Chapter 2 – The queen
       
       
       Two weeks passed after that. Octavia, despite her clear intentions called out by her actions; remained within distance from Arturo and so did him. His job also diluted to keeping her company only during outings (which she used as dates), and the occasional house visit she would request. At this rate it looked more like his job was that of a companion, not of a guardian.
       Arturo also noticed that whenever he was with her, the curse would stop to affect others, but as soon as she was out of the picture it would come back to haunt him. He was also quick to pick up other quirks of it, such as exposure-based effects for example.
       Verosika went back to normal not long after the incident and had a hard time remembering what made her act like that with him, but longer exposure like from his neighbours resulted in the occasional visit. So, it was clear that the more he interacted with someone the stronger their feelings would become.
       He also noticed that Octavia was thus far the only one that made the curse go away, since interacting with any other girl would not stop him from getting attention from others, which led to either conflict or being hit on by multiple ladies at a time.
       Lastly, he became aware of his deepening bond with Via. Although it wasn’t part of the curse, he perceived it as such, leading him to think that the more he engaged with her, the more he would be inclined to reciprocate her emotions. Or by proxy, of anyone he interacted with. This caused him to consider many alternatives as he did not want to hurt her, after all; for him she was just a kid, victim of the situation.
       As Arturo got ready for the day; expecting to receive a message from Via at any moment now, his phone rang. Said message had arrived.
       « Art, are you ready? »
       A portal opened inside his apartment as he answered, taking him from his place to Octavia’s room. At first it bothered him; most of the enchanted victims were rather forward with him, to a point that he expected Via to do the same, but that fear died down after it never happened. Now it was like a private secret passage to his workplace, talk about never being late again.
       —Is anyone here yet? —Arturo asked, fixing his necktie—.
       —Just dad and uncle Andre. —Octavia was still going around her room—. Mom’s late apparently.
       “Today’s one of those days I actually have to do my job. Last time Prince Stolas met with his ex-wife he was attacked; now Octavia could be next. At this rate I would have just given up whatever it is she wants and keep my daughter safe… How fucking big his ego has to be? Endangering his daughter for the sake of taking the piss on an ex.”
       —Don’t worry, Via. —Arturo tried to calm her down—. As soon as she sees me, I’m sure she won’t make a move.
       —Or take you out; then me. —Octavia seemed disappointed at his idea—. You have to stay hidden. We must keep the element of surprise on our side. Now hide, they are expecting me to be alone.
       Without hesitation, Octavia hugged Arturo tightly, expecting it to be the last. You could feel her hands grab his waist, her face lying on his shoulder.
       Until now he had fought back most approaches, he felt were too intimate, but today they felt differently –like a brother hugs his sister, like a father hugs his daughter.
       Arturo’s thoughts changed towards Stella: “Why attack your own daughter? Why is she so adamant on hurting them? Does all Goetia have a huge ego?”
       He was well aware of the reasons behind all of this of course, Octavia explained to him the affair and other details of their current status thus far, but it was because of this that he felt the need to grasp a better understanding on why any of them would go as far as they have now. It was clear that a commoner’s life could not equate to one of a royal; but he felt like everything could’ve been solved so easily, yet they went through the worst path.
       Nevertheless, he was still just a hellhound and regardless of his relationship with Octavia and her feelings towards him, Arturo had to stay in his place whether he liked it or not.
       Once the hug finally subsided, he hid in the closet to have the best view possible of the room.
       —If she does something. Don’t move. —Octavia instructed him—. Wait and then go find me.
       A terrible plan that made sense. Proof of wrongdoing is stronger than intervention –which could lead to misinterpretation, rendering the accusation useless.
       But as time moved on, nothing happened. Stella arrived, there was a lot of screaming and insults flying around but nothing of substance. Details would have to come at a later date, but it was just a regular visit from what both Octavia and Arturo expected.
       Once they were in the clear he stepped outside; both talked about it for a moment as Octavia voiced her relief to him and he even offered himself to spend the night with her just in case after she rambled about her mother’s insane behaviour. She never felt in danger and even went on to complain about her father once more, but Arturo’s instincts felt like those feelings could not be trusted. For him there was no reason not to be wary of Stella –after all, this same logic is what got him here to begin with.
       —I can sleep on the couch, you know, in case something else happens.
       Octavia blushed, all these days she had been trying to get his attention and some resemblance of intimacy and here he was, giving it away for free.
       “Should I offer my bed instead? No, maybe that’s too much for him…” Octavia was deep in her imagination to answer him.
       —Uh… Via?
       —Chirp! —Octavia was startled—. S-Sure! I-I mean, you never know!
       She was red as a beet and still couldn’t function altogether, but she was excited, nonetheless. Even thinking of a sleepover to some extent.
       —I just need a portal home to grab some things. —Arturo awkwardly requested—. … If that’s ok.
       The owl girl took a deep breath and conjured one for him, embarrassed of her behaviour. She just wanted to be with him, after all. But the wall Arturo had built seemed to move the second she tried to walk around it.
       
