Page 83 of Hollow

“I need to properly acquire the Hearst business, so I may be gone for a time. I must consult with my feeble mortal proxies on ensuring the acquisitions are properly handled. I might also indulge in a bit of slaughter. The Hearst family does have a few allies who would look better painted on walls with their entrails, don’t you agree?”

Shortly thereafter, Astaroth handled whatever business he had in his room and then prepared to venture off into the world. Jack wished the demon dog good luck, while Dimitri thanked Astaroth for removing any potential future threats.

“Nonsense. As if I could ever be threatened!” Astaroth guffawed before taking his leave.

Dimitri watched the dog trot away, vanishing into the fog of the forest.

“Will he return?”

“Unfortunately,” Jack said, rolling his eyes. “He takes the occasional murderous pilgrimage but always returns.”

“Good, I like Astaroth.”

“Meh. I’ve always preferred cats.”

Shortly after that, the two of them set off to clean around the house. Dimitri mopped the floors while Jack attempted to get the blood stains out of the towels.

“I should probably just burn them,” Jack huffed.

Dimitri chuckled and helped Jack ball up the ruined towels into a trash bag.

“Can I ask how you’re feeling?”

“I am fine.” Dimitri shrugged.

“It’s just, you experienced a lot because of the Hearsts,” Jack said slowly, picking his words very carefully as if he walked on glass that might crack if he blurted something out too quickly. “What they did to your family, the years in captivity… I mean, Patrick seemed like a real piece of work.”

“I do not wish to go into anything explicit,” Dimitri responded. “But Patrick was the worst of his family. Perhaps the worst humanity had to offer. He took great pleasure in being cruel and hateful. As terrible as he was to me, to other monsters on his father’s cutting board, and even to humans below his station, I was mostly fortunate.”

Jack remained silent, giving Dimitri the time and space to pour out this venom that had stuck with him for so long.

“I will never be grateful to Gordon Hearst for he was a monster himself, but he did shield me from the worst of his son’s depravities because I remained a useful tool.”

They stayed quiet for a few minutes, and Dimitri let a piece of his trauma, a small piece, break away and be forgotten. He couldn’t wash away all the decades of captivity in a simple conversation, but he was able to release a bit into the ether.

Jack must have noticed the shift in Dimitri’s demeanor because his pumpkin head was quickly illuminated by a cheery smirk.

“Well, if Astaroth doesn’t finish off the rest of the Hearsts in his power grab for whatever trillion-dollar apocalypse he’s planning, then I’m going to track down the rest of them.”

“You are too kind,” Dimitri said. “But I believe now they will truly keep their distance. They have lost much, and for a family not used to ever losing, this will likely stun them.”

For the first time, Dimitri felt safe, truly safe. He didn’t ignore looming fears; he didn’t push them aside in favor of positive thoughts. He actually believed he no longer had to fear the wrath of the Hearst family.

“Can we just do something silly and simple for the rest of the day?”

“What’d you have in mind?”

“We have not made any proper videos in a long time,” Dimitri said. “Shall we record as the Deer Daddy and Jack Whoa Lantern?”

“Absolutely.”

“Howdy ho, my creepy crawlies. It’s your boy, Jack Whoa Lantern,” Jack said, posing beside Dimitri. “And Deer Daddy.”

Jack quickly closed the video out.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m not in the mood for a story time.”