Chapter Text
In the mansion that once belonged to Stolas, it was utter chaos. Imps in butler suits ran so fast that their horns blurred in the air. Tomorrow night would be crucial for a highly narcissistic Goetia. Stella paced through her grand mansion like a predator.
Stella:
"Move it, damn it! This place must be so perfect that even the cockroaches feel bad for walking on it!"
She raises her hand in a threatening manner.
"Beings with more power than your pathetic family will have in a hundred generations are arriving!"
While Stella directed the chaos, Andrealphus was sitting in a luxurious chair.
Andrealphus:
With a mischievous smile
"Wow, Stella, always so dramatic. This dinner is just one more among the thousands you throw. Why the spectacle?"
Stella:
"Shut up! This isn't just any dinner. It's the restoration of our legacy. It's the demonstration despite the shame caused by my dear ex-husband."
The mention of Stolas made Andrealphus smile widely. For him, his departure had been the best gift possible.
Andrealphus:
"I believe you, but of all the idiots you have to invite, did you invite everyone? Isn't that a little... risky?"
Stella:
Crossing her arms, incredulous
"Of course I remember. I've invited everyone who has contributed to our little circle of allies. The power dynamics and alliances will shift, and I need to make sure I'm on top. Understood?"
Stella snatched a scroll from the hands of an imp who was passing by so fast that the poor little demon fell flat on his face.
Stella:
Reading
"Let's see who we have here... Valentino, the Von Eldritch family... Oh, shit..."
Her voice cut off abruptly. Her eyes locked onto a name. Her face went pale.
Stella:
Reading, annoyed
"Azrael... The Archangel of Death!"
She grips the list tightly, crumpling the edges. She leans over the imp still on the floor.
Stella:
"How the fuck did that miserable wretch end up on the list?!"
Imp Butler:
Scared and nervous
"Well, Lady Stella... you... you ordered me to invite everyone who helped the family and... he helped on one occasion, through his herald..."
Stella's face contorts into a gesture of pure rage.
Stella:
"Wait a minute... Are you telling me you invited that cretin because they helped us solve an insignificant problem? And on top of that, you invited his whole pack?"
Andrealphus:
Mocking
"Excellent, sister, so the Angel of Death will come with his pack. Great way to liven up the party."
Stella ignores Andrealphus's comment, looks at the imp, and shakes him so hard that his small body bounces in the air.
Stella:
"Cancel the invitation, now! That's an order!"
The imp got scared, knowing there was no turning back.
IMP Butler:
"It's just... it can't be done... The invitations have already been sent."
Stella's face turned red. Her eyes bulged.
Stella:
"What do you mean it's already too late?! Are you telling me I have to receive that failed archangel and his disgusting dogs?!"
In her fury, she threw the little demon to the ground and began to pace furiously down the hall. Her rage echoed throughout the mansion, reaching her daughter's ears.
Upstairs, in one of the most elegant rooms, Octavia woke up startled by the shouting. Immediately, she put a pillow over her head, desperately trying to drown out the noise and her own misery.
She couldn't help but feel completely alone, isolated in her own thoughts and her pain.
Octavia:
"Why did you leave me, Dad...? Was all this shit really worth it for an imp you were just sleeping with?"
She knew what was coming now. Her mother would call her to get ready for another "gala evening," another social event where people gathered to show off their status. And as always, they would try to pair her up with "prince charmings" that, as a little girl, she would have dreamed of meeting. But now, they just disgusted her.
Octavia:
"They're all the same. They hide behind pretty masks, but inside, they're the same garbage."
She grips the pillow tighter.
"They say I have to 'grow up' and 'act like a princess.' But when I'm myself, they look at me like I'm crazy. Love has always been a fucking lie."
A few small tears escape her.
"I wish everything were like before... when I could be myself and be next to someone who at least cared a little."
She got out of bed, looking at her reflection in the mirror. The only comfort she had left was remembering the times Stolas took her to see the stars. Her only source of peace. But now, even that memory feels empty.
Although she felt like everything was lost, she couldn't resist the temptation to practice magic. She loved using her abilities to study the stars and space, but her attempts to control it had always been unsuccessful.
Octavia:
"Why can't I do this damn spell right? Even my father could do it drunk..."
There were writings in languages she didn't know, but it wasn't like there were plenty of people who knew about those powers.
Octavia:
Reading Stolas's book
"I'm making progress, but there's something else... those runes seem to talk about a language deader than me. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Octavia's concentration had increased as she remembered all the events that had happened to her. Suddenly, a slight burst of energy illuminated the room. The stars she was trying to control responded for the first time, making her gasp.
Octavia:
Surprised
"I did it!... Well, just a little. Fuck, at least nothing exploded."
But Octavia's brief moment of excitement was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Stella bursting into her room.
Stella:
"Octavia! Are you ready yet? The guests will arrive soon!"
The sharp tone of her mother's voice made her nervous immediately, breaking her spell and making everything she had achieved vanish in a second. At that, she sighed softly and rolled her eyes, resigned.
Octavia:
"Yes, Mom. I'm almost ready."
Stella:
"Octavia, don't make that funeral face. Tonight, high-ranking Goetias and suitable suitors will be attending. It's crucial that you make a good impression."
She walks through her room and pulls out a pink dress, very similar to ones she used to wear.
"Put this on. And smile. Don't embarrass me more than you already do just by existing."
Octavia knew arguing was useless. She took a deep breath and swallowed her frustration, taking the dress Stella had chosen.
Octavia:
"Fine... I'll put on the damn dress."
But her mind was thinking about something else, the complete opposite.
Octavia:
"Smile, Octavia, smile. How fun it is to be mom's favorite mannequin."
She just hoped the night would pass as quickly as possible. What she didn't know was that destiny already had a surprise in store for her.