Once Upon A Fae

"It's said that power corrupts but actually it's more that power attracts the corruptable.  The sane are usually attracted by other things than power" 

David Brin

Prologue

The Alpha of the Harvest Moon Pack tried not to sweat as he paced his office.  His mind was racing to figure out how he was going to get out of the mess he was in.  His beta was on his way with the leader of the visitors.  Any minute now they would arrive and it could be the death of him.  Why did he ever make this deal?

" Alpha Cole, The Diablo is here to speak to you." Eric said as he showed the head of the Diablo Warrior Creche into the office.

"Is there anything that either of you need before I leave?"

Cole looked towards the towering man before him for an answer as he forced himself to seat himself behind his desk calmly.  The Diablo shook his head no and Eric swiftly left the tension charged office.

"Please Diablo, have a seat."  Cole said gesturing to the chair accross from him.

" I don't need to sit what I need is the payment we were promised.  It has been a week, where is it?"

Cole took a moment to compose himself, trying to calm his breathing and heartbeat.  This could go horribly wrong or brilliantly right. 

"There is a problem."

Cole saw the anger flash through Diablo's eyes and hurried to assure him

"You will get paid, I swear on my honor as an Alpha. It is just that I will need a little more time.  The money that was meant for you had to be used somewhere else." 

Cole's eyes darted around the room as he tried to think of a good place that the money could have gone to.  Money that was never there to begin with. 

"I don't care," the Diablo cut in with a growl, "if all the children of your pack would have died without that money, you do not back out of a deal with a Creche. Especially when the job has already been completed."

Though this was all said in a relaxed almost off hand manner, Cole could feel the anger pulsing from him. He would not have long to bargain before he would pay for the contract with his life.

"I am truly sorry Diablo, what can I do to repay you?"  Cole pleaded trying anything to save his life. " What can I give you that you will accept as payment? What do I have? It is all yours."

Cole's craven begging was not calming down the Diablo.  In fact he seemed to be getting more pissed off as the Alpha before him showed how truly weak he was. 

"You can pay me the money you owe me is what you can do." Diablo said through clenched teeth trying to hold back the killing instinct.

" I truly do not have the money to give you.  I would gladly hand it over if I had." Cole tried to hold back the tears of fear that were forming but he could not hide the tremor in his hands and in his voice. " Wo...would you take a substitute for the money.  Possibly two of our young male warriors to train.  Then instead of paying them you could use their wages to pay off this debt."  Cole knew this was a long shot but he had to try.  It couldn't be too bad on whichever kid got sent, they would be fine. 

The Diablo looked as if he was considering this proposition, which suprised the Alpha. This was just  a last ditch effort to try and save his own life. He never thought it would even be considered.

"We do not need fighters.  They are born not donated.  The tributes we receive are chosen carefully by Council and they are given to us at a young age.  We have no use for your mediocre fighters. "  Cole's shoulders fell in dejection.  There went his last hope of leaving this room alive.

"But, we could use a couple of submissives to take care of the children that are sent to us.  If you can find me two true submissive  that will willingly be our servants, I will consider your debt, not neccessarily paid, but transferred to these individuals.  They will work for us until I deem your debt paid.  This is no longer just about the money you owe this Creche.  This is now about the disrespect you have shown with your lying and trying to double cross me.  Do not try to decieve me again or I will have no choice but to destroy you and your entire pack." 

With that the Diablo stalked from the room leaving a trembling Alpha Cole behind trying to figure a way out of the mess he had made.  Who could he send to serve these murderers? Who, in his pack did he care little enough about that it would not bother him to sell them into slavery?