Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, Mephistopheles or any of the other characters from the movie. I only own my own characters that you'll meet later. Hope you enjoy!

Re-submitted 3-6-07. Sorry guys, it's not a new chapter. I was just checking something out on my account so I had to re-download this to see if it's working.

Demon Falling

Chapter One: Propositions

"We're going to have to find her," the smooth voice said calmly. The man's tone was soft; no emotion present. His face was the same, no expression visible, nothing remarkable save for perhaps his dark eyes.

"We're looking. She's nowhere to be found," a second voice responded. This voice bore only one emotion, something akin to fear; fear based purely on the man standing in front of him.

"You mean nowhere down here."

"O-of course sir."

The first man stood silently for a moment, his thoughts contemplative, his dark eyes narrowed. His black gloved hands rested atop a simple cane with a skull topper. Finally, he spoke, "If you are incapable of finding her, then we will have to look for assistance."

"Assistance, sir?"

One eye twitched slightly as a small, demonic grin lit his colorless lips. "Yes, assistance. I do believe that I know exactly who to call. I guess that when I need someone found then I will have to get the best there is." The grin disappeared as a red glow blazed in his eyes. "Get ready to go above. We will be meeting a very special man."

Johnny Blaze sat quietly in the run down motel room, his black cowboy hat lowered over his face slightly, his eyes staring blankly at the TV, the screen a flurry of nonsensical images. He had a worn book in his lap, the book open mid-way. His mind was elsewhere, hence the reason he paid no attention to what was happening on the screen. A pain had started in the back of his mind, a burning sensation that did not seem to want to leave.

He did not like this feeling; he knew what it pertained too and he did not like it. Someone, or something, was coming for him and he had a good idea of who it was. The man, if you could call him that, had been a constant pain in Johnny's ass since the first time he had met him all those years ago in the carnival.

Johnny had hoped that he had put enough distance between him and the demon. But that was too much to hope for. He should've known that he would find him; that he would have kept track of Johnny ever since San Venganza. God he wished he could just be left alone.

The burning in the back of his mind grew worse as the lights in the room around him flickered, the bulbs buzzing almost to the verge of breaking. Johnny fought to control the Rider as it sought for its release. Suddenly a deep voice spoke from the shadows.

"Johnny Blaze."

Johnny looked up at the demon standing in front of him blocking the TV from his view. "Mephistopheles."

"I see you are still hiding. Are you afraid of what will happen if your authorities find you?"

"I like to think of it more as a vacation than hiding."

Mephistopheles gazed around the room, his black eyes taking in every little dirty spot, every piece of the wall that was peeling. "What a vacation."

"What do you want Mephistopheles?" Johnny asked, staring point blank at the demon lord. Normal men would see nothing more than an old man standing in front of them. Maybe they would feel the small, cold shiver trail down their spine when they were in his presence. But Johnny, oh Johnny could see him for what he really was. The demon looked normal to the naked eye, but looking past him to shadows on the wall one could see his true form; a hunched over figure with a pointy chin and clawed fingers, a figure that one could call completely devilish.

"I require your assistance to reclaim something that has recently escaped my possession."

"If it's another one of your demonic children, then you can forget about it. I ain't doin' it."

Mephistopheles laughed; the sound echoing in the bare room. "No, no. Blackheart was my only child. He has learned his lesson. All thanks to you."

Johnny stood up slowly, moving a few steps closer to Mephistopheles. "Why should I help you?"

A dark glitter echoed in Mephistopheles' eyes. "You are my Rider. You are my creation and you will do as I say. Your soul belongs to me, Johnny Blaze."

"My soul may belong to you, but I don't. I'll help you, but only because I know innocent people will be hurt because of you."

Mephistopheles smiled. "Good, I thought you might. She must be returned to me. She must not remain out of my possession for much longer."

"She? I told you I wouldn't-"

"She is not what you think," Mephistopheles replied, cutting Johnny off before he could finish. "The girl is one my . . . creations; she is as precious to me as my Rider."

"Then it must piss you off that three of your 'creations' have rebelled against you." Johnny stated. He paused, his mind racing. "I'll look for her," he added, "but I'm not doin' it for you."

"Of course not," Mephistopheles said, the smug smile of someone getting what he wanted crossing his face.

"How do I find her?"

"You will sense her," he answered cryptically. "My Rider will always be able to sense her. She is soulless; she is demon created."

Johnny did not respond, but merely stared at Mephistopheles silently.

"You will find her, Johnny Blaze, and you will return her to me."

Before Johnny could respond, Mephistopheles vanished, leaving nothing behind but the thick smell of burning sulfur. Johnny stood still for a moment, his thoughts racing over the conversation. He did not like making deals with the devil, and he knew that this one would not go well; these deals never did. He shook his head after a moment and then grabbed his keys off of the dirty nightstand table.

The door creaked as he opened it, allowing in the darkness from outside. Immediately his eyes focused on the motorcycle parked in front of the door. Johnny swung his leg over the bike and then released the kickstand. The engine roared to life moments later and then almost instantly settled into a gentle purr.

"Time to get started," he stated, his eyes glowing orange seconds before the demon within him took over.

AN: I hope that all of you liked my first foray into the Ghost Rider Universe. This is based on the movie and not on the comics, so please do not get angry about any inconsistencies between the two. I hope that I got the characters down well enough and that you all liked it! Please read and review!