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A Word from the Author:

It's Christmastime and I haven't really been feeling much in the spirit to write my normal kind of writing. Fans of Failed Containment will find this story to be a vastly different tone from my previous work. Heavy violence and dark themes don't exactly go hand in hand with the Christmas spirit. So, in light of the holidays, I bring you To Serve Gods. A lighthearted tale of a small catboy who receives a strange job offering to an enigmatic estate: Redrose Manor. I hope you enjoy it and have fun reading the introductory tale of Felix Cheshire. Thank you all for reading, and have a Merry Christmas, everyone!

To Serve Gods

Chapter 1 - Felix's New Job

A short, black-haired catboy walked past a wrought iron gate that read 'Redrose Estates.' The sun beamed bright and shining, though courteous enough to avoid glaring from a behind a screen of white, fluffy clouds. On top of the hill sat a white-washed mansion. The catboy sighed as he noted the tall arcing windows, it meant he would be spending hours on top of a ladder cleaning them.

His ears perked in step with the sound his rubber soles made against the concrete as he walked up the long, winding, red stone path. He dragged his wheeled suitcase behind him, a hulking black trunk that stood almost as tall as he was, and almost wider. He reached into his suit jacket, ensuring the letter was still there. It had arrived one day without warning, but it wasn't even delivered. Felix found it, addressed to him on the doormat as he stepped outside.

It had been quite a curiosity, the catboy never received mail, let alone in such a fashion. He was used to collecting mail and receiving packages, finding a letter addressed to him was a shock when he'd stumbled across it. It had been sitting there face up, perfectly centered on the doormat with his name clear as day. Felix Cheshire.

The letter contained a job offering. Felix was usually subject to whatever assignments the Agency decided to send him on, but the catboy felt a strong pull urging him to take the job. The job offered room, board, and from the figures offered, it seems the catboy would be well-paid for his service.

The Agency was more than understanding. Some told him it was a high honor to receive such a letter. Apparently a number of former Agency employees had received similar letters. Others told him it was a curse and urged him not to go. The only thing that could be agreed on, was that there had never been a case where a Butler or Maid had returned to the Agency's employ once the job was accepted. The debate was that either the job was so good that those who took it were set up for life and retired well, or that it was so heinous as to make someone swear off of domestic service altogether.

The mild sense of foreboding was not enough to drive away Felix's curiosity. No, the catboy walked up to the large, white painted wooden doors. He looked upward, craning his neck to see the top. He let out another sigh. It seemed he would need a large ladder if he was going to wipe down the top of the door. Felix reached inside of his jacket to withdraw the letter with his white-gloved hand. He looked down to inspect his black jacket and slacks for any dust or grass. He noted the polish on his shoes was a little faded, but he'd hoped that would be forgiven. He'd walked from the bus stop. Satisfied with his appearance, Felix palmed the letter, affixed his top hat, and rang the doorbell. His top hat was two sizes too big for his head, but he wore it anyway.

Immediately, the door was opened by a tall, silver wolf in a white suit. He stood erect and poised, barely tilting his neck to look down at Felix. The catboy looked up with wide yellow eyes, his fur standing on end. "H-Hello." he said nervously, his ears pressing against his head in his anxiety, making his top hat wiggle a bit. "I received this letter in the mail." Felix held out the letter, a red rose emblazoned on the fold. "It said to report to Master Zera if the job offer was accepted."

"Yes, that would be me." the silver wolf said. "I have been expecting you." His voice was deep, his face betraying of any emotion.

Felix gave a bow, his oversized top hat falling over his eyes. "A pleasure to meet you, Master Zera."

"You don't have to call me Master." Zera said aloofly, stepping aside to allow Felix inside. The catboy went for his trunk, but a sharp tone stopped him in his tracks. "Leave it." Zera said, then started walking.

Felix was conflicted, his ears twitching uncertainly. Everything he owned was inside the trunk, and he was just ordered to leave it on the doorstep. Was this a test? Was there some sort of mistake? The letter asked for him by name, even said there would be no application process. Perhaps Zera simply changed his mind upon looking at little Felix. Whatever the case, Felix did as he was bidden. His ears pressed against his head once more, and he left his trunk on the outside entryway, closed the door, and headed inside.

