AN:Finally! I finished this chapter! Had to work really hard to get this right, especially since I was giving the angels different fonts then normal to show their divinity. If you find yourself confused by any of the different text that I've given the angels, and Stolas at the end, please let me know. I guess you can say this is an experiment to see just how well it can be done.

Edit: The font/text of angels is back to being normal

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VERSION OF PURGATORY IS NOT THE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF IT ACCORDING TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT'S A MODIFIED VERSION TO FIT THE STORY.

Notes at the end of the chapter. Be sure to read them.

***

When Stolas heard what had happened from Octavia, he immediately told Lucifer he had to leave for a family emergency and that his daughter was at the hospital. Not exactly a complete lie but not the whole truth either. He immediately portal into St. Judas General Hospital and practically tore the halls apart trying to find Blitzo until Octavia found him and guided him to the recovery room he was in. Stolas was prepared to see the worst, but no preparation could prepare him for what he saw. While the covers of Blitzo's bed prevented him from seeing how bad the damage was to the rest of his body, it paled in comparison to the face. Every part of Blitzo's skin was covered by bandages save for one of his eyes and his mouth. His horns were faded of color, which was considered a sign of massive blood loss for imps. His veins were pierced by multiple IVs that held various fluids, potions, and blood. It looked more like Blitzo was getting ready to be put in a coffin, all things considered.

Seeing his beloved imp in the terrible state broke Stolas's demonic heart and forced him to his knees in tears. He gently held onto his darling imp's hand as if he was touching the pedal of a dying flower. Any more force, and he was afraid it would just shatter into pieces. The sound of the heart monitor going up and down was the only sound that Stolas could hear. From what Octavia told him, that beloved heartbeat that he listened to many nights under the full moon in his bed had gone temporarily silent for half a minute.

It had made Stolas, a long-lived and powerful demon, feel genuine fear for the first time in years. For there was a moment in reality when Blitzo had died before coming back to life. It was a reality that Stolas never wanted to live in ever again. And it was all he needed to finally make the call he had both been anticipating and dreading at the same time. Thankfully, Metatron agreed to hear him out, and Stolas would meet with the Voice of God tomorrow in Purgatory.

"Dad, we need to go home," Octavia whispered to Stolas as he broke out of his thoughts and turned to his daughter. She was the only one left in the room with him while the others had left. Once it was assured that Blitzo would be okay, Moxxie and Millie both left with despair and guilt on their faces that made Stolas hesitant to congratulate the couple for their pregnancy. After all, it had been their news that had made Blitzo lose it for the lack of a better term and ended up in this state. He vowed to have a talk with them later after meeting Metatron. Loona also left not long after. Octavia offered to go with her, but the Hellhound wished to be alone, so Stolas sent her back to the mansion via a portal.

"I don't want to leave him," Stolas whispered as he shed a few tears. He wanted to be here when Blitzo woke up, but at the same time, he knew he needed to be his best mentally and emotionally for what he was going to ask from Metatron tomorrow.

If you were to ask Stolas who would win in a fight between the two, the Goetia Prince would easily say it was the angel. No doubt. Metatron might not have been the leader of the armies of Heaven like Micheal was, but that didn't mean he wasn't powerful. In many ways, he could be the most powerful angel in the Heavens. Even the Fallen Angels, who were still around since Lucifer's Rebellion, were quiet about just how deadly Metatron could be. Not just out of anger but out of fear. Only the top-tier demons in all of Hell could stand a match for him, and that was if he decided to fight at all.

If Micheal was the General who could be found on the frontlines as God's Justice, then Metatron was the Strategist in the back who planned everything as God's Will. Being the one angel who had constant direct contact with God and his son, Metatron was perhaps the closest angel who could tell what the divine creator was thinking and trying to understand God was pretty much impossible. In fact, he was one of the few beings in reality who could communicate with him without suffering any backlash. The true power, let alone the voice of God himself, was so great and powerful that even hearing a syllable could cause someone's mind to explode. Literally. Just even saying one word and God could crack Hell open like a walnut (which made Stolas wonder how the ever-living fuck Lucifer think could even beat God) and end the war just like that. So it was Metatron's job to make sure God's message reached those who needed to hear him. All those voices from God that every prophet heard throughout the ages? All Metatron's work.

And if it wasn't Metatron that was talking to you, then chances are you were just insane. Or high on something.

Despite having become somewhat friends with the angel, Stolas was no fool. He knew Metatron could quickly kill him with a snap of his fingers. Which was why he had to be mentally prepared for what he was about to ask.

And yet, he didn't want to leave Blitzo's side for one moment.

Octavia slowly touched her father's shoulder, and, on instinct, he touched it back. He sighed and knew that he had to leave and yet letting go of Blitzo's hand was harder than it should have been. Stolas gently kissed his lover on the horns before leaving the room with his daughter. With a simple wave, he summoned a portal home, and the two of them walked back into their mansion without a single word. The portal closed behind them, and it was just him and his daughter alone in their living room.

