Hello readers!
I hope you are all ready for a second chapter! I am quite happy with the number of people who decided to give this story a chance after Helluva(n) Accountant. It will maintain the same characterizations I presented before, though with a different setting and new introductions/situations for characters. I hope it suits you all well.
As a little statement. I did get a few reviews and PMs that were explicit in their desires for my stories. I have no problem with people having their personal preferences, but I don't enjoy reading about people's fantasies regarding the anatomy of some of the characters. This story will contain some Mature Content in the future, but I am not one to rush it forward. All in due time.
With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 2: (Impress)ion
Leon had tried.
Tried to hide when they came for him in the morning. To hold onto the ceiling by his tattered shirt latched to the corner. Tried to kick them away when their claws grabbed at him, ripping him down and out of his 'room'.
Tried to fight when they forced him into an ice bath. A tub filled with harsh and abrasive chemicals that burned his skin, all for the sake of making him 'clean'. When hands would force his head under, washing out his dirtied hair.
Tried to avoid the 'proper' clothing they bestowed upon him. The same clothes that pressed uncomfortably against his newly bleach-cleaned skin. Especially when they strung him up around the neck and hung him in the air in order to force the pants and button up on. Leon had tried.
Tried to keep their hands on his neck when they clasped a collar onto him. They hitched him up like a stray. The metal bands of the collar dug into his throat, right up against the auxiliary jack openings and covering them completely.
Tried when they dragged him out of the building, towards his 'new future'. He struggled with each action, making it a challenge for them. He didn't have much fight in him left, but he tried.
Leon had tried. For his life back. For his freedom.
It wasn't enough.
"Welcome, Lord Goetia. I am very pleased that you were able to make it. My name is Madadh, the owner of this fine establishment." Stolas looked down at the wolf in front of him, assessing their apparel and appearance for a moment before nodding his head in confirmation.
"Of course." Stolas stated. "Let's make this quick. I have prior arrangements for the day." The well dressed wolf chuckled, showing off a fanged smile as he turned away from the Goetia demon.
"A demon who does not suffer wasted time. A commendable trait to have." said Madadh. "I shall not keep you waiting. If you would follow me, Lord." Madadh beckoned the Goetia, who followed with graceful steps.
The two entered the Dog House, passing by a bland, but inconspicuous reception room. Madadh nodded to the cat-like demon behind the front desk, who pressed a set of buttons. No sooner did a door reveal itself. Madadh opened it and gestured for Stolas to enter.
No sooner did Stolas enter did his environment change. Gone were the false pretenses of a simple business front. Inside, it was filled with an aura of crushed hope and broken people. Stolas followed Madadh towards the meeting room, his eyes casting around himself in observation.
The interior resembled that of a prison, cold gray floors and walls of cement made up a majority of the inside. Railings and staircases wrapped around and through the building, going up and down several floors. Each level held several sinners or hellhounds, patrolling the Dog House and watching over its tenants.
White was the only notable difference to the gray of concrete, the doors to each cell painted with the plain color. Small windows with bars in front of him, shielded off with bulletproof glass. Screams and cries of agony echoed out from all the floors, echoing through the building with despair. Stolas heard a door open from the floor above, watching as several guards shoved their way in. The insane screaming that came from within became groans of pain, the audible pounding of flesh dancing through Stolas's eardrums.
Stolas changed his mind, it felt more like an insane asylum than that of a prison.
Madadh led Stolas to a room, opening the door for the Goetia before following in himself. Within the room was a set of two ornate, leather chairs. One propped up higher than the other and extended back. Between the two was a small table, laid out with an assortment of treats and a bottle of wine with accompanying glasses.
Madadh walked over to the table, pulling out a corkscrew from his jacket pocket. "Your product will be here soon. They are being…." The cork came out with a pop from the bottle. "prepared for you. Would you care for some wine, while we wait?"
Stolas was about to say no, but knew it would be seen as a slight should he refuse. He internally sighed, grimacing at drinking so early in the day. "I suppose I may have a small glass."
Madadh nodded, pouring a generous amount for himself and filling Stolas's halfway. "Please, sit, Lord Goetia."
