Valentine- Past, Present, Future

Valentine

Work. More work. There's always work. And, look, I don't mind it, except, I do. I don't work your fucking typical office job.

My fuck-ass job is a shitty high up position in an experimentation facility that literally no one aside from incredibly high up people, know about.

These fuckers brought me here because of my intelligence and, told me 'you're an incredible asset to the team, and we'd love to have you. The pay is 600,000$ a year, with added benefits and pay raises as you incline in positional hierarchy.'

Fun, right? Now, I had planned to reject them, but the 600,000 dollars whispered my name so seductively that I hadn't even realized I had agreed, until I had signed the paper. Now, my dumbass self decided to not read the fine print, because 'anything is easy enough when you're getting paid 6 figures!'

I was wrong.

Boy, was I wrong.

The first day I got there had been the most traumatic moment in my life, up until then. Animals, creatures, humans, and….not humans?they were chained up everywhere. Cell, after cell. I was thrown into a world where I had to experiment on them. I had to hurt them and hunt them simply for these higher powered fucks satisfaction.

The first few months, I was vomiting every meal up, anytime I'd experiment. And soon after that, I managed to control it. I slowly built a poker face. I stayed quiet, doing what needed to be done, when it needed to be done. Obviously, we didn't get any magical creatures in too often, due to the difficulty of catching them. I was eternally grateful, for that. That didn't mean we didn't have any, though.

Each month we brought in around 6-7 creatures. It was sickening. They were hunted for experiments, and each one walked in unaware of what would happen.

After some time, I finally got sick of the job. I knew I didn't have a way out, but I didn't know how to make things better.

I was contractually obligated to stay.

Fine print.

Each fight I had to pit, each shot, each cut, each stab, each bloody mess that I'd made and still have to make, left another scar across my soul. I was devastated each time I was put to work.

After countless nights of going home and sobbing myself to sleep, I finally made up my crazy mind. I figured that my options were to stay and do nothing and die, or to leave and die due a mysterious disappearance. (Considering I worked for secret Intel, and would be considered a breach if I left.)

OR, I could save who I could, when I could, by climbing up the ranks and smuggling them out. Security wasn't ever as tight as needed to be, due to the egotistic jerks who thought they could handle the 'experiments' all on their own.

This benefitted me.

Each day, I climbed, and each day I worked closer to freeing those who were wrongly imprisoned. Humans were typically too fragile and didn't survive, animals much the same. But the magical?

I could help them.

And I did.

The first few creatures I rescued were werewolves. We got lots of them in comparison, and because I was in charge of almost everything regarding the counting of the 'experiments', I got to lessen the count and trick everyone. The true average of wolf captures was around 6 a month, but the fake one was sometimes 1. I always did what I could to get them out.

After the werewolves, I managed to get a merman out, then a vampire. Each after another. Soon enough though, I faced another problem. My house couldn't fit enough.

I had to keep trying. Anything was better for them than dying.

One day, they brought in someone who looked human. He was tall, a Tan-ish color, with ankle long blonde hair. A beautiful man. He appeared human.

His eyes told a different story. He was angry, and wherever he was, little things changed. Temperature drops, water stopping, vials switched.

Small things. But I noticed.

One night I came to him after everyone had gone home. I offered him my hand. A way to freedom. And he took it. Albeit hesitantly.

I asked him if he was able to be...not human. He told me yes and changed his form, from man, to cloud. He hid in my duffel bag as I made my way through the facility.

I left.

Another one taken away safely.

When I got home, I pulled out the duffel bag and carried him inside. I set it down on my bed.

"You can come out now," I said. "It's safe."

He materialized there, a man once more.

"Why would you help me?" He looked at me wearily.

"I never read the fine print, and now I spend my life making up for it." I sighed.

"I don't have time for riddles, human, tell me why."

"Because I wanted to! Alright! Now you're free to leave once you're healthy. Besides, I have to get that collar off you."

He had a collar meant to suppress creatures, and the effect clearly took a toll. He also was visibly sick. Dehydrated, and hungry.

"Hurry up." He frowned. I gestured for him to follow and he did. I knew his face changed when he saw a group of different creatures all around my TV, and more in the kitchen.

"I am not the first."

"No. And you are not the last." I vowed.

"I see. Why do you do this? Would it not be easier to turn the other way?" He asked me, seeming genuinely curious.

"It would, but honestly, I'm contractually obligated to stay, and I'm not the type to stand around while others suffer, no less participate for fun. I didn't realize what I had signed when I signed my life away, and now I choose to make up for it." I gestured to the creatures around us. Some watched, some didn't care at all.

"Many here chose to stay, others left. My only problem is housing. I can't host many more. But I will figure it out. I don't know how. But…I will." I grabbed a pair of garden clippers after having disabled the collar. I clipped it off and got a look at his raw, red neck.

