Hellhound AU

[just_aces]

Sometime round about 1900, a witch summoned a hellhound as a familiar.

He didn't mind it, hellhounds are loyal after all, and if some of her spells left him tired and drained, well, that was what he was there for, to keep her from using too much of her own energy for things. That and to eat the souls of her victims, sometimes.

But then, in the early 1970s, she ran afoul of a much stronger coven.

She was quite quickly banished to hell, but the hellhound couldn't be allowed to go with her, because, well, hellhounds are loyal and she was powerful and would have been able to use him to escape.

So the hellhound was made human, figuring that sixty, seventy, even eighty years if he was lucky would be enough time for the witch to have been consumed, so that even when the human-that-had-been-a-hellhound died, and Death herself realized that he was definitely not where, or what, he was supposed to be, she'd send him back.

But then one Charles Rowland kind of fucked up that whole plan by dying young and immediately running away from Death herself.

So the ghost-who-was-the-boy-who-was-the-hellhound has no idea what he was, or still is, under it all.

But, after a trip through hell to save his best friend (Hellhounds are loyal, after all) and time spent in a familiar position -though not a familiar kitchen- after that has been enough to knock a few things loose...

Comments

For @UptightBoy

[just_aces]

Ghosts didn't really need to sleep, there was some argument whether they actually could, but there was a reason that the couch in the office was actually comfortable despite the residents not actually needing it to be. The reason being that Charles liked naps.

Or, he had, before Port Townsend, before a day trip to Hell and back and before the terrifying few hours in Esther's house after that, after things had looked like they were going to turn out.

Which was to say that Charles' afternoon nap ended abruptly with less of a startle towards wakefulness and more of just rolling from the couch into a coiled-ready crouch, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there partly because he wasn't wearing his coat and partly because he hadn't had time to replace the bat after it had been shattered by Esther Finch's snake.

He blinked slowly, swallowing back the instinct to growl, the sensation he could feel building somewhere in his chest, the back of his throat, not sure what it was that hadn't just startled him from his doze, but had shaken him into borderline attack mode. The office was the same as it ever was, even the downstairs neighbors weren't acting up as far as he could tell and he could only surmise that something in the dream -though he shouldn't have dreams any more than he needed to sleep- had shaken him, not that he could remember any of the specifics now that he was awake.

<3

[uptightboy]

If Edwin was brutally honest, which he kind of was, he liked when Charles took a nap. It gave him time to think. For just a little while that ball of energy stopped and was silent. And it was good. Thankfully, Edwin never needed to rest like that; partly because ghosts don't nap, and partly because the last time he slept he was sacrificed to a demon. So. That was a bit hard to get over. So he used this time to study or do something that required a bit more focus than usual.

This time too, he was back by their bookcase, flipping through one of the older tomes of their collection. And he almost dropped it when he heard a growl, just before Charles rolled off the couch as if he sensed danger. Sensed in the most animalistic way possible.

Edwin turned to look at him, fully expecting his form to be changed... Which was a strange thought to have. But not an unreasonable one, Edwin admitted to himself. He had his suspicions and he tried to ignore them for all these years but their little trip to Port Townsend didn't help about it.

"Charles, is everything alright?" Edwin asked, still not moving from his spot. And he hated it. Because why was he suddenly afraid?

[just_aces]

Charles almost startled again at the question, only just then registering Edwin's presence, though that shouldn't have been a surprise to him either. He opened his mouth to say something, only to close it again, brow furrowing as he unfolded from that crouch, slow, a little disjointed and finally managing a quiet, "I don't know?"

He hadn't meant it as a question, not really, still unexpectedly shaken, and confused by the fact that he was shaken when there was no clear reason for it, "I... might have been dreaming?" That one was almost meant as a question, because Edwin had been a ghost longer than he had, but more than that, had squirreled away all sorts of arcane knowledge that Charles only knew the edges of, so while he hadn't heard of ghosts being able to dream, Edwin might have.

[uptightboy]

"How ridiculous, ghosts cannot..." Edwin started but immediately stopped himself. Ghosts can't dream, period. Because they can't sleep. Can't nap. Edwin licked his lips as he remembered that little remark Esther had made while he was being tortured on that table and Charles was screaming his spectral lungs out.

'Quite a loud puppy, isn't he.' Which could have been just a rude comment but with what Edwin had gathered the past years, or even during those days in Port Townsend, it might have been more. She knew something.

And now Charles just told him he was bloody dreaming. Edwin turned a little more toward Charles, holding the book in his hands, partly to ground himself for what he was about to say.

