Star Child

Collin accompanied Seren and Vortex to the castle, worrying all the way that he would surely be killed by Seren’s father as soon as they met.

“Relax, everything is going to be fine.” Seren told him.

Collin shook his head, “But I’m a cherub, a member of heaven. I give blessings! He’s not going to like me being in demon territory.”

“The first demons were angels cast down from heaven. You’d just practically be doing the same thing so it shouldn’t be a problem.” Seren replied, sure that his family would accept Collin’s presence.

Although Seren was sure his mother would scream about it when she returned from her vacation very soon. Still, she’d soon became ecstatic by the cherub’s presence in hell and gloat to her followers that her beloved son had caused one of heaven’s creatures to swear his allegiance to him. His own angelic pet. They entered the castle and Seren led the two to the dinning room.

“I’m home. And I brought home my new friend.” Seren said as he stepped into the dinning room.

His father’s eyes widened and he briefly choked on his food at the sight of the cherub floating behind his son. Octavia stared at the cherub with a raised eyebrow before turning to her little brother.

“Congrats on the new ‘pet’. Mom is not going to stop singing your praises at your birthday ball tomorrow.” She said with a smirk.

Seren groaned, “Don’t talk about it. She’ll definitely see a cherub, his name is Collin by the way, and say I’m — Ugh! Never mind, let’s just not think about it. Anyways, Collin isn’t like the other stuck-up cherubs and he saved me from an arrow. He decided to come to hell with me and is my new friend so he’s going to live here from now on. That's okay, right?”

“I-I-I… W-wait, what?!” Stolas stuttered.

“Please, daddy. Please.” Seren begged with teary eyes.

Stolas teared up, “You-you called me daddy! You haven’t done that since you were 8. Ofcourse your friend can stay here. He’ll be another one of your bodyguards! It’s perfect!”

Octavia smirked as she texted on her cellphone, “Hook, line, and sinker. Well played, little brother. Well played.”

Seren ignored his sister and smiled at his father, “When will mother return?”

“She’ll be home in about half an hour for dinner.” His father answered.

Octavia groaned, but didn’t say anything. She loved her mother, but she always screamed at their dad whenever she was upset. Their father showed Collin his new room next door to Seren while the room on the other side belonged to Vortex. The next half an hour was spent catching up on the day’s events and soon enough Stella walked into the dining room.

Seren smiled as he rushed to hug his mother, “Mother! Did you enjoy your vacation?”

Stella smiled softly as she hugged her beloved son, “Of course. Although, I did miss you these past months. Would you and your sister like to see what I got you?”

Octavia smiled as she got up and hugged their mother, “Hi, mom. What did you get us?”

“Come with me to my bedroom, I’m rather confident you’ll love what I got for you.” Stella said as she led her children out of the dining room and smirked maliciously at her traitorous husband.

Stolas growled softly, knowing his frigid wife was probably only doing this to get them on her side. Collin and Vortex glanced at one another, but didn’t say a word. It appeared as if this was a common occurrence. Once the children entered their parents bedroom that they occasionally shared, Stella ordered the imp servants to bring her the gifts she’d bought. The imps brought out 10 stylishly wrapped gifts, 5 for each of her children. Octavia opened her gifts first and was ecstatic by what she received. Octavia had gotten a new spell book on the element of fire, a set of wireless headphones, and three new taxidermy creatures: an albino nine-tailed fox, a chupacabra, and a kelpie.

"Thanks, mom! I love them!" Octavia said excitedly before hugging Stella, "How'd you know I've been wanting an albino nine-tailed fox to complete my fox collection?"

Stella smirked, "That's for me to know and for you to never find out. Now, let your brother open his gifts."

Seren received two new spell books, two new animal plushies, and a dimensional-pocket stylish messenger bag.

“Seren, I also have some very good news.” Stella said.

“What is it?” Seren asked curiously.

“You’re grandfather will be attending your birthday ball and he’s decided to give you your own grimoire!” Stella exclaimed, happy her desires were coming to fruition.

Seren perked up in excitement, “Really? Do you know what kind of grimoire it’ll be? Will it be like father’s or maybe like uncle Andrealphus?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow night at the end of your birthday ball. Your ball will end no later than 11pm and then we can celebrate the rest of the evening with just us.” Stella replied.

