"How painful... Am I really dying? Although, maybe it's for the best. I hate this world that brought me so much pain. What's the point of me living at all? Everyone who was dear to me, whom I loved, they all died .. And sir, my dear sir, he too... If only I could save him... I would definitely do everything to save him!"
Erik felt as if he was falling endlessly into darkness. It was cold and a terrible feeling of loneliness seemed to eat him up from the inside. The whole body ached as if it had been continuously beaten for weeks or even whole months. And yet, for some reason, I really wanted to eat.
— What brave child disturbed me at supper? — growled a low, velvety voice right in Eric's ear.
"Didn't I die? Or just a dying hallucination?"
The eyelids seemed to pour with lead. Do not open at all. Although Eric didn't want to open them, he didn't want to fight for his life.
— I'm Richard. — The other's voice was so soothing and familiar. Eric couldn't believe his ears. He tried hard to open his eyes.
"Really, a memory from the past? Or just a dream? So real, as if I'm living it all over again. This is my first meeting with the master."
Winter, so cold that even a few sweaters did not save. On this day, he, six-year-old Eric, was supposed to die. But a miracle happened, he was saved by a kind master. And here he is, as if again in the same forest, tied to a large pole by the townspeople of his own village. Beaten, hungry and frozen in anticipation of a terrible death.
— So what do you want, Richard? — sweetly sang the one from whom Eric still has goosebumps. Great Demon Ezrael. A tall dark figure from his nightmares.
— For you to let him go. — What then, what now, Eric could not understand how his master managed to speak with this terrifying creature so easily.
— Alas, I cannot. His parents offered me the body of their child as payment for their desires. I just came to get mine. — Ezrael ran his cold, pale fingers down Eric's neck, up to his chin. For some reason, the boy still couldn't utter a word.
— Then, I can offer you a new deal, a better one, — the boy stepped closer. The snow crunched softly under his feet.
— Oh, and what can you offer? — The demon smiled, licking his lips in impatience.
— I want you to kill me. — The boy took a penknife out of his pocket and cut his hand. Blood slowly dripped onto the snow, decorating the snow-white blanket with scarlet flowers. — Kill me on my thirteenth birthday. — Then you can take my body and my soul full of magical elements.
– Ha-ha! — The demon laughed out loud, breaking the all-consuming silence of the forest. What a tempting offer. — And what do you want in return?
— Let him go. Get rid of the curse, from your mark.
— Just? I agree. Let's make a contract.
A magic circle formed from the bloodstains on the snow. Almost frightened, Richard stood in the very center of the circle and held out a bloody hand to Ezrael. The demon shook the boy's hand, then licked a few drops of blood from his gloves.
— How sweet, almost royal. Let me ask you why are you doing this? — The dark figure pointed at Eric.
— I don't know, — Richard shrugged, which made the demon laugh even harder.
— Then it doesn't matter, congratulations, the contract is concluded, — Ezrael touched the master's right shoulder, he turned pale and screamed, bending over in pain, at the point of contact, through an expensive coat, a fresh wound could be seen in the form of a star, from which light smoke rose.
— Unfortunately, I can't free my old vessel yet, but some of my power is already inside. But as soon as the requirements of the new contract are met, the seal will disappear. And one more thing. — Ezrael snapped his fingers and summoned another demon. Algarion, Ezrael's favorite and right hand. He was in his hideous demon form. A tall shadow with long horns and scarlet eyes. — This is Al, he will monitor the safety of the vessels.
— As you command, sir.
— From now on, the contract comes into effect. — A click and a bright light flooded Eric's eyes.
— Hey, are you okay? — was heard quite close. Eric slowly opened his eyes. They were still in the field. Richard was right in front of him. The demon was gone, and his henchman was standing quite far away. — What is your name?
— Eric… — was the last thing the boy managed to squeeze out of himself before passing out with tears in his eyes.
"Is it really over? What a pity, I would still watch, even if I had to watch the same nightmare endlessly. How I want to see the master at least once more."