Gazing at the clock, Stolas realized that it was becoming quite late, and he needed to head to bed soon. Tomorrow...tomorrow everything changes.

If his ancestors were watching and knew what he was about to do, what would they say? Would they be proud of him for going so far for someone he truly loved, or would they call him a fool that would bring disaster not just to their family but perhaps the entire Goetia name? Octavia turned to him and looked ready to say something, but instead, she just sighed and walked towards the stairs.

However, she paused when Stolas spoke, "Octavia. Are you sure? If I do this...there is no going back for us. We could both die if we're caught. We can all die if we're caught."

"...We're not living right now, are we?" Octavia said as she turned around and looked at her father with tears in her eyes. "None of us are living, Dad. Moxxie and Millie are going to feel like shit because of what happened despite having a baby coming. My best friend is most likely crying in sleep again because her father almost died today. Your lover, someone who actually makes you happy, is mentally dying, and you cannot help him because it's beyond your power. And I...I'm seeing my family fall apart."

She wiped her tears and sighed. "I'd rather us be a family again with that stupid crazy imp than a broken one if something happens to him. And if this means risking our lives? Well, nobody lives forever..."

"...I love you, my Starfire," Stolas whispered, closing his eyes.

"I love you too, Dad..." Octavia gave a small smile before sighing. "And good luck."

***

It was quiet.

It was too quiet.

Generally, in their area of Imp City, there was always something going on. Arguments and sounds of Domestic abuse from their neighbors. Gangs fighting in the streets with the echoes of gunshots, explosions, and dying cries for mercy. Drunk drivers crashing into each other. Or just some crazy hobo screaming about political nonsense in a desperate attempt for attention and cash. It made sleeping hard, and sometimes Moxxie didn't find himself snoring until one in the morning. Honestly, he wished for the noise because the silence was only making him feel more uneased.

The scene of his boss falling down the hospital and crashing into that car continued to play in Moxxie's head like a VoxTube video on loop. The sound of his heart rate monitor going dead silent for a brief moment echoed in his ears like a sympathy without end. What was supposed to be a good day—a magical moment—was ruined by the fact that Blitzo had almost died. Christ, he didn't even want to think what Loona was feeling. She had all but shattered the last time they saw her before they left, and no doubt she was dealing with her pain just like always: booze and tears.

And Moxxie knew Millie was blaming herself for all of it.

He slowly looked over to his wife next to him in bed. She had remained quiet the entire time coming home and not once made a sound when they returned. He asked her if she was hungry, thirsty, or wanted to do something, and all she replied with was the shakes of her head. Not once did she open up her mouth except to cry in the shower. If there was one thing in all of Hell that made Moxxie sadder than anything else in the pentagram, it was his wife in tears.

Slowly, he put his hand into her own and squeezed it. She went stiff for a moment before relaxing and closed her eyes. After spotting a few tears dripping down her face, Moxxie decided it was finally time to say something. "It's not your fault."

"I—"

"No, listen and look at me," Moxxie firmly stated as she slowly turned her head to him. "You are not to blame for this. None of us are, including our child. None of us...none of us knew because Blitz never told us."

"I still—"

" Mildred ," Moxxie warned as he used her real name. He slowly turned over and put his arm around his wife, slowly hugging her. "Do not, under any circumstances, think that you having this baby is an issue. It's not. You are going to be a wonderful mother because there is nobody else in this entire universe that I would rather raise a child of mine with than you." He kissed her softly on the lips. "Every day, I thank Satan for letting me meet you, and I'll thank him again for letting us have this baby. We're going to get through this as always because not only are you worth it, but our child is. Our family is everything."

"Blitz is part of our family," Millie whispered, sniffing.

"Yes," Moxxie agreed, stroking her head. "Him. Loona. I'll even say Prince Stolas, Princess Octavia, and Grimbeak are becoming a part of this family as well. And despite what happened, I know Blitz would never want you to regret becoming a mother. He'd tell you to stop acting like an idiot and let him pick out the baby's name. Probably something stupid like Captain Murderthunderbolt or Super Blitz Jr."

That got Millie to snort a bit before she slowly sighed and nuzzled him. "Moxxie...what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"By being the most beautiful murdering psychopath since Elizabeth Bathory," Moxxie answered as the two shared a passionate kiss. "Now, let's try to get some sleep. We need to plan a lot for our upcoming child."

Moxxie was about to reach for the lamplight when Millie said something that made him pause. "Moxxie, do you remember when Blitz said that he killed his wife?"

Moxxie did remember. It had been one of the biggest shocks that day when Blitzo woke up from his coma. Not just the mental breakdown where Blitzo all but shouted his faults, failures, and disgust for his own actions, but the revelation that he had once been married. And killed the love of his life.