"Ghosts cannot dream, Charles," Edwin finished the sentence. Because that part was true.

[just_aces]

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He replied, straightening fully and scrubbing a hand up over his face, giving a shake of his head as if to shake that unease off, though the smile that followed was thin and strained, "Guess I should probably stop trying to have an afternoon kip if I'm just going to wake up ready to bite things."

That wasn't a realization he'd actually had until he was saying it out loud, and it was enough to have even that thread-thin smile fading, brow creasing again, just prodding the edges of his teeth with the tip of his tongue, having had the unexplainable instinct that they should have been sharper than they were, shaking his head again, "Guess I'm not all settled again after everything."

It wasn't an actual explanation and he knew it, but it was what he was going to cling to at the moment. It made enough sense that he could make himself believe it and not have to worry about anything deeper, for now.

[uptightboy]

Edwin watched Charles with a bit of tension in his shoulders. He felt like he was betraying him in a way, watching him for clues. But it was already clear that whatever this was it was ripe for investigation. The only thing was... where would it leave them in the end?

"No, Charles, I think... I believe you are actually starting to settle," Edwin said and slowly put the tome back on the shelf. Just to look for another one. "Do you remember anything about your dream? Did you bite something?"

[just_aces]

That line of questioning made him fidgety, and not the usual kind of too-much-energy fidgety he usually was, but an older, less often seen sort of anxious fidgety, a waiting for the other shoe to drop kind of tension he hadn't often carried in his unlife but had been second nature while he'd still been alive.

"No." He shook his head all the same, moving to dig a deck of playing cards out of a desk drawer so that he had something to do with his hands in an attempt to distract himself so that tension could dissipate again. Another little head shake, as if realizing that wasn't enough of an answer, "No I don't remember, not no I didn't bite anything. I might have done."

[uptightboy]

Edwin sent a look at Charles, then continued looking for that exact book he had in mind. About familiars. It was a guide for witches; not a thorough one, but Edwin remembered it may have some of the details he was looking for in his suspicion.

"No need to get riled up, Charles, I'm only asking," he said. "You have been like this since we came back," he added, wondering if that bloody book was in Charles's backpack or if he was just too preoccupied to find it? Or maybe he was just afraid to find it...

[just_aces]

"No, I know." Another quick little shake of his head, fingers curling tightly against that pack of cards, trying to will some of that anxious energy away and only sort-of managing, "I know you're asking because you've got some kind of idea in there, not because you're waiting for me to get an answer wrong."

Maybe more of an admission than he'd meant to give, but Edwin needed to know the frustration was due to not knowing things he felt like he should, and not at Edwin for trying to clarify.

He leaned one hip against the edge of the desk so that he could set to actually shuffling and cutting the deck of cards, both hands, then one hand, then both hands, then the other hand, giving himself something to focus on even as he asked, "Which one are you looking for? We reorganized some last week when the reference books started taking up more space than before." Not that he didn't think Edwin remembered, but he knew how ingrained habits worked that sometimes he'd look for something where it used to be instead of where it was.

[uptightboy]

Edwin stopped at that, looking at Charles again. He knew he would've let that remark pass in the past, and he has the urge to do it now too. But they both swore to do better... Edwin swore to do better. Crystal was right screaming about Charles to him, to finally see him in a different light. And Edwin going into this was also a part of that.

"I apologize, I did not wish to agitate you," Edwin muttered. He took a breath, mostly out of habit. "I'm looking for the 'VVitches Circle', the first edition." An older book, definitely not fit for carrying around a backpack. It was about to fall apart, too, and Edwin was thinking many times about making a copy by hand or asking Crystal to help them photocopy it sometime. "I believe it has some answers for us. For you."

[just_aces]

Whatever his initial response to the apology was going to be -likely an attempt to brush it aside- was derailed by the actual answer, and his brow creased briefly, "First edition, binding's coming off that one, it's in the repair pile." One of many things Charles had taken upon himself to learn as time permitted, bookbinding, or at least some level of manuscript conservation, too much of the library was too precious to let it fall to complete disrepair.

But it was slow going, and he wasn't yet at a level where he trusted himself to actually fix most of them. He had put sturdier covers on the Hardy Boys collection, just to make sure he could without risking something that might actually bite him back for trying.

[uptightboy]

Ah, the repair pile, Edwin should have guessed. So without further questions, he went to carefully rummage through said pile. All those books were about to fall apart and it was actually the most precious of Charles to try and save them. In retrospect, Edwin did realise it was one of the things that made him fall in love. Despite... everything. Charles was saving him, them, one book at a time.

