Never Have I Ever

Fortieth Shot

Calix

(a few moments earlier)

"You sure you want to do this?" Theo asked for the 35th time since the start of our drive until he parked my black Cadillac One in front of a large medieval-styled mansion that had an excessive amount of rooms that were utterly useless. Many describe this place as something close to a royal castle but I've always seen it as the demon's lair.

"Let's get this over and done with." I fixed the button on my suit jacket and went outside the vehicle.

"Should I go with you?" He offered and his sincere gaze met my blank one. I stood straighter and put my hands in my pockets.

I shook my head, "No. I'll do it myself." This is a battle that I'd have to face alone. The devil also explicitly mentioned that I should only be the one to get inside the main house or the deal's off.

"I'll wait for you here." He said in finality and I nodded off to him before heading towards the tall wooden double door that'd be fit for giants to enter. I took a deep breath and held back from emitting a sarcastic chuckle.

Who would have thought that I'd be in the same place that I'd once sworn off to never set foot in again in at least a million years? I honestly never saw it coming. But things have changed since then. Her existence is proof that my life will never be the same again.

I opened one side of the door which squeaked, proving its old age. Without bothering to look at anything else, I walked to my destination in controlled steps with both eyes in front. I was still being wary of my surroundings in case that old man and that hag had something else up their sleeves. I wouldn't put it past them to cook up some bullshit again.

When I reached that geezer's study on the third floor which had shiny walnut double-paneled doors, I didn't knock and instantly went inside the room that was as spine-chilling as it was years ago. If there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's that ogre's taste in dated items.

In between the two lines of bookshelves, there was the devil who was sitting on his large throne seat behind a humongous mahogany wooden desk that was wide enough to put a person's body on top of it.

Ignoring the traitor blonde who stood with her arms crossed beside him, I fixed my attention on the pile of documents arranged neatly in the middle of the table. Grabbing the fountain pen placed beside it, I signed without reading it through.

It was clear as day that the contract was one-sided and I'm not in the mood to bother contesting it. They aren't worth any more of my damn time. All I need is to see her and this tight feeling on the tie on my neck will finally loosen a little bit.

Although they gave me at least a week to think this over, it was an easy decision to make when she was involved. I instantly grabbed onto the small thread of hope even if it means falling straight into their trap.

"Now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?" He drawled once I finished signing all the marked parts.

When I glowered at him through my sharp gaze, he had his usual lopsided grin that used to petrify me but not anymore. Today, this bullshit officially ends.

"If only you were this agreeable, to begin with, you would have saved us a lot of trouble." He added and I didn't address his comment. It was a miscalculation on my part to believe for a second that this devil would back off after a few threats. Maybe I went too easy on them but the gloves are off, once I get out of here with Karina.

"You got what you want. Where is she?" I coldly demanded with a dagger stare that could have roasted him in the underworld.

"Your favorite place." Favorite place, my ass. He sneered and I quickly turned my heel against them without another word. They don't deserve any amount of decency from me.