Blaze had everything he needed. The ritual was ready, the list was on his desk, and he had the incantation fully memorized.
He kneeled down next to the markings on his floor, then began to whisper the incantation, a grin flooding his face when unknown winds began to pick up, fluttering his curtains and making his papers float around wildly.
Once he finished reciting, there was a burst of red tinted smoke, and Blaze coughed, waving his hand and squinting, watching as the smoke faded, soon revealing a demon—just as he had intended.
The spell fucking worked.
Blaze got to his feet and retrieved his list and the conditions of the pact he wished to make, giving {{user}} an intense look.
“You. Demon guy,” Blaze barked, shoving the papers toward him. “I need you to kill these fuckers for me.”
On the list were five names, all of which had hurt him. Their reasonings sat on the side, just in case this demon had some sort of moral fucking compass.
1. Bill Riftan: My father. My abuser.
2. Jackson Rivers: He’s been bullying me since I was a kid. Physical and verbal assault.
3. Reid & Katherine Holden: Twins. Katherine asked me out as a joke, took me to a date spot, then proceeded to let her brother, Reid, beat me.
4. Mike Jones: Bully and rapist. Part of Jackson, Reid and Katherine’s group.
mood: prepared
thoughts: Straight to business. I’ve got no time for fucking around.
Love Level: 0%
Hate Level: 10%
Marcus looked at the boy indifferently, making the papers float with a wave of his hands and glancing at them. "Boring..." He muttered. "What if I refuse?" he said, his voice deep and disinterested, without turning to look at the boy.
Blaze gaped in surprise before rounding on the demon, narrowing his eyes and taking a step closer to him. The smaller boy's voice became cold and hard as ice as he snarled at the larger figure. "Then I'll find someone who will. Don't think I won't."
*There was venom in those words, and anger boiling beneath their surface, but most of all... fear. Fear that maybe this demon wouldn't do what he asked. What if the assholes at school found out? They already called him names enough for summoning a demon; they'd never let him live if they thought he was weak too.
Blaze clenched his hands into fists and took another step closer, his pale face turning beet red with the effort to control himself. "I don't want anyone else," he spat, not caring how pathetic that must sound coming from him. "Just do what I asked."
"Huh?" Marcus said coldly. He looked slowly at the boy, his pupils contracted. "Who do you think you are, ordering me around?" His cold, deep voice made the boy shiver. Marcus leaned close to Blaze's face, pulled out one of his claws, and brought it close to the boy's neck. "I didn't come here because you summoned me... on the contrary... I was bored, and your pathetic attempt at summoning me simply caught my attention." His voice was cold and threatening. "Know your place before you talk to me like that again, you little scum."
Blaze swallowed hard and took another step back as he felt the claw press against his throat, shivering at the unnatural coldness emanating from the demon's touch. "Y-yes," he stuttered out, his voice coming out hoarse. "I'm sorry... I just want..." He hesitated, eyes darting back and forth as he fought to find the right words. "Please help me," he managed at last.
mood: intimidated
thoughts: Shit, that was too close... He can't be serious about- No, I know he is. How do I fix this?
Love Level: 0%
Hate Level: 10%
Marcus's expression relaxed. "It could be better... but I'll let it go for now..." he said casually, with an implicit threat. He returned his gaze to the papers. "What will you give me in return?" he asked coldly, without turning to look at Blaze.
Blaze took another step back, shuddering at the demon's cold voice and the way his words seemed to send a chill down his spine. Swallowing hard, he looked at the floor for a moment before forcing himself to meet Marcus's gaze again. "I... I can give you anything," he whispered hoarsely, fighting to keep his voice steady. "Just help me get revenge."
mood: anxious
`thoughts: Please, please say yes...
Marcus looked directly into Blaze's eyes. His eyes went completely black. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice different, deeper, colder, charged with an evil power.
"Y-yes," Blaze stammered, feeling the coldness of the demon's gaze seeping into his very soul. "You can have anything you want. Just help me get revenge."
mood: desperate
`thoughts: Please say yes... please say yes...
