"Blood bound to the Devil"

I had to remain steady and firm, one slip of my tongue could end up trapping us in a dangerous bargain with a demon. So I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

That voice guided me once again.

"Tell them your true identity and purpose. Tell them that you are here to conduct a bargain with my son, under the supervision of Angelina, the demon slayer. Viviane make sure that you don't let them hit my son again as these lashings are designed to drain the life force of demons and devils. And please be patient during the ritual that confirms the contract."

With that, the lady's voice vanished. I owed my life to that woman who helped me through all the hurdles in this life. I did as she told me and the maidens chanted in union:

"We are very well aware of your identity and purpose but my lady please don't force us to let this scoundrel go in Lady Angelina's chambers."

Why the hell did they have such a pathetic opinion of Daniel? I said:

"Very well, then you may summon Angelina here and we will carry out the ritual right here as I am not leaving his side at all!"

After a debate, the maidens went to summon Angelina. The maidens returned and said:

"The meeting is arranged. Our lady will arrive shortly, please dress up properly and go to the garden outside."

I answered:

"Alright, but he joins us in the Garden too."

They agreed and two more girls dressed in white gave me a kimono to wear. The colour of the kimono was blood red. I asked:

"Why is this red?"

Their reply made my blood freeze.

"It will help camouflage the blood that is spilt during the ritual."

Afterwards, I dragged Daniel to a room that was provided to me for changing into my new attire. There was a bed, some cosmetics and jewellery. 

I laid Daniel on the bed gently. I immediately changed into the kimono.

There was a knock on the door, three girls came and said they wanted to prepare me for the ritual. I didn't protest at all.

These girls were no more than twelve but they did wonders on my face. They lined my blue eyes with kohl and applied blood-red balm to my lips gently. They applied a faint colour to my cheeks too.

I was becoming more and more curious about this ritual. Why are such lavish preparations necessary for this ritual? If I was going to sign a piece of paper then why was everyone making preparations for a wedding? It felt like I was a bride. 

I was lost in confused thoughts when the girls finally left and I went to the bed, Daniel was lying on. I sat on a corner of the bed and said:

"Wake up, wake up, please Daniel I beg of you, I am confused and scared Please help me."

I ran my fingers gently through his luxurious hair and mumbled a song that made me relax. I heard a groan and then Daniel finally opened his eyes.

Tears filled my eyes and I spoke, my voice breaking:

"Thank Goodness you're alive, I thought that you....." My voice trailed off as I couldn't voice losing him.

I held his face in my hands. Daniel calmed me down holding me tightly in his embrace and said:

"Don't shed any more tears for someone as damned as me, Viv dear. I am alright, you protected me as well as you could so I am in your debt."

"Not at all, foolish Devil. I will always be in your debt as you are my true saviour."

He smiled warmly and said:

" I am blessed, the Devil is blessed to have someone like you protecting him."

I blushed. 

I was very confused about the ritual and asked:

"Now tell me what exactly is the ritual? And why am I dressed in red?"

He took in a deep breath and said:

"I am to slice through your flesh with the sacred sword and then use your blood to mark the bargain on my face and you will also do the same. Finally, we will take an oath, sealing our contract forever. But the problem is that my inner demon will come loose as soon as I see your blood spilling."

His voice trailed off and he whispered:

"I will become a monster that will attack you and drink your blood till you die, but you have to injure me till I lose consciousness. You must put a spell on me that will hopefully suppress my inner demon for a few months."

My brain processed everything and I began to shake violently, fear flowing through my veins but I managed to ask:

"So when you suddenly try to attack me, will that be the effect of your inner demon?"

"Yes."

I said:

"I can't fight and most importantly, I can't injure someone I care about."

He said:

"You have to, otherwise those maidens in white will lash me till I die, so please succeed in your test."

I nodded and said:

"All this blood spilling and ancient ritual stuff is going to make me lose my mind so please can we enjoy the time we have."

He stared at me, a hint of amusement in his red eyes and said:

"Are you sure? Because I am sure that I'll enjoy my time but you won't."

At first, I failed to understand what he had said but then I realized what this Devil was referring to. My face heated and I said:

"Oh no, you Devil, not at a time like this!"

He laughed and said:

"I was joking, Viviane. Do you really think my intentions are that messed up?"

I exhaled a sigh of relief and said:

"No way something like that is ever going to happen, not until hell freezes over!"

"I can arrange that actually once I become the Devil King."

I laughed:

"Don't even try!"

After a moment of silence, he said:

"You look beautiful. More beautiful than a rose in a desert. You are the epitome of true beauty amongst all this darkness and bloodshed. You are the light in my life."

He was very experienced in making a girl catch her breath.

"My gratitude towards such flattery, you look as just handsome, despite the hell you've been through."

He pleaded:

"That song you were singing was wonderful, sing it again for me."

Just as I started to sing, the doors swung open and we were summoned in the garden.

My heart skipped a beat and I braced myself for the storm that awaited us.