Meeting once again

Two souls meet again after so long

The iron gate shut behind her once she entered the grounds of the palace. She looked through her veil to see the star studded walls and could make out constellations. The young lady walked in near silence was she walked around the fountain in the courtyard, the sound of the water wasn't enough to settle her nerves, she had lost count of how many of the Goetia she had past through before arriving at the Palace of Prince Stolas. Nova Celestine walked up the steps, the feathers around her feet made her footsteps so quiet.

“So.....this is the newest place, it seems nice, how long will I last here, a night like most other places so that's normal.” Nova said to herself. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door, she heard footsteps approaching. The door was flung open and she was greeted by a angry looking peahen with pink eyes, wearing a pinkish and black dress.

“Who the-who the f**k are you?” Stella snapped at the figure.

“I....I'm the consort, that you asked for your husband?” Nova answered nervously. Stella looked her up before she remembered, since her husband Stolas and herself were getting a divorce she was a suggested by her brother for her soon to be ex husband to take a consort to humor other members.

“Oh, right, get in here!” Stella snapped as she left the door. Nova picked up her bags and followed Stella inside.

'She is the charmer is see.' thought Nova as the door closed behind her. The two woman walked into the foyer of the Palace, they stopped and Nova sat her bags on the ground, Stella could tell they had some wear and tear on them.

“Is this all you have?” asked Stella.

“I....I pack light, my lady.” answered Nova.

“Well at least you have manners, that's a rare thing, and what is your name?” Stella asked once more as she walked around the young woman.

“Nova, Nova Celestine.” she answered. The clicking of Stella's heels stopped when she heard the last name.

“As in President Celestine? That embarrassment that's second only to my husband?” Stella asked. Both women knew presidents were the lowest on the caste scale of Goetia members.

“He's.....was my father, I haven't heard from him in years, nor do I care.” answered Nova.

“At least I know where you stand on that, how old are you? You look to be around my daughter's age and she's almost 18.” said Stella. She lifted the veil that was over Nova's face so she could have a better look at her face. Stella could hardly believe what she was seeing, although she possessed that traditional white face as other bird demons, hers was like new fallen snow, while Stella's was more lead. This delicate face was framed with ashen gray feathers that cascaded down her back. Shades of lavender graced one's eye when the light touched her hair just right. But her eyes were lavender colored instead of red like most bird demons.

“I actually just turned 29, my lady.” Nova replied.

'And she looks this good?! I've got my work cut out for me then.' thought Stella. She released the veil and started to walk around Nova.

“Well then Nova, my husband and I are in the process of separating, so you are going to have the joy of being with him, until he gets some sense into his head, then he'll come crawling back, but until then I have three simple rules you are going to follow to the letter, do that and there'll be no trouble between us.” spoke Stella as she circled the young woman. Nova could feel her coldness.

“Rule 1, you're to be a companion for Stolas whenever I'm not here, listen to him talk about boring stuff things like that.” Stella continued.

“Rule 2, you'll be his live in bed mate, since I'm pretty much done with being in the same bed as him, and this is the most important rule, I love to host parties so if I host one here, don't you dare even show your face at a party I host or you will pay for it.” Stella added, she turned her face up to her own.

“I only took you in out of pity for my husband, and because no other members of the Goetia wants you in their home, and I also know of your little condition, why you've been passed around so much, so enjoy this while you can, because if you break even one rule here, I will have you tossed out of here like the others have done, do we understand each other?” Stella asked, as she spoke her fingers traced their way to Nova's stomach before she jerked it away sharply. Nova shuttered at the woman's cold words.

“Yes....my lady....” Nova managed to speak out. Stella gave a cold smile, making this one suffer was going to be so much fun.

“Now that's the way I like things.” said Stella. She turned to an elderly imp butler.

“Show her to her room, and find Stolas to tell him his live in bed mate is here.” Stella told him before she left. The butler took one of Nova's small bags and led her up the steps to the second floor of the palace.

“She's a real charmer.” Nova said out loud.

