Chapter 8
Aios
Ileft Eve sleeping. I hate being away from her, but we made a bargain, and I intend to keep it.
As I step into the bank foyer, I’m gratified by the screams. It’s been so long since I heard human screams. Of terror, anyway. Eve makes such lovely screams when she’s being pleasured, but that’s different.
I stride through the crowds as they flee, and lean against the glass as the teller stares, unblinking.
I’ve conjured a dapper black suit, white shirt and of course, as cliché as it is, a blood red tie.
I look good. But, to the credit of the teller credit, he hasn’t fainted either from fear or awe.
“Who owns the property at 23 Widow’s Walk?” I demand, trying to keep my voice from instilling too much terror in this mortal.
His lip quivers, and he shakes his head. “Please…”
“Who’s in charge?” I try.
He lifts a trembling hand and gestures to some stairs. The other hand isn’t anywhere to be seen. An alarm of some sort? That’s adorable. As if his human law enforcement would stand a chance against me.
I nod, drop a few conjured gold coins on the desk, turn, and head for the stairs.
At the top, I find the office marked “MANAGER” and enter without knocking. The woman behind the desk jumps out of her seat, running for the window, then drops into a crouch when I step her way.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have a problem with suicide, but I need to conclude our business quickly, and figuring out who’s next in line of ownership would be more hassle.
“God, please save me…” she’s whispering, fingering a silver cross hung around her neck. “What’s happening? Oh, God…”
“The property at 23 Widow’s Walk,” I say, dispensing with pleasantries. “What do you want in exchange for the deed?”
“Twenty-three…”
“Widow’s Walk,” I repeat impatience making is hard to not stop her heart with a flick of my finger, then try to remember the original name of the house.
“Wintermere. I want it. You’re going to sign it over to me.
Tell me what you need, and make it quick.
What’s the going rate? A lifetime of riches? A dozen virgins? The presidency?”
She stares, and for a moment I think she might pee herself. Then I see the sparkle in her eyes, and if I had lips, I’d be grinning.
Greed is such a powerful motivator. She forgot her religion soon enough.
“Wintermere,” she repeats, her breathing starting to calm.
She still backs away from me, but this time she’s going to her desk.
She runs her fingers over the keys of the device there, click-click-clicking, then nods.
“23 Widow’s Walk. A fine property. In need of some renovation work, but the bank took possession of it—”
“I know all about possession. You are the bank’s representative. Tell me what you want.”
“Well, you’d have to pay the back taxes…”
I lean forward, and she lets out a little shriek as my face comes close to hers. “Don’t try my patience, mortal.”
“I…” The defiance enters her eyes, and I know I have her. “I want to never want for anything again.”
“Done,” I say, and hold out my hand. “Now, put the name of Eve Davenport on that deed, and be quick about it.”
And when she shakes it, I don’t bother pulling in my talons.
As I walk away with my signed deed to the property, exiting through the now-empty foyer and ignoring the distant wailing of police sirens, I envision how the next decade will play out for the bank manager.
She will want for nothing, not because she has it all, but because I’ve taken her capacity for desire.
Those who want for nothing care about nothing.
Back at the property, I find Eve waiting for me with tears in her eyes. Those tears make me angry, and I swear to myself that I will work for the rest of my existence to ensure she never sheds any again.
She runs straight to my arms, and I catch her mid-sob, wrapping her close and holding her safe. “Where were you?”
“Keeping my end of our bargain,” I tell her, and pull the deed from my jacket pocket. I’m starting to enjoy human clothes, for their functions at least, if not for the way they cover my perfection. “Take this, and the house is yours.”
She reaches for it, then hesitates. “And you’ll stay?”
I open my mouth to reply, but as the words form a pressure builds in my throat and behind my eyes. Demons do not experience pain the way humans do, but Eve does.
Her scream cuts through the morning air, and I pull her close as darkness spreads across the sky. Not dark like night. No. This is different. This is a darkness rarely glimpsed in the world, and one that draws a snarl from my lips.
Swirling clouds gather, the air filling with ash as a form takes shape, and Eve finally starts to calm as He appears.
“Hurt her like that again,” I growl, “and I swear to—”
“To whom do you swear, Aios of Kharon’s Reach, if not to me, your lord and master? Am I not the one who made you as you are?”
Anger flares. He could end both of us in a heartbeat, but if He touches a hair on Eve’s head, I will find a way to take my revenge, even if I have to claw my way into the pits of His domain myself.
