Welcome to the Deepspace Estate
Where lonely ghosts roam, cursed by fate
Howls under moonlight and songs from the deep
A dance with death before you sleep?
Whisper their names, alone in your bed
Wear the thirst of desire on lips stained blood red...
Where would you like to go?
Visit the parlour
Visit the forest
Visit the docks
Visit the library
Visit the dungeon
The Deepspace Estate has witnessed many love stories over the years — Epic tales where love conquers all, and tragic naivete doomed to fail. Now, this once grand house of excellence, wishes to tell the tales of five men who occupied its grounds over the years and their soulmate who keeps coming back to haunt them...
During your exploration you will encounter — mentions of death, blood, vampires, werewolves, sirens, ghosts, reapers, grief, angst, sexual desire, suggestive themes, wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff (timelines doing weird things). All fics will be marked as MDNI with varying degrees of smuttiness (additional tags added to the individual fics)
AN: Ready for 5 days of lads angst? Lol, I'm not, but the fics are! For the five days leading up to Halloween I will be sharing a fic for each of the LI's set in a fantasy au. All can be read separately, but reading all five might answer certain questions that won’t be answered individually. If anyone is interested in being added to the taglist, let me know!
Comment 🤍 for general taglist or 🥀 for series taglist
bad boy werewolf caleb time! he promises he does his best to control his hunter instincts, please believe him!! please take off the muzzle, he won't bite… too hard!
Ho boy... So you know how sometimes a fic idea comes to you, and you're like, I rather enjoy thinking about this plot bunny, but I am not going to invest my time and energy into this fic for reasons, but then the idea just refuses to leave you alone?
Yeah, that's this fic. It's incredibly self indulgent and I dont know if I will ever post it, but the concept is Vampire!Essek helps the Mighty Nein navigate Werewolf!Caleb's curse, because the Dynasty is a lot more open about people with such afflictions, and so he has a wealth of knowledge that they just didn't have access to in the Empire or on the Coast
It is my guilty pleasure that I sneak off to write snippets of when the idea has pestered me for long enough. I have thoughts for a very extensive series, but the plan is to just play them like a movie in my head when I can't sleep at night, so who knows if I'll ever post it.
But! Have a snip!
~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~ ~(‾▿‾)~
He teleported right into the middle of the Xhorhaus foyer, startling Fjord and Beau. Sword and fists were raised until they realized it was him, causing them to immediately sag in relief. The smell of adrenaline filled the air, along with a familiar metallic aroma that Essek knew well. Someone was bleeding.
He turned to Fjord to ask what had happened, but he didn’t have time to get an answer before a strangled snarl and crash sounded from the kitchen. He wasted no time rushing in.
He kept expecting to see flashing ginger fur, but there was none. Caduceus and Veth hovered in the door, and he had to push past them to get in and see what was happening. Beyond them, motion skittered in the far corner of the kitchen, past the pantry edge.
Jester and Yasha were crowded over the trap door to the basement. As Essek finally was able to approach, the snarl returned with a vengeance, loud and vicious, and suddenly both women were bucked up as the trap door bowed. They pushed it back down with all of their might right as the sound of something heavy falling met Essek’s ears. It was quickly followed by more violent crashing as wooden crates were decimated by heavy claws somewhere below.
“Is that— Caleb’s not in there is he?!” Essek gasped, eyes wide as the situation solidified in his mind.
“Ruidus flares always surprise him,” Caduceus said, his voice strained as if he was concentrating hard on something. “Being surprised upsets him and then it just tumbles from there.”
“He doesn’t want to hurt anyone!” Veth insisted shrilly, her eyes wide. “He didn’t mean to!”
“I know, Veth,” Yasha snapped as she doubled down on the trap door, trying to brace her legs on the wall of the pantry. Her foot slipped, a smear of red left behind on the wood paneling. The blood Essek had smelt but not seen.
It wouldn’t work. It was too awkward of an angle. There was no latch. None of this would work the way they were hoping, and what’s worse, it was the worst possible idea they could have come up with.
“He can’t stay there,” Essek said quickly as he began to unbuckle and lift off his mantle. “I’m going to bring him to my tower. If you keep him in that small of a space, he’s going to hurt himself more than he already has.”
“But Essek!” Jester began, clearly about to argue. But before she could, there was another loud crash as the trap door bowed underneath them again. It was followed by a pained yelp and whimper that quickly turned into a growl.
The Deepspace Estate has witnessed many love stories over the years — Epic tales where love conquers all, and tragic naivete doomed to fail. Now, this once grand house of excellence, wishes to tell the tales of five men who occupied its grounds over the years and their soulmate who keeps coming back to haunt them...
