Disclaimer: I do not own Magic: The Gathering, only my own characters.

CHAPTER 44-A Deal with a Demon

Pain, excruciating, searing pain.

It was the world as Arrathir currently knew it. He didn't care where he was or who he was, all he knew was the pain that racked his body. He'd already worn himself out screaming for what seemed like hours on end. Now, he was too tired to do anything but lie there, letting the pain was over him in interminable waves. He wished he could die right there. Anything to get take him away from the pain, anything but the pain.

Why do you do what you do? Why do you fight for something you have no faith in?

Through the pain, Arrathir was able to find the energy necessary to respond.

I was chosen for this. It is what I was born to do. Sometimes, I wonder though, why me?

You have little faith in the Awakening. That is why you struggle. The Keepers of Mana are like Gods, and Gods draw their power from their followers. If no one believes in a God, they vanish, powerless. Similarly, the Keeper and the success of the Awakening are linked to their reincarnations.

I believe in you, Chikuro!

I know you do, but I'm not Chikuro.

Then who are you? How are you talking to me?

I am one who was served you faithfully throughout the years, even before you developed your powers, even before I was conscious of my being; I was there for you.

Arrathir opened his eyes to see a familiar face over him. The yellow eyes gazed at him piercingly while the twisted mouth's upper lip was slightly curled back, revealing rows of sharp teeth. The great wings were folded back along the body, awaiting flight and one of the clawed hands gently supported Arrathir's head.

Havoc Demon…

Aye, little one. It is good to finally meet you in the flesh, so to speak.

How?

I am the spirit of your deck. The physical manifestation of the "Heart of the Cards" if you will.

The cards are alive…for so long I believed it, but now I know. Do you have a name? Its just calling you "Havoc Demon" seems kind of awkward.

You may call me Demos, if you so wish.

Fine. Demon, can you tell me what is going on? Is Eva OK?

She is fine. After your death, she defeated Arog.

Wait, if she won, shouldn't I come back to life?

Unfortunately, Arog simply let your life essence escape rather than absorbing it.

Is that why I am in so much pain?

Yes. Your soul was ripped from your body. The process had severed psychological consequences, which you now feel in the form of pain. It should ease after awhile.

Does this mean I'm…dead?

Without your life essence, your body is nothing more than an empty shell. Your soul still resides in your body, but since your life essence is the source of your power as a summoner, without it you cease to exist. So, in all senses of the term, you are 'dead'.

Impossible. I'm the Keeper of Black Mana. I can't die. Where's Chikuro? I'm sure he can sort this out.

Arrathir, you're not listening. Your soul has been separated from your Keeper's. That is why I am here, to guide you in his absence.

Get off me. Where am I?

The demon released Arrathir, who saw he was in his Soul Corridor. Getting up, Arrathir marched over to the stone door that led into his other self's soul. Putting his hand on the knob, he was suddenly struck by an incomprehensible sense of loss. The Keeper's presence, which he'd always felt in the back of his mind ever since he awoke, was gone. Frantically, Arrathir tried to contact Chikuro through their mind-link, but he came up blank.

Twisting the knob, he kicked the door open and walked through…only to fall forwards as his foot met empty space. Waving his arms wildly in an attempt to regain his balance, Arrathir fell anyways. His left hand managed to snag the doorknob on the way down, saving him from the fall and leaving him dangling in mid-air. Reaching up with his right hand, Arrathir consolidated his grip on the knob before risking a look around. He gasped in awe.

All around him was the starry void of the Multiverse. The immensity of creation surrounded him as he hung onto the doorknob of Chikuro's Soul Room door. Nebulas and galaxies spread out as far as the eye could see as they moved slowly across the unfathomable distances that even light takes millennia to cross.

For a moment, Arrathir forgot he was suspended from a doorknob over the void. He watched the cosmic ballet with astonishment as he realized just how small and piddling his existence seemed compared to what was set out before him. The pain in his hands quickly brought him back to reality. As his fingers began to loose their grip, Arrathir wondered how long he could survive if he hyperventilated and then filled his lungs with air.

Take my hand.

Arrathir looked up to see Demos standing in the doorframe. The demon extended his clawed hand to Arrathir, who took it and managed to pull himself back into the corridor. The door slammed shut behind them, closing the hole in the Multiverse.

The Hell was that?

Since Chikuro no longer inhabits your soul, the door to his Soul Room no longer leads anywhere in particular. Therefore, since there are an infinite possible places it could lead, it opens onto the Multiverse since any place it could lead to is there.

Arrathir leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Chikuro's loss frightened him to an incomprehensible degree. He suddenly felt extremely alone. He began hyperventilating as panic set in.

Easy, Arrathir. It's going to be OK.

Arrathir felt dizzy. His breath came in ragged gasps. Without the Keeper he felt completely disoriented. A part of him was missing and it hurt him deeply. There was an aching pain in his stomach, as if he was going to…Arrathir jerked, falling forwards on all fours as he vomited all over the floor. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he sat back against the wall, hugging his knees.