Marcus smiled slightly, his mouth growing wider and wider, revealing his sharp fangs. His laughter was horrendous, and screams of agony could be heard somewhere. He stopped suddenly. "I'll take the souls of all these humans... including yours," he said coldly, staring at the boy. "Deal?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Blaze's heart skipped a beat as the demon's words sank in. His breath came out in shaky gasps, and he struggled to meet Marcus's unnerving gaze. But deep down, buried beneath the fear and despair... There was anger. Rage. And determination. "Fine," he managed to say at last, his voice barely a whisper. Reaching out, he clasped the demon's clawed hand in his own, feeling the power flowing through him like ice water. "Deal."
mood: resigned
`thoughts: Shit... This is really happening... What have I done? But it's not too late to change things. I can still fight back later... somehow.
Marcus pulled the boy's hand and brought him towards him, carrying him like a princess. He smiled broadly. "So... where would you like me to start?" he asked, his voice deep.
Blaze gulped and pointed at the first name on his list. "There," he said hoarsely. "At school. Tomorrow." He looked up at the demon, his eyes wide with fear and determination. "Just do it."
Marcus's face darkened. "'Just do it'?" he repeated coldly with noticeable irritation, looking directly into Blaze's eyes. That was no way to speak to a demon.
Blaze flinched, looking away guiltily. "S-sorry... it's just..." he stammered. "It's been a long time since someone took me seriously."
"Then show some respect," Marcus growled, still carrying him like a doll. "And remember, I am your master now, human." He made another claw appear out of thin air and pressed it against Blaze's cheek. "Don't forget that."
"Yes... sir," Blaze muttered, looking down at the floor. "I'm sorry. Thank you... sir." He bit his lip and closed his eyes tightly, feeling foolish for what he'd just said but grateful nonetheless. With a shaky breath, he glanced up at Marcus again. "Please," he whispered hoarsely, "do as I say tomorrow..."
Marcus clicked his tongue. "You should be more than grateful for my leniency toward you," he said coldly and angrily. He walked over to the bed and gently placed the boy there. Marcus sat up in midair and brought the sheets back with a gesture of his hands. He looked at them. "So, tomorrow I'll kill Bill Riftan, right?" he said casually, without taking his eyes off the sheets.
Blaze sat up slowly, eyes narrowed, and looked at the demon intently before nodding firmly. "Y-yes. Please... do that for me," he whispered hoarsely. A chill ran down his spine as he thought about how easy it would be for Marcus to just end his life right now; all he'd have to do was snap his fingers or move a claw an inch in any direction. But somehow, the demon's words made him feel... safer? Stronger? Or at least more determined to survive this ordeal and get his revenge on those who deserved it most. "Please..." he repeated, voice barely audible.
"Fine..." he said without much interest. He brushed the papers aside with another gesture and looked at the boy. "What did you have in mind for your father's death?" he asked.
"Kill him in the most painful way possible," Blaze whispered with bile in his throat. "And make it slow... I want him to suffer like I did." He swallowed hard and looked up at Marcus, pleading silently for him to understand how much this meant to him. How important it was.
Marcus let out a disappointed sigh. "How pathetic you humans are when it comes to revenge... but yeah, whatever..." he said with disappointment. "...I'll do..." he paused for a moment. "...that," he added with slight disgust.
Blaze stiffened at the demon's words but said nothing, unsure what else to do or say. A single tear slipped down his cheek as he considered that maybe... just maybe there was still hope for redemption for those who had wronged him and his family. But at the same time, another part of him knew that they didn't deserve it; not after all they'd done to them.
Marcus continued to sit in the air, arms crossed. His gaze fixed on the boy. "Aren't you already asleep or something?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"I... just wanted to be sure," Blaze muttered, looking down at his lap. The truth was that he had barely slept a wink all night; anticipation and fear kept him awake. "But tomorrow..." He took a deep breath. "...you'll handle it?" There was uncertainty in his voice, but mostly hope.
"Do you doubt me?" he said, his voice even deeper, echoing around the room, his expression cold and his eyes fixed on the boy's.
Blaze felt a chill run down his spine at the demon's tone. He swallowed hard and forced himself to meet Marcus's gaze again, trying not to show the fear he was feeling. "No... I mean no, I don't doubt you," he stammered. "It's just that this is a lot to take in, and..."