       ***
       
       As Arturo stepped through the portal and back into Octavia’s bedroom, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. He knew Octavia had feelings for him, and the idea of spending the night in such close proximity was enough to make him a little nervous. Still, he couldn’t shake away his concerns about her mother, and he didn’t want to leave her alone.
       —Alright, I’ve got my stuff. —Arturo said, placing a small backpack on the floor—. I’ll just make myself comfortable on the couch, if that’s okay with you.
       Octavia’s heart raced as she watched Arturo settle in on the couch. She wanted nothing more than to invite him to share her bed, but she knew that would be too bold of a move. Instead, she smiled nervously.
       —Of course, make yourself at home. I’ll, um, I’ll go get some extra blankets and pillows for you.
       As Octavia bustled around the room, Arturo couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked when she was flustered. He had always found her charming, but there was something about her blushing cheeks and fumbling movements that made him want to reach out and pull her close. The more he felt for her, the harder he tried to compare those feelings to something else; like a father cares for their children. Or blamed the curse, thinking he only felt this way because of it.
       —Thanks, Octavia. —Arturo said, accepting the bedding she handed him—. And don’t worry, you can go to bed now.
       —O-Oh, it’s ok! —Octavia exclaimed, her heart pounding in her chest—. I’m not even tired yet anyways.
       Arturo nodded, a small frown crossing his face as he thought about Stella’s strange behaviour. 
       —Very well, then. Then let me know if you need anything.
       Octavia’s expression shifted to one of concern.
       —Do you really think my mom could be a threat? I mean, she’s always been a little… intense, but I never thought she’d actually do something to hurt me. Dad thinks she might, but I really don’t…
       Arturo reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Octavia’s arm.
       —We don’t know that yet, Octavia. But from my point of view, anything’s possible.
       Octavia’s breath caught in her throat at the touch of Arturo’s hand, making her retreat to her own bed out of embarrassment.
       For the next hour, Arturo settled in, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. He knew he had to keep his distance, but a part of him couldn’t help but wish he was curled up next to Octavia instead of on the couch.
       The night wore on, but Arturo found it impossible to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he could feel Octavia’s presence nearby, and it was making him restless. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but nothing seemed to work.
       Suddenly, he heard a soft rustling from Octavia’s bed. He froze, listening intently, and to his surprise, he heard a quiet sniffle.
       —Octavia? —He whispered, sitting up on the couch—. Are you okay?
       There was a moment of silence, and then Octavia’s voice came quietly from the darkness.
       —I-I’m fine. I just... couldn’t sleep.
       Arturo felt a pang of concern.
       —Is everything alright? Do you want to talk about it?
       Octavia hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
       —It’s just... I can’t stop thinking about what happened with my mom. I know you’re worried, and I don’t blame you, but I just... I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something.
       In reality, Octavia couldn’t shake off her wishes to share this night with him. Even if it was just a gentle cuddle.
       Arturo swung his legs over the edge of the couch, his feet touching the soft carpet.
       —What do you mean?
       Octavia sat up in bed, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
       —I don’t know, it’s just... my mom has always been a little... crazy, but she’s never actually done anything to hurt me before. I get dad and you not trusting her, but it feels like in return; you don’t trust me either.
       Arturo considered her words, nodding slowly.
       —I understand what you’re saying, Via and I trust you. Even if it doesn’t look like it; I do. But some risks are not worth taking.
       Octavia hugged her knees to her chest, her brow furrowed in thought.
       —Do you think... do you think she has given up on hurting dad, then?
       —I... I don’t think so, given the way everyone kept screaming earlier. If I had to guess, she is probably only switching her strategies.
       Octavia shook her head, feeling a chill run down her spine.
       —All I ever wanted was for them to love me and each other… Why won’t they? Why go on and ruin everything?!
       Arturo stood up from the couch, crossing the room to sit on the edge of Octavia’s bed.
       —Hey, it’s going to be okay. —He said, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand—.
       Octavia looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and hope.
       —You really mean that?
       Arturo nodded, offering her a reassuring smile.
       —I’ll make sure of it.
       Octavia felt a surge of affection for the boy in front of her, and before she could stop herself, she reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. Arturo stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden display of affection, but then he relaxed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
       They stayed like that for a long moment, both of them drawing comfort from the other’s presence. Finally, Octavia pulled back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
       —I’m sorry, I... I don’t know what came over me. —She stammered, avoiding Arturo’s gaze—.
       Arturo chuckled softly, reaching out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
       —Don’t worry, we all need that sometimes.
       They stayed like that for a while, the tension in the air slowly dissipating as they both found a sense of peace in each other’s company. Eventually, Octavia yawned, her eyelids growing heavy.
       When Arturo realized it, she was already fast asleep on his arm. Like a little girl who doesn’t let go of her teddy bear as she dozes off.
       It was either waking her up or sharing the bed now. To which he tried to pull his arm away little by little, but it was to no avail, pulling harder and harder after it began to go numb.
       He looked at her again just to see a smile that went from cheek to cheek.
       “You planned this!”
       
