Chapter 6: Demon Window Shopping

"What about this one?"

Rin grunts, "You trade half your life span, genius."

I smirk, "Well, if you read here, it says you can swap bodies after—"

Rin sighs loudly, "No, Jack."

I point to another page. "Well, what about this one? You can control fire and blow flames out of your mouth."

Rin grunts again, "No, Jack."

I tap the page again. "But it's really cool. You could be a dra—"

Rin interrupts, "Don't even finish that sentence. Why don't you pick it if it's so cool?"

I frown, "Well, the drawback is you lose your sense of touch and taste."

Rin audibly sighs, "Then why would I want it, Jack?"

I shrug, "You're always eating that weird vegetarian stuff anyways, figured you wouldn't miss it that much."

Rin pushes me aside, "I will decide for myself, thank you, dumbass."

Rin and I have been going back and forth like this for over an hour. We have no time limit, and this is a big decision, so we've been taking our time.

Rin turns page after page. We've gone through about half of them, most of them having pretty bad drawbacks. Rin scoffs, "Don't just pick them based on what they offer anyway. You will be sharing your body with this thing, maybe for the rest of your life. Read the background information too."

I get closer to the book. She points at the little paragraphs at the bottom describing some of the demon's background information. Rin points to a page. "Like this one. Pitou or whatever. He can give you the power to create gold whenever you want. The drawback is you can't perceive the color gold. Seems fine, but if you read his background information, you'll see that he's a demon who often drives his hosts mad. He whispers into their minds, slowly driving them insane. Even among demons, he is extremely evil, often killing his own kind just for fun. We want a demon who isn't going to ruin our minds afterward."

I nod in agreement, "I guess we're looking for three things. A power that isn't horrible. A drawback that doesn't leave us crippled or take away half our life spans. A backstory that doesn't hint that the demon would give the lord of Hell himself nightmares."

Rin gives a tiny laugh, the first one I've seen since we reunited. "That about sums it up. Which, given we've read half the book, I'm finding less and less likely. I mean, I guess it isn't a huge surprise. Demons are traditionally evil. Finding one that won't screw over their host in some capacity is beginning to feel hopeless."

I offer, "I guess we settle then. Try to find demons for both of us that are the least shitty of the shit pile."

Rin smiles at that. "Dibs on the first not-so-shitty demon."

I smile back. "Fine, just as long as I get to punch Finn in the face first."

Rin shoots back, "Oh no way, I need to pay that dumbass back first."

Weird how a life-or-death situation can pull people together, but all joking aside, part of me really does hate Finn for his betrayal. I never saw it coming—we were like brothers. Hell, I knew the guy before his sister was even born. I guess that's why it stings more that he betrayed us so easily.

Each of these demons also has a title, name, and sigil. Their titles describe what demonic domain they cover. For example, the gold demon from earlier named Pitou, that demons title is "The Gilded Tyrant."

I notice Rin's fingers finally stop on a page. I glance over to see the demon she's landed on. The demon's name is Nyr. I scan over the page. The demon is all about illusions and darkness. I guess that's perfect for someone like Rin. I read the drawback, and my eyes widen. The price is that the host may never sleep. I'm surprised—at first glance, that sounds awful. But as I read on, it states that the host will never require sleep. Still, taking away your ability to sleep is, in some ways, pretty awful. You can never truly feel at peace or dream ever again. I glance down at the biography.

I read aloud, "Nyr, The Veiled Sovereign, is a demon of shadow and illusion, known for weaving deception as effortlessly as one breathes. Among the bound ones, Nyr is both feared and respected for their mastery over perception, able to create false realities so convincing that even other demons have fallen prey to them.

Unlike many of their kin, Nyr is not overtly violent or cruel, preferring manipulation and subtlety over brute force. However, their penchant for toying with mortals and immortals alike has earned them a reputation as a puppet master, pulling strings for their own amusement or enigmatic purposes. Nyr is an odd demon even among other, more chaotic demons, but for a host, one can expect she may play games. However, if one earns her approval, they can expect a symbiotic relationship with her."

Rin seems to pause a moment in careful thought. As I finish reading, she finally looks me in the eyes. "I want to pact with this one."

I blink a few times, surprised. "Really? Aren't you worried about the payment? I mean, I can imagine how torturous that could be. Never being able to sleep."

Rin nods, her face conflicted. "I know. Trust me, if I had it my way, I wouldn't want to form a pact at all. However, this demon is the first promising one in a batch of bad eggs. Plus, I hardly ever dream anyway. It isn't an easy choice, but I think I can part with sleep."

