Damien stepped out of the cabin into the familiar woodlands that surrounded his uncle's cabin. Judging by the position of the sun he figured it was most likely ten to eleven in the morning and the clouds were few and far between. His uncle owns around 1000 acres including a farm which he lets Todd and Nancy maintain, but out of everything in the fields and in the woods this cabin was his favorite place to be. His uncle let him do whatever he wished with it as long as he kept the hunting and fishing gear within easy access, and he kept the place clean.
If you were to go inside, you'd see an obvious decorative clash due to his uncle being a true outdoorsman and Damien just being able to have an area to engage in his interests. all kinds of taxidermy deer heads, photos of previous fishing excursions, and a rifle rack that held his uncle's favorite rifle remained to fulfill the cabin's original purpose. Then there were also bookshelves Dedicated to the music collection, Books, and some movies that Damien wasn't allowed to have back home. The musical aspect was already present before Damien got there but before it was all country and classic rock and only about a quarter the size of the collection now. Damien's old job as a record store employee added many new albums. The only thing he knew for certain is that Todd wouldn't allow that Satan worshipping racket in "his" house. So, this is where he spent most of his time, even sleeping on the small couch in the summer months.
Now he works at the post office since the pay is better and it's also near the police station so he could still get rides into town. Speaking of, he saw a horribly rusted late 50s El ranchero coming up the trail. The truck kicked up a massive dust cloud behind as it thundered own the gravel road before pulling around the small circle driveway. He grabbed a fishing pole resting against the door frame to put in the bed of the truck and a feeling of unease crept into his mind.
he shook his head going back for another pole, 'Right I forgot we need two.'
after putting the poles in the back, he got into the cab. His uncle was wearing his favorite fishing vest and a pair of old swimming trunks. When he was off duty, he certainly dressed like it and if he wasn't enjoying the great outdoors in his off time he was probably working on another project car. his Latest project being the one they were gambling to get them to where they were going fishing.
"You actually managed to resurrect this fossil?"
Damien Gawked at the interior or lack thereof. The only thing in the car besides the bench seat was the steering wheel and a couple makeshift indicators.
his uncle ran a hand through his graying hair, "Didn't expect it to make it this far probably shouldn't chance taking it to the lake."
"Then why drive it?"
"Figured we could take the Intimidator." his uncle Chuckled, "We didn't fix up the ol girl just to let her sit now did we?"
"It's not that." Damien put his hand out the window and slapped the door gently causing the side mirror to fall off, "you know what. Fuck it! let's go get the keys."
"Now were talking." His uncle put the Ranchero in drive and the engine shuddered violently before puttering out.
" And now were walking." Damien joked lightheartedly.
arriving at Todd and Nancy's his 89 Monte Carlo was parked where he left it under the canvas coverings. His Uncle offered to get the car ready while Damien got the keys. When going to unlock the front door he noticed it was slightly ajar. Pushing it the rest of the way open he saw boots poking out from around the corner at the end of the hall leading into the living room.
"Todd? Is that you? snort three times if you can hear me!" He passed the door to his room and peeked into the living room.
just a pair of boots that slob left in the middle of the living room.
Rolling his eyes, he went back to his room and retrieved his keys from the hiding place in the desk. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a half-packed suitcase.
"don't remember digging that thing out."
Taking a closer look, he saw a black switchblade poking out from under a shirt. He took it and put it in his pocket thinking nothing of it. Probably just another pocketknife he got from the gas station when he needed one.
Heading back to the driveway there stood the Intimidator in all its glory. Named after the racing legend himself, sporting a sleek black paint job with silver details and a bright red 3 painted over the doors. his uncle stood back and admired the machine.
"Hank sure did a helluva job with the paint work on this baby!"
wasting no time Damien climbed in and got his case of cassettes from the back seat, "Fishing poles?"
"In the trunk." His uncle saw what he was doing, "Please have mercy on my ears Damie. I'm not into that screamo music."
"It's not screamo its death metal." he dropped the copy of Pornographic Seizures and grabbed a van Halen album put it on the dashboard, "well listen to something more your speed I guess."
"Diver Down nice!"
'I don't have Diver down.' checking the cassette he knew was the self-titled album revealed it was indeed Diver down, 'what the fuck!'