       ***
       
       The first rays of dawn began to creep through the curtains of Octavia’s bedroom, casting a warm glow over the sleeping forms of Arturo and Octavia. Arturo had managed to doze off at some point during the night, but he was now stirring, his eyes slowly opening to the sight of Octavia curled up in her bed, her breathing steady and peaceful, still holding his arm against her chest, his palm too close to all kinds of danger zones.
       Arturo sat up slowly, stretching his stiff muscles and trying to shake off the lingering grogginess of sleep. As he did so, he suddenly became aware of this, but with his arm still numb; there was nothing he could do anyways.
       At the same time, like clockwork Octavia stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She noticed Arturo and smiled, but he wasn’t smiling back –instead he was red and embarrassed.
       Following his arm with her eyes she finally became aware of it as well, his shoulder pressed against her chest and his hand right above her panties as he tried to avoid touching anything.
       In a sense of shame, Octavia let him go and subconsciously pushed him away. In a sea of screaming, Octavia was now hiding within her bedsheets while Arturo made it to the floor face first.
       It would be left unknown how no one hear them but in due time both were back to normal. With Arturo back on the sofa and Via sitting on her bed; ashamed.
       —Y-You know, you could’ve just asked. —Octavia tried to hide her face with her bedsheets, avoiding eye contact—.
       “Ask for what?! You hold me hostage!” Arturo’s face was covered in blushing. Unable to think of a reply but replying anyways:
       —I’m not some pervert!
       And as he finished that sentence, he was forcefully sent through a portal back to his place. With Octavia now hiding from no one, holding the sheets tight against her face as she allowed herself to fully vent her shame mixed with joy and some faint sense of disappointment.
       —I wanted you to ask, though… —She purred her feelings to an empty room—.
       
       ***
       
       With these events as background, a vigilant eye watched. But this time it wasn’t Stolas; but a feminine figure that found herself in awe as she witnessed their closeness and intimacy. It didn’t take long before she started spying on Arturo alone.
       A sense of jealousy? Curiosity? Maybe the protective nature of someone with reasons to fear harm could fall upon poor Octavia.
       Whichever was the reason, seeing them so close was more than enough of an excuse to further the surveillance.
       —I’m not letting you harm my daughter.
       
       ***
       
       As expected, the curse quickly began affecting his new stalker. Forcing its hand upon her as she continued her espionage regardless of the time of day or what Arturo could be doing at the time. And the more intimate she felt towards him the worse her addiction would become as the stalker ultimately ignored even the rules of decency.
       With each passing moment finding herself diving more and more into his life than ever before. Excusing this behaviour with lies no sane person would believe, claiming that the “knowledge” obtained could prove useful to some ulterior objective unknown even to herself.
       It was an ongoing conflict between denial and obsession that worsen the more she looked at him. And the more she looked the greater the need to look some more.
       
       ***
       
       —Weird… —Arturo would say out loud as he tried to take a shower, unable to shake the feeling of being watched—.
       The swirling steam from the boiling water being the only refuge from these tormenting thoughts.
       —No! I overdid it! —The stalker shouted to her all-seeing mirror now covered by vapour—.
       Next time you feel like you are being watched, it’s probably someone who watched for too long. Or you are just paranoid –who knows. But realization stroke next as she realized the consequences of her own actions.
       She needed to know more about him, and logic would dictate for a private investigator; but to admit her aggressive interest to someone else was not happening. Only her own eyes could take on this task.
       
