Chapter 14:A Zestial for Life"
Back in the human world, Bellina's desperate cries seemed to pierce the veil between worlds. As she knelt by the fireplace, the flames flickering wildly, a strange energy filled the room. Her voice, raw with emotion, echoed through the emptiness.
"Moxxine, please, I need you! I'll give anything, just come back to me!" She clutched the photo booth pictures to her chest, her tears staining the paper.
Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace flared up, casting an eerie glow over the room. Bellina gasped, stepping back in shock as the fire took on a life of its own. The flames twisted and writhed, forming shapes that seemed almost sentient. She could feel a presence—a connection that went beyond the physical.
"Moxxine…?" she whispered, hope and fear mingling in her voice.
The fire seemed to pulse in response, and in that moment, Bellina knew she had been heard. But the presence wasn't just Moxxine—it was something darker, something ancient. She had called out to the void, and the void had answered.
With Eyevan defeated and the evidence secured, the IMP team regrouped outside the crumbling fortress. They were battered and bruised, but victorious. Stella and Stolas stood together, their hands intertwined as they looked over the battlefield.
"We did it," Stella said, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
"Yes, we did," Stolas replied, squeezing her hand. "Now we just need to get this evidence to Visago and ensure he's safe."
Moxxie, standing a short distance away, felt a strange sense of completion. The mission had been a success, and yet his thoughts were far away—back in the human world, with Bellina. He knew that the bond they had formed, however complicated, was something he couldn't simply walk away from.
As they prepared to return to the office, Moxxie glanced up at the sky. "I'm coming, Bellina," he whispered to himself, a new resolve hardening in his chest. "I won't leave you like that again."
The next day, Bellina returned to the mansion, the strange experience at the fireplace still fresh in her mind. She felt a new energy, a determination she hadn't felt in weeks. She wasn't going to let herself be consumed by despair—not when there was still a chance to find Moxxine.
She gathered the last of her belongings, including the books Moxxine had left her and the photo booth pictures, and made her way back to her foster home. Her foster parents, noticing the change in her demeanor, were worried but hopeful. They had never seen Bellina so focused, so determined.
"Are you alright, dear?" her foster mother asked gently, watching as Bellina packed her things with a purpose.
"I will be," Bellina replied, her voice steady. "I just have something I need to do."
That night, as Bellina lay in bed, she clutched the photo booth pictures to her chest. "I'll find you, Moxxine," she whispered into the darkness. "No matter what it takes."
In the depths of Hell, Moxxie felt a shiver run down his spine, as if someone had called out to him. He glanced at the letter he had just received, addressed to "Moxxine Realperson, Imp City, Hell USA," and felt a strange warmth in his heart.
"I'm here, Bellina," he whispered, tucking the letter into his jacket. "I'm not going anywhere."
As the IMP team prepared for their next mission, Moxxie's thoughts were already on the next letter he would write. He didn't know how or when, but he was determined to make things right—for both Bellina and himself.
The connection between them was far from severed. In fact, it was only growing stronger, pulling them closer together across the vast chasm between worlds. And Moxxie, now more than ever, was willing to fight for that connection, no matter the cost.
As the IMP team combed through the mountain of blackmail material collected from Eyevan's lair, they could hardly believe the extent of the dirt he had on Hell's elite. Every page revealed new secrets, scandals, and incriminating evidence against some of the most powerful demons in Hell. But for Stolas, one thing was clear: none of this mattered except for what related to his own house. Sifting through the files, the slim, owl-like prince smirked as he tossed the non-Goetia files into Blitz's waiting hands.
"Do what you will with these," Stolas said, his tone light but his gaze sharp. "But be careful—using this kind of information is dangerous. Even in Hell."
Blitz grinned, greed flashing in his eyes as he tucked the files away. "Oh, don't you worry, Stolas. We'll make good use of these."
Stella, dressed in her combat gear—purple armored bustier, pantaloons, and knee-high boots, with her flechette knives resembling feathers strapped to her side—watched her husband closely. Despite their history, she couldn't help but feel a certain warmth for Stolas, especially when he looked at her like that, his eyes full of admiration.
