FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"This weekend is your first major assignment for the term," a slender brown mink announced as she stood before the class. She had a soft Irish accent, though it only stood out when she got excited or angry. There was a mutual groan from the class, save for those that were distracted with other interests.

"Your assignment will be to interview someone, of your choosing. There will not be a specific topic of interest assigned, but I have given you guidelines that you should follow. You will be presenting your findings to the class, so be specific in the questions you ask."

The mink began to meander up and down the aisles between the desks, setting a stapled packet on each desk as she passed. She paused at one desk near the back of the room, frowning as her eyes fell upon the slender ferret seated there. She clutched the stack of papers to her waist as she tapped the desk gently.

The sable ferret didn't seem to notice her, focused intently on a DS that was clutched in his fingers. His head was ducked down, eyes locked on the glowing screens, ear buds tucked into his ears. The teacher cleared her throat, drawing a few giggles from nearby students. The ferret still didn't notice her lingering presence.

"Loki," she said firmly, plucking one of the ear buds out.

The ferret jumped noticeably, fumbling the DS. It clattered onto his desk as it slipped free, his head snapping up to focus on the teacher. His ears pinned back as he quickly tugged the ear buds free, stuffing them into the top of his open backpack.

"Don't let me see it out again," the teacher warned firmly, plucking a packet from the stack of papers and setting it down on the ferret's desk.

"Sorry, Ms. Flynn."

A hushed chorus of giggles continued as she resumed handing out the papers to the rest of the class. Loki ducked his head down a bit, feeling rather flustered. His eyes scanned over the paper that he'd been handed, having been too absorbed in his game to pay attention to what the teacher was explaining previously. He grumbled to himself as he read the instructions, resting his cheek against an open palm and pondering. Why did they have to do a major assignment when Halloween was that very weekend? It wasn't fair.

A heavy sigh escaped Loki as he turned his head, gazing out the window as the teacher finished handing out paperwork. Who would he interview, though? His dad was a drunk, and his mother was too preoccupied with her real estate job to have any time for the family. His older siblings were better parental figures than his actual parents.

His mind pored over the possibilities. He spent most of his time out of the house, exploring and getting into mischief, rather than socializing. He didn't really have anybody notable that he knew personally, or that he was actually interested in. As his mind wandered, he gazed out over the large town, taking in the view. There wasn't much to see from the school, with the exception of a large hill that rose above the center of town. Perched on top of the gradual rise was the town's iconic mansion, which had been built at the same time as the town's founding.

The mansion was a classic Victorian home, with steeply sloped rooftops and a domed spire that rose from the center to overlook the landscape. Nobody ever seemed to go in or out of the mansion, though, despite the fact that it was supposedly inhabited. There were rumors and stories that revolved around the history of the mansion, though they were all just that: hearsay. There was very little actually known about the mansion, or the owner that lived in it.

A light bulb flickered to life in Loki's head as the teacher began speaking. He'd been dying to explore the large mansion for years, and the assignment would be the perfect excuse. This was, of course, assuming that he would even be allowed inside. He stuffed the packet into his backpack, dropping his DS onto the top of the pile and zipping it up. The teacher began to speak quickly as the bell rang, the classroom becoming a noisy flurry of rustling papers and backpacks being shuffled.

"Don't forget about your projects, everyone. We'll begin presentations first thing on Monday, so have them ready to go," the teacher announced. "More importantly, though, don't get into any trouble."

Loki chuckled at the teacher's parting words as he pushed himself up from his desk. His tail flicked behind himself as he threw on his backpack, rushing out of the classroom. He headed directly to his locker, pulling it open to retrieve a pair of rollerblades and a silver hoodie. He dropped his pack on the floor to pull on the hoodie, his ears perking when a friend called out to him and approached.

"Hey Loki, you wanna head to Papa's later for pizza?" a green and red parrot called out.

The ferret glanced to the side as the bird approached, wearing a trendy black t-shirt with a band emblazoned across the front, a pair of board shorts hanging low on his hips. Loki shook his head, grinning as he sat down to untie his shoes.

"Nah, not tonight Chuck," he replied. "I've got plans already."

"What, are you planning on dumpster diving behind the electronics store again?"

Loki stuck his tongue out at the bird. "Very funny, Chuck. I only got caught doing that once. As a matter of fact, I'm gonna head up and check out the old mansion."

The parrot gave him a startled gaze, as if he'd spontaneously combusted. "Are you crazy? That place is ha-"

Loki cut the parrot off with a dismissive wave, pulling his shoes off and setting them aside. "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's supposedly haunted. Big whoop. I've been dying to sneak into that place and poke about for ages."

"I think you're nuts, Loki. I heard a story about how the owner of the house is a vampire, and has lived in the house since it was built. And I've overheard adults talking that he might the one responsible for the disappearances over the years, but nobody's got the balls to go up there and confront him."

"Well, this English assignment is the perfect excuse for me to head up there," the ferret grinned. "Maybe I can find out of these ghost stories are true or not."

The parrot shook his head with a sigh. "Whatever. Just don't get yourself killed. Me and the guys will be at Papa's, if you wimp out."

Loki grinned as he donned his rollerblades, buckling them tight. He unzipped his backpack and stuffed his sneakers inside, then tossed the pack over his shoulders. He stood up, slamming his locker shut and waved to the parrot.

"I'll drop by later, if I don't find anything interesting. It's probably just a nasty old place, anyway."

The parrot waved back as Loki shoved off, zipping down the busy school corridor. The ferret bobbed side to side to weave between the students, narrowly avoiding a collision with a teacher that was stepping out of a classroom. The teacher gestured angrily at him to return, but Loki had no intention of stopping.

Loki waved to a pretty cheetah girl as he flew past, calling out to her. She rolled her eyes and smirked, watching the sable ferret duck through an open door and onto the sidewalk in front of the school building. His rollerblades hissed noisily as he sped over the pavement, turning onto the nearest street that would lead him directly to the center of town, where the ancient mansion on the hill waited...

* * * * * * * * * *

Loki slid to a stop in front of an ominous wrought-iron gate. Dark bars prevented entry to the property surrounding the mansion, the paved street turning into a cobblestone driveway. The ferret stepped slowly toward the large gate, placing his hands on the bars and visually following the driveway up the hill. Large trees obscured a good portion of it, but near the top of the hill it emerged once more, curling gracefully up to the front of the mansion.

Loki gave the gate an experimental push, seeing that it didn't appear to have any sort of locking mechanism. The gate resisted, prompting him to put more effort into the motion. With a grunt, he gave the gate a firm heave, but the iron behemoth refused to budge. He tried to shake it firmly, assuming that the hinges were just old. The iron bars creaked, but offered no sign of progress.

Sighing heavily, the ferret backed slowly away. Perhaps there was another way he could get inside. There were trees placed evenly along the sidewalk that followed alongside an iron fence, so perhaps he could climb one and jump the fence. He skimmed over the concrete sidewalk, glancing between the path ahead of himself and the large trees that shaded him.

The ferret grinned as he spied a thick branch that hung low over the sidewalk. It reached almost all the way over the tall fence, assuming it would support his weight. Loki dropped his backpack and quickly changed into his sneakers, stuffing his rollerblades in and zipping it back up. He gazed up at the large tree, took a deep breath, then leapt straight up. He wrapped his fingers around a thick branch and swung himself up, hooking his legs around the limb.

The limb creaked ominously as Loki twisted himself around so that he was perched on top of it. His backpack slid to one side, threatening to drag him back down. The ferret carefully crept forward, the branch sagging under his weight. He held his breath as he heard the wood pop, hoping that the branch would hold his weight long enough to allow him across. When the branch held, Loki inched forward once more. He was about halfway to the edge of the fence, and almost within jumping range.

Satisfied that the branch would hold now, Loki pulled himself forward, gazing down at the well-manicured grass on the opposite side of the fence. Another pop made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, however. He gazed back at the trunk of the tree, hearing the branch crackling as it sagged lower.

"Please don't break, please don't break," he mumbled to himself as he listened intently.

There was a snap, followed by several pops as the branch suddenly gave beneath Loki. He shrieked as he and the branch tumbled to the ground in a heap. He landed in the dirt by the fence with a thud, knocking the air out of his lungs. He laid there for several seconds, dazed and disoriented. He eventually sat up and rubbed his head, scowling at the broken snag where the limb had previously been.