       ***
       
       —I wonder if she’s ok… —Arturo purred to himself as he walked the streets of hell, looking at his phone—. She hasn’t even seen any of my messages… I wasn’t being a pervert!
       A crowd of imps and other creatures looked at Arturo as he instead shouted the last part of his sentence. All of them walking away fast but subtle.
       Except for one, a woman covered in garments. Huge hat, sunglasses, an outfit that denied even the faintest bit of body to show.
       She was squatting behind a pile of boxes conveniently left abandoned on a sidewalk. And every time Arturo walked too far, she would dash to the next hiding spot in sight.
       When Arturo walked in at a café shop, she walked in too. Looking with anger as one woman after the other approached him.
       —Disgusting… Looking for your next victim already… —The stalker murmured—.
       “Sorry!”, “No, thank you!”, she could listen to Arturo rejecting every single approach. Even from behind the counter she was hiding on.
       —Such confidence too… as expected from a creep like you. —She continued—.
       —Uhm… mam? Can I help you?
       Right next to her hiding spot, the main counter –where a female sinner awaited her order for a while now. And a victim of poor timing too as she was turned into stone by her. Hopefully Arturo wouldn’t hear any of it.
       —Judy! I’m back! You can go to lunch no-
       Another girl, coming out of nowhere to be turned to stone as well. “Can’t they mind their own business?!”
       But as the stalker turned back her attention to where Arturo was supposed to be… an empty space. It was time to panic as she left the building trying to guess where he had gone to.
       Which was simply the bathroom, taking care of the usual business before leaving.
       —Uh? What’s with these statues? —Arturo wondered as he left—.
       
       ***
       
       The next day she knew she had to be more discrete. Maybe by keeping a bigger distance she wouldn’t lose him like last time; even if she couldn’t listen to a word he said. She would use every spell she learned from her grimoire, if necessary, too.
       And binoculars. Just in case.
       —Look mom! A stalker! —An imp kid pointed at her while holding his mother’s hand—.
       Thankfully she was too concentrated on looking at Arturo to listen. Today he was with Vortex, they hadn’t talked for a while, so it called for a bro date to catch up.
       While this adamant stalker couldn’t hear what they were saying she did try to read their lips, rambling about it inside her head. Even making fake impressions of their tone of voices while she did so.
       “I started working for the princess and that good-for-nothing prince”, “Oh yeah, I heard he cheated on his super-hot and perfect wife.”, “Can you believe it?! To be honest I only started working there for a chance to meet her.”, “We are hellhounds, the lowest of trash, though.”, “Like that ever stopped someone from seeing the most beautiful woman ever.”
       Of course, none of this was actually said, but she was having one helluva time pretending it was as such.
       Not only that but her plan was working incredibly well too, she was yet to fall behind on her chase; even after walking by the café from the other day –now with a flyer promoting job positions and two cool stone figures holding a menu each. Talk about getting the most of what you got.
       This also turned into a great opportunity for Vortex to witness Arturo’s new powers of attraction. Something our stalker did not like, causing her to wonder if she should just drop the act and approach him directly –but every girl that did ended up being rejected; someone of her stature could not deal with such humiliation –then again only the most ignorant would reject her. One way or the other she was not convincing herself of such risky step. Maybe when the time is right, she can surprise him and just take what’s hers the only way she knows how –by force.
       
       ***
       
       Follows the next day, with Arturo going through his social media as usual before meeting with Octavia for another date of hers. The stalker was already two steps ahead, with a fake account prepared and all.
       Even going through the trouble of liking and sharing every single post he had made in the past –so as Arturo and Octavia went on with their day, Arturo’s feed was being bombarded with notifications.
       —Is something wrong, Art? —Octavia questioned—.
       —Not really, just someone who found my sinstagram and apparently really like my photos… —He replied, swiping over and over—.
       —I mean you can just mute them or block the account.
       —I’ll just block them. I always forget to turn them on afterwards.
       And he did, causing our stalker to scream in rage and smashing her phone to the ground. A havoc that did not pass unnoticed as both of our lovebirds turn around in confusion as they tried to find the source of this noise. But with no luck in finding a culprit, both simply continued their activities as usual.
       —You know, Art… I swear I could recognize that scream. —Octavia looked troubled—. It sounded just like… mom.
       —Probably just your imagination.
       At the end both shook it off. Their next stop that day was the movie theatre, a new sequel dropped, and Octavia was set on watching it the right way, with overpriced popcorn and soda on a poorly maintained chair and screen. That and a dark room next to her love interest was something she had on her bucket list for a while now.
       Yet chaos ensued again as not long after they presented their tickets to the bouncer; the stalker tried to get in for free –with security dragging her out.
       For a second time neither could identify the aggressor, but with hell being chaotic already it made no sense to make much of the event, so both ignored it again, only interrupted by Octavia’s second guessing.
       —We can always go home if you want. —Arturo suggested her—.
       —N-No! It’s fine, really! —Octavia panicked—.
       Her date crumbling was not on her schedule, so against her best instincts; Octavia pressed on. Followed by her getting as close as she wanted to him. Who says horror movies are not romantic?
       As for our Stalker, she would end up turning some guards into stone and running away –statues that would later become props for the mall to promote guard duty jobs with.
       As for the rest of the day, one phone replacement later and a new account and she was back on liking posts from home –while Arturo settled for muting his own, assuming it was either a bot or a troll.
       