Moxxie didn't think he really meant it. That what he said was guilt out of failing to protect her from dying or something. Yet, there was always a voice in the back of his head that made him ponder. Did his boss really did murder his wife? Was it on purpose, or was it by accident? Blitz might have been an asshole and willing to kill most people for the right price, but would he really be so cold-blooded to murder his own spouse? Moxxie didn't want to believe it. No, he couldn't even begin to fathom it. That wasn't the Blitzo he knew, but at the same time, this was so long ago it was before he even adopted Loona. Who's to say Blitzo wasn't different back then?

"It's just...if he claims he murdered his wife...and they had a child...does that mean he killed them too?" Millie whispered, hugging the sheets closer to her.

Moxxie didn't answer that question. Mainly because he was afraid of even thinking of the answers.

***

Traveling to Purgatory was not like traveling to Earth, even when using a portal. Heaven made actual defenses to ensure that only those with permission were allowed to enter the "Middle Realm," as it was often nicknamed. It was no different from entering another country and going through immigration customs to ensure you were there for non-dangerous reasons. You had to call ahead to let the Purgatory Defence League know that you were coming to visit, get approval, and the directions of where to portal too. Usually, it would take days to prepare, but it was easy for Prince Stolas to prepare something in a day due to his dealings with Metatron.

He still hated going through the security procedures that were tighter than an airport. Stepping through the portal, a giant purple velvet room greeted the prince. It was spartan in its appearance but covered in various seals glowing with blue and white energy powered by the generators of Heaven itself. Thanks to his education, any ordinary demon would be confused by what such symbols meant, but Stolas knew them when he first saw them. They were designed to not just scan you for dangerous items but see your intentions as well. It wasn't so much mind-reading, more like soul reading. Regardless, the angels that ran this place took security very seriously. After all, this was where the souls who had a second chance to be saved ended up. There were plenty of demons down below willing to ruin that for their own calculated reasons.

The seals glowed all around Stolas as his feathers went up in a fritz upon feeling that holy energy mixing with his own demonic power like oil and water. It wasn't fatal (although there were features on the seals that could change that), but it was very uncomfortable. It always felt like his entire body was being walked on by giants with heels on them. Once the scanning was over, there was a voice that echoed in a nearby speaker. "You're clear. Please proceeded outside the room where your valuables will be checked."

A steel door opened as two figures waited for Stolas to walk outside, where he proceeded to do so without delay. Despite being taller than them, he knew better to try and mess with these two. After all, all angels were trained in combat one way or another. Even the most passive of cherubs knew how to kill demons.

Dressed in highly decorative angelic silver steel armor, the angels of the PDL stood there with their holy fire glowing swords safely in their sheaths, but their stances showed they were ready to strike at a moment's notice. They were only slightly taller than the average human, but their bodies were built like veteran soldiers to peak physical perfection. Their armor held flowing golden holy symbols such as the cross and the trinity symbol in various locations. He still didn't know what it all meant, but chances are they wouldn't be willing to tell him. Their pure white wings flapped before folding to rest while their lower white and blue cloaks flowed behind them. Their faces were hidden behind their helmets, showing only blue, glowing eyes with no mouths or noses, and the white halos burning above their heads were near blinding.

One of them raised their hand up before a deep voice came from the figure. "Please hold while we check your items."

"I have only one," Prince Stolas said as he took out the Grimoire of Worlds and presented it to the angels. "I believe you already know what this is."

"We do but we'll be checking it anyway," The angel said as his arms began to glow. Sacred circles appeared before his hands as he checked the book which floated in his aura. A few waves of energy went through it, but after a few minutes, it floated back to Stolas's hands. "Thank you, Prince Stolas. You may proceed. Welcome back to Purgatory."

Stolas merely nodded and proceeded to the exit door where he found himself in what was known as the "Gate of Purgatory," although it was more of an airport than an actual gate. The whole place functioned like one would find on the human world, only instead of planes coming and going, it was for souls coming in from Earth, guided by the Angels of Death themselves, or leaving for their destined afterlife upon completing or failing their final test. Tens of thousands of human souls were walking back and forth, often confused or shocked by what they saw while others were resting on one of the many comfortable seats to come to terms with the fact that they were now dead.

They ranged from all over the world in various heights, weights, ages, genders, religions, and more, but they had one feature in common besides being dead. On the forehead of every human was a bright red "P" that symbolized that they were a citizen of Purgatory. Once it started glowing, it would let them know that it was time for their final test, and they would either end up in Heaven or Hell by the end of it.

Those wings of the place were closed off in separate areas, and for a good reason. The Gateway to Heaven was for angels and redeemed souls only. Anyone else trying to enter there without being one of those two would be severely punished. The Gateway to Hell was the same, only it was closed off to prevent anyone from trying to escape from their grim fate. Stolas had seen cages of humans who had failed their testing, screaming and struggling to get out before being sent to the pentagram more than once. Most of them begging for another chance or pleading with other souls to save them. It was honestly a sight that Stolas found more annoying than pitiful. The final test was always correct one hundred percent and was never wrong. If you had failed, it was because of your own fault and nothing more.

