Stella enjoys Augustus and Layla part 4

from /hhg/ - Helluva Hotel General #813
part 1: h ttps://pastebin.com/pPMCPmXK
part 2: h ttps://pastebin.com/6qT1LX8V
part 3: h ttps://pastebin.com/3Tb52Q3u
Phenex A Great Marquis of the Ars Goetia
h ttps://pastebin.com/zJK3Z1HN
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>he let out a shuddering sigh, his own tears beginning to flow
>"I tried to pass on what little I had. My love for botany, astrology, the sciences in general! I know there's not much else..."
>and his voice turned fiery once more
>"...You and mother had made that ABUNDANTLY CLEAR...!"
>that made Stella flinch
>but the fire, just as quickly as flared, was snuffed out

>"...All we've done for the past YEAR is hurt each other..." he croaked, hoarsely "All we've done for the past DECADE is hurt Tavi, in the most well-meaning way possible..."
>he looked up at her, once again, thoroughly broken
>"...Why...? Why didn't you leave me? All that mattered to you your status. We could've split, amicably, even, way before Octavia. And even after her, I would've been happy if she stayed with either of us, so long as both of us could see her... You could've left, you could've saved face, you KNEW just WHO I was, you were the SMARTER between the two of us, why diDN'T YOU LEAVE--?!"
>"BECAUSE I LOVED YOU, YOU IDIOT!" she screamed "Even when you made it clear that you CAN'T love me, you stuck around! You were too stupid and spineless to defy anyone, so you made it easier for everyone! You CARED for ME! FOR OCTAVIA! You have SO MUCH and care in your heart, DESPITE EVERYTHING YOUR PARENTS DONE, and I FKING HATED THAT! I HATED IT BECAUSE I ENVIED IT! BECAUSE YOU HAD SO MUCH IN YOU THAT EVEN AT YOUR LOWEST, YOU HAD INTEGRITY! I THOUGHT THAT--...! I-I thought... I..."

>collapse
>nothing but quiet sobs

>Blitzo felt miserable
>his own life was a mess, but now, facing whatever horrorshow made these two who they are... He felt small
>insignificant
>just a small wrench thrown in the plans of some great scheme...

>...he felt watched


>August and Layla remained mortified
>the pain laid out before them was... overwhelming
>August could now recall more clearly a visage of Stolas from the past
>cool, calculating and stoic...
>...or was he timid, fearful and just quiet?
-
>Leyla knew of the friction between both Goetias and their parents
>both were envied by many, and seen as the apexes in their field, with children who likewise excelled...
>...and none, not one of them, were ever happy

>there was always a new conquest to be made, something to defend, something to raise
>out of the two, Stella always seemed like the wilder one, what, with her military training and artistry fiery passion...
>Stolas, by contrast, was always the shy kid, focused on his tasks
>in hindsight, she could tell that both of them were pushed, often beyond their breaking points, to keep going
>Stella would eventually buckle under it, and gave up her chance to be in the guard to obey her aging mother's wish, marrying Stolas, and having Octavia...
>Stolas, on the other hand, seemed to push everything down, showing little emotion as his parents passed away, one after the other
>afterwards, he even seemed elated a bit... Until Stella's parents passed as well...
>...perhaps, he didn't want to openly celebrate, seeing that she had been closer to her own

>in hindsight, the Pennas considered themselves lucky
>sure they may have been a more minor house, but really, they had everything the Goetias would've wanted, and, quite frankly, needed
>a pitiable state of affairs, but, alas, nothing much they could do about it...
>...too much had been said, already
-
>her sobs slowly subsiding, Stella would lift her head
>she looked like she had aged a decade in a day
>her eyes were bloodshot
>"...I still can't believe you brought HIM instead of me..."
>Blitzo flinched as her eyes darted to him for a second
>"I thought you wouldn't want to come!" Stolas retorded, bitterly "I figured if I told you what it was--!"
>but he cut off
>what little strength he had was spent on that last yell, and he fell silent
>his throat hurt