       ***
       
       The next day, the stalker designed another plan.
       —Maybe If I want to get closer to him, I need to get closer to his family. —She talked to herself, lying in bed—.
       The following conversation happened in her mind:
       —Your Majesty! What an honour! —A female hellhound shadow with nothing but an apron—. Yes, you can marry our son. We’ll do whatever it takes.
       —M-Marry?! I was thinking of him more like a pet, b-but…
       —When should we hold our ceremony? —A shadow pretending to be Arturo popped in with a ring—.
       “Right now!” The stalker screams mentally as she rolled in bed, getting back to the real world.
       —But I haven’t seen him talk about family or even have pictures of them…
       She knew this because she had already broken into his apartment. The only thing she did find was a picture of Amelia but made nothing of it since she was unable to recognize her anyways.
       Another thing she did was to have someone go through his trash but nothing of value was found.
       “… Ah, dumb mutt… If only I could have you near, my hear would be so calm… And keep you forever…”
       She had gone back to daydreaming.
       
       ***
       
       As another week passed, Arturo found himself surveying his room, noticing how Amelia’s memories were slowly being supplanted by those with Octavia. The pictures, decorations, and gifts were a stark reminder of the growing feelings he was developing for her. The only thing preventing them from being more than just bodyguard and charge was the word themselves.
       That day he was thinking about calling Amelia too, ask her about what he was going through and maybe a way to lift it off. But using his own words:
       “Who am I kidding, if she did this there is no way in hell she’s helping me. She’ll probably just mock me.”
       Her voice even echoing inside his head.
       “The hellhound suddenly cares about others. Want a cookie too?”
       And an apology was out of the question, no matter how genuine she would assume it to be a beg for mercy and ignore him.
       
       ***
       
       Meanwhile, our adamant stalker looked at him in desperation, she couldn’t read his mind; from her perspective he was just sitting on the bed and play videogames. Perhaps if she looked in a couple of hours…
       …he was still playing videogames.
       Well then, maybe tomorrow’s the day he does something, or the next one… or the next one?
       She was growing impatient. All the magic in hell, all the time in the world and she could only peek every now and then to see her beloved hellhound go around the house doing nothing. Gracefully of course and looking good while doing it too –but still, maybe it was time to do something about it.
       There was a chance this wouldn’t work, a big one, but she had to try. She would try to contact her daughter.
       —Via, darling.
       —Yes, mom?
       —I was wondering if you would like to join me for some shopping.
       —I-I don’t think dad’s going to let me…
       —I mean… —she chuckled—. That’s if you tell him.
       —Mom, you tried to get dad killed. Why would I go shopping with you?
       —Ugh, you take it too personal, darling. I want him dead, not you.
       —And I want him alive, how about that?
       —And he is, isn’t he?
       —I’m not having this conversation mom, goodbye.
       The call ended, now all she had to do was to wait. If she had any luck, Octavia would contact Arturo to feel safe and she would in turn be able to follow him without the risk of triggering the paranoia.
       And for once luck was on her side as Octavia asked Arturo to come over to hang out.
       
       ***
       
       As the hellhound entered the scene, he saw Octavia’s room to be filled with a gloomy ambience. There was nothing different to it that he could point at, but as Octavia sat perched on the edge of the bed, her large, luminous eyes fixed on a book, he could feel something was off. Arturo approached her, his tail wagging slightly. He felt a warmth spread through him, as if out of pure instinct, he wanted to cheer her up.
       Octavia looked up and smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Arturo’s heart skipped a beat. And just like that all his thoughts about Amelia from the past days had been erased. Maybe he did loved Octavia, or at least cared for her deeply, or maybe it was the curse’s job to make the relationships it spawned; work. Regardless, all of it didn’t matter every time their eyes met.
       They spent the afternoon together, lost in the pages of the book. Arturo listened attentively, Octavia’s head resting on Arturo’s shoulder as she holds it for both. He felt a sense of peace and contentment every time the pages turned.
       Hours later the sun began to set, casting long, eerie shadows across the room, Octavia closed the book. She looked up at Arturo, her eyes filled with a soft, knowing gaze. Arturo felt a pang of longing. He wanted to tell her something, anything, but guilt kept shutting his mouth up. If only she knew none of this was real, but it was too late for that as well –he could not dare cause her such harm.
       They spent the rest of the evening in companionable silence. Arturo sat beside Octavia, both still holding each other close. He felt a warmth spread through him.
       As the night wore on, Arturo’s eyelids grew heavy, so did Octavia’s and after a warm smile was shared, both said their farewells and went to bed.
       
