Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Loona could say she was having a mixed week if she was sincere, with a bit leaning towards good. On the one hand, the date Tex set up for Loona stood her up, and she felt embarrassed because she went all out to make herself look good. But she got to let out her rage by being allowed to go on a few missions to help set her aggression on a few human targets. Especially some drug dealing den in Colombia that was using child labor. Loona was typically blasé for certain crimes thanks to seeing various horrible things in life, both in Hell and on Earth, but she had a soft spot for seeing children hurt or abused. Having been a victim of such things herself, she went wild on the sons of bitches and tore them up so badly they weren't even mincemeat when the Hellhound was done. It was cathartic, to say the least. 

Then there was also the fact that Bee asked her advice a few days ago on what to do for her next party, which would be tonight. Loona suggested a costume party, which the Ring Lord absolutely adored the idea of and wondered why she hadn't thought of it before. This was something Loona was really looking forward to. The Hellhound didn't let a lot of people know this, but she personally liked designing costumes and her own clothing. It had been a hobby of hers since she was thirteen. Hell, half her own clothes were designed by her. A part of Loona hoped to save enough money to start her own clothing store one day and finally move out of the apartment.

Mostly to finally live on her own, but a minor part of it was to eventually allow Blitz to sleep on a bed instead of their couch.

However, the stuff she needed for her gothic werewolf nun costume was late at Stylish Occult , and Loona had to get them personally without her bus pass (that she lost) or without the I.M.P. van (which was in repairs, again). But at least Blitz gave Loona an extra twenty to get a double bacon mocha frappe, which made the trip worth it. Give her something with bacon, and it calms even her most brutal of "bitch” moments. It would take Loona a few hours to finish her costume, but she was confident she could make it for Vortex to pick her up and drive to the party. So yeah, it was a mix-and-match week, but Loona was satisfied it would turn out alright in the end.

Hope Blitz has dinner ready, Loona thought as she looked at her phone while waiting for the light to turn red so she could walk without ending up as roadkill. She had texted a few people in the meantime, such as Octavia, with a promise to hang out this weekend after she was going to spend the week at her bitch of a mom's place. And Bee, who was excited to see what Loona was going to come up with while showing off her Ruby Rose outfit with an actual legit scythe. She made a mental note to ask where Bee got that weapon since she knew Millie would go crazy for it for Sinmas.

Her phone started to ring, and she answered it on Facetime, which showed Blitzo wearing his "My Little Pony: Pinkie Pie" apron as he was cooking what appeared to be veal cutlets and spaghetti. "Hey, Loonie! How's my favorite pup doing!"

"Ugh, don't call me a pup, Blitz," Loona grumbled as she started crossing the street as the light turned. "What do you want? I'm almost home?"

"I was just wondering if you could get some milk on your way from the bodega across the street? I need it to make some pie for dessert," Blitzo said as he started battering the veal, his phone obviously perched so he could talk on it without using his hands.

"You know I'm going to a party after dinner, right?" Loona pointed out. "I'm barely gonna have time for dinner."

"I know, but you did really well on those drug dealers, so I wanted to give you something special to celebrate!" Blitzo cheerfully stated. "Besides, you can always bring some to the party or have some when you return."

Loona didn't want to admit it, but it was nice that Blitz was doing this for her. Besides, it would take a few minutes to get it. "Sure, I'll get some."

"Thanks, by the way, what kind of veggie do you want to go with-" Blitzo was interrupted by the sound of someone apparently knocking on the door rapidly with loud banging. "Ugh, one second, Loona. Let Daddy deal with whoever is knocking like an asshole."

The knocking continued as Blitzo left the camera's view to head to the door. "I'm coming, you jackass! I swear, if you are the landlord, I already paid the fucking rent."

The sound of the door opened, and there was a loud gasp before someone, who Loona never heard before, screamed his name in fury. "BLITZO!"

Loona nearly dropped her phone in shock as Blitzo was seen being knocked back into the kitchen. Some female Imp jumped on him, pounding his face with her fist. Loona felt her eyes widen upon seeing Blitzo getting pummeled repeatedly by the female Imp without even defending himself, which was entirely out of character for him. Loona knew Blitzo to be a very good assassin and fighter who could take on guys bigger than him, especially in the kitchen where knives and hidden guns were aplenty. But Blitzo, stunned and yelping in pain, wasn't even lifting a finger to counterattack. Instead, he was just covering himself in defense in a feeble attempt to stop whoever this crazy bitch was.

"Blitz!" Loona shouted, trying to get his attention, but his focus was on the female Imp assaulting him.

"Barb! Stop! Augh! Stop! Gah! Ugh! Ugh! Geh! " Blitzo shouted on the other end as the female Imp backed away and glared at him with such hatred the look alone could kill him. With a bruised face, black eye, and torn lip, Blitzo looked up in fear at his assaulter. A fear that Loona had never seen him hold before. “B-B-B-Barbie...w-w-w-what are y-y-y-you...”

Barbie? Barbie Wire? Wait, is that Blitz's twin sister?! Loona thought as she gazed at the psycho bitch. Having seen photos and posters of her, Loona soon recognized her as Blitzo's twin. The one who had been in rehab for years and whom she had never met. Blitzo always talked about her in a quiet and nostalgic way. Loona heard from Moxxie that the last time the twins spoke—when she got out of rehab and started working as a drug dealer at a summer camp—Barbie had practically spelled it out to Blitzo that she hated him and didn't want to see him. So why the fuck is she here, and what the fuck is she doing to him?!

"I thought I told you to leave me alone, Blitz!" Barbie screamed at him with such venom that it could kill a cobra. "It was bad enough that you killed one of my dealers, but then you had to kill more of them?! What the fuck is wrong with you?! What part of staying the fuck away from me and getting out of my life do you not understand?!"

"B-B-Barbie! I swear, I didn't do anything!" Blitzo cried out in a timid voice that was very unlike him. Loona had seen her father shrug off threats from Overlords, Mafia Dons, Goetia Nobility, and even Ring Lords. But seeing his twin's fearful and dominating enragement made him look like a puppy pleading to not be put down in a pound.

"Bullshit! You wiped out my suppliers again! It's bad enough that my life was ruined because of you all those years ago, but you have to keep ruining it more and more every single time?! What will it take for you to get out of my life!" Barbie Wire screamed as she kicked her own brother in the gut before slapping him hard in the face.

Loona growled as she saw this and began running as fast as she could toward the direction of their apartment. Her blood was boiling, and her eyes were giving off such a killer glance that anyone in her way practically dived out of her path. Loona didn't care if this was Blitzo's sister or not; that bitch was going to get her horns ripped out of her skull and shoved up her ass for this.