Loki was tempted to try again on a different tree, but decided against it. Once was enough for him, and he was lucky he hadn't broken anything. He pushed himself to his feet, groaning quietly. His body ached all over from the fall, but he knew it would pass with time. He brushed the dirt off his clothes then begrudgingly returned to the large gate that marked the entrance to the property.

The ferret sighed, placing his paws on the large bars and leaning up against the gate. His eyes remained fixed on the mansion at the top of the hill, leaning forward and resting his weight against the iron barrier.

"Ugh, now how am I going to get in?" Loki wondered.

Just as Loki finished speaking the gate swung back, as if moving on well-oiled bearings. Loki shrieked, falling flat on his face on the cobblestone driveway. He partially caught himself with his paws to avoid injury, wondering what had just happened. Loki lifted his head to gaze up at the gate, the heavy behemoth almost beckoning him to enter. He stood up hesitantly, brushing himself off again. He felt a little uneasy, wondering if perhaps the rumor about the mansion being haunted was true. Still, the desire to explore was greater.

The ferret stepped forward past the open gate, his eyes scanning the immediate surroundings. The land surrounding the mansion seemed normal enough. The grass was green and well manicured, and a row of lush trees lined the pathway that wound up the hill. Everything seemed to be well taken care of, which was strange considering that nobody ever seemed to come or go.

The ferret gazed up at the looming structure of the mansion, an ominous shadow spreading over him as a cluster of clouds obscured the sun. His heart quickened a bit, anxiety growing in his mind as he debated whether to continue or turn back. He nearly jumped out of his fur when there was a metallic screech behind him. He turned to watch the gate swinging shut, gasping loudly.

"Fuck!"

He scrambled toward the gate as it stopped abruptly with a shudder, rattling noisily on its hinges. He tugged against the bars, grunting as he strained to pull the gate open. Much as before, however, the gate refused the budge. The iron monstrosity seemed to mock his attempts, stuck firmly in place.

Anxiety only grew thicker as Loki leaned against the bars, sighing heavily. Before he was stuck on the outside, trying to get in. Now he was stuck on the inside, and didn't know if he could get out. He glanced over his shoulder at the old mansion, grumbling softly as he pushed himself away from the gate and started up the cobblestone driveway. Perhaps someone was home that could let him out...

* * * * * * * * * *

Loki panted softly as he reached the stone steps that lead up to the front door. An old wood porch circled the front and sides of the house, with a fancy patio overlooking the front yard from the second floor. Perfectly manicured green hedges bordered the porch, offering a natural accent around the edge of the house. He craned his head up to gawk at the large pinnacle that rose from the center of the house, perched atop a large dome. A balcony loomed about halfway up the spire, offering anyone an impressive view of the surroundings.

The ferret adjusted his backpack as he stepped onto the porch, the wood planks creaking beneath his paws ominously. They groaned as he approached the door, gazing up at an old brass door knocker. His fingers trembled as he reached up slowly, his bushy tail flicking anxiously from side to side. His fingers clutched the brass ring, lifting it away from the door. He was tempted to release it and try to find a way out, but his stubbornness won out.

Loki brought down the brass hoop several times, the knock rumbling through the heavy wood door. His heart raced as he stood in silence, listening for any signs of movement. Several seconds passed, the ferret shuffling his feet nervously. Growing a little impatient, Loki reached up and knocked a second time, his ears perked.

Moments after knocking, the heavy door slowly creaked open. The ferret almost held his breath as the wood door swung open. He wasn't sure what to expect, and almost didn't want to find out. A dark figure in a grey cloak stepped forward into the doorway, exposing a wrinkled pink face to the dimming daylight. Loki shrieked loudly and leapt off the porch at the startling sight, diving headlong into the bushes.

There was an annoyed grunt at the ferret's reaction, followed by indistinct muttering. The creature ducked back inside and closed the door with a heavy thud. Loki's heart pounded in his chest, almost terrified at what he had seen. The thing that had opened the door didn't have an ounce of fur on its body. Its face was just a wrinkled mass of pink skin. An oversized set of buck teeth hung down from the creature's mouth. It seemed to be a rodent of some sort, but he'd never seen anything like it in his life.

Loki lingered in the bushes for several minutes, weighing his options. He could probably find another way over the fence, or perhaps get the gate open. On the other hand, he'd been trying to get into this place for ages. He might not get another chance at it. Eventually, Loki decided to push back his fear. He wiggled his way out of the bushes, brushing leaves and dirt out of his fur, then approached the door.

The door rumbled as Loki knocked again, but this time the cloaked figure was there almost immediately. The male gazed over him, a wrinkled nub of a tail flicking back and forth behind him. His red eyes regarded the ferret suspiciously, but he forced a smile.

"Good evening. What business do you have?" he asked, with a somewhat raspy voice.

"I...uh...I'm here to meet the homeowner."

The gaze grew noticeably more suspicious, the rodent's red eyes narrowing at him. "The master is currently resting. You'll have to come back later."

"But...I can't come back later. This is the only chance I have to come up here," Loki protested.

The rodent growled softly under his breath at the ferret's persistence. "Very well. You may come in and make yourself comfortable until he awakens."

The robed male stepped to the side and gestured for Loki to enter. The ferret hesitated for a moment, but stepped forward through the open doorway. His eyes glanced around as the door swung closed. He didn't get much time to inspect his surroundings, as his gaze was immediately captured by a large crystal chandelier. Flickering candles formed two distinct rings around the circumference, supported by brass arms radiating outward from the center. The flickering of the candles was enhanced by hanging crystals that made the chandelier glisten brilliantly.

"Follow me," the male grunted, beckoning to the ferret.

Loki was snapped from the daze by the male's voice, nodding gently. He padded slowly over the tiled floor, taking notice of a painting on the wall, with flickering candles on either side. A handsome male bat, wearing a Victorian dress suit adorned the canvas, painted with noticeable attention to detail. Was that the owner of the mansion?

He slowed for a moment to inspect the bat in the painting, but was urged to continue by a gesture from the rodent. He followed the rat into a long corridor that stretched to the left and right, lined with flickering candles. He glanced over his shoulder as they walked, spying a large wooden staircase at the end of the corridor. There were doors lining the corridor to various rooms, but all of them were closed.

Loki paused, finding himself standing in a very well furnished commons room. Overstuffed crimson furniture bordered a finely polished wood coffee table, focused in front of an oversized fireplace. It was currently unused, though, leaving the room with an oddly empty feeling. Several large rugs were laid out on either sides of the fireplace, with bookshelves and private reading desks lining the walls.

"Have a seat. The master should be with you shortly. Would you like a bite to eat while you're waiting?"

The ferret considered the offer. Getting rid of the house servant would give him the perfect chance to sneak away and explore. "Uh, yeah. That'd be great!" He slipped his backpack off, resting it next to a soft chair.

The rodent nodded, turning without even offering something more specific. Ichi was a bit baffled by the lack of choice on his part, but he supposed it didn't matter either way. With the strange rodent gone, he'd be free to explore the mansion, as long as he didn't get caught. His ears perked up, listening closely as the footsteps faded down the long hallway. He slowly crept out of the commons room and peered down the corridor, but saw so sign of the furless rodent. He kept his ears perked as he slowly padded down the long corridor, checking to see where the servant had disappeared to.

Nearing the end of the long corridor, Loki detected the soft clattering of utensils. His eyes glanced to the right, through an open door that guarded a well-stocked kitchen. Pans and pots of varying sizes hung from hooks, as well as a variety of cooking utensils. He couldn't see the rat, but he could hear him scurrying around the kitchen, busily working on something. Loki stepped slowly forward, ensuring that the rodent wasn't in sight, then quickly padded past the open door.

Loki paused at the bottom of the staircase to listen, checking that the servant hadn't heard him sneak past. Satisfied, he quickly rushed up the stairs, grabbing the banister halfway up to swing himself around, continuing to the top. He found himself standing at the end of another long corridor, lined with doors similar to the first floor. The corridor was dimly lit, flickering softly from the light of the candles on the walls.

"Time to explore," Loki muttered softly.

The ferret grinned as he slid to the left, reaching out and twisting a door handle. Much to his annoyance, though, it was locked. He jiggled the doorknob to ensure that it wasn't just sticky, but it refused to budge. He grumbled, turning around to check the door immediately across the hallway. Similarly, it was locked as well.

