Hazbin and Helluva Shorts III

Freedom Part 2: The Proceedings

Nearly three months had passed since Stolas had declared his intention to divorce Stella. And the news had spread like wildfire. But he didn't mind the wait. He knew it would all be worth it. When the day of the trial came, the courtroom was packed. Those who didn't make it in time watched the proceedings on TV in the lobby. Both Stolas and Stella took the stand in their own defense. It was going to be quite a trial.

Stella made her case first. She started by laying out the laws of the Aras Goetia. They were a proud and elite race of demons. They couldn't allow any of their kind to make them look bad. And that's just what Stolas had done. Sure, he had had an affair. And she had been angry. But the real knife in the back had been his partner. A lowly Imp named Blair. It was humiliating for one of their elite kind to associate with the poor commoners. Stella recounted the times others had asked about the affair, given her looks, talked behind her back, and mocked her for being unable to keep Stolas in check. As Stella continued, there were whispers among the crowd. She concluded her side an hour later.

Stolas had heard enough. His eyes glowed as he stood before everyone. Usually, he was calm and polite. He had been raised as a royal, after all. Shouting, yelling, and losing your cool was not kingly. But not today. Stolas cleared his throat. He began with the day his father had informed him of his arranged marriage. Even though he had only been a child, his whole life had been laid out before him. He had never had a say in anything. And things had only gotten worse once married. Stella was controlling, abusive, and manipulative.

As Stolas spoke, he handed the bailiff a journal. In it was documentation of everything Stella had done. And not just to him. But to their daughter as well. He had taken much more to protect her. The judge read as he spoke. Stolas went on to say that he didn't completely blame Stella. They had both been unhappy from the beginning. And he had been tolerant of her attitude toward their daughter. That was until she had started taking it out on her too. That was where he had drawn the line.

Stolas said all this was due to their kind's overly strict and unyielding laws. His father's generation had established these nearly draconian laws. And perhaps they had been acceptable back then. But he was sick of it. Sure, he recognized the importance of being a Geotia and serving his race. But he was done bowing to the old ways. His arranged marriage had been to have a child. Maybe even more. Why hadn't he been allowed to choose his wife if that had been so important? There were undoubtedly better women among them. He might have had more children by now had he been free to choose. The whole affair resulted from being forced to marry a woman he had never wanted to be with.

After a recess, the jury left to debate for the rest of the day. This was a delicate matter, and the meeting room was heavily divided. The jurors split themselves down the middle. Those favoring Stolas sat on one side, and those backing Stella glared from the other. The high and mighty Aras Goetia did not divorce. It was a failure. It was embarrassing. The jurors went back and forth for hours. Eventually, they couldn't agree and elected to return the next day.