Chapter 5: Family matters

"Greetings, my darling dear! How may we help you?" says the enthusiastic voice of Alastor at the newly arrived demon.

"What is a royal demon such as yourself doing here, Via?" asked Charlie. By the informality in her tone, something tells me they know each other. "I mean, I'd be thrilled to have you here. But I just wouldn't like to start any problem with your family."

"My mom and dad... can suck a lemon for all I care." said the girl-owl. Her tone of voice really started to sound depressed. "How have you been, Charlie? I haven't seen you in some time."

"Yeah! Nine years. We were both so little. Was it your birthday?"

"I'm not sure. It could've been yours. There was cake, right?" said Octavia with a nostalgic smile being drawn on her face. And Charlie returns the gesture in kind.

"Well Via, if you really want to spend some time here, you're welcome to do so. Come join us! We're sharing stories about ourselves! It will help us all bond! Come on!" finished Charlie while inviting her over.

Charlie then proceeded to introduce each of us to the newly arrived. And thus we met Octavia Goetia, another member of the royalty in hell.

"Nice meeting you, Octavia." I said to her "What has brought you here?"

"My feet." she says, and I politely laugh at her joke. "But for real, I just needed to get away from my house. I just can't stand the yelling anymore. And I saw the commercial that said something about saving someone from gloom, or something like that, and since Charlie was mentioned, I thought, 'hey why not give a visit to an old pal'. So here I am." I can see as her eyes flash with sadness.

"So, how did you know each other?" asks Vaggie. For some reason, she doesn't look very happy that this girl is here.

"What do you mean, Vaggie? Our parents are royalty." says Charlie stating the obvious "And royalty usually gives parties and reunions to know each other, and making alliances. It's not all that different to what happened on Earth."

"Oh! So rich and powerful people like to meet and greet each other. What a shock." Interjected Husk's sarcastic remark.

"Well, it's always good to have a new wayward soul coming into our little experiment, young princess." added Alastor. "And let me just say: if any problem arises in your life... I'll gladly give you a hand." And there is Alastor making his move. He really doesn't waste time.

"Careful with this one." said Vaggie "He may seem all smiles but..."

"I know who he is." said Octavia "My parents gave me 'the talk' about the overlords long ago. I'm not gonna strike no soul deals with none of them."

That's good to hear. I like a challenge, young princess. As usual this is just me, thinking to myself.

"So, what exactly is the role of your family in hell?" I ask making it sound as just young curiosity.

"Well, my dad is in charge of watching at the heavenly skies to read what they predict, and he guards over the Grimoire, a book of magical spells to move through the planes of existence."

Is she really this naive? Did she just casually told all of us about some of the most important pieces of information available about her family?

"Perhaps you shouldn't go around mentioning that, Octavia." said Vaggie. Apparently she is the only one capable of seeing the inherent danger of sharing such information with random strangers you just met.

"Why? My father is powerful enough as to handle any mortal soul in combat. I mean, he may not look the part, but he has the powers of the stars on his side." Ah, there it is. A bit of childish overconfidence in her parents, a classic case of 'my dad can beat up your dad'. Apparently naivety is present on all the over-sheltered princesses, even in hell. Sometimes it's not just about raw power, darling. You may learn about it soon.

"Oh, right, you father is Stolas, correct?" says Charlie.

"Yeah." There is a tinge of anger in her tonality. I sense a story here, but for now I will let the others pry at her life's woes. "I really don't wanna talk about my parents right now." Well, I guess that's the end of that line of inquiry.

"Right, right." continued Charlie "So, who is up for a game of charades?!" she says, and although basically nobody was up to something like that, we really had no choice. This is SO freaking boring.

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I am not entirely sure of how long it has been since we began playing with Octavia, but one thing is for certain: she is smiling. Perhaps it was the lightheartedness of the ambiance made by Charlie. Perhaps just the fact that she can just forget about her problems for a moment. But in the end, at least her doom and gloom have vanished, even if just for a moment.

However, you can't hide away from your problems forever.

Out of nowhere, the door of the Hotel is brought down violently. And as it happens, both Charlie and Octavia let out a loud scream of fear, while the latter just hid behind the couch. Everyone else, got into an instinctive fighting stance, myself included, even if I don't have my spear with me.

Four figures enter through the broken door, wielding guns in their hands. Three of them are red skinned, and horned, they look kinda similar to me, but one of them is quite tall, while the other two are just barely taller than me, making them shorter than Vaggie, and the fourth figure looks like a dog, literally. It has a humanoid body, just like almost everyone, but the face is that of a white wolf, or a dog, and she is taller than even the tallest red skinned demon.

"All right! Nobody move! Now, WHERE IS SHE?!" says the tallest red-skinned one.

"Where is who?!" yells out Charlie.

"Oh! Hello, princess!!!" says the tall red one at Charlie. "Loona, are you sure this is the right place? If it isn't, then we are going to be in some DEEP SHIT if we have attacked the princess of hell by accident."

The tall wolf creature smelled into the air. "Yes. I'm sure. She's here."

"Oh! Perfect! So... princess Morningstar, we are veeeeery sorry to do this, but we suspect of the kidnapping of princess Octavia Goetia, and we are on a rescue mission."

From the back of the couch, Octavia lifted her face, and looked at the group of recently arrived demons.

"YOU?!" she screams at the tall red one.

