Page 12 of Midnight with the Devil

The devil followed behind her, pausing at a shelf of books on witchcraft and plucking a title off to flip idly through the pages.

“She’s…pure,” he finally said.

“Nobody is pure,” Amara replied without thinking.

“I don’t mean pure as in free of sin. Everyone makes that mistake.” He paused in the study of a book on the Salem witch trials and smirked. Then he waved the book at her. “Poor women, white witches, not dark ones, yet they were killed all the same.” He put the book back and crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the edge of the bookcase.

“If you do not mean sin, then what do you mean?” Amara carried her dustpan to the garbage bin, pretending to ignore his remark about her fellow sisters from centuries ago who’d been condemned to die. No doubt he wanted to hurt her, but she refused to let him see her pain.

The devil watched her, his dark eyes hot and dangerous.

“A soul can be pure when a mortal loves another more than his or her own life. Diana is the only soul to ever make a deal with me to save someone else.”

That surprised Amara. “Surely there have been others.”

“I’m sure that people exist who would die for the ones they love, but giving oneself to me? No one has ever done that before. I find her…interesting.” He paused at the counter and looked at the glass display cases. “The little present you gave her was charming. Ineffective, but charming.”

Amara’s face heated. “It won’t work?”

“No, not on me. Lower demons, of course, but fallen angels? Never. We Fallen may be barred from heaven, but part of our grace is still there—not the part that allows us back through the pearly gates, but enough to fool little party tricks like the kind with blessed talismans. When I lost my wings, I thought it was all gone, but it turns out that there’s a tiny bit still inside me, alive and kicking.” He held up his thumb and index finger as he spoke, pinching a tiny portion of the air together.

Grace. Amara couldn’t believe it. The devil still had some small bit of the grace of God inside him?

“I will let you keep your life, Amara. I find you delightful. You’re terrified of me, but you haven’t shown it once. Humans like you are good to have around. It’s no fun to play chess with heaven when the other team has only pitiful pawns.”

Amara kept her mouth shut. She would not thank the devil for sparing her life.

“If Diana does visit you again, you may ease her concerns. I don’t tend to break my favorite toys.” He removed a beautiful crucifix from the glass case and examined it in the gold lights of the chandelier hanging above her counter. Amara held her breath.

“As long as she does not rescind the contract, nor does she resist my demands, she will be released from our deal in three months’ time. Of course, when she dies, her soul is mine. Forever. But we mustn’t let her worry about that, not when she’s got about seventy or so years to enjoy life.”

“But she will be changed, won’t she? When you’re done with her?”

The devil smiled, his eyes now cold and black as obsidian. “Oh yes, most certainly. She’ll be corrupted, a soul destined straight for hell when the time is right. But you may pick up the pieces of whatever is left if you feel particularly noble.”

“I will,” she promised.

With another smirk, he walked toward the door and left.

A sigh of relief escaped Amara. “Oh, Lord.” She muttered a soft prayer. If the devil planned to visit her more often, she’d have to think about relocating. She paused as she replayed the conversation in her head. Two things about their encounter felt off. The devil had seemed concerned about Amara, a mere mortal, interfering with a contract. He’d also agreed to let Diana go after three months, at least until it was her time to die. That was…merciful.

The last time she checked, the devil was not supposed to be merciful.

“You didn’t kill her?”Andras asked as Lucien walked into the shadows by the closed shop and left.

“No,” Lucien said. “She is more useful alive.”

“How so?” Andras kept pace with him as they walked toward the parking lot. Lucien felt like moving at the moment, not flitting about with a flick of his thoughts.

“I want Diana to come to me willingly. I do not want her becoming frightened and revoking the contract. Having the pure soul we need is too important. The more she wants me and the darkness, the quicker I can claim her for the gates. If she feels she can run to Amara and find some comfort, then she will be ready to face my desires rather than run from them. So Amara is not to be touched. I want you to ensure her protection.”

Andras let out a sigh. “If word gets out we’re protecting a white witch…”

“All hell would break loose?” Lucien joked.

“Possibly.” Andras frowned.

Lucien slapped him on the back. “Lighten up, old friend. After millennia, I have finally found something that interests me again. This is a cause for celebration. Meet me at the club in half an hour. We will find some succulent humans to slake our lust.”

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