The human body can only handle adrenaline so long until it gives out. A simple fact I wish would be wrong right now. Sickening static is chasing behind me like a pack of starved wolves hurting a meal. Steps become a pained effort with each sprinting stride that keeps eating away at my mind, desperately telling me to stop. Only desperation keeps me moving along with a good flight reflex. How long can I hold this pace? Can I make it to town?
Ear piercing cries like a deer in pain fill my ears like a bad bout of tinnitus. Those static cries seem to suddenly jump ahead of me as the red-suited nightmare shows up out of a blackened static blur. He holds his cane out to clothesline me, already too close to stop, ultimately using a spare hand to punch me into the snowy ground. He grins as he watches me struggling to catch my breath. His voice is that tinny radio sound laced with sadistic joy, "Now dear I only wish to talk to you. While I love a good hunt, I seem to be at the end of my patience tonight. Now how about we talk like civilized folk. Here's a deal; You allow us to have a civilized conversation, and I promise only to kill you if you agree to it. Do we have a deal?"
As scared as I am, I shake his hand immediately, suddenly being lifted into an antique velvet chair in front of a small wooden table with tea. He sits across from me with that smile humming a familiar jazz tune. Finally breathing normally, I cough a moment before asking in a weak voice, "Why talk with me at all? I'm just a simple jazz pianist who you chased through the New Orleans countryside."
He laughs a moment before setting a cup of tea in front of me with this eerily happy chuckle. Clearly blood-dried hands start to prepare his own cup of tea, "A simple musician wouldn't know who I am. No no! You my dear are far more devious than that. How are your deals going?" He may be smiling, but the evil glint in his eye makes me uneasy all of the sudden.
"Straight at my personal business… What do you want or need from me, Radio Demon? I don't have time to be slacking off work or things might get deadly for me," I say as my fear becomes curiosity. I really shouldn't be when it comes to this particular demon, but this could work out in my favor if I word it well enough.
His twisted smile lights up like my simple interest is enough to make him think he's winning. Frankly, I don't want to die. He takes a sip of the tea, setting it down with a darker look than before, "Why I've come to offer you a better way to die and live. Seems you have some lovely gentlemen after you for bad shipments. Trust me when I say being a woman won't save you from that." Sipping his tea more obnoxiously this time, he gives me a still pleasant but awfully cunning glare.
I think it over a moment till I realize he steered me away from home. Deceptive ass already knew about my situation which tracks for his type. Now to dig myself out with a false play, "So you know about that too. How would you kill me and help me live then? I know you're powerful, but this sounds awfully sketchy. What's your gain if I could add on?"
"Ah! Clever girl indeed. Why I give you a form perfectly suited to you with power of your very own," he starts off like this is the greatest sales pitch ever spoken with a triumphant trumpet as if a reward for seeing through his bullshit. Positive tones become a questionable hum with a devious undertone, "But all you have to do is make a deal to give me your currently held contracts. I think that's a far better deal than being thrown to a firing line."
Unable to hide the visible shiver, I pull myself together long enough to think up more acceptable terms, "Show me a mockup of this new form, and maybe we can talk a deal. Civilized request, don't you think?" He seems to enjoy my willpower to get an even split on this deal. After all, you're talking about a lot of demons who owe me blank favors. I won't leave this life or these deals without proper compensation.
He grins wider than before as an owl demon I've never seen shows next to the table in a glitchy hologram of static. She's tall, long white hair made from her feathers in an almost royal level dress. Owl demons are supposed to be royalty afterall, untouchable. The Radio Demon lets out a simple, low chuckle, "This one and her brother are about to end up dead as well. I currently have possession of their bodies thanks to an old contact. I give you a completely new royal body that will change in the spell with one of the very spell books they guard. New identity, new life… albeit in hell. But you would end up there as a human soul subject to the purges. This way you start fresh and are immune to the purges. How does that sound for a fair deal? It is painful, but I know you can bear it."
He wants a specific contract. Still, a firing line lacks finesse. Besides, he'll use those contracts for what they're worth. I'll find a way through this in Hell, but he's making a deal that I won't be on his leash. I think for a moment and smile back, "Clearly there is a demon in my pocket you want. Set me in contact with someone who can teach me, and I want you to agree that all their contacts are mine. Maybe we can help each other in the future."
He grins with a positively wicked smile even reaching his eyes as he sets the cup down. The Radio Demon offers me a hand, "Well I do like the way your mind works. Very devious indeed. This will indeed be a fruitful day indeed for all of us, now do we have a deal?" I take his extended hand while it feels like pure evil is stripping away my deals, my power. He offers a last remark as he lets go of my hand, "Now let's start setting up the spell. This will be fun indeed... You should sleep dear. When you wake up, you'll see my newest masterpiece."
My eyes slowly close against my will as my dreams slowly come to the surface that I had long forgotten. The field of daisies my old home sat next to before the rum runners destroyed the field. My little brother and mother died in that fire. Still the field at this moment is vibrant and soothing. That was the first deal I ever made in that fire; I sold my dying brother's soul for one of their hellhounds. The Radio Demon killed him while I was running. Louis was a good friend to me despite his hell-borne nature. Louis is just lying in the tall grass until the dream fades slowly.
My eyes shoot open as I sit bolt upright. Dizziness takes over for a second until I find myself staring down a circle of blood red in a clearing I don't recognize. A familiar jazz piece plays nearby as I realize it's him. Carefully I walk over to him as if trying not to step on eggshells, "So you were there at my performance then? I thought I saw red…"
"Ah, but how could one miss such a moving performance? That song is the product of powerful magic you made a deal for. Isn't it amazing what power a shake of a hand can do? Don't worry, I'm letting you keep that particular deal. Can't shut out talent like that now, can we? Oh, but I do owe you one guard dog," he says carelessly taunting me throughout his whole things like this is a game to him. It probably is, but he's hiding his intent behind that smile. After all, a smile keeps everyone guessing as rumors say.
Irritation snaps across my features as he mentions Louis, only barely stifling anger behind nonchalance. He can't seriously believe he can replace a friend like that. The Radio Demon waves a hand as pitch black consumes the piano only to reform into a lump of bloodied white fur I recognize as Louis. Spinning on my bare feet, I let loose anything I have eaten or drank for the past 24 hours into a bush. Getting ahold of myself enough to turn to see the bloodied corpse pulsating into an unnaturally large wolf with the same gold eyes as Louis. Despite the similarity, this thing is easily 6 feet to its shoulder with a lost look.
The Radio Demon allows me to pass after offering me a grin and a flute. It stares at me, not scared but calculating, as I play a soothing tone intended to create the calming wind that went through the wheat fields I treasure in my memories. It listens and sniffs the air while seeming to relax. Carefully, it moves to lay down at my feet where it stays practically knocking me over. The melody slowly fades as I hold the flute almost timid, "You won't answer how, but why do that for me?"
He shrugs before taking the flute back with that same smile as always. Doing a wide circle around me, he motions to the owls' bodies in the circle, "I'm putting an investment forward in you, and personally I want to see what you do with this opportunity. Thus, consider this as a repayment for killing your hound. Nothing more." He moves to the outside of the circle as the large wolf runs to the edge whining at me. Warning me. The Radio Demon's words were quick yet cold despite his even tone, "Don't worry dear. This will only hurt a lot." Slamming his staff into the circle, the crimson color seems to glow around the ring literally swallowing the bodies of the two demons.
My mind doesn't seem to register anything but shock as the crimson floods towards me. It looks like a tornado of blood seems to slither around me as if there is something living inside it. The living fluid solidifies around me like a cocoon as the head of the bloody serpent shows inside the cocoon wrapping. I try to back up to get away only hitting a wall of what I'm to assume is solid blood if I remotely understand him. It lunges while I'm trying to look for a way out, sharp teeth shining through my collar bone and right shoulder plate.
Venomous acid burns through my veins like a fire starting at the core of my body and moving outwards. That fire is pushing me to my mental and physical limit for pain while I'm left living through it. Bones crack and break only to shift as they adjust to the new form. I can feel my remaining humanity dragging away while spots of black grow like fungus in my vision. Within the dwindling haze left of my willpower his voice pierces through the pain and noise, "Now that is a beautiful sound. Don't worry, dear, this will all be worth it." Then that's it. Everything goes dark.
Shooting bolt upright, my head smacks off a book floating above my head. I crumble back into the ground while holding my head until I feel it; feathery locks of hair of pitch black with blue tips forming into a braid that goes down the right front shoulder. I crawl around the book to see a puddle of blood left over from the circle along with my mutilated, bloodless human body. In the puddle is a dark brown owl demon with strikingly neon blue eyes and slender features. The refined black cloth shirt feels heavy once I see the baggy sleeves with a leathery brown vest with blue accents. The black pants are a similar luxurious cloth with a baggy feel and tight circlet around the edge of the ankle before my new bird feet. I stare in awe until I see four eyes suddenly.
A tinny voice speaks up near me as the damn Radio Demon speaks up near me, "Perfect! I'd say this is a home run. Quite the performance, you played your part perfectly." Once again that wickedly clever smile hides his true feelings on the matter besides his dark enjoyment of my situation. The maniacal glimmer in his eyes is all I need to know to leave.
I stand and start reaching for the floating black book with neon blue markings and white decorative borders. Instead, the book moves to my hand which thoroughly confuses both the wolf and me. Looking around, I recognize the shitty description of the city that Louis explained to me. His home. The wolf moves behind me with a timid glare to the city slowly scanning for threats. I think back to the knowledge Louis gave me and speak up, "So where is this teacher? Let alone the familial home of the ones before me."
The Radio Demon grins and snaps his fingers as his shadow seems to eat us and drop us into a large ball room of white crystal. A pile of fluff stops me from feeling the fall and allows me to slide harmlessly to the floor. I stand in front of the wolf and smile, "Thanks. We should explore the new home some. But first, is it okay if I call you Frost? I'd hate to call you wolf all the time." When he nods, he stands up next to me to walk with me through the nearly vacant hall.
A crystal chandelier along with almost ice like jagged edging to the windows that now stream light in here. For some reason this place feels too bright for me. I stare at a small table with two cups of hot coffee. I turn my nose up and keep walking through the room to the massive double door. After testing the door, I push it open with only a slight struggle until the door pushes over another owl demon on the other side.
He throws a handout as some sort of light seems to fire towards us. Frost jumps at me, knocking me over. When Frost cries out, his fur stands on end as he growls standing protectively in front of me. I stand up and call out warily, "Easy! Not here to hurt anyone." I step out from behind Frost with my book in hand and looking at the ash blue owl demon. A faint recognition crosses me as his name is clear, "You're Stolas… Prince Stolas… Sorry… I'm related to Andrealphus… I didn't mean to-"
"You're his kin? I didn't know since his wife died that he had kin… Wait, you have his book? Then he's really gone…" Stolas gives me an incredulous look and raises a clawed hand to his chin. He walks around me with a wide berth for Frost. He looks at me and points to my book, "Did your father ever teach you those spells?"
Simply going with this, I pat Frost to calm him. Words knit together carefully while I think, "No. To be honest, I wasn't allowed near it. I have it now, but I have no real idea how to use it. Any idea who I could learn from or where to start?"
He seems to mull things over for a moment and finally heaves a sigh, "Well normally you would have been having lessons till now. Your best foot forward would be to read it and don't leave this place for a bit… Honestly until you hire proper bodyguards and such, I wouldn't leave here at all. Goetias tend to be a target and without proper spell casting you'll do no good in defending yourself."
A gray owl demon similar in age to my new form walks out a door and stops near Stolas to stare at me. Her voice seems to be even, only slightly cautious, "Hey Dad, did you find anyone here ye- Oh. Who's this?" Getting a similar calculating look, she looks at Frost and moves towards him slowly to pet his head, "Cool pet! What's his name?"
I see Stolas cringe which internally makes me chuckle. Simply staying to the innocent act, I smile at her, "That's Frost… I'm Melody, Andrealphus' daughter, though that term is slightly cold when describing us. He practically locked me away…" The pity story is all I have to go on so I'm only hoping that this buys me something because I'm running on lies and nothing else. Although that's merely a testament to most of my life as the con artist my mother raised so I'd say I'm doing pretty good for myself.
"I'm Octavia, and I feel that sometimes. Have you seen my mum? She won't answer the phone and she isn't here. The servants are missing too," Octavia says to me with this ounce of concern in her features that is comparable to the female in the circle. That was her mother. Which means the limited information I have is from some magic left over from the spell. Her features seem worried as she is trying to hide a form of sadness. Frost licks her face which makes her laugh. I'm glad… Losing family is a hard pill to swallow, and she'll need a smile. Mom always said it keeps people guessing and confused so my use for a smile is entirely different.
I look around and shrug, lifting the book a bit, "I haven't seen anyone here. Honestly, I just woke up from wherever he was locking me away and panicked. So the book brought me here. Can't say I know where they are at all since I only just made it out after this thing appeared in front of me…" Moving past them, I look outside the window to see the massive city in awe. Andrealphus may have had this place flooded with light, but the city below is dusk and dark. A large pentagram in the sky shows that I feel trapped or maybe a safe kind of cage under it. Not sure.
Octavia moves over to me and looks out with me, "You've never seen the city or been out of wherever he kept you?" When I nodded, she set an arm on mine until I hugged her tightly. The pain and loss it took to get here are my main thoughts, but tears flow regardless. Louis is gone, my old life is gone and now I have to reacclimate to Hell of all things with a strange magic book. An arm wraps around me while I cry until I finally feel out of tears at this point. She smiles at me and looks at Stolas, "Dad, can she stay the night with us? We'll come back here in the morning, but she shouldn't be alone in this empty castle."
Stolas seems to stop to debate while weighing options in his mind. He gives a wary look to Frost and seems to sigh when his gaze drops on Octavia. Tones of begrudging acceptance seem to ebb into his voice, "I don't see why not. Without servants or guards, she's not very safe here. Melody, how about you come back with us for now? If you'll allow me tomorrow morning, I'll settle Andrealphus' estate to hire staff and some guards. For now, Octavia and I can house you for a day or so until we can settle the manner of the estate."
They lead me down the confusing corridors to the entry hall. This place is massive for just one person. Royalty is seriously one hell of a perk down here that I never expected to see. Frost follows sniffing around to no avail since this whole palace is literally empty. They show me to a car, and I look at Frost. I kind of wish he could be smaller, so he'd fit in the car. My book reacts and opens up to a specific page, though blackened pages with blue writing show me a spell. When I reach for Frost with my free hand, he shrinks down to a manageable size. Strangely when the spell is cast without notice the air fills with music or is that a piano's song.
Peering over my shoulder, Stolas seems confused as he looks at the page, "What language is that?... Each book must only be legible to the owner. Still, this language looks too crude with its rough scrawlings. I never knew Andrealphus' book looked like this." His look over my pages seems to become less confused and shrug this fact off while I'm left at a loss for what he means by that. To me, this is legible in all its mannerisms like it's in Creole. There may be a point in each book reading differently though.
We get into the large limosine with Frost in between my legs to conserve space. As we pass the city by to head to their palace, my heart skips a beat seeing all the races I've been dealing with for a decade. Even more hell hounds like Louis. We go through neighborhoods and finally stop at the palace, my face clearly etched in awe. I get out with Octavia as a wave of nausea passes me. Down to one knee and coughing violently into my hand, clutching the book in my free hand.
"Dad, is she okay? Melody! Melody…" she kneels next to me with a hand on my back. My feathers feel like fire while my breath feels freezing cold. Stolas moves in front of me just in time to see black blood drip from my hand while I'm still coughing. My mind dwindles for a moment as if something is fighting for dominance. I don't know if I'm caught, only that I fell. Instantly I feel normal and look around to find no one there. Its smokey red and blue fog around me while I stare out at the darkness. Something is out there as it moves towards me menacingly, stopping a few feet from me. It's a shadowy creature with a violin in hand with eerie red and blue eyes, and a smile only hinting at facial features behind bloodied patches. It grins at me until a white light pulls me back suddenly. Everything feels peaceful for a moment until my eyes open faintly without recognition of anything except the bright light of day.
My eyes open and close, trying to acclimate to light. I'm in some sort of guest room or something more like a massive studio apartment. I lift my han- no… I lift a claw to my face only to remember my deal. Sitting up against a large backboard, my eyes struggle to define features, like each eye is seeing two hues. A few blinks later and the world goes back to the cool colors I remember. The feeling of dread I get when I see in the mirror that another version of myself seems to make me feel dizzy all over again. Frost stands up from the end of the bed blocking the mirror, only to walk over to me and rest a head on my lap.
I pet him with a soft smile, wanting to avoid looking at the mirror. Frost relaxes there as if I'll disappear if he so much as looks away. That thing I saw makes me wonder what exactly my deal spawned instead of just these Goetias inside of me. Rumors were that human souls seemed to spawn abilities when they went to hell. Is that it? I shouldn't be human. Petting Frost makes me realize how soft his fur is while I hug him tightly as if needing the sense of security and distraction.
The door opens as Octavia and Stolas walk in. Ocatavia moves over beside me with a smile, "You're awake. Seems like Frost got to you first." She laughs a moment which makes me feel like maybe I judged demons a bit harshly back in the living world. She seems like a normal teenager with a goodheartedness in her heart. I barely knew that in the living world since becoming a rum runner.
Stolas walks over with a concerned look as if he's attempting to word something carefully, "You haven't eaten much for a while, have you? The doctor we called said you were malnourished." When I nod no, he sighs and continues, "I see. I'm going to leave you with Octavia today while I get the estate ready. You need to get something to eat and take it easy. Thankfully with some help from a friend, I've been able to finalize most of it. He's going to help me find staffing and guards. You two stay in the estate but have fun. I'll be back soon."
She waves goodbye to her dad and helps me out of bed once Frost moves. It feels strange to be at the mercy of others in one way or another. Octavia helps me to my feet, allowing me to lean on Frost to walk. Weak, but I'll function for now. Following her into the kitchen, she speaks up after digging into a few cabinets, "I can probably find a bowl of cereal for us. Nothing fancy but it's still food. Not sure we have dog food. But since Dad let the carnivorous plant die, Frost can have the steak in the fridge."
Still can't believe any of this is holding up let alone I'm in Hell? Frost is happily chowing down on a plate with a large steak behind me. I chuckle a moment and look over, "Cereal is better than not eating. Uhm… I'm sorry to be an inconvenience, Octavia."
"It's okay since it means helping another family member out. Besides, this kind of stuff just happens right? At least you're out and free to do as you please. Not sure how stealthy of a security guard Frost is though? Think they might see that one coming," she starts off with a low tone until she speaks up in jest. I appreciate her upbeat attitude right now since things look pretty dark right now. I'd have to read the books at home and hopefully figure out what's the family history here.
Octavia brings over some cereal in two bowls, one for each. We eat in practical silence since I just realized how hungry I am. Octavia actually brings me another bowl which disappears as quickly. I feel a little better, but still off. After she cleans up, she helps me stand again this time helping me into a large study room. I look around in awe and shock at the sheer magnitude of books in front of me, "Wow… I… So many books. Is it okay to be here?"
"Yeah. The servants can bring us something to drink if you want. I figured you'd want somewhere to study your book, " Octavia chuckles as she helps me sort on a large couch. The day works away with the two of us reading and relaxing. Octavia falls asleep curling up under a blanket while I'm reading under the fuzzy blanket of Frost. To be fair, I fall asleep clutching the book to my side, snuggling into Frost's fur.
Someone gently wakes me up as my eyes flutter open, almost scared for a moment until I see Prince Stolas carefully waking me up. I look around and Ocatavia is gone. He shushes me a bit and offers a hand, "She's in her room sleeping, as you should be. Tomorrow we'll go back to your castle to meet the staff and help me set up. I'd rather you have a point of contact if you need help. So, you'll have our numbers as well. For now, you should get some sleep."
He helps me stand and opens the door while I lean on Frost. I walk back to the room they're lending me while I'm left thinking. Without thinking, I grab the blanket off of the bed and curl up in Frost's fur on the floor. Something in me doesn't want to sleep in front of that mirror again. Frost seems to allow it while I harmlessly pass out in his fur under a cover.