Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Purring . It was gentle, consistent, yet eerily out of place. He couldn’t pinpoint where it was exactly, and it comforted him, nonetheless.

Cats always had that effect on him. 

Abandoned a decade ago by the previous owners who claimed to hear incessant banging at all odd hours, creaking stairs and attics with walls that wailed in their own agony from faded fingerprint outlined markings, and faint meowing when no cat was within visible sight. The house was suffering from the inside out and wanted its occupants to wallow in its misery. 

It was the intrigue of the mysterious lore that surrounded the origins of this new home that gave Mile the push he wanted to purchase it. No conviction or hesitance; all up front with no intention of backing out. The locals had warned him, hell even the realtor had told him that the house was ‘unsellable’; however, Mile personally relished the unknown. The potential to exposure to the paranormal was his cup of tea and he intended to brew the leaves, give them a little read as he had read up on ‘reading tea leaves’ as a pastime, and proceed to sip idly at the beverage.

He was currently doing just that as he crossed one leg over the other, seated comfortably on the couch as he watched the men that he’d paid to help unload everything into place. Boxes upon boxes were settled into rooms as designated by the realtor who was Mile’s college friend. He could easily read the room that everyone, except him, were bothered by the tense atmosphere. 

The movers were zipping around him at impressive speed, unpacked most of his belongings and trinkets he’d brought with him from the city, and didn’t even bother to wait for a tip the minute they realized the house they were in.

“Are you sure about this Mile?”

“Natcha. Don’t worry about me.”

“When you said you were looking for properties to move into…I didn’t think you meant somewhere like this,” The woman stood there and barely moved an inch. It was like she felt rooted and afraid to go too deeply into the house again. She’d been given the keys to the property by the local government, toured Mile through it quickly when he came, and almost beseeched him to turn away. That she’d show him other properties; however, a little glint in his eye told her that he was sold on it. “I forgot you like weird things.”

“Are you calling me weird?” Mile’s eyebrow rose as he also gathered to his feet, brushed off any lingering dust that gathered in the small amount of time he’d been seated. Walking over towards the woman, he clapped her on the shoulder and laughed at her outright jump at the action, “You alright?”

“Don’t you hear it?”

“Hear what?”

“The PURRING?!” She hissed at him.

Mile popped his lips, cupped a hand to his ear, looked around and pretended to not hear a thing. He had heard it, of course, but seeing as Natcha was already spooked to the bones if her trembling was reflective of her fright, he shook his head, “I don’t hear anything. You said nothing has lived in here for years.”

“Twenty-nine to be exact.”

Letting out a low whistle, Mile peeked around as if attempting to allocate the noise to assuage Natcha’s worries when a sound from the kitchen made her screech in surprise. He frowned and ran towards it instead of away from it, ignored her ‘MILE!’ as he entered the kitchen area. Glass on the floor. He clicked his tongue. One of his favorite vases for flowers, a green one with gold adornments, had been set on the marble kitchen top by the movers and somehow fell over. It was probably unstable to begin with and he sighed, “They ran off in a hurry because they did a lousy job.”

“Don’t blame them, Mile. Everyone gets the creeps being in here,” Natcha had reluctantly followed Mile to the source of the noise only because she didn’t want to be left alone. She watched as he scooped up the broken pieces, bare handed, and she fussed, “You’ll cut your hand!”

A snort escaped the elder man as he tossed the larger ones, went to dig out a broom to get the small ones, and put them into the trash bin. Mile didn’t analyze the reasoning behind the vase breaking on its own, owing it to wobbly old table structures and made a mental note to replace it.  Despite the outward appearance of the house, Mile had every intention to fix it up from the interior, by himself. It was a retirement project he had given to himself after he told his father that he was going to take a break from the family business, step away to recuperate his energy, and maybe return if he saw fit. Being the son of a successful supermarket chain owner and hotel heiress; he truly was living in the lap of luxury as they would say except the price was his sanity at times.

The strain of the workload, the overbearing feeling of expectations, the façade he had to place on in the form of a polite mask every day, it was like he never could be himself. Quirky, odd, playful. Go to watch scary or horror movies, attend metal rock concerts, or even have time to practice his guitars.

They were his pride and joy. Work took all of it away from him. Ten years straight of it and he decided to pull away, do something for himself, and his parents all but agreed with the stipulation that he return after six months’ time.

He knew it could be a short-lived freedom, so he said to hell with it, decided that living on the meager outskirts of the city would be too simple and he branched further out, looking for a curious ‘ haunted’ place to settle down. It had always been on his bucket list to go to one and only when he was alone with his brother had he been able to do so. The two of them would get up to a lot of shenanigans that made him laugh. He missed the man something awful but living abroad meant even more loneliness. Looking at the cabinets, Mile noticed a little sign that hung there, snorted at the name.

Heaven’s Island.  

That was the title given to the mansion by the villagers. The moat that surrounded it as well as the desolate atmosphere that came with the stench of death, according to its legends, and Mile was only tickled.

“Mile. If we’re done—"

“Natcha, you could’ve left a long time ago.”

A pout on the woman’s lips at his dismissal, “I was worried about you being here by yourself. It’s so creepy Mile. You didn’t even fix it up before letting the movers just come and bring your stuff…” Natcha walked over to the cabinet to open one up, motioned to the dusty lining with a scoff, “You’re going to clean ALL of this by yourself?”

“It’s not like I have anything else to do?” Mile shrugged, “I’m retired.”

“You’re the only 31-year-old I know that retires to live in a haunted house. I swear…you’re not from this world.”

The elder man trailed over to his friend, reached over with the intention to close the cabinets yet paused when he swore a pair of bright golden eyes peered back at him, he blinked, and they disappeared. He dipped his hand into the space, ignored her grunts at him squishing her against the area, then stepped back with a wrinkle of his nose, “Hm.”

“What is it?” She stared almost frantic, ready to sprint at the drop of a hat.

Mile softened and patted her head, “It’s alright. I was just thinking what colors I should line the shelves with.” He crookedly smiled as she batted at his hand, nudged him out of the way as Natcha stomped towards the nearest exit. Mile looked back into the dark space that he left open this time just in case whatever it was would come out to play and swiveled to go after Natcha. He hadn’t imagined it but didn’t want to worry his friend even more. She wouldn’t be able to sleep well if he hadn’t given a guarantee that whatever it was, was gone.

Back to the kitchen now, Mile looked along the walls lightly to see faded out portraits that were blackened with dust and soot from the nearby fireplace that he noted needed a change of lining also, and paused before almost slamming into Natcha’s back, “Natcha?”

“Mile. I don’t like this place. I know you bought it against my wishes but…there’s a dark history here,” She didn’t turn back, just murmured out loud, “The locals say there were unexplained deaths. Bodies that appeared in the moot.”

“Uh huh. When? Decades ago? Centuries ago?” Mile moved to give her a hug from behind. She was like his little sister so her voicing her concern made his heart light that he had someone to fall back on in the area. “It’s an old town. It’s been through wars and stuff, I’m sure.”

“Not wars, Mile,” Natcha huffed, pinched at his hands to release her as she turned about face to offer the key to Mile with a stoic expression, “Murders. Horrific ones. Fifty years ago.”

Mile stood at his full height, very imposing as he pointed up to the clouds, “Go. You have a long drive ahead and it’s going to rain soon.”

“Mile—”

“Text me when you get home.”

“Mile—”

He took the key from her, settled it into his pocket, and nodded, “Go. I’ll make it at least one night. Have some faith in me.” He put a hand to his chest, “I used to go to scary places with Man all the time.”

She wrinkled her nose as she knew this to be true from the stories she’d been fashioned with and sighed, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Not at all. But that’s half the fun. If I don’t answer the phone, don’t get scared and send the police or something,” Mile laughed as he could see a blush cover her face at being called out immediately by her thoughts. “I know you. Besides, stories are just stories. We don’t know what happened and I won’t shy away. I came here because I want to know.”

“Be safe.”

“Always.”

An embrace between the two when a boom across the sky occurred and Mile stepped back but not without kissing her forehead, “Shoo. Goodnight Matcha~”

“Goodnight, Mail.” 

Laughing at their internal joke as children where they couldn’t pronounce one another’s names, Mile just looked satisfied when she headed to her car finally. Leaning against the door frame, hands inside of his pockets as he flashed a dimpled smile to her and not minding the very light rain that whipped into his face from the slight wind. He waited to hear the engine turn on, lifted a palm out to wave at her and kept his eyes on her vehicle the whole time towards the large, adorned metal gates to the house. He thought it was redundant considering no one set foot on the property since the last time. 

The maintenance was abysmal, and Mile knew he had his work cut out for him. He felt the rain pick up speed, stepped back inside, and closed the door. The sound creaked and hummed, “I’ll need to take a look at everything in here to see what I need to go into town for.”

Mile was grateful to have had a heavy dinner with Natcha before coming to the house and the tea had warmed his belly. Speaking of tea, he should probably pick up his cup to wash it, “It’ll get gross otherwise and Ma will get mad I let her good china go to waste.” He spoke to himself, made it back to the living room, and blinked when he looked into the glass to find it completely empty. No tea remnants. No tea leaves. No tea reading.

Purring. It was back. A little quirky smile, a glint in his eyes, “I’ll add cat nip to my list. Shall I little kitten?” No reply. Only a louder purr on top of the storm that picked up outside. He already felt like he was home.

He just needed to find his new roommate first.

-TBC-

Chapter Text

Vibrancy with a sprinkle of elegance.

Charm with a hint of passion.

He remembered when there was life behind these walls. It was truly the only saving grace he had. He remembered when sweet, stimulating music wafted from the large party room that was filled to the brim with all walks of life, all were drawn to the mystique that was Heaven’s Island at the time, a town staple. A ‘must-see’ attraction for any passerby.

The infectious laughter, the splash of radiant silks in reds, golds, and blues that covered the bodies of every patron that entered the room as it swished and swayed with cheerful movement to tantalizing songs, the jewels that the men and women wore as a show of power and pride was awed by all. It was a place to be someone else, even for one night, and when morning came, the spell was over.

Up and coming musicians would practice their music as they knew there was always an audience. Actresses with amateur skills would pull in members to play their games. Dancers would move this way or that to the auspicious applause.

Heaven’s Island was the place to be. The starting point.

And now it served as his penitentiary. The never-ending point.

It seemed a grain in the sandglass of time as the seconds streamed into minutes that trickled into hours and inevitably poured into days. Days that he stopped counting. Weeks that he stopped despairing over. Years he stopped yearning for release from this eternity of perpetuated misery. He supposed it could have been worse…at least an optimistic part of him hadn’t died along with the others. He had the company of restless spirits equally trapped with him, the occasional villager that dared to step foot onto the property from taunts from other peers or to earn boasting rights. All child’s play. They were all promptly spooked at the mere rustling of the trees outside, the creaking of the rusted gates, all the while Apo always watched with amusement in his eyes, perched on a windowsill on the second floor of the house with the calmest of swishes of his tail. It was the only thing to look forward to once a month.

That’s right. Tail. A long appendage that he initially wanted to tear off with his own claws and mouth, unsuccessful in his endeavor and eventually time had him accepting this was his reality. Now just an added notch in his metaphorical belt of truths he had to live with. 

This was his curse to unjustly bear.

A cat. Not just any cat. A black cat. The epitome of bad luck. The embodiment of curses. Unlovable, undesirable, and unnoticed. Apo really hadn’t thought he’d deserved this, even after years had passed since that day, he let his thoughts linger from time to time. The nostalgia of the house he was bound to hit him harder closer to the full moon, when he could breathe in the air into his human lungs and let his bare feet touch the grass he desired; it was as if he was alive again.

“Apo.”

“Daw,” The feline bowed his head, not moving from his perch, his mouth didn’t move either. His way of communicating with the wandering souls was via telepathy, small graces, and loopholes to his curse. He had supposed it was due to the fact that he was neither alive nor dead that it gave him the chance to speak as he could. Letting out a cat-like yawn, Apo just turned to look back out the window, “What is it?”

A cool hand pressed to Apo’s back, prickling the ends of the black fur, making golden eyes glare back in retaliation and a shimmery figure only offered a smile, “I wish I could feel your fur. It looks really soft.”

“You say this every other day. And every other day I tell you not to do that. You’re cold as ice. It takes forever to warm up,” A paw lifted to bat at the see-through apparition; however, Apo shifted his form to face Daw now as it seemed his attention was desired, “You have my attention.”

“Thank you for gracing it to me.”

Rolling his eyes, Apo swished his tail leisurely, letting it thump against the wooden paneling of his perch, “Daw…”

“I feel there’s a change in the air coming…”

A sigh escaped Apo. Daw had been a local shaman that stumbled into Heaven’s Island fifty years ago, twenty-one years before Apo had even discovered the place, seeking refuge from the downpour of water one stormy night. He had predicted that the place would flood with water that no one would be able to escape from, and the walls would be stained with blood of the misfortunate. The owner at, at the time, thought him completely mad and tossed him out into said moat. Daw immediately drowned.

When Apo had gotten cursed years later, a story he didn’t recount to any of the others in the house as he vaguely remembered the details himself; Daw was one of the first spirits to approach him in a friendly manner and surprisingly became a comfortable presence for Apo, a known. He hated the unknown. It was the lack of knowledge that got him to where he was.

In forever purgatory. It was hell. Being in a seesaw of the existing and non.

It wasn’t like he had anyone to remember him either way. He supposed it was still better to be a cat in a mansion full of ghosts than a loner with no viable prospects of happiness. Again, a dash of positivity didn’t hurt.

But Daw’s little ‘ change is coming’ did hurt. He just never voiced it. Apo didn’t want to add insult to injury to a man who had been murdered.

Every once in a while, specifically around full moons, twelve to be exact, Daw liked to come around to give Apo an inkling of hope that his predicament would change. That someone or something would come to break him out of the chains and set him free. He had gone along with it the first couple of months, Apo full of naïve possibilities to freedom, and it felt like constant stabs to his heart. The one that still beat in his small chest, gripped painfully by this imprisonment. 

“There’s no change.”

“I mean it!”

“We go through this every month, Daw. It’s like clockwork with you.”

“Maybe it’s because you didn’t believe in the moon’s power before.”

Apo stretched out his limbs in front of him elegantly, scrambled up to arch his back in the limber way only cats can, then started pointedly at Daw, “I’m not going to do this anymore. Twenty-nine years of this Daw. We’re coming up on thirty and I’d rather just keep my peace.”

Daw tilted his head as he floated casually about a foot off the ground, hands behind his back as he watched Apo hop off to walk along the wooden floors and out of the room. The room had been fashioned and fixed up for someone from a long time ago, a different era, and living in a vintage look. It was Apo’s from when he used to live as a normal human and would be able to become one during the full moon’s time. The glow of the light always shimmered in his feline form and allowed him the chance to reminisce about what he no longer was. The dead man’s brow raised and wafted after Apo, easily through the door to watch the movement of the small black cat, “You don’t believe in my power?”

“You’re not the one who cursed me like this. You don’t get to make the rules of change either. You’re trapped here… just like me,” Apo remarked in a testy manner. Clearly his mood was fluctuating with this conversation. The other good thing was that he didn’t need to sustain himself too much. A dip in the moat, dug out a fish or two, or even the occasional bird that slipped in through a crack in the roof and couldn’t get back out.

“Where are you going, Apo?”

“I’m hungry, Daw. I’m going to eat.”

“You’ll get caught in the rain—”

“Maybe then I’ll finally be free of this cage and die,” A sharp swish of his tail as he hopped down each step, an expert at this point in time, the house was one he knew like the back of his paw. He allocated his makeshift ‘cat door’ behind the couch pressed to the wall, crawled through the thin space, and outside. The crinkle of the leaves beneath his paws wasn’t the same as when his toes would curl into the cool texture, the crisp breeze whipping against his tanned cheeks, the soft rustling against his dark brown hair, and he would lay back to feel the illumination of the moon’s forgiveness on him. His lungs taking in mouthfuls of air at a time, cherished the freshness in his body, and resisted the urge to cry. 

His time as a human was whittled down and he never wasted it mourning while looking forward to the next month when he was able to do it again.

Now, Apo made do with this body that served him decently for almost three decades, made his way towards the moat and flopped near the edge to look for fish. The rippling made his reflection prominent, and he stared even harder.

“How did my life come to this?” 

Existential crisis that he couldn’t even fully embrace as his stomach grumbled and he rolled his eyes, “Daw’s getting to me. Again! He has to stop. The full moon’s in a couple of days. I just have to make it through.” Up again on all fours, Apo’s head shifted left and right much like a lion would in the tall grass of the savannah then jumped headfirst into the murky water. Teeth bared and clenched around a wriggling captive, he popped out to shake the droplets free from his fur and toddled to his favorite spot, the large willow tree near the property cemetery.

Jaws clenched down around his prey, the feline made his way to climb up the bark with scratch marks of overuse, settled down at the rotted center of the tree, then set down to completing the kill. The burst of rawness in his mouth, the fulfillment in his stomach, there was nothing else to it.

A feeling he had gotten accustomed to as he licked his whiskers, then his paws cleaned any remnants of fish flesh, bones, or otherwise; then stared up to the cloudy sky that was indeed going to rain. Damned Daw for being right sometimes. If it rained, he’d get chilled and it’d be impossible to warm up seeing as he had no hands to work the fireplace in the house, and no clean logs to do it. Ears drooped, chin on folded paws as he closed his eyes for a nap. “…I really wish that change was coming soon…”

An hour or so passed and Apo heard voices. Lots of them. That jolted him straight up to look around at the disturbance. Were the kids back to be annoying? He’d jump on them and scratch them for being rude to the house. It was hell but it was his hell.

The gate opened.

A large truck was rattling as it was backing up towards the house and he stared with wide eyes as a small vehicle, sleek and modern, came in afterwards and two individuals stepped out of it. A woman with jittery steps and hesitant eyes from where Apo could tell and a man with billowy black hair, height that made Apo envy his human form again, and a smile that made him pause.

A … smile?

Apo had NEVER seen anyone smile when they came to Heaven’s Island. Not for a long time anyway and much less with enthusiasm.

It reminded Apo of the charming patrons that came for a round of drinks, ready to drop lots of money for good liquor, and he, being the bartender of the place back then, was all too happy to oblige. This man smelled of money and probably wasteful if he was buying this place. Apo shook his head. “He’ll leave before the week is up like everyone else.”

Hopping off the tree, scrambling rapidly back towards the house unnoticed, Apo crawled back in through his little spot behind the couch and paused at smelling tea . He hadn’t smelled tea in a long time. It was heavenly. 

The purrs that vibrated out of Apo were unintentional and cursed himself mentally for not keeping a lid on it. He shuffled to the kitchen, was nearly caught there again, and then when the woman left; he had been making his way to hide in his bedroom when he smelled the tea again. Unable to resist lapping at the remains, the sweet droplets different to the festered water of the moat, he sighed, “So good.” It came out as another hum, and he scurried away before this man could find him.

Apo was up the stairs when he heard ‘cat nip’ and the name ‘Mile’ from the woman’s lips. He couldn’t help but purr once more at prospects of being fed, even at the cost of revealing himself. Apo would wait first and then assuage his feelings of this newcomer. 

-TBC-

Chapter Text

“Ding dong…”

Apo felt his heart accelerate in his ribcage, it went ‘bump … bump … bump’, it just echoed fervently in his ears as he glued himself as discreetly as possible into an alcove between the shelving over the bookshelves that aligned themselves in the room, he’d assigned to himself a long time ago and never had to share with anyone before.

“Little kitten, it’s been a week already. Haven’t I given you good meals?”

The sing song tone only sent shivers through his form, bristled his fur as he continued to hold his breath and hoped that the offending patron nosing around his room would leave. Damn not being human anymore. Damn not being able to tell this Mile to leave before the man also got caught up in the mansion’s curse. Damn Mile for being a drop of intrigue into his otherwise boring, mundane existence.

“Are you hiding from him again?”

The tickle of a wispy voice in his pointed ear made Apo hiss loudly unconsciously, batted at the apparition with a paw, tail flicked agitated behind him, and glared when he could hear Mile’s feet pad towards his hiding spot in a rush. He swallowed, “Sawika!”

“Oh, come on Apo, you’ve been playing cat and mouse with this guy all week. He wants to play with you then let him.”

“First off, that sounds really weird. Secondly, I have not!”

The ghost, a woman named Sawika who had died from cholera 200 hundred or so years ago that she swore she got from a gentleman caller she knew at the time, and she cursed him with every other word uttered from ghostly lips. She would call herself the self-proclaimed real owner of the house as it had been on her land that Heaven’s Island had been built on after she passed away with no descendants. She loved to just moan and whine to any lurking spirit or Apo.

They normally ignored her, floating and being aimlessly lost as Apo felt except he, unfortunately, was subjected to all of the house guests at any given time. They shared this purgatory. If he had been human, he’d have been freaked out by the ability to do this, being clairvoyant but such a time had passed. Humanity left him when his body was converted into its current state.

He just wanted to live his cursed life in peace but then this fellow just reared his pretty head into Apo’s space even seemed adamant to stay. The feline darted his eyes left and right in a fear of where to head as he could see the bookshelf starting to rumble. Was Mile moving it?! If he picked the wrong side, Apo might not be able to save himself from whatever this human had in store for him. The thought of the villainy made him shudder to himself.

“Let him catch you already. What’s the big deal? At least you have a handsome man chasing you…I died before I could find mine again,” Sawika let out a long-winded sigh, a hand cupping her chin as she floated in between the spaces, a see-through figment. “You are so pretty.”

“I’m a CAT!”

“A pretty cat? That foreigner always called me pretty…before he gave me cholera!” Another long howl from Sawika made the bookshelf stop its movement. That made Apo blink. Could Mile hear Sawika? That never happened. The occupants of the house only assumed their presence yet carried on as if ignorant.

Apo had an idea and rolled with it, “Sawika, didn’t you say that foreigner had black hair?” He commented to her when the scrapping of the shelf against the floor made him cringe at the screech. His eyes widened in panic. As much as Apo wanted to be free of his cage, it didn’t mean he wanted to meet this human face-to-face; it would be unbearably odd for the physical interaction.

“Oh goodness me, oh goodness my. He DID have black hair! This one too! Devil men!” Another booming wail from Sawika as she straightened out, “ Oooh that foreigner!” She sobbed as if the memory of this man who died a long time ago continued to haunt her.

It was her first love. A soldier that came to Thailand with his troop and left. All of them were in consensus she just didn’t care to live anymore without him, got sick, and died. Heartache was worse than physical pain sometimes. He knew they all had their stories and only vague details were given to him. Apo never wanted to share his…mostly because he couldn’t remember it anymore. 

Time was not his friend but an enemy.

His thoughts came back when Apo heard a curse from the other side of his shield, thundering rumbles of a man that beelined for the door, open and shut, and Apo sighed in relief. “He’s gone…” He felt a chill pass through him and stared at Sawika who glared at him now, “What?” It was like she slapped him for what he had done. “You started it. You scared me and he almost found me!”

“You brought up that wretched, awful man, Apo!”

Apo rolled his eyes, licked his paw to brush against his face in an act of indifference as he rolled out his back from the tension and yawn, “Serves you right. I wanted to hide, and you didn’t let me.”

