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

[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.

[uptightboy]

"Well..." Edwin wondered, looking around as he was thinking. Distance could be a good thing to have but how much indeed. "Maybe further away. Let us hop you off somewhere through the mirror. I shall fetch you when I am done," he offered.

There was a chance it could still fail or backfire, summoning some protection demon... but Edwin hoped the distance may help. It was also good practice.

[just_aces]

He considered that for a moment, but nodded, "Alright, but if it's more than five minutes, I'm coming back, because that means you ran into trouble." He was pretty sure the bond would alert him to that, too, but he also wasn't going to take any chances.

He shrugged, snagging his jacket and leaving the backpack, it wasn't like he was going to need it just for a few minutes out of the office, "Warehouse, then?" It was an abandoned shipping warehouse by the river, where they usually mirrored to when going to the Floating Market or most places on the other side of the river and was probably far enough away that Edwin wouldn't be able to pull on Charles' magic even accidentally, even now that most of the extra from having eaten an imp had faded. Not all of it, but still more than half, enough that he wasn't itchy with it anymore while still being a little bouncier than usual.

[uptightboy]

"It will not be five minutes, Charles," Edwin huffed. But he understood. Being apart, even for a little while, even when Charles went on supply runs was... difficult. They have always been together, it was the way of their afterlife. So distance was something they rarely practiced.

"Warehouse should do it, indeed," Edwin nodded, then put his hand on the mirror to work his mirror hopping magic first. Even like this, he could feel the pull his magic had toward Charles but he stopped it before it could have been worse. The mirror was open in a second. "Should I escort you or will you be alright?"

[just_aces]

He flashed a smile at the initial response, "Yeah, which is how I know if it's been that long you ran into trouble."

He gave a little head-shake at the question, shrugging into his jacket, "You've got it open, I won't get lost on the way, and it saves you a trip, gives you a few more seconds to get to work, right?" Another, smaller smile, already stepping through the mirror, "See you in a minute, yeah?" He didn't wait for an answer before stepping through fully, shaking himself a little as he usually did before setting to pacing the warehouse, waiting until the mirror reverted to inert behind him instead of a portal to start his countdown.

[uptightboy]

Edwin could not help to smile back. Yes. Charles always knew when to step in. He was... well, he was his knight in shining armor. Which was such a silly thought so Edwin quickly discarded it. They needed to get to work. He nodded as Charles disappeared behind the mirror, seeing him off. Then, he took the spell and concentrated. He had to realize distance did help a little, he could focus more but he also noted his magic was a bit weaker too. Though Edwin somehow welcomed that sensation because it was how he learned it, without any enhancement.

It barely took a minute to ward the mirror, which was now buzzing with the spell's energy. Edwin checked the spell and happily concluded that everything went smoothly. So he opened the mirror portal again and called.

"It is done, Charles, you may come back," he said.

[just_aces]

Two minutes and seventeen seconds and Charles was already moving back towards the mirror as soon as it rippled, even before hearing Edwin's voice, and he stepped through only to bounce off of some unseen barrier, but as he'd only been thinking of the office, he'd lost the connection to the warehouse already which meant that when he reverberated against what should have been the mirror into the office, he'd gone reeling into the mirror-maze that made up the path between portals.

The panic from earlier the week surged to the forefront of his mind, swamping any attempt at rational thought and all he could think was of course Edwin hadn't reacted with anger in the first place, that wasn't his style, but waiting until he could believably send Charles on an errand, only to block him from returning? That made sense. Because that also meant that the Coven wouldn't be able to snap him up right away, either, it would give Charles a chance to evade them for a while, even, because even if Edwin was turning him away, he wasn't going to leave him with the Coven who -even though they had allies there- still just wanted him for the Hound's power.

Charles was reeling, his first coherent thought was a lament that he hadn't thought to bring his backpack, he was going to miss it, but even with that thought at the forefront of his mind, the panic, the absolute certainty that Edwin was cutting him loose because he'd become a liability -maybe always had been- overtook any further rational thought, so he turned, and he ran.

The mirror-maze was never meant for long-term habitation, and Charles had never been good at navigating it by pulling two end points together, which was why he was mostly only able to go to familiar places, but he couldn't do that now, it was dangerous to go anywhere that Edwin would think to look for him, so he just fell into the nearest open portal, ending up flat on his back in the corridor of a hotel, one that it took him a moment to recognize that it was the one they'd taken a detour through during the chase with the ghost from the museum.

[uptightboy]

Edwin did pay little attention to the mirror after he called for Charles. He was already thinking about the next step, the next task they had on their schedule. They were about to start on a new case after this and do some supply runs for the new wards, and... But as Edwin could think, he realized that nothing was stopping him - there was no bouncing around, no steps around the office, no questions. It was quiet. Edwin frowned, looking at the mirror and realizing that he had not seen Charles walk back.

"Charles," Edwin huffed, thinking that the boy was pulling a prank or found something that distracted him. It wouldn't be the first time. So with pursed lips, Edwin leaned through the mirror to the warehouse. "Charles!" he called. His voice did not echo off the walls because it didn't exist like that but he still felt the emptiness of it all. "Charles, this is not funny!" Edwin yelled, walking out of the mirror to look around. He half-expected to be jumped at but it was one of the first things they established in their partnership: no jumpscares. So... Charles wouldn't do something like that. Edwin looked around realizing that Charles was indeed not there. He tried to call him again but nothing.

With slight panic, Edwin looked at the mirror to think. To try and put two and two together - he was a detective for hell's sake! But there were no signs of trouble, there were no signs of anything. He couldn't feel much through their bond either. All he knew was that Charles was still out there somewhere. Which was an enormously calming thought, despite everything.

Edwin hopped back to the office, leaving the mirror open for now, in the hope that Charles may pop back in. But truly, he was suddenly at a loss. Where did Charles go? Why did he leave? He did look a little strange a few days ago but that was... He wouldn't leave without his backpack, he wouldn't just leave without saying a word! Edwin didn't need air but as the moment stretched, as it was quiet and without Charles he found himself unable to breathe.