//------------------------------// // Chapter One: The First Problems // Story: Inner Demons // by Spider8ite //------------------------------// You know that moment when you feel like screaming in panic, but cannot scream? That moment when everything stops and you internally despair, but can’t show it because you're hiding a terrible secret? For your sake, I hope you don’t, because it’s not a good moment. But it was the kind of moment I was already intimately familiar with. I never spoke about my parents to Vinyl; whenever she brought up the subject I tried to talk about something else; this had already happened many times. I would never dream of telling her they were dead, because if I ever had, they would surely try to visit me in the world above the next day. I just didn't expect a visit to happen so quickly; it had been only six years since I came here at the tender age of eighteen. My father had said that he would visit me to see my progress at some point, but six years is a very short time for an immortal ruler of the underworld. And my progress is: 0%… I’m screwed — really, really screwed. “What’s the letter?” I finally snapped out of my panicked state and heard Vinyl. She looked at me, still chewing on waffles, and stared with curiosity at the letter that had fallen to the ground. “Vinyl, don’t talk with full mouth! Sometimes I feel more like your mother than your girlfriend…” I rolled my eyes and then sighed, counting to three and trying to find an excuse to tell Vinyl. I picked up the letter and re-read it: Hello my dear daughter, It’s mom! I missed you so much, darling! Your father has things to discuss with Miss Death today, so I’m the one who is writing this… Well, I’m happy to say that we, me and your father, are going to come to visit you! Don’t worry, Infernus, our new personal postman (Cerberus ate the other postman, I really liked him but I think he liked cats...), will send this letter with magic right to… Derpy Hooves’ (I’m right?) postbag so no one will know this is from Tartarus. Your father said that he wants to know if your skills have improved and if you are now ready to be a true demon. He wants to see that so much dear, but you know that even if you aren't ready for that I’ll still be proud of you. But your father… You know how he is sometimes… I love you my sweet Octavia, Eisheth. I smiled. My mind was no longer in such a mess. I was still surprised, but I could imagine mother’s beautiful melodious voice narrating that letter. She loved to sing me to sleep; maybe that is why I’ve always loved music so much? “So…?” I heard Vinyl’s voice calling me; I blinked a few times. “The letter — what’s all about?” “Oh! Uh… nothing important, just stupid stuff from… someone.” I smiled nervously and she shrugged. Vinyl got up and left her dish in the sink. She leaned against the counter, picking up the phone, and read something. I grimaced. “Neon calling you again?” “Yep. And it looks like we have work to do!” Vinyl put down the phone, and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Hey, Tavi, don’t look at me like that. You know I don’t like guys. I like strawberry, not banana.” I laughed at Vinyl’s analogy. “I know, but… he like women, and I don’t like to imagine a man practically eating you with eyes.” Vinyl laughed, but I was serious. “What? It’s true.” Vinyl tried to reassure me. “I know, I know… but he’s with a girl named… I don’t know, when he told me her name last night I was drunk.” I shook my head at her. “What? You were too!” she added defensively. “I wasn't! That’s not true!” I blushed and remembered last night. “You know it’s true, Octopussy. You finished off an entire bottle of wine!” Vinyl stopped for a moment and then smirked. “And the results of that party were… sexy — you have to admit, Octopussy!” She went to the bedroom, grabbed a blue jacket, and returned to the kitchen. “I think you woke up the neighbors!” She started laughing. I got up from the chair, still with the letter in my hands and put my dish in the sink. I gave Vinyl a playful punch on her chest; she laughed and grabbed my waist by surprise, making me squeal. “Vinyl, we’re not going to do this now.” “Calm down, Tavi, I’m not thinking about that… well not right now, anyway.” She squeezed my bottom and gave me a playful smirk. “Later, Vinyl. Later.” She smiled. “Yes! Haven’t I always said I have the best woman in the world?” Vinyl kissed me, holding me tight. “Just because of that?” I asked jokingly. “No, no… well, maybe that’s a part of it. But you have those damn eyes, that cute mouth and that delicious butt. Could I have any better than you, Tavi?” I felt her breath against my neck and some little bites. “Ummm…” I pretended to think for a moment. “Probably not, Scratch. I think you’ll have to stick with your ‘Tavi’.” “And I’m very happy to, Buttavia.” She smirked and we were quiet for a moment. “You like your new nickname?” I gave her another punch. “Looks like you love it!” the