Chapter Text
You stare at the little bakery that had been your baby for the last nearly forty years, a pang stinging your heart. You’ll miss the early mornings where you’d come in and start prepping for all your regulars. And the smell of the baking bread and pastries you had learned to perfect over the years. Out of all of the things you have done in your long life, this has to be one of your most favorite ways to earn money. And to pass the time. You hope you can continue to do this sort of thing in your new home.
But as it goes, time marches on. And your patrons have started to talk and gossip about you. Leaving little comments on how you looked exactly like you did when they’d first moved there. Or how you never seemed to change despite how long you’ve been there.
So with a heavy heart you had listed your little bakery in the relatively small town for sale, naming your closest and dearest friend as the new owner when he had heard that you were selling. Being in the same position as you, he’d taken over your little bakery without hassle and you were glad it was going to him. Though it did make you sad that you had to move away and wouldn’t be able to see him for a few decades until the humans here had either moved on or passed away.
Shoving your spare key into the mailbox in front of the bakery for the new owner, you turn your back on the little brick building and head toward your truck. It’s an older model of course because why get something new when your Ford is still running perfectly? And it can haul the trailer you’ve got behind it with all your most prized possessions.
You’d sold all your furniture sight unseen to your best friend too and only kept what you knew you would miss if you left it behind. Your treasure of books being one of those things along with the massive collection of journals you’ve been slowly working on in the past decade when you’d realized you’d begun to forget the little things with how long you’ve been alive. Well… as alive as you can be.
Making sure you have your sunglasses nearby for after the sun rises to protect your sensitive eyes, you climb up into your Ford truck, smiling at the pretty blue vehicle you’ve been using almost as long as you’ve been living here. You just can’t see yourself without your blue truck anymore. When it finally goes you’re really going to miss her. Maybe you’ll cave and get one exactly like her when that time comes.
But you know she’ll take you two states over as you made sure to get her checked before you made the decision to move. Thankfully you’ve got a full take of gas and a nearly empty road in front of you as you turn onto the highway. Looking forward to making it to the new place you’ve settled on, you set your gps, and stars if that wasn’t an amazing thing the humans had developed that made travelling so much easier, and nodded to yourself when you saw it would take about twelve hours to get there.
A bit of a pity you’d arrive so late in the afternoon and would have to camp out somewhere until your realtor would be able to meet up with you and hand you the keys to your new place. But that didn’t bother you as much as having to meet with the resident Coven that was sure to live in Ebbott, the city you’d chosen.
You’ve been all over the country, even some of the other continents before the United States was founded but Ebbott is one of those places you haven’t been too. Even back when Monsters had been free, you’d lived half a world away struggling to keep hidden with your tiny Coven. Gods how you miss your little family you had back then. Life has thrown you curveball after shit show and now you find it easier to just be a loner in this hectic world that marches on without you.
Huffing to force yourself to focus on the empty road in front of you, you turn on your audio book you’ve been listening to and zone out until you look down long after the sun has risen and realize you need to get gas. Once you’ve found a place to stop, you fill up then continue on your way, stopping for a moment to smile and wave at the little twins in the backseat of the car beside you before you pull away.
As you run from the sun and continue driving, the world around you changes a few times. From rolling plains to the arid land of the high desert then to the massive peaks of the mountains. You know you’re close when you see more people after cresting the mountain path and heading down into the valley. It’s been a long time since you had mountains to look at every morning and they are stunning in the early fall season with many of the leaves beginning to change color.
Seeing a truck stop just before the city limits, you make the snap decision to stop and rest for the night. You don’t really need the sleep but it feels nice to shut your eyes and rest them after hiding behind your sunglasses for so long. It had been clear from the bakery to here. Your phone dings with a message and you pull it out to see your texts with your best friend has a new one added.
Soothsayer: You make it pipsqueak?
Just pulled into a truck stop to rest for the night. How’s everything going for you?
Soothsayer: I’m just fine. I’m not the one who drove across two states. Be safe in the new location. And be wary when you meet the new Coven.
