So,
There's the tiniest bit of M in this. Its not even that much. Just... You know what? Forget I mentioned it and read on.
I awoke from my state of Zen a few hours later. I began planning a trip to Paris, when I saw something shimmering in the pool of water. I realized it was a reflection of something behind me, appearing. I stood and turned just in time to see a young man, tall and handsome with dark hair and even darker eyes. He had a slightly annoyed look on his face. I stood, and curtseyed, acknowledging him. It was proper demon etiquette.
"Good afternoon, Lord Lucifer." I said as I smiled and bowed my head slightly. This was his usual human form, I recognized it.
"How many times must I tell you, Lankana?" He jested, "Lucifer is quite sufficient for my favorite woman." He smiled wistfully and approached me. This was not good, not good at all. Something was very, very wrong, I could see it in his usually-care-free facial expression.
"Of course." I nodded, my mind working on escape routes. "To what do I owe the always-welcome pleasure?" I asked politely. Would a good kick to the genitals work on a demon lord? I had never tried it before..
"I'm afraid I'll be losing you to another today…" He dropped the smile when he said it. Oh merde!
"Whatever do you mean?" I had already assumed a battle stance, expecting that someone Lucifer owed a favor wanted me dead, and he was here to deliver. It didn't matter that I was his favorite; it's all just business. I was prepared to go down fighting. My eyes flashed red and my muscles tensed. Noticing this, he stopped his advance and put his hands up peacefully, assuring me nothing was wrong.
"Not what I meant my dear." He said putting coming closer very slowly. "I'm afraid I will no longer be able to love you as my own, that is all I meant."
What did he mean? I studied the look on his face and saw the papers he held. I looked closer at them and saw this;
Binding Contract, Pairing Agreement
My head stopped working, all higher brain functions ceased. No no no no no, that could only mean… no. No! No! I looked at the look on his face and saw the answer in his eyes. Oh, god. Why me? I stopped breathing and felt a tug in the pit of my stomach. Oh god! Some bond was already growing inside of me! I couldn't tell who the bond was to, but I was screwed. It was too late. Play dumb, my instincts told me. It's gotten you out of many situations before, It'll work again.
"I'm afraid I don't follow…" I said, acting confused, unable to truly form coherent thoughts. I didn't want to face it. I'd delay it, run if I could, but it was already too late, and deep down I knew it. He stepped forward, grabbed my chin and stared into my eyes, making my face warm with that burning heat the four demon lords each possess.
"Lankana," He said seriously, in an authoritative voice. "You have been chosen for the highest honor any of us can receive. I know you have great intelligence. I know you know what has happened and you want me to undo it."
I nodded rapidly, hopeful that he would. If I was his favorite, he would! He shook his head slowly and I opened my mouth to bargain.
He cut me off. "Before you argue, know this; I simply cannot. No one can. It is absolute, surely you know and feel that already."
"Why would you do this to me?" I hissed, yanking my face from his grasp.
"How do you know it was me and I am not simply the messenger?" He jested.
I scoffed. "I know it was you, for the others bear no ill will towards me, in fact, they all owe me many things! As do you! Why would you do this to me? How could you allow this? And for once, I was happy!"
"Yes, sweet Lankana, I know and I'm so sorry. But I owed the one you are being connected to something even larger."
"This better be good." I muttered.
"It is. Do you recall the Arachnid demon? The one that went by Claude Faustus in his human form? And his assailants? Hannah and her men?"
I nodded once. "Of course. They're the most annoying, inconsistent, disloyal, dishonest demons anywhere. I should know, I've tried dealing with them before. You've had a price on their heads for years. The reward was anything the being asked for just for the capture of one of them. You would have asked for them dead, but to kill one of our kind is borderline impossible. What did this demon do? Capture one of them, perhaps?"
He uttered nothing for an unusually long time, then said the unbelievable,
"He killed all five of them… I will owe him almost eternally."
I was so shocked, had I been human, I'm sure I would've fainted. One does not simply kill five demons and survive… It's impossible… It's like simply walking into Mordor! There could be only one who could accomplish such a thing and survive unscathed…
"Please… tell me it isn't him. And if it is, lie! Say its some other prick! Someone I've never heard of who has come out of the wood work!" He simply looked at me, saddened, and I knew it was him. I quickly and calmly accepted my fate and prepared to move on… but not really.
"WHY?! How dare he!"
I threw the biggest temper tantrum one has ever seen. I turned and bolted from the field, to the mountain village in a spit of rage. I was silent and stealthy. Lucifer stood by and watched me do this for two days, sympathetic. I first found the young man who had offered to have dinner with me. With a quick bat of my lashes, he let me in and I was tearing his clothes off. He closed his eyes, probably expecting oral sex. I killed him. I killed the whole village slowly and without them knowing what hit them.
After two days oif Lucifer watching me release my anger on these unsuspecting mortals, I burned it to the ground. Finally, I ran back and broke down the same field, weeping inside, staring blankly and silently. Lucifer came over and sat with me. He comforted me and spoke softly.
"You're going to have to accept this, Lankana. You have been Paired with Michaelis. It is a solid deal, no loopholes, no exit clauses. You know this, you are the best of the best. You have studied and mastered every major contract in these worlds!"
"All the minor ones too…" I said quietly, trying to make a joke, though my voice was humorless. He laughed softly.
"Yes, you have. You must prepare yourself for going to him. I will give you his location and tell you to be strong. No matter what disagreements wash over you two from now on will have to be resolved. You can't stay mad at one another for long. I'm so sorry. I know of your miserable past with him. But, from now on, you will become even more miserable without him, and I will not allow you that misery."
I knew there was nothing I could do. I had to prepare myself. I had to be ready. I needed time to do that, though I would never be truly prepared…
Yes, yes, I know, 'twas a short chapter. Oh, and PS, merde means shit in French.