Starting the engine, the V8 roared to life and settled into a satisfying rumble.
Damien put the cassette into the player and turned the volume up "Bait shop first?"
"Yep!"
'Jesus' dude, can this day get any more bizarre!?'
Damien waved at the Goth woman behind the counter of the bait shop who didn't even acknowledge his existence. She had red contacts in her eyes and silver hair that was styled into a side cut. In her hands she held a Phone that she typed away on before raising it and taking a picture of him. It filled him with a feeling of DeJa'Vu.
"Do I know you from somewhere miss..." he looked anywhere for a nametag to no avail.
She looked up bored, "we've been working together for the past five days small fry. you already forgot my name?"
"Sorry?" Damien pointed to the container of worms on the counter, "I just need these, Worms."
"Take em, I didn't see anything." She went back to her phone, "Just remember we have flyers to hand out on Monday. No hits for us."
He grabbed the worms and got out of there as fast as possible. speed walking to the edge of the pond he saw his uncle on the other side already fishing on the dock. A gunshot rang out followed by a flash of red and his uncle slowly falling to the dock. as if time was slowing down just to let him see every minute detail. His heart started beating faster as the uneasy feeling was back. But this time he knew the feeling haunting him was actually fear. He hadn't had a pleasant dream since signing that contract, why would tonight be any different?
'Its time to wake up your grace.'
Damien's eyes shot open and he sat up. At the foot of the bed was the Goat, Mendes, placing some of his casual clothes on the comforter.
'Lovely thing nightmares. Gets the blood to flow nice and good and makes it taste that much sweeter.'
Concerned, Damien looked down at his arm to see a semi-circle of fine puncture points that were already starting to fade away.
"Damnit Mendes, I told you not to pull your Dracula shit on me!" Damien slid out of bead and threw a pillow at the goat who dodged the projectile by dissolving into a puddle of shadow before reforming. "I still find it very creepy that you feed on blood, and worse you prefer mine."
'Your Grace wishes me to feed elsewhere?' Mendes gave him a playful smile, 'Perhaps your grace will curse me with a hunt this fine day. the perfect excursion for your Grace's first weekend in hell!'
"It's not like I'm forcing you to stay here. You could have gone out while I was sleeping. You know where to find me." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and began changing into the Bathory T-shirt and black cargo pants Mendes had put on his bed, "Oh and another thing. stop with the "your grace thing" I'm not royalty!"
Straightening out the shirt it dawned on him why Mendes might have picked this one out of the lot. Mendes gave him a wink and what he assumed was a thumbs up.
'Does that shirt remind you of someone your grace?'
"Yes Mendes, I get it, the shirt has a black goat with red eyes on it."
Damien grabbed the pendant and sunglasses from the nightstand and put them on on. Now that he had used it so many times the transformation only lasted a split second. He was confident that if he stayed within the relatively safe areas of imp city he wouldn't get into to much trouble. But if not, he opened the nightstand drawer revealing the Handgun he kept from his first meeting with Mephistopheles and put it in his waistband. Making sure Mendes was following him He quickly went out into the hallway locking his room door behind him.
"Alright I think the first thing to do now that I got my first paycheck is getting my own Armory started then maybe getting one of these Hell phones. Loonas is always hogging the computer at work even though she has her own phone so I should get some kind of device of my own. That way I can start learning more about this dump before actually risking my life out there."
"Excuse me!"
He spun around to see Vaggie walking up to them.
"Me and Charlie work Really hard to keep this Place in order."
"I meant the pride ring Miss Vaggatha. Your hotel is actually the nicest place I've stayed in." Damien blurted out hoping not to offend the hotel manager even more.
"Really?" Vaggie didn't seem convinced.
"Really."
"Okay well you remember that favor you owe me?"
"Four hours for four hours? Damn I was hoping that would be a later kind of thing!"
"You're Not going to give me some bogus excuses to get out of it are you?" Vaggies eye twitched, "I really need that extra set of hands you promised!"
While Damien was a bit annoyed at the prospect of extra work when he had things to do but He needed to keep his word, "what I have going on can wait."
A/N: 50k comments, follows, or favorites and i'll do a self insert x Charlie fic for that one dude lol.