You send a thumbs up before telling him good night as he has to get up early to get the bakery ready for his customers. You have a feeling they are going to be all over him when he opens to see how good his food is.
Smiling to yourself knowing they are going to adore him, you turn to searching over the college here in Ebbott. One reason you’d chosen this town aside from it being where your pin stuck into the map, was because of the college and the courses they offered.
You really aren’t sure what to go for this time though. Maybe take up a creative writing course this time? Become a writer even! But… the sciences call to you too. As you stare at the list of majors the college offers, you take note of one that sounds interesting. You have had decades to dedicate your time to studying whatever you wanted, but science has always been pushed to the background. So you make the decision to enroll as a science major with an emphasis in theoretical science. You are trying to decide if you should minor in astrophysics or biology when your phone suddenly rings, cutting your research short.
Clearing your throat to make sure it will work after being quiet for most of the day, you slide the icon over and answer once you realize it’s your realtor. “Heya Grace, everything all right?” You ask once you exchange pleasantries with her.
“Ah yes, yes everything is all right. I was just wondering if you had already come into town yet.” Grace said, her voice sounding strained even as she kept her tone professional.
“I just got into town a few hours ago, yeah.” You state slowly, wondering what has her on edge.
“Oh, oh good! Then would you be able to meet me at the house you bought? I have something important to show you when you get here.” Grace’s tone only made you nervous as you agreed you could be there in half an hour.
Shelving your college course application to the side for now, you input the address back into your phone and get back on the road. It takes you only twenty minutes to get to the rather large house you found in the neighborhood. Price didn’t mean much to you considering you’ve invested and sold a few pieces of your collection you had been willing to part with.
As you pull up the long winding drive just at the base of the mountain, you come to a stop in front of the three story home. It’s honestly more than you need and you wish you could rent out some rooms, but that’s not an option with what you are. Maybe some from the local Coven would want to join you for a while. As you look over the house… no let’s be real, it’s a mansion, you note some things you will need to update. The front porch is sagging toward one end and the roof has a lot of work that needs doing.
Your mental listing of things to do comes to a stop when Grace steps out of her car, eyeing your older model truck and the trailer behind it. It’s obviously not enough to fill this massive place.
“Hi! It’s so nice to meet you in person! I’m glad you made it safely.” Grace comes over and extends a hand for you to shake. You are so glad you remembered to put on your gloves to keep her from noticing just how cold your hands are even when it’s not really that chilly out even as the sky is tinted golden with the setting rays of the sun.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Grace. I’m glad we are able to meet so soon after my arrival.” You offer her a warm smile, knowing your eyes are glinting with a hint of red deep within them as your nostrils flare and you take an appreciative sniff of the young woman. You stop yourself from thinking how nice it would be to lure her into the house with you and just get a small nibble. She’s someone you are going to be working with the next few weeks until this place is legally yours. And though, sure, you could use lure on her and then wipe her memory, you don’t want to waste your energy with all of that.
“Oh well, thank you! Uhm… Are you still serious about having this place as where you want to live? There are many nice places in town that are well within your budget and I’d be happy-” Grace starts before you cut her off.
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in living in town. This place is close enough to Ebbott that I can make it with my reliable truck easy. So yes, I am serious about living here. Why do you ask?” You hum, training your sharp gaze onto her. She’s slightly shorter than you so it’s easy to be a bit intimidating as you take a half step closer, raising your brow to add more pressure to your question.
You hear her swallow as well as her heartbeat picking up at the sudden shift in your attitude. She probably wasn’t expecting you to get like this but you need to know what has her on edge.
She lifts her right hand and points off toward the right of the driveway where you can just see the peak of a roof on another mansion you assume dots the entirety of the mountain. “B-before I told you about this place being available, some… people moved into the empty mansion next to this one. I don’t know why it has always been hard to keep the houses on Mount Ebbott in one family for more than a decade. Seems those who buy houses here leave for one reason or another.” Grace mumbles as you shift your weight to your left foot and cross your arms over your chest.
“And what does that have to do with you being worried about me living out here?” You ask, putting just a put of pressure on the main question at hand.
