Chapter Text
Phoenix did not want to be making his way through a spooky forest late at night, and yet here he was.
Maya had left two days ago saying that she wanted to investigate a strange old property outside the city that people were claiming was haunted. Phoenix had wanted to go with her but had been caught up in more pointless seeming decisions to plan for his upcoming nuptials. Yet despite how urgent the need to choose napkin shades and select appetizers was when Maya hadn’t returned, he had abandoned all his meetings to go and look for her.
She had been talking about the strange rumors surrounding this place for some time now and although many people in town were dismissive or even hostile towards her mysticism Phoenix always listened to his friend, so he knew exactly where to go looking.
When he found the estate, however part of him wished that he hadn’t. The gothic style castle loomed menacingly and the air of creepiness about the place was oppressive. Phoenix took a deep breath though and forced himself forwards. If Maya were really in there he would not be leaving this place, however unsettling, until he found her.
Finding her, as it turned out, would not be the problem, leaving this with her would be. When he called for her, he found her immediately but in some sort of cell designed not to be broken in out of.
Despite her clear fear she urged him, through the bars, to leave. She wanted him to get out of this place before the demon who lived here saw him. He wouldn’t leave her though, he couldn’t, especially now he knew for certain she was in actual trouble and hadn’t just lost track of time exploring some occult place.
“Nick, there is no sense in us both getting trapped here,” she pleaded. “Please just go.”
“No,” he insisted fervently, “I will not leave you.”
His resolve on this front was, almost immediately, tested as he felt a chill breeze blow down the stairs and heard a bone chilling voice drift to his ears.
“What exactly, do we have here?”
“I’ve come for Maya,” Phoenix said mustering all his courage putting himself between Maya’s cell and the thick gloom of shadows where the owner of the voice must be hiding, “And I won’t be leaving without her.”
“It is not usual,” came the voice again and Phoenix whipped his head around to try and catch a glimpse at the source of the sound, “For two people to come wandering into my home during the same disillusionment of the barriers but if you both wish to stay, I will allow it.”
“No,” Phoenix said thinking he saw a glint of red glowing in the far corner and focusing his attention on that. “We won’t be staying.”
“One of the you at least will be staying,” came the voice closer now more powerful. “I have already released my previous guest and I absolutely require another one to take their place.”
“This is how you treat your guest!?” Phoenix demanded, staring harder at the glints of red in the darkness, increasingly sure it must be a sign of where the creature was hiding.
“Not for long,” the voice came, “Just to keep them in place until the magical defenses of the perimeter can be raised once more. Truly, whoever of you decides to stay, will be treated as a guest. You have my word.”
“What is to stop us from both walking out of here then?” Phoenix asked, not liking the assuredness with which this dark and grating voice spoke of taking hostages as ‘guests’ as though they had done it countless times before.
“Nick, don’t. He’s capable of stopping us.” Maya whispered sounding frightened. As she said it though the voice, hiding in the shadows, also replied to his question.
“I will.” It stepped forward then and Phoenix had a split second to realize those little red glints he had focused on must be its eyes as they came in to focus red and glowing slightly. As the creature continued to step forward further into the dim light of the dungeon it revealed itself fully, in all its horror.
Phoenix fought back a scream at the sight and Maya scrambled reaching her hands through the bars to grasp Phoenix hand.
Phoenix understood now why Maya, who had some experience with strange creatures and dark spirits, had called this thing a demon. It was some sort of monster, shaped somewhat like a man but with dark charcoal grey skin, hairless face and head, and wide red eyes. Its teeth were long and fanged like an animals. Its ears and fingers were unnaturally long and pointed and it seemed as though it might have actual claws. It was taller than Phoenix and its presence loomed large filling Phoenix with an unnatural dread.
“So,” it spoke voice sounding even more terrifying up close especially seeing the horrifying mouth that words came from, “Who is going to stay here with me?”
“I will,” both Phoenix and Maya proclaimed at once voices mingling in both their timing tone of fear and of determination.
“Alright,” It nodded.
“Wait,” Phoenix pleaded, “Please can I talk to her a moment before we decide?”
It didn’t look pleased but it took a step away from them and turned its back apparently the only concession to their privacy it was going to make.
“Maya please listen to me,” he said quickly cutting off whatever she had opened her mouth to say, “I know you would stay here for me as certainly as I would you but one of us need to make it back to town,” he lowered his voice as much as he could that she could still hear, “To get help.”
