I stared at my phone for what seemed like an eternity, the screen flickering in the semi-darkness of the I.M.P office.
Moxxie's concerned voice drifted through the air, but it felt distant, muffled by the whirlwind of memories swirling inside my head. I had somehow completely forgotten about Stolas.
"Uh, Sir? Are you okay?" Moxxie asked, worry stitching across his face.
"Who's on the phone?" Loona chimed in, her ears twitched with curiosity.
But I couldn't respond. My mouth opened as if to speak, but all I could do was watch the screen transfixed. The wallpaper was a picture of Stolas waving cheerily—only it wasn't the dignified figure I remembered.
This version of Stolas was rendered in a slightly softer, more affectionate light; a woman with a cascade of curls framing her hear shaped face.
"I... uh, I'm going outside for a bit to take a call" I said my voice having uncertainty rippling through every word.
I slipped out of the office into the narrow alleyway filled with the scent of concentrated gases and faint echoes of people walking by. My reflection flickered momentarily in a shard of broken glass, and I felt a strange mix of worry and curiosity.
As I hit the green button to answer the call, a wave of warmth enveloped me—a feeling blitz had never felt before while making business calls, at least not in this way.
"Uh, hey there! This is Blitz! What's up?" I tried to sound as natural and as possible, though I could feel Blitzo's underlying personality gnawing at the edges of my consciousness.
"I need your services for a very special event Blitzy!" Stolas replied on the other end, her voice high and sweet.
"Event? Like a… party?" I asked. If I could navigate this conversation, steer it into a beneficial direction, Id potentially begin to reshape my new life?
"It's my daughters birthday and I'd like for you and your team to act as our bodyguards. I'm taking Octavia to Loo Loo Land, and I can't exactly let the demons of Hell wreak havoc on that day, can I?" She chuckled, a sound foreign to both the past and current me.
"Of course, absolutely!" I grinned, allowing Blitzo's wild personality to seep through. "Loo Loo Land? I haven't been there in ages!" But inside, I was contemplating what else had changed, if stolas became a woman did that mean Stella was a man?
"Perfect! I knew I could count on you," she replied, oblivious to the strange energy emanating from me.
"Yeah! Always got your back!" I exclaimed, trying to suppress a chuckle. The future raced alongside me—the knowledge I carried filling my mind, every triumph I had been through in this new life put into question.
As the call drew to an end with Stolas obliviously unaware of my slight awkwardness, I returned to the office, worried but, pumped with energy. The shadows of my past loomed ever closer, but I had a distinct direction of the story at least.
And with this, I was determined to pursue molding I.M.P into an empire that no one in Hell could ignore.
"Guys!" I called out, bursting into the room, eyes gleaming. "We're going to Loo Loo Land!"
Moxxie and Millie exchanged surprised glances, while Loona raised an eyebrow. That one sentence contained a promise—a glimpse of the new life I was about to construct, a life drenched in chaos and potential.
"Loo Loo Land?" Moxxie squeaked, his brows knitting. "What's that?"
"Oh, just a little amusement park where we'll be handling the protection of a certain owl and her daughter. Like I said, it's a party!"
They looked at me with intrigued expressions, but underneath my surface bravado, a moment of silence loomed
It was time to face it all.
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Stolas Pov
I placed my phone back down on the toilet enjoying the bubbles flying around the luxurious tub.
It was nice talking to Blitz again, and he sounded excited to talk to me as well. A smile slipped onto my face as I reminisced about our recent interaction.
But something was odd. Yesterday morning I'd woken up groggy as ever, still under the influence of drowsiness and in that state I went to the kitchen for another drink.
I reached into the cabinet and instead of it's usual vibrant green it was a subtle brown mixed together with green and pink. I hadn't noticed at the time and when I drunk it I found myself transforming rapidly.
My chest felt heavier than normal, waste slimmed, and hips slightly larger. My eyes darted around my figure, slightly awake and confused.
I had turned into a woman.
Wondering who did this to me I thought about the only person willing to lace my drink so brazenly, Stella.
I saw Blitz on my screen slightly nervous but excited to see him again. He was happy to see me and didn't seem to mind the transformation I had undergone.
I tried to under this with my own magic but it seemed to powerful to undo.
Luckily for me this was still Hell. People had all kinds of crazy relationships, some had fetishes' beyond normal even for hells standards, and over 50% of hell were either in a polygamous relationship or sleep around with others.
This was different from those situations but no much weirder when compared. And judging by his reaction he clearly did not mind.
Relaxed and reassured by blitz's calm and caring demeanor I soaked deeper into the tub, lost in thought about tomorrows plans.
--------------------------------
That was my cue.
"Alright, team! We need to come correct! Moxxie, you're on logistics for transport. Millie, you're with me on security arrangements. Loona, you can take the day off, just make sure if any calls come i you document them in Moxxie's stead."
"Why are we planning so far in advance?" Loona retorted, her tail flicking dismissively. "You're the one who usually rolls with the punches."
"Because," I replied, feeling that warmth spread through my chest again, "this isn't just about rolling with the punches anymore."