There was a reason why Moxxie hated hospitals so much, and it was because of all the damn waiting. It wasn't a surprise that a hospital in Hell was busy and overcrowded. After all, demons tried to kill each other every day for various reasons. However, instead of waiting for treatment, he was here waiting for the condition of his boss. It had been five hours now, and Moxxie was near ready to pass out from a lack of sleep. The adrenaline from the fight had worn off hours ago, and the only thing keeping him awake was fear.

Millie and Loona had told the others just how bad it was for Blitzo, and Moxxie could only wonder what the fuck his boss was made out of. Even a higher level demon would have been dead six times over by what he had done, but Blitzo had managed to survive it. Moxxie knew that even if Blitzo managed to come out of this alive, it would take months just to recover from all this.

He hated to think of the 'what if' scenario, but there was still a chance that Blitzo could die. He didn't want to think about it, mostly because if he did then, Moxxie wouldn't be able to stop crying. It was funny. He never worried about his boss like this, but it showed just how much, deep down, he cared about that annoying jackass after everything that's happened. He just wondered how much of the old Blitzo was going to remain.

Nobody can go through an ordeal like this and not be screwed up by the trauma. He knew his boss was seeing a therapist, or at least he told them he was, but Moxxie wasn't an idiot. Blitzo had some kind of past issues he didn't like to talk about and hid behind a face of egotism and showmanship to avoid it. Chances are, it was now permanently broken, but regardless of what happened, Moxxie would be there for him. He didn't risk his life just so he could keep his job after all. Like it or not, Moxxie was part of his boss' family. He didn't know how this would affect I.M.P. overall, but right now, the only thing he was worried about was Blitzo's well being. The technical stuff regarding the company could be worried about later.

He glanced at his wife, sleeping on his shoulder while he caressed her hair. She had nearly passed out just as Moxxie, Stolas, and, to their surprise, Octavia arrived. She said something about needing to get out of the house where that woman was, and nobody pressed further. Moxxie told his wife to sleep while he promised to wake her up when news of Blitzo was given. Loona was the only other one to have her eyes closed, sitting up in her chair, with Octavia holding her hand as Stolas paced back and forth.

Dawn was just beginning to break when the emergency doors finally opened, and the head doctor working on Blitzo arrived with his green surgery clothes covered in blood. "Blitzo's family?"

Immediately, everyone got up, even the sleepyheads, as they all stared at the doctor while holding their breaths. Loona was the first to speak and ask the question they all wanted to be answered. "Is my dad going to be alright?"

The sigh made Moxxie panic at first but seeing the demon doctor nod his head made everyone release their breaths at once. "You guys got to him in time. Another two hours, and I don't think we would be able to save him. I've never seen so much damage on an imp before. It's a miracle he survived. We're still healing him, but he's out of the danger zone. He'll need weeks, maybe months of recovery both physically and psychologically."

"Whatever is needed, I can pay for it," Stolas said firmly.

"Is there anything we can do?" Millie asked, gripping Moxxie's arm.

"Right now, the best thing is for you all to get some rest," The doctor said, crossing his arms. "You all look like you're about to pass out. Don't worry. We have him safe and sound here. He's not going to wake up for a couple of days anyway, so you should all get some sleep and come back later."

A loud yawn escaped Moxxie's mouth as his eyes began to droop. The past few days had been crazy and had driven the imp assassin further to the brink then he ever had gone. A lovely soft bed seemed like a paradise for him.

"I just want-" Loona said, but Octavia put a talon on her shoulder.

"Come on, Loona. Let's both head back to my place and rest. We can check on your dad afterward," Octavia encouraged. Loona looked hesitant at first but then slowly nodded in agreement.

"You four can go home. I need to talk to the head doctor for a moment," Stolas said as he opened a portal back to the palace. "If you need anything, ask the servants."

"What are you going to do about your bitch of a wife?" Millie asked, growling. Moxxie noticed Octavia turning away upon hearing Stella mentioned.

