Rat King Boyfriend: Volkhard 2 (complete)

Ebba and I leave the sewers that afternoon, making our way to the gates of the Volkhard Estate. Using the heavy key, I unlock the gate and it swings open, closing behind us once we walk through. The doors open as we come up the stairs, but there is no one there.

In the foyer, there is a portrait of what I can only imagine is Volkhard, in better days. He is tall and handsome with long, dark hair. Standing beside him is a young girl, maybe seven or eight. She has corkscrew curls of the same dark color. “Is that him?” Ebba asks breathlessly. 

“No, love,” I say softly. “That’s not him.”

“There are my guests of honor,” Volkhard booms. Looking up, we see him standing above us on the stairs.

“Oh,” Ebba says in shock.

Volkhard descends the stairs to meet us. “It’s so nice to have you here.” He looks down at Ebba, who is staring at him with her mouth wide open. “You must be Ebba.”

Ebba blinks a few times. “What on earth are you, then?”

Volkhard throws his heads back, laughing. “I am a great deal of things, young lady. But what I want to be is your friend.”

Ebba nods. “You would make a cool friend.”

Volkhard smiles at me. “I am hoping to be that to you and your mother. Now come, follow me. I just got your room ready.”

He takes us upstairs, leading us to a room where the walls are painted pale green with hints of pink. The room is filled with fluffy, soft things, like a giant teddy bear, the bed, the chairs, even the rug. Hanging above the fireplace is a painting of the girl from the foyer.

Ebba is instantly enthralled by the fireplace, and tosses a few things in to watch them burn. She runs around, finding a bookshelf full of books she’s never seen before.

“Why don’t you get used to your new room for a while?” Volkhard suggests. “I wish to show your mother our quarters.”

“Yes!” Ebba squeals as she takes armfuls of books for herself.

As Volkhard closes the door, I look him over. “Who is the girl in the painting?”

The look that crosses his face is grim. He smoothes out his shirt. “Gone,” he whispers. “Come, I’ll show you to our chambers.”

Our room is just down the hall, close enough to Ebba if she needs me, far enough away that we have some privacy. The room is all dark purple, and the scent of chocolate is everywhere. 

Volkhard takes a seat on the bed. “Make yourself at home. This is yours now.”

I place my small bag of things on the dresser as I look around the room. There are no mirrors here, no paintings. The only things to look at are the fireplace and the bed. I turn and glance back at Volkhard. “It’s a start,” I sigh. “We shall see how these six months go.”

Volkhard smirks at me. “I think you’ll like it here. I’d bet on it.”

There’s a reason I prefer being underground. When I was kept in the tower by that horrible little goblin, all I could do was look down at the world. Looking down from my perch, nothing felt real. It was like watching a play day in and day out. I had no impact on the daily lives or events that unfolded before me. Once I escaped, I intended never to look down on the world again. I wanted to be part of it.

Right away, Volkhard starts Ebba’s education. Tutors come daily, each teaching a different subject for Ebba to practice on her own. History, literature, even a professor of music who has her singing all day or banging away at a piano. I’m not sure how this is any sort of education, but I taught myself to read, so I can’t complain, especially since Ebba loves it.

Volkhard, too, takes an active interest in Ebba. I sometimes find them playing together, making forts from her blankets, or setting up a dollhouse perfectly before Ebba uses it to reenact some sort of catastrophe. It’s not what I expect from a man with five heads.

I have yet to be given one of the jobs that Volkhard told me about. Perhaps he’s playing a different game than I thought. But one evening, he comes to me in our bedroom and gives me a note.

“Take this and go. It will tell you what must be done.” He sits down before the fire, slowly sipping some sort of sweet-smelling liquor. 

I look the note over, finding an address and a time. “What is this?”

“Go there at that time. Your contact will be waiting for you. Don’t let him talk you out of it.” He glances at me with all his eyes, and I flinch. “Were you starting to think I would only pamper you?”

I roll my eyes as I stand up. “No. This is a relief, actually.” I gather my things, heading out into the night to find this target.

