ShadowLands

The City

They woke up showered, changed and grabbed a bite to eat before heading out the door and making their way to the city 6 miles away.

Once in the city, they explore many places. Going from shop to shop in awe of the beauty of the city. People they passed were mostly friendly. Some people had a chip on their shoulder, some just seemed really passed off, some were even bright as a daisy. No one really showed aggression towards them other than the few run ins, "hey watch it", and "get the f**k out of the way."

They came across a scruffy looking man. They could tell right away he was human. He was holding a sign that read "hungry, will for food."

They accessed the scruffy looking man.

"Let's talk to him and get a feel for him and if we dont get any bad vibes or feel like he's evil then we could employ him" said Ayame.

The twins looked at each other a bit skeptical of the situation but reluctantly agreed with her. They walked up to the man and Ayame offered him money but the man shook his head and kindly pushed her hand away.

"I'm sorry miss, I won't take hand outs. I prefer to work for my money" the scruffy man said.

"Well then sir, may I asked what happened for you to be standing out here holding your sign" asked Ayame.

"I've been homeless for a little over 3 months and lost my job 6 months prior. People here are strapped and not looking for new employees. I take what I can get job wise to earn a little money for food" the scruffy man replied.

The man's words put their hearts at ease.

"Sir, may ask what kind of work you can do" asked Lykin.

"I was a chef in my early 20s then when the restaurant closed its doors I became a janitor, then I was let go 6 months ago" said the scruffy man.

They all looked at one another.

"Sir, if you dont mind me asking have you ever been fired for theft, or intentionally harmed anyone" asked Harley.

"No never. I was raised to respect people. My family died when I was younger and its been just me alone in this world" said the scruffy man.

"Would you mind following us for a moment, sir" asked Ayame.

The scruffy man nods and they walk across the street and look towards the forest where you can see a slight glimpse of the castle.

"Do you see the forest over there" asked Ayame while pointing towards the forest.

The scruffy man nods.

"Ok do you see what looks like a top of a building up there" she asked.

"Yes I do" replied the scruffy man.

"Believe it or not there's more to it. It's our castle . We are looking for a cook, a gardener, and maid or butler. Pay is $30 and hour. We will also provide room and board for employees without transportation. Do you think you might be interested in working for us" asked Lykin.

"You bet I am. Is this actually realm Are you really offering me a job" asked the scruffy man.

"We are they said in unison.

The scruffy man thanked them and shook their hands.

"Oh thank you so much. My name is Jacob. When would you like me to start" he asked.

"Meet us back here in a couple of hours and we walk back together. Also, I'm Lykin" said Lykin.

"Hi, I'm Harley" she chimed in.

"I'm Ayame, its a pleasure to meet you she said with a smile.

"I will be right here waiting for you guys, I have no where else to go" said Jacob.

"Ok,we'll be back in a couple hours" said Lykin.

They left Jacob where he was and started walking around the city doing more site seeing and exploring.They got about 6 blocks when a man plowed through them and lost his balance. He looked as if he was running away from someone and roughly about their age.

Lykin reached his hand down and helped the man to his feet.

"I'm sorry for running into you guys but a group of men are chasing me. I'd stay and chat but I gotta run" he said.

"Wait we can dip in there and the men chasing won't know where you are" said Lykin.

They dip into the building and go to the back of what actually appears to be a shopping center.

"Why are men chasing you exactly" asked Harley.

He points to himself "look at me do you see the way I'm dressed. People like me don't get by in this city. People like the men chasing me harass people like me and harm people like me and they get away with it. So we do our best at making ourselves scarce and hide the best we can."

"People like you" asked Ayame.

He looks at her confused.

"Are you talking about vampires" asked Lykin.

"I take it you felt that when you helped me up" he said.

"I did" replied Lykin.

"And them" the man pointed at the girls.

"She's my twin sister also a vampire. She's my sister and a hybrid, half vampire half witch. And obviously I'm a vampire as well" said Lykin.

