Chapter Ten

MR. V

Four hours seemed to have flown by because Mr. V was not ready to be awake when he finally woke up. Squinting at the clock on the wall he could see that it was only 1:25pm and he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, but he couldn't. He had already missed his lunch and he needed to get up and snack on something soon else his hunger and lack of sleep would make him a human less desirable to be around than he already was. With a groan he sat up in his bed and felt the cool of the never-ending moonlight beaming down on him. The moon high in the sky was enough to make him want to go back to sleep, but he had responsibilities that he could not entrust to Ms. Scatter or the other Hosts for that matter; not to mention he wanted to get his magic coaster back. If Scatter were downstairs, he could possibly have enough time to get into her desk and lock pick his way into it.

He stretched out long and lanky so that his toes popped, and his arms were stretched over his head. Once the blood pumped through him again he set his feet on the floor and rubbed his face as he stood. He shuffled his feet as he looked for his coat, hat, shoes, and cane – all sat on top of his trunk at the end of his bed. With a yawn and another stretch bending backwards, he slipped his feet into his shoes, his arms through his coat, and his hat over his head as he stood straight again. He twirled his cane on his hand and tapped it twice on the ground and could feel the magic within humming at his touch.

"Much better, he purred and slid his hand in his pocket. "I feel a little more like me, now to get coffee."

He tapped his cane on the floor then strode out of his room and into his office. He itched for a coffee, but until he got his magic coaster back it would be pointless to make any coffee; though his cravings argued this. He continued his stride into the lobby of his office space where Scatter's desk awaited him. The lobby served more as Scatter's secretarial office, and much to his delight he found that his secretary was vacant from her desk. He was glad he had assigned her to stay down there and count the Recruits as they came in, it bought him a little more time to do some digging.

He hummed as he went behind her desk to the giant filing cabinet that was not labeled as anything. For whatever reason Scatter refused to label anything that she filed away, something about keeping things a mystery and keeping sticky fingers out of places they did not belong. All three of the other Hosts had been repeated offenders of pilfering through her drawers to get the things she revoked from them. Both Mr. Po and Ms. Villa got the worst of it as theirs were always necessary sewing tools that they would have to do without for forty-eight hours. Though she did not label this particular filing drawers it was one that the Hosts were all too familiar with. It was the drawer that she always hid their contraband – his magic coaster, Mr. Po's magic pen, Ms. Villa's instant pattern box – basically anything that they used to be lazy or to stay up all night with Scatter confiscated from them and locked them away in the filing cabinet.

He had barely been behind her desk long enough to examine the lock to decide which of his tools he would possibly need when he suddenly felt himself growing anxious. This was not the first time that he had tried snooping around Scatter's desk, and this was also not the first time the anxious foreboding feeling he had experienced. He had only tried this once before and after what happened last time he swore that he would never do it again; the memory of a savage Scatter and the dangers that lied within the drawer made him hesitate longer as he stood before the drawer. He really wanted his magic coaster back, but he wasn't entirely sure if it was worth the nightmares that would ensue if he got caught; then again if he got his magic coaster then he would never sleep to deal with the nightmares anyways. This coaster was the first one he had successfully managed to get right without some sort of backlash or explosion. If he still had the recipe for it, he would just make another, but after too many explosive experiments and too many cups of coffee he had been foolish and had not written down the proper measurements and ingredients to the coaster. He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the ding of the elevator as it arrived on the floor.

The lockpick kit sat in his pocket on his left hip and weighed heavily there as he weighed out the worst of possibilities before sliding his hand into his pocket. Scatter would be livid, no doubt, but he wanted his coffee and he needed the magic coaster for it to truly be possible. It was a simple enough of a lock that wouldn't take any time at all, he just needed the right tools. He had only slid his hand in his pocket and touched the cool leather of the case when an all too familiar woman cleared her throat behind him.

