Then grinning, she remembered what it felt like to be warm. It was so simple she'd nearly missed it. The goose bumps went away in seconds and she felt comfortable as she sat on the ground cross legged, waiting. False dawn broke, which meant it was past six in the morning for that time of year, and then hours more passed. Nothing happened. A bit boring, but it gave her time to practice things, like not feeling pain or fear, making ready to run away when the lesser demon Balthias got back and realized that their deal was a trick. He really didn't seem to like being tricked.
Then, who did?
The sun was already well into morning when the large brown Satan looking thing appeared, throwing something at her feet. It was...
A computer thumb drive.
“First task done. That is a copy of the confession the man made of murder to the district attorney. Have I leave?”
Keeley looked at the drive on the ground, a plain black, like the one she had at home for her school work. She couldn't check it, but that wasn't the point was it?
“Done, as long as it holds. If not it will breach the deal, but... Yes, for now, go to the second task.”
“Time runs short...” The lesser demon growled, angry at her.
This time though it didn't take hours and hours to finish. In fact it barely took four hours. The sun was close to straight up in the sky, but Balthias appeared, anxious and agitated.”
“The second done demon! Your leave to...”
“Go!” She said with a wave. No need to make it impossible to finish the task after all. If nothing else that bastard that hurt Eve would die for it.
Keeley kind of wondered how late it was. It looked like the sun was straight up, but she'd also said noon several times, if Balthias got back now, well, she'd have to honor the word of the agreement.
He didn't.
It took nearly two hours more and when the creature looked up at the sky it screamed in horror.
“Damn you demon!” It looked ready to rage, giant fists clenched angrily.
“My soul is yours... I am lost.” It really seemed upset about that part of things. For a second Keeley felt bad about it. Then she remembered that the whole soul thing was just a trick anyway. Well, then it wouldn't hurt to fix it.
“So it seems. Remember our deal though? I can release your soul now, if the tasks are done, though you're bound to serve me fully and without complaint or rancor, anger or spite. You remember all of that?”
“Aye. What is your bidding... master.”
OK, there was a little bit of grudging left in the voice, but that was fine for now. As long as it still bought the whole “deal” thing. Otherwise it would just swat her with a tree and the whole thing would end.
“First, you did finish your tasks? Morris is dead?” If not he could just go back and finish that one up, couldn't he?
“Yes. He committed suicide, jumping from a bridge in full light of day. None saw me. It fulfilled the tasks set. Just not in time.”
“Alright, it doesn't remove our deal at all, but if you take the disk and drop it in a hot volcano, I can release your soul from the lock. Consider this a gift from me to you, so that good faith will be between us in our dealings. That way you won't face total non-existence if something ever happened to me.”
“In truth?” The creature... bowed.
“Thank you master. May I do this now or...” It waited, probably for her to come across with some condition or trick.
“The rest of the deal still stands, but yes, do that now please. We should be, friends is a bit much to ask, I know, but on good terms. Don't you think that sounds more pleasant than the alternatives?” She grinned at it, hiding her fear again. It gave off that feeling of terror all the time she realized. It took constant work to not give into it. Even the light of day didn't make the effect lighter.
Balthias didn't wait for a second invitation to get his soul back, vanishing again, returning just about fifteen minutes before Darla rolled up in her little sports car. The blond leaping out before it even stopped all the way, car sliding sideways on the gravel of the parking lot as she flew through the air, large glass jar under her right arm, glass rod and white silk thread in her left hand. It looked bizarre, but got a real reaction from the lesser demon, as it ran to the tree line faster than Keeley could track and uprooted a decently thick tree to use as a bludgeon. Then it turned and ran at Darla screaming.
“Never again bitch!”
Darla didn't flinch, not until Keeley spoke, her voice firm.
“Stop Balthias.” it almost sounded commanding. Keeley felt kind of proud of it really. Considering the fact that she really felt terrified. She really would have to look into drama as a hobby.
The lesser demon froze in place, as if unable to move at all.
“Yes... master.”
That made Darla freeze too. She stared at Balthias, who stood unable to move, or at least choosing not to and then at Keeley.
“You... made a bargain with him?” This came out softly. She sounded worried.
Keeley explained it all quickly, hoping the her sister wouldn't give anything away. For the moment Balthias was holding to the bargain even if it wasn't really sealed properly with magic, however that was done, so maybe they could do everything without violence?