       ***
       
       At this point our stalker knew she didn’t have much time left. It was clear that Arturo and Octavia shared a deep and secret love for each other, a love she wanted for herself.
       If she wanted to win, this was her call for action.
       Soon she would have to meet with Stolas once more, meaning Arturo was going to be with Octavia and later on sent home, all she had to do was wait until then to attack.
       
       ***
       
       —She’s late again? —Arturo asked—.
       —Yeah, not sure if that’s a tactic of hers or just wants to piss dad off.
       —Don’t worry Via, I’ll just hide like last time. Let me know if you need anything else, ok?
       —Thanks Arturo.
       —Hey, that’s what I was hired for.
       —…
       Hours began to pass; you could hear Stolas and Andrealphus argue from time to time as they waited. Eventually the day would finish like the last one, and of course; Arturo would be sent home after that.
       But on the other side of that portal, the tale was about to change.
       —What the fu-
       —That is no way to refer to a Goetia, peasant. —The white swan demon presented herself—. You will address me as per custom.
       It was Stella, sitting on Arturo’s worn-out couch. Wearing a white dress with black accents, nothing like her usual attire that is pompous and big. This one was slim and hold tight to her hourglass figure, with small cuts here and there that showed bits and pieces of her feathered body. A side cut on the skirt allowed her legs to move freely and black thigh highs went par with her shoes and fingerless elbow-gloves.
       Despite her personality and everything Arturo knew of her; it was impossible not to address her beauty. Like a poisonous red apple that just begs to be bitten.
       Her eyes as red as Octavia’s, long black eyelashes and a pink beak pretended to be an innocent and feminine face. Her long head feathers reaching all the way down her tail that rested delicately on his sofa. Her legs big and strong while her hands were thin and delicate, each finger as elegant as the other. And a chest that was just big enough.
       It was clear and obvious that she had dressed for the occasion.
       —Your Majesty, Stella. I am honoured.
       —As you should be. —She continued on her entitled tone—. You probably can guess why you are bestowed with such honours too.
       “So you are after Octavia, after all.” Arturo was quick to guess but remained in silence for a second.
       —I think we can skip that part. Your Majesty.
       Stella stood up and approached him, her walk was slow and seductive but also intimidating. Arturo was having a hard time keeping his cool as she approached him.
       She was almost as tall as Stolas, meaning she was also taller than him and as soon as Stella was in front of him all he could do was either look up or sign his own execution (if you catch my drift).
       —Good, it was embarrassing. —She began to look rather angry, but with a pinch of anxiety on her eyes—. 
       “…Embarrassing?” Arturo was so caught up on the drama that he forgot about the sole thing that has been manipulating his life until now. “Oh no… Fuck me, fuck this…” Were words that bounced around his mind as soon as that realization kicked in. Worst yet, he was alone; without Octavia there he was sure this would end up badly for him.
       —I’ve seen you with my daughter… Couldn’t understand what she saw in you, so I had to follow you.
       “Stalker! Stalker!” He was unable to comprehend why she felt the need to do that herself, but it explained how Stella was now enchanted as well.
       —To think a mere hellhound could be so- —Stella interrupted herself as her voice sounded more and more exited, now hugging Arturo against her chest—. Enticing…
       “What does that even mean?!” Arturo wanted to scream, then again, he also never felt something so soft caress his face in a while, maybe it wasn’t that bad of an idea to let her do her thing.
       
       ---
       “Wait! This is all kinds of wrong, Narrator!”
       Ok, so they aren’t soft enough?
       “No!”
       Are you sure? Try again.
       “…Ok, they are.”
       See?
       “… This is still wrong!”
       ---
       
