“And now drink.” Said Nikola as the children looked at the tea-like potion in front of them.

“What is this going to do, father?” Asked Nathaniel. He had tried to call Nikola mother once and Nikola had told him that even though he looked the oldest that title actually fell to Ryota. Nathaniel had taken it as a sign that his heir title was in danger and had proceeded to apologize after that.

“It will make you all so charismatic that you will have no other choice but to like one another.” Hopefully. Curses, especially if they were the last words of someone, were tricky things. But this charisma potion was made in winter with fresh snow. There had been some theory behind how the purity of the snow got rid of all the impurities of the spirit but Nikola hadn’t listened all that attentively as the Keltic druid had droned on and on.

“I will be the most charismatic!” Said Ryota as he began to sip from the potion. The other two children soon followed. Nikola had made enough for the entire family. The problem would be to sneak the potion to Wei Caihong and Penemue. Wei Caihong might mistake it for tea, but Penemue won’t be fooled.

Nikola was worried that his unborn children were a subject of the curse as well. Maybe he could add the potion to actual tea? Give it to his wives in small doses? There was another thing. He could feel Marek close to Danyang. While the demon could use the excuse that there were Wuzhiqi near the town he didn’t seem to be killing any. Rather he skulked and did something.

Nikola began to sip from his own charisma potion, savoring the taste. The potion’s effects lasted for a hundred years. The last time he had drunk the potion he had made many successful trade deals and had even bought land from sovereign nations. It had been the easiest hundred years of his life. They were so easy, in fact, that he had gotten irritated and refused to make any more of the potion. But he had a different mindset now. An easy life was a welcomed thing and he wondered why he hadn’t brewed the potion sooner.

The potion required normal ingredients. Water as base, either as liquid, ice or snow. Honey, old and hard. The sweeter the better. A lemon’s skin. Ginseng. Black tea. Milk and a ton of magic. Now that he thought of it the potion might have been a simple spell and the druid might have simply given him his favorite tea recipe. And to think he had paid the man his weight in gold for it…

He finished the tea and enjoyed the smell of the black tea that still lingered in the cup. He was out of magic now, having made an entire pot of the stuff. He looked at the four additional cups of potion that were cooling and then got up to put them on a platter. The Han siblings behaved like normal, but both Penemue and Wei Caihong had been irritated lately. Fortunately, they were blaming their pregnancy for the mood swings. He went to his room to see the rest of his family arranged in a circle and playing cards.

“Tea time! But I don’t have any cookies, sorry.” He said as he offered the first cup to Han Shanyuan who took a sip out of it. Good.

“Black tea?” Asked Penemue, eyes narrowed. “What have you done now?”

Nikola smiled sheepishly and offered her a cup. She took it and then Wei Caihong reached out and took hers. Nikola would need to make sure he gives Han Fengfan a little bit so she wouldn’t choke. But he had his water skin which he had adjusted so that he could give the girl her milk with him. He could manage.

“We had a hard time up until now and I wanted that to change. Drink up.”

“Master Nikola, what is this?” Asked Han Shanyuan and Nikola smiled at him.

“A charisma potion, or a magic pumped tea which raises your charisma to insane levels. Depends on how you like to think about it. The effect will last for a hundred years. Your life will be very easy from now on, kid.” Han Shanyuan placed the cup down and stared at him with betrayal.

“I don’t want to cheat my way to the top spot of the competition.” He said and Nikola sighed.

“Kid, you deserve a lucky break. And you are going to get it. When we arrive in Yuzhang I will brew enough luck potion for everyone. And pump it with so much magic that it too will last for the next hundred years. Now drink your potion.”

“You are hiding something.” Said Penemue as she sipped from the potion. Nikola had never told her how to brew one and the druid had been sworn into silence as well. This was a treat for her.

“Did something bad happened during the ritual?” Asked Wei Caihong. He too was drinking his fancy tea. Nikola gulped. Soon the potion will start working and if they pressed, he would be spieling his secret. Unless he gave them another one.

“Marek seems to think I created him so he can become my lover.” Said Nikola and he watched as his two spouses glared daggers at him.

“Dear husband, did you drink from this potion?” Asked Wei Caihong in a such a sweet voice that Nikola nearly melted.

“Yes. I am telling the truth…”

“Not the full one.” Snapped Penemue, setting her cup down. Nikola decided to place his trust in the potion and to blurt out the first thing that was on his mind.

“Must I tell the full truth? I have things under control. Don’t you trust me?”

Penemue stared at him, Nikola stared back. Penemue blinked and Nikola did an internal happy dance at his victory.

“Fine, but this better not have anything to do with our mood swings.” Said Penemue finally and Nikola went to the bed and kissed her on the brow. Then he did the same to Wei Caihong.

“Marek has been skulking around town. I think he is way overdue for a kick on the butt to get him working.” Said Nikola. Then he stared at the two beauties and sighed.