“Don't let lady Stella scare you, she's just pretty bitter about this separation, can't say she had it coming, I can assure you that the prince is nothing like her, trust me.” the butler told her. She gave a small unsure smile under her veil as she walked with him. “Comforting.” Nova told herself. The butler stopped at what appeared to be a guest room.

“Your temporary room lady Nova, the prince and his daughter will come around to meet you shortly, make yourself comfortable for the time being, and don't be afraid to ask us for anything you might need while you're here.” The butler told her as he opened the door, he placed her bag inside as she also stepped inside, he closed the door leaving her alone.

'Who knows how long that will even be.' thought Nova as she looked around, a full size bed in the middle of the room and a door leading to her own personal bathroom on the other side of the room. Nova lifted her veil as she started to unpack her bags.

A now 17 year old Octavia peaked her head out of her room when she heard the chatting, she didn't know the consort had already arrived, when the teen heard the voice it sounds so familiar to her. A voice she hadn't heard she since she around 5 years old. Octavia stepped out of her room and walked up to the guest room door, she gave three knocks before hearing a voice from inside.

“Lady Stella, please I'm just trying to get settled and-” Nova said through the door. Octavia knew that voice from somewhere but couldn't remember.

“Uhhhhhh, sorry to say I'm not my mom, and if I am just kill me now.” said Octavia. Nova covered her mouth out of embarrassment when she heard the tone of voice also how young it sounded.

“Oh! Are you the daughter? I am so sorry, your mother kind of scared me a bit.” Nova answered through the door.

“She does that to everyone, can I come in a meet you?” Octavia asked.

“If.....you want, I won't stop you.” answered Nova. Octavia placed her hand on the door handle and turned it to open the door.

“I'm Octavia by the way, you can call me Via for short if you want.” Octavia introduced herself as she had been taught to. The moment Nova heard that name she started to recall where she heard it, she didn't put her veil on if she going to meet someone new.

“That name rings a bell to me, I'm Nova.” Nova told the teen. Octavia's eyes widened when she heard the name, could it very well be?

'No way-is it really?!' Octavia thought as she opened the door, Nova turned and locked eyes with the teen. Memories came flooding back to both of them, Nova saw the Via's pink eyes.

“It's you!” they both cried out. Octavia remembered the young woman now but she was no longer a teen, just as she was no longer that little child. The day Octavia had wandered away from home, and was about to be caught in a Extermination, it was this very woman who saved her, she remembered those purple eyes.

“It really is-” Octavia could hardly find words.

“I don't believe this, you're that owlet-” Nova couldn't find the words herself. Octavia took a few steps closer, wondering if she was really seeing things, but she touched Nova's hand and it was as real as herself.

“You're the one who-it really is you!” exclaimed Octavia, Nova placed her hands on the teen's shoulders, still remembering that scared owlet that she held to try and comfort her.

“I can't believe this, you grew up, look at you, I always thought about you, ever since that day.” Nova told her. Octavia smiled.

“My dad and I often thought about you too, he's actually been looking for you since then.” Octavia told her. Nova looked confused, had her father a prince really had been looking for her? Why her of all members and demons why he search for her. “Really?” Nova asked. Octavia looked too excited to even speak.

“I have to get him, dad's never going to believe this!” Octavia said as she bolted out of the room, the door closing behind her. Nova had never felt this amount of confusion in a long time. Octavia ran down the hall, she heard her parents voices coming from downstairs.

“Dad! Dad!” Octavia called out, she ran into the kitchen where she found them talking.

“Did you have to bring a consort into my home without talking to me about it first?!” Stolas snapped at his soon to be ex wife.

“I thought you'd be happy about this, now someone other than me can sleep with you and do the things I don't want to do with you anymore.” Stella griped at him. Octavia was used to her parents arguing at this point in her life.

“You never did them with me anyway!” Stolas shouted. Octavia had to get her father to listen to her.

“Dad!” Octavia shouted for him, Stolas held up a finger to his daughter.