“So, he finished the tasks, but not by the deadline. As a good will gesture I released his soul from the talisman that Finias gave me. You know how I can use anything for that now,” She didn't make her voice stress the words but it took work.
“And now Balthias is bound to do my bidding.” She waved at him gently. Airily.
“So Balthias, there will be no violence toward Darla, but you may move freely otherwise.” She hoped that that wouldn't mean the thing could just kill her, but the lesser demon just relaxed and shuffled his feet a little.
“Yes master.” He said, voice far more humble now.
Darla... blinked.
“You... made a deal with a lesser demon and now it must serve you in perpetuity? I should have expected as much from the Mistress of Souls...” She bowed, a deep thing, with almost no irony at all. She added the title so smoothly that it almost sounded real. Then she smiled.
“Well, I didn't need my little toy here at all, did I? Let's get to torturing Balthias for slaying Rob and hurting our Gary and then we can figure out his real punishment.” Her voice was dark and angry then.
Keeley had to tighten her hold on fear again, only this time it actually came from within herself. Eeep. Darla was being freaky and intense. It didn't help that she looked like a cheerleader. It should have made it funny, or cute even. It didn't. That just made the whole thing worse.
Scarier.
The large form that looked like an old woodcut print of Satan himself tilted his head.
“I have killed no one since being freed save the one commanded me by the contest for my soul. Richard Morris. Child rapist. His soul shall burn for all time, his heart so stained. I have killed no other. Just frightened a few.” The creature smiled. It was an awful thing.
Before Darla could demand a torture to stop its lies, Keeley tilted her head.
“Balthias from now on you may not speak a lie to me or Darla, do you understand? You must tell us the whole truth at all times, without holding back, so no plotting and planning without telling us as you think of things. I recommend just not doing it. You get the idea?”
“Yes, but I seek a hole in it. I don't have one for now...” Then the fanged mouth twisted. “Damn you.”
Smiling Keeley stepped toward it, wondering if the creature really didn't get the game yet or if it was just trying to set her up in return for what she'd had it doing all night. Including murder. She could have felt bad about that, but... no. Eve was her friend and the man had hurt her. She decided to find the others that had molested the girl and do the same to them too. It seemed like a project at least, maybe Darla would take it as extra-credit? Not that she got grades from her mentor, but still...
“So, have you killed anyone other than Rick Morris and would you know if you'd beaten someone to death and they died later?” Leave no loopholes she reminded herself. Her voice sounded... Old. Not crinkled by time, but like Darla did when she wasn't trying to fake being an eighteen year old girl. Formal.
“None, nor have I harmed aught. I chased and frightened only, think you that I'm without sense? No one survives the death of a demon's vassal. I simply seek revenge for my incarceration. I still do.” He frowned.
“You are truly an evil being demon, Mistress of Souls. I cannot even think of striking against you. Hardly fair.” Oddly his deep growl sounded conversational when he said it. Not pleasant, but not angry either.
She nodded.
“I know. But I think you'll find that I'm a good person to work for. Days off, perks on occasion, no torture unless you really deserve it, as I think this shows clearly, finding the truth before punishing you for something you didn't do at all. Right now, I'd like you to go to Darla's house, and stay in the third bedroom, on the far side of the house, away from where you hit it with that first car. Is that alright with you Dar?” She glanced over to see her nod.
“As long as he doesn't touch, break or harm anything. I like my stuff.”
The orders were given carefully, and the lesser demon vanished without so much as a pop of air. It wasn't really there, after all, being an imaginary being. A scary, intimidating and evil thing created by the collective fear of Christians and probably anyone that had watched a horror movie in the last twenty years. That had been the key. It had really feared that its soul could and would be taken. Because even a demon could hope for redemption, right? If it wasn't for that bleed through... For perhaps the first time in her life Keeley was really glad she'd grown up surrounded by Christians. If not for their particular brand of crazy, and their persistent desire to spread it around, she'd have lost the whole thing and probably be dead.
It took a second for the blond to put her jar away, just tucking it into the back seat of the little car, the top still down. Then she turned and tackled Keeley into a hug.
“I'm so proud of you! I came to avenge your death and instead find you with a pet lesser demon, lounging and acting like you'd been doing this for centuries. That trick with the “soul lock”... just brilliant! I may use that one myself. And then endearing the thing to you by “releasing” its soul. So clever.” She hugged harder.
“I'm so happy you didn't die.”