However, it was not just deceased humans that wandered around these parts. There were various angels as well. All of them, ranging from different looks and appearances, made many newcomers look at them in awe. Despite having been here many times, Stolas himself was always nervous around them. Most demons typically saw the Exorcist ones from Extermination Day, but some were just as, and even more so, frightening and powerful:

You had the mysterious and cloaked Angels of Death who had guided the souls of the dead to Purgatory.

The armored and dangerous Guardian Angels were there to keep law and order.

The tiny and observing Recording Angels were high above their perches with their ever-grazing eyes on everything, writing everything they saw down.

And many more, each with specific looks and abilities that made them stand out. Each is just as dangerous as Stolas himself.

There were also your standard dressed angels coming and going, and finally, those dressed in sharp blue and golden sashed uniforms to symbolize that they were workers here. Just like any other average airport, there were dozens of smaller establishments. Vendors and restaurants gave meals and drinks for those who needed a bite or drink to help calm themselves from crossover into the afterlife. A large number of information desks which had the most lines for obvious reasons. Some were giving out books, others pamphlets for where to live, and directions for those seeking the proper places to go. Everyone eventually made for the exit with the specialized gates that would assign them their living quarters and a schedule for their opening days in Purgatory.

Thankfully, Stolas had no need for such things and instead made his way to the nearby train station. While walking, he was given quite a large berth from both angels and humans alike. It was pretty clear that he stood out, and there was a reason for that as demons rarely appeared here. The very few who did were here either for business or serving Purgatory to have a home here. Rarely did you see them at the Gate of Purgatory save for escorting failed souls to the Gateway to Hell, but there didn't seem to be any save for the Goetia Prince himself.

Working in Purgatory was always a mixed bag, but most demons were willing to tolerate it if they were chosen. It allowed them to stay out of Lucifer's rule, should they desire it, but more importantly, it allowed them to be spared from Extermination Day. Provided they followed all the rules. Which, for demons, was always hard since back home, you were encouraged to break the rules to get ahead. That didn't work here as the angels would either send you back to Hell or outright perma-kill you depending on your actions. So only the best behaving demons were allowed to work in Purgatory, but even then, there was always tension in the air, as evidenced by some of the Guardian Angels constantly gripping their swords a bit tighter whenever Stolas walked past them.

When he made it to the train station, he saw many humans looking outside in awe while chuckling in amusement. Most people always thought that Purgatory was a shadowy land or a grey version of Earth. Dante Alighieri actually came close in his Divine Comedy except for one thing. Purgatory was not an island, but rather it was a series of islands floating in the ethereal cosmos of creation itself. There were nine islands, much like how there were always nine circles in Hell, and they were each equal in size. Yet, they would constantly grow and change shape to account for the holding of various humans who needed to move from one island to the next before making their way to the final island in the distance, which was the smallest but the most important. Seven of the nine islands were named after a virtue you had to learn before being qualified for your final test: Humility, Charity, Peace, Zeal, Moderation, Temperance, and Chastity, with the last two being different in various ways.

The first, Island of Knowledge, was explicitly designed to help those who weren't baptized in a Christian Church or denied the existence of God. They were to be given the truth of how the universe really worked, the existence of God and what he asked from his creations, and how they could follow the proper true path. It was essentially going through Christian School, only it was taught by actual angels from Heaven. After graduating from there, they were sent off to the other islands. Before one could be saved, one had to no longer be ignorant of God. Not that all non-Christians always ended up here, as a number of them went to Heaven without going through Purgatory, but this was always necessary to help understand the virtues better.

The last island, Island of Judgement, was where you had your final test to decide if you were worthy to enter Heaven or were doomed to enter Hell, and it was one or the other. Nobody, save the angels that worked there and those who passed, knew the test. It was the biggest mystery in all of Purgatory. All that was known was that it was never wrong in its judgment, and the results were final.

Stolas's thoughts were interrupted when the train announcer said that the next train to the Island of Chastity would be arriving soon. The one that Stolas needed to get to his meeting with Metatron. He supposed it was ironic considering that the island was designed to help humans overcome their lusts, and he was here to talk about the fate of the one demon he loved. If seeing the great beyond's stars and comets was terrific, the method of which travel was done in Purgatory was just as exciting. The trains did not run on pre-made tracks but self-made them through their own power. A white and golden steel locomotive entered into the large station as rainbow-colored tracks were constantly made in front of it to provide movement before those behind it disappeared without a trace. So sleek and smooth was its design that it was like looking at a living comet of metal and beauty. Say what you will about Heaven's artistic design, but they did not hold back when it came to standing out with a feeling of divine appreciation.