Finding the book, Edwin brought it over to the desk. He stepped next to Charles as he put the book down and carefully opened it.

"Ah, yes," Edwin whispered as he got to the very last pages. Those pages also looked like they were hastily put in there. The poor, very brief description of a Hellhound. While the book contained rituals and practices on summoning and keeping familiars, this entry was seemingly only there to inform about what a Hellhound was, not even a ritual or how to keep it on this plane. Edwin suspected it may have been the writings of an overly excited witch, coming to an abrupt end. But whatever it was, the one-page summary gave him what he needed.

Looking at the illustration of a black dog, Edwin did feel a little silly. Because he could not imagine Charles to be a beast like this. Because what if he was wrong... But years and years of detective intuition told him he was unfortunately on the right track. He also knew when someone or something felt like Hell...

"I... may be wrong," Edwin said slowly, pushing the open book closer to Charles. "But I suggest we start working on what your true nature is. Starting here," he said, tapping the page with his finger.

[just_aces]

A string of expressions crossed Charles' face, various flavors of confusion and disbelief and he wanted to argue that there was no way that was possible, but he also belatedly realized he was running the backs of his knuckles along the side of his neck where the angry weal from the collar Esther had slapped on him was already faded but he'd known even then, even in the brief times when Edwin wasn't screaming in pain in the other room, and Charles' own voice had given out for a few minutes until he could make himself sit still long enough to heal that the position was strangely familiar.

It was just one of many things he'd determined not to think about too hard.

Except, it seemed, that wasn't going to be an option.

Which was why he just sighed, kneading at the bridge of his nose for a moment before sliding the deck of cards back into the box, folding his arms and leaning against the desk, studying Edwin for a moment before asking: "Observations and facts?" He knew Edwin must have some of the first and maybe even some of the second if he'd come to this particular conclusion, and listening to what Edwin had already gathered would be easier to stomach than trying to read even those couple pages.

For @UptightBoy - part deux!

[just_aces]

Things had been going well after the mishap with the mirror and everything that had come after. The Coven had finally settled on every two months meetings and progress reports and it seemed that petitions to keep the Hound at the manor instead of leaving him with Edwin had finally been quelled, but it was hard to say for sure.

The week before they'd received an invitation to the Coven's Midwinter Gathering, delivered by Daphne herself so that she could better explain both the dress code -that they would need to come as they were, it wasn't costumes really, but Edwin would need to look the part of a ghost-spellcaster-detective and Charles would need to be himself, the Hound- along with the unfortunate stipulation that as Charles wouldn't be bound to a trap the way he was during Coven meetings, he would need to be leashed, because even though the collar and the cuffs that remained even in his Hound form were approved marks of ownership, there needed to be visible proof that Edwin could control him.

She'd also helpfully explained that the invitation was for the Agency, and good for up to six, as that was the standard for allied agencies and conglomerates. Once she'd excused herself with the gentle 'I'll leave you to figure it out, do call if you have any questions', Charles had been quick to assure that he didn't mind. Or, rather he did, but only because it wasn't their idea and they didn't really have a choice in the matter, it wasn't as if they could just not go.

But here they were, a week later -and still with three weeks to go before the event- and Edwin had finally found an updated version of his usual binding spell that should still work on a Hellhound and Charles rolled to his feet from where he'd been tinkering with the phonograph once again, now some kind of Frankenstein's Music Player combination of a hand-crank Victrola, the automated turntable from a jukebox, and the multi-disc turntable of a CD player, and he was sure he almost had it this time. He flipped the edges of the work sheet up to keep the pieces in place, giving Edwin a nod as he stretched, "Where do you need me?"

<3!

[uptightboy]

"Right there is perfect," Edwin said, walking up to Charles. He had his notebook with him with the perfected spell written down in it. He took a glance at Charles, then reached for him. He slipped his hand to the back of his neck, feeling the collar under his fingertips too. Then he gently leaned in to kiss him. Because he could, because he would never miss an opportunity again. "There, now let's see the spell," he smirked as he pulled away, looking into his notebook.

