The next morning, they woke up lovingly embraced to each other, Octavia sweetly snuggled against Stolas as he held her tenderly.
—Good morning my starfire.
—Good morning dad.
—Sleep well?
—Yhea, looking forward to this dream never ending.
They both gave each other a gentle kiss.
—She continued—. I want in your open hands to find my way, to feel like a woman only with you.
—He continued—. To quench on my lips the thirst of your soul? I know the song.
—You're an idiot, Dad. But I do want.
Stolas kisses her again as he adjusts his position to be on top of her to hen kiss her body from point to point. He savoured her neck with an attention to detail only comparable to that of a Renaissance painter, while his slippery hands slid under Octavia's camisole and whimsically played across her breasts. Stolas' mouth slowly moved down to accompany them over her clothes and down even further to her abdomen.
Octavia let out with embarrassment and pleasure light sighs of delight. With her hands she tried to push Stolas' face lower and lower to reach her intimacy, which she had been longing for, for several days of abstinence imposed against all will. However, this was not in the plans of his father –who only had in mind to play with his carnal urges for a while but not to succumb at them.
—If you're not going to do anything to me then don't tease me like that.
Her playful father lets out a light laugh as he turns to face her and kisses her forehead affectionately.
—What do you say we go for breakfast, Via?
—I'm craving a dad right now.
—I'm talking about food.
—Me too.
Raising an eyebrow, Stolas stares at her in disbelief.
—I'll think about it. —He finished by answering his daughter—.
—I can see smoke coming out of your head already.
Without another word he got off her and with an energy he had not seen in a long time he got out of bed. For the first time since he started taking his antidepressants, this time he didn't even looked at them. He simply straightened his plumage and headed for the bedroom door, walking Bon homely, wagging his waist and making his tail dance.
Octavia still lays on the bed, it had been a long time since she had slept there and she felt a warmth there that nostalgically reminded her of when she was a child. She sank her face into the quilts, blankets and pillows trying to enjoy every second of her daddy's scent and the memories of a baby that more than once spent her nights there, protected from all nightmares.
After several minutes of swimming among the sheets, blankets and quilts, she finally managed to get out of bed. She headed straight to the dining room.
When she arrived, she could see Stolas standing there drinking coffee in his mug with the legend I'm a hoot, while magically levitating the day's newspaper. Octavia quickly went over to hug him and then sat down.
The imps who were working in the kitchen murmured among themselves about what they had seen since yesterday, both of them going out in the afternoon; the second outing in the evening when they dressed up, but most of all the fact that they slept together. It was true that they hadn't bothered in the least to be subtle. And the gossip about sexual encounters in the house was beginning to tie up the loose ends.
—Aren't you going to sit down, Dad?
—It's polite to wait for others before sitting down. —Stolas replied as he took a seat—. I was waiting for you.
While some imps were working on these two's breakfast, other kitchen employees were watching the two at times, curious about what they were seeing and trying to understand something they already understood, but refused to believe.
—There is nothing to worry about, go on with your work. —Finally, Stolas said in a high tone of voice that frightened more than one—.
—Will we have to be more secretive? —Octavia asked somewhat fearfully—.
Stolas let out a great sigh, emptying his lungs of air.
—Just more discreet, at least for a while—.
—Until I'm 18?
—Most likely. But we can still do normal father-daughter activities, plus it's the perfect excuse to learn more about what you're passionate about and share our tastes!
—Remember the last time you tried that? I played you some music and you chickened out almost immediately.
—It's true that you have peculiar... musical tastes....
Octavia stared at him trying to hide the laughter she wanted to let out, making Stolas uncomfortable as he tried to remain serious and sure of what he was saying. It was true that the generational change and the consequences of the unstable marriage Octavia was born into gave her a somewhat peculiar personality, but instead of fighting it or confronting it; Stolas wanted to learn to appreciate it. And to be able to be a part of his daughter's passions.