“One second Via.” Stolas told her, Octavia groaned as her parents kept talking.

“Having a consort is better than having an imp in your sheets by a thousand miles.” Stella pointed out, reminding him of his affair with Blitz. Stolas growled.

“At least I can tell the difference between a imps warm body and your frigid corpse of one!” Stolas snapped. Stella stormed off and Stolas returned to his tea he had made. Octavia saw her chance to at least talk to her dad.

“Dad! Listen, I had a chance to meet our guest and-” Octavia was cut off by her father.

“Oh, you already met her? Do you like her? Is she nice?” Stolas asked her. Octavia could feel some frustrations rising.

“She is nice dad but-” She tried to answer once more.

“I guess I should meet her once your mother has left, I just don't trust her judgment now a days.” replied Stolas. Octavia felt like she was going to pull her hair out at the way he dad was being right now, she couldn't stand it much longer.

“Dad you have to meet her now!” Octavia told as she grabbed his arm to pull him along. Stolas pulled his arm back and looked at his daughter, why was she acting like this? Over a live in guest no less.

“Why are you so insistent on me meeting her now Via, she just arrived let her get settled first then-” Octavia cut him off.

“Dad it's her!!” Octavia nearly shouted. Stolas spat out his tea nearly chocking on it. He looked at Via with confusion at first.

“What do you mean?!” Stolas asked her, now Octavia had his attention.

“The woman who saved me! She's your new consort! It really is her dad!” Octavia explained. The owl prince searched his memories and recalled every detail about the young lady, but he really remembered her eyes. Stolas stood up and placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders.

“Are you absolutely sure?!” Stolas asked her, his voice becoming full of hope. Octavia nodded before he ran out of the kitchen, the prince needed to meet this woman for himself just to be sure. He hesitated outside the guest room before he worked up the nerve and knocked on the door. Nova heard the sound at the door.

“Via? Is that you?” Nova asked. But it wasn't Octavia's voice she heard on the other side of the door, instead it was a man's voice.

“Ummm, I'm not Via, but someone else who wants to meet you as well. May I enter your room my lady?” Stolas asked. Nova jumped and grabs her veil and quickly places on her head.

“Y-yes...your highness.” Nova answered as she straighten herself up. The door clicked open and Stolas entered the room. Nova bowed as he stepped closer, he stopped in front of her, she didn't dare raise her head to him just yet until he told her.

“There's no need for things like this right now.” Stolas told her.

“Could you rise, I wish to see your eyes, to make sure of what my daughter is saying about you is true.” he added. The young lady gulped.

“True of what, if I may asked?” Nova asked him. Stolas smiled.

“If you are who I've been looking for.” answered Stolas. Nova slowly started to rise back up, her face still covered by the veil.

“You've really been looking for me? Octavia was telling the truth.” Nova answered. Stolas turned her face to his own, and lifted up the veil, Nova opened her eyes and the memories came flooding back to both of them, she remembered the owl prince and his own eyes became wide the moment his own laid upon her.

“Amethyst eyes! It really is you!” Stolas exclaimed. Nova felt her flutter a little that he really did remember her.

“You're that....prince.” Nova breathed. Stolas smiled warmly at her.

“And you're that young lady who saved my daughter all those years ago, I have never forgotten those lavender night eyes, Octavia was right, it really is you.” said Stolas as he walked over to her bed, patting the mattress for her to come and sit next to him.

“You really have been looking for me?” Nova asked him as she sat next to him.

“Of course, after you brought my Via back home you ran off so quickly I didn't have the chance to properly thank you for what you've done, who'd have thought you of all demons would become my consort.” Stolas answered. Nova brushed a bit of her hair back.

“I've actually been thinking about the two of you as well, hoping you were doing alright.” Nova told him, the owl prince chuckled before he smiled again, when did he ever smile this much before?

“Well you can see how she is, I am forever indebted to you for what you done for her, and more than happy that you are apart of this household, I trust my Via with you better than my wife.” answered Stolas. Nova smiled lightly.

