Notes:
***Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter! Halloween slowed things up a bit!
***Also, I tried VERY HARD not to info-dump in this chapter, so I hope I did okay! I've learned in the many years of writing fanfiction to find a balance between story information. If I spread the info out to keep the flow of the story, I get yelled at and bombarded with questions readers immediately want answered and flame me for not giving it right off. So...yeah.
***There is a lot in this story, and I've reverted to carrying around my little idea notebook to help keep track because my brain doesn't always work. I attempted to keep the chapter at a decent length to keep the 'info-dump' from growing larger.
***Warnings: Language, angry and overconfident Bakugo, little humor, a little bit spooky, name-calling
***Please read and comment! Thank you everyone for reading so far! XOXO
Last night and the night before
Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers knocking at my door
I want to go out, don't know if I can
I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker Man.
Chapter 2: Black Ram Hall
Bakugo sits with his feet up and crossed the black table, swirling bloodwine in his glass while watching its crimson waves. His long nail taps on the glass in at a steady rhythm as he wonders about the curious human that fell from the sky. Bakugo knows there is something familiar about the green-eyed omega, though he can't figure it out. The omega may not be a part of his lost memories at all but rather someone who may remind him of another. Too many nights has he pondered over his missing memories and eventually stopped worrying about them. He doesn't remember anything before he became the Lord of Black Ram Hall.
But that human…
Bakugo finished the bloodwine and tosses the glass, listening to it shatter on the black marble floor. He shouts for something, anyone, to come and clean it up. A kobold scurries from one of the tiny tunnels within the castle walls to sweep up the glass. Bakugo never thanks the servants; be them demon, creature, ghoul, or other. Lesser beings, such as kobolds, gnomes, goblins, and trolls must crawl on their bellies whenever in his presence. Demons, ghouls, and gargoyles need only bow and obey no matter their status. He is not just a lord, but a Blood Lord; the highest title bestowed upon high-class demons who have proven themselves all-powerful; answerable only to the Master of All Evil. He is one of four, though he counts himself as the most powerful and dangerous one of them all.
"M'lord," a goblin creeps in on their belly. "A letter arrived from the Dark King."
Without a word, Bakugo kicks the table away and stands up. His black tail knocks the chair to the floor, almost landing on the kobold. He purposefully nudges the goblin with his boot in passing. Lesser creatures annoy and anger him; they are so far beneath his greatness that they all might as well be pebbles in his boot. The Master of All Evil recognizes him as 'one of the best' and 'top Blood Lord.' Bakugo knows he has every right to flaunt that title, and he does. He's earned it through skill, strength, intelligence, power, and hard work. So, why shouldn't he be proud of himself for all that he's accomplished? It didn't matter to him that he was the least liked among the other demon lords.
Crossing the hall, he uses his firepower to light the candles with a snap of his fingers. The servants should have already lit these candles. 'Incompetence everywhere,' he says to himself. Bakugo opens the door to his main office where he has the library, war room, and observatory. A raven flaps at the window, holding a small scroll in his hand. The raven only has one eye in the center of its head; a raven of the Master of All Evil. Bakugo takes the scroll, unties the leather string, and opens it.
Fondest greetings to you, my child,
Word has traveled quickly of the arrival of a human omega from the world above. I advise you to mind your temper and beastly strength, for humans are naturally weak and fragile creatures. I will leave this human omega under the care of you and your castle until I decide what to do with him. Do not forget the prophecy. This human may be the key to our conquering of the world that is rightfully ours.
Please stand by for further orders as I gather my council. I entrust the human in your care.
The letter is stamped with the Dark King's sigil. Bakugo rolls his eyes for he already knew what this paper contained, and he was correct. He burns the letter in his hand, reducing it to ashes.
'The prophecy is bullshit,' Bakugo says. 'It's mere coincidence, and nothing else.' Regardless, Bakugo takes a detour to the very top of the castle. Each of the four castles has this particular room containing stained glass windows that depict 'the prophecy.' However, Bakugo has always seen it as more of a puzzle than a prophecy. 'I hate this stupid room,'
Each time he enters this room (which is rare) there is one stained glass window larger than the others and it is on the ceiling. It's supposed to go along with the prophecy glass, but Bakugo believes it is a story within itself; one separate from the prophecy. There are two figures in the glass; the one on the left is all in gold and the one on the right in red. Both figures are sexless with blank faces and stand symmetrical. The gold figure is surrounded by rabbits and flowers, which Bakugo knows to be signs of fertility, making them either a female or an omega male. The one in red has only a sword, but unlike the gold, there is a form of mist behind them with a devilish face. Glowing red eyes and horns.
It's believed that this colored glass depicts the Successor and his lost alpha mate that turned into a demon. But why would that story be here among the prophecy, which shows the take-over of earth? There is nothing dark or sweet about this picture, and yet Bakugo is still baffled by it.
Everyone knows the story. After the Symbol of Peace died, His successor took over. But the successor was omega, and He was pregnant. Hearing of the alpha's transformation, the omega lept to His death. It's said that the omega's sacrifice of pure love and devotion is what closed the gate, locking them away here in this world. Only when the successor returns will the gateway open again. But would the successor be a demon or a human? There's much debate and predictions about this notion. Bakugo believes that it can only be a human because no demon can open the gateway. The green-haired human fell from a tear in the sky. It's unclear if they can pass through that.
'No doubt He called forth the gargoyles to try,' Bakugo thinks. 'I would have heard by now if the gargoyles managed to get through. There's more to this shitty glasswork than shown, and for the life of me, I can't figure it out!'
With a mild roar and a sneer, Bakugo storms out of the prophecy room.
'What's that smell…? It smells...funny,'
Izuku slowly opens his eyes to a dark ceiling with various strange items hanging from the wooden rafters. His eyes widen and he gasps when the items come into view. Small bones woven with leather strings and beads. Dried hands and claws. Herbs and wrinkled fruits. Looking around the rest of the room, he finds that everything is glowing purple in the black room. Ominous black furniture looms like phantom shadows while cloths of purple silk drape from the walls all around the room. Along one wall there is a variety of blades; swords and daggers. Another wall hosts shelves of jars, vials, a cauldron, and many other forms of black magic. Izuku didn't want to know, or guess, what things are floating in colored water in those jars. By the burning fireplace of purple flame, there is a throne made of gold and black.
'This looks like a witch's room,' he says and gets out of bed. "I really know I'm not dreaming now," 'It's strange...all the candles glow purple or black. How can black give off light?' He trembles with fear and uncertainty. 'I hope this isn't my room while I stay here. What's that?'
Izuku's eyes fall on a stone statue at one part of the room. Curious, he goes over to it as it sits perched on a stone branch. Izuku admires the artwork and design of the statue. 'It's a bird. The wings and feathers look so real! What fine craftsmanship!' Izuku traces on of the stone feathers of a folded wing. 'Amazing! Even the branch looks real! I wonder if the witch carved this themselves?'
Izuku traces his finger down the length of the stone beak to the tip, then is startled as the statue's eyes crack open. Izuku backs away in fright, whimpering in terror as the stone begins to move. A large shadow in the form of a wingless bird emerges with glowing yellow eyes, laughing darkly as it creeps along the walls. Izuku is frozen in place except for his eyes, which follow the shadow only to land back at the statue now taking life.
The once perched stone bird stands on legs as it takes human shape. Its wings lift it from the branch and lands in front of Izuku.
Izuku watches the wings shrink away and disappear. The form is now a person like him but with the same bird head and talons for feet. Izuku senses the creature is a male as well as omega like him. He instantly relaxes, for when omegas get together, they are friendly and calm with one another. Only alphas tend to compete while in the presence of other alphas. Of course, this wasn't a human in front of him but some dark hybrid of bird and man.
"Dark Shadow. Return." The bird male demands calmly and the shadow shrinks to float beside him. "Forgive Dark Shadow. Sometimes he likes to play tricks on others. Dark Shadow, apologize."
'I'm sorry,' It says and fades away.
"Um...uh...it-it's okay?" Izuku steps to the side as the other omega walks towards the table in the center of the room.
"You fainted," the man says. "Your body must have been exhausted because you were out cold for a whole day."
Izuku looks at the bed and sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. "Really? Wow. Sorry if I caused you any trouble? Is that why you were on that branch? Is that your bed I was sleeping on?"
