Evie felt Drakulon's grip tighten on her arm as he pulled her forward. As they approached the throne of the Devil, an overwhelming dread filled her. She didn't challenge him; she couldn't afford to.
Drakulon pushed her down, forcing her to kneel before him. She felt the heat from his throne, a reminder of the hellfire that surrounded them. Even though her head was bent low, the Devil's presence was strong, she could feel his fiery eyes burning into her soul.
"Raise your head before the Grand Master," Drakulon commanded.
Evie whimpered as she lifted her gaze, meeting the burning, maleficent eyes of the Devil himself. "What do you want?" she pleaded.
The Devil leaned forward, with amusement and disdain painted on his face. "It's not what I want, child," he said with his voice echoing in the chamber. "It's Hell that wants you. It craves your soul to burn in agonizing pain for all eternity."
Evie trembled at his words. "No, please!" she begged desperately. "I'm not supposed to die! I have so many things left to do on Earth! I can't leave so soon!"
Tears filled her eyes as she realized the reality of her situation. The Devil's gaze hardened as he looked at her.
Drakulon was unable to contain himself, so he kicked her painfully in the side. "How dare you beg for mercy before the Lord of Hell!" he growled, grabbing a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back to look at the Devil.
Evie winced in pain but refused to let it show. "I'm sorry," she whimpered, with the tears now running down her face. "Please, I'll do anything! Just give me a second chance!"
The Devil watched her with a devious smile, relishing her desperation. "You think you can bargain with me?" he said, leaning back on his throne. "I do not give second chances. You are condemned. That IS your fate."
Her body trembled under Drakulon's iron grip, and her knees still pressed against the hot floor. She didn't dare look up again, she was too terrified of what the Devil might do next.
"Please," Evie whispered. "I'll do anything… anything you want."
Suddenly, the Devil began chuckling. With a single gesture, he silenced her whimps. "Anything?" he mocked with amusement. "What could you possibly offer me, girl? You—a soul damned to burn for eternity. What do you think you could do that would make me give you a second chance?"
Evie flinched, what could she possibly offer the devil? She couldn't go back to suffering; she had to find something, anything.
"I—" she hesitated. "I could… I could serve you! I could lure souls to you, isn't that what the devil wants? More souls in hell?"
Drakulon's grip on her loosened slightly as he sneered. The Devil's head tilted, he was amused but not convinced.
"Go on," the Devil said.
Evie swallowed, slowly looking directly at the devil. "When I arrived," she stammered, "those hoards of demons… they all wanted me. Until Drakulon swooped in and claimed me as a gift for you." She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady.
"That means business is slow in Hell, right? No one's coming here fast enough. Everyone on Earth's a little too goody-goody, aren't they?"
For a moment, there was silence. And then, the Devil threw back his head and laughed—a sound so deep it rattled the very walls of Hell. His laughter was hellish, and filled with cruelty.
Evie's heart began racing. "What…?" she asked confusedly.
The Devil leaned forward on his throne. "You think Hell is half empty because the mortals have suddenly become saints?" he asked with a wide grin. "No, child. It's not that they're too good. It's that they haven't died yet."
Evie's eyes shut close with disappointment for a moment after hearing the devil. Evie's last shot at getting a second chance was gone, flushed down the drain. What the fuck was she going to do now? The Devil's grin widened, sensing her realization.
"An interesting proposition luring souls to me," he said slowly. He rose from his throne. "You want to live on earth again? Very well. But know this: I do not grant life lightly. If I were to give you another chance, you would be bound to my service."
"I'll grant you life on one condition. You will bring souls to me—fresh young souls. For every soul you collect for me, I will grant you five days back on Earth. But fail, and your fate will be far worse than this."
Evie was confused. "I don't understand…"
The Devil's smile vanished. "I want you to damn them. Lure them into sins they cannot escape. Corrupt their souls, so they're mine before their hearts stop beating and then bring them to me. A damned life for 5 days on earth."
Evie began panicking as she realized the gravity of what the devil was asking her to do. "You mean… I have to kill people?" she stammered, horrified at the thought. "I can't do that! There must be another way!"
Suddenly, the Devil's anger flared up. The flames around him blazed hotter, and the chamber itself seemed to tremble. "I don't recall offering you options!" he yelled. "There is no other way! You serve me my way, or you burn with the rest of them!"
Evie was afraid. "I didn't mean to offend! I just—"
"Silence!" the Devil yelled. "You either accept my terms or be consumed by the flames of Hell! There is no other way!"
As she realized she had pushed him too far, for a moment, she thought he might revoke his offer altogether.
"No, wait!" she shouted desperately. "I'll do it. I'll bring souls to you."
Drakulon stepped back, with a satisfied smile on his lips as he watched Evie tremble. But deep down, Evie knew she had no choice. She had to find a way back to her life. No matter the cost.
The Devil's grin returned. "You shall have your second life—on my terms. Do you promise to serve me well?"
Evie nodded, feeling both exhilarated and terrified. "I won't disappoint you," she promised. Evie felt nauseous as the reality of what she'd agreed to settled in. She was no longer just a girl fighting to return to life—she was the Devil's instrument of damnation. It was a cruel bargain, but it was all she had.
"Welcome to your new life, my wingwoman," the Devil said with sheer amusement.