"Don't tell me all these doors are locked," he growled.

The ferret's tail bristled, flicking with annoyance. He checked the next door to the left, satisfied that the knob turned easily. He swung the door open, then sighed. He'd found the bathroom. He tugged the door closed with a grumble, continuing down the hallway. To his right was another door, but what caught his interest was a set of glass doors on the left side, halfway down the corridor.

Loki approached the doors and peered through. The glass doors opened up to a spacious patio, overlooking the property that was laid out in front of the mansion. Several tables and chairs were laid out on the patio, offering guests a place to converse while enjoying the view. There were several brass stands on the patio, likely for lighting during the evening hours.

Turning away, Loki made his way to one of the doors halfway down the right side of the corridor. He was relieved to find that it, too, was unlocked. He pushed the door open and peered in, but the dim light from the corridor made it difficult to see. He reached into his pocket to fumble around, finding a lighter that he kept handy. He flicked it several times, then held it up when it lit.

The light it offered was only a minute amount, but it was enough. He could see several reading desks scattered throughout the small room, some of them containing various books. None of this seemed to catch the ferret's interest. There was another door leading from the left side of the room, however. He weaved between the desks and pulled the door open, then stepped through.

"Woah."

Loki stood in amazement, letting his lighter burn out as his eyes gazed over a large, open room. Countless books filled shelves that lined the outer ring of the room, the middle open and spacious. The ferret was standing at the edge of a balcony that overlooked the large library, a domed roof curving gracefully overhead. A winding iron staircase curled downward to the floor not far from him. Beyond that, another set of stairs hugged the inside of the dome, leading upward to a small trap door.

"I bet that leads up to the balcony," he spoke quietly.

Loki didn't waste any time, scurrying quickly toward the steps that wound upward along the inside of the dome. His feet moved quickly over the iron steps, the large dome of the library echoing his soft pattering. He twisted the handle on the small door, surprised to find that it opened easily. A cool breeze greeted him, as well as the rustling of close by tree limbs. It was dark outside, the sun having set while he was exploring.

A small ledge hugged against the edge of the dome. Just to the left of the trap door was an iron ladder that rose up to the balcony. The ferret grinned, ducking onto the ledge and climbing the iron rungs. He quickly ascended the ladder and pulled himself up to the balcony, then turned. He gasped at the sight that greeted him.

The city was laid out before him, the lights twinkling brilliantly. He could see most of the town from this vantage point, lines of street lights stretching outward from the hill. He could almost see to the edge of town, where the glistening lights became sparse. Red and white dots of traveling vehicles crawled over the streets, broken up by occasional stoplights.

"Wow," he breathed, taking in the sight as a gentle breeze tugged at his clothing.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" a soothing voice cooed from above.

Loki shrieked at the unexpected stranger, clutching the railing tightly. He whipped around immediately, lifting his head skyward. Perched on the edge of the pointed roof was a huge brown bat, wearing a comfortable-looking crimson robe. The male grinned when he made eye contact with the ferret. Loki recognized him from the painting in the entryway. He was the owner of the mansion.

"And what brings you up here, my dear boy?" the fruit bat inquired. His voice was smooth, almost melodic.

Loki could feel his knees shaking, his heart pounding in his chest. "I-I...was just...e-exploring."

"Exploring? Young ferrets should know better than to go nosing about uninvited. It might get them into trouble."

The ferret's knees nearly buckled with fear. The stories and rumors involving the owner of the mansion rushed through his mind. What if the bat really was a vampire? His breathing was quick, his heart racing as he tried to respond.

"I-I...I'm s-sorry," he stuttered. He was so terrified that he felt like he was going to cry.

The bat stretched his arms, his leathery wings spreading magnificently for a moment. A deep, gaping yawn escaped his muzzle, though his position concealed the yawn from Loki. He gently wrapped his arms around himself once more, forming a snug cocoon around his body.

"Relax, my boy. I'm not going to punish you," the bat reassured. His words were like silk on the ferret's ears, easing his anxiety somewhat. "Surely you have a reason for visiting my home."

Loki gulped quietly, but nodded. "W-well...yes. I had...a project from school." He sniffled softly, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

The bat nodded, leaning forward and staring intently at the ferret. "And what is the nature of this project?"

"I, uh, have to interview someone interesting," Loki continued, feeling a little more confident.

The bat grinned at Loki's reply. "And so you came here? You flatter me."

The male's wings stretched once more as he leaned forward. Loki stepped abruptly to the side as the bat leapt down, letting his wings slow his descent as he landed on the balcony. Large claws clattered softly on the metal as the bat stood upright, looming over the ferret. He was much larger than Loki had anticipated, standing well over six feet tall.

"Vladimir Liliac," the bat announced, making a formal bow as he spoke.

Loki leaned back just a little, his anxiety building once more with the bat standing immediately in front of him, the crimson robe rippling gently in the breeze. It took several seconds for the ferret to find the courage to reply.

"I'm Loki," he finally responded.

The bat nodded, glancing over the ferret with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Loki. I'm sure you're dying to begin prodding me with questions, but I must insist that you stay for dinner, first."

Loki was somewhat startled by the offer, but he didn't have a chance to protest. He heard the soft rattling of someone ascending the ladder to the balcony, turning his head to investigate. The house servant was soon standing on the balcony with the pair, grumbling quietly under his breath when his eyes fell upon the ferret.

"My apologies for allowing the boy to roam, Master," the furless rodent said quietly. "Shall I escort him out?"

The bat shook his head. "That won't be necessary. Escort young Loki down to the dining hall. He will be joining us for dinner."

The rodent eyed the ferret suspiciously, but his gaze softened when he bowed. "Understood, Master Vladimir."

The rat beckoned for Loki to accompany him as he descended the ladder. The ferret slowly stepped over to the ladder, gazing at the bat. The male smiled at him with a nod, flashing glistening white fangs at the ferret for a brief moment...

* * * * * * * * * *

As soon as Loki set foot inside of the dome, he realized that things had changed. The once-silent mansion was now bustling with life. Various species of anthros were browsing through the library, swapping books and settling in to read. In the corridor, Loki noticed several others emerging from the doors that had previously been locked. He didn't get time to investigate the rooms, however, prompted onward by the servant.

The ferret was escorted down the stairs, pausing at the familiar kitchen where he had snuck past the rat. He could hear numerous people working in the kitchen, clattering utensils and scurrying about. The rat gestured to the door opposite the kitchen, where a number of young faces had already begun to gather. Loki stepped into the dining room, making his way to a large table where several had already gathered.

As Loki found a place to sit, he couldn't help but notice that several sets of eyes were focused on him. He seemed to be a center of attention, though he had no idea why. He felt like a celebrity of sorts, with the way everyone was watching. Nobody spoke to him, however. Most of them eventually returned to their own private conversations, though many snuck glances back at the ferret.

One unusual thing did stand out to Loki. He didn't see a single girl gathered at the table. For that matter, he hadn't seen a single female while traveling through the mansion, either. He didn't have much time to dwell on this thought, however.

One individual took special interest in the ferret. A pink fennec wearing nothing but baggy black pants slid over, his bushy tail wagging. Loki was a bit taken by his cotton candy colored fur, but most striking about the fennec was his eyes. Deep violent eyes gazed over him, glimmering in the candle light. The fennec seemed to be inspecting him.

"You must be new here," the fennec eventually stated.

Loki nodded. "Well, it's my first time here, if that's what you mean."

The fennec grinned. "Oh? Have you met the master yet?"

The ferret's head tipped to one side. "Well, yeah. That's the reason I came here."

The pink fox's smirk grew wider at the reply. A spark of mischief shined in his eyes as he leaned in closer, until his muzzle was only a few inches from Loki's ear. "Meet me in the north study after dinner."

Loki was a bit surprised by the secretive offer. He leaned over to inquire about the fennec's intentions, but a hushed silence fell over the room that grabbed his attention. The male bat was strolling into the dining hall, wearing a dark Victorian suit that matched the one in the painting. He seemed to be walking with a slight limp, supported by a silver cane that was intricately engraved with patterns and unique designs.

