Chapter 122: Deal

I finished up my shift and headed upstairs. Brothers and sisters bid me good night. I only nodded at them half-heartedly. I held a bag of the god powered crystals. It felt weird leaving them behind, so I brought them with me. I was one day closer to letting Kezia die. I still hadn't fully decided. I knew what I should do. I should stay here.
I ground my teeth as I walked the stairs. I didn't like that. I didn't want her to die. I didn't even know her, but I knew the darkness was using her as bait for me. Mila was dangling both her and Amy in front of me and all because she wanted me. I pulled out my phone.
"Hello, Cherry?"
"I want to meet with Don Archer. Can you make that happen?"
"Ok, thanks."
I slid the phone back into my pocket. I opened the door to the loft. The lights were off. Anton was gone. I finished the trek to my bedroom and sat on the bed. I needed to figure out what to do.
"Sandriel," I said in a commanding voice, letting magic drip into it. "Natalia."
The shadows coalesced from the corner. The window opened. A white-winged figure swooped in.
They stood in front of me, looking a bit annoyed. Natalia crossed her arms. Sandriel scowled at me.
"We don't like being summoned. That is not our job," Natalia stated.
"I'm aware."
"We are not like your last guardians. We don't bend the rules to help you," Sandriel added.
I held up my hand to stop him. "Can you save Kezia?"
"We are not assigned to Kezia," Sandriel said.
I looked between the two of them. "Can you do it?"
"We are bound by our contracts," Sandriel said.
"And I don't want to get punished breaking the rules for some stupid human," Natalia said.
"What if I owned your contracts?" I said.
They both stared at me. After a minute, Natalia said, "Why would you do that?"
"You don't have the kind of power to hold a contract," Sandriel said.
"I've done it before."
Natalia shifted her weight. "Why ask us then? If you want our contracts, just do it."
"I wanted to ask you first. Would you like to work for me?"
Her dark eyes scanned my face. "What kind of punishment would you administer?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. But anything I cook up wouldn't be worse than hell or heaven's."
She cocked her head to the side in thought.
I turned to Sandriel. "How about you?"
He ran his hand through his dark blonde hair. "Go ahead, if you think you can afford it. It doesn't matter who I work for. I don't have any choice."
I turned back to Natalia. "And you?"
"Yeah, alright."
I dug under my bed for a backpack then dumped the pink crystals in it. I threw on my leather jacket and a pair of boots.
"Who's first?"
Natalia stepped forward.
"Alright." I took her hand.
She nodded and we disappeared. The cold nothingness surrounded me. We popped back into existence.
Hell was hot and humid. I could feel the damp air pressing against my skin. We stood before a black spire of dark obsidian. Veins of glowing gold fire laced the surface of the polished black stone. Natalia dropped my hand and led the way. The sharp spike drew tall into the dusky sky. As we drew deeper into the city, the spires grew taller.
Demons clad in black milled through the streets. They seemed intent on whatever business they were attending to. They didn't spare any look at us as we continued towards the center. When we reached the center, tall sharp building reached up above the rest. Natalia directed me into it. We started to climb the spiral staircase.
"No elevators in hell?"
"This is hell," she said flatly.
"Right."
"Why don't we just teleport up there?"
"I can't. This is hell."
We climbed. It took us what felt like hours. When we finally reached the top, I was huffing and puffing. Natalia didn't seem bothered. She directed me through tall black double doors. A red carpet rolled out up to a giant throne.
A demon dressed in black sat. Other demons knelt in front of him. He seemed to be issuing some orders, but I couldn't understand the language he was speaking. I looked at Natalia, but she shook her head slightly.
We waited at the back of the line. Slowly it grew shorter. After waiting for a few more hours, we finally stood next in line. The demon in front of us fell through a trap door in the floor. The devil, at least that was what I assumed, chuckled. His black eyes landed on us.
Natalia stepped forward. I stayed at her side and lifted my chin. He said something to me in that unknown language.
"He wants to know what you want."
"I wish to purchase Natalia's contract."
"What do you have to trade?" The devil said. His voice was smooth and beautiful.
I opened my bag and pulled out a crystal. "Power," I said.
"How much power?"
"How much is she worth?" I asked.
"How much power do you have?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. I threw a crystal. He caught it in one hand. He looked it over.
"God power. Fresh. Interesting. What god did you drain to get this? I don't recognize the flavor."
"How much for Natalia?"
He narrowed his eyes at me. "Ten crystals."
"Five."
"Nine."
"Five."
He laughed. "I don't think you understand how negotiation works. You are supposed to raise your price when I lower mine."
"I am offering you a rare never seen before god power. I think five is reasonable."
"You're trying to buy my best demon."
"She's not your best. Otherwise, you wouldn't have assigned her to me."
His hands tightened on the crystal. The glow slowly waned as he absorbed the power.
"Mmmm...," he purred. "A succubus god. Was it Bacchus? No, wait, it's female. How delicious."
"Five?" I asked.
"Hmm... five more. Consider this a sample."
"Deal." I approached the throne, stepping up the stairs with sure steps. I held my hand out to the devil. His eyes twinkled as he took mine.
"Deal," he said.
I pulled my hand away from him. When I reached the bottom of the steps, I passed the crystals over to one of his henchmen. The devil signed the contract. Another demon walked it down to me. I signed it with a drop of blood that turned into my signature. The demon stamped it and handed it over.
I turned and walked away without another word.
"Don't be a stranger," the devil called as Natalia and I marched past the waiting line of souls.
As we walked back down the steps of the spire, Natalia stayed next to my side. I slid the contract up my sleeve and commanded it to hide beneath my skin. I turned my hand to see that tattoo of a star with a circle around it. I motioned it up my arm. I was never bargaining another contract away from me again.
"I can't believe you just made a deal with the devil for me."
I smiled tightly. "Neither can I."