“Do not bargain with this creature!” Isaac howled, his teeth bare, dripping viscous rage.

  “Perhaps you should hear an offer before you speak?” Alessia clasped his hands together in precious waiting, licking his eternally dry lips with ill mannered intent.

  “What is the price for freedom from this torment?” Isaac shouted to us. “Retribution in this form will only cost more than you are willing to give!”

  “Let that be up to us,” Denaux snapped back coldly. “Blood for blood, if it be so.” Denaux glanced back at me, in waiting. He nodded slowly, as if acknowledging the mutual understanding that the decision held before us. I exhaled, and nodded along with him, accepting his affirmation in the fact that we held individual actions and thoughts...some which could lead to the end of a demon...or maybe the birth of another?

  “What do you have to offer?” I asked Alessia, naturally leaning in closer to listen to the moans of the dimly lit creature.

  “Power,” he purred. “Limitless. Unbound.” His lips contorted in euphoric pleasure. “You could end Perrault in one battle, if we enhance your current state, of that I am certain.”

  I stood in silence, my heart thumping with blackened desire for vengeance. For an end to our suffering. All of it.

  “Your friend here,” Alessia nodded to Denaux, “has already been putting in the footwork to make this ritual a success. Do you distrust his actions?”

  I remained silent, the cogs grinding inside my head, before the words trembled from my lips, the uncertainty even driving me to sensational thoughts. “What do you want? My soul?”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Alessia snorted in decadent laughter. “Oh, my child, you comfort me with your naivety. The lord does not desire souls.”

  “What does he desire then?” I posited, tilting my head naturally, in questioning.

  “Something simple,” Alessia said. “Perhaps not even tangible this very moment. At some point in the future, a request will be asked of you. That is all.”

  “NO!” Isaac thundered. “Annabelle, we will not entail ourselves in this any further.”

  “That,” Alessia said, “is not your decision to make.”

  "Chère,” Denaux spoke up, “I want this more than anyone...but is this something you want?”

  “Your selfish whims will have consequences, shaman,” Isaac growled, springing forth.

  “How many more lives must we lose before we have to step up?” Denaux shot back. “We must make our stand now.”

  “We!?” Isaac shouted. “That is rich, when you are not the one paying the price.”

  “I...” Denaux stood silent.

  “Perhaps we should let the girl speak?” Alessia cut in.

  “Perhaps I should rip that tongue from your mouth!”

  Isaac snapped, the sinews in his oversized muscles tensing, bulging, with feral anticipation.

  “Wait...” I yelled out, quieting the room. I breathed in the silence, trying to assemble the words that would put an end to this, but soon realized, that such is an impossibility. I had no answers. Each problem created another, and so on. That couldn't be the way to reach our destination...could it? “I-I don’t know,” I stuttered, shaking my head and twisting to face the exit. “This doesn’t feel right.”

  Alessia cleared his throat. “Remember,” he harangued, “the offer may not exist in its current form for much longer.”

  “I-I’m sorry,” I said, turning tail and running back down the hall from where we came.

  “Annabelle, wait!” Isaac yelled, chasing after me, our shadows flickering down the tunnel.

  Denaux softened and sank back into his chair, with a heavy sigh.

  “The others abate,” Alessia said, “while this one waits.”

  Denaux looked back up with intrigue.

  “What do you dream of, child?” Alessia said, leaning over him.“The price for admission stands.”

  Denaux peered unsure through the darkness, feeling his temples slick with sweat.

  Alessia beamed, his gnarled teeth shining horrifically in the darkness. “Is another willing to sacrifice for such dreams, in their stead?”