Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Day After Sinsmas

Stolas woke up with a yelp followed by a whimper as the image of Stellan’s hand coming towards her made her tumble out of the tumultuous slumber she had been in. 

The sofa wasn’t the most comfortable, but it was what she had at the moment. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes again intending on going back to sleep but could only see Stellan’s face and the same hand coming at her. 

With a sigh, she woke up entirely and sat up. Blitza was slumbering in the beanbag chair.

Loathe to disturb her lover, Stolas grabbed her cigarettes and quietly stepped out onto the landing. Pulling the lighter out of the pack along with a cigarette, she thought about what she was doing before turning and putting the pack on the stairs. She flipped the lighter, lit the cigarette and took a drag.

She couldn’t even manage to raise any anger. Octavia was all alone. She didn’t even get a chance to tell her precious Starfire that she had tried calling. She had tried to reach out. She hadn’t really traded one love for another. There were so many words that she wanted to say to Octavia, but that opportunity was gone at that moment. Or at least it felt that way.

Her fingers itched and she felt the longing for a bottle of something in them. She almost wanted to see if there was any Gluthony left. The familiar burn of alcohol would definitely remove the problem for her as her brain cells melted in the alcohol.

But, instead, she took a drag from the cigarette.

The pain had curled up inside her like an angry black cat. 

Her mind wandered over to Blitza curled up asleep. It was going to be difficult to have a relationship in this apartment, but they would probably make due. 

With a sigh, she thought for a moment about asking Blitza to be gentler when they finally had sex again. She’d only ever known whatever it was Stellan had done to her, and then Blitza was rough. She thought about how butch and rugged Blitza was, but now that the pills were gone and the booze was less available, maybe she wanted something softer.

Maybe she needed something softer.

She stubbed out the cigarette and collected the pack. She looked up at the stars before going back inside to try and get some more sleep.

Octavia walked through the ice laden corridor. The echo of her boots was her only company as she made her way down the corridor. She had tried to sleep, but all she could remember was the pain.

She exited out onto one of the balconies on the second floor and looked up. The stars were not as visible here in the city, but they were there. For the first time in her life they felt cold and distant.

How could she do that to me? Did she ever love me? Was it just the drugs? Octavia thought. She had lost count of the number of times she had asked that question of herself. How much of it was to get away from me? Was her life that miserable that she had to find comfort in that imp? She flinched over the last thought. It came too close to how her father thought of imps. She didn’t hate all imps. She just hated that imp. But this caused her to think about her father.

She felt panic thinking about his voice bellowing down the hallways because she had dared change the flower arrangement in the sitting room one day. She wasn’t sure why he had been so upset either.

She felt the panic die down as she looked out onto Imp City. Technically, the city was now hers, or would be in less than a year. The thought did not excite her.

As the panic receded, she felt hollow.

Empty.

There was no anger. There was no pain any more. Just an emptiness.

She looked back at the stars and for the familiar constellations, but her heart wasn’t there.

With a sigh, she turned away from the balcony and slowly made her way back to her room in hope of sleeping.

Stolas woke to the smell of breakfast being cooked. With a groan, she sat up.

”Morning sleepy head. Breakfast should be ready soon,” Blitza said from the kitchen.

Stolas rubbed her eyes. The fog of sleep didn’t lift quickly, but she stood up and walked over to the table. She was surprised that Blitza had continued to make breakfast every morning for her, and had not stopped making eggs and bacon. At least she’d started to get used to the texture.

Blitza placed the plates down on the table with a smile and sat down opposite her. “It’s strange that Loona never joins us.”

”She doesn’t exactly like my cooking. It’s ok. She’ll get something to eat in a bit and we’ll head down to the office.”

”You do know that I’m perfectly content with cereal.”

Blitza looked away with a slight blush. “But..” she started to say.

”It’s ok, darling,” Stolas said as she cautiously reached out and touched Blitza’ hand. “I’m sorry if things aren’t working out the way we had hoped.”

Blitza smiled around a mouthful of eggs. Stolas began to eat her own. “Look, we’ll work this out. If you want some sexy time, we could always just go to the office, I guess.”

”Maybe…eventually. I know that you don’t need to feel like…I know that…maybe we can cuddle some more though.”

The fact that Blitza didn’t laugh or make a rude comment encouraged Stolas. Instead, the imp said “Look, we’ll take this at your pace. I thought you liked it rough. You never complained.”

”Truth be told, I’ve never known anything other than rough. Stellan wasn’t the type to be gentle.”

Stolas noted the hint of anger on Blitza’ face as she took a bite of her food. Of course, explaining to Blitza what eggs really were had been fun given the fact that it wasn’t really cannibalism. It wasn’t as if they were eating a fertilized egg from her own species. She looked away from Blitza and thought about it.

Blitza said ”We’ll relearn. Sometimes we’ll do rough, if you want. Sometimes we’ll do gentle. The thing is, we may have to look for a new apartment. That’s going to be rougher than anything we ever did in the sack. But business is booming even with that one bastard trying to sabotage us.”

”You never explained why you refused that contract.”

”You know…we kill a lot of awful people. Those two…can I be honest…they probably would have ended up in Heaven.”

”Ah…and it has nothing to do with them being like the family you want.”

”I never said that!”

”I know, darling. You didn’t have to.” Stolas finished her meal and looked at Blitza. “I will do my best with my secretarial works. I’ll also go through the budget and the accounting.”

”Thanks, babe. You know, I kind of wish I’d hired you a lot sooner.”

Stolas chuckled a little. “You once said you might just do that.”

”We were children! I probably said all sorts of odd things. How do you remember that?”

”Because, it was the first time I had an actual friend. I wasn’t lonely that day. My dad had actually given me a day that I didn’t hate. Of course, you stole all sorts of stuff from us and I got into trouble for that, but honestly, it was worth it.”

”I’m sorry you got into trouble for that. If I hadn’t, my father would have beaten my ass”

”I know. Let me get ready for work and then we can head on over.”

”Good idea.”

“Hey Fizz, how ya and Ozzie holding up?” Blitza said, pacing around her office. She’d decided to call her old friend and been glad when he’d picked up.

“We patched things up. fucking wish he’d said or did more to try and defend you,” Fizzaroli said.

”Honestly, there wasn’t much the big man could do. Big Red had it out for us. He wasn’t going to fucking listen to anyone except Stolas.” Blitza closed her eyes for a moment remembering how close the executioner’s blade had come to completing its job.

”Nah, I get it now, but it still hurt. I just got you back in my life. I really didn't want to have you taken out of it so quickly.”

“So…”

”Yah, business has picked up though. Sinsmas is always a great time for us. It’s just too bad you didn’t get to test some of our latest stuff on your bird’s puss.”

”Yeah, sorry about that. I wish we’d snagged those from the mansion before all that shit went down. Knowing that bastard they got thrown out. Or maybe he’s shoving them up Andrealphus’ cloaca.” Blitza had been creeped out by some of the ways in which Andrealphus had described his ‘delicate, but gently handsome’ brother was.

”Nah, that asshole’s got ice blocking it. Never seen a more stuck up goetia in my life.”

”I bet you’ve run into a few,” Blitza said with a smile.

”Here and there. Ozzie’s a Prince in the goetia too, you know,” Fizzaroli pointed out.

”Huh? I thought he was just a Sin.”

”Yeah, but he’s also a goetia. It’s weird.”

”Fizz…”

”Oh I know that voice,” the other imp said.

”What voice?”

”The ‘I’m going to say something either hurtful or sappy’ voice.”

”Hey! I just wanted you to know I’m glad you’re back in my life.”

Fizzaroli laughed. “Yeah, but I’m also glad that you won’t be chasing me any more.” Blitza smiled at the few good memories of growing up in the circus. She’d been in love with Fizzaroli for a while when they were teens, but then the whole ‘accidentally set fire to the tents’ happened and shit got bad.

