Chapter Text
The thing about Black Hat is that even when you became comfortable around him, approaching him to ask for time off never got easier. Flug approached slowly, his hands clutched around the small envelope. He took a small breath in and knocked against the door of his office, tensing up as he heard Black Hat’s voice.
“Enter.”
Flug slowly opened the door.
“Oh, it’s only you. What do you need doctor?” Black Hat asked. He was at his desk, writing in a book while examining some sort of document over.
“I...I got this...invitation and I wanted to know if I could go,” Flug said, slowly holding up the envelope. Black Hat quickly stood, setting his writing quill down. “Bring it to me.”
Flug walked towards him, and when he was in arm’s reach, Black Hat plucked the letter from his grasp. He turned away, looking the invitation over, muttering under his breath as he read it.
“...I mean, he’s just a mentor. There isn’t really a reason to go, and...there’s work. Lots of work to do.” Black Hat dropped the invitation onto his desk. “I...did you finish that torture device commissioned by-“
“Lord Mortisal? Sir...I showed you that last week. I finished it.”
“What about...what about the poison you promised Tree Stalker? Did you-“
“I finished the prototype, I left the recipe on your desk so you could check it over.”
Black Hat didn’t seem, angry. He seemed like he was stalling. “Did you-“
“Sir...as weird as this is, but, I’m getting things finished by my deadlines. I’m not tired anymore, and the vampirism gave me more strength and energy to get projects done faster. My performance rate has only been increasing these past months, you said so,” Flug said.
“Did I...?” Black Hat went into his desk drawer and pulled out a folder, flipping through it frantically. He pulled out the paper that had Flug’s performance rate on it.
Flug was right. It had gone up. The slope was steady, increasing largely as the months went on. “You’re right. You have been doing rather well these past few months...” he wrung his hands, staring at them. Flug’s brow furrowed. Black Hat was...well..he was acting weird. Awkward wasn’t the right word to use for it...more so, he seemed agitated.
“But this is your reward. There will be no raise or extra vacation days or anything of the sort. This is it,” Black Hat said. He still seemed shaky, his hands seemed to have a small tremble, and his pupil was pulsing. A strange horrid cracking filled the air, almost like broken glass being crunched against concrete.
Black Hat’s trembling hand pounded against his chest. He coughed, turning away. He kept coughing, Flug became increasingly worried. “Jefe?! Are you-“
As he moved to him, Black Hat held up a hand. He went into his coat pocket and pulled a handkerchief from within. He wiped his mouth and gave a final deep cough, wiping his mouth. A horrid black tainted the cloth.
“Pardon...” he turned back and wiped his mouth on his glove, staring at the ground. “...it seems I’ve contracted a cough...”
“Are you going to be okay?” Flug asked.
“I’ve been alive for millennia Flug, you think a cough is going to be the death of me?” Black Hat asked, looking up, his eyebrow raised.
“Oh, well, no-“
“It was a jest Flug.”
Flug gave a small smile, and Black Hat grinned back. He stood up straight again.
“Very well. I suppose you’ll need something to wear to this masquerade. Come, I don’t believe someone as young as you has...authentic vampire attire.”
~~~
Black Hat was a impatient Eldritch. He had all the time in the world to wait for things, but he rather things happened when he wanted instead of waiting for things. It was on one of his only faults really.
He waited now, listening for any ripping. “If you damage my property you buy it doctor.”
“I won’t sir!”
Flug finally emerged, wearing a few of Black Hat’s older pieces, things he found suitable for such an occasion. “I suppose your bag may serve as your mask...” Black Hat strolled towards him. Despite Flug’s...horrid fashion sense, he looked rather nice to be fair. The reds and whites matched his pale skin nicely, and the black added some needed contrast. Black Hat gently reached and straightened Flug’s collar. It had been one of the first times he had reached for Flug’s neck with no intention of wringing it.
“Do I look okay?” Flug asked modestly, his hands cupped sweetly in front of him.