“My dear nymphs, I won’t stray.” He didn’t know why he said it but both of them had soft smiles on their faces. Their eyes had softened and they extended their hands towards him. He took one of each and kissed them both at the same time. He ruffled Han Shanyuan’s hair on the way out and gave the water skin to Wei Caihong.

“For the little princess. She needs a lucky break too.” Wei Caihong nodded, clearly happy that Nikola picked him over Penemue to take care of the baby, and began to fill the water skin with tea.

Nikola exited the inn through the back door only to find eleven Wuzhiqi angrily screeching at him, tied like a present. There was even a bow tied to them. And on the bow, there was a letter.

My dear,

I know you forbade me from taking liberties but before you did, I made a mental link between us. I know of your troubles and since the curse came about because of my birth I feel responsible. So, here, have some scapegoats.

With love,

Marek.

P.S: You have adorable children. I’d love it if they call me father in the future.

Nikola wondered briefly why no one had seen the Wuzhiqi and then he felt the buzz of a barrier. Nikola hadn’t thought Marek how to do that. He hadn’t thought him anything. Did he create him or did he summon an already existing demon? Because if it was the latter then he was in a world of trouble.

Nikola took out a knife, the Wuzhiqi quieted down. But Nikola had no intention of killing them. They had to be alive for the curse to change hosts. He prickled each of their fingers and then forcefully dragged all of the prisoner’s magic from his children, both his three sons and his unborn six babies. He was surprised when some magic lingered inside of both Penemue and Wei Caihong.

Seeing as the Han siblings weren’t effected he used up the last two Wuzhiqi to get rid of these remnants too. Then he let the Wuzhiqi, which were growling at each other, free. Then dashed in different directions and Nikola felt Marek’s presence close by. He followed it and found himself at the edge of town. There was a lotus flower and a letter in a basket in the middle of the road.

My dear,

It seems that it had worked. Good for the kiddies. But I deserve a reward, don’t I? At least come and see my new home. I won’t take any liberties, I swear.

With love,

Marek.

Nikola was getting suspicious now. Marek was resisting the pact somehow. At least he should go see him in order to reinstall the pact. He looked around for clues and found another lotus flower further up on a tree. Following the clues left behind he ended up in front of a cave. There were lotus petals scattered around the entrance. Nikola felt no remorse in stepping on them. Further up he found a candle and another letter.

My dear,

Did you step on the petals? You must have thought that you can show your displeasure at me for misbehaving that way. It shows that you have a lot to learn about demons. Come in deeper in my web, my God. You won’t want to leave.

With love,

Marek.

Nikola pulled up a leg to see the bottom of his boots. There were lotus petals sticking on it. He touched one and his fingers went numb. Marek had trapped him in this cave, but Nikola could simply take off his boots and walk out. But not before he gave the demon a piece of his mind for making him give up a perfectly fine pair of boots.

He moved further and more candles lighted the way. Where did Marek find them from? And the barrier spell was something he shouldn’t know how to cast. Just when did the demon unlock his magic, even? He entered a big cavern and there was furniture placed in it. Expensive pieces which must have been stolen. Nikola frowned at that. He hadn’t created Marek so he could steal from the town’s folk.

“My dear, do you like my room?” Came a voice from the deeper recesses of the cavern and Nikola looked around but didn’t find anyone.

“You are to stop thieving from Danyang. I command you to…”

A tiger’s tail wrapped around his neck and Nikola gulped.

“You can’t command me, my dear. I barfed the offering you gave me and broke the pact. And you walked into my web and do you remember what I told you about how I will take liberties with you?”

Nikola conjured a fireball in his hand and the tail retreated. He turned around and found a smirking Marek, who was clearly unafraid.

“You will stop this game and get back to work or your cave is going to become your prison.” Threatened Nikola and a clawed hand rested against his left cheek.

“You don’t have the power to seal me away, my dear. And I am crafty. When you created me I had the opportunity to pick the traits I can take from you. I picked your intelligence and creativity. No one can hold me captive. And my web is…”

“You are a tiger, not a spider.” Snapped Nikola and Marek moved closer, wrapping his tail around Nikola’s torso.

“Do you want to battle? Tigers admire strong mates. Perhaps humans do too?” Said Marek as he grinned and aimed a kick at Nikola who dodged it and stepped back.

“I gave you life and I can take it away.” Said Nikola but he was getting unnerved. Marek was stronger magically than him. But that was the law of things. Every demon had an access to their own magic plus a percentage from their creator. But Nikola had no intentions to play fair. He breathed out and green fumes escaped his mouth. Marek covered his nose.

“I am sorry, my God.” Said the tiger, bowing. “I was just playing. I’ll get right back to work. There is no need for a pact.”

“Especially since you will barf the offering out.” Agreed Nikola, stopping the poison. It was good that Marek was afraid from such a little amount. Or else he would have found out that the little magic Nikola had regenerated during his walk here has run out.