"Ready to head home, my prince?" she asked, her voice teasing yet affectionate.
Stolas, blushing slightly at her words, nodded. "More than ready, my love," he replied, leaping into her arms with an unexpected grace.
Stella caught him with ease, her long plumage hair tied back in a ponytail, and together they vanished in a swirl of dark feathers and starlight, leaving the IMP team to finish up the aftermath.
Meanwhile, Moxxie, plagued with guilt over his abrupt departure from Bellina's life, found himself unable to focus on anything but finding her. Donning his Moxxine disguise—a red-skinned, curvaceous demoness with flowing white hair done up in pigtails—he made his way to the human world. The sight of the foster family's house sent a wave of nostalgia and longing through him, but the feeling quickly turned to worry when he learned that Bellina wasn't in her room.
"It's the middle of the night," her foster mother said, wringing her hands anxiously. "She's never done anything like this before… We're so worried."
Moxxine's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to comfort them, but her thoughts were racing. "I'll find her," she promised, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I'll bring her back safely."
Bellina, determined and desperate, had snuck back into her family's abandoned mansion, her heart pounding with both fear and excitement. The occult research she had done on the internet had opened her eyes to the significance of the fire—she knew she had reached out to something powerful, something that could grant her deepest wish. As she lit the fireplace, the flames roared to life, turning a sickly green as they danced and twisted unnaturally.
"I said I'd offer up my soul," Bellina called out, her voice trembling but resolute. "I meant it, and I know you were listening. You're a crossroads demon, right? Well, I have my wish, and you're gonna grant it!"
She sliced her palm with a trembling hand, squeezing her fist so that the blood dripped into the flames. The fire responded instantly, flaring up violently as a figure began to emerge—a very tall, very lanky demon with the features of both a spider and a bat, wearing a top hat that seemed to scrape the ceiling.
"Yes, yes, I am Zestial, dear friend," the demonic being intoned, his voice dripping with an antiquated manner of speech. "I knew your father well, and he now burns in the inferno as one under my thrall. Or perhaps… would thine like him back?"
Bellina's eyes blazed with fury and determination. "Hell no," she spat. "Daddy can burn for all I care. Just… just take me to Moxxine! I wish to be beside Moxxine Realperson forever!"
Zestial grinned, his many eyes glinting in the eerie green light. "So be it," he said, his voice smooth and oily as he extended a clawed hand. Bellina, without hesitation, took it, sealing the deal.
Just as their hands met, Moxxine (Moxxie) burst through the door, her eyes wide with horror as she saw the scene unfolding before her. "Bellina, no!" she shouted, her voice full of panic and desperation. "Don't go through with this!"
But it was too late. The moment their hands clasped, the fire roared louder than ever, engulfing them both in a swirling vortex of green flames. Zestial's laughter echoed through the mansion as the fire twisted and contorted, dragging Bellina into its depths.
Moxxine reached out, trying to grab hold of her, but the fire was too strong. Bellina was pulled into the fireplace, her body disappearing into the inferno as Moxxine was forced back by the heat and power of the flames.
"No!" Moxxine screamed, tears streaming down her face as she watched Bellina vanish. "Bellina… please…"
The flames died down as quickly as they had flared up, leaving the mansion eerily quiet. Moxxine fell to her knees, her mind racing with panic and despair. She had come too late. Bellina was gone—dragged to Hell by her own desperate wish.
Back in Hell, as the IMP team prepared to head out for their next job, Moxxie (no longer in disguise) stumbled into the office, his face pale and his hands trembling. He could barely get the words out, but Millie, seeing the state he was in, immediately ran to his side.
"Moxxie, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "What happened?"
"It's Bellina," Moxxie choked out, his voice full of despair. "She… she made a deal with a demon to be with Moxxine. She's been dragged to Hell, and it's all my fault. I have to save her, Millie. I can't let her stay down there—she's human. She won't survive."