DJ joked, then kissed the top of my head and released me from her embrace. “I have to go now, Buttavia. And don’t worry about Neon, he's on a leash now.” I shook my head. “So a relationship is like a leash to you, Vinyl Scratch?” “Yeah… uh… no, I mean for some men… okay, I gotta go.” She gave me another kiss, grabbed her favorite shades and was gone, purring “Hasta la vista, Buttavia,” as she walked out the door. I sighed, went to the living room and sat on the couch. I hated lying to others, especially to Vinyl. Okay, I had lied to her from the start, but I still felt guilty about it. I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking about what I would do when my father arrived; thinking of all the lies I had told to my friends and Vinyl because of him. I snapped out of it when I felt a wet tongue lick my hand. I turned to my side and saw Wub Wub sitting next to me. He barked for attention. “Come here!” I took him into my lap. “You know I’m screwed, don’t you?” No response of course. “You’re just a dog, but you’re the only one who I can tell about this…” I sighed while stroking the dog. “It seems that your grandmother and grandfather are coming for a visit, Wub Wub, and I… you know I love them; I really do — they’re my mother and my father, but I just… I don’t want to be the Princess of the Tartarus. I never asked for any of that.” His ears twitched excitedly and he looked at me with shining eyes. Wub Wub rubbed his head against me, and looked like he wanted to comfort me. I smiled at the dog. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but if you’re trying to comfort me then thank you little dog.” I sat with the animal on my lap for some time stroking him. For just a moment I wondered whether it had all been worth it to come to this world; perhaps I should have followed in the footsteps of my father and my mother; perhaps I should have avoided the confusion that I had brought into my life, and into Vinyl’s life too. But I remembered that I could never be happier than I was with her. I sighed a happy sigh. I heard my phone chirp. Leaving Wub Wub on the ground, I went to pick it up from the dresser next to the couch. It was message from Vinyl. Hey, Buttavia, looks like Neon got me a show tonight, so I’ll stay here in El Fuego today. I’ll spend my day with Dash and AJ. They finally had time to get their asses to this club. Sorry, I know we had plans. I’m free tomorrow, Octopussy, and I know you are too. How about something? Oh yeah, and Dash said we could go with the girls to Rainbow Falls and spend all Sunday there. You know, it’s hot these days cause of summer (not just cause of your buns). Think about it, Octopussy. >:3 I shook my head and laughed. Sometimes Vinyl acted like a man. Well, most of the time. Vinyl, you’re a idiot, you know? Okay, Applejack and Rainbow need to talk with you anyways. And I need a little moment alone. Just don’t be drunk, I won’t be awake to get you. (And don’t say you never asked this for me when you were drunk!) I sent the message and slipped the phone into my pocket just as the doorbell rang. Wub Wub barked at the door. “Coming!” I called, and went to the door. Opening the door, my eyes shot open in surprise for the second time that day. Oh no, you can’t be serious… Why did it have to be YOU…? “Octavia, we need to talk!” It was him, Frederick. Yes, he was the first person I kissed when I got here. Before I found out that he wasn’t what I really wanted. I had still liked him as a friend, but his behavior had ruined even that. The problem was that after I kissed him at the start of college — just a few months after arriving in this world — Frederick thought we were together or something. He seemed to have an addiction to me, even though he knew I was with Vinyl. Vinyl always said he was a royal pain in the butt. And I had to agree with that. “Frederick… what you want now?” “This won’t work anymore! It’s not me, it's you! You’re too… indecisive! You can stay with your filthy DJ. I thought I'd try men now; they may be less indecisive than you women!” Frederick exclaimed with his English accent, like a victim in danger. I rolled my eyes. “Frederick please, we never had anything and you know that I…” “I haven’t finished yet Octavia and you need to listen to me!” he pointed a finger at himself. “You and your DJ can go to…” I shut the door in his face and went back to sit on the couch. I smiled while hearing his angry screams from outside. Frederick only stopped when he heard Bonnie’s voice telling him to shut his mouth. “This isn't over yet!” He stormed off. I relaxed on the couch, but I remembered my predicament when I heard Bonnie’s voice. She was only person I could talk to about something supernatural. Even if she couldn’t help me, she would listen. It was good to have someone listen to you sometimes. Bon Bon. I need to talk with her… It was time to talk to someone I considered my guardian angel. Maybe she could help me with that.