While the matter of Charles was finally settled, somewhat, Edwin was still slightly annoyed that he needed to be tied up. While they both agreed on the collar's aesthetics at least, a leash was a whole different thing. Their arrangement with the coven couldn't have been on better terms with the bimonthly meetings and the finally calmer debate about Charles's whereabouts. So the invitation to the Midwinter Gathering was kind of expected, yet Edwin didn't expect it to be mandatory. And a show. He expressed his reluctance to attend, let alone dress up, multiple times but Daphne had this strange way of convincing them to act the right way. Mostly because she did a lot for them and Edwin would have felt bad if their absence had somehow made her appear in the wrong light. Edwin was still considering writing a strong-worded letter of disapproval to the coven about the leash situation.

"How is the musical device coming along?" Edwin asked as he read through the lines of the spell a few more times in preparation.

[just_aces]

As he did every time, Charles all but melted forward into that kiss with a quiet hum, eyes dipping partway closed, amused at Edwin's murmured comment about checking the spell again, as if kissing him was distracting enough that he'd forgotten what he was planning on doing.

Charles had already thought that simply not attending wasn't the best plan, and via his network of contacts -which was to say the neighborhood cats- he'd learned that an invitation was as good as a summons and that failure to appear wouldn't just reflect badly on their contact, but also on them, and as they'd already made such good progress, Charles was loath to lose that and given as how he was perfectly fine with being leashed, as long as it was Edwin holding the tether, it was best to just get it done.

He tilted his head from side to side at the question, "Same as always, I'll get it one of these days, yeah?" His brow creased then, "Best to start in this shape or the other one?" They'd have to make sure the leash stayed in place through a shift, so he didn't think it mattered which shape they started in, though it was easier to communicate in this one rather than the other one, which likely made it a better place to start.

[uptightboy]

Edwin's gaze flickered to the device. It looked the same to him for a few days now but if Charles told him he was on track who was he to deny him?

"It is only an alteration of the original spell so it shall be fine if you stay as you are," Edwin said. The transformation of course needed to be tested after that but for now, he did not wish Charles to feel more of a 'dog' than necessary. However, he had to admit that with Charles's new position a whole new world and new connections opened up to them. The cats and other critters around the office were more frequent, bringing exciting tidbits of news and information. The cats and especially the pigeons were never this friendly before.

"I still cannot believe this is something that is required of us. The humiliation alone..." he huffed, and slid his hand on Charles's collar, pressing his fingertips to the crest. This wasn't just his wanting to touch Charles but the start of the spell. He started murmuring the words, feeling the spell flare once again. The original spell was a heavy one and Edwin remembered how exhausted it left him. He hopes it will be less tiring this time but he does feel the static charging up around them.

[just_aces]

"I know." He replied to that complaint, fingers lifting to press gently against the back of Edwin's hand for a moment before lifting away again so as not to tangle the spell or accidentally over-charge it. They were getting better at regulating the flow of energy when Edwin did any kind of casting, but it was sometimes still unpredictable and harder to determine how something might take a turn.

Charles took a slow, even breath at the way the air around them started to charge, it was normally where he'd suggest walking things back a little, but he knew this spell was likely to take a little more power and a little more concentration than the normal day to day casting Edwin did.

Which was why he was going to keep still and calm and only draw attention to it if he felt Edwin actually pulling at his energy instead of just using what was there at the surface.

[uptightboy]

The little touch on his hand did calm Edwin. Charles told him many times it would be fine yet he still couldn't accept it. It was a sign that the supernatural community still didn't think of Charles as someone with his own agency and freedom but a mutt on a rope. If they knew he was far more and far greater than that...

Edwin pursed his lips as the spell continued. It required him to build the leash from his own magic, and he did feel the pull. A shaky, empty breath left his lips. He still remembered vividly the tragedy when he hurt Charles almost beyond repair. He was slowly getting better but he still had a long way to go. Magic was a lifetime to master, good thing he only had the whole afterlife for it. Yet, it was still a slow process.

Concentrating heavily he started to build the leash upon the existing spell. An extension of the bond. A little annoyed sound left him when he realized that it may be just as difficult as putting the bond on. But he didn't want to stop. His gaze flickered to Charles to check in, his fingers trembling around the glowing, forming leash.

[just_aces]

There was concern in Charles' expression, but for Edwin's state rather than his own.

He could feel the added weight, certainly, which in and of itself wasn't concerning, but there was still something about it that was bordering on uncomfortable in a way he couldn't quite place.

His fingers brushed the back of Edwin's hand again, brow creasing, "Maybe..." His brow furrowed, trying to work out how to explain what he meant, "You're still thinking about this as caving to an unfair ruling, yeah?" He wasn't entirely sure if Edwin was thinking of it that way, but given his complaints on the mater it seemed like a reasonable guess.

