“This is quite the deal you’ve constructed. You should try your hand at being a Demon.”

The scruffy man across the table from me laughed in a tired way. “A tempting idea, but not one I’m interested in, ma’am.”

“Sylana. No need for such formalities. You’re certain this is what you want?”

He shook his head, sadness behind the exhaustion. “I’m not certain of much these days, ma...Sylana. I got associates I thought was friends. They think I don’t know what they gots planned for me. They ain’t too good at keepin’ their voices down when they been drinkin’ and think they’s alone.” His laugh held no humor.

“Greed is an ugly force. It can make the best of friends into the worst of enemies.”
“You gots that right.” He reached into his coat pocket and offered me a handmade leather wallet with a galloping horse branded into it. “My pa made this for me when I was just a boy. You said it needed to be of personal importance.”

I took the trinket from him, turning it over and examining the inner pockets. “Your father was quite the craftsman. It will serve our purposes well.” I reached out for his hand and used my thumbnail to cut open his weathered palm.

Not even a wince. Impressive.

I held the wallet and his bleeding hand together and closed my eyes. “With this trinket, we seal this deal. With this blood, we seal its purpose. Greed begets greed, and thus we finish the deed.” He inhaled sharply through his teeth as my Magic coursed through us.

When I let him go, he looked as the dark scar left on his hand. “I sees what they mean about bein’ marked by the devil.” He put the wallet back in his coat pocket and picked up his hat. “I hopes this deal is my undoing and not theirs.”

“You’re a very noble man, Peter. I’m sorry that your path has led you to seek my aid. I will see you again.”

He tipped his hat to me. “If I’m lucky, I’ll be alive when you do. Round’s on me.” He trudged out of my cabin and into the darkness of the night.
I watched his horse carry him toward the distant town of Bonehollow. “I’ll hold you to that, cowboy.”

A week came and went before I felt the Magic tug at my senses. I sighed and shook my head, going about my cabin and collecting everything I would need to hold up my end of the deal.

“Heading somewhere?”

I stopped with my back to my unwanted guest. “Just into town, Brother. I have business to attend to and I would appreciate it if you didn’t stick your nose in it.”

“I’m hurt, Sy. I come all the way out to this gods forsaken cabin to give you good news and this is the kind of treatment I get?” 

I could almost feel his smug grin. “What news?”

“Invite me in and I’ll tell you.”

I turned to the dark eyed man standing in my doorway. Xivole wasn’t what I would call an imposing figure. I wasn’t a tall person, but even I had to look down at him. He was well dressed as usual and the lack of dust on his snakeskin boots told me he hadn’t even bothered to walk up my lane. I stared at him silently before rolling my eyes and going back to gathering my things. “Come in. Don’t make yourself comfortable.”

He swaggered his way in and promptly flopped down on my couch and put his feet up on my table. “You’re always such an accommodating hostess, Sy.”

I glared down at him. “Get on with your news before I change my mind and revoke your invitation.”

He placed a gloved hand on his chest and gave me a mock offended face. “Is this really the way you’re going to treat your oldest friend?”

“We aren’t friends.”

“You wound me, Sister.”
“If you’re lucky, that will stay metaphorical.”

“Awful grumpy today. I would think getting to complete your arrangement would bring you more joy than this.”

I sat in my armchair and glared at the other Demon. “What is the news you’ve brought?”

“Never one for many pleasantries, were you?” I continued to stare at him blankly, hoping he would get to the point. “Fine, fine. I was trying to make this a friendly visit, but clearly you are only interested in business today. The Angels have finally signed their side of the agreement.”

“About time. They were the last standing in the way.”

“Aren’t they always?” We shared a mutual laugh at our cousins.

“Does that mean they’ll be moving forward with the school?”

“They’re beginning discussions now. Razur has been chosen to be our representative.”

I growled at the name. “Of course he would be the one the Council chose.”
“You’ve never told me what bad blood lies between you and him.”
“And that won’t change today.”

He held up his hands and sat back. “Fine, fine, keep your secret.”

I stood and made my way to my door, opening it as I turned back to Xivole. “It’s time for you to go now, Xi.” I cursed myself for using the nickname.

Old habits die hard.

He stood and straightened his coat. “As you wish. I wouldn’t want to keep you from keeping up your end of the arrangement you made. I hear you have some gamblers to punish.”

“Gambler. Singular. Just the one that pulls the trigger. That was the deal. The others are merely too weak willed to resist the call of money.”

Xivole tipped his hat to me as he walked out of my cabin. “Don’t go easy on them.”

“Have I ever gone easy on any target?”

“You never went easy on me. That’s for sure.” 

He disappeared in a puff of smoke before I could respond. I sighed and shook my head. “Sometimes I wish I had gone harder.”

I grabbed my bag and began the long walk to Bonehollow. Sure, I could have used my instant travel Power, but I needed the extra time to formulate my exact plan.