The next morning, I set out to the crossroads with everything I needed for the ritual. The instructions were simple enough—dig a shallow hole, place the offering inside, and speak the words.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, the air turned thick, suffocating. A deep chill ran through my bones as the sky above seemed to darken despite the rising sun. And then, he appeared.
A demon.
His eyes glowed blue, unnatural and piercing, as if they could see straight through me. His hair flickered like living fire, dancing against the windless air. Something about him made my stomach twist. It reminded me of the flames that took everything from me.
"Well, well, well..." His voice was smooth, laced with amusement. "Two summons in one town? This is turning out to be a good day."
He tried to take a step forward—but stopped. His eyes flickered downward as he realized what had happened.
A Devil's Trap.
He let out a low chuckle. "Oh? Haven't seen one of these in a long time."
My family had a long history of dealing with demons. It was one of the first things we were taught—how to protect ourselves against demons.
Knowledge was a dangerous thing, and the Crowley family had a lot of it. That made us a target. Demons loved getting their hands on powerful information, and we had always been a tempting prize.
So, we learned how to defend ourselves.
A Devil's Trap was one of the simplest protections. Draw it on the ground, and a demon could not escape. And if that failed? An exorcism was enough to send them straight back to Hell.
The demon stood still, staring at the markings beneath his feet. He didn't seem angry. Just... amused.
"So then," I spoke, steady and controlled. "Have you heard of a fire no magic can control?"
He tilted his head, his grin widening. "You know that's not how this works. You make a deal first, and then I answer your questions—not the other way around."
I ignored him and began to recite an exorcism.
The demon sighed, bored. He didn't even flinch.
"A basic exorcism?" He arched a brow. "Come on now, girl. You should know better."
Then, with a simple flick of his wrist, the Devil's Trap shattered.
The ground cracked as the markings bled into nothing. The power keeping him contained was simply gone.
I took a step back.
Impossible.
Only the strongest demons could break a Devil's Trap.
"Haven't seen many people using these anymore." He disappeared from the spot and reappeared behind me.
I didn't react. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
He hummed, stepping closer. "So then, girl, what's your name?"
I didn't answer.
Names had power. A lot of power. I wasn't about to hand mine over so easily.
He chuckled. "No matter. If you don't want to tk, I can always leave."
I remaineald silent.
"Really? Not even a reaction?" He sighed dramatically. "Come on, I expected more from someone from the Crowley family."
My body stiffened.
He knew.
I swallowed my immediate panic. If he knew my family name, it meant two things. One—he was old enough to know about us. And two—he was dangerous.
"How do you know my family's name?" I asked, keeping my voice even.
He smirked. "Not that hard to figure out once you recognize the specific kind of Devil's Trap you used. Now—shall we get to the real business? Let's make a deal."
Even after knowing who I was, he still wanted a deal? Either he was incredibly cocky... or far more powerful than I realized.
I crossed my arms. "Fine. What do you want?"
His grin widened. "I want information."
"Information?"
"I want to know what happened to your family."
I frowned. "Why?"
"We had good dealings with the Crowleys for generations. But recently, that well has dried up. You tell me what happened, and I'll answer your questions."
He didn't know.
Maybe demons had nothing to do with the fire. Maybe they did. Either way, he might know something.
I hesitated before saying, "They all died. In a fire."
For a second, he just stared.
Then, he laughed.
A deep, gut-wrenching laughter. It was wrong. Something about it felt wrong.
"The most powerful magical family in the world dies in a house fire!?" He wiped a tear from his eye. "That's hilarious!"
My fingers curled into a fist. I wanted to kill him.
But my blade wouldn't harm this demon. And he was strong enough to break a Devil's Trap. Killing him was out of the question.
I forced myself to breathe. "Do you know anything about that fire?"
He shook his head, still grinning. "Not really. But I could look into it for you. Maybe find something."
Useless.
I switched topics. "What about orc's blood?"
His grin faltered.
"What about it?"
"Where can I get some?"
His eyes narrowed. "Why do you need orc's blood?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't risk it.
He hummed, thinking. Then, he smirked. "How about this?"
He took a step closer. "We make a deal. You give me your soul in ten years' time, and I give you orc's blood."
Ten years.
Ten years to find the truth. Ten years to hunt down the person responsible for that fire. Ten years to do what I needed to do.
It wasn't a long time. But what was my soul worth these days?
I met his gaze. "If you find anything about the fire, you will tell me."
"Of course."
I took a breath.
"Do we have a deal?" he asked.
I clenched my jaw. Then—I shook his hand.
The moment our hands connected, he disappeared. And in his place, a small vial dropped into my palm.
Inside, a thick, dark liquid swirled.
Orc's blood.
I turned it over in my fingers.
Well... that's the hard part done.