Millie's heart ached for Moxxie. She could see how much Bellina meant to him, and she knew there was no way she could let him go through this alone. She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her eyes full of determination.
"We'll get her back, Moxxie," she said firmly. "Whatever it takes, we'll find her and bring her home."
Moxxie looked up at her, his eyes full of gratitude and hope. With Millie by his side, he felt a renewed sense of resolve. They had faced impossible odds before, and they would do it again. This time, it was for someone who mattered more to Moxxie than he had ever realized. He wasn't going to lose Bellina—not now, not ever.
The next day, the IMP team, prepared for their most dangerous mission yet: a journey through the deepest, darkest parts of Hell to rescue Bellina. As they suited up and gathered their weapons, Moxxie felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. He knew the dangers they were about to face, but for the first time in a long time, he felt certain about what he needed to do.
Millie, adjusting her gear, looked over at him and gave a reassuring smile. "We'll get her back, Moxxie. No demon in Hell is gonna stop us."
Moxxie nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "You're right," he said, his voice steady. "Let's bring Bellina home."
And with that, they set off, ready to face whatever Hell had in store for them, knowing that they would stop at nothing to save Bellina from the darkness that had claimed her.
As the flames of Hell enveloped Bellina, her human form began to twist and change, reshaping into something monstrous yet strangely elegant. The fire, now a vivid, toxic green, crawled over her skin like living vines, burning away her old self and replacing it with a demonic visage that reflected her inner turmoil and desperation.
Bellina's once-dark gothic attire shifted and morphed, the black lace and velvet stretching and twisting until it became a dress of black and green flames. The fabric appeared to be woven from the very fire that had consumed her, flickering and crackling as she moved. Her once-pale skin took on an ashen gray hue, mottled with patches of glowing green embers. Her fingers elongated into sharp claws, and her legs bent backwards at an unnatural angle, reminiscent of a predatory animal.
Her face contorted into a more feral shape, with sharp, pointed ears, and her teeth grew long and jagged, glinting like knives in the dim light. Her eyes, once filled with determination, now blazed with an eerie green light, her pupils slit like those of a possum. Bellina's hair, which had been dark and straight, ignited with green flames, cascading down her back in a wild, untamed mane.
Her body, now hunched and twisted, resembled that of a demonic possum, with a long, sinuous tail tipped with fire. Her limbs were lanky and powerful, capable of swift and deadly movements. Despite the grotesque transformation, there was a dark beauty to her new form—a reflection of the desperate love and determination that had driven her to make the deal with Zestial.
Back with IMP, the team was hard at work, scouring the Pride Ring for any sign of Bellina. Moxxie, unable to shake the guilt and fear gnawing at him, was desperate to find her before it was too late. Even though Bellina had likely become a demon, he still saw her as the human girl who had captured his heart, and he would stop at nothing to bring her back.
Blitz, while sympathetic to Moxxie's plight, couldn't resist a few jabs as they searched. "So, your little human girlfriend decided to become a demon, huh? You really know how to pick 'em, Moxxie. But hey, at least now she's got a chance of surviving down here."
"She's not just some girl, Blitz," Moxxie snapped, his voice strained. "She's… she's important to me. I can't let her stay like this."
Millie, watching Moxxie's determination, felt a pang of jealousy twist in her chest. She had always seen herself as Moxxie's partner, in both life and work, and the idea of him caring so deeply for someone else, even a human, was hard to swallow. But as she thought about Bellina's fate—transformed into a demon and dragged into Hell—Millie couldn't help but feel pity for the girl.
"She must really love you," Millie said quietly, her voice tinged with both envy and sadness. "To risk everything like that… it takes guts."
Moxxie looked at her, his expression softening. "I never wanted this for her," he admitted. "I just… I didn't realize how much she cared until it was too late."
Meanwhile, Loona, who had been silently observing the whole situation, couldn't help but roll her eyes at the drama unfolding before her. "I don't get it," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "What is it about Moxxie that makes people do crazy shit? Is his fat butt hypnotic or something?"