"B-B-B-Barbie...please... I'm sorry...I didn't know...l-l-let me make it up to you..." Blitzo begged as Loona heard him sobbing on the phone. "Please, I'm your brother and I-"

"You stopped being my brother fifteen years ago, Blitzo!" Barbie screamed as more sounds of fighting could be heard, but it was clearly one-sided. Loona ran even faster to the point where she dropped her costume supplies and went off at full sprint. "You ruined my life! You killed our Mom! SHE DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN FOR IT TO HAPPEN! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Blitzo begged as glass crashed, pans were smashed, and Blitzo's painful cries continued. "Please! Barbie! Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"FUCK YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I WISH YOU DIED IN THAT FIRE INSTEAD OF HER!" Barbie screeched with both fury and sorrow as she continued her assault.

Instincts took over Loona as she started running on all fours. Her mind went feral as thoughts were entering her mind that made her think more beast the human:

Den under attack.

Threat to the pack.

Father in danger.

Return to the den.

Find threat.

Kill.

KILL.

KILL!

Loona had all but burst through the front door of their apartment complex as she continued to grip the phone so hard it was starting to break and crack the glass, but she could still hear the audio as Blitzo, sobbing, choking, and wheezing sounded like he was all but broken. "...Bar...Barbie...please... I'm sorry..."

" Sorry. Means. Nothing." Barbie hissed in pure hatred. "I'm going to make sure you never ever bother me again. And if that means crippling your sorry pathetic and wasteful ass, then so fucking be it!"

"... we're family..."

"We're not family. We are not siblings. You are dead to me," Barbie answered. 

Loona had just reached the door and kicked it down as hard as she could, knocking it off its hinges and landing on it with rage decorated all over her face. For a split moment, she froze upon seeing her father all broken and bleeding on the floor of their ruined apartment. His eyes were nearly caved in and black with bleeding pus coming out of the edges. His horns were scarred and even a bit bent, and his clothing was ruined with bruises, slash marks from nails, and blood dripping around his body. His face was entirely black and blue, with a few teeth missing from his bleeding mouth. Shards of glass could be seen on various parts of his arms and hands in a vain attempt to protect himself. His right leg was bent in a very wrong position, and he was holding his crotch tight as it was clear he was hit more than once from there. 

Broken glass was everywhere, along with furniture moved around in the struggle. Pans and pots, covered in blood, were scattered around a messy kitchen while the dinner was ruined all over the cover of the kitchen counter. The T.V. had been smashed. The books and DVDs they had were knocked over. Loona's adoption paper, which Blitzo had framed, was ripped apart and shredded all over the floor, which made her heart pulse for a second. She never admitted it to anyone, but she always looked at it occasionally with a smile under her muzzle.

But the worst was what Loona saw on Blitzo's face: fear, terror, heartbreak, and utter pain. The most vulnerable she had ever seen him in her entire life. All because of the witch standing over him with a hammer from the nearby toolbox, looking confused upon seeing Loona barge in.

Loona gave into the beast inside of her, barked with fury, and dived at the one who had assaulted her father. Barbie was surprised when Loona slammed into her and dug her claws into her flesh. The Hellhound was tearing up her so-called "Aunt" as fast as possible, gripping her jaw at her shoulder. Loona's teeth tasted her skin and blood as Barbie screamed and cursed before kicking Loona off, which sent her into the wall.

Growling with fury, Barbie Wire, wincing from the damage Loona had done to her, stood up and held the hammer up in defense as she snarled. "Who the fuck are you, bitch?! What the fuck is your problem?!"

"My problem?! You're the one who broke into my home and attacked my Dad! I'll fucking kill you for that!" Loona screamed in utter hatred. She didn't care if this whore was related to Blitzo. She was going to rip her apart.

Barbie Wire seemed surprised by the statement before asking in disgust and disbelief. "Ugh?! My brother got a furbag for a child?!"

Oh, now she was really going to fuck this bitch up for that.

Loona's response was to swipe at Barbie Wire, who dodged the blows and smashed the hammer at Loona's shoulder. She took the blow before spinning around, kicking Barbie Wire in the gut, and sending her over the couch. Loona dived down and tried to bite her again, but Barbie Wire punched her in the face and grabbed her hair, screaming as she tried to rip it off. Loona, in turn, grabbed her horns and tried to do the same while headbutting her once and while her bitch of an aunt kneed her in the stomach.

The two wrestled on the ground, rolling over broken glass and items before Loona dragged her up and tossed her into the kitchen, where she slammed into the fridge. Rushing over, Loona managed to bite her hand as she screamed before Loona tore off three of her fingers. Barbie's response was to grab a kitchen knife and swing it at Loona, who dodged a blow only to get kicked in the shins and cry out in pain as she got sliced in the side. Barbie tried to stab her, only for Loona to grab her arm, twist it, and force her against the cabinet board. 

Pressing her elbow against her neck, Loona prepared to bite into her jugular, only to get a glass plate smashed into her face. She howled in pain as bits of it entered her eyes, and she tried to get them out. Barbie Wire then grabbed her from behind and shoved her face into the sink, full of water and dishes with disgusting food bits and liquids inside of it. Loona held her breath and struggled to get up as Barbie Wire put her whole body down to keep Loona pinned underwater. The Hellhound held her breath for as long as possible until Barbie Wire was forced off Loona by the only other person in the room: Blitzo.

"Don't fucking touch my daughter!" Blitzo shouted as he held his sister in a choke hold and pulled her off a gasping Loona, who shot her head out of the sink and coughed up the gross water in her lungs. 

For the first time since this started, he had rage in his eyes while glancing over to ensure Loona was okay. However, this was enough for Barbie to take advantage of his distraction by elbowing him in the ribs, making him gasp in pain before getting punched in the face again by his sister when he let go. He fell to the floor and gasped in horror as Barbie, bloodlust in her eyes, picked up the knife that she had been using and raised it high, only to have it knocked out of her hands by Loona using a frying pan.

Barbie winced at her hand being smashed by the blunt object before getting smacked in the face by it. She tried to attack again, but Loona, screaming her head off, hit her again with it. And again. And again. And again.

And again. 

Unable to take so many blows to her broken and bleeding face, Barbie Wire fell on her back, coughing up blood as she gasped in agony from her beating. Taking deep breaths, Loona tossed it away and picked up the knife. She pressed herself against her scared aunt, who looked at Loona in terror as she prepared to stab her in the neck with no hesitation. She brought the knife down...

"Loona! Stop!" 

...and paused just as she was about to hit the center of the throat. Slowly turning around, Loona saw her father slowly crawling over on one arm, looking at her pleadingly. "Please... don't..."

"...Are you kidding me?" Loona asked in disbelief and snarled. "She attacked you! Broken into our home! She nearly killed you!"

"I know..." Blitzo sobbed as he lowered his head as tears fell in a cascade of total sorrow and heartbreak. "But... she's still my sister...please..."

"...Goddamnit," Loona snarled before turning to a gulping Barbie Wire. She pressed the knife against her throat, just barely drawing blood, as she hissed in her face. "If you ever come near my dad again? I will kill you. I will end you. I will make you wish that an Exorcist got his hands on your ass! BECAUSE NOBODY HURTS MY FATHER!"