She blushes as she looks back up into your eyes before sighing heavily. “Well, a couple weeks ago, a family of monsters moved into that mansion. I’ve heard some strange things when it comes to monsters, and seeing you are going to be living alone in this big place, I just… I got worried.” Grace finally replies, her eyes downcast as her tone turns sheepish.
You relent on the pressure you’d been slowly putting on her, unfolding your arms and taking the last two steps to get closer to her. “I appreciate the concern you have for me as a fellow woman, Grace. But I will be okay. I’m not going to be alone for long.” You easily lie. You don’t really plan on letting anyone live with you in the foreseeable future. Maybe one of the Coven members if two or three of you get along. That remains to be seen though.
“You have paid for this place up front too… and with cash no less.” Grace’s shoulders sag and she sighs heavily once more before turning and leading you toward the front door. You fall into step beside her and smile as she inputs her code into the lockbox and retrieves the keys once you reach the pretty deep blue front door. You’re going to leave it that pretty shade.
You stare at the massive key ring she produces and just gawk at them for nearly thirty seconds before Grace’s giggle drags your attention back to her.
“Oh my God, your face!” She snickers, quivering with laughter.
You chuckle along with her, glad to hear her laughing after all the anxiety she’d been holding onto while waiting for her to calm down. “What can I say, I was expecting like five keys max. Not a ground’s keeper key ring.” You snort.
“There-there’s twenty more keys on the counter in the kitchen.” She starts laughing again, even letting out adorable little snorts with each inhale.
“Why are there so many?” You ask more curious than anything. Who the hell needs thirty plus keys to one place?
Her laughter is slow to die down more as she looks up at you, her smile still twitching with mirth. “I thought you had done some research on the history of this place.” When you shake your head at the implied question, Grace hums softly. “It was converted into a bed and breakfast about a decade ago but it didn’t really get any traction and from what I was able to dig up, the management just gave up the last two years before they went into foreclosure.”
“Ah, that would explain all the keys then. So each bedroom has a lock.” You smile, liking the thought of that. You really could make this into a little motel if you wanted. Though you know it is going to take a ton of work. Most of which you won’t be able to do given you haven’t done much learning into the construction side of hobbies.
“And there are two bathrooms on each floor that are open to all the rooms, while there are five master suites on each wing with an attached bath.” Grace beams as you start to sort through the keys, silently muttering about people not marking which is for which lock. It was going to take you days to figure out which key went to each door.
“Guess I get to choose which room is going to be mine.” You chuckle after finally locating the front key and unlocking the front door. “Were you able to get the electricity and water into my name or do I need to call them in the morning?”
“I was able to get everything set up for you. Each bill will come at the first of the month.” Grace replies as she follows you into the main foyer. It’s a grand thing, with a set of double stairs curling around each wall up to the second flight. Off to one side is a small room where you spot the front desk, with a decrepit computer covered in dust. The office chair is still there too.
Before going any further into the mansion, you stop to face Grace. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Grace. It has been such a pleasure working with you.” You extend a hand out to her and she takes it eagerly into her smaller hands. She squeezes your hand tightly with her own, her smile turning a bit small as she stares up at you.
“Of course. It was nice being able to find this place for you to make your own. I look forward to seeing what you do with it in the future!” She forces her smile wider while shaking your hand. “You have my number if you have a need for anything. I don’t live too far away in town so I will do what I can to help if you need it.”
You nod with a smile of your own. “It is getting late and I’ve driven across two states to get here. I’m not trying to kick you out or anything, but I want to unload my trailer and then get some rest.” You explain.
She lets you go and waves her hand dismissively. “It’s no worries. Have fun exploring and unpacking! And please.” She pauses to make sure you two are looking into each other’s eyes. “Be safe. I’d hate to hear anything had happened to you.”
You agree before waving as she turns and leaves through the front door. You watch her as she keeps waving at you, your smile an easy one before she’s gotten into her car and driven off. Now you need to get to work.