There is an alley sandwiched between the backs of two streets of buildings. I wait at the exact place, just behind the butcher shop, which must have been Volkhard’s attempt at humor. I don’t have to wait long until a man comes around the corner. He seems suspicious and scared, nothing like the type I expected, and dabs away sweat with a fancy-looking handkerchief. 

“Ah-ha!” He laughs nervously. “I was told I would be meeting someone here, never expected a fine lady such as yourself.” He fidgets with his coat, and his tongue moves like an independent creature, constantly licking his lips and gums.

I try to ignore his face. “Volkhard asked you to come here. Do you know why?”

“I owe him a bit,” he titters with anxiety. He takes off his hat, smoothing back his hair. “He knows I’m good for it. I’m just having a hard time coming up with the funds right now.”

Money seems a bit of a stretch to kill someone over, but I would gladly chop this man up just so I could feed his tongue to some dogs. “How much do you owe Volkhard?”

“What are you, my mother?” He sniffs, glaring down his nose at me. “Just tell Volkhard I will get it to him soon enough. Be a good girl, alright? If you do this for me, I will pay you back.”

My nose curls as he comes closer. “You can’t even pay Volkhard back.”

Once his hand touches my ass, that’s it. I twist his arm, and then he’s on his knees on the ground while I wrench the arm behind his back. He screams, but not for long. I stuff his handkerchief into his mouth, but somehow, his tongue still sticks out. I cut it off. While he bleeds, I search his pockets, finding a few valuables I can take back to Volkhard. 

I stab him in the neck before I leave, letting him die a little faster once that artery is severed. I’ll leave him for the butcher shop. I feed the tongue to a small gang of cats that were watching me the whole time. They seem happy with the food. 

Once back at home, I lay the items I took on Volkhard’s bedside table while he sleeps. I wash my hands, scrub down my arms, then take my scissors and shear off my hair, tossing the locks into the fire. Going to bed, I see Volkhard is awake and looking through the man’s wallet.

I slip into bed and lay down, closing my eyes as Volkhard chuckles. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing worth noting,” I huff. “Tried to make it seem like offering me his dick would be worth my time.”

“Seems the drugs have ruined his charisma.” Volkhard sets the items aside. “He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“I never gave him the chance.” I roll over and look up at him. “Why?”

Volkhard just looks at me, all his black eyes focused. “As long as the job is done and you are home, that’s all that matters. Sleep well, Ludwina.” He lays back down in bed. 

I roll back over so my back is to him.

“You’ll have to tell me the fairy tale you tell Ebba. She asked for it tonight, but I didn’t know it.”

I furrow my brow. “What did you read to her?” 

“I let her pick a book - something about birds of prey. She seemed to enjoy that.” He chuckles to himself. “But I am curious about your story.”

I close my eyes and snuggle into the bed. “It’s my personal story for Ebba. So leave that story to me.”

“Of course, of course. Who would I be to separate a mother and child?” Volkhard sighs. “I do so enjoy having Ebba around the place. She brings a splash of sunlight in. Tell me, has she always been this way?”

“No,” I answer him honestly. “Ebba used to be a very unhappy baby. She was so quiet, and didn’t want anyone touching her.”

“How did you deal with such a thing?”

I take a deep breath, remembering the first day I brought Ebba home with me. She instantly went to sleep as I laid her in her cradle. It took ages for her to enjoy being held, or being kissed. I show her my love would only be given when she wanted it, but always there. Now, she loves hugs, and loves holding my hand. I just had to take the time to understand her.

“With time,” I whisper. 

“Who did you steal her from?” Volkhard’s tone is soft, without judgment. 

I sit up and look at him. “How did you know?”

He looks up at me and smirks. “It’s not hard to put the pieces together, Ludwina. When people don’t pay you, you take a payment of your choice. And Ebba looks absolutely nothing like you.”

I hug my knees to my chest. “Yes, Ebba was a payment I took. An old nobleman had hired me for something, I can’t remember what. When it was time to pay, he had a whole list of excuses why he wouldn’t.” I smile fondly at the memory. “He was old, but he had a very young and pretty wife. Ebba was fairly new, and all they did to her was pick, pick, pick.” I frown, remember how that baby used to caterwaul. “I felt so bad for her. I could understand her.”