Barbie Wire slowly nodded her head with tears in her eyes as Loona got up and spat on her face. "Get out...because as far as I am concerned, you are not my aunt...you are not my Dad's sister...you are not part of this family. Go get fucking high and do us all a favor and fucking O.D. this time, you pathetic, bitter piece of shit."

Getting the message, Barbie Wire got up and limped out of the apartment complex without a sound. She did turn once to gaze at Bltizo, who looked back at her with tears in his eyes before turning away to cry. She said nothing else. Just walked away while wincing in pain.

Loona took a few deep breaths to let the beast inside of her slowly fade away. She tossed the knife and slowly looked over to her father, who was leaning against the wall, all covered in his wounds and tears. Kneeling before him, Loona asked, "Are you okay?"

Blitzo tried to open his mouth, but he couldn't. All he could do was let out a sob and shake his head.

"...Can I touch you?"

Blitzo nodded, and Loona soon wrapped her arms around her father, bringing him close to her chest to cry. She closed her eyes and gently rubbed his back to let him know she was there. Nothing else mattered more than taking care of her father, who had just been abused and betrayed by his own flesh and blood. The mess around them didn't matter. The future yelling by their landlord didn't matter. Not even Bee's party mattered. 

All that mattered was being there for Blitzo.

Being there for her Dad.

Chapter Text

The first thing that Loona did was call Octavia to tell her father what happened. Three minutes later, Stolas had already created a portal and brought his daughter in tow to see what had happened to his Blitzy. It took them a minute to get him to calm down, not chase after Barbie Wire, and open a portal to Sloth’s best hospital, where he used his princely authority to give his lover the best medical care possible.

Next, Loona called Moxxie and Millie to let them know what had happened. Moxxie assured her that they would be there as soon as he calmed Millie down from going on a murdering rampage to anyone who so much as looked like Barbie Wire. Finally, Loona called Bee to let her know she couldn’t make it to the party, and to her surprise, the Ring Lord promised to be right over. Loona tried to assure her she didn’t need to, but she was insistent since she wanted to be there for a friend.

Everyone arrived around the same time with two additional people: Asmodeus and Fizzarolli. The two were going to attend the party and had arrived early when they heard from Bee what had happened. Fizzarolli insisted on rushing over with Ozzie to see what had happened to his childhood friend. By the time Blitzo was out of medical care, he looked like he had gone into a fight with six Archangels and barely made it out alive. Everyone Loona had called was inside the room with her, watching the sleeping and wounded Imp in his hospital bed while covered in medical tape, stitches, magical healing runes, and a heart monitor going every few seconds to indicate he was still breathing.

“...I can’t believe you let her go after she did this to Blitz,” Millie muttered in frustration as Moxxie held her hand. “You should have killed the bitch.”

“Blitz practically begged for her to be given mercy,” Loona answered while gripping her arms. “I was this close to telling him fuck it, but I...I couldn’t. The look in his eyes...”

“He always was soft when it came to his sister,” Fizzarolli said as he gripped his hand. His boyfriend was comforting him by putting his hands on both shoulders. “I knew Barb took it badly when their mom died. I understand hating Blitz for it. Fuck, I can even understand not speaking to him. But to go this far? To her own brother?”

“That’s low,” Millie growled as she punched the nearby wall. “Family is family. Even if you hate them, you never go so far as to break them and nearly kill them like this.”

None of them could disagree. Demons had very few standards in their lives, but they had them. Slaying your own kin was considered a taboo among most of them unless it was absolutely necessary. The only ones who ignored that were the Goetia, as everyone knew they secretly killed each other via proxy or subtle means without getting caught. Stolas had lost count of the number of his “siblings” who had tried to have him assassinated. They could say all they wanted about him, but Stolas wasn’t considered one of the most powerful magic users for no reason, so he could always hold them back. It only stopped after Octavia was born, as Stolas made it very clear in a very  threatening  manner to leave him and his family alone, or their father would need several new children to replace the ones he would lose. 

“How are you holding up?” Vortex asked Loona, who was rubbing the bandaged side of her waist that she got cut from. She had her share of injuries from the fight, but they weren’t as bad as Blitzo’s. It took the staff to reassure Loona that her father was going to be okay before she finally agreed to treatment. 

“I’m fine,” Loona said as he held her dad’s warm yet motionless hand. She had refused to leave his side when they allowed friends and family to visit. Seeing Blitzo so vulnerable, hurt, and damaged like this scared her. She hated to admit it, but Blitzo was always so daring, cocky, and virtually able to get away with anything, thanks to his impressive luck. It was because of this that Loona never worried about him. He always got better. He always came back. He always got over whatever problem he had. She had only seen him in such a terrible state after her first party at Bee’s place.

However, that was nothing compared to this. Loona almost wished her father was just drunk and depressed instead of looking like a fragile china glass that was silently crying in his sleep. “I should have been there faster. Fuck, I should have just been there in general.”

“Don’t go thinking that,” Bee said firmly as she touched Loona’s arm. “Thinking like that is only going to get you obsessed. You had no idea that your crazy cunt of an aunt was going to bash through your apartment and assault your father. Nobody could have seen that.”

“Queen Bee is right,” Moxxie said as he walked over to her with a reassuring smile. A far cry from the usual disdain the two give each other. “You saved Blitz from getting crippled or worse. You were there when you needed to be.”

“Not to mention you made that hoe leave with a broken body of her own based on what you told us,” Asmodeus said as he snorted. “I already got my gals and guys and non-binaries keeping a close eye on all the ERs, hospitals, clinics, and back-alley scrubs in Lust, Pride, and Gluttony to make sure they can keep an eye on that crazy girl.”

“Um, Oz? Blitz said he doesn’t want her hurt,” Fizzarolli pointed out to the King of Lust.

“I know, but I’d rather keep an eye on her in case she tries any funny business,” He answered back while stroking the head of his Imp lover. “I know people like her. They crawl away like snakes in hiding, but when you turn your back, they’ll come out and bite you. There is also the fact that, according to you three, she has an Asmodeus Crystal, and I don't recall giving an Imp one of those in the past."

"Meaning she either stole it or killed someone you gave for it," Beelzebub realized since everyone knew that Ozzie only gave those crystals to those he admired, respected, or could pay for it. 

"If she took it from someone I know personally? Her ass is barbecued," Asmodeus growled as his heat began to increase a bit.

“She wasn’t always like this,” Fizzarolli sighed as he sat on a nearby chair and shook his head. “The three of us used to be close. Hell, Blitz and Barbie were like siblings to me. Blitz always followed Barbie around and worshiped her as if she was the most amazing person in the world. He would do anything for her, from fighting off bullies who pushed her around to caring for her when she was sick. But losing their mother in that fire...”

“...It’s all my fault...” Everyone snapped their heads towards Blitzo, who was muttering as he slowly opened his eyes. “I...I ruined everything..”

“Blitzy, you can’t say that,” Stolas whispered as he stroked his lover’s cheek. “None of this is your fault.”

“Yes, it is,” Blitzo whimpered as he closed his eyes while a tear dropped down each of them. “I caused that stupid fire...so many people died, including Mom...Fizz got crippled...Barbie was traumatized...I ruined everything because of one stupid accident...”