The imposing bat took a seat at the head of the table, regarding the gathered faces with a nod, and giving Loki a knowing grin. The ferret felt a little unsettled by this, wondering what the bat's intentions were. He was distracted from his thoughts, though, as a plate of food was set before him. He gazed down at it, a rich aroma of cooked meat and vegetables rising up to greet him. A loud rumble from his belly reminded him that he was starving.

Loki waited patiently for everyone to be served, but noticed that the bat hadn't received a plate yet. His eyes trailed over when a red fox enter the dining room with a crystal goblet, filled with a dark crimson liquid. He assumed it to be a red wine of sorts, which wasn't far from the truth. The male paused at the end of the table and carefully set the glass before the large bat, then bowed politely and excused himself.

The ferret furrowed his brow, wondering why the bat had only been served wine. He leaned over and nudged the fennec gently, who squeaked in surprise.

"Hey, why hasn't he been served yet?" Loki said in a hushed whisper.

The fennec leaned over. "The master enjoys his meals in his private study. No more talk of this at the table, though. The master has very sensitive ears."

Loki flushed a little, sitting upright and glancing at the bat. The male chuckled quietly, giving Loki a warm smile and raising his glass. He spoke a few words in a language that Loki didn't understand, bringing the crystal goblet to his lips and taking a sip of the crimson drink. Once he had done this, the others at the table began to eat. The ferret was a little confused by all this, but he followed suit.

The dining hall was mostly quiet during the meal, save for the soft clinking of utensils and glasses. Loki felt a little out of place, but he pushed it out of his mind as he ate. He lifted his head up as he caught motion out of the corner of his eyes. He watched the fruit bat beckon the house servant over, resting his chin casually on the back of his interlaced fingers.

"Alfonse, escort the boy to my private study after dinner. I would much like to get acquainted with him," the bat whispered.

"As you wish," the rat bowed. He then excused himself, making eye contact with the ferret as he passed.

Loki hadn't heard their exchange from where he was seated, but he suspected it involved him. He watched the rodent leave, then returned to his meal. Despite his curiosity, he was still mindful of the pink fennec's invitation. He would find out what the exchange was about later, when he spoke with the bat.

The ferret perked up as the pink fennec slid out of his seat. His tail brushed invitingly over Loki's waist as he passed, his hips bouncing with each step. The ferret's eyes followed his steps, fixated on his rump. He blushed as he returned to his plate, eating quickly to finish so he could join the pink fox upstairs.

The bat watched with great interest as Loki excused himself from the table, noting how quickly he had finished once the fennec departed. He took the last sip from his glass goblet, a long tongue flicking out to lick the inside of the goblet in a quick sweep. He licked his lips briefly, closing his eyes and enjoying the rich blend of red wine and blood that lingered on his tongue.

The bat leaned back in his seat, beckoning one of his servants over. A small white rabbit scurried over quickly, bowing politely as he stood at the bat's side.

"Yes, master?"

"Percy, keep an eye on Ichi for me," the bat replied. "Let me know if he gets up to anything with our visitor."

The rabbit nodded. "Very well, master," he replied coolly, before disappearing to the corridor...

* * * * * * * * * *

Loki peered into the dimly lit study, grinning when he saw the pink fennec seated at one of the far desks. Most of the others were still down in the dining room, so they were alone. He padded quietly over the wood floor, the boards creaking softly as he stepped. The fennec's ears perked up when he heard the soft creaking, peering over his shoulder. He grinned when he saw the new ferret approaching, turning in his seat.

"Oh good, you made it," he purred. "Follow me."

"Wha-?" Loki squeaked in surprise as he was abruptly tugged by the fennec.

The pink fox lead Loki quickly through the doorway that separated the study from the library. The two scurried quickly toward the iron staircase leading upward, then paused at the top. Ichi peered back to ensure that they weren't seen, then pushed open the small door and ducked out. Loki was close behind, closing the door behind them as the fox scrambled up the ladder to the balcony. The ferret hesitated a moment, wondering what the fox had planned.

"Come on!" the fennec giggled, leaning over the balcony and waving Loki up.

The ferret shrugged, climbing the ladder to join the pink fox. The fennec smiled brightly, his bushy pink tail wagging as he stepped closer. He gazed into the ferret's eyes, his own shining with mischief. A warm glow blanketed the two, a large, full moon rising in the distance.

"Always nice to meet a new face," the fennec purred. "I'm Ichigo. But everyone around here just calls me Ichi."

Loki nodded, offering a hand to the fennec. "Nice to meet you, Ichi. I'm Loki."

The fennec didn't take the offered paw. Instead, he draped his arms around the ferret's shoulders and leaned up to kiss him on the lips. Loki tensed up, his face going crimson when the fennec's lips met his own. He didn't relax until Ichi stepped back, the fennec sighing happily.

"That was...surprising," Loki muttered.

The fennec giggled quietly, leaving his arms draped over Loki's shoulders. "I enjoy making sure that visitors feel welcome."

"You don't say," the ferret chuckled, reaching down to slip his arms around the pink waist.

Loki's ears perked when one of the fennec's arms slipped away from his shoulder. The fox's delicate fingers traced gently over his chest, making small circles as he gradually dipped lower. He leaned in to nuzzle the ferret's cheek, distracting him a little as he brushed over Loki's soft belly. The ferret returned the affectionate nuzzle, but shivered when he felt Ichi's fingers sneak beneath the waistband of his pants.

The pink fennec crooned softly at the warmth he felt below, his fingers easing deeper until they rested comfortably against a soft bulge. He cupped his paw against it, pressing the ferret's boxers close to his body. The motion caused Loki to gasp, his legs trembling nervously as the fox explored. He backed up a little, ending up with his back pressed against the pinnacle that the balcony was clinging to.

"Don't be nervous," Ichi giggled, keeping himself close to the ferret.

"B-but...I've...never done this with another guy," Loki gulped quietly.

The pink fennec chuckled, kneading his paw back and forth over the bulge in Loki's pants. Despite the ferret's protests, Ichi could feel his sheath swelling beneath his boxers. He leaned in closer, giving Loki a kiss on the cheek, then tipped his head up to whisper softly in his ear.

"Then I'll make sure it's extra-special for you," the fennec purred.

Loki whined softly as the fennec's paw eased out of his pants, only to slip back down. This time, however, the fennec's gentle fingers tucked themselves beneath his boxers as well. A shiver of pleasure ran up Loki's back as the fennec lightly caressed over his heated sheath. As nervous as he was, he couldn't help but enjoy that soft touch.

Ichi purred quietly to the fennec as he slipped his paw free. His fingers traced a circled around Loki's button, then undid the ferret's pants. The ferret's ears perked a bit as he glanced down, watching the fox's motions. Ichi eased the ferret's pants off his hips, letting them bunch up around his knees. He leaned in as he knelt down, giving a gentle nuzzle to Loki's soft belly. He gently kneaded over the male's hips as he playfully tugged at the waistband of Loki's boxers with his teeth.

The pink fennec slowly pulled the front of Loki's boxers down, exposing the ferret's length. A red pole of erect flesh greeted him, bobbing lightly in sync with the male's heart. Ichi gently rolled his tongue over his lips, leaving them glistening with moisture. He reached up, gently wrapping his index finger and thumb around the base of Loki's shaft. The tip of his tongue poked out as he licked slowly upward from the base of the ferret's length, causing the ferret to whimper.

Loki closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the woodwork, gasping quietly each time the fennec's soft tongue brushed over his shaft. A cool breeze swirled around the pair, sending a shiver up Loki's back due to his exposed lap. Ichi squeezed softly around the base of the ferret's member, gazing up at him with a chuckle.

"Someone's a little cold, huh? We can fix that."

Ichi winked at Loki, his lips parting as he leaned up. He gently eased his muzzle over the tip of the ferret's shaft, angling it toward himself with his fingers. The tip of his tongue kissed the end of Loki's member, making the ferret squirm. Loki blushed hotly, his muzzle and ears burning with flustered embarrassment. Despite his reservations about performing sexual acts with another boy, though, he couldn't deny the pleasure he was feeling.

Loki gasped when the fennec's muzzle slurped over his shaft, sending a rush of pleasure through his body that nearly caused his knees to collapse. He pushed his paws against the wall behind him for support, his head ducked. He whined sweetly when Ichi slowly drew his lips back, squeezing them lightly around the pulsing member.