"Cool" the man said, "I'm Bastion and the people like me that I'm talking about is not vampires, I'm talking about being gay. The humans in this city are oblivious that supernaturals walk amongst them. I was actually on my way back to my boyfriend and our friend when I started getting chased."

They looked confused but shrugged it off.

"Well, do you guys live in this city" asked Ayame.

"No, we actually live in an abandoned factory because again gay people aren't welcomed here" he replied.

"Well, if your boyfriend and friend are as cool as you are then we have a castle with lots of rooms that you guys are more than welcome to come stay with us" said Harley.

"I mean if thats cool with all of you then yea that sounds cool to me" he says.

"Ok then it's settled you guys will stay with us. I'm Harley by the way and this is my sister Ayame and my twin brother Lykin" said Harley.

"Nice to meet you guys. Let's go meet up with my boyfriend and friend" said Bastion.

The followed Bastion to his destination. He stood 6 foot 2 inches, has brown short messy hair, pale with red eyes.

We stopped at a park where Bastion embraced a man and did a weird handshake with his friend.

"Hey guys, I want you to meet my saviors. This is Lykin, his twin Harley and his other sister Ayame" said Bastion.

The guys nodded to them and extended their hands and shook hands with everyone.

"Guys this is my boyfriend Logan and our friend Strephen" said Bastion.

They all exchanged pleasantries.

Logan stood 6 feet tall with silver short messy hair, purple eyes and pale. Strephen stood 6 foot 3 inches with red eyes, palish tan skin, and black short messy hair.

"So, Logan, Strephen, these guys have been kind enough to offer us a place to live in there castle. Are you guys cool with that" asked Bastion.

The guys nodded.

"Ok, well Lykin, ladies, lead the way" said Bastion.

They started walking back to where they left Jacob standing.

"We have to make one stop. We hired a man named Jacob to work for us in the castle to cook and clean. Please dont mistreat him. He's a sweet man and yes he's human and no he's not food said Harley.

They finally get to back to Jacob a few minutes late.

"Sorry about that Jacob, we got lost" said Ayame.

"No problem. Are we heading back to your home now" Jacob asked.

"We are" said Lykin, "by the way, these are our new friends Bastin, Logan, and Strephen."

They all exchange pleasantries.

Jacob, Bastion, Logan and Strephen followed the siblings on a 6 mile walk back to their home. They talked for hours on their walk.

They came to the wrought iron gate of the castle and the 4 new men looked in awe of the castle.

"Wow, this place is huge" said Jacob as the other 3 nodded in agreement.

"Jacob, if the work gets to be to much let us know and we will hire others but you'll come along for the hiring process" said Harley.

He nodded. The siblings looked at the men and giggled at the mens wide open jaws.

The wrought iron gates swung open and they all walked in. Jacob being human felt nothing but the other 3 being vampires felt the switch when the entered through the gates but didn't say anything so as not to alarm the human.

The wrought iron gates closed behind them as they walked up to the castle.

"I swear if you guys keep your mouths ajar you're gonna catch flies" said Ayame as Lykin and Harley bust out laughing.

The men closed there mouths and walked through the castle doors stopping at the entrance.

"So, this is our lovely abode and now your home as well" said Harley.

"Come, we'll show you around" said Lykin.

They showed the men room after room stopping on the fifth floor.

"So there is a sixth floor but it's just like this floor, nothing but rooms. Since no one lives on the sixth floor it doesn't need to be cleaned. Our rooms are to the left, our names are also on the doors. Please dont enter our rooms" said Ayame, "if you gentlemen would like to pick out your rooms go right ahead."

Lykin got the attention of the 3 vampires and had them wait for a minute.

Jacob picked the first door on the the right of the left wing."If it is ok with you, I would like to get freshened up before making dinner" he said.

"Jacob, tonight is covered. You can get freshened up, there are clothes, towels, and hygiene kits in the room already with your own bathroom. You can start working tomorrow" said Ayame.

Jacob nodded and walked into his room shutting the door behind him as his name appeared on the door.