”Hey…it’s not like I’m not still hotter than summer in Wrath.”

”Yeah, but you’re not my type.”

”I bet I could make me your type,” Blitza said, laughing knowing that Fizzaroli was strictly into men, but she still liked that she could get away with that kind of teasing.

“I prefer something I can suck not lick,” Fizz responded with a laugh. “Still can’t believe you transitioned. Fuck…still can’t believe you got the money together for the full surgeries.”

”Yeah…well…”

”Just tell me you got a good doctor.” There was some worry in Fizzaroli’s voice. It was one of the pitfalls of Hell’s medical industry. There were plenty of doctors who could do any operation, finding one who could do it very well and with next to no complications meant paying out the nose…and the ears…and the ass if necessary.

”Fuck yeah…I mean, you do know who paid for it.”

Fizz went quiet for a moment ”Don’t tell me that Verosika paid for your pussy?”

”Uh-huh.”

”And you broke up with her? No wonder she was so pissed at you.”

”Yeah…that was one of my better fuckups, but if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have met Stolas and…”

”Nearly gotten your head lopped off,” Fizzaroli said grimly.

“True. Fuck, I do make some really poor choices don’t I?”

”Hey, you said it not me. Alright, I’ve got to jet. Got a meeting with some of the suppliers. Then there’s the head of security I’ve got to talk to. Lyna’s been on my ass about being more careful. Worse, the contractor she’s got going over security practically has me tied down to the showroom for the time being.”

”Woah, I thought Ozzie was the only one who could tie you down,” Blitza teased.

Fizzaroli chuckled. “I’m not going into what me and him do in the bedroom and you know it.”

”Alright, alright. You enjoy your boring ass meetings.”

”I’ll try. Catch ya later.”

”Later!” Blitza hung up and looked around the office. It was a dead day, and she wasn’t sure that it was best to be in the office, but she needed to give Loona a little space. She could be a bit of a bitch when she had a hangover and she definitely had one.

“You are living with your imp?” Vassago asked.

”That’s about the best I can do. At least I’m not starving out on the streets. That was probably Andrealphus’ plan. I can’t imagine Stellan thinking up a plan like that fiasco of a court hearing,” Stolas said. It had been the first time that they had been able to catch up since her appearance in court.

“I know, mi chica. She must love you very much to put up with the hatred others must have of you.”

”You don’t know the half of it, and she’s even given me a job. Yes, it’s secretarial work, but at least it’s something. I can’t believe how stupid I was.”

”Well, we’ll figure this out. No te desesperes.”

”I really messed things up. I’m worried about Via, and I’m not sure what to do about…well…all of it.”

”Stolas, baby, you’ve got a lot going for you right now. I know it doesn’t look it, but you’ve got it.”

”Vas, can you at least keep an eye on Via.”

”I’ll try. Tio Vassago to the rescue.”

”Thank you.”

”Perhaps I could arrange for mi sobrina to marry Angelo.”

”I would rather not force Via into an arranged marriage.”

”Entiendo, but Angelo is a nice young man. His family is understanding of his sexuality, and the arrangement would only have to be for a short time.”

”The problem is getting Stellan to agree, and I doubt that he would because that would push him out of the manor. Plus Angelo is the son of a Marquis. Knowing Stellan, he’s going to want Via to marry upward.” Stolas flashed on some of the arguments she and Stellan had regarding Octavia marrying. They were one of the few victories she’d had against her husband. Without her say, Octavia couldn’t marry anyone.

”I shall look into it anyway. Perhaps as a last resort? Even if it is just an betrothement for the time being.”

”Thank you, Vas.”

Vassago took a deep breath as if ready to say something difficult and finally said ”You know, if you had told me you wanted a lover, I could have hooked you up with a nice succubus or a lesser goetia.”

”I feel like I would have been punished no matter what. At least you have Guillaume and Cassandra has Amelia.” Stolas knew that Guillaume was a goetia from a low barony and Amelia was a succubus.

“Si, si. But an imp?”

”I was not intending to fall in love with her. She just…fell into my life. I wasn’t expecting her to suddenly show up here…and the last time I saw her she was, well, quite different.” Stolas wasn’t sure why she danced around Blitza’s transness. It as plain for anyone with eyes that Blitza was trans.

”But the ‘arrangement’?”

Stolas sighed. She’d expected this conversation from one of the few friends she had in the goetia. She would have loved marrying Vassago, but they were too closely related. “It was the only way I could think of to have a lover, and I slowly found myself falling in love.”

”Mi Lucifer…”

”Look, Stellan did as much as he could to isolate me from everyone. Only his friends were allowed over, and the very idea of me having a lover for him was too much. That party where we met Charlie and her paramour Rosie was one of the few times he let me attend a party without him.”

“It is too bad that Lucifer himself could not attend the trial. He may have been more open to mercy towards you or your lover.”

”Perhaps. Or if the Princess had attended herself. You are closer to the Princess, do you have any idea how she is doing?”

”She has been busy lately. After the end of the exterminations, she has had to deal with the media and trying to replicate her success.”

”Perhaps I should consider a visit to Pentagram City at some point.”

”Mi chica, you shouldn’t. Things are in upheaval there.”

”I was thinking it would be nice to visit the Princess again even if I am a disgraced Goetic noble.”

“Maybe I can invite her to a quiet event along with you and your lady.”

”Are there any goetia who wouldn’t be offended by my presence?”

”There are a few. I was thinking you, Blitza, Asmodeus and Fizzaroli. Maybe Angelo.”

”Alright. That would be wonderful.”

”Cass would love to see you as well.”

“Thank you, Vas. I should get going. It’s quiet here, but I should go through the paperwork.”

”I understand. Adios, mi amiga.”

”Talk to you later,” Stolas said, hanging up. She looked at the piles of paper on her desk and with a sigh, started going through them.

“You know, my precious little daughter, it really is time for us to consider your future,” Stellan said.

Octavia looked up from her breakfast. “I thought my future was pretty clear. Study the grimoire, take mom’s place at the head of the legions, and all those associated duties.”

”I am not thinking of that part of your future. I am thinking about your marriage. Despite the fact that your mother has disgraced herself, I am still in the good graces of the goetia. It is too bad that King Beleth has only daughters as marrying someone from his family would certainly raise your status in Hell. Though, I suppose that, with the shift in attitudes, one of his daughters might be willing to marry you. Are you interested in women the same way your mother is?”

Octavia felt her stomach churn at the idea, but not at the idea of marrying a woman. She just felt sick at the idea of being forced into marrying anyone. “I would rather marry someone I love than just get pushed into some arrangement.”

”My dear daughter, that is not up to you. You do not get to make that choice. I, and perhaps Andrealphus, must arrange a marriage of alliance.”

”Then why not just try to get me to marry Princess Morningstar.”

Stellan laughed. “Oh, my, no. The Princess of Hell is enamored of some sinner. Though, I have heard rumors that she is also in love with that angel who always hangs around her.”

”Don’t I have any say in this?”

”Yes, you do. I’ve already given you something of a say. Far more than a say that I was given.”

“it doesn’t seem that way.”

”I’ve given you the choice of at least allowing your uncle and myself to see if any of the daughters of the Kings or Dukes are willing to marry you. A lesbian marriage may not be ideal, and you would still be required to birth an heir, but as long as the sire is of noble blood, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Octavia stared at her father. She was not surprised that her father had just tortured that entire idea, and it wasn’t even a choice on her part. “Mom alway said…”

”Your mother gave up any and all say in your life the minute she fucked that imp. She could have been discrete. She could have had an affair with a lesser noble or even a succubus. She chose to fuck an imp! And then she had the audacity to throw her entire life away to save that lowlife wrathian. Never forget that.”