You make sure the door will stay open as you head back out to your truck to get the key to the padlock on your trailer. Once that’s in hand, you go to the back of your enclosed trailer and unlock it with a swift movement. Then you stand there staring into the absolutely packed floor to ceiling and wall to wall trailer. It’s going to take a few trips to get everything out.
“Guess no better place to start than with the first few boxes.” You hum softly. Talking to yourself is something you’ve gotten into the habit of doing over the decades given you don’t like the silence. It’s why you more often than not have music or a podcast playing on your phone in the background. Right now you’re enjoying the sounds of the evening though so decide to just talk to yourself to fill the void.
Grabbing four boxes and balancing them with ease, you head for your front door, a smile spreading across your face as it sinks in this place is yours. You always loved moving to new places for the novelty of getting to explore all the hidden gems within the city. And Ebbott has a lot to offer from what you have read online.
Entering the mansion, you head further in, your eyes already adjusted to the dim lighting as you pass to the left of the grand staircase and find yourself within what has to be one of the largest dining rooms you’ve ever encountered. There’s even a massive table that could sit over twenty people collecting dust in the middle of the room. You figure that’s as good a place as any to start staging your things as you set the four boxes down and head back outside to grab more.
As you’re making your fifth trip back to the trailer, you stop, tilting your head slightly so you can hear better. You swore you heard something off in the woods between you and the monster house Grace mentioned. Whatever it was is much larger than a small animal or a deer. It’s clearly on two legs and trying to move as quietly through the shadows as possible. Too bad for them you have gone decades watching your back for different reasons.
You decide to continue with what you’re doing and see what they’re going to do. That doesn’t stop you from tensing when you realize there are actually two people out in the woods. And they are heading right for you.
Pretending you can’t hear them is hard but you are playing at being human so have to act like it. But when you have your back turned as you reach into your trailer again and can sense one of them running forward toward you, you react before you can stop yourself. Letting the two boxes go you’d been stacking, you whirl around to face the intruder, your hands rising into fists to protect yourself. Even if you have better weapons to fight with aside from your hands.
It’s quite a shock when you’re greeted by a tall monster, a tall skeleton monster rushing at you with a raised red bone attack before they skid to a stop with wide sockets. One of them is marred by a trio of parallel cracks down his left socket. His sharp teeth are downturned into a snarl that morphs into a look of shock as the two of you face each other, both ready to fight.
“REALLY NOW EDGE. I TOLD YOU NOT TO RUSH OUT AND TRY TO ATTACK THE HUMAN.” Another voice from further back draws your attention to a shorter skeleton, this one with a single crack marring his right socket as he saunters over with a broad grin stretching across his sharp teeth. Brilliant violet eye lights regard you with a look you aren’t sure what to make of before your attention snaps to Edge when he speaks.
“THEY ARE TRESPASSING AND I ALWAYS SAY REACT BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS.” Edge snaps, continuing to hold his ready stance.
“Funny. It seems the two of you are trespassing to me.” You hum.
The two skeletons stare at you with similar looks of distrust and confusion before glancing at each other. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?” Edge huffed, spinning his weapon around before it vanished with a flash of red.
You shrug then point toward the sign near the front of the driveway where Grace had set a ‘sold’ sign across the for sale. The letters were bold red and had you smiling warmly knowing this mansion was really yours.
The smaller skeleton stepped closer to peer around you to get a look at the sign in the diminished light. You wonder if either of them can see the words and find they can when they both straighten.
“WELL. THIS CHANGES THINGS.” The smaller monster states, folding his hands behind him and standing at a parade rest. His pretty violet eye lights lifted to meet your eyes, his expression shifting into something more neutral.
“WHY DOES THIS CHANGE ANYTHING? FOR ALL WE KNOW SHE COULD HAVE POSTED THAT ADDITION TO THE SIGN AND BROKE IN!” Edge growled.
Stars, what has his panties in a twist? You wonder, raising a brow at him. “You’re free to call my realtor and ask Grace yourself if you don’t believe me.” You offer without a fuss. You know how hard it can be to trust humans and given what you know of the monster’s history with mankind, you can’t blame Edge for his wariness of you.