Stolas walked over and sat in the chair elevated for him, taking up the offered wine in the process. Madadh sat down across from him, taking a sip from his glass.
"I was quite surprised to hear that one of the Ars Goetia called upon my company, much less a Goetia Lord!" Madadh chuckled, watching as Stolas swirled his wine within his glass. "The Dog House has served Hell for nearly three decades, taking the poor, the broken, and the deranged, and giving them new purpose! While we have clients all throughout Pride, none of them even compare to one as magnificent as you!"
Stolas mustered a smile onto his beak, looking over the wine in his hand before partaking. The bitter taste danced through his mouth. Stolas preferred sweeter red wine. He looked at Madadh with a ponderous expression. "You don't need to continue with the flattery. Should your…. product be of proper quality, that is the only assurance needed."
Madadh nodded. "Of course, Lord Goetia. I was merely putting things into perspective. The benefits of having someone like you as a client can really help the Dog House. Our reputation is very important to us."
Stolas hummed, placing down his glass on the table. "I suppose that is true. Keep in mind however, that this is more than likely a single transaction."
Madadh downed the rest of his wine. "Most of my clients are single buyers, so that does not concern me. My goal is to have you receive a product that completes your desires. Whether you keep it after its job is complete is inconsequential." Madadh chuckled. "I only sell good dogs here."
*Knock* *Knock*
"Enter" Madadh stated, shifting off of his chair and fixing his jacket. Stolas stood as well, flicking his tongue over the insides of his mouth to remove the taste of wine.
The door opened, revealing a pair of large hellhounds. In between the two of them was a much more….diminutive figure.
They were short, maybe only about 5'6" or 5'7", completely dwarfed by Stolas's own height. They had skin of pale ash, with only splotches of color being expressed around the bags of their eyes. Messily combed hair danced over their hair, the white waves falling down to almost cover their eyes, and reaching down to the base of their neck. Poking out from the top of the snowy hair was a pair of small black horns, all but obscured behind the follicle layers.
Heavy, maroon red eyes gazed up at Stolas with weariness and disdain, black rings wrapping around the pupils of their eyes as they looked upon the Goetia demon. Long ears flickered, tucking back in apprehension.
The small figure was dressed down in a pair of black slacks, dark button up dress shirt with an underlayer poking out beneath. A pair of cheap work shoes adorned them, laced up and tight on their feet. Then there was the choker, or possibly a collar, wrapped firmly around their neck.
Overall, it was not what Stolas had been expecting.
"Lord Goetia, I present to you your newest servant: Leon." Madadh expressed professionally, tilting his hand towards the shorter person held by the two hellhounds. On cue, the hellhounds relinquished their grip, letting them fall to their own feet with a dull thud.
Stolas stepped forward, head tilted up. Stolas raised an eyebrow, his upper set of eyes betraying him as they quirked up in slight disbelief. "I was not made aware that it was a sinner. I was expecting a hellborn of sorts." Stolas criticized, appraising the short sinner placed before him.
"Lord Goetia, do not fret. Despite their status, they are exactly what you are looking for!" Madadh barked out. Madadh walked closer to Leon, ignoring the murderous expression in the other sinner's eyes. "Leon will follow your orders, like a good boy. He won't bark, and can keep himself hidden should you desire so. I understand you have a family, so tucking him in a corner of your estate would be a wise option."
"In terms of his experience, I do not doubt that he can do everything you're expecting of him. The boy is smart." Madadh explained with a grin.
"If he is so smart, how did he end up here?" asked Stolas. Leon turned his gaze towards Stolas, glare affixed to the tall bird. Stolas was unimpressed.
"Well, when Loo Loo Land shut down, poor Leon here could no longer afford his rent. He was sent to the streets, which is where my men found him after getting a call from his landlord. Ever since, his wonderful presence has been at the Dog House, awaiting a fateful day like this." Madadh nodded to one of his hellhounds, who pulled out two objects for his boss.
Madadh took up the items, turning his attention to held up a long stretch of banded material. "This is a snap cable. It will act as a leash, allowing you to give as much or as little length as you desire to your servant. It can also be used to restrain them should they be a bad dog." Madadh showed the item in his other hand.
