Chapter 17 - Chapter 14: Fun and Troubles

Tired.

Lincoln felt so very tired.

More tired than he's probably ever felt before in his formerly normal human life.

It had been like this for the past few days at most, ever since that whole situation with those D.H.O.R.K.S agents and how they kidnapped him, Moxxie, and Blitzo. Out of all I.M.P's outings in the human world, that was perhaps their most challenging and perilous one so far. Being captured by government demon hunters was a profound debacle, one that no one on the team wished would ever happen again. Not only was being captured not a fun experience, but for the three who were subjected to the very trippy effects of the truth bomb especially left its mark. While Blitzo and Moxxie managed to recover, it can be said that for Lincoln, he was particularly affected, as he had undergone a drastic transformation during that mess.

Lincoln remembered every minute of it, but at the same time, couldn't really piece together every moment. Everything after he got exposed to the gas and became a complete blur, at least for a moment. Then came the flashes, he saw the terrified agents, the incredible feats of magic he did without the use of his teacher's treasured grimoire, that every same teacher's epic entrance to save them, and how he almost killed for the first time.

Agent One and Agent Two.

Had Stolas not reeled him in, Lincoln would have had his very first tastes of murder.

He knew this while he was slowly squeezing the life out of them, but didn't mind whatsoever. All he cared about was making the people who caused I.M.P so much strife pay for threatening them in the first place.

Lincoln felt terrible he had such thoughts.

But at the same time, it was so invigorating.

Following their return to Hell, Lincoln felt completely winded, as if he just ran more than a whole mile. In the next few days, he spent most of his time in his room, waiting until he regained all his strength. During that time, he's been studying various magic books to pass the time and grasp a better understanding of his whole deal. At the same time, Moxxie and Millie have been keeping busy fretting over him, making sure he was doing okay, especially the latter.

Loona's also helped, bringing him food, and even Blitzo's done his fair share of support.

Only in his usual unique way.

Apparently, he's been granted on leave status for the moment, but that would mean a pay deduction...another reminder that the kid was an unpaid intern.

Either way, it wasn't all bad.

Getting enough sleep was nothing to complain about.

Except for when the nightmares began.

Opening his eyes with a startled gasp, Lincoln found himself not in his room in Hell, but in an endless dark void, the same kind that he was in during his hallucination from the gas. The white haired boy stands and hugs his arms to keep warm after feeling the cold air and tensely walks forward, no matter how many turns he took or tried going back to where he started, there was nothing else in sight.

"Heeeee..."

"Who's there?!"

"Heeeee...Kill...Destroy all...Survive..."

He covered his ears to try and block out all the whispers, but he could still hear them, and what truly struck him was that he could recognize his own voice whispering.

"Stop it...! Stop it...!"

That small plea suddenly made the whispering stop, but the relief he found was short-lived once a fountain of black goop shot out in front of him and from it was a large demonic face, one that adorned antlers and rabbit ears, with its fang mouth opened wide and it dived down. Lincoln screams in terror and moves out of the way, and runs off to get as far as he could.

"No escape..."

"What you really are..."

"Never go home..."

"Accept..."

"Shut up!"

How can he focus on running when he can still hear all that constant whispering?!

Lincoln comes to a halt when a black spike blocks his path, another one appears when he runs to the other path.

It wasn't long until he found himself trapped and the face appeared once more. Then, he looks down to see his legs submerging into the surface not unlike being caught in quicksand, with the surface rippling like it was a puddle of water. Struggling, he tries in vain to lift his legs up, and the face finally corners him as it gazes down at the frightened human boy.

"Embrace it..."

"Become what you are..."

"For your new family..."

"I-I don't understand...!"

Lincoln's lower half was now totally submerged as the face spreads throughout the surface, and Lincoln reaches his arm out as he sinks down, his thoughts drifting to those he loves back on Earth, and those he's come to love in Hell...until there was nothing.

The room that served as Lincoln's private space at I.M.P headquarters becomes filled with the startled shout of Lincoln waking up and panting heavily with sweat pouring down and checking himself over to see that it was indeed, just a dream.

All just a dream.

But felt all too real.

He gazes down at his shaking hands and closes his eyes to calm himself down, all these dreams have been tormenting him endlessly and there's no way to make them stop, all since his surprising showing of malevolent intent. As if that side of him wanted to show itself again, but wasn't going to let it, all that darkness he felt within himself and the sadistic satisfaction he took in hurting those who hurt his loved ones, it was like that time he stabbed Striker only increased ten times. From the way everyone else in I.M.P described, they got a demonic feeling off of him.

He softly touches his own chest with a tense expression.

Something was happening to him, Stolas described that Hell was forcing his body and soul to adapt better to it due to the curse that binds him to it, hence why he flew into such fits of rage and hatred to threats.

But, recently.

Recently, it felt way different.

Unfortunately, he was clueless as to what was going on.

Sighing, Lincoln jumps off his bed and gazes at the desk where Stolas' grimoire was placed, along with other magical tomes. He recalls being able to cast spells without using it and tried testing it out a few times, but nothing happened. Only ones such as these, he takes out a piece of paper and writes down demonic writing and focuses hard to make the writing glow, the book is lifted up in an orange aura and it floats to Lincoln's hands. It's pages were filled with incantations, glyphs, sigils, and runes that he had to read in order to cast them. Over time, he relied on his photographic memory to recall only a few spells, but another side effect of what happened was that he could memorize more than a few of those spells, but not all of them.

All that knowledge.

But no step closer to breaking his curse.

Closing it, Lincoln sighs and walks out the door where a certain Hellhound was seated at her usual spot at the receptionist desk. "Hey, Linc!" Loona tersely greeted with a bit of a forced smile. "How, uh, how you doing, bud?"

"Okay." Lincoln evenly replies with a shrug.

That was a clear lie to hide what he truly felt, Loona was adept in that skill herself, but didn't want to force the truth out of him. "Uh, I think Moxxie left something for you in the fridge, guess the little fucker's finally getting into fatherhood, huh?"

"Yeah..."

Awkward silences were a bitch, and the one that soon envelops between the two was a major one. Though she was still new to this whole friend/big sister-like role, Loona nevertheless tries to be a bit less abrasive as she usually is, Lincoln being one of the few she was willing to do that for.

"Look, um, Millie told me to give you some space and I did. Weird as that may sound, I actually agreed with her. But you know, if you ever want to talk about...some shit, or whatever, I'm always free." Loona gestures to her desk. "I mean, clearly, I don't have a lot going on, and nothing's better than listening to whiny-ass Sinners 24/7. I can tell you that much. Plus, it's not just me. Millie, Moxxie, even Blitz. Just..." she scratches her head to find the right words of comfort, a hell of a challenge for someone like her. "...don't shut us out, okay?"

Hard to believe that not too long ago, this was the same goth Hellhound that didn't want to do anything with some white haired human boy that's been forced to take up residence in Hell and work in the same company as well. Despite their rough beginnings, both of them have come to care for one another and Lincoln appreciated her making an effort to help him out.

But, he didn't really feel like talking at the moment...but, was that really the right thing to do?

"It's-" Lincoln began with hesitance. "I just-"

Both of their phones vibrated and that could only mean one thing.

Opening the book, Lincoln read the page that had the spell for the portal that I.M.P frequently uses to enter the land of the living. That very portal opened and a loud explosion was heard, there came Blitzo, Moxxie, and Millie as they flew through the portal. After it closes, Lincoln and Loona observe the imps slam onto the wall, covered in soot and ash, and as usual, blood stained weapons.

Another somewhat successful hit, courtesy of I.M.P. "Hot damn!" Blitzo shakes the ashes off him, throwing his weapons aside and picks his employees up. "These jobs always keep getting more exciting everyday! Impressive work, M&M, as always. Especially you, Moxxie. Those shit-fucks didn't know what hit 'em."

"Th-Thank you, si-, uh, Blitz." Moxxie found it weird to refer to his employer so casually, even odder to hear Blitzo compliment him for his work ethic. But following that mess with D.H.O.R.K.S, being captured and tripping together on truth telling gas can apparently lead to some breakthroughs. "I must admit, we could've done that with a little more discreet, but as you said, circumstances did basically throw discreet out the window."

"Now you're starting to get it, bucko!" Blitzo laughed, playfully slapped the shorter imp's shoulder and saw Lincoln. "Well, lookey here! Finally getting off your ass, eh, intern?"

Lincoln lightly chuckled. "Heh, figured I've done enough sleeping."

Millie rushed over to give her own differing opinions. "Now, are you sure, sweetie?" she touched his forehead and leaned in close to get a feel of his heartbeat, in a complete worried mess over the boy who's her son in all but blood. "I'm pretty sure kids your age need more than ten hours of sleep before getting back to a hundred percent."

Lincoln groaned, flustered. "Millie..."

"Don't you dare backtalk your Ma, young man." she sternly tutted her finger at her boy. "I have a right to worry."

"Now, Millie. I think you've done enough worrying for one day. If Lincoln says he's well rested, then, he's well rested." Moxxie supported a thankful Lincoln as he patted his head in a fatherly fashion.

"Aww, get a load of you, Moxxie!" Blitzo gushes. "Arguing with the missus about the welfare of your kid. So, intern. Does this mean you'll hang with us for the next job? Cannot say I missed lugging around all the equipment."

