Wire Setter walked down one of the castle's many stone corridors. This one was a touch different than the rest though. To Setter’s right was a row of tall glass windows that allowed the afternoon light to spill in and on his left the wall played host to numerous black cables and wires. Setter was running a light finger over one of the wires as he walked, habitually checking for any tears or nicks in the plastic. He followed the wire to a large wooden door, where it vanished into the wall. Satisfied the cable was unmarred; Setter opened the door and entered the room.

The first thing Setter noticed was that there was already someone in the room. A leanly built and narrow muzzled Diamond Dog, wearing a suit and tie as black as his fur. He was currently perched on one of the room’s tables, doing something Setter definitely did not want him doing in his monitor room.

“Could you please not polish your pistol in here, Jack?”

The Diamond Dog looked up from the revolver in his hands to the pony walking into the room. Jack chuckled and returned his gaze to the gun.

“I’m not polishing it, Setter. I’m cleaning it.” Jack replied matter of factly, running an oily rag over the gun’s barrel.

Setter sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Okay, well can you not clean it in here then?” He gestured around the room. Most of the floor was a nest of black cables; some held in bunches with zip ties. They fed into a dozen or so computer towers, with more cables connecting them to the dozens and dozens of screens that covered the walls. “I don’t want you shooting my power cable.”

It was Jack’s turn to sigh, as he looked back at Setter. “The safety’s on. And I took the bullets out.” Jack pointedly held up the gun so Setter could see the empty cylinder. “And I’m keeping it pointed at the floor. Well away from your cables.” Jack added as he lowered the gun.

Setter snorted. “I’m sure somewhere a safety instructor just came.”

Jack laughed as he gave his revolver one last swipe of the rag. “That’s funny,” he continued to chuckled as he plucked bullets from his pocket and loaded them back into the revolver.

“I’m happy to entertain.” Setter shook his head. “Shouldn’t you use something smaller? You could take someone’s head off or shoot right through the floor with that.”

Jack loaded the last round, gave the cylinder a spin and then closed it back into the gun. He sat still for a moment before shrugging and tucking the revolver into the shoulder holster under his jacket.

“I like this gun. And I seriously doubt I could shoot through the floor. It’s mostly stone.”

“What about the doors?”

“Oh yeah, I could shoot through the doors no problem.” Jack chuckled as he got up from the table and cricked his neck. “Your cameras all good?”

Setter walked over to a desk that sat more or less in the middle of the room and upon which sat a few different keyboards. He tapped a few keys on one of them and the monitors all clicked on, showing virtually the entire castle. Setter scanned the monitors for a few moments before nodding.

“Yeah, they’re all up and running. I even managed to finally get a few on the roof and two down the road at the bridge.”

Jack chuckled. “You certainly have all the angles covered.”

Setter snickered. “Been sitting on that one have you.”

“I was waiting for the perfect moment.” Jack gestured to the bank of monitors. “And thanks to you, I now have it on record.”

There was a stretch of silence between the two as Setter tapped a few more keys on the keyboard. The Pegasus broke it with a drawn out breath.

“It’s gonna be a crazy night,”

Jack nodded. “Yeah,”

Setter continued tapping keys, quite possibly with some intentions. “Nine. I can’t believe she’s gonna try doing nine all at once.”

“Makes sense to me,”

“Oh?”

Jack nodded as he peered at on of the monitors, this one showing one of the castle’s more modernized kitchens. “You weren’t there on the first one. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. So she tells me.” Jack added, looking away from the monitor. “Anyway, that first time it was just the one. But once you’ve got that taste for it...” Jack coughed “You ever go hunting?”

“You mean have I ever strapped on a piece and gone hunting after something that could easily kill me?” Setter scoffed as he fiddled with a red dial. “I can’t say I have.”

Jack rolled his eyes and continued. “You should try it sometime. There’s just something… unique about it. Stalking something that stalks you back. It’s a high you can’t get out of a needle.” he sighed, almost in a longing way. “But, just like a junkie, you go searching for a better and bigger high. And sooner or later you’re walking into car factory full of crazies with nothing but a leather jacket, a revolver and ten bullets.”

Setter gave Jack a sideways look. “Did you actually do that?”

Jack rubbed his chin. “Listen, let me put it another way. It’s like sex. It’s great with just one, right? So, why wouldn’t it be better with two? Or three? A whole orgy isn’t really that far fetched after a while.”

“Sounds like you’ve got something of an addictive personality.”

Jack smirked and nodded slowly. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that.”

“But, that does make sense. But there’s something else that’s been nagging at me. It’s how blasé you are about this. Are you really telling me that you, mister security, isn’t concerned about the Boss locked in here with nine huntees?”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t concerned. But Val’s always wanted to do something like this and now would be the last opportunity she’ll have for a while.” Jack shrugged again. “Besides, no matter who’s coming tonight, I’m sure they’re nothing I can’t handle.”