“Even if that’s true, that doesn’t mean you deserve this,” Stolas stated firmly as he kissed his lover. “I’ve made so many mistakes in my life as well. All of us have. But saying you deserve to be hurt like this isn’t going to fix that mistake.”

“I can’t ever fix that mistake, Stolas,” Blitz groaned as he leaned back. “Do you want to know why I started the company?”

“Because you wanted to be the big shot boss like you wanted?” Fizzarolli asked as he remembered his friend’s dream.

“Part of it was that, but the other part was to give me and Barbie a new start when he got cleaned,” Blitz muttered. “I thought we could be co-bosses. Work together like in the old days. She’d have me, a new niece, and maybe even new friends in Mox and Mills. I thought I could give her a new start, and she’d forgive me...”

He sobbed and shook his head. “But she’ll never forgive me. Will she? She hates me. She’s always going to hate me! Well, fuck you, Barbie Wire!  Nobody hates me more than me!” 

Everyone stood there in an awkward silence as Blitzo sobbed into his good hand. They were all looking for someone to say something. Anything. Finally, Loona sighed and stood up. “Everyone out. Now.”

They all stared at her momentarily, but the look in her eyes made it clear that she wanted privacy with her Dad. They slowly exited one by one until it was just Loona and Blitzo. Blitzo sniffed and tilted his head, wondering what his daughter would do until she sighed. “Blitz, hating yourself isn’t going to make things better. Trust me. I’ve been there. All it does is make things worse for you.”

“What are you talking about?” Blitzo asked.

“When I was at the orphanage, I blamed myself for not having parents or getting adopted. I thought nobody loved me because I did something wrong or something was wrong with me. Honestly, I didn’t care about anything at that point. I didn’t care if I was left to rot in that cell forever, thrown out into the streets, or...” She took a deep breath. “...or if they put me to sleep.”

Blitzo’s eyes widened upon hearing this as Loona rubbed her arms to give her strength to continue. “I just gave up. I just hated everything, including myself. And...and then you adopted me. Me. The oldest one there and the one who nobody cared about. I thought it was a joke. I thought you were a joke. I thought you were doing this for some ulterior motive, like to sleep with me or have me as a pet or something.”

Taking a deep breath, she slowly smirked at Blitz. “But...you were serious about it. You were serious about being my Dad. I honestly didn’t know what to think or feel, but...it felt good to be wanted. Cared for. Even loved.”

“Loona...”

“Honestly, looking back now, the problem was me, but not the way I thought,” Loona admitted with a shrug. “Let’s face it. I can be a bit of a bitch. I also pushed everyone who did try to help. I even tried with you, but you're a stubborn bastard. Do you know that?”

“I got that from my Dad. One of the few good things about him I got,” Blitzo answered.

“Regardless, I realized that hating myself did nothing. I mean, it didn’t improve my situation, and can you honestly say the same for your own?” Blitzo didn’t answer. He just looked down in silence. “Look, I get it. You feel guilty for what happened. But it was fifteen years ago, Blitz. How long are you going to hate yourself for it?” 

“You don’t understand...”

“Maybe I don’t, but what I do understand is that my dad is slowly killing himself in guilt over this,” Loona said as she knelt before him while he stared at her. “You think I like seeing you sleep on that couch, crying at night? Getting drunk and muttering in your sleep over nightmares about what happened or will happen? Learning that your biggest fear is you dying alone? Or seeing you cross out your face on all our photos like you don’t exist? Are you that afraid of being happy, Blitz? Do you really think you don’t deserve it? Is this why it took so long for you and Stolas to get together?”

“But I...I murdered...”

“It. Was. An. Accident. ” Loona growled. “From what I know of your mother, from what little you told me, she wouldn’t want you to feel like some kind of unrepentant self-hating pussy who's so obsessed with forcing himself to suffer that he cannot see what he has in front of him.”

“W-W-W-What’s that,” Blitzo whispered as he wiped tears from his eyes.

“A family that cares about you. A family that loves you,” Loona said as she held his hand. “You saved my life. You’re my dad. The only one I’ve ever known. Moxxie and Millie owe their entire marriage thanks to you getting them to meet. Stolas is happy because of you, and Octavia is happy to see her father happy after that crappy marriage he had with Stella. You’ve saved Fizzarolli’s life, which made you friends again and earned you the gratitude of one of the Ring Lords of Hell. Even Bee and Vortex like you because they think you’re a fun guy to hang around.”

“...My sister hates me,” Blitzo pointed out.

“Fuck your sister,” Loona said with a shake of her head. “You at least cared about her at her lowest, but did she ever care about you? You at least gave her the means to get cleaned, but did she ever show appreciation? You at least wanted to help her out, but she rejected it. And she nearly killed you just now. I’m sorry, Blitz, but your sister is not worth it. Not if she will go so far as to almost take you from us.”

“...I...” Blitzo hesitated to say anything. He just gripped his hand on Loona’s and sobbed. “I just...I just wanted things to be back the way they were.”

“What we lose...we can’t ever gain again, but that doesn’t mean we can’t gain something new that is just as precious,” Loona sighed. “I lost my parents when I was born, and I’m never getting them back. But I gained a new family thanks to you. Maybe it’s time you do the same? Because...”

Loona took a deep breath and prepared to say the one sentence she knew she had to say one day, and now that time came. Letting all her walls down, looking at him with a genuine smile and caring eyes, Loona said the four words:

 “I love you, Dad.”

That finally got him to hug her tight and cry on her shoulder. And yet he was smiling.

***

“That was sweet of you,” Moxxie said as Loona left the room. The nurses had come to give Blitzo some medicine while doing a check-up and thus needed privacy. 

“You heard all that?” Loona asked, blushing as the others all smiled at her and nodded. “Stupid cheap thin walls...”

“Hey, you don’t have to be the badass goth girl all the time,” Octavia said with a smile at her friend as she put a hand on her shoulder. “Especially with your Dad.”

“Thanks,” Loona whispered as she turned towards the window, showing her father being treated by the staff. “So what now?”

“Now you two come to live with me and Octavia,” Stolas said seriously. “I heard what you said about him sleeping on the couch. I’m not having it. You two can live with me. I also have a fully trained medical staff that can help with the recovery, and I’m protected enough that Barbie can’t hurt him again.”

“I still think we should deal with the bitch,” Milie grumbled.

Loona rubbed her chin and then smiled. “Maybe we can.”

“What do you mean?” Vortex asked. “I thought your Dad said we can’t kill her?”

“We won’t kill her, but we will make her life miserable for what she did and ensure that she never gets close to Dad ever again,” Loona said as she turned to Fizzarolli. “If you’re alright doing it.”

“Honestly, the Barbie Wire I knew died a long time ago. I got nothing but disgust for what she’s done with her life. Especially if she’s fine working with guys who force kids into slavery to work in drugs,” Fizzarolli muttered as he crossed his arms. “I might be a demon, but one thing I can’t stand is when kids get hurt.”