"It was more than a mark, it was a promise..."
᯽᯽᯽ Read on ao3 ll Halloween extravaganza masterlist
᯽᯽᯽ Werewolf!Caleb x Reader ll Word count: 3.7k
᯽᯽᯽ Angst, first kiss, biting/marking, blood, light violence, soulmates, nudity, mild smut
You had heard the rumors, everyone had at this point. The stable boys were worshippers of the moon, allowing its glow to turn them into rabid beasts. Disgusting creatures who only brought death and destruction – but Caleb was your friend, he wouldn’t keep something like that hidden from you?
So when you left the estate that night, climbing down the trellis covered in dead ivy like you had done so many times before, wearing nothing but your nightgown and a coat that proved far too thin for the crisp autumn air, you expected to find Caleb at your usual secret meetingplace. But he wasn’t there.
Cracked stone line your path along the back of the estate, showing signs of time passed and aging. Dry autumn leaves caught in the cracks rustle beneath your feet, mocking your diligent attempts to traverse unseen. Soon the stone is replaced by dark green fields and only the moonlight to guide you toward the surrounding forest that framed most of the estate.
The rumors of wild animals and unholy practices drove you toward the treeline fearing Caleb had chosen to venture there. You needed to find him. Caleb was a stableboy, which meant the rumors also pertain to him, but that didn’t mean he was safe on a night like this.
Clutching your coat you move beyond the treeline and softly call out his name.
“Caleb?” It’s hesitant at first, but something is different tonight. Even the trees seem restless prompting you to venture further and speak louder.
“Caleb!” You shout as loud as you dare, moving further and further away from the estate. The gas lamps that illuminate your home now barely visible through the dense forest.
The sound of a dry branch being stepped on and snapped catches your attention and you cease your hurried movements. The temperature has dropped significantly and you can see your breath on the air. Your pulse quickens, hoping that the source of movement closing in on you will carry those familiar purple eyes you care for so greatly.
"You shouldn’t be here. Not tonight, it’s not safe." The coveted sound of Caleb’s voice finally appears by your side, but he seems very agitated and nothing like his usual calm self.
"What do you mean?" Concerned, you turn toward him and shorten the distance between you.
He grunts and bends forward clutching his abdomen.
"It’s dangerous. I’m not — ugh!" Pain shoots through his body causing him to drop to his knees. You act on instinct and drop down to catch him before he falls to the ground.
"I don’t know how much longer I can keep my transition at bay." Sweat trickles down his forehead. The white linen shirt clings to his body, now stained darker from sweat.
A howl reverberates throughout the tall trees before another quickly follows. You’re not alone anymore. There’s hardly any time for you to process that there potentially is some truth to those rumors about the stableboys.
"Come here. Quick!" He scoots closer to the small opening in the escarpment behind. The gap is small, barely wide enough for you to enter. "I won’t be able to get you out of the forest in time, but I can mask your scent with mine so the pack can’t find you."
"But what about you?" Your heart slowly breaks for him and his obvious agony. Any regard for your own safety in this situation is completely forgotten in the heat of the moment.
"I’ll hold it off, I have to. I… can’t… hurt… you…"
“H-hold what off?” You stutter.
“… You know what,” he mumbles shamefully.
Something in those deep purple eyes tells you to keep trusting him like you always have, so you do as you’re told and crawl against the cold rocks. Caleb quickly scoots in after. It’s only now that you realize you’ve got no way out. You’re trapped with what you can only assume is a werewolf, in the woods, under a full moon. A werewolf you decided to trust when he said he’d fight off his transformation. But Caleb was your friend, you could trust him, right?
"I can’t sit here and watch you suffer," you exclaim, placing a hand on the exposed part of his chest where the buttons have come undone.
He’s burning up. In the faint moonlight you can easily make out the steam radiating from his wet body as it lingers in the air around him. Whatever he’s experiencing right now is beyond your understanding. What you do understand however, is that your friend is in pain and you’d do anything to help him.
"It’s… weird… But I feel a little better now that you’re close." He gazes into your eyes as his breathing somewhat settles and the furrow in his brow softens. Yours on the other hand is far from calm or relaxed now that the potential danger you’ve put yourself in finally sinks in.
“Will you tell me what’s going on?” You question, a hand still resting on his chest..He looks at you pleadingly, silently begging you not to ask. But how can you not question what is happening to your best friend right in front of you? “Please, Caleb.”
“Don’t hate me,” he grumbles, still fighting whatever his body is going through.
You shake your head and caress his cheek to offer comfort and security.
