Deal with the Devil

Abaddon

 As the books said, I followed the narrow streets of town back to the base of the Mountain that the castle resided in. The black stone was glimmering in the light of the moon. I glanced up to the ledge that opened to my bedroom in the mountain castle. My bedroom. I laughed at myself for claiming my prison cell as my own room. It had not felt like a prison but you know gilded cages and all that. I shook off the thought and continued to make my way through the rocky terrain. If I succeeded tonight, I would have a new, much less gilded, cage.

 When I found the entrance to a cave on the west side of the black rocky mountain I paused to catch my breath. The entrance was partially obscured by the darkest of night but the moonlight illumined the corner. The pull of the magic told me I was in the right place.  

The Abaddon couldn’t just have a phone number like everyone else? Ignoring my aching feet I swallowed hard and turned to enter the cave. Torches that lined the walls erupted with flame as I made my way through the winding cave and descended into the heart of the mountain.

 The winding path led for what felt like miles, each step the sulfur scent of demon magic rose thicker. When I came to a large door I recognized the rune carved into the front. The demon rune for death. How welcoming, Abaddon was quite the decorator. I debated knocking for a moment but felt silly and mundane. 

How did one enter a Realm of Death? I pulled on the door handle and…..nothing. It didn't budge. Ugh. This is totally NOT in the books on how to summon the Prince of the Abyss and descend into the Realm of the Dead. Time was a luxury I didn't have much of, especially if mister “you’re bound to me” decides to check in on me in the night.

 I closed my eyes and drew on the binding spell I had used to summon the demon three years ago. Before I could feel the binds of the spell forming, I spelled the sulfur scent of demon magic. “You cannot bind me in a spell in my own home child. This is the place of lost souls, your magic is useless on me here.” I heard Abaddon laugh echoing in the cave. I glanced around to see the robed creature but I was still alone in the cave. His voice surrounded me like wolves circling their prey. “Not all that useless seeing how I have been granted the audience I was looking for.” I retorted. “I came here about our bargain, I owe you a debt and I want you to take my soul.” I lifted my chin to make me look braver than I was feeling. 

“How noble of you child, but it isn't your soul to give.” Why was everyone in Hell so damn cryptic? “How do I break the bond with Lucifer? You made the bond, now you need to break it.” I demanded. The demon's laugh echoed in the cave, “I made no such bond princess, I do not dabble in the affairs of the living.” Princess? That nickname was an upgrade from ‘child’ but it gave me the chills to hear the endearing term on his ghastly lips. “Then why did I feel the mark on my back as soon as I made the deal with you?” I pushed. “The bond was present long before you made your deal with me, you felt the burn of its magic when you tried to sell what wasn't yours to give.” The demon tsked at me.

 “But the bargain, it demands a price to be paid. A life for the life you saved.” I didn't dare tell this demon Jace’s name lest it made it easier for it to track him down. “Indeed it does. The bargain will find me a soul of your blood and the debt will be paid.” The demon sounded bored. My heart dropped. “No!” I screamed. Jace was my last living blood relative, unless I could hunt down old Dad. “You must find a way to take me. Tell me how to break the bond!” I begged. “There is one way I can free you from it...” I could feel the ghost of those long talons scrap down my back and I gulped. A demon blade appeared in front of me, floating in the air like an offering. “Sever your soul from your mortal body and the bond may be broken.” Abaddon cooed in my ear. 

I knew what this cryptic message meant. I would have to end my life with this demon dagger and my soul would be dragged to the Realm of the Dead.