“No one will listen to me Nick, they already think I am crazy.”
“The hard truth is though, that same distrust is why the people of the town won’t rally to come and get you either. Me on the other hand, with a title to my name and betrothment to the daughter of the richest man in town. There is a chance my disappearance might make people take notice.” It was an ugly observation but one he hoped would have the ring of truth enough to convince her to let him stay in her place. If he had his own private doubts about how much his fiancé or her family would actually rally around getting him back, he kept them well and truly to himself and they would not help him get Maya out of this terrible place.
“It’s too dangerous Nick who knows what that thing could do to you by the time I can get back with help if I even can. It has been talking about feeding on me.”
Phoenix couldn’t hold back a shudder at that, but he pushed on anyways.
“It’s okay Maya I swear, I’ll be okay, it needs one of us so it will keep me alive at least and anything else I can manage.”
“I can’t let you,” she still shook her head, but she seemed less sure. He knew she blamed herself for this situation but also that she wanted to leave.
“It is, I promise you. This is what I want, and I will be okay. You’re our best chance Maya.”
She touched her necklace a moment in thought. Then nodded, resultantly slipping it off her neck and into his palm.
“Take this though. I might be able to communicate with you through the magatama at home.”
Phoenix nodded grateful for the small lifeline, as despite the brave face he was trying to put on for his best friend, he was in truth absolutely terrified.
He called out the creature the moment he had it tucked away not wanting to allow Maya any time to change her mind.
“We have chosen, I will be the one that stays with you. Let my friend go.”
It turned itself back around and locked those glowing red eyes onto her and she nodded.
“Very well,” it agreed.
It grabbed both Phoenix’s wrists in its long talon like fingers with a grip that told him that it could crush the bones in his arms with the strength there easily. It opened the cell door with its other hand ushering Maya out. She went but couldn’t help looking back at him as he was put into the cell in her place. Her eyes were full of doubt, but Phoenix smiled at her bright and assuring as he could make it under the circumstances and told her to go.
With one last lingering glance she did.
Phoenix didn’t let his smile fade though until he was sure she was gone and not coming back. He couldn’t cry until it was all over and Maya was safe away from this place.
Edgeworth wished that the girl had been the one to stay.
This hopelessly naive and kindhearted boy reminded him too much of the days before he had given up hope of breaking his curse. Back when he had tried to lure his next guests to be handsome young men. The type of men who he could have seduced easily with his title and good looks before that old hag had ruined everything. He had hoped again and again that if he tried to be as kind and generous as the position of capture would allow him to be, If he truly tried to make himself better than he had been in his haughty arrogant youth, that one day someone would see through the hideous monstrosity he had been turned into and fall, at least a little bit, in love with him.
It had seemed so attainable in those early days. Yet as the years passed, he was met with nothing warmer than grudging tolerance at best and active hateful repulsion at worst. He had slowly begun to suspect that the old hag had not truly meant for the curse to ever be broken. She had likely only wanted to add the torment of constant rejection and heartbreak in her punishment for his perceived flaws. He had only ever found more pain in trying to attain her stated conditions for the curse to be lifted, of having someone fall in love with him in this horrifying state. He had been sure for a long time now that it had only ever been meant as an extra punishment for her anger. A curse with an unattainable hope of recovering was even more cruel. So somewhere along the way he had stopped tempting kind young men to his beautiful prison and began accepting whoever would come to nourish him and keep him alive until the time came to lure the next guest to arrive.
Yet this man before him with his kind face and willingness to give up his own freedom for his friend threatened to rekindle a little long dead spark of hope within him that maybe there was someone who could help him, and he would not to be a monster forever.
He snuffed it out immediately, knowing only more pain led that way. He knew now that the only way to stop himself from continuing this monstrously cursed existence would be to stop feeding on the blood of the living and let himself die. He would get up the courage to do it one day too, after the last petal of his cursed sunflower fell. Until then he would make do with the existence he had and make the most of the small joys he could still find in it.
Small pleasures he could get back too once the business at hand was taken care of. Once he was certain the girl had truly and left the borders of his land were back in place and he finally let himself into the cage with his new guest, to feed upon his blood.