Inside the mansion, the foyer opened up into a wide expanse. A huge living room lined with decorative art, dark leather sofas, soft cushioned chairs, tables and stands, and a gargantuan rug under it all. Felix guessed Persian. Anyone else would have seen the lavish decorations of a room that could have only been designed if someone were put money completely out of their mind. Felix saw dozens of breakable objects that would have to be dusted, and furniture he would have trouble moving when he tried to clean the rug. A fireplace that took up an entire wall crackled happily, adding to the décor. Felix saw soot and char that would need to be scrubbed from the large brick hearth. The one art piece that intrigued him, was a life-sized sculpture that stood on a white marble stand that read: "The Lady In Black: A Tribute To The Great Sculptor Pygmalion". Felix looked at the sculpture, a human with Greek features. Her skin was carved smooth, without any cracks or tool marks. The sculptor also did not appear to carve clothes on her. Instead, she was garbed in a long black dress, and Felix was reminded of a mannequin he might see outside of a dress shop. She even seemed to be wearing a life-like wig on top of her marble head, judging from the long black hair that hung down, twitching in the slightest movement of air from the fireplace.

The catboy took off his hat, and returned his attentions to Zera explain the layout of the mansion. "The guest rooms are on the second floor. Don't go into them unannounced. The showers, the closets where we keep towels and such, and the secondary common room." Felix looked up, above the common room was a balcony that looked down upon it. Anyone walking around on the second floor could be seen from the main room, and anyone in the common room could be seen from above. Felix sighed. His hopes of being able to clean privately were dashed. He noted something the silver wolf said, and dared to interject when it seemed Zera was not going to explain. "Guests, sir?"

The wolf nodded, halting his layout explanation. "Yes, Redrose Mansion is host to many guests."

"How many is many, sir?"

"Twenty five or so."

"T-Twenty five, sir?" Felix asked, a bit alarmed. His ears twitched frantically. Zera nodded. "The Mansion plays host to many guests who come and go. If you assumed it was a private residence, then I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Redrose Mansion operates as a sort of... Hostel for special clientèle." Felix assumed special meant filthy, stinking rich. "I assume the clientèle are to be treated as respectfully as if they were living here, sir?" the catboy asked. Zera nodded in the affirmative. "Quite."

Felix took a deep breath. The thought of serving so many people on top of keeping the house clean served as an explanation as to why exactly the job paid so much, not to mention why it was a live-in job. With that much to do, Felix would be needing the better part of the days. Without having to waste time on commuting, Felix would be able to have that much more time to attend his duties.

Zera continued to talk until Felix understood his duties and the basic layout of the Mansion. "You have the rest of the day to settle in. You start in the morning." Zera finished speaking. Felix nodded. "Thank you, Sire." he said, acknowledging Zera as his new employer. "Where will I be sleeping?"

"Third floor, turn left." The silver wolf answered. Felix withheld a groan, his ears pressing against his head in exasperation. Carrying his trunk up three flights of stairs was not going to be fun. As if sensing his thoughts, the wolf continued, "Your effects have been taken care of."

Felix was surprised. He'd not heard the door open or close. Perhaps he was just distracted. "Which room is mine, Sire?" he asked.

"The one with your trunk in it." Zera said plainly. Felix could not tell if this was a joke or not. Instead, he merely bowed. "Yes, Sire."

Felix made his way up to the third floor after bidding Zera a good day. He walked up the stairs, and turned left. The hallways were just as lavishly decorated as the common room, to Felix's exasperation. More things to dust. He made his way to the room with the only open door, to find a room that could put the master bedroom of his old assignment to absolute shame. If the hallways and common room were any indication, Felix was surprised to see that his room was almost equally lavish. However, what the room lacked in decorative bric-a-brac, it made up for in the rug, the bed, the drapes, and the bathroom joined to his room. He saw no other doors in the white marble room, which meant he had it to himself. The tub itself could have easily fit three of him. Felix looked around in silent wonder, if this was the help's room, he didn't want to imagine the guest rooms.

Felix gave an exited laugh as he bounced around his room, inspecting everything. Normally, he'd have preferred a plain, ordinary room without anything for him to clean or dust in it. However, the sheer extravagance won the catboy's sensibilities. Reasoning that this was a room he wouldn't have to clean every day, he decided that the luxury was worth it. There was a small fear in the back of his mind that someone might have made a mistake and given him a guest room, but Zera had said his room was on the third floor, and all the guest rooms were on the second.

Felix immediately jumped onto his bed, not bothering to take off his clothes. He was weary from the travel, and he figured a brief indulgence wouldn't hurt anything. He buried is face in the pillows, finding them soft as down.

