Page 9 of Hell-Bound (Pacts of the Infernal #1)

So eager. She is different this time—re-made, in my image. Pity. She lost so much more than her soul that night. I smell her ambition—her desire. It feeds me. It excites me.

Unlike the portal, it was only a blink before Ren was in a different room. It was large and imposing, with vaulted ceilings and a window that looked out onto darkened mountains at the far end.

Bookshelves lined the walls, and under normal circumstances, Ren would have been overcome with the overwhelming urge to search them all for her prize.

Now, she was too thunderstruck by the male in front of her, sitting demurely behind a large mahogany desk, legs crossed, and hands threaded together.

It was him.

Flashes of images from the night before raced through her brain. A head flung back, curls tousled, moans of ecstasy, and glistening muscles.

But today, he was nothing if not the perfect image of composure. Hair sleekly styled, not a curl out of place, he smirked at her as if he knew they shared a secret.

He was treacherously handsome, his horns curving gracefully, accentuating the sharp angles of his face. He wore a solid black ensemble that matched his onyx hair and made his red eyes glow even more imposingly in the purple light.

“Good morning, Renata. I was expecting you.”

With the subtlest flick of his finger, a chair appeared before his desk.

“Please, have a seat.”

“You…you have my contract!”

she said with as much confidence as she could muster while simultaneously trying to banish the thought of how his skin might feel against hers.

The Devil steepled his fingers.

“Yes, I am the author of your contract.”

She had half expected him to deny it. Now, she wasn’t sure where to start.

“Well, sir—”

“Please,”

he purred.

“Call me Azur,”

he said with a grin and a wink.

“And do sit,”

he gestured to the chair.

“You look uncomfortable, and we simply can’t have that.”

Ren mentally cursed herself for having involuntarily shifted.

As she moved to sit, she noticed books, documents, and envelopes, all written in harsh script, were stacked haphazardly on his desk.

Are all of these contracts?

“Azur. I am here to inquire about my contract.”

She paused, testing the waters.

He raised an eyebrow.

“I thought the terms of our agreement were quite explicit.”

She licked her lips nervously.

“Well, you see, I can’t find—”

“Contracts must stay with the bearer at all times.”

Azur’s eyes became menacing.

“Don’t tell me you have misplaced yours.”

The purple room darkened at his words.

Ren set her jaw. She didn’t cower. No matter how much his eyes made her want to melt into her chair.

She lifted her chin and stared back at him.

“Well, I wouldn’t have misplaced it if you hadn’t taken all of my memories. I’m sure that if I had a few—”

Suddenly, Azur began to laugh, a belly laugh that sounded too jovial for such an imposing creature.

“No, no, I’m sorry, my dear.”

He wiped a fake tear away from his eyes.

“Don’t worry. I knew you’d forget where you put your contract so I ensured you wouldn’t lose it. I’m quite clever that way.”

He flashed her self-satisfied grin.

Ren breathed out, releasing the knot in her chest.

“That’s—that’s great! Where is it?”

Azur stood up and walked to stand in front of Ren, casually leaning back on his desk with crossed legs.

“I’m a little disappointed you didn’t figure it out.”

Azur’s eyes, still glowing, hypnotically sparkled, and his face regained its serious intensity. The power radiating off of him felt like she was the opposite side of a magnet. She blinked rapidly, afraid that this might be some Devil trickery to seduce her—or whatever it was they did.

“Enough of your games. Just tell me where it is,”

she bit out.

He bent down close to her, and for the second time in less than a day, she was face to face with a High Devil. She could feel his breath. It smelled like roses suddenly ignited by fire.

“Why do you Devils get so close?”

she managed to stammer out despite the heat rising in her chest, visions of the Devil’s writhing still present in her mind.

“My dear. I truly don’t know what you mean,”

he drawled, slowly reaching his hand towards her, grazing her thigh.

Ren gasped, too shocked to recoil.

But he jerked his hand back, plucking the piccolo from her waistband.

She came to herself, wrath appearing suddenly.

Azur’s face, still so close to hers, smiled twistedly.

“Give. That. Back,”

she gritted out through clenched teeth.

He gave a deep-throated chuckle.

“My dear, please don’t feed my sin. At least not now. I may not be able to control myself if you do,”

he said as he ran his fingers delicately across the dimples of her piccolo.

“Mortals are so temperamental—it is quite delightful, really. You more than most.”

Ren’s whole body tightened. Hating the idea that he knew more about her than she did.

“Play it,”

he suddenly demanded, offering her piccolo back to her.

Her anger turned to confusion.

“What? You want a performance now?”

“Yes, actually,”

he crooned, checking his perfect nails.

She had to admit, a comforting song felt like the only thing that made sense right now. The only thing that always made sense to her.

“What…should I play?”

she asked, retrieving the piccolo, which did, in fact, feel warmer.

He shrugged.

“Whatever you want.”

Still skeptical, she raised her piccolo cautiously to her lips, keeping her eyes on the Devil lest he snatch her precious instrument away again.

