Name Your Price

The Pact

A week had gone by. Frederick was just sitting to yet another meal with Wolfstein. For the last seven straight days they had spent every waking moment together. Frederick could have anything he wanted when he was with Wolfstein. That first lunch ended with him getting a new suit, some money, and the most expensive meal he had ever had. "Anything you want," Wolfstein would say as he pulled money out of his seemingly bottomless wallet. Frederick did not understand why Wolfstein was so charitable to him, but any fears about his intentions had melted away with his old clothes. Wolfstein was rich and he had money to share. He had everything Frederick wanted: money, women, power. None of these were out of Wolfstein's reach or Frederick's when he was in the man's company. "Do you like this life?," Wolfstein asked Frederick. "Absolutely," bellowed Frederick after downing another pint. "I wish I could be just like you. I want the money, the power, and everything else," said Frederick. "And what would you be willing to give for it all?," inquired Wolfstein, grinning slyly. "Anything I have worth trading I got from you Wolf. I'd give anything, because I have nothing," answered Frederick. "Anything?," said Wolfstein. "Even your soul?," Wolfstein cackled. Frederick had all but given up on praying. Once he started hanging out with Wolfstein he no longer felt the hard grasp of poverty around his neck. "My soul," Frederick chuckled. "What has that ever done for me? Yeah I guess I would trade that," Frederick said jokingly. Suddenly everything froze. The room went black and there was only Frederick and Wolfstein sitting at a table with a small candle burning in the center of it. "I'll take it," said Wolfstein. Frederick was amazed at what had happened. Where had all the people gone? The music, the lights, the women, the booze. It had all just vanished around him in an instant. "What's going on Wolf?," asked Frederick. "I said I'll take it," repeated Wolfstein. "Take what?," answered Frederick. "Your soul. You said that you would trade you soul for wealth, power, and money. I offer all these things to you in amounts you could never imagine in exchange for your soul. Is that your final asking price?," retorted Wolfstein. Frederick was dumbfounded. Was this tiny Jewish man really asking him to sell his soul? "Wolf, I d-d-don't understand," stuttered Frederick. "My name is Lucien Mephistopheles Wolfstein, but that is just one of my many names. The name that I am most known by in this land is Satan. I would like to buy your soul from you and I am willing to meet the price that you named. Are we in agreement?" Wolfstein was growing impatient. After a whole week of nothing but constant partying, he had grown tired of Frederick and wanted to get this deal over with. "Do we have a deal?," thundered Wolfstein. "You're serious. You're really the Devil," said Frederick. "But what about the horns and the tail?," he asked. Wolfstein instantly transformed into a typical demon form. "I can look however I want," answered Wolfstein and then transformed back. Frederick thought for a second. A chance to be rich beyond his wildest dreams. He could finally have it all. Money, power, and all the women he could ever ask for. "How long," questioned Frederick. "How long will I be able to live this life of luxury?" "Name your price," answered Wolfstein. "And don't say something ridiculous like 1000 years of something. I can only allow you to live as long as is humanly possible and man can only live so long. You brought that upon yourselves though. And besides you would still age so would you really want to be a rich 150 year old anyway?" Frederick pondered this explanation. He was already 32 and Wolfstein made a good point. What was the use of being rich if you're sick and bedridden anyway. "45 years," answered Frederick. I want 45 years of unimaginable wealth and power." "I'll give you 46," answered Wolfstein. "Why the extra year?," questioned Frederick. "I have a thing for sixes," answered Wolfstein. "So do we have a deal?" Frederick thought long and hard. "What will happen to me?," questioned Frederick. "As I have already said, you will be rich and powerful for the rest of your life on Earth," answered Wolfstein. "But what happens after that? What will you do with my soul?," asked Frederick. Without an ounce of hesitation Wolfstein replied "You will accompany me through my pain and suffering in the next life as I have accompanied you through yours." After a few moments of silence Wolfstein asked one last time. "Do we have a deal?" Frederick hesitated for one more second and then stuck out his hand. "We have a deal." Wolfstein grimaced and then let out a small chuckle. He swatted away Frederick's hand. "Your hand means nothing to me. I am the father of lies and even I do not trust a human at his word." Frederick was offended by Wolfstein's presumption. "Do you still have my card?," Wolfstein continued. Frederick pulled the black card from his jacket pocket. It shined brightly, the red ink glowing like fire. The ink began running slowly down the card like blood. As it fell off the card it dissipated into smoke and blew away. The black card was now completely blank. Wolfstein snapped his fingers and the card began to glow even brighter. It became hot in Frederick's hand, but he could not release it. After a few seconds the card stopped glowing and a completely new script could be seen. The card now read:

The party of the first (Frederick Faust) does hereby trade all rights to his soul to the party of the second (Satan, as represented by Lucien M. Wolfstein) for 46 years of unimaginable wealth in the form of money, power, and prestige.

______________________________                                   ______________________________

Frederick Faust                                                                              Lucien M. Wolfstein

Frederick stared at the card intently for several seconds and then finally replied "Do you have a pen?," Wolfstein smiled and pulled a solid gold quill pen from his jacket shaped like a dragon with its tongue as the tip. "I have a pen, but you must provide the ink for the transaction to be valid," replied Wolfstein. Frederick wondered at this for a second. Wolfstein reached over the table and took Frederick's hand. He pricked his finger with the pen. The dragon pen's eyes began to glow red. "There now you can sign." Frederick took the pen from Wolfstein and signed the card. Wolfstein then signed the card as well. The 2 signatures burst into flame for a few seconds and then went out. "It is done," said Wolfstein. "What happens now?," asked Frederick. "Whatever you want my dear Frederick. You are now the most successful business man that ever lived. Everything you put your hands to will turn to profit. You can build the empire you always wanted and nothing can get in your way." "But what will I start with?," asked Frederick. "Check your wallet." Frederick wondered at this. He didn't own a wallet. He reached into his pocket and to his surprise pulled out a beautiful red leather wallet. He opened it and beheld a single hundred dollar bill. A look of disappointment appeared on his face. "So naive," said Wolfstein. "Pull the bill out," he said. Frederick pulled the note from the wallet and to his surprise another one appeared. Frederick's eyes almost popped out of his head. "That wallet will never empty," said Wolfstein. Ask it for any amount of money you want and it will provide it. Start there and build your way up to greatness." In disbelief Frederick began pulling hundred dollar bills from the wallet one after the other. It never ran out. "Hold onto that," said Wolfstein pointing to the card sitting on the table. "Keep it with you at all times so you don't forget our deal." Frederick picked up the card and noticed something strange on the back of it. He turned the card over, revealing a picture of 4 red clock faces. Each clock had a word written above it. YEARS, DAYS, HOURS, MINUTES. Suddenly something amazing happened. The hand on the minute clock face moved. Again Frederick was shocked. "Just a little something to help you keep track of time," said Wolfstein with a grin. Frederick reluctantly put the card in his new wallet, returned the hundred dollar bills, and put it back in his pocket. "Now that that's all said and done we can return to our dinner," said Wolfstein. He snapped his fingers and the two were instantly back in the restaurant at the same table with Frederick's beer still swishing around in his mug. "Check please," said Wolfstein to the waiter. The waiter quickly brought the check and placed it in front of Wolfstein. "Not me," said the demon in disguise, pushing the check over to Frederick. The waiter was surprised. "But sir Frederick has no money," said the waiter. He had seen Fredrick and Wolfstein every day for the last seven days and had come to understand their relationship. "That's not true," responded Wolfstein. "Frederick has plenty of money and will soon have much more."