A Life for a Price (closed)

Jane LeFay sat in disbelief on her ruffled bedspread. The phone dangled from the table banging against the it with rhythmic clanks. Her mother had been killed by a drunk driver. She was the only person she had left in the world, and now she too was gone. The shock alone was overwhelming.

At a time like this most people would have friends they could turn to for comfort. But not Jane. For as long as she could remember she had been an outcast. The girl with the perfect grades that advanced through school like a knife through cake. She was nineteen and working on her Masters degree in graphic art. As if that wasn't enough to make her alienated, they also had moved around a lot pursuing her mothers acting career. Angel LeFay had been semi famous at one point. But like everything in Janes life, that to faded away.

Reaching down she picked up the black receiver and placed it back upon the phones cradle. Going over to her desk she opened her laptop and looked up airline tickets. She was flying home to Ireland. There she would bury her mother in the family plot and decide what it was she was to do with her life.

If it was one thing she could be grateful for, it was that she came from money. There were many stories on how it came to be, but the truth was uncertain. Perhaps that is what she would do, research her history and learn about who she was. Maybe then she could get a life, instead of being a waste of one.

Janes father had been in the military and killed in battle before she was born. She had asked her mother why she didn't have his last name. There always seemed to be a different answer, perhaps that was something else she could find out while she searched. The only thing her mother advised her regular was that she had his brains and earlobes.

The flight was long and tedious from the states to Ireland. Still she had yet to cry for the loss she had endured. It was if she was some how broken from the inside out. From an early age she had imagined living alone in their large isolated castle. Being alone only semi bothered her. There was a peacefulness that came with not having to consider another persons emotions. Empathy was a quality she had lacked from an early age.

Henry, the families chauffer waited for her at the gate. He was a typical Irishman. He had the pug nose, and strong jawline. He was a stout funny man that had been around many years before she was born. For the first time in a long time a smile came across her lips as she walked into his arms and hugged him tightly. "Miss Jane I be so sorry for yur loss" he advised with his voice cracking and tears welling. "Now don't start all that Henry" she advised scolding him playfully faking another smile for him.

The ride to the castle was long. The countryside had stayed the same for the most part. There more buildings then she remembered, but it had been a while since she'd been home.

Severik Rysotius was not a happy demon, and the recent report that he had recieved from one of his minions had almost tested the limit of his temper. The war against Baluzzimac was not going well. It was one thing to have another demon in a neighboring layer of hell, but to have one on the same layer who thought that they should be the rightful ruler of the layer, it had been too much.

The war had been going on for only a short while, and the outcome wasn't good. Somehow Baluzzimac was gaining the support other minor demon against Severik. If things didn't turn in Severik's favor soon, he would be banished to the wilds of the Abyss.

Getting up from his throne, Severik turned to face a large mirror. He saw himself in it, a large 7'5" black scaled reptilian like demon with large bat like wings, a slightly dragon shaped head, and a long tail. Though he looked very intimidating, he wasn't very powerful amongst his own kind, being a lesser demon.

With a wave of his hand, the mirror's surface rippled and showed the form of Severik's lieutenant, Voorg. "What's the situation now?" Growled Severik. "Nothing now my lord. All is quiet."

Severik frowned pondering the reason for such an event before dismissing Voorg with a wave, the mirror returning to it's original appearance.

As he took his seat back on his throne he began, for the first time in his life, to wish that he wasn't in this wretched place. If only he could be in another layer of hell,or even better, another plane of existance.

A couple days had passed since her arrival home. The place seemed so large and empty. For the most part the staff stayed out of her sight. Today was the day of the funeral. The reception was back at her home. Her mothers friends and colleagues from all over came to show their respect.

Some exclaimed shock over her mere existence. That always felt great the occasional comment of "oh i forgot she had a daughter" loomed in her mind as she disappeared in one of the back passages. How she hated people. Most questioned what she was going to do with the large place. A few had even approached her about selling it to them.

A sinister creepy looking man eyed her from the corner of the room. A flash in her mind showed her him grabbing her wrist roughly and throwing her into a dark cellar. As if she wasn't a freak enough, now she was having visions.

Eventually they all left, even the creep man that loomed outside until he was escorted off the property and the gates locked. Sitting in her mothers den she thumbed through papers and drawers. Since sleep was eluding her there was no reason she shouldn't start the task of clearing out the desk.

