Elowyn's wish

"There's a good girl, come here chérie, no need to be afraid," the Devil purrs affectionately, drawing me closer towards him, his black nails curling around my pale skin. There is no denying there is something irresistibly attractive in his dark features, the promise of something spectacular, some life changing revelation if only I were to go with him.

In all honesty, I think I might. Fuck this palace of lies and deceit, I want to be somewhere where I can be free- and the Downside sounds all the more promising by the second.

"Don't, Elowyn, stay here, stay with your mother," groans the Queen from the side-lines, portions of her pale skin stained charcoal black, her weight supported now by both Alastor and Yariel as she struggles to raise herself to stand. Just as I am about to bite back, shoot some witty remark in her general direction, the devil raises his gloved hand, as if to say: 'I've got this', and my mouth clamps shut. Without looking at the Queen, the Devil sighs lightly:

"Don't interfere, Akari. My tolerance with you is running rather thin, and you know what happens if you do test me," he warns with an acrid growl. A collective shiver runs through the crowd of spectators, each one of them sinking lower and lowering into the ground, except one noble man, who jeers at the Devil, raising his fists towards the ceiling in protest.

Seeing a perfect opportunity to demonstrate his point, the Devil flicks a finger into the crowd towards the foolish man, and in one terrifying moment, the noble man bursts into an ashen dust, his remains scattering like a fine mist over the marble floor. Screams rise up from the crowd in a terrified cacophony of noise, but no movement occurs, everyone too terrified of what might become of them if they try to breath, let alone escape.

Up on the dais, my mother's groans of protest fall silence, her lips pursed tightly, words finally failing her.

I flash the Devil a bitter look, my foot tapping against the ground.

"Was that necessary?"

He shrugs in response, quite obviously unfazed.

"Maybe. Now then, Princess. I believe you wanted to make a deal with me, hmm?" he whispers softly, lifting a finger under my chin to bring my eyes level with his. His feathery black wings cocoon around us, and a strange darkness exudes from his being, enshrouding our forms in a blanket of shadows, blocking out any life and light. All of a sudden it is only the two of us, engulfed in the darkness of empty nothingness, little more than a trickle of noise coming from the outside. I gulp.

"Yes, I do," I whisper, almost a little breathlessly, clamping my hand more tightly around his, as though afraid to let go. This man is my chance, my lifeline: one final opportunity to swing the tides of so called fate. Devil or not, I am taking every opportunity that I can get, and this is one hell of an opportunity.

I just need to play my cards right.

The corner of the devil's mouth lifts in a faint amusement, sensing the eagerness that radiates off me like smoke from a fire.

"And you are aware of the rules? Whatever I offer you, or whatever payment I ask, you have to take it, there's no going back. You understand, Princess?"

I nod firmly.

"I understand, I am not a little kid you know."

The devil smiles widely.

"I know. Then what is your wish, chérie?"

I take a deep breath. They always say when making deals with the devil to give him as few loopholes to exploit as possible. This is my one chance to get this right, I need to make this count.

"I can really ask anything of you, anything I want?" I ask, almost pleadingly. Truth be told, to say there isn't at least a margin of hesitation in my mind about going to hell would be a flat out lie. It is not so much the prospect of going to hell that I oppose- rather that seems like an awfully wonderful adventure. It is more the knowledge of what I am leaving behind that makes me hesitate on the matter.

I peer over the devils shoulder, out into the blackness that surrounds us, my eyes reaching nothing but empty space. There is no sign of Alastor, or Alicia, or anyone. It is just me and him, and the darkness.

He gives me a long, searching look, brows raised with curiosity.

"I thought you knew the rules, Princess?" he chuckles darkly, his eyes twinkling dangerously in the light. I wrinkle my nose with distaste.

"Well, I want to make sure you aren't tricking me, I want to hear it from the source."

The devil sighs, his magnificent wings splaying out behind him, reaching out into the darkness, stirring the air with a small breaths of wind. A slight look of amusement plays on his handsome face.

"A clever girl you are. But yes, my word is absolute, you may have whatever you want. You could even stay here if you wish, though I doubt you will last very long. As soon as the demon hunters get a whiff of you, you will no longer be a free woman. Whats more, you are of age. Your powers will begin to express themselves soon, whether you like it or not, and that is always a rather volatile experience. While I protest you will be safer with me and that I will take care of you, I did offer you a deal. You can have anything you desire, cara mea." he murmurs softly, his fingers brushing lightly down my cheek, as though to wipe away the invisible tracks of tears that have formed over the years.

I nod slowly as his hand encloses further around mine. Alright then. I think I know how to make this work.

I take a big breath, steeling my nerves.

"Okay. Then I ask to come and live in your world, in the Downside. But I do not want to stay trapped there. I want you to let me move between worlds on my own whim, so that I might be able to still return to the Upper Realms if I so see fit. And," I add, holding onto him a fraction tighter. "I want you to train me- you say I have powers, then show me how to use them. If you are as great as they say you are, this should be of no issue for you, I'm sure."

The devil leans in closer, his breath fanning across my face. His sultry eyes twinkle in the darkness.

"Believe me, Princess," he purrs. "You shall be my magnum opus."

Between the place of contact between the devil's hand and mine, a spark flares, crackling in the air between us and fizzling out into the darkness. The contract has been made.

"Done," he says, withdrawing his hand from mine as he slides it up my arm, whisking a stray strand of white hair away from my eyes. "You shall be able to move freely from the Upper Realm and the downside without consequence. The people of the Upper Realm and demons of the downside shall no longer be able to rule you, charm you, or even glamour you into suggestibility. And you shall stay in the Downside to be trained as the goddess you were always meant to be. But in return," he says, lowering his eyes to peer at me through sooty lashes. Lightly, his thumb brushes over my lips, sending tingles sparking through me at the tender warmth of his touch. His eyes meet mine.

"You are to become my companion within my palace, live there, as my consort, if you will. Your skill set will be rather useful for the… requirements for a particular number of positions in the Downside. And I would rather to get to know you, you see, you are rather important, to me and my people. And until I am sure you will not try to swindle your way out of my palace, until I state otherwise, over you I shall have absolute rule."