Sawika looked affronted, “I hope you live a lonely reality!” and she shimmered away. It left Apo to stare at the black spot stained against the wall. All of them left the same shadowy mark behind as if trying to imprint somehow. He knew their frustration and they never understood his. If he connected with Mile…and Mile left…that would actually hurt a lot. Apo only knew Mile through quiet observation from Apo’s perch on high chandeliers that needed a good cleaning, or the plates of freshly cut fish left out for him to nibble on, and the moonlight streaks that spread against Mile’s features when Apo had been certain the evened out breathing from the man meant sleep.

Normally around 2 or 3 am, Apo’s curiosity had him venture into the crevices of the master bedroom he knew all too well from years of having time to explore the place and sit on the windowsill to watch Mile sleep.

As a human that was creepy, as a cat that wanted the safety of the haunting hours, Apo looked at Mile. Every day. Monday through Saturday. Catalogued the porcelain skin that was different to Apo’s that was beautifully tanned, the beauty marks that freckled adorably, the wrinkle of those thick brows in a dream, and he sighed to himself.

“He is handsome…” Apo mused. Not daring to get closer and only letting the moon gift him this vision. A temporary one considering Mile would hear the ghosts that plagued this place and leave, no one ever stayed.

A week meant nothing. A week was just a second for Apo.

Hearing Sawika curse him to loneliness only had his shoulders sag, “I’m already living it, Sawika…” Apo called out to her even though he knew she’d probably gone to the attic to weep over the only photograph of her ‘foreigner’ she had kept. Apo had never found a love that left him unable to move on. He never would. During his time, being who he was and who he wanted to be with was forbidden; and his past littered with trysts with strangers that only found solace in him as he in them.

“Wait he’s gone. Phew,” The black cat wiggled out of the space, butt first as it took him a bit to squeeze in with his wide hips the first time, then he squawked when hands came to grip at his waist, pulled firmly, then held up at arm’s length. “Hey!” Apo snarled at being ‘manhandled’ then put two and two together. Mile hadn’t left and was holding him now. He stared, for the first time since the man’s arrival to Heaven’s Island , face to face. 

“I caught you. Finally.”

Apo just remained silent. No purrs or meows. Dangling between large palms that were warm to his fur that was normally treated to frigid ice of the ghosts that passed through him, attempted to touch him, or the lack of heat that came in the house. Not that Thailand wasn’t sweltering hot. It was this house.

The curse kept it bitterly cold, and Apo thought it was due to its invisible occupants. Their combined eerie aura created this frozen Tartarus.

Mile’s hands were the opposite. They emitted a kindling of fire that Apo wasn’t sure how to react to.

“Are you scared?” A laugh that escaped from parted pink lips that Apo snapped his gaze to immediately, traced the lines of a notable nose he wanted to bite in retaliation for tricking him, then settled onto the onyx gems glancing back with amusement. “I had to trick you, I’m sorry. You wouldn’t come to me all week. I thought I was smelling bad or something. You’d eat and leave, a little rude for a house guest don’t you think?”

Apo wrinkled his whiskered snout, “Rude?! House guest?! YOU’RE the house guest not me!” He meowed in misery at his new plight, continued to hang like a puppet on strings and he could scratch, yet his claws surprisingly remained retracted. The thought of actually hurting Mile seemed … mean.

This human had been kind for the most part. A trickster. A foreigner .

“I guess technically I’m the house guest if you’ve lived here longer than I have,” Mile mumbled, tilted his head to stare at this cat he finally got in his grasp, then licked his lips, “You are adorable.”

If a blush was possible, Apo knew it’d trickle to his cheeks; those he had been with always called him such sweet nothings before they tousled in his bed, and they’d be gone shortly after. He preferred it that way, it was safer for both of them as the time would have had them all killed. Now living this inferno, Apo wasn’t sure if he’d prefer to go back to that time. He heard another rumble from the shelf. Snapped his head back to see that where Mile had destabilized it in an effort to find Apo, the old hinges of Apo’s bookshelf were coming undone and the entire furniture piece was falling forward towards them, “Look out!”

The feline managed to shimmy out of Mile’s hands in the stupor the other had trying to figure out what was going on, Apo had his reflexes to account for and propelled forward firmly against Mile’s chest to startle the man. A quick hop back from Mile, whose knees hit the back of a nearby coffee table that knocked him onto his back but away from the hazard zone, had Apo sitting atop that chest in relief.

The scatter of his books all over the place made him mewl gloomily as he would have to wait for the moon tomorrow to pick up everything but the fingers that pet the top of his head made Apo glimpse back to Mile.

The broad dimpled smile that held gratitude made Apo falter. Mile pet against that small head once more, “Thank you kitten. You saved me. If that fell on me and I died, Natcha would tell me ‘I told you so’ for living in a haunted house that’s out to get me.” He chuckled, sat up as best as his long limbs would allow him, lifting the tiny creature to press the barest of kisses to that nose as the cat appeared stunned to move away. Mile set the animal down into his lap and burst out laughing when it ran off immediately, “Like I said. You’re adorable!” He shouted after and shook his head, “I’ll clean the mess, but I’d love for you to join me for dinner tonight? I’m making Pla duk phat phet. Catfish for my cat.”

Apo had gone under the bed, thankful that Mile hadn’t followed him, and trying to process why that little kiss was making his heart and mind do somersaults. Dinner? With Mile? Did he dare risk it?

-TBC-

Chapter Text

Mile’s hands on his hips as he looked at the ballroom he had finally finished fixing up to his standard. The broadest, most accomplished smile across his features.

Dimples dipped into his cheeks as he lifted up his arms with a triumphant, “Finally!” as he spun around to the clutter-free space that was actually more homely. At least to his taste. His parents told him outright that they would let him handle his affairs before dropping by for a visit anytime soon. Man was out of the country but would make a beeline for his place as soon as he came back to Thailand.

In the meantime, Mile didn’t feel lonesome at all; his mind occupied with a lot of things.

The entire week hadn’t been a walk around the block for him. It required a lot of heavy lifting, installation of furniture as he wanted, cleaning years of built-up cobwebs, mildew from broken piping, moss from overgrown plants, and dust that he had to wear a face covering over his nose to not inhale. He had had an inspector come to the house before buying it, made sure that the foundation was still in good condition, the electricity also connected to a generator in the event a storm knocked out the power, and crossed his Ts and dotted his Is. He knew that Natcha had been a frazzled mess, but Mile was a businessman above all.

Negotiating contracts and weaving the words off of a page to get them signed was in his genetics. That was why he made sure to have everything in place and reassured Natcha that his choice to purchase Heaven’s Island was a sound one.

“I should probably get to cooking something,” Mile checked his watch on his wrist, peeked over to a large wooden cuckoo clock that was carved by hand with its aesthetic visuals, and saw that it matched. It was 4PM. He made a connection with the little kitten that roamed around the house, finally, in the morning after breakfast which had been quite an experience all on its own. Mile couldn’t forget the unconscious pull of golden eyes that glowed, the soft texture of black fur beneath his hands, and then the widening expression when Mile kissed its snot. Just endearing and rejuvenating to help him tackle the day. He spent the rest of his time productively by finishing up the wiping of the space that he was sure had seen its good days of dancing couples, toe-tapping music, and spine-tingling adrenaline. He almost wished he lived in a different era. His brother called him an ‘old soul’ because of his love of the classics and vintage clothing that made up most of his wardrobe. Mile almost felt like he’d been born too late.

Every day he had gone to each room of the mansion, did a thorough touch up before moving on to the next, and despite being exhausted, it felt like he finally found a reason to think outside of the box. Look beyond legal jargon of contracts, to hear music from his cellphone that played out from a portable speaker he charged up instead of a buzzing ring for a Zoom call and take a breath for himself.

“It looks really good.”

He had gone into the last room that had been locked. Mile practically kicked it down when he found it was surprisingly the cleanest in the entire house (his own master bedroom included). The bed was made, there wasn’t the usual accumulation of thinly strung about webbing and a small spot on the window ledge that had its imprint of a circle. As if something small sat there to look out the glass panes that were only vaguely foggy, Mile reasoned the cat that he’d been searching stayed here in this room. A connection to it perhaps? Mile had heard the hissing and it sort of spiraled to the man thinking about the creature.

An invitation to dinner. Natcha would’ve thought him totally insane for inviting a cat to dinner instead of being normal and inviting over a lover or even her? Though he laughed at the latter part. She barely stayed to show him around and knew she would need to be bribed to step foot into Heaven’s Island again.

The moaning that he heard during the night was definitely from ghosts. In between the maintenance of the house, Mile was on his iPad reading through archives of information about the past owners of Heaven’s Island, the supposed deaths of people that freaked out Natcha, all while sipping a glass of whiskey and humming in fascination. The last owner died 29 years ago when he took his life, a man named Suppadet Bun Ma, apparently driven to madness of voices in his head. At least locals rendered that version when Mile asked them as he went shopping for fresh ingredients for his meal tonight. The house had been passed down to Suppadet through generations, he had turned it into a flourishing gambit of sorts that had local performances from wayward travelers, gambling rooms for men with coin-lined pants, and alcohol-ladled patrons that weren’t afraid to drop promises from their tongues to any pretty ear that passed their way. A real ‘all-in-one’ experience. Now the house just stayed as a reminder of deaths the mysteriously started to occur, brushed off as a drunkard accidental drowning and carried on; Mile figured there were records hidden somewhere within the dwelling and the basement was probably the best place to peek.

His stomach grumbled, interrupting his thoughts, and he clicked his tongue, “Shower time and then dinner…” Mile walked over to grab his cellphone, pocketed it as he turned to twirl out of the room in an exaggerated fashion, laughing to himself, “I’ll need to find a dance partner, or I’ll scare the ghosts with my craziness.”

The man heard the echo of his footfall against the wooden flooring that could use a replacement as well, hands in his pockets as he whistled the tune of the last song that played on his device as eyes strayed to the portraits that lined the hallway walls. Mile managed to clean them up of the gathered dirt, look into the eyes painted there and not able to identify them.

None of them had plaques.

No names. Only solemn faces. Mile wondered if Suppadet just commissioned an artist for Heaven’s Island and those who wanted to be immortalized there would pay to have themselves painted. “Same expressions. Just this void of life look…weird since they were definitely alive right?” A morbid thought. He murmured as he paused in front of one that was directly across from his bedroom, a smaller portrait than the rest and he hadn’t been able to peel the layer shielding the face’s mouth. Mile figured to rip the portrait out entirely and toss away as what would he need to look at a half-obscured portrait anyway and found he couldn’t remove it. It was stapled or locked to the wall, so he gave up. All Mile could make out were eyes that didn’t match the rest. These were vibrant in their color and gaze. “I guess I could do worse than looking at pretty eyes while I’m here.” His fingertips traced the outlines of those long eyelashes, along the colored pupil, then pulled away as if surprised he’d been mesmerized, “They say eyes are the window to the soul.”

Not sure who he was justifying to as he popped his lips, swiveled to dip into his bedroom to get into the shower and get himself fixed up for his company.

*~*~*
“How long did Natcha stay?”

Mile laughed outright at his brother’s directness as he finished chopping the fresh catfish, turned the stove on with the heat and kept the oiled pan sizzling as he spoke to his brother via video chatting, “You get right to the point huh? No ‘How’re you Mile?’ or ‘Are you doing well baby brother?’”

“Why? You went there on your own and I know you’re doing fine on your own,” Man commented from his place. He had gone to Europe on business and the time difference was a little odd, but it worked best for them as he grinned, “Did you explore everything yet?”

“I’ve only been here a week, Man.”

Rolling his eyes, the elder just sat back against some fluffed up pillows as he checked his watch, “Isn’t it early for dinner?”

“It’s 7:30 here. Time zones bro.”

Man waved his hand, “And you’re making what exactly?”

“You called to interrogate me.”

“Mile phone calls are always interrogations. Most conversations are back-and-forth of how’re you? How’s life? And questions and answers,” The elder Romsaithong answered to see the color on Mile’s cheeks as if in just one week Mile had forgotten basic human interaction. “You forgot just hanging out in an empty house every hour.”

“I did not! Besides, it’s not empty. I hear things.”

“Figments of your imagination.”

Mile glared at his brother, held his knife up as if to threaten the man over the video chat, “Don’t make me come for you.”

“Please, it’d be more entertaining than these meetings I have to do because you decided to retire, Mile.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Mile grabbed the catfish pieces to toss into the flame and debated on a straggled few to leave it fresh for the feline or to fry everything, “Do cats like fried food?”

“You didn’t answer any of my fifty questions and then you ask me about fried food for cats?” Man burst out in amusement, smiling broadly to his brother who always was endearing that way, “You got a cat. That’s cute Mile. I thought you were a dog person.”

“I like dogs too.”

“Then?”

“There’s a cat that lives here already. I made contact with it this morning!” Mile’s chest puffed out in pride a moment at the memory then paused, “Man!”

“What?!”

“Do cats eat fried food?”

Man deadpanned, “I wouldn’t recommend it. You might kill it feeding it oily things. I don’t know. Read up?”

Wrinkling his nose in thought, Mile nodded in conjunction, left the pieces off to the side on the cutting board as he moved to shift the pieces he was going to eat with a low whistle, “Answer to your questions. Natcha came, dropped me, and left in all of ten minutes. I explored a good amount of the house. It’s huge. Plenty of space for when you come to visit to stay in a room. I’m making Pla duk phat phet.”

As always, the elder of the two was impressed with Mile’s ability to boomerang back to the subject at hand, grinned at him, “Mom called me that she’s worried about you out there.”

“It’s not Bangkok I know.”

“And you’re on your own. She said she’d been reading up about this place,” Man cleared his throat to pretend to quote, “I quote ‘why is my baby out there being a ghost hunter? You should check on him!’ and I just counter that you’re 31, old enough to do as you please, and she just quiets down.” He snickered then softened, “But call her. She worries about you.”

Mile nodded, “I meant to, but I got distracted with everything about this place. I cleaned it up and found a lot of random things. I was also busy looking for the cat…it’s really cute Man.” He stopped stirring to make a sizing motion with his hands, “Black, about this big. Not sure if it’s a female or male. But it’s got the prettiest eyes.”

“You sound like you’re in love with a cat.”

Lifting a hand as if wanting to smack his brother, Mile laughed boisterously, “I’ve lost some marbles but not all of them. I just thought it was adorable. Softest meows. I think it watches me when I sleep.”

“Stalker cat, Mile?” It was a playful comment, Man lifting his phone, “Should I call the authorities?”

“You ass,” Shaking his head, Mile set aside the fish to grab the red curry paste, the minced peppers, chili, and lime leaves as his shoulders shook with his mirth. Talking to his brother always lifted his spirits, “I don’t know anything about it. Looked a little skinny. Maybe came in here looking for some shelter or something. It’s freezing in here all the time by the way.” He let the food sizzle as he put his hands flat on the counter, “I had to put the fireplace on.”

“…It’s October? It’s not normally that cold? I mean Belgium is freezing but different parts of the world, Mile.”

“It’s this house. I walk around here with a sweater at times until I put the fire on then its comfortable. I go into town and I’m sweating my ass off.”

Man pulled his lips in a moment as if debating then said his joke, “What ass?”

“I swear I’d smack you if you were here!”

“I’m just saying facts baby brother,” He cooed at Mile, jerked his head once his laughing calmed itself, “Mile. You became a cat dad. Congratulations.”

“I don’t know that yet! I invited it to dinner and not sure it’ll drop by,” Mile looked over his shoulder to the large windowpane in the kitchen as he stared at the reflection of a bright moon, “I love the moon here. You can’t see it in the city.”

“King of changing subjects.”

“I know you’re going to think I’m nuts for inviting a cat to dinner, Man.”

Shrugging himself, Man just stared calmly, “If that’s what you want to do Mile, I’ll always support you.” It was a tease that was lined with sincerity. He truly would support anything his brother wanted to do in life. Even if it was turning into a ghost hunter. Hell – he’d probably quit joining him too. But seeing the way his brother spoke animatedly, vibrantly, it meant that this change was needed and the quiet space to himself as he smiled. “You look good, Mile.”

Reflexively, Mile had peeked to his watch to see that the time shifted from 7:30 that he’d initially spoken to Man and now reflected 8:01; a tiny frown had gathered on his face when he didn’t hear a little meow or small confirmation his guest of the night would join him.

The disappointment was evident on his face then it perked up at hearing Man tell him he looked good, Mile’s dimpled features relaxed evidently at the praise, “Thanks. I really do feel refreshed. I mean it’s not that I don’t miss companionship, right? It’s more like I needed to get away from the chaos that was weighing me down.”

“Your cat friend will figure that out too.” A beeping noise from Man’s phone had both brothers sigh, “I gotta go now. Call me for anything. Call Mom before she comes looking for you.”

Mile lifted a hand to wave to the man, saw the iPad screen dim dark, and he chuckled to himself, “We’ll see.” He finished up his dish, turned on jazz music from his cellphone, and gave a little sway to it. Mile’s eyes fluttered a moment to enjoy the ambiance. It was gloomy for some, distressing for others, and he never felt more at home. It was like enjoying rainy days to stay in, curl up with a good book, and company. Except he was lacking that part.

Wrinkling his nose again, Mile snapped his eyes open in time to see a hand, a bonafide hand reach to grab the little cut pieces of raw catfish and disappear behind him. Swiveling around quickly, his hands reacted faster than his brain as one snapped around the lithe wrist attached to the thieving hand, and the other caught the other wrist that was about to attack him. Both belonging to a man dressed in a beige buttoned up blouse with brown slacks that sat on a thin waist, tiny droplets of blood against that strong jawline as if this person didn’t know how to shave or haphazardly did so and striking golden irises and the “oi!” Mile started with died on his lips.

“…”

This encounter seemed familiar and different all at once.

“Where did you come from?” Mile stated with a tightening of his grip on the lithe wrists, feeling the increased pulse, and stared, “Who are you?”

“…”

“Hey—”

“Apo.”

“Huh?” Mile tilted his head in confusion, saw this stunning specimen just finish swallowing down the catfish (bones and all!) and he opened his mouth to finish, “Did you just—?”

“I am Apo.”

“Apo?”

“Think of me as just a figment of your imagination.”

Furrowing his brows, Mile gave the wrists a small shake as if to say that Apo was tangible to him, “I’m not understanding.”

“And you don’t have to,” Apo licked his lips of the residue of the catfish, eyed the plate and wanted more, already regretting a lot of the choices he’d made now that Mile caught him outright, but the invitation of dinner and a push from Daw had him standing here now. Dressed in whatever clothes he could find, a quick shave, and his eyes flashed back, “Did you want to have dinner or not?”

-TBC-

Chapter Text

The full moon always gave him hope.

It was nonsensical hope, yet it was his, nonetheless. Apo knew that it was the singular lasting bit he had left after years of endless wandering around a mansion whose ghosts wailed in agony, whose walls begged for release of its accursed state, and he felt all too enveloped in the same desire.

The moon gave him back an inkling of humanity.

And Mile, the actual human of the house, had invited him to dinner. 

Apo knew that full moon nights were special. He had five hours of unrestrained freedom to feel long limbs he often forgot existed return as his body contorted from its trapped feline cage, wiggle fingers and toes instead of paws, admire his own reflection for a long time in the nearest mirror or the moat to savor for another month till the next time. That was how he spent his time. His precious time. Normally when he became human, the voices of the ghosts also disappeared, it was as if he only heard them when conveniently attached to the curse. Another perk was tranquility. The silence. The ability to have privacy was astounding during those nights.

Except now he wasn’t alone tonight. Tonight, he had company.

Company that asked him, in his cat state, to join for dinner. What a strange fellow.

Did Apo go and humor the man? Did he scare Mile into thinking he’d lost his mind in the house with the hallucination of Apo like everyone else before him? Or did Apo just hide out and stay locked away in his bedroom. Again.

A sigh escaped his lips after he had shrugged on his clothing for the night, opting for something casual and nothing too outstanding. The house was his dressing room, the previous tenants his purveyors. Occupants from over the years would come, leave in a hurry as soon as they knew the house truly was haunted, and he’d be treated to some curious costumes and wears they’d left behind. It was a tickled joy that he kept in trunk in his closet under lock and key.

Some nights he’d dress up as a dancer.

Captivated by the golden silk that was wrapped around his frame beautifully, he would jump and land with the grace he’d learned being a flexible creature while recalling the moves of the dancers who traipsed through Heaven’s Island and hummed to indiscriminate music of the past.

Other nights he’d dress as a proper gentleman.

Suits that were made of the finest fabrics, labels that hung on the necks that he could assume were the tailors’ signatures and pretend to ask for drinks in a haughty manner at the dusty bar where he, himself, had been the bartender on the other side, and walked in a gallant show. The ghosts always watched him yet could never reply; only to tease him mercilessly when midnight hit on the dot, and he didn’t care. It gave them all joy at the end of it.

The rest of the nights he’d dress plainly.

Apo had been planning to do just that tonight; however, Mile seemed to throw a wrench into his plans.

“Join me for dinner tonight he said. I’m making this he said,” Apo mumbled as he was fussing with his hair in the bathroom of his bedroom. The mirror dusty and in shambles, the little bit he managed to fix the last full moon already falling apart again. Time wasn’t afforded to him, and he didn’t want to waste it on fixing the house. He shaved his chin and jaw with shaky hands as it always took him a half hour to get his bearings together but tonight he was hurrying to not waste a single minute. Deeming himself good enough, Apo tiptoed down the stairs, avoided each step that creaked expertly, and settled down at the base when he was having second thoughts. “…Why am I excited?” He squatted to throw his head between his knees in contemplation. “I shouldn’t scare him. I shouldn’t join him.”

His sensitive nose smelled the fish from the kitchen, cut fresh and his stomach gurgled, “Maybe I can sneak some food and run away…” he reasoned then sprinted towards the kitchen with a light air about him to hover by the doorway to peek into the kitchen. Mile’s broad back was facing him, and Apo couldn’t help but stare a touch too long. Mile was tall, the dark hair soft looking, his body sturdy and firm; Apo shook his head as he almost smacked his forehead. Why am I diving into other things about this man? The inner rambling interrupted when Apo noticed Mile talking out loud. But to who? Using the element of the shadows in the barely lit room, Apo slunk against the shelving slowly to watch the man speaking into a little box and both eyebrows raised at seeing another person there. What sorcery? ! 

Apo’s musing paused at the catfish already chopped up and presumably ready to debone, his mouth watered, and stared at the treat. He waited with bated breath for an opportunity, seized it with a successful steal of one piece and reached for another only to get caught.

He knew he couldn’t scratch at Mile as easily in human form. 

Did he want to?

Instead, he gave his name, an identity, and then shuffled to sit down at a table to be plated food properly; what was wrong with him? Apo’s hands folded in his lap as he definitely felt the skittish part of him trying to win out to just bolt and forget this insane endeavor, until the plate with fresh scents hit him and he gasped, “Did you cook the catfish?!”