Before Lincoln could answer, Millie interjected with a pensive expression. "Now, sir. Let's not move too fast here. I mean, I personally think it's still to soon for him to go back on the field with who knows how many fucks in suits creeping around, looking to break up a happy family, again." She lets out a feral growl while holding a sharp spear as if she was expecting one to show up for her to kill before they could even nab her boys.

"Okay, this is just fucking weird." Loona voiced, she didn't even think that opposite day was even a thing in Hell. "Biltz, you're not dissing Moxxie and Millie, you're not agreeing to one of Blitz's ideas? Like, what the actual fuck? Did I miss another of those crappy memos?"

"Now, Looney, you know that damn copy machine broke last week." Blitzo pointed at the very busted and dusty office item that was now a nesting home for Hell spiders that were devouring flies.

"Didn't you say you were gonna buy a new one, Blitz?" Lincoln asked.

Blitzo rolled his eyes. "Who has the time, Lincoln? Bottom line, Millie's just looking out for her little man and shocking as it sounds, Moxxie can indeed be competent. That, and I don't have time to rib anyone period, I gotta make sure the client ponies up the dough while also looking through online shopping for figurine ponies. Call me if you need me, fam! Got my eye on a special one!"

Blitzo retreated into his office, and Lincoln looked at M&M. "I really am feeling a little bit better." he claimed, intentionally leaving out his nightmare problem. "It's getting a little boring being cooped up in here."

Loona raises a fist in solidarity. "Damn right."

"That is up to your parents to decide, little mister." Millie sternly told him. After the D.H.O.R.K.S incident, she's also been hesitant on letting him accompany them for jobs, quite odd considering her nature. "Until then, you have something else to worry about."

"I do?" Lincoln's Hell phone rang and he saw the reminder. "Oh, that's right. Another lesson in magic with Stolas, and Blitz is busy right now."

"We'd love to take you, but we can't." Moxxie apologetically said. "I'm afraid Millie and I have our own business to attend to back at our apartment."

Loona loudly sighs in resignation. "Fine, if everyone's being a lazy ass about it." she shouted to her adoptive father. "Blitz! I'm taking Linc to those stuffy rich owls! I'll be taking the van's keys!"

"Remember, hon! If you spot a jaywalker, don't hesitate to run them over!"

This had to be the first time Lincoln's seen Loona drive the I.M.P van and was thankful that she was mindful enough to not have a lot of alcohol beforehand, surprisingly responsible for a demon like her. Not only that, but she had previously expressed displeasure at standing anywhere near a luxurious mansion that housed the most elite of Hell's demons that lower class demons such as imps can only find themselves in by being either the help or a frequent lover of the mansion's master.

Although, Blitzo was enough to fill that category.

"Just so you know, I'm only doing this because the whole learning magic deal is a fucking big deal for the company. At least, that's how Blitz put it. ...And mostly since you really like it..." Loona murmured bashfully.

"Thanks, Loona." Lincoln smiled. "It's about all I can do since Millie still doesn't want me in the field. Kind of weird since she used to love bringing me along." He can understand that she's just looking out for him, but it made Lincoln feel like he wasn't part of the team.

"Well, with you getting captured by Earth government spooks, can you honestly blame her?" Loona defended.

"Sticking up for Millie? Now, who's acting odd?"

Okay, he had her there.

"I-Fine. That did make me throw up a bit in my mouth." She'd be damned as a Sinner if Millie would ever hear her say that. "But, you get what I mean, right? Lucifer knows I wouldn't like it if something bad happened to you up top. None of us would." She then brings up another crucial matter, one that she knew would be the last thing Lincoln wanted to think about. "Not to mention...you know...what happened before..."

Lincoln knew what she was talking about.

The Hellborn imps and Hellhound didn't know what to think about what had transpired with Lincoln. They knew he was surprisingly gifted with demonic magic, but they never imagined he was capable of such feats, especially at the end where he nearly got his first two kills and they could see what his own shadow was turning into. It reminded the demons of how certain Sinners would exhibit their full demonic potential when pushed to the brink of anger, but that should be impossible. Unlike most mortal souls in Hell, Lincoln's still alive.

Yet, he displayed more power than your garden variety Sinner.

"You guys...didn't like it when I was like that?"

He figured they'd be impressed.

"If it were some pushy fucker that loves to show off and can't keep a lid on their temper, I'd barely give two shits. But, you're not like that." Loona explained. "And, I know you were probably more scared than the rest of us."

"Huh, I kinda thought you guys would've preferred if I didn't pull my punches for once."

"Maybe in the beginning, but things can change..."

That was before they started to think more of him, before they all started to care...

Lincoln didn't expect that to have such a profound effect like that. Sure, he knows that just as he's come to value I.M.P as treasured friends, they also have grown to be fond of him, but it astounds him that it's gotten so far that it seems like they treasure his natural affinity for innocence. Being born in Hell, he thought they'd expected some of that innocence to crack like so many other human souls and just let it happen, only, it was the exact opposite.

While they want him to be a bit more realistic with his idealism, they really don't want that to be completely destroyed.

"You guys don't have to worry. That's what these lessons with Stolas are for. The more I learn, the better control I can get on this curse until I can finally break it and go home." Lincoln couldn't see the slight frown that formed on Loona when he said that and switched to another subject. "Which reminds me, maybe you can try meeting his daughter, Octavia."

"Cozying up with a royal rich princess." Loona droned dismissively. "Hard pass on that, Linc."

"Oh, come on. I get that there are issues between higher and lower ranked demons, but Octavia's not some stuck up rich kid. In fact, you two are alike in some ways."

"I'm sure."

Lincoln continued to insist. "It's true. You both hate just about everyone you don't personally know, packed with a lot of snarky quips to your father figures, and she even shops a lot at Stylish Occult like you do. I'm just saying, you'd be missing out on making a new friend."

Despite the very strong points Lincoln listed, Loona was still not convinced. Fact of the matter is that she and this Goetia royal were from two different worlds in a figurative sense. Octavia grew up raised by her parents with numerous servants attending to her every whim, while Loona had learned to fend for herself and fought tooth and nail in the orphanage she lived in before Blitzo adopted her.

Whatever similarities they may have, it's not like Loona can just forget that their upbringings were vastly different.

Even if she wouldn't really mind making more friends.

That, and she's somewhat jealous that someone else was filling the role of being Lincoln's surrogate demon big sister, but she was too embarrassed to admit it due to how petty it was.

"Look, let's just drop it, okay? Pretty sure you should be more focused on learning whatever flashy thing those Goetias will teach you, anyway. Though, no offense, but I'm willing to be the big owl is thinking of another fuck session with Blitz. One good side to this trip, I won't have to see any of that sick ass flirting."

Now, if it were any other day, Loona would be quite correct.

In his mansion, Stolas was inside his personal study. When he was out and about, he looked his best to strut his extravagant self for all to worship and be envious of, but when home, it's always a different story. He mostly stays clad in his very loose sleeping robe, seeing as this was his house, he saw no issues with expressing some form of freedom, and it's not like he's the only one in Hell that does so.

But with the recent days that have passed, his once lavish lifestyle has hit quite the bumps in the road.

For one thing, him taking on the responsibility of being a magic teacher required him to look through his entire library for endless searches that could give him some clues or means for the sake of Lincoln. Most other demon lords wouldn't go so far, much less for a mortal, but it can be inferred that Stolas is unique in that regard, just as how unique his young pupil was.

The debacle with human demon hunters drove Stolas to truly invest much time into all the magical knowledge at his disposal. Even though such work can be tiresome to say the least, it's nothing a prince of his status can't handle. "Sire."

Making a noise of annoyance, Stolas replies to the imp servant that addressed him.

"I believe it was my request to not be disturbed whatsoever."

Gulping, his butler tugs his collar to recompose. "I know and I humbly apologize, your highness. But, uh, lady Stella has finished her preparations."

...And that was another bump.

Stolas now realized he spent time in the study longer than he thought and with a heavy breath, halted any further studying. "...I see." This was too big for him to ignore, as it relates to his family. "Let's get on with it, then."

He walks out the study with steely stoicism.

To think that it's come to this.

But no surprise came from him. In fact, some part of him felt that this was inevitable. Otherwise, it would've been naive of him to think that the turmoil that has transpired in his home would end on a happy note. Remarkably, however, there was also another part of him that was disappointed. He felt that no matter how furious Stella was with him, it would subside and she'd at least focus on other matters. It's what she's been doing as of late, but no, here she was, standing at the front doors with servants carrying her heavy bags.

"Stella." Stolas nodded.

"Imp-dick lover." she replied.

A common greeting from her and at this point.

"I see you have everything in order."

"What gave it away? The bags?" Stella patronizingly chided. "My dwelling is all prepared for my arrival, and that would be happening much sooner if the damn chauffeur finally gets his ass here already!" she roars outside.

"...And how long will you be staying there for, exactly?"

"Take a wild guess." Stella coldly retorts.

"So, this is really what it's amounted to. After everything." Stolas knew he couldn't stop her, but he'd like to believe that Stella truly wasn't fully aware of the ramifications this decision would have.

"Don't act so shocked, Stolas." Stella had enough reasons to detest the very sight of the prince, him being naive would add to the list. "If I recall, you once told me that if I hate living with you so much, I should leave. Well, wish granted. I imagined you would be pleased."

"I-" Stolas rubs his temple and attempts to at least try and salvage this massive mess. "You had to have known I wasn't being serious. Look, perhaps slow down a bit, dear. Can we not just simply...talk? Must such extreme measures be taken?"

