The Deal

Journey beings

I'm ready. I stand up and admire the crisscrosses that weave into an intricate circle. I've just completed my first summoning circle, it only took me four hours. I stretch, my back and knees hurt from being on the ground. My hands are stained with the chalk I used on my hardwood floor. All I have to do is light the candles and recite the Latin words from an ancient book in my attic.

I grab a lighter and light a dozen candles, each on the outskirts of the summoning circle. I let out a breath, no turning back now, getting on my knees, the book lays in my lap, I recite. 

I finish strong with a weird sounding word and lookup. Nothing had happened. Did I do it wrong? I make to get up, disappointment overflowing, then the lights flickered and went out. I stand, staring at the circle.

"H-Hello?" My voice is gruff from not speaking for hours and from the fear that had gripped me. A cool wind hits me and I shiver, all but one candle goes out. The candle I had set in the middle of the circle remains li, flickering ominously.

"Hmmm" A voice vibrates around the room, almost a growl. Low and dangerous. I am not alone anymore. I open my mouth to talk, but no words leave my mouth. I feel a hand on my left shoulder and whirl to see who it is, but there was no one.

"Who there?" I try to instill some bravery into my voice but it is not convincing.

"Who do you think, little girl?" I turn in a circle, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

"Show yourself!" I summoned him not to play games but to make a deal.

"A bossy one. I like the naughty ones." It was a whisper in my right ear and I turn to see a tall figure. I take a step back, distancing myself from the demon.

"I" I have no clue how to begin a conversation with him, what do I say? Do I demand his help? Or do I ask carefully? What are the rules? I knew this was a bad idea.

"I?" His voice goes up, mocking me. " listen you summoned me, so tell me what you want." It's dark in the living room so I can only see the outline of this massive man. I clear my throat.

" I need you to take care of my family." Wait that sounds strange. "I mean that I want you to deal with them."

"So you want me to kill your family?"

"NO! God no!" He flinches and his eyes flash red.

"Don't use that name."

"S-sorry." I back up, terrified. He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighs.

"So... what is it you actually want from me?"

"Okay... so my family isn't the... nicest. So if you could change their attitude toward me, or make them feel some grief from the pain I go through?"

"So your family is abusive and you want me to change that?"

"No, I wouldn't say that." I look around nervously, a habit I've developed from being so paranoid that my father will hear me telling someone the things he does. Of course, it's silly to think someone would be here, I've summoned this demon to an abandoned house a couple of blocks away from my house. I should be safe.

"Fine." I look at him, surprised he didn't ask any questions as to why I would make this strange request.

"You're probably wondering why I'm not asking you questions, right?" my mouth pops open, can he read minds?

"No. I can't read minds, your confusion was just written all over your face. I just don't care enough to ask you questions. Now let's get to the deal."

I stand upright. "So.. my soul?" He laughs a little. "Most of us do that, and I'm not going to lie, I would have. But I have a better idea."

"What?"

"I'll protect you from your family in exchange for your body." He says it so casually that it takes me a second to realize what he said. When it did come to me, my face heats up.

"What? You can't ask for that. On top of that, how did you even know I was a well.." I stop talking, I would have been a virgin, if... 

"I can just sense one from a mile away, those who do the deed before marriage aren't in the big man's good books." He smiles and his teeth flash, his canine teeth are sharper than humans and I gulp.

"You'll protect me?"

"I'm bound by a handshake. Once the deal is complete I will leave." He sticks his hand out. I lift my hand then stop, pulling back.

"Wait... you said you leave once the deal is done. How do I know you aren't just going to use me then leave without protecting me? On top of that, I need you to protect me for a long time, so you disappearing doesn't work." He sighs as if he was wishing I wouldn't pick up on this. "So how about once I'm done having you protect me, I'll let you have my body."

"Mmmm, what a bossy little thing you are." he puts the hand that he had out underneath his chin and peers down at me, looking me up and down, scrutinizing what type of girl I am.

"Fine, you win. I must say you're are the only human to have beaten me at my twisted words."

" I've learned how to lie pretty well, so I can sense one from a mile away," I smirk as I use his words. His smile widens.

He then sticks his hand out and I do the same.

"Looking forward to working with you, ms.?"

"Y/N and the same here?"

"Kim Namjoon"

We shake.