“… I said I was cooking dinner with catfish and asked a cute cat to join me. Are you the cat?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Cats can’t be humans and humans can’t be cats,” Apo retorted with a quip, winced at how harsh that might’ve sounded but his interaction with full-blooded individuals was limited. His shoulders hunched forward to appear small, his ‘invisible cat ears’ flattened since he didn’t have them at the moment, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, it was just a question. You said you’re a figment of my imagination. Why?” Mile asked causally as he ladled food onto his own plate, shifted to sit down across from Apo to get a good look at this unexpected beauty. Not that Mile wasn’t exposed to a plethora of colorful individuals in his line of work or in his personal life. This Apo just seemed to have an extra layer of intrigue that made him dazzle in the moonlight and the mention of dinner meant he’d listened Mile’s invitation to the cat? Perhaps it was the ironical color of those eyes that matched the cat he’d met this morning now his mysterious appearance. “You just have the same eyes.”

“The same eyes as who?”

“As the cat.”

“You figured two and two were the same?” Apo questioned as he was about to dip his head to nibble the food then saw Mile pick up the spoon and followed suit. He hated feeling jumbled up. He knew how to eat normally it was just rusty skills that he only got 12 times out of a year. He scooped some of the spicy catfish mix with white rice into his mouth, let out a purr at the taste, not realizing he’d done it as he flashed an endearing smile, “This is delicious!” His shyness forgotten momentarily. He practically inhaled the plate like a vacuum, his stomach grateful to something warm hitting it for once instead of cold and raw.

It was gone in five gulps.

Mile got caught by that smile. He had been a little captivated by the eyes to understand those lips upturned and he missed his own spoonful into his mouth, falling onto his shirt, “Oh.” He hadn’t even started and was already a mess.

Apo saw the mess, reached over to brush the rice crumbs onto his hand directly from Mile’s shirt to pop into his mouth with a hum, “Don’t waste it’s very good!” The younger didn’t realize immediately that his fingers brushed against Mile’s skin from the open blouse, scrambled to sit back like his hands burned, and gaped, “I—that was rude right?” He had gotten the air of Mile being a young master somewhere and touching someone randomly was definitely taboo back then. Wouldn’t the same apply now?

“It’s okay, don’t run off yet figment,” Mile laughed, ignored the light dusting of pink on his cheeks from the spontaneous brushing of heated fingers on his chest, then shook his head, “If you want more, there’s more. Hang on.” He got up to grab Apo’s plate, ladled more that he’d been planning to reheat tomorrow and found himself endeared as he set it down in front of the newcomer to be rewarded with that sunshine smile. He scooped to eat properly himself and nodded, “If you’re a figment, why do you have a name?”

“Didn’t you say asking questions was interrogating? I’m not answering all of them.” Apo said haughtily. He had precious time, and it wouldn’t be wasted; however, spending time chatting with someone who wasn’t always complaining or griping about death was refreshing.

“You were eavesdropping?”

“I am a figment. We do whatever we want,” A shrug from Apo’s shoulders as his focus returned to the second helping of the meal. He scarfed it down, almost tempted to lick the plate clean as he did when Mile left him chopped fish at night sometimes as a cat but shook his head. “I heard your invitation to the cat and came instead.”

Mile popped his lips then started to laugh, “A ghost joining me for dinner instead?”

“Who says I’m a ghost?”

“You randomly show up in my kitchen. You heard my conversation with the cat, with my brother, and I haven’t seen you lurking in here for days,” The elder deduced and pointed with a finger, “You’re either the cat or a very solid poltergeist.”

Apo debated. If he said he was the cat, Mile would really think that was stupid; however, the nonchalant way that it was explained surprised him, nonetheless. He cleared his throat, “I’m a poltergeist that only appears when I feel like it.” He wished it were that simple. “I took the invitation on the cat’s behalf.”

“I see. Are you the one wailing and moaning at random times of the day?” Mile questioned, figured he had the opportunity and genuinely giddy, this was amazing. Talking to a bonafide spirit was insane. Eating together even! He was definitely fanboying in his own way. “Is the cat male or female? Are they your guide animal or something?”

“You are so strange,” is all Apo could remark. “Asking all of these questions.”

“I won’t get answers if I don’t ask.” Snorting, Mile just popped more food into his mouth, forgetting every now and again to do so since this interaction was more interesting, “I get called weird a lot.”

“It’s not a bad thing to be.”

That statement faltered him. His onyx irises peeked into golden ones that spoke blatantly and offered a gentle smile in return, “Thanks. We’re complete strangers. A human and a ghost. I’ve been told to poltergeists are demons. Demented, foul, and evil. You’re sitting there looking very beautiful and even complimenting me, eating my food like it’s a five-star restaurant.”

“Why does it have five-stars? Like the ones from the sky?”

“It’s a rating system, Apo.”

Blinking his eyes, Apo caught up to the rest of what Mile said and stammered, “B-beautiful?!” he hated the high pitch in his tone, swallowed it down with the glass of water in front of him, gripping the item tightly till the water quenched his parched throat. “You’re not afraid of me?”

“You haven’t given me a reason to be afraid? Although you were inhaling catfish bones, and all is a little fascinating. It tastes better without the bones you know?” Mile prattled then paused, “Maybe you don’t. I guess if you’re not really alive it doesn’t matter?” He tapped his chin, “I have to figure out for next time.”

“We won’t be having a repeat, Mile.”

“I’m genuinely disappointed by that.” But relieved that Apo knew his name, so pleasantries were properly out of the way.

“People don’t last long in Heaven’s Island . The longer they stay, the more insane they get,” Apo commented the truth. He folded his hands again in his lap, “They leave here running or they leave here dead.”

Mile rolled his tongue into his cheek. That somber thought that even came from someone presumably already dead and just lurking around the mansion made it more of a tangible threat. Natcha wanted to do a ceremonial cleansing of the house to make it livable and Mile said no. He purposely came to explore and investigate the paranormal associated with this house. Nothing was going to deter him. His shoulders set back as he looked to Apo, “I’ll have to be different than everyone else.”

“Or die trying?”

“Seems a touch extreme don’t you think?” Mile gathered the plates together, got up to toss into the sink before peeking to the bright moon that was glowing outside and enjoyed the splendor. His eyes peeked over to the cemetery that was in the field that he had every intention to clean up. He wondered how many were forgotten and living vengefully in the house. “I know people died here. I’m not naïve.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I asked you the same. Why are you here? Sitting with me? If you selectively appear, why now? I’ve been here for a week.”

Curiosity? Nosy? Apo thought and spoke, “The cat and I thought it wouldn’t be nice to ignore your invitation. He politely declined. I said no more questions. I’ll leave.”

“It is a male.”

“…Bastard. Selective hearing.”

Mile laughed outright at that. He fed this surreal man with the lean figure that his eyes peeked at when they were standing together a moment ago, felt the very real pulse-like beat underneath his palms on Apo’s wrists, and the flicker of life in those eyes. If Apo wanted to play being nothing more than an apparition, who was he to deny? Even the name only amused Mile. Maybe he had missed companionship more than he wanted to admit and seeing Apo’s direct mannerisms was refreshing. No one acted like that with him except Natcha and Man. They were his family. Apo…Apo was something else entirely. He whirled about and waved his hand, “Eating a meal does come at the cost of something. Prepared to pay?”

“I stand by what I said a minute ago.”

“You must’ve been alive at one point and know the bartering system,” His eyes traced the lines of the seated tanned man, “I can’t tell what time period you’re from according to your clothes but I’m sure it’s a common principle. I give you something, you give me something.”

Apo let out a huff. He was having a regret now. This turnabout wasn’t to his favor and a quick glance at the clock in the room that was functioning, it read 8:45PM. He would only have 3 hours left. He popped to his feet though, not wanting to back down from a challenge when he saw one, placed his palms on the table and leaned forward. He’d grown up to be more subservient due to his placement in the world and appreciated freedom in Heaven’s Island when the owner let him be himself. “Then what can I possibly give you?” In a very short time, Mile managed to get out of him a brattier side and it was impressive.

Mile quirked a dimpled smile in return, eyes lit up like a Christmas Tree, “A tour of the cemetery as I clean it.”

-TBC-

Chapter Text

Seated atop one of the highest tombstones with surprising ease and grace, grateful for his feline aptitude to keep him level, Apo watched with rapt attention at the new owner of Heaven’s Island. Mile was doing as he had said he would, which was to clean the tombstones thoroughly as Apo gave a brief history of the occupants.

In true fashion, morbidly, it seemed that Mile didn’t deter from any story that Apo told. Each death, each burial. Mile would nod, clean the overgrown moss or spiderwebs with ease before moving to the next and expecting the same overview. They spent another hour or so doing this. Apo, not intending to actually work while his precious time was limited, only spoke animatedly, doing his duty as a tour guide of the grounds. He swung his feet out in front of him as he motioned to the tomb that Mile was currently stationed at.

“That one is Daw’s tomb. He was a shaman that prophesized about the downfall of Heaven’s Island.”

“Downfall?” Mile tilted his head inquisitively as he went to dabbing a wet cloth to the cool stone. His eyes focused on clearing it enough to share a name, smiled to himself as he accomplished the task, and still peeked over to Apo to make sure he hadn’t evaporated unexpectedly. He took notice of Apo glancing up at the sky periodically. Mile didn’t press the matter as it appeared the poltergeist was skittish, and the man enjoyed the apparition’s company. “Sounds like the beginning of a cheesy horror film. The doom and gloom downfall.”

Apo snorted at that. He was glad he knew the reference at least with films. “I think sometimes cheesy works. Predictability is a nice fall back.”

“Yeah tell that to the guys that always walk into the serial killer’s garden shed while he has a saw or pickaxe, Apo.” Mile flashed a mock frightened expression, earned himself a crooked smile, and he laughed. “It’s good for a laugh for sure.”

The storyteller would scoff as he pointed to Mile. “Well, I mean it. The downfall of this house. The tombs you cleaned. Those are spirits that roam this house. They’re restless and they cannot cross over.” A frown crossed his features as he remembered his own predicament. Clicking his tongue, Apo heaved a sigh, “Daw mentioned to me that a great flood is the only way to cleanse the house and them. Whatever that meant. It doesn’t affect me anyway.”

Mile finished cleaning. He straightened out his frame then raised an eyebrow to Apo’s frown. “What’re you talking about?” His head shifted left then right as he noticed that he’d gotten through most of the tombs, heard all of their stories, except Apo’s. He stared back to the man who glowed ethereally in the moonlight. “If there’s a way to free all of them, why wouldn’t that help you too?” He looked confused. “Where’s your tomb?”

“I don’t have one.”

“Really? My understanding of a poltergeist is that they’re literally a malicious ghost,” Mile put his hands up promptly. “Not that you’ve given me a reason to think that. I’m just saying from what I’ve read.”

Apo smiled depreciatingly. “I’m in limbo, Mile. I’m neither dead nor alive. You can’t cleanse a soul that isn’t accepted in heaven or hell.”

The finality hung in the air.

Apo was surprised he had blurted that out. He had never disclosed his situation to anyone, not even the ghosts who always asked him about it. Truth be told, he didn’t understand how he was stuck in that state. What had he done so wrong to be deserving of this endless cycle? He only knew that he dwindled in the land of the living and the dead, spent the majority of his days as a cat that could only communicate with spirits, and had no viable escape. 

The ‘flood’ that Daw mentioned would not affect someone in his state. It was meant to purify. His soul was, apparently, unpure. His heart ached at that. He couldn’t recall a time when he had been alive that he’d been cruel or wicked to be condemned this way.

He heard a surprised gasp, from Mile, and it was like cold water hitting him. Chilled his bones. Now that it was out in the open, told to a complete stranger, Apo was mortified.

“Apo—”

“Forget what I said.”

“What?” Mile’s other eyebrow raised as he dropped the dirty cleaning rag, side-stepped the bucket with muck and grime that he’d polished off, and went to stand directly in front of the tombstone that Apo found as a perch. “I can’t forget. What do you mean you’re in limbo?”

Apo said nothing. His body read tension as he tried to curl up into himself and realized he couldn’t. The only plus of being a cat was the limber mobility to hide away. Hide and never be sought out. “Leave me alone.”

Mile was startled at this turn of events. It was clear that this topic was sensitive to Apo. He regretted saying anything and muttered a curse under his breath. He shook his head as his hands reached out to the younger man. “Get down from there. You might get hurt. Let’s talk about it.”

“Don’t be mean. If I could have flung myself from this height and the result was the end of this curse, I would’ve done it a long time ago.” A hollow laugh as Apo’s arms wrapped around his knees as he dropped his forehead atop them. The sprinkle of happiness or at least contentment he’d had with Mile’s attention and curiosity was not enough to outweigh the grief that he’d soon be turning back into the feline once again. “I wish I knew how to escape.” His voice sounded small compared to the vibrant one a moment ago.

Rolling his tongue into his cheek, Mile wasn’t sure why he felt this overwhelming need to equally reach out to the closed off creature atop the tombstone, to brush back the soft locks in a vie to show that everything would be alright. Well-intended wishes of hope were still better than nothing. He ran a hand through his hair as he flopped down beside the tomb, close but not leaving, and he shook his head. “I seem to always scare people huh?”

Apo lifted his head to listen yet didn’t reply.

Mile continued. “You told me everyone’s story … except yours. I guess I was getting greedy to find out and impatient. I didn’t know that there was more to it than a simple ‘ I died. Here’s the tomb. Isn’t it sad? ’ scenario as everyone else.” He nodded. “I told you that people have called me weird for my hobbies and interests.” Mile shrugged as he picked up a nearby twig to stare at as he spoke. “You know that I didn’t tell you my story?”

“What makes you think I want to hear it?” Apo winced at his own snippy tone. He went back to hide his face on his knees. “Sorry.”

“It was deserved.” Mile drew lines in the dirt with the twig. “I’ll tell you anyway since you gave me a really informative tour and I’ll give you some ammunition to use against me.” He cleared his throat. “I’m the youngest of two brothers. I used to work in my family’s business, made really good money, and was an eligible bachelor. You know because I’m so charming.” He heard the snort from Apo that made him smile. “Can you believe that every time I try to take someone out on a date to a haunted mansion I get turned down?”

“Mile. That is weird.”

Mile rolled his head back up to the sky in hopes of catching a glimpse of those gorgeous hazel eyes, was rewarded with their gaze, and he smiled widely that his cheeks dimpled. “I know. I like horror. I like ghosts. I like dark things. I like metal music. I have a twisted sense of humor.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t vibe with a lot of people.”

“Hence the bachelor part.”

The man snapped his fingers. “Bingo.”

“That’s your deep dark secret, Mile? That you like the somber side of life?”

Mile popped his lips. “My favorite color is green, and I have underwear with Samoyed dogs on them?” He offered with a chuckle.

A laugh passed Apo’s lips that couldn’t be helped. Random information and still…it alleviated him. He didn’t need to impress this guy or feel judged. An ironic relief. 

Apo shook his head. It was obvious from the start that Mile wasn’t just anybody. The young master vibes was pretty spot on as was the energy that Mile wasn’t easy to scare away. It made sense now. He bit his lower lip. “I don’t want to talk about me anymore. Alright?”

Mile scrambled to get up from the floor. His attention was on Apo as he nodded. “I promise. I won’t ask any questions anymore. You tell me when you’re ready.”

“Agreed.” Uncurling himself, Apo couldn’t help but also take in the aesthetic that Mile made in the bright light that shone over them, the halo-like outline around Mile definitely didn’t leave much to the imagination. He stared unapologetically a moment and then stood up directly atop the tombstone. Not seeing panic fill the other’s eyes, he pointed up to the sky, “I wish I was a wolf to howl at the moon.”

“Listen. I draw the line at werewolves.” Mile crossed his arms.

Apo let out a giggle that was mixed with a happy purr of sorts, the sound definitely unique to him as he hiccupped to the gulp of air he took and nodded. “Agreed!” He repeated as he crouched with the intention to jump off his pedestal. His foot caught on the edge oddly and Apo felt himself fall off. “Oh crap!”

“I got you!”

Eyes closed as he waited to hit the ground roughly and instead landed on a pile of limbs, a strong torso, and hands nestled against his waist. Apo’s eyelids snapped open to stare at how close in proximity he was to Mile’s face now. His glance on the dark tufts of wavy hair fanned out on the ground near Mile’s head, the other’s eyes also closed, and he sat up with a panic but didn’t get far from Mile’s grip on him. “Mile?”

“I’m pretty sure I got a concussion. Give me a minute, Apo.”

“A…concussion…” Apo wrinkled his nose. “Head injuries are no joke.”

“You can add that to my story to the tour next time with how dumb I was.” Mile chuckled. He opened his eyes. The weight atop him was comfortable. The waist beneath his palms was perfect. And he wasn’t sure how he could have been entranced by this pouty, fierce apparition … that would leave him soon. He didn’t know how he knew that. A feeling. It made sense with Apo looking at the moon, talking about time wasted and he frowned. “Are you going to disappear?”

Apo raised an eyebrow. “Are you psychic?”

“No. Just a hunch. Moon cycles or some crap maybe. Truly just a guess on my part since I read too much into those kind of lores.” Mile’s fingers gripped into the shirt against Apo’s sides. He reluctantly released as both of them sat up. He paused when a hand that wasn’t his had settled long fingers to thread through his hair and massage his scalp. He was at a loss for words now.

Apo didn’t know what compelled him. He’d blame the moon’s frequency or the urgency of time dwindling away from them. He didn’t know. He wanted to touch this man in front of him as leisurely as Mile did to him. When would he have the opportunity again? The moon was once a month. Could he stand not letting his natural curiosity get the better of him and actually feel Mile’s hair for the soft texture? His fingertips pressed into the scalp further, found no wet spots as a sign of blood or other injury, and nodded. “You’re alright.”

“I … am.”

Not sensing Mile’s tongue-tied predicament, Apo dropped his hand from the hair as if it burned; however, one of Mile’s hands caught his wrist mid-air, and he stared into the dark eyes. “What is it?”

“You’re going to disappear.” This was stated firmly. “I know I just promised to not ask…I just…I wanted to know how much time I had with you. I feel like I wasted it making you upset.”

Apo looked down, knew his pulse gave him away, and glanced up with a small nod. “I only have a short window of time.”

Mile grumbled. “This sounds like a twisted Cinderella fairytale shit or something.” He squeezed Apo’s wrist then dropped it gently as he got to his feet. He pulled the younger up with enough momentum that was about to topple them again and he widened his stance to even them out. His hands back to that lithe waist. Magnetized. At least he’d swear it if anyone asked. “Midnight then.”

The younger raised an eyebrow. “I’m not upset though. Not anymore.” Apo saw how Mile’s expression perked up. It really was endearing. Like a Samoyed. He shook his head and stepped out of Mile’s grip. “I usually just wander the grounds when I have the time. It was refreshing to see something different this time.” His hands were behind his back as he peeked to the sky to see that his time was already coming to an end. His hands folded together.

A look over his shoulder indicated to him that it hadn’t been a waste. Speaking with Mile, eating with him, even the mishaps that’d happened between them; it hadn’t been for naught. “Till next time then?”

Mile looked like an animal caught in the headlights of a truck as he stepped towards Apo, frowned when the spirit stepped back, and he paused. “It’s not midnight yet.”

“I still have some things I have to do before I ‘disappear’.” Apo smiled crookedly. “I have to do it alone before you offer your assistance.” He held up his hand. His demeanor definitely seemed pensive as he hummed. “Take care of my friend for me.”

“Your…friend?” Mile couldn’t believe he was starting to feel almost distraught that Apo was leaving him now. The time definitely was too short. Too annoying for someone like him who always found solutions for complex problems. “Sure?”

“The cat. He’s a good one.” Nodding, Apo allowed his feet to walk along the mossy grass, feeling a little easier to breathe with the tombs cleaned and even the spirits seemed grateful for the care. He could tell Mile’s eyes were on him and he winked. “Wait for me.” A heavy mist appeared out of nowhere. Apo took the chance to blend with it and head towards his destination.

Mile frowned. “Not dead…not alive.” Cursing out again under his breath, he leaned over to pick up his cleaning supplies, did an about face to head back into the house; his brain already formulating on what his next course of action would be.

Apo had looped around a large tree in the fog. When it cleared, he watched Mile’s back in the distance and sighed to himself, “I hate this even more now.” His feet went on autopilot as he walked to a far-off spot, close to the edge of the property, and sat down in front of a covered tombstone. He placed a hand atop it to brush it gingerly to see his name.

“No body. No soul. No hope.” He laid down atop the burial spot with his eyes tightly closed. Like a moth unable to escape the glow of the flame, Apo couldn’t escape the inevitable change to his body. 

The clothing melted away.

The fur returned.

His form shrunk to a feline’s. Smaller, leaner.

The tail switched as his ears flattened. A stray tear that hit the ground had escaped his eye as a human and landed as a cat’s. ‘ Back to my hell.’

-TBC-

Chapter Text

“Mile. I love you to bits but you’re making zero sense right now.” Natcha chimed as she sat in the recently remodeled kitchen of her friend as he moved to fix up another espresso for her, her gaze observant.

The man definitely appeared different. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

Despite Mile moving into ‘Heaven’s Island’ not too long ago, three months to be precise; it was like the man had belonged there all along. He refitted and remodeled everything inside, cleaned up the rooms to make them habitable, and even included modern touches to the vintage décor. She was impressed at his dedication to turn Heaven’s Island from a patch of hell to a piece of paradise. It was every real estate agent’s dream come true with the rehauled look.

Problem was still the supernatural vibes she felt every time she came to visit, which wasn’t often enough, and it still lingered with her days after she would leave. Her fear of loneliness affecting her friend’s mental state had her pushing through any fear she had, and Mile always seemed to put her worries to rest with a charming smile, a burst of laughter over her ranting about the area still being undesirable, and his eyes illuminated with pride over his new home.

How could she dissuade him?

“You know I’ve never made much sense Natcha,” Mile chuckled in return as he set the glass in front of her at the kitchen table as he sat himself across from her. His entire vibe definitely read comfortably. Like he had found where he was supposed to be. “How impossible would it be to get that information? The one about the people who died here.”

“In this town? Exceptionally.” Natcha clicked her tongue. “I told you. I could barely find the records for the owners and the deed for Heaven’s Island when I took over the real estate listing but honestly it’s been a challenge to find anyone who knows any background about this place that’s still alive and there’s been a lot of misfortunes here.” She let out a little whistle. “You did a 180 on this place. I told you that you should’ve been a designer.”

“It’s not that impressive Nat.”

“Always underestimating yourself. Your parents are probably missing you like crazy Mile. Are they planning to visit you soon?”

Mile snorted as he grabbed some of his loose hair to pull into a short ponytail. “Nope. They are adamant that I should go home to see them, or we meet in the Capital. My Ma’s a little superstitious. I’ve been busy so…I’ve only had you visiting me.” 

Natcha rolled her eyes, “Lucky me. I get to see the progress and be impressed and still freaked out at how this place used to be. You don’t feel…lonely?”

“I know you’re still worried about it, but I promise I will still function like a human being and go to town to grocery shop, get the contractors to help, and I have the internet to watch any news.” Mile grinned crookedly. “I’m not being a hermit on purpose. I have company that I enjoy.” He winked. “I’ll introduce you sometime.”

“If it’s a ghost, no thanks. If it’s that cat you keep talking about, also no thanks.” She shook her head. “I think it’s bad luck to have a black cat.” 

Mile popped his lips a moment as he folded his hands, “Actually my life’s been the luckiest it’s been in a long time, so he’s lucky.” He chided her. “Don’t tease my Po.”

“Po?” Natcha tilted her head. “Like Potato?”

“Just Po. Short for…ah never mind.” Mile waved his head. “Drink your drink, it’ll get cold and bitter.” He ignored her skeptical gaze as he looked over to the window and the setting sun calmly.

In the three months since he’d purchased the mansion, his hair had gotten longer, and his body was filled-out with muscle from the physical work he had put into the house project. His heart was definitely light and his soul rejuvenated with purpose. Of course, he could not have done it all alone. After understanding the schedule of the departed souls of Heaven’s Island , Mile had contractors during the day when he determined that the spirits were not as frazzled and worked at night himself. 

At least he wasn’t alone those nights.

Apo’s cat would come to visit him. Sometimes the feline would just watch as Mile fixed or adjusted, sometimes it would meow at Mile for attention, and sometimes it would just sit with Mile on the couch to settle in for a lazy evening of nothing.

The night’s that filled Mile with the most purpose were the full moon nights.

He’d make sure to cook something that he thought his favorite poltergeist would enjoy and have it ready for when the apparition made himself known. Mile could be pleasantly surprised by Apo’s change of clothes from the first time Mile had seen him and they would spend the short period of time together. Five hours as readily deduced by the house owner. 

From seven to midnight. Mile would have Apo’s attention. It was wonderful.

The first month they had toured the gravestones.

The second month Mile would show Apo how to swim in the lake, despite the man’s hesitation to do so; both ended up only playfully wrestling around underneath the moonlight until it was time to separate.

The third month Apo wanted to make a meal for Mile and asked the man to teach him. The two would go through samplings, laughter, and even Apo creating Mile’s new favorite drink: Nightshade. A secret concoction that Apo refused to give the recipe with the insistence that Apo would be the only one to create it for Mile.

Mile had smiled at the man with a crinkled gaze until it faded when he realized their time was up and Apo would mutely get up to go to a private area to evaporate. Or so Mile assumed.

Despite the temptation to follow the poltergeist to see where Apo went, he resisted.

Just as the sadness of his one-night companion would ebb in, the black cat would appear the next morning within his vicinity, and Mile didn’t feel as helpless.

‘I am in limbo Mile…neither dead nor alive…’

Mile remembered Apo telling him that and now that he was getting to his fourth month at Heaven’s Island , he was no closer to figuring out why Apo was a poltergeist, why he only appeared once a month, why a prediction of a ‘Great Flood’ would clear the restless, why the black cat, why—

“Mile?”

The man refocused on his friend. “Natcha.”

“You zoned out,” Natcha stared carefully into Mile’s eyes. She could see that he definitely flourished within the element of the creepy and odd; yet there was also another layer of something, and she could not put her finger on it. Deciding not to dwell on it too much, she stared at her friend, “I said impossible but not for me.” She squeaked when Mile’s hands caught hers and she stared, “What?”

Mile squeezed Natcha’s hands, “Don’t tease me Nat. There’s a reason why I need to know, and I can’t explain it to you because I don’t understand it myself.” He sighed as he dropped his forehead atop their joined hands. “There’s a curse on this house that’s all I can say.”

Natcha’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline, “Then you need to stop chilling in here and get the fuck out—”

“That’s not what I meant.” Mile sighed. “I have a visitor that comes to the house, once a month on a full moon, and then he just disappears.”

“A ghost?” Her face reflected that she was one word away from bolting for the door after he practically confirmed living in a haunted house. Speculation and truth definitely made the imagination a reality and it terrified her.

“He claims to be a poltergeist but my research and reading up online, he should be more of a frequent presence but he’s not. I’ve catalogued a lot of things since being here,” The man’s dark eyes darkened further as Mile spoke as he thought about Apo and the cryptic way the man was with him, “I told you, it’s hard to explain but I need to know about the deaths. He won’t tell me about his story. Not clearly. He’s told me everyone else but not his. He says he’s in limbo…”

Natcha deadpanned, “Are you saying this ghost is lying to you and you want to know why? You’re spending time with this thing?” She received a nod from Mile. “Mile you’re biting off more than you can chew with this shit. Like legitimately.”

“Natcha—”

“You like this thing.” Her tone final and a statement rather than a question.

Silence was all she received. No laugh off, no denials, nothing.

And there it was. The odd layer that reflected on Mile’s features as he spoke about this apparition with a texture of fondness mixed with frustration. A problem that he couldn’t solve, and it appeared to be eating away at him … because he was attached to this apparition. Her nose wrinkled at the prospect, “Mile. If he’s a ghost, he’s dead. You can’t … be with it. Be with him. ”

“But he’s not! He’s not dead.” Mile dropped her hands to get up on his feet to run his hands against his face as he went to lean against the sink and sigh deeply. “He’s real. Those full moon nights, he’s real. He’s in front of me, he’s right there. We talk, we laugh, we go for lake swims—” He put up a hand, “Don’t ask.”

“You like a hallucination,” Natcha started as she saw her friend turn to face her and she got to her feet. “Mile. I can handle a lot of quirks and try not to question your life choices, but I have to draw the line somewhere.”

“Natcha…”

The woman shook her head to him. “This house is making you hallucinate now. It’s not good for you.” She bit her lower lip. “Please don’t dive too deeply into the abyss, Mile. I’m afraid you won’t come back out.” Natcha picked up her cup to place it into the sink. Her hand lifted to pat her friend’s cheek. She saw the conflict spread on his face from her logic and it made her feel guilty to burst his bubble like that. “You feel a little feverish. I’ll send over a messenger with some medicine, take it and go to bed early tonight alright?”

Mile opened his mouth to protest and saw her stern gaze. His shoulders sagged.

Mutely, he would only nod in return. Mile accepted it since the full moon night would not happen for another couple of nights anyway and he needed to be in tiptop condition to spend the late evening with Apo. He patted her hand. “I know what you’re worried about and can’t understand what I’m talking about Nat but trust me.”

Natcha stared a moment longer before she dropped her hand to step back calmly, “Trust isn’t the issue Mile. Go rest and I’ll check in tomorrow.” She softened. “Don’t go late night swimming, I am begging.”

“It’s not a full moon so no worries. I only do that when he’s with me.” Mile stared out the window casually.

The glimmer of worry still on Natcha’s face as she turned to head to the door slowly. Her hand on the door handle to hold onto, debating whether to stay to take care of Mile when she heard it, a small meow.

Turning her head to stare at the stairs that were nearby, Natcha’s line of sight made it upwards to see the lone black cat sitting at the top step, staring at her with a cold gaze. The staring contest lasted a moment longer as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket with a phone call, Natcha murmured, “A black cat…a curse…a ghost…” She headed out the door to take her phone call.

Once outside, Natcha stared up at the setting sky with a determined expression, “I will get to the bottom of this.”

*~*~*

Apo had heard the entire conversation between Mile and Natcha from the doorway into the kitchen.

He had meandered to look for Mile to be fed a late afternoon snack, only hearing the voices, and he just pressed himself into the wall to listen raptly. His tail swished occasionally when Mile laughed or sounded happy, it made him also filled with warmth at the tone. He pondered why Mile wasn’t someone that Apo was fearful of. Apo looked forward to the full moon to have the opportunity to see the owner of Heaven’s Island with all of himself: as a man. 

Every time that people came to visit Mile, Apo made himself scarce as he was never comfortable with humans that were not dead as the inhabitants of Heaven’s Island were, and the only exception was Mile himself.

Not bothering to consult with any of the eerie residents of the house about his moral dilemma, Apo figured it would be alright to continue the small indulgence of Mile’s company during the moon hours and then even as a cat. The man treated him kindly, comfortably, and it was the best Apo had felt about his situation since he had woken up in a cat’s body all those years ago.

Then the flitting bubble burst when he recollected what this woman, Natcha, was speaking to Mile about.

A hallucination.

She was telling Mile that he, Apo himself, was just a figment of Mile’s delusional mind.

A strong wave of protectiveness filtered into his chest and Apo wanted to confront the woman to tell her to back off and not call Mile odd, which was the underlying tone in her comment, and remembered he was a cat. What could he do in this state? Meow and hiss and scratch at her? Though the latter part of that thought would make him purr in delight.

‘She’s lucky that I’m like this. If she’s his friend, why would she brush him off?’ Apo said to himself mentally.

The frustration of being unable to defend the man who had listened to him and given Apo a glimmer of happiness the past few months just settled into his bones. He peeked his head into the kitchen to see her touching Mile with her hand and displaying concern. His ears flattened against the top of his head at the action, his tail flicking around angrily, and the temptation to hiss at her to get away from Mile was growing.

It wasn’t until he caught another snippet of their conversation that he paused.

Feverish? Was Mile sick?

His anger immediately ebbed away at the thought of his … friend sick.

Was Mile his friend?

Was Mile his … companion?

Apo heard footsteps and immediately sprinted up to the top of the stairs. At least he would be able to look down at Natcha from the highest step.

He meowed purposely for attention and when he got it, he glared darkly as he tried to convey all of his feelings in that moment. When the woman disappeared, Apo ran down the stairs to check on Mile, and halted in the doorway immediately when he remembered, ‘I am still a cat, and the full moon is two days away….’   Apo would heave a sigh. ‘Why can’t I have hands and tend to him as he’s tended to me?’  The younger would circle in place, pacing.

A sound snapped his head into the kitchen, and he meowed loudly at seeing Mile on the floor. “Mile!” Apo made his way over to the collapsed man on the floor. He pushed his paw against the other’s face, urged him to get up with his mind, “Please get up…you can’t do this Mile.’” Apo sat back on his haunches to push with both paws against the unconscious man’s cheek. His pleas came out as wails and desperate meows. “ Come on. You have to get up.”

Another sound came with a loud bang from the kitchen cupboard.

Apo immediately jumped on Mile’s chest to hiss and try his best to protect his … friend.

“You like a hallucination Mile…” Natcha’s words came back to Apo all of a sudden.

Did Mile like him?

“Apo you need to stop talking to yourself.”

The feline stared at Daw who had emerged from the cupboard and blinked his eyes, “Daw?”

“You’re always indulging me by petting your fur even when you get chills. You rarely complain about anything and let everyone complain to you…” The shaman’s ghost mentioned as he popped his lips and floated towards the cat and human on the floor. He stared at Mile then at Apo and back to Mile. “I cannot undo the witch’s curse…not completely. But I can give you an extra 24 hours.”

“H—how?” Apo tried not to sound hopeful as he looked at the ghostly presence of Daw with hopeful eyes. It was also the first time that Apo heard ‘witch’ in the same sentence as ‘curse’ and he’d made a mental note to ask Daw about it, but his primary focus was helping Mile.

Daw would smile a little, “I was a shaman you know. It wasn’t just for decoration my title.” The ghost lifted his hands to settle onto Apo’s back and the other on Mile’s forehead. “You might be a little odd to him, but it will give you the human time you need to take care of him. Consider it a thank you gift from us for Mile cleaning our tombstones.” 

The shiver that escaped Apo wasn’t only from the chilled hand from Daw’s shimmery palm against his furred back, it was from Daw’s chanting in tongues practically, and Apo could feel it…

The familiar transformation that happened on full moon nights.

He would roll off of Mile as his body contorted into a human form, stretched out and would be basically naked since he had not prepared for this moment to happen so soon; however, very grateful. Apo straightened out and blinked when he felt something behind him swishing.

“What?” Apo peeked over his shoulder to let out a gasp at seeing his tail still attached to his lower half, lifted a hand tentatively to touch his ears to feel them furry, and he stared at Daw in disbelief. “Daw. What did you do?”

“It’s the best I could do in a short time.”  The shaman chuckled and motioned to Apo’s state, “Get dressed. You have 24 hours before you turn back into a cat. Take care.” Daw disappeared out of the kitchen. “It also temporarily keeps the rest of us spirits out of this house as our energy is negatively impacting him. We will be lingering in the graveyard for the time being. Do your best.” 

Apo could hardly process what was happening but jumped into action to drag Mile up the stairs, praying to any deity out there that the man didn’t wake up to see him naked and in his hybrid state, just doing as Daw recommended.

His best. For Mile … and for himself. 

-TBC-

Chapter Text

“Mile…”

Mile knew that voice. Was he dreaming? He did not recall when he went to bed, much less falling asleep. The last thing he remembered was speaking to Natcha who chided him for catching a cold or something similar, urged him to get rest, and that she would be sending over medicine. Had he taken the medicine and slept until the full-moon night?

There was no other explanation for his name to fall from Apo’s lips. He had accepted that their meetings were limited to once a month and were marked on Mile’s calendar.

Now that voice was whispering his name … a wet towel covered his eyes … and he let out an incoherent mumble.

“Mile are you finally awake?” Apo sounded relieved. “You’ve been asleep for three hours…”

Mile snapped his eyes open but forgot the towel was on them so his vision was obstructed. He reached to remove the item only for long fingers to wrap around his wrist and he grumbled, “Why won’t you let me take it off and look at you?”

“You’ll be in shock when you look at me Mile.”

“I’ve seen you before Apo. If anything, you’re the only person I want to see right now, even if you might be a figment of my imagination–ow!” Mile felt Apo pinch the skin on his hand and dropped his wrist. A moment or two of awkward silence and Mile pressed on, “What was that pinch for? I’m already an injured party. Or sick at least.”

Apo let out a small sigh, “I heard what that woman said about me to you. That I’m just made up, a hallucination, and she was insinuating you were unwell. I didn’t like that.”

“If I’m laying on my bed with a cool compress to my forehead and face, I imagine I’m unwell Apo. Natcha wasn’t entirely wrong – ow! Stop that.” Mile muttered as he snatched his hand to rub it but obeyed and didn’t remove the covering from his eyes. “Healing with pain, who knew?”

Apo pinched the top of Mile’s hand once again, a small pout played at his lips as if trying to get Mile to understand his predicament without giving further explanation, and instead figured it would be best to tuck away his head in the hooded sweater he had found.

In pure panic at wanting to help Mile, Apo had decided against digging through the old trunk with his clothing as the room was further away and instead walked to Mile’s to sift through the other man’s closet in search of something to cover his nude form.It had been a spur of the moment grab and go. He had loose gym shorts that were tied with the string at his waist and allowed room for his tail to be hidden, a shirt that was baggy due to Mile’s broader form on his torso, and a sweater to cover his ears atop his head. 

He had shuffled back to the passed out man in the kitchen when he heard a doorbell and his ears stood up immediately to alert him of the sound and pressed flat to his head when Apo realized someone came to bring the medicines that the woman promised earlier.

With quick thinking, Apo had covered his head when answering the door and only peered with his light brown eyes to the delivery man, and took the package with a bowed ‘thank you’ before he practically ran back to Mile’s side. He had no idea that the delivery man would report back to Natcha about the delivery after he gave his name to confirm receipt of the items. His concern was only Mile and his well-being.

“I’ll remove the towel from your eyes but keep your eyes closed,” Apo’s hand reached to remove the wet towel from Mile’s eyes and saw they were dutifully closed and sighed. “I don’t look as I normally do.”

“Apo. I’ve accepted who and what you are. A poltergeist remember? I don’t think it’d be any different now,” Mile eased the spirit as he blindly reached around with his own hand, found a thigh from the man seated next to him on the bed, and patted it gently. Though realizing it was bare only made him swallow but since Apo didn’t tell him to remove it, Mile kept it there and felt the tangible warmth radiating from the other man. “I feel like there’s more to your hesitance this time though. Can I open my eyes?”

Apo’s lips parted in a dramatic sigh as he straightened out his position as he sat on the right side of the bed, fidgety over the fact that Mile would look at him weirdly for the added pieces to his body and Apo did not even notice the palm on his bare thigh. He closed his own eyes and straightened his shoulders. “Fine. Don’t judge me.”

Mile opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling to orient his senses and surroundings. He was, indeed, in his bedroom. That meant that Apo managed to drag him up the stairs to the bed and he softened at the aspect. Tilting his head in Apo’s direction, Mile’s fingers tightened their hold unconsciously on Apo’s thigh and he swallowed. “Apo … you have …”

“Yes Mile. I have cat ears on my head and - no - they are not decorative,” Apo groaned out as he lifted his hands to grab the hoodie to cover his head. “Forget it. I knew that I looked even more ridiculous than usual and –”

“No! Wait!” Mile sat up so quickly that the room spun a moment and he had to pause; however, his hands had a mind of their own as they snapped forward to catch Apo’s wrists to stare into those bright brown irises that held a unique shape, cat-like Mile determined, and he licked his dry lips to respond. “You look adorable.” His voice was gruff and Mile blamed his cold for feeling dizzy again because thinking that a poltergeist with cat ears, eyes and possibly a tail was adorable was pure insanity. It was the most honest truth to spill from his lips and he could see Apo’s ears just flatten. “Don’t believe me?”

Apo’s ears flattened against his head unconsciously, his lips turned down into a frown but he didn’t pull his wrists away from Mile’s firm grip. “I don’t. It isn’t practical for a man to call another man adorable Mile. Much less a cat-hybrid man.” His shoulders sagged and Apo could feel his tail curled in the confines of the shorts wanting to be freed and allowed to swish in irritation.

“I call you adorable all the time,” Mile admitted sheepishly as he let his thumbs brush the insides of Apo’s wrists to feel the increased pulse. His gaze stared down to avoid Apo’s inquisitive gaze. “Mostly in my head but it doesn’t make it less truthful. Have I ever been dishonest with you Apo?” Lifting his gaze back to stare adamantly into Apo’s to drive his point home, he saw the other’s ears relax and he sighed to himself. “Now. Tell me what happened? Why’re you here? Especially like … this?”

“As a cat-hybrid or in general Mile?”

Mile dropped his hands from Apo’s wrists reluctantly to settle a palm to his forehead to feel his own temperature, “I assume if I was out for a few hours and the wet towel compress to my forehead that I had a fever and you were taking care of me but it isn’t the full moon yet and you’re right. The cat-mix is new.”

“I cannot fully explain something I am uncertain of,” Apo mumbled as he got to his feet in order to go and scrounge for food for the two of them now that Mile was awake. “Stay and relax. Your friend sent medicine and I gave it to you as best I could. I was afraid you would not wake up otherwise.”

“Was I in such bad shape?” Despite the request to stay put, Mile was not missing the opportunity to spend time with Apo, feline-hybrid and all. Getting up from the bed, Mile swayed slightly and suddenly felt a pair of hands on his shoulders while his own hands settled onto the lithe hips of the man in front of him in return to anchor. “Apparently I’m still not one hundred percent.”

“Mile. I just said to stay and relax–”

Mile’s head shook a small bit as his fingers unconsciously tightened on Apo’s hips before they gravitated to the other’s waist to feel the soft dip he had always wanted to feel. He was uncertain why Apo had not pushed him away yet or how Mile was able to get away with casually caressing the adorable creature in front of him that always took Mile’s attention away from anything tangible. “I don’t want to waste any of our time. I’m going to make an educated guess that you’re like this by some fluke in your curse or my delusional dreaming but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“A gift what in the what?” Apo tilted his head in confusion at the comparison. It was hearing Mile say ‘our time’ and he swallowed hard. He realized those large palms were nestled comfortably against his waist, perfectly crafted to play Apo’s rope that kept him tied to the living, and he shook his head. “You are still sick. Daw said it was because of the residual aura of the spirits here. He managed to convince them to stay away until after the full moon to let you recuperate. A ‘ thank you ’ for cleaning their graves.”

“It’s only just you and me in the house then?” Mile didn’t know why but that idea excited him considerably. He always felt that the apparitions were watching them, more pointedly, Apo and they were never truly alone.

Apo nodded mutely. Obviously oblivious to Mile’s glee.

“Daw is the …” Mile dug through the archive of his brain before his eyebrows rose on his face in an animated way. “The shaman that died. Right. Did he do this to you?”

Apo threw his head to groan at the ceiling as he let his hands fall away from Mile’s shoulders, “Even though you are not at one hundred percent as you claim, you are insufferable like your usual self and asking too many questions.” He grumbled under his breath; however, he had not stepped back out of the warm circle that was Mile’s embrace. If Apo was being honest with himself, it had been a very long time since he felt the warmth of anyone’s touch against his own body and he had missed it.

During his lifetime, he had yearned to find someone whom he could care for and who could care for him, to fall in love as normal people did, and enjoy the frivolity of domestic bliss together. Yet he understood it was impossible given his predilections and society constraints at the time. He pushed it deep down in his soul to never resurface especially given that his time as a human had come and gone.

Who could love an entity that was neither alive nor dead?

His thoughts interrupted when Apo felt Mile’s hands doing small caresses against his sides as if to bring Apo back to the present, making the younger jolt in surprise, and wince slightly since his tail continued to be confined and protested the restraint. “What are you doing?”

“You appeared lost in thought and figured I’d use that to my advantage,” Mile smiled crookedly as he dropped his hands reluctantly to allow Apo the space back between them. “It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me what’s going on, I don’t need to know things. That’s what a gift horse means. There’s an old story where a general used a gifted horse to infiltrate and one-up his enemy. Do you know about it?”

“I haven’t had the opportunity to learn about the world being confined to this house in case you didn’t notice,” Apo crossed his arms over his chest in a perturbed way. He saw Mile’s downcast and sighed. “It isn’t your fault. Are you experiencing mood changes from the medicine?” He pointed to Mile’s face. “Smiles then frowns. I really cannot keep up. You have to be hungry.”

Mile perked up, yet again changing his expression to a happy one, and he watched Apo turn around to head towards the door. His gaze lingered on the other’s awkward gait. “Apo. Are you hurt?”

“No? Why?”

“You’re walking oddly. I know you’re taking care of me but don’t ignore your own injury?” Granted, Mile could not remember a thing that happened in the span of the few hours and his heart was still processing the fact he’d been allowed to call Apo cute - to his face, touch Apo - without getting slapped, and now the other was talking about food - even though he doubted Apo could cook being a ghost. “Hold my hand to balance. I mean half of my balance and half of your balance makes a whole balance.”

Apo’s face was completely deadpanned at that suggestion. He knew why he was walking oddly and wrinkled his nose to expose himself further. He supposed nothing to lose given that Mile saw his ears and eyes. “Close your eyes for a moment.” When Mile complied, Apo shifted the shorts down briefly to free his tail and groaned contently at the sensation even if it lowered his shorts, and bit his lower lip. “Okay you can open them.”

Mile snapped his eyes open to see a swishing new appendage attached to Apo and the smile on his face definitely gave insufferable but his lips spoke, “Adorable.”

“I am not.”

“You are,” Mile walked over to Apo to grab the other’s hand as he took a bold moment to do so. It wouldn’t be him if he didn’t take risks and gamble, he’d blame it on the medication or not feeling well if anyone were to ask. His other hand lifted to gently touch the tips of the fuzzy cat ears attached to Apo’s head. “Black like the cat. You did say he was your friend.” Like an epiphany, Mile stared at Apo’s eyes to see familiarity beyond their monthly meet ups. “Apo…”

Apo raised an eyebrow at Mile catching his hand to hold though the feeling of fingers brushing the tips of his ears made him shiver. His tail twitched behind him and he closed his eyes to savor the small moment greedily.