“Wonderful...” Black Hat said. “You’d give his lovers a run for their money.” He regretted those words instantly. Stupid.
“I don’t know about that...” Flug laughed nervously.
“Would you...like me to take you? Or drop you off?” Black Hat asked.
“Oh, if you don’t mind,” Flug said. He straightened his gloves.
Leaving Flug at that castle dug thorns into his insides. Black Hat could only watch as Flug wished him goodbye and went towards the gargoyle guarded castle. He felt his insides rot as he left, his teeth clenched tightly.
Flug walked into the castle, his eyes wide with curiosity. He knew the more basic lay out from his time there, though he still often got lost more times.
The Count and his lovers were no where to be found however. He decided to use this time to better acquaint himself with the castle grounds. As he walked the halls, examining the countless pictures that reminded him of Black Hat’s portraits, he found some of the doors were locked, much like the Count had said.
He was about to head into another room when he heard a faint...giggle. He turned, alarmed.
Snow White was standing at the end of the hall, giggling, her hands cupped against her mouth as she stared at him.
“H-hey Snow White...” he said, turning to fully look at her.
“Come play with me doctor! I’m so sick doctor! Come play with me!” She said. She turned into a bat and flew off.
“Wait! Snow-”
Flug was about to go after her, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
“Leave her Flug. She was turned at a rather young age...she’s still youthful at heart.”
Enchantress removed her hand. “Come, you and I don’t talk that often.” She began to walk. Flug followed her. She was rather tall, but not as tall at The Count. Her stride was longer than Flug’s, he had to walk faster to keep up with her.
“Are you enjoying your time here with us?” She asked, glancing down at him.
“What? Oh, yes! I am...it’s nice to be around others like me,” he said.
“That’s good. The Count talks about you a lot. He rather enjoys your company,” she said.
“I enjoy his company,he’s really nice to me,” Flug said, staring at the ground.
“He is a rather fine gentleman, unlike your boss. Harsh and rude, if you don’t mind me saying it,” The Enchantress took a right into the courtyard. Flug scampered after her. She moved so fluidly, almost like a ghost gliding across the grass.
“I don’t, I know he can have a bit of a temper,” Flug glanced up at her. “If you don’t mind me asking...it seems you all and Black Hat have some history together. Is there a story behind that?” Flug asked.
“Tsst,” Enchantress hissed through her teeth. “The Count had caught Black Hat’s attention as a notorious vampire. Black Hat wanted them to join forces, and at first The Count agreed, but when he found out he was but a mere link in a spiderweb, he left. We are very proud creatures, not even an Eldritch can tell us what to do. They’ve hated each other ever since.” Flug looked back at his feet. “It’s good you found us when you did doctor,” Enchantress said. “He would have tried to force you down too. Now, you are surrounded by others who want to help you, and want the best for you.”
Flug pushed his fingers together. “Yeah...”
Enchantress ducked into a small tent in the courtyard. “Come in, come in.”
Flug entered. It was much larger on the inside. Enchantress sat behind a small table on a pile of pillows. “Please. Sit.” She motioned to the other side. Flug sat across from her, curious as to what she was doing.
“Even though you are a man of science, you believe in the underworld and the supernatural.” She placed her hands on the crystal ball in front of her. Smoke formed within. “There are many spirits here in this old place...they come here to tell us your future.”
The closed eye in her headdress opened as she stared into the ball.
“What...what are the spirits telling you?” Flug asked.
She kept rubbing the ball. “I see a storm cloud, but it doesn’t travel towards us. Away. You’ve had struggles in the past, someone hurt you,” she looked up.
“I guess...yeah,” Flug tried to see what she saw in the ball.
“There are small patches of sunlight, happy moments in your past. But there is the present, there is a different storm cloud...you have fears you yourself do not realize...and there is warmth,” she smiled at this. “With your fears, you harbor feelings. Feelings that you don’t quite understand yet, feelings you can’t explain, you care deeply for these feelings.”