The ferret's hips pushed lightly back and forth as Ichi began to move at a slow, steady pace. His head bobbed over the length of Loki's shaft, tongue licking softly over the underside. Ichi purred quietly around his pulsing mouthful, his eyes closed as soft breaths escaped his nose. He could smell the rich aroma of arousal rising from Loki's lap, the pleasant musk encouraging his motions.

Ichi began to move his head a bit faster now, one paw resting on the ferret's hips. The other snuck between Loki's thighs, cupping the ferret's warm sack in his fingers. He gently rolled the ferret's balls through his fingers, his suckling becoming a bit more eager. A spurt of salty pre landed on his tongue, accompanied by an approving groan. He pushed his muzzle down until it was wrapped snug around the base of the fennec's length, the tip poking gently against the back of his throat.

Hips gently bobbed upward against the fennec's muzzle, grinding that dripping tip against soft flesh. Loki had only had a handful of sexual experiences in his lifetime, but most of them had been rather awkward for him. The fennec was quite talented, though, a soft canine tongue eagerly lapping along the base of his length. Loki was enjoying the pleasant feelings so much that he almost didn't realize how rapidly he was building toward his peak.

The fennec's paw squeezed softly over Loki's balls, rolling them back and forth. He slurped his way back to the tip of the ferret's shaft, squeezing his lips around it length each time he returned to the base. He could feel the pulses intensifying down the length of Loki's member, indicating that the ferret was nearing his climax.

"Aaaah, I-Ichi...I'm getting close," the ferret gasped, his body tensing.

Ichi responded to this with a firm suckle, drawing his lips back with a wet slurp. The ferret's paws rose away from the wall, resting gently on the back of Ichi's head. Loki groaned deeply, his hips pushing against the fennec's muzzle. His breathing came out as rapid panting, mixed with pleasured groans.

The ferret laid his head back against the wall, crying out as his body grew tense. A heavy throb rewarded the pink fennec with a burst of hot seed, the salty cream splashing over his tongue. He purred softly as he gulped, swallowing the heated load. Loki's body twitched and shivered, his fingers kneading over the back of the fennec's head. Ichi cooed gently as his tongue flicked over that throbbing length, causing Loki to grip at his scruff firmly.

The fennec chuckled, gulping quietly as he eased his muzzle back. He slid the slick length out of his mouth, licking his lips. He momentarily leaned down again to give the tip a kiss, then smiled up at Loki. The ferret sighed heavily, his tail flicking softly against the wall behind him. Ichi eased his arms around the ferret's waist as he rose to his feet, cuddling up to Loki. The ferret could feel a bulge pressing against him, giving away the fact that the pink fox was still quite excited.

"Think you could do a little something for me in return, sweetie?" the fennec purred.

"That, uh, depends on what you have in mind," he replied.

Ichi chuckled softly, his bushy pink tail flicking back and forth methodically. He rubbed up against Loki with a soft, playful growl, squeezing the ferret's waist. "Oh, I could think of a few things you could do."

"Such as?"

The fennec slid to the side as he giggled, pushing up against Loki's hip now. "Maybe you could push a fox up against the wall and give himmm-Master!"

"What?" Loki looked baffled at the outburst.

A dark shadow swept down, looming over the pair as Ichi immediately stepped back, kneeling down on the darkened balcony. His ears pinned back as his head drooped, showing his submission to the large bat. Loki scrambled to pull his pant back up and button them, fumbling over it several times. The bat regarded him for several seconds, dark eyes glancing over his body before his focused shifted to the fennec.

"Ichigo. Yet again you break my rules," he said coldly.

"I'm sorry, Master, I-"

"Leave us!" the bat commanded with a firm tone. "Be grateful that I don't lock you in the dungeon."

Ichi nodded without a word, standing up abruptly. He rushed forward and ducked around the large bat, who turned to observe his hasty departure. The iron ladder rattled as he scrambled down, followed by the shudder of a door closing quickly. Loki shivered in fear, his face glowing with embarrassment as the bat's gaze returned to him.

"As for you..."

"I-I'm s-sorry," Loki stuttered. "I don't...know what came over me."

The bat chuckled, moving forward until he was standing directly in front of the ferret. Loki noticed a slight limp as he walked, which explained why he had been walking with a cane at dinner. The bat's eyes scanned over him once more, sniffing quietly to absorb the ferret's scent. He smelled heavily of arousal and sex.

"You have nothing to apologize for, my boy. Ichigo is a troublemaker, although an attractive one. It's not your fault that you were seduced. I do, however, believe that we had an appointment."

"Yes, of course," Loki said quietly, relieved that the bat wasn't upset with him. He couldn't shake the embarrassment of being caught in the act, though.

"Would you care to join me in my private study?" the bat inquired, reaching out to offer a winged hand to the ferret.

"Of course," Loki replied, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"Do you trust me to keep you safe?"

"That seems like an odd question, but...sure, I do," he replied.

Vladimir grinned, wrapping his wings around the boy to pull him close. He didn't explain himself immediately, however. The ferret stumbled as the large bat stepped away from the spire with him in tow. He shuffled his feet until he regained his footing, pausing when the bat stopped at the edge of the railing.

"Get on my back, and don't let go."

Loki wondered what the bat had in mind as the large male knelt down. He hesitated for a moment, but decided it would be best to comply with the homeowner's wishes. He raised his arms, draping his arms over the bat's shoulders, and lastly looped his legs around the male's waist. The bat slowly rose, adjusting himself to the additional weight.

"Hold on, no matter what," Vladimir warned.

Loki nodded, his grip on the bat's body contracting suddenly when the male leapt onto the railing. He held his breath as the bat's fleshy wings outstretched, testing the breeze. Loki's eyes went wide as the bat arched forward over the top of the balcony, realizing what his intentions were.

"Oh shit."

Loki's heart raced as Vladimir leaned forward, clutching to the bat's shoulders and waist in a near death-grip. His equilibrium shifted suddenly when the bat crouched and lunged forward, diving away from the balcony. The ferret's mouth fell open as a horrified cry escaped his lips, fully expecting to crash into the ground below.

The bat's muscled back abruptly tensed, his winged arms beating against the breeze with a heavy flap. Wind whistled through Loki's ears as Vladimir pumped his wings several more times to catch a draft, angling sharply forward. The ferret's body was suddenly shoved against Vladimir's back, the pair leveling out as they skimmed mere feet above the ground. The bat focused on the terrain ahead as he flapped again, lifting the pair away from the ground and into the sky.

Loki's heart pounded in his head as he clung to the bat, his fur growing damp with sweat. He was terrified beyond belief, certain that he would lose his grip sooner or later and fall to his death. The grassy hill was rapidly dwindling beneath them as Vladimir gained altitude, the mansion shrinking behind them. The bat's powerful beating softened as they leveled out, gliding high above the town.

"You can relax," the male assured. "I won't let you fall."

The ferret was still quite terrified by the experience of flying without so much as a lifeline, but the motion of the bat's wing muscles was oddly comforting. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing his body to loosen up. He focused on the rhythmic motion of those powerful muscles, flexing and relaxing beneath him each time the male's wings flapped.

When Loki's eyes opened once more, he was greeted by the familiar stretch of the glowing town beneath him. From this vantage point, though, he could see the full expanse of the town in all directions. Most notably, however, was the glowing ball of the full moon directly in front of them. He gasped quietly, seeming to forget his fear completely for the moment. A cool wind rushed over him, pulling at the hair on his cheeks and head.

"Hold on tight," the bat warned.

Loki's grip tensed around the bat once more as Vladimir banked sharply to one side. He squeezed firmly to prevent himself from sliding, abandoning his fear entirely. He was actually beginning to enjoy the experience of free flight, lifting his head as the mansion returned to view. Instead of guiding the pair back to the balcony, however, Vladimir dove down sharply. The darkened ground below was rapidly rushing up to meet them, forming a knot in Loki's stomach. Were they going to crash?

A dark outcropping of rocks stood up from the ground, becoming clearer as they hurtled toward them. Loki could scarcely breathe as he hugged the bat tightly, burying his face against Vladimir's neck and closing his eyes tightly. There was a muffled "whoosh", followed by eerie silence, save for the sound of rushing wind in Loki's ears.

The ferret's eyes opened when he realized that the breeze blowing over them was unnaturally warm. It was pitch-black around them, though, offering him little to see. The air was becoming somewhat stale, and he could detect the lingering scent of dung. Where were they headed?