>"...No.... No..." he muttered "...I'm sorry, I... I just forgot... Forgot that..."
>"...Forgot that I even existed?" she asked, broken
>again, Blitzo flinched
>"...I wanted to forget..." Stolas replied, somehow still standing "...This whole argument... The screaming, the destruction... I just wanted some peace of mind..."
>"...So, you ran away..." Stella concluded, rising off the ground "You ran off... Like a coward again..."
>"...Because I have nothing the fear...?" Stolas asked, on a low voice "...I'm surprised you haven't hit me yet. Or Octavia..."
>in response, Stella just let out a low growl, her eyes glowing red
>Stolas' did the same, as he continued:
>"...With that training of yours, you could've killed both of us. Make it look like an accident... But you didn't... You couldn't even kill me..."
>he fixed her with a glare
>"...Well, not with your own hands, anyway..."

>Stella's eyes widened, the red glow going faint
>Stolas kept glaring
>"I'm not an idiot, Stella..." he hissed, his form becoming more and more feral "I know common imps wouldn't just throw themselves at me. There's a VERY high price to pay for upsetting the established order. A servile, killing a royal? The penalty is WORSE than death."
>his eyes widened, as he continued to stare at the now mortified swan
>"...You think I wouldn't notice the assassins in Loo Loo Land? Or the one that attacked Blitz and his friends, during the Harvest Moon festival?"
-
>and he gave her an ugly look
>"...Fitting that you would hire an imp with ideas above his station to do your dirty work!"

>Blitzo was really starting to regret telling him about Striker
>then again, if it was for security - he had no doubt in his mind that the snake would try to kill Stella the moment he was paid

>"...You could've killed me in my sleep, any night you've wanted..." continued Stolas "...But you couldn't even lay your own hands on me... And after everything that happened, you want me to believe that it was out of "love"? Really?"

>slowly, the shock and embarrassment withdrew from Stella's face, as anger took it's place once again
>"...Admit it." hissed Stolas "You're just as big of a coward as I am!"
>"...I didn't want to do dirty my hands with YOU!" she retorted, her own form growing wilder "You disgust me! You slept with him in OUR own bed! The very same we've spent our wedding night! The one where Octavita was conceived! You threw it all away for some imp's dck!"

>both the Pennas and Blitzo felt the wind pick up, although only the former two cared, as they watched, with increasing alarm, as the Goetias assumed their true forms
>if they started fighting here...!
>actually, forget that, one of them was bound to be killed in this!

>try as they might, August and Layla couldn't move
>they couldn't speak up, they couldn't interject
>having watched the entire horrid spectacle unfold before them left to too drained, and too much in the flow of the whole thing

>"That's still more dck that YOU'VE ever seen, you frigid btch!"
>"Oh, really? Is that the best you can come up with? That you'd rather have me be a cheap whre than who I am?!"
>"Oh, you're already ARE one, "dear!" Just without the fun parts!"

>all the while, all Blitzo could think was: "Unholy fk, how are they still fighting?!"
>the whole thing was becoming more and more grating to him
>and the two feathery fks behind him didn't do jack shit to calm the situation
-
>by this point, both owls were hardly recognizable as such
>just two masses of swirling, undulating pain - one black and glowing red, the other a dirty white haze with eyes all over, glowing orange
>their voices were still recognizable, if only just

>"At least now I know why Octavia's turning into a little TRAMP! You PREFER her like this! Bet you want her all to yourself!"
>that hit a nerve
>Stolas's form grew even more ferocious, with Stella's following close behind

>"How many father-daughter days ended with you in her, "daddy"?"
>"NOW YOU LISTEN HERE, YOU ELITIST SKANK--!"
ENOUGH!

>the room shook from the roar
>in less than a blink, the two royals were back to normal, staring shocked at the imp between them

>the Pennas could hardly believe their eyes
>they didn't even notice the little fellow move between the two, but they did catch a glimpse of his eyes and the mark on his forehead glowing in an iridescent mixture of fuchsia and red
>to August, that pretty much confirmed that Asmodeus' shenanigans were afoot

>"Just... Stop, OK?"
>Blitzo's voice was shaky and tired
>"Don't... Stop fighting, I can't fking takes this anymore! YOU can't take this anymore!"
>he looked from one Goetian to another
>"Why the Hell are you still fighting?" he said, chocking on his words "Haven't you had enough?"

