Breathe in the Embers

Part 5

Lithuega walked through the forest, fire burning ineffectually all around her, every inhale drawing it into her lungs and snuffing more of the inferno out. It was fortuitous that so simple a task had been required of her, even if her prey believed it a fair price. The lives of dozens of his friends were saved after all. Most never got such value out of their souls.

The fools. A brief human life was nothing compared to the eternity experienced by the soul.

Still, the boy had been careful to not sell himself short. Her suggestion that she save him was seen for the trap it was. Not something every mortal would have spotted. He demanded she save them all.

And of course, she was no fool either. She saw the pitfall in the phrasing of that sentence, just as he’d seen it in hers. It mattered little though. The mortal had almost no say over the course the contract took once it was enacted. Most demons would hold to their end of the bargain, within reason, or they’d shortly run out of those willing to sell their souls. So long as their desires were more or less fulfilled, people would still have faith in their bargains.

She’d save the camp. It was only fair after all. Then she would have a little talk with this mortal, and she’d rip the soul from his unwilling body.

It took her little time to ensure the safety of the camp. With her devouring the flames as quickly as they spawned, the charred nature of the forest it had already torn through, and the continued efforts of the ever swelling number of firefighters, the blaze never stood a chance. Many called out that Martin was missing, and she supposed they would end up assuming he died in the blaze. Unfortunate perhaps, but not far from the truth. Certainly no one on Earth would ever see him again.

Air boiling around her, Lithuega walked through the woods, searing fallen leaves with every step. She was careful none kindled, for threatening the lives she had saved would basically negate her bargain. The rules were loose back home about the pacts they made, but rules they remained.

Eventually she found a rock, scorched it swiftly clear of lichen with a quick burst of intense fire. It let out some of the immense heat stored in her body, and she had always been repulsed by the touch of moss-like plants. Sitting, Lithuega reached down to her shadow, grabbed the suspiciously human shaped thing by the scruff of its neck, and hauled upward. Gasping in surprise, Martin was yanked back onto the material plane, dropped unceremoniously to the soft ground beside the boulder.

“What...what happened?” he panted, head whipping around in alarm. Of course, he had fallen into her shadow in the middle of a life threatening fire, certain his friends were about to die. It was obviously quite disorienting to wake up in the middle of a peaceful forest.

“I saved them. I saved everyone.” Lithuega replied, words carefully chosen to convey that the contract was complete as far as she was concerned. She crossed her legs, billowing pants flowing in the breeze. “Your friends are safe and so are you. That means your soul is owed to me now.”

“No, I said you needed to save everyone.” Martin replied with the expected steel in his voice. “Everyone. Not everyone at camp, not everyone I care about, just everyone.” The adorable little thing even had the audacity to clench his fists!

Lithuega gave him a lazy, self satisfied smile, making sure to show plenty of fang. Martin didn’t flinch. “My boy, I know that’s what you said.” she replied, idly examining a nail. “I just don’t care. You can accept that I saved dozens of lives, or you can contest the contract, but I promise you that only one is going to end favorably for you.”

“I contest it.” Martain replied without hesitation, her own grin turning vicious and predatory. Now he drew back, victory gleaming in her sky blue eyes. She had him.

Her claim on Martin’s soul would not normally come immediately. It would be at the end of his life, however it came about. Killing the client before he could spread the word was typically bad business. Lithuega was an old demon, well established, one whose name was known to many as trustworthy and competent. Her reputation would ensure future deals already, especially if no one ever found out about this one, little, fool. She’d claimed the contract complete, he’d contested it. The only way his claim could be addressed was for his soul to cross to her plane, to the Inferno, to speak before the Sectunal.

And she was one of the Sectunal. And the penalty for filing a frivolous contestation was the immediate forfeiture of your soul.

“Contested it is then!” Lithuega declared victoriously, leaping to her feet. “Then come come, my little friend. We have a long journey ahead of us, and an eternity together to enjoy. Human souls find the Inferno tortuously unpleasant, but I’m sure you’ll adapt soon enough. Give it a few centuries.”

Martin didn’t take a step back, but the defiant set of his face didn’t change either. Oh, he’d be a delightful one to strip of his will! She didn’t idly torture like some of her fellows, but she demanded some degree of meekness and respect from her servants. “I’m not going anywhere with you, not until you fulfill the pact.”

“I told you already.” Lithuega hissed, eyes burning with power as she flowed toward him, not seeming to even touch the ground. She leaned close enough that their breath intermingled, her smile nothing but teeth. “It is done.” Then she reached forward, hand turning to shadow as it plunged into his chest, and she pulled.

And nothing happened.