It wasn’t until he heard about the cat did his eyes blinked open in time for Mile’s intense stare as well as hear his name. “What?”

“You’re the black cat … aren’t you.”

*~*~*

Apo watched from his perch atop Mile’s countertop to watch the man cooking for the two of them. Alone with his thoughts and enjoying the show as if he were in cat form.

The moment they had in Mile’s bedroom about his true form had Apo squeaking out a ‘yes’ . He couldn’t help it. It felt terrible to be dishonest or lie about something anymore. It wasn’t his fault that he had been cursed or made to live a living hell. 

All the same, Apo expected Mile to drop his hand at the revelation of the obvious, and only received an accepting smile. That truly made Apo wonder if Mile was human himself. How could someone be so relaxed about befriending a black cat who turned out to be a ghost in limbo and cursed to live as such? All Mile did was hold onto Apo’s hand tighter, dragged him to the kitchen, and silently went to work.

Figuring it was up to him to break the ice or address any awkwardness in the room, at least Apo felt awkward, Apo cleared his throat, “Why are you very understanding?”

“I half hoped that you would be the cat,” Mile stated as he cut the vegetables that would go into some fried rice. Despite his earlier dizzy spell, the three-hour power nap did wonders for him and he felt like he could run in a marathon. He continued, “It’s not understanding, it’s my own twisted selfishness. After every month that you disappear, I miss you. The cat always kept me company and filled that void in your absence.”

Apo was grateful that his complexion hid any coloring to his cheeks with such bold words, “You’re a strange guy Mile.”

“I’ve been told. And after we’ve spent some time together, you’d think you remember that by now Apo.”

Shaking his head, Apo only stared at Mile as if waiting for the other shoe to drop, and rolled his tongue into his cheek, “Truly a wonder. I told you that I was cursed. I don’t know why or who I wronged in my life to be made into this cat form and only allowed a small bit of humanity when the full-moon comes.” He kicked his legs out in front of him as his tail swished behind him. “I had grown used to enjoying those nights alone. Living here with only spirits to talk to.” His head tilted to watch as the previously sickly man was full of vigor and fixing them food. “Now you make it difficult to enjoy that …”

Mile paused after throwing the rice and shrimp haphazardly. He stared at Apo from the other’s perch on top of the countertop and he could easily picture the black cat that came to steal food from the cutting board. The feline who came to curl up beside him on his bed some nights for warmth and would be gone in the morning. He turned the stove to low heat as he shuffled to stand directly in front of the other man. His hands came to settle on either side of Apo’s hips on the counter as he leaned forward to maintain eye contact with Apo.

“What is it, Mile?”

“I said I looked forward to your visits. I hoped you were the cat. I think you’re adorable,” Mile hummed. “You became this mixed creature tonight to help me didn’t you?” Getting a curt nod from Apo, he hesitantly lifted a hand to cup the other’s cheek to rub the pad of his thumb against the other’s soft skin. “You took care of me and you’d think I wouldn’t be understanding of that effort? I’m pretty sure you’re not very comfortable like this.”

“It’s a first for me. Daw said it was the best he could do with a short time and given that he’s, you know, dead,” Apo twitched to the hand on his face but only leaned into it like a cat getting his neck scratched. A little purr escaped him when Mile’s thumb trailed along his jawline to his chin and down his Adam’s apple as he sighed. “This isn't normal Mile. I’m not normal. You shouldn’t touch me so …”

“...so what Apo?” The elder moved his other hand that was on the counter to settle against Apo’s hip; however, he dared not step in between those legs. He felt that was a boundary he could not push but the adrenaline of getting this extra night with a man he liked - yes, he liked Apo a lot - and learning the extra nuances of the apparition’s valiant effort to tend to him only made Mile further enamoured. “..So gently? So tenderly?”

“So casually,” Apo lifted one hand to settle it on Mile’s chest. “This is … I can’t.”

Mile brushed his thumb against those soft lips as his hand snuck around Apo’s waist to grip at the base of the other’s tail lightly. The purring intensified and he felt the other give a small lick to the pad of his thumb unconsciously. He smirked to himself, “You like me too don’t you?”

“It doesn’t matter does it?” Apo’s other hand came to catch Mile’s wrist after he’d licked the thumb. He stared at the appendage with a dark gaze. “It’s forbidden.”

“By whom?” Mile’s thumb against the fuzzy tail rubbed circles against the area where the tail started and he saw Apo buck to try to lean into the touch. “I really like you. I dream of you … I wait for you every full-moon. I’m a crazy fellow who might be unable to explain this to anyone but I don’t care.” He stepped closer when he felt that Apo was receptive and smiled. “I just care about you.”

“Oh Mile … would you be satisfied with just me as I am? A strange existence?” A whisper that was skeptical but yearned to hear an answer that said to hell with everything else.

A dimpled smile appeared on Mile’s face, a warm one as he leaned his face closer towards Apo’s, “I'd ask you the same thing.”

Laughing at that comment, Apo dropped Mile’s hand to curl his fingers into the dark hair that he’d always wanted to hold and figured he’d been too fearful to do. Now this man presented him with a gift horse … and he shouldn’t look it in the mouth. “I can’t guarantee I know what I’m doing. It’s been a long time.”

“Then I’m honored to have that first dance,” Mile murmured to the other. A quick pinch of that tail, he heard Apo let out a gasp at the feeling, and seized his opportunity with the open mouth to kiss this ‘figment’ of his imagination. He knew he’d never want to wake up again.

Apo’s other hand grabbed onto Mile’s shirt to tangle the fabric to haul the man closer and against him without much care to the smell of their food burning on the stove. His hunger was centuries in the making and only Mile could sate it.

-TBC-

Chapter Text

Their first dance together was romantic.

Mile navigated Apo away from the kitchen with gentle coaxing, turned off the stove, and awkwardly stumbled them to Mile’s bedroom down the hallway and up the steps. All the while divesting them both of a piece of clothing with every other step.

It wasn’t smooth but it was endearing because Apo never felt cold or naked when each layer was removed by tactful hands. The clothing was replaced by Mile’s tender touches against his flesh, keeping Apo heated by the relentless attention, and he felt like a wound up violin whose strings were tested and plucked by expert fingers. Goosebumps developed all over his skin and made the hairs stand on end with anticipation for the next caress.

A part of him was envious to think Mile’s expertise came from experience with others before him yet Apo knew it was irrational to be envious of a past he was not a part of.

Hell, this entire moment was deranged by normal standards.

Apo, a feline-hybrid poltergeist, clearly older but inexperienced, was being led by a zealous Mile, a human, to the human’s bedroom with the promise of a passionate filled evening after said human had collapsed a few hours prior from illness. It was pure madness.

A better man would have halted everything; however, Apo knew he wasn’t the best man.

A good man wasn’t cursed to live his current existence. A good man would have reincarnated with dignity, met Mile under normal circumstances, and be tangled up in one another conventionally.

Apo figured he had sacrificed enough humanity and mortality to earn a drop of solace in the arms of a man who was offering to hold him in an embrace that may keep in Apo’s memories long after Mile leaves. 

They always left. Or died.

The ache in Apo’s heart that Mile might depart from him eventually distracted him enough that he only felt when he’d been laid on the bed, vulnerably naked, with Mile crowding above him. He only fell into the feeling of this man immediately and let Mile control everything.

Their amateur yet fervent movements against one another, rutting their pelvises without abandon, the friction creating a cloudy fog in Apo’s mind as he fell back to Mile’s eager mouth that peppered his body with kisses, playful teeth nips, and saliva trails with the pink tongue that found its path to the place nestled between Apo’s legs. All the younger could do was let out a groan of satisfaction to the wet warmth surrounding him as his legs gave way to be maneuvered atop broad shoulders and told with Mile’s gaze to lay back and allow the ecstasy to overflow from him.

Toes curled, fingers tangled into bed sheets for a desperate grasp as his cock was milked by hollowed cheeks that were dusted pink from the exertion and a tongue that twirled incessantly around his thickness like a dripping ice lolly, Apo never stood a chance to stop the inevitable fall into the abyss of pleasure.

“Mile!”

Apo’s mouth parted breathlessly as the name of his companion just spilled out simultaneously to his orgasm. He knew he would be unable to last long, centuries of pent up energy and no partner to work with, he only spilled himself into the awaiting smug throat of a man who pulled off after thoroughly cleaning Apo with his deviant tongue.

“Delicious. Adorable. I barely touched you and had you in my mouth for a minute–”

“Shut up Mile.” Apo panted as he stared up at the ceiling listless, boneless, and incoherent other than to get embarrassed at the obvious tease from Mile. If the man’s mouth hadn’t been sucking him off to oblivion a second ago, Apo would’ve punched it. He sighed. “I told you I might not be any good. I’m … damaged goods. Ow!” He felt a rough bite on his inner thigh. Apo moved his hand to push Mile's head away. “I didn’t give you free access to bite me up …”

“You made me upset.” Mile grumbled as his head was pushed, shifted his head away from the hand, nipped at it before he shimmied up Apo’s body to balance himself on two arms to look at the disheveled man on his bed. The younger looked like every wet dream Mile had since meeting Apo and accepting he was infatuated with the poltergeist.

“I didn’t say anything wrong. I am. I’m not even fully myself and you … well … I was too excited! There’s nothing else I could do.” Apo huffed out in his own defense. His eyes closed to ignore Mile’s hungry gaze to allow himself a moment of composure.

Mile’s gaze dragged along the flushed cheeks, the adorable twitching cat ears, and those long limbs spread out against the bed duvet appearing like a snack that was waiting to be devoured. Mile’s tongue came out to lick his lips as his eyes darkened. “I know, baby. I’m teasing you.” His head dipped to trace his tongue against those dusty nipples that presented themselves against bronzed skin of the torso. His teeth took over to tug each nub between them, pinched, and moved back and forth before Apo’s hand on his forehead stopped him again and he whined. “Apo…”

“You need to give me a minute to breathe,” Shaking his head, Apo’s hand shifted from Mile’s forehead into the man’s dark hair to hold securely, and stared. Apo opened his eyes in shock at the attack to his chest, causing his body to twitch in the aftershock of his orgasm, and glared at the pout. “Are you sex starved or something?”

“Nope. Just hungry for you.”

Apo deadpanned, “You answered too quickly. Do you do this with anyone?” Apo’s ears flattened against his head. Displeased. “I don’t like that.”

Mile quickly shook his head as he moved to pepper a row of kisses against his lover’s chest and shoulders, trailed along that neck, and pecked that nose with a softened gaze, “I meant to say that I’m not sex crazed. I’m a boring guy with eclectic interests. Who wants to fuck a horror and sci-fi nerd like me? I’m just infatuated by you.” He admitted out loud. “Everything about you turns me on. I want to unravel you as much as you’ve unraveled me, Apo. I also don’t have a lot of time. I might wake up from this dream with a boner.”

“A vampire, Mile.”

“A vampire … what?”

Apo continued, “A vampire might want to fuck you. I don’t know.” He wrinkled his nose then let out a huff at Mile collapsing on top of him fully in a fit of laughter. “Don’t laugh. Anything can happen. You live in a haunted house, having sex with a ghost, I’ve given up thinking that shit was fake.”

Mile shook his head as he lifted his head in an apologetic yet thoroughly amused look, “Have I told you that you’re actually the cutest date I’ve ever had?”

Rolling his eyes, Apo’s arms locked themselves around Mile’s shoulders while long legs lifted to wrap themselves around the man’s waist like a koala, and he rolled to flip Mile down onto the bed to be pinned this time. He saw the human’s surprised expression and smirked, “I said I was rusty. I didn’t say I was a virgin.”

Now it was Mile’s turn to frown, “I don’t need to know about anyone else who might’ve tasted you before me.”

“Mile. I’m decades older than you.”

Mile shook his head as his hands nestled against the curve of that waist to anchor securely. It was as if they were made of permanent glue because Mile couldn’t bear to keep them off of Apo for too long. He was all for giving control to his lover; however, old sexual encounters were off the table. “That means they’re all dead. You’re here with me right now, only me.”

“You’re a pouty kid,” Apo laughed as he sat atop Mile’s body, straddling the man’s waist, and was treated to the full glory that was Mile. Porcelain skin that was fair as freshly fallen snow, fitted form that showed Mile took care of himself, and of course, the thickness that rubbed against Apo’s ass was making its presence known from the heat radiating between their bodies. His hands fell against Mile’s chest in order to give a small roll of his hips back to create a spark of friction. “I turn you on?”

“Apo. I think my hard on was more than enough evidence,” Mile groaned to the feeling of the other’s light rolling. His head fell against the pillow to sigh heavily up to the ceiling. “I’m using every bit of my restraint to let you control.”

“I could just tie you to the headboard, Mile.”

Mile snapped his head back to stare wildly at Apo, “Huh?”

Apo’s slow tilt was a promise to punish impatience. The glint that reflected in those gorgeous eyes and coupled with the swishing of a black tail behind Apo were a cocktail of devastation if Mile didn’t behave himself.

Swallowing slowly, Mile nodded as he soothed the invisible edges against Apo’s waist in apology, “Sorry, sorry. I really am just an impatient man who is drowning for you. I mean it’s your fault for being a siren, Apo.”

“Always shifting the blame,” Apo widened his knees to press back with purpose, ground down on Mile’s cock, and felt it harden further under his actions and he smirked. “I could also leave you with blue-balls. That’d be fun. To be continued at the next full moon?”

Mile’s bent his knees to push rut without abandon against Apo’s ass with a whine like a leashed dog, “Please baby. I’ll follow your lead.” Mile’s hands left Apo’s waist in favor of grasping those wrists to lift Apo’s hands to press kisses to each individual finger, the knuckles, and he stared over the fringe of his hair. “Whatever you want.” He knew it had been a long while for Apo to be in this situation and it was a godsend for Mile to have this kitten in his lap at all.

Pleased with the answer, Apo pulled his hands away from Mile’s grip in order to frame the man’s face with his palms and hummed. “You’re lucky you’re really handsome. I really didn’t want to get involved with you. Everyone always leaves here.” His own expression somber. “I thought it was weird for me to anticipate the full moon only to see you again.” Despite his initial shyness, Apo channeled his inner cat that was the epitome of confidence, and pressed the smallest kiss to Mile’s lips with another unreadable vulnerability reflecting in his eyes. “Can I really have this moment?”

Nodding firmly, Mile turned his face to kiss the palms of those hands, and smiled with his dark eyes, “I’m not just lusting over you. I told you that I like you. I’m willing to drown in the sea with a smile on my face.” His hands reached into the night table to dig out a small bottle of lubricant he’d purchased for himself when he moved in as he figured lonely nights and his right hand were going to be a common occurrence.

Never in his wildest dreams did he think such a sensual creature would be gifted to him. Mile rolled against Apo’s body with a slow exhale, “Can I prepare you?”

Apo arched his back to expose his ass to the air in this position, bracing his weight on his arms against Mile’s torso, lifting his tail to be out of the way as he bit his lower lip, “Yes. When I tell you to, I’ll take over.”

“Yes baby. Whatever you say.”

“Because I am sex starved, Mile.”

Laughing at the irony and pushing past those hands to press an open-mouthed kiss to Apo’s lips, groaning when an eager tongue met his own, Mile’s hands went to work in uncapping the bottle blindly, and just as he had navigated Apo onto the bed earlier, his fingers were gentle but firm.

They’d press through tight muscle that caved to the tantalizing digits’ whims, stretched when Mile scissored and fully relaxed when he found a familiar bundle of nerves that had Apo gasp into his mouth from the sensation.

“Mile …”

“Apo …”

Mile’s one turned to three in a matter of seconds yet felt like eons and still, he waited. He waited for that cue.

“Now.”

*~*~*

Their second dance together was passionate.

The sounds that were being ripped from Apo were animalistic in nature, reduced to shuddered moans and whimpers of pleasure.  Heat suffused his body, making him feel like every nerve ending was on fire and as if he might melt away into a puddle. He panted hard as sweat coated his body, his eyes trying to fall shut every so often and requiring him to wrench them back open to stare at the reflection of his lover below him.

Each bounce of his hips was matched, doubly so, with Mile’s energetic pop back to nearly dislodge Apo from his perch.

The moment they had connected, the feeling of fingers replaced by a thicker, harder muscle, was also the moment Apo was teleported to the moon that he always looked forward to every month.

Every nerve in his body was ignited by the sensation of being impaled and stretched further than fingers could ever suffice. He felt suffocated and the feline-hybrid only found himself recklessly throwing himself into the throes of pleasure in an effort to chase it.

Shamelessly, eagerly, mercilessly.

“Mile. Right there!” Apo purred out as his tail straightened out behind him before it swished again with each sway of his hips to circle them against the heat below him. Any semblance of pain dulled by the ecstasy that created stars behind his eyes at the battering to his bundled nerves inside. It had been too long since he’d felt such delirium. It could make an addict out of him if he wasn’t careful - it wasn’t his to enjoy for too long.

His attention returned from brooding thoughts at Mile’s hand wrapped around the base of his tail and he yelped in surprise at the stimulation, “M–Mile?” Apo stammered as he paused to have a couple of seconds of respite. His thighs screamed at him from the effort of riding Mile into the bed with vigorous enthusiasm. His chest heaved as he glanced down at the human who unconsciously weaseled his way into Apo’s heart.

Mile’s face was flushed red from the life-changing moment he was honored to experience with Apo. His eyes drank from the cup of the image Apo lifting and dropping himself back to impale himself, over and over, as Mile laid back to count his blessings.

He was up to 100 when he saw Apo zone out to the point the younger’s eyes were focused on the headboard with a gloomy expression and Mile couldn’t have that. He smiled lasciviously, “You’re perfect.”

“What … are you … talking about? Ah! My tail!” The feline-hybrid moaned to the hand stroking his tail with mimicked energy of Apo’s movement. “Mile!”

“You were getting distracted. Are you getting tired, baby?” Mile teased. He was rewarded with his hands getting caught by Apo’s, pushed down on either side of his head on the pillow, and Apo hissing in his face directly. “Am I wrong?”

“Very wrong,” Apo’s cat ears pressed against his head in displeasure. If he had half a mind to get up and move from Mile; however, shifting slightly only pushed that thickness deeper at this angle, causing a ripple to push through Apo’s body from the top of his spine to his toes. He groaned loudly. He could feel pleasure coiling tight inside him and he marveled at the familiar tug of an orgasm gathering around him again. Mile hadn't released once. “Are you challenging me?”

Shaking his head, Mile laced their fingers together as he smirked correctly, “I’m not. I thought we agreed that this moment is for us.” He felt a squeeze around his cock that made him groan out loudly. “Fuck. Fuck. Shit – so tight! ” The man grunted when Apo’s hips resumed their tortuous movement on driving Mile insane.

It was Apo’s turn to smirk, “Don’t assume my pause in thought is weakness. I have the stamina of a man who hasn’t had sex in a long time.” He released his hands from Mile’s to lean back with the flexibility of his feline side. His hands dug into the meat of Mile’s thighs behind him in order to brace his feet flat onto the bed this time. Legs spread, open view to the other’s gaze, he continued.

“Mmm. So good. So beautiful.” Mile braced on his hands to watch the gorgeous vision unfold before him. “Absolutely gorgeous.” He grunted at seeing the arch of Apo’s body to take him fully. “I’m close. Nnng!”

A soft, keening sound left Apo at the confirmation from his lover that he felt satisfied to peak his orgasm. His body was a livewire. He was already alight with unrecognizable pleasure and to have a little burst of more from the confidence felt dizzying. “Come on then. Let me feel all you’ve got.”

Mile’s eyes were wide as saucers in surprise, “Are you … sure?” He felt another squeeze to confirm and he groaned. “Fuck you’re going to be my absolute ruin.” Mile used momentum to propel from the bed to roll Apo down onto the bed to lay beneath him. “Only like this. I want to see you clearly.”

Apo rolled his eyes at the move but nodded as his legs adjusted against the other’s waist, his arms went around the broad back to dig his nails into the flesh as soon as Mile started to thrust into him, pounding directly into the spot that made Apo let out a guttural sound of gratification. The pleasure ebbed through him like a tidal wave that crashed in his abdomen that coiled with desire. “Mile. Mile. Mnn!”

Painting a streak of white across Mile’s chest when he came, Apo only rode out the tremor that his body felt as if he was going to shake apart. All he could do was hold on. His nails dug sharply to scratch down Mile’s back as he was rocked against the divot harder, rougher. He could tell Mile was at the home stretch.

“Apo. Ung!” The elder's skin was flushed from the exertion but he continued to press, pound, and punish that prostate with his cock. His own orgasm hit him like a truck head on, knocking the breath out of him, and he emptied himself into the pliable body that allowed him the added gift. Mile’s lips sought out Apo’s to moan and kiss his feelings of that moment through their joined mouths. The sting of scratches, the trembling of their bodies flushed against one another, and Mile’s own heart throbbing in his chest to know that he loved this man beneath him was bitter bliss.

Apo’s ears relaxed on his head as he felt the warmth fill him. It felt cozy, new, and yet all he was missing. The warmth of a human. The love.

Damn. He loved Mile. It was apparent but the knowledge only made him hurt.

Keeping his eyes closed to keep any semblance of tears from escaping his eyes, Apo’s arms wrapped around Mile’s neck for a moment and he whispered hoarsely, “Don’t move yet.” He resisted the comment to say ‘Don’t leave me’ as he clung tightly.

“I won’t.” Mile whispered back. His own body covered Apo’s fully against the bed, ignoring any added heat or discomfort, just wanting to retain their closeness.

Their hearts pounded loudly in their own ears. Their bodies were deliciously sore and aching from the sex. Their souls conflicted.

They were at an impasse now.

Now what?

-TBC-

Chapter Text

“Are you feeling better Mile? Did you drink the medicine I sent? Did you get some sleep?” Natcha asked Mile with a scolding tone of concern. “You’re not young, you know.”

Mile rolled his eyes at hearing his friend ask twenty questions about his well-being as he sat against the headboard of his bed, still comfortably underneath his bed covers without the energy to greet the world just yet. He only grabbed his phone by his nightstand when it began to buzz frantically in hopes it didn’t wake Apo. Mile sighed in relief when Apo remained passed out. His gaze focused solely on the dozing creature beside him. His fingers slipped into Apo’s hair that had stuck up all over the place, gently pushed down as best he could, gently touching the tips of the black ears that twitched at the attention, all the while staring longingly at the beautiful man.

“I’m a fool aren’t I?” Mile murmured to himself. A fool in love.

He hadn’t meant to find any sort of connection or relationship in the house. Especially not the kind that would only bring about pain for the two of them.

Sure, Mile bought Heaven’s Island with the hope of being able to engage with spirits like an amateur ghost hunter; however, his wildest dreams were child’s play to the reality of the moment. Apo, a poltergeist, a cursed cat hybrid with full-moon privileges, was lying in his bed, very real and tangible to his touch, and a burning reminder of their night together.

“Mile!”

Mile shushed Natcha as he was grounded by her screech, “Sssh. Why are you so loud this morning?” He whispered back.

“Why are you shushing me?” Natcha scoffed. “You live alone. It’s not like you’re waking anyone up. Especially not the dead.”

“Habit.” Mile responded with a hum. “Answer to all of your questions is yes. Yes I’m feeling better, yes I got your medicine, yes I got some rest. If you keep screaming in my ear, I might get an ear bleed through the phone.” He smiled crookedly in a tease as he heard her let out a squawk of indignation. “I’m kidding. Mostly.”

“Yes you’re definitely feeling better. Punk. I was being sympathetic,” Natcha sniffed in mock offense. Her expression softened, “I felt bad leaving you yesterday but I figured you were too busy cleaning house for your house guest.” It was a tease that she went along with the madness that Mile spewed at her yesterday then paused. “I’ve put in a request from the province to get information about this house. They recommended going to the library because a lot of older files were stored there during war time.”

Mile nodded his head then responded, “I’ll go in a couple of days then.”

“Why wait so long?” Natcha’s brow rose as she was painting her nails.

“I … I said I was feeling better. I didn’t say I felt amazing,” Mile responded readily.

Natcha hummed in agreement, “That’s fair enough. Take an extra day to rest. You’re the one who was looking for the information so it’s up to you to go find it. Call me if you need anything else? If I get anything from my other contacts in the meantime, I’ll send it over?”

“Thanks Natcha. For everything. The medicine, the information, and believing me,” Mile mused lightly. “I know most would have ignored me.”

“You’re like a kid brother. Impossible to ignore. Take care, I’ll check in later.”

Hearing the click of Natcha hanging up on the other line, Mile’s eyes glanced at the streaks of light peeking through the curtains by his windows and watched the brightness drag itself across Apo’s resting silhouette on the bed and sighed. “An angel. I don’t know who cursed you or why but I’ll find out and break you free.” His expression turned grim. “Even if I have to lose you in the process.” He knew that if Apo was attached to a curse, the probability of Apo disappearing when the curse was broken was high. 

Mile was familiar with different kinds of lore related to curses (part of his interests) . Each curse always had rules, stipulations and penalties when broken.

Best case scenario: Apo stayed with him as a human. Curse broken.

Worst case scenario: Apo died with the curse. Mile became the broken one.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Mile leaned over to brush his lips against the sleeping man’s forehead, whispering against the soft skin, “I love you” and paused to let the words sink in after he’d spoken them. His heart felt light and heavy all at once.

His love was a complicated one and may come to an end sooner than he’d like.

Mile closed his eyes to cherish the moment with its warmth. He shifted slightly to see that Apo hadn’t stirred, grateful that his confession went on deaf ears, and groaned as the day called to them to make use of it. “I better get breakfast ready.”

Gathering himself immediately from the bed, Mile stretched out his arms above his head with a satisfied sound of relief when the tension ebbed out of him before he shuffled slowly to shower and cook them breakfast.

Apo’s eyes blinked open as soon as he thought Mile’s presence had left the room. His fingers curled against the sheets on Mile’s side, body ached from delightful soreness yet his body ached with a string as if a needle pierced through his chest to deflate his happiness.

“Love me but willing to let me go. What a jerk,” A hollow laugh that held no malice just a drop of sadness as the hybrid’s arms wrapped around the human’s pillow to bury his face into the softness, allowed the wafting scent that was uniquely Mile’s to smother him and for a moment welcomed the mercy yet he knew he could never die. He could never be free. 

Mile’s words burned and soothed him simultaneously. Apo just stared blankly into the darkness of the room, debated to get up from the cocoon of security he’d indulged in, and his stomach answered with a resounding growl as he sighed.

“Even my stomach is a traitor.” His tail swished irritatingly behind him as he sat up sluggishly. Apo’s ears perked up when a thought hit him like lightning, “Why mope and waste this chance with him?” He had spent what felt like an eternity alone so why continue to agonize over the inevitable and instead focus on their remaining time together.

However long it may be…

*~*~*

Mile’s eyes were unable to look at anything other than Apo the entirety of the day.

The hybrid kitten of a man had come down to breakfast dressed in the most endearing pair of overalls, one of Mile’s t-shirts, and looking as pure as freshly fallen snow. He was unable to process the image because the next moment Apo was glued to him, kissed him as if there were no tomorrow, and the man kept Mile’s thoughts from straying into negative territory.

Mile had an inkling that Apo heard his murmuring but he would be an idiot to not fall into the graces of the love of his life doing his best to deviate and distract Mile from their cruel reality.

A live and let live sort of mentality.

Mile’s heart was inexplicably tangled with Apo’s and he knew that this love was going to hurt him more than the last. Apo’s fierce yet inquisitive eyes, Apo’s button nose that crinkled in displeasure at Mile adding extra vegetables to their meals, Apo’s lower lip that suffered from Apo’s abuse of it between the other’s teeth and Mile’s when Mile tugged to plump it further, and everything in between would forever enrapture Mile for anyone else ever again.

His thoughts interrupted as he sat on a blanket he’d dug out from the attic to lay out near the small pond on the property, food scattered where they both devoured, Apo’s head in his lap as the adorable creature cat-napped, by a shimmery image that stood in the middle of the water that appeared to be a reflection of some kind. His eyebrow rose as he tried to shield his face from the sun for a better look since he forgot his hat and sunglasses inside the house.

It was … a woman. More accurately … a ghost.

She appeared to be young in her see-through form, as if she met her untimely end too early, her clothing was outdated as she floated above the water’s surface that remained undisturbed and appeared to only stare directly into Mile’s soul with her black eyes.

Not wanting to wake Apo up from his rest to ask him about it seeing as Apo knew all the residents of Heaven’s Island , Mile debated with himself to give into his curiosity to find out for himself or ignore the figure that appeared all together.

Unfortunately, his penchant to learn and know about supernatural things won out.

In his time at Heaven’s Island , Mile had not personally encountered any of the ghostly beings of the manor, only Apo. For this ghost to appear now seemed like a sign from the universe. Especially since he wanted to know more about Apo’s curse that was tied to the manor and suddenly this female apparition appeared. Perhaps it was the gift horse he needed to accept.

Mile’s gaze shifted down to Apo’s, softened at noticing the relaxed state his lover was in and sighed, “I’m sorry baby. I have to move you.” He whispered softly as he grabbed his jacket that was tossed to the side as soon as the heat became unbearable, folded it into a makeshift pillow. With expert precision, Mile lifted Apo’s head up gently to settle it onto the folded jacket and he gathered to his feet quietly as he waited with bated breath if Apo would wake up from the action.

Apo remained curled on his side with his eyes closed. His tail swished occasionally behind him, content with the warmth of the sunshine and breathing in the fresh air into his sleeping body.

“Phew.” Mile went to toe on his loafers as he shuffled over to the edge of the water to glance at the woman. One hand in his pocket while the other lifted to wave it over, “Hello!” He winced at his yell, looked behind him to see that Apo hadn’t stirred and his brow rose. Apo’s cat ears were very sensitive - why hadn’t his lover woken up?

‘He won’t wake up until I allow him to …’

A voice filtered into Mile’s mind and he snapped his head to look forward to see that the ghost was suddenly in front of him in the blink of an eye. He was able to take in her features. She was small in stature, her outfit was a faint golden hued Thai Chakri, and something on her neck that stood out as odd to him. They looked like military dog tags; however, that didn’t make sense since it didn’t correspond with the rest of her ensemble.

Despite the slight anger he felt at her voice telling him that Apo wouldn’t wake up without her saying so, Mile felt sorry for this woman. She appeared to have died young from her youthful state and if she was bound to Heaven’s Island, she was also trapped like the rest of them.

“I’m--”

‘I know who you are.’

Mile stared into her cold eyes directly, “Then who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

‘I am Sawika.’ Sawika gave a nod of her head calmly. ‘I am the true owner of Heaven’s Island. Apo must have mentioned it.’

“He’s told me stories of everyone but not in a malicious way,” Mile hurriedly assured. He didn’t know the nature of Sawika or her temperament. If she was truly a powerful spirit that controlled Apo, a being who was neither here nor there, then it definitely left Mile enough reason to be respectful to her. He clapped his hands together and bowed his head gently. “Thank you for giving me shelter.”

Sawika’s head tilted to the side, amused almost by this human and allowed her own gaze to drag along the man’s features and sighed, ‘You remind me of him.’

“Who?”

‘The man I lost myself to…’ Sawika spoke in a forlorn fashion. She floated to the edge of the water and attempted to step out of it before she found she couldn’t. A frown developed on her face, ‘Damn the shaman. He did this.’

Mile looked around as if to find who she was referring to; however, he recalled that Apo mentioned his temporary hybrid state was thanks to a shaman and it was truly just a gift for Mile to have his lover so close without the help of the full moon. “Ah. You’re trapped in the water.”

‘The shaman is mediocre but had enough strength to confine everyone away from the manor temporarily.’ She sighed as she decided to just float in the spot. It was then that she realized Mile wasn’t afraid of her and her own eyebrow rose. ‘Are you not afraid?’

“Why should I be? You haven’t given me a reason to fear you, Sawika.”

‘Naive. But handsome.’ The woman mused. Sawika knew Apo was incredibly smitten. She had seen the boy light up when he spoke to them about Mile during the night when the human was asleep. All of them watched their endearing tiptoed dance and the full moon nights that allowed them a semblance of normality. She felt a guilt bubble inside of her, ironic given that she had been dead for years. The reason for Apo’s state and all of them was because of her. She was the one who cursed them to an eternity of loneliness as she was. Her hand unconsciously lifted to touch the tags around her neck before she noticed that Mile continued to stare at her. ‘It’s rude to stare.’

“I apologize. I was just curious about the tags you have on your neck,” Mile motioned to her neck calmly. “Those are military aren’t they?”

‘Very astute. Yes. These belonged to my first and only love…he gave them to me with the promise of return yet he never returned,’ Sawika clicked her tongue, her sunken eyes narrowed. ‘I hope he’s rotting in hell for what he did to me.’

Mile nodded to her comment, tried his best to get a closer look at the name on the tags to read the name ‘Elliot’ and a birthday before he saw her round about to face him again, “If you’d like, I can try to find out what happened to him?”

That made Sawika bark out a laugh as she pointed her finger in Mile’s face promptly, ‘Don’t insult me. I don’t care about him anymore. I want to know nothing about him. Do you hear me?!’ 

“I promised Apo that I wanted to free him from this … life imprisonment. I’d like to offer you the same,” Mile’s steely expression reflected his serious dedication to his goal.

Sawika’s shimmery face surprised, ‘Why … don’t you love him?’

Mile responded quickly, “I do. I love him. It’s because I love him that I am willing to let him go.” He put a hand to his chest where his heart was. “I hate to see him look devastated at leaving my side to turn into a cat. He knows that he will out-live me because of his state. He’s never free and always alone.” Mile released a heavy sigh. “If he can be freed of this curse, if you all can, I would be alone but I would survive because I know he’s free to roam.”

‘And I thought romance was dead,’ Sawika murmured. Her hand went back to toy with the dog tags before she looked over to Apo. The guilt returned tenfold as she knew that even though she cursed them all - she didn’t know how to break it herself. Otherwise she would have years ago before Apo appeared.

Her anger at the young man of the time was misguided and misplaced. She cursed his curiosity like a cat to be doomed to live as one, forever and ever, bound to Heaven’s Island like its keeper.

A voice that called her name on the other side of the water pond made her look over her shoulder to someone who looked very human, who stood by a shed, and waved to her. Her smile on her features genuinely affectionate as if she looked at her brother, ‘He’s come for me. He always comes for me when I’m in distress.’ Her demeanor was solemn despite the small smile.

Mile had never noticed another person who was lingering on the property. No matter how much he scoped and snooped, investigated and searched, that shed had never appeared. It only came when Sawika appeared before him. His lips kept an assuring smile to her yet it never reached his eyes. It felt like these pieces - Sawika, the dog tags, Elliot, and perhaps this man in the shed - were falling into place because he needed them to.

“I shall leave you to your day ma’am. Thank you for allowing Apo and I to have a nice couple of days,” Mile remarked. He watched her nod and float in the direction towards the mystery man who looked equally out of place. He would have gone to follow somehow but he heard his name being called behind him.

“Mile?”

Mile turned to see Apo sit up with a yawn, a stretch of his body and ears perked up contently as Mile’s hand went to sift through the soft locks of hair to soothe the edges that popped up all over the place cutely and pet the tips of the ears with a hum. “Enjoy your nap baby?”

“It was the best sleep I’ve had in decades?” Apo laughed as he looked at Mile. His hands lifted to frame the other’s face to pull him into a firm kiss and grinned. “What were you doing staring at the water?” He followed Mile’s line of sight but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“Nothing. Just the tranquil water,” Mile nodded. He saw Apo distracted, crouched to slide his arm underneath the other’s legs to hoist him up in a bridal style carry as the feline hybrid hissed at his action before Apo conceded to be carried around. Mile walked back towards the manor with the occasional glance over his shoulder as his mind was muddled with more questions than answers.

He had a feeling that ‘Elliot’ was the key. At least he hoped so.

-TBC-

Chapter Text

The hybrid’s eyes were glassy as if from distress; however, they were only glazed over from unbridled pleasure that coursed through Apo’s entire form, from his toes that were curled in an attempt to grip into the carpet beneath his feet to his legs that trembled from a particularly hard thrust that punched against his electrified bundled nerves and up to the tips of his ears that flickered from the mixed sensation of fullness and emptiness from Mile’s hips’ quick succession of rendering him a speechless mess.

“Mile… wait--wait--I’m going to … ah!” Apo felt his hair caught in a hand that pulled his head back gently yet assertively to connect their open mouths in a drooling kiss that was neither delicate or soft, it took away the little bit of breath the feline-mix could exhale as Mile greedily inhaled.

Mile’s free hand held onto the meat of Apo’s right thigh that he’d lifted to brace against the back of the couch, fully open and unrestricted when Mile’s hunger took over and the urge to bend the younger against the nearest surface as soon as they’d stumbled back into the mansion took precedence. His hands scrambled to nudge the shorts off of Apo’s person immediately, fell to his knees to praise the ass that was exposed, heard the happy sigh to the freed tail and the sigh turned into an indignant squawk when Mile pulled back the firm cheeks below to swipe at the treasured space between. The plethora of little gasps, moans, and urgent words that escaped the hybrid’s lips were enough to encourage Mile’s actions. It was the black cat tail that nudged itself against Mile’s head that convinced the human that they could continue with fucking against the back of the couch.

The fact they’d had sex the night before eased their joining with the makeshift spit and go, both paused to allow for any discomfort to pass through their abrupt coupling; however, as soon as Apo rolled back, Mile was gone.

Decked in only Mile’s shirt, covered by Mile’s entire body behind him, Apo could only surrender to being captivated and caged by this human that unapologetically cemented himself in Apo’s entire soul. He caved to their instincts, followed the man’s lead, just closed his eyes to feel and not think anymore. Thinking was exhausting. Thinking was emotionally draining.

Sex was just their bodies speaking a language that transcended through time, space, and even realms.

Mile’s actions were driven purely by Apo. The receptiveness, the willing hand over of control, and the trust was mesmerizing. The man’s instinct to lift the younger’s leg to test the flexibility of the hybrid was only heightened with Apo squeezing around him with a mantra to ‘keep going’ , ‘don’t stop’ , and ‘more’ as Mile’s fingertips dipped into the thigh to grip securely and began his pounding movements.

Now that Apo was edging to the abyss, Mile wanted to bring his lover there, over and over. His desire, no, his need was urgent. He only had that last full moon to spend with Apo as a human until the next month. Mile’s mind had been working overtime after meeting Sawika but all his heart and body was echoing to him was to claim, to imprint, and to make their night last by any means.

“Just come for me, baby.” Mile whispered against the swollen lips he’d bitten with assurances and sweet words as his forehead pressed directly to the sweaty one belonging to Apo. “Let me see you spill so beautifully for me. Please…”

Apo’s heart ached at the plea.

The please felt as if it were referring to something else that neither dared to voice lest it ruin the moment.

Arching his entire form, the tail wrapped itself around Mile’s waist to use strength to pull Mile’s chest to his back and Apo just kept their faces glued as he bounced back with enthusiasm. It was as if he were just using Mile to his satisfaction, mouth open as soft pants and mewls escaped him and his eyes zoned into the onyx irises that lassoed his heart as he spilled himself against the couch with a groan. “Ooooh. Mile.”

Apo noticed Mile had purposely stopped moving in order to let Apo climb to the height of his orgasm with Mile just watching in raptured awe. It made the feline hybrid self-conscious yet also intrigued that his lover was in tune to his needs. His hand detached from the couch in order to intertwine with Mile’s that held onto his right leg to keep Apo spread.

“Apo …You’re so beautiful …” Mile was intoxicated on watching Apo in the throes of passion. He wanted to tattoo the imagery behind his eyelids in order to savor them every time he closed them or went to bed and needed to dream of the most divine being to grace his life. He swallowed as he panted with the viable effort to not buck into the tightened heat. “So, so beautiful. A masterpiece.”

“Cheeky,” Apo teased as his cheeks flushed with gratitude to the compliments as he swayed his hips left and right. “You haven’t … come yet…” Sticking out his tongue to swipe kitten licks against Mile’s lips, drawing little lines against the strong jawline and tickled by the dusting of facial hair, and down the man’s Adam’s apple to bite roughly. “You never play fair.”

Mile swallowed after the bite, felt the twinge of pain trickle down to the blood that hardened him further and he groaned loudly to the soft swaying. “I’m always in a trance with you.”

“If only I had such powers Mile, just being able to hypnotize sounds very cool,” The hybrid’s voice was husky as he lifted his other hand to pat Mile’s cheek. “I’m getting hot so I’m going to need you to remove your clothes too.”

Mile’s brows rose in surprise and before he could inquire what Apo was talking about, he felt the younger lean forward enough to disconnect them and he grunted at the sudden air that hit his hot cock. “Ah.”

“Ssssh.” Apo purred in reassurance as he turned around to stare over to Mile with a dark gaze that was hungry as he smirked. “You want to test my flexibility? Undress then come here.” His arms spread against the couch as his fingers gripped into the couch and he lifted the same right leg that was speckled with Mile’s fingerprints and coaxed his lover back to him with his toes. “I want to try something.”

Unable to do anything except obey, Mile moved to immediately undress every piece of clothing from his body to stand completely naked in front of his lover and caught Apo’s ankle in his hand with a hard gulp, “Don’t be coaxing me with such a beautiful leg. I want to bite every patch of skin with my teeth.” His eyes were dark.

“That sounds sexy…I didn’t know I could be so enticing, Mile.” Apo’s expression cheeky as his tail came to keep the shirt he wore down to cover himself from the view. “It’s not like I wouldn’t want to show off those marks.”

Mile stepped forward with slow, calculated steps as he lifted Apo’s leg up to settle the ankle atop his shoulder. Turning his face, his teeth came to bite against the ankle that twitched from the action and he continued his trek along the sensual calf, the inside of the knee then paused. He realized that the position stretched the hybrid, elevated Apo to his toes on his other foot and balanced back on the arms on the couch. “Apo…”

“I could’ve been an acrobat in this lifetime you know?” Teasing with a slight hitch in his throat from Mile going so far as to bite the inside of his thigh as the shirt rode up, “Mmm. But I think I’d prefer being a pampered cat in your arms instead.” Apo adjusted his leg to hook over Mile’s elbow after realizing the angle might murder his ability to walk so he didn’t want to test too hard so soon.

“Come on baby. Give me the other leg. I can carry you in any form,” Mile’s hand dragged along the back of the other supple leg, groped his lover’s thigh and gave that ass a little spank to coax the leg to mimic and be settled in the crook of Mile’s elbow. The view of his lover spread before him, looking like a delectable morsel that Mile wanted to savor for eternity only made him groan in anticipation. “Will you be comfortable like that?”

“I’ve been a cat for a good chunk of my existence, comfortable in weird positions is my speciality,” Apo grinned at the concern. He laid his upper half against the couch as he gave control and free reign to his human love. “I’ll keep you to that promise Mile. To pamper me…” He arched his back with a hum to entice the other with a demure glance, “Fuck me and it’s a deal.”

Laughing at the coarse language, Mile shifted closer between the vee of those strong legs, grabbed at himself to reposition his cock as he panted and felt Apo’s tail wrap around one of his own thighs now, “Afraid I’ll move away?”

“I’m afraid you won’t give me everything because you’re afraid you’ll break me--ee--ee…ah!” All thoughts escaped Apo’s mind the moment they were connected once again, his body glued to Mile’s when the man filled him with the same feeling of belonging as a moment ago. Everything about this human managed to through every inhibition Apo had about them being together, about being loved, about this reality only being a dream. 

It truly was sorcery.

Mile watched as the other’s mouth parted to moan out, the tremor that hit the flexible form he carried as his hips started without permission, pounding his emotions and feelings into the creature who dug his hands into the back of the couch in order to not fall off. “Mine. Only mine.” His voice was raspy. Coated with possessiveness that surprised even himself at how sure he felt with saying such a simple phrase.

Apo’s fingers curled into the fabric of the couch to claw deeply to anchor himself as he was levitating with Mile’s caresses and dutiful touches that touched every surface of his body. His heart drummed a steady beat that threatened to burst from his ribcage from the intensity of this coupling. The declaration of being Mile’s only frazzled Apo’s resolve. The little that remained. His tail kept a tight coil around Mile’s waist to encourage the man to pour all he had into Apo, literally and figuratively. “ Yours… ” was all he could muster the energy to rasp out.

The relentless pace had sweat dripping down along Mile’s body from the exertion. The back of his neck, along his spine and all his focus remained on the exquisite treasure he’d found by chance of fate.

The singular thought it could slip away … that Apo could disappear from him only encouraged the battering of his hips to push the traitorous idea away.

“Apo…”

Apo’s eyes opened, unaware they had closed until he’d heard that desperate call of his name, a sluggish smile appeared at his lips as he moved his arms away from the couch to drag them along Mile’s chest. Red lines appeared on porcelain skin as the hybrid glued himself immediately to the man who carried his weight easily. His nails took their time to draw equal lines down Mile’s back as he arched as close as possible till a piece of paper wouldn’t dare fall between them.

Lips pressed to Mile’s ear as he whispered, “I love you.” And it probably wasn’t the best time or the best position; however, Apo’s heart finally released itself from the cage in his body to spill the truth from his lips.

Mile’s hands gravitated to the younger’s thighs to brace the feline-mix that clung to him with equal desperation to Mile’s small uttering of the younger’s name. He pressed their foreheads together as he needed to look into those beautiful, glassy eyes that held the answers to the universe. “I love you.” He flexed his muscles to rock the other down onto him while his own hips countered up to keep the space between them minimal. The tail around his waist was a tether to the reality that this existed for them. “I love you very much.”

“Ah. Ah. Ah. ” The last ‘ah’ sputtered out by Apo came with the double warmth that both escaped and filled him. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as the real fear that he’d black out made him tighten his grip around the broad shoulders. “Mile…”

Understanding his lover’s need, Mile wrapped his own arms around the younger’s waist despite the legs being awkwardly shifted between them, pretzeling the feline-hybrid as he held steadfast as Apo and himself rode out the wave that crashed them against the rocks harshly. “Fuck. Oh fuck.” He panted harshly. Their eyes met. Then their lips.

Slipping and slotting against one another, Mile didn’t want the night to end. He wasn’t sure his heart could stand waiting an entire month to see Apo, repeat their night and live out their days that way. The time was too short, the curse was too cruel.

Leaning back slightly to catch his breath, Mile’s lips pulled into a small smile, “Can I clean you up before you …”

“Before I turn back into a complete cat again?” Apo finished the sentence. His tail released Mile in order to bristle huffily behind himself. His cat ears flattened on his head at their time already coming to an end. His hands went to frame Mile’s face and softened, “It’s okay. I was able to hear you tell me that you love me before I turn back.” Another kiss. “And I could tell you that I love you. I call that a win.”

“How’re you … so positive and amazing?” Mile murmured as he slowly pulled out with a groan, gently set the other down onto his feet and pushed down the fabric of his own shirt on Apo’s body. Crouching, his arms came to scoop the other up in a bridal style carry despite the other’s assurance he could walk and trailed out of the living room towards his own bedroom slowly. Walking around nude didn’t make him shy, it encouraged him to feel how Apo sleepily curled against him, “I’ll wait for you.”

Apo laughed as he nuzzled his face against Mile’s chest to pepper the pectorals with kisses, “I would be very upset with you if you didn’t.” He sighed. “I didn’t mind being a half-cat creature … I just wish I could get rid of the ears and tail whenever I wanted, you know?”

“Maybe you can ask the shaman to help with that?” Mile mused as he reached his bathroom, set Apo down into the tub to gently put the water to a comfortable temperature.

“He couldn’t do that again. One time offer that he made it happen because you were so kind to him and the other spirits,” Apo teased as he sighed at the feeling of the water coming to clean his skin. He had been half tempted to start licking himself but knew it’d be a little too odd, especially since he didn’t have fur and wasn’t his full cat self. His eyes wearily glanced to Mile with a hand outstretched, “Come here. Join me.”

Mile made sure to get them towels before moving to settle into the large Victorian style tub, grinned when Apo nestled between his own legs to recline against his chest and both of them just basking in the afterglow of their love confessions and the intimacy. “I can’t believe I fell in love with a cat.”

“You fell in love with a cat, a cat hybrid, a poltergeist, the list goes on, Mile,” Apo snorted as he lifted a hand to sift through Mile’s hair from behind him. “You’re the oddest human that’s ever come here.”

“I’m not the oddest, I’m the most unique,” Mile leaned into the soft caresses in his hair.

The two of them sat quietly.

Mile would wash Apo as the other purred contently, obliging to lift his limbs when requested or shifting upward and allowed the human to continue his venture along the body he’d just made love to.

By the time they were dried off, clothed in something comfortable, the both of them stared simultaneously out of the window to the moon that stood as a witness to their adoration for one another. Mile checked his watch with a heart heavier than he anticipated and watched as Apo only gave him a small side smile in return that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Till next time Mile,” Apo popped to the tips of his toes to kiss those swollen lips with a lingering pause before he stepped back with a hum. “I don’t want you to see me change back.”

Mile’s eyes looked pained. “Why?”

“Because as much as you fell in love with a cat, a cat-hybrid and a poltergeist … I want you to love only me. As Apo. As a man.” Apo stated firmly. “Okay?”

“I love all of you. But I understand,” Mile nodded with his shoulders sagged. Expression downcast. He reached out to push back a strand of Apo’s hair gently as he did his best to not look defeated. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Apo chuckled, “Smaller, more compatible but definitely just a cat again.”

“Till the next full moon till I can kiss your lips again,” Mile grumbled. “Not enough time.”

Apo sighed, “It never is.” The hybrid stepped back, turned around to head out of the bedroom towards the attic where he usually transformed if he didn’t go outside by the graves. His footsteps felt like lead as he wanted to turn around to run back into that warm, welcoming embrace but he knew it was impossible.

Mile stared after Apo as he sighed.

A small chime came from his cellphone. Reaching over to grab the device from the night table, Mile stared at the notification in surprise. It was midnight and he was getting notifications from a research organization in the United Kingdom where he’d sent a message to ask about the potential soldiers who were active duty in the 1800s from the name Elliot and the birthday. He remembered Apo’s story about all the ghosts at Heaven’s Island , including Sawika that barely glossed over an Englishman being the woman’s suitor and Mile did his best to use the resources available to him as he would head to the provincial town’s record office for more local info.

“I suppose it’s a good time for them right now.” Mile figured something good came after all. Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he opened the email calmly to review the file that was sent over to him and his brows rose high on his forehead.

For Mister Phakphum Romsaithong,

We have received your inquiry about an inheritance claim and the requirement of confirmation based on the criteria you provided. Please see the potential hits.

Note: Many of the records were retrieved from an archive and may be incorrect. We apologize for any discrepancies in advance.

Colonel Eliot Sutherland - Killed in Action in Chiang Mai

Sergeant Elliott Watson - Honorably discharged: sustained an injury in the line of duty

Colonel Elliott Masters - Killed in Action in Phuket during air raid

Lieutenant Elliott Atthill - Missing in Action, last location reported Chiang Mai.

If you would like additional information on these individuals and their next of kin, please provide the proper authorization. The form attached.

All the best,

The Research Academy in London

Mile stared at the names of the men as he grabbed a pencil from the nightstand to draw a line through Masters and Watson. Since Heaven’s Island was near Chiang Mai, it made sense that the last two, Sutherland and Atthill, were his best bet to figure out who these two men were and how to get further information about.

He knew it was too late to get his contacts to get the proper authorization and fell back against his large bed that felt larger now that his love wasn’t with him. Mile sighed, “I’m close. I’m close to setting you free my love. Just wait for me.”

-TBC-

Chapter Text

‘Where did Mile go?’ 

Apo glanced up from where he sat on the window sill that looked out to the front part of the property, towards the gates where a car disappeared. He sat on the sill since he heard the engine of the vehicle roar to life, shuffled off the bed where he’d rested on with Mile though he took up less space than he had the night before, and watched out of the window. He tried not to feel despair. He blamed his curse that made him a natural cynic.

The feline’s head tilted to the side as he responded to Sawika calmly, ‘I don’t know. He woke up pretty early, I thought he was going to shower then cook but then I heard the car.’ Apo’s tail bristled as the full-formed cat just sighed to himself. ‘I just have a feeling of dread, Sawika. I can’t explain it.’

‘Is that why you haven’t eaten?’ Her voice tinted with concern.

Apo stared at her pointedly, ‘You know I can’t die. I can starve, I can drown, I can jump off the roof of the mansion and I would just bounce back.’ He stared back out the window, anxiously waiting for Mile to return. ‘I’m just worried about him. He’s so secretive. What if he’s upset about being with me? I’m a cursed man. He doesn’t deserve that.’

Sawika floated in the room, freed from the shaman’s temporary binding in order to loiter and lurk about the mansion as she glanced over to the black cat with a solemn expression. Ever since she spoke to the living human, she pondered on his words and the offer for freedom, his offer to find information about Elliot. Her fingers touched the dogtags around her neck. Was it time to let Elliot and herself free from the bitter pain she’d carried for so long after he’d left her side?

‘Apo…’

‘I heard him the other day that he’d let me go, Sawika,’ Apo laughed in his mind as his tone turned into a pained one as his cat eyes looked at the apparition of the woman. They were glistening. ‘Am I selfish to keep him by my side? I had a taste of this love and I just want more.’

The woman stood there as she allowed the cat to vent. In all the years since Apo found misfortune at Heaven’s Island , she never heard Apo fully vent about the situation. She heard him complain a bit about loneliness or put up with the rest of them who were tied to the mansion; however, Apo always listened to their plights with a patient flick of his tail or perk of his ears, even let them pet his fur that prickled at the coldness from their ghostly presence. For the first time in a long time, she felt the pang of guilt inside of her. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘I … huh?’ The apology cut Apo off with another wag of his tail. ‘Why are you apologizing, Sawika? This isn’t your fault. We’re all stuck in this hell together.’

‘It is my fault. I am the reason … you’re trapped in this form, Apo.’

Apo’s ears perked up a moment then flattened. The teary sheen in his eyes disappeared as he blinked and they narrowed at hearing her. He gathered to his feet to sit back on his hunches, ‘What’re you talking about?’

‘I know you’ll curse me further for this but after speaking to Mile yesterday afternoon, I couldn’t stop feeling this immense remorse and shame,’ Sawika spoke to the black cat. Biting her lower lip, Sawika shifted to fall to her knees in front of the cat and bowed her head in apology although she knew she could never repair all the damage she’d done for decades. ‘I am the reason you are cursed.’

‘You’re not making sense and I’m not in the mood for jokes,’ Apo snapped at the woman as he was startled by her subdued gesture. In the years since he’d been cursed to live as a black cat bound by the moon, she was always such a proud woman and never admitted her faults, always blaming the man who left her. All the other spirits knew the song and dance, ignored her but Apo hadn’t. He was just the friendly ear for everyone.

Sawika clapped her hands together before bowing her head once again, ‘I will explain but I needed to apologize because I know you will never seek for me again after this.’ The woman stood straight as she looked over to the feline with a saddened expression on her shimmery face. Reaching over her hand to pet the back of Apo’s fur, noticed the bristle wasn’t just because of her touch and she spoke quietly, ‘Don’t speak anymore. Just close your eyes and I will take you on a journey to the past.’

Apo was entirely skeptical at the poor joke that Sawika wanted to play with him. His back arched as he shifted back; however, he felt frozen in place and when her fingers touched his fur, he wanted to hiss at her. He couldn’t move and he stared at her with wide eyes, ‘Sawika.’

‘Please let me explain properly. Close your eyes Apo.’

The feline felt his lids turn heavy, something he wondered briefly if she controlled and closed them. Apo had no choice but to compile. When the touch went to the top of his head, he mentally gasped at feeling it sturdier than normal, as if Sawika was touching him with the weight of a hand as opposed to a ghost.

*~*~*   Flashback   *~*~*

“Apo! We need another beer over here!”

“Coming right up!” Apo chirped as he sprinted to comply with the request from the restaurant owner of the mansion turned tavern for the weary traveler. He’d come to Heaven’s Island in the middle of a rain storm and had wanted to work his way in gratitude to the owner, Suppadet, for being allowed to stay. He ended up loving the ambiance and stayed on permanently as a bartender. He loved the vibe of feeling free from the constraints of what society expected of a young master like him who ran away from his responsibilities.

He shuffled around like a regular barfly, getting the stories from the travelers and mansion visitors, it was a nice existence.

Apo walked over to the back of the bar to grab a bottle of the requested beer but found there were no more and he frowned, “I need to get more! Don’t go away!”

The sound of thunder echoing made him jump slightly as he glanced out the nearest window with a frown when he saw lightning but didn’t see rain. Yet. “Looks like rain is coming.”

“Apo we have guests!” The tavern manager shouted over to bring him out of the stupor Apo had over the rain. “Go check the cellar. Or out back. We might have another box but it wasn’t brought in.”

Apo saluted calmly as he basically ran to the cellar as instructed to check if there were any cases of beer that wasn’t restocked. He frowned at not finding any. A small noise in the corner of the room made him peek over towards it, “Oi! Don’t hide! We don’t like stowaways here!” He knew the mansion wasn’t a ship but the words escaped his lips before he could stop them.

“Meow?”

He glanced down to see a black cat at his feet. Apo softened immediately. His soft spot was always cats. Crouching down, Apo pressed his hand to the feline’s nose for a quick small sniff before the creature purred at him and he smiled widely, “Are you hungry? I don’t think you’ll find anything here.” He scooped the animal up promptly in his arms as he shuffled back up the stairs then grumbled. “Oh yes, the beer.” He debated whether to feed the cat in his arms or get the beer.

“Apo!”

“Well that answered my question,” Apo laughed to himself as he set the cat down and placed a finger to his lips. “Wait for me here. Don’t meow too loudly or they might kick you out.” He smiled as he scratched the creature’s ear before heading out the back door where boxes were stacked against the side of the wall of supplies and miscellaneous items of the kitchen.

~ ‘Help me!’ ~

Apo paused in reading the boxes in his search for the beer when he heard a plea for help. He lifted his head to look around and saw nothing in the darkness. He shrugged and continued sifting through the boxes. 

~ ‘HELP! GAAAH! ME! GAAAH!’ ~

He heard that scream that time but it was garbled by something. Apo glanced out in the distance where the moat that surrounded the mansion was. A rumored cursed moat that held the bodies of dead people but he thought it was superstitious nonsense meant to add to the allure of a place called ‘Heaven’s Island’. Curiosity got the better of him as he trailed over to the moat with a calm expression, raised his eyebrow at seeing two figures struggling in the water and he immediately thought that one was drowning, “Let me help!”

One of them stopped moving almost immediately and the other turned to face him.

It was Suppadet. Apo faltered.

“ You have seen too much …”

Apo watched as the owner of the house dropped the body into the moat. It was obvious from where he stood that the person was dead. He jerked as he saw Suppadet stalking towards him from the water and Apo was thinking fight or flight this man whose voice sounded eerily feminine. The skies decided to open in a sudden downpour. “Suppadet. Wait. Let’s talk about this.” He took a step backwards to make a run back towards the house.

His foot slipped on a slippery patch of grass. Apo tumbled, hit his head hard on a stone and was unable to move as he felt consciousness slip from him. He was paralyzed.

“Curiosity killed the cat but I will not kill you. You will learn to never be curious again.” Suppadet spoke those words with a scathing manner yet the voice’s timbre was female. How was that possible? A quieted murmur under Suppadet’s breath that Apo could not hear as his eyes felt heavy and Apo conceded to the darkness that consumed him.

The next memory that Apo remembered was waking up and everything appeared much taller, himself smaller and unable to speak and finding a glass to see his reflection of a black cat.

*~*~*   End Flashback   *~*~*

Apo jumped back from the hand on his fur, pressed himself against the glass of the window to stare over to Sawika with a confused and hurt expression. “What was that?!”

“That is your memory that I have repressed from you all these years.” Sawika spoke carefully as she stared at the black cat that was arched and hissing at her. She saw Apo’s tail completely bristled and the feline’s ears pressed back against his head. “After you caught me possessing Suppadet’s body, that was my last kill.”

“Kill?!”

“You know some of my story and why I spend my days endlessly wailing and in despair,” The female ghost pointed to the dog tags around her neck. “I fell in love with an Englishman. A foreigner to this land. He promised me that he would report to his troop and come back for me.” Sawika scoffed. “He never returned. I spiraled and drowned myself. It seemed I was still held back by the anger and bitterness of Elliot’s humiliation that I wanted others to suffer as well.”

Listening to this was like being thrown into the moat all over again and Apo looked around for an exit.

“You can run away after I finish what I have to say.”

“Don’t you think you’ve been selfish enough, Sawika?” Apo was mildly hysterical, his breathing increased but he understood why he was pinned now. He was unable to move because she pinned him in place. Like how Daw granted him the ability to shape-shift for a short time to tend to Mile, Sawika was probably a shaman too. “A shaman who used her abilities for death instead of life.”

The woman could not even explain herself to Apo or justify the pain she inflicted on him, the only kind creature to her besides Elliot and Phet. All the others who she confined to Heaven’s Island with her also had their memories forgotten due to her manipulation and not wanting the ghosts’ ire against her. It was cowardly as she glanced at her only friend.

“I have no justification--”

“It doesn’t matter if you did. You are the reason I’m like this and … now you’re telling me this for what reason? To dangle in front of me that I can’t be with Mile like you couldn’t be with Elliot?” Apo cursed that he was a cat. He wanted to cry. He wanted to punch a wall. He wanted to scream and he couldn’t. His eyes narrowed as he stayed plastered to the window with ‘defensive’ written all over his posture.

Sawika stared at him with a calm expression to finish her part, surprisingly sad that she lost her only friend due to her own deception, “You’re right. I was bitter at my own self-made misery. My abilities were always stained with death…” She said in a bitter way to Apo. “Because of my own hands, my parents were killed.” The woman sighed. “Who knows? Elliot might have left me because he could sense I was just evil. I figured if the world saw me as evil, I might as well fulfill that wish.”

“You aren’t evil, Sawika,” Apo remarked. He saw her look of hope and shook his head. “I cannot forgive you for this prison you gave me. Unless…” Now it was his turn to look hopeful. “You can undo it?”

“I cannot. I don’t know what triggered my powers when I cursed you. I thought it would be temporary and then it became a cycle that breaks on the full moon. My powers are weak on the full moon. I could only possess humans to complete my killing spree,” Sawika winced at the destruction she caused over a broken heart. “I cannot undo your curse because I’m not sure how it came to be.”

Apo’s entire body just sagged in despair now. He laid back and even if he was free from Sawika’s hold, he was depressed. He felt a tear drip out of one eye, “When I finally have a piece of happiness…”

The woman floated with a devastated expression as she touched the dog tags again, “Mile said he wanted to set you free because he loved you. I love you too, Apo. You were my only friend.”

“Friends don’t trap other friends for decades.”

“I think the curse started when I … drowned in the moat,” Sawika glanced out the window. “All the other souls and spirits here are trapped due to my self made prison.” She thought out loud. “If we can figure out the trigger, I can reverse it.”

“As if it were that simple,” Apo sighed as he sat up, ears still flat and upset. “Please leave. I don’t want to look at you anymore.” He curled into himself as cats often did to hide away. His back to her. “I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for this, Sawika.”

Sawika’s head bowed again, “I’m sorry, Apo.” She floated out Mile’s bedroom at the same time a car drove up to the property. Her heart in her throat as she floated down  to greet the man when the door opened. She saw a book in his hand that made her tilt her head. She knew he couldn’t see her so he was curious to see what it was.

“Sawika. I know how to set you free.”

The woman was startled by Mile’s promise and sudden outburst as she could see the madness in his eyes, “You can see me?”

“I think somehow, in some way, we connected that night.” Mile responded firmly as his gaze looked up to the staircase as if wanting to look for Apo but knew this moment was more important and the quicker he could figure out what to do the quicker his love would finally be free of his curse. “Come!” He waved her to follow him into the study where he sat the book down onto the table, flipping through pages that he looked up only to see her shimmer through the door to come towards him. “Here.”

Sawika looked down over to the book with a raised eyebrow before she gasped at seeing a picture of a squadron. Elliot’s squadron. Her throat swelled, “Where did you get this?”

“Elliot Atthill,” Mile pointed to the Englishman at the center of the black and white photograph that was in a published book. “I went into the town to see if there was a census or anything about the Westerners that came here and there was a book, a journal, published by a doctor who worked with the stationed unit and included this picture. I confirmed with the United Kingdom government about his existence.”

“What does that have to do with me?” She commented yet intrigued and hooked to Mile’s words.

“Lieutanent Elliot Atthill. Missing in action,” The man pointed to her dogtags. “He never returned home or reported for duty.”

“I’m not … following.”

“Apo and you have mentioned to me that the foreigner left you. Abandoned you,” Mile saw her nod her head. “What if he didn’t? What if he went missing?” He flipped through the book to some passages he’d made small sticky notes on when he went to the library and archives earlier. “The doctor states that the unit integrated with the locals but the lieutenant appeared to be smitten as the doctor caught him a time or two disappearing into the night and not reappearing till the morning. Normally around a full moon.”

Sawika placed her hand onto her heart, “Elliot and I … we always met close to or on the full moon of the months he was here. He told me that he was going to be deployed somewhere else but that he’d report he needed to stay for … me.”

Mile nodded his head in acknowledgement, “He never reported and went missing. I’m thinking something happened to him in between the night you promised to be together.” He reasoned firmly. “Your connection is still to him and your curse is associated with him. When we find the truth, you’ll both be freed.”

“I … I …” She was processing. How was it possible she was wrong about Elliot this entire time? Her misery was a lie. She remembered they spent a wonderful year together and the promise to be together forever kept her heart fueled and ready to sell ‘Heaven’s Island’ and explore with him. Sawika felt something come over her as her aura became dark and the house shook a bit. She zipped away to process this revelation.

Mile blinked at the action. “Ah. Wait. Wait. Don’t bring down the house.” He held up a hand to reason with her before he watched Apo running down the stairs towards him. His arms opened up for Apo to jump into them and held the little feline to his chest protectively as he headed out of the building. He looked down at Apo who stared back in concern and sighed, “Don’t worry baby. We’re working through some truths today.”

Once the house stopped shaking, Mile was hit with something Apo told him before. “A cleanse. This place needs to be cleansed to find the truth.” He stared up at the sky. “A great flood is the only way to cleanse this place.” He peeked to the cat as he dipped his face to press a kiss to the top of that head. “Soon baby.”

“Soon indeed…” A whispered voice that watched the man with the cat from behind a nearby tree. Phet had seen Mile speaking to Sawika from outside, didn’t hear their conversation, but saw Sawika upset and that made him upset. The mysterious grounds keeper that only appeared before Sawika stared over to Mile with a dark glare.

-TBC-

Chapter Text

- Flashback -

“You’re the only one I’ll ever need in my life Phet!”

Phet watched as the only child of the people who took him in would say, sweet little Sawika. He was a runaway teenage boy without prospects or hopes when he stumbled onto the grounds of ‘Heaven’s Island’ and instead of being turned into the authorities, they took him in. He was grateful to them and their kindness. Ten years older than their daughter, Phet only smiled at the little girl who assured him that she only needed him and it was a promise that Phet took to heart.

He devoted his entire existence to protect her and tended to the grounds that was their home as the groundskeeper.

Every year, he’d watch her grow strong and beautiful as a tamarind tree, one that he took great care in helping to water, expose to the sunshine and make sure she never wanted for anything.

The first time he failed her, the fall out was devastating.

Phet found his beautiful Sawika, sobbing uncontrollably over the bodies of her parents, both apparently deceased from her lack of control of her developing shaman abilities. He stared at the elderly couple, wordlessly went to dig holes to bury them and handled the rest without a drop of judgement. Her eyes, red and worn down from the tears that weld at her accidental murder of the couple, stared at him as if he were the man on the moon.

For a few years, Phet remained the man on the moon for his sweet Sawika. The only man that she needed to defend and keep her safe. She perfected her craft and he stayed by her side like the loyal, devoted man he was.

Until he came. The foreigner.

Sawika became infatuated with Elliot Atthill from the moment they shared a ride on a village truck that picked up his unit to bring into town, dropped her off at Heaven’s Island. One who was pale in complexion, black hair and light eyes that glanced in her direction and she was putty to him. She gushed endlessly to Phet about the soldier who won the battle of her heart – every time they met, she spoke about wanting to see things beyond the confines of the mansion and even Thailand. She would speak about adventures and exploring the world, hand-in-hand, with a worldly gentleman like Elliot.

Phet hated Elliot. He hated the man for being his complete opposite and the only person that Sawika found a place for inside of her heart. It made Phet understand that his place in Sawika’s house was only as a companion, a servant meant to serve her, nothing more.

Then the worst news came: Sawika was leaving.

She was selling Heaven’s Island to travel with Elliott together, till the end of their days. Where would that have left Phet? His home was Sawika and the mansion. He offered her smiles but his mind plotted. Perhaps he could reason with the man to leave Sawika alone and continue his life without her.

Phet could not predict the tragedy that ensued from his own selfish actions.

