Haley Thistle
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Valac the Demon: Part One (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2022-07-09 20:00:03 +0000 UTCThe Magician’s Treasure Tower was one of those strange small business mysteries. What had once been this hole in the wall hobby shop was now one of the most popular places in town. Over the years something took hold of that place and it grew, moving from a storefront that reek of money laundering, all the way to some Mcmansion looking tower with neon lights.
The former owners were long gone now, so no one really knew who owned it. He was simply referred to as the magician, and rumors about him grew everyday. He either lived in a suit on the roof of the place, or in a dungeon within the basement. It depended on who you asked. But he turned some floundering hobby shop into the biggest toy store success since one such store failed.
You worked several jobs within the Magician Treasure Tower, sometimes concessions, sometimes the unboxing room, it could change from day to day. There was something of a pecking order when it came to Tower employees. Starting with the performers, members of the staff who had rolls and costumes to go with the various themed rooms. Then there were the techs who handled the various animatronics scattered throughout the tower. You were on the lowest rung of this ladder.
“We’ve gotta take some stock up to the dragon’s den.” Your favorite coworker, Ellie, called you over the intercom.
“Hold on, I’m scraping off layers of cotton candy from my arm.”
“Oh right, the special edition unicorn horns came in today,” she snickered. “Glad I didn’t get concessions today.”
“Then how are you getting me off it?” You dry off your arm and make sure your skin isn’t still sticky.
“I asked for extra help and they told me to pull whoever I wanted. You can thank me later when we go get coffee after work.”
You make your get away, happy to leave the concession booth behind and meet Ellie in the stock room.
Ellie pointed to one of the utility dollies she had begun loading. “Resellers can kiss my ass,” she grumbled.
You got a smirk on your face. “You’d think we’d have some sort of turret system set up at the door to shoot them as they try to leave.”
Ellie grinned along. “Or alligators in the mote. Maybe we could leave the Magician a suggestion card.” She motioned to a spot in the back where a giant blue box sat asking for suggestions to make the store better.
“Do you think he even reads those things? I’ve never seen anyone empty that thing. And I’ve put like five suggestions for a chocolate fountain in there.” You take one of the loaded dollies and go into the back hallway that parallels the main hall.
“Only five?” Ellie laughed.
The supply hallway went into the staff break room, where from within you could hear the princess practicing her song. She would get the high note, then her voice would crack and she would cuss loudly.
“Dollies coming through,” Ellie announced loudly.
“Oh! Ellie!” The princess called out to her. “I need your help.”
Ellie set her dolly aside and motioned for you to keep going. “I’ll be there in a half a tick. You can manage to stack boxes by yourself right?”
“I’ll try, but you remember what happened last time,” you sighed dramatically.
Ellie smiled and turned to the princess. “What’s going on, Brit?”
Back when she first applied for the job, Ellie had wanted to be the princess. She was a talented singer and performer, but she apparently wasn’t the ‘look’ they were going for. Brittany, who had been hired as the princess, was the look but she wasn’t as trained as Ellie for singing. So Ellie had been helping her out and the two had gotten close.
You went on into the elevator, going up to the top floor where the dragon’s den was. It was the main toy room, filled with mainl special editions, collectors items, and a whole section of vintage toys that was impressive, even by ebay standards.
You set your dolly at the empty shelf and looked over towards the stage. The dragon animatronic was hidden back within the shadows, but you could still see the flickering of the lights inside its mouth. You took out a razor blade and cut open the first box.
As you stocked the shelf you went into a zone. Stocking was probably the easiest job as long as you were left alone and there wasn’t something fancy to do. You weren’t really paying attention to anything or anyone. In fact, the dragon’s den was surprisingly empty.
“Little girl,” a deep voice sang out.
You stiffened and looked around then went back to work.
“Little girl,” the voice sang out again.
You just kept on working. Someone was probably playing with their kid in one of the nearby rooms, you thought.
You turned to get another box and there was someone right beside you. You screamed and chucked the box into their chest.
“Hello little girl, are you lost?” It was the dragon animatronic standing there. The massive figure had bits and pieces of knight’s armor on his body that were shiny chrome. He stood at least six feet tall if you didn’t include the horns on his head. His eyes flickered between gold and red lights, and inside his mouth his throat crackled and flashed with the fire inside him.
You snarled and cussed under your breath and you picked up the thrown box. “Go back into your den.”
The dragon bent at the waist. “I asked you a question.”
The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and you looked back at the dragon. “Excuse me?”
The dragon chuckled. “When little girls get lost, bad things can happen.”
“Are you threatening me?” You snapped at him.
The dragon’s eyebrow wiggled. “Are you into that?”
“What the fuck?” You snapped.
“What is it?” Ellie came up the hallway and parked her dolly beside yours. “Wow, it’s really quiet up here.”
“Except the fucking dragon!” You snapped then went to point at it standing beside you. But the dragon was gone.