“... The rumors are true. Me and the other stable boys — we’re a pack. We’re werewolves.”
Another howl echoes through the forest and your breath hitches in fear. Caleb immediately reaches out to caress your cheek, offering comfort the same way you offered it to him.
“I’ll keep you safe, they won’t hurt you.”
“Why would they hurt me though? I know them, they’re my friends,” you question, fear and uncertainty plastered upon your features..
“When we transform, we lose control and are forced to surrender to our animalistic instincts. They probably wouldn’t be able to stop. You’ll look like prey.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” You place your hand on his strong forearm, not to halt his caring touch against your cheek but perhaps in an attempt to remind yourself of how easily he could overpower you.
He pauses as if he's unsure of the answer to your question. Purple eyes find yours once more as his lips part searching for an answer. Before he has time to offer one his eyes suddenly glow a bright lilac with specs of magenta and gold around the dilated iris. Caleb folds over in agony once more, now curled into a fetal position near your lap.
“I won’t hurt her, I won’t hurt her… Protect… Keep her safe.” The words tumble out of him in a mumbled whisper, repeated like a sacred mantra. His hands fist your nightgown, creating firm wrinkles in the thin material.
Claws have replaced the fingernails he usually trims short, tearing into the fabric and cutting the skin of his palms. Caleb welcomes the sting. Pain is good, pain tethers him to his human form. So, he lets the claws sink deeper.
You guide his head into your lap and soothe him in whatever way you can through gentle touches over his sweat covered skin and humming the sweet melody of a song you don’t remember learning.
The song seems to have a strange effect on the wounded wolf curled up in your lap as his body suddenly relaxes and nuzzles closer to you. Your humming continues almost subconsciously while you run your fingers through Caleb’s damp hair and under his teary eyes. Not only does he seem calmer, but you’re calmer too. Almost floating, weightless, inside the tiny cave.
“Where did you learn that song? It’s beautiful,” he softly questions through the hazy calm produced by your voice.
“I don’t know, I’ve been singing it to soothe myself for as long as I can remember.”
Caleb slowly shifts back into a seated position, face to face with you once more. There is a serenity to him now, one you have not seen in him before. It’s strange, but not unwelcome.
“I always knew you were special, pips, but that was unexpected.” You simply stare at him, confused and uncertain about too many things to offer any useful or witty comebacks.
Shame and disappointment sits deep in the werewolf, firmly engraved in his bones and further enhanced by society's judgement. Looking down at your torn dress and his bloodstained hands, he can’t help but agree with the prejudice.
With trembling hands he cups your cheek as his gaze flickers down to your parted lips. He shouldn’t want you like this, it is wrong. You don’t deserve to suffer under his dirtied touch. So many rules have already been broken just by you being here alone with him at night, yet Caleb finds himself leaning toward you anyways.
Then it happens. The distance is closed and your lips hesitantly join in a careful exploration of a kiss. New feelings mixed with old suppressed ones bubble to the surface when two pairs of hands roam across the other's body. One warm, fighting pain and agony. The other cold and exposed to the chill of night.
Caleb presses closer, erasing whatever distance remained between your bodies in this already limited space. His right palm flattens against your lower back as his left angles your head to allow him access to your neck. You whimper at the feeling of his teeth grazing the sensitive skin below your ear before sighing deeply in pleasure at the sensation of his tongue soothing the initial sting.
His lips glide lower and lower until the top of your nightgown hinders further movement. The material soon shifts enough to expose the top of your breast where his lips now linger and his hand soon joins in. His warm hand cupping the cold skin of your breast sends shivers through your body before they turn into warmth concentrated in your lower abdomen.
A wet tongue flicks your hardened left nipple whilst his fingers tend to your right with the same urgency. The timing confuses you but you do not wish it to end, you do not wish to part from him ever again.
“Caleb…” you whimper breathlessly.
He doesn’t respond, he can’t. Too lost in those animalistic instincts he’s spent all night trying to suppress. Seems like even without the wolf, the need to claim and protect increases under the full moon's watchful eye. His focus is entirely on you, nothing else can keep his body human except the need to keep you safe.
‘Mark her… Claim her… Make her yours…’
“No… Can’t… It’s too much…” he mumbles against your skin, never ceasing the desperate licks and kisses on your chest.
“Caleb..?”
“I… Want… Aah!” He screams in pain, ragged and broken as he presses himself firmly against your chest. You wrap your arms around him and continue your singing that seemed to aid him before.
“Don’t!” He shouts, silencing your fragile hope of soothing him. “They hear you. They’re coming!” Through long lashes, he gazes up at you, eyes wide and brows raised in panic.
Rumbling outside the cave catches your attentions before Caleb reclaims it as his terrified whispers reach your ears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, please forgive me.”
You stare at him bewildered, waiting for him to explain further. He doesn’t, not with words anyways. Suddenly he lunges forward and sinks his teeth into your breast, right above your heart. The same place he kissed so tenderly only moments ago.
The pain of the bite has you pushing against his shoulders in a futile attempt to make him stop. You do your best to keep quiet but the throbbing ache spreading from his bite makes you want to wail in agony. Blood trickles down your pale nightgown from the bite that never seems to end, the pain so intense you begin to feel lightheaded. This is Caleb, your Caleb. How can he do this to you?
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I had to,” he mumbles as he pulls away to see the utter terror and anguish written on your face.
Blood coats his lips and drips down his chin and for the first time tonight, for the first time ever, Caleb frightens you. He’s about to speak again, likely to somehow defend his actions, when his eyes light up for a moment before going dark as he is forcibly dragged out of the cave and away from you.
“Caleb!” You scream and immediately crawl out of the cave after him. Whatever monsters await on the outside or whatever monster he might turn out to be doesn’t matter, ensuring his safety is all you can think of.
The white silk of your nightgown is stained in dirt, blood and secrets of both new and old. Secrets that now have you pinned in place and surrounded by four large wolves. But where is Caleb?
“C-Caleb..?” You squeak pitifully.
“Caleb!” You try again with a little more conviction.
Apart from the growls and loud breathing of the wolves, there is nothing but silence.
“Where is he? What did you do to him?” You take three steady steps forward in a possibly foolish attempt to assert dominance against a pack of werewolves.
One of them suddenly charges forward and your rather clumsy fist meets the side of its jaw. Another then leaps and you ready yourself to throw another punch, when a familiar set of purple eyes freezes your movements.
The purple eyed wolf knocks you over, sending you tumbling to the ground. You barely catch yourself in time to protect your head only to be met with the wolf caging you underneath its body.
You know it’s him, your Caleb. Foolishly, that thought makes you calm, even though he said they don’t have control when they transform. His teeth are exposed through the continuous growls and his saliva drips down to add new stains to your nightgown.
“Caleb,” you whisper calmly, as if completely unphased by everything around you. It didn’t matter right now. What matters is making sure Caleb is safe and that he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret when he regains his sanity; accidentally murdering you would ruin him.
The wolf howls, loud and constructed like he’s in pain. More howls follow from the other three who still maintain their distance. Caleb doesn’t move away, but his legs seem ready to bend and his eyes forcibly shut. Your hands reach up to tangle with his dark chocolate fur after hearing the powerful howls turn into pitiful whimpers.
“Caleb… Shh, shh. It’s ok. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
The whimpering turns more and more human before Caleb’s familiar voice surrounds you once more; hoarse and sore, but still unmistakably his. The thick fur between your fingers disappears, sounds akin to that of bones breaking fills the hollow forest before the man suddenly collapses on top of you.
The rest of the pack retreats further into the forest, but you don’t even notice. Your focus is reserved for the limp body of your best friend. You hold him and soothe him as best you can, willing the tears in your eyes away. Overwhelm, fear and relief jumble together and become an avalanche too strong to withstand. Now you’re both crying and holding each other through the shock whilst drenched in blood and dirt on the cold forest floor.
“I’m so sorry, pips,” he sobs as he finally dares lift his head from your chest. “I promised I’d keep you safe and I failed. I couldn’t fight it.”
“But Caleb, I’m ok. I promise. You didn’t fail.”
“Look…” he whispers shamefully, tracing the bitemark on your chest. “This is evidence of my failure. I knew they were comin’, I knew they’d take you… I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I panicked.”
“But I’m fine.” Stroking his cheek and gliding down to his jaw, you force his eyes away from the bite.
“I… I marked you. You don’t know what that means.”
“No, I don’t… Will you tell me?”
He hesitates, but draws a deep breath in preparation and speaks calm and clear with a seriousness you’ve rarely seen from him. “The mark is a sign that you’re claimed. No other wolf can hurt you because you’re under my protection. It’s —” he pauses again “ — it’s a promise of eternal safety by my side.”
“… Is that so bad?” You question.
“I’ve bound you to me. I should have given you the choice. It… ugh… It wasn’t supposed to be like this…”
“What if I don’t mind?”
“What?”
Tilting your head slightly, you gaze up at him with an expression full of tenderness and affection. Although the full meaning of this mark remains a mystery, you know that being tied to Caleb in one way or another is a thought that has played on your mind for quite a while already. An idea your parents would never allow, obviously, given his lowborn status. This was a bond they could never deny, something that was bigger than them.
“Being bound to you, it’s not such a horrible thought. If I had been given the choice, I would have accepted.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Does that really surprise you?” A soft, careful smile tugs at the corners of your lips.
“I… I don’t know. After what you witnessed tonight, I thought you’d never want to see me again.”
“I admit this evening has been rather eventful and it has left me with many questions, but I don’t think anything could ever scare me away from you, Caleb.”
That perfect smile of his finally braved an appearance “M’key, remember that statement when you learn more about my darker side.” The rough, deepened tone of his voice has you giggling beneath him. His nose gently nuzzles against yours and his warm breath against your lips teases you with the temptation of another kiss.
“It wouldn’t be the first time you taught me things deemed unfitting for my innocent ears,” you grin back up at him, reminiscing about how he spoke with earnest every time your curiosity had gotten the better of you over the years. Regardless of the topic he always answered to the best of his ability, even as his cheeks flushed a deep magenta.
He laughs, relaxed and unguarded now that the situation has calmed down and the initial shock has released you both. His head dips and his lips find yours again. They were drier this time, and there was a faint metallic taste from where his lip had split at some point and probably also mixed with remnants of your own blood, but you didn’t care. You would happily kiss him regardless. Your hands travel down his bare back, still warm but cooler now than before when the lack of fabric covering him suddenly breaks your focus.
“Caleb! Are you naked?” You shout in a whisper, breaking the kiss to reveal an absolutely horrified expression paired with a dark flush on your cheeks.
“Eh, yeah. I didn’t exactly prepare properly for the transformation so my clothes are ripped to pieces and scattered all over the place.” He turns his head from side to side eyeing the remnants of his outfit.
“Oh, uhm…” you ponder for a moment before pushing him off you with your eyes closed. Blinded, you remove your jacket and hold it out in front of you. “Here. take this.”
“But you’ll be cold.”
“I’m already cold, but I’m not naked.”
“But –”
“I won’t open my eyes again until you’re covered, Caleb!” Your attempt at sounding slightly threatening proved to be a great failure as he smugly chuckles at your flustered state.
“Ok, I’m covered now,” he says after taking the jacket from your outstretched arm.
“Everything?”
“Only the fun parts, but your jacket is quite small, pips.” You can hear how pleased he is with himself, oh so proud to have affected you so greatly.
You slowly open your eyes again to find him standing in front of you with the sleeves of your jacket tied at his hip. It barely covers anything and you have to force yourself to not stare too hard. Unfortunately it’s not only his bare, toned chest, slim waist and thick, muscular thighs that catch your eye. His body is covered in small scrapes and scratches, the most serious ones located near his ankles from when one of the other wolves dragged him out of the cave.
“Come here,” he says when he sees your reaction to the state of him, offering you his hand. “I’ll walk you home.”
“You can’t walk me home dressed like that!”
“I have to go back there to find new clothes, don’t I? Also, there is no way I’m lettin’ you go anywhere dressed like that alone.”
You quickly take note of your own appearance after fighting to rip your eyes away from his barely covered form. The thin silk gown is stained crimson from his bite and claws, bare arms and a rather exposed chest from where Caleb ripped the front of your dress, cold and hardened nipples poking through the flimsy material – your arms fly to cover your chest at the realization and your cheeks violently flush once more.
“Hey, don’t worry. I’ve got you,” he smirks and pulls you to his side with a protective arm around your shoulder.
The two of you begin the walk back to the estate. Conversation flows with topics surrounding everything from werewolves and marks to silly jokes and playful teasing. Just before you emerge from the trees you pause and laugh at the unbelievable turn this night took.
“Why are you laughin’, pips?” He questions, although he soon finds himself laughing along with you.
“I just, haha. I… Look at the state of us. If my parents saw us now!”
“I don’t know how long we’d be laughin’ if they saw this.” The laughter doesn’t die down, but the volume does drop slightly.
The two of you have kept secrets before, too many to count. This will just be another set of secrets.
You are bound to him now, in this life and the next. You are his and he is yours.
Neither of you knew that your souls had been tied together for far longer than his bite had existed on your skin. Neither of you would ever know what great sacrifices you had already suffered to keep each other safe, or the severity of those that still loomed in your future. That knowledge wouldn’t be shared with you. Not in this lifetime…
Where would you like to go next?
Visit the parlour
Visit the docks
Visit the library
Visit the dungeon
AN: I wanted to make this fic longer for more puppy coded Caleb, but perhaps I'll have to write that into another fic. If anyone is interested in being added to the taglist, click here!