"This is for when you need to discipline him." Madadh took the remote in his claws and pointed it at Leon.
*BZZZZZZZTTT*
Leon crumpled to the floor, hands grabbing at the collar to no avail. Electric shock danced through his body, chokes of pain nearly inaudible as he struggled on the floor. The hellhounds watched with indifference as Leon twitched and shook from the voltage.
Stolas gazed upon the action with wide eyes.
Madadh turned it off before offering both the leash and remote to Stolas. "If you ever have a problem with him, feel free to use it. It also comes with a tracker, in case he causes you an issue." Madadh looked down at the sinner twitching on the floor. "Though I doubt he should give you any trouble. Isn't that right, Leon?"
Leon looked up, his eyes betraying the dark thoughts that lay within. His gaze shifted between Madadh, who tilted his head in wait, and Stolas, who stared at him with an unreadable expression. Leon looked to the remote, and the collar on his throat.
He sucked in a breath.
He pulled himself to his feet. Leon nodded his head with a slight bow, hair covering his eyes.
Stolas watched the sinner's actions, then turned towards Madadh. "He doesn't talk much, does he?"
Madadh barked out a laugh. "That's one of his best features! The boy can't talk, that is unless he has a conduit."
"Conduit?" Stolas stared at Leon, who averted her eyes from the Goetia. The sinner rubbed at his neck, his fingers brushing over the material of the collar.
"Oh, that won't be a problem. So long as that collar stays on, you won't hear a peep outta him!" Madadh gave a fanged grin to Stolas. "He's all yours!"
Stolas looked at the leash that was given to him. Then back to the white haired sinner. He took but a few steps, the large strides placing him just before his newest servant. "Look at me, sinner." He ordered, keeping his voice soft.
Leon looked up at Stolas, placing his eyes upon the Goetia's. Maroon met crimson.
"I do not wish to use this if I do not have to." Stolas stated, showing off the leash. "If you follow me, we shall leave. Understood?" Leon looked to Madadh, then back to Stolas.
He nodded.
Stolas stepped back. Tucking away the leash and remote, he placed his hands upon the air. Spread his palms outward, a rift opened in the open space between his hands, stretching open with little effort.
The mystifying halo of indigo and blues danced around the entrance of the portal, revealing a completely different environment than that of the meeting room. The light of the early day peered through the passage, illuminating the room from the other side.
Stolas turned towards Leon, a hand beckoning the sinner to follow. "Come, sinner. There is much to be done for the day."
Leon stared at the portal, completely entranced by it. How seamlessly it came into existence just from a small wave of hands from the Goetia.
Leon stared up at Stolas, who waited with timed patience. Swallowing the buildup in his mouth, he nodded once more that day, taking small steps and bringing himself closer to the portal. Arching his body, he stepped over the bottom edge of the portal, afraid of what it might do to him if he touched it. Pushing off the ground, he stepped onto the other side. Stolas followed through with ease.
Stolas looked to Madadh and his pair of hellhounds, giving them a tip of the hat. "I shall send your first payment by this day. If he is of good quality, the remaining shall be sent by the end of the week."
"As is expected, Lord Goetia." Madadh's snout shifted into a smile. "Once again, thank you for choosing the Dog House."
Stolas said nothing, instead swiping at the portal with a single hand. No later, the portal collapsed, phasing out of existence with as much effort as it was brought in with.
Letting out a sigh, Stolas turned towards Leon. The meeting had taken a bit longer than intended, meaning he would have to get his newest servant situated rather quickly. He hoped that the sinner was competent enough to understand everything upon first explanation, otherwise Stolas would be forced to waste time.
Said sinner's gaze was locked firmly on the manor in front of him, his eyes soaking it all in. Stolas couldn't help but grin at the amazement dancing in the maroon orbs. Stolas made a noise in his throat, getting the white haired demon's attention. "Welcome to my manor, sinner."
End Chapter
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Leon has now been officially purchased by Stolas! What will Leon do regarding his new situation? Will he be able to escape, or maybe get away from the powerful Goetia? Only time will tell.
With that, the next chapter should be out within a week. I wish you all a good day. Until next time, see ya!