“What was it you understood?” Volkhard asks. 

I glare at him. “Why are you trying to make me open up?”

“Isn’t that what partners do?” He raises his hands and smirks with each mouth. “We should at least try to play the part so you get the full experience.”

I roll my eyes. “What about you? Who is that girl in all those paintings? Was she your child bride?”

“I’m offended at the thought.” He stands, towering over me even while sitting. He meets my glare. “That was my daughter.”

“Was?” 

Volkhard scoffs, placing his hand on the neck of his largest head. “It was a long time ago, before I was...” He runs his hand up and down his body and shakes his head. “I did business with a rather unseemly character when my wife and I were trying to conceive. He gave us some sort of special leaf and he promised us that it would give us the baby we wanted. He then said he would come to collect payment later.”

Volkhard sighs heavily, and I see his proud shoulders droop. “We had been trying for ages, you see, and we were willing to believe anything.” He grimaces. “But we believed a snake. My wife died giving birth, but the baby, our Moira, came out perfect. But whatever the leaf was that my wife ate, it made her different.”

“Different?” I slide my legs out from under me. “How so?”

Volkhard eyes me, then shakes his head. “That’s enough out of me. Now you.”

“Now me? I think that’s enough of this sharing hour, don’t you?”

I start to lay back down, but Volkhard tugs at the blankets. “Just one more question,” he murmurs. “What you did tonight, how does it make you feel?”

I glower at him. “I don’t feel anything.”

“Nothing?” The corner of his mouth twitches. “Really? Just like you threw a piece of trash away? Nothing at all?”

I shake my head. “Like I said, nothing.”

Volkhard lays his palms on the mattress. “Not even excited? Maybe a touch enthralled? Nothing?”

I roll my eyes. “Why do you even care to know?”

“Because I want to know you.” His voice comes out strangely seductive. “I’ll give you anything you desire if you tell me this one thing.”

“And what if I want nothing?” I prop myself up to face him. 

“I’d still give anything to you.” He grins. “Now tell me, what happens to you when you kill someone?”

“Maybe I get a little excited,” I tilt my head to the side. “Maybe I enjoy the power it brings. I’m not certain.”

“How would you kill me?” Volkhard grins. “Just for fun, let’s play.”

I look down, then back up at him. “You’re hard.”

He shrugs. “Aren’t you?”

I look down again, seeing the tent made in the sheets. “Goodnight, Volkhard.” I lay back down in bed. “If you need to take care of that, keep quiet.”

Volkhard lays down close behind me. “Care to join me?”

I laugh out loud, rolling over to look him in the faces. “Excuse me?”

“You were aroused when you came home, I could smell it. You’re aroused now, aren’t you? Don’t lie to me.” He touches my cheek, brushing my hair away from my face. “All warm, and throbbing, and tight. The wetness is seeping down, touching your skin, cooling your thigh.” His fingers touch my lips. “Frustrated, you got into bed, unable to quell that ache. I know that feeling.”

I grab his wrist and pull it away from me. “You must be mistaken.”

“I know a few things very well, little Ludwina, and this is one of those few things.” He pulls me close. “Just for tonight, try to indulge it.”

I reach down, touching his cock with my fingers. He’s very impressive, but I wouldn’t dare say that out loud. I wrap my hand around him, stroking him slowly. His breathing pitches and the eyes on all his faces become lidded.

“Just don’t kiss me or touch me,” I growl at him. “This is animal, nothing more.” I push him down on the bed as I straddle his thighs. Hiking up my nightshirt, I let him watch as I rub myself against his shaft.

Slowly, I take him inside me, lowering myself down upon him. I try to take every inch, but I have never taken anything like Volkhard. He’s buried deep inside and my cream dribbles down along the protruding veins. Biting my lip, I watch his breathing, unable to meet his gaze. I slowly start moving. I let out pleasured sighs and pants, never allowing my voice to raise because of him. I am taking my own pleasure. I don’t care about his own.

It isn’t until he lets out the most pitiful and sweet sound that I pay him any notice. I look at him, the expression on every face melting into, mewling pathetic displays. His fists are dug deep into the sheets, so I decide to have some pity. “You can touch,” I pant. “But nothing above the waist.”