"Thank you." He nodded.

"You are hungry. What do you eat?"

"I do not eat typical food and nothing you could offer would help. Nothing you would offer, should I say."

"Try me. I don't even know what you are, so it's not like I can guess. I'm new to this whole, magical creatures thing." I huffed.

"I'm a djinn, darling." He chuckled. "And we feed off of magical contracts. We are incredibly magically adept."

"And how were you not able to escape then?" I raised an eyebrow.

"My magic was suppressed by that fucking collar." He glared at me.

"I apologize. Now, contracts. How exactly would we go about making one? It wouldn't be wise for me to send you away without proper health, and if you're as skilled as you saw you are, then I might be willing to make a deal." I proposed, watching him think.

"What would you want?"

"What do you think I need?"

"Look. I am willing to support what you are doing, consider it….my thanks for saving me the way you did. We will make a contract, without loopholes or word plays. I won't manipulate it. I propose that I create you a pocket world. A world that only you can enter. Hidden away from humanity and magical creatures alike. You would be the master of it. You would control everything."

"I appreciate this deal. I would also like funds to be able to provide for them, along with being the only person to grant anyone access to this world. That is what I want."

"I can agree to that."

And that was how the deal was made. This djinn, who I later learned was named Epiphanes, saved my life, and many others with his favor. I don't plan to go into great detail about the world. It will make more sense as we progress, I promise.

Now, onto present time. I had managed to work my way up to an incredible position. I even sat above most of the rich fucks that started this fucking facility. I oversaw everything. Whatever was done was done by me. And as I got to this position, Epiphanes further helped me by spreading the word through the magical communities that they needed to avoid the hunters. I gave him Intel on how to beat us, I gave him everything he needed for the magical world to combat against us.

Soon enough, we saw changes. Less new experiments. Less hunting trips. Less creatures to be tracked. Many were lost, and never found. Not everything was perfect though. There were still programs for reproduction set up. I couldn't override those without obviously declaring myself a rat, so I had to take the hit and let it go.

After Epiphanes had finished alerting the magical world, we lost lots of our contact. Neither of us were attached to the other, and we kept our relationship contractual. This meant that we typically didn't talk unless necessary. He could reach out to me, and I to him, but we never got coffee as friends and strolled around the park. He helped me because I saved him.

Now, with things finally going my way, I got more downtown at home. Since I was in such a high position, I no longer spent my days and nights at home, but rather, at Parkside Manor. A Manor house I had built as my home there. It was where I rehabilitated any new transfers to this world.

Those transfers, once healthy, could choose to stay or to go. They typically wanted to go off and back into their own habits, however. Each creatures upon entered agreed to not harass or harm each other due to their species, and have agreed to not hurt each other unless necessary. Food was provided for all, regardless of what kind was needed. I had saved many over the years here at the facility, and it paid off, seeing the home I'd built. Dragons, sirens, wolves, mermaids, mermen, satyrs, faeries, and more. They live here in harmony.

No one outside of those who lived here knew about this pocket world.

Well, aside from Epiphanes. But he doesn't count.

I've spent so long trying to protect this world, and I won't let it fail.

—---

Present day, Facility Experimentation Room

"Boss, please." one worker said. He pleaded to me as if he thought he could change my mind. I had once again lowered the budget for experiments.

"No, I won't discuss this further. Funds are running low and being given away too recklessly. Do what you can with what you have, or I'll simply take it all away." I glared at them, sneering.

"You can't!" A taller man said. His name tag said his name was Louis.

"Well, Louis, when you manage to secure a seat as head of the company, maybe you'll know what I can and can't do. Until then, get to work like the wage slave you are." I looked him up and down, before turning away. My coat fanned behind me.

"Sir!" He yelled again, but I ignored him. The plan had been going smoothly. I'd been communicating with Epiphanes on the next phase. We had gotten through the first step. The first step was for me to secure a position of power, and for me to develop my world. I officially named it 'Mythgard Hallow' which sounded cheesy, but y'know. I couldn't think of anything better. I never really called it that though. It was just a fancy name to make people and creatures WANT to be here.

I, personally, referred to it as a shifting realm, due to its ability to flux into…. Anything, really.

The Realm has been solidified, but it took a good few years for it to finally work as I wanted. A part of Epiphanes' gift was that I would now be able to wield magic. Incredible magic. Something about me being able to harness Dark and Light alike. I didn't really listen to his lectures much though.

He told me that I was now what was considered a wizard. A magical, but otherwise typical guy. However, the perk of being a wizard is that along with magic, I also had a prolonged life.

That didn't matter much, though, since my life was tethered to The Realm. As long as it stood, I would too. Agelessly. It was weird, honestly.

