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...

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[just_aces]

A string of various confused expressions chased each other across Charles' face, finally just asking: "What?" He shook his head, "No, I mean, I can see how you got there, but that's not what it's like at all. It's more like..."

His brow was still furrowed, trying to figure out a way to explain and finally just coming up with: "Like that story about the swan that got raised as a duck, yeah? Spent this whole time thinking I was just bad at being a ghost and turns out it's because I've been using the wrong script the whole time." Which was two different metaphors, but still fit.

[uptightboy]

Well, Edwin had to admit it got more clear to him with that metaphor. Right. A swan raised by ducks. That... was fairly accurate.

"Well then, Mr. Swan," Edwin started. "I just wanted to say I am happy we will finally put you in your place. In multiple ways," he added. "I shall let you rest, thank you for indulging me."

[just_aces]

He snorted a laugh at the new title, though his expression softened into an actual smile at the rest as he settled in again, "'Course I will, you've done the same for me since the start, wouldn't be fair if I didn't do the same."

Another nod, kicking off his shoes to draw his feet up onto the couch as well, though it left him curled up like some kind of isopod, he seemed comfortable enough, "Three hours. Then we'll go."

He was always surprised at just how easy it was to slip off to sleep, because it wasn't like normal sleep, or at least not how he remembered sleep being, he was still mostly aware of what was going on in the office, but even then it was still restful, it was enough to recoup some energy and he was uncurling again in just over two hours, shaking the blanket out to drape it back over the back of the couch again.

[uptightboy]

With Daphne's handy list, Edwin and Charles started working on methods to keep a Hellhound strong and fed. The scent of cooking food worked so they took on more runs together. Their supply runs sometimes included walking to restaurants, the market, and the university campus. Some of these runs included them being in disguises which brought a new kind of horror to Edwin's afterlife as apparently, dogs were pretty popular around the university parts. People loved Charles and thus they also paid attention to Edwin's disguised self, a young woman just walking her dog... When Edwin had been asked for his number for the second time, they brought Crystal along more and the attempts were reduced but only about half. Yet, it was still a good method to keep up Charles's strength.

Having all these options at hand did help Edwin's anxiety about using magic. He didn't plan to exhaust Charles again like he did with the destroying spell but it meant they could experiment a bit more boldly about boundaries without leaving Charles empty. Knowing that there were ways to help Charles if he was being used calmed Edwin just a bit. It also allowed him to experiment with a wider variety of spells. It was also a bit dangerous because it made Edwin look for spells he wouldn't usually... as if he learned nothing from using the wrong offensive spell the other day.

So, on a slower day, between cases, Edwin decided to check on one of the smaller spells, like using a seeing stone to send some updates to Daphne.

"Now, let us see," Edwin muttered to himself as he was holding the stone in one hand, and his notebook in the other. He read the spell in his notes a few times in quiet at first. If this was working it would solve some of their delayed communication issues, and also spare them to write letters. Which Edwin did not mind but he had to admit that sending letters was sometimes way too slow.

[just_aces]

When Charles showed up basically good as new at the week-later check-in meeting, it was deemed safe to return to their twice-monthly meetings, and even those hadn't been terrible now that they had a surefire way to keep Charles' strength up, and Charles was still paying close attention to Astra and her sisters, though he still hadn't really figured out what it was that Celeste -he was pretty sure- did differently when she asked things that it was still sharp and pointed and sometimes downright mean, but wasn't the same as Astra and Estelle.

He knew he'd figure it out eventually, but in the meantime he was going to enjoy the fact that they'd figured out a good regular energy top-up on basically the first try, and had bottled spells in reserve, with a few more added to the collection thanks to Auntie who they had gone to visit at the Floating Market. More than that, he sometimes walked with Crystal to the cafe, because even though it wasn't quite as effective in his regular form as it was in hound-shape he still could absorb that ambient food energy, and it always smelled delicious in there anyway, he'd always been fond of the almost-sharp scent of roasting coffee as it was, and that was more pronounced now.

Daphne was still their liaison with the Coven, or their minder, as she often said, only half-joking, and being able to communicate with her quickly would only be a good thing, which was why Charles was sticking close as Edwin worked on the sending stone, not where he'd get in the way, and not close enough for Edwin to draw on the extra power, not that there had been further incidents, but still better safe than sorry.

Something prickled at the edges of his senses whenever Edwin did magic, though this time was different, but he couldn't quite place why, straightening from where he'd been sprawled on the couch leafing through a Tintin comic, fingers marking his place and tilting his head as if he might be able to hear what was different about the spell.