"Everything is well," he says. "I'm the Blood Lord's apothecary and astrologer, Fumikage Tokoyami. You may call me 'Tokoyami,' and the creature you saw is Dark Shadow. There is nothing to fear from him unless I make it so,"
"I'm-"
"Izuku Midoriya. A human omega miner from the world above. You fell through the sky and landed in a pond. Kirishima told me when he brought you here,"
"Oh. Um, I remember they mentioned your name. Those demons think you know a way to send me back to earth?" Izuku feels the room start to spin as his body suddenly grows weak and his limbs heavy. Tokoyami places something in his hand that looks like a cracker and says to eat it. Izuku does so, and instantly he feels better. "What was that?"
"You're a human in another world. Your body can't adjust to this land unless you ingest its food and drink," he pours two cups of a red liquid.
Izuku assumes its wine and he's not fond of the drink if it is. He tolerated ale at the mines because clean water wasn't easy to come by. Drinking the water from the well or the river with its contamination from the mines would make one sick.
"Fear not," Tokoyami gently guides the cup to Izuku's lips. "It's just wine. A human could never drink the beverages of this land. It would act as a poison and kill you."
Izuku would like to know how they have wine in this world, but there are too many other questions that he would like answered. Tokoyami offers to explain to him as much as he can, so Izuku sits in front of the throne with the cup of wine. Izuku first learns that this world is commonly referred to as the Dark Land, though most call it Dark World. It's a world that 'always was and always has been' in existence long before the time of humans. Izuku asks Tokoyami to elaborate on that, but the other omega claims that it is a story for another time.
The next, and probably most important, explanation was that of Lord Bakugo. Izuku tries to take in all the information. Katsuki Bakugo is a Blood Lord, one of the top four greatest demon lords recognized by The Master of All Evil. Black Ram Hall is the castle gifted to Bakugo, while the lands are known as the Bloody Valleys. All four Blood Lords own the same amount of land, woods, and bodies of water. Izuku pictures a pie cut equally into four pieces. Bakugo also goes by another name; The Flame Lord, because of his great skills using firepower. Izuku was already aware of Bakugo's short temper, so when Tokoyami explained how difficult, dangerous, vicious and barbaric Bakugo is, he wasn't shocked.
Izuku asks about the other three demons that were with Bakugo, stating that he already knew their names. Tokoyami explains that Eijiro Kirishima is Bakugo's Second in Command, known as the Ramming Stone because his body grows rock hard and he can charge through solid objects. The other two are Bakugo's commanders, each leading a legion of demons. While Sero is able to effectively command an army, Kaminari has aid from Tenya Iida. Izuku says he heard that name, too. Iida is the castle's steward, secretary, spokesman, and advisor who handles everything from hiring servants to managing the accounts and any type of paperwork; so that Bakugo doesn't have to do it. Tokoyami advises Izuku to stay out of Bakugo's way as much as possible; to take company with either himself, Iida, Kirishima, or the commanders.
"Tokoyami? Now that I know all this...what am I supposed to do while here? Do you know of a way to send me back?"
Tokoyami can see and sense the hope in Izuku's aura radiating from him like the fires in the hearth. He cannot tell Izuku that, chances are, he will never return to the upper world; even if they find a way to do so. A human entering their world shouldn't happen unless it is meant to happen, such as in the prophecy. Tokoyami thought it best to keep the prophecy quiet from Izuku for now. This human before him is the only key they have to re-entering the world above and taking it back as their own. Also, he has strict orders from Bakugo not to mention a word of this to Izuku.
"Iida and I will look into it," Tokoyami tells him. "This is all new to us as well...a human falling from the sky. I can't promise you that we can do it immediately."
Izuku looks into his near-empty cup. "Then...what I am supposed to do here? I'm a human among demons and monsters."
"As long as you stay in the castle, no harm will come to you."
"Okay. I'm a little...overwhelmed right now. I know there's nothing I can do but make the best of it,"
The door to Tokoyami's room is kicked open and it slams against the wall, rattling everything. Izuku jumps up from the floor, completely terrified, as he sees Blood Lord Bakugo in the doorway. He takes a second to apologize to Tokoyami for spilling the wine on the rug.
Tokoyami isn't surprised nor frightened by Bakugo's presence.
"Ah! Finally! The little human scum is awake!"