“I’m so excited!” Seren exclaimed as Octavia hugged him with a smile.

“Congrats! I know how much you love learning new magic and spells.” Octavia said, not feeling jealous as she knew she would inherit their father’s grimoire one day.

“Oh, umm, Mother? I have something important to tell you.” Seren said nervously.

Their mother elegantly raised an eyebrow, “I’m listening.”

“I have two bodyguards now. A hellhound and a cherub.” Seren told her softly.

Octavia and Seren tensed, preparing themselves for their mother’s potential raged screams. To their surprise, their mother didn’t get angry. On the contrary, she gave them a satisfied smirk.

“Finally! I’ve always known that you would be special. A cherub from heaven is now a protector of a member of the Ars Goetia! It’s perfect!” Stella told Seren.

“Would you like to meet them?” Seren asked hesitantly.

“No need. As long as they remain by your side to protect you, I don’t really care.” She said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

With that said, they all returned to the dining room and had dinner as a family before going to bed. The next day came quickly as the servants all prepared for Seren’s birthday ball for several hours. They had allowed both Octavia and Seren to sleep in and finally woke them up to get dressed for the ball that would begin in a few more hours. Time passed quickly for the family and the guests began arriving at 7 o’clock on the dot. Seren stayed by his mother’s side as she socialized with the other members of the Goetia family and put out feelers for potential marriage partners for Octavia which always made him feel awkward. At least he knew his mother would allow Octavia to choose who she married as long as it was a respectable match, she just wanted to see who was currently available in case Octavia was ready to date someone as she was now 17. Seren spaced out as he waited for the ball to end, wanting his grandfather to give him his very own grimoire. Eventually, his grandfather arrived towards the end of his birthday ball and everyone quieted as they waited in anticipation.

“Prince Seren of Ars Goetia, stand before me.” King Paimon ordered his youngest grandson.

Seren gracefully walked past his extensive family to stand before his grandfather, eagerly waiting for the grimoire promised to him.

“After much consideration, I have decided to give you your very own grimoire despite being your father’s second-born child. I have heard much of your abilities as well as the existence of your new… pets.” King Paimon said.

Seren gave him an elegant bow, “I am honored by your words, grandfather.”

"Yes, I know. It is finally your day of becoming more than just your father's spare heir, how good for you. Are you ready to know what you'll be meant to do to serve hell?"

"Yes, grandfather."

“You will be entrusted with the study of Death, the creatures connected to death, and the art of Necromancy. You will begin the studies of your grimoire which will grant you access to the mortal realm to study and observe. And you will grow to be a mighty prince of hell with your own legions to lead and pass on your knowledge to."

“I will do my best, grandfather.” Seren replied as he gave his grandfather a happy smile, hugging his new grimoire close to his chest.

Stolas stared at the scene with apprehension, afraid for what could happen to his son. It was too much like when he had received his own grimoire when he was young. In fact, many of the words his father and son uttered were mirrored by what had happened 25 years ago. He just hoped that his wife hadn't doomed Seren to a loveless marriage like their own.

“Wonderful! Now, I must be going. I am very busy, goodbye.” King Paimon said before gliding out of the ballroom.

Stolas sighed in relief, his son wouldn't be subjected to the same fate that he had been trapped by. Soon after King Paimon left, the party came to an end and the other Ars Goetia family members left. His parents, sister, and his two bodyguards watched as Seren opened his presents. All of his presents were a mixture of expensive gems, gold, and spell books. They decided they would give him their gifts the next day as it was already almost midnight. One of their imp servants entered the room with a three-layered beautiful cake with eleven enchanted candles at the top. They sung the happy birthday song before cutting the cake and ate their slices while waiting for midnight to arrive. However, the moment their clock chimed to signal the stroke of midnight, a vortex of flames appeared before them. The flames dispersed to reveal four robed humans: an elderly man dressed in eccentric colors, a stern elderly woman, a dour-looking man dressed from head to toe in black, and a small half-human with unknown creature blood. Each group stared at one another in stunned silence before Stella finally spoke up.

“Who the fuck are you? Stolas, is this your doing? Why are there humans standing before us?!” Stella screamed angrily.