Some days I'd look in the mirror and…. You'd think immortality is great, but it kind of hurts to see yourself every day, and know that nothing you do will progress your life. Not physically. You won't see what you could be because you're physically stuck in what you are now.

It was a…intriguing situation for sure.

However, it allowed me to do what I needed to. It allowed me to save those who were in need. Epiphanes laughed at me for my dream, a lot. But he just didn't get it.

I guess being an immortal creature all your life really does disconnect you from empathy for others.

He only saved me and these creatures because I helped him.

That's all.

I guess I felt a little sour, but I couldn't be too butthurt. Especially since he's continued to help, despite it being out of sheer boredom.

Since my magic was tied to the world, and I had to actually learn how to control it, the world was…shifty, the first two or three years of controlling it. I wasn't able to just let go of my emotions. I had to separate them from the world, or else what I felt would cause changed to the very makeup of it.

If I was too angry one day, and didn't actually separate myself from everything else, then things would happen. It started off small, but it got worse the more I let it happen. Anxiety that turned into anger caused thunder that turned into volcanic eruptions. Due to that, for lots of time, the residents there had a constant survival plan in case something happened.

I've gotten better at separation though. And it's not all bad.

Because my magic is connected to the Magia of The Realm, the good emotions transferred too. The creatures there could sense the Magia and therefore could sense what I felt.

They fed off my emotions.

If I was sad, they felt the shift in the Magia. They mourned with me. I knew it when I heard wolves howl as I cried to myself, and the creatures lined up at my door to check on me. Well, a few. Not a lot, but some. A satyr or two, and some wolves, typically.

If I was happy, they felt that shift as well. Roughhousing and play fighting, joyful laughter, and group gatherings on the good days were always welcome. Usually this happened after a new creature was successfully brought to their new home. It always made me happy. They also felt the shorter bursts of happiness when I did things I liked. Like getting food and going on a run.

We were all connected in a way, and it was nice. The Magia of the land always thrummed gently. I liked to think it comforts me when I'm sad, or mad. Anytime I wanna fight something, or cry, a part of me, deep inside, is comforted by a soft, foreign warmth that curled inside me. Almost as if it was telling me,

'Be still, you are safe. I am here.'

And it always helped.

Once I learned to control my magic, I used it to climb up the ranks at The Facility. I overthrew person after person and climbed my way to the top.

I completed the first phase today. When I finally lowered the budget to 20,000, rather than 200,000. With some magic, and compulsion, it went smoothly, for the most part.

This was one of those times that I felt that indescribable bundle of joy inside me. I was proud of what I'd done.

I called Epiphanes. I had gotten him a phone, and he'd loved it. Said it was the best thing humans had come up with since the creation of oats. Then he tried desserts, and said that was the best thing. So I guess his opinion was rather invalid.

"Yes, darling Valentine? Hurry it up, I have places to be." He snapped his fingers over the phone, sounded irritated.

"Oh yes, the Almighty immortal djinn is urgently needed." I rolled my eyes.

"I am! Excuse you…!" He said cattily. "In case you didn't know, I'm kind of a big deal where I'm from! I'm scheduled to meet with some very powerful people this afternoon, and I cannot be looking underdressed." He huffed over the phone.

"Okay, look." I paused, taking a breath. "Phase one is finished! I did it! I did it, oh, Epiphany! I did it!" I cheered, pumping a fist in the air. I heard a weary sigh over the phone.

"That's all you had to say?" I glared at the wall.

"You should be at least a little bit happy! I'm doing good!" I frowned.

"Look, darling, it's nothing against you. I simply couldn't care less then I already do. I only help you now because I'm bored."

"Well- fuck you too." I kicked back, laying my feet on my desk.

"Ah, no. I have no interest in your kind. Or, well, I believe the sex would be boring."

"Don't knock it till you've tried it." I shrugged. "Now, you're still keeping my world a secret, yes?"

"Of course I am, Valentine. I don't break my promises. I might twist them, but I have no need to speak of our deal to anyone anyways. A djinns deals are private, y'know. Now-"

Suddenly, I was in a huge temple, adorned with gold. The place was beautiful, and I'd been here before.

"Really, Epiphanes?" I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as he fluttered around the room. Appearing from one area to another in a cloud of golden smoke.

"Yes, really. I need to know. What color should my nails be? Black or gold?" He put his hands in front of me. I looked at his outfit.

"You have lots of gold already. Do them black, and if you want it fancy, give it gold accents. Want me to do your makeup?" I asked dryly. I figured I'd offer before being told to do it. It was never part of the deal, but he's really made me his own chore child. I do what he asks. Luckily, it isn't much. Stupid things like his nails.

"Oh, you are right as always Valentine. Gosh, for a human you are quite excellent at design!" He purred, leaning close before disappearing into a cloud once more. I found him sitting on his bed.