It was hours later that Felix opened his eyes. The window in his room told him it was dark already. "Damn it!" he cursed to himself as he pushed himself off of the bed. His feet stumbled, asleep from being dangled over the bed to prevent his shoes from getting on the blanket. Felix caught himself on the bedpost. He didn't have to work, but he had meant to give the place a thorough look over before he started in the morning. It seemed Felix would have to get a feel for the place in the dark.

His outfit bore a few mild wrinkles, for which he was thankful. He'd hoped it would help the illusion that he had been doing more than sleeping. Felix stretched out, then set to wandering. His ears perked at the sound of voices as he exited his room. He moved to the corridor, which led out into an even higher balcony that looked down at the common room. He could even see the second floor balcony from his perch. For now, everyone he could see was on the ground floor.

Zera stood at the door, conversing with a casually dressed lizard girl.

"How long has she been gone?"

"All day."

"And you're sure you saw her with... him?"

"Clear as day. They were giggling like teenagers."

"Ugh, another headache from her."

"Sally's good at those, Z."

Felix's eyes moved from Zera and the lizard girl toward the group of people milling around the common room. Nowhere near Zera's prediction of twenty five, there was about four more people lounging around the fire. A male fox stood close to the fire, apparently warming himself, conversing with the rabbit girl lazing sideways on the couch. Lounging in a chair, his sneakers resting on the edge of a table was a raccoon. The final resident was what caught Felix's attention, a naga. A humanoid yet reptilian woman from the waist up, yet a long powerful snake-like tail below that. She seemed to sit on her own coils as close to the fire as she could get.

Felix craned over the railing to get a better look. He'd heard tell of nagas in the East, but he'd never seen one up close. The leather of his white gloves creaked against the carved wood railing. The raccoon looked up. "So, uhhh... There's a suit looking down your shirt, Vick." the raccoon said. Everyone but the rabbit girl looked up to the third floor at Felix.

Felix was taken aback. His black ears immediately stood straight up as Felix took a few steps backward from the railing. "Oh! But, I wasn't-"

The catboy's meek voice was cut off by a sultry laugh from the rabbit girl, who seemed to stick her chest out, with a wistful sigh. "Oh, let him look. Am I to fault someone for appreciating true beauty?" she said sultrily before tilting her head to look up at Felix. She was lounged on her back, her arms raised, one leg bent slightly, she looked like a model posing for a shot. From what he could tell by the loose purple pajamas she wore, she had the body for it. Still, the catboy tried pleading his innocence to the chorus of laughter. The group continued their conversations as if Felix had never been there.

"So, Z. Who's the suit?" the raccoon asked loudly.

"New butler." Zera answered in the same plain tone he always carried,

"Oh?" the rabbit said again, her eyes raising towards Felix, who stood at the balcony frozen. "Hired help. At least this one's cute."

"Fresh meat, more like." the fox said with a laugh. "Zera, does he even know?"

"He does not." the silver fox answered.

"So he really has no idea?" the naga woman chimed in.

"Nope." Zera said.

"Not a single clue?" the raccoon asked.

"Not a one." Zera said again.

The lizard girl grinned toothily up at Felix. "Oh, this is just a treat. Where did you find him?"

"He actually came highly recommended by the agency. Said he was the best they'd seen in years."

"Little guy like that?" the naga woman asked.

"Must be really good at... butlering." the racoon interjected.

Felix stood frozen at the balcony, his ears twitching in embarrassment as the group talked about him as if he were not present. He steeled his nerves and his dignity, and the catboy made his way down the stairs. Once he reached the bottom, he gave a bow to the assembled group. "Esteemed guests of the house. My name is Felix Cheshire, and I will be in charge of the domestic duties of the house. I am sure it will be a pleasure to serve all of you."

The lizard girl grinned even wider. "Just. A. Treat." Felix's ears twitched nervously.

Zera looked over to Felix. "You get settled in?" The catboy regained his composure and bowed again. "Yes, Sire. I did, thank you." The silver wolf seemed satisfied, and looked away. The raccoon broke out into laughter. "Ha! Did you just say 'Sire'?"

The catboy looked to the raccoon and nodded. "Of course. It is always respectful to address your superiors with a title." Felix said. The raccoon laughed harder. "Kid, you know that he don't care, right? You could call him fuckface and he wouldn't give two shits. Ain't that right, fuckface?" the raccoon said, starting to laugh again.

There was a sharp THUD, proceeded by a large screech from the raccoon as a knife landed blade-first into the table. "EEY!" The blade quivered from the force, having struck clean through the shoelaces of the raccoon, considering he'd been propping his feet up on the very table. Felix's ears twitch again as he looked how deep the knife embedded. It was going to be a nightmare if he had to try and fix it.

"Thank you, Holt." Zera said with apparent satisfaction, looking up to the rafters. Felix followed his gaze. At first he saw nothing, but then it seemed as if a shadow was moving from rafter to rafter.

"Take a joke, asshole! These were new shoes!" the raccoon called up to the rafter shadow.

"Don't talk shit to the man who can throw you out on your ass." a gravelly voice wafted down from the rafters.

"Pfft. Zera's a big softy. Everybody knows that. That's why he needs to send his pet roof ninja to do his dirty work."

The lizard girl laughed. "I think Zera can take you. An upstart raccoon is somewhere between an ant and a flea compared to a seraph."

Felix's ears twitched in confusion. "Seraph..." he said to himself, a faint whisper drowned out by the conversation. The catboy shook his head, figuring the word had some different connotation. Felix made his way to the door, and proceeded to open it.

"Going somewhere?" Zera asked in a tone that was more of a statement.

"I just thought I'd take a look around the grounds."

"It's dark."

"Yes, Sire." Felix said simply.

"...Okay." Zera said before turning back to the lizard girl.

Felix exited the mansion, and wandered the grounds. He was looking for something specific, and he cried out when he found it. "Yes, that's perfect!" he said as he moved his way to a large sycamore surrounded by foliage. He ducked behind the tree, placing the trunk to his back between him and the lights of the mansion. He reached inside his jacket pocket and withdrew a small case. He opened the silver snaps, and opened it. Inside, cradled in a black cushion were three cigarettes and a lighter.

Felix withdrew a cigarette and placed it between his lips. Covering the light from the flame, he brought it to the end of the cigarette, and took a deep breath. A relaxing sensation flooded the catboy's mind, easing the stress of the day. Traveling was always stressful, trying to keep his suit clean and presentable for a first impression. The thought of having to dust every object d'art inside, the jokes and the unnerving comments about his lack of knowledge. The world was dark, but everything seemed a bit brighter as Felix steadily burned down the cigarette. He kept the smoke downwind of himself, careful not to get any on his clothes. It did not do well for a domestic servant to smell of smoke.

Felix finished up the cigarette, and with a flick of his fingers, knocked the embers off. He quickly squashed the tiny orange glows under his heel before replacing the spent filter back into the cigarette case. He refused to litter on the grounds. It was right about the time that Feles stepped out from behind the tree that there was a large fireball that blasted the front doors off of its hinges.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Felix exclaimed as he watched as one of the flaming wooden doors sailed right at him. Cat reflexes managed to do their work as Felix dived out of the way of the fiery door that threatened his life. Felix ran towards breakneck speed, wondering if there had been a gas explosion. He would try to save anyone he could from the burning house.

Felix arrived to the door out of breath and covered in grass stains. The door frame was bent and seemed to sport tiny flames, but when Felix peered into the house, there was naught out of place. The same people were lazing about as before, with no one seeming to have paid any attention to the explosion.

"...the bottom line is, you went to Inferno without permission." came the voice of Zera.

Felix noticed a new face: a red-haired fox girl standing there in what looked like a hiking outfit. She was standing in front of Zera, holding what appeared to be a shotgun styled in the likeness of a wrought red dragon. It's mouth was open, the business end of the shotgun pointing out of it and right at Zera.

"Oh, stuff it, wings. You know you that's a bullshit rule."

"Travel to Inferno is restricted for a reason." Zera said calmly in the same mild tone he always carried. "Now, if you'll kindly lower your demonic trinket."

The fox girl smirked triumphantly. "Why? Scared I'll roast you with it right here?"

Zera seemed to roll his eyes as he stepped sideways, revealing Felix behind him. "A weapon like that couldn't possibly think to harm me, but I'm afraid if you fire it again, you'll roast our new Butler."

Felix's ears stood straight on end as Zera stepping out of the way meant the dragon gun was currently pointed straight at him, the foxgirl's finger still on the trigger. She looked at the catboy curiously, tilting her head so that the metal wings of the dragon did not obscure her vision of Felix. "New Butler?" she asked before grinning again. "He's cute. Where'd you dig him up?"

