"You can? But how can you? I have consulted every type of expert I could; be it a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a neurosurgeon or a hypnotist. I don't even know what the difference between the first two is, it didn't even matter because all of them were useless." said Sebastian in frustration.
"Please I beg you, I just want to sleep!!" alas the poor man was reduced to begging.
Seeing the scene in front of his eyes, Haytham felt sorry for the man. This was the first time he had seen someone be reduced to begging. He wanted to console the man, he wanted to help him but he realised that he had no way of helping him. The only man who could was his grandfather. So he waited patiently for his grandfather to speak.
After a few heavy seconds finally passed, Robert finally spoke..
"I can definitely help you but the real question is what do you have to offer in exchange?" asked Robert in a menacing tone.
Haytham sensed the selfishness in his grandfather's question and quickly opened his mouth to object but before he could say anything he was quickly shut down by Robert's threatening glare. He felt his words get stuck in his throat. That one over the shoulder glare was enough to suffocate Haytham. He quickly looked towards Ellie for help but noticed that she had her eyes closed like a loyal servant of his grandfather.
"Money? Do you want money? I can give you money, my whole bank balance, take it but please just let me sleep!" said Sebastian in desperation.
"Money? Why would we want something so useless? We have lots of it. Now what you could offer is what we shall find out." After saying so, Robert thrust his hand forward and placed his palm on Sebastian's head. The golden ring embedded with a green stone on Robert's middle finger began to glow and simultaneously Robert's eyes began to glow the same colour.
After a few seconds Robert removed his hand and looked at Sebastian with a confused gaze. His eyes were saying that he saw something that didn't make any sense. He stayed silent for a few minutes and then he suddenly looked back at Haytham and a small knowing grin flashed across his face.
"Okay then, it is decided! Mr. Sebastian your payment has been decided." said Robert joyfully.
"So how much money are we talking here? Because most of my assets are in the form of bonds and stocks so…" said Sebastian awkwardly.
Hearing this Robert let out a hearty laugh.
"Nothing as such. All I need from you is a promise." said Robert after composing himself.
"A promise?"
"Yes, a promise. It's a simple promise or rather a favour. In future whenever my successor shall come to you in his time of need then you must provide him your unconditional help." said Robert in a serious tone.
Sebastian thought about the words that he had just heard. After contemplating for a long time he finally said,
"But what if he asks me for something that I cannot give? What's stopping me from breaking the promise?"
"I am very glad you asked that. As for what he will ask depends completely on him and you must help him regardless of your circumstances, it is the cost of cure Mr. Sebastian. However knowing my successor it won't be something outrageous." said Robert before commanding Ellie, "Prepare the contract."
Ellie went into the back room of the shop and emerged a minute later with a single paper in her hand. It looked more like parchment than paper.
"As for your second question of what is stopping you from breaching this contract. Please put your hand on this parchment." said Robert.
To humour Robert, Sebastian placed his hand on the contract on which the terms were written. The next moment he felt a stinging pain in the middle of his palm.
"Aahhhh" screamed Sebastian.
As he looked at the parchment he noticed a small needle-like object sticking out from the parchment right where his name was written and on the spot where he was supposed to sign, there was a small drop of his blood. However the blood drop started to get absorbed by the parchment and in the next second it completely vanished as if it didn't even exist. The same was with the needle that had stabbed him, it was nowhere to be seen.
"What was that? What is the meaning of this?" asked Sebastian with uncertainty mixed with anger.
"Hahaha! You see Mr. Sebastian, unlike the normal situations, contacts in our trade are based upon blood rather than trust. As you saw your blood was absorbed by the parchment making it an official blood contract. Frankly we don't trust any of our customers due to the dangerous nature of our business but what we do trust in is their willingness to live. No one can breach a blood contract Mr. Sebastian, because the ultimate fate of breaching a blood contract is INSTANT DEATH!!." said Robert in the most menacing way possible.
Haytham had never seen his grandfather like this. He subconsciously touched his nape and found all his hair standing with beads of sweat pouring down his forehead.
"T-This, this is MADNESS!" said Sebastian frantically.
"No dear sir, this is reality, moreover this is your reality. Now tell me, do you want to make this contract official? Do you want to rid yourself of this curse? Do you want to finally have a good, real sleep?" said Robert passionately.
"I-I do, I am willing." said Sebastian with confidence after thinking for a long time. He had made up his mind and came to the conclusion that this was his last resort.
After getting the confirmation from his customer, Robert was about to place his hand on the parchment but suddenly he stopped and looked towards Haytham.
"Haytham, you do it."
Hearing this, the already nervous Haytham began to shiver. His first ever experience with the supernatural had arrived, but he questioned himself whether this was what he was meant to do? Is this what he wants to do? He was about to dive into a world from where there was no return.