In the bottom of the drawer laid an envelope with her name on it in her mothers hand writing.

Sitting back in the large leather desk chair she slowly opened it.

"Dear Jane,

If you are reading this, then i passed before telling you about yourself. For that i am sorry. I wanted you to grow up as normal as possible, if i could avoid telling you at all i would, but that's not fair.

You will notice with in the week of my death things change with in you. As you run your hands over my things, or even stand or sit where i once did you'll be silently absorbing my powers.

Thousands of years ago the line began of witches with in our family. Your abilities will be the strongest of them all. Your fathers came from a long line of wizards. I should have taken the time to teach you, i am sorry that i didn't. My greatest regret is that you've been left alone in this world. There will be danger ahead, people will try to take what is yours. Under the drawer there is a key to a safety deposit box in Dublin. Inside you will find the families book of spells. I have marked a page. This will allow you to summon a willing protector. He / she will assist you in learning your powers and keeping you from harm. There is always a price for life, but our line must continue.

I will love you always, Mum.

"could you be anymore cryptic?" she asked the letter in her hand. This is obscene. Witches, she was a witch. Then perhaps the vision she had was her first indication. "This is simply insane". Reaching under the drawer she found a small envelope stuck to it. Inside lay the key with the bank name and number of the box. Placing the letter on the desk she sat back and stared off for a moment. The letter had begun to float up off the desk and was floating into the fireplace.

Severik woke with a jerk as he looked around. He must have dozed off, all the stress from what had happened must have gotten to him.

Rising from his throne, Severik left the room and proceeded down a hallway where he met Zorokroth. A cloaked figure, with no physical form except for black shadows, Zorokroth was the closest thing that Severik had to a friend, an unusual thing for demons.

"Hail my lord," greeted Zorokroth, "I hope the troubled state of things aren't weighing you down?"

"We've lost our influence. Souls are not as plentiful as they use to be. And we're facing possible defeat at the hands of our enemy. So yes, I am stressed." Severik took a breath, "It's all because of me. If..."

"You were to suddenly vanish, the problems would stop, which is what you want." Interrupted Zorokroth.

Severik nodded. Zorokroth could read minds, a useful ability, even in Hell. "Yes, to leave here and travel to somewhere else."

"The only place that you could safely escape to would be the mortal realm, but you can't. No easily these days."

Severik sighed in agreement. With humanity advancing scientifically, religious things like rituals, ceremonies, rites... They were becoming less common. Especially demonic cults, which were rare. "If only I were so lucky to travel there and build my power..."

Her mouth dropped as she watched it float from the mere thought she had of burning it.
She made her way to her room and slipped into her Egyptian cotton sheets. There was nothing like the feel of these crisp clean sheets against her flesh. She tossed and turned being awaken several times by the return vision of the creepy man she had see at the wake.
Morning came and she was up and dressed grabbing her breakfast to go and taking the limo to Dublin. There were a few things she needed to do. The first was her appointment with the lawyer, and the second was to go to the bank and get everything switched over, and obtain the contents of the box.

The simply tasks she had to complete seemed to eat the day away. With the book in hand she glanced at the marked page. Stopping by an occult store she obtained the 'ingredients' for the spell.

Upon entering the den with the book under hand the oriental rug rolled itself up revealing a pentagram upon the hard wooden floor. Shutters automatically closed and latched and the door locked. This was frightening to someone that didn't know magic existed, much less finding out that she was a witch and liable for all that was happening.

The writing on the page came from the book in front of her as the candles arranged themselves and she mixed the solution. The last ingredient she reread, her blood? she had to give her blood. The page of the book folded upwards slicing through the air and nicking her finger. Drops fell into the mixture and her wound closed.

With a deep swallow she began to read the words as they appeared in Gaelic before her.

Severik left Zorokroth and headed towards his private sanctum. He needed some peace and quiet. Some time alone to figure out what to do.

Entering the room, Severik paced back and forth, his claws clicking on the red stone floor. Time passed and still nothing came to mind, no miraculous ideas on how to deal with the war, nor anything else. Sighing, he walked over to a window and looked out at the landscape.

Before his stretched the endless wastes of the 92nd layer of Hell. Reddish, yellow lands that consisted of untamed wilds and unknown monstrosities. The reddish purple sky, occasionally flickering with lightilning, seemed more like smog than air. All of which should rightfully be his and not...

