I.
Crimson red; the color from which the world was born, and the color in which the world will drown in the end. Now that's a universal truth…and this night it was no exception to it.
It had been raining for hours and it seemed like the storm wasn't going to stop soon. The wind whistled through the chimney and the rain oozed down the windows. Lightning suddenly illuminated the grim scene in the room in a white, painfully revealing hue.
Crimson red blood was trickling down to the floor. Red splashes covered the walls and paintings. She was lying in a puddle of blood, holding a knife in her right hand. Her dress was torn and bleeding wounds covered her entire body. She was looking at the bodies in front of her, her long black hair tousled and her gaze empty. "How did it come to this?" She seemed to talk to the dead bodies, or maybe to herself. "Why? Why were we abandoned? Why wasn't there anyone to help us? Why was I unable to stop this? Why? Why? Why? Why I did I leave him and let him get away with this?"
That was when it happened.
She felt a presence in the room before she saw it and clutched her knife, knuckles turning white, ready to face the intruder.
"My, my, my…What a mess!" said a calm, but at the same time cold voice.
She slowly turned around. Her empty gaze fell on the figure of a man standing in front of her. His face wasn't visible; he seemed to be enveloped in some sort of evil aura.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Hah…That's a question you should answer. After all, you're the one who summoned me." said he placidly.
"Did I?" she uttered in a quavering voice. She was watching him. Her face was like fragile porcelain, but there was no trace of tears or sorrow still. He knew she was broken, though, and planned to take advantage of this fact.
"Ah… But of course you couldn't notice." smiled he ironically. "You humans are interesting creatures. Even though you always speak of your soul, still you don't understand your deepest feelings, do you? It was the call of your soul that brought me here."
"Is that so?" She didn't attempt to hide her mistrust, her voice slightly sneering.
He only laughed.
"Unlike you humans, I do not have a habit of lying. The truth is I came here to help you; I have an offer for you."
"An offer you say?" The mistrust was still there, but now mingled with something like curiosity. Ah, curiosity. One of the weak points of most of humankind, and what a beautiful weakness it was.
"Do you want me to release you from the sorrow in your heart? Do you want me to remove the weight of those painful thoughts in your mind?" His voice was seductive, low. "Do you want to avenge your beloved ones?" he drawled on, a slight smile on his lips appeared as the woman's lips visibly tinned and her jaw squared. "I can do this for you… if you want me to, that is" He bowed slightly. Then he leaned forward, offering her his hand. "If you want me to, take my hand…a small favor, my lady"
She turned around and looked back at the bodies. Red. Too much red. It bleared her vision. She could not leave it this way. She couldn't!
Her voice broke the silence, hoarse, seemingly older than before, "What is the price?"
"Oh, nothing much." said he smiling gently. "Until our covenant is over, I will be loyal servant of yours, promising never to abandon your side. But once it's done…I shall claim your soul." His smile was still as serene as ever, but it somehow seemed a dangerous smile now, like the smile of a shark before it dives upon its prey. She did not seem to notice though, far too occupied with her own thoughts.
She shook herself out of it and looked him straight into the eyes. Lightning flashed again, revealing his face to her. His black hair fenced off his face like a dark aureole. His glowing crimson red eyes were set on her. An evil smile still on his face, not bothering to hide it behind a mask of serenity anymore. He knew that he had won. He knew human nature well, very well. Humans cannot reject temptation. When they are plunged into depths of despair likened to hell, they will hold on to anything - even if it is merely a spider's thread. The prey is deceived, with sweet words and hauled into darkness only to find the thread they held on to sticking to their fingers and dragging them into the further on. Quietly, slowly, but effectively.
He was waiting for her answer. Though her face was emotionless, he was sure she had already made up her mind. But there was something off. He felt that, he knew it then; behind her glassy gaze, she had already understood what was waiting for her. What would she do with this understanding?
She answered without hesitation.
"I accept"
She took his hand and stood up, dropping the knife on the floor. Thus she was about to accept a pact which was going to change her fate forever.