Stolas, to his credit, kept his cool and answered, "I'm going to deal with her after this. But you leave her to me."

The others nodded before one by one heading back to the palace.

***

Once he saw the other four were through his portal, Stolas quickly ended it and turned to the head doctor. "How bad?"

"I just said-"

"Doctor, he had a Nightmare Parasite in his brain for hours. I know what those things are capable of," Stolas said, firmly. "I have seen even the strongest of demons kill themselves shortly after getting it out of their minds. Even if they survive, the scars they feel are so damaging that they are changed forever. Now tell me the damn truth. How bad?!"

The doctor was quiet for a few minutes before shaking his head. "Bad. The first thing he did upon waking up was screaming bloody murder. He kept clawing his own body and breaking his skin to the point where he started bleeding all over the place. He nearly took out one of my nurses' eyes until we sedated him. He kept shouting so many things so fast that it all sounded like gibberish. Something about being sorry, and I know I heard your name and what I assume are his daughter and employees based on the info you gave me. However, a few others, such as a Tilla, Barbie, Zella, and his father, I think, were mentioned."

Stolas bit his lip. "They are his real family. Tilla was his older sister, and Barbie was his twin. I know that much, but not much else other than they died a long time ago. Not sure who Zella is, though."

"Well, whoever she is, he must be important to her. The poor bastard looked like he was all but begging to be killed just to end the pain. The look in his eyes was like that of someone completely broken, and I don't mean like someone who just arrived in Hell. Like that of a soul who just came back from death in the lowest levels and returned with that thousand-yard stare that they have," the doctor said.

Stolas did his best not to cry, but his soul was screaming in agony. He felt like he had failed Blitzo, even though he never saw this coming. The desire to hold his precious imp and care for him until he was sound of mind again was so strong that he almost ran into the emergency room to find Blitzo.

"I'm sorry, Prince Stolas," The doctor said, shaking his head. "Nightmare Parasites leave scars that last forever in mind and in the soul. No medicine or magic in Hell can help him."

Stolas was about to say something when something clicked into his mind. One that, if known, would have everyone ask what the fuck he was thinking. Because there was a way that could save Blitzo's sanity, but it would be downright dangerous to do so. It would be the most dangerous thing he would ever do in his entire life. To do it would require a great sacrifice on his part that wouldn't just affect him, but Octavia, his servants, and maybe even Blitzo and his gang, depending on what happened. Yet, he feared what would become of the broken imp if he didn't do it. How long until Blitzo, unable to take the nightmares and damage done to him, started abusing himself like so many others when they recover from the parasite? Or worse, end his own life just to embrace oblivion to escape from it all?

There was only one form of healing that could help Blitzo return to the imp he was, but it would not be found here in Hell. Stolas closed his eyes. Such a decision should not be made so quickly. He needed to think about it more, go through all the options and consequences of doing this. He also needed to get Octavia's permission to do this because her life would be at risk if this was found out. Reginald, Grimbeak, and the rest would follow him to the end no matter what, but if Octavia said no, then he wouldn't do it. He loved Blitzo, but he loved his daughter more, and he wouldn't risk her. Not even for him.

He would also need to give up something in exchange for this service, and Stolas knew there was only one thing he could surrender. But that was a problem for another day. Now he just wanted to go home and deal with the last person he wanted to see before taking a long rest.

Stella.

***

The moment Reginald arrived to let her know what happened, Stella had already lost the ability to cry tears for the fate of her mother and brother. She just silently nodded and let him leave without a single word. The owl demoness thought that she would be thinking about memories of her now-deceased family in those hours of silence, but all she could do was think about Octavia.

Her daughter had disowned her. Even to the point where she called Stella by just her name and not by her proper title as "Mother." That had killed Stella more than anything. Deep down, she knew she shouldn't have expected anything less, but to actually hear it was just too much. In a single night, because of one mistake, Stella had lost everyone she cared about. Her mother and brother were dead, and her husband and daughter wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

A part of her wanted to blame Blitzo. The imp that caused her to do this in the first place. Yet, Stella knew that she was only fooling herself. The only thing left was to wait for her soon to be ex-husband's judgment on whether or not she would live. In some ways, Stella wished for death. She couldn't imagine a life without her daughter or her husband. Even if they never loved each other, argued, and had their bad moments, she still cared for Stolas. Death would be merciful than having to live without him or Octavia in her life.