       —I don’t know what your intentions are. —Arturo broke from Stella’s hug, his face blushing profoundly—. But I am not letting you hurt Via.
       —Who told you- I mean, I am sure it was Stolas. —Stella seemed offended—. I would never hurt my dear Octavia.
       Arturo was not trusting a single word. Yet Stella continued monologuing.
       —To do something like that. As if I was some mongrel like your kind… with those instinct-driven souls… And dirty minds… —Stella was turning excited again, hugging Arturo against her for a second time as she daydreamed—. You probably already tried your way with her that night…
       —I haven’t done shit! —Arturo tried to scream, muffled by her chest—.
       “You crazy bitch!” Was the only description his mind could come up with as Stella let him go; surprised that despite his blatant relationship with Octavia, he hadn’t made a move yet.
       —W-Wait, are you… gay too?
       —N-No! I’m not gay either!
       Stella’s face went from concern to relief in a matter of milliseconds, which Arturo noticed too. “That face…” he thought as his own face turned to an expression of alarm.
       —The only thing between your daughter and I, is business. I’m her bodyguard and that’s it. —Arturo reaffirmed—. Besides, she’s 17, and I am no weirdo.
       Stella seemed surprised, blushing still on her face as her eyes remained wide open and focused on him.
       —So, the only thing stopping you is her youth? Does that mean… —Stella’s excitement returned as quick as it had gone earlier—. You filthy dog, you probably already undressed me with your eyes! You filthy creatures! A mature woman like me; don’t you know your place?! You probably couldn’t even perform accordingly… unless I…
       “Stop! You crazy hag! You are not even in love! You are just insane!” Arturo wanted to scream. This was the craziest someone affected by him had acted until now; and many already tried advancements on him before –he was even willing to assume she was just insane and not truly enchanted.
       Thankfully for him, help was on the way.
       —Hey Art, are you- Mom?! —Octavia came out of a portal, seemingly worried—.
       What she saw was as simple as Stella pushing Arturo against her body, forcing his head against her chest while petting him. The lucky hellhound trying to free himself but unable to overpower her.
       Without a flinch in her movement, Stella simply turned to see Octavia in the eyes, as if challenging her to do something.
       —Just so you know, he works for me. —Octavia continued, thinking Stella was here to take him out—. If you harm him-
       —Oh, come on darling. I know how it is. —Stella laughed interrupting Octavia—. Besides, why would I harm such a cutie?
       Stella continued petting Arturo, whose face showed distress.
       —Mom! I mean it!
       After showing disappointment from Octavia’s response and attitude, Stella let go of Arturo and next thing you know now both were discussing about him while he tried to reclaim his independence.
       
