Deal with the Devil

Dagger

 My hands tightened on the hilt and I began to….Clank. The dagger flew from my hands and tumbled to the stone floor.

 My body shook with the guttural growl that ripped through the cave.  My brand was on fire, telling me that it was Lucifer behind me. Damn. Abaddon’s presence was fading but it whispered to me softly. “I’ll give you until the Winter’s Moon rises to give me a soul, or I'll find one myself.” The warning left a metallic taste in my mouth. Like blood. The winter solstice was three months away. I’d have three months to break this bond. 

I turned to face the devil himself and signed in defeat, and silent relief that my life was spared. At least for a few more months anyhow.

 “Do you have any idea what you are doing?” He roared at me. “Actually, my plan was going swimmingly until you had to make a dramatic entrance. Thank you very much.” I had been a single breath away from ensuring Jace lived a long and full life on earth.

“Stupid girl! You know nothing of the magic you are messing with!” His screams were beginning to shake rock from the walls and I feared the entire cave would crumble on us. But the flames in his rage filled eyes only fed my own fire and I screamed back. “If I know so little then teach me something! I will not live my life bound to a monster while my family suffers at the hands of your demons! Teach me to break this.” I gestured to the invisible cord between us that I knew he felt. For a moment, it looked almost like pain in his eyes.

 He grabbed my wrist and in a flash we were back in the large bedroom. 

We stood staring at each other for a very long moment before his eyes flicked away still smoldering with the remnants of rage. “I will find out what binds your soul to mine Wren, and until then you must promise to never endanger your life like that again. You must swear it.” His voice was low and strained. “That isn’t a promise I can make to you Lucifer. I will pay my debt to Abaddon, whether you find a way to break the bond or not.”

 I met his eyes so he knew how serious I was,  “ There is nothing I won't do to protect my family.”

 His large hand reached out to trace the drop of blood that had fallen between my breasts. He raised his now blood-covered thumb to his lips and closed his eyes to the taste of it. The gesture made my heart race and my blood run cold. When he reopened them I saw an emotion in those burning orbs that I didn't recognize. “Until our bond is broken, there is nothing I won’t do to protect you.” His voice a soft whisper and silent warning. 

He was gone before I had time to react, leaving my body stunned and wanting. Damn this man and the effect he had on me.