Octavia stepped out of the bathroom, her feathers now dry and her sopping wet clothes replaced with a change of attire that Charlie had provided her. The red sweater and black sweatpants were a bit big on her, but she didn't mind. At least they were dry. As she was about to walk back to the foyer, she noticed a tall Sinner approaching her, his disheveled hair and sleepwear suggesting he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
"Ocupado?" Angel Dust asked, pointing towards the bathroom door behind her.
"Uh, no?"
"Good, I gotta piss like a racehorse." Angel brushed past her and was about to step into the bathroom when he suddenly stopped, turning back to Octavia with a look of confusion. "When did you get here?"
"About an hour ago." Octavia responded.
"Oh. Well, the name's Angel Dust. I'd welcome you proper if I weren't so tired."
"I'm Octavia."
"Octavia." Angel repeated. "Well don't worry, this place can seem kinda hectic at first, but if you give it a chance, it'll grow on ya. Trust me, I oughta know."
With that, he disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Octavia to sit with what he'd said. Walking back into the foyer, she noticed Charlie waving to her from the parlor. Charlie, who had herself changed into her own sleepwear, was sitting on a couch facing a crackling fireplace, two steaming mugs sat on the coffee table in front of her.
"I thought you could use some warming up." Charlie said, gesturing to the mug on her right.
"Thanks." Octavia replied, taking a seat on the couch next to Charlie and raising the mug to her lips. The hot chocolate snaked down her throat and settled pleasantly in her stomach, warming her to the bone. "Mmmm. I'd forgotten how good your Mum's recipe was."
"I'm glad I saved it." Charlie smiled, taking a sip from her own mug. "Oh, and don't worry about your clothes. Niffty'll have them back to you by tomorrow morning."
Octavia looked up at her confused. "Who's Nif-OW!" Her question was cut short by a sudden sharp pain in her scalp. She looked up to see a diminutive, cycloptic Sinner leaning over the back of the couch, clutching one of her head feathers in her hands, as a demented smile stretched across her face ear to ear.
"So pretty." Niffty giggled, stroking the feather excitedly. "This'll look great in my collection!"
"Niffty!" Charlie scolded. "We talked about this: no stealing hair from the guests!"
"What?" Niffty said defensively. "It's only one. Besides, it'll grow back." Niffty hopped down from the couch and scurried off to add the feather to her collection.
"Sorry about that." Charlie apologized. "Niffty can be a little…quirky, but she's harmless. Mostly."
"You certainly keep some interesting company these days." Octavia commented.
"Yeah. But I wouldn't trade any of them." Charlie set her mug down on the coffee table. "So…you feel like talking now?"
Octavia swallowed another sip of hot chocolate and turned to Charlie, her expression one of hesitation. She had gotten so wrapped up in the sensation of just being with her childhood friend again that she hadn't considered what would happen next.
"It's…hard to explain." Octavia sighed. "I'm not even sure where to start."
"How about from the beginning?"
Octavia took a deep breath. "Well I…guess it all started about a year ago."
With that, Octavia began to pour her heart out, regaling Charlie with everything that had happened in recent months: her father's affair, her parents' crumbling marriage, the subsequent divorce, her sojourn into the human world to see Azathoth's Tears, the trial which had cost Stolas his place in the Goetia's ranks, her isolation by her mother and uncle, her discovery of how miserable Stolas had truly been for so many years, and her final, bitter confrontation with him during Sinsmas. All the while Charlie listened intently, only occasionally interrupting to ask for clarification of details. When Octavia finally finished her story, Charlie could see how much it hurt her to relive such memories. She was visibly trembling, trying to stifle her tears.
"Via, I…I don't know what to say." Charlie said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
Octavia turned to Charlie, her expression a mix of sadness and gratitude. "Thank you." She whispered. Without saying a word, Octavia leaned into Charlie, who wrapped her arms around her head and neck as she cried softly into her shoulder.
"It'll be okay, Via." Charlie soothed. "I promise, I'm here for you. You're not alone anymore." As Octavia rested against her shoulder, she began to sing.
When you feel all alone and the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to mend your broken heart
I know you feel like the world is crumbling around you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door
And you feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump, I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Octavia's breathing softened as Charlie's words found her. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't just an afterthought, forgotten and ignored by people she thought she could depend on. She could open up to Charlie without judgement, let her defenses down knowing that she cared.