“WE WON’T HAVE A NEED TO DO SUCH A THING.” The more reasonable skeleton states firmly before raising his right hand to silence Edge’s next comment before he could even inhale. “WE WILL HAVE A FAMILY MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS SITUATION FURTHER, EDGE.”
“FINE! FINE. I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY GATHER AND WILL LISTEN TO MY SIDE FIRST!” With that Edge whirls on his heel and marches off toward the neighboring mansion.
You watch him leave with a still raised brow wondering what the hell all of that was about. “YOU’LL HAVE TO EXCUSE HIS TEMPER. HE IS QUICK TO ANGER DESPITE MY MANY MONTHS OF WORKING WITH HIM.” The remaining skeleton sighed lightly.
You shrug it off. “Everyone reacts differently to strangers.” You comment before folding your arms across your chest when he makes no move to follow after Edge. “Is there something I can help you with…?” You trail off realizing you don’t know his name yet.
“YOU MAY CALL ME BLACK.” He says, his fangs upturning with a smirk as he takes a step toward you. You don’t move away from his approach as he extends a hand out for you and merely takes his gloved hand into your own. It’s kind of funny how the two of you are both wearing gloves like this.
You give him your name and smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I wish I had something to offer as a drink or even a treat to take back to share with your family. But as you can see…” You wave toward the trailer still packed to the brim with boxes and things. You are really glad this mansion came with so much furniture you can reuse as you see fit.
Black shifts a bit to look into the back of your trailer, a thoughtful expression forming across his face. “I AM FINE WITH YOU HAVING NOTHING TO PROVIDE GIVEN YOU HAVE JUST MOVED HERE. BUT I FEEL THAT I OWE YOU FOR MY COUSIN’S TEMPER TANTRUM.”
You make to wave him off saying he doesn’t owe you anything. If anyone does it would be Edge owing you an apology. But before you can even open your mouth to say as much, your eyes widen in shock as violet magic the same pretty shade as Black’s eye lights’ encircles each box.
You snap your mouth shut and step back as dozens of boxes are illuminated in violet magic. A glance at Black shows his right hand lifted and his lights flaring bright with the use of his powers.
“You didn’t have to help, but thank you.” You say as you hurry around Black toward your front door and push it as far open as you can to give him more room. You can’t imagine just how strong this monster is with the ease in which he lifted over half your collection of books in one go.
“NONSENSE. THIS IS MERELY IN APOLOGY FOR EDGE’S COMMENT. I WILL MAKE SURE HE RETURNS AND GIVES A PROPER APOLOGY LATER.” Black says, following the hovering boxes as he stepped into your house after looking to you for permission.
You huff lightly but accept you’re likely to have a visit from the cranky skeleton tomorrow. “You can set them down in the dining room, thank you.” You lead him past the grand staircase and front desk to the dining room where you had been setting boxes down. He is careful with your things as he puts them down atop the table, some of them going to the floor as well.
When he’s done, he looks to you with a smile. “I AM AFRAID I MUST GO NOW. EDGE WILL HAVE STARTED THAT FAMILY MEETING AND THEY WILL REQUIRE MY PRESENCE. UNTIL NEXT TIME, HUMAN.” He gives you a slight bow as you follow him to the front door and go out to your trailer to lock it up along with your truck.
“You’re always welcome to come over when you need to. If my truck is here, I’m home. Just knock and wait for me to answer.” You call after him as he heads for the treeline separating the two mansions from each other. It didn’t seem right to correct him on calling you a human. Even if monsters have more or less been accepted into society, it doesn't mean your people have. You were too close to a human. Spoke, talked and moved like one. And humans would always fear your people. They’d hunted your Coven when they learned of you all because of your mistake in getting caught.
You shove the thought aside for now and focus on unpacking for the night. You're going to make this place as much yours as you can before you head into town and get what you need. Maybe you’ll get some food and make some treats for Edge and Black. You also need to head to campus and figure out when classes are going to start, or if you’ll wait until next year to get that going. As a Vampire, you have all the time in the world.