Stella's eyes briefly glow in rage. "There's nothing left to talk about, because there's nothing left to say! If you didn't want me to leave your bloody side, then you should've thought twice before letting an imp in our bed!" The servants groaned as they finally got the door opened while carrying the heavy begs that was torture for their backsides. "It's far too late and you know it!"

She motioned to storm off, but Stolas still had much to speak about. "At least tell me you've spoken with Octavia. You can't expect her to completely understand what's going on." After some time, he's now come to realize how much their family drama has been hurting their daughter and silently begs Stella to at least consider her feelings on this. Reasons for leaving or not, he found it a mistake to pack up and leave without at least thinking of Octavia. The two royals may not have had genuine love for each other, but Stolas saw his daughter as something Stella should also treasure.

"...Our daughter is a big girl." Stella says after a tense silence, flicking away Stolas' hand. "She'll understand."

"Understand what? That her family is breaking apart?!" Stolas spat, temper silently rising. "That everything she's known is poised to never be the same ever again?! Just because she'll understand it, doesn't mean she'll like it! As her mother, you have a responsibility to-"

"Responsibility? Responsibility?!" Stella venomously roared, making Stolas deflate and lose some of the control. "You are the last bastard to lecture me about responsibility?! You are a Goetia! A prince! Had a life that most of Hell's peasant trash could only dream of having! Hellborn and Sinners alike pissed themselves and knelt at your very presence! All that power and wealth, and you just foolishly gambled it all when you decided to lay in bed with some upstart imp! We both know it's far too late to fix anything!"

"B-But, Octavia-"

"Is free to live here and at my dwelling on a rotational period! Or did you conveniently forget that?" The limousine arrives at last, and Stella proceeds to walk. "I told you that I couldn't stand looking at you, and I meant it!"

"I...I..." Stolas reaches his hand out, but pulls back. "I'm sorry..."

Stella stops in her tracks and her fists clenched tightly. "No, Stolas. You're not." The avian demon gritted her teeth before restarting her walk and mutters one last thing that didn't reach the owl demon's ears. "But, you will be..." she ominously promised.

Stolas didn't flinch when Stolas slammed the door shut, all he could do was stand there in silence before releasing a heavy sigh while swiping his hand down his face, and slumped on a chair. In spite of everything, he still somehow felt his heart break over what had just transpired, and no matter how much he tries to deny it, Stella was ultimately right.

She was a major bitch about it.

But, she was right.

"Dad."

Octavia considered staying in her room like always whenever her parents got into another quarrel, but felt that she's done enough hiding. Seeing her devastated father compelled her to act. "Via. I-I-" Stolas sniffled, not wishing for her to see him in such a pitiful state. "Apologies if we disturbed you...once more."

The young owlet turned to the doors with a frown. "She already left." That wasn't even a question, but an observation. She saw the limo carrying her mother drive off through a window.

"Th-That she did." Stolas moves and stands behind his little princess. "I couldn't stop her. Forgive me."

Fresh tears were threatening to leak, this was almost a nightmare come true. "I-I don't blame you..." she reassures her father.

Her father closes his eyes. "You should." Stolas turns her around. "But have no worry, this doesn't mean you'll never see her again. She says that you're free to visit her for the weekends, this isn't goodbye forever."

"But, you won't be there..." Octavia lamented. It wouldn't be the same over there or here in the palace without her whole family together, all of this was happening way too fast and it pissed her off. But strangely, there was actual relief. Why? Why the fuck is she feeling relief in such a precarious moment in her family life?! Her family was broken, that just wasn't right!

"Oh, honey. Please, don't despair." Stolas wipes off her tears with a soft smile. "Your mother may just need time away to collect her thoughts, that's all. These are just things that happen with grownups.

"Well, it sucks. It fucking sucks so much."

"That it does, little starfire. That, it does. But I promise, this won't get any worse and besides, I know something that may lift your spirits, and no, it's not another children's theme park." Stolas said, catching her deadpan look. "I do believe that a certain special time has arrived."

Octavia was confused by what he meant, until she gasped in realization. "Crap, that's right. Lincoln's coming along! ...But, is now really a great time, dad? I'm sure he'd understand if we could just re-schedule."

"Perish the thought, sweetheart." Stolas fervently shook his head, he still has his role as a magical teacher and wouldn't disappoint on that front. "After all, I know that boy's been a great friend to you and is a superb student. If anything, we are in dire need of some levity."

Magic training was always a blast for Lincoln.

He wished all his friends and family could watch him do more than simple stage magic, but the real thing, maybe then, Lynn will stop being such a naysayer when she gets super critical at his performances. Octavia was the only other participant and displayed wondrous potential, that was to be expected as she was the daughter of a Goetia, and Stolas can be described as the fun kind of teacher and the wise kind all in one.

"Alright, you two. Time is up."

Stolas' declaration made Lincoln and Octavia present a bowl of eerie liquids that changed colors. His instructions was to stir up a magical concoction meant to mystically enhance soil and plants. The Goetia poured both into a garden where some nearby exotic flowers started rumbling, and the soil beneath them morphed into two mini mud men, then two more, and more, and more. "Uh, was that supposed to happen?" Lincoln asked, thinking they might have overdone it.

"This is actually the next part of the lesson, dear boy." Stolas giggles. "I imagine that these adorable little ragamuffins will make quite a mess for our servants, and that's not even getting into the kind of trouble outside. Do you children think you're able to take care of it before that can happen?"

Octavia scoffed with a smirk. "Please. Give us a challenge, for once. Come on, Linc. We got this!"

Lincoln unveiled some flash cards with the inscription for multiple portal spells that he memorized from his mentor's spell book that lead to the main rooms of the Goetia mansion, and they were ready to get to work. "Let's go!"

Once they rushed through, Stolas was left to ponder.

His human pupil showed once again a very impressive example of his resourcefulness by writing down spells in case he didn't have the book.

It also shows that his ability of casting spells without such means could only occur when he's in the demonic state that had been exhibited only once before, but it was left to imagination if that were a good thing or bad thing. Waving his hand, Stolas opens a viewing window that shows where his student and daughter were in the mansion, feeling the need that some observation was required for him to understand more. A mud man was in the kitchen, throwing plates and utensils at the maids when Octavia arrived and opened a portal that drops an energy net on top of them.

Seeing his little girl be so independent brought some proud tears to his eyes.

As for the human boy, he was in one of the many bathrooms watching a horde of them trying to flood it. With some cards, he had the water form into bubbles that trapped the mud creations and were floated to a portal.

Both tracked many others down to various parts of the mansion and were largely successful in taking care of the mud creations and for the most part, it looked like they managed to catch all on the loose. "Is that it?" Lincoln asked.

"I think so. Don't see any-"

A feral roar cuts Octavia off as they run and see one of the sentient plant monsters being hassled by the mud men. The monster was in a frenzy, smashing apart a lot of furniture, and becoming increasingly furious.

"Should I be worried?" Lincoln looks up at her.

Octavia nods her head with a dire tone. "Oh, yeah. You don't want to see what happens when dad's plant pets are pissed off. We had to hire a whole new collection of servants after what happened to the last ones."

"W-What happened to the last ones?"

"...Some things are better left unsaid, buddy."

"Noted." Lincoln felt like he was better off, anyway. "Okay, I think I have a plan."

"You have a plan for little mud bastards and a plant monster? Like, specifically for this kind of scenario?"

"I've planned for weirder stuff long before I ended up here."

The mud men continued screwing around with the sentient plant, until suddenly, they were with orange energy constructs made to resemble them and their primitive minds couldn't tell the difference. So, throwing caution into the wind, those little fellas followed their constructed duplicates into crates and the others were entangled by tree vines being manipulated. Both acts are pulled off by the two young magic users. "Now, it's all of them."

"Not bad, kid. Not bad." Octavia smirked. "Even though I nabbed more than you."

"What?" Lincoln counted differently. "You did not. There were five in the courtyard."

Octavia snorts. "Big deal. Try capturing ten on the tennis court."

"Wait, tennis court? You have a tennis court here?"

"Oh, yeah. Just near the mini-aquarium."

"...Glossing over that, I totally got more."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that."

"Come on! I so did!"

As those two were arguing, the plant beast was slowly seeing that there were no more of those little heathens disturbing its isolating peace, it had wack a few to pieces, and its anger hadn't even been pacified in the slightest. But then, it set its sights on the two, the owl one carried the scent of its master, but wasn't him and as for the child. He wasn't physically imposing in the slightest, but when it smelled him, a sudden rush of urgency built up, it could pick up a hidden danger in the boy and felt that to protect itself, it must eliminate the danger.

From some rubble, a butler felt woozy after it was thrown by the plant. "Is it over?" He is grabbed by the beast and thrown out the window and an audible thud was heard upon impact. "...This seems like an appropriate time to finally tender my resignation...but alas, I won't...for no one else will take me..."

The plant roars as Lincoln and Octavia. "Oh, right. Forgot about that thing." the owlet grimaced.

"Uh, Octavia? Why is it looking at me like that?" Lincoln frightfully asked as the plant growled menacingly at him. He screams once it charges at it, but is held back by other servants.

"The hell is that thing's problem?!" Octavia demanded, keeping Lincoln behind her.

"Don't worry, princess!" An imp shouts. "We have it well in ha-AAAAAAHHHH!" He's kicked through the roof.

Lincoln didn't know why the plant had it out specifically for him. He should be used to this sort of thing by now, but damn it, it made his blood boil over how he could never feel safe for long in Hell. His understandable fear becomes annoyance and that annoyance grows into anger as his glow red and he makes it known that he has very little patience for this bullshit. "Leave me ALONE!"