The question of where he was hung in Loki's mind as a dim light caught his attention. As his eyes adjusted, he shrieked, then ducked tightly against the bat's body. They were flying through a narrow stone passage of some sort, cruising at an alarming velocity. Loki was afraid that his head would be taken off, the roof of the passage seeming far too close for his liking. The passage grew steadily brighter until the pair emerged in a large cavern of some sort.

A single wood door was lined with a pair of flickering torches, which offered light to the large cavern. As the bat flapped rapidly to slow himself, Loki gazed around. The smell of dung was distinct, and he could hear the squeak of numerous bats.

"Where are we?" the ferret eventually asked.

"Beneath the mansion," the bat calmly replied. "I enjoy evening flights, and I use this passage to come and go undisturbed."

Loki nodded understandingly as the bat swooped toward the lone door. The male flapped quickly to slow himself, then touched down on the cool stone. He stretched his arms outward, after which he tucked in his wings. The ferret released himself to jump from the male's back, his legs trembling. The large bat turned quickly, catching Loki as he lost his balance and fell forward.

"Easy does it. Looks like you got a little overexcited, there."

Loki remained still for several seconds, feeling the bat's arms embracing him. He felt oddly secure with those wings surrounding him, as if he belonged in them. He sighed heavily, his tail flicking gently behind himself.

"Now then, about that request you made earlier," the bat smiled. "I believe you had some questions for me? Come with me."

Loki nodded as the bat's wings unfurled, following close behind when Vladimir turned and opened the large door. The bat gestured to him, allowing Loki to enter first. He found himself standing at the edge of the bat's private study, the room comfortably warm due to a cozy fire burning in a small fireplace. The fire provided ample light in the small room, though a glowing candle was flickering on a writing desk.

A large, overstuffed chair was placed before the fireplace, but the most notable feature was a heavy-looking, large wooden coffin at the far end of the room. Loki stepped forward to get a better look, approaching the ancient-looking coffin. He reached out, intending to run his hands over it, but was snatched by the wrist. The bat held a finger up to him, waving it.

"No touching, please. That's very old, and precious to me."

Loki nodded, his eyes glancing down at the lid of the casket. An intricate-looking "V" was carved in the surface, paired with swirling patterns. He glanced up at the bat, then to the coffin once more. A mixture of fear and curiosity washed over him as the rumors of the mansion owner stood out in the forefront of his mind.

"The stories are true, aren't they?" Loki asked quietly, his eyes returning to the large bat.

The bat gave Loki an inquisitive gaze, a smile spreading over his lips. "Stories? Well, I suppose we'll leave that up to you to discover. Please, pull up a chair."

Loki nodded as the bat turned away. He pulled a soft chair away from the bat's writing desk, resting it on a rug that was laid out before the fireplace. The bat retrieved a dark bottle from a small wine rack, as well as a crystal goblet. He casually strolled over to his overstuffed chair, sitting down with a groan.

"Is something the matter?" Loki inquired, regarding the bat's discomfort.

"It's nothing to concern yourself with. I've had a limp that comes and goes, after an accident I had some time ago."

Loki nodded as the bat uncorked the bottle, pouring himself a glass of deep crimson liquid. It was the same that Loki had observed him drinking at dinner. The smell of wine rose to him, though there was something else to it that he couldn't identify right away. The bat brought the glass to his lips and took a deep sip, then licked his lips with a startlingly long tongue. The bat chuckled when he noticed Loki staring. He swirled the contents of the goblet gently, leaning back in his chair as he set the bottle beside himself on the floor.

"Now then, where shall we start?" Vladimir inquired.

As the bat invited him to begin, Loki immediately realized that he didn't have his backpack with him. He'd left it in the commons area when he'd first entered the mansion. He looked a little flustered, shuffling his fingers in his lap.

"I think I left my backpack upstairs," he admitted.

The bat chuckled, gesturing to his writing desk. Loki turned, spotting his backpack resting on top of the desk. He hadn't noticed it when they first entered the room, having been too distracted with other features.

"Oh! Thanks for bringing it down here," he said with an embarrassed blush.

Loki retrieved his backpack and dragged out a pen and notepad, scribbling a few notes on it to indicate that it was for his project. The first thing that he wrong on the page was the bat's name. He hummed to himself, the bat watching intently as he scrawled over the paper.

"So, I guess the first question is...when were you born?"

"Starting us off with an upfront question, I see," the bat mused. He settled back in his seat, one arm propped on the chair, with the other clutching his goblet. "I was born in the year 1840. My birth records were unaccounted for, however, so an exact date is not possible."

Loki was busy scribbling his question down on the page, and stopped when the bat's answer sank in. "1840? Don't you mean 1940?"

The bat grinned, leaning forward in his chair. "Don't you believe me?"

"But...that would make you almost 170 years old."

"I'd say the years have been especially kind to me," the bat calmly replied, that grin spreading as he took another sip of his unusual wine.

"You don't say," Loki muttered, scribbling the answer down on the page. "And how long have you lived in this mansion?"

"Such difficult questions," the bat chuckled. "You're not making this easy for me, are you? Well, this mansion was built at the time of this town's founding, in 1850. I've lived in this mansion since it was built. You can figure out the rest from there."

Loki sighed, lifting his head to gaze at the bat. "Are you toying with me?"

"Beg pardon?" the bat calmly replied, lowering his goblet.

"There is no way that you've lived in this mansion since it was built. It's over 150 years old."

The bat leaned forward in his seat, setting his goblet on the floor next to the wine bottle. He laced his fingers together, resting his chin against them. "How old do you think I am?"

"Well, you don't look a day older than 40," Loki said after a long pause.

"I'm flattered," the bat grinned. "However, you're a tad shy of the correct figure."

"And how old are you really?" Loki challenged.

"Let me show you something," the bat chuckled. He pushed himself up from his chair, taking his cane in hand and stepping over to the writing desk.

Loki watched the bat reach into a drawer, plucking a photo album from it. The large male slowly returned to his chair and sat back, resting the heavy album in his lap. He gesture to Loki, inviting him to slide his chair closer.

"This is an album that has stayed with this mansion since it was first constructed. I'm sure your town's historical society would love to get their hands on it. Now then, let's see."

Loki leaned in, eyeing the pages as the bat opened the album. The pictures were all black-and-white, yellowed from age and somewhat faded. Most of the initial photos depicted the mansion's construction, picturing it at various phases. The bat's brow furrowed as he scanned over the pictures, then paused.

"Ah, here we go." The bat turned the album to face Loki, tapping a clawed finger over a photo.

Loki's eyes scanned down at the picture. It depicted the town's founding mayor standing in front of the mansion. Next to him was...

"Oh my god," the ferret breathed. "That can't be possible."

A large bat stood next to the mayor, wearing a very formal looking black suit. He proudly stood before the mansion, leaning on the same silver cane that was leaning up against the bat's chair in front of him. He looked identical to Vladimir.

"That's you, isn't it?" Loki asked, lifting his head to gaze into the bat's golden brown eyes.

A smug grin spread over the bat's lips as he closed the heavy album, leaning back in his chair once more. He didn't say a word, however, allowing the young ferret to process this. Loki felt dizziness spread over him as he realized what this meant. All the stories, all the rumors, everything that he'd heard about the owner of the mansion; it was all true.

The bat leaned forward quickly to catch the boy as he fell forward from his chair. He slipped onto the floor, embracing Loki against himself. "I know it's quite a shock. It often is, to those that visit my home."

"But, how can you have lived this long? Nobody has ever lived to be 170 years old, much less someone looking as young as you."

"Allow me to pose a question for you, then. You mentioned earlier about stories that you'd heard, regarding me. What do you believe is true?"

Loki took a deep breath to clear his head, feeling the bat's warmth radiating against his body. "All of it."

Vladimir adjusted himself so that Loki was sitting in his lap, back resting against that soft chair. He draped his wings gently around the ferret, cocooning him in their warmth. Loki was a little unnerved by this, but felt oddly compelled to remain where he was.

"Tell me, Loki. Why did you come here? What brought you to my doorstep?"

"I wanted to explore," Loki said quietly. "I wanted to find out the mystery behind this place."

"As so many have before you," the bat spoke gently. "And many of them live here to this day."

