Peter felt a familiar fear return with a rush as he watched Mr. Zero walk across the room and pick up Davy's maracas, shaking his head in mock remorse.
"It's a shame," Zero said, unsuccessfully hiding a smile.
"What in hell are you doing here?" Mike said. "Aren't you tired of bothering us?"
"Of course, Nesmith. It bores me to death when my clients can't follow the simple terms of a deal." He turned the maracas over and over in his hands.
"You're not taking Davy back," Peter gasped, recoiling in horror. He was struck by an urge to confiscate the maracas, as though it could help matters. Zero shrugged.
"He didn't break a deal with you," Mike said. His voice was full of disgust. "He did everything you asked."
"Boys, boys. You two don't possess the powers of observation that I do. Let me help you." Zero winked.
The door to the downstairs bedroom vanished without a sound. Inside, Micky and Davy were oblivious to the sudden lack of privacy. Davy was standing on his tiptoes, clutching the collar of Micky's shirt with both hands. Micky had one hand in Davy's hair, the other was sliding down Davy's back, pressing the shorter man's body closer. They were kissing, unaware of their new audience.
Shock numbed Peter's mind for a few moments. He thought he knew Micky and Davy better than anyone, and he was stunned to realize all of the information he had missed. Slowly, his thoughts came back to him. The party. The stars in Davy's eyes. Micky blushing on the beach. Details that Peter had disregarded as red herrings for Davy's deception were the story all along.
Mr. Zero cleared his throat, and the two boys jumped apart, startled. Micky straightened his collar, looking unsure about how to recover from this invasion of privacy. Davy only stared at Mr. Zero, horror blooming on his face.
Zero let the maracas drop to the ground one at a time, and as he did, Davy began to sink to his knees. Peter knelt beside him and put an arm around his shoulders as he crumpled, his confidence seeming to dissolve as he melted into the ground.
"I'm sure you know why I'm here, David, but maybe you should explain to your friends why you'll never see them again."
Davy's breathing was ragged, and he seemed unable to reply.
"Very well, if you're going to be dramatic about it, I'll tell them. Boys- one doesn't get to keep talents granted by Satan himself without paying a price. I gave David the power to make people fall in love."
Mike frowned. "We know." He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes boring into Zero's disapprovingly.
"I don't even want it," Davy interjected. "I told you that."
Zero looked at Davy as though he pitied him. "You certainly didn't mind using it for your own benefit."
Davy shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no. I didn't-"
Zero looked pointedly at Micky. "Isn't it obvious yet, Mr. Dolenz? He used his charm on you. How does that make you feel?" Micky didn't move. His eyes were fixed on Davy, his expression unreadable.
Peter looked at Mike, hoping he'd come up with a plan, but Mike looked like he was a few minutes behind- still in shock.
"I didn't use them on Micky, I swear. I don't even want these powers. I told you that. Mike, Peter, help," Davy pleaded, his voice cracking. "Don't let him take me."
Mike gestured helplessly as Zero crossed the room. Peter could feel Davy shaking violently. He was terrified—just as Peter had been a month ago, in the same circumstances—and Peter had no idea how to help.
"Come now, David. I don't have all day. As you know quite well, I'm a very busy man," Zero said. "In fact I've got an appointment in Hollywood this evening and I'd love your company." Davy shook his head again, his face full of pain.
"Wait, you've got it all wrong, Mr. Zero," Micky broke in. "Davy didn't make me fall in love with him."
Zero smirked and arched his eyebrows skeptically. Davy looked as though he had reached a new depth of despair.
"Uh, well, he did," Micky added, his face flushing red. "But not because of any powers or anything. I think I was already in love with him before you came around. I just didn't know it yet." His eyes met Davy's, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
Zero rolled his eyes. "That's very convenient, but I doubt it would hold up in court- and don't even try, Nesmith." Mike frowned and closed his mouth.
"And… charm?" Micky continued, still looking at Davy. "That's not you. It's like you're playing a role. You've never charmed me, and when you tried it just confused me."
"And it didn't help at all that he could read your mind?" Zero asked skeptically. "To tell you what you wanted to hear?"
Micky shrugged. He thought about the things Davy had told him. I missed you. I'm sorry. "I think he's been honest with me."
"Hang on," Mike snapped his fingers, finally coming back to himself. "How is it that Davy still has these powers—powers he doesn't even want- if his contract with you ended? Pete, can you still play the harp?"
Peter shook his head. "I haven't been able to play it since Mr. Zero took Davy away."
"That's because when he took Davy away, your contract disappeared. Then why," Mike pressed. "Why does Davy still have the 'talents' from his contract?"
Zero balked. Peter took in a sharp breath, realizing where Mike was going with the argument.
"You left him that way on purpose. You knew he'd use them accidentally," Peter said, glancing at Mike for reassurance. "And you'd get him back."
Zero rolled his eyes. "So what?"
Mike walked across the room to poke Zero in the chest as he made his point. "So… Davy didn't break his contract. You broke the contract by not actually ending it when the deal was done. He shouldn't even have these powers. You can't punish him for using them."
A long, tense silence ensued. Peter tried to catch Davy's eye, but Davy was still staring fixedly at Micky, a goofy expression on his face in spite of the tension. Peter sighed—even now, Davy was a hopeless romantic.
Finally, Zero laughed, reaching into his coat to withdraw a scroll of paper. "You can't blame me for trying. I tripled my soul quota this month." He scrutinized Davy with an exaggerated expression of sympathy. "I hope for your sake Dolenz is right, because things could be a little tense here when the magic is gone."
The contract burst into flame, flared a deep blue, and disappeared. Peter felt Davy shudder as the contract disintegrated.
"Farewell, David. We made a great team. You could have gone quite far in Hell," Zero said with a hint of mourning in his voice. Then he was gone.