"Get to work, Valentine. I don't have all day." He closed his eyes.

He was using magic to animate the polish for his nails, so while both his hands were occupied, he wasn't actually doing anything.

I pulled out the supplies necessary from his makeup shelf. I'd since learned where everything was.

He handed me the phone, since he had apparently found some Pinterest pictures he'd loved. And….of course he chose complex shit.

I took 20 minutes to finish the makeup and when I was done he finally opened his eyes.

"You take forever." He groaned

"You live forever, so I feel as if you are exaggerating. Maybe if I was paid I'd work harder." I flipped him off. I was flipped over onto my back rather violently as a result. The familiar feeling of his magic washing over me.

"Well aren't you just a ball of sunshine." I grimaced as I stood up.

"Oh? You just figured that out? I didn't realize you were so slow." He sneered.

"Send me back before you go, please." I sighed.

"Of course. I wouldn't want to leave a human unsupervised in my temple, that is just a recipe for trouble!" He chuckled. He walked towards me and patted my back lightly. "Thank you for your assistance. And ...congratulations on your…achievement. I suppose it does mean something to you, so it's only fair that I support that. At least a little." He said tersely, not excited about sucking up his pride, but reasonable enough to do so.

"Thank you. You're very kind." I nodded.

"Would you like to be sent back to the facility, or to your world?" He asked me.

"Facility. Please. I have some things to wrap up there." And with that I was blitzed back. I cleaned up, signed out, and took my stuff away with me to my car. I drove for another hour into a large forest and only stopped when I reached a hidden undergrowth. It reeked of Epiphanes' magic, as he had enchanted it to be hidden and undetectable to anyone tohe them myself.

Safety and all that.

This was where the rift to The Realm was. It was a large tear in a fabric of reality. It was surrounded by overgrowth and covered in golden magical wisps that mimicked bindings.

They sensed my approach and all collectively pulled away, gathering in a ball, right in front of me. Aside from a few that spelled out the words;

"Blood, Flesh, Magical Signature"

These were the requirements to enter, and they all had to match me. Only I could open the rift. Well, maybe Epiphanes could. But he didn't count.

I sliced my hand, dripping blood onto the magical tendrils. They absorbed it and some of them slipped away, glowing as they returned to their posts near the rift.

I then sliced a small cut of skin off myself. I let out a shuddering sigh. It always hurts. More tendrils fell away as they verified my legitimacy. One wrapped around the cut and healed it.

At least Epiphanes was kind enough to fix the wounds.

Then, it moved away and returned to its post.

Afterwards, I pressed my hand as I channeled my magic. It thrummed inside me, and as usual, they glowed brightly before reappearing at the rift. The rift glowed before dimming, signifying that it was now open.

I walked through, leaving my car behind. I walked through the rift.

Believe it or not, it was actually about a 5 minute walk before I managed to get to Parkside Manor. The rift was a colorful, bright, golden and purple world that shimmered magnificently. It's magic thrummed and my body hummed in response. It was built off my magic, so of course it was going to respond to my presence. The first few times I did this were shocking, to say the least.

The downside is that only I can enter truly safely.

The ones I save need to be healthy enough to withstand the transfer, otherwise they could die. And if they were to wander in here, they could get lost and be stuck in an endless time warp until they eventually starve or die of dehydration.

This meant that I typically was left pumping magic into them in hopes that it would heal them enough that they could survive, and that my magic was present in them enough that the rift would be gentle to them.

It worked pretty well, for the most part. But the first few times were certainly scary.

I finished my walk and pushed through the other end of the rift, feeling slightly dizzy as I left. I walked out onto a stone platform that was surrounded by an enchanted rock circle, meant to keep out and warn those inside.

I didn't want anybody accidentally stumbling into the rift and getting lost. Especially those that were too young to understand the consequences.

I yawned and headed inside of the Manor house, walking up a bunch of winding stairs and to the top in the tower of the house. This was where my bedroom was. It was a huge room that was magically modified to expand to my needs. Regardless of how large it was inside, the outside appeared the same.

My room was nice because it provided me with a view of all the land around me, so that I could monitor it. Others saw me from down below and waved. I waved back and turned away, collapsing on my bed. I was exhausted after a day of work. It always left me pretty mentally strained.

Now, I am going to sleep. I'd take a nap and wake up soon to greet some of the residents as I go on my daily rounds. I like to check in on those that want to see me. Some creatures did want to be left alone, though, so I avoided them in respect. Some of the more independent creatures were like that.

I knew the others were excited to hear from me, after feeling my joyful magic for most of today, but I really needed some rest.

I plopped my head against a pillow, waved my hand and dimmed the room, before curling up in blankets and falling asleep.

I set a timer on my phone to wake me up in an hour before hand, so as to wake me up. It was the responsible thing to do.

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