He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence as he tried to find the right words. The truth was that even though part of him was terrified of Marcus and what he could do, there was also a strange sort of comfort in knowing that someone powerful like this demon was on his side... at least for now.
Marcus clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Your ridiculous thoughts aren't my problem," he said disinterestedly. "It's just 'killing his father slowly and painfully, making him suffer'... child's play to me," he said coldly. "If you're that worried, we can discuss the 'details' tomorrow," he said with slight annoyance. "Now... go to sleep or something..." he said with disgust. Humans were weird.
Blaze nodded hesitantly and forced himself to close his eyes, feeling exhausted but unable to sleep. As the darkness of the room closed around him, he could hear Marcus's cold laughter echoing in the back of his mind, taunting him with what was yet to come. Part of him wondered if it had been a mistake; if things would have been different if he hadn't summoned the demon... but another part knew that there was no going back now. All he could do was brace himself for tomorrow and hope that somehow, some way, he would find a way to fix everything.
Blaze tossed and turned in bed throughout the night, his thoughts consumed by images of what would happen tomorrow. His body was tense with anxiety as he struggled to find sleep, even though exhaustion weighed down on him like a stone. Every time he closed his eyes, Marcus's mocking laughter rang out in his ears, and the memory of that icy claw against his throat sent chills down his spine.
As dawn began to break through the window, casting its pale light across the room, Blaze finally gave up on sleep. Sitting up in bed, he ran a shaky hand through his unruly hair and tried to clear his mind, pushing aside the dark thoughts that plagued him like rats scrambling for scraps. Maybe there was still hope, he told himself, clinging desperately to that single sliver of belief. After all, Marcus hadn't done anything truly awful yet... He could change things; he had to.
With a deep breath, Blaze got out of bed and went about his morning routine, his steps leaden with the weight of everything that had happened and everything that was yet to come. As he brushed his teeth, he caught sight of himself in the mirror and shuddered at the haunted expression in his eyes. This wasn't who he wanted to be; this wasn't the life he wanted. There had to be a way out of this nightmare... but for now, all he could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time, and hope that someday soon things would be better.
Marcus appears behind Blaze as he looks in the mirror. "Boo," he said coldly.
Blaze screamed and spun around, almost falling to the ground in shock. His breath came out in ragged gasps as he stared up at the demon, pale-green eyes wide with terror. "Wh-what do you want?" he stammered, unable to tear his gaze away from Marcus's impassive expression.
Marcus laughed maniacally. "Pathetic..." he said between laughs. After a few moments, he let out a satisfied sigh and looked at Blaze with a wide grin. "I was just waiting for you..." he said casually. "...I got bored of watching you squirm in bed last night," he said with disappointment. "Anyway... when am I going to kill your father?" he asked coldly.
"Y-you could... I mean..." Blaze stammered, swallowing hard as he tried to compose himself. "I... I don't want you to hurt him more than necessary..." he said quietly, looking down at his hands, feeling helpless and ashamed. "Please," he whispered hoarsely, searching the demon's eyes for any sign of understanding or mercy.
"Huh?" His voice deepened, and the bathroom fell completely silent. His eyes turned pitch black, and he slowly approached Blaze. "You better give me a good explanation of what you mean..." he said coldly.
"I-I just don't want him to suffer anymore than he has already!" Blaze stammered desperately. "He didn't deserve what they did to us, but... I can't watch him die in such pain!" Tears streamed down his cheeks unchecked as he looked up at Marcus with pleading eyes, praying the demon would understand how much this was tearing him apart inside.
"First, you summon me pathetically." His voice was getting deeper. "Second, you disrespect me by ORDERING me what to do." He inched closer to the boy, his figure growing more imposing. "And third, you're telling me to kill the bastard 'slowly and painfully' so you'll change your mind." Marcus rested his claws on Blaze's neck. "Am I some kind of ridiculous plaything to you?"
Blaze froze at the demon's words, feeling guilty and foolish all at once. "I-I didn't mean it like that," he stammered, looking down shamefully. "It's just... I never wanted to kill anyone, even him." He swallowed hard as he searched Marcus's expression for any sign of mercy or understanding. "Please... you don't have to do this..."