He was clearly terrified now he had no one to remain strong for and part of Edgeworth wished he could help comfort him and quell that fear. It never worked though, with the hideousness of his form and the newness of being taken captive, all his attempts at consolation came off as tricks. Besides, with the extra time switching to a new guest and negotiations had taken, he was absolutely famished. He only managed to give a cursory warning about what would happen and why before he was grasping the newcomer pulling down the neck of his clothing and sinking his teeth into the soft warmth flesh that he found there.
Cursing all things in heaven and earth, Edgeworth realized how sinfully he enjoyed the taste of him. He got a slightly euphoric rush from feeding, becoming stronger in his body and in his powerful senses suddenly alive and more aware. Despite that rush though he tried not to savor the feedings anymore than he had too. It was one thing, he had decided, to be forced to live as a parasite off of others, unable to live without keeping someone around to feed from, always against their will, it was quite another to take pleasure from the practice. That was why usually he didn’t. He tried to make feeding, besides the initial rush, a necessary chore, simply to sustain him. This new guest though, would make that hard with the sweet taste of him, the soft gasp he let out as Edgeworth’s teeth penetrated his skin, and the frantic beat of his heart felt through the pulsing flow of his blood.
Edgeworth decided as he withdrew his fangs and straightened his guests clothing that he could not have this person here for too long. A few months perhaps, some time to relax and build his power to lure another captive, and then he would send this delectably dangerous man on his way. They would both be better off for it.
After the monster had left, Phoenix felt at his neck marveling at how little the strange bite had actually hurt and how quickly the punctures left from the teeth were healing over. Despite the surprising painlessness of the act though he still felt fear and revulsion wash over him at the realization of what had just been done. That creature had drunk his blood right out of his neck and left him locked in this stupid cage. It felt like a violation, probably because it was, and because there was nothing, he could do about it.
He also felt suddenly very tired. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the high emotions of the day or his recent blood loss. He decided though being asleep sounded better than wallowing in his misfortune and sudden loneliness, so he crawled up onto the little bed in the room and cried himself to sleep.
It felt like he slept for a very long time and when he awoke there was food in his cell. A simple meal but good. He felt strange that the monster had likely been in here while he slept but there was not much he could do about it now and starving wouldn’t help his case. After a few miserable hours, spent holding tight to the magatama pendant Maya had left him, the monster showed up again.
Phoenix tried not to cower but even knowing what the demon thing looked like it still took him aback to see it once more.
“Is it feeding time again?” Phoenix asked waver clear in his voice.
“Soon,” the creature said eyeing him strangely, “I wanted to show you to your room first.”
“My room?” Phoenix asked, “I thought...”
“I know you had no reason to believe me when I said you would be treated as a guest here, but it is the truth.”
“A guest who cannot leave though?” Phoenix clarified wanting to highlight the hypocrisy of them claim.
“As you say,” it nodded. “If you prefer, I use to term captive so as to not sugar coat some of the realities of your situation, I can. Although you will, in all possible other regards, be treated as a guest.”
“Can I go outside?” Phoenix asked wondering why the creature was so insistent on this strange farce of civility.
“You may, although I should warn you that there are magical barriers around the grounds. You will not be able to leave. Most guests spend the first few days testing those barriers of course, to understand for themselves and it that is your choice I will not stop you.”
“Are there things you will stop me from doing?”
“Yes. I will not allow you to attempt to kill me. Many have tried and failed, and I do not recommend you join them. I do not want to keep you in this cell but I will if I feel I must, if you make a habit of such foolish endeavors. I will not allow you to take your own life either. Some guests, when understanding the futility of escape, fall into despair. I cannot prevent this, but I do need you alive and, although I understand you have no reason to trust or believe me, I do want to assure you that I will release you. You are not trapped here forever.”
“When will you release me?” Phoenix asked not believing the promise at all but curious what it would say anyways.
“Perhaps a few months, perhaps a year or even two. However long it takes for a new guest to find their way here to take you place.”
As vague and dubious as the statement was, it did give Phoenix some measure of hope. The creature had let Maya go after all. Perhaps it would be true to its word. Well, a little voice in his head reminded him, it seemed to have let Maya go until he made contact with her he had no way of knowing for certain. That thought chilled his blood.
“Maya made it out, okay?” He asked. “You let her go like you said you would?”
“Yes, the girl that wandered in here before you left safely. I should warn you though, if you are hoping for a rescue, that she will not be able to return now that the magical boundaries of the grounds are back in place.”
They would see about that Phoenix thought, thinking this creature was underestimating Maya and her mystical abilities.