When it reached the seam of her lips, her whole body contracted for a moment, pushing air through her lungs.

She began to play. But no—she wasn’t playing. The piccolo seemed to be taking over—forcing the air out from her.

The song was dark. Sinister. She couldn’t remember hearing or playing something so menacing. It sent tremors of fear through her.

She wanted to pull the piccolo away. Her music was not like this, should never be like this. These notes were threatening, monstrous—not as comforting as they should be. Music should express feeling, not incite fear!

Her body began to tremble as she tried with all her strength to wrench the piccolo from her lips. She met Azur’s eyes entreatingly, but he only looked pleased.

“Calm down, my dear. It will be over soon,”

he said, lips curling.

At his words, Ren felt her body relax, and the piccolo give way. The change was so drastic that she almost flung it from her.

She looked down at her constant companion, feeling betrayed. But there—swirling from her arms, was the familiar black smoke. But this time, they formed into those same jagged symbols across her skin.

She opened and closed her hands, watching the letters shift.

“On my body? The contract was on me the whole time?”

The Devil was still smiling.

“Why, of course, I didn’t want you to lose it. Where else would I put it?”

He stood motioning to the letters still glowing with black light.

“That piccolo never leaves your side. Not then. Not now. I knew that no matter what memories were stricken from you, you would remember your music. It’s too much of you. More than your soul was, anyway.”

“But…I can’t read it.”

“That is a problem, isn’t it?”

he said, cocking his head to the side.

“Well, maybe with some practice and a tutor, you will be able to figure that out in a few years.”

He turned around and returned to sit behind his desk.

She gaped at him.

“That’s not fair! Le—the other Devils told me that you have to understand the contract!”

He picked up a long quill, dipping it in an ink that was suspiciously red.

“Yes, you’re right, darling, but you see, you did understand the contract when you signed it.”

He looked at her again with false pity in his eyes.

“I can’t help it if your memories, which you signed away,”

he said, pointing his quill at her for emphasis, “faded.”

He returned his eyes back to his papers, apparently done with the conversation. He waved a long finger in the air, opening the door behind her.

“That’s not fair!”

she blurted again, realizing too late how childish she sounded.

There again was his pitying look.

Of course, it was a trick. He was a Devil. This was what he did. This was what he lived for.

“No,”

he said firmly as if reading her thoughts.

“I do not trick people with my contracts. You agreed. Begged even. Right here on your knees.”

He pointed his quill to the carpeted section in front of his desk.

“It was quite the sight, if I remember correctly. You were very convincing.”

Ren refused to let him get a rise out of her with his implication.

He’s lying.

“I only ever gave you exactly what you asked for. Did you ever stop and think that maybe you made this deal for a reason?”

he asked, tone suddenly becoming hard.

“Did you even consider that, perhaps, this was the best course of action for you?

“Of course you didn’t. You are Mortal. You are impulsive and prone to folly.”

His deep voice was like gravel, and his red eyes narrowed menacingly.

“I am sorry this happened to you, my dear, but it can’t be helped, but do not blame me.”

He waved his hand, dismissing her again.

But Ren wasn’t done. She jumped up from her seat.

“You could at least tell me what it says!”

she shouted, glaring back.

A ping in the back of her mind warned her to not lose her temper. This was an Immortal she was dealing with.

“Actually, I can’t,”

he said, frowning slightly. This time, it seemed oddly genuine.

“Renata, you signed your memories away. If I were to reveal a lost memory, even the memory of your contract, I would be violating the terms we both agreed upon.”

She deflated and looked again at her hands. The writing had vanished. But—surely there was something that could be done. She couldn’t continue this way. Couldn’t keep living a half-life. Angry tears started to well in her eyes, but she wiped them away quickly, refusing to act the damsel. She would meet her fate head-on.

“There has to be something I can do! I’ll figure it out. Even if you can’t help me.”

She looked up and met his eyes, trying to demonstrate her resolve.

Azur sighed, setting down the quill.

“Renata—”

“Ren,”

she corrected sternly.

He raised an eyebrow, and his smile tilted, revealing a sharp fang.

“Ren. Just because you don’t have your memories doesn’t mean you don’t have purpose. I,”

he placed his hand on his chest.

“could give you that purpose. You are mine, and well, I haven’t used my resources in a long while. My followers—”

“I’m not yours, and I’m not your follower,” Ren spat.

“And there she is. This famed defender I’ve missed so terribly.”

Ren stood there staring him down, her chest continuing to pulse and vibrate with anger.

“Do you want to hear my offer or not?”

he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She remained silent, glaring daggers.

“I cannot restore all of your memories or even most of them. But I can tell you a few…anecdotes.”

Ren’s throat tightened.

“Anecdotes? You mean like stories?”

“Perhaps stories, clarify information, give instruction…”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands behind his head.

“I’m assuming this isn’t out of the kindness of your heart?”

“My dear, there is no kindness in my heart. I can genuinely tell you that I am incapable of kindness.”

He scoffed.