>Layla watched and listened
>the imp sounded to be on the verge of crying

>taking a deep, ragged breath, Blitzo exhaled a sigh that nearly made him topple over
>after a bit of silence, he spoke up again, sounding exhausted
>"...Look... We get it, both of you were fked over by your parents, and just people who were supposed to love you, I get it!"

>the way he said it...
>the Goetians weren't the only ones here with a broken home

>"...But I was the catalyst for this! As sht as things were, the only reason they're as bad as they are is ME!"
>"...Blitzy..." Stolas began, somberly, but was quickly interrupted
>"NO! SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR WHRE MOUTH!"
-
>the imp was practically screaming
>"And DON'T FKING CALL ME "BLITZY"! When I told you to watch your beak, I didn't just mean it around my dck, ashole! I'm NOT your toy, NOT your slave, and NOT your PLAYTHING!!!"

>with each word, Stolas tucked his head lower, as if guilt mounted directly atop his head

>"ALL I WAS TO YOU IS AN EXCUSE TO NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR SHTTY MARRIAGE AND YOUR ESTRANGED DAUGHTER, AND BY SATan I don't need that in my life right now..."
>despite starting out with a roar, Blitzo found himself choking up
>all the guilt and shame, all the self-loathing and frustration that had been building up since the incident at that agency, had now bubbled up to the surface
>he struggled for words, desperately trying to hold back the pained cry that threatened to burst out of his chest
>"...and YOU!" he snapped, thrusting an accusing finger towards Stella, however, his voice choked out again, barely squeezing out whimpers where he wanted to scream
>"...I get that you're trying to save face, I do that with every second breath I take... But why do you keep going? Why hang on like this? It was going to be a heartbreak, but at least you could've gone out on your own term, rather than waiting until some heartless, thoughtless, perverted ASHOLE pushes you away and out of his life completely!"

>his words were dripping with guilt, and the symbol on his forehead flared up briefly again
>a heartbreaker, Layla surmised, but one that had chipped away at his own
>the imp's hands slowly snaked up to his own forehead, and began to grip
>he grit his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, as his body heaved
>it looked like he was convulsing in slow motion, and he let out a pained croak that made the Pennas' eyes widen
>so desperate was this imp to hold it all back that it causing him physical pain - his claws dug into his skin
>then, all of a sudden, his convulsions ceased, and he tried to steady his breath
-
>"...Look..." he began again, his voice steady in the most precarious manner possible "...We're here now. We can... We can fix this... This might be my last chance... YOUR last chance, to fix it. Or salvage it, or whatever, I don't know!"

>"..."Fix this"?"
>both he and Stolas looked to the side, horrified
>it wasn't the fact that she had spoken, and addressed HIM for the first time...
>...but rather, the fact that she sounded so... broken and defeated...
>...like someone at Death's door
>"...How?..." she asked, too tired to even cry "...What is there to...?"

>Blitzo shuddered, and shook his head
>"Look, I just-I can't deal with this anymore!" he crowed "There's so much sht going right now, and I just can't handle it! I can't deal with THIS..." and he motioned wildly between the two of them "...On top of EVERYTHING ELSE!"
>he sniffed, still holding back his tears
>"...I've been a colossal FK-UP my entire life! I just... I don't want to leave things broken again, and have ONE MORE THING slowly KILL ME ON THE INSIDE every night as I fall asleep..."

>unable to hold back his tears any more, he sniffed, letting out a shuddering, choked cry
>"I don't want it to hurt anymore. I don't want to hurt you anymore! I want to fix this! I HAVE to fix this! Otherwise, I'm... I can't... I don't know what I'm gonna do anymore!"

>it was a pitiful sight
>pitiable, really
>these three had to have been the most unfortunate people to have ever found each other, August thought
>decent as the imp may have seemed upon their first encounter, his consciousness, like that of many others', really only operated to lessen his own pain
>a bit of selfishness in every selfless action
>still, for him to try to take on such Herculean effort...
>August sighed, quietly
>...his life must be full of pain. Pain of his own making

>"...But... How are you planning to--?"
>Layla's question was interrupted, as the imp... Blitz, was it? Snapped his head towards them