Flug glanced down. “And the future...?”
“I see...these feelings and fears weigh you down,” Enchantress’s smile slowly dropped. “You can not decide your loyalties...the fear consumes you and...you-” her eyes darken. “You must go. You must leave. Leave now.”
Flug swallowed harshly. “What...?”
“Leave. You must leave! You must go from here!”
Enchantress’s eyes rolled back into her head. Her teeth sharpened into fangs as she hissed across the table at him. Flug quickly broke from the tent, panicked. He knew better than to stay with an angry immortal being.
He ran through a part of the castle, breaking into one of the rooms and slamming the door behind him, trying to get a grip on his fears.
“Oh goodness, well that’s one way to break into a lady’s room.”
Flug looked up and gasped, quickly looking away. “I’m sorry Nightingale.”
“Don’t worry, I’m simply freshening up a bit, and they say vampirism keeps one youthful,” she added a light blush to her cheekbones. “What’s gotten you all worked up?”
Flug slid down the door, falling onto the floor. Nightingale’s cat cuddled into his lap. He gently ran his fingers over it’s fur. “I-“
“Don’t tell me. It was Enchantress and Snow, wasn’t it? Those girls love to scare the newcomers,” Nightingale said, plucking her eyebrows to be in a more crisp shape. “Pay them no bother. They probably could smell the fear on you when you walked in.”
Flug glanced down. “Your cat has a button on it’s eye.”
“Hamilton? Oh yes he does. Found him as a one eyed kitten in the streets. I’ve found having conversations with him keeps me sane in this place,” Nightingale said. “And since the other girls showed up, I need someone not in love with The Count to talk to.”
“You don’t love the Count?” Flug looked back up. Nightingale paused. “No, I do! But...the others are different. Do not tell the others I know this but...when they first came here they were so infatuated with him...I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough time for me anymore...” Nightingale turned in her chair to look at Flug. “But it didn’t seem like...love. It seemed more like a hex.”
“You think he hexed them to love him?” Flug whispered. His mind went back to Black Hat’s words. ‘...he did try to put a hex on you, but it failed.”
“I don’t know...but I know one thing. When you love someone, you don’t hex them. After all...I don’t think he hexed me.”
“How long have you been here?” Flug asked.
“Quite awhile. I was his...first lover. I’ve been with him for as long as I can remember...I can’t even remember my turn!” She laughed a bit. “Silly of me I know.”
“Ha...yeah...” Flug looked down at Hamilton. “So...does everyone here hate my boss?”
“I’m indifferent, I saw the way he protected you when you first came here,” Nightingale said. “Surely there must be something in that cold dead heart of his...perhaps it takes a dead thing to love a dead thing,” she turned back to the wall to put on eyeshadow.
“Oh I don’t....no...we’re not in love...” Flug quickly stood.
“Well, whatever you are...hold onto it tightly, no matter who you chose to be with. I don’t know where, but I’ve seen something like this before...though I can’t remember where. You hold onto it tightly and never let it go.”
“I...will.” Flug said. “How do you do your make-up with no mirror?”
“I’ve become accustomed to it after all these years. Though I suppose it isn’t needed, we’ll be wearing masks anyway,” she put on a deep lipstick, kissing a lipstick stained cloth. She put on her mask, standing and straightening her dress. “Come Hamilton.” The cat leapt up into Nightingale’s arms. She gently petted him.
“Come along then, I reckon the Count would love to see you before this whole thing starts. Why when the...others get here, you may not get a moment with him.”
The Count had been in the ballroom, standing in the center as he watched a band of what seemed to be ghosts. He was dressed much nicer, his stringy hair finally tamed back.
“It will have to do. Your slower melodies need work, but we’re on a tight schedule,” he said. He turned to Flug.
“Ah, aren’t you two a sight for sore eyes! Nightingale, would you go fetch Snow White and Enchantress?” The Count asked, his hands cupped together. Nightingale nodded, leaving Flug alone with The Count.
