Chapter Text
Christophe carefully finished the last sigil in the complex summoning circle. He stood, carefully reviewing his work. If I screw this up, the consequences could be dire. The grimoire said that even one wrong detail could lead to disaster. It could be anything from just nothing happening, to losing my immortal soul…
… Am I sure that I still want to do this?
Chris walked carefully around the summoning circle, back to the grimoire resting on a book stand. He poured over the meticulous instructions one last time. Like I need to review it. I’ve read it a million times. What am I even looking for?
Maybe a reason to do this? He smirked. Or a reason to pack it in and forget about it completely. But after what happened last week…
Those witches attacked me without provocation. One I could have handled, with ease. My spells are more powerful than theirs. But, I didn’t see the second witch. And, my wards leave a little to be desired…
Chris rubbed the spot on his ribs, still bruised by the second attack. I just barely got away. Damn it, I’m almost 100% sure that this was all Giles’ idea. Trying to force me into his coven.
Chris took a deep, steadying breath. He picked up the stone dagger lying on the work table, checking it once again to make sure that the blade was clean. I don’t want to join a coven. I don’t like the idea of being forced to do anything. I want to stay my own person. And to do that, I need the extra power and protection that a familiar will afford me.
Chris stood just outside of the summoning circle. He held out his left arm over the circle, the sleeve of his shirt rolled up to his elbow. He grasped the dagger in his right hand, and carefully pierced his own skin at the wrist. He allowed the blood to fall onto the sigils, causing them to glow with power.
It’s too late to back out now. It has begun. I just hope that I summon a familiar that will be powerful enough to help me…
***
Phichit sighed. I hate this. I hate being here. I hate… that they always send me back…
He pulled his knees in tight to his chest. He tried not to think the thoughts that swirled through his head nearly every moment of every day he spent in this place. This wasteland in between dimensions, the home of the familiars.
Phichit’s ears twitched as another familiar approached him. He looked up. Oh, it’s Emil. He’s been called, and kept, a few times.
Emil asked, “You’re still here? I thought you were called…?”
Phichit’s ears flattened to the top of his head. He wrapped his tail around his legs as he shook his head. “No, that was some time ago. And… she sent me back. As soon as she could. She said that she had no use for a weak familiar like me…”
Emil rested his finger on his chin. He asked. “I don’t remember anyone else getting called after that. Who did she end up with?”
Phichit sighed. “Her second attempt failed. She died.”
Emil hissed in a breath. “Oh, that’s harsh. But it kind of serves her right. Stupid humans.”
Emil sat down next to Phichit with a soft huff. He asked, “Don’t humans understand that we have to be summoned to gain power? Since no one has ever kept you, of course you’ve never moved past this form.”
Phichit felt a tear work its way down his face. “I know. I… I almost don’t want to be summoned again. I don’t think that I can take another rejection… How did you get your first master to keep you?”
“My first master? He was young. I think… he didn’t know any better than to keep me.”
Phichit sniffled. My first master was an awful man. Once he realized just how useless I was to him, he locked me in a room, where I couldn’t ‘mess anything up until I could be sent back.’
If that is how humans treat us, I don’t want to be summoned again…
Emil sighed. “I know that you’ve had it rough so far, but don’t give up. Okay? You’ve only been summoned twice.”
“And sent back immediately both times…”
Emil grimaced. “And that is their loss. The next one will know better.”
Phichit said, “I don’t want a next one. If I’m only going to be sent back within a month, I would rather not go at all. It’s not like either of my ‘masters’ have treated me well. They treated me like an object, a tool.”
Emil smiled. “Then it is for the best that they didn’t keep you. Come on, chin up. Let’s believe that, like the humans say, the third time will be the charm. Let’s believe that the next master to summon you will want to keep you.”
Phichit nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll try.”
Emil’s smile widened. “Good. And hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. I think that your turn in the rotation is before mine, and mine is coming up soon, I know.”
Phichit said, “Yes, I think I might be next.”
“Ah, so that is why you are so down about this.”