Just by shouting that command, an invisible force of magic energy is emitted that pushes the plant into the wall and the servants. Octavia's eyes widened in shock and turned to her friend. "Lincoln...?"

She never saw Lincoln explode like that. He was panting slowly with his eyes continuing to glow, he spotted a mirror to see his own reflection and in a flash, he saw the shadowy face from his dreams, making him gasp and the mirror just cracked out of nowhere. Octavia catches him before he could fall and glares at the servants and the plant. "Get that bloody thing in a cage! And clean up this damn mess!"

"At once, young miss."

"I can't feel my tail or horns."

Octavia considered taking Lincoln to her father, but her bedroom wasn't that far, so she settled with bringing him there, first. A very special privilege, as she rarely lets anyone besides her parents in.

But, Lincoln was a special exception. "Sit down here." she instructed, guiding him to a bean bag.

"Thanks." As with previous times, Lincoln felt extreme fatigue. "Did-Did I hurt anyone?"

Octavia raised a brow. "What?"

"J-Just, please. Tell me no one was hurt." Lincoln implored.

"Um...I think some servants got a bit banged up." Octavia quickly corrects herself when she sees him grab his head in guilt, realizing that wasn't what he wanted to hear. "B-But, that's fine, though! It happens to them all the time! Plants, my mom, some house guests and they're way stronger than they look. They'd have to be to deal with all the shit that goes down here. Lincoln, what just happened?" It was too big to ignore, she could feel some genuine demonic power from him.

Knowing he couldn't lie to her, Lincoln gave her the basic rundown. "Remember how I told you and your dad about what happened with the cherubs?" She nodded. "Well, that was pretty much what happened to me. It-It started out small. But after our last job, it got worse...or maybe better? I can't tell at this point. All I can be sure of is that it's part of that stupid curse."

"You didn't even use my dad's grimoire." Octavia noted with slight awe.

"I know. I get all these thoughts and feelings and I can't resist acting on them." Lincoln gazes at his hands. "It's like I just start thinking more like a-like a-"

"Demon." Octavia finishes for him.

"Yeah." Lincoln checked his eyes. "It's been keeping me up at night, and I thought lessons with you and your dad would help, but I can barely stop myself from getting angry enough to nearly lose it. Octavia, I'm so sorry that you had to see me like that...and for the damage to your house...and for the servants' injuries."

"Hey, hey, whoa. It's cool, Linc." Octavia rubbed his shoulder. "Don't forget you're talking to a child of the Ars Goetia demons and lived in Hell my whole life. It's fine. I just didn't expect that from well, a human. Least of all, you. Sorry, was that offensive?"

"Not the point." Lincoln also had hoped his teacher had made perhaps some strides. "Look, Octavia, can you tell me if Stolas has found anything, I don't know, useful? It doesn't have to be anything big, but something?"

Wincing, Octavia had to break the news delicately. "Honestly, I can't be sure. Most of the time, dad's either having it out with mom or calling up that dickweed boss of yours. But, I think he's been in his private study. If he had found something, I'm sure he'd tell you."

"Yeah, sure."

Lincoln wanted to believe that, but his optimism was wavering. Ocatavia fetched them both some much needed soda cans to add some levity, all this drama was way too much for a kid. "If it means anything, you're not the only one whose life is getting exceedingly crapped on. Count yourself lucky that you didn't get here about an hour earlier."

"Why's that?" He saw her brow lower and kept silent. "Octavia?"

There was nobody else in Hell she could pour her feelings out to, and for that, Octavia is forever thankful that she got to meet Lincoln. "It's my mother. She-She left not too long ago."

"Oh." Lincoln blinks. "Where to?"

"Some place she has set up. Said that she'd rather be there than here right now." Octavia sighed somberly. "Things between her and dad haven't gotten better, and well, it's now gotten to this."

"...How long will she be away?"

"Long as she wants..." Octavia sniffled.

Lincoln's young mind finally understood the implications and gravity of the situation and immediately comforted his friend. For all intents and purposes, her parents were effectively estranged and she had to deal with that fact. "Oh, man. Octavia, I'm-I'm sorry." To think that it's gotten this far, Lincoln had hoped that things would resolve themselves peacefully, but in Hell, it wasn't so simple.

"You got nothing to be sorry about, Linc." Octavia turned away to fight back some more tears. "Wanna know this part? I kinda don't blame her for leaving. She's as mad as I was at dad, but even then, I never once thought about leaving. I think she'd feel the same way, but I was wrong."

Lincoln scratches his head. "Well, you still get to see her, right? Then, it's not like she's also angry with you. Whatever goes on between your parents, I'm sure it's not something that's your fault. It's just grown up stuff, you know? Hardly ever makes sense."

Octavia's sniffle erupted into soft giggles. "Damn right. I don't know, though. You don't think I should have maybe done more? To try and keep our family together? Would that have made a difference?"

That question made Lincoln think long and hard, put in her position, he'd probably do whatever it took to keep his own parents from splitting apart. But in the end, even with the support of his sisters, his mom and dad would just stay together not for each other, but for the kids. That seemed to be what was trying to be done in the Goetia family, and look how that turned out. "I can't say for sure, but they probably wouldn't have wanted you to get so involved. To them, you're just a kid. I'm just a kid. Only so much we can do to make our lives better."

Now that was deep as Hell. "Yeah, well, it still bloody sucks, though." Octavia spat indignantly. "I mean, why us specifically? Bound to be more young dumbasses in both Hell and Earth for life to screw over."

"Who knows? Bet you whatever higher power there is, it didn't take long for it to single me out." Lincoln points at his white hair. "Not like there are any other middle schoolers with snow on the roof that's not cheap dye."

"Pfft, guess God or some shit decided to just play roulette with bird demons, regardless of being either Sinner or Hellborn." Octavia sardonically cracked and the two shared a laugh.

Lincoln raises his soda can. "To having crap in our lives?"

Octava clinks it with hers. "To having crap in our lives."

Lincoln took a moment to take in her room. "Gotta say, you got a cool room. A step up from mine in the office."

"Ooh, you know, I actually thought about this before." Octavia snaps her fingers and it didn't take long for there to be a TV with a very kickass looking gaming system that made the boy drool. "Up for a few rounds?"

The rest of the time was spent with the two friends having fun like children their age should.

Ignoring all the problems of their lives and just enjoying each other's company, such a sight was great for Stolas to see as he looked through the door. He regretted not intervening when his carnivorous plant attacked Lincoln, but then he learned how the boy effortlessly pushed the beast back with his own latent demonic power. It wasn't as big as before, but still left one huge impact to those that could sense it.

It also gave Stolas a chance to carefully learn just how powerful that side was.

Anger.

Fear.

Hatred.

Feelings like those seem to be the triggers, if Lincoln were to feel too much of them, then that led to his expanding demonic side cracking through the surface and he would present so much repressed ferocity that would even garner attention from high class demons such as himself and his daughter. It was impressive that a human of all things is capable of such feats, but also very concerning. The curse that had been afflicted upon Lincoln seems to have inadvertently created something, started a transformation of the boy's own mortal soul.

That transformation progresses in the form of some adaptation to the environment process, and one thing he's learned of his student is that he is adaptive to the situation, hence why it's progressing at a fast rate.

What may occur at the end of that process is unknown even to him, and even if he does find a way to break the curse's hold on Lincoln's soul, will that truly stop what's been set into motion?

For now, he needs to focus on Lincoln's training, which will need to happen on another day. Clearing his throat, Stolas steps through a portal to Octavia's room and feigns surprise. "Ah, there you two are." Both put the video game on pause.

"Hey, dad." Octavia greets, not panicked that he caught them slacking off, unlike Lincoln.

"Stolas! We-uh-We caught the mud men! This is just a quick break?"

"Oh, my dear boy. Have no worries, I'd say you two deserved a reprieve and I must say, I count this as another successful day of honing your magical prowess." Stolas clapped his hands in satisfaction. "Now, I do believe that wraps it up. That charming little Hellhound of yours must still be waiting for you, Lincoln. Allow me to show you the way."

Lincoln took some time to speak once more with his friend. "I'll see you later, Octavia, and take it easy, alright?"

"Funny. I was about to say the same thing." Octavia pulls him in for a hug. "Thanks for listening, Lincoln. I mean that."

Smiling, Lincoln returns the hug, and leaves. "Anytime." As his teacher guides Lincoln through the halls of the mansion, Lincoln brings up what Octavia had told him about the prince's deteriorating marriage. "Octavia told me things haven't been looking so good here."

Stolas nods in acceptance. "Yes. I would imagine she would. Luckily, I like to think having you as a friend is good for her in such times."

"What about you?"

"I'm...fine." Stolas reassures, though it was anything but convincing.

"Are you sure?" Lincoln pressed, knowing the tell tale signs of someone feigning being alright. "Look, I don't know that much about relationships or even marriages, but if this looks like something that needs your attention, especially if it's distracting you from other things."

Ah, always the perceptive one.

"Lincoln, dear boy, please. Don't concern yourself with it. Besides, for the most part, there's not much left to fix." Stolas considerably frowns, but still attempts to look strong in front of his pupil. "But you needn't worry, this will resolve itself over time. In the meantime...is Blitzy busy by any chance?"

"That depends." Lincoln shrugs.

"On what?"