“I hear whispers, Aios,” He goes on, His voice echoing even in the open air. “Sub-demons talk to me, you know. Grubby little creatures, always looking to increase their favor, looking to rise up the ranks. Perhaps even become a full-fledged creature like yourself.”
He laughs, and I spot Varak peeking out from between his legs.
So that’s it. The little shit’s been telling tales. It hardly warrants a visit from the Big Man, surely?
The devil takes many forms, today he has taken the form of a human man, middle age, graying at the temples dressed in low slung jeans and a white shirt.
He would blend in anywhere he chose and likely, that is his aim but I know better than to associate his physical form with anything other than the pure evil that resides within.
Although, he has been known to have a wicked sense of humor as well.
I hold Eve close, wrapping her in my darkness. “And what has that worm told you?”
“That one of my demon lords was in the human realm, and hadn’t reaped a single soul.
That he was turned into a rat, which I found quite amusing, actually.
But in among the banalities, he mentioned that you had taken a woman, and not only did you not let him torture her, but you haven’t tortured her yourself.
That you’d made deals, and not even demanded death in return. Is this her?”
“Eve is my mate. I love her,” I growl, the admission feels hot on my tongue. “And not even you will take her from me.”
“Ah, so that’s it.” He shakes His head with a low chuckle that ices my veins. “Unfortunate for you, since I’m now going to have to destroy you both.”
He raises His hand, and I step forward, pushing Eve behind me. I’m not even sure what I’m doing, except I won’t let it happen. I’ll gladly give my life, my entire existence, to save her, and somehow I intend to do it.
Power crackles and flickers between His fingers, and I see the pleasure dawn across his face. There is no greater joy for a damned thing than torturing one of their own. We get so little chance to do it. It won’t be quick, and it won’t be pretty.
I see Varak backing away as he realizes what is about to happen. The thought that he might get caught in the crossfire clearly terrifies him.
“Wait!” I hear Eve’s voice behind me, but I growl in response.
“Run, Eve. Live your life,” I tell her, steeling myself for what’s about to happen.
“No!” I feel her arm wrap around mine, and a part of me wants to force her away. But another part… Another part is glad that we’re together, here, at the end. “Wait,” she demands, and to my surprise, I see the Big Man hesitate.
“Speak, human,” He says. “It amuses me to hear your pleas for mercy.”
“Are you the Devil?” she asks, and He laughs.
“I have had many names, mortal. Now, beg. Plead. Scream in terror, or whatever it is you’re about to do.”
“No.” Eve steps forward. “I want to make a deal.”
The air crackles, but I can feel His confusion. Most humans who see Him are driven mad. Some have their eyes burned out the instant they look at him. I’ve heard tales of whole cities being driven to dance compulsively by His mere presence, until the citizens drop down dead of exhaustion.
Eve simply asks to make a deal.
“I know that you make deals,” she goes on. “I want to know what you want. Here’s my demand: I get to keep this house. I get to keep Aios, and he gets to keep me. Now, tell me what I have to do in exchange.”
There’s a moment of hesitation, then, “Very well,” He says. “Here is my demand. Fifty souls. Fifty. All to be delivered before the year is out. And you, little human, must do the taking.”
“No,” I say. “Eve isn’t—”
“Deal,” she says, and my heart thunders.
Could she be any more perfect for me? She will lead fifty souls into damnation so that we can be together, and I will help her do it.
“All eternity,” I chime in quickly. “The deal lasts for all eternity. She gets to live as long as I do.”
The Big Man cracks His neck, back and forth, and licks His lips as He mulls it over on a lazy sigh. “Fine. For that, I’ll have to make it a hundred souls, Aios. And I will take your title. I have a mistress who needs… Placating. I will give your lands in the demon realm to her.”
I nod, not mentioning that I have far more extensive lands taken from other demons over my lifetime. He can have Kharon’s Reach, and if I ever find myself down there again, I will still have plenty of places to stay.
“One year,” He says, raising a finger, and turns away.
“Wait—” Eve starts, but He is already gone.
I take her in my arms as the sky returns to normal, but see the frown on her face, ruining her beauty even as I kiss it away. “What is it, little witch?”
“I thought the deal had to be sealed in blood?”
I chuckle, remembering the way I kissed away hers from her fingertip when we first met.
“I think we can trust Him to keep His end of the bargain, so long as we keep ours. Come on, let’s get you warm.
Then, we have a life to plan, and you have some learning to do.
You will become a master soul reaper little one, no one will see you coming. ”
And as I take her inside, I catch a glimpse of a rat tail disappearing under the skirting. So, the Big Man left Varak for me. Perhaps Eve would like a kitten? A very angry, rat hungry…kitten.