Once the doors were open, Stolas waited until he was given room to enter and quickly found a seat on one of the comfortable velvet chairs. Looking outside the window, he saw the nearest island, The Island of Knowledge, where the shining academy was held in the center along with the city designed around it.

Speaking of which, he saw a few humans dressed in white and black academic robes to symbolize them as students of the academies on the various islands. No doubt on their way to classes right now. Two females with blond and red hair, respectively, were behind him and chatting.

"I heard that Krissy finally got called to the Island of Judgement," the blond-haired one whispered nervously. "Nobody knows if she failed or not yet, but she was looking close to crying when her P started glowing."

"I guess she was nervous about how she wasn't doing well at Charity Academy," the red-haired woman winced. "Being a rich brat who pretty much had everything handed down to you is not something you get out of your system, even if you've been dead for pretty much thirty years."

"Yeah, but I hear Ganna, Maria, and Amir passed their final test! They're leaving for Heaven next week!" The blonde one replied with joy.

"Any idea what it was about? I keep hearing rumors, but nobody seems to know except the angels who work at that island."

"Nope, and from what I hear, there is some kind of power that prevents you from saying anything about it. But I hope we can get called soon. I've been here for five years, and I'm confident I can pass it and go see my family in Heaven. As well as...my husband to tell him I'm sorry."

"Personally, I don't know whether or not to hope I get called up soon or if I want to wait a few more years," the red-haired woman sighed. "I still can't believe God was willing to send me here instead of Hell. You know how much I argued about him not existing on Reddit?"

"Hey, we're all here because we've done or did things that we're not proud of," Blond hair girl whispered as she looked down in shame. "What matters is that we're learning to be better with this second chance. Most people who come here end up going to Heaven in the end, from what I hear. And we've been helping each other since we first arrived here after we died. We have to have faith."

"I still can't believe that Purgatory is one giant series of schools that you have to learn and pass from to graduate into Heaven or fail and get sent down to Hell," The red-haired woman said, shaking her head with a small laugh. "And I thought university was bad."

Stolas then perked up when he heard one of them gasp upon seeing him and whispered, "Shh, I think that's a demon in front of us."

"Really? Think he's here to tempt someone?"

"Sorry to disappoint you ladies," Stolas said, getting them to freeze up as he turned around and smirked. "But I'm here on other business. However, if you do want to talk about deals, we can do so for a price."

They quickly shut their mouths and shook their heads before turning away with caution. Stolas chuckled and shook his head, knowing he wasn't going to really get in trouble for pretending to hint at making a deal with these two. After all, that was the job of demons who lived here. They owned establishments and businesses that were used to tempt humans into giving into the various vices and sins that were preventing them from being redeemed in the first place. Purgatory wasn't just a test in the halls of its academies; it was a test outside of it as well. While you could be forgiven for indulging in them a few times, too many would deem you a failure and send you to Hell. Same thing for doing something too sinful like murder, rape, and such. While most souls did pass Purgatory, at least an average of twenty percent of them didn't and ended up in Hell.

Knowing it would be some time before he arrived at his destination, Stolas closed his eyes and drifted off into a light sleep as the train traveled through the cosmos on its own.

***

It only took an hour to get to his destination, and by the time he arrived at the station, Stolas already saw someone waiting for him. A familiar face that he had come to know during his time here in the past. She was a snowy owl angel with black-spotted feathered wings. Her wide eyes of gold, like her halo, held a warm aura of kindness and wisdom behind them. She stood just as tall as Stolas himself, yet firmer in width and mass, especially in her chest area. The female owl walked over with a welcoming smile, dressed in a pure white toga with golden leaves at the edges. Such a gentle and welcoming look was something few demons ever got from their angelic enemies.

"Welcome back, Prince Stolas. How was your trip?" She greeted him with a friendly nod.

"Quite uneventful, Hedwig," Stolas greeted her with a small smile of his own while tipping his hat. "Is Metatron already here?"

"Lord Metatron is already waiting for you at the academy. The usual place," Hedwig stated before turning around and motioning Stolas to follow her as she prepared her wings. "We best not keep him waiting for too long."

Prince Stolas nodded and soon summoned his own black raven wings to follow Hedwig into the air. Flying out of the station, the prince could see the wonders of the island's city, where one could be forgiven for mistaking it for one back on Earth. It had similar architecture, feeling, and design save for a few differences. For one, the streets were always clean, and the buildings were built to be firm with a hint of artistic flair to them that gave a sense of homeliness and wonder. The establishments were very Earth-based, ranging from movie theaters constantly updating the films based on Earth's own movies, with some from Heaven and Hell, to various themed restaurants. It was intentional to make sure that the recently deceased felt comfortable in more familiar environments to help them get over their deaths. Of course, there were things you wouldn't find in a typical human city.