“Good. Now then,” Loona turned to Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Stolas with a grin, “how good are you with curses?”

The three powerful beings gave such a devilious look that even an Exorcist would sweat if they saw it.

***

“Satan. Fucking. Damnit,” Barbie Wire cursed as she rubbed her bandaged wounds while limping into her apartment. “Fucking yiffing furbag.”

When Barbie Wire went to confront Blitzo about what he and his stupid group of assassins had done to her drug makers in Colombia, she had originally intended to just yell at him again and tell him to back off. However, traveling all the way made her think about all the shit in her life that was because of him. How their mother died. How the fire traumatized Barbie into becoming a drug addict. Nearly ODing. And then having to struggle afterward to find a job and start a new life without any support from anyone because they wanted nothing to do with her due to being Blitzo's sister or a former druggie.

She knew getting back into the drug world was a risk to return to her addiction. Especially since she was still taking drugs, but the kind that at least was manageable, like heroin and crack. Getting that Asmodeus Crystal from killing that prostitute had also been a risk, but worth it as it allowed her to get drugs from the human world into Hell. Hell might have had its own drug trade, but human-made drugs had a unique taste that made them have quite a consumer base that she was willing to trade to other buyers or sell for herself at a reasonable price. It wasn’t the most glamorous or enriching work, but it was something she could do independently without relying on Blitzo. 

Oh, she wasn’t an idiot. She knew he made that stupid company so they could work together again like they did during the circus. But Barbie never wanted to work with Blitzo ever again in her life. Hell, she didn’t even care if she never saw him again. As far as Barbie was concerned, he stopped being her brother the moment he caused that fire that killed their mom. She could still remember hearing her mother’s screams from the flames as she tried to do her best to put them out but couldn’t. Blitzo took the one parent she loved and numerous others with whom she was friends. Even the guy she liked was dead because of the fire.

It didn’t matter that it was an accident. It didn’t matter if Blitzo was sorry. It didn’t matter that he was feeling regret and pain. Barbie Wire wanted him to regret it for the rest of his life and spit on his grave when he finally died. 

Which is why she didn’t hold back her rage when confronting her brother. It was the only way to get through his thick, stubborn head that their sibling relationship was over. And she felt nothing for what she did save for the regret that she couldn’t do more harm. Did it make her look like an asshole? Yes, but so what? She had no obligation to the former brother who had ruined her life.

“Maybe he’ll finally get the message,” Barbie muttered as she sat down. “Though I wouldn’t mind making double sure.”

Preferably without her so-called “niece” there. 

“Still can’t believe he adopted a Hellhound,” Barbie muttered. She had to get a few shots at the underground clinic just to make sure she didn't have rabies or whatever dog disease was in that bitch’s jaws. “Who the fuck would let him be a father anyway? And why one of those fleabags? Bitch was lucky to get the jump on me...”

Barbie nearly jumped when she heard her work phone ring and sighed before answering it. “Yeah, what do you want?”

“Hi, is this Barbie Wire?”  The voice on the other end said.

“Yeah, who the fuck are you?” Barbie asked.

“My name is Vortex. Listen, a few friends will be partying at Queen Bee’s club tonight. We want to really party it up, and we heard you can make that happen with some good but cheap merchandise.”

Considering what happened in Colombia, she sighed as she needed to make some kind of profit. “Yeah, what do you need?”

“You got H-8?”

Barbie froze. H-8. The drug that she got hooked on and nearly OD. She swore to stay away from that stuff. She kept an emergency stash hidden from the day she used to take it under the floorboards. She had originally meant to get rid of it all but decided to store it to sell in case she ever needed an emergency payout. Barbie had been tempted many times to try it again but always kept the needle out of her skin and focused on other drugs to satisfy her cravings. It was her escape money and retirement package all in one since the drug was tough to come by these days, but she still had at least five kilos of the stuff. 

She was about to tell him he couldn’t get that until someone new was heard on the line. It was a voice Barbie knew very well since she had been to Gluttony a few times to party it out, and although she never saw her in person, she had heard Beelzebub’s songs and advertisements for her products in the past.

“Hey, Tex? Can you get us that H-8? I really want to kick it up at our VIP section tonight,”  Beelzebub's voice said on the line. 

“Just about. We haven’t named a price yet,”  Vortex said.

“Eh, just tell them we’ll give $400,000 for one good kilo of the stuff. I got the money to spare.”

Barbie Wire nearly dropped her phone upon hearing that prince. It was way too good of a price to let go. Besides, she could part with one of her kilos and keep the rest in storage as planned. Screw what her rehab coach said. It wasn’t like she was going to use the stuff.

Not to mention, if she could get a connection with Beelzebub herself, then her reputation as a drug dealer would skyrocket. “D-Done! $400,000 is a great price!”

“Oh, okay. Just come down to The Hive in two hours. See you then,”  Vortex said on the other end before ending the call.

Barbie practically tore the floorboards up to get her stash. She couldn’t help but grin at the thought that things were going in her favor.

***

“She bought it?” Loona asked.

“Hook. Line. And Sinker,” Vortex replied with a grin.

“Then let’s get ready for a private party of our own.”

Chapter Text

Getting to Gluttony was not a problem for Barbie Wire. The issue was finding the club that Beelzebub owned. Despite partying down in the Ring before, she had never been to the biggest and most popular club there. She did get a chance to go to Ozzie's once, and that was how Barbie Wire found her target to get that Asmodeus Crystal that she used for her drug pushing. However, she avoided Lust afterward from that day forward since Barbie didn’t want to risk the Ring Lord of Lust knowing she killed a holder to get it. Eventually, she found the club and drove to the front, where a dark gray Hellhound with a ripped black t-shirt and jacket was waiting outside.

Ugh, another furbag? I’ve had enough of those for the day, Barbie Wire moaned in her head but pushed it aside. She knew Beelzebub had a soft spot for Hellhounds, and Barbie Wire was willing to push aside her beef with them if it meant getting this deal. Grabbing the kilo of H-8, as well as a few other drugs she had, Barbie Wire put on her best “client meeting” face and got out of her car.

“You must be Barbie Wire. I’m Vortex,” The Hellhound said as he held out his hand. Barbie Wire shook it and winced when he squeezed it harder than she expected. “You got the stuff?”

“Right here,” Barbie Wire said as she showed him her case. “Genuine H-8. I also brought a few other extras in case you wanted some other drugs. I got psycho shot, heroin, angel tears, PCP, green gang bang, china cat, and a few others.”

“Nice,” Vortex nodded before pointing to the club entrance. “Bee’s busy with some business, but she’ll be down to pay you for the good shit when she’s done. How about a free drink while we wait?”

“Sure,” Barbie Wire said with a heavy sigh. “I need one. You have no idea the day I’ve had.”

“Tell me about it,” Vortex said as he opened the doors and let the Imp in.