Phichit sighed. “Yes, it’s just the stress of waiting. Not knowing when I’ll be summoned…”
Phichit stopped mid sentence as a familiar and terrifying tugging feeling overtook him. His eyes widened in shock tinged with fear. “It’s happening now. I’m being summoned.”
Emil grinned. “Then, good luck. And I hope that I don’t see you for a good long while.”
Phichit could feel his body fading out as he replied, “Thanks, Emil…”
***
The summoning circle filled with a strange smoke, one that stopped at the edges of the circle itself. Christophe fought the urge to step back. I need to hold my ground. The grimoire was adamant concerning that. It stated that the whole spell could go poorly if the familiar sensed fear in the caster at any time. That it could manipulate that fear.
Christophe set his mouth into a firm line. Whatever it is that appears in that circle, I will not fear it. No matter how terrible its visage, I will not back down…
The smoke started to dissipate. As the smoke cleared, Christophe caught his first glimpse of the creature that he had summoned.
Oh, it looks almost like a human…
Christophe studied the familiar, who was seated on the floor, his knees pulled up into his chest. He looks so exotic, with his tan skin. And his hair and eyes are both so dark…
But his ears… They’re like a cat’s ears. And ruddy colored, like his… tail?
He has a fluffy tail…
Do all familiars look like this?
The familiar took a deep breath and said tentatively, “I know. I’m not what you wanted. I’m… weak. Don’t worry, you can send me back in a month and try again…”
Christophe cocked his head to the side as he replied, “How do you know what I wanted? I’m not even sure that I knew what I wanted when I summoned you. Let us see how the month plays out before we make any rash decisions, hmm?”
The familiar sighed. Oh, he’s being nice. That’s somehow worse…
Christophe said, “My name is Christophe Giacometti. You can call me Chris, if you like.” He paused for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck, before asking, “Um, so do familiars have names, or…?”
The familiar nodded. “I have a name. It’s Phichit.” He’s the first master to ask. Maybe he’ll be different? No, I can’t afford to get my hopes up. It will just hurt more when he sends me back…
Christophe smiled. “Phichit. Let’s go sit in my study. It will be far more comfortable than sitting in here. And I can dress this wound.”
He gestured to the still bleeding puncture wound on his wrist. Phichit frowned slightly. Oh, that’s right. They have to use their own blood to perform the summoning.
Phichit carefully uncurled his legs and stood. He asked, “So, I can leave the circle?” The last one was so disappointed in me that she left me, unable to leave the summoning circle, until finally one of the sigils was accidentally erased two days later…
Christophe nodded. “Of course.”
Phichit smiled slightly as he crossed the edge of the circle, moving closer to Christophe. Phichit looked up at him, and thought, Gods, he’s tall. And handsome, for a human. No, stop that. It will only make it hurt worse.
Phichit said quietly, “I… can’t do much, but I have some small… healing abilities? I might be able to heal your wrist.”
Christophe smiled. “Really? That would be great. I haven’t learned any healing spells yet.”
Christophe held out his arm, the wound on his wrist turned up. Blood was still seeping from the wound, running down his wrist to drip on the floor. Christophe grimaced. “I may have cut it a little too deep…”
Phichit nodded. He’s lucky that he called me, then. All familiars know a little healing, and basic shielding and wards, but not all of them would offer to use them so freely. I can think of a few off the top of my head that would see the benefit of him bleeding out right now…
He held his hand over the wound and concentrated. It has been a long time since I tried to use a spell. There is rarely any need in the void…
The area around the wound glowed. Christophe’s eyes grew wide as he watched the skin stitch itself back together. All that was left was a tiny, faded scar. Phichit sighed in relief. I did it. Thank the Gods. I wasn’t completely sure that I remembered how.
Chris flexed his wrist experimentally. He said, “Thank you. Now, please. Follow me. I have some questions for you, if you don’t mind?”
Phichit shrugged. “I’m your familiar. It’s not like I have much of a choice, do I? Master?”
Christophe started. “I wouldn’t make you do anything that you didn’t want to do. And please, call me Chris.”
Phichit said quietly, “And yet, you summoned me here. Against my will…”
Christophe sighed. This is not starting well. He seems to want to go back. But at the same time his eyes…
It seems like his eyes are begging me to let him stay.