Octavia looked away from her father before standing up. “I should get back to my studies.” Food abandoned, she calmly retreated to her bedroom.

Stolas opened the filing cabinet in the office and pulled out the first half dozen folders. Business was slow. It was the day after Sinsmas, after all, and even sinners weren’t willing to come in on this particular day. Some, like Loona, were probably nursing hangovers.

She opened the first file and started going through it. At least someone had thought to keep a file on each client and victim. She noticed that it was Moxxie’s handwriting, after all.

The file was marked Mayberry. She flipped through the particulars before noting that the case had been closed. Apparently the killing shot had been by Moxxie, but Blitza’s notes were difficult to read. The final note made her chuckle. Apparently, the client and victim were currently in a sexual relationship.

Moxxie’s handwriting noted that the money had been paid. 

She moved onto the second folder. So, this is my life now? Secretarial work for my love’s business. It could be worse, I suppose. 

The fifth file was simply titled Loo Loo Land and she simply put the file aside. There was no point in reliving that.

She carefully looked at the sixth file and then set it aside. 

She picked up a pen and pad and took down quick notes about each file. She would create a database of them in the computer when she got the chance.

“Hey toots,” Blitza said, coming up behind Stolas.

”Hello dear,” she responded. 

“You going through the old files?”

”Yeah. I thought I would get a sense for the clients I can be expected to deal with. So far, most don’t seem too bad.”

”That bitch from yesterday has been the worst client so far.”

Stolas turned the chair and looked at Blitza. “And the worst victim?”

“Probably Emberlynn Pinkle. That little skank was all horny for some demon to come in and fuck her brains out. Or practically anything.”

”Oh my, that does sound like a problem.”

”Worst part was, she had all this stuff on the wall indicating she really likes dick.”

”Did you tell her you’re a woman?”

”Like five times! She didn’t believe me. Of course, the bitch showed up here and harassed me. I finally dropped my pants in front of her.”

Stolas giggled. “Oh dear me, and she wasn’t impressed by your beautiful, well sculpted pussy?” Stolas asked, putting some sexy into her voice.

”Nope…I did offer to get one of the straps for her.”

”Her loss then.” Stolas leaned in and kissed Blitza. “You seem so attractive to everyone. Are you sure you’re not part succubus?”

“Nah. Just a ruggedly butch imp.” Blitza began to play a bit with Stolas’ chest feathers. “How about I lock the door?”

”That would be wonderful.”

Octavia snagged a book from the library as she headed towards her room. The Peerage Of Hell was a fairly good sized tome and one that was updated every year. Her footsteps quickened until she was in her room. The book thumped onto the desk and she began combing through it.

She started with King Beleth. He had six known and legitimate daughters. Small portraits of each of them were next to their names. She grabbed some paper and a pen and began to take note of each available child. Beleth had two daughters who were eligible for marriage. The youngest was ten, and the eldest three were married. Aria was twenty and Cadence had just turned seventeen.

She pulled up her socials and started to search for both. She found that Aria was dating a young goetia. She scratched Aria’s name off the list. Cadence wasn’t dating. She had several pictures of different women. Octavia then saw a lesbian meme. Octavia put a check mark next to Cadence’s name.

She hadn’t really taken time to think about her sexuality. When pressed, she had always given a non-committal answer Am I willing to marry a woman? I don’t know. I really don’t want to marry anyone. 

She spent the afternoon going through the book and checking socials.

The sun was beginning to set when she stood up, stretched and made her way to her father’s study. When he called out that she could enter, she did. She was not surprised to find Andrealphus in the study as well.

She walked over to her father and said “This is a list of every eligible noble child of a King or Duke in the Ars Goetia. I’ve even included, where appropriate, their sexuality.”

Stellan took the list and looked at it. “Why thank you. This will certainly make the hunt for a spouse for you a little easier.”

“So…was that gentle enough?” Blitza said.

Stolas looked at the imp and thought. The two of them had ended up in the main office and were currently sprawled on the sofa that Blitza had acquired recently. Stolas hadn’t asked how she’d acquired it. She smiled gently. “Honestly?”

”Yes.”

”You need more practice, but it was still wonderful.”

Blitza smiled. “I’ll work on it. So…what do you think…take a week off?”

“I’m sorry?” Stolas asked unsure why the sudden change of subject.

”The week after Sinsmas is pretty much dead. No one wants to kill anyone unless they’re deranged. Maybe put in a day tomorrow and then come back after the new year. Oh fuck…just realized something.”

”What?”

”They didn’t come in last year because of that stupid extermination, but this year?”

”No extermination.”

“Ugh…” Blitza’s head dropped onto Stolas’ chest. Not for the first time was Stolas glad that she did not actually have breasts and the illusion of breasts was created with feathers. That was not to say that she wasn’t sensitive in that area, but less so than anyone with actual breasts.

”I guess we’ll have to stay open, at least for a few days.”

”I guess,” Blitza said, her voice muffled by the feathers.

The door to the outside opened and closed. “I thought you locked the front door.”

”I did.” Blitza sat up. She called out “Moxxie?” 

“Sorry, I forgot something. I won’t be long.” Moxxie didn’t say anything for a few moments. “And then you can get back to fucking your brains out.”

Stolas tried to keep the laughter in, and felt like she was going to bruise a rib.”

”We should probably head home anyway.”

”That’s a good idea.”

Loona flipped through Sinstagram. The follow back from Octavia had been a surprise, but she got a feeling that it was just a tiny start on their road to something down the line. That ‘something’ being reuniting Octavia with Stolas. She smiled at a good news story. 

The top account was the official one for Charlie Morningstar and the Hazbin Hotel. She never liked anything from it because she, honestly, didn't want her friends knowing she followed it, but it was certainly interesting. The picture showed Charlie standing there with her girlfriend Rosie and a rather stern looking third woman with an X over her eye.

She scrolled passed the advertisement and the next one that came up was from Sallie May. Loona smiled. Sallie May was pretty. She sighed and read the caption “Sinsmas with the Fam!”. It was a picture of her, Lyn, Joe, some her brothers and her nephew. “Hope Sinsmas went well…and that the kiddo enjoyed,” she typed out and then winced after she had hit ‘send’. It was definitely lame. She closed Sinstagram.

Standing up, she stretched. Various bones popped and clicked. She needed to go out for a walk. Besides, her mom and Stolas would be home soon and she wasn’t sure she was in the mood for the lovey-dovey that was likely going on.

Unfortunately, the door opened. “Hi mom, Stolas.”

”Hi Loona,” Stolas said.

”Hi Loony,” Blitza said.

”Did your day go well?” Loona asked. It seemed like the social dance no one really wanted to do.

”I spent some time going over the old casefiles.”

”I hope you could make heads or tails of those.”

”I got through some of them. It wasn’t too hard.”

”I was just about to head out. I could really use the walk.”

”Gotcha,” Blitza said.

Loona grabbed her jacket and headed out of the apartment. What’s wrong with me? She probably barely remembers me. Loona smiled though. She wasn’t chasing her tail this time. Tex was dating Beelzebub and as much as she’d love to get involved with both, it seemed unlikely. Then there was Senna. Shit, why did she have to be straight! But Sallie May wasn’t.

She kept looking around. She felt her cellphone notification go off.

She pulled it out and checked Sinstagram. “Hey, Howls, hope your Sinsmas went well too! Nephew is doing great.”

Loona huffed a bit as her heart raced a little. Fuck, why can’t I find someone closer?

”It was weird, but got drunk with my friends,” she replied back.

“Good to hear,” Sallie May replied back almost instantly.

What in the name of Beelzebub? Loona thought as she hit like.

She smiled as she kept walking.

Octavia retreated into her bedroom uncertain that her father had even noticed the list. She pulled out some jerky and chewed on that as she pulled up her bookmarks. She noticed one that she barely remembered saving. It led her to one of her socials. It was the profile of someone she had noticed but hadn’t wanted to ‘friend’ quiet yet.