[uptightboy]

Edwin hummed, whispering the words to himself a few times before he attempted to say them out loud. He sent a look at Charles, noting how his attention was on him too. Edwin's very first thought was that Charles was maybe worried he took a lot of power again accidentally. Edwin hated that feeling. He knew he wouldn't take as much, he knew they settled it with Charles... Maybe one day he will believe it himself, that he can do this and protect Charles too.

With a lick of his lips, Edwin nodded to himself. The spell was supposed to open a gate for the message to go through, almost like a voicemail. So Edwin repeats his message in his head too, and then goes for the spell.

He says the spell out loud, holding the stone. He already knew how it would feel when the spell worked and he could feel it working... except what he thought would happen, didn't happen. Upon casting the spell the stone did light up but instead of waiting for his message and small portal opened and something dashed out of it. Something with wings and the scent of sulfur. Edwin yelled and his kneejerk reaction was to grab the stone and throw it at the thing- an imp? But Edwin had no time to properly check it as his body was already moving, kicking his chair back and backing away from the desk where the creature spawned.

[just_aces]

Charles shifted shape without even really thinking about it, much as Edwin's automatic reaction was to throw whatever was on hand, Charles' was now to take the shape more suited to going on the offensive, which he also did without fully thinking it through, pouncing from where he was on the couch straight at the desk, something that sent the messenger imp scurrying off, which was definitely the wrong thing for it to do as well, because that lodged it squarely as 'prey' in Charles' mind and he lit off after it.

Between the imp's panicked squealing and Charles' growling both while tearing around the office -Charles much better aware of where things were than the imp- it was chaos for the entirety of the chase, though it didn't last long, less than a minute but more than thirty seconds and it was only the knowledge that this wasn't what Edwin had been trying to do and that he might be upset if Charles outright killed the thing -despite the fact that he really did want to just eat it- that kept Charles from doing just that, instead carrying it carefully back over to the desk.

He dropped it carefully in the empty space where he usually sat, rearing up on his back legs so that he could hold it down with a forepaw, casting as confused an expression as he could at Edwin as he did, waiting for explanation or instructions and trying to remember how things had gone when the Duchess had summoned imps like this, trying to connect its arrival to what Edwin had been doing and not quite able to do so.

[uptightboy]

Edwin gasped as he watched Charles leap after that sorry excuse of an imp but he was too shocked to tell him no. Though, in retrospect, he maybe didn't even want to tell Charles to stop. The office became a mess after the short but intensive chase but Edwin was too preoccupied to note it just yet. He blinked as Charles brought it back to the desk, putting it on it as a trophy...

"Ah..." Edwin blinked, setting the lapels of his jacket straight to settle himself. He moved back to the desk, eying the caught, miserable imp under Charles's paw. The thing looked like a rabbit caught in the teeth of a hound dog... still alive but facing the inevitable. Edwin did wonder why the hound didn't kill it the first chance he got. "Um, well done, Charles," Edwin nodded as he was still thinking about what to do and what happened. Upon further inspection, he had found that this kind of imp was the servant type - used for small errands and messages. "Huh, I- I did not think the spell would summon a messenger, it should not have been that strong," Edwin wondered out loud. "Oh dear, let me check how to proceed, bear with me for a moment, Charles."

[just_aces]

He knew Edwin hadn't actually meant to summon it, the same way he knew he'd only managed to catch it because he knew the layout of the office better than it did, and it couldn't simply portal itself away again until it was given a message and dismissed, though he couldn't quite be sure how he knew that part and wasn't going to think about it too hard, not when it kept wriggling miserably, seemingly more out of annoyance than any actual attempt to get away, as the pitiful squeak of: "Message?" would attest to.

Even just that much was enough to have Charles leaning closer and growling once more, not snarling in full, but definitely baring his teeth more intently, because he could still eat it, if Edwin wanted him to.

[uptightboy]

"Oh," Edwin blinked when the creature stated the reason of its summon. Well, it meant that it was harmless at least. Yet, Charles still went after it. Could be because of Edwin's scare, which was quite adorable if the ghost had to say. Or it could be... Edwin remembered the list Daphhe had given them. He froze. Letting Charles eat such a creature would boost his strength for weeks. And it was only an imp... an unfortunate one that is.

"Charles," Edwin frowned. "Are you... Are you asking if... Do you want to, um, eat?"