“Don’t you just look stunning? So gracious and beautiful,” he said, smiling to Flug. His lip pulled up to reveal his shiny grey teeth. “We have a few moments, would you like to dance with me?” He offered his hand.
“Uh...yes! Of course!” Flug took his hand gently. The Count snapped his fingers. The torches in the room dimmed, shrouding the room in a deep green. He placed one hand on Flug’s waist and took his other hand outwards. Softly, Flug could hear instruments play.
The Count led in their dancing, his smile unwavering. Flug couldn’t help but smile back. “You know doctor, I rather enjoy our moments together, you’re such a wonderful creature, it’s such a shame someone like you is wasted by Black Hat.” Flug couldn’t break his gaze from the. Count’s eyes. They were pretty scarlet gemstones, and they seemed to glow against the dark green. The Count dipped Flug down, glancing into one of the large mirrors on the walls. There were no reflections. “Don’t we make such a pretty couple?” He looked back to Flug and brought him back up.
“You should stay here with me...you should stay with me and become my fourth lover...I will keep you and ravish you for the rest of eternity...you would never leave my side...you would help raise our children~”
The Count almost had a red aura, he just looked so...handsome. His words sounded better than the violin that stroked the air. He wanted to stay here, he wanted to be with the Count and all his lovers...he wanted-
His thoughts were broken by a loud howl. Flug shot against the Count, his trance broken. The Count gently rubbed his arm. “Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”
“Wolves...?” Flug looked up at the Count. The Count grinned.
“No love, werewolves. They roam the forests around my home, they protect me, I give them sanctuary.”
“Pardon me Count, but the guests are here.”
The Count turned his attention to Enchantress. “Very well. We’ll continue this talk later my rose,” he said to Flug. He gently let him go and followed after the Enchantress. “Help yourself to a drink! Please we have plenty!” He said to Flug.
Flug turned to the tables along the walls. People were shackled to them, goblets lining along the bodies, limbs and organs left carefully out. He went towards one of the tables, touching one of the corpses. The corpse coughed loudly. They were...alive.
How fun.
He opened his mouth, his teeth growing out to make a better puncture wound. He bit down and began to sip.
~~~
Black Hat was gnawing on his tie, pacing around his office in utter annoyance.
“I don’t see why you’re so hot and bothered by it, can’t you just tell Flug no and leave it at that? Why’d you even let him go?” Demencia was tossing the red skull Black Hat kept on his desk up in the air, catching it carelessly.
“I don’t know, and I shouldn’t have, but I just-“ he growled and ripped his tie in half. He began to cough once again, harshly. He wiped his mouth once again, hoping Demencia didn’t see.
“Relax Blackie! He’s just a vampire! Can’t you just kick his ass?” Demencia asked.
“I could, but the Count’s a vampire, you can’t just kill them, they come back. And much like him, I can’t touch a cross. Sunlight maybe, but the Count is smart enough to know not to get hurt by it!” Black Hat yanked his hat down. “I can’t just leave him there! Those bloodsuckers are probably corrupting his brain!”
“Aw, come on! It isn’t that bad! It’s just you and me tonight and-“
Black Hat huffed. “I’m going to that masquerade.”
“What?! No! Call me even crazier but isn’t that not very gentlemanly? You’re showing up to a party uninvited,” Demencia set the skull down.
“I don’t care. I’ve crashed many parties before. Besides, Flug will be delighted to see me,” Black Hat said. He shrouded himself in darkness, reappearing dressed in his best suit and tie. He went up to his hat and gently touched the rim. It shifted its form downwards, forming a mask over his eyes, the hat flattening to form a bowler hat.
“Oooh! I love it! You’re so handsome!” Demencia leapt at him, hands outstretched. Black Hat stepped to the side, sending the lizard girl into the wall. His shadow left the ground and formed his cane. “I’ll be back later, don’t blow up the house while I’m gone.” He quickly left, leaving Demencia to helplessly swoon on the ground.