The Contract

Final Chapter

It was bright. So bright I had to blink twice before I was able to see anything. When my sight came back, the first thing I noticed was a pool of blood on the floor of the giant hall Dante and I were standing in.

„You're pretty late." When I searched for the person who had spoken I found a young man sitting on a red sofa similar to the one Dante and I had sat on, holding a woman dripping with blood in his arms.

„I wouldn't have been late if you hadn't hidden like a coward", I said and wondered where I took the courage from. The man smiled and let the woman fall. Her body hit the ground hard and something cracked, but he ignored her and stood up.

„So, let's greet our guest thoroughly, won't we?", he said. „I guess you came to fight me?" I nodded.

„But – I want answers first", I told him and noticed Dante staring at me confusedly. Looking at Hajime made me sick, but I needed this. He was the one who had killed me. An innocent fifteen-year-old girl.

„Answers? Do you think you're in the position to ask me questions?", Hajime asked. He intimidated me. I was scared of him, so much I started trembling like crazy. But I forced out a smile.

„I think I'm in the position to do anything", I said. Dante hissed at me, but I ignored him. I was strong, possibly even stronger than anyone I knew. And I had to know.

„You think so? But, well... my answers are expensive", Hajime said and suddenly stood right before me, so close that his long blond hair slightly touched me and his icy blue eyes were only a few centimeters apart from mine. I tried not to show my panic and looked him firmly in the eye, where I saw myself falling. The hatred inside my chest grew worse as I smelled his after shave. Hajime was extremely attractive, so attractive I could have spit him in his face that didn't look any older than twenty-six.

„Maybe... a few drops of your demon's-"

„No." I didn't want it. I wouldn't let it happen. „Dante is my property. You will not lay a finger on him." Hajime laughed.

„So you are offering your own blood to me? How generous of you", he said and pulled me closer, and despite of my fear I stopped Dante from doing anything. When I felt Hajime's breath on my neck, I pulled out my gun and held the barrel at his chest.

„I bet this hurts a whole lot, even for you", I whispered. Hajime seemed surprised and let go of me. His face transformed to a grinning mass of pure beauty as he flashed his biggest smile at me.

„Interesting. You're pretty brave for a petty human. You know what? I'll answer you one question", he said and vanished, just to reappear on the sofa. Perfect. I only had one single question.

„Why have you killed me?"

„Do you really want to know?", Hajime asked, suddenly almost compassionately. I snorted.

„I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't want to know", I said. Hajime opened his mouth just as I heard steps behind me. His face lit up immediately.

„Oh, there you are! My two favourite sons!", he shouted. Sons? I had a bad feeling about this and when I turned around and saw Shin and Reiji standing right behind me, I flinched.

„You two. His sons?", I asked. Reiji didn't react, but Shin stared at the ground. Both of them being silent was answer enough.

„Dante, did you know this, too?", I asked him. He nodded.

„But it's not important right now, is it? You just wouldn't have trusted them if you had known", he answered. Dante was right. I was overreacting over something I could also talk about later.