”Yeah, my fucking brother is now a folk hero. Fuck him raw,” one of the posts said. It was accompanied by a picture of Blitza. Octavia now remembered why she had been so reluctant to follow this woman. She may hate Blitza with a passion, but that didn’t mean she had to deadname and misgender her.

In fact, Octavia decided that she should simply block the woman.

After a few moments, though, she went through a few other profiles, she even did a search. Maybe she could talk to someone- anyone- about her predicament. 

“Blitza hate” brought up a lot of results, but the one that caught her attention was Verosika Mayday. She looked over various different posts. Most of them were older. She seemed to have softened her stance in the last two months; though, there was a drunken rant from near Sinsmas that was definitely drunken and still showed some hatred of Blitza.

She pulled up messages for Verosika knowing that they would probably get read but never responded to. She simply wrote ‘Ms Mayday, my name is Octavia. You don’t know me. I’m the daughter of Stolas. I don’t really know how to handle the whole thing with Blitza.’

It took her a few minutes to work up the courage to hit send.

She went to close Sinstagram only to have a message pop up. ‘Miss Goetia, thank you for reaching out to Verosika.’ Octavia sighed. A form response was unexpected, and kind of heartbreaking, but she read on. ‘I will see if I can arrange for the two of you to meet, but it may be a week or more due to her current post-holiday schedule. - Sapphire.’

Octavia blinked a few times and reread before responding with ‘Thank you. Let me know when and where.’

’We will,’ Sapphire responded.

She decided to pull up Cadence’s profile again and look through it more. The goetia had three flags next to her name- asexual, sapphic and lesbian. Octavia hit ‘follow’.

She debated this. She knew it would probably get back to her mom if she did, but maybe that was alright. “Dad pressuring me to get married. Really don’t want to.” She posted it with a picture of the Asexual Flag. 

She closed Sinstagram and finished off her jerky.

Blitza stepped out onto the landing and looked up at the stars. Stolas was, for once, sleeping well. She looked back at her on the couch and smiled.

With a sigh, she walked over to the railing. “Fizz is back in my life, Loona loves me, Verosika isn’t trying to stick a knife in my pussy any more. Satan’s asscrack, I even have Stolas. So, why do I still feel alone?”

She ran her finger along the railing. “Mama, I wish you could see your little girl all grown up.” She felt a tear start to form. How often had she gotten away with dressing up in Barb’s cast offs around her mom? How often had her mom actually called her ‘Blitza’ when no one else was round? She was Tilla’s darling daughter even if she was a failure of a son to her father Cash.

Then she thought about Barb. Even in all the anger Verosika had towards her, the succubus had never deadnamed her or even called her ‘him’. But Barb? “Satan fucking damnit, Blitzo!” Barb had yelled in her face. The emphasis on the ‘Blitzo’ still hurt. Fuck, Barb, why did you have to be such a fucking transphobe? She wasn’t entirely sure that Barb was being transphobic. Maybe she was just using it to hurt her.

”Mom would have slapped Barb so hard, her horns would have straightened out,” Blitza said as the tears began to flow. “Mom, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. It really was an accident,” she said, looking up at the stars. “I didn’t mean to lose you.” She placed her hand on the choker. She thought of Millie snagging it for her. She thought about that monster Ronaldo. She thought of everything.

Wiping tears from her eyes, she looked back up at the stars. “Maybe I could ask Stolas to teach me about them. Not all that magic stuff, but the constellations. The stories behind them.”

”If you look towards the horizon, you’ll see Asmodeus’ Belt. It’ll always guide you home in the winter,” the familiar voice of Stolas said. “And my darling, all you need do is ask me and I will do what I can to teach you the stars. Maybe one day, they will lead me back to Via.”

Blitza didn’t turn around, but felt the gentle arms of the goetia wrap around her, and some of the loneliness was gone.

Chapter Text

Three Days After Sinsmas

Octavia walked down the corridor of the mansion. Her boots echoed off the marble. Paintings of her parents hung in tatters on the wall. Ice clung to the corners and ran along the walls. Everything was in shadows.

“Mama?” Octavia called out. No one answered. “Father?”

Then she saw the little pool of black on the floor. It wasn’t big. But it was concerning. She knelt down and touched it. It was frozen solid. She continued walking and came to another small puddle of blood. 

She looked at the painting next to her, but it wasn’t her and her parents. It was her mother and her lover. Octavia snarled and tried to claw at the painting only for it to remain intact.

A whisper came from somewhere…”Forgotten.”

She moved to the next pool of blood and the next painting. It was of her in the noble regalia. There was no one with her. “Abandoned,” the whisper said

Ice cold tears collected on her face as she began to cry. She fled down a hallway that seemed far longer than it should have. 

She stopped when she realized she had entered the palace’s ballroom. Thorned vines covered the walls and most of the floor. She walked down the middle where there was a clear path, stepping over puddles of blood.

She reached the end and looked up. Vines twisted around a body and black blood had pooled underneath. She conjured up a ball of bright purple light and held it aloft.

Staring down at her was herself. Her feathers had turned grey around her face.

Scrawled in blood underneath was the word “Nobody.”

Octavia awoke with a gasp. She swallowed down a scream hoping that the nightmare would fade. 

Except it didn’t. 

Stolas took a sip of her tea before shutting off the video. It was a basic tea and a bit more acerbic than she was used to, but she had started to learn that there were things she just had to get used to.

A deep breath later and a quick look at the pans, she picked up the bowl of mixed eggs and slowly poured it into the pan. Next to it, six sausages sizzled as they slowly cooked. She scraped the eggs around a little with a silicone spatula and lowered the temperature before checking on the bacon in the oven. There were nine slices there.

She smiled and continued to scrape and stir the eggs. She hoped that the pinch of salt and touch of pepper would help make the eggs a bit more palatable.

She heard Blitz stir and the door to Loona’s bedroom open. She placed the food onto each plate and brought them to the table. “Breakfast is served,” she said, smiling broadly. A groggy imp and a sleepy hellhound took their seats at the table and, after she had placed the pan in the sink to soak a little, Stolas joined them. 

Her heart beat heavily in nervousness as she waited as first Loona and then Blitz took bites. 

“Hey, this is really good!” Loona said. 

“I’m impressed, hun. This is yummy,” Blitz said after swallowing her first mouthful.

”Beginner’s luck, but while we were at the office yesterday, I watched some cooking videos on PrideTube.”

“Well, It’s wonderful,” Blitz smiled. 

“I figured that I would do what I could to help with some of the chores around the apartment. You have both been so patient with me, but I really should help around the house.”

“Well, that’s…It would be very nice for you to help,” Blitz said, desperately trying to sound more posh than usual.

”I just ask you both to be patient with me as I learn how to do things.”

”Of course! You’ve never had to do any of this before. We’ll be patient and everything. Right Loona?”

”Of course! Just…don’t go into my room.”

”I wouldn’t dream of it. Your room is your responsibility. As long as we aren’t attacked by a mold monster in the middle of the night, I won’t say a word.” Stolas watched her girlfriend finish breakfast as she slowly ate her own. With a quick kiss, Blitz disappeared into the bathroom and Stolas was left with Loona for a little bit.

”Thank you,” Loona said.

”Why don’t you go get ready for the day? I’ll do the dishes quickly.”

Stolas gathered the plates and scraped them like the videos had shown before carefully washing them in the sink. She sang a little trying to quiet the voice in her head telling her that a little alcohol before work would numb the pain.

She felt tears blend into the fine feathers by her eyes as she put the last plate in the rack to dry. Quickly drying her hands, she turned to find Loona standing there.

”That was beautiful,” Loona said. ”You ok?”

