The hellhound at my doorstep: Luna’s story

Summary
While hanging out over at the home of one of her human friends, Loona shapeshifts into her hellhound form and tells her friend her story on how Blitzo found her at an orphanage when she was a baby, and how she became who she is now

Note: this story contains a flashback.

Characters

 * Loona
 * Hala
 * Hecate
 * Kendra (Loona's friend)
 * Vortex
 * Orphanage owners (seen in flashback only)
 * Moxie
 * Blitzo
 * Millie

Loona's POV
"It's raining out." I say. "But why isn't it burning everything it touches?"

"Well, earth ain't the same thing as Hell." My friend Kendra says from across the hall.

I hear a thumping noise.

"Oh my god!" I growl. "For the last time, use the God-damn door! Ugh."

"That was just my boyfriend." Kendra says.

I hear knocking. Kendra goes to open the door.

"Kendra, no." I begin, but she lets the two people in.

"Blitzo, Jesus Christ." I say. "Really? Did you have to ruin everything?"

"Relax, Loony, I just wanted to come and join the fun."

"Kendra, I want to show you something." I say. "I'm not actually human. I don't want you to be scared by this."

"I won't." she replies. I shift back to my hellhound form and grab a mirror. Tall, long hair tied in a braid, white fur with gray tips, a cropped hoodie, a shirt with the words "Your bullshit's not my responsibility", and black sweatpants.

"Wow." She says. "You look kind of cool."

"I'm a hellhound. We're typically not treated like the other demons, but ever since that uprising, we're treated more equally now. But first, Blitzo and I want to tell you a story. It all began when he adopted me when I was a baby, although I don't always call him dad."

"I'll go first." Blitzo says. "It all started on one mundane weekend..."

Flashback: 19 years ago: Blitz' POV
"Hey! Quit falling alseep on the job!" Millie says from behind me. A jolt runs through me.

"The job?" I say. "But it's Friday!"

"Yeah except Stolas said we should raid the human realm to get rid of Agent One and Two."

I groan. "For the love of Satan, Millie, we've been doing the same thing for the past several months. Too bad we can't ask him to find someone else."

I hear thunder. "Seriously? No one told me it was going to rain."

"Here. This Margarita mix for two should cheer you up." Moxxie says, passing me a heavy jug.

I have my comrades, we go on raids, and mess with the same two agents, along with wreaking havoc along the way.

But lately I've been wanting something to come along and change my life, where nothing new ever happens.

"I've been thinking." I say. "Maybe I should start a family. I wonder what dadhood would be like. On earth I see a bunch of families and everyone seems happy."

"I think your chances are low." Millie says. "I don't think Verosika wants to be with you again."

"No, I meant maybe raise a family on my own." I say.

"Here, take the phone." Millie says. "Maybe the hellhound adoption agency will make your wish come true."

I dial, hear a short ringtone, and finally, hear someone on the other end.

"Uh, hello, is this the agency?" I ask.

"Yes sir, what do you want?" Says a woman's voice on the other end.

"I'd like to adopt. You know, start a family." I reply.

"Usually Hellhounds are reserved for servitude positions." the receptionist replies.

"Yes, but I'd like a young one."

A pause. "Ohhh so you'd like one of our newborns. I'll put you on the list and once you get a notification about it, drive right over, you sign some papers, and she's yours. Our employees already found one for you."

"Okay. That's good." I reply. "I'll be right over."

She.

I'm going to have a daughter.

"It's confirmed!" I say, bursting through the office doors.

"Sir, what's going on?" Moxxie asks, disgruntled.

"I'm gonna have a kid. Well, adopt."

"Are you having one of your midlife crises again?"

"Well, I wanted a kid! You know, some energy to spice up this place, and maybe a potential kill partner." I say.

Moxxie groans. "I don't know if you can deal with kids."

"You've never had kids, so you don't know what it's like." I say. "Maybe I should call Stolas or something. Maybe a little advice could help me."

I check my phone, and spot a notification from a phone number. I don't recognize it at first, but after scrolling, I see a message.

''Your request was confirmed. Come ASAP to sign the papers and recieve your Hellhound.''

I pump my fists. This is the best day of my life.

I'm a father. The office will be alive again.

Except how will I be able to get the hang of this "dad" thing?

I take the van and drive over to the agency. A drab building devoid of color, with a sign resembling the ones seem at pet shelters in the human realm. It reads ''Second Chance Adoption Agency. Ages range from newborn to almost 18''

This place doesn't exactly look like the place to raise kids, but I may be wrong.

I trudge up the steps, partially soaked by the rain, and knock on the door. Out steps a tall woman with hair tied in a bun.

"Welcome." she says. "I see you're here for the child, yes?"

I nod. She steps away, and several minutes later emerges carrying a bundle wrapped in a red blanket. I pull some of the blankets back to reveal the baby's face.