When you feel all alone and a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one-way street with the voices in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away
And you feel like you can't face the day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump, I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
As Charlie sang, the pleasant melody soothed Octavia's troubled mind. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was, but now, in Charlie's arms, she felt safe enough to close her eyes and relax, convinced everything would be okay.
'Cause there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
When you feel all alone and the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to mend your broken heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump, I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Let me be the one you call
If you jump, I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart
And if you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
You're not alone
As Charlie finished her song, she noticed Octavia had fallen asleep against her. "Get some rest, Via." Charlie said, gently lifting her into her arms. As she carried the sleeping girl upstairs, Charlie's mind raced, processing everything Octavia had told her and contemplating how best to help her. But that could wait until morning.
12 years ago
The air within Stolas' mansion was filled with jocularity. Dinner had been a success, and now the Goetia and Morningstar families were gathered in the parlor, trading stories and discussions over tea.
"So then I said, 'You know, Mammon, last time I checked, Beelzebub was the Sin of Gluttony'." Lucifer's joke was met with amused laughter from all present. "But if I can be serious for a moment, I've been dying to ask: is that a genuine Steinway?"
Stolas turned to look at the piano in the corner of the room where Lucifer was pointing. "One of his first. Do you play?"
"I'm more of a strings man myself, though I have been dabbling in the accordion."
"Oh, dear." Lilith chuckled, lightly facepalming. "I don't know who invented that thing, but I hope they were in a short line for the guillotine."
Lucifer smirked, undaunted. "You won't be saying that once I master it, dear."
Lilith smiled and rolled her eyes. "I'm just glad I talked you out of the bagpipes."
Stella nearly choked on her tea. "Oh, thank goodness! That would've been grounds for divorce."
The room erupted into another bout of laughter. As it subsided, Lilith spoke up.
"Well I must say, I'm glad our daughters made this happen. Normally we only do couple things like this with the Von Eldritch family."
"I agree." Stella replied. "Most other Goetia can be so tedious to talk to, and none of them have children even close to Octavia's age. Especially one as delightful as Charlie."
"Indeed. I have a feeling those two are going to be thick as thieves." Stolas chimed in. "And with any luck, so will we."
"If I may." Lucifer stood up, raising his cup in a toast which the others swiftly joined in. "To new friends."
As the adults continued their pleasant chatter, in the nearby study, Charlie and Octavia sat on the floor, examining a star chart Stolas had drawn.
"And this one is Cassiopeia." Octavia said, pointing to a "W"-shaped constellation. "Daddy says it was named after a queen from a story. And right next to her, is her daughter Andromeda."
"Wow. You know a lot about constellations." Charlie said.
"Daddy teaches me. He says that when I grow up, I'll get to study the stars, just like him!" Octavia said proudly. She paused a moment to think, then looked up at Charlie excitedly. "Follow me! I wanna show you something."
The two girls stood up as Octavia led Charlie over to Stolas' desk. Sitting on the desk was Stolas' grimoire, its navy blue cover and gold trim shimmering faintly in the light of the study.
"This is Daddy's special book. The grim-…gr-…grew…" Octavia struggled with the proper term.
"Grimoire?" Charlie corrected.
"Yes, that. Thank you." Octavia replied. "Daddy needs it for his job. He says it's full of all sorts of spells and secrets, and that when I'm old enough, I'll get to use it too!"
"Lucky you." Charlie said encouragingly. As she looked at the mystical book, her curiosity got the better of her. Without realizing it, she started to reach towards the book.
"Wait!" Octavia shouted, snapping Charlie to her senses. "Daddy says no one's supposed to touch it without his permission."
"Oh, okay. Sorry." Charlie apologized, retracting her hand.
"It's alright." Octavia said. "I don't want you to get in trouble. Then Mummy and Daddy won't let us be friends."
"I'm sure they wouldn't do that, Via."
"But they might." Octavia insisted. "And I don't want that to happen, because…"
Charlie noticed Octavia's hesitation. "Because…?"
"…Because I…don't have any friends." Octavia admitted.
Charlie covered her mouth, upset at this news. Octavia continued. "The other Goetia are all much bigger than me, and they're not very nice. And Mummy says I shouldn't talk to other kids because they're poor, and they'll try to steal from us."
Charlie could see how upset Octavia was. Her new friendship with Charlie was more important than she'd realized. She knelt down and held her arms open, inviting Octavia in for a hug.
"Don't worry, Via. I won't do anything to upset your parents. I promise."
Drying her eyes, Octavia rushed forward into Charlie's arms, hugging her tightly.
"And Via? You're wrong. You do have a friend."