”I miss Via. I used to sing to her when she was young. I hope she’ll be alright. I dread to think what her father is doing or how he is acting.”

”Well…I follow her on Sinstagram,” Loona said. “I have since that little ‘adventure’ in LA.”

”Should I…do something like that?”

”Nah. I’m not even sure she realizes that I’m still following her. Look, she finds out you’re following her, she’ll be even more upset. But she’s managing. There’s a lot of posts about Fuck You Dad, and a few angry posts about you here and there. Give it some time.”

”Thank you, Loona.”

Moxxie looked out the window in the living room of the apartment she shared with Millie. She could see the office where they worked from there, and it scared her. It all terrified her now. We have enough money. I could just go get this taken care of and never tell her. I could just forget about this. One quick visit and I’d never have to think about that damned test. But she knew that wasn’t true. She would know and knowing would mean a silent wedge between her and Millie.

And it wouldn’t be so easy as just forgetting. She might never regret it, but she would always remember.

“Hey, babe, you ok?” Millie asked. Moxxie felt her wife’s arms wrap around her belly and it reminded her of what was scaring her. Of course, she hadn’t told anyone she was pregnant and didn’t know who she could tell. 

She’d indulged a fantasy of Millie’s after their near death at the hands of Satan. Never buy condoms from Greed, Moxxie thought for the umpteenth time since that night. At least he’d been clean. She’d gotten tested for STD’s a couple times in the weeks after the encounter.

Moxxie put her hands on Millie’s, and said “I’ll be fine. I think. Have…we talked a long time ago about starting a family. You know, if things got better.”

”Yeah…then I met your self loathing closet case of a psychopath.” Millie’s voice took on a slightly humorous tone. “I mean your dad. “What brought this on?”

Moxxie smiled a little. “You think I give a shit about the dyke you brought with you, you’re marrying Chaz.” The memory was etched into her memory. She could practically hear him saying that no grandchild of his was being raised by a pair of fucking lesbians except he wouldn’t have said ‘lesbians’. ”Just…thinking,” Moxxie said. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell Millie.

”Well, it’s a huge expense unless you want to find someone and just get knocked up.” Millie kissed the back of Moxxie’s head.

Moxxie was silent for a little bit. “I want to have a family,” Moxxie said more to herself than to Millie. “So, any ideas on what you would name a daughter?”

”Morena…after your mother.”

Moxxie smiled a little. She was a bit surprised by that. “And a son?”

”I’m not sure. We could go traditional, if you want.”

Moxxie chuckled. “Name him Lucifer?”

”Why not? I’m definitely not naming a son Satan.”

Moxxie laughed lightly. “Alright. I need to get to the office. I promised to go over the filing with Stolas.”

”Okay. I’ll be up there soon. I need to take care of something.”

”Don’t worry too much. I doubt that we’ll have anyone hire us today,” Moxxie said.

Low grey clouds hung over Imp City. Little flecks of snow drifted downward as the cold settled in. Not that the snow would ever stick. Winter was cold, but never frigid. Loona had delayed heading to work to give her mom and Stolas some space together 

As she walked, she scrolled through her Sinstagram feed looking for anything from Sallie May. She bounced off of someone. “Ow…Fuck. I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going,” the hellhound managed to catch her phone before it hit the ground.

She quickly looked up and saw she was outside the office before looking at the demon she’d knocked into, who said ”No problem. You ok?” 

“Yeah. Checking messages. You know how it is.”

”I was miles away. Hey, my name’s Sapphire. I don’t see a lot of hellhounds around here.”

”I’m Loona.” She felt herself blush slightly. The fox-like hellhound looked a lot like Beelzebub, but without the extra arms, the glowing belly, the suggestion of antennae, but she did have cute succubus wings and a pair of mismatched imp horns.

”You’re staring a little.”

”I’m sorry,” Loona said as she put her phone in her pocket. “You probably get that a lot.” Loona felt something on the edge of her memory jumping up and down trying to get her attention.

”No problem. I’m still not used to people actually seeing me as pretty, but I’d better get upstairs to Verosika.”

”You work for Verosika,” Loona said, as they both entered the building that held IMP’s headquarters.

Sapphire chuckled. “Yes and no.”

”Okay…being cryptic,” Loona said. The corridor was kind of empty and the usual bland colors hardly felt welcoming.

”But, I have to say you’re doing well. I’ve heard a lot about IMP.”

”Huh?”

Sapphire smiled. “You and I were in the same agency. I was about a year ahead of you. I aged out. No one wanted a mix-blood like me. Well, except the really awful people. I bit a lot of them so no one wanted to adopt me.”

Loona finally remembered a very quiet and very scared looking hellhound. “Didn’t you used to have dark spots on your face too?”

”I dye them. It makes me a little less exotic, but I like the look.”

The two of them entered the elevator. “I got adopted, but honestly, Blitz is more a mom than an owner at this point.”

”That’s good to hear. I’d hate for someone to be abusing you. If someone was, I’d unleash Ver on them.”

Loona laughed a little. “Satan’d probably wish he hadn’t messed with me then.”

Sapphire smiled, and then the doors opened.

”Yeah, well, you’re being a bitch again!” Blitz yelled at the top of her lungs.

”Oh come on…you know I’m right. That bird is still using you,” Verosika said.

“She is not!”

Sapphire whistled loudly. “Would you two please tell me what brought this on? You first, Blitz…”

”She said some shit about Stolas,” the imp said.

”Yeah, well, you hired the goetia who admitted on live television that she was abusing you for her own gain!” Verosika yelled.

Loona heard Sapphire sigh loudly.

”It’s not that simple,” Blitz retorted.

”It certainly sounded like it,” the succubus said.

Sapphire turned to Loona. “What’s the relationship between Blitz and Stolas?”

”Oh, they’re fucking. And dating. Honestly, they’re in love,” Loona said. “And from what I can tell, it’s been something that’s been going on for a while.”

”Alright, Ver, what did you say and why?”

”All I said was that I hoped that the feathered asshole wasn’t licking the pussy that I paid for,” the singer said.

”Will you get your pimply cunt out of my sex life!” Blitz said. “We’re not fucking anymore.” 

Loona heard the Hellborn next to her snarl slightly before she walked over to Verosika and gently touched her arm. “Ver, babe, I know you’re feeling protective of someone you care for, but maybe you need the full story.”

Verosika turned to look at the hellhound and took a deep breath. “You’re right.” Turning to Blitz, “I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

“Yeah, well…” Blitz started.

”Mom, don’t poke at it,” Loona said.

Blitz seemed to deflate a little. Loona recognized the body laugnage. She was being open. “Stolas said all of that stuff to save my life. I stole her book. She didn’t force me to do shit. I mean, okay, so maybe she did a bit, and that was fucked up and shitty, but she loves me and I love her.”

“I see…I really am sorry I overreacted,” the singer said.

”Good, truce again?” Sapphire asked.

”Truce,” both Verosika and Blitz said at almost the same time.

”Good.”

Verosika looked at Sapphire and kissed her on the cheek. “The day Maxine sent you to me was such a wonderful day.”

”Aww…at least you treat me like I’m your equal and not some freak. Alright, you have a meeting with Velvette…I swear that sinner wants you to market her stuff as much as she wants to push you onto the desk and fuck you.”

Verosika laughed. “Not going to happen. Not when I’ve got you.”

“After that, we have to get the band rehearsing. We need something new despite how well A Sinsmas Party did. The label wants you to cover Pink Pony Club by some earth singer.”

”Okay. And, Blitz, maybe we should try to sit down and actually talk sometime,” Verosika said.

”Alright,” the imp said, sounding slightly stunned.

Well…that was fun, Loona said. “Alright, we need to get inside. Moxxie here yet?”

”Not yet,” Blitz said.

”Ok. She said something about helping Stolas out with the filing.”