[just_aces]

It had been partly due to the way Edwin had startled -because it was Charles' job to protect him- and it was partly due to the fact that it was something of Hell and it was in the office and that wouldn't stand because that had always been something they avoided at all costs. But more than anything it had also just been instinct. Hellhounds chased imps the way cats chased mice, it was just there.

He blinked up at Edwin at the question, considering for a long moment, and it was probably some kind of cosmic joke that he was less impulsive at the moment than he usually would be, because something like that would be a lot of energy, more than he was used to certainly, but maybe that would be a good thing, because they could figure out what had gone wrong with Edwin's spell and fix it without him even burning off the surplus.

It was that more than anything, the thought of being helpful, that had him grinning, arching up again so he could just swipe the imp off the desk again, maw bigger and sharper than it had been a moment before as he tossed the unfortunate creature into the air with that paw, snapping it down in one bite before it could hit the floor.

[uptightboy]

"Goodness," Edwin whispered in alarm as he watched Charles take the imp and chew it down in one bite. It was impressive but then again it was maybe the first time Edwin had witnessed the power of a hound outside of the trial. Up close. Of course, there were chases and other things but this was different. There was something about the way Charles took a creature from Hell, one that was an outsider and scaring the remaining soul of Edwin, and just ate it at Edwin's order. Something thrilling.

"Good boy," Edwin couldn't help to say, despite his shock.

[just_aces]

Those two words had him growling again, but more of a purr, head ducking up under Edwin's hand and the smile on the Hound's face was familiar enough, in its way, so similar to Charles' own nose-wrinkled, teeth-exposed grin when he was delighted by something, and usually something frivolous or ridiculous.

He was most definitely humming with more energy than usual, something like static electricity clinging to his fur, but it didn't seem to be bothering him at all, though as soon as he came back to himself he'd probably be bouncing more than usual, but he was in no hurry to change shapes at the moment, perfectly content as he was.

[uptightboy]

"You were protecting us, were you not? Aren't you a delight?" Edwin smiled a little, petting the hound, and scratching behind his ear. He noted how he felt a little different. Stronger. Buzzing. As if magic was overflowing with him. Edwin was familiar with the sensation. Usually, he felt it after he cast a more intensive spell.

Charles was getting stronger. More familiar in his skin. And Edwin slowly started to get used to his form - to the beast that belonged to Hell living in this office. The thought also made Edwin smile. He was his beast now. And he actually had permission to pet him in this form and not make it weird...

[just_aces]

That line of questioning, as well as the fingers behind his ear, just earned an easy, happy thump of the bullwhip thick tail even as the rest of Charles relaxed in a slump against the side of the desk chair, because that was nice, and he'd done a good thing and Edwin was happy and if he was even slightly more cognizant of himself he'd probably be mortified by this behavior, but that was one of the things about this shape: Things were simpler, as he'd said more than once.

It was another fifteen minutes of comfortable leaning before he shook himself again, pushing to his feet and padding around the desk to flop onto the couch as himself again, definitely able to feel the excess energy, as he'd expected he would, "So, any idea how you managed to summon an entire messenger imp instead of a message spell?"

[uptightboy]

After that Edwin didn't try to cast the spell again, especially not with Charles being so charged. He was trying to find out what had gone wrong. Or right, for that matter.

He looked up when Charles found his place on the couch again, seeing how his bonds were just a bit brighter than usual. Along with the whole boy, for that matter.

"I do have a theory," Edwin started, with a nod. He picked up the stone from his desk that he retrieved after his fright. "For a long time I could only use weaker spells or spells that had components that had nothing to do with a living body," he started. "It feels like... the spells I cast now are stronger. They feel stronger," he said, looking up at Charles. "I believe we are both changing, Charles. Because of you."

[just_aces]

Because of you.
That was enough to have cold dread knotting in the pit of his stomach, old fears surging to the forefront of his mind, it was his fault, he wasn't good enough again, he'd made a mess of things just by existing. He didn't think that Edwin meant it as an accusation as much as just an observation, a statement of fact, but his voice was still quiet when he asked: "Is that a problem?"

He was trying his hardest to believe that this wasn't a precursor to Edwin sending him back, or worse, removing that binding spell and sending him off to the Coven instead because he was too dangerous to keep around.

[uptightboy]

Edwin's brows furrowed lightly at the question. He was seeking Charles's expression a bit unsure.

"I do not know yet," he admitted, looking at the stone. "It means there is a new factor I need to consider when casting spells. It is proving to be more chaotic than I first expected." It means Charles's presence and the way he affects magic is not as simple as Edwin has thought.