“Yeah, nothing one revolver and ten bullets can’t handle.” Setter said with a smirk.

“I’ll have you know that’s two revolvers, something a bit sturdier than leather-” Jack tapped his chest for emphasis “-and of course, this little beauty.” Jack pulled something from his pocket and held it up.

Setter glanced over and then did a quick double take. “You have a grenade!?”

“It’s for emergencies,”

Setter opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again. “You know what? I don’t want to know what sort of fucked up scenario you have cooking in your head that requires a grenade.” he shook his head and turned back to keyboard.

Jacked laughed as he tucked the green sphere back into his pocket. “Your loss.” the Diamond Dog looked over at the monitors again and tilted his head at one of the images displayed. “Hey, Setter.”

“Hm?” Setter looked up and then at the monitor Jack was now pointing to. It showed a familiar vehicle passing through the first gate and heading up towards the castle.

“Looks like your girlfriend’s here,” Jack said with an amused grin.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Setter replied automatically, sounding like a middle school colt.

Jack just chuckled. “Right. Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind me going down and saying hello.”

Jack made to turn towards the door, but a sudden hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Please don’t,” Setter said quickly. “You’ll scare her.”

Jack flicked Setter’s hand away. “I’ll scare her?”

Setter smiled nervously. “Jack, buddy, let’s be honest. You don’t exactly have a puppy-dog look about you. I will go down and talk to Merry and then, gently, you could introduce yourself.”

Jack just grinned. “So it’s Merry now, is it?”

Setter let out a defeated sigh and nodded. “Fine, I find her attractive and it seems she feels the same about me.”

Jack laughed and gave Setter a hearty slap on the back. “You could do worse than a bribe taking mayor.”

“…Thanks?”

Jack just nodded and looked back at the screens. “Well, she’s almost here, stud. I best go find the rest of the gang so we can all have a proper meet and greet.” Jack scanned the screens before pointing one out. “Ah, there’s Gavrii and Daisy in the entrance hall. Just have to find Val now.”

“Right behind you,” a familiar smoky voice spoke up behind them.

Merry got out of her to peer at what lay before her. Yep, no doubt about that. The castle even had a fucking rickety old rope-bridge.

Merry sighed and leaned against the side of her car. She was parked just at the start of the bridge, which connected the cliffside to the small island the castle was built upon. She didn’t even want to imagine the nightmare it must been building the fucking thing.

There was a helpful little sign placed right next to the bridge. Emblazoned on it were four words: Welcome to Castle Rapture

“What asshole named this place?” Merry wondered aloud.

She heard a whistle and looked up to see a figure on the other end of the bridge waving at her. Merry smirked and shut off her car, taking the keys and locking the doors before she began walking across the bridge.

Her heels clicked against the wood and she drew her grey overcoat closer around her as a gust of cold, salty air washed over her. The whole thing creaked with every step and each gust made it sway. It must have been at the least a few hundred feet to the crashing waves below, but she could still hear them. Needless to say, Merry quickened her pace.

Setter was waiting for her on the other side of the bridge, dressed as he usually was: green button up shirt and tan slacks. He had also apparently slicked back his normally disarrayed mane.

Setter smiled and offered her a hand of assistance, which she happily accepted as she stepped off the bridge.

“Good evening, Merry,” Setter said, offering his arm. “May I escort you inside?”

Merry grinned and hooked her arm around his. “You may,”

Together they walked towards castle. At another time, Merry might have taken the time to give the stone structure a proper amount of her attention. But, at the moment, she was too engrossed with silently giggling as Setter led, no escorted, her to the oversized double doors.

Setter raised a hand, likely to push the doors open, when someone on the other side did it for him. The door swung back to reveal the grinning face of a narrow muzzled Diamond Dog.

“Setter!” the Diamond Dog greeted the Pegasus loudly, quickly turning his gaze to Merry. “And you must be Merry. Pleasure to meet you.” he said as he stuck out a hand.

Merry put on her best fake smile and gingerly took the Diamond Dog’s hand, shaking it as quickly as she possibly could while still maintaining the façade of politeness.

Setter cleared his throat, clearly annoyed by his companion. “Merry, this is Jack. He does… security.”

Merry nodded, acutely aware of how fake her smile must look. “You look… sharp,” she said, chewing and swallowing any thoughts she had about how… tacky his off the rack suit looked.

The Diamond Dog, Jack, smiled at her, either oblivious to how forced she sounded or uncaring. “Thanks,” he jerked his head to indicate the hall behind him. “I’m sure the others want to meet you.” He turned and walked inside, Setter and Merry trailing a few paces behind him, Setter pushing the door closed behind them.