I stare at Rin for a moment, trying to read her expression. Her crimson eyes are firm, but there's a shadow of uncertainty behind them. "You're sure about this?" I ask, my voice quieter this time.

She takes a deep breath, her shoulders lifting and then falling. "I don't think we have the luxury of being picky, Jack. You saw what happened at the entrance. This place isn't going to let us stroll out without playing their game."

I glance back at the page, rereading the description of Nyr. There's something unsettling about the way the demon is described—not outright malicious, but far from benevolent. "If this demon starts messing with your mind, how will you know what's real and what isn't?"

Rin gives me a sharp look, but her tone softens. "That's the point of illusions, isn't it? You never really know. But... I can live with that. What I can't live with is dying here because we hesitated too long or picked something worse. Plus, it did mention our relationship could be symbiotic if I earn her approval. I'm willing to take that plunge."

Her words hang in the air, and I can't argue with her logic. Still, I can't shake the unease in my gut.

"Alright," I say, stepping back to give her room. "If this is what you've decided, I won't stop you."

I take a step toward the book. "Looks like I have to get serious about my pick now."

Rin nods. "Find a slightly less rotten egg and let's get out of this shit hole."

I begin looking through the book more closely myself. A lot of the demons are somewhat similar. They are irredeemably evil, and even when their prices are low, something in my gut warns me against them. I'm getting close to the end when I spot a curious page. I read the title, "Falastor, The Hated One." Hated one? That has me curious. The demon is the opposite of what I expect. They embody perfection and pride. The price is also not what I expect. The price of forming a pact with Alastor is attention. I raise an eyebrow. Attention? How is that a drawback? The book describes the price as a boon, but also a curse. The host will attract everyone's eyes, good or bad. Actions by others will be magnified, their reactions intensified. Admiration can easily turn into obsession, and criticism into hatred. The host becomes a living spectacle, unable to fade into the background or live unnoticed.

I read his biography aloud, "Falastor was once the most celebrated among demons, admired for their flawless demeanor and charisma. Yet, their downfall came from the very thing they thrived on—attention. Their presence was too consuming, too overwhelming, even for other demons. Their charm was unmatched, capable of drawing anyone into their orbit without effort. To be near Falastor was to experience a taste of divinity.

But perfection breeds envy, and envy led to Falastor's downfall. As their power grew, so did the intensity of the attention they commanded. They became a force of nature, one that could not be ignored. At first, the adulation was intoxicating, an endless river of admiration and praise. But soon, even the admiration became stifling. The more they sought to be adored, the more they found themselves alienated by those who could not bear to be in their presence. Even the other demons, who had once hailed them as a beacon of elegance, began to turn on them. Their power, once a symbol of grace, had become a suffocating curse.

Falastor's pride, once their greatest strength, became their weakness. The more they craved attention, the more they isolated themselves, and the more the jealousy of others grew. In time, it was not the admiration they sought that defined them, but the bitterness and loathing of those they had inadvertently alienated. The demon Falastor began to feel hatred for his fellow demons. The demon was hated, and so he hated. Falastor has never had a successful host body. The only reason his price is known is because he has stated it as thus.

The pact they offer is a reflection of their own curse: the price of attention. When you make a deal with Falastor, you do not just gain their power—you inherit the weight of their existence. The price of attention is not merely being noticed by others; it is the constant, unrelenting gaze of the world. You will find that every action you take, every word you speak, will have the power to inspire love or hate in equal measure. You may become a paragon, admired by many, but you will also be a target, loathed by those who envy you, and forever haunted by the spotlight you are now bound to.

To form a pact with Falastor is to embrace the duality of fame—the adoration and the vitriol, the praise and the venom. In return, you gain unmatched influence, an aura of perfection that compels others to follow you, worship you, or seek to destroy you. But, as Falastor's tale shows, perfection is a precarious thing, and the price of attention may cost more than you are willing to pay. Falastor does not seek perfection in the host, only a willingness to embrace the spotlight which none thus far have shown able to. Those with ambition, those willing to stand at the center of the world—be it with pride or humility—will find in Falastor not a tyrant, but a partner. Together, you will build a symbiotic bond, where attention becomes a tool, not a burden. A host of strength and resilience, no matter their flaws, will find in Falastor a guiding force, a source of power that nurtures as much as it demands."

Rin gawks at me. "That's insane."

I smirk. "I want to pact with this one."