A careful shrug, not dislodging Edwin's hold or shaking him off, "Maybe think about it as protecting me, instead?" He didn't know if it would help, or if it was even how the magic really worked, but he figured it was worth a try if nothing else.

[uptightboy]

"I..." Edwin started but he closed his mouth. He held the spell but didn't stop it. Was that it? Him still thinking about the injustice rather than the possibilities? His gaze turned away from Charles's face to his hand on his hand, as he was holding the crest. Charles told him he was proud carrying that collar, and that crest. So what was a leash attached anyway? Protection, as Charles said. And another sign of devotion. Just another sign that Charles belonged to Edwin and now all of London's best would be able to see it.

They will see that Charles was his. Devoted to him. And Edwin was ready to fight anyone who would think about taking him away.

"Right," Edwin whispered, licking his lips. The magic flew easier through his fingers now. The charge was still in the air but it wasn't as dense. "I love you, I could never..." he said as he felt it, the leash forming. He grabbed it and pulled his hand slowly away as the leash slowly built itself up until Edwin was holding the full length of it. It changed shapes a few times, going from a simple, golden glowing string to a fine chain leash, until Edwin chose to settle for a simple leather leash, not unlike the one their family dog had.

"There," Edwin sighed, holding the leash in his hand as he let go of the magic. This spell was not unlike the collar, however, it was only he who could control if it appeared or what kind of shape it took when it was 'summoned'. Edwin pulled it gently. "Is that alright?" he asked, wondering how Charles was doing now that he is leashed.

[just_aces]

"I know you wouldn't." He replied to that unfinished statement, fingers curling lightly around Edwin's wrist instead once he was more sure that he wasn't going to accidentally overload the spell or distract Edwin from the casting, "Just one of the things I love about you, too." Edwin would never hurt him or take advantage of him on purpose, nor would he allow Charles to be put in a situation where someone else could do either of those things, not without making sure the two of them were on the same page about the risks and the rewards.

This, though, this was a little different, and Charles smiled a little as Edwin changed the look of the lead a couple of times and while it was on the tip of his tongue to comment 'kinky' over the plain leather, he didn't, partly because he wasn't sure what the reception would be, but also because it really wasn't, it was utilitarian, certainly, but it was also surprisingly soft-looking, well-worn.

But then Edwin tugged at it and Charles' brain went just a little static-y, not like when his hair was pulled, but not far from it, either, swaying forward just a little before blinking slowly when he realized Edwin had asked a question, nodding a moment later, tongue darting out across suddenly dry lips before answering, "Yeah. Yeah, it's good."

[uptightboy]

Something in Charles's eyes caught Edwin's attention. He had seen that look a few times before. A fairly new look - ever since they started getting physically close, ever since Charles had reciprocated his feelings. Edwin wouldn't exactly call it animalistic per se, but there was something to it.

And because he was a detective, Edwin wondered what could have caused it. He was still learning about Charles Rowland and this was a thrilling investigation.

"Good," Edwin said slowly, drawn out. The leash wasn't glowing in his hand anymore as the spell was done but it was warm to the touch. There was just something about holding Charles close, so he could not turn away, run away, or have his attention elsewhere. The thought was almost intoxicating. Edwin, to test the working on the spell, slowly made it disappear, so it wasn't active. But then he gripped it again, letting it manifest between them in a flash of golden light. He tugged again. "Still good?"

[just_aces]

He had relaxed a little as the lead faded out of sight, only to sway forward again as Edwin re-ignited it and gave it another tug, though it wasn't just a sway forward the second time, but a little hitched half-step, catching himself short belatedly and nodding at the question, though he wasn't fully sure what Edwin had asked.

Which was why his brow creased just slightly, blinking at Edwin again and asking, "Wait, what did you just ask me?"

Truthfully he wasn't quite sure why he was having such a strong reaction to the thing, he could tell it was definitely him and not something inherent in the magic, but that really didn't clear things up even a little.

[uptightboy]

Edwin swallowed as he watched Charles move as he pulled. They weren't standing too far from each other, truly just a step away. But it was enough to send a shiver of anticipation down Edwin's spine. There was no magic or charge in the air around them, yet he felt his spectral heart beat faster.

"I asked..." he started, and pulled the leash instead of tugging this time, just to watch it tense between Charles's collar and his hand. "... if you are still alright?" His tone wasn't exactly a question but a kind of demand. For an answer? For more? Edwin figured they would find out soon enough. "Do pay attention," he added just holding the leash between them, feeling its tension and watching Charles at the end of it.