"Mr. V," her voice was sharp and pointed and he didn't dare look at her just yet. Without looking at her he knew that her arms were crossed and her foot tapped with an impending doom waiting to kick him out of the third story window. "Would you care to explain the reasoning as to why you are currently standing behind my desk staring longingly at my filing cabinet?"

"Well, it is a simple reason, I assure you," he rolled his shoulders and rolled his face into a smooth smile as he faced her. He immediately noticed there was that flash of yellow in her irises again. "I just want my magic coaster back."

"And you could not simply wait until I returned to my desk to ask for it back?" She raised her eyebrow at him. The yellow fizzled out and her foot stopped tapping.

"Would you have returned it to me if I asked?" He crossed his arms to mimic her and carefully watched those black eyes. He wasn't aware that they could change colors the way they had.

"At some point and time this week I might have," she shrugged and tilted her head to the side to see that her drawer had yet to be tampered with. "However, at this particular moment, I am not at any sort of liberty to return it to you until next week now."

"Which is why I am here," he laughed nervously and shoved his hands in his pockets to tuck the lockpicking kit away. "I haven't even touched it, see?"

"I can see that you hadn't touched it yet, but I also know of that lockpick kit that is conveniently in your right pocket as well." She glared up at him and there was a flash of yellow before it entirely disappeared. "Which is why you are going to have to wait a month to get it back now."

"But you said I could have it next week!" He shook his head in disbelief.

"You should have asked me first rather than try sneaking around," she huffed and blew her hair out of her face. "But I will give you this."

She shoved a small slip of paper into his face then slid around him and behind her desk to make sure that everything was secure and in its place. He looked at the paper to see a list of names and times written neatly on the list.

Adam returned at 11:06am.

Jane returned at 11:30am.

Malfie returned at 12:02pm.

Dalmartia returned at 12:38pm. . .

Still groggy from his nap it took him a moment to register the names and remember who they belonged to when he realized it was a list of the Recruits and the times they returned from the first visit to their unique Realms.

"I did anticipate the first two coming back first," he mumbled not surprised that Jane and Adam were the first two to return. "I just didn't expect them to return until dinner. . ."

"Well, you didn't tell them they couldn't return early if they wanted," she gave him a small eyeroll as she began to scribble something down on a sticky note. Mr. V was rather taken aback by Scatter's sudden and blunt attitude. He wasn't sure if she were going through her time of the month or if something had happened. There was something about the yellow he had seen in her eyes that worried him.

"Adam and Jane didn't stay for long, once they realized what time they returned they decided to test out traveling between the Realms again. They probably wanted to see what the time difference was between the Realms. Malfie went into hiding in his room and Dalmatia has settled himself in the library studying art and fashion books. No one else has returned yet."

"Huh, I didn't know we had art in the library,' he handed the list back to her. "Do you know if Po and Villa got all the books that would give away any answers to out Recruits out of the library?"

"I would have to check with them, but I assume so," she wrote something else down on another sticky note.

"I'm not surprised that the others haven't returned yet," he watched her write before she snatched up what she wrote and crumbled it into a ball and stared on a new sticky note. "I have a feeling that Ember Hades will more than likely be the last to return since she has a closer relationship with Hades. I'm not too sure about the others, though."

"They will get here when they get here," she huffed and took her glasses off. She rubbed from her temples to her eyes and suddenly seemed to be very exhausted. "I have Varuo stationed at the Wardrobe to take note of when they return and leave again."

Varuo was Ms. Scatter's ever loyal black and green-eyed cat that has been with her ever since she stared working at the Anti-Castle. He remembered when he and Dr. Facilier found them in that alley so many rainy nights ago. The cat had been with her while she was here and with whatever job they had assigned Ms. Scatter to during the times of negotiations and arranging things with the Villains. He lived in her shadows and stalked the ghosts and servants which was often out of mischief, though he did keep all the rats out of the Castle as some way of earning his keep. Like all cats, Varuo was particularly picks and he only sometimes liked Mr. V, for the other times he hissed at him or glared at him from the shadows. He liked Ms. Villa the least and Mr. Po just a touch more than Mr. V and even allowed him to scratch his ears from time to time. The only time he was ever truly nice to Mr. V was the occasional night they had sushi and he was allowed to take a fish or two.