For one thing, the technology was much more advanced thanks to it mostly coming from Heaven. Most of the machines and services were automated, and holographic controls were normal. Cars ran on their own with automated programming. Instead of cellphones, you used high advance cubical energy spheres known as Aions that could access the DivineNet and other uses like email, messaging, and more. And while every human did get a monthly UBI currency, along with accessible apartments to live in, you could still get a job, and many did so both to earn more money or feel the joy of working again.

Of course, not all of the city was sunshine and rainbows. Stolas could easily see the darker and shadier areas of the town where one could find where the resident demons lived. Drug dens, porno videos stores, dark magic books, hired assassins, prostitutes, and more. If Stolas were to enter any of these areas, it would feel like he never left Hell in the first place. Of course, there were always major PDL stations there to ensure the demons didn't go too far in their temptations or actions that would risk more lives than necessary. Their job was to tempt the humans into failing to see if they could remain strong or not. Even from above, Stolas could see a few humans mingling with the damned right now.

He shook his head before turning his gaze forward towards the upcoming Academy of Chastity. It was the biggest building in the city, the size of which could fit even six copies of his home palace and still have room for more. It was designed to resemble a cathedral with multiple interior and exterior designs honoring Christ and his Holy Father. Mirrored murals of various saints or angels tied to the virtues it represented could be seen on every window. Crosses the size of entire houses were displayed on top. The water fountains were pure and flowing endlessly while glowing with pristine. There were crystal towers, golden brick roads, and flowery gardens that would make any gardener green with envy.

The two winged creatures soon landed on a balcony where a windowed double set door was waiting, covered by white and purple curtains. Stolas felt his heart starting to beat faster as he knew who awaited him beyond that door. Despite meeting the angel multiple times, it was always on business or just personal visiting for tea and news. This was the first time he was going to be asking him for an outright favor. A favor he might turn down simply because of what is required to be done.

"Well, I will let you enter. I understand that this is between the two of you so I shall not intrude," Hedwig turned to leave but not before nodding her head to Prince Stolas. "See you later, Prince Stolas."

Nodding to Hedwig, he waited until she flew off far enough for Stolas to take a deep breath and control himself. Do it for Blitzy, Stolas. All of this is for him.

Slowly, Stolas made his way to the double doors and opened them, where he found himself in a dark black room where there was not even a speck of light. Curious, Stolas closed the door behind him and summoned a small ball of light from his magic to help guide him through the darkness. At first, he thought about saying something when suddenly there was a burst of light from the shadows.

Covering his face, Stolas winced as a giant flaming tornado of fire appeared before him, roaring with flames like that of a dragon as it swirled around in a multi-color sea of sparks and embers. The darkness quickly faded away as it was surrounded by ever-growing divine flames of holy rainbow fire as a voice rang out in powerful, booming below:

"BEHOLD THE METATRON! HERALD OF THE ALMIGHTY AND VOICE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD! BEHOLD THE METATRON! HERALD OF THE ALMIGHTY AND VOICE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD!"

The voice kept repeating itself, which only made Stolas roll his eyes before he snapped his talons. A large fire extinguisher appeared and, with another snap, it started unleashing itself upon the flaming tornado. It soon evaporated while the loud voice started coughing up a fit before the flames receded themselves until there was nothing left. A figure, waving his hand around, coughed up a few more times before he walked out of the smoke with his hands on his hips. "Really? Do you have to do that every time we meet?"

The figure in question was none other than Metatron himself. A being that was only just short of Stolas's height due to him holding back his power. If he really unleashed it, he could easily be twice the height Stolas was right now. He was dressed in a large fancy purple robe that looked like something a lawyer would wear combined with that of a mystic, especially the lower part of it designed like a pointed robe. Its edges and lines were made of pure sparkling gold, while below around the bottom of the robe was the design of the most famous symbol of the Voice of God: Metatron's Cube . The sacred and powerful geometrical configuration held the secrets to the universe's creation and design. All of the universe's energies, positive and negative, could be understood, controlled, and even used with this code. Yet, despite the attempts of multiple angels and demons, including Stolas himself at one point, none but the angel before him was capable of understanding it or using it.

The face of the Voice of God was also quite different from most of the other angels one would generally see. Instead of an actual flesh-like face, it was a golden mask with a small pair of glasses on the nose connected to the angel's head, whose hair was like that of a judge's wings, including curls. A bright, glowing blue jewel was in the center of the forehead with such a shine that Stolas could see his own face on the surface. One wondered how it was that Metatron could actually see you, but that came in the form of his wings. Unlike other angels, whose wings were large and connected to his body, Metatron's wings were floating behind him, very small like that of a seagull's length. Yet instead of the quill part, there were actual floating blue and black pupil eyes as big as fists floating and expressing themselves like a natural face. It was actually the only way to tell what Metatron's emotions were like. Still, it was also a disadvantage because one set of floating winged eyes could appear as one emotion while another group was different. There were currently only six floating golden-winged eyes present, but Metatron has many more. All of them hiding in various places on Earth, Heaven, Purgatory, and even in Hell that he could control from any distance. The rumors of him having a thousand eyes and wings were accurate, yet not in the way that most demons expected upon actually meeting him.

