Chapter Text
Octavia looked over her bookshelves for a few minutes trying to decide what she wanted to read. Mother and Uncle Andre had just left for a luncheon a few minutes earlier, and she had the afternoon to herself.
Not that it really mattered whether they were home or not. She was alone most of the time anyway.
She'd never been really close to her mother. Mother loved her in her own way, but they just didn't have very much in common. Octavia had never been crazy about the parties and social events that her mother loved. She really didn't enjoy needing to wear formal attire for such events, though she just took it in stride. She also didn't much care for the gossip and court drama that her mother enjoyed. There was enough drama in the world. Why couldn't people just leave each other alone instead of making a huge deal over who got snubbed by a seating arrangement?
Mother didn't share any of Octavia's interests either. She thought taxidermy was disgusting, and she referred to rock music as "obnoxious noise."
When she was little Stella had doted on her, picking out pretty dresses for her to wear and showing her off to other Goetia. Things had changed over time. Octavia supposed they had just drifted apart somewhat.
Her mother had actually become more present in her life after moving out. She'd insisted on Octavia spending every weekend with her, and she had made an effort to fill those weekends with activities they could do together.
Octavia wasn't stupid. She knew that the increased time together was (at least in part) a way of scoring points against Stolas. Her mother always made it a point to let Dad know what wonderful times they had together, just mother and daughter.
Even if there was a catch to it, at least it let her know that mother did care enough to want to be with her. Unlike her dad who-
No.
Uncle Andre, on the other hand, she could do without completely. She had liked her uncle when she was a little girl. He'd made snowdrifts for her to play in and given her fancy gifts. The older she'd gotten however, the more she realized that she didn't like her uncle at all. He never showed any sign of actually loving her, and he often made cruel and insensitive remarks. She also thought he was a bad influence on her mother. Stella was often more callous when her brother was around.
For a while she had simply disliked her uncle, but now she hated him. Ever since-
Fuck.
She tried so hard not to think about her dad, but it was always lurking in the back of her mind, ready to spring out.
She'd been so close with her dad when she was little. He taught her about plants and magic and astronomy. He'd read books to her and taken her to outer space to see the stars. He'd acted like he was really happy whenever they were together.
Then things changed. He and Mother had started yelling at each other all the time. He'd gotten that dickhead boyfriend. And the more time he spent fighting with Mother and flirting with the imp the less time he spent with her. He forgot about things they were supposed to do together and promises that he'd made to her.
Then there was a stretch of time when he'd gotten all mopey. He spent way more time alone with his plants and his books. It felt like he was just going through the motions. She didn't understand what was wrong, and sometimes she wondered if it was something she'd done.
Then there was that horrible day. She'd been watching TV when the broadcast suddenly cut over to the trial. She saw her dad's boyfriend being sentenced to death. She had no idea what to think or feel about that. And she didn't have time to figure it out before her father appeared on the screen offering himself up in the imp's place.
She was so sure her dad was about to die that she'd burst into tears in her mother's arms. Then she heard the TV still broadcasting as Satan sentenced her dad to banishment instead of death.
She didn't understand at first what it would mean. Oh, in theory she knew what banishment entailed from her lessons, but she had no idea of what it would mean for her and her family personally. She'd hoped that her mother and uncle would be able to explain it to her and answer some questions, but as soon as Uncle Andre returned from the court it was like Octavia didn't exist.
They were so fucking happy about her dad's banishment that she knew it would be useless to ask them anything. And their reactions confused her even more. Yes, her mum and dad had been fighting a lot, but she thought that Mother would still care about what happened to him, if only for Octavia's sake. Instead their laughter and gloating just caused the twisting ache in her gut to fester even more.
Her dad had left her. Her greatest fear since childhood was her dad leaving her behind. She'd had nightmares when she was a child of wandering the empty halls of the palace and knowing that he wasn't there. When she told him about her fear he had promised that he wouldn't leave her behind, wouldn't run off with his boyfriend. But then he'd broken his promise and the old nightmares had become her reality.