“First, I had to deal with my dumbass brother, who I despise, because his stupid team killed one of my drug suppliers,” Barbie said as she walked in. Despite not being formally open, she took a moment to appreciate just how “beehiveish” the place looked. It was big, colorful, and looked like plenty of fun. Even the giant disco party ball under the main floor looked fantastic to dance under. “Then, when I was teaching him a lesson, his stupid daughter came out of nowhere and attacked me like a savage animal. I didn’t even know he adopted her! But I guess he turned out to be a shitty father like our Dad because she was a total bitch. I swear, if I had my way, she’d be put down like the wild dog that she is.”

“...I see,” Vortex said behind Barbie Wire with what almost sounded like a very low growl, but she ignored it as they got to the bar.

Ordering a drink from the Imp bartender, she took a few deep sips and sighed. “Yeah, I swear what they say is true. Like daughter like father.”

Barbie took a few more sips before yawning. She must have been really drained from everything because she felt exhausted. She was about to ask Vortex something when she yawned again and started to sway. She shook her head to keep herself awake, but there was...something...preventing her...

Is it getting darker?...Or am I... However, Barbie lost as she closed her eyes and collapsed. 

Vortex took a second to see if she was unconscious before nodding to the bartender, who left. He grabbed Barbie Wire by the shirt and began to drag her off. Not gently, of course. She deserved it after all those comments she made about Loona.

***

“Wake up!”

SPLASH!

“Gah!” Barbie Wire’s eyes opened in a flash upon feeling the icy cold water against her skin, and coughed some of it out of her lungs. She groaned and shook her head. “Where...what...what happened?”

“Had to knock you out so we could get this party started,” Vortex’s voice said in the dark room that was barely lit save for a few lightbulbs.

As she tried to deal with this headache, Barbie Wire felt like his voice was a bullhorn. She went to rub her head only to feel her arms stuck in place. Looking down, she realized she was tied to a chair by some robust and thick rope. Realization began to kick in, as did panic, as Barbie Wire struggled to escape her bonds, but it was useless. Even her tail had been tied up, and a weight was wrapped around it to prevent her from using it to escape.

“Fuck!” Barbie Wire shouted as she looked around the barely lit room with a snarl. “What the fuck are you doing, you flea-written rug?! When I get out of here, I’ll skin you alive and sell your remains to a furry freak who will fuck your corpse!” 

“I’m right here,” Vortex said as he walked forward with a glaring look. “And I’m not alone.”

Barbie Wire’s eyes widened as she saw not only her brother’s daughter walk forward with an equally venomous glare but also two other Imps. She recognized them as the couple that worked with her brother, including the guy who dressed up as a girl who tried to kill Jimmy and fought her. “The fuck is this shit?!”

“What does it look like, Aunt Barbie,” Loona said as she stepped forward and knelt down with a smirk at the growling Imp. “It’s payback for what you tried to do to my Dad.”

“Did Blitzo put you up to this?! Figures! The fucker around here? Or is he cowering in the shadows like the little pussy he is!” Barbie then looked around. “Are you there, Blitzo?! Whatever stupid games you're playing, you can quiet right now and get your ass out here so I can beat it up again!”

“Our boss isn’t here, nor does he know that we’re doing this,” Millie said as she cracked her knuckles. “He’s too soft on you. Wanted us to do nothing to hurt you.”

“But sometimes we don’t listen,” Moxxie continued with a darkening tone. “And we want to make sure you never harm him again.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Barbie snorted and couldn’t help but laugh. “You guys actually care about that piece of shit?! Don’t you know what kind of a person he is?! A narcissistic, attention-seeking asshole who gives a shit about nobody but himself and hurts everyone around him! Everyone he has ever been friends with or loved has gotten burned because of him! Including me!”

“We know Dad’s got issues,” Loona sighed. “Fuck, we all do. None of us are perfect, but he’s been there for us many times despite all that. He screws up, but he tries. He’s selfish, but he will come to your side when the chips are down. And while he might have done a lot of bad shit in the past, he keeps going to try and fix it. He even tried to fix things with you despite your two issues because he loves you. He’s not perfect. He’s not the best. And he’s never going to be, but at least he tries to be better and has become better since we all met him.”

“Oh, really? What has he done that has made him soooo much better since the last time I saw his stupid face?” Barbie Wire demanded.

“He saved my life, Barb.”

Barbie Wire froze upon hearing a voice she hadn’t heard in nearly sixteen years. She slowly turned her head to the left and saw Fizarolli, her old friend, walking out of the darkness with a look of disappointment and fury behind his eyes. “F-F-Fizz?”

“Yeah,” Fizzarolli muttered as he looked at her coldly.

“...W-W-What are you doing here?” Barbie Wire whispered as she started feeling bad in her stomach.

“I’m here to make sure that these guys don’t go too far,” Fizzarolli muttered before spitting on the ground. “As well to see how low you’ve come since I met you.”

“Low? Low?! You’re one to talk!” Barbie glared. “Whore yourself out to Ring Lords like you're some kind of blowup doll! First to Mammon and then to Asmodeus! Sorry for not having your super talent in being popular!”

“Christ, Barbie Wire,” Fizzarolli rubbed his forehead. “What the fuck happened to you?”

“What happened is that I got fucked over! Okay!” Barbie looked down and bit her lip. “Not all of us made it out of that fire with a better life. Some of us went so far down the shitter we couldn’t get out! Some of us even thought there was no way out. Besides, it’s like you even cared. Once you left the hospital, you were too big for the rest of us.”

“Barbie, you didn’t even contact me! I didn’t even know where you were!” Fizzarolli growled as he got in her face. “I might have had beef with Blitzo, but I didn’t have beef with you! I was more than happy to help you out! But from what I hear, you only helped yourself to a needle and a high!”

“So why are you helping this little brat and her gang of pussies on behalf of my brother?! The one who burned you alive and left you for dead?!” Barbie growled. “You, out of everyone in the seven rings, know what my brother is like and what he did to us! What he ruined for us and took away from our once happy life! We lost so much because of him!”

Fizzarolli looked at Barbie Wire for a long time as she stared back at him and lowered his head. “Wow. Was this what I was like back then?”

“Huh?” Barbie Wire looked confused.

“...Barbie, it was an accident,” Fizzarolli sighed as he stood up. “Yes, Blitzo fucked up. He fucked up royally that day. I will never forget it.”

Slowly, Fizzarolli took off his hat and showed his burned horns. Everyone who saw them winced at the damage that was done to them. Horns were very important to an Imp. They were also extremely sensitive. For Fizzarolli to go through the pain of losing them and having to live without them for the rest of his life was not just an agonizing feeling that only certain medical drugs could help numb the feeling off. There was also the embarrassment of looking less like an Imp and more like a freak.  

“I know what happened that night, Barb. Fuck me, I dream about it in my sleep sometimes. You think I don’t remember it?” Fizzarolli closed his eyes as a tear dripped down his cheek. “The flames are burning against my skin. I felt my blood boiling as my home burned around me. People I knew all my life dying in droves as I tried to scream through the smoke and fire for help. I felt like I was going to die. Fuck, the pain got so bad I wanted to die.”

