TWISTED FAIRY TALES

Story 1: DEVIL'S DEAL

Disclaimer: I don't own the pictures, audio/video and characters. But I do own the plot and I don't make money out of it.

Warning: A bit out of character.

Audio titled: EMPTY CROWN

BEARSKIN
{Dirt & Grime}
STORY 1

Summary: A pact with the devil leaves a desperate soldier careening down a path he never imagined. Will he survive to find his happily ever after or lose his soul in the process?

Chapter
I
Devils's Deal

***

Once upon a time there was a handsome soldier by the name of Zhang Qi Ling. He had entered the military at the tender age of sixteen and although he had fought bravely and courageously throughout the war, when the war ended he found himself in rather dire straits. He had no money and when he returned to his home village he discovered that his parents had died in his absence.

Looking for the kindness of his fellow villagers, he found none. They scoffed at him in his fine, bright red uniform and told him to set forth and find his own place and fortune. Left with no alternative, Zhang Qi Ling took up his sword and left the village entering the thick and gloomy forest.

After several days walk, Zhang Qi Ling stopped in the middle of a circle of stones and weighed his options. He had no money, no trade besides killing people and ducking at opportune moments and, looking around, absolutely no idea where in the hell he was.

Now, some might wonder, if a Zhang loses his dignity in the forest where no one can see him, is he still a Zhang?

Well, the dark haired soldier would answer with a resounding 'En' before flopping gracefully onto the grass in the middle of the circle of stones and with deep thought and honor consign himself to the ever pleasant death by starvation that was in store for him.

Throwing an arm over his eyes Zhang Qi Ling was just dosing off, the image of a precious person he had yet to meet teasing at his senses, when he heard a dark chuckle and felt rather than saw the dark shadow fall across his face.

"Pathetic."

Zhang Qi Ling felt the shiver run up his spine at the silky smooth voice and removing his arm blinked open his coal black eyes to reveal the trespasser who would dare infringe on this, his eternal sanctuary of starvation and death. Was nothing sacred anymore?

Even in his weakened state, the young soldier was still able to pull of flawless dark stares, one dark, regal eyebrow arching in irritation.

The well-dressed stranger leaned back against one of the circle's boulder, crossing his arms and smirked down on the desolate soldier. He eyed the young man, taking in his smooth skin and midnight oil black hair, bangs fall onto exquisite face. The soldier moved to standing and the stranger saw that the young man was tall and certainly handsome with a strong build and regal features even for a common born man.

And to think this fine soul would soon belong to him. He had to fake a cough to keep the evil chuckle at bay.

"Your point, sir?" the soldier asked impatiently although it would never be read in his expressionless face, "I was trying to die here and although you aren't impeding that process by offering me food or money or any manner of kind acts, I was so enjoying not having you here."

Zhang Qi Ling watched as the man brushed none existent dirt from his forest green jacket.

"Well, Xiao ge, I wanted to offer you a little... Shall we say... deal?" When Zhang Qi Ling's black eyes met with the stranger's, he wasn't surprised at all to see that the man's eyes had bled blood red.