The Great Mistake

Chapter One

Sonic was walking through the village looking for jobs; he struggled with keeping food on the table after losing his last job as a delivery hedgehog. So far, nobody was willing to hire him, and the sun started to set. "Does anyone here need someone to work for them?" Sonic cried, hoping he missed someone to ask, but was answered by another villager instead. "why don't you try the castle up the hill? Maybe it's not abandoned after all~" said the villager, only for someone else to cut in. "Don't give the kid false hope, mate, that castle has been abandoned for centuries!". Sonic looked up at the castle. He didn't know much about it; nobody did. But the one fact everyone knows is whoever goes in usually doesn't return. Sonic was scared of what could be inside, but he decided he had no choice but to check. If whatever lay inside didn't kill him, hunger would anyway, so what was there to lose?

Inside the castle, there were three hedgehogs. One was Black with red stripes on his quills and red eyes, the other was black with blue stripes on his quills and green eyes, and the last was green with blue eyes. The three sat in a library looking through the books while the black and red one stared out the window at the stars. "Shadow are you going to help us look or not?" the green one said. "Leave him be, Scourge; you know he has his moments when he is lost in thought" the black and blue one said. "He's going to have to get over it at some point Mephiles. She's gone. There is nothing he can do about it." Scourge said to Mephiles. "And he will at his own pace; now, are you going to help me look, or are you going to just stand there and worry about Shadow's business?" Mephiles continued to look through the books as he "accidentally" hit Scourge with one when throwing it behind him. "Ow! Alright fine! You didn't have to hit me!" Scourge then returned to looking through the books. "Cry about it" was all Mephiles said before the room went silent. 

Shadow was staring out the window as a memory replayed in his mind. His best friend Maria's death. He found it hard to move on without her. She was one of his only human friends. Sure, he talked to a maid here and there in the past, but he didn't have the same connection to them as he did with her. But something caught his eye, breaking him out of his thoughts. Out the window, he saw a blue hedgehog walking up to the castle. He didn't believe it at first, but if this was a hallucination, it wasn't going away. "I'll be back." He said before leaving the library and the 2 in it. Shadow made his way to the front door and waited. Meanwhile, Sonic was starting to have second thoughts about coming to the castle; everything seemed scarier at night, and the stories floating around the village didn't help. Soon, he was at the front door and hesitated but then let out a breath before knocking. 

The door seemingly opened by itself, and this didn't help Sonic's nerves as he walked in slowly. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Sonic tried to keep his voice from showing signs of fear, but a quiver occasionally escaped from his words. "I'm just looking for a job. I am low on food and don't have the money to get more." Sonic continued while looking around. Shadow watched in hiding, Usually he would have attacked the intruder by now and drank their blood, but after hearing the blue hedgehogs situation, he thought of Maria and knew that wasn't what she would've wanted. Sonic soon sighed and turned toward the door. "I guess no one is here. I better get out of here then". Just as Sonic was about to leave, the door shut before him, locking him inside. "What?! Why won't the door open?!" Sonic was definitely scared now as thoughts raced through his head. 'Is this why nobody returned? What's going to happen to me now? Is this where I die?!'. Shadow revealed himself behind Sonic, almost giving the blue hedgehog a heart attack when he noticed.

Sonic turned and saw Shadow, and immediately, he froze as he made eye contact. Something seemed to lure Sonic in, but he couldn't take his eyes away, almost as if he were attracted to Shadow. The longer Sonic stared into Shadow's eyes, the more beautiful they looked, Like perfectly cut and polished rubies. He felt his heartbeat speed up again but in a different way as a light blush appeared on his muzzle. Sonic quickly looked away upon realization, hoping the stranger didn't notice. On the other hand, Shadow did indeed notice as he could hear Sonic's heartbeat. He also stared into the blue hedgehog's eyes as they reminded him of emeralds. Sonic was the first to speak, "I'm sorry for intruding. I was just looking for a job, and after asking the entire village, I had no choice but to come here". "Usually, my housemates and I eat intruders like you. But I will spare you this time." Shadow said as he looked at the blue hedgehog. Sonic's eyes widened. "Really? Does that mean you'll let me go?" Sonic said with hope he could survive. 

