Page 2 of Bargain with the Demon King
"No!" Chad shouts behind me, and there he goes, my brave idiot, lunging forward. Not away from danger but straight at it, trying to reach me— The sword catches him across the ribs as he scrambles past. He screams, dropping to his knees in the mud. The raider loses interest in me immediately, advancing on easier prey.
"Chad!" I throw myself over him, pressing my hands to the wound. Blood seeps hot through my fingers. So much blood. "No, no, no, stay with me."
"It hurts," he whimpers, clutching at my dress. "Adraya, it hurts so bad."
"I know, baby, I know." Tears blur everything. The raider looms over us, sword rising again. "Someone help us! Please!" Nothing. No one. The square empties as villagers flee.
"Don't want to die," Chad sobs into my shoulder. "Not here. Not in the mud."
My chest cracks open. He took that blade meant for me. This ridiculous man who brings me wildflowers and tells terrible jokes and kisses me soft even when no one's watching.
"Anyone," I whisper, then scream it. "ANYONE! I'll do anything! Take anything!"
The raider laughs. Brings the sword down.
The blade stops mid-swing. Frozen. The raider's laugh cuts off. Everything stops—the screaming, the running, even the wind. The only sound is Chad's labored breathing and my own thundering heartbeat.
"Anything. How original."
The voice comes from everywhere. The air goes cold, smelling of ozone and old iron. Shadows bleed together, knitting into a shape that is tall, broad-shouldered, and beautiful the way expensive weapons are beautiful—crafted for a specific, violent purpose. His eyes are black with threads of gold running through them. When he looks at me, I feel stripped bare. Not my body. Everything else.
"You summoned me." He sounds bored. "Desperate little thing, aren't you?"
"Save him." I press harder on Chad's wound. "Please. I'll give you whatever you want."
The demon—what else could he be—circles us slowly. Silent footsteps.
"Whatever I want," he repeats, flat. "Do you even understand what you're offering?"
"I don't care." Chad's breathing gets shallower. "Take it all. Just don't let him die."
The demon stops in front of me. He crouches down, bringing us eye level. He smells of iron and smoke and something else, something that makes the bones in my jaw buzz.
"Your soul for his life."
"Yes."
"Forever."
"Yes!"
He tilts his head. "You don't even know my name."
"I don't need your name. Take my soul. Save Chad."
Something flickers across his face. Not surprise. Interest, maybe. He reaches out, claws barely grazing my cheek. The touch burns cold.
"Are you sure?"
The question stops me. Why would a demon ask that? But Chad makes a wet, choking sound, blood bubbling on his lips.
"I'm sure. Take it. Take everything."
The demon stands. Extends his hand. "Then we have a bargain, Adraya."
I didn't tell him my name.
I take his hand anyway.
