of their nature. To any other demon, including Goetias, it was definitely a special thing to witness.
Stella felt guilt start to fill her as it showed in her expression. "I'm...sorry Octavia. Me and your father never really let the other know about things like that, even back when you were young."
"It's fine, dad kind of made up for it and promised to do so more."
Stella nodded, "Still, in a way I played a part in that promise being broken, I should try to make up for it as well…"
"Perhaps there is a way you can by showing her the tears." Camazotz interjected, causing Stella and Octavia to look at her.
"But how?" Stella asked. "They're too rare an event."
Camazotz smirked. "All things fade and die, even the tears of Azathoth, and that is my domain."
"What do you mean?" Octavia asked.
Camazotz continued to smirk as she opened up a portal with a flick of her wrist to an unfamiliar section of the galaxy. "Follow me."
Stella and Octavia nodded, following Camazotz through the portal and onto a floating asteroid. They were both somewhat befuddled as to what Camazotz meant and what she could do in regards to seeing Azathoth's tears. But whatever the woman had planned, they were both curious as to what it was.
"I am very familiar with the tears, their path, their trajectory, their starting point and where they fade and die." Camazotz began to explained.
"Meaning?" Octavia asked.
Camazotz smirked. "How would you like front row seats and fly with them?"
"…How?"
Camazotz smirk grew. "Like this." she said as she stretched out her arms towards the empty void of space. Even bringing out her second pair as her eyes glowed with a bright brilliance that not even Stella had seen when Camazotz had made her ageless.
Camazotz began to grasp the emptiness, tugging at it as the sheer amount of power she used could be physically felt by Octavia and her mother. "I can bring forth their echoes back into reality, making them repeat their lives in a sense. It takes a bit of magic and effort, but they're not really being resurrected as it requires the actual body for such. It's more bringing their memories in this realm into the physical plane. Although I suppose you could say this is an eldritch version of it in a sense." she further explained as she continued to rend the material plane to her will, channeling the echoes of Azathoth's tears until they once more appeared at their origin point.
"Ready?" Camazotz asked.
Octavia just looked on in awe. "Whoa...Yeah." she said as she smiled.
Camazotz nodded as she then moved her hand toward Octavia, enveloping the young owl demon in her magic before looking to Stella. "Want to join us? Would be an interesting bonding experience with your daughter."
Stella blinked, looking at Camazotz and then Octavia. "I, well…"
Octavia offered her mother a slight smile. "Why not, if you really want us to grow closer."
Stella smiled slightly back. "Alright…"
Camazotz nodded, reaching her other hand out towards Stella and enveloping her as well. "Alright then, prepare for a front row seat to a truly unique experience."
As the physical echoes of Azathoth's tears flew by Octavia and Stella looked on in awe, only to be lifted up by Camazotz's magic as Camazotz her self levitated up, flying them along the same path of the tears, taking them on the same journey through space. "Very few can say they've seen the entire journey of Azathoth's tears, now you'll both have something special and unique." Camazotz commented as they flew parallel to the tears, Stella and Octavia bearing witness to their journey and the unique aspects of it, even flying up close and maneuvering around them every now and then.
Octavia was left in awe as they followed Azathoth's tears. "This is…amazing." She commented.
Stella glanced at Octavia, smiling a bit as she saw the childlike awe on her face, something she only really had once in her life...when she first met Camazotz. "It is." She agreed, taking in the majesty of the phenomenon as well.
"Camazotz?" Octavia asked as she looked at the woman.
"Yes?" Camazotz said as she looked at Octavia.
"Would it be possible for me to take a picture?" Octavia asked.
Camazotz smiled as she moved Octavia further ahead, steadying her to where she could get a good picture as she stopped herself and Stella. Octavia wasted no time in getting her phone, quickly taking a selfie as Azathoth's tears passed in the background. "Thanks." Octavia said as Camazotz and Stella rejoined her and they began to follow Azathoth's tears once more.
"You're welcome." Camazotz smiled.
"Hey mom…" Octavia started as she looked at her mother. "Would you maybe...want to have a picture together?"
Stella blinked, not really expecting Octavia asking to take a picture together. She smiled slightly. "Sure."
"May I?" Camazotz asked as she moved her hand towards Octavia. "Might make for better pictures.
Octavia blinked. "Sure." She said as she handed Camazotz her phone.