—Your father is very good at adapting to new things. All knowledge has in me, open doors.
She took this as a challenge and immediately got up and making a hand signal for me to wait for her –she immediately went to her room.
Upon entering, her room was still somewhat out of order. Clothes strewn about in various places and drawers open and jumbled. She didn't remember making such a mess, but her mind was at that moment focused on finding her cell phone and the headphones she had brought the day before.
As she searched, she closed a window that was strangely open, and after several minutes of fumbling around she came to the realization that it was where she always used to leave it to charge. She picked it up and returned to the dining room.
On the table breakfast was already served, two plates with omelettes; a bright and colourful salad and pieces of toast to go with it, next to it a deep platter with fruit of various kinds and each plate came with a glass of orange juice next to a smaller one with very cold milk.
—If you can sit through a whole album of Fuck you Dad without feeling uncomfortable, I'll do whatever you want us to do for the rest of the day. Deal?
Stolas, who was taking a bite of his omelette into his mouth got halfway through and stared at her somewhat dumbfounded. Finally, as he savoured the food, he reached out his hand, Octavia left her headphones there and he put them on without a squeak.
Octavia who wasn't thinking of giving up so easily started with her favourite song, "My world is burning down arround me". She sat down next to him and hoping for an immediate victory, she ate her breakfast quietly.
He continued to eat as he listened to the music play, he didn't really «get it», not in the sense of the lyrics or the message of the song, he was used to more contemporary and folk music, which was the complete opposite of what he was listening to at the moment. However, he made an effort to appreciate each song as if it connected with his daughter in a more emotional way, which would allow him to understand how she had been feeling inside since then and until now.
When they both finished eating and the music concluded, Stolas removed the headphones.
—When you recover, I could tell you about my taxidermy.
—I think it's an excellent idea.
—So, you think you can put up with my style?
—If I chose the activities yesterday, I think it's only fair that my dear Via does the same today.
—I love you daddy. But you have it coming.
Stolas was still as determined as he had been from the beginning. If he was to be his daughter's first partner, he would be the best –and at the same time he would use every opportunity to be the best father.
The two hugged and kissed one more time. Octavia then pulled out her cell phone and while her music continued to play in the background, she showed Stolas pictures of different animals she had seen as taxidermy, each one looking more inhuman than the last. Rabbits with goat horns, gigantic frogs with what appeared to be huge eyes, but actually had immensely smaller ones hidden underneath, and a bunch more other unearthly creature.
Octavia would tell her father about the circumstances she was in the day she had taken each picture, and if she knew any, she would tell some curious facts about the animal.
Stolas, who remembered many of these creatures like the back of his hand for all the years he had dedicated to reading, refused to interrupt her, and on the contrary –he enjoyed every word that came out of her like a father proud of how far his little girl had come.
The conversation occasionally wandered in other directions as Octavia passed by each picture in her gallery. Sometimes it was a picture of her with Loona at Hellbucks, others were of strange things she encountered on the various floors of Hell. And the occasional picture of some attractive demon that when it appeared on screen, it made both of them feel nervous.
She continued to talk constantly; it was impossible to know how many hours this conversation lasted between the two of them.
Little by little Stolas gained confidence and began to tell his own stories that had something in common with what Octavia had said. So now they both began to go into more detail with these anecdotes, giving their opinions as to what the other had done and what they would have done in their place. They began to ramble on with laughter and jokes about the «what if» as well, about the results they expected from something and how something totally different ended up happening.
It was curious to see that pair of lovebirds, to see them talk hour after hour about the same thing and at the same time about totally different things. You could really feel how the two of them were finally connecting in a real way after years of constant clashes caused by irresponsible parenting.
Octavia was once again filled with immense happiness to finally be able to talk about her tastes and passions with the man who was always the most important to her. Stolas left his mind blank to absorb everything his daughter had to say. Without noticing or caring, they were the perfect match between someone who wanted to have someone to listen to and someone who always wanted to be listened to.
