Chapter Text

Venenum Umbræ

This is not a love story. But there is so much love to be found.

Ghouls are imperative to the success of Ghost. There is no band without them. They are summoned from the depths of hell; thin, grey-furred creatures with horns and fangs. They have long arms and clawed hands, aiding them in both standing upright and walking on all fours.

Each can be unpredictable, and are not for the weak of heart.

After being summoned, the handler must bond with their ghoul. They must be trained and educated in order to survive on Earth. 

They are not pets, but soldiers. 

Obedient, skilled, and loyal.

Chapter 1 ~ A Rite of Passage

Perpetua hadn’t been at the ministry long. He had settled into the place, but not the new role. There was much to learn. More to do. Learning names and faces, preparing for his first tours and debut. Writing new songs hadn’t been too troublesome, he was good at writing. Thanks to the help of his aunt Marika, he had managed to write two already. But his mentor here wasn’t supposed to be just Marika alone. His twin brother Copia - now formally known as Frater Imperator and the new head of the clergy - had been avoiding him since his arrival. Perpetua had initiated the odd conversation in passing, but they never bonded. Never spoke properly together. He didn’t let his brother's avoidance bother him. There was still one important thing to do. Something that had been on his mind ever since he had learned about it.

It was the most important task he had been faced with yet. Summoning his first ghoul. He had been reading up on ghouls for the past week straight. There were many types, all associated with animals and elements. Some pure with gentle souls, some stubborn and fiery. Some that had not been heard of for centuries. He had already met Frater Imperator’s own ghouls and came to find that each had a unique personality. For example, Aurora was bouncy and excitable, but sweet nonetheless. Sodo was always up for a scrap and would tease the others until they snapped at him. Cumulus and Cirrus were quiet and gentle. And that was just to name a few.

When the day came, Perpetua stood outside the ministry at the newly formed summoning circle. He held a large tome in his hands. The world was dark with the full moon shining down, almost in approval of the rite about to be performed. Candles that stubbornly refused to go out held fiery light at his feet. Perpetua glanced once back at Marika as the wind swept around them, blowing his robes around his feet. She nodded to him once. Perpetua lowered his gaze to the chant in the book and took a nervous breath.

“Veni ad me, veni ad me. Creature profundi, creatura noctis. Creatura cui licet mihi regnare. Affer mihi umbram de imo, eam quae mihi auxilium fert, fidelem, sceleratam, periculosam. Appare nunc semel ante ooculos meos et nos liga. Veni ad me! Umbra!” He cried out, the pentagram carved into the ground beginning to glow brighter and brighter as each Latin word was enunciated with a practised tongue. A rumble thundered beneath his feet and he took three steps back, his eyes darting from corner to corner of the pentagram. As if a bomb had dropped, a flash of white blinded him, smoke erupting from the earth. The wind swirled around, scattering leaves, twigs and debris, and spreading thick black smoke. Thunder roared loudly, and for a second it was as if Hell itself had opened up, before slowly, the wind began to settle, the smoke dissipating, and calm returned to the night.

Perpetua and Marika both waved an arm around to fan the smoke from their faces as they coughed. Each lungful was thick and tasted like sulphur. The smoke cloud lowered, spreading thin around their shoes, and there, in front of Perpetua, sat hunched over in the center of the summoning circle, was his ghoul. Marika quickly stepped up to Perpetua’s side from behind, getting a closer look at the new creature. She grinned, patting his shoulder excitedly, and gave him an encouraging push.

This was the part Perpetua had not practiced. The first introduction. He looked back at her, and turned towards the ghoul. His steps were soft on the turned earth as he approached, coming to a standstill before it.

“Erm, hello, ghoul…” Ridiculous.

The creature swayed, head down. It was clearly dazed from the sudden pull from one realm to another. It’s head was probably still spinning. Perpetua watched as it lifted one clawed hand to its head, lifting it up and blinking its eyes slowly. Those eyes… They glowed in the dark, a stark white iris against black. Its pupils shifted to adjust to the dark, changing from slits to almost full circles. The creature’s attention slowly shifted to look at the robed man in front of it. Perpetua watched the ghoul’s disoriented movements, and outstretched a hand. He finally got a good look at it. Short, grey fur. Long horns that curved backwards from above the brow, and behind it rose a lengthy pointed tail. Long black hair cascaded down past its shoulders. When their eyes met, Perpetua noticed the gleam in them. Curiosity and intelligence despite the confusion.

Marika’s voice cut through the quiet night from behind him.

“Well? What element is it? The light was blindingly white, could be air?” She asked. Perpetua tilted his head, studying the creature before him. The ghoul’s tail flicked nervously, its pointed ears swiveling slightly as it took in its surroundings. He lowered his hand slowly, not wanting to startle it.

“Patience, Marika. Let the poor thing find its bearings first.” His voice remained calm, though now he could feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. “Can you stand? I hear the summoning can be quite disorienting.”

As the ghoul blinked itself to steady consciousness, it was as if it was seeing him clearly for the first time. Well, it probably was. But, unexpectedly, the creature curled its lip in a snarl and started growling at Perpetua’s offered hand. Perpetua’s expression remained calm and unthreatened, even as the ghoul bared its fangs and let out a low, rumbling growl. He did not withdraw his hand, but instead lowered it slowly to his side, showing his empty palm. Behind him, Marika’s chuckle was light, almost amused.

“Could be a fire ghoul. They’re always so spirited right out the gate. Be careful, they bite.”

“Not all fire is destructive. Some just needs the right space to burn.” He watched the ghoul’s body language closely - the tension in its shoulders, the slight bristle of fur along its arms, the wary flick of its tail. It was scared, maybe even angry at being pulled so abruptly into the world above. “My name is Perpetua,” He said, his tone stable and soft. “I summoned you. This is my aunt, Marika. We mean you no ill will.” He gestured vaguely towards her and the pentagram on the ground. “It is a lot to take in, I know. But you’re in no danger.” He turned and placed the large book onto the ground behind him, before taking another step closer.