Camazotz smiled as she moved both Stella and Octavia far enough ahead of Azathoth's tears to be ready, moving in front of them to take the picture. Stella and Octavia readied themselves, Stella looking as proper as she could with a smile as Octavia leaned in close with her own smile. As the comets passed by Camazotz took the picture, offering to take some more for Octavia so she could have a few more good pictures, to which the young owl demon agreed.
As they continued to follow Azathoth's tears on their journey Camazotz made sure to make whatever opportunity she could to give Octavia some more pictures, some of her by herself and others with her mother. Octavia found herself enjoying the experience all the more as they followed the comets and seeing the unique sights, the enjoyment she was having with her mother bringing back happier childhood memories. When they had followed Azathoth's tears to where they had disintegrated in a spectacular show of brilliance in a planetary body Camazotz brought them to land on an asteroid.
"So, how was it, did you have fun?" Camazotz asked as she handed Octavia her phone.
"Yeah! I've never had an experience like that, it was really cool." Octavia practically beamed as she took her phone back. "Thanks for that, and the pictures."
Camazotz smiled. "No problem, and you're very welcome."
Octavia smiled back as she went to go give her mother a hug, something that surprised Stella a bit. "That was fun…"
Stella blinked before smiling slightly and giving her a hug in return. "Yes, yes it was…"
Octavia let go of her mother before looking through the pictures that had been taken. "I'm definitely posting some of these to Sinstagram. Oh, I might text a few to Typhus, he'd probably like some of these with just the comets…"
"Typhus?" Stella asked as she looked at Octavia.
"Oh, friend of mine, he works as a receptionist at HOUND." Octavia replied, an ever so faint excitement in her voice. "That's the-"
"Hellhound Organization for Untimely and Necessary Deaths." Stella said.
Octavia blinked. "Yeah, how did you know?"
"I happen to be the one that backs them." Camazotz answered for Stella who started to start to internally panic on how to answer.
"Really?" Octavia asked as she looked to Camazotz.
"Yes." Camazotz smiled.
"Huh, cool." Octavia remarked/
Stella looked at her daughter. "So, your father's allowing you to be friends with a hellhound now?" She asked, the demeanor she had towards those lesser than her returning to the forefront a bit.
Octavia looked at her mother, a very slight hint of defensive indignation on her face. "Yeah, and?"
Stella glanced at Camazotz before using every ounce of strength she had to fight off being upset about the fact. It had been not all that easy to treat the servants better, though wanting to for Camazotz had helped and had proven not as horrible a thing to do as her blue blooded upbringing had taught her. "Nothing...It's...fine. I'm just...glad...you finally have a...friend." she managed to say as she noticed Camazotz holding back a chuckle.
Octavia arched a brow at her mother. "You don't have to lie or force yourself to be nice."
"True, but I want to be on better terms with you, so I will try." Stella replied.
Octavia smiled a bit. "Thanks, you can be kinda cool when you want to be."
"Thank you." Stella said with a slight smile, though the revelation that Octavia was friendly with a hellhound, let alone one from the assassination business she had first gotten in touch with about killing her husband still troubled her because of the standards royalty like them needed to keep. Right now though, she didn't want to ruin whatever bridging of the gap that was happening between her and her daughter, or ruin the moment they were having.
Octavia turned to Camazotz. "Oh, there is one thing I want to ask you." she said with a fair bit of curiosity.
The fallen angel smiled as she looked at Octavia. "Yes?"
"How did you wind up down in hell?" Octavia asked. "Were you part of the fall?"
Camazotz chuckled a little. "Would you like me to recount you the tale of it and my role in there in?" she asked.
"If you wouldn't mind…" Octavia replied. "it'd be interesting to hear."
Camazotz's smile grew as she opened up a portal back to her castle. "Not at all, I'd be happy to. But I think a more comfortable environment is called for. Come along and I will regale you with the tale of my past, and the great fall in Heaven."
With that the three made their way through the portal, Octavia looking intrigued at the prospect of learning about Camazotz and some of the history of Heaven and Hell. Stella as well found herself intrigued to hear about Camazotz's past, having never really known much, if any, about it and had never thought to ask. And while the idea of her daughter being friendly with a lowly hellhound was a bit irksome, though not nearly as much as her husband thirsting after an imp. She bit her tongue the best she could, hoping that nothing else would come of it.