Varuo was a very special cat, though, not only did he travel through the shadows, but he also could write script with the tip of his tail, read books, tell time, and worst of all he could talk when he wanted. He only ever talked to Ms. Scatter and after walking in on them having a discussion to discover this secret Mr. V swore not to tell Mr. Po or Ms. Villa; which was probably for the best given their eccentric nature. If Villa ever discovered that the cat could talk, she would be lining up more clothing items to test out and get his opinions on to see what worked best with what animal; not that he would be pleasant in giving his opinion to her.

"Ah, that explains why you're here early," he chuckled as it dawned on him.

"I do not like to waste my time, Mr. V," she cut her eyes at him. "You of all people know that."

He had not seen her wasting time waiting for the Recruits returns, but when he thought better of it, he realized just how much time it truly did waste for her. She had letter to mail out to the Villains with updates of their Recruits, she had to line up appointments for him to meet with other Villains for possible future Recruits as well as manage the books of the Anti-Castle.

"Yes, yes," he sighed and stood in front of her desk. "I apologize for that."

She snorted at his apology but looked somewhat relieved to hear it. She placed her glasses back on her face and watched him skeptically.

"I also apologize for thinking about tampering with the lock on your filing cabinet," he spoke with a cheeky smile. "Since I did not tamper with it and left everything as it was, may I please have my coaster back?"

"No," she didn't even hesitate to shoot him down as she pulled out her clipboard and began to scribble more things down onto it.

"You can't be serious," he groaned and frowned at her.

"I'm serious all right," a smirk threatened to peek out from her stern frown. "Besides, you have meetings with some other Villains to try to get them to join this program you've created."

"We've created," he corrected her with a wagging of her finger.

"You did all the groundwork, Mr. V," she reminded him. "Mr. Po drew up the papers, Ms. Villa redesigned the castle and all I did was pull up the Villains that would be a good starting point for us. You're the one that has made this all happen."

"Which I could never have done without all of you," He saw a quick dust of pink touch her cheeks as she glanced at him before quickly looking away.

"Trying to flatter me won't get your coaster any time sooner," she chided.

"I know," he chuckled at her and turned to go to his office.

"It should be a breeze compared to the first ten Villains you had to convince," she giggled evilly behind her desk.

"They were really exhausting," he dragged his hand down his neck and could already feel the oncoming exhaustion.

"I've already prepared your paperwork, sir," she ignored the complaint and held out a fresh stack of papers for him. He snatched them with a pout and groaned upon seeing the names on the list. The elevator door dinged again and laughter from Po and Villa as they entered the room.

"Your next appointment will be at 2:15 in the lobby." She was far too giddy about this for his comfort.

"Oh, is that why Gaston is downstairs?" Villa asked as she plopped a stack of books onto Scatter's desk.

"It's Gaston?" Mr. V grimaced.

"The one and only," Villa snickered. "He's still wearing that tacky red and mustard red combo as a hunting get up though."

"He wouldn't understand anything else though, Villa," Po snorted in laughter. "No one dresses like Gaston."

"For good reason!" She turned on her heel and looked to Po.

"Were you able to find all of the books?" Mr. V's eyes skimmed over many of the volumes that they held and had stacked up on her desk.

"Pretty sure we got them all," Mr. Po nodded his head. "I highly doubt they would go looking for these though."

"I'm sure they would," Mr. V countered. "Depending on how deep or broken their relationship is with their Villain they will either do everything they can to fix things for the Villain or completely destroy it to give the Villain an even worse life."

"Which would only make their own life more miserable," Mr. Villa frowned. "Surely they're not that foolish to do something that drastic."

"I'd keep an eye on that Jane Hock if I were you," Mr. V warned casually. She was the most likely suspect of all the Recruits that would do absolutely everything she could to tarnish Hook's life and existence. He and his crew had hardly been kind to her, and she had a grudge that ran deeper than most rivers.