He cornered Elliott one night while Sawika was out. He tried to convince the man to disappear from Sawika’s life, miscommunication and tempers were their downfall because the next thing Phet knew was he had a shovel in his hand in Elliott at his feet. Head bashed in. Dead. In his panic, Phet buried the man he’d murdered underneath the largest tree on the property without a gravestone and took Elliott’s belongings to hide in a trunk that he kept inside of the shed he lived in as the groundskeeper. He took the dogtags to offer them to Sawika with a barely legible note that he claimed Elliott left behind for her.

Phet never anticipated that Sawika would throw herself into complete despair that she took her life and end up trapping her soul to the house. He pleaded with her to curse him too so that at least he could keep her company. If he died, she’d be left alone.

Years would fade away. People came, people died, people left. Phet was always a constant for Sawika -- her confidante. He helped her to bury those she killed under possession, he was there when she wailed on the anniversary of the day Elliott left her behind, it was his burden to take care of her spirit. What he didn’t anticipate was her sparing the life of one young man, cursing him to become a black cat instead of the usual route of death and he watched with a careful eye as she grew to become fond of the creature.

He was afraid that as soon as Apo found out the truth of his predicament that he’d abandon Sawika too. Phet bidded his time to wait and figure out how to get rid of the accursed hybrid creature yet no matter the setup, Apo could never be killed or die. He supposed Apo was just stuck to Heaven’s Island as he and Sawika and the rest of the spirits were. Phet remained vigilant.

This new human to enter the property was another obstacle that Phet was uncertain how to handle. This ‘Mile’ wouldn’t scare off either. He watched how the man became enraptured by the feline, figured that he’d kill two birds with one stone but was stalled by another’s protection over them. The Shaman. Phet waited until the time was right. Watching how Mile spent his days tending to the property with genuine tenderness, routinely cleaned the tombstones of the departed and even interacted with Sawika without fear or concern. Phet frowned at the inconvenience.

“Phet!”

Phet looked up from where he’d been brooding over Mile, wicked thoughts already on his mind to get rid of this human as the others and he glanced over to Sawika whose hand reached out to him. “I’m coming, Miss Sawika.” He spared one more look before he shuffled over to the ghostly woman who always sought him out after she had a small episode. “I saw that wicked man upset you.”

“No. He opened my eyes.” Sawika floated. Her hand in Phet’s. Her other hand touched the dog tags around her neck. “Elliott might not have left me after all.”

“...Oh?” Phet murmured as they walked towards his shed. “Why does that matter anymore?”

“It’s always mattered, Phet. No matter how long it has been, I never stopped wondering what happened or stopped loving him,” Sawika’s expression was solemn. “I cannot believe I caused so much pain for so many because of my own arrogance.”

Phet shook his head, “Don’t be upset, Miss Sawika. You weren’t wrong--”

“I was!” She stared at Phet with an incredulous look. Her hand dropped from Phet’s to wave around to the tombstones of the ghosts that floated and loitered around the mansion grounds, unable to find peace and release to the afterlife because of her curse to keep them attached to her. “I killed them!”

“Miss Sawika, don’t say that--”

Sawika’s shoulders straightened out, “I did. I’m responsible for all of this.” The woman wailed out in the agony of the guilt she felt. How could she be so petty and so selfish to trap so many to her depressing fate of limbo? She looked at Phet who appeared pained for her. “Don’t pity me. Pity them.” Sawika pointed to the others whose lives she took to satisfy her own bloodlust. It was too late for forgiveness; however, she wanted to collect on their anger as Apo’s. It was the only retribution she deserved before she figured out a way to descend into hell properly. “I’m going to tell them too.”

Phet’s eyes were wide in alarm, “Miss Sawika, you shouldn’t!”

“They deserve to know. They deserve to know the truth about their chains.” The woman patted her chest. “That I’m the one who locked the key. It’s time to stop running away.” Sawika didn’t wait further as she floated to head over to the center of the gravestones, ushering all of the apparitions to gather for truths.

Helpless to stop her decision, Phet turned back to the house with a glare. “Mile…”

---

“Apo. Talk to me baby.”

“Meow.”

Mile chuckled as he pet the soft fur on Apo’s back gently, keeping the feline against his chest protectively as they laid on the couch in the living room. He stared at the ceiling, “I appreciate the prompt response.” His other hand went to scratch the pointed ears, underneath the cat’s neck and hummed. “I’ve figured out the issue but can’t figure out how to find out what happened to Elliott…”

“Perhaps I can help?”

Blinking at the sudden appearance of another ghost dipping through the same ceiling Mile had been staring at for the past half hour, he raised an eyebrow, “Can I hear all of the ghosts after connecting with Sawika?”

“No. Just the ones with shaman powers.” Daw chuckled while he floated to settle down on the back of the couch calmly. He reached over to pet Apo’s back, watched the fur bristle from the coldness and hum. “He’s a good boy.”

“Meow!” Apo hissed at Daw patronizing him. “Daw! Don’t treat me like a kid!”

“Me? I’d never.” Daw poked the cat’s wet nose with a grin as Apo batted a paw at him before hopping off of Mile’s chest to settle on the carpet. He waited for Mile to sit up to face him and spoke. “You need to cleanse this place with a flood.”

Mile shook his head, “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m just a man. I don’t have any sort of cosmic powers that will suddenly manifest waters that can literally flood here. It isn’t hurricane season either.” He let out a sigh. Running a hand through his hair, Mile knew that he looked insane talking to himself and wrinkled his nose, “If you’re the shaman that helped turn Apo into a hybrid for a temporary while…” Mile clapped his hands to wai to the spirit. “I’m grateful to you. It allowed us some extra time to be together.”

Daw looked at Mile in curiosity. He wasn’t one to believe in prophecies or fate; however, to have a human like Mile who didn’t shy away from the paranormal or didn’t appear to frighten easily meant that this man would be the key to set them all free from their shackles. He looked to Apo on the carpet then back to Mile, “It was the least I could do after you took care of the graves. No one has ever bothered. My power isn’t as strong as Sawika’s but she’s weakened by the moon and I thought I could try to channel it enough for Apo to take care of you.” He waved his hand to the politeness before he locked his jaw. “I cannot conjure a large flood but we might not have to.”

“I’m not following?” Mile tilted his head to the side.

“You found some truth about what happened to the foreigner. The catalyst to Sawika’s power. You need to find the rest.” Daw leaned in to whisper into Mile’s ear. “You need to search in the groundskeeper’s shed. There’s a box there. You’ll find the answers inside.” Leaning back to look over to the black cat on the carpet who curled up to nap with an affectionate gaze, Daw hummed, “I never sent Apo because I didn’t want him to get hurt.”

Mile’s own eyes narrowed. Who wanted to hurt Apo? Was that person after him too? A flash of someone that Sawika floated to across the moat and his nose wrinkled. Was that the groundskeeper that he’d never seen until that night he’d been with Apo and his first encounter with Sawika? The questions rotated in his mind but he took Daw’s silence as a confirmation. Mile nodded. “I understand.”

“That man has an evil spirit. His only purpose is to serve Sawika. I fear he might come for you both if I didn’t try to help,” Daw nodded. “I can try to stall but I don’t know for how long.”

“If I find whatever is inside of that trunk, what do I do with it?” Mile commented. He knew the longer that he sat on that information and stalled, the longer Apo suffered from the curse that kept him trapped and Mile cared too much for his lover to let that go one anymore. His eyes were serious.

Daw pointed out to the window, “Show it to Sawika before the moon sets. Find the one who holds her heart underneath the largest tree. It will trigger her and she will create the flood to cleanse the curse that was started by her a long time ago.”

Mile still had questions and looked at Daw firmly, “Why hasn’t anyone done this before?”

“Like I said. I feared for Apo’s safety, sending him up against that spirit. And the curse was enacted by a human. It needs to be broken by one. No one has ever stayed here long enough for me to communicate with them,” Dawn nodded. “I believe you were the one sent to free us.”

“I don’t need you to stall.” Mile got up from the couch to stretch out. A large sigh escaped his lips at such an instance. He crouched to scoop the feline from the ground, found him still pretty much asleep and his eyes softened with a hint of bitterness in them. “I don’t know what will happen when I complete this task.” Mile tilted his head to stare at the shaman’s ghost in front of him. “Protect him for me. If there’s going to be a fall out, I don’t want him in the middle of it.” He saw Daw nod.

Daw’s face fell, “You might get hurt. Vengeful spirits, especially the one who guards Sawika, may enact vengeance on you and kill you.” He whispered harshly.

Mile shook his head, “If it allows everyone freedom, especially Apo, I’ll take that risk.” He checked his watch on his wrist, biting the inside of his cheek. Dipping his face to nuzzle into the sleeping cat’s fur, peppering kisses of pure adoration for Apo and whispering against the cat’s head. “I love you so much.” Setting the feline down onto his prior spot on the couch, Mile crouched to admire the twitching tail, listened to the purrs and hoped that he’d be spared one more moment to say goodbye.

---

Armed with Daw’s information about the trunk in the groundskeeper’s shed as well as the spirit’s attachment to Sawika, Mile was able to make his way towards the area that he’d never been able to open. He figured there was some sort of cloaking protection over the area but since its occupant was busy following after Sawika, Mile had to be quick.

He crouched with a paperclip in his hand, he’d only seen this method on YouTube videos and prayed that he watched enough Safe Breaker to successfully open the lock. His heart in his throat, his palms a bit sweaty with nerves and it only hastened his movements to open. Leaning to press his ear near the mechanism to listen to the lock come undone, he released a large gasp of relief, “Thank goodness.” Setting the lock to the side, Mile stepped inside and found old photographs strewn around the shed of Sawika when she was younger he presumed, regular gardening tools and his nose wrinkled. “Daw wasn’t kidding.”

Tiptoeing around, afraid to disturb much, Mile was grateful that the shed was small enough to house a cot-like bed and not much space to hide a trunk except the obvious place, underneath the cot. Kneeling, Mile reached underneath to search for anything blindly as he didn’t want to turn on the light to alert the spirit to come back to find him. His hand came in contact with a box. Not a trunk. He frowned yet pulled the box out and brushed off the dust. Pulling back the lid, Mile’s brow rose at finding a military hat inside that was stained with dried blood spots, “Blood.” He dug around to find a crumpled letter, a medal with ‘Elliott Atthill’ inscribed on the back of it and hummed. “This has to be it.”

Opening the letter, Mile skimmed the contents and knew that the one who resided in the shed was the one responsible for Sawika’s plight and was more than likely Elliott’s murderer. A sound outside of the shed made Mile jerk but he stifled his gasp. Placing the box back underneath the bed, Mile held onto the medal and the letter tucked into his jacket, “I need to get out of here but how…” The sound of the door handle being opened froze him; however, it was the next thing that made him worry.

“Not you!” A voice roared while a cat hissed at them. “Get back here! It’s your fault Sawika’s upset!”

Mile heard footsteps run away from the shed. “Apo…” He didn’t want his lover to get involved but figured Apo was either pretending to be asleep when he spoke to Daw or demanded information from Daw. Shaking his head, Mile took that as his chance to make his escape and ran out of the shed with the two items at hand as he made to blend with the shade of the trees, beelined for the largest one and didn’t stop until he felt his lungs were on fire from the adrenaline. “Too close.”

He knew that Apo was probably stalling the groundskeeper. Time was limited. Mile got to his knees to start digging fervently at the ground with his bare hands. No time to grab a shovel or stop to find something to help him, Mile’s desperate need to get the answers and save Apo from this spirit just pushed him forward to dig at the dirt. “Come on, come on…” Mile murmured. Nothing. Moving to the other side of the tree on his knees, Mile dug more and disregarded the pain of splinters from the tree, scratches from the rocks or the dirt that was gathering in his hands. Going as deep as he could, Mile sat back on his knees when he saw what first appeared to be a rock actually turned out to be bone. A skull. “I found him.”

“And I found you.”

Mile felt something pressed to the back of his head. His hands raised in defeat, “I’m unarmed.”

“I don’t care,” Phet snarled. He’d put two and two together when he saw Apo loitering around his shed and the cat tried to distract him. He detoured to Elliott’s makeshift grave by the tree and saw Mile successfully unearth some of the bones. He pressed the barrel of a gun he had that was Sawika’s father’s that he’d kept. Phet knew he wasn’t completely alive nor was he completely dead so a scuffle with Mile wouldn’t hurt him; however, having this man at an advantage was better. “Get up.”

“Don’t do this. You’ve hurt Sawika enough don’t you think?”

“Shut up!”

Mile stood up and risked turning around to face his potential murderer in the eye. He knew it was probably foolish on his part but he was never one to hide away from scary things. The irony of living his life confined to his family’s work and never finding freedom to be himself meant that coming to Heaven’s Island was also his escape. His safe haven. He’d be damned if he was going to run away now. He could see the eerie glow to this ‘man’ that Daw confirmed was actually a vengeful spirit encased in a body and thought with bitterness that Apo wasn’t even allowed this small grace. His lover was trapped in a cat’s body for years, forced to endure living as an animal due to this man and Sawika’s doing. His eyes narrowed despite the gun pointed at his head. “You know I’m right. You’ve been keeping this truth from her and kept her trapped here with you.”

Phet glared darkly.

“I don’t care if you kill me. It’s the truth. It needs to be told.” Mile pointed to the skull in the ground. “You killed Elliott Atthill. Why? Why did you do this to her? If you love someone, you set them free.”

“You know nothing!” Phet shouted at Mile. It was obvious he was getting more tempered and agitated.

Mile straightened out his shoulders, “I know what true love is. It’s accepting each other’s flaws and learning when it’s time to let go. Even if they’re not with us, even if we have to suffer…for their happiness, it’s worth it.” He returned the glare. “Add me to your list of crimes. It won’t make Sawika love you more than she does or ever did with Elliott.”

“Now you’ll join him. No one will take Sawika from me.” Phet’s finger curled around the trigger.

Mile closed his eyes, briefly seeing flashes of the memories he’d spent with Apo and it was the only thoughts he kept in his heart. “I’ll come back to haunt you. I won’t move on until you’re in hell.”

Bang!

Snapping his eyes open at the gun shot but felt no pain, Mile blinked to see the gun on the floor with a small cat’s body beside it, curled up and unmoving. He panicked. “Apo?!” Dropping to his knees, Mile’s hands hovered over the creature that didn’t move and reached to touch the fur to gently shake Apo awake, trying not to overthink the wet fur that was stained red. “Wake up. Please get up!”

Phet went to scramble for the gun before Mile could process and was stopped when he was shoved out of the way by a strong gust of wind. He fell to the ground and stared up in wide disbelief at seeing Sawika floating in front of him and in defense of the other two. “Miss Sawika…”

“What have you done?!” Sawika shouted at Phet. She glanced at Mile who was still attempting to wake Apo up, a frown on her face. “He can’t be killed and yet he hasn’t gotten up…” She peeked to the gun on the ground, back to Phet to Mile and remembered how frantic Apo was to find her. The little cat howled at her until she followed him towards the back tree groves. She saw Apo sprint as quickly as his tiny body could, jump up to protect Mile from a gun wielding assailant and she felt colder than normal at seeing Phet as the culprit. Sawika also heard a snippet of their conversation.

The disturbed earth garnered Sawika’s attention and she strangled out a gasp. “Is…is that…”

Mile pointed to the skull with tears going down his cheeks as he cradled Apo’s small body against his chest protectively. The agony that the younger wouldn’t wake up again only hurt him but he pushed through to complete the task he started. “That’s Elliott.” He growled at Phet. “HE killed him to keep Elliott from taking you from him.” Digging out the letter from his jacket and the medal, he offered them to her. “Here. He has a box underneath his bed with a hat that’s stained with blood too. I can only assume.”

Sawika used her powers enough to solidify her hand to grab the items from Mile. With shaky fingers, she touched the edges of the worn out medal she’d seen attached to Elliott’s chest one night they’d slept together under the stars. He told her about the story behind it and told her he’d give it to their children one day. Sawika unfolded the letter and nearly dropped it as if it were fire despite being unable to feel anything anymore.

My sweetest Wika,

You know I cannot wait to show you the world but I wanted you to remember that you are my world. Wherever we are, wherever we go, as long as you are beside me with that smile I fell in love with, nothing else matters.

I should be arriving by midnight on the next full moon. Wait for me dearest.

Love from a love struck fool - Eli

Mile watched a flurry of emotions go through Sawika as they had before when she spoke to Apo about the truth about the curse. His jaw tight and he gathered to his feet, carrying his wounded lover and protectively covered the cat with his arms. “He is the one who triggered your anguish.”

The ground started to rumble. Sawika’s eyes turned white. She swivelled to stare at Phet with disgust and disdain. Lifting a singular finger, she spoke with a voice that sounded demonic in tone and nature, “You are the stain on this place.”

“Miss Sawika---I---I---I did this for you!”

Sawika’s hands curled into a fist. She watched as Phet scrambled for his throat. An invisible grip that tightened and suffocated. “You must be cleansed.” Her hair came undone, she floated in the air as her other hand faced the moat. “You killed Elliott! You killed me! You killed them!” She yelled.

Mile stood back with Apo’s unconscious body that continued to bleed and he wasn’t sure how else to help or comfort the creature. He maneuvered his jacket off to wrap it around Apo’s curled up form and whisper to it, “I’m here, baby. Please don’t leave me just yet. Please.”

The water from the moat increased in amount and Sawika howled, “I will purge you to hell!” The female shaman twisted her hand to create the flood with her heightened powers as the water smashed the windows of Heaven’s Island to drown the mansion, overflowed to the gravestones of the deceased she apologized to and her grip on Phet to keep him pinned as the rush of waves came towards their area. “Die.”

Phet tried to get up and found that he couldn’t. The invisible grip on his throat kept him pinned down on the grass and the water came to cover him.

Mile scrambled to run up into the same tree that Elliott was buried underneath. He did his best to climb up and sit on a branch to avoid getting swept away in Sawika’s waves, slipped for a moment and felt a hand on his wrist hold him steady. He looked up to see a man’s shimmery form and he swallowed. “Elliott…”

“Thank you for setting me and Sawika free,” Elliott used enough strength to pull Mile up into the tree but then faltered as he sat on the edge of the branch to give them space. His gaze on Sawika’s powerful form, the flood itself and sighed. “I’m late.”

“You’re just in time,” Mile sighed in relief as he reclined against the tree that offered them a temporary shelter. His eyes wanted to close and suddenly remembered Apo bundled in his jacket. Opening the fabric to stare at the creature, found that Apo was still out, his panic returned. “Apo. Why haven’t you gotten up, baby?”

Elliott tilted his head to the side curiously to see a cat in the man’s jacket, over to Sawika who was enacting her wrath and back to Mile. “Don’t give up. Just hold him.”

After a few more minutes, the silence was deafening.

Sawika mutely settled onto her knees to cry over the bones by the tree trunk, sobbing at the pain that her lover was there all along. “Eli…”

Elliott’s hand settled on her shoulder, “My Wika…” When she stood up, Elliott was dressed in his military uniform he’d been buried in and softened at looking at the woman, both see-through figures. “I’m here.”

“I’m so sorry!” Sawika wrapped her arms around the man to cling to him.

“Before you completely lose it dearest…I need you.” Elliott pointed to Mile who was shuffling down the tree with his bundle. “We might’ve lost one.” 

Mile felt numb to hearing that. He knew that Apo always came back, he’d always mentioned being unable to die and now he carried the lifeless body of the feline in his jacket and was wrecked. He didn’t bother with the ghosts in front of him, mourning silently.

“Apo…” Sawika moved to touch the body. She wrinkled her nose. “Impossible.” The shaman watched as the house she’d grown up in was destroyed from the moat flood, the tombstones swept and the restless spirits were coming towards their area now. 

Daw was the first to arrive and sighed, “I knew this might happen. A vengeful spirit is powerful and could inflict harm. Apo didn’t care. He wanted to protect you Mile.” He frowned. Seeing Sawika with another man, he blinked. “The key.”

“Just Elliott but alright.” Elliott mused.

“The curse…it’s broken.” Daw gasped in delight. He saw Mile look at him sharply. “You don’t understand. This body, this creature is finally dead.” Daw pointed to the black cat. “Apo’s spirit is set free of it.”

Mile was shocked. “Then?”

“Mile!”

Dropping the bundle on the floor, Mile felt a sturdy body jump into his own and wrap around him like a koala that he fell back onto the ground in happy delight despite his face red and cheeks tear-stained, “Apo?!”

“I’m here!” Apo laughed. He straddled the other man on the ground, framed Mile’s face with his hands and pressed a kiss to the man’s lips with the happiness he could do that now outside of a full moon or shaman powers.

Mile laughed in confusion, “I don’t know what’s happening but I’m not complaining!”

Daw sighed contently, “Apo was never killed like the rest of us.” He motioned to the circle of ghosts. “He was in limbo between life and death. As such, he was allowed both life and death. The cat--” He pointed to the bundled up creature. “Died.” He pointed to Apo. “Allowing the human to live.”

Apo’s eyes were filled with his own tears of being able to be with Mile. He’d rushed forward despite Daw’s words of warning that Phet might be able to hurt him anyway. His focus was to save Mile. Even if he died. The bullet that entered him as a cat fulfilled the death. “I won’t turn back into a cat or anything right?”

Shaking his head, Daw smiled widely, “You have been granted this second chance. Don’t waste it.” He winked at them. Floating over to Sawika and Elliott, holding onto their hands with his, “It’s time we all cross the bridge to the other side.”

Sawika clapped her hands to wai at the spirits, to Elliott and to the men on the ground. “Forgive me.” She reached for Elliott to hold his hand tightly. “If I go to hell, I deserve it.”

“You’ve been living hell already. Wika.” Elliott caressed her cheek. “Let’s go. Wherever we go, wherever we are, as long as I’m with you, I’m home.”

Mile sat up with Apo in his lap, arms securely around the lithe waist as the two of them watched the ghosts ascend to the heavens and skies that illuminated a bridge for them to cross. He held tightly as if fearful that Apo would take that journey too if he didn’t hold on. He stared at Daw who was the last to ascend with a grateful expression, Mile watched the gleaming light from the sky disappear and he sighed. “You’re mine. I can’t believe it.”

“I can’t either. So many years,” Apo wrapped his own arms around the man’s neck tightly to squeeze. “You finally came for me.”

“I won’t let you go,” Mile asserted to his lover. He pressed more kisses to the other’s lips, eternally grateful that this second chance was theirs. Their foreheads glued, Mile smiled sheepishly. “Looks like I’ll need to find a place to stay tonight.”

Apo snickered as he felt very comfortable in Mile’s lap, “I think I might know a place. I’m sure the lower level is broken but we can go to the attic and clean up tomorrow?” Apo’s lips were wide in his smile. “Because now I have tomorrow, the next day and the next after with you.”

Mile nodded firmly. “That we do, baby. We have our forever to look forward to.”

The two of them just stayed wrapped up for another few moments, afraid it was an illusion and they knew that this was just the beginning of their new life.

-Done-

Author Note:

Thank you to everyone who has been patiently waiting for this story to end. We have made it to the last part of this journey.

I appreciate those who joined me and I hope to write a tiny epilogue one day! - Love Chelle