"Purgatorio." Zera said calmly.

Felix shuddered a bit with the weapon still trained on him. "I'm actually from Berkshire, Sire."

A laugh came from the fox, who had moved from the fire to a comfortable chair. "He means Earth, kid." Felix's ears twitched in confusion. "Umm... what?"

"Purgatorio is the realms of the Earth." came the voice of the naga. "Paradisio is the realms of Heaven, Inferno is the realms of Hell."

"...What!?" Felix exclaimed.

"Yeah, you haven't figured out that we're Outsiders?"

"Eh, outsiders?"

"Not from your world." the raccoon said. "Sheesh, next you'll tell us you haven't figured out that Z here is an angel."

Felix looked to Zera with an expression of extreme confusion. The raccoon continued, "And that red-haired bitch still pointing that gun at you is a demon."

Felix looked toward the red-haired fox girl, who grinned deviously at Felix from over her weapon. He started to back away as the girl laughed, "He IS cute."

"Put the weapon away, Sally." Zera said, shaking his head. With another laugh, the fox girl tilted her gun toward Zera. "I don't wanna."

"Do you want to be evicted? I can place a call to your superiors if you have a problem." Zera said, a growing exasperation was hinted in his voice.

"Fine fine fine. Run and tell my parents, why don't you?"

"I might."

"Yeah yeah yeah." Sally said as she hefted the gun over her shoulder. "Fuckin' narc."

"I can't have you endangering the new Butler before his first day of work."

Felix watched the events unfold, many questions brewing in his mind, but not wanting to interject. It would not have been proper for him to interrupt. Instead, one question pushed itself to the forefront of his mind. 'I'm going to be serving angels and demons?'

"And monsters, aliens, and beings from other planes of existence. This is a nexus hub for travelers between the Planes. If the task is too much for you, you can still refuse the job." Zera said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Felix's ears twitched again. "I didn't say anything, Sire."

"Oh yeah," the fox spoke up. "Z can read your mind. Don't worry, it's just as annoying to the rest of us." Zera ignored the fox as he stood to look down at the catboy in the doorway. "There is still time to refuse."

Felix shook his head as a headache started to well up. "I..." He said. He could leave right now. He could go back to the Agency and forget about Redrose Manner and all the insanity within. He'd been there less than a day, and already his head was reeling. He could fetch his trunk, and be gone by sunrise, putting angels, demons, and whatever else resided within the mansion behind him. Still, something about the place interested him. A curiosity that refused to go away. Despite the absurdity of what he was just told, and the plain-as-day evidence that the simple catboy was in way over his head, Felix felt compelled to stay. The life of a butler was not glamorous. What was waiting for him at the Agency was a lifetime of hard work for rich people that might do him the courtesy of learning his name if it was a particularly good day. But to be butler of this madhouse? There was at least the promise of adventure in that.

"I do not think this will be a problem." Felix said with a bow. "I look forward to being of service to Redrose Manner."

Sally grinned evilly. "Oh he is TOO cute."

"Hands off for now, Sally. He has work in the morning." Zera said.

"Buzzkill." Sally said as she turned to walk off. She paused to flip her hair over her shoulder at Felix, "See you around, kitty~" she said salaciously as she walked off. Felix then turned to Zera, "I think I will head off then to get ready for tomorrow, Sire."

Zera nodded. "Okay." Felix bowed to the silver wolf, and then headed off. Felix disappeared up the stairs as the guests of the house went back to their lounging.

****

Shortly after Felix left the common room, Zera had decided to sit in the biggest, most comfortable chair. He was lounging with his eyes closed before a sharp yell echoed from upstairs. Zera's eyes shot open and looked up to see a shadow snickering up in the rafters. "...Holt?" he asked tentatively.

"What?" came the gravelly voice.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Zera gave an exasperated sigh. "Really? Because it sounded like the alarmed scream of our new butler." The shadow stirred with another snicker. "Just continuing the time-honored tradition of fucking with the help." Zera sighed again. "What did you do?"

"Turned his water heater's thermostat so his shower was just north of freezing."

"Turn it back to normal."

"It is normal..."

"..."

"...For me."

"Ugh..."

"You heard him say he wanted to stay. Just giving him a little taste of what he's in for."

"..."

****

Felix Cheshire spent the night shivering, having wrapped himself in as many blankets he could find in his linen closet in a desperate attempt to get warm.