"I do not babysit," Ms. Villa snarled and crossed her arms. "I design fashion, art! I do not look after children."

"Since it is part of your job description, you do," Mr. V smarted and caught the book she tried to throw at him in one hand. "Now, now, let's not go throwing the stories and histories of the Villains around else they get jumbled up and things get lost."

He handed the book off to Po who took it and gave Ms. Villa a look.

"It's two o'clock, Mr. V," Ms. Scatter reminded him as she pointed to the clock in the corner.

"Can't keep Gaston waiting," Ms. Villa stuck her nose in the air with a smirk at Mr. V's scowl.

"I'm going," he groaned. "Just make sure those are locked away in my office and be sure to put them in chronological order!"

"It will be done," Mr. Po nodded his head and wrapped his arm around Ms. Villa's waist to keep her at bay.

He hated the way his three fellow Hosts smiled at him as he left to go to the elevator to go and deal with the one and only Gaston. Unlike the others who would argue their point with good enough but false based reasoning, Gaston was a handful to deal with because he couldn't get past his narcissistic pigheaded way of thinking. He more than likely did not have a Recruit, since no one could do anything like Gaston, but he still had to make sure just to see if he could help another poor soul rewrite their own destiny. He hit the button to the first floor in the elevator and let out a huge yawn. He regretted not making that cup of coffee because no one else gave him a headache like Gaston.

MS. SCATTER

She felt someone guilty having to send Mr. V off to his doom without a coffee in his hand, but he had that coming after he went snooping through her things. Though the coaster was his, she had it tucked away carefully so that he nor the others could get to it without a shadow wanting to gnaw of their hand in the process. She still couldn't hide the victorious smile on her face as she knew he would be having quite the time with Gaston for the next hour or so. No one else gave him problems like Gaston and she hated the fact she couldn't watch the little show.

Mr. Po turned to her with his handful of books in his arms. "Where would you like these?"

"Mr. V said he wanted them in his office," she stood up and scooped up a pile and led them into his office. His office was always dark with the dark wood floors and ceilings and it was only the richest almost glowing arsenic green wallpaper that allowed any light at all to be allowed in his office other than the fire from the fireplace. She led them to a special wall where a painting of Dr. Facilier sat in waiting. He wore his favorite maroon suit and purple vest with his hat on top of his head. He was framed in a large but simple wooden frame with a simple gold name plate at the bottom center of the portrait with his name written in a fine cursive.

The painting alone was the only thing left of Dr. Facilier after he was sent to his friends on the Other Side. The oil painting was well done and the artist that painted it did very well in capturing his dark smile and evil eyes that only promised destruction to follow his handshakes and crooked promises. Ms. Scatter had never liked the man, he drank far too heavily, didn't bathe enough, and he was constantly in debt for a Shadowman; then again that sort of thing seemed to follow the crooked and wayward. Mr. V had to be the greatest exception to that for to her knowledge he had never made any deals with anyone, had no friends on the Other side, nor had any sort of concerning debt.

"Glad he's gone," Ms. Villa murmured as they all stood in front of the painting.

"Can't say I ever liked him," Mr. Po commented as they all acknowledged the painting.

"He always ruined a good suit," Ms. Villa hissed in annoyance. "He was very talented in especially ruining the ones I made."

Dr. Facilier was a charismatic man who was very agreeable to get people to make deals with them but was a vile and vicious man under the surface. The four Hosts had all suffered his wrath at one point in time while he still ruled the Anti-Castle, but none of them were hurt as badly as Mr. V.

"He's gone now, Mr. V took care of him for us," Ms. Scatter reminded them as she pressed the golden name plate. It clicked and a large portion of the wall groaned and twisted around to show them an empty bookcase. It was clean and free of spiderwebs and dust, much to Ms. Scatter's surprise, it was as if it knew it would hold the most special books to the Recruits.

"Has this always been here?" Ms. Villa gawked as she handed books to Po to put on the shelves.