His monstrous eight-fingered hands are instantly on my hips. He digs into the soft flesh, groping my thighs and kneading me like bread. I hate to admit it, but it feels good. He moves me too, making me slide up and down his shaft.

I can feel him twitch inside, his hips buck, and his pathetic moans escape his lips. I bite down on my lip as the edge comes closer. The ache is subsiding, turning into a sparkle and crackle that vibrates through my limbs, all over my skin, and eventually erupting in an explosion. I rake my nails down his chest, leaving welts on his dark skin. He cries out in a pathetic yelp, filling me up with his heat.

I pull away, falling onto the bed beside him as we pant. I let out a chuckle and I reach down, touching myself and feeling the mess he left inside. 

“Why are you laughing?” he moans.

“Just remembering how pitiful you sounded. Like some grateful virgin.” I snuggle back into bed. “Keep that up, maybe you’ll be of some use in this bed to me after all.”

I didn’t intend to indulge him very much, I just wanted to keep him wrapped about my finger a bit. But soon, I realized I have sealed my own fate. Each time he gives me a job, I come home wanting him. I let him take me, pumping his cock and seed into me so I can feel those fireworks mix with the gunpowder from the murders. 

One evening, after collapsing in front of the fireplace, we sit drinking wine and enjoying the rich afterglow. 

“Your daughter, Moira,” I ask. “What happened?”

Volkhard scoffs. “That awful man,” he snarls. “He came back wanting his payment. It was her. He kidnapped Moira, and I don’t know where he took her, but I sent out every man I had to find her. Eventually, I was able to catch him and threaten him, but he cursed me to be like this.” He shudders and trembles. “I got Moira back, only she was dead-” he chokes and slams his fist down on the ground. “The leaf, apparently, had done something to her that made her hair grow extremely fast-”

I seize up inside, going cold and hot at the same time. I sit up slowly, biting my cheeks hard as the gnawing, awful pain starts to grow. 

“Ludwina, what’s wrong?” Volkhard puts his hands on my back. 

“Rumplestiltskin,” I breathe. “Was that it? Was it him?”

Volkhard sits up completely. “Yes.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “Tell me,” he whispers. “How did you kill him?”

I turn and look into his eyes. “I wrapped my hair around a beam, then I tied it around his throat. I watched him struggle.”

Volkhard kisses me, pressing himself close as his hands rub up my back. I cling to his chest, meeting his kiss but then quickly pulling away.

“I told you, no kissing!” I pull him back in, kissing him hard as I fall back onto the floor. 

In the morning, I wake before a cold fireplace. I sit up, looking at Volkhard, who appears much changed. The extra heads are gone, but his face is still quite skeletal and strange. Long hair spills out over the ground, and now he has only six fingers on each hand.

He slowly wakes, rising up to look at me. He smirks to himself as I frown at him. “Can’t quite break it, because he’s not around. But true love does the trick pretty well.”

I blow a raspberry. “True love? What are you, sick? You’re confusing sex for something else.” I start to stand, but he holds me. 

“Tell me again how you killed that bastard,” he snarls. “I knew you when I saw you. I knew what you were. Just like my daughter, he kidnapped you and used you. I knew I had found my savior.”

I brush him off. “I think the six months are over.” I stand up and start collecting my things. “I’m taking Ebba back with me.”

“Is this what scares you?” Volkhard rises and follows me. “Feelings?”

I throw my head back and laugh. “You knew what I was doing, asking for these six months. I got what I wanted. Ebba has what she wants too.”

Volkhard grabs my hand. “Stay with me, Ludwina, whatever your name is. We can keep on this way, however you like it, for as long as you want.”

I yank my hand away. “You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?” I grab my bag and shut it. “Just because we had some fun doesn’t mean it’s eternal.”

“You’re lying,” Volkhard snarls, his lip curling over his teeth. “I’m proof.”

“Just because you got that weight off your shoulders doesn’t mean anything.”