The ghoul scrambled backwards, its growl increasing in volume, tail flicking. Perpetua halted immediately, raising both hands in a placating gesture as the ghoul recoiled and the growl deepened, vibrating with warning.

“Easy now,” Perpetua mumbled. He didn’t retreat, but he didn’t advance either, holding his ground. “No sudden moves. I understand.” Behind him, Marika shifted uneasily.

“Perpetua, perhaps give it space-”

“He’s frightened, not feral,” He replied without taking his eyes off of the ghoul. He kept his focus on the creature’s eyes, the fear behind the fury. He slowly knelt, lowering himself to reduce his height as a perceived threat. “You have every right to be wary. The summoning was abrupt, and you’re in a strange new place. But nobody here wants to hurt you.” Perpetua remained still, allowing the ghoul to measure his intentions, his lack of aggression. The man’s silver half-mask hid part of his expression, but his visible eyes held only patience. “When you are ready. We can go somewhere warmer than these woods. There is a place for you here. It is ready and waiting for you.”

The ghoul’s ears flicked back and its snarl slowly faded. It squinted its bright eyes at him, remaining completely still. Finally, it crawled over warily. Perpetua remained rooted to the spot, keeping his breathing slow. The creature leaned in to sniff him with a cautious curiosity. It scented him like an animal.

“That’s it,” He murmured encouragingly. “You’re learning me, just as I’m learning you.” The ghoul’s nose brushed over his robes and the edge of his silver mask, then travelled lower again, sniffing along his collar and down to his sleeves. Behind him, Marika had gone quiet, observing the delicate exchange with keen interest. The forest seemed to lean in, holding its breath alongside them. When the ghoul finally leaned back, Perpetua offered a slow, careful smile, just the slight upturn of his lips visible. “There. Now we know each other a little better.” He extended his hand again, palm up, as an invitation. But the sudden appearance of the hand in the ghoul’s face startled it, and in a flash it growled and struck. Never before seen fangs extended forwards - akin to a snake’s - and pierced into his hand. A flare of white-hot pain shot up his arm in an instant and Perpetua hissed sharply. The ghoul scrambled back, spitting excess venom and hostility. Blood welled from the puncture marks, and Marika took a step forward.

“Perpetua-!”

“Stay back,” He warned. He cradled his injured hand against his chest, watching as light yellow venom dripped from the ghoul’s bared teeth. So… Not an air ghoul then. Nor a fire. Something far more rare. Something venomous.

He met the ghoul’s wide eyes with his own, holding contact steadily despite the throbbing in his hand.

“It’s alright,” He said to the ghoul instead of Marika. “You were scared. I moved too soon.” Slowly, he lowered himself fully to the ground, sitting cross-legged in the upturned grass. Venom wasn’t common among ghouls. This one was special. Dangerous. And Perpetua felt a strange thrill beneath the pain, fascination. Marika’s voice sharpened with urgency behind him.

“Perpetua, we need to go, now. That venom won’t be just painful, it’ll be corrosive. We have to get it cleaned and extracted before it spreads.” He could feel the heat already building around the punctures, a deep unsettling burn that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. Yet he remained seated, his posture relaxed despite the threat still coiled before him. The ghoul’s tail whipped through the air like a black serpent, its glare unwavering.

“Give him a moment. He’s assessing whether we’re a threat. If we run now, we confirm his fears.” Blood continued to trickle between his fingers, dripping slowly onto the grass below. The venom sizzled faintly where it leaked. Marika fell silent, though her anxiety hung heavy in her heart. Seconds passed in silence, the three of them all holding stiff and on edge.

“We have to go back now, before that poison sets in!” She moved quickly up behind him.

Perpetua’s attention snapped back to her as she closed the distance, her walk sharp with urgency. The ghoul reacted instantly, a vicious hiss that ripped from its throat as it scrambled backwards until its shoulders brushed against the dark edge of the forest.

“Marika, stop!” Perpetua commanded. He looked back at the ghoul, a slow, acidic ache spreading up his wrist. He could feel the venom working, a hot invasive throb that made his hand stiffen and cramp. But his focus remained locked on the creature poised at the tree line, eyes glowing with feral distrust. Every instinct told him that if they fled now, they might never earn its trust. Slowly, Perpetua shifted onto his knees. He kept his hand tucked to his chest. “We’re not leaving you. And we’re not forcing you. But… There’s more for you with us than you will find out here.”

More silence followed. The ghoul took its time to listen. To think. To weigh out all of the options presented to it. It was a long, aching minute.

Marika had enough. She took a final step forward and grabbed Perpetua by the shoulder of his robes, yanking him up. Perpetua’s breath caught at the unexpected grip, hauled to his feet with force. The sudden movement broke the fragile stillness, and with a final sharp snarl, the ghoul turned and vanished into the thick shadows of the forest, swallowed by the trees.

“No- wait!” Perpetua called out, but it was too late. The underbrush rustled faintly in the distance, and then, all was silent. He swayed slightly on his feet, the venom in his hand burning hotter now, a deep and spreading pain that made his vision blur. Marika’s hold on him tightened, her tone urgent and unyielding.

“He’s gone, Perpetua. And you have venom in you. Your hand is still bleeding out. We need to go. Now.”

For a moment, Perpetua resisted, his gaze fixated on the darkness where the ghoul had disappeared. There was a sharp pang of loss. But the throbbing in his hand grew undeniable, climbing towards his elbow. He finally relented, letting Marika steer him back towards the path, though his head turned once more towards the trees.