Blitz snickered at Loona's comment, but Moxxie shot her a withering glare. "This isn't a joke, Loona," he said sharply. "We need to find her before Zestial does something worse."
As their search continued, Barbie, having grown frustrated with the lack of progress, decided to call in a favor with someone who might actually be able to help. Alastor, the Radio Demon, was known to be well-connected in Hell, and more importantly, he had once crossed paths with Zestial.
Meeting up with Alastor in a dimly lit, jazz-infused corner of Pentagram City, Barbie approached him with her usual mix of confidence and caution. "Alastor, darling, it's been too long," she purred, her voice smooth as honey. "I need a little help with a certain crossroads demon—Zestial. I hear you're acquainted?"
Alastor, ever the showman, grinned widely, his sharp teeth gleaming in the low light. "Ah, Barbie! What a pleasant surprise! Zestial, you say? Yes, yes, I know him quite well. A rather slippery fellow, that one. But why, pray tell, are you interested in him?"
"A friend of mine's in a bit of trouble," Barbie explained, her tone shifting to one of seriousness. "She made a deal with Zestial, and now we're trying to track her down before things get worse."
Alastor's grin widened, if that were even possible. "Oh, how delightfully dramatic! And what do I get in return for my assistance?"
Barbie rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Name your price, Alastor. Just help us find this girl before it's too late."
Alastor chuckled, the sound echoing with a strange, static-like quality. "Very well, my dear. Consider it done. I'll reach out to Zestial and see what I can uncover. But remember, Barbie, you owe me a favor now. And I do so love to collect."
With Alastor's help, the IMP team finally got a lead on Zestial's whereabouts. The information led them to a secluded part of Hell, where Zestial was said to reside—a place where the fire burned green and the air was thick with the scent of sulfur.
As they prepared to confront Zestial and rescue Bellina, Millie couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. She was jealous of Bellina's place in Moxxie's heart, but she also respected the girl's determination and bravery. Millie knew she would do anything for Moxxie, just as Bellina had done, and that thought gave her the resolve to see this mission through.
"Ready, Moxxie?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
Moxxie nodded, his eyes filled with determination. *"Let's go get her back."
Loona, watching the exchange, just shook her head. "You guys are all nuts," she muttered, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips as she followed them.
And with that, the team set off to face Zestial, ready to do whatever it took to bring Bellina back from the depths of Hell.
The IMP team stormed through the grand, cobweb-laden doors of Zestial's castle, the air thick with the smell of sulfur and ancient magic. The ancient demon's lair was exactly what one might expect from a being rumored to date back to the Crusades. Gothic arches lined the walls, intricate tapestries depicting scenes of lost souls adorned the stone corridors, and the flickering green flames of cursed torches cast eerie shadows that danced across the floor.
Zestial, the ancient crossroads demon, was lounging in a grand, antique throne that looked like it had been carved from the bones of forgotten kings. He was an imposing figure, tall and gaunt with an air of otherworldly grace. His spidery fingers delicately dipped a tea bag into a porcelain cup as if he had all the time in the world.
As the team entered, Zestial didn't seem the least bit disturbed by their intrusion. Instead, he greeted them with a smooth, almost melodic voice. "Oh, greetings. Do come hither, fine guests. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company on this... fair day?"
Blitz, never one for pleasantries, immediately pulled out his trusty pistol and aimed it directly at Zestial. "Don't play coy, grandpa. We're here for the girl!" His voice was sharp, filled with the usual bravado that Blitz prided himself on.
Moxxie stepped forward, his usual cautious demeanor replaced with a bold determination. "Bellina Bolognese. We're here to get her back, even if we have to fight you!" His voice wavered slightly at the end, but his resolve remained firm.
Zestial raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by their bravado. "That won't be necessary," he said calmly, flicking his wrist. A small, ornate bell appeared in his hand, and he gave it a gentle ring. The sound echoed through the cavernous room like the tolling of a funeral bell.