Chikuro…gone…what do I do? I'm powerless without him. I need him!

You aren't alone, Arrathir. Eva is with you, well in spirit anyways. She refuses to believe you are dead. Take comfort in knowing she has not abandoned you. We've been in some tight spots before and we've pulled through. It'll be OK.

Are you saying…there is a way to recover my life essence?

The only option you have, and it might not even work, but a small chance is better than nothing. If it were possible to recover your essence, it would take tremendous power, more than you currently possess. However, there is one who does.

The demon.

Yes. You would need to merge your power with your demonic side. The combined power should be enough to return your essence to your body, assuming it is near enough.

Hell no!

Arrathir…

That fucker almost raped Eva! No way am I having anything to do with him! All he wants is to kill and destroy. He sickens me.

Yet you know he is a part of you. Somewhere deep down you wish to have the freedom to do all these things. You wield the power of a God, but not all Gods are benevolent beings. It would be so easy to drop the act and give into your dark side. You are a ghell, Arrathir. The reincarnation of a ruthless killer.

I guess they are all right: I am a monster.

No, Arrathir. That is the difference between you and the demon: your choices define who you are. You choose to reject your dark side, despite the temptations. You refuse to do these things, and that makes you anything but evil. It's not the power you wield that matters; it's what you choose to do with it.

Arrathir pondered what Demos had said.

Choice. What determines my actions and shapes who I am. I make decisions based on my moral views; therefore, I am not evil just because I am a ghell.

Exactly, Arrathir. Just as white is not wholly 'good', neither is black wholly 'evil.'

Is there no other way?

I'm not sure that this way is even going to work.

What do I have to do?

The only thing you can: find your demonic side and attempt to strike a deal with it. If you can merge your powers, you should be able to locate and recuperate your life essence, theoretically.

What would this merge mean? Would it mean my demonic blood would take over more easily?

By sharing your powers, both your human and demon halves would gain in power, so there is some risk involved.

The hardest part will be convincing him to go along with this. We aren't exactly on friendly terms.

Think about it: he has no interest staying like this. With no body, he is nothing. You both stand to win from this.

I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

What?

Eva. If he wants her, he'll have to help me.

Are you going to use her as bait?

No. I respect her too much for that, but I have a plan.

So you've decided? There is no going back once the merge is complete. You could be putting your friends in danger.

Freak chance is better than no chance.

Well, I can't help you from here on. You're on your own.

Arrathir nodded. Closing his eyes, he dug deep down inside of himself, seeking his dark side. He concentrated, focusing on his darkest, most evil thoughts. He recalled his first encounter with the demon, remembering the sheer power he'd felt. He remembered how enthralled he'd been as he slaughtered the elves. He'd felt no fear, no doubt as to the morality of his actions, only pure, unadulterated bliss.

He suddenly felt a presence at the edge of his consciousness. It merely brushed against his mind at first, just a slight touch, but as he focused on it, the feeling intensified. As the presence grew stronger, Arrathir could feel the power within. It both frightened and attracted him. Soon, the presence was fully into his consciousness, invading every corner of his mind.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Arrathir opened his eyes. The Soul Corridor and Demon were gone, replaced by a black void that stretched out in all directions. A thick fog covered the ground, flowing like a white river over Arrathir's legs.

"Where are you?" asked Arrathir.

"Here," said the demon's voice, seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. It echoed through the darkness. "You are in my consciousness now. What do you want?"

"I need your help," he said, hesitantly. He wasn't quite sure how the demon would respond to his plea.

"Help?" laughed the demon "You deny me my mate, try to suppress me, and you expect me to help you?"

"I need you to help me join our powers together," said Arrathir "We need to get my life essence back."

"And why should I care?"

"Well, we don't have a body anymore," said Arrathir "Kind of makes your existence pointless, eh? No running around killing people anymore."

"What makes you think I really need a body?"

"Without a body, you can't satisfy your urges," said Arrathir "Help me and I'll give you what you want: Eva."

"Her?" laughed the demon "You would never willingly allow her to be taken. You care for her too much."

"I'm offering you a chance at her," said Arrathir "Now, I won't let you do anything to her, of course, but if you help me, I'll pursue her more actively. I mean, what choice do you have? We can stay here until the Multiverse collapses, or we can form a truce and return to the real world."

The demon did not respond immediately. He seemed to be weighing Arrathir's offer. There was a long silence before his voice rang out again.

"Fine," he said "But this changes nothing."

He took the bait. My luck might finally be changing.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Arrathir has struck a deal with his demonic side. Does this mean the demon will take advantage of the offer and attempt to ravage Eva again? Will this plan even work?

W00t! First chapter of 2006! Happy belated new year and happy Winter-een-mas to all you gamers out there!

See y'all tomorrow for day two of the mini one-update-a-day challenge.