“Ugh…what happened?” I thought as I awoke.
Once again I found myself in the nurses’ ward at my college campus. I passed out again from exhaustion. But how was I supposed to function with only 7 hours of sleep? I sighed and was ready to text my roommate to pick me up when a nurse came in.
“Your father just called us. He said he will be coming to pick you up.” They stated.
My father? I hadn’t heard from that bastard in years. Why on earth would he be coming now of all times? Whatever, if it was getting out of here, I’d be willing to take it. I sighed and texted my roommate this. I didn’t realize this would be the last time I would ever text them.
It was a little later that someone else came in. He didn’t look very much like my father, but strangely, a weird feeling on the back of my head told me that it was indeed him. His hair was black and slightly curled, his eyes were brown with a slight hint of red and he had a kind, warm gaze.
“Hello my dear.” He said, his voice was soft and he had a slight accent I didn’t recognize? Weird. “You look so tired…here. Let me carry you.”
“W-wait, I’m not-” before I could say anything, he whisked me into his arms, his warm embrace making me feel drowsy. I didn’t even realize the man started changing from human to animal, since I started to fall asleep. Laying my head against his chest, I yawned and fell asleep again.
When I woke up, I found myself somewhere…different. It sure wasn’t my bedroom, but this strange feeling lingered in the back of my mind, like I belonged here. There were loads of books and toys for little kids as well as stuffed animals, and the bed was too small for me. I heard the door open and saw the weirdest creature I’d ever seen. But I didn’t yell.
He was some kind of owl, very tall and was covered head to toe in blue-gray feathers that got darker around his head and his limbs. He had a white heart-shaped facial disc, a small black beak and what I found most unnerving were his eyes. Four deep red, pupil-less eyes staring intently at me.
“Hello my dear. Did you sleep well?” he said in his very calming voice.
“W-who are you?” I asked. The owl chuckled and got closer, sitting next to me. His gaze never broke away and I didn’t realize I couldn’t look away. There was something strange about his red eyes, I couldn’t tell what…
“Don’t tell me you don’t recognize your daddy Stolas!” he exclaimed. “…dear me. You really are very sick. You’ve forgotten who you are.”
”I..I have?” I asked sheepishly. He smiled and started to stroke my face.
“You’re my little owlet.” Stolas said, his gaze becoming more intense as I felt a tingling sensation in my body. My face felt strange and my whole body ached.
“I’m….your…owlet?” I repeated. I soon realized I was sprouting feathers on my arms, my legs and the rest of my body. Clumps of my hair fell off as feathers replaced them. Stolas put his hand on my body.
"What's happening? I...I can't go to college like this..." I panicked.
“You’re too young to worry about your future education.” He stated. At that moment I felt my body ache as it started to shrink. My hands began to look like those of a child’s, though covered in feathers. My feet had turned into talons and I realized I was growing a tail. I felt my face…my nose had turned into a beak! He must have sensed I was worried since he began to stroke my head.
“What you must do is spend time with me, your daddy. I’ll feed you, play with you and protect you.” he told me.
"Okay...daddy..." I hesitated.
"Hush...you're going to be okay."
He held me close to him as the transformation was reaching its end. My memories were fuzzy, I started to remember living in this place with him, he was my daddy, but…I was a human? No, those were just silly nightmares. I’ve always been a little owlet. Stolas was always my daddy. He was here to protect me.
"Daddy....daddy!"
“There we go.” My daddy said. “Do you feel better?”
“Yes! I feel much better.” I told him and gave him a tight hug. My daddy smiled and began to preen my feathers.
“Well I think now is time for a bath, then we can get you ready for bed.” he stated.
“Noooo, I’m not sleepy!” I protested. I wanted to stay up and play with daddy, I wanted to make mud pies in the garden, color pictures in the library and have fun with him.
“You’ll feel sleepy after your bath and a snack my darling.” he nuzzled me close. “And if you don’t go to bed you won’t get a bedtime story, you know.”
“Ohh, I want a bedtime story!” I clapped excitedly.
“Well, you have to take your bath first. Do we have a deal?” He asked me. I nodded. “Good.”
He then took me to his very lavish bathroom and gave me a bubble bath. I had so much fun playing with the bubbles and toys that I almost didn’t want to get out. Daddy then made me a snack, which I happily ate. It was finally time for the bedtime story, which I really loved since he used his magic book to show me the stars. I started to feel sleepy.
“Well then. It’s time for my little owlet to journey into dream land.” my daddy stated. "Tomorrow we can play and have fun...and I can take you to Loo Loo Land! Wouldn't you love that, darling?"
“Yeah! Good night daddy...” I yawned as he tucked me in and gave me a kiss.
“Good night my dear.”
From there I enjoyed my life as the demon prince’s owlet.