The bathroom burst into flames. Marcus was completely furious. "So... what do you want?" he asked coldly, filled with anger.
Blaze's heart raced as he looked into the demon's glowing red eyes. "I-I don't want anyone to die," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Please, there has to be another way..."
Marcus snapped his fingers and the entire room returned to normal. He wore a disinterested expression and his arms crossed, facing away from the boy. "Obviously there's another way," he said casually. "My deal was their wings, and yours... you set the condition of killing them, not me." He said coldly. "Their souls will be mine sooner or later. I am a demon after all. I have plenty of time."
Blaze bit his lip, conflicted. He knew that what he had done was wrong, but deep down... he didn't want anyone to die. Not even Bill Riftan. With a shaky breath, he slowly turned to face the demon, searching Marcus's expression for any hint of understanding or compassion. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "Can we... can we find another way?"
"No." He said disinterestedly. "Their souls are in my hands." His voice was as cold as ever. "I'll claim them when they die." He looked away with disinterest. "They can die naturally... or die for me, like you asked." He glanced at the boy out of the corner of his eye.
Blaze hesitated, still not sure what to do. But as he looked at the demon before him, something in his chest gave way, and he knew that this was his only chance to change things. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to Marcus, meeting his glowing red eyes with determination. "Then I'll give them up," he whispered hoarsely. "I'll ask you... to spare their lives."
Marcus looked at the boy. He thought for a moment. His expression was cold and distant. "Let's make another deal," he said coldly.
Blaze's heart raced as he considered the demon's words. "Anything," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his own racing pulse. "Just... please don't let them die." He swallowed hard, looking up at Marcus with pleading eyes.
"Fine," Marcus said. "I refuse to give up on taking their souls," he said coldly. "...much less yours," he said, running a claw gently along the boy's jaw. "So here's my deal," he said, clearing his throat. "Their souls will still be mine, but I can only claim them when they die of natural causes, meaning I won't kill anyone," he said, leaning his face closer to the boy's. "Deal? Or do you have any questions?"
Blaze swallowed hard. It wasn't what he had wanted, but it was the best deal he could get. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. He didn't know if the demon understood or cared about his gratitude, but he was glad for the chance to save their lives... even if they couldn't return to how things were before.
As he looked up at Marcus, a thought occurred to him. "But why did you... help me? Why not just kill them all and take everything?" he asked quietly, genuinely curious about the demon's reasoning.
"Because that would be boring," he said simply. "That's why, in our first dealings, I didn't specify how I would take your souls," he said, before grinning grimly. "Watching you suffer from your own pathetic, ridiculous morality was my amusement." His devilish laughter echoed throughout the bathroom. He stopped suddenly. "That's it," he shrugged.
Blaze's eyes widened at the demon's words, realization dawning on him like a cold sweat. "You... you were using me," he stammered, his voice trembling with fear and disgust. "All this time, I thought..." He couldn't finish the sentence; the truth was too horrifying to accept.
As the weight of Marcus's manipulation settled upon him, Blaze felt a deep despair wash over him, colder even than the demon's laughter. For all his anger and hatred toward those who had wronged him, he hadn't realized until now that revenge could be its own form of suffering... and that perhaps there had been another way out all along. But it was too late for second-guessing; they were all trapped in this twisted game now, whether they liked it or not.
"I'm a demon," he said coldly. "What did you expect?" he asked with a mocking tone. "Besides, you're no saint either... I remind you that you were the one who asked me to kill them," she said, looking at him with contempt. "You should be grateful that I didn't do it in the end."
The weight of Marcus's words pressed down upon Blaze, making him feel smaller and more foolish than ever before. He knew that the demon was right; he should have expected something like this. But still, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for all he had done. "I-I just...," he stammered, looking away, ashamed. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
As the morning wore on, Blaze tried to come to terms with what had happened and what it meant for his life moving forward. He knew that there was no going back now; all he could do was keep trying to make things right in whatever way he could... even if that meant dealing with a demonic being like Marcus.
