Chapter 3
1221 Words
EVIE'S POV
By the time I reached the campus lake, only a dull thump of music remained, carried across the water by the cold autumn wind.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep the tears from falling.
I took a shaky breath.
Amanda hadn’t even said anything I didn’t already believe.
That thought hurt more than anything she’d said at the party.
Dry leaves crunched beneath my boots as I followed the empty path circling the lake.
The campus felt different out here.
Quieter.
Like the rest of the world had been left behind with the party.
I stopped when I noticed someone standing near the water.
A tall figure dressed in a black suit.
A familiar pair of elegant black horns curved from his dark hair.
For a second, I wondered if I’d imagined him the first time.
Then he looked up from the lake and caught my gaze.
“You’re the guy from the party.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“I was wondering if you’d remember me.”
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“Hard to forget the horns.” I pointed at them with a small shrug.
The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“Most people assume they’re fake.”
I glanced at them again.
“Aren’t they?”
“They’re certainly convenient tonight,” he replied, a cunning note hiding beneath his calm voice.
Then, before I could ask anything else, he tilted his head.
“Why are you out here?”
“I needed some peace.” I looked away.
“Did you find it?”
A quiet laugh escaped me.
“No.”
Silence settled between us.
The wind rippled across the surface of the lake.
I hesitated for a moment.
“What’s your name?”
He seemed to think about it for a moment.
“…Reed.”
“Is that your real name?” I frowned.
The corner of his mouth lifted again.
“It’s real enough for this century.”
“What does that even mean?”
“You’ll find that some questions are happier unanswered.”
We simply stared at each other. I wasn't sure what to say.
This dude was definitely weird.
“You know…” he said at last. “I saw what happened.”
“Then congratulations.” Heat rushed back into my cheeks.
“For what?” He raised an eyebrow.
“You got front-row seats to the best show on campus.”
“I wasn’t entertained.” His smile disappeared.
Something about the way he said it made me look at him again. His expression hadn’t softened and he didn’t look sorry for me either.
“Tell me something, Evie.”
I froze.
How did he know my name?
“What would you give…” he continued, his voice impossibly calm, “…to make your dreams come true?”
“That’s a weird question.” I frowned.
He watched me for another moment.
“Is it?”
“It definitely is, coming from someone who knows absolutely nothing about me.”
“I know enough.”
Something about the certainty in his voice unsettled me.
“I doubt that.”
“I know,” he said quietly, “that you’ve spent three years hoping a boy who barely knows your name would notice you.”
My breath caught.
“I know that every morning you stand in front of the mirror wondering if today will finally be the day you like the person looking back at you.”
I couldn’t move.
“I know…” His eyes never left mine.
“…that five minutes ago…”
He took one slow step toward me.
“…you would’ve given anything to disappear.”
“Who the hell are you?” I took an instinctive step back.
A devious smile spread across his face.
“Someone who makes impossible things possible.”
I stared at him.
“And what exactly do you get out of making my dreams come true?”
“Your soul.” His answer came without hesitation.
He said it so matter-of-factly that it took me a second to realize what he’d actually said.
Then I laughed. This was ridiculous.
“Oh, wow.” I shook my head. “You almost had me.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
His expression never changed.
I folded my arms across my chest.
“Let me guess. I sign a contract in blood, you drag me to Hell, and we both live happily ever after.”
“More or less.”
Another laugh escaped me.
“Definitely no.”
“No?”
“I’m insecure,” I said. “Not stupid.”
For a long moment, he simply looked at me.
Then, to my surprise, he smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“…Excuse me?”
What was wrong with this guy?
“You refused the deal.” He shrugged.
“Obviously.” I stared at him like he was insane.
“Most people don’t.”
Something about that answer made the air feel colder.
“So…” He took one slow step closer. “I’ll make you a different offer.”
He was close enough now that I could clearly see his eyes. They were so dark it was almost impossible to tell where his irises ended and his pupils began.
“I’m listening.” I narrowed my eyes.
“I’ll give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
He paused.
“In return you'll give me one year.”
“A year?”
“You complete every task I give you for one year.”
“And after that?”
“If you succeed, you keep everything I gave you…” His gaze held mine. “…and you’ll forget I ever existed.”
“And if I don’t?” I frowned.
“The deal ends.”
“And?”
A faint smile returned to his lips.
“Your soul becomes mine.”
This had to be a prank.
A very weird prank.
Maybe someone from the fraternity had paid him to mess with me. I expected Amanda to jump out laughing at any minute.
None of this made any sense.
If this was an act…
He was terrifyingly good at it.
“You don’t even know what I want?”
I decided to see how far this prank would go.
“I know exactly what you want.”
I hated that a part of me was curious.
“And if I refuse one of your… tasks?”
“The deal ends.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
It sounded completely insane. So much effort for some stupid Halloween prank.
If he wanted to play a game…
Fine.
I’d play too.
“Okay,” I said, surprised by the confidence in my own voice. “Let’s do it.”
He gave a small, almost satisfied nod.
“Then there’s just one last thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“Every deal has to be sealed.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“…Sealed how?”
He took one final step toward me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.
His voice dropped to little more than a whisper.
“Kiss me.”
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