Deal with the Devil

Cryptic

As Lucifer promised, a woman walked through the large wooden doors.

 She was tall and had short hair the color of corn silk and eyes that were so black they felt as if they could consume all the light in the room. She looked deadly but was dressed in similar fashion to my own slinky gown. “Hello Wren, my name is Mara. I hope the boss man wasn't too unpleasant for you. An eternity in Hell can really put a damper on your mood.” She smiled at me. I laughed, surprising myself. It was good to know that even the darkest of demons had a sense of humor. “He was certainly cryptic. I still have no idea what I’m doing here.” “Cryptic is his middle name.” She rolled her eyes and huffed. “Come with me, I'll show you around.” She offered and I happily accepted the opportunity to see more of this curious demon realm. 

“Um Mara, do you have a change of clothes?” I asked, suddenly remembering my indecency. At the snap of her fingers a new outfit appeared on the bed. “I’ll wait in the hall for you.” She smiled and left.

 I turned to the bed and found an ornate Goddess style gown in a deep plum color. I slipped out of the black nightgown and made my way to the bathroom to wash up. 

It was easily the most magical place I've ever seen. The wonder of it over casted any awe I had felt about the grand bedroom. A pool was placed in the center of the room with steaming water, as if it was warmed by the flames of Hell lapping beneath the surface of the mountain. I would definitely be revisiting this later.

 I walked to a floor length mirror and gazed at myself. I untangled my long hair from its braid and let it hang in loose waves around my hips. I pulled my now unruly hair over my shoulder and turned. After a few deep breaths I worked up the courage to glance.

 The burn on my back was not a gruesome brand as I had expected, it was a thin white raised line that twisted into an ornate work of art. I gasped at the beauty of it, a dragon seemingly crafted from flames curved around my back. This was the symbol of Lucifer? 

I shook off the chills that thought gave me and moved to get dressed. The gown Mara had given to me was hardly more modest than the black silk. The material was sheer and cut in a deep V over my chest and one long sheath of fabric fell between my legs in the front and the back leaving the sides of my hips and legs exposed. The halter neck of the dress also left my back once again open and my mark on display.

 I wasn’t sure if that was intentional but I made a mental note to ask Mara for more modest clothing options. Once dressed I made my way to the hall. Mara was waiting perched against the wall of the cave looking like the beautiful sort of evil. “Ready princess?” she asked. The nickname made my heart ache for Winnie. 

She led me through winding hallways and staircases until we reached a grand room covered in ancient paintings depicting Heaven and Hell and the great war that separated the realms. I stared in awe at everything in the castle. She turned to me and grabbed my hand. “We’ll have to transport you into the city using magic, I wouldn't want Luce to find out I snatched you.” She winked. Too fast for me to react we were instantly transported into the center of what looked like a town square. 

The town had shops and vendors all along the old cobblestone streets and demons of every shape and size were walking along waving to neighbors and gathering exotic looking fresh fruits and spices I’d never seen. I turned around in shock at the lack of malice in this gentle town square. “Damned souls and burning pits of fire and torture are a small part of the demon realm, most of the human realm is modelled after the realms of demons and fairies.” Mara explained. We walked through town and towards a large stone building Mara explained was the library and while we could find most of the same books and more inside of Lucifer’s personal collection, it would be better for me to explore the realm.

 We entered the massive library to find it relatively empty save for a few demons occupying desks buried in their studies. As Mara went to search for something in particular, I walked along the floor to ceiling shelves glancing at the various book titles. The library contained every subject you could imagine, from Fairy potions and Herbology to Spells and The History of Angels and Demons. 

I stopped walking when I came across a leather bound book with no title. A dragon, not unlike the one I bore on my back, was etched into the spine. I pulled the book from the shelf and found a familiar star carved into the front. I found a quiet desk in the back of the library and settled into it. I cursed myself for not having Winnie’s knowledge of demon history but there was no time like the present to begin my lessons. What better place to start than with the original demon himself. I cracked open the ancient novel and felt that same surge of power I had felt when Lucifer had entered the room earlier this morning.