—Do you want to go to any of these places? —Stolas finally asked his daughter—.
—If we stop to buy some coffee first.
—I think that's a great idea.
Octavia immediately got up with great excitement and went to her room immediately to get ready. This time the employees had already done their job, so she went into a cleaner room. She quickly started to get ready. Stolas, for his part, calmly did the same, not having anything planned for the day, simplified himself with a black shirt and jeans. She, on the other hand, wanted to mix her usual style with something more feminine and cuter that would highlight her femininity but still be loyal to her usual gothic style.
Her usual hat but with black earrings with gold now hung from her ears. A black choker from which seemed to emerge a black spider web with small ornaments at the end of each thread. Her usual starry pink shirt with a long black skirt matched her usual black sweater. She took her time putting on her makeup to look perfect for him.
Stolas went to see her in her room and was stunned by his daughter's beauty, she only smiled at him with some embarrassment as she finished her make-up. He soon approached her and took her by the shoulders and led her to the bed immediately, where he laid her down and leaned over to kiss her deeply. Octavia, somewhat surprised but ecstatic by her father's sudden intention, responded to the kiss with passion while embracing him by the neck as if she were using him as a support.
—If you want, we can stay a little longer daddy.
He was still trying to remain chaste in an attempt to avoid repeating the mistakes he made with Blitzo where their relationship had been based solely on intimacy and nothing more. But experiencing the intoxicating beauty of his daughter was something he wasn't exactly prepared for. After what could only be described as savouring his daughter like a hungry beast, he managed to respond to Octavia's comment.
—A deal is a deal. Are you ready?
—Mmmm... one more of those and I'm ready. —She said mischievously as she touched Stolas' beak.
After a slight giggle from Stolas, he kissed her again, this one more fleeting and sweeter, as he stood up and helped her to her feet. Then, Octavia, to impress her dad with her magical abilities, she opened the portal to pride, where she had previously been with Loona that other day after she learned the truth.
They both formed up at Hellbucks and everything proceeded normally, Octavia ordered an Axolito, which apparently was a time-limited drink, its preparation was similar to that of an Axolotl. A pink frappé with a sweet taste and strawberry slices on the sides simulating the animal's external gills. Stolas ordered a mocha pistachio frappuchino with low-fat milk, extra chocolate and double extra whipped cream.
Octavia kept talking about the place, the drinks she had tried, and the ones she still wanted to try. She made ironic comments about the collectible products of the brand, that usually end up being sold out immediately only to be resold at three times the normal price.
Stolas found the stories that his daughter told him incredible. The visual examples she relied on to show evidence of these facts impressed him even more. For him it was like rediscovering the world he thought he already knew, learning anew the customs and ambitions of the demons around him.
As they walked, chatted and enjoyed their drinks, they made their way to different places of interest to Octavia. And as they passed by less important ones, she would just point in the general direction and recount some funny or bizarre anecdote she happened to experience at the time.
And she seemed to be able to go on and on without stopping once. Everything she had never been able to say to anyone was finally coming out of her lungs as she took full advantage of the opportunity.
They went shopping, eating, everything you would do on a normal day with anyone. But for them it was the furthest thing from normal, –and that meant a lot to both of them.
As they returned with another portal that left them at the main entrance of the palace, they were both carrying several bags resulting from everything they had gone to do and buy.
As they returned, the smiles on their faces would eventually fade.
—Is this what you wanted to spend the weekend with your father for, Octavia? —Stella's voice was heard not far away—.
They both turned to hear Stella's voice waiting for them outside their car.
—What are you doing here Stella?
—I came to destroy you, Stolas. You finally made enough mistakes for me to be able to finish you.
—I have no idea what you're talking about. And you better explain yourself or get the hell out of here.
—I'll be glad to explain, I just hope you and Octavia fucked pleasantly recently, because you had your last chance.