"On whether or not he's not too busy using the money we get from a successful contract to buy more horse figurines, betting on horse races, or losing most of it in-between the couch cushions. He, Moxxie, and Millie just came back from a job, so it's either one of those things. Or all three at the same time." Lincoln holds up a finger. "Specifically in that order."

A butler covered in bandages opens the door. "One last thing, Lincoln." Stolas said. "Whatever may happen, never forget this, you chose who you are. Human or demon."

That got stored deep inside Lincoln's mind. "Thanks, Stolas."

Watching him leave, Stolas looks downward to his servant. "Clear my next hours. I have certain business to attend to." He cryptically ordered.

"Wait, wait, wait. Little mud men? Are you being for real, right now?!"

Loona could barely contain her laughter when Lincoln told her of the fun-filled events that happened during his lesson. If she wasn't careful, she might just hit a jaywalker as Blitzo wished for. "It's true." Lincoln affirmed, laughing a bit, too. "Had to run around the manor to catch them all."

"I thought I heard some weird noises." Loona recalled. "Is it really always that crazy?"

"Not particularly, but still fun all the same." Lincoln not so subtly reminds her she would have joined in anytime she wanted. "Would've been cooler if we had a third party joining in, just saying."

The Hellhound smirked. "You're not gonna let that go are you, kid?"

"Afraid not, no."

Kid was persistent, and Loona can respect that, but it doesn't mean she'll entertain his idea, though. "Whatever. Enough silent drives, I fucking hate those. I'm sure there are some sweet radio shows on right now." She turns the radio on and rolls through various channels until finding a station she regularly listens to with a very smooth talking host, talking to their various listeners.

"What's up, all you damned heathens!" A male-sounding voice asked jovially. "This is your main Speaker, B-0X! Coming at y'all from one of the many radio shows owned by our progressive overlord, Vox and this is in no shape a vain attempt in him one upping the Radio Demon! And no, I am not paid to say that in case that demon is hearing, so don't fucking push me!" his voice grew deep and demonic. "Anyway, I'm here with a special guest, Verosika Mayday herself!" Lincoln's eyes widened and now couldn't tune out the radio. "So, close those fucking speaking holes right now and open up your hearing ones right now, you pathetic shits!"

Verosika's voice was heard, and it was as sultry and seductive as ever. "Shout out to all you deplorable sluts and skeezes out there in Hell! Thanks for letting me on the show."

"My pleasure, sweet thing! Who could ever say no to you?" Both shared a laugh. "So, anyway, I assume the music business has been going well for you. Truth be told, most fans are surprised given you were in rehab."

"That is so over and done." Verosika dismissed. "Too many limpy dicked and saggy-chested washouts at that place. Unlike them, I do still have a life."

"Completely understandable. Anything else you'd like to say to all our listeners."

"As a matter of fact, I do." Verosika then speaks with a bit more emphasis, and her tone grew very flirtatious. "This is a special shoutout to a certain little white-topped little cutie. If you're listening, I haven't forgotten you~. I still owe you for getting me and my peeps out of a little jam that was completely the fault of a dickwad little imp. My girls and I are thinking about showing you our gratitude~. We're just a few rings away, waiting for you~." She is heard blowing a kiss.

"Well, fuck." The host chuckles. "Whoever managed to catch your eye, all I have to say is congratulations and Give me your fucking life-"

"Okay!" Loona turned the radio off. "You know what? Most of the channels are overrated."

"...Hmm."

"She...really seems like you a lot, doesn't she?"

"...Hmm."

"Right, right. I'll just shut up and drive back to the office."

Sighing, Lincoln looks out the window. "Yeah, that's fine."

Loona knew that tone and depressing state all too well, the feeling of being cramped up in that office space, just wanting to do more than wait for the imps to get him back into the field. She remembers how Lincoln described how Octavia showed some of the fun sides of Hell, even getting him the slick new threads he's currently got on now, but she didn't show him everything.

The real fun side of Hell.

Luckily for Lincoln, Loona liked to think of herself as an expert.

"Screw it." She takes an opposite turn from the one that would lead them back to the building.

"Loona? You just made a wrong turn." Lincoln confusedly notes.

"Wrong, buddy. I just made the right turn." Loona contradicts, and takes out her phone. "Gotta make a quick call."

For Blitzo, this was the best life.

He got to enjoy the spoils of killing humans like a real successful boss.

Admittedly, his business has gotten more lucrative than he could ever imagine, more clients were coming in which could only mean that his name was finally getting out there, as there was no other kind of service his business could provide. To think that Striker once told him that no Sinner would ever bother to remember him, well, they remembered enough to recommend more of their own kind.

"Thanks again for choosing I.M.P!" he spoke through his Hell Phone to the client who hired them for the latest job. "Rest assured that the ass-wipe who blew the whistle on you got what they deserved in a very flashy fashion, and now, humans will think twice about reporting a peeping Tom who ends up overdosing out of despair of their life getting ruined because you peeped on your brother's wife! The money's looking good, so thanks again! Remember to tell all your friends, if you have any!"

"I assume that was the client?" Moxxie surmised, entering his boss' office.

"Yup! Moxxie, my gun-toting employee, Immediate Murder Professionals is looking to be every bit as amazing as I thought it'd be." Blitzo reclined on his chair. "We make heads literally roll, and make money off it."

Moxxie chuckled. "Well, we all do our part to make that happen. I only wish Millie would let Lincoln accompany us like before. Must say, it's quite not the same without him."

Blitzo smirks and sneaks up next to him with an arm slung around his shoulder. "Aw, is Poppa sad that his boy isn't working side-by-side with him." He playfully pinches the shorter flushed imp's cheek.

"That's quite enough, Blitz!"

Laughing, Blitzo refrains. "Just messing, Mox. And don't worry, that whole shit-storm with those suits still got Mills rattled, that's all. We haven't had to deal with any of them after, and when she sees that, our killing family will be complete, and the sooner the better. Don't ever tell the kid I said this, but his little magic act is very useful. Not saying we can't manage just fine without him, but it's better when he's there, you know?"

"Blitz, that's what I just said." Moxxie pointed out.

"I know, I just said it better."

Guess some things never change, do they?

Oh well, it doesn't really bother Moxxie as much as it did before.

"Well, if that's all, Millie and I best be off."

"That's right. It's one of those special nights, if I'm not mistaken."

"Sir, not now.." Moxxie replied through gritted teeth. "Now, listen, Blitz. Can I trust you for just this one time, to not follow my wife and I back to our place of dwelling to video tape whatever it is that we're doing?"

Blitzo callously shrugged, throwing a small horse figure from his hands like a ball. "I can try, but I can't make any promises. If it's something really steamy, then I gotta fucking film it!"

"I'm serious!" Moxxie fumed.

"Again, just messing." Seeing that Moxxie wasn't amused, Blitzo did an eye roll and figured he'd let him and Millie off free for once. "Fine, if it'll cool your nips, I won't look at whatever fucked up shit you and your woman get up into. It'll make tonight less fun, but what the hell? I'm running out of film, anyway." Moxxie shakes his head and leaves and Blitzo appears conflicted about something until calling the other imp's name. "Moxxie. Have a nice night." he tells him with what sounds like a genuine sincere tone, even with a smile.

Shocked at first, Moxxie slowly returns the smile with an appreciative nod and closes the door. "Thank you, Blitz. I mean that, by the way."

What a sight.

The two of them were actually getting along.

What a world.

Moxxie leaves without another word.

Blitzo gazes thoughtfully at his horse figure, then to the poster he had framed when he started decorating this office, hard to believe where he first started out before taking up the business of assassination. Even in such a business, he still can't help but find the time to actually grow close to those he works with, despite having reasons for not growing soft, and yet, the feeling of getting close was just too good to pass up.

Maybe, things won't end the way they did before...

Fizz...

Verosika...

Them...

Shaking his head, Blitzo purged such thoughts. What's with him having to think of the past recently? With the good times that are happening right now, why has he recently thought about those old days? Must have something to do with having run into those old faces from the past, reminders of his blunders..."God fucking damn it! When are Looney and Linc coming already?!" She would've called in by now. Now, he could choose to trust his little girl and assure himself that she can take care of herself and Lincoln...but the single overprotective father decided to investigate.

What better way to distract himself from reminiscing about his past?

"Okay, seriously, Loona. Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"That's what you said the last four times I asked."

"Just bear with me, alright?"

It's not that Lincoln didn't trust Loona, it's just that her suddenly changing directions and being enigmatic about their new destination was very off putting, and he couldn't decide if he liked it or not. That, and she has to know that Blitzo would track them down when he notices they haven't come home, or Satan forbid Millie joining him, and he doesn't want to be indirectly responsible for a mass pile of demon corpses.

"Can you at least give me a hint?"

Loona throws him a shopping bag. "Linc, if there's any time I wanted you to trust me, it's now. Just put that on, it'll help hide your whole human situation there."

Lincoln takes out a gray covered hoodie and puts it on. "Did you have this ready in case you wanted to do this?" No answer. "Loona?" Still no answer. "Loona, come on. You're now really starting to scare me."

"Yo, Loons!"

The van starts to slow down and they see a familiar scarred Hellhound. "Wait a second." Lincoln peered in closer and there was no mistake, both he and Loona have met that big Hellhound before. "Is that Vortex?!"

Lincoln turned to Loona and raised a brow when he saw her checking the smell of her breath.

Catching him watching, she brushed her hand across her hair with an awkward clearing of the throat. "Okay, I'm guessing you're more than a little confused."

