The Faustian Love Bargain (COMPLETED)

Chapter 1

The man she loved lay dead in her arms and gradually, the colour flowed away from his lips and his limbs turned into stone. What had she done? She believed the devil and had been absolutely deceived. The pain and guilt absorbed her soul and with a final cry of revenge, she ripped her wings and fell dead next to him.

One thousand years later.

Everyone who knew Nick Smith, at least by name, was enthralled by this incarnation of human perfection. Youth gleamed from his radiant face. Knowledge translated from perfect examination scores. Class identified by his royal lineage. He had sharp yet soft features, Grecian yet Asian features, skin that glistened in the light, eyes that were deep yet clear. He captivated all who looked at him, in photographs and even more in real life. 

No one knew that he was more than what the public saw. He had intelligence and powers that surpassed any human and creature alive. This was a secret that their families kept. It was better to be viewed by the world simply. If people knew more, they would be in greater danger.

However, for the past year, Nick Smith had found himself looking at the ordinary young girl at the park, then, observing her with all curiosity, and questioning what he knew existed in the world. This excited his stagnant senses at first, but now he felt greedy and upset.

He had thought that he had all the wisdom in the world! Yet, he could not find an answer to the girl's ability. She was plain, if not, a far contrast from his beauty. She made him feel wretched when he saw her. If there was one thing he hated, it was sfumato- ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty. Wild thoughts had entered his mind recently. Perhaps there were other beings other than himself. Perhaps he could undo the Faustian Bargain that his ancestors had made--the Original Sin that had tainted them all.

It was a sunny day. The light gleamed through the dark windows and fell on the side of Nick Smith's face, revealing a beautiful but emotionless plastered expression. Stephen Adams looked at him from the car mirror as Nick pressed his lips into a line. Nick Smith’s real self was inconceivable to him. He was often temperamental, sometimes elusive and seldom lighthearted. 

Nick's eyes moved hurriedly across the document, flipping page after page as his eyes darkened. “Her mother was murdered last year. Do you have the police records?” he spoke suddenly after a minute of silence. 

“No, Sir. I am still in the process of retrieving them,” Stephen replied. 

Nick Smith did not make any response but seemed out of sorts. For the first time, he looked, somewhat, distressed. However, even with his brows slightly furrowed, Stephen thought how handsome Mr. Smith’s face was. 

Seeing Mr. Smith’s response to the girl’s details, Stephen concluded, a little relieved, that it was hardly possible that Mr. Smith liked the girl in any erotic way. That was the worst of any sin possible which anyone like him or even Stephen himself could make. They were warned from birth that nothing went well when such connections were made. Those who persisted ended up as star-crossed lovers, and often, one would fall into a lifetime of guilt while the other fell into death.

“Is this girl of importance to you, sir?” Stephen asked cautiously. Mr. Smith looked out of the window and his eyebrows loosened slightly.

 “I need to meet her. To analyse and experiment,” Nick told Stephen, “Ah! I hate this distress in life! I have never experienced this in a long time! Do they call it the pain of being a fool? The pain of doubt and scruple? To think that a young girl could torment my soul and burn my heart! My soul is thirsty. Be quick to find her, or I will suffer longer. This is an urgent command!” Nick burst out with fervour before the colour in his face dissipated again into paper white.

There was something that was troubling Nick Smith, something about the girl that troubled him terribly, and he did not know what vicissitude of fate was in store for them.

Author's Note: Hi everyone! My name is Sandra. Thank you for reading the first chapter! I assure you that it will only get more exciting along the way but it takes some time for build-up. Please do comment as I would like to improve upon my writing craft continuously! Loads of love(: