CROSSFIELD TRILOGY : Volume No. 01

Chp. 09: The Demon Inside

I know that I have taken a break far too long along with being consistently inconsistent with this story. However, the chapters releasing henceforth will be at a much more faster and quicker pace with the writing quality being improved too. To all those who have been reading Crossfield Trilogy right from the beginning, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. To all the new readers, stay tuned cause you are in for a hell of an adventure!! -Author

Mark gave a stiff knock on the door and pushing them slowly, entered inside. A soft smell of lavender hit Mark's nose as soon as he took a step on the glossy wooden flooring. The room was spacious, with two giant arch windows for proper ventilation and spread of light. Vases of different sizes and shapes were kept on the floor, besides the the giant book shelves filled to brim with old magazines, articles, periodicals and books. similar to the dining hall, the main source of light came from a beautiful chandelier hanging directly above a mahogany table where the Headmaster was seated peacefully.                                                                                                         "Finally found our way to the Headmaster's office have we?" Alphonse spoke calmly as he gave a teenager a sharp look from head to toe. 

"I'm really sorry sir, I was with Edward at the infirmary and didn't realize that it had gotten too late." Mark said in a slightly apologetic manner. Being summoned to the Headmaster's Office on his very first day of school wasn't exactly a part of Mark's to-do list.                 "Well, in any case, have a seat." Alphonse motioned Mark towards two leather cushioned seats in front of him. "Now, I suppose you don't have an idea as to why you are here, do you?"

"I did think that I had been sent here because of the fight between Edward and Assem that broke out in the dining hall. However, if that was the case, then that girl would've sent Janet and Assem along with me. The fact that she sent them to the staffroom and me to you says that I'm here for something more important than a silly fight." Mark said, as he took a seat in the white leathered chair. Alphonse gave a short smile before he slid a metal box towards Mark. "You are correct, I called you here today because it was time for the contract to be signed."                                "A contract?"  Mark asked, he remembered that Tokyo had mentioned something similar to him a few days back.                                                                                                                                                            "Yes, a document that binds you to provide the card protection and the card to provide you with ample powers whenever necessary for however long the duration." Alphonse got up and walked towards one of the two cabinets. Opening it and shuffling through the slots for some time, the director removed an old looking carpet and 4 unusually large light purple colored candles.              "I assume you have the card with you right now?" Alphonse asked as he spread the carpet on the wooden flooring. "Yeah, I have it my pocket here. Tokyo told me to carry it with me  for the first week of school atleast." Mark put his hand into the trouser pocket and removed the Ace of Spades wrapped neatly in thick papyrus.                                                    

"Good. I want you to remove the card from its covering and make sure that your skin touches its golden surface throughout the procedure. under no circumstances are you to let go of the card. Now, are you left or right handed?"                                                                                                                              "Right." Mark replied.                                                                                                                                                           "Then grasp the card in your left hand." the director said as he motioned Mark to get up.     Doing as he was told, Mark held the card in his left hand. "Those candles look really big." he said as the director placed one candle on each corner of the carpet. "Don't let its appearance fool you. These are Type A Spirit Blockers, also known as the invisible wall, these are used to break any flow of spirit from the outside of a bordered territory to the interior and vice versa. Cards are really powerful spiritual energy objects, each one having a deity of its own."                       "A deity?" Mark asked, raising his eyebrows.                                                         
 "Yes. The deity residing in a card is called as its ruler  and is tasked  with providing the guardian ample power whenever and for however long it is needed. When the Carrier of the card dies or  the contract between the ruler and the Carrier is broken, the ruler starts looking for a new Carrier. If the ruler finds the Carrier suitable then the card is automatically transported to that particular person. As the cards have a huge amount of Spiritual power, they can be easily tracked by the GEA or by my Department. That is how new Carriers are selected. Thing is, there have only been 2 people in the past that have received the Carriership of the Ace of Spades. One was your dad and the other was an ex exorcist, Jacob Smith. Both of them have given two very different definitions about the ruler of the card. However, in both of the definitions, one thing was common. The deity inside is much more powerful than one can ever imagine. As a result, even if the slight interference occurs, things could get out of hand. Hence, the spirit blockers."                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mark ran a hand through his hair as he processed what the director had just said. "Well," Mark said after  the director had lit all the candles," how do I sign the contract then?"                                                                                                              _____________________   

Mark gently opened his eyes. the only thing he could see was the color black. Pitch black. He tried to look around but his neck just wouldn't move. Mark tried opening his mouth but availed a similar result. 'Where the heck am I?' Mark thought to himself as he moved his eyes left and right as much as he could. 

"You are right where I want you to be."

Mark froze. He tried to turn his neck towards the source of the voice but simply couldn't.
'You can read my thoughts?'
"Yes I can, dear Marky. That is the only way in which we can effectively communicate."      
'Who-who are you? How do you know my name?' Mark breathed heavily.
"I've known your name ever since I selected you as the card's next carrier. As for your first question, simply turn around."

Curious, Mark tried to move his body and to his surprise found that he could do it rather effortlessly now. In front of him, on a golden throne that seemed to float on the darkness, was a giant hooded figure. He had horns coming out of his forehead and the rest if his face was covered with a mask that left space for one gigantic and hideous looking eye right between his two horns.

Mark was about to swear but couldn't open his mouth.

"Marky, you can't do anything here without my permission. You can only think and I will reply." The Creature spoke. Its voice was deep and slightly husky but it didn't have a particular accent as such.  

'Just wh..what are you? Where am I? '
"My name is Wilvitnov and I'm a demon acting as the ruler for this card. You are currently in a diffrent realm inside the card created by the likes of mine.You cannot move, talk or even turn your neck unless, I allow you to. Over here, neither the exorcists nor the angels can interfere. There are no concepts of time and energy here. This place will be the same for next 100 and 1000 years."      

Mark gulped. There was a certain feeling of coldness that seemed to levitate into the air whenever the creature spoke.

"I assume," Wilvitnov continued, gazing the boy, "That angel sent you here to sign the contract, didn't he?" 

'Yes, he did.' Mark thought.
"Well then, let's get it done with." The demon spoke. He snapped his fingers and a parchment of paper along with a grip less knife appeared directly in front of Mark, hovering in the air. 
There were large letters written in some foreign language that Mark had never seen before. A small column at the end of the page stated the word,       ' signature' conveniently in English.

'What is all this?' Mark looked at the demon with a confused expression on his face.

Wilvitnov rolled his eyes in an unimpressed manner.
"Listen kid, Ill explain in brief to save both of our time. The contract states that you will be receiving my powers in exchange for your desires."

'Desires?'

"Yes. I'm a demon and demons naturally feed on desires. The stronger the desire, the greater the power. I dont have an specifications but anger and lust are my favorite."

'So just to be sure, if I sign this contract, you'll lend me powers in exchange for my feelings?'
'Yes, let's put it that way.'
'Okay then.'
Mark looked at the piece of paper and the knife in his hand. Without thinking twice, he slit his thumb gently enough to let 2 thick drops of blood fall on the paper. As soon as the blood droplets touched the paper, they evaporated into black smoke.
Wilvitnov smiled to himself. 'He sure learns fast.'

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