His thoughts were interrupted by a strange tingling feeling, like something grabbing hold of his very essence and pulling it away. He stood there in disbelief. It.couldn't be, a summoning? It couldn't be coincidence? Could it?

Severik saw his surroundings fade from view, slowly vanishing. Soon he found himself in a completely different room, on that was completely unfamiliar to him. Looking around, he saw a female mortal before him, and he instantly knew where he was. The mortal realm.

Flashes of light seemed to fill the room as she spoke the words before her. A wind seemed to circle her in the circle until a loud popping sound caused her to grip her ears. The Lights went out and then returned as if nothing had happened. Except this time she wasn't alone. Before her stood a 7 ft tall reptile demon that caused her to gasp and fall back onto her bottom upon the wood floor.
"Please don't kill me." was all she could manage to get out of her lips. Her eyes looked in fright at the beast she never deemed to imagine before her.
What was her mother thinking having her summon this creature.

Severik looked down at the cowering human with a mixture of emotions. At first, he was angry at her for daring to summon him. An thing most demons felt. But he also felt graditude towards her for unknowingly granting his wish and taking him from the planes of Hell. He was shocked that an inexperienced witch had summoned him, which suggested she had a powerful inborn talent.

He knew what she had done, a bonding ritual, making him her protector. Therefore, he couldn't hurt her or kill her, which she didn't seem to know.

After a few moments of thought he spoke, "You have summoned me witch, a foolish thing for one as new to this as you. However, you've hit upon a miracle for your summoning has actually proven to be beneficial to both of us."

"this wasn't my idea" she retorted back at the critique of her being foolish. "In short i'm in danger, or will be in danger. Evidently i'm having visions of being abducted and making things fly and float around. I didn't ask for this. Now i'm a witch thanks to my bloodline. All of which I knew nothing about until a day ago. So forgive me if i have absolutely no idea where to begin." She crossed her arms and glared at him. More irritated at being spoken to like a child, then afraid at the moment. "I was told that if i read this spell that you would help me and keep him from getting me" her eyes went over him as she stood up taking in the full extent of his being. "Do you have a less conspicuous form that looks human?" she asked as least rude as possible. "If the servants see you they will scream, not to mention going to town and such. I'm assuming you're to be with me twenty four hours a day? Is there any accommodations i'll need to make for you..food, virgin sacrifices whatever?" she realized he was being bombarded with questions. It wouldn't be unlikely if he was irritated with her simply for bringing him. Not to mention the fact she was literally clueless about where to begin.

Severik's eyes widened in surprise at the woman's retort. She was either very brave, to be back talking to a demon, or very stupid. He felt a burning rage building up within him and was tempted to end this mortal's miserable life, but he did and couldn't. However, he did growl and gave a low hiss.

"You'd better watch your tongue witch, if I were any other demon, I'd have killed you." He took a breath and calmed himself, "I have the ability to take on human disguise and your offer for sacrifices is very generous, though you will do. That's part of the ritual after all, if you wish for special benefits."

Muttering a few words in Abyssal, one of the two demonic languages, he took on the form of a human with short black hair, tanned skin, with yellowish red eyes standing 5'11" and weighing 150 lb.

"what do you mean part of the ritual?, special benefits?" Her eyes widened again as she looked up at the ceiling "You couldn't have taken an hour to explain any of this to me could you" she scolded the ceiling. She mutter to herself taking a seat upon the floor once again. "always do what your asked, and look what happens you get a demon. A demon that isn't suppose to exist, powers that you don't know about, much less how to control, now you're going to be his lunch. Perfect, bloody perfect."
She couldn't help but at this point to let the tears she hadn't release flow. Springing from her eyes like fountains she cried for the mother she had lost but never had, cried for the fear she now felt over having a demon, cried to simply cry. All of the built up frustrations, anger and resentment came pouring from her soul.

Now Severik was even more taken aback by her newest reaction of crying. A battle of will began taking place in his mind. Part of him wanted to comfort her and help her, though he assumed that this was part of the rituals effect on him as a protector. Another part told him, his demonic instinct and heritage, to ignore her or tell her to stop crying.

He was beginning to understand her situation. Someone, probably a family member, had told her about her heritage but not fully explained the consequences or benefits. Therefore, she had enacted this ritual but not fully understood what the outcome was. She was now dealing with something that she had probably not really wanted to. Almost like him and the troubles with the war.

Sighing, he decided to take a chance. Walking over to her, Severik knelt down and tried to make eye contact. "You have much to learn, and a lot to deal with. This might be hard to understand..." He paused and thought to himself before continuing, "I'm not here to hurt you. The ritual won't let me. Instead, I'm here to help. You've summoned me, a great feat indeed for a first timer, and I'm bound to help you."

Getting up, he motioned towards the spellbook, "That book probably explains the outcomes of summoning a demon in the way you did. However, due to the ritual, I can explain it just as easily."

She wiped her eyes his voice calm and soothing as he empathized with her folly. "Please do, My Gaelic isn't that good. All i know is she told me that summoning you was the first thing i should do. That people were going to try to take what was mine. I don't know if she means the money, the assets, or if she meant my powers" Her green eyes stared into his as she asked "Is it possible for someone to take your powers away?".

Jane was perplexed and conflicted with emotion and curiosity.
It did help that this spell she did was a protection spell. That she wasn't going to have to worry about him eating her.
His eyes made her a little weary, but it made her easier with him in human form.

"I suppose tomorrow we should go to town and get you some clothes." she added after another burst of thoughts sprouted through her brain.

"Taking powers from a demon is very difficult. Only a powerful moral, with years of training in the occult and a strong will could even try to attempt it. Taking powers from a mortal is something else. However, being bonded to me, we share apart of each others power."

Severik paused as he thought over the basics, "As for this ritual, I now serve you as a protector. You will find that, being bound to a demon familiar, you will gain some powers. Empathic link, several spells, demonic knowledge." He looked at her careful before proceeding, "I also have the power to grant, what you call, wishes, but those are achieved through one of two acts of... what's the word you mortals use... interaction and union?"

Severik looked around the room, "I'm not pleased to admit it, but I'll need you help as you need mine. The mortal realm has changed so much since my last visit. We don't want to attract unwanted attention."

"Forgive me, i don't mean to insult you with this, but are you saying that you grant wishes like a genie? And a condition to receive them means i have to have sex with you?..so..i'd be sacrificing my virginity? Am i going to have to give you my soul as well?" Unbelievable. This was all too much. She stood up and walked over to the bar pouring herself a scotch and took a swig taking it down in one gulp. She coughed and sputtered like the inexperienced drinker she was.
"I'm sure there's more to this then you're telling me. Right now however i'm okay with not knowing. I need to wrap my mind around all of this. She began to pick up the candles. Once out of the way, the rug unfolded covering the floor.
"I'll put you in the room next to mine, it connects through the closet. We'll go with the story that you're a friend from college." she looked at him realizing she didn't even know his name. "I'm Jane" she said blankly holding out her hand to him.

Severik nodded, "You catch on pretty quick but no, you don't have to give me your soul."

He waited as she took her drink then, at her comment, he nodded, "You know more about this realm's current era than I do."

When she extended her hand, and said her name, Hennet imitated the action, taking hold her her hand, "Severik Rysorius. Lesser Demon Lord of the 97th layer of Hell and it's rightful ruler."

"If anything i am smart" she retorted shaking his hand. With his hand clasping hers she closed her eyes. The link forming strongly between them. "well so much for not wanting to know" she advised. "Does touching always make the bond this intense?" she asked thinking that it didn't, but not completely trusting her new insight.
"he's close" she advised as their hands released and another vision took over. Her body trembled as this one was longer. In her vision she was being secured in a chair with metal bracelets. Her mouth was gagged as he walked toward her with a needle. She snapped out of the vision gasping for breath and falling to the floor. Tears came from the corner of her eyes as she trembled.

Severik was about to answer, when she suddenly started crying again. Now he was at an utter loss. Did mortals these dies all cry this much and as frequently? Hard to imagine from a species that initiated war amongst themselves, committed genocides, and learned to create bombs that destroyed humdreds of thousands at once.

Looking at her, with a curious expression, he asked, "What now mortal... err.. Jane?"

"that vision was stronger, I felt his intent. I have never felt such hate before." she wiped her eyes and stood back up. "why is it when you say mortal it sounds like a bad word.?" she questioned cocking her head slightly and looking at him.
"You do know that there is a difference in genders. I don't really cry all this much, i'm just a bit overwhelmed, and honestly frightened. I've never existed enough to matter, much less be hated."