“Is it making that noise again?” Ellie asked.
You furrowed your brow, seeing the dragon standing back in the shadows where it came from. “No. It was right here. It said some weird shit.”
“What?” Ellie arched a brow at you. “The dragon doesn’t talk. It just roars and growls. Remember?”
“Are you sure? Because I swear it said ‘little girl’.”
Ellie glanced to the stage and shrugged. “Maybe one of the techs did something.”
You returned to stocking, still perturbed by what had happened.
It was close to closing, so you and Ellie finished up what you had and cleaned up the empty, broken down boxes. You returned the remaining stock and changed out of your uniforms.
“Oh shit,” you huffed, patting down your pockets. “I think I left my phone in the dragon’s den.”
“Do you want me to wait on you?” Ellie asked.
“No. I’ll meet you later.” You went back to the elevator and up to the top floor. Everything was shut down, so it was eerily quiet and only a few lights remained on. Inside the dragon’s den only the stage lights were on, so it was hard for you to search for your phone.
“I think it was here,” you muttered to yourself. You patted the shelves to find your phone. You then heard it ringing from the stage. Looking up, you saw the screen glowing in the mouth of the dragon.
“No,” you announced loudly. “Not at all. No.”
Your phone kept ringing.
“I don’t like this!” You shouted.
Your phone went silent for a beat. Then it started ringing again.
You raised your arms then slapped them back down against the side of your legs. “Fuck you universe.” You climbed up on stage and walked across it towards the dragon. Your phone screen glowed behind the jagged teeth inside its mouth.
“Look here my guy,” you whispered to the dragon. “I paid a lot of money for that phone. Look at me. I’m poor as fuck. I’m willing to take risks, but you gotta play along.”
The dragon didn’t move.
You reached up and placed your hand on the dragon’s mouth with one hand then placed your finger between the gaps of the teeth with the other to pry it open.
“Little girl,” the dragon said.
“No!” You slapped the dragon as hard as you could, but since he was mostly metal that only hurt you.
The dragon chuckled, raising his head and then taking your phone from inside his mouth. He dangled it above you. “Leave something behind?”
You cradle your hand against your chest. “You know I did.”
The dragon laughed and looked at the phone. “Want it back?”
You stared in disbelief. Could one of the techs have stayed behind just to fuck with you? Why? “I don’t know what's happening. But yes! I want my damn phone!”
“Then do me a favor,” the dragon chuckled. “Go down to concessions and get me a little snack. I’ve been craving sugar all day.”
“Concessions are closed,” you grumbled.
The dragon shrugs. “It doesn’t need to be something fancy. Just something to satisfy my sweet tooth,” he chuckled.
“Sweet tooth,” you laughed. “Yeah sure. And I’m just going to get my crazy side examined. Because obviously I’m having a mental breakdown, or someone is trying to fuck with me.”
The dragon’s eyes flashed bright red and he bent over so he was directly in your face. The bits of knight’s helm that hung on his head reflected the red glow of his eyes, giving him a menacing almost devilish look.
“I’ll fuck you to get some candy,” he snarled.
“Nothing sweet about me, so good luck!”
The dragon’s brow raised and he started chuckling, soft and quiet. They soon grew into much louder chrotles. Going into a belly aching laugh. He rose back up, throwing his head back and spreading out the massive wings upon his back. Fire bellowed up from the stage behind him, which did make you jump.
“I want candy!” The dragon roared.
“Fine! Just don’t light me on fire. I don’t like that.” You hop off the stage and show him your middle finger. “Fucking possessed animatronic trying to make me do shit,” you grumbled under your breath.
Maybe you were in shock and that was why you were taking this in stride, you thought as you went down the elevator to the concessions stand. Maybe I’ve lost my mind and this is how I’m coping, you add as you walk down the hall. Maybe I made an imaginary friend and I’ll go on magical adventures, you think as you snatch a bag of candy corn from behind the counter.
You go back to the dragon’s den with that bag of candy corn and find the dragon is sitting on the edge of the stage, kicking his legs back and forth while he plays on your phone.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m watching cat videos,” the dragon sneered. He jutted out his big, clawed hand to you. “What’d you get me?”
You show him the bag of candy corn.
“Candy corn?” He snarled. “Who in their right fucking mind wants candy corn?”
“Look you asked for candy and I brought you candy! Now give me back my phone!” You lurched to try and get it, but the dragon stood back upon the stage.
“Get me some real fucking candy. And no grandma ribbon candy either!”
You swiped at his ankles with the candy corn bag. “Some dragon you are! You sound like a spoiled brat with some entitlement issues.”
“Well this entitled brat has your phone.” He wagged it in your face. “Gummy worms! Get me gummy worms.”
“You should have said that first!” You kicked the stage as you turned around and went back the way you came. “This better be the breakdown my therapist told me about.”