Izuku can't believe that the demon in the doorway looks just as menacing as when he first saw Bakugo in the woods. Bakugo is all in black with a sleeveless top and red stone jewelry that appeared to be rubies. Izuku didn't know Bakugo had a tail; it was long and lizard-like; the same pale color of the demon's hair. It swishes back and forth like an angry cat's. The whites of Bakugo's eyes are now black. The extreme presence of alpha aura is both maddening and terrifying. A normal human alpha wouldn't even dare challenge such a power.
"Worthless scum like you need to KNEEL before an alpha prime Blood Lord!" Bakugo commands. Loudly.
Izuku throws himself on the floor, trembling and apologizing. He's heard of 'alpha primes' but never met one. They are one step above regular alphas. Back in the days when people lived in packs, an alpha prime would be the dominant alpha. 'It would make sense that a powerful demon like him would be an alpha prime...the sheer strength and aura alone!' Izuku keeps his eyes trained on the floor as he feels a small bit of omega slick trickle down his thigh. 'Oh no...not good! There's no way he won't smell it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Damn omega instincts!' He glances up at Tokoyami for a moment. 'How is he sitting perfectly calm and still like that?'
"My Lord, our human guest woke up a short time ago," Tokoyami says. "I didn't want to bother you about it until I had Izuku relaxed and calm."
Bakugo snaps his jaws at Tokoyami. "I don't care about his comfort, gargoyle! The stench of a human is fucking nauseating!"
"Shall we do away with him, then?" Tokoyami asks though he knows what Bakugo's answer will be.
"Believe me, I would if I could. But the Dark King sent his orders," Bakugo sneers at Izuku. "And we're to host the grub worm until further notice. Stand up, human scum!"
Izuku scrambles to his feet and stands at attention, clenching every muscle in his body. "Yes, sir!" He answers as if he were a soldier in an army. He didn't know any other way to answer.
"Fuck this...he's hopeless," Bakugo drags a hand down his face. "Always answer me as 'My Master,' got it?"
Izuku nods frantically. "MY MASTER!"
"My Lord, he is a guest of this castle," Tokoyami reminds him. "He shouldn't have to-"
"Let the grub worm earn the right to call me 'My Lord,'" Bakugo says to Tokoyami. "And he's your problem until I hear from the Dark King! I'm sure the three dunces will want to pal-around with him, but I don't. Iida should be coming by soon to take the human to a room. He just has to stay alive until the Dark King knows what to do with him! Keep him out of my sight!"
Bakugo storms out of the room, not bothering to close the door he kicked open. That human; he had to get away from the omega because the simple sight and smell awakened a craving deep within him. That pain in his chest from the day before happened again when he set eyes on the omega, though he could control it this time. He shouldn't be so affected by a human or an omega at all. During his ruts, he has Kaminari gather him omegas to mount and then kick out. Bakugo didn't like attachments of any kind; emotional ones the least of all. He hasn't taken an omega mate yet, nor does he ever plan to.
But when he saw that human again, he had the urge to mount him, more than once. The smell alone was enough to make his rutting start, that's why he had to leave. Mounting a human is beyond disgusting. Though when he thinks about Izuku, the human omega from another world, he doesn't think 'disgusting'; and that infuriated him.
'I have to kill something! I'm going hunting!' he lets out a roar that echos throughout the castle.
After the second encounter with Bakugo, Izuku didn't stay long with Tokoyami until Tenya Iida came to get him. This demon's introduction wasn't like Tokoyami's at all.
"Greetings! I am Tenya Iida, the steward of this castle and many more titles that are unimportant for you right now!"
Izuku just stares blankly at Iida, a tall dark-haired demon with small pointed horns at his temples. He was a beta male, a strong one, though his exterior and personality were friendly. His skin is a dark blue that is a shade lighter than his short hair. Like Bakugo, he has a tail, though it sticks straight up and never seems to move, even as they leave Tokoyami's room. Iida is dressed simply, though the jewelry he wears shows proof that he is a person of power.
"I hope you will find your room cozy and pleasant for your stay here at Black Ram Hall. You may go wherever you like in the castle. If you ever get lost, simply look to these holes in the walls that you will see all over! In these tunnels are kobolds, small creatures that will help you find your way."
Izuku notices the holes now that Iida has pointed them out.
"The castle can be a challenge to navigate, but once you've lived here long enough, you will learn its halls and directions! A map has also been provided for you in your room."
