Short Stories Volume 1

The Contract

Light was coming in through the blinds and brightening the room. Too much light and too bright.

God why is it so bright in here? Why is there an angry construction team working overtime in my head? Slowly opening my eyes I'm grateful to at least be waking up in my own hotel room. Alone for that matter. The last thing I needed was to find a stranger next to me. Sitting up, I see not just a glass of water and two ibuprofen, which is another thing I'm terribly grateful to see. But I also see a paper, one with my signature on it. I can hear things moving in the kitchen and the smell of bacon is heavenly. The door opens up and something that looked reptilian with wings holding a tray of food comes in saying "Breakfast is ready, master."

Five hours earlier

"Oh c'mon Becky. What harm could it do? Remember we used to play Bloody Mary in middle school or even try to go out into the woods looking for Slender man? Did anything bad ever happen? No. Look this is just another superstitious and harmless old gentleman who doesn't know what to do with his money anymore other than to throw crazy parties and invite a bunch of strangers.

We go, have a few drinks and we leave. No hooking up, no going off alone or splitting up. We stay together all night and we leave together. Oh, oh and we also get our own drinks. Unless we aren't at the bar getting them where we can see the person making them, we don't accept any from anyone else. Deal?" my long time friend since elementary school told me.

She had way too many good points. Why we thought those games were fun I have no idea but it's not like we've gotten any better growing up. We still go to see every horror movie that comes out in theaters and go all out when it comes to Halloween, making it more horror than whore-er if you know what I mean. Like since when did Halloween entail wearing skimpy nurses outfits or the devil and angel costumes that are basically lingerie?

Some you can get away with since that's the actual costume, like a Harley Quinn one or that infamous Princess Leia one. Obviously those were meant to be sexy and revealing.

Anyway moving on, what really sells me is that we won't be hooking up with anybody. Not to say that we disapprove for any casual relations, just that it's not on the table for tonight. Not when we're going to a stranger's house with a drive that we don't know how long it'll be and the invitation was a little unsettling.

The note read,

Ever wanted to be stronger in life. Ever wanted a little help, a sort of assistance if you will. You won't have to spend a dime. The price is something that's highly overrated. If you're interested, come to gathering. At midnight, you will not only state your desires but receive your gifts. Costume is mandatory. No exceptions.

No going back now. We're pulling up into the driveway and there's a, well the person that parks your car, I always forget what they're called. My friends always make fun of me for that. Not in a mean way but that I can know or remember the most random things and yet I still need the help of my fingers to do math and don't know what the most basic things are. However they make it up to me by saying that it's part of my charm.

When we walk inside I am completely blown away. This host went all in with the decorations. So did these people with their costumes. I mean they looked like they just walked right off a movie set! There was this one dude, I'm assuming it's a dude cause they got to be at least 6'5, anyways this Sauron cosplay is insane. He even had the one ring on his finger.

There were many others that caught my attention but it was all brought to a halt when the lights turned on and in a grand old villain fashion, our host made his appearance on top of the stairs.

"Welcome my beautiful and delectable guest. I want to applaud and thank all of you for following the stipulations of the invitation. From the looks of you all, you certainly did not hold back. Enjoy the drinks, foods and the night. Those who wish to take upon my offer about wanting assistance, I will wait in my office and meet with you one by one. Remember, you can't have real fun without breaking a few rules." he winks and walks away.

The lights go back down and the music resumes. Ignoring his weird words in his speech, the night was going amazingly. True to our promise, my friends and I never left each others side. Thankfully we were an even number of four so when one of us could go to bathroom without leaving one by herself. The drinks were strong but didn't leave that bitter taste in your mouth or cause you to make that scrunched up face. Tables of food were aligned by the wall and never made you feel full or nauseous due to the mixing with the alcohol.

At some point in the night we found ourselves on the second floor complaining about our jobs. The host happened to overhear and asked which one wanted to be first. Of course the girls volunteered me and with a few drinks already in me, I obliged. All he did was hold my hand in his like a fifteenth century nobleman and closed his eyes.

"Oh you are very determined and hard working woman. There is a fire and passion inside you. What better gift to give than that of fire, and what better familiar than a dragon. This will aid you in anything you ask of them. Sign your name, give me your soul and it will be yours. Don't worry, this is not damnation. I simply need your soul to make your familiar. It's what makes them attached to you." he assures me while handing me the contract and the pen.

Back to present time

"Master, is the breakfast not to your liking?" he said. A dragon, not an average reptile like a Komodo but an actual freaking dragon. I raised my left hand and thought really hard like it was a match and it started smoking until fire appeared. But it didn't burn, it wasn't even warm. I looked back at the dragon in front of me I smiled.

"What's your name? Also, I would prefer it if you called me by name. It's Becky." Sure I liked that I had a familiar now but I don't think I could get used to him calling me master all the time.

"I have none, you have to name me." he replied.

"That makes you seem a lot like a pet. Tell you what, I have a couple of baby name books from when my friend was pregnant. Grab them and pick which ever one you like." that seemed fair enough.

He placed the tray on my lap and as I was eating, he was going through the books skimming them until he finally settled on one he liked. I'll admit it made me smile at the irony of it but it also made him smile when I first said it out loud. I learned that no one else but me will be able to see and hear him.

"Well Asher, do you mind helping me pack? My holiday is over and I have flight to catch." I ask him rather than just telling him to do so.

"Of course mast- I mean Becky. Whatever you need." he said shyly. It made my smile grow bigger when I saw his long tail wag a little. I can't wait to go home and enjoy my new power and familiar. This is going to be so much fun. Might even get into some trouble but it's as our host said.

You can't have any real fun without breaking a few rules.