She'd taken some comfort from knowing that he repeatedly tried to call her. Mother wouldn't allow her to take the calls, though. Was it just meanness on Mother's part, or did she really think that Octavia would be better off without contact?
She didn't want to believe that her mother was that malicious.
She hated how her uncle had taken over the palace. With her dad gone it was technically hers, wasn't it? Shouldn't she have a say? But she knew right off that it would be useless to say anything. Uncle Andre would just tell her to be quiet, that he knew best, and her mother would support him.
So she'd just stayed quiet and done her best to keep out of her uncle's way.
Until…
She'd already been thinking about sneaking out to talk to her dad. She didn't know where he was living now, but she knew how to get to the I.M.P. office, and if her dad wasn't there at least they'd be able to tell her where he was. Finding the pills had been the final push she needed to go because she needed to ask him what they were and why he had them.
As soon as she'd arrived at the office she'd had to rush back to the palace just in time to witness Uncle Andre trying to kill her dad.
She had watched as they all fought. Then, when it looked like her uncle was about to win she'd rushed in to defend her father. That had effectively put an end to the fight, but then… then…
She didn't want to think about this any more.
Returning her focus to the shelf in front of her, she selected a book and she went to sit in her window nook. It had always been a cozy spot to read, but ever since Uncle Andre had "redecorated" the whole palace seemed darker, and she wanted to take advantage of whatever natural light she could get.
She had just settled herself when she was startled by a light tapping just outside the window. Looking out, she saw an imp. She didn't know his name, but she recognized him as one of the imps who worked for him. For a moment she was tempted to turn away and draw the curtains, but curiosity won out. She opened the window.
He smiled at her. "Good afternoon, Your Highness."
"You don't need to call me that. You can just call me Octavia. I don't know your name, but I'm guessing he sent you."
"I'm Moxxie, Your- Octavia. Your father asked me to come give you something."
"You're lucky my mother and uncle aren't here. They'd probably kill you on sight."
The words came out sounding harsher than she'd intended. She didn't mean for it to sound like she was threatening him. She genuinely didn't want to witness any more violence, which would be inevitable if he were caught. Besides, she didn't have any grudge against Moxxie. He hadn't done anything to hurt her, and he had helped protect her dad when-
Fuck.
"It wasn't luck. I waited until I saw them leave." If he was bothered by her words he didn't show it. "Your father wanted me to give you this letter. He was worried that if your mother saw it she would take it from you, so he told me to be sure to give it to you when they weren't around." As he spoke he pulled a thick envelope from inside his jacket and held it out to her.
Octavia stared at the envelope, not sure if she wanted to take it.
Moxxie seemed to understand her hesitation and showed no signs of judging her for it.
"Your dad said that he doesn't want to press you to see him or talk to him if you don't want to, but he has some things he really wants to tell you. He told me to ask you to please grant him the privilege of reading it through to the end."
She stared a moment more, as though the envelope might bite her if she touched it. Then, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, she took it from him.
"Thank you, Your- Octavia." He started to climb back down.
"Wait!"
He paused.
"How… how is he? My dad?" The words seemed to force their way out of her throat, whether she wanted to say them or not. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to say them, nor whether she was ready to hear the answer.
"He's… missing you. Very much. But otherwise he's… doing okay." Moxxie's face was gentle, and he waited to see if she had anything more to say.
There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but nothing that she actually felt capable of putting into words. She struggled internally for a few seconds before nodding.
"I… okay then. Make sure you stay hidden as you leave." Again, the words sounded curt, but she meant it well. He seemed nice, and she didn't want her mother and uncle to find out he'd been here.
Moxxie smiled. "Don't worry. I'm good at stealth missions." Sure enough, as soon as he had climbed down from her window he seemed to disappear among Uncle Andre's ice sculptures.