“Fizzie,” Said a booming yet soft voice as Barbie Wire nearly gasped upon seeing the massive form of Asmodeus walk out of the shadows and slowly wrap his arms around his lover. She couldn’t even believe that a Ring Lord was here. Especially the one she was afraid of discovering what she did to one of his gals. Asmodeus slowly kissed Fizzarolli on the cheek as he took a deep breath and looked at Barbie Wire.

“I know you lost your mom, Barb. She was like a mother to me as well. You and Blitzo were like my siblings. I thought for years he caused that fire on purpose to spite me and left me to die. I hated him for so long, and I thought he cared about nobody but himself,” Fizzarolli whimpered and rubbed mechanical arms. “But that day I got kidnapped...I learned that he did care...he tried to help, but...when his mom died...he freaked out. I can’t blame him for that. I can’t blame him for choosing to focus on his mom over me, even if he did try. A lot of misunderstanding fueled hatred between us for so long that when it finally was cleared... he showed he still cared about me...I just forgave him right then and there, even if I never would admit it for a while.”

“...What makes you even sure he cared,” Barbie Wire grumbled.

“Because Blitzo has never, ever in his entire life, denied that the fire was his fault. Even if it was an accident, he never pretends otherwise that he didn’t cause it,” Fizzarolli said, which got Barbie’s attention. “And you know him. He’ll hold off blaming himself for anything, even if it’s flat out in his face. He’ll have an excuse for why he did it or why it happened. Blitzo has never made an excuse for that day. It’s the one thing he’ll always admit to a fault. And it’s the one thing that’s made him hate himself for long that he might not have ended up physically broken like I did, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t broken regardless.”

“...He killed our mother,” Barbie whispered.

“He didn’t kill your Mom,” Loona said as she got the Imp’s attention. “The fire did it. What happened was an accident. Do you really think he doesn’t hate himself already for that? I’ve watched him in a downward spiral for years, yet he pushed on for me, for all of us, and even for you.”

“What are you talking about, bitch,” Barbie Wire growled.

Vortex looked to say something, but Loona put her hand up for him to let him know she had this. “The company? He wanted it to be yours as well. He prepared everything for you to come home after you got cleaned. He wanted you back in his life. Blitz told me stories about you, how cool you were, how much he looked up to you, and how we would be a family when you got cleaned and free.”

Barbie blinked and felt her breath hold. “W-Wait, really? You’re shitting me...”

“All the time,” Loona said before snorting. “But I guess it was a waste of time. Not only did you refuse to give him a chance to defend himself or explain himself, you just went up and even attacked him. You put him in the hospital. How far were you willing to go? Cripple him? Kill him? Your own brother?”

Barbie Wire didn’t answer. She just looked away without saying anything.

“Look, I can understand not wanting to see him again. I can even get not having him in your life,” Loona said as she stepped forward and glared down at her. “But you were the one who went after Blitz and attacked him in his own home for something we didn’t even know was connected to you. If we knew that the drug makers were one of our own, we would have left it alone. Although, considering you were willing to let them use child labor, I can’t say I would have been happy to ignore that.”

“Oh, come on! They’re just human kids!” Barbie Wire rolled her eyes. “Like any of you care about humans. If they die and are good, they go to Heaven. And on the off chance those brats were bad, then they get what they deserve.”

“...You’re a twisted sick bitch, you know that?” Moxxie said. “None of those kids did anything wrong. They were victims. We might be demons. But we’re not monsters.” 

“Are you sure we can’t kill her?” Millie asked as she pulled out a knife. “I’m really tempted to just screw it and rip this bitch apart.”

“I’m starting to want to do that too.” Barbie Wire froze and almost pissed herself as Beelzebub walked out of the shadows, her wings buzzing with fury as her eyes glaring with bloodlust. Vortex wrapped his arm around her to comfort the Queen Bee.

“Oh shit, you’re involved in this too?! How?!” Barbie Wire shouted in disbelief. Asmodeus she could understand because he was Fizz’s lover and, apparently, Fizz was friends again with Blitzo. But Queen Bee?!

“Loona happens to be one of my good friends, and I also like her father. He's funny and a good drinking buddy,” Beelzebub said plainly but with a buzzing tone that spoke of disgust. “And anyone who hurts my friends? They are gonna have a bad time.”

“...How...” Barbie Wire looked at all seven figures before her and tried to process this. “How can all of you just care about him! He’s Blitzo! WHAT ABOUT HIM IS SO GREAT?! AFTER EVERYTHING HE’S DONE! ALL THE LIES! PAIN! MISERY! WHAT DID HE DO TO MAKE YOU ALL CARE ABOUT HIM?!”

“...He helped me realize what love is.”

Two more figures appeared in the shadows. Barbie Wire had no idea who they were, but she knew they were high class due to their outfits, crowns, and how they walked. She then realized she was actually talking to Goetia nobility. While not as powerful or influential as the Ring Lords, they were still a force to be reckoned with, and now that she had this added to her list of troubles, she realized that this was definitely going to be a “bad time.”

“Blitz taught me what it means to truly love someone. Not just those that you care about but also yourself,” Stolas whispered as he glared down at the little timid creature before him. “I will not lie and say that Blitz has flaws, but I love him despite those flaws. Each of us here has been touched by him because deep down, despite all those negatives he has, there are positives that shine brighter than Heaven itself. Those positives are what gave me hope and a means to escape the pain in my life before he entered it. Each of us owes Blitz something, be it our lives, relationships, or happiness, even if it comes at his own expense. He at least keeps trying to make something out of his life, no matter how hard it gets. You? You just do nothing but blame him for everything wrong in your life while doing nothing to make it better.”

He lowered his head and glared at Barbie Wire with pure hatred. “You blame him for everything wrong in your life. But the only one who has been digging herself a ditch is you. You choose to become a drug addict. You pushed the only family willing to help you away. You choose to get involved in something that is not only dangerous but also hard to make a living in. And you choose to assault someone who has a lot of powerful and dangerous friends.”

“In other words, you suck, and you fucked up,” Octavia commented.

“...A-A-A-Are you going to kill me?” Barbie Wire whispered in fear as she realized this might be it. Was she going to die? “P-P-Please! I’m sorry! Let me talk to Blitzo! I’ll apologize and never bother him again! Please!”

“Oh, we’re not going to kill you,” Loona said with a smirk. “But we are going to make you suffer. And we’ll make sure you never see Blitz again.”

“I’ll go first,” Asmodeus said as he stepped forward while holding the Asmodeus Crystal that Barbie realized was just now missing from her neck. “I also believe this is mine. I would like to know how you got it, but frankly, I’m just going to use that to fuel what I’m going to do.”

“Wait! Don’t! I need that!” Barbie Wire begged with tears in her eyes. “All my clients rely on me to get them drugs from the human world! Without it, I’m ruined!”