"More than likely," Ms. Scatter nodded as she put the books in chronological order on the shelves. "There are plenty of secrets to this old castle, you just have to know where to look."

"Is there a secret passage behind every painting then?"

"That would be too convenient," Mr. Po laughed as he arranged books on the higher shelves. "Not to mention I would have used them to my advantage already."

Ms. Scatter smiled to herself as she knew of plenty of the secret passages that were hidden away within the castle walls. She had Varuo to thank for that since he explored them frequently in his spare time. That was how she discovered so many of the ghosts in the walls and halls and where they all remained during the day. It was also how she discovered how quickly the servants were able to move about the castle to do their chores as well as attend to their Recruits. To her knowledge none of the Recruits had yet to discover these passages.

"I'll be right back," Po called as he turned to leave. "I'll go get the cart with the rest of the books."

"We'll be here," Ms. Villa waved after him before turning to Scatter with a hum. "You're certainly in a mood."

"And what mood is that?" She pushed her little flyaways from her face as she looked at Ms. Villa. Those black eyes had a hint of purple in them as she examined Scatter.

"I don't quite know," she tilted her head and tried to get another angle on her. "But something has changed about you."

Ms. Scatter could hardly contain her laughter. "Please, Villa, we both know very little has changed about me since we've met, I still haven't done anything with my hair, nor have I change my wardrobe."

"Don't remind me," she growled. "I can help you with that if you would just let me –"

"I'm very satisfied with the wardrobe I have," she teased knowing she was able to distract Villa enough. "Besides, there is no need for me to change since we only are recruiting younger people."

"You're still young, Ashe!" She scolded and pointed her finger in her face. "You have healthy skin and a wonderful complexion; you shouldn't sell yourself short!"

"I'm not trying to sell myself to anyone," she snapped as old memories flashed quickly in her mind before she threw them away. A pain rang through her head upon the memories and she held her head in her hand with that. Her vision grew spotted and it was suddenly hard to breath.

Villa stood with her hand outstretched and worry hiding behind her glasses as she looked at Scatter. The squeaky wheels of the pushcart grew louder as Mr. Po entered the office again. "Everything okay?" He asked as he padded over to them.

"Just fine," Ms. Scatter forced a smile despite the weight her head seemed to now gain. "If you leave the books there, I'll take care of the rest."

"You sure?" He glanced from Ms. Villa whose eyes were locked onto Scatter.

"It's better that I do it anyways," she pulled her hair into a low ponytail to ease some of the tension in her head, and it helped a little, but not enough. "I have to catalog them for Mr. V and the library anyways. I can handle it from here."

Mr. Po stole another glance at Ms. Villa who was subtly shaking her head no, but he merely smiled and agreed to do so. "All right, if you need us, we'll probably be down in our workshop."

"Eugene!" Ms. Villa hissed.

"I'll give you a ring if I need your help." She smiled cheerfully though she wanted to cry out in pain as the headache only intensified itself within her skull.

Mr. Po only lingered for a moment longer, it was an eternity of pain for her but she smiled through it until Mr. Po gently grabbed Ms. Villa's elbow and left. She didn't dare move until she heard them walk back through her office, onto the elevator, and heard the elevator doors open and close. When she was sure that they were gone she fell to her knees holding her skull and gritted her teeth. She wouldn't cry out, in case one of them decided to stay, but she had to force the memories away.

"You're safe here. . ." she reminded herself as she tried to strengthen her mind. "You're safe here. This is home. . . this is home. . ."

It took a great deal of convincing to make the headache go away, but it did eventually ebb away long enough for her to do her work. She managed to stow the books away, catalog them, made sure the bookshelf turned itself around and left the papers in neat and proper order on Mr. V's desk before leaving the office to go to her own room.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you're enjoying the updated version of this.

Please bare with me as I am editing this. I know I just let it sit for a while, and I am trying to get it into something I actually like. Please remember to leave a comment or review of your thoughts.

Stay tuned!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter