Chapter Text
𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥
𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘺
𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺
A bright morning dawned on Garrett's farm. The aforementioned vampire was still asleep in bed. He was a part of the Vampiric Counsel of Witchcraft, a group of magic-using and overall-gifted vampires. They're tasked with looking over and protecting the land and its people from danger and finding other gifted, magic-using vampires who just came into their magic. Garrett knows for a fact that he has magic, he just doesn't know what it is yet. Before he moved to Mewsichor, his sisters gifted him many things, but few were most important. A farm for growing food, a wand to practice and use magic, and a strange device said to keep him safe and act as security. He didn't make too much sense of it but was grateful nonetheless.
As Garrett slept, the screen above his bed, the screen turned on, and a scruffy vampire appeared on the screen. He knew that Garrett had to be out of bed, so he lowered close to his face and...
"WAKE UP!!!" He yelled, knocking Garrett right out of bed with a thud. Garrett groaned and rubbed his head, getting up off the floor.
"David! Do you have to do that every time?!" He chastised.
"I'm just trying to help you get a headstart on the day, David shrugged, hiding his amusement.
He'd been close to Garrett for a long while. Many would consider them best friends, even Garrett. He couldn't remember a time when David didn't have his back. He had been here since the day he arrived at the farm, through good and through bad. Although, David saw Garrett a lot more than a friend. Over the years, he began to grow very fond of him. Too fond. There'd be a day he'd admit it. All in due time.
"Yeah, yeah," He sighed. "I'm on it."
After taking a short bath(and oddly feeling eyes on him from somewhere,) he got dressed and ate breakfast before finally heading out to the farm. He had noticed something growing in the distance but decided not to question it for now.
"Alright! Let's do this!" He chirped.
First, he tended to the newest patch of imported seeds from the Canavera Kingdom. It's said that fully grown, they're great for fertility and conception and cost a good amount. They needed no special care other than pollen from Succubees. The bees were uncommon to the area, but the pollen was easy to come by. Vendors in the village sold it for cheap because he agreed to sell the plants to them once they fully grew. He saw that they were beginning to sprout from the ground. He watered them and sprinkled on the pollen so they'd grow faster, and grow more fruits.
Next, was picking the fully-grown Grandillas. They had the shape of potatoes, but the miraculous ability to manipulate the taste of one's favorite meal. They were perfect for feeding multiple people and easy to grow. They were used as rations in the Lepidopteran-Vespertiliarian War centuries ago. The fairy prince was said to have been killed by a vampire assassin, and it started the war. When it ended, all faeries were ordered to leave the land and abandon the kingdom they had created. Years later, Mewsichor was built in its place. Garrett had never seen a fairy. Despite hearing so many bad things about them, he'd like the chance to at least get to know one.
He realized this wish would come soon, for someone in the forest was lurking, watching him from afar. After picking the grandillas, he pulled out some pesky weeds and snipped away some vines that had been mysteriously growing as of late. He stood and looked at his work with a grin. His ear twitched at the sound of something slithering in the grass, and he lept out of the way of a vine attempting to grab at him. One grabbed his arm, but he quickly tore it away. He began to run toward the house until one sprouted up from the ground, and slashed his chest, cutting open his shirt and causing him to fall. He closed his eyes and acted unconscious.
The figure from the forest approached, ogling at his figure and lifting him by the ankle with a vine to get a closer peek. As he began to remove his deer skull mask, Garrett opened his eyes, and flipped, tearing the vine and kicking the mysterious figure in the head, knocking him to the ground. As the figure made sense of what happened, Garrett stood in front of him, a snarl on his face. The figure grinned.
"I've not seen a vampire in years," He spoke. He began to stand, but Garrett pushed him down again, placing a foot on his chest.
"I don't know what my magic is just yet, but that doesn't mean I can't kick your ass," He hissed. "State your business."
"Relax. I assure you, I pose no threat," He assured. "My friends were just interested in you is all."
"Friends? What friends?" He interrogated.
"Let me up, and I'll explain," He considered. Garrett had no idea just who the man was, but he sounded sincere. Hesitatingly, he took his foot off of his chest. The man stood and dusted himself off. By how he was dressed, he could tell he was well off. Royal even. Regardless, Garrett still felt skeptical of him.
"I am the Duke of Fae," He introduced.
"Of...Of fae?" Garrett puzzled. "So that means you're a..."
"A fairy? Yes," He grinned.
"Holy...," He marveled. "And here I thought of actually meeting one! What're you doing all the way here? Isn't it dangerous for your kind?"
"It is, but let's just say...I have my ways," He smirked.
"Right," He trailed off. "So you're the cause of these vines and plants growing everywhere lately?"
"Hardly," He answered. "They've had a mind of their own as of late. Wandering and invading wherever they please. I do apologize on their behalf. But let us not talk here. Prying eyes, you know. Come with me to my garden."
"Your garden?" He echoed, following behind him.
"Oh, yes. I have faith that it will catch your fancy," He hypothesized.
As they walked away, David watched from the window, scowling.
"Garrett, you idiot," He growled.
At the same time, Garrett and Philo arrived at the garden. It was a vast wonderland of different types of plants, far and few between. Some Garrett had never seen the likes of before.
"Like what you see?" Philo rang.
"This is amazing!" Garrett gushed. "And you grew all this yourself?"
"A skill not many possess," Philo said. "You seemed quite skilled yourself."
"It's nothing, really," He scoffed. "I'm still unsure about my magic, so I do it all myself."
"A wonderous feat indeed," He complimented. "What do you grow, if I may ask?"
"Right now, I'm working on combining two plants to make a sustainable food source that takes longer to spoil and can feed an entire village," He explained. "The Counsel doesn't know about it, and I hope they don't get on my case about it."
"I doubt that they will," He spectated. "It seems you're doing great things. But on to my garden. As I've explained before, my plants have been growing unruly as of late. Luckily, they weren't of the venomous kind."
"That's a relief," He sighed. "Is there any way to get rid of them all?"
"There is, yes," He informed. "You see, I grow them, but they need someone to care for and reproduce them. A...host, if you will."
"Host? That sounds a lot like they're some sorta parasite," He suggested.
"They're far from a parasite," He clarified. "Consider it as what you're doing now! Growing and caring for plants. It may even benefit you~ Your harvest will be bountiful, these beauties will take a liking to you, and you'll perhaps become closer to yours truly~"
"Well...now that you say it, it doesn't sound too terrible," He grinned. "I think I'd be down for that."
"Wonderful!" He chirped, pulling him close with a vine. "Now, let's take another good look at you,"
Philo took off his mask. Garrett saw how handsome he was and felt heat rush to his cheeks. Philo used the vines to examine his body, stretching out a wing and causing him to flinch.
"Such beautiful wings," He muttered. "It's so strange yet intriguing that you obtain them."
"That-That is ah-very sensitive-" He stammered. "And not every vampire's born with wings. I just so happened to get lucky!-"
He shuddered at the feeling of one of the vines licking up the underside of his wing, holding his legs close together.
"I see," Philo spoke. He noticed that the scratch inflicted on him by one of the vines had healed over completely. No sign of scarring, or evidence he was even hurt.
"Interesting...," He pondered. "You were scratched here, but the scar is gone."
"Yeah, well, that's vampires for you," Garrett chuckled. "We heal pretty fast."
"As I recall, those types of vines are venomous," He acknowledged. "It'd have made you sick by now. Do you mind if I try something?"
"Sure," Garrett said. Philo grew another one of the venomous vines and scratched his leg with it. Garrett hissed and jerked his leg away. The scratch healed over quickly.
"Interesting," Philo grinned.
"I think I'm beginning to grow quite fond of you, Garrett. You happen to be quite the specimen. My plants seem to take a liking to you as well. I think you'll be a wonderful host," He purred.
"Thanks, but how does one even become one?" Garrett inquired.
"It's a simple, yet intimate process," He explained. "Here is no place for it, however. Let me take you somewhere more...comfortable."
Philo released him from the vines and began to lead him off.
"I think I somewhat understand n-"
He was shocked when Philo dipped him and went in for a kiss. Garrett gasped and pushed him off.
"Woahh hold on now, you barely even know my name! I barely even know yours!" He exclaimed.
"That I do not," He said. "And your name is...?"
"Garrett. Garrett Winchester," He introduced. "Garrett Colin Aaron Winchester if you wanna be formal, or just Gare if you wanna be casual."
"I see," He grinned. "I am Rycroft Elsmpar Lepridoprature Philostrate-Querelle. Philo for short. As I told you before, I am the Duke of Fae. You, good sir so happen to be immune to the poison in these plants. You'll make a great asset to the garden~"
"That all sounds great, but I should really get going," Garrett insisted, gasping when Philo's vines wrapped around his arms.
"Won't you stay a little longer, Garrett?~ It'll be worth your while~" Philo breathed. Garrett sped off. Philo watched as he ran.
"This will be interesting~" He purred, putting his mask back on.
Garrett ran back to his farm
"I can't believe I met an actual fairy!" He exclaimed. "Dunno if the counsel's gonna be too cool with it, but those vines and plants of his have got to be put under control. He's sorta...hot, but he could be playing a trick. And that garden of his, as good as it sounds to be a host, could be dangerous."
Once he reached the farm, he ran inside.
"David!!" He called, running up to his room.
"David, something is wrong!" He rambled.
"Jeez Gare, where's the fire?" David quizzed. "Relax. Slow the hell down."
"But Deebs, this could be serious!" Garrett fret. "I met some weird dude with a deer mask and-"
"Look, Gare, you and the other counsel folk usually deal with this type of stuff," He said. "How am I supposed to know how serious this is?"
"Just look," He said. David looked out and saw Philo's garden.
"Okay, yeah. That's bad," He agreed.
From afar, Garrett could see Philo making eyes at him. As much as he felt his heartbeat begin to quicken, he had to brush it off.