Helluva Boss - After the Party

Negotiations

Verosika's heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floors as she made her way through the eerily quiet halls the Goetia palace. The grand estate was not what she expected—silent, almost abandoned, and completely devoid of the liveliness that she'd expected to find. She'd expected scores of butlers, maids, guards and what have you to be around every corner, but it was becoming evident that this place was cold and lifeless, abandoned almost. Every echo of her steps felt louder in the emptiness, and she found herself casting cautious glances at the towering shadows that stretched along the walls.

She had never been to Stolas' palace before. The hallways felt oppressive as she made her way through it, guided by a tiny imp butler who seemed to have been expecting her and so far had been the only other living thing here. Aside from rows after rows of carnivorous plants. Evidently it seemed the Goetia prince was fond of gardening.

Only a few days ago she'd invited the Goetia prince to her 'Fuck Blitzo' party. It had been a courtesy invite, one she hadn't really expected him to accept. But during the midst of her party, there he'd been, looking alone and out of place; Blitz's freshest ex, the newest person that needed friends or at least a kind of support group that understood his woe. There had been a moment of camaraderie, or so she thought, as she guided the prince on a path to forget about any notions of love towards their now shared ex. Though it was obvious that he wasn't quite ready to let go without a bit of nudging. Nudging she'd been all too happy to provide.

But now, walking through his empty mansion, Verosika felt the weight of that party and its aftermath press down on her. She'd begun to wonder if her actions had been completely that night had been entirely altruistic. Given her now self-admitted feelings, she wondered if some part of her hadn't been jealous of the Goetia, as it appeared that he had something Blitz hadn't been willing... or capable of giving her. The thoughts made what she was about to discuss and ask of the Goetia all the more difficult.

When the little imp butler finally brought her before him, Stolas was standing in the drawing room, a cold distance in his posture as he faced one of the tall windows, overlooking the sprawling grounds. His back was turned to her, but the tension in his body was unmistakable. It was a stark contrast to the looser, bashful prince she'd encountered before. Back then, there had been an air of vulnerability, a mutual recognition of their shared pain over Blitz. Now, however, that air was gone, replaced by something colder, more guarded.

"Ms. Mayday," Stolas greeted without turning, his voice smooth but edged with something sharp.

Ms. Mayday? Verosika thought to herself. Uh oh. That sounded a bit unfriendly.

"Your message stated that we should... talk?" He finally faced her, his eyes cool and calculating. There was little warmth, no remnants of their previous meeting's connection. She swallowed, surprised at how unnerved she felt by his demeanor. It wasn't just the mansion that was empty—it seemed Stolas had closed himself off, too. His regal posture and demeanor unnerved her. It was so evident now that there was a divide between them; a pop-star and a royal.

Verosika hesitated but forced a smirk, masking her unease. "Yes, I came here to talk. About Blitz."

Stolas' expression barely shifted, but his eyes darkened. "And what, exactly, would you want to discuss about Blitz?" His tone was sharp, biting even. He crossed his arms, his feathers ruffling in agitation.

"Yes, so you stated. I assume this has something to do with your party?" he asked while pretending to examine the back of his hand. Before Verosika could reply, he kept going.

"You know, I've only faded memories of that party. I'm afraid I may have overindulged in spirits that night, which is muddying my recollection of it all. But the more I think about it, the more things drift into focus again and I find myself remembering odd little details." He shot her a glance, pretending to have grown disinterested in his hands. "In particular regarding your actions that night."