”Catch you both later,” Sapphire said, gently pushing Verosika towards the door to her studio.

Octavia opened her Sinstagram account to find a message from Cadence. She was a bit surprised since she had done little more than follow the other goetia’s account. The message was simple. Hey, I noticed you followed me. Are you on Sinscord? If you are, @ me. I’m StarSong96.

Octavia opened Sinscord and figured out how to message someone cold. 

GothChik17(Octavia): Hi, this is Octavia or Via if you want. Thank you for the message.

StarSong96(Cadence): Hi Via. My friends call me Caddy. Or just Star. I saw you followed me on Sinstagram, and thought I’d find out about you. Also, I’m a mod on a server intended for children of the Ars Goetia. I can send you an invite.

GothChik17(Octavia): Thank you, Caddy. 

StarSong96(Cadence): So, why did you follow me? I looked at your account is all Fuck You Dad and anger over your mom. Not really my scene.

GothChik17(Octavia): Yeah. Sorry about that. Looking for other goetia to talk to.

StarSong96(Cadence): Nah, it’s good. How are you doing?

GothChik17(Octavia): Frustrated. My dad is trying to push me to marry. He’s planning to arrange a marriage for me.

StarSong96(Cadence): Oh fuck! That shit’s outdated. Dad won’t even consider it. He had someone bring an offer of betrothal and he turned the person away without hearing the terms.

Octavia’s heart sank. She had hoped that Cadence’s father would be open to possibly a betrothal. It would give her time to hit eighteen and push the whole thing away. But now that idea was gone.

GothChik17(Octavia): At least my dad seems open to me marrying a woman.

StarSong96(Cadence): You’re lucky given your father’s such a traditionalist. Also, I didn’t know you like women.

GothChik17(Octavia): I don’t know. Honestly, I just figure that women are easier to live with than men.

StarSong96(Cadence): I see. Well…I get a feeling that your father is going to be disappointed in trying to find you a spouse.

GothChik17(Octavia): Why do you say that?

StarSong96(Cadence): Well, you’re scandal ridden because of your shitty mom. 

GothChik17(Octavia): I didn’t know that. Dad’s acting like he can find me someone to marry.

StarSong96(Cadence): I’m sure he can find someone, but I doubt they’ll be the kid of a King, Duke or Prince.

GothChik17(Octavia): Fuck. Honestly, I don’t want to marry anyone.

StarSong96(Cadence): I’m sorry. Hey, so you like FYD, right?

  GothChik17(Octavia): Yeah.

StarSong96(Cadence): I take it you love music?

GothChik17(Octavia): Absolutely. Mom even gave me a guitar. I am pretty good with it.

StarSong96(Cadence): I’d love to hear you play.

GothChik17(Octavia): Maybe someday soon.

StarSong96(Cadence): We can set up a call sometime and I can listen to you play. Oh, I have to go, but hold on. I’ll send the invite.

GothChik17(Octavia): Thank you and I’d love to play for you sometime.

Octavia closed the app on her tablet and stood up. She smiled. She hoped that she could be friends with Cadence. She liked her already.

“Hey sis, what’s up?” Sallie May said.

”I’m not sure. Moxxie’s being cagey about something. She’s been sick all the time and she won’t tell me what’s wrong. And she was unusually aggressive around Sinsmas.”

”Weird. Ya sure she ain’t pregnant?”

Millie laughed. The number of times a doctor had asked her if she could be pregnant was as long as her tail. “We try and try, but I can’t seem to get her pregnant. But I ain’t got the same equipment as you.”

”Isn’t yours hot pink?”

”Yep.” It’d been something Moxxie had picked out.

”Has she…y’know…been cheatin’?”

”She wouldn’t. Besides, we haven’t been outside each other’s presence since the trial.” Millie pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fuck…”

”What?”

”After the trial, Moxxie offered to do one wild sexual fantasy of my choosing and…” Millie bumped her head on the wall. “We found someone. She fucked him while I watched.”

”Ya got a voyeur kink? Really?”

”It was just something stupid I read once. I thought it might be hot. I gave her the choice of people. Fuck…fuck…fuck.”

”Didn’t she use protection?”

“Yeah, but I was a bit tipsy.” Millie paused at the scoffing sound from Sallie May. “Alright, I was more than a little tipsy. It was a clusterfuck. Wanna bet one of the condoms broke?”

”Well, did ya at least get the guy’s name?”

”Nope.”

”Sis…”

”Before you ask, I didn’t pressure her. I told her that I wouldn’t be disappointed in her if she said ‘no’, but she agreed. It was a fucking stupid thing for me to do.”

”Well…ya sound certain she’s preggers."

”What in Satan’s fucking name are we going to do?”

”Well…ya could always go to a doctor and y’know.”

”Moxxie won’t agree.”

”Why not?”

”She’s wanted a family for some time. Lucifer’s pubes, I want a kid. I mean, not give birth to one, but I want a kid.”

“Well…y’all’ll figure out the money somehow.”

”Business is pretty good so long as Blitz doesn’t have a meltdown. But do I confront her or just wait.”

”Wait. She’ll tell ya when she’s ready.”

”And then we get to tell ma and pa. Think they’ll be disappointed the kid isn’t mine?”

”Sis…they have a grandkid already. I doubt they’ll care. Moxxie’s your wife, so they’re gonna love your baby even if she gives birth.”

”Thank you. I needed this. Fuck, I hate this whole thing.”

”Just make of it what ya will. Ya always have.”

Octavia listened to her footsteps echo in the corridor. She’d snagged some food from the kitchen and while it wasn’t much, it would be enough.

She opened her phone and pulled up Sinscord quickly. There weren’t any new messages, so she dismissed it and slipped her phone into her pocket. As she got closer to the study her father and uncle had occupied, she could hear them laughing.

”She actually thinks she’s going to have some say in who she marries?” Andrealphus said.

”Well…I’ll certainly take her choices into consideration, but…honestly, it’s such a low priority.”

”Do you have anyone in mind?”

”Well, there’s a couple traditionalists out there. I sent ”

“Oh, do tell…”

Octavia quietly walked passed the two as they talked. She would have said that her heart sank, but the reality was that she wasn’t surprised. She closed her eyes for a moment as she walked and the image of her older self bleeding upon the wall filled her mind.

She sped up. She really couldn’t leave the manor since her father was desperately trying to keep her there at least until she could master how to create a portal without it going awry.

She sat down at her desk and opened up the grimoire to the page she’d been working on. She wished her mother had been there to explain some of it. She made some notes in her own code. She’d designed it for fun one day when she was fourteen and never thought she’d actually use it.

She hated that she couldn’t really test her ideas without possibly alerting her uncle. 

She pulled up Sinscord quickly and accepted the invitation to the GoeKidsClub server. What a lame name, Octavia thought. She read through the rules as people began to welcome her.

She finally drifted down to the introductions.

GothChik17: Hi! My name is Octavia. I love music and the stars. I’m studying magic so that I can take over my mom’s position. I live in Imp City. I can’t think of anything else to say.

She then went to the general chat and almost left the server.

AngelSlayer(Galen): Who the fuck invited her to the server?

StarSong96(Cadence): I did, Galen. Via’s one of us. She’s a child of the goetia. I’m surprised no one invited her sooner.

AngelSlayer(Galen): Her mom’s a fucking joke. A disgrace!

Verdant54(Mar): What her mom did is not her fault. Octavia is welcome here. She’s as valid as anyone else. She is the child of a prominent goetia. She isn’t of age and hasn’t taken her mother’s place, so she’s welcome.

SolarEclypse(Rosie): yeah, get your head out of your ass, Galen. After all, didn’t your brother run off with one of the imps your dad employs?

AngelSlayer(Galen): Vuck you.

GothChik17(Octavia): Is my presence going to be a problem?

StarSong96(Cadence): No. Galen’s just being an ass as always.