“Don’t care. Didn’t ask. Not giving a shit,” Asmodeus whispered as he crushed it in his palm and burned it with his flame as Barbie Wire felt her heart sink. He then lifted a glowing blue finger and smirked. “And now for my punishment. I give you the Curse of Repulsiveness . From this day until your last breath, anybody who looks at you will feel a sense of disgust and revulsion. None will want to look upon you with love or care. All will be hesitant to speak to you. It would be as if you are the smelliest, ugliest, and diseased beggar in all of Hell. You’ll only be able to hide this if you cover your face from the world. None will ever see the true you again because they will only see the ugliness of your soul.”

Barbie Wire screamed for him to stop, but a magical symbol appeared in the center when he touched her forehead. She screamed as she felt the magic coursing through her body, its symbols wrapping around her skin like a giant chain that seeped into her like water being absorbed by a sponge. 

Beelzebub was next as she smirked and held out her finger that was glowing bright orange. “And now for me. I give you the Curse of Addiction. You will be consumed by the need, at random times, to have drugs non-stop, without any means of curing yourself of this. When this curse randomly activates, your mind will be one-sided in this way of thinking. You will have to take something, anything, to rid yourself of the madness that shall haunt you until you can satisfy its need. It will happen at any time, even when you least expect it. No rehab will cure you. No medicine will release your want. You will be an addict once again, unable to stop taking drugs. The higher the high, the longer the addiction will be satisfied. But it will never cease its hunger.”

“No! Please! I don’t want to go through that shit again!” Barbie Wire begged as the finger drew near. She tried to back away and rip through the bonds. “You can’t do this! I’ll just fucking OD!”

“Oh, that’s the benefit of this little curse,” Beelzebub grinned. “You’ll never OD ever. You can take as much as you want without worrying about losing your life. But that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the pain or the aftereffects, little bitch.”

“I don’t care! I don’t want to go back to that darkness! YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!” Barbie screamed with tears in her eyes. The orange magic flowed into her mouth, eyes, and ears like water torture when the finger touched her. She gargled and choked as the liquid curse flowed into her system and became part of her. Immediately, she felt the effects. The old cravings. The itches. The dryness in her throat. The blood desiring something special to pump it up. 

It was the old feeling she never wanted to feel again and was doomed to feel forever more.

“Please...just kill me...please just kill me...” Barbie sobbed as she felt her entire world crumbling around her. She was ruined. Ruined to be despised and destroyed to be an addict. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“And now for my curse,” Stolas said as he knelt before her and slowly lifted her face. “But also your salvation.”

“W-W-What?” Barbie Wire choked.

Lifting his glowing red finger, Stolas said, “My curse is the Curse of Loneliness. It is tied to the other two curses, ensuring that your other curses never activate unless one of three specific actions occur.”

He lifted his finger. “One, you get within five hundred miles of Blitz, Loona, or any of us. This means that the other two curses will activate if you are within five hundred miles of us at any given time.”

He lifted his second finger. “Two, if you attempt to contact Blitzo or any of us via communication. Phone. Letter. Email. Even a fucking smokesignal. They will activate.”

And he lifted his third finger. “Finally, on this day, the 17th of every month, for the rest of your life, they will activate for 24 hours. A reminder to you about the pain you caused and the suffering you inflicted on our Blitzy. A means to help you remember what you lost and could have had. So you will never forget.”

Stolas got up and glared at her. “That is your curse. To never again see the last of your family or your friends ever again. To live a lonely life without love or affection. You wanted to be alone and never speak to your brother again, Barbie Wire? Well, now you have gotten what you always wanted.”

Horror and realization slowly kicked in as Barbie Wire realized what they had done. They cut her off from her brother. Permanently. She would never see him again. Never talk to him. Never ever be near him, or else she would be forced to be hated by all and consumed by her addiction to drugs. At that moment, Barbie saw that she had lost the last of her old life. Her brother, the last of her family, was now denied to her. 

She didn’t weep, cry, mutter, or even speak. Barbie just looked down with wide, empty, and broken eyes as the consequences of her actions finally came full. Deep down, despite all her talk about wanting Blitzo out of her life, Barbie always felt that no matter what, he would still be a part of it. A means to get out her anger and sorrow. A means to let out her darkest feelings.

Now, it was denied to her. Prohibited under a fate of suffering and pain. Meaning that she would need to deal with her own misery by herself. 

Alone.

She wanted to say something, but Barbie couldn’t muster the strength. What was she supposed to do? Beg for forgiveness? Speak to Bltizo? Attack them in murderous rage? There was nothing she could do. She was...powerless.

At some point, they cut her loose and dragged her out of the club and into the streets. The effects of the curses began since she was already in the group's presence. Demons of all kinds stepped away from her in disgust as if she were a plague carrier. Children mocked her for being repulsive and ugly. She couldn’t even get a cab or Uber driver to stay still, and they drove off as soon as they saw her. 

The world didn’t want to look at her. No matter how much she pleaded for help. What was worse was the cravings. The desire to put the needle in her arm. To feel high. To feel the joy that separated her from pain and reality to blissfulness. Every technique she learned in rehab was gone in her mind. It was pointless, as the desire forced her to run. Run home as fast as she could.

It took her hours, and the cravings were like a camel needing desert by the time she finally got home. She ripped off the floor bed where her H-8 was and gave in to it. She welcomed it. Let it consume her. 

It was all she had left anyway. 

The one thing that never made her feel bad. 

The one thing that could hide away the pain.

The one thing to feed her desire for happiness again.

She would need to move. Start a new life. Start fresh. Get away from Lust, Pride, and Gluttony forever. 

But after some relief.

A lot of relief.

Just some blessing before the cruel reality returns to remind her of the suffering of her life.

And what she had just lost forever.

***

“I still think this is a bit excessive,” Blitzo said as Stolas wheeled him into the palace with the servants carrying his belongings from his old apartment. It took only a whole day for him to finally move in with Stolas. 

“You’ll adjust to it, my dear,” Stolas said as he kissed his lover. “Don’t you worry.”

“Besides, it’s not like the landlord was going to let us live there after what happened,” Loona said with a shrug. At least Stolas agreed to pay for all the damage; their safety deposit had long disappeared years ago after the previous messes. 

“Do I really have to be in this stupid wheelchair for another three weeks?” Blitzo moaned as he scratched the cast that was his leg.

“Doctor’s orders,” Stolas said with a cheerful smile. “Now let me show you your room. It’s right next to mine.”

“I thought I would be sleeping in your room?” Blitzo asked in surprise.

“Oh, you can if you want. But I understand the need for personal privacy,” Stolas said as she soon leaned down and smirked. “Besides, my bed is always open for you, Blitzy.”

“I think we’re going to have to hold on the sex play until I’m all better, Stolas,” Blitzo chuckled as he pointed at his injuries.

“I don’t know,” Stolas grinned lustfully. “I think perhaps I can do the sucking this time.”

“And that’s my cue to go away before I throw up,” Loona gagged as she walked to her room that was close by. She had already moved most of her stuff into the room Stolas had given to her, save for one item. It was a bitch to find someone to repair it, but it was worth the money. 

Once Loona was through the door, she went to the wall and hung up the most important treasure from their old home. One that she would never trade for in a million years: