silly thing. Sometimes they even forget that part because they think I’m easy. I’m not easy.” Her grin became more predatory. “And there’s nothing free in this world or any other. But done.”
“Second, that you will obey my every command, save to destroy yourself.”
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. I do that, you let me out and the first thing you say is ‘Give up your claim on my soul.’ I know you’re one of the smart ones. Try again.”
It was worth a try. “Fine. You will obey my every command, other than to destroy yourself, or to alter the terms of our agreement.”
She thought about this. “Closer. No putting me on the Internet or otherwise using me as a sideshow. Demons who go public get destroyed, either by Upstairs or those bastards in the black dresses.” The playful tone returned. “And just so you know, the Church won’t help you get out of a deal with a demon. That kind of thing pisses them off. It’s not as forgiving as it might be, but trust me, you run to Rome and ask for help, they’ll pray for you all day long but they won’t lift a finger. And I won’t go near a church. That would be too close to an order to destroy myself.”
He’d expected this. “You will obey my every command, other than to destroy yourself, alter the terms of our agreement, or overtly reveal yourself as a supernatural being to other people.”
Another nod. “That works. Plenty of slack in there for me. Anything else?”
“You will allow me to share you with others or give you to them for my pleasure, in any way I see fit, so long as it doesn’t violate the other terms of our agreement.”
Her eyebrows rose in perfect arcs. “Oooh, kinky. I’m up for that.”
“Good. All these terms shall apply for the rest of my life, and neither you nor any other being you have influence with or over shall try to end my life prematurely.”
She laughed again, harder. “ Nice try. Magicians live a long, long time. I’m not trading the whole store away for one little soul. You can have a year or you can up the ante.”
“Ten years.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m giving you the deluxe package. What you’re getting is about the best deal I’ve ever made, if I do say so. One year. If you want more, you’ll have to sweeten the pot.”
Simon had been waiting for this. He had to look desperate or she might start thinking too hard about what she’d already agreed to. “All right. A year. But you must promise not to try to find a way to claim your price before the year is up, or in any way induce or ask any other being you have influence with or over to do so.”
Lily pouted. “That’s half the fun. But you interest me, mortal. And it’s been a hundred years since I tasted a fresh soul. Another one is nothing to me. Done.”
“And finally, the payment. Prescium animus. The price is a soul. My own, or one that is given me to command.”
She nodded with delight. “Of course. You seem like sort of a goody-good, but give me a year and you’ll be harvesting souls like an incubus.” She winked at him and he shuddered.
No, never, he thought, but only said, “Then the terms are acceptable?”
“I accept your terms as you have spoken them,” came the confident reply. “Release me from the circle, and in that moment, the bargain is struck and the year begins.”
Simon took another deep, deep breath. One way or another, his fate was sealed. It had been sealed since the moment he saw her. It was time to roll the dice.
“CIRCULUS VOS EXIMO!”
CHAPTER THREE
An Unimaginable Journey
The sound of Simon’s voice was still in the air when the circle of containment vanished and Lily gave a wordless cry of delight. She gave him another of those hungry looks and started to walk toward him with slow and devastating grace.
“Well, master, here I am. What would you have of me?” She didn’t sound very subservient, “master” or no.
“Stop.” She gracefully
“Second, that you will obey my every command, save to destroy yourself.”
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. I do that, you let me out and the first thing you say is ‘Give up your claim on my soul.’ I know you’re one of the smart ones. Try again.”
It was worth a try. “Fine. You will obey my every command, other than to destroy yourself, or to alter the terms of our agreement.”
She thought about this. “Closer. No putting me on the Internet or otherwise using me as a sideshow. Demons who go public get destroyed, either by Upstairs or those bastards in the black dresses.” The playful tone returned. “And just so you know, the Church won’t help you get out of a deal with a demon. That kind of thing pisses them off. It’s not as forgiving as it might be, but trust me, you run to Rome and ask for help, they’ll pray for you all day long but they won’t lift a finger. And I won’t go near a church. That would be too close to an order to destroy myself.”
He’d expected this. “You will obey my every command, other than to destroy yourself, alter the terms of our agreement, or overtly reveal yourself as a supernatural being to other people.”
Another nod. “That works. Plenty of slack in there for me. Anything else?”
“You will allow me to share you with others or give you to them for my pleasure, in any way I see fit, so long as it doesn’t violate the other terms of our agreement.”
Her eyebrows rose in perfect arcs. “Oooh, kinky. I’m up for that.”
“Good. All these terms shall apply for the rest of my life, and neither you nor any other being you have influence with or over shall try to end my life prematurely.”
She laughed again, harder. “ Nice try. Magicians live a long, long time. I’m not trading the whole store away for one little soul. You can have a year or you can up the ante.”
“Ten years.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m giving you the deluxe package. What you’re getting is about the best deal I’ve ever made, if I do say so. One year. If you want more, you’ll have to sweeten the pot.”
Simon had been waiting for this. He had to look desperate or she might start thinking too hard about what she’d already agreed to. “All right. A year. But you must promise not to try to find a way to claim your price before the year is up, or in any way induce or ask any other being you have influence with or over to do so.”
Lily pouted. “That’s half the fun. But you interest me, mortal. And it’s been a hundred years since I tasted a fresh soul. Another one is nothing to me. Done.”
“And finally, the payment. Prescium animus. The price is a soul. My own, or one that is given me to command.”
She nodded with delight. “Of course. You seem like sort of a goody-good, but give me a year and you’ll be harvesting souls like an incubus.” She winked at him and he shuddered.
No, never, he thought, but only said, “Then the terms are acceptable?”
“I accept your terms as you have spoken them,” came the confident reply. “Release me from the circle, and in that moment, the bargain is struck and the year begins.”
Simon took another deep, deep breath. One way or another, his fate was sealed. It had been sealed since the moment he saw her. It was time to roll the dice.
“CIRCULUS VOS EXIMO!”
CHAPTER THREE
An Unimaginable Journey
The sound of Simon’s voice was still in the air when the circle of containment vanished and Lily gave a wordless cry of delight. She gave him another of those hungry looks and started to walk toward him with slow and devastating grace.
“Well, master, here I am. What would you have of me?” She didn’t sound very subservient, “master” or no.
“Stop.” She gracefully
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