From a side door, Bellina emerged, but she was no longer the human girl Moxxie had known. Her form had been twisted and reshaped by the infernal magic that had transformed her into a demon. She now bore the appearance of a demonic possum, with green flames licking at the edges of her tattered, goth-inspired maid's outfit. Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light.
She carried a silver platter of drinks, her movements graceful yet unsettling, as if she had fully embraced her new demonic nature. "I'm a man of my word," Zestial continued smoothly. "She wished to be with Moxxine Realperson, and now she is. You may take her—just ensure she is back by dinner time. I need her to help with the kitchen prep."
Moxxie stood there, stunned, his rifle lowering as his mouth fell open in shock. "Bellina, you're... you're a demon now and... wow, you're beautiful!" His voice was filled with awe, but also a note of sadness as he realized the extent of the transformation she had undergone.
Bellina blinked, staring at Moxxie with confusion. "Wait, do I know you?" She tilted her head, the expression almost comical on her new possum-like face. But then, recognition dawned in her eyes. "Moxxine?!" Her voice rose in excitement as she dropped the platter, the drinks clattering to the floor as she rushed forward, embracing Moxxie tightly.
Moxxie hugged her back just as fiercely, the tension in his body melting away. The moment was charged with emotion, both of them relieved to be reunited, yet there was an undercurrent of confusion. Bellina pulled back slightly, staring up at Moxxie with a furrowed brow. "Why are you dressed like a boy?" she asked, the innocence of the question stark against the chaos of the situation.
Moxxie's face turned beet red as he realized that Bellina still thought of him as "Moxxine," her "girlfriend." He glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the team, who were watching the scene with various expressions of disbelief, amusement, and, in Millie's case, a complex mixture of emotions.
"Uh, yeah, about that..." Moxxie started, fumbling for the right words. "There's something I need to explain. See, I'm not exactly who you think I am..."
Before he could finish, Zestial clapped his hands, the sound sharp and commanding. "Well, this is all very touching, but as I said, she must be back by dinner. I run a tight ship, and my kitchen staff is quite demanding." He looked pointedly at Blitz, who still had his gun out but was now holding it more out of habit than threat.
Blitz huffed, shoving his pistol back into its holster. "Fine, fine. We'll take her, but you better not try any funny business, grandpa."
Zestial chuckled, the sound like dry leaves rustling in the wind. "No tricks, dear boy. I'm simply honoring my end of the deal. But do remember, a contract with a crossroads demon is binding. Should you fail to return her... well, let's just say there will be consequences."
Moxxie, still holding Bellina, nodded, his resolve firming once more. "We'll be back by dinner. Thank you... for not making this harder than it had to be."
Bellina, still clinging to Moxxie, looked up at him with wide eyes. "I don't understand, Moxxine... or, Moxxie, is it? What's going on? Why are you dressed like this? And... Why do you seem different?"
Moxxie sighed, knowing there would be a lot to explain, but for now, he was just relieved to have her back. "It's a long story, Bellina. But don't worry, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
The moment was interrupted by a loud crash as Blitz accidentally knocked over a suit of armor, cursing under his breath as the pieces scattered across the floor. "Can we get the hell out of here already? This place gives me the creeps."
Millie, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up, her voice soft but resolute. "Let's go home, Moxxie. We'll figure all this out together."
As the team made their way back through the winding corridors of Zestial's castle, Bellina clung to Moxxie's arm, her mind a whirl of confusion and emotion. Loona trailed behind, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Seriously, what's the deal with you, Moxxie? You've got demons and humans falling over themselves for you. What's next, you gonna charm a dragon too?"
Moxxie couldn't help but chuckle, despite the weight of everything that had happened. "Let's just get through this first, Loona."
As they left Zestial's castle, the ancient demon watched them go, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Oh, young love," he murmured to himself, taking a sip of his tea. "So full of fire and passion. How delightful."
With Bellina now safe, the real challenge lay ahead—explaining the truth to her and finding a way to navigate this strange, twisted new reality they found themselves in. But as they stepped out into the infernal landscape of Hell, Moxxie knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't let anything come between him and the people he cared about—not even the fires of Hell itself.
to be continue...