Prince Stolas snorted. "Do you have to be so over dramatic with your entrances like a primadonna at an award ceremony?"

"Says the demon prince who struts around like he's expecting an audience to clap for him." The two stared at each other before chuckling and held out their hands for a shake. The eyes of Metatron all looked pleased to see Stolas like that of an old friend. "Well shall we sit down and have some tea? I'm quite interesting in hearing why you wanted to have this meeting when we're not even close to our usual meeting date."

A snap of the fingers and the entire room were suddenly filled with floating stars and planetoids like a planetarium. Stolas found himself relaxing more upon seeing such a familiar environment but made sure to keep himself focused on why he had come here in the first place. Nearby, a table large enough for the both of them, supported by a fine tea set, was waiting as the demon and angel took their seats and began to serve one another.

After the first cup, Stolas began pouring himself another before deciding to open things up with small talk. "How are things up in the clouds?"

"Same as always for the most part. Although Leliel and Raziel are finally getting married next year," Metatron said as he sipped his tea. How he could always do that without having a mouth always made the prince wonder. "The new Heavens and Hells are going quite well. We've managed to finally lock down the thermal laws and re-figured the temporal shifts to a much better quality."

"That's good. I've also got some new calculations I've developed. We can use them to increase the flow of aether into the atmosphere to better flow the pure and impure energies from the original spheres so that they can equally power each other," Stolas stated, which made Metatron nod in approval. Deciding that there was no point in delaying the inevitable, it was time to do what he set out to do. "Metatron, you are probably wondering why I asked you to meet me here..."

"Does it have to do with that imp lover of yours who is in the hospital right now suffering from a Nightmare Parasite by your former in-laws?" There was a shattering of glass as the teacup dropped from Stolas's hand as he slowly lifted his head. The floating eye wings were both glaring at him and appearing amused. "The very same imp that you've given your book to for usage as a means to create an assassination company that allows him and his workers to enter into the living world to kill human beings at the request of the damned who wish revenge on those who wronged them?"

At that moment, all of the eyes were now focused on Stolas while he just slowly started to pale. Metatron leaned forward with his hands folded on the table.

He knew.

Metatron had known.

Which meant Heaven had known.

Which meant that GOD had known.

"...How?" Stolas whispered, closing his eyes.

"How long? We've known for some time. How did we come to figure it out? Well, there are a number of ways," Metatron explained as he took another sip of his tea before leaning back with his leg folded. Unlike Stolas, he was as relaxed as a man out on a beach for a vacation while the prince looked ready to faint. "For one, the Angels of Death always know who a soul dies, regardless if they are good or evil. They know who they are, how they died, and who killed them."

Shit.

"Second, they haven't exactly been subtle in their assassinations. There are videos and pictures of them on the internet that most don't believe save for a few who know the truth. They actually have their own little section in the SCP website, by the way."

Double shit.

"Also, despite Heaven not getting any TV channels from Hell, Purgatory gets them. Imagine the surprise when a certain commercial plays every so often letting demons know that they can get their revenge thanks to the services of I.M.P. which so happens to also have a certain book that I've seen you use before many times. I do love the jingle though. It's really catchy."

Goddamnit, Blitz!

"And finally, just because a soul is dead doesn't mean that they can't remember how they died or how they speak. Such as some of the victims currently in Heaven who gave us all nice descriptions of a tall clownish imp with a psychopathic personality, a short high-pitched imp with great aim, a bloodthirsty murderous imp who laughs when she stabs things, and a hellhound that dresses like a goth and rips people to shreds while taking selfies."

Metatron leaned forward, and this time all the eyes were glaring at Stolas. "The rest I found out on my own. I knew your marriage was bad, Stolas. And since you are a demon, I can expect you to cheat since that sort of thing is normal down there. But giving your grimoire to a murdering assassin ho goes around killing humans, guilty or innocent, all for a night in bed? The only reason we haven't done anything about this is because imps are so weak that they are hard to track or pinpoint on Earth."

"...And I'm not dead yet because?" Stolas asked, closing his eyes as he knew it was pointless to deny it at this point.

"The practical reason is that we need you for the designs of the new Heavens and Hells. You are one of the few demons that is willing to work with us without trying to take advantage of it. If you were to be removed, we would be forced to work with someone else who would most likely try to take advantage of this situation and delay our goals. Hmph, they might even just ruin it for their own amusement." Metatron then sighed and shook his head while his six eyes closed for a bit before looking at Stolas with sympathy. "The other reason is that I've considered you a good friend these past few years, Stolas. Believe me, there are angels out there who want your blood, but I've held them back for now. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this imp lover of yours, and his associates, have killed human beings on Earth. Some of them innocent people, but even the guilty ones we cannot allow to be ignored as well."

