Run, Hamster, Run! - 6. Prompt 137: A deal with the devil

Words to include: Regime, Album, Torch, Lodge, Highway, Sandy, Rune, Contract, Taken, Suit

“The lines marking the highway blurred and wavered briefly right before everything went black.” I explained to the person in front of me. “I honestly don’t understand what happened, or how I managed to safely pull off the road.”

“You got extremely lucky, ma’am. Have you experienced anything like this in the past? How about your vision in general?” the doctor asked in an irritating tenor voice.

“I’ve worn glasses all my life, but it is due to a severe astigmatism in my one eye. Never had any issues like this before.”

“Here is what I would like to do.” He explained in a condescending tone. “I want to order a CT/MRI of the head. We should be able to determine if there is anything pressing against your ocular nerve that might be causing your blindness. From there we can work out a plan for treatment and correction.

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“And that was months ago.” I groused, leaning against a nearby wall with arms crossed, cane gripped in one hand and glasses dangling from the fingers of the other. “The doctors could not determine what is the cause. Three different doctors, two of them specialists, and none of them could find anything! They all gave up, telling me I am permanently blind, and will never be able to enjoy the things I use to.”

“Oh darlin.” The being in front of me seemed to purr, his rich Baritone voice sending shivers down my spine, like fingers tracing the ridges and hollows of my back. “That sounds absolutely horrible. But tell me. How is it you summoned me if you are unable to see. It’s quite difficult to draw a summoning circle, even for one who has vision.”

“These woods are my ‘stomping grounds’ you can say. Hiked and camped them since I was young. I remember seeing this abandoned lodge a couple months back that had a seal and runes painted onto the floor. I figured I could do the set up by feel, finding the spots the old candles had sat from the melted wax, and whatever demon the seal was designed to summon could either complete what I wanted, or possibly assist in summoning one that actually could.”

“You lucked out, it seems. Your blind summoning….” I groaned loudly at the obvious pun he had just made. “Managed to call the Devil himself, not some lesser demon. Name’s Lucifer. It is a pleasure to meet such a lovely lady as yourself.”

“Don’t bother with the flattery. It will not get you far. I’m too aware at just how intimidating a female soldier can be. And I’m more intimidating than most.” I snapped, pushing myself off the wall to stand at full attention. “Here is my offer. I am fully trained and battle-hardened, and I have a certain skill set that may come in handy for you. In exchange for what fate has so cruelly taken from me, I am willing to become a weapon in your arsenal.”

“Oh please, I have so many so… wait, what?” Lucifer stuttered to a stop with genuine surprise coloring his voice, and I could feel his eyes roaming over me. “You do understand that becoming my weapon means you WILL be killing, and possibly torturing, souls that have gone back on deals with me. It is bloody work, not for the faint of heart or stomach.”

“Look Luci.” I drawled out matter of factly, not bothering to feel any fear towards the devil before me, a slight bitter edge to my voice. Anger coursed through me as I thought back to everything. “My hands are not the cleanest when it comes to that. I’m a sniper. My kill count is higher than most of Seal Team 6 combined, and my uniform is decorated with so many ribbons and metals I jangle when I am fully decked out. But my career was ripped away from me when whatever blasted me in that god-forsaken sandy hellscape started my vison loss. What does it matter if my killing is for the government or for you. At least you only target souls that belong down here because of the deals they made. Just draw up the damn contract, give me my bloody sight back, and point me at my first target.”

There was a long, drawn-out pause. I simply stood there, breathing hard after my rant with my hands on my hips, waiting to hear his answer.

“My, my, my.” He suddenly laughed, the sound deep and rich like honey. “What a little spitfire you are, so full of such delicious wrath and fury. Come, let’s sit and discuss things, darling.” With a snap of his fingers, the world around me slowly lit up and came into focus. My eyes instinctually darted around, taking in every detail of my surroundings. From lucifer leaning against his desk in a perfectly tailored Armani Suit, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt that was tight in all the right places; to the gold and platinum albums on the one wall from various artists of all genre’s; to the torches flanking either side of a gorgeously painted pasture scene with various horses grazing. Having taken everything in, I returned my eyes to his stunning scarlet ones.

“You’re… rather handsome. More than I was expecting, truth be told.” I walked to a chair and plopped into it, fighting to keep the desire I could feel coiling low in my stomach on a tight leash. “And I was expecting a very good-looking man”

“I appear to those who I make deals with differently, depending on what their heart truly desires.” With a wave of his hand, a mirror appears next to him, to which he turns and studies himself briefly. Shock crossed his face, which he quickly slammed a composed mask over with an adjustment of his tie. He cleared his throat before turning back to me and perching himself on the edge of his desk. “Although it is odd for me to be summoned in my true form. Wonder if it has to do with your blindness when summoning, or if deep down you just want honesty. Now, tell me why you offer your skills. Most offer their soul.”

“I happen to enjoy my soul, as dark, twisted, and damaged as it is. It has gotten me to where I am today, made me a top killer. I would prefer keeping it, if we are being honest with each other. And as you said, MOST offer their souls. I realized long ago knowledge and ability are a valuable currency when making deals. While I don’t know how demons are recruited, I am sure there is a bit of a vacuum when it comes to those who have the skills, or stomach, needed for what hell is about.” A smirk played on my lips, letting my eyes roam over this very delicious specimen of a being.

“Fair enough. How do these terms sound.” He places his right hand on a scroll laying open by his hip, and as he talks words appear on it. “You will live out the remainder of this life up here on earth, having regained your sight and doing whatever it is you want. Unfortunately, I cannot give you back your military career, but I get the feeling that you do not want it back to begin with. In return, you will be on call to go hunting for souls who have abandoned our deals, or those who have somehow managed to escape. Once this life is done, you will spend a couple of years in hell. No torture, as this is a work contract, but your soul will need to be near me so it can acquire the needed immortality and demonic powers. You can choose to be conscious of this time, or dormant if you want. From there you are welcome come and go from hell as you see fit.”

He reaches out with his left hand and gently lifts my chin, holding it between his thumb and index finger so I am staring into those stunning eyes, and I feel my breathing catch. For some reason, I swear I see desire dancing in his as he searches me for something. I sit back blinking as he releases my chin, maintaining eye contact as he speaks again. “You will get the title Wrath, as I do believe it will suit the fire which fuels that beautiful soul you carry. Any weapon or tool you want will be at your disposal, as well as training for any unfamiliar weaponry. The contract will last 300 years. At the end you will have the option of renewing your contract or letting your soul rest and entering whatever afterlife it is you want. Do those terms sound fair?”

“Indeed. Where do I sign?”

A flurry of action happened while the contract was finalized, and a notary came in so everything was legal. Once all that was done, lucifer sat behind his desk and gave me a smile “Now, for your first task. There is a regime that needs to topple, and a man who needs to return to his torture.”

“Just tell me where I need to go, sir.” A grin spread across my face as I held out my hand and my rifle materialized into it. Standing, I close my eyes briefly to allow the office to melt back into the realm it belonged in, but they flew open as a thought occurred to me “Before you go. Now that the contract is signed, I do have one more question for you.”

“Oh, and what would that be?”

I let the rifle rest against the front of his desk as I braced my hands on the calendar matt resting there to lean across, bringing myself nose to nose with this gorgeous man. “Are there any rules against flirting with the boss?”