"Oh, HI THERE, PRINCESS OCTAVIA!!!" he says enthusiastically and nonchalantly, almost as if he wouldn't have just threatened everyone else with guns, including Charlie Morningstar, heir to the throne of all hell. I sometimes wonder how is it possible for people THAT stupid to keep on breathing and walking at the same time.

"Why are you here, Blitzo?!" yells out Octavia enraged.

"It's actually just 'Blitz', the 'o' is silent. And I am here under petition of your father. And speaking of him..."

Another figure walked into the Hotel. "Blitzy, what is happening? Is Octavia here? Did you find her?" says the soft voice of the tall owl-creature that had just come in. His face reflecting deep concern.

"Yes, your high owlness, she's over there." says Blitzo or Blitz, or whatever his name is while pointing a finger at Octavia.

"Sweetheart! Why have you run away? And telling nothing about it to neither me nor your mother? You had both of us worried sick!"

And just like that, the expression of sadness and anger is back into Octavia's face.

"Oh, shut up, dad! You and mom would prefer to scream at each other than to look at me anymore! That is all you do, now! Just yelling! I just needed to get away from all that! And to top it all, you come in here with HIM!!!" she yells out while gesturing at Blitz.

"Oh!" continued Octavia's father. "I'm sorry, my sweet, but he has one of the best trackers that I know of. And since you didn't tell us where you were going, I thought you may had been kidnapped. I wasn't going to take any risks."

"Oh! Just... just leave me alone, dad. I just came to visit Charlie. She's an old friend." says the annoyed expression on the young girl-owl.

"Well, of course she is. Her family and ours are on good terms. We organized some parties together. That's how you know her. But you have to understand, my dear. You can't just run away like that and not tell us where you go. And without protection! We are royalty, there are lots of creeps out there who would want a piece of any of us."

"You mean like HIM?!" she yells out and gestures at Blitz again. The amount of rage with which he treats him... there is something in it. I feel a story there. "He wants a piece of you, apparently! And you willingly give it to him on a regular basis!!!" Ah, there it is. Interesting development.

"Please, leave me out of this!" said Blitz "What I did was entirely transactional." There is a tinge of discomfort in his voice. Huh... such an interesting juncture

"Octavia!" raises his voice the tall owl-lord, it's not properly a yell, just a slightly louder tone "What happens between Blitzy and me, was not supposed to afflict you! I know the problems it has caused, and I'm sorry for them. But please, don't make it even worse. I care for you today just as much as I did before all of this happened, and that is never going to change. Please, return home."

"It's not a home anymore." says Octavia "You ruined it."

"Octavia..." I notice as the tall owl-lord has a saddened expression on him.

"Ahm... mister Stolas, sir." begins Charlie. "Octavia came here to try to relax for a bit. Perhaps she could stay a while longer, until she feels ready to return home? If you are worried for her safety, I assure you, she'll be safe here."

"Oh! That might be a good idea. Thank you, princess Morningstar." said the tall owl. "But please, just make sure she returns home safely."

"I will." assured Charlie.

"And by the way, I'm very sorry about your door. I'll make sure to pay for the damage. I wouldn't want any trouble with either you, or your family."

"Oh! Yeah. That would be appreciated." finished Charlie.

"Okay, Blitzy. I believe Octavia is in good hands. We can leave now."

"Wait just a second, Stolas." says Blitz "Moxxie, Millie, do you have our cards?"

One of the smaller red skinned creatures begins talking with a male voice, but a high pitched one for a man.

"I never leave without them, sir."

"That's good to hear Mox. Now why don't you give a presentation card to all the people here... might boost our contracts at some point."

"Good idea, sir." Says the final red skinned one, which I suppose is the one called 'Millie'.

Then the two creatures called Moxxie and Millie began handing out a card to each of us.

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I.M.P.

Immediate Murder Professionals.

If on Earth you've got a grudge, give us a call and we'll make them a sludge!

We'll kill any living man, woman or child of your choosing for the right price.

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Huh... interesting. It has a number at the end. Hmm... very interesting.

But as soon as I finish reading the card, Charlie freaks out.

"NO! NONONONONONO!" she yells out "This is a place that DISCOURAGES SIN! You can't just come in here and promote a murdering company! Are you kidding me?!"And suddenly she yanks the cards away from all of us, and throws them in the trash can. "Now, you lot need to leave! Now! I mean it!"

"Okay, princess. We don't mean any trouble to you. We were just trying to promote some business." said Blitz, and with that, the entire group that had barged inside the hotel left.

And out of nowhere, a set of black tentacles appeared right over the broken door of the hotel, and like magic, the door was good as new.

"I am not going to let my pet project fall in disarray so easily." said Alastor "If Stolas keeps his word and sends money to pay for the repairs, just keep it as a donation for the Hotel, Charlie dear." Clever move, Alastor... Clever move.

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Octavia spent a good chunk of extra time with us. But Charlie had given her word that she would ensure Octavia returns safely to her home, and so the young owl had to leave in a taxi. By the look on her face she wasn't very enthusiastic about it.

"Don't worry, Octavia. You can come visit whenever you want. Just make sure your dad won't call the 'Black OPs' on us each time you do." had assured Charlie.

And after that it wasn't long until we all went to bed.

But, once the lights were off, a certain blond, red skinned, and horned girl got out of her bed, directed herself quietly towards the living room, picked up one of the cards on the trash can, copied the number at the bottom on a piece of paper, returned the card to the garbage, washed her hands, and went to sleep.