It's a hellhound. It's my daughter.

White eyes, red sclera, a round face, and a leathery button nose.

She gazes up at me, blinks, and coos softly.

"Does she have a name?" I ask.

"No." the woman replies, handing me a slip of paper. "Write your name at the bottom of this paper, along with the name you want the child to have."

I take a pen, write my name, and write a name in the blank line where the child's name should be.

Loona

The child spots the name, snatches the pen away from me. The name disappears and she rewrites it as Luna.

"Oh..." I say. 'Well it looks like I spelled it wrong. Silly me!"

"Congratulations, you're a dad!" the woman says, handing me a car seat. I place Luna inside. "Oh well, gotta be ready for my next client. Have a good day.

Luna looks up at me as I place her inside of my van. "...Da da?"

My face warms. I feel chills run up my spine.

I have a kid. I have a new life.

”You’re such a cutie patootie!” I say

"It's been done!" I say excitedly, bursting into the living room.

"Sir, seriously?! Are you sure you made the right decision?" Moxxie says.

"Don't be such a scaredy cat." I say, scooping Luna up in both arms. I place her on the ground where she crawls over to Moxxie and starts gnawing on his tail.

"Sir, I--OW get her off of me!" Moxxie screams. "Have her go play somewhere else!"

After extracting Luna's jaws from Moxxie's tail, I place her down on the threadbare couch near my computer. She looks up at Moxxie and growls at him.

"Ooh." I say. "She only has one tooth but it surprises me how one tooth hurts that much. I better go to Stolas. I didn't take one damn liberty to know babies needed formula."

"You do that." Moxxie groans.

"Maybe I could try handling Luna for a bit." Moxxie says

A pungent smell hits my nose.

”Shit! Moxxie, go get the hose!” I say.

”Y’all didn’t tell me you needed to do laundry!” Millie says. “God, I didn’t know hellhounds weren’t toilet trained! Also diapers are expensive.”

”Oh God…” I say nervously. “Definitely calling Stolas. ASAP.”

I take my phone and dial his number.

"Oh Hello Blitzy." He says on the other end. "Do you need anything?"

"Uh well I adopted a Hellhound Puppy and I need some clothes for her. She's really a handful."

"Anything for my colleague!" he says. "I'll be right there! Perhaps maybe a few things from Octavia's clothing stash will do for now, but I suggest you come with me. Bring your friends."

"Oh...Okay, thanks." I say.

Several minutes later, we drive up to Stolas' enormous mansion where he appears in front of me with his infant daughter and a large box.

"Take this." he says. "I purchased it a few days ago and I thought you could use it for your kid. It'll hold you over for quite a while."

"Thanks." I say.

"If you need anything, call me."

Hours later, I see the moon rise, and stars dot the darkened sky. I enter my room and spot Moxxie and Millie, both disheveled, with Millie holding Luna in both arms.

"Well, how did it go?" I ask.

"We didn't know someone so tiny could make such a big mess." she says. "We spent an hour cleaning soapy water out of the bathroom.

"Well, maybe she'll be easier to handle when she gets sleepy." I say. Luna zooms off.

"Ooooor not. Quick, I need you guys to chase her until you got her cornered. She'll think it's a game...until it's not."

We run all over the house. Moxxie is the first to collapse from exhaustion. 30 minutes later, an idea hits me.

"Millie, hand me that guitar." I say. Perhaps my 3 months of lessons will help somewhat.

I don't know what to play. I should just wing it.

I strum, the sound resonating richly around the room. Luna stops running. After playing for a few minutes, Luna's eyes close, and she falls asleep in my arms.

"Thank Satan." I whisper, placing her in the cot Stolas gave me.

"You do know that the room both of you are sleeping in will someday just be her room, right?" Millie says.

"Yeah." I reply. "Right now, cherish the moment."

I scoop Luna up in both arms and place her in the cot set up in my room.

Loona’s POV
”Loona!” I hear a voice call to me. It’s dad. I spot him several feet away, and I push through a crowd of demons where he waits.

”We’ve been looking everywhere for you! Next time please don’t wander off.”

”You’re no fun!” I whine. “We’ve been walking around doing nothing for hooooouuurs. So boring.”

”Yeah, well you’ll just have to deal with it.” Millie says.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot one of dad’s business associates, and his child, both have bird-like appearances.

”Daddy, who’s that?” I ask.

”Sweetheart that’s Stolas. He’s a friend of mine.”

”And this is my daughter.” Stolas replies, motioning for the girl to come foreword. She reluctantly does so, and waves towards me.

”I’m Luna.” I say.

”I’m Octavia.”

”Why do you look fancy?”

”Mummy and Daddy are famous people. Although it seems I love Daddy more.”

”I get it.” I reply. “Sometimes the others drive me crazy.”