"I've always had a strange attraction to this place," Loki admitted. "It's like the mansion has been calling to me all my life, beckoning to me."

"You want to live here, don't you?" the bat whispered, his wings gently caressing over the ferret.

There was a long pause as Loki ducked down somewhat. He settled into that warm embrace, letting his smaller frame rest against the bat's chest. "I do."

There was a soothing tone to the Vladimir's voice that carried strength with it. Loki didn't know why, but he felt drawn to the bat's presence. He felt calmed every time the bat spoke to him, and relaxed while he was in his presence.

He felt like he was home.

"My dear boy, I can offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. It's a simple offer, and I will only make it once. If you agree, I can fulfill your every desire, and provide you with anything you need. If you decline, you will be free to leave the mansion and return to your home, with no recollection of the events that have taken place here."

Loki closed his eyes and sighed deeply, the bat's words flowing through his mind like silk. The allure of living in this bat's mansion was welcoming to him. Life at home was so chaotic, and often traumatic. To him, his mind was made up as soon as he entered the mansion.

The ferret slowly lifted his head, gazing up into the bat's eyes. "I already am home."

"As you wish," the bat spoke gently, turning Loki in his lap so the ferret was facing away from him, his chest pressed against the boy's back.

The bat leaned down over him, breathing gently as Loki's eyes closed. Loki felt the bat's fingers gently slip beneath his chin, tipping it upward. The ferret remained still as his head was tipped slightly to one side, feeling the male's warm breath against his neck. He shivered lightly with anticipation, knowing what was coming. He felt the bat's parted jaws ease against the side of his neck, clamping down gently. Sharp fangs brushed over his pelt, sending a pleasant shiver through his body.

A brief gasp escaped Loki's lips when the bat bit down, a pair of fangs sinking into his neck. The pain was only momentary, though, as the bat's calming warmth embraced him. Those heavy wings hugged the ferret almost possessively as the bat received the first taste of the boy's blood. He growled softly, holding the ferret still in his arms, despite occasional squirms from the boy. He swallowed after he drew a fair amount, then gently pulled free of Loki's neck. He licked over his lips, savoring the taste of Loki's blood. This was only a first bite to seal the deal, however. He would properly feed soon enough.

His long tongue flicked over the wound, the twin marks healing unnaturally fast. Loki slowly released a deep breath as the bat smiled, feeling pleasant warmth where the male had bitten him. A tingle slowly spread through his body, his eyes remaining closed as he relaxed.

"And now, my dear boy, you belong to me. You will call this mansion your home for as long as you live. And you will call me Master."

"Thank you," Loki whispered.

The bat smiled, running his fingers over the ferret's slender frame. Loki squirmed in his lap with soft squeaks, feeling usually sensitive to the soft touch. The bat's paws gradually eased lower until they reached Loki's hips, feeling distinct warmth rising from the ferret's body. Curious, he slipped a paw into the ferret's lap, and was greeted by a firm bulge. The touch made Loki gasp, his hips pushing against the bat's fingers.

"Well, now. It would seem that someone got excited by that little bite."

Loki nodded gently as the bat spoke to him. He kept still, though, allowing Vladimir to remain in complete control. The bat grinned, pushing his fingers down against Loki's lap and kneading back and forth. The ferret whimpered sweetly, feeling his erect length straining against his pants.

"Already all wound up for another go? Surprising, after what little Ichi did," he chuckled. "But I suppose if you're that eager, I won't deny myself the pleasure."

As Loki shifted around in the bat's lap, he became aware that he clearly wasn't the only one excited. He could feel a firming bulge beneath him, the bat's hips lightly rubbing against his body. He decided to return the bat's generosity, grinding his hips back and forth over the bulge. Vladimir growled into his ear, the tip of his tongue slipping out to gently lick over the edge of Loki's ear.

"Stand up, boy," the bat eventually ordered, uncurling his wings from around Loki's body.

Loki was reluctant, but he nodded. He slipped out of the male's lap and stood up, turning to face him. He bit his lower lip and blushed, his erect member pushing against his pants, forming a distinct tent. The bat chuckled as he reached up to give Loki's lap a gentle pat. He slowly rose to his feet, stretching himself out. The fancy clothing he was wearing concealed his toned body from view, however.

"Remove my pants, Loki," the bat instructed.

The ferret nodded, hesitating for a moment. He felt oddly compelled to heed Vladimir's wishes, however, sinking to his knees. The bat reached down to rub his fingers over the back of Loki's head, encouraging him to continue. The ferret unbuckled the dark belt and loosened it, then unbuttoned the bat's pants. His fingers trembled nervously as he loosened the dark pants, then eased them off the bat's hips.

Loki was startled to find that the bat wasn't wearing anything beneath his pants. A semi-erect red member stood proudly in front of him, almost beckoning to the ferret. He lifted his head up gaze up at Vladimir, as if to ask him what he should do next. The bat gently coaxed his head closer, meeting the ferret's gaze with a warm smile.

"Give it a lick, Loki. You're going to want to make sure it's slick, for what I have planned."

There was a moment of hesitation. Loki wasn't entirely sure what to do, but he didn't want to further question the bat. He inched forward on his knees, then reached up. He stroked a paw softly over the bat's exposed flesh, drawing an approving growl from the male. He could smell the bat's musk rising from his lap, the scent rich and inviting. He wrapped his fingers around the base and leaned in closer, flicking out his tongue. The length was warm and slightly slick, pulsing gently when Loki licked it.

A slick bead of saltiness greeted Loki when his tongue brushed over the tip of the bat's length. He perked up a little at the taste, finding it to be surprisingly appealing. He lapped directly over the tip several times, causing the bat to let out a shaky groan of pleasure. He nudged the back of Loki's head, encouraging the ferret's curious exploring. Loki's lips parted as he suckled over the tip of the bat's length, trying to imitate Ichi's actions that he had enjoyed so well. He slurped lightly, his eyes closed as he felt the bat's warm flesh pulsing against his lips.

The bat pushed against Loki's head, coaxing the ferret's lips farther onto his length. Warm droplets of drool leaked from the corner of the ferret's muzzle, dripping down the moist length. The bat's hips gently ground against his lips, easing a bit more of that pulsing shaft into the warm muzzle. Loki eased forward until he felt the bat's tip poke the back of his throat, pausing for a moment. He gulped lightly, but backed up abruptly when his throat tightened with an audible gag.

Vladimir gently kneaded the back of Loki's neck, chuckling down at him. "Just take it easy, boy. We'll have you swallowing that eventually. You just need a little practice."

Loki's ears perked at the bat's words, a warm flush rushing over his face. The implication there gave him a good idea of what was in store for him. He made a squeaking sound when the bat pulled his hips back, tugging his erect length from Loki's muzzle with a wet slurp. The surface glistened with slick drool, another drop of pre beading up at the tip. It hesitated a moment before dripping down the underside of the bat's shaft, leaving a thick trail.

"I think that's good enough, Loki," the bat cooed. Vladimir reached back, resting his winged arms on the chair. He sat back, spreading his legs a bit as his reddish length stood proudly between his legs. "Now, remove your clothes, and come sit in my lap."

The ferret bit his lip nervously, but did as he was told. He undid his pants and let them slip free, stepping out of them. He stood before the bat in his hoodie and boxers, an erect reddish-pink length poking out beneath the waistband. He pulled his hoodie over his head, dropping it on the floor on top of his pants, then did the same with his shirt. He ran his fingers along the edge of his boxers, watching the bat idly stroke himself.

"Go on, Loki. Boxers come off, too," the bat urged.

Nodding gently, the ferret's fingers curled around his boxers and slid them down, exposing his erection to the bat. He shuffled his feet lightly as he tugged his boxers completely off, kicking them to the side. The bat's eyes examined his nude body, an inviting grin spreading over his lips. Vladimir moved his fingers away from his own erect length, giving his thigh a gentle pat. Loki gulped lightly, but moved closer. He turned and eased himself onto the soft chair, seated between the bat's parted thighs. He could feel the heat rising from the bat's groin, inviting him to scoot back.

Loki moved to slide back, but the bat was less patient. The male's hands reached down and gripped the boy's hips, sliding him back abruptly until that erect flesh was firmly pushed against his lower back and buttocks. He shifted a bit, causing his soft fur to rub over the bat's shaft. The bat's fingers remained on his hips, squeezing gently.