“You will retrieve something for me. Then, and only then, will I give you what you need.”

“And why me?”

“You’re The Defender of The Planes and need someone with experience for this task. It’s really that simple.”

Ren considered. This is another one of those moral quandaries. A deal with a Devil. She heard Leo’s voice banging around in her head. But despite this, she couldn’t for the life of her find a reason not to continue this conversation.

“What is it that you want?”

He looked her up and down with excruciating slowness, his eyes gliding across every inch of her.

“So many things, Ren. So very many things. But for the purposes of this conversation, I need you to find a document. It contains important contractual information.”

“A document? That’s it?”

Ren squinted at Azur skeptically.

“I know how this works. What’s the catch?”

“There is no catch. And honestly, if there were, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Again, he flicked his hand dismissively.

“But I didn’t say it would be easy. You’ll have to infiltrate the house of a very powerful High Devil. If he finds you, he will kill you.”

“Oh, is that all?”

She guffawed.

“Lord Wyvryn has collected many souls over the years. Signed many contracts and collected many powerful artifacts. His gluttony for influence is…concerning. I need you to find one of these and bring it here.”

She thought for a moment about his proposal. The potential risk to her life didn’t provoke fear. Actually, she felt rather capable—confident that this would be something she could accomplish.

Besides, she didn’t have another lead, and the Wyvryn Devil apparently had artifacts. She could potentially find the tome and get more information about her life in one fell swoop.

“His castle,”

Azur continued.

“is in the city of Dementiz. I will provide you with all the resources you will need.”

She felt Renata’s voice in the back of her head, spurring her on.

Now or never, Ren.

“Okay, I’ll do it!”

she blurted before her brain could catch up.

“Very good.”

Azur nodded with a broad smile, his long fangs fully visible. He looked down and retrieved a fresh piece of parchment. As he did, the intense smell of dust, books, and fiery roses filled her nose.

He silently dipped his quill in the inkwell and hovered it over the paper. Words, in the same elegant script as that on her body, appeared on the paper. He signed the contract with a flourish and stood to lean over his desk, offering the paper to her.

She walked closer.

“You know I can’t read this, I’m not signing anything that—”

Then suddenly, the text changed, perfectly legible.

I, Ren, The Defender of The Planes, will retrieve the document marked with sigil of His Lordship Azur Pelegros and forthwith, deliver it to His Lordship, the most esteemed, Azur Pelegros. By doing so, Ren will be permitted three questions to be revealed in a manner permittance to her contract. His Lordship, the most esteemed and handsome, Azur Pelegros, will truthfully, and without malice, give her the subsequent answers.

Ren choked a laugh at the ridiculousness of his flattery.

The contract was short and to the point. She glanced over it several times, trying to decipher where a trick might be placed within its wording, but could find nothing. She glanced towards Azur, a wry smile on his lips waiting expectantly.

“That’s it? I just sign?”

He reached into his desk and pulled out a small dagger.

“Oh hells, no!”

Ren said, backing away.

“Look, I get it, demon lord Devil or whatever, but I’m not signing a contract with my blood.”

Azur just blinked at her.

“Ren, please, don’t be so dramatic. You will barely feel anything, and besides.”

He paused to trace his fingers up and down the sharp edges of the blade.

“You have already done this. If I recall, you didn’t even flinch. We were at it for a while, in fact. You particularly enjoyed it when I helped you with the more sensitive areas.”

Ren successfully stopped her thighs from clenching together, trying not to imagine his head between them.

This is such a mistake.

However, the words in her head didn’t sound as convincing as they should have been.

She held out her arms and leaned across the desk, closing the distance.

“No, no, I’m not going to cut you. You have to do it yourself. This needs to be your decision.”

He offered the blade to her.

She snatched it from him and looked down at her pale Elven skin, observing the purple veins underneath. She positioned the dagger to her forearm right under where her scar was and, before she could hesitate, made a long cut. She winced at the immediate pain—but as soon as it arrived—it was gone. Her arm bled freely, but her blood took on an iridescent hue.

She held it over the contract and met the Devil’s eyes questioningly. He simply nodded in encouragement and handed her his quill.

She dipped the quill into her blood, watched as it seeped into the tip, and signed her name. Ren, The Defender of The Planes, because she didn’t remember her surname. A question she hadn’t even thought to ask back in Vergessen.

When finished, she placed the quill on the table and looked up expectantly.

“Now what?”

“Now go be a good girl. I’ll send instructions and anything else you might need.”

Ren bit back a retort. She turned, surrendering to her fate and still a little dizzy from the entire encounter.

“Oh, and Ren,”

he called before she could escape.

“Next time, please don’t hesitate to join in on the fun. Zelaia and I were most disappointed last night, and if I recall correctly, you did so enjoy it last time we all were together.”

Ren’s breath hitched and her treasonous body flushed in want. She had no idea how to respond. She wanted to object. To call him out on his disgusting lies.

But you don’t know, though…do you?

He only smirked wickedly at her.

So she turned and marched out the door with as much dignity as she could muster.