I get dressed and leave the bedroom, heading towards Ebba’s room. As I walk in, Ebba is already awake, and has books open all over her bed. Her smile grows when she sees me. “Mama! Come here! Hurry!”

“OK, love,” I sigh. “But I need to tell you something...”

Ebba shows me a book with a picture of a vulture. “This is now my favorite animal.”

“Oh, is it? That’s wonderful, love, but we need///”

Ebba looks up in happy surprise. “You’re missing heads!” She leaps off her bed and goes running into Volkhard’s arms. “You look much better.”

“Do I?” Volkhard chuckles. “You won’t miss the extras?”

“Will you?” she asks with a tilt of her head.

Volkhard chuckles. “No, not really.”

“Then neither will I.” She wraps her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

“Oh no,” I whisper. “Oh… Oh, fuck no.” I stand up, clutching my hand to my chest. 

Ebba turns and looks at me. “Mama, what’s wrong?”

“Oh nothing, sweetheart.” He kisses her cheek. “Your mother is just realizing she loves me.”

“About time.” Ebba scoffs.

“No, I don’t!” I balk. I brush my hair from my face. I haven’t cut it in a while, and it’s gotten way too long.

“Let me help with that.” Volkhard sets Ebba down. “Before you insist on leaving?”

I glare back at him. “No one cuts my hair, understand?”

“I’m just asking to help you. That’s all.” Volkhard takes me back to the bathroom. He ties my hair then braids it. “This will make it much easier, and much neater to clean up.” He pats my shoulders. “See?”

I turn and frown at him. “Fine.”

“Fine,” he chuckles. 

I take the scissors to my braid, hacking through it and tossing it aside. “If that’s all, then I think it's best I go.”

“Do you?” Volkhard asks. “What’s so much better out there than what you have in here? Are you really going to take Ebba from this place? Are you going to make her leave me?”

“She’ll get used to it,” I grumble.

“What about you?” he asks. “Do you really want to leave?”

“It’s stupid,” I scoff.

“You’re acting that way,” Volkhard laughs. “Admit it, you had fun here. You enjoyed the work I gave you, you even enjoyed me some.”

I roll my eyes hard enough to dislodge them from my skull. “I swear to god, if you say it’s love...” 

“The six months aren’t over yet,” he whispers. “And I have a whole list of things I need for you to do for me. Just let the month end before you storm out.”

I look him over. “Well, maybe.”

Volkhard smirks. “One more, that’s all.”

I end up staying the month, and doing a lot of things I never expected to do. By the time I realize the month has ended, spring is coming. The chill of winter is fading, and Ebba is starting a vulture sanctuary in the backyard, using remains I bring home to her after a night of work.

I have gone through Volkhard’s list, but there are other jobs to do from time to time. There are also those who wronged him, who are slowly returning to the city. It will take time to fully complete the list of retributions, but why would I try to rush things?

“Now tell me,” Volkhard whispers into my ear. “What’s your real name, my princess?” His nose presses against my cheek. “I really don’t like the name Ludwina.”

I scoff. “Still on that?” I turn and look at him. “Fine, you want my real name? Because it is way worse than Ludwina.”

He nods. “If it is yours, then I will treasure it.”

“Lettuce,” I hiss. I lean back, a perky smile on my face as I wait for his reaction. I am not sure who named me that, the parents I don’t remember, or the little slimeball I eventually choked to death. I’ve never liked it, so I’ve only ever told Ebba.

Volkhard frowns and shakes his head as if he’s trying to get it to make sense. “What? As in a salad?”

“My name is the same as lettuce.” I cross my arms against my chest. “Get it?”

Volkhard’s frown twists, becoming a great big grin. “Rapunzel,” he whispers. “No wonder you kept it hidden.” He kisses my cheek, then nibbles it with his sharp teeth. “I always knew you were edible.”

I shove him back. “Call me whatever name you wish, I just do not care for that one.”

“I’ll call you mine,” he whispers. “As I always intended to do.” He kisses my shoulder. “I have many names for you, so do not fret. Your name will only ever be shouted in the throes of lovemaking.”

I glare at him, eyeing him up and down. “I swear, if you do that, I will slap you.”

“And I will thank you for it.”