The doors opened, and Stella slowly lifted her head to see Stolas walk into his office. Stella wiped the tear marks from her face and stood up. She kept her head low but her eyes up as Stolas walked over towards her with an emotionless expression.

"I take it you know the news?" Stolas asked.

"Yes," Stella said with a heavy sigh. "My family is dead, but is Blitzo okay?"

"He'll live," Stolas said but then growled. "But he's forever damaged thanks to you and your family."

"I know..." Stella whispered, closing her eyes. "I know you and Octavia will never forgive me. I think deep down, I'll never forgive myself. I can say it so often, but please believe me when I say I'm sorry about this. I really am, Stolas."

"Even if I do believe you, Stella, it's not enough," Stolas said, shaking his head. "It still doesn't change the fact that you hurt us. You hurt someone I cared greatly about. I admit that I may blame getting you to perform this action out of fear of our family's safety on me, but you went too far, and lives were lost or damaged because of it. That is what I cannot forgive."

Taking a deep breath, Stella closed her eyes. "If you're going to kill me...please just make it quick..."

"...I'm not going to kill you," Stolas said, which made Stella stare at him with wide eyes. He held up three fingers. "Three reasons. Despite being the one that caused this to happen, you gave us the location and information to save Blitzo. I am grateful for that. Second, it's going to look suspicious if you were to die so soon after your mother and brother died. As far as the world knows, you and I are divorcing out of an agreement that we no longer love each other and that your family died in a gas leak. It's strange already as it is, and I will not be adding more suspicion to it. Finally, despite everything, you are Octavia's mother. She is already feeling enough guilt, anger, and sorrow because of you. I will not have her also go through the emotional weight of losing her mother as well."

He then leaned forward with his eyes glowing red. "But do not see my mercy as weakness. You are never allowed to step foot in my lands again. You will never see Octavia or me again. If she chooses to seek you out, I will not stop her, but considering her attitude about you, I doubt that will not happen for a very long time. If ever at all. You will live out your days at your family mansion with all your old servants replaced with ones loyal to me. They will watch your every move from the moment you wake up to the moment you shit. The moment they suspect you are doing something like this again or telling anyone about what happened, they will kill you. Or I will, personally."

Sighing, Stolas turned his back to her and pointed to the door. "There is a car waiting to take you back to your family mansion. All your belongings will be sent to you later, as well as the divorce papers. Now get the fuck out of my house, Stella."

Stella opened her mouth to say something, but she soon closed it and shook her head. There was nothing more to be said now. Slowly, Stella made her way out of her husband's office and down the hall to where the front entrance was.

Walking down the halls, she noticed that all paintings and photos that once contained her. Now they were gone or erased. Just as if she never existed here in the first place. The servants that once smiled or nodded to her just glared or shunned her as she passed by them.

When she got outside, a small car was waiting for her as well as Reginald holding the rear door. She took one last look at her former home and slowly turned her eyes towards the window where her daughter's room was. Her heart clenched upon seeing Octavia staring down at her, but with utter hatred in her eyes. The pain felt so deep into Stella's soul that she nearly cried right then and there. Stella sighed upon seeing Octavia soon close her curtains, a final rejection from her precious child.

Turning to the car, she was about to get in when she paused and turned to Reginald. "Reginald, please just answer one last question from me. Is there any hope of redeeming myself in the eyes of my family?"

Reginald was quiet and just stared at her before asking, "Can you forgive yourself?"

"No," Stella answered with a heavy sigh. "I cannot."

"Then until you do, you will never have that answer," Reginald said.

Stella nodded as she slowly entered the car and let the door close behind her before finally leaving her home behind.