He looked up at the bonds on Charles, remembering how those bonds were quite different from what the Duchess put on him. It could be a factor. There were multiple types of bonding spells after all, this was just one of them.

"It could also be the bonds," Edwin muttered.

[just_aces]

Charles straightened slowly where he was sitting, like he was trying not to draw attention to himself as he shifted position, falling almost completely still once he'd done so, because that answer -especially the parting comment even as quiet as it was- had that dread solidifying into something like panic, and he was doing his damnedest not to let it simmer over, to keep a lid on it, because Edwin usually said what he meant instead of trying to be kind about it like most people.

His voice was still quiet when he asked: "How can I fix it?" Because really that was what it came down to, this was a problem he had caused, it was up to him to make it right and to do better.

[uptightboy]

Edwin fell silent at the question. An odd question but taken Charles's eagerness to do better for... reasons, Edwin could maybe understand.

"No, I believe it is something I shall look into the solution," he decided and put the sending stone away for now. They needed to stick to letters and meetings for now, until he figured how to proceed. Because if Charles's presence caused a small spell to flare up like this, what would it do with the bigger ones? "Do not worry, Charles, I doubt it is anything complicated," he added, walking to their bookshelf to see if he can find something. Also, they truly needed to make a proper ward for the office now...

[just_aces]

Charles was rooted to his spot on the couch still, fingers a nervous tangle to keep himself from jostling the bangles or fidgeting with the collar. He'd sorted out how to tone them down at least a little, but they were still there, and toying with them had become second nature, a soothing habit as much as anything else, but if they were part of the problem -if Edwin was looking for a solution on his own- he wasn't going to call attention to them any more than he was going to call attention to himself, older instincts and ingrained habits at play at the moment.

He gnawed at the corner of his lip for a moment before following up with another question: "How can I help?" Even if he couldn't fix it himself, he could at least help put things to rights, deep-rooted anxieties -made more apparent by the influx of energy- clamoring that he had to be able to do something to make the situation better, because if he couldn't there was no point in Edwin keeping him around.

[uptightboy]

Edwin took the spellbook that contained the warding spells and flipped it through. He did note Charles going still and quiet, something he barely did. Not even when it was needed. But as Edwin looked at him again all he saw was his undivided attention. Maybe because of the feast he just had?

"Well, I do not think there is anything you can assist me with just yet," Edwin wondered out loud. No, it was more about the way the bonds connected to him and his magic. Edwin begrudgingly wondered if he needed to raid the witch library again. "I suppose if you feel the pull of magic against your will, do warn me."

[just_aces]

He was trying to keep the clawing panic at bay and he was mostly managing it, he thought, though he still felt a little queasy, a little dizzy, still waiting for the turn, for things to go bad, and really it was only the fact that Edwin had literally never done an emotional heel-turn on Charles the whole time they'd known each other that was keeping him from giving into that panic and falling into a string of apologies that had never worked before and were unnecessary now.

But the answer Edwin gave was a good one, nothing he could help with yet, but still something actionable -letting him know if there was any unexpected magical pull- and so he nodded, fingers still knotted together, but finally letting one thumb slide up the inside of his wrist to slide along the edge of one of the bangles, nodding, "Yeah, alright, I can do that."

[uptightboy]

Edwin's attention was on the bangles again too. They were still making his heart flutter. This time too. So he looked back into his book of wards, thinking about their next step. He did feel something strange with Charles but hoped it was only because of the little adventure with the imp. So as they went on Edwin didn't think about it much.

Since Charles's presence apparently changed the way some of the spells were working, Ediwn had ruled that they needed better protection for the office. Starting with the mirror, of course. It took him a few days to find the most suitable spell in the witches' library.

"Hmm, due to the fact that this is a new spell, I believe the best course of action would be if you were not present when it is cast, Charles," Edwin muttered as he was standing by their mirror.

[just_aces]

Charles' anxiety that he'd done something wrong and that Edwin was going to break the bonds or send him off to the Coven, or even let him go at all had faded even just by the end of the first day, and the next few days while Edwin did research things settled back into balance once more.

Which was why he'd already been waiting while Edwin actually settled on a spell and set up to perform it. He nodded at the idea that he should be out of range while Edwin actually did the spell, "Yeah, makes sense." He scratched the back of his neck, "Just downstairs far enough away, you think?" They hadn't really tested how far the bonds were still able to draw on Charles' power, because that siphon was different than Edwin just being able to find or summon him, which should have been possible regardless of distance or even physical plane.