Lesson 144- Money can’t buy everything.

I sit there, cuddled up to Torin for way too long. Not that I don’t enjoy it. Because I do, a lot. But because he needs to take care of his injuries. But I suspect he isn’t going to do that until he knows I’m reasonably content, and for that to happen we need a plan.
“What are we going to do Tori?” I ask looking up at him. He sighs.
“I don’t know. I don’t have any other options. Coming here… This is the only backup plan I had to protect you. And I didn’t plan it, not really. You were hurt, and all I could think was that I needed to get you here where it’s safe.” He admits. I nod.
“Yeah, I noticed. You do realise you left like a dozen people behind in the bar… Unsupervised.” I point out. Torin cringes.
“Yes… But I had to make a decision. You… You are more important.” he says sweetly and I just want to melt. Okay, we have to figure this damn thing out because if he keeps saying things like that I am going to have to kiss him. I need to focus damnit.
“We need another plan.” I hesitate before adding.
“What about the contract, bargain thing. I know you don’t like the idea much, but if we don’t have any other options… Maybe it’s worth the risk?” I suggest. Torin frowns.
“It’s not safe for you.” He answers immediately.
“Explain it to me. How is it not safe?” I ask. Torin sighs.
“It doesn’t matter for small bargains, but to make sure you’re safe from Solem, I doubt the bargain would be small. It’s not safe because I have no control over the magic that accompanies a deal that I make. No demon really does.” he sighs again. I raise an eyebrow.
“What does the magic do?” I query. Torin considers how to answer.
“It… Well It’s demonic magic. So it does what it feels it needs to do in order to ensure that both parties are able to meet their end of the deal that is struck. It could be anything. It could change you, trap you, hurt you even.” He shudders. I raise an eyebrow.
“But… Lots of people still make the deals. So they can’t all go bad. Richard made one and while he did get beat up, it doesn’t seem like there was any magical impact on him or anything.” I point out. Torin frowns.
“He got lucky.” he grumbles. I continue waiting for more explanation and he relents.
“I… I have a theory. I believe the magic sometimes takes the demon’s… Intentions… Into account. Or maybe the demon’s feelings. I’m not sure.” His brow furrows.
“Huh… What makes you think that exactly?” I ask.
“Well… No matter how well phrased, the effects the magic have on people almost always seem to work out to the demon’s advantage. It’s like it does what it THINKS we want. But in the most roundabout, obscure and unpredictable way. Like it doesn’t actually understand the details of the deal or have an understanding of what’s going on. But it finds a way to give us what we actually want, even if it isn’t really part of the bargain. It’s strange and illogical. And definitely not safe.” He reiterates. I hesitate, but then decide to push on.
“But Tori, I’m already not safe. Plus I really don’t think your magic would actually do anything bad to me.” I tell him. Torin stares at me doubtfully.
“What part of what I just said would make you think that?” He asks incredulously.
“Well… Pretty much all of it. You said your magic tends to benefit you, to give you what it thinks you want. Well… When it comes to me, what is it that you want?” I prompt. Torin frowns, clearly not really following.
“I… I want you safe, and happy, and to stay with me. I want…” He trails off blushing. I suspect he was about to say he wants me to love him.
“Tori… You love me, right?” I confirm. He drops his gaze shyly but nods.
“Right, so I don’t think your magic would do anything bad to me, because it tries to give you what you want, and you don’t want anything bad to happen to me. I know you don’t like this idea very much… But you said it yourself, it’s the only way we can force Soren to leave me alone.” I pause while he processes. He still seems very doubtful.
“I trust you Tori, and while you might not trust your magic, I do. You might be… Wary of your magic. But it’s still yours, it’s part of you. You’re not a bad person Tori. I know it couldn’t go that badly.” I say firmly. He hesitates, but I can tell he’s starting to waver. I decide to take a risk.
“Tori, has your magic ever done anything REALLY bad to someone? Not demon’s magic in general, but yours specifically?” I take a stab in the dark. I’m willing to bet it hasn’t. He doesn’t want bad things to happen to others, so I doubt his magic would harm anyone.
“Well… No. But my parents…” He trails off looking sad. I soften and take his hands.
“Your parents?” I prompt. Torin shuffles in his seat uncomfortably.
“They were… More like Solem. They made a lot of bargains. They rarely ended well. They built a lot of wealth and power. Then one day the hunters came for them…” He frowns.
“The hunters?” I repeat. He nods.
“They’re like… Magical police. They’re pretty much a group of very powerful individuals, but they follow a strict code. They hunt down magical people who… Go too far. Cause too much damage. Or are too likely to reveal us all to humans. They… They executed my parents. But I wasn’t even an adult yet. So they spared me. I… I never made any bargains back then. I didn’t even like my parents very much. They… Weren’t particularly loving. They gave me money and anything else I asked for and considered their job done. It was… Lonely.” He sighs. I lean in and wrap my arm around his waist, trying my best to comfort him. Now that he’s started talking, it’s like he can’t stop.
“They left me the bar. Well, it wasn’t a bar at the time. Or at least not like it is now. I wanted to fix it, make it into what a bar should be. I… I hoped that people would see that I’m… Not like them. But it never worked… Not until you came and helped me.” He tentatively wraps his arm over my shoulders. I just snuggle in closer to his side and he breathes out shakily.
“The bar is my territory, I value it because it shows… How different I am to them. But… I don’t need it. The money it provides… None of it. My parents… They made so many bad bargains, hurt so many people trying to get money and power, and it worked. The money I inherited… Well, I don’t need to work. But… I don’t want to be like them, I try to earn my own money. I should give away what they left me. Donate it, use it to help the people they hurt, something but…” He trails off.
“But it’s the only thing they gave you.” I conclude and he nods, looking guilty.
“Tori, you aren’t responsible for the things that they did. If you were, these hunter people wouldn’t have left you alone like they have. You know that.” I remind him and he sighs.
“But they haven’t forgotten me. They come and check on me sometimes. They come to the bar.” He says sadly and I stare in horror.
“The people who killed your parents come to the bar?” I ask, freaked out. That must be awful for him. How is he ever supposed to move on when his parents' executioners keep walking back into his life.
“Not… The same ones. They send someone else to check in. You’ve met her actually.” He adds. I frown.
“What? Who?” I demand. I immediately want to hate this person. I hold my breath, waiting for his response.