Vamps in Chaos

Chapter Nineteen: Company's (Reluctantly) Coming

The loft had barely settled from its recent "upgrades" when Babe received a note from the witches. In elegant, slightly ominous script, it read:

"Babe, the council requires a small gathering in your loft. You're hosting. Don't worry, only a few guests. Keep it... civil."

Babe groaned, holding up the note for Billy and Ollie to see. "Looks like we're throwing a 'small' party for the council. And by 'small,' I'm guessing that means a hundred years of pent-up grudges."

Ollie gasped, looking both excited and anxious. "Our first official event! We could decorate, make snacks... ooh, I could make magical hors d'oeuvres!"

Billy adjusted his cravat, regarding the note with mild intrigue. "An honor, indeed. One must uphold the dignity of such an occasion."

Babe sighed, already picturing his loft overrun with stuffy vampires and mystical oddballs. "Alright, team—let's make this place 'council-ready' without losing our minds."

They started with the walls, which Ollie insisted on repainting for a fresh look. But instead of picking up regular paintbrushes, Ollie opted for enchanted paint—a decision Babe soon regretted. As Ollie dabbed the first stroke of a calming blue, the paint flashed, turning a deep red and then settling on bright yellow.

"Looks like it... has opinions," Ollie said, sheepishly.

The paint quickly took on a mind of its own, shifting hues in response to their emotions. When Babe teased Billy, the wall turned a vibrant pink with tiny hearts, much to Billy's embarrassment.

"Surely, this is excessive," Billy muttered, crossing his arms as the wall behind him began forming delicate wallpaper adorned with tiny crowns.

Ollie bit his lip, trying not to laugh. "It seems to suit you, Billy!"

As they worked, the paint continued to animate scenes from their daily life—a floating hammer going rogue, Billy frowning at his wardrobe, and Babe laughing in mid-sarcastic eye roll. By the time they reached the last wall, it had transformed into a living "Instagram wall," capturing their "best angles" and creating a magical slideshow that Babe could swear kept shifting to "romantic" lighting whenever he and Billy were side-by-side.

Next came the furniture, which Ollie's enchantments turned into a full-blown "furniture council." Billy's armchair developed a rather proper air and immediately began critiquing everyone's posture.

"I say," the armchair declared as Billy sat down, "one must sit upright. We can't have guests mistaking this establishment for a common parlor!"

Babe's couch, by contrast, had developed the personality of a laid-back surfer, offering suggestions to "chillax, bro" whenever he sat down. Ollie's chair, meanwhile, was almost like a personal butler, insisting on serving refreshments, with a tendency to overfill cups and hand out napkins to everyone within reach.

"You're all doing splendidly," the chair commented, handing Ollie yet another napkin. "But might I suggest some coasters for... ambiance?"

The coffee table, acting as the council "secretary," scribbled everything down in frantic handwriting, taking minutes for every single move they made in the room.

"Oh boy," Babe muttered, watching as the coffee table documented "Billy's dignified rearrangement of a stray cushion."

Next came the food. Ollie, beaming with excitement, decided to enlist the refrigerator for snack suggestions. Still in its poetic phase, the fridge intoned dramatically, "Behold! The noble cheese, a morsel both creamy and wise."

The fridge continued to recite odes to the ingredients while Ollie prepared a batch of mood-changing mini sandwiches. The sandwiches shifted flavors depending on the eater's mood, though this caused a small hiccup when Babe tasted chili pepper as he imagined the council members arriving.