Page 58 of Hollow

Dimitri put his phone away and got ready. “It is funny, only I seem able to handle the cold in this home.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Astaroth snarled. “Hell burns cold, and I relish the icy embrace of eternal death, but this particular host body functions best when I keep the temperature within certain parameters.”

“Fascinating.”

Dimitri passed more hours by taking a much longer hike with Astaroth than usual. They explored several trails they hadn’t taken in weeks. Astaroth talked the entire time about the best methods of torture and his plans for unleashing the apocalypse. The many horrors mentioned left little time for Dimitri to dwell on his own thoughts. Though he had hoped to listen in on the whispered dreams of the slumbering trees. They always got quieter during the winter, much like most of nature.

Dimitri stared up at the cloudy sky, wondering when Nikolai and his flock would return. He had missed his little murder of crows.

By the time they returned to the chateau, the sun had set, and the night sky had taken hold.

Dimitri returned to his bedroom and made his way into the master bath to shower off the grime of the day. If he had plans for a dinner date, he thought he should be presentable.

Once he hopped out, Dimitri air-dried for a bit in only a towel, until a knock on the door alerted him that date night would begin shortly.

Jack strutted into the room, dressed up in a white suit and red tie. Even his enchanted pumpkin was glamoured a light pink for the date.

“This is one fancy date, I take it.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day,” Jack said with this sickeningly sweet tone. “I never really do anything for Valentine’s; you know, the whole evil corporate holiday. Blah, blah, blah, but I figured, why not make it a little special? Like it could be fun, right?”

“Yes, very fun.” Dimitri gulped, wondering what was in store for tonight.

Jack pulled out a black dress shirt and matching slacks for Dimitri to put on. It was not the sort of outfit Dimitri would willingly wear, but he could make the sacrifice for Jack.

“Looking good,” Jack said as Dimitri fastened the belt around his slacks.

Normally, Dimitri tucked his tail away within his joggers, but these pants left little breathing room.

“No worries,” Jack said, tearing a small seam in the back. “I didn’t want to make it too big, so I figured we’d have you try them on first. Wouldn’t want your whole ass hanging out.”

Jack let out an awkward laugh, and Dimitri smirked. It was a nice gesture.

“Is this a place that requires both the shirt and the shoes for the service?” Dimitri asked as Jack finished buttoning up the tight dress shirt.

“Yes, you will have to wear shoes tonight.”

Dimitri lifted his head and sighed. “Ah, I suffer so for you.”

“Yes, yes, you endure so much for me, and I thank you for it,” Jack said teasingly. “Now, go put your slides on.”

The single slot sandals were the only footwear Dimitri didn’t entirely despise. They left room for his claws, they didn’t pinch his feet, and they were easy to slip off since the design didn’t wrap around his heels like most footwear. Still, Dimitri hated the oppressive feeling that came with any kind of shoes. It left him disconnected from the earth, a tiny buffer that felt infinite.

“I wear a shirt with the buttons and the pants with the fancy belt, and now I wear the fancy shoes.”

“These are in no way fancy shoes.” Jack side-eyed Dimitri. “These are fancy shoes.”

Jack flaunted his foot in the pointy, sleekly polished black leather dress shoes.

“Bah, all footwear is unnecessary.”

Jack grabbed a fancy jacket that matched Dimitri’s black slacks and tossed it on him. Dimitri pouted but did not resist as Jack shoved his arms through the sleeves and pulled them up over his shoulders.

“Look at you, Mr. Spiffy.”

“I hate it.”

“I know, and it means a lot that you’re dressing up just for me.”