You went to concessions, snatching several bags of gummy worms. Once you returned to the dragon’s den you couldn’t see him anywhere.
“Oh thank God it’s over.” You sighed. You stepped in further, not seeing the usual signs of the dragon on stage. You looked around the room, seeing faint green movements in the reflective gold of the ceiling.
“I hope security will enjoy this.” You sat down upon the stage and opened up one of the bags of gummy worms and just helped yourself.
Something warm breathed down upon the back of your neck. “What are you doing?”
You offered back another bag. “Calm your tits.”
The dragon snatched the bag. “About time.”
You rolled your eyes and continued eating from your open bag. “Can I have my phone back now please?”
“Not yet, I’m watching something.”
You turned around to see him with his head bent down, watching your phone screen. For a moment, he didn’t look like an anamatronic, he actually looked like a dragon standing there with gummy worms between his teeth.
“What are you?” You asked.
The dragon looked up, cutting his sharp eyes at you. “Can’t you see?” He waved his hand down his body. “Take it all in, little girl. What you see is what you get.”
You shook your head. “No, really, it’s not. You do realize how this looks from my perspective right? I’ve been arguing with myself all evening whether or not I’m hallucinating all of this.”
“If you are hallucinating me, lucky you,” he chortled. “I’m a delight!”
“Someone’s lying to you,” you grumbled under your breath.
The dragon clicked his tongue. “You’re not hallucinating. I’m real, same as you. I’m just…” He hesitated then turned his head away.
“Just what?” You asked.
He shrugged. “You’re just some human girl. You wouldn’t get it.” He looked at his claws, posing his hands to catch the best light. He then opened another bag of gummy worms and grumbled under his breath. “Astaroth really promised this would be better. Safer! Hah!”
You furrowed your brow at this. “What do you mean safer?”
The dragon huffed and tossed your phone into your lap. “Just take your phone.” he snatched the bag of gummy worms from your hands. “I’m done with you. Scurry along home before I change my mind.”
You slipped off the stage and checked your phone. Within your photos you saw the dragon had taken a huge amount of selfies. You swiped through them, seeing some that were blurry, some that were well poised if not a little cringey. He had taken some in a suggestive pose which made you really question your sanity. You sighed and put your phone into your back pocket.
“Well, this turned out to be a pretty interesting evening. Next time you want candy just ask. You don’t have to be a creepy asshole to get it.” You walked towards the elevator when you saw a gold light flash behind you. You turned around and saw the dragon standing over you.
“Okay what now?” You grunted.
“Cotton candy,” the dragon breathed.
You furrowed your brow.
“You heard me! I want cotton candy. Bring me some tomorrow.”
You turned around to fully face him, tilting your chin up to look at him. “And what’s in it for me? You can’t hold my phone ransom every night.”
The dragon snarled. “Can’t you just be a kind person?”
“Can’t you?” You retorted mockingly.
The dragon slouched and the fire in his throat flickered a little brighter. “What do you want, girl? Mind you I’m asking you for candy. So I don’t have gold or anything like that on hand.”
“I want to know what the fuck is going on? Are you the only animatronic like this? Who is Astaroth? That’s the name of some big shot demon, right? What’s he got to do with this?”
The dragon cupped his large, clawed hand around your face. “That’s enough out of you. Bring me cotton candy and I’ll let you in a few secrets about this place,” he sneered. He released your mouth and stood erect. “I’m Valac, and if you want to keep this little situation mutual, you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
You looked him up and down. “Then why did you bother me at all?”
Valac chuckled. “That’s a question for another day, little girl.” He wagged his hand towards the door. “Now get out of here. I’m bored with you already.”
You rolled your eyes and left, finally leaving the tower and getting into your car. You have a few messages from Ellie, which you reply to and told her you had to hunt for your phone and found it in lost and found.
“Damn, it got down there fast,” Ellie replied.
“Yeah. but at least I found it. Hey, do you know the name Valac at all? What about Astaroth?” You texted her.
“Astaroth is some bigwig demon right? Never heard the name Valac at all. Sounds like some sort of fungus cream. Why do you ask?”
You’d remember that for later. “Heard the names earlier. I’m heading home now.”
That evening when you got home you did an internet search. Astaroth brought up exactly what you expected. Lots of articles on demonology and the like. Astaroth was a big deal. But the search for Valac brought up some villain from a video game, as well as the evil nun from that movie. But a little further down in the search, you saw more demonology articles.
“Hmm, demons,” you murmured to yourself. “Am I working for a cult? Nah. Too easy.” You opened up an article about a demon called Valac. There wasn’t much there, just a few lines about how they were a president in hell, which gave you a good chuckle.
You looked back at the pictures on your phone that Valac had taken. In some of them he appeared as the animatronic like you knew. In others there was almost a realistic quality to him, like he was an actual dragon.
“Demon, dragon, or robot. What have I got here?” You leaned back in your chair and sighed. “I’m going to bed.”