“Thank you, I think, your highness.” said Nova, she felt his gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Stolas please, we are friends after all.” he told her. But Nova thought back to what Stella had told her when she arrived, she rubbed her arms nervously before she could look at the prince again.

“About what your wife said....” Nova started to speak.

“Soon to be ex wife.” Stolas interjected.

“She said something about being your bed mate is you.....” Nova continued. Stolas jumped up from the bed before she could finish her sentence, taken back a little by this action, she was surprised to say the least, Stolas looked nervous.

“NO! Nonononono, I mean, at some point, but I want to make sure you're comfortable here and around us first, if you don't want to become intimate then I full understand, I really want to make sure you feel at home here before anything like that happens, if you wish.” Stolas said to her to make sure that was clear. She had never heard such a thing from any noble man. She smiled, she had never be intimate with a man or woman before, most times she was tossed in a guest room and was told to stay there until morning, then she was outside at first light.

“I....I'd like to, if you want too as well, but I really do want to feel comfortable here first, and that might take a lot of time, I've got t through a lot.” Nova told him. Stolas saddened thinking the young lady had been used against her will.

“Oh, were you ummm....” Stolas tried to say. She looked up at him her face blushed and it was clear he thought the worst when it was nothing like that.

“No! Nothing like that, let's put it like this, you'd be my first.” Nova answered him quickly, The owl prince relaxed a little bit but was slightly confused. But realized what she meant.

“Oh, you mean, no man has.....you've never been with....” Stolas started to ask sounding a bit embarrassed, both owls blushed at that thought. “Never.” Nova answered. Stolas came back over to her.

“Well, when the time comes, I hope to change that, if you want, if you don't then I understand.” he answered. Nova hid her smile, she had never encountered such kindness from a royal like him before, even if he was a bit goofy but he was a gentleman non the less.

“Let me get settled here first, and we'll see where things go from there, take things slow?” suggested Nova, Stolas was a bit surprised, she didn't want to jump into bed with him right away, but wanted to take her time, maybe this could he be what he needed.

“Why not, it's a bit old fashioned but it could be fun.” answered Stolas. Nova suddenly grew uneasy and pulled her legs up to her chest. He could see the feathers around her legs, unlike most members of the Goetia she also possessed a growing expanse of feathers from her knees downward, dark as rain clouds yet glimmered with shimmering lavender stars hear her feet, when she walked over to the bed he could barely hear her steps, the feathers made her steps against the cold marble floors soft and almost unheard.

“You won't....throw me out after tonight will you? Past experiences so...first nights in a new palace are a little uneasy for me.” Nova told him. The prince was shocked, he came back over and sat next to her.

“What, throw you....no, no I could never do that, you saved my daughter's life and you have a home here now, if Stella threatens to throw you out I will deal with it.” Stolas told her as he pulled her into a warm hug. She wouldn't have to worry about leaving in the morning, this place welcomed her warmly, a pay back for her kindness she did all those years ago. “Really?” asked Nova, she had to be sure. Stolas held her at arm's length.

“Yes, you will be safe here and well protected, no one will hurt you as long as you're here.” Stolas promised her. Nova wanted to cry tears of joy from hearing that, word always was that Stolas would never lie, she hugged him back tightly.

“T-thank you, Stolas.” said Nova, Stolas hugged her in return, he gently pulled her off before the two stood up from the bed.

“It is I should be thanking you, now I'll leave you to keep getting settled and I'll let you know when dinner is ready.” Stolas told her as he went to the door, he waved goodbye and closed the door. She felt what soul she had become light and dare she say happy, she wasn't going to have to leave this palace, she fell back on to the bed and hugged a pillow tightly with a smile.

'I don't have to worry about leaving, maybe things are turning around.' Nova thought. This was going to a new chapter in new life now, and she could hardly wait to write it.

Author's Note

Stolas, Octavia and Stella belong to Vivziepop
Nova belongs to me