GothChik17(Octavia): I don’t want to cause a disruption.

SolarEclypse(Rosie): you aren’t, and if anyone has a problem, they can shove it.

GothChik17(Octavia): Thank you. I need to get something to eat.

SolarEclypse(Rosie): No worries. And hey, we have a VC open on Saturdays if you want to talk.

GothChik17(Octavia): I’ll try to remember that.

”So, I’m the one who takes care of the paperwork,” Moxxie said. “Honestly, Blitz’ spelling and grammar are atrocious.”

”I’ve noticed. I did read through some of the casefiles yesterday. You have an interesting system,” Stolas said.

”I’ve been trying to think of everything I could. Of course, they’re by date of contract,” Moxxie said, opening the top drawer of the filing cabinet.

”I have a few ideas on how to help, and I am trying to learn how to create a database on the computer. Now that all of this is legal, Asmodeus might demand an accounting of it. I was used to doing that for my prophecy work, and I used to have a catalogue of all my plants,” the goetia said. Of course, my garden’s all gone. I wonder if Blitz will be willing to let me buy a few plants for the landing.

”That’s a good idea then. Thank you. I’ll do what I can to help,” Moxxie said.

Stolas noticed that the imp suddenly looked a bit green. “Are you alright?”

”I’ll be ok,” Moxxie said, swallowing back something.

”If you say so.”

Blitz stuck her head out from behind the door to her office. “Hey, you two, have either of you seen my keys?”

Stolas sighed. “Did you check your jacket pocket, dear?”

”Oh…let me check.” The door closed. “Found ‘em!” Blitz called out from her office.

”Sometimes it feels like she’ll forget her head somewhere if it wasn’t attached to her neck,” Stolas said.

”I swear she has the attention span of a hellsquito,” Moxxie added.

Stolas chuckled. “That she does. I’m just glad that she’s calmed down. I wasn’t sure what the fight was with Verosika. I heard the yelling in here, but couldn’t make it out.”

”She sort of insulted you,” Loona said. “I’ve also never seen someone calm mom down so effortlessly.”

”Oh?” Stolas said.

”Yeah.” Loona quickly summed up what happened.

”Oh dear…yes, I can see how others see what I said. I was not expecting it to be quite so believable.”

“Well, ma’am, it was,” Moxxie said. “Though, I suspect my father probably wished that they had chopped off my head.”

Stolas shook her head. “I’ll have another word with Blitz. She needs to understand that people will see me as a manipulative bitch.” And not the woman in love who saved the imp she adores.

Moxxie suddenly closed her hand over her mouth and rushed out of the room towards the bathroom.

Stolas walked over to Loona. “Any word from Via?”

”Not much. She’s been following a few other goetia and mostly reposting things from her favs.”

”Ah. Thank you. And want to lay odds on Moxxie being pregnant?”

”Huh?”

”Call it a mother’s intuition.”

Moxxie returned and made the same excuse as always about having a stomach bug before returning to the filing discussion. Loona ignored them both. 

The phone didn’t ring and nothing else was going on, so she pulled up Sinstagram and started flipping through her account. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much there.

She finally asked ”Do you think you two could cover the phone for me?” 

“Sure,” Stolas said.

“Thanks,” Loona said.

As she closed the door to the office, she looked at the door to Verosika’s studio. With a frown, she walked down to the stairwell. The roof access was supposed to be locked, but it wasn’t. 

As she exited the stairwell, she was met by the same grey sky as before. Unfortunately, the cold was starting to seep in a bit more and she had forgotten to actually bring her jacket.

What the fuck is my problem? Highly doubt that some imp in Wrath is going to pay attention to a hellhound like me.

She looked over the city. One wrong storm would probably cause all kinds of havoc. There’d been a high rise that fell over in a winter storm a year prior. Luckily, not many people had lived in it at the time.

She pulled out a cigarette and lit it after a few minutes of trying. Sallie May probably manages to pull all the ladies while I, what? I can’t even fucking talk to Tex without stammering. What made me think I could even entertain a thing with Sapphire. Loona huffed. She certainly cleaned up pretty. Fuck…her and Verosika? I wonder what the story behind them is.

Maybe I should just go to the bar tonight. Get my brains fucked out. Might stop me thinking about Sallie.

She flicked the cigarette off the roof and stood there for a while. She didn’t notice when the roof access opened. 

Fuck…seeing Sapphire again. I didn’t recognize her. 

“Hey Loony,” Blitz said, standing next to her.

She didn’t turn her head to look at her mother. She just stood there.

”You feelin’ ok?” Blitz finally asked.

”Not really. I’m going to regret this. How’d you and Verosika end up dating?”

“That shit…you really want to dig that up?”

”What if…I like this girl. I’ve met her, like, once, but I feel like I’m stalking her on Sinsta, and I’m not sure what to do.”

”She cute?”

”Yeah…in a ‘I’ll tear your guts out if you piss me off’ kind of way’.”

“Imp?”

”Yeah. Mom…I’m not worth anyone’s time.”

”The fuck? You’re worth anyone’s time!”

Loona sighed. She’d never told Blitz any of the shit she’d been through. ”Do you even know what that agency was? That’s where the worst end up. There’s agencies that cater to the good ones. The good boys and good girls. That hellhole…matron didn’t give a shit if the others beat you up. you either end up top dog or you end up dead. Fuck, I don’t even know how Sapphire survived that fucking place.

”I’m just some psycho ‘hound who doesn’t matter for shit.”

“You…Loony-bins. You’re worth everything. I say, tell her how you feel. Where does she live? Where does she hang out? Just go and talk to her. She this Sapphire gal?” 

“No. Sapphire’s just someone I know. She’s the hellhound with Verosika. No, the girl I’m sweet on lives in Wrath. I missed talking to her when she was here last summer.”

“You’re not talking about Millie’s sister?”

”Yep.”

”Sallie…um…June?”

”May. Her name’s Sallie May,” Loona said, shaking her head slightly at how Blitz could be both incredibly smart and incredibly dumb at the same time.

”That’s right! Well, why not message her or something?”

”I don’t know. Long distance is not great.”

”You’ll get it sorted out. And, Loons, she’d be so lucky to have you.”

The two stood there without speaking for a while just looking out on the city.

Sapphire picked up the papers and looked over them. Verosika was checking on the sheet music as they were waiting for the meeting to happen.

Finally the door opened and she could hear someone say ”Yes, Voxy, I’m here. Service is shit though.” Sapphire narrowed her eyes at the sinner who walked towards them both. Velvette was known as the biggest influencer and fashionista in Pentagram City.  “But you’re right. If we can expand our reach we can expand our profits. Chiao! Ah, Verosika! It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

”A pleasure,” the singer said, taking Velvette’s outstretched hand.

Sapphire was already wary of the influencer. She’d done her research, looked up everything she could find, and even read over the stuff Maxine could send her. Her eyes narrowed slightly. 

“My apologies for being a touch late. I was up late at a party that I couldn’t skip out of. You know how it is. You have to wine. You have to dine. You have to stick your tongue between some pretty lady’s legs,” Velvette said with a wink.

Verosika laughed politely.

“And who is this with you?”

”This is Sapphire, my secretary,” the singer said.

”And here, I thought she might be your girlfriend,” Velvette said with a wink and a slight smile. “As I told Sapphire here, now that the exterminations are over, me and the voys thought we’d expand beyond Pentagram City a bit. We’d like to start by using some of your music, and if that works out, maybe have you wear some of the clothes I design.”

”Well, I don’t have a lot of say about the music. You’d have to talk to my label about that,” Verosika said.

Sapphire knew that was a deflection. Verosika wrote most of her own music, so the label didn’t have much say on that front.

”Oh, I figured that, if you agreed, they might be more willing to give me an ear,” Velvette said.