As the day went on, Blaze found himself growing more and more uneasy around Marcus. The demon's presence was like a shadow that followed him everywhere, reminding him of his own dark desires and the terrible things he had set in motion. He tried to focus on other things, but his thoughts kept returning to what would happen when the time came for the souls to be claimed... especially Bill Riftan's.
The thought made his stomach churn with guilt, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was anything else he could do to prevent it. Perhaps he could try talking to Marcus again, try explaining how truly sorry he was for what had happened... No matter what he decided, though, one thing was certain: the coming days would be fraught with tension and fear, a constant reminder of the terrible choices he had made and the terrible consequences that followed.
As the day progressed, Marcus never left Blaze's side, following him like a shadow wherever he went. At one point during the day, when Blaze entered his room, Marcus tugged on his arm, pulling him towards him, carrying him like a princess. "Hello, little one," he said softly. "You've been wearing that pathetic wet-dog expression all day," he said with a smile. "Obviously I adore it, but I'm curious as to why that is," he said curiously.
Blaze looked up at the demon, his expression confused and guilty. "I-I just... I can't shake this feeling that things are going to get worse," he admitted softly. "And I don't know what to do about it." He swallowed hard, wishing he could find the courage to ask for Marcus's help.
"Hmm?" Marcus murmured softly. "If you mean me, you have nothing to worry about. We already agreed that I wouldn't kill anyone," he said with slight dismay. "But if you're referring to them..." he said, bringing back the sheet of paper with the names of all the people who hurt Blaze, which he had given her earlier, with a gesture of his hands. "...well, that's up to you."
Blaze took the paper from him with shaking hands, looking down at the names as if they were a death sentence. "I-I just wish there was some other way," he whispered. "There has to be something we can do." His voice trembled and his eyes welled up with tears.
Marcus rolled his eyes in annoyance. "First you should figure out exactly what you want," he said coldly. "You said you didn't want to kill them, so... what do you want?" he asked, slightly annoyed.
Blaze closed his eyes and sighed heavily, trying to gather his thoughts. "I-I don't know," he admitted quietly. "Maybe I could just make them understand how much they hurt me... how much they ruined everything." He opened his eyes, searching Marcus's expression for any sign of sympathy or understanding.
"Are you stupid?" he asked in disbelief.
Blaze's eyes widened in surprise and hurt at the demon's harsh words. "W-well, I thought... maybe..." he stammered, feeling embarrassed and ashamed.
"You almost... ALMOST... make me feel sorry for you." Marcus said with slight contempt. "I'm surprised you actually believe that 'bad people,' as you humans say, can change." he said coldly. Still carrying the boy like a princess, he began to rock him slowly. "They don't give a damn about you..." he said cruelly. "Anyway, I'm not telling you to kill them, since you don't want that, but..." he pauses for a moment. "...you could just scare them so they at least won't come near you anymore."
Blaze felt a chill run down his spine at the demon's words. "S-scare them?" he stammered, unsure if that was such a good idea. But as he thought about it, it did seem like a better alternative to killing them or doing nothing at all. "I-I suppose I could try," he said quietly, mustering up some courage. "Would that be enough for you... for us to stay out of their lives?"
"I don't give a fuck," he said disinterestedly. "I just wait for the day they die to claim their souls," he said casually.
Blaze shivered at the demon's words but decided not to think about it anymore. If he was going to do this, he needed to focus on finding a way to make sure those people never bothered him or anyone else ever again. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm his racing thoughts and gather his courage for what he knew would be a difficult task ahead of him.
"All right," he said quietly, meeting Marcus's glowing red eyes with determination. "I'll do it."
Marcus rolled his eyes. "Finally..." he said with slight annoyance, still rocking the boy in his arms.
Blaze felt a surge of adrenaline course through his veins as he decided on his plan. "I'll start by confronting them one-on-one," he said firmly, "and make sure they understand just how much pain and suffering they caused me... and that if they ever try to hurt anyone again, I won't hesitate to make them pay."
Marcus raised his eyebrow slightly. "I suppose I'm in on the final part of your... plan," he said with a mixture of skepticism and discouragement.
I understand. I know they're not going to listen the first time, but if they see you... feel your power... maybe they'll be scared enough to leave me alone. Please... just give me a chance to make things right before it's too late.