"No. You will be staying here instead and working for me as my personal slave. You will be tasked with cleaning and helping me around the castle. During your breaks, you may go into the garden, but you are not allowed to leave this castle. As payment, you will be given food and shelter". Shadow looked at the hedgehog, awaiting a response. "I- well... I guess that beats my life in the village. And I get food, at least. It's not like I have a choice in the matter. Alright, I'll do it. Oh, my name is Sonic, by the way. What's yours?" Sonic held out his hand, waiting for a handshake. "My name is Shadow. It will be Master Shadow to you." Shadow ignored the handshake and called one of the maids instead. Soon, one of the maids arrived and bowed to Shadow. She was a pink Hedgehog with green eyes like Sonic's. "Yes, Master Shadow?" Shadow turned to the maid. "Amy, please take Sonic here and show him where he will be staying from now on. I will be off informing the other 2 of my presence". "Of course, Master Shadow. Please follow me, Sonic." Amy then led Sonic out of the room and into the rest of the castle. At the same time, Shadow went back to the library. 

Amy showed Sonic around the castle. At the same time, Sonic seemed a bit on edge. "Is everything alright, Sonic?" Sonic then snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Amy. "Just adjusting to what just happened is all. That and Shadow- or um, Master Shadow said there were two others here. I know of you know, but where is the third one?". "Oh no, you are confused. The other two he was talking about are the other two vampires in this castle." Sonic froze momentarily. "Did you say vampires?" Sonic quickly returned to being scared again at what he got himself into. "Yes. Master Shadow, Master Mephiles, and Master Scourge are vampires that live in this castle. I am Master Scourge's personal maid. We are higher up than the other maids and slaves, both you and I". Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing but thought that if Amy was still alive then maybe it isn't all bad here.

Shadow soon returned to the Library. "Where have you been? And why do I smell a new scent of blood in the castle?" Mephiles asked Shadow. "I smell it too. I call dibs on the first bite!" Scrouge said. "Nobody is getting a first bite. A blue hedgehog found his way here asking for a job, so I decided to spare him and make him my personal slave," Shadow said. "Both Scourge and Mephiles exchanged looks for a moment. "Scourge, no-" Mephiles started but was then cut off. "Wow, Shadow, I didn't expect you to get over Maria so soon finally- Agh!" Scourge's teasing was quickly met by a punch into the wall. "Don't you ever Speak of Maria in that sense again! I was simply helping an innocent mortal. Nothing else". "Ugh. Yeah, whatever you say. What, do you have a crush on them or something?" Scourge continued, but Shadow walked away. "he definitely has a crush- OW!" Scourge was quickly met with a Wack in the back of the head from an inky tendril from Mephiles.

Shadow soon reached his room and lay on his bed, thinking, 'Do I have a crush on Sonic? He definitely likes me. I don't know, I've never felt feelings like this before. I wish you were here, Maria. You were always helpful at giving me advice and helping me in times like this.' Shadow looked at a picture of himself and Maria star gazing as he looked back at the memory. Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, Amy finishes showing Sonic around and ends the tour at Sonic's sleeping chambers. "Wow, I get this room to myself?" Sonic asked as he didn't expect to have such a nice room as a slave. There was a nice bed, desk, fireplace, and a small bookshelf. "Yes. As a personal slave you get a room to yourself. Please make yourself comfortable, we wake up early to eat and start cleaning before surving breakfast to the master's". "I thought vampires drink blood, though. Are they going to drink our blood?" Sonic started to panic at the thought. "No, silly. The other maids and slaves make food and drinks containing blood in them for the masters to eat." Amy explained as she couldn't help but lightly laugh. "oh good, well, thank you for the help Amy, we should be heading to bed if we are going to wake up early tomorrow. Goodnight". "Sleep well, Sonic." Amy left the blue hedgehog alone. Sonic lay on his bed, realizing how soft it was as it was much better than the one he had at home in his cottage. "maybe being a slave won't be so bad after all."