”As for the clothes, I’d have to see your style. I honestly don’t know a lot of how sinners dress.”

“I can send Sapphire over some clips and pics for you to go through. Maybe even some samples?”

“That would be delightful,” the singer said.

Oh boy, Ver does not like her.

“I was thinking of us having lunch or dinner together, but it feels like there’s not much here. Feels like Newcastle not London.”

Verosika smiled. “Yeah, sorry about that. Imp City isn’t known for its sparkling cuisine. Now, if this was Lust…”

”I’d have a much better time,” the doll sinner said. ”Well, I had better head back.” Velvette leaned in and went “Kiss, kiss” before heading out of the office.

”What an unpleasant person,” Verosika said.

Sapphire nodded. “Yes. Do you still want to work with her?”

”Tell the label that I’d rather not.”

”Will do.”

“I’m home!”

Millie could hear Moxxie call out from the living room. “I’m in the bedroom!” Millie folded a pair of Moxxie’s panties and put them carefully in the drawer. 

“You didn’t need to do this,” Moxxie said, wrapping her arms around Millie.

”I needed to,” Millie said. Guilt stabbed at her thinking about the call with Sallie May and the incident just after the trial. She closed the drawer and took Moxxie’s hand in hers. “Hon, we need to talk.”

“Is something wrong?”

Millie guided Moxxie to the bed and hopped on to it. Moxxie stayed standing, but took Millie’s hands and kissed them. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry about that whole stupid fetish thing. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

”Don’t be. I know it wasn’t enjoyable, but I agreed.”

Millie looked at Moxxie for a bit. “But…did you agree or did I make you?”

”My love, you didn’t force me. What is this about?”

”I’ve felt guilty about this for some time,” Millie said, with tears in her eyes.

Moxxie leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Don’t be. It’s ok.”

“Mox…are you just saying that because you’re…” she stopped. She’d been about to say ‘pregnant’, but pivoted to “trying to make me feel better.”

”I’m saying it because it’s true. We were both a bit drunk when we did it. It was a bad decision on both our parts.” Moxxie leaned forward and kissed her wife on the lips and then said “excuse me” before running to the bathroom.

Millie heard retching and sighed. After Moxxie stepped out of the bathroom, Millie said “You could really hurt a gal’s feelings doing that.”

”I’m sorry. It’s…”

”It’s not something you ate. I know it isn’t.”

Moxxie looked at the floor and folded her hands behind her back like a child expecting a scolding. “I’m pregnant. I think we were so drunk that no one noticed one of the condoms broke.”

Millie hopped down and hugged Moxxie. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

”Because I’m so afraid. What if my dad finds out that we have a kid? You do realize he only taught me the mafia biz because he didn’t have a son. He kept pushing mom to have more kids.”

”I get it.”

“If we have a son, he’s going to come after him because he’ll want to raise him in the Family.” 

”We’ll protect him. I know that Blitz, Stolas, and Loona will too,” Millie hugged Moxxie. “I love you.”

”I love you too.”

”Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

”Yes. I’m certain.”

Octavia pulled up a picture of Verosika Mayday and stared at it for a few moments before clicking on a different picture, and a different one. What is wrong with me?! Why can’t I find anyone attractive? She pulled up several more pictures. Most were scantily clad, and she didn’t feel anything. She closed Sinstagram and pulled up Sinscord again. Her brain wandered and she remembered a trip to a park in Crystal City not long before her mother’s exile.

“Isn’t she pretty?” Stolas said, nodding towards a succubus walking passed Octavia and her mother. 

The young goetia looked at the succubus. The woman was wearing a short pleated black skirt, a halter top and had long blonde hair. “She is,” Octavia said, turning her gaze elsewhere. 

Her mother asked “What about him?”

Octavia looked at the young man walking around in a muscle shirt. She didn’t particularly find him attractive. “Not really,” she said.

”Is there anyone you find attractive?”

She shrugged. She wasn’t sure. “Am I going to have to get married?”

”It is expected, yes, but I want you to marry whom you see fit and not someone chosen for you. Ooo…what about that one?”

Octavia had a feeling that her mother was trying to narrow down a ‘type’ for her so that she could introduce her to ‘the right sort’. This one was a young incubus dressed in dark clothes. His hair was relatively long and he was wearing dark makeup. She noticed the logo for Fuck You Dad on his t-shirt. She didn’t know if she would say she was attracted, but she would love to talk to him about music. “He’s ok.”

She wanted to cry. The void left by her mom still ached, and then she thought about the imp. She took a deep breath and pushed back on her powers as they flared with her anger.

Fuck you, Blitza. You stole my mom from me. 

She should pay, a raspy voice said in her head.

Octavia closed her eyes. The voices had been quiet since Sinsmas, but now they were starting to wake up again.

There was a knock on the door. With a dramatic sigh, she stood up and walked over to the door. “Yes?”

On the other side of the door was ‘Dear Uncle’ Andrealphus. “May I come in?”

Octavia pulled back and said “Sure.”

”How are your studies going?” 

“Quite well. I am still working on a few,” she said. She noticed the little shifts in his face as he looked over her room. “I should be able to take over my mother’s position as head of her legions by my birthday.”

”I see. That is good to hear. Be a dear and close the door, if you would.”

Octavia’s face didn’t move, but she closed the door. He wants something, she thought.

Of course he does, the ethereal voice said.

”I thought I would see how you feel about this whole marriage business. Certainly you are excited.”

Octavia rolled her eyes. “‘Excited’ is not the word I would use. I would rather not marry someone I don’t know.”

”But my dear niece, it is not always that bad. After all, some of us come to arrangements. It is unfortunate that your mother did not see fit to do so. I am certain that your father would have been more than accommodating had your mother chosen a suitable lover and kept it discreet.”

He’s joking, right? He has to be joking, the ethereal voice said.

“Well, whomever I marry, I do hope that she will be understanding. I certainly will try to be,” Octavia said, emphasizing the ‘she’. It wasn’t that she was certain about marrying a woman or even being attracted to women. She just wanted to see how her uncle reacted.

He flinched just slightly.

Oh, uncle, don't hide the fact that you’re gay. Everyone knows it.

”Well,” Andrealphus said in a tone that just bordered on affronted, “I do hope that he will be accommodating to you.”

”Especially since my work will require me to do many things at night while she might want me to cuddle in bed.”

“I see. Well, of course, I could always see if I could…steer your father to someone who would be accommodating of your needs,” Andrealphus said.

I don’t buy it for a second, Octavia thought. “Just a moment,” she said and walked over to her desk. She snagged a piece of paper and handed it to her uncle. “I made a copy just in case dad lost the one I gave him.”

”Why thank you, Octavia. And about the little…kerfuffle between us over your mother. Let no more be said about it.”

”I hadn’t planned on saying anything about it,” she said.

”Good. I will let you get back to your studies,” the marquis said before sweeping out of the room.

What a prat, the ethereal voice said.

Octavia sighed. She’d liked the quiet in her head over the last few days.

Sallie May leaned her back on the sturdy pole of the barbed wire fence and took a long drink from her water bottle. The sun was setting over Wrath and the sky was turning pink and orange. Despite being winter, the air still smelled and felt a little baked, but the harvest was well over.

”Well, ain’t this just perfect?” Sallie May said. With a slight smirk, she said “Of course I ain’t tellin’ Millie that ma and pa still don’t exactly approve of Moxxie. She’s soft. But they’ll get used to her.”

Sallie May thought for a bit. It was nice to be away from the family. Between her brothers, her eldest brother’s child, and the sister-in-law, it was still a bit much sometimes.

“Ya should really start looking for a wife,” her mother had said. “Maybe consider moving to Imp City for a bit. I’m sure you can find someone there. Or Los Satanos.”

She thought a bit about the possibility of doing just that as the sun sank further into the mountains.