“There are two more things I will not allow you to do while you stay here.” The creature said walking right up to the bars of Phoenix’s cell.
“What are those?”
“You may not enter my wing of the castle. The magic of this place will not allow it without my permission of course but that has not always stopped others from attempting to break in. I warn you now, I have little patience for such thing.”
If possible, his face took on an even more sinister cast while issuing the warning, Phoenix fought not to step back from him.
“The last is that I will not allow you to skip out on feeding times. I need you here for this reason and while I prefer setting a schedule and place that makes you the least uncomfortable, I am not above hunting you down wherever you might try to run or hide and taking what I need from you.”
“O-okay,” Phoenix replied hating how his voice broke over the word. The image it created though was downright horrifying and Phoenix had no doubt in his mind that this thing could make good on those threats.
“Would you like to choose a room now?”
The creature asked voice a strange approximation of politeness again as if it didn’t sound like it had be gargling gravel and as if it hadn’t just threatened to hunt him down at the slightest show of disobedience.
Despite the hypocrisy of it though Phoenix nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.
As he came up into the rest of castle though, trailing behind the creature, his fear was pushed aside somewhat by his curiosity and awe of the place.
It was beautiful, even at night, and clearly had some magic about it as the candles lit themselves down the hall as they walked illuminating their path.
Phoenix had a title and a little manor which was comfortable if not overly lavish so he was not easily awed by such spaces. However, the sheer opulent style of this place put all that to shame. He felt he might have even enjoyed it exploring the place if he were not a prisoner here.
As it turned out, he really did get to choose a room. There was a long hall of guest rooms, decorated meticulously to suite a different style.
Phoenix was allowed to choose the one that suited him best and he felt touched at the gesture. At least, for a brief moment, before he reminded himself sternly that little freedoms and kindnesses like this were likely a manipulation by his captor to tempt him into compliance.
The room he chose was beautiful though with a lot of lush pink, red, and yellow florals in the bed curtains, drapes, and upholstery. It also had a lot a large windows and Phoenix suspected the light in here during the day would be spectacular for painting. Which didn’t matter of course, but he liked the thought of it.
Once he had chosen the creature then gave him a tour, showing him where he could prepare food, choose clothing, and all other manner of things. He showed him the off-limit wing and how the magic didn’t allow him to walk through the entrance there, even if the door was wide open. He showed him a little book where he could write any requests he had for supplies and assured him that if it was something easily acquired it would be provided for him.
Phoenix tried to remain stern and not marvel at it all, but he had trouble as if it were not for the terrible circumstances as stay here would likely be considered a great luxury, besides the company of course.
Finally, the creature asked him some questions about where and when would be best for the feed.
Phoenix didn’t really care. The illusion of choice would not change the fact that he was here for only for that no better than livestock. The creature suggested some liked to choose a location in the wider castle so as to keep their room just for them. Keep the illusion of privacy Phoenix thought bitterly, as even if her were not a captive they were in a magical estate that seemed to obey only the whims of its dark master, where he was sure only the illusion of privacy could be found. Others preferred to have the feed in their room so they could sleep right after as the draining of blood was often exhausting, especially at first as one got used to it. Phoenix decided to choose that option as the experience had drained him yesterday and it was good to remember that as long as he was here no space, no matter how lovely was really his own.
They decided a time shortly after the sun had set for their regular time, but Phoenix was beginning to suspect by the way the creature’s eyes kept darting to his neck and his skin was a duller shade of charcoal than it had been at the beginning of the evening that it wanted to feed on him now. Phoenix wondered if he asked for this night off of this captive duty if it would oblige him in a show of farcical hospitality or if it would show him how little power he actually had here.
He decided not to push it, at least not yet. He returned to his room and sat on the edge of the bed exposing his neck and allowing the creature to approach him from behind and sink its long fangs into his the tender flesh there. Phoenix couldn’t help a gasp at the motion. It didn’t hurt, not exactly, but it was a very strange feeling and the thought of the hideous creature's mouth on him in such a strangely intimate way roiled his stomach with disgust.
When it was done though it left him alone and although he felt exhausted once more, he spent some time holding the stone Maya had given him and speaking softly into it in case Maya might be able to hear before falling into bed.
When he heard her voice emanating from the thing in reply tears of joy and relief sprung to his eyes. He assured that he was alright and she assured him the same and that she would do everything she could to come rescue him soon.