Jack led them down the foyer that led to another set of double doors. Jack pushed these open and indicated for them to go ahead of him. Setter went through first, Merry close on his heels, and Jack followed much closer than she would have liked, pulling the door closed behind him.

They were now in a large, circular room. Opposite of where they had entered was yet another set of doors, albeit much smaller. Hallways led off to Merry’s left and right. Two more creatures currently occupied the room.

The first was a Gryphon: tall and wearing a big, furry coat with an upturned collar that covered her up to her chin. At least, Merry assumed the Gryphon was female. It very well could have been a male wearing some garish sea-foam eye-shadow/war-paint arrangement.

The second was quite possibly the most lurid looking Unicorn Merry had ever set eyes on. Her coat was a bright yellowish green and flecked with white spots. In fact, her muzzle was pure white. Her mane was big and long, seaweed green with pink stripes. She was dressed like she’d smoked herself into a pot coma and only just woken up, wearing a shirt that was a metaphorical explosion of color and bellbottom pants. The Unicorn waved excitedly, a pair of gold bands jangling on her arm.

Setter cleared his throat. “Merry, this is Gavrii-” he pointed to the Gryphon “-and that is Daisy Wiss.” he indicated the Unicorn. “Girls, this is Merry.”

“Hello,” Gavrii said in a thick Gryphonstone accent, giving Merry a slight inclination of her head.

“Nice to meet you,” Daisy said in a bubbly voice.

“Val?” Jack asked from behind Merry, to which Gavrii jerked her head towards the right hallway.

“I apologize for being late. I was washing up,” explained the voice Merry remembered from the limo.

It was just as Merry had guessed from the brief glimpse she had gotten in the limo. It seemed her benefactor was a Lamia. But one that apparently liked to lurk in the shadows, just out of proper sight.

Big fucking snake indeed. Merry thought to herself.

“Valerie Morlin,” the Lamia said, extending a hand into the light. “Glad to meet you properly.”

Merry quickly walked over, shaking the offered hand. “Likewise, Miss Morlin,” she said with a nod.

Morlin released her hand and the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile, revealing teeth so white they practically shined in the darkness. “I must say, it’s quite nice to be able to talk to you without the pane of bulletproof glass.”

The Diamond Dog let out an amused snort. “Don’t tempt me, Val.”

Morlin chuckled. “I’ll try not too.” She turned her attention to the Gryphon. “Gavrii, did you raid one of the closets for that coat?”

The Gryphon cracked something close to a smile. “I thought it suited me, Valerie.”

Morlin returned the smile. “It certainly does.” She turned her attention back to Merry. “So, I suppose a tour is in order.”

A sudden buzzing sounded from behind Merry. She turned to see Setter pulling a phone from his pocket and flipping it open. He looked to Morlin and nodded. “They’re pulling up now, Boss.”

Morlin nodded. “Ahead of schedule.”

The Diamond Dog pushed himself away from the door and spoke to Setter. “Gavrii and I’ll go to the usual place. Anything happens; you call us, okay camera jockey?”

“Just keep in in your coat until we need you, Fast-Draw,” Setter said with a smirk as Jack passed him and headed down the left hallway. “You two, Featherbrain.”

Gavrii gave Setter a look and scoffed as she walked by him, following Jack.

“Setter, shouldn’t you be watching cameras?” Morlin said with a smile.

Setter snapped his fingers. “Right-o, Boss. Don’t worry, Merry. I’ll give you a ring once everything’s settled and you can join me.” And with that he too turned and vanished down the hallway.

Morlin clapped her hands together. “Well, our guests shall be at the door any moment. You should greet them alongside Daisy, and from there I advise you to follow her on the tour until Setter calls you.”

Merry nodded, trying to keep her expression relatively neutral. “Got it.”

Morlin chuckled. “Don’t worry. I doubt you’ll be bored. Daisy has been working on her tour and she’s very excited to give it. Aren’t you Daisy?”

The Unicorn nodded enthusiastically. “Very much so, Miss Morlin. And just in case, I’ve got a few things prepared to keep everybody entertained.”

Morlin smirked. “I’m sure you’ll do wonderfully.” She smiled at Merry. “Well, I’m off to look inconspicuous. When they see me, just tell the kids I rent a few rooms.”

Morlin slithered off though the doors leading deeper into the castle, leaving Merry alone with Daisy.

“Ready?” Daisy asked, one tasteless eyebrow cocked.

Merry put on her widest smile. “Let’s go and meet those bright, smiling faces.”

Author's Note

Fun Fact: Jack was initially called Grillo. I'd just watched Purge: Anarchy. Anyway, I decided to change it to Jack, mostly because the character design was similar (read: identical) to a character I ha created some time ago. More fun facts: The Jack I had created then was a lawyer. Kind of like Reuben.

What is it with me and lawyers?