She went to the door and opened it. "I'll show you to your room." Jane had had more then her fill of excitement for the day. Stopping in the kitchen she introduced him to the main staff. The confusion was evident upon their faces, none remembered his arrival.

The made their way up the long winding staircase. "this castle was built in 1228, It's always been passed down to the daughters. Which is strange because I had thought there was a time when woman couldn't own property." she shook her head and continued the walk. Down the hall were the portraits of the women of the LeFay Castles bloodline. She noticed him staring at one portrait. "Have you served a member of my family before?" she questioned.

Severik was surprised she knew what she was thinking. How had she known that he was wondering why she was crying? Did she have the power to read minds as well? Such an ability was very rare among human. Almost non-existant. And what visions was she talking about?


Severik shook his head. The mortal realm had changed so much so quickly.

As they made their way down the hall, Severik looked at some of the portraits. This was an old family for sure. Suddenly, he realized that she was asking him a question. Turning to face her, he shook his head, "No. I haven't. I've been around for only... to put it in human terms, about 212 years. I haven't been to this in a long time."

"That's a long time" she replied and continued walking. She opened the large wooden door to reveal his chambers. A large four poster bed with an oak frame from the victorian period sat against the wall. There was a reading chair, a fire place, and a window seat that over looked the garden. She brought over a remote to him. This controls the fireplace, the lights, and the blinds. She showed him what buttons to push to make things turn on and off. She then walked into his large walk in closet. "In here on the right side is a button, it will open to my room, if for some reason you need in quickly." She smiled lightly "Good night Severik, and thank you for coming."
She headed through the closet into her room and laid down upon her bed. Sleep came to her quickly as her mind raced with new thoughts and knowledge.

Severik nodded and watched as Jane left towards her room. Once she was gone, Severik turned to face the bed. He wasn't tired, considering he wasn't a moral, and therefore didn't sleep like the beings in this realm.

However, he did need to save his energy so as too keep his powers and abilities active, therefore he entered, what humans called, a trance.

Walking over to the bed, Severik sat down the the middle, closed his eyes, and cleared his thoughts. He sat here for hours, both noticing the time passing but not caring. He was an immortal and he could stay like this for days, even weeks. So, he simpily sat there, and waited for Jane to call upon him, or when activity was necessary.

She awoke a couple of times gasping during the night and laid back down. The truth was she did feel a bit safer with Severik here. This whole thing was a complete surprise. How long was he going to stay? What did that man want from her? so many questions raced through her mind as she sat there.

Rising out of bed she peered through the open closet at Severik in some sort of relaxing trance. Shaking her head she went to the shower. The hot water felt good as it caressed her flesh. As her hands cleaned over her untouched skin the memory of last nights conversation came through. For him to grant wishes, she would have to give herself to him. In what form she wondered? The human form he took was rather dreamy, and his demonic form was rather scary and intimidating.

Turning off the porcelain knobs she exited wrapping a towel around her. She walked to the closet and grabbed an over sized purple sweater, and some jeans. Bundling up her hair in a bun and placing her glasses back on she sighed at herself in the mirror.

Most girls blossomed into woman when they hit college. But not her. She remained the same outcast she always head been.
"Severik, its time for breakfast and then shopping" she advised lightly as she put her shoes on.

Upon hearing Jane's voice Severik opened his eyes and stretched. Getting up from the bed, Severik walked over to where Jane was and cocked his head in confusion, "Shopping? Is this another form of bartering? Why so are we doing this? I had thought you'd want to act upon the ritual and gain power."

This female mortal really confused him. She seemed to accept the fact that he was a demon pretty easily. She had inacted the ritual, but not tried to recieve all the aspects and benefits of it. Truely strange, and now she wanted to... shop.

He shook hichange. How much mortals had changed.

"I suppose you could say shopping is a form of bartering, but we don't really barter anymore. The merchants place a price and we pay it. But we do need to get you some new clothes." she walked to her door and opened it leading them down the stairs. "I promised i would help acclimate you to the modern world. I feel the need to be out of the house. So today you'll be my bodyguard, and i'll be your tour guide." she smiled as they reached the dining room.

There was an assortment of eggs sausage, potatoes, bacon, pancakes, fruits and biscuits laid out in front of them. "Help yourself to whatever you wish to eat". She carefully placed some fruit and eggs on her own plate.