The Devil’s bargain 1/3

Inside the dark, cold cell, the expression on Nick's face is priceless!

Taking a deep breath, the fiery redhead lets go of the iron bars, takes a step backward, and finally, on the cell's floor, takes the lotus position.

I look at him patiently waiting for an answer. The boy doesn't reciprocate the action, instead, he closes his eyes and gathers his thoughts. After a few beats, he catches my gaze and finally speaks.

"If I answer this question, what guarantee do I have you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"None, but that's a risk you'll have to take! The alternative is losing your wooden cross forever, your choice.

He frowns with annoyance, forcing the tiny dot under his lower lip, to shift.

"It's a long and complicated answer."

Hearing this, I casually respond, still seated with my legs crossed and a smirk on my handsome stolen face.

"Fret not, I have all the time in the world,(literally).

He nods, and I listen.

"Okay Let's see, where should I begin? Ahh yes, the day my father was killed, I think that's where it all began." The answer to your question starts with his death!"

Expressionless, I nod urging him to continue.

"When the news of his death came, I was helping my brother, Erik with his new house. Even though I was only ten, I remember it well because he was so happy to finally get a place of his own, away from our father's."

(Mm, the bastard was probably a big, fat pain in the ass. Honestly, I can relate, my mother was also exhausting at times.)

For the next few months after that, I was a ghost! Living in a world where my father was no longer part of, drove me into complete despair."

"But then, one starry night, while I was at the edge of a cliff ready to jump, no longer caring for my life.

An old man with a wooden cross, wearing a brown robe just like the one I wear myself, found me and said this one sentence.

{"The lord weeps with your sorrow young child, don't make him suffer greater anguish with your untimely demise."}

(Pffff.. For real! No shit, That's the corniest line I've ever heard! Imagine that as a pick-up line, HAHAHAHA. Oh man, this kid is killing me)!

(Anyway, moving on, that must've probably been the monk who introduced him to 'The Lord, he keeps going on about).

"At first, I didn't believe a word he said. Why would a God care for a human, a child at that?"

"The Gods I knew as a kid were only interested In strong, powerful, and otherwise brave Vikings. Not a ten-year-old fatherless child, like me."

"But the more I heard him preach about Jesus and all the good he had done for the people of his time, the easier it was to believe."

(I mean not really, both my parents were Catholic and I still didn't give two fucks about God, Jesus and all that crap.)

(If I hadn't met Sir God, I still wouldn't believe. Not to mention, I'm not even sure if I believe in the so-called gods of Earth. If they truly existed then why haven't they done anything to stop me from bringing magic into the world.)

The more I hear the more annoyed I get.

"Jesus loves everyone, the weak, the poor, the rich, the believers and the non-believers, even the murderers, the prostitutes and the beggars on the corners of the streets."

(Geez, I knew he was a fanatic, but man can he go on about Jesus! I know I have all the time in the world and everything but come on, get to the damn!! All this talk about religion and

Jesus is boring the fuck out of me.)

"You can skip the preaching, you won't make a believer out of me." I'm the 'devil remember!?

"Sorry, a force of habit. (I knew it, he was doing it on purpose, dam brat!)

"For the next 2 years, he taught me everything he could, finally, before he left on his travels, he gave me a wooden cross and brought me into a church where I could begin my training to become a proper monk."

"Where was Erik? Wasn't him your guardian? Why didn't he stop you?" "He seemed very cavalier on you became a Viking!"

"Like most Danes, he was probably too occupied rating some poor village somewhere in England."

"Frankly, I didn't pay much attention to him nor did he, me, for that matter.

When he finally found out it was too late, I was already a Christian monk."

(The shock he must have had!)

"Like I was saying before you rudely interrupted, I was about to begin my training at the church. At first, everything was fine, great even."

"I was taught how to read and write, how to heal the wounded, make prayers and property care for the sick, it was a dream come true."

"However, it all changed fairly quickly. Not all at once of course, but little by little.

"They started small, first, by making us cure only the rich, then they forced us to convert as many pagans as we could by all means necessary."

"What finally made me understand how crazy these people are, were the horrific witch hunts.

"Burning people was never something Jesus intended, guilty or otherwise.

I nod, what I saw on the plaza still fresh in my mind.

"That's when I realized, they were mad with power. They called themselves Christians but in truth, they're nothing but demons in disguise.

"Unholy charlatans corrupting The Lord's messages."

"So, I made it my mission in life to stop them no matter what, even if I end up losing my life in the process.

Today was my first attempt, sadly it didn't end as I had hoped."

"There you have it, that's my answer to your question. When can I expect my cross back?"

(An answer, more like a sermon! But I finally understand.)

(To think there's a monk who saw right through the church's unholy scam in this time and age. A fifteen-year-old boy at that!)