Izuku couldn't get a word in edgewise as Iida rambled on and on until they reached the door to his room.
"Everything has been made up fresh for you," Iida opens the door inward. "I believe we have supplied you with all that you need, though if there is something else you wish to have, please let us know!"
The room is bigger than any place he's lived in before. There is a bed near a fireplace. In the center is a table and two chairs. Against the wall a writing desk, and adjacent to that a wardrobe and chest. He walks over to the window, unlocks the shutters, and pushes them open. He is on the level with the moat. Izuku recalls the submerged sea creature he saw swimming in it on his arrival and quickly closed the shutters.
"Well? What do you think?"
"It's very nice- um? W-what should I call you?" Izuku asks sheepishly, not wanting a repeat of the scene with Bakugo.
"Master Iida is fine,"
"Okay then, Master Iida," Izuku smiles at the beta demon. "Thank you for the room. Tokoyami tells me that you basically run the castle?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes!" he straightens his glasses as he speaks. "I take care of all Lord Bakugo's business matters, along with dozens of other things! I am told that you are a mountain miner, and I believe we have a job just for you! We have our own form of mining here, and the rocks we gather must be chipped apart just right to reveal the gems and minerals inside! Do you accept this job, Izuku Midoriya?"
"Uh...sure. I need something to do while you and Tokoyami try to find a way to send me back,"
Iida falls silent for a moment, then clears his throat. "Oh, yes, of course, we will. That's going to take time, though. I hope you understand that?"
"Oh, I do. Tokoyami said the same thing. I guess, um, other than the mining of those rocks...I do like to read? I would like to learn more about this world, so I don't appear ignorant and ill-mannered."
Iida beams brightly. "Of course! We have a fine library here! You'll find it on the map over there on the desk. Lord Bakugo likes to read as well. He is not only an alpha prime and incredibly strong, but highly intelligent too! Please make use of our library,"
"Thank you. Oh, Master Iida? I have one more question if that's alright?"
"Please ask! Asking questions is the best way to learn!"
"I'm...a little terrified of this place and...and I want to know if...if there are scary things here in this castle? Kirishima mentioned ghosts in the walls."
Iida strokes his chin. "Hmm. Yes, I see. I understand. I assure you, Izuku Midoriya, that you have nothing to fear from the ghosts. In fact, no one has ever reported seeing a ghost, only hearing the wailing. So, yes, you will hear wailing at night. Over time, you will get used to the sound. We don't know what the wailing is, only that it began once Lord Bakugo came to the castle."
"I see. Tokoyami mentioned something about him being different from the other three Blood Lords in his explanations of this world. Oh, I'm sorry. That's two questions."
"Ah, fear not. Lord Bakugo is a unique and interesting demon, unlike most, if not all, demons in this world. He is a favorite of the Dark King, as he came from the Dark King."
Izuku's eyes widen slightly. "So, you mean to say the Blood Lord is the Dark King's son?"
"Haha! Forgive me, I must not have explained myself well. I mean that Lord Bakugo's presence was created; he wasn't born from a woman or an omega's womb. The Dark King harbors vast powers far greater than we can ever comprehend, so for him to make a fine creation like Lord Bakugo is no surprise to anyone. However, word to the wise, it's best not to ask too many questions about the Blood Lord, or the Dark King for that matter. But you should know that the Dark King is an alpha supreme, a status higher than alpha prime."
Izuku nods. "I understand," he's never heard of an 'alpha supreme.' "Thank you for your help, Master Iida. I hope I can see you again soon?"
"Absolutely! You are welcomed to take your meals here, or in the feasting hall, if you'd like. I am there often as it is comforting to those of lower status! Just let the kobolds know! Have you eaten food from our world yet?"
"Yes. Tokoyami gave me some."
"Good. Then you will find our food tasty and appealing! I have more work to do, so I'm going to leave you now. One more quick note, never leave the castle at night. Oh, and if the Moat Guardian knocks on your window, be sure to answer."
Izuku is left alone and trembling now that Iida told him a Moat Guardian will knock on his window. How will he deal with both the wailing and the moat monster? Finally feeling his nerves shot, Izuku ducks under the covers of the bed and hides his head. If it worked for turtles, it can work for him!
TBC
(Next Chapter: Wailing in the Walls)