"Sorry for pulling you guys to the side but there are things he can't know about being he's human" said Lykin, "if you guys will follow me."

They all went back downstairs and through the kitchen and down into the cellar. With a human now in the castle the door to the dungeon has been hidden only visible to supernaturals and the blood has been hidden as well.

Lykin shows the guys the blood supply and the dungeon chambers.

"Also, on top of this. Before entering a bedroom of your choice, think about how you want it to look. what you want in there, and what type of clothes you like. The castle is enchanted so anything you want appears. Just don't want in front of Jacob because the castle does what its asked and we dont need to freak out the human. Also your names will appear on your doors as well but the rooms will appear normal to the human and not the way we want them to look" said Lykin.

"Sweet" the guys said.

"Well, go pick you rooms and me and my sisters will get dinner started. I hope you guys can eat like humans and take blood when the human isn't around" said Lykin.

"Hey, we love human food. Plus we only drink blood before bed that way we don't get any sudden cravings" said Strephen.

"Nice" said Lykin.

They return from the cellar as the guys go up and find their rooms.

Strephen chose the room next to Harleys room. He though about the style of clothes he likes, all black room with black curtains, a guitar and drums and thought about the room being sound proof. He opened the door as his name appeared on the door and closed the door behind him. He walked through his wardrobe, looked through his dressers, admired his guitar and drum set, then he walked into his bathroom and saw the claw footed tub which he thought to himself "I'll never use that" and admired the stand up shower. He walked out of the bathroom and back into his room where he exited and went down to the kitchen.

Bastion and Logan chose their own room right next to each others which was also next to Lykins room. They each thought of how they wanted their rooms to look. Logan thought of his clothes, blue curtains, fluffy blankets and books. Baston thought about his clothes, red curtains, silk sheets and thick blankets, lots a writing materials. They entered their rooms as their names appeaon their doors. They admired their rooms before going to explore each others rooms and meeting in the hallway. They were super excited. They walked down to the kitchen to help out with dinner.

Jacob was in heaven. He found some clothes that looked comfortable, shockingly in his size. He then went into the bathroom and had to catch himself at the site of it. He turned on the shower and let it get get hot while he stripped out of his clothes. He looked at himself in the mirror and cringed at his appearance. He then grabbed scissors to cut as much of his scruffy beard as possible the shaved the rest clean off. He thought "I'll have to get a hair cut soon". He was pleased with his appearance some what. He jumped in the hot steamy shower and stood there for a while before grabbing the soap which smelled like spring water, pine wood and cinnamon. He cleaned his body and hair and rinsed off. He turned the shower off then grabbed a towel and dried himself off. He went to the mirror and brushed his hair out. His hair was shoulder length and dark brown.He stepped out of the bathroom and into his room and changed into his comfortable clothes. He then left his room and went downstairs to the kitchen to see what he could help with.

Everyone was laughing and talking when Jacob walked into the kitchen. The dinner was done and sitting on the dinning room table.

"Hey Jacob, how was your shower" asked Ayame.

"It was lovely" Jacob replied.

"Hey, grab a drink from the fridge and we'll go eat in the dinning hall" said Harley.

Jacob opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water out and followed everyone into the dinning hall.

They all gathered around the table and took their seats.

"Dig in" said Lykin.

They all piled their plates full and ate til their hearts content. After filling up on food, everyone cleared the table. Jacob washed the dishes while everyone else started putting food in containers and in the fridge. Once everything was cleaned they went to the foyer where they all talked, laughed, and had a grand time.

Around 11pm Jacob announced he was heading off to bed and would be serving breakfast at 9am.

Everyone bid Jacob a good night and stayed up for a few more hours having fun.

Eventually they all made their way up stairs and to their respected rooms. They bid each other good night shutting their doors behind them.

The guys curled up in their beds happy that they have a safe place to live and a full belly for once.

The siblings went to bed happy they have friends and people to talk to now.

They all drift off to sleep in their comfortable beds all snug as a bug.