"In more ways than one."

"Look, after the whole spring break monster fish cluster-fuck, Vortex did tell me it was alright if I'd hit him up sometime, and well, it took a while, but I eventually took him up on his offer." Loona smiles. "Been hanging out for a bit."

Alright, Lincoln was happy that Loona was socializing more, but wanted to make sure of one tiny little detail. "And you're cool that he's taken?" he asked, remembering Loona's previous crush on him during that aforementioned incident.

Loona had to force down a gulp. "Yeah...I mean, it was just a tiny little crush, so yeah..."

"Okay, I guess I'm beginning to understand, but why bring me along?"

"You looked like you needed some fun." Loona simply answered. "Look at it this way. You can rely on two badass Hellhounds who know more about having fun in Hell, or stay inside the office all day. It's your call, bro."

"..." Against his better judgment, Lincoln concedes. "I guess if you think it's alright. Just worried how the others will take it."

"Simple answer to that. Just stop giving a shit, and go with the flow." Loona smiles proudly. "That's what I always do."

"Huh, sounds like something Blitz would say."

Thankfully, they pulled right up next to Vortex. "Hey there, girl. Been wondering where you've been." Vortex shares a fist bump with his fellow Hellhound, and sees Lincoln seated next to her. "And hey, little dude. Thought I caught your scent. Good to see you again,...Lincoln, right?" It was hard to forget a white haired kid that got him out of a whole jam.

"That's right." Lincoln sees that this big guy was as friendly as ever. A very welcomed change of pace. "Good yo see you're doing well."

"Yeah, thanks to you!" Vortex ruffles his hair as he exits. "Were you out with Loons here or something?"

"I guess you can call it that."

"So, listen, Tex. Is it cool that I brought Lincoln along? Things have been boring as fuck where we work at, and the only other interesting thing he does is over and finished, so I thought, why the shit shouldn't he see some real fun? That call with you?" Loona had confidence that Vortex wouldn't object, but felt it was only right to at least ask, as this was out of the blue.

"Hey, if it's cool with you, girl. Then, I ain't gonna fight you on it." Vortex nods to Lincoln. "But let's be real here, it all depends on how the little dude feels about it. So, how about it, Lincoln? Are you in?"

Lincoln didn't feel pressured to do anything, so that was good. He can see now that this is an attempt by Loona to help him relax and unwind a bit from all the mountainous problems he's been having as of late. But being in Vortex's presence made him uneasy, not that the big guy was all that bad, but he was mostly worried that he may just let his boss lady, Verosika, know where he is.

Of course, Tex seemed genuinely cool before.

"I guess it wouldn't be all that terrible."

"Well, alright!" Grinned Vortex. "Come on, you two. I know these parts like the back of my paw."

"Stick by me, and don't wander off, and no matter what, keep the hood on." Loona instructed.

Lincoln didn't need to be told twice. They followed Vortex through the area, a part of town that was in stark contrast from the district of the royal Goetia family and other locales of that instead of being lavish were gritty and dirt filled. One mustn't forget the shady characters that populate that area, ranging from imps, to Hellhounds, and Sinners as well, folks that you wouldn't want to piss off. "Excuse me!" Lincoln gives a small startled yelp when a green smiling mask attached to a stretched out neck asked him. "Can I interest you and your party in some good Zany Feast!" It offered a bottle of green colored pills. "It's bound to get you as high as Heaven, but not really!"

"I don't really-"

A second out-stretched frowning green mask appears. "You're right, kid. That stuff tastes like solidified piss anyways!" It presents its own thing to sell which is a canister of boiling bubbles. "Now this is some real good shit! It can make you gain the killer edge to carry out any form of revenge on whatever bitch or bastard did you wrong at any point of your life or afterlife!"

"Hey, Masked Heads. Lay off, will ya?" Vortex frowned. "You know no one takes your stuff for good reason."

The masks brightened up in glows upon seeing him. "Vortex, my man!" The two masks leaned in closer to the annoyed hound in a vain attempt to capitalize his job working for a very popular face of Hell. "Word is you got an in with that sexy piece of Succubus tail, Verosika Mayday. Don't suppose you can take some of our products with you when set out of Pride. Since you know, Sinners like me don't have such freedom."

With an angered look, Vortex grabbed them by their throats and pulled them back hard before letting go and letting them launch back to their main body with a loud crashing sound, and any who stopped to observe didn't pay it any further heed. "Friend of yours?" Lincoln asked.

"Just some weasel sales-demon." Vortex wipes his hands clean. "Might wanna keep an eye out if I were you. Lots of weirdos around here. I mean, every part of Hell's full of freaky shitheads in general, but you know what I mean."

Lincoln was getting it. Looking around, he was reminded of his first taste of Hell following the curse that was placed on him, since then, he rarely ever went out again, but this time around, he wasn't as distraught. The sights of a street brawl, a tall demoness leaning on a post smoking, drunken fools lying unconscious on the sidewalks, and the like hardly fazed him this time around. Him having gone on missions with his coworkers made him less affected by it all, he was still wary, but not enough to hide in the office all day. He actually felt more numb to it compared to his first arrival.

It's like he's getting more and more used to it, and that makes him unsettled.

"So, you hang around here, Vortex?" Lincoln avoided straying too far.

"When I'm off the clock, and when my girlfriend's out." Vortex answered, missing Loona's saddened look. "I get into all kinds of shit with a few other demons just to pass the time. No one ever says we can't have a good time in Hell. This girl knows what I'm talking about." he nudges Loona's side, sharing a laugh, though hers was more forced. He leads them to a favorite hangout and knocks on the door.

"Password."

"Quit being a dick, and let me in already." Vortex deadpanned.

Then came the happy response. "Tex, you son of a bitch!" The door opens and an ogre-like demon lets them in. "Nice to see you haven't forgotten the password, old buddy! Come right in!"

"E-Even me?" Lincoln questions.

"Huh? You think there's an age requirement?" The ogre laughed. "Hey, Tex, where'd you find this kid? He's a riot! Go on, pal."

Lincoln immediately knew that this was the kind of hangout that his parents would never allow him in. Heck, the more he thought about it, those two wouldn't be in one themselves. He sees various groups laughing among themselves and drinking the night away. A lot of fist fights broke out that no one really cared for except for the bodies on the floor that weren't moving an inch. Some were just passed out after having one too many.

"Hey, I haven't seen you around here before." a lanky Hellhound with piercings approached Loona flirtatiously. "Say, sweet thing, why don't we ditch the shrimp and muscle head here, and-UGH!" Loona silenced him by kicking him square in the face, making him fall. "I didn't hear a no..." He groaned.

"Pathetic, man. Really pathetic." Vortex shakes his head and screams out to the whole bar. "Yo, what up, my people?!"

"Tex!"

"What's up, dude?"

"My man!"

"Hi, Tex~!"

"Didn't know you were this popular." Loona said.

Vortex didn't brag about it. "I just don't start shit unless I'm on the job. Off the clock, I don't start shit with others, they don't start shit with me."

"That is perhaps the sanest thing I've ever heard in Hell, which is saying a lot." Lincoln holds his mouth. "Oops! Was that mean?"

"Ha, ha. Nah, you're cool, man." Vortex orders himself a drink. "Guessing you've met a lot of nasty bastards since coming on down here, huh?"

Lincoln sighs. "I really wish I could say no to that question. Don't get me wrong, I've met decent people like Loona." she smiles at that compliment. "But, yeah, I might have crossed paths with a lot of...intense guys. I know, this is Hell, but still. Not even the most annoying people I know back home are ever that bad."

"I'm guessing things are very low key where you grew up?" Vortex theorized. "A little mundane, not very eventful?"

"I wouldn't say that." Being the only boy in the family can surprisingly lead to a lot of odd adventures, but none were ever insane like Hell. "But, yeah, it never really got this crazy. I can tell you that much.

Vortex couldn't quite believe it at first that a human kid somehow made it into Hell and still be alive, but here he was. There's gotta be a story behind that, but it wasn't his place pry, at least not out of the blue. But, he figured he could help out. "Wanna know a trick?" Vortex leaned in to whisper to them. "The best way to get assholes off your back is to show off a little and impress and/or scare them. Like, see that dartboard?"

Lincoln nods. "Yeah. So?"

"Try hitting the target, but now with a dart." Vortex pointed at Lincoln's pocket. "Try using that knife of yours, and add a little magic to it, and yes, I knew about that knife and that you're packing heat, which is smart. Really smart. But just use the knife."

Millie has been teaching him some knife throwing techniques, and he wouldn't say he's on her level, he just likes to think he's gotten the basic hang of it. Holding it by the tip of the blade, the knife was also surrounded by a card and with one flick, threw it and in mid-air, caught on fire that hit the board on the mark, setting it ablaze as well. The patrons grew silent for a moment, before erupting into cheers.

The goblin-looking bar owner grimaced, but made good on his promise. "Alright, fine! Free drinks for the rest of the week! But that was only one time only, you lousy fuck-wads!"

"Wait, what just happened?"

Laughing, Vortex slams his hand down on the counter. "Kid, you just became everybody's favorite person in this bar! That asshole of a boss man here put up that board and whoever hits the mark, gets free drinks on the house for the whole damn place! Guy always puts in some sneaky tricks to make it look like it didn't happen, but you went and burned it into ashes!" he goes to get the knife for Lincoln. "Just like that, no one's gonna mess with you, and even if they did, Loona and I will just kick their miserable asses!" he and Loona begin laughing and soon enough, Lincoln joins in.