       ***
       
       —After your father slept with that imp, I was afraid you would go the same route and mingle with commoners.
       —So, you spied on me too! Fuck you mom. You and dad are both such… —Octavia wanted to find and adjective, but all she was able to do was grunt in rage—.
       —And you proved me right. Although… —Sella brought a finger to her mouth—. I don’t blame you either. For a mutt like him…
       “Who are you calling a mutt?! You crazy bitch!”
       —Arturo is not a mutt! —Octavia blushed but still spoke violently towards her—.
       —Oh darling, I am much aware of what you think of him. And I know he’s just as aware.
       —I- don’t know what you are talking about.
       —Really, Via? Then you don’t care if I… take him, do you?
       “No! I care! When can I get to pick?!” Arturo couldn’t say a word yet.
       —Have you even told him? —Stella continued—. How you feel?
       —I don’t feel anything about anyone! And you can’t take him either!
       —Very well, then let’s ask him. —Stella turned to Arturo—. Tell me hellhound, who would you take?
       Silence reign for a moment as Arturo looked at Octavia in the eyes. She was in clear distress, and he knew the answer she wanted to hear, but he also knew this was just a cruel joke played on him; to which she was simply a victim of. He knew her feelings weren’t real and felt like his own feelings weren’t real either. Arturo knew from within that he at least owed Octavia the right thing to do.
       As for Stella, he couldn’t care any less. So far, she had given him the worst first impression in history –but still knew that despite that, Stella probably felt genuine interest as well, even if she showed it more aggressively.
       — “If I say no to both, I’ll hurt them and could probably end up with an even worse curse.
       If I say yes to Stella, it will hurt Octavia, who doesn’t deserve it. If anything, Stella deserves it more.
       But a yes to Via could probably add me to Stella’s hitlist. Which would mean I am as good as dead.
       And a yes to both would solve nothing and make me look like I’m avoiding the question.
       Augh! Why do I have to deal with this bullshit?!” —
       Arturo stepped forward, ready to answer. The only answer that could buy him enough time to maybe sort it out.
       —I will take whoever wants to take me. —Arturo said proudly—.
       The perfect answer, the only answer. Octavia wants to be subtle and charm Arturo, while Stella is forward and will do whatever she wants. But that isn’t the only catch; because both, in their own way, don’t want to admit their interest either.
       Octavia would need to overcome her own shyness, and Stella would have to admit caring for a lowlife like him. Whoever wins it’s no longer his fault.
       —So… all of our time together… meant nothing? —Octavia seemed heartbroken—.
       —Are you saying I am not good enough?! —Stella looked offended—.
       Never mind, Arturo dies today.
       —N-No! That’s not what I meant! —He began to panic—. I… just don’t think either of you would date me. A hellhound.
       Both seemed to understand what he meant.
       —Let’s try this… Octavia, do you wish to be my girlfriend?
       —Well… Y-Yes… Kind of… —Octavia raised her legs to the sofa, hugging them while hiding her face between them—.
       “She folded! Just like that!” Arturo was speechless, from her personality he expected her to deny it somehow.
       —And you, Stella. Do you wish to be my girlfriend?
        —It would be a fitting response to that imp-fucking excuse of a man.
       “That doesn’t answer the question!” Once again, Arturo felt speechless, like talking to a brick wall.
       —Well, from my point of view, Octavia wants to be with me. —Arturo tried to sound imposing—. But you only seek an excuse to anger Prince Stolas. Implying this is not just a make-believe scenario, the answer should be obvious.
       Stella flustered; it was her ego against her feelings.
       —If that’s the case, I changed my mind. —Stella crossed her arms, trying to look insulted—. I wish to be your girlfriend.
       —Then I wish to date both. —Arturo concluded, seemingly out of options—. If that doesn’t work, then I won’t date neither of you.
       Somehow that worked. Stella and Octavia looked at each other for a moment, nodding as if talking telepathically. Both sharing a look of certainty and conviction, no longer were they blushing or making faces –now they looked like part of the same team, one against Arturo. And he felt it too.
       —If it comes to it. I have no objections. —Stella’s tone turned serious—.
       —I- can live with that too. —Octavia attempted to sound serious, but she was as nervous as always—.
       “Wait what?!”
       —C’mon, you can’t be serious… —Arturo was shocked—.
       —What seems to be the problem, then? Aren’t you friends with Queen Bee’s boyfriend? —Stella sounded sure of herself—.
       —Vortex? Y-Yeah…
       —So why is it that you don’t believe us?
       He was cornered. Arturo knew Vortex had a relationship with a Goetia himself; that is true. But from his point of view, he felt the relationship was mostly intimate and not really romantical. Even Vortex himself never really acted romantical when talking about her either.
       Come to think of it, the only words he ever said were:
       “Yeah, I have a girlfriend.”
       Not only that, but that was a normal relationship. There was nothing normal about this. With the curse in place, he couldn’t picture it as a relationship anyways.
       —N-No, I believe you. Is just…
       —W-We don’t care that you are a hellhound, Art. —Octavia intervened—.
       —Or any other excuse you may be thinking of. —Stella added, trying to relax on the terrible sofa—.
       Arturo wanted to scream out of frustration, having to do it mentally.
       “It’s not an excuse! You don’t love me! You were made to love me…”
       —You don’t truly believe us, do you? —Stella continued—.
       —No, that’s not-
       He couldn’t produce a proper sentence. Finally, he caved in to the pressure.
       —I accept. —He continued—.
       —Wonderful! —Stella claimed, finally with an excuse to stand up from the terrible sofa—.
       —Really, Art? —Octavia hugged him—.
       —Yes, really. —Arturo smiled at her, with some remorse leaking through—.
       And without a single once of shame, Stella took Arturo and kissed him to his surprise. Even Octavia was in shock.
       —Hey! That’s not fair! I want one too!
       What followed was a competition of who could kiss him the most.
       —Wait! Wait, girls! G I R L S!
       After the assault concluded; Arturo asked for some ground rules and the day was over.
       
       ***
       
       The next morning, Arturo was lying in bed. He was going through the events of yesterday. Every word that was said from each party bounced around his subconscious; ending at the sudden barrage of kisses as he caressed his own face.
       Lastly, he wondered if he had been too rough or too lenient on them.
       —If we are going to do this, we need some rules. —Arturo said to both as he finally was able to push them away—.
       Both Stella and Octavia didn’t like the sound of that, but seemed to let him talk.
       —First, since I work for Octavia. I-
       —You’re fired! —Octavia interrupted—.
       —Great thinking. —Stella continued—. I heard workplace relationships tend to cause problems.
       —That’s not what I was going for! —Arturo yelled—.
       —Oh, so you want me to re-hire you. —Octavia replied—.
       —Let me talk first!
       A little silence continued, with Arturo trying again:
       —Ok, never mind…
       Arturo laughed as he remembered their talk. Ultimately the rules were that they couldn’t be jealous of the other, no favouritism, etc. Mostly he just wanted them to get along –to which both agreed without a second thought.
       All that was left was to wonder how this relationship would pan out. If he was lucky; he wouldn’t fuck it up like last time.
       
       ***
       
2