"Up on your knees, boy," he said firmly.

Loki nodded, pulling his legs onto the chair. He knelt before the bat, facing away from him. His tail flicked, brushing over the bat's chest through his shirt. Vladimir squeezed the ferret's hips as he pulled the boy closer, raising the ferret's rump so it was hovering over his pulsing length. The bat eased him closer until his erect tip nestled between Loki's fuzzy cheeks, poking up against his warm pucker. He felt Loki tense up, pushing his dripping length against the entrance.

"Jut relax, Loki," he whispered reassuringly.

"I-I've never done this," he admitted.

Vladimir smiled, hunching over the ferret to kiss his neck. "You'll be moaning my name by the time we're done."

Loki opened his mouth to reply, but he was cut off when the bat pushed his hips forward. He tensed firmly, his backside clenching when the taper of the bat's length squeezed into his body. He bit his lip to muffle a pained gasp, feeling the bat's hard length squeezing in. The large male paused once the head of his shaft was nested inside of the boy, allowing the ferret a few more moments to relax.

The large bat leaned down, licking Loki gently between the ears. He growled softly to the ferret, waiting for the tight clench to relax before he pushed his hips forward again. His length slowly snaked its way deeper into the boy's bowels, stretching his entrance wider around the thick shaft. Loki gasped quietly as he felt the throbbing flesh sinking deeper into his body, pushing and prodding at him in a way he'd never experienced. It made him squirm in the bat's lap, unintentionally impaling himself farther on the erect shaft.

Vladimir didn't stop until Loki was resting flush against his lap, the ferret's tight passage squeezing over the length of his shaft. His fingers softly caressed over the boy's hips, then upward to his waist. The soft touch made Loki shiver, lifting his hips away from the bat's lap a few inches. The large male pulled gently on Loki's waist, nudging him back down onto his shaft in a smooth motion.

The ferret bit his lip as he reached down, spreading his legs a bit wider and resting his paws on the bat's thighs. This experience was entirely new to him, but he knew that he wanted more. The unusual sensation that he felt with the bat's length buried deep in his bowels was surprisingly pleasant, his shaft dripping with excitement. He pushed against his master's thighs and lifted his hips, slowly easing that thick length out of his body.

The bat groaned approvingly as Loki moved, surprised at how eager the ferret was being. Normally he had to guide inexperienced boys and coax them to move. He did grip Loki's hips firmly when the ferret nearly popped his length free, however. He chuckled under his breath, licking the ferret gently behind an ear.

"Don't get too overzealous, boy," he whispered softly.

Loki nodded softly, pushing his hips downward. His back arched as the bat's thick length dove into his body, a spurt of slick pre lubricating the way. The ferret trembled gently as he lifted his hips once more, working into a slow, steady rhythm of bouncing in the bat's lap. Vladimir allowed Loki to have control of the motions for the moment, rubbing his fingers over the boy's hips as he moved.

A shiver ran up his back as Loki squeezed himself over the bat's length, his bowels gripping the bat's shaft firmly. His slender body arched and shuddered with pleasure as he steadily worked up and down the pulsing flesh. He kept his paws firmly rested against the bat's thighs for leverage, resisting the urge to reach up and paw his dripping shaft. The bat seemed to read his desires, however, slipping a paw away from Loki's hip. Vladimir gently curled his fingers around Loki's length, causing the ferret to cry out and momentarily lose his rhythm.

Loki pushed his hips forward, driving the bat's shaft into his prostate as he pushed his own member into the bat's fingers. He clenched tightly around Vladimir's length, causing the bat to let out a shaky groan. The firm squeeze over his shaft encouraged the bat to thrust, lifting his hips away from the chair to force himself deep into the ferret's body in a rapid motion. Loki moaned again, his body bouncing when the bat's hips pushed him.

The large bat began to rock his hips into Loki's body, shadowing the ferret's riding with firm thrusts. He squeezed his fingers around the ferret's shaft snugly, letting his motions push the pulsing length through his grip. Loki attempted to maintain his passionate rocking, but the bat's thrusts easily broke his rhythm. He gave in to the pleasure, letting his master take control. He closed his eyes and laid back, moaning sweetly as the bat began to thrust into him in earnest.

Vladimir adjusted himself, sinking lower into the chair to accommodate the change in position. He slipped an arm around Loki's waist, hugging the boy's body against his chest. He stroked over Loki's shaft then resumed his rhythmic thrusts into the ferret's rump. The ferret's body rubbed up against Vladimir's chest as the bat pounded into his rump, feeling the pleasure building quickly. He wasn't sure how long he would last with the bat diligently stroking him, but he didn't seem to mind one way or another. His mind was swimming with passion, and he wanted nothing more than to please the bat.

The large male knew that the boy wouldn't be able to hold out long. He picked up the pace accordingly, his thick length squeezing into the ferret's body with soft slurps. As tight as the ferret was, Vladimir wasn't sure he would be able to hold himself back, either. The slickened flesh was squeezing and rippling over his shaft, encouraging him to thrust harder. He leaned down and licked over the ferret's neck as he began to ram his length into the boy, sending the ferret into a fit of moans and squealing.

"M-master, I'm going to...mmh..." Loki whimpered loudly, unable to finish as a wave of pleasure rushed over him.

The bat's fingers squeezed firmly around Loki's length, feeling the shaft throbbing as the ferret rose quickly to climax. He licked over the ferret's neck, gently matting down the soft fur. His hips slammed forward into the boy with each motion, burying every inch of his length into Loki's bowels. The ferret cried out as his body tensed, his tight passage clamping down tightly around the bat's shaft.

The ferret panted heavily, his heart pounding as he erupted with hot seed. His second orgasm of the evening was far stronger than his first, flooding his head with passion. His hips rocked erratically, grinding his length against the bat's fingers, but also pushing himself down against the bat's pounding shaft.

Loki was too lost in pleasure to feel the bat's mouth spreading over his neck. He continued to grind himself over the bat's length to draw out the intense pleasure, painting his belly and the bat's fingers with his creamy seed. He became aware of a soft pressure against his neck as the bat's sharp fangs pricked his sensitive skin, gasping softly.

Vladimir growled hungrily as he bit down firmly, sinking his fangs deep into the boy's neck. His thrusts became rapid and short as he brought himself swiftly to climax, the taste of the boy's blood enhancing the pleasure. He began to drink as his shaft throbbed, bursting with sticky seed deep inside the ferret's bowels. The bat's eyes closed, panting through his nose as he chewed softly on the ferret's neck to coax the warm, crimson fluid into his throat.

The ferret sighed heavily as afterglow washed over him, falling blissfully silent as his master fed. A strange, comforting aura embraced him as he felt his blood being drained, his head growing fuzzy from the intense climax, coupled with the gradual drop in blood pressure. The large bat gulped softly, slowly withdrawing his fangs from Loki's neck. His tongue licked over the twin wounds as they bled, the flow slowing as they began to heal over.

The bat could feel Loki's body settling into a deep relaxation, embracing him fondly. He raised his sticky paw and held it in front of Loki's muzzle, his fingers matted with the ferret's sticky seed. Loki's eyes peeked open at the smell, blushing deeply at the offer. He hesitated for a moment, but leaned forward and began to lick. His tongue lapped over the bat's fingers, sweeping away the milky ropes.

The bat's arm joined the first once Loki sufficiently cleaned his hand, hugging the ferret against his body. He left his length buried deep inside of the ferret's body, swallowing one last time once the bite wounds were fully healed over. He licked over the matted area once more, smoothing down the ferret's fur, then laid back in his chair.

Loki settled comfortably against the bat, struggling to remain awake. It was getting late enough that he was tired to begin with, but the evening's activities left him thoroughly exhausted. The most notable was the loss of blood due to the bat feeding from him. His eyes fluttered as his head bobbed, snapping up periodically.

"Shh, just relax and sleep, my pet," the bat purred. "I'll keep you safe in my arms while you rest."

The bat's words were like magic. Loki's eyes drifted closed once again, but this time they didn't reopen. His head settled back against the male's shoulders, his body growing still. Within minutes he was drifting off into a deep slumber, embraced by a caring master. The bat chuckled quietly to himself, giving the ferret a kiss on the neck.

"Such a sweet boy. You'll be a lovely addition to my harem..."