This felt a little good.

"Honey, do we have enough bread?"

"I bought some from the market just yesterday."

"What about the guns and knives, are they where we left them?"

"Right in the drawers!"

"Okay, just wait there, I need to check something out." Moxxie discreetly closes the door of his and Millie's bedroom in their apartment, he didn't want his wife to find out about his special plans. He dials in the phone number and waits patiently while making sure that Millie was still out in the kitchen, and the other line answers his call. "Yes, hello. This is Moxxie." he whispers, and glares. "Moxxie! Not Roxy! Why the Heaven so hard?! No, my name's not Zim either! Nor is it Billy!" Moxxie sighed. "No, my name isn't Daggett either. Wait, Raz? Is that supposed to be short for something? My name is Moxxie! I'm just calling to make sure the reservation I placed is still in effect! Don't think I don't know about the rumors of you misplacing reservations placed by imps! Uh-huh. Okay. I see. Good! Happy to do business with you...this time."

He hung up and could barely contain a joyous squeal. He simply can't wait until he sees Millie's reaction to the surprise he has in store for her to commemorate the anniversary of their marriage.

It took a lot of work, but to get a reservation at that place was a stroke of good luck, and he was proud of himself for it. In the year that they've been together, so much has happened, and through all the trouble, their love still held up strong. "Well, that takes care of that."

"What does?" Millie asked.

"Oh! Uh, just polishing my guns and your knives." Moxxie slapped his blushing face out of awkwardness. "Fuck! That's not what I meant! I was just making a call" His eyes widened. "Which had nothing to do with us specifically!" He was really starting to hate himself. "It's-It's nothing, okay, dear? I was just taking care of a certain business." He sat on the dinner table. "What about you?"

Millie beams at his query.

"I've still been writing to my fam back in Wrath!" She dumps a bunch of written letters on the table. "They all want to know how Lincoln's been doing, but don't worry, I left out the part where he got captured with you and Blitz! Ma would come raging down Hell itself if she found out."

Moxxie sardonically snorts. "And Joe would undoubtedly blame me for getting us caught in the first place."

"Oh, don't be like that, sweetie." Millie tells. "After the festival, I like to think Pa's been lightening up on you some."

Maybe, but Moxxie wished to talk more about their surrogate son. "You know, Millie. If your parents were here, they'd probably demand that you let Lincoln join us."

"Moxxie..."

"You know I'm right." Moxxie argued. "Why the sudden reluctance? When Lincoln first started working at the company, you were all for him coming with us for a new contract. Hell, you were quite exuberant over it and with every job, you grow more and more happy."

"Moxxie, you ought to know why!" Millie didn't want to be the bad guy in this scenario. "Last time our baby was up in the human world, he got caught with you and I'd burn down all of Heaven to get you back! He's our boy, Moxxie. The fuck kind of Momma can I be if can't even keep my boys safe? I don't want to go through that again. I-I can't..." her fists tighten and almost cries.

"Oh, Millie." Moxxie tenderly grasps her hand to calm her down. "When I was captured with Blitz, I could barely care about what happened to me. My primary concerns were you and Lincoln, so far, that I felt it'd be better if you hadn't come and Lincoln would be the only one to escape. So, I understand how you feel. He's...he's my son, too." He says with utmost conviction. "But, it's not just his safety that concerns you, is it? It's because of how he acted."

As Hellborn imps, Moxxie and Millie knew when to see a demonic presence much higher than them in terms of power and they could see that in Lincoln's eyes. The eyes of a special boy who's become their son in all but blood. They were impressed by his sudden change, but concerned, as the gentle kind hearted nature of that boy is what they've come to know and love. They know how afraid Lincoln is of falling to that sort of side, and they're beginning to see that they have similar fears, even though it would otherwise be praised for by others in Hell.

But none of them were his family.

"I'm worried about him, Moxxie." Millie lamented. "I don't know if I can be the mother he needs me to be. I tried doing my best, but what if that's not good enough? What if I end up doing a crap job after all's said and done?"

"You won't." Millie stares at her husband. "Millie, I never imagined ever having a child to call my own until now. At first, I was hesitant because not only was as I constantly point out, Lincoln is anything but an orphan. I just felt like supporting him, but not to that level, because I didn't think I could be a father. All I know is what I know, and a father wasn't one of them. But I guess some part of me knew that Lincoln needed more than a good peer in Hell and frankly, I realized I needed to step up." Moxxie sighs. "I want to believe that Lincoln will find a way back home, but there is the possibility of that not ever happening and well, a peer isn't enough."

"Moxxie..."

As always, her man's got a way with words, another reason why she loved him so much.

"Whatever may happen, I think it is imperative we face it together. As a family. Now, I know you may still need more time to think on it, but-MPHH!" Moxxie was instantly kissed hard by his wife.

"I-I guess I'm willing to hear you out some more." Millie smiled.

Moxxie smiled back sweetly, squeezing her hands. "I know this is hard, but no one ever said having a son was easy, dear. If we're serious about being parents, then we gotta learn to talk things out some more."

"Get the fuck out of here! For real!"

"I shit you not, that did happen!"

The three unlikely friends spent their time talking and about past times in their lives, with Loona recanting a crazy time with Blitz. "Wow, I knew Blitz loved horses so much, but he seriously ran straight into a race track?" Lincoln held his side.

"Yeah, it was about a few weeks after he adopted me." Loona added more to that story. "It was at that moment, I realized that I'll be living with a total horse freak. But you know what? It was better than nothing. In about a year, I was gonna turn eighteen, so it's not like I could stay at that Hellhound home for much longer, and frankly, I was getting tired of it. Blitz was a fucking maniac, that much I could tell just by looking at him and sometimes, you take what you can get."

Lincoln chuckles at a few memories. "You know, Blitz would tell me that on the day he adopted you, you were shedding tears of joy at being taken in by the greatest daddy ever. His words, not mine."

Loona scoffs with an amused smile.

"Of course he'd say that. But, that's just Blitz for ya."

"Sounds like he can be a real handful sometimes." Vortex didn't know what to expect from Verosika's ex, but damn, it sounded like no one could easily tell his whole deal. "Wonder if that's why Verosika broke things off. I never really asked her, since managing her old lovers wasn't part of my job, but now, I'm a little curious."

"You and me both." Lincoln murmured. When he tried digging for more info, Blitzo always dodged the questions, ironic since he just loves getting to the private lives of his employees.

Loona got up. "Gonna go check if there's decent chow left."

With her momentarily gone, Lincoln now found it a bit awkward being just alone with Vortex. "So, uh, just so you know, no one at I.M.P told anyone about what caused that monster fish. In case you were worried."

"Hey, the fact no higher ups came knocking my door so far is a good enough answer to me, little dude." Vortex smiled. "Plus, I have a feeling that Verosika wouldn't hesitate to tell them that your boss doesn't use a human disguise, so it's more or less a crossroads for them."

"Really? Wouldn't she also tell them three imps and a hellhound have a human living and working with them?" Lincoln found that even better blackmail material. Lola would most definitely agree.

Vortex laughed it off with a shake of the head, finding the very thought unlikely. "Nah, little man. Thing is, she likes you. Like, really likes you."

"...Oh. That's nice." Lincoln rubs his arm. "I mean, I think she's nice. Surprised she even remembers me."

"Buddy, one thing you should know about a Succubus is that they rarely lose interest in someone with her eye on them." Vortex advised, feeling that he needed some advice. "Don't forget. You helped them from being arrested. She and the rest of the gals have been going on and on about you, kid. Coco and Apple. It's rare to see them both go for the same one at the same time, can't remember any point where they both wanted a third. Kiki usually just forgets after a bit, but not you. And Milky, she's all for meeting up."

"Wow, that's, uh, wow." Lincoln didn't even think that like him, Verosika and her gal pals also thought about him after their first meeting. And inside, he was really happy about that, the blush on his face was very telling. "Surprised you're not telling them I'm with you right now."

"Like I keep telling ya, I'm off the clock." Vortex told him. "And the job is bodyguarding, not hooking her or them up. I know you probably feel a little weird by all the attention, huh?"

"That's one way to put it." Lincoln didn't hate it. But, it was still a little unsettling. "I mean, I'm just a kid. They know that, right?"

"Yeah, and they're Hellborn Succubi." Vortex countered. "Not that they've ever gone that far, you're just a unique case and while I am impressed by your self control, I can tell some part of you likes the attention at the same time."

"...I-I choose not to confirm or deny that."

"Uh-huh." Vortex deadpanned. "Bottom line, it's okay to feel weird about it. This is Hell and all, but there are lines even if people won't admit. If it bothers you that much, you can always just tell them to dial it back. They like you, so maybe try that. I get it, it's still fucked up. They're my peeps, but it's fucked up. I didn't want to say anything before, but it kinda got weird for me which is why I asked for a night off from my bodyguard job. Still, most would kill to be in your shoes. They also wish they were you just to get Verosika all to themselves."

"Well, I never thought about any of this before, okay? It's not like I wanted to be stuck down here."

Vortex sympathetically looks at him. "You know, I'm guessing there's a story with you being here. Not my business, so I never bothered asking, but it hasn't been easy, has it?" His somber silence told him all he needed to know. "Look, a lot of Sinners have been where you are. The type that didn't really do much to end up down here, but they managed to work through it, and from what I hear, you've been doing more than enough. So, just keep doing what you're doing. Okay?" he smiles reassuringly. Lincoln didn't at first, but he slowly

"Got the eats!" Loona arrived. "That asshole who has no clue what no means acted again. Guy can't take a hint."

"My girl's gonna get home soon, so I better split." Vortex fist-bumped Loona. "Cool hanging with ya, girl, and remember, the offer is still open to come to a hound party. Hell, you can even bring the kid."

Loona brushes her hair with a thoughtful smile. "I'll...think about it. Thanks for the good time, Tex. Let's roll, Linc!"

"Hey, kid." Lincoln turns to the bigger Hellhound. "Take it easy."

"Yeah. Same to you." Lincoln smiles and follows Loona into the van and before she could start the car, the boy wishes to talk about a very important matter with her. "Loona. Do-Do you believe I'll ever get home? That this curse will ever be broken?"

Loona blinked and clearly didn't expect to be asked that. "Whoa. What brought this on?"

"It's something that I didn't want to think about, because I kept believing that with hard work, I'd eventually do it. But right now, I'm starting to think it might not be possible. I might never see my family, or my friends again." Lincoln sniffles. "Ever since I came here, I've had to change how I viewed things, more realistically and frankly, I can't ignore the unlikeliness of what I want anymore."

"Lincoln..."

"It scares me, you know. The thought of being here all alone, but then I remember that I'm not alone." Lincoln stares directly at her. "I have you, and Moxxie, Millie, even Blitz. Even though I may never see my old family again, I started to realize that I've been seeing you guys as my new family." His hallucination from before all but confirmed it. "And that only made me feel worse, because it's like I'm just replacing my parents and my sisters with all of you. I know it sounds stupid, we're just work buddies, but that's just how I've felt as the days go by and I just...I just don't know what else to do. I still want to go home, but I also still want you guys in my life. It makes zero sense, I know, but-"

Loona pulls him in for a deep tight hug, the likes of which he never imagined she could do. "Linc. I gave up dreaming a long time ago." Her days as a pup expecting her biological parents to come in and rescue her are long past her. "A family. Friends. Didn't think I could have something like those, but then Blitz adopted, and then, I met you. Being with you, it makes me feel like having a little brother." she rubs his back as he begins sobbing.

"I miss them...I miss them so much..." Lincoln bemoaned.

"I know, bro. I know." Loona lets him go as he finishes crying.

"Loona. Thanks for listening..."

"What I'm here for."

They drove away and this time, Lincoln felt a lot better after being honest with Loona. Keeping it all pent up inside wasn't doing him any favors, and could begin to do more of it in the coming days. Until then, they can just enjoy this leisurely drive, and-oh, wait. Instead, they can both scream when a maniac bumped his car with their own in the middle of the street. "The fuck?! Loona exclaimed.

"Hey, baby!" It was the same hound from the bar. "Not finished yet!"

"Are you fucking shitting me right now?!" Loona growled. "Didn't you get the message, you ass?!"

"We just got off on the wrong foot!" the hound replied. "Look, let's start over. My name is Var, and I really think-"

Another car arrived and put some dents in Var's ride. "Vortex!"

"Thought I smelled something funky going on!" Vortex glared at Var. "Dude, this is not cool! You're being a major dick right now!"

"Oh, come on, man! I called dibs so you can just go eat out of a dumpster!"

"See? You're proving my point right now!"

Loona backs up the van to be next to Var. "Linc, open the glove compartment!" Leave it to Blitzo to have a gun hidden in some places of the van, and right now, Loona was ready to use it. "Eat lead, motherfucker!"

"Oh, shit!"

Var drove ahead after nearly getting a hole shot through his head, now his tires were Loona's primary targets. Looking at Vortex in his sweet ride, Var turned the wheel hard to crash into it, making Vortex lose control and crash the car.

"He's in trouble!" Lincoln shouted in alarm, and shouted when Var kept crashing into them.

"I'm still here, beautiful!"

Growling, Lincoln became increasingly angry over this guy and threw out paper cards that had spells written on them that exploded into mini-explosions that messed up Var's view. But Lincoln wasn't finished, this creep was getting on his nerves and felt a real harsher lesson was needed and before he knew it, his eyes glow red and some lampposts were moved by his magic to bend down and crash on his car. "You're not getting away..." he whispered as the hound was raised up and his limbs were forcefully twisted, even his head started to turn. Lincoln's eyes were starting to turn black as well, but then Lincoln took a look at a distressed Loona, then at his reflection in the rear view mirror. The same face from his nightmares looked back in a millisecond. His own face. "No...this is for her...not for me..." His eyes turn normal and Var is released from his hold.

"Fuck! The hell was that?!" Var looks at Vortex getting out of his car. "Tch! You bastard, this wasn't business, damn it!" he pulls out a switchblade. "Gonna enjoy giving you another scar! Huh?" A grenade was tossed and the explosion flew him up to the sky into a blimp which came crashing down on him. "You guys ain't shit!"

"Who threw that?" Loona asked, knowing the van didn't have any explosives.

"Young lady!"

"God dammit." Loona groaned.

There was Blitz with a less than pleased expression.

"Not only did you not come home just like I expected, but you went and hung around with punk-ass fuck-heads!" Blitzo surmises as Lincoln and Loona sat on a sidewalk, getting an earful from him. "Don't even get me started on all the damages to the van! Getting that baby wasn't cheap, you know! That's a huge cut out of your allowance, Looney and another paid deduction for you, intern!"

"Do you just decide when to forget that you don't even pay me, Blitz?"

"No speaking when the boss is fucking talking!"

Vortex intervened in defense. "Dude, come on. Var was the one who started this mess. They were just trying to defend themselves." If the reason Verosika broke things off was because of an unreasonable jerk Blitzo was, Vortex can understand that.

"This is and I.M.P matter, big stuff!" Blitzo narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "For all I know, this was all part of some plot for you to get inside my Looney's pants!" He gasps and frantically looks around. "And was part of the plan getting the kid alone so that hoe boss of yours gets her hooks on him?! You out there, bitch?! Too scared to face me, huh?! Well, just go ahead and try!"

"Okay, this is getting sad now." Loona stands up to speak for her and Lincoln. "Look, Blitz. Lincoln was getting suffocated in the office, alright? Didn't think there was any harm in him relaxing, and cut Tex some slack. He was actually helping us out, so stop freaking out."

Blitzo looks at her, then at Vortex and gives him an 'I'm watching you' gesture with his fingers.

"If you insist, Looney-poo." Blitzo relented somewhat. "As for you, Lincoln. Just, be more careful next time, alright?" he ruffles his snow colored hair. "I know you're smart, but brains alone can't get you out of bat-shit crazy fuckery that goes on."

Lincoln slowly smiles. "Yeah, sure, Blitz. Sorry for making you worry."

"Honestly, buddy boy. It's a miracle that only I got here. If it were M&M, hoo-boy."

The human child's Hell phone rang and he answered the call to see that it was one half of that deadly duo. "Hello? Moxxie? Uh, no, no, this isn't a bad time." Best not to let him or Millie know about the chase and listen to what he had to say. "You spoke to Millie? Wait, really?" He begins to brighten up. "I get to go back to work with you guys! No way! I never thought I'd say this, but that's the best news I heard!" He turns to his fellow co-workers. "I guess I'm back on the field."

"Yes, Yes. A shit-tastic happy ending all around, which doesn't make me want to puke on that body outline over there." Despite his tone, Blitzo was silently happy. "But what's important is that this little family matter is resolved exactly as I thought!" He wraps his daughter and their young charge in a group hug.

Loona was annoyed, but Lincoln was silently happy. "Yeah. Family..."

"If you need me, I'll start the van up!"

"So, does this kind of thing happen a lot?" Vortex asked.

"Pretty much."

"Oh, yeah." Lincoln frowns at Vortex's damaged car. "Sorry that you had to get involved, Vortex."

Vortex made sure there were no worries. "All good. My girlfriend might be a little pissed, but she'll get over it. There's a reason we have insurance. I also owed you one, Lincoln. But hey, pretty badass stuff you did back there, ended up saving my ass again, heh. You know what? You need help, go ahead and ask. I won't even charge ya."

"Really? Thanks, Vortex."

Vortex holds out his fist down to him. "My friends call me Tex, remember."

Lincoln chuckles, bumping his new friend's fist with his. "Right. Thanks, Tex."

"Catch y'all later." Vortex went off to wait for a tow truck.

"I'll help Blitz out." Loona walks away.

Lincoln sat alone, enjoying this reprieve and thinking. When he nearly lost control, Lincoln managed to reign himself in by thinking of Loona, that was enough to remind himself that no matter how demonic he was growing, a part of him was still human. He was afraid that humanity would wither away, but it was still present and what he really needed was to not forget that. Those closest to him help, such as the family on Earth and his family in Hell. Thinking of them brought great sadness, but they ultimately made him so happy. He still longs for the Louds, without them, he feels so lost. He doesn't know who he is without them. Or what good is he without them? But his time with I.M.P showed him he can manage on his own and should he fail in his aim to return, it's not as if he'll go through Hell alone.

But still, he continued having the resolution to do whatever it took to break the Hellish chains on his soul, and he can see them all again.

Lincoln looked at his hand which radiated orange demonic energy.

He wondered if his family would even recognize him.

Or if they even understood and still loved him,

Closing his eyes, Lincoln purged those fears out for the moment and remembered Stolas' words. For better or worse, he wasn't going to let this power determine who he was, and continued hoping for the best. Lincoln ran up to his friends as they got in the van.