(Maybe he really is the right person for the job after all. If you ignore the whole Jesus fetish thing, this guy is frankly quite amazing. He obviously cares for people, he's brave, well-spoken and a as bonus hates the church and all it stands for. Should I give it to him?)

"Thank you for answering my question. I now know what I must do. I will return your cross before I leave Odense, tomorrow."

He gets up from the floor. walks back to the iron bars and smiles in gratitude.

I look him in the eye taking in his handsome young face and give him one in return.

Before I go, can I ask one more thing?

"Is not like I'm going anywhere so you might as well."

(Cheeky, I think I like him. He's going to make a good BEN TEN!)

"You said your mission in life is to stop the Catholic Church from corrupting your Lord's message."

"How are you going to do that with no money or power to speak of. The church is a mountain and you're but a tiny pebble."

"You saw what happened at the Plaza. The people won't just listen to you because you wear a robe and a wooden cross over your neck."

"They'll only listen to someone they trust, someone they can rely upon, someone like priest Kamar, for instance. In their eyes, you're nothing but a boy playing dress-up."

"And that was before when you were free, now you have no hope of ever accomplishing that, (I say looking around me)."

"So my question is, what now, what will you do now?

He looks at me as he grips the bars completely depressed and full of unwillingness.

"I-, I don't know. As you said I've got no money, no power, and now I'm imprisoned."

"Nevertheless, I won't give in to despair as I did before. I'll find a way. The Lord is my witness."

His eyes show a will of steel in them the red hair helps too.

(That's a strong will, right there. Exactly what I'm looking for. I've made my mind, If he can pass my test, then the watch is his.)

"Say I were to give you the power you need, what will you do with it?"

With apprehension in his voice, he responded.

"If you're referring to your strange magic, I can tell you I won't be needing it. I'm a child of the Lord, I refuse to use sorcery!

Man, if he passes my test, I'll have to find a way to keep him occupied so I won't have to listen to this every freaking time.) (Never thought I would say this, but thank God for the war that is about to happen!)

"No, not that something different, a holly artifact if you pleased." (that should get him interested)

He looks at me through the bars, doubting my every word. "A holly artifact you say?" how did you acquire such a thing?" "Not important."

"Look here,(I show him the Omnitrix).

This little device will grant you the power you need to stop the Church.

I uncross my legs, get up and walk to his cell. Finally, grip the iron bar and bend it apart from the rest, with the super-strength I got from my immortality to showcase the watch's power.

The boy's eyes grow in shock.

"H-, how?"

I bend them back to their original form.

"With the Omnitrix, (I point at the watch) you can do all this, and more, much, much more...."

The fiery redhead gulps.

" Iven if that's the case, why would you give it to me?

I look him right in the eyes.

"Because Nicklaus, you're its rightful owner!"

"I am? "Yes, you are!

The Omnitrix is a holly artifact so only the truest believer can use its full potential. I'm not much of a believer, plus I already have magic, so I don't really need it.

You, on the other hand, have nothing.

He looks at me still In dought, not completely buying it.

"What will I have to do to get it? Our previous bargain tells me you don't give anything for free."

"Hahaha, you're a smart kid. But your right there is a price, there is always a price."

"But dot fret, is nothing too bad, bargaining with me hasn't been so bad, hast it?"

"I Can't say yet, I still don't have my cross." I smile, "true enough."

Getting uncomfortable standing up, I walk back to my chair and sit down. Finally comfortable again, I cross my legs and I say.

"This time the price will be higher. Already expecting this he asks, "what do I have to do?"

"If you want the Omnitrix all you have to do is save the girl."

"The 'girl, do you mean? "Yes, that 'girl, the one from the plaza. She isn't a witch. There is only one wizard in this world and you and I both know who it is!

"You save her, the watch is yours."

That's impossible! She'll be guarded at all times by the church.

Believe me, if I could've saved her before I would have.

"Anyway, I'm imprisoned, or have you forgotten!"

Don't worry about any of that. I'll use my magic to help you get past the guards. All you have to do is get her out safe, and back to me.

"What do you say, wanna make one last deal with the devil? "

He stares at me in silence with a gleam in his eyes.

"I'll take your silence as a yes, then"

"The 'girl is set to die tomorrow at sunrise. Tonight at midnight, I'll come back and get you inside the church safely, after you're inside you'll have to figure out everything else by yourself."

"When you're both out and save, come find me by the woods to the east of the gate."

"What about Erik? I know we don't always agree on things and he's a Viking sinner, but I can't just abandon him, he's all I've got led."

(So he does care!)

"Don't worry about Erik I'll knock him out with a spell and bring him with me."

Nick smiled like a sadist. "He won't be happy when he wakes up." I don't expect him to."

"I've got to go now, remember, midnight."

He nods, and on that note, I get up turn my back at him and walk away.