Page 159 of Devil's Deal

Luckily, I don’t have to wait long. Soon, Sagna comes back, bearing a basket woven from sturdy grasses. She hops in the pond with a splash, showing us the contents.

There are four big fishes in the basket, clearly just caught.

“You were so quick!” Wisla praises Sagna, who flushes a darker green from pleasure. “A mighty hunt. Come on girls, let's eat!”

They each take a fish, and when Sagna extends the basket to me with a toothy smile, I swallow thickly and take the fish, thanking her. Of course I’d prefer it cooked, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I watch as the rusalkas dig their long fingers into the fish bellies, tearing them open. I try to do the same with mine, but the fish is slippery, and my hands shake a little.

“I will help you, mortal girl,” Sagna says with a cheerful grin, coming closer.

She takes the fish out of my hands and expertly opens it. I thank her with a very forced smile.

The rusalkas don’t bother with taking out fishbones or cleaning out the entrails. They just tear into the meat with their sharp teeth. I look at the fish carcass in my hands. My stomach rumbles again.

In the end, I tear out the spine and as many fishbones as I can, and I clean up the meat before I have it raw. It’s definitely not as good as the meal Woland prepared for me, but not disgusting, either. The meat satisfies my hunger like nuts and nettles couldn’t, and when I’m done eating, I stroke my full belly with a smile.

“Thank you. That was a great meal,” I say, smiling.

Wisla grins. “You’re the first mortal we ever fed in here. Usually, it’s the other way around.”

I smile, even though the joke isn’t remotely funny.

“Well, now I’m grateful for this mark,” I say, stroking my chin. “I tried to remove it, but I’m not powerful enough.”

“Remove it?” Diwa frowns as if I just spoke heresy. “A mark like this is a gift and a promise. Only the one who gave it can remove it. I wish a god marked me for his own.”

The others nod, and I grit my teeth. “Well, it spreads rot wherever I go. People and flowers die.”

It hits me like lightning. I gasp, looking at them with terror, searching for any signs of illness. They don’t seem concerned, but I clamber out of the pond, shakily reaching for my dress.

“Jaga, what are you doing? We still want to talk,” Wisla says.

“I’m afraid it will hurt you, too.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “It can hurt mortals, because he’s the devil. But believe me, we’re made of stronger stuff. Come back in and tell us everything!”

I slowly slide back in the pond, sighing when the heat envelops my body. This is truly luxurious. I could probably fall asleep in the warm water. But I still glance at each of them in turn, searching for any signs of the curse. The ruslakas are right, though. They aren’t affected at all.

“About what?” I ask.

“About how he fucks!” Wisla almost bounces in her place, her blue eyes shining with excitement.

“Oh.” I laugh uncomfortably. “Well, we haven’t really… I mean, we did some things but… But I hate him.” Right. And I should stop blushing. “Besides, I have other problems on my mind.”

Like stopping Woland from claiming me and freeing my magic so I can at least try to fight him.

Wisla drifts closer, patting me pityingly on the arm.

“Oh, Jaga, sweetest. That is so sad. He must be pining after your pussy very much. And as to your problems, I will tell you one thing: I’ve never had a problem big enough that a nice, long dick couldn’t solve it.”

They all burst out laughing, and I join in, charmed by her ribald directness.

As I go to sleep later that night, the pond left far behind me, I think that maybe one of my problems might be solved with a dick, after all. If the seal on my magic is somehow tied to my womanhood, maybe it will take breaking another seal to destroy it.

I fall asleep wondering if I should seduce Woland so he takes my virginity. Not because I want him, because I’m not sure I do, but to use him. He’s used me for so long.

It’s my turn.

---