Metatron then leaned back and folded his arms. "Now that we've got that out of the room, why don't you tell me why you are here?"

Stolas didn't answer for a long time, and Metatron made no efforts to hurry him. No doubt he knew that all that Stolas had to prepare himself for had just gone up in smoke. Honestly, Prince Stolas should have seen this coming. Metatron was not stupid, and Blitz's actions didn't help matters. For the first time, he really was willing to call his love an idiot for allowing himself to get so exposed like this. Yet, that idiot was who his heart belongs to and why he was here in the first place.

"Well, since you know what happened to Blitz, I assume you know most if not enough of the details of why and how," Stolas started before closing his eyes in shame. "I'm not going to deny what you have said. Yes, I have given my grimoire to Blitz for his company. Originally, it was about sex, but I've grown to love him very much. Nearly as much as I love my daughter. His co-workers are also starting to become part of my circle of friends, and none of us can see Blitzo in his state anymore. You know what a Nightmare Parasite does to its victim."

Metatron nodded in sympathy before motioning Stolas to continue. "There is no cure in Hell that can save him. Even with all my magic and money, I cannot solve this problem. But I know you can...you and Heaven are the only hope we have left." Standing up from his chair, Stolas bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Metatron. Please. We need a Spirit Healer to save Blitz."

There was no response from Metatron for a few minutes. Then, as Stolas lifted his head to see the winged eyes staring at him with a deadpan look, he heard the angel speak. "You want Heaven to give you a Spirit Healer? One of our most powerful angels, trained by Raphael himself, to cure a demon?"

Stolas began to gulp as he felt an immense pressure building up around him. Metatron's eyes started to glow as the angel himself slowly lifted himself up. "An imp that has killed human beings. God's children. Innocent ones and guilty ones. Who has deified the laws of both Heaven and Hell and committed great acts of sin. And you want us to save him?

Leaning forward, Stolas gulped as Metatron whispered to him. And yet, it was as loud as an avalanche. "Tell me. Why would we ever allow such a thing? What could you possible offer to make us want to even agree to this?"

Stolas closed his eyes as he focused his magic. It was time. There would be no going back if he did this. Yet all he could picture was his Blitzy.

The one demon he indeed did love and was willing to risk everything for.

There was no going back.

"What can I offer?" Stolas whispered as he slowly took off his hat and places it on the table. "I offer everything."

Without any more hesitation, Stolas ripped his cloak and shirt off, revealing his entire body covered in a complex series of seals, ritual circles, and symbols that all were geared towards one spell. A spell that would seal not just Stolas's fate but the fate of everyone tied to him. Metatron also recognized them as his six eye-wings soon started glowing and were widened in surprise.

Clapping his hands together, Stolas focused all the demonic energy inside of him as his entire body started to glow pure black as his corrupt nature while the runes on him began to glow one by one in pure crimson red. It was like watching blood flow through the entire circulatory system as each area of Stolas's body slowly was lit up like a neon light by each part of the ritual activating. Kneeling on one knee, Stolas lowered his head and placed one hand against his heart, and the other on the floor as if he was bowing to Metatron, which was the point. A glowing red ritual circle appeared before Stolas as the edges began to glow as ethereal chains of light erupted and hooked themselves into Stolas's very soul.

It was now time for the last part on Stolas's end.

The words of loyalty

The promise that couldn't be broken.

The vow that would be forever tied to not just him but his family, bloodline, and those that served him from his legions to his butlers.

Closing his eyes, Stolas spoke the speech that sealed his fate forever with his demonic tone fully out. "I, Prince Stolas Horatio Goetia, Head of the 36th House of Goetia, hereby swear my eternal loyalty, resources, and power to the forces of Heaven and to YHWH the Almighty, the one true God, in exchange for this favor I seek. I forsake my loyalty to Hell, its people, and its King, Lucifer. I vow to forever work to undermine him and work in favor of YHWH and his angels. I swear to serve YHWH the Almighty until the day of Final Judgement, where all Good and Evil will clash. May all who carry my blood, both now and in the future, be tied to this vow. May all who serve or swear fealty to me, now and in the future, be tied to this vow. YHWH's enemies are my enemies. His allies are my allies. I am forever more YHWH's servant, his agent, and his weapon. Should this vow be ever broken, all those tied to it will be void out of existence. May our souls and spirit be forever forsaken into oblivion. By all the powers that are within me, I swear this eternal and unbreakable vow forever. So mote it be!"

***

AN: 

Yeah, so basically Stolas is giving the Unbreakable Vow to God and Heaven by swearing eternal loyalty of not just himself, but of those of his bloodline (Just his not his entire Goetia Family) and his servants. Basically making him a Double Agent.

Let me know what you thought of Metatron, the angels, and Purgatory in general. Please comment, Kudos, Watch, and share this story online! Follow me also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LivesTalos.

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