Chapter 2: Chapter 1

Jovi sat on the park bench and fumbled the charm on her satchel. Thankfully, she had tucked away the letter of acceptance to Manhattan University before her mother or father could speak to her about her options and what she’d do next. Not that she wanted to fully avoid her parents – but she couldn’t face them right now.

Jovi just ended her work shift. She was a waitress at a humble restaurant in Plymouth County ever since she graduated high school a few years ago. She took pride in her work, taking care of new and regular customers, and grew close to the other workers. Giving thought to leaving the people she thought of as family hurt Jovi’s head.

If I go to that university, I might be able to have an even better paying job than my father, Jovi thought. Maybe then they’d earn the break they deserve… but what if I can’t get that great job?

Then, Jovi would be neck-high in debt – another headache she couldn’t afford to give her family.

A black suited man plopped next to Jovi. Jovi inhaled sharply. She readjusted herself ever so slightly towards her side of the bench. Businessman, was Jovi’s initial thought, but another glimpse at his red trimmed jacket and his ear piercings made her reconsider.

“Ah, what a relief the wind is,” the man said, his smooth voice causing Jovi’s chest to pang.

“Yeah,” Jovi said.

“One of life’s greatest pleasures is watching the leaves move in the wind,” the man said, pointing to the fluffiest trees in the park. “Although, we usually want more than just to watch our world pass us by.”

“The leaves do look nice this time of year.”

Jovi felt the man’s eyes all over her. She was tempted to find out what his face looked like, but she hid behind her hair, thankful that the wind blew it near her eyes.

“I’m Vincent.”

Jovi couldn’t ignore Vincent’s hand, now in view. She reached for his hand anyway, trying her best to make a decent impression. “My name is Jovi.”

“What brings you to the park, Jovi?”

“I wanted to get out of the house for some fresh air.”

“Me, too.”

Vincent’s smile melted Jovi’s insides. Jovi has had her fair share of school crushes, but never had she seen such a warming smile as this man’s.

He was devilishly handsome.

“Those boys on the soccer field have been playing for hours,” Vincent said. “They play for Plymouth State College.”

“That’s a good school,” Jovi perked up at the talk of college.

“Where do you go?”

Jovi tugged on her skirt. “I don’t attend college yet.”

“Ah, yet,” Vincent pointed. “What school do you have in mind?”

Do I really want to tell a stranger my situation? Jovi thought. She’d feel silly telling him how she tried to get into a college that she could never afford in the first place. Only until Vincent mentioned Plymouth State did Jovi give another school an ounce of thought. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to go to college in the first place.

Jovi needed to talk to someone. And it couldn’t be her parents just yet.

“I just received a letter of acceptance in the mail for Manhattan University.”

“Wow! You’ll be in a prestigious school and in the Big Apple. A world of opportunity awaits you!”

“I don’t think it’s worth the cost to study there.”

“Oh. But you have hope, which is why you tried in the first place. People can’t buy hope.”

Hope? That’s what Vincent thought Jovi had? More like disillusionment, Jovi thought.

“I’m not sure if I’d call it hope.”

“You found yourself worthy of trying. So, you had hope. I don’t want you to ever lose that.”

Jovi met his unwavering gaze. For a moment, Jovi believed she had some sanity for trying something destined to fail. She did earn her spot in Manhattan University in an effort to enhance her family’s life. She couldn’t have done that without a bit of hope.

“You do want to go to that school, right?”

“Of course.”

“I’d like to pay for the cost of your tuition to Manhattan University.”

What? Jovi’s blinked. “I don’t even know you.”

“Tell you what,” Vincent said as he leaned down, becoming level with Jovi. “We can get to know each other. How about we go on a date?”

Jovi scribbled a funny smile onto her face. Paying an entire four-years worth of college tuition – at a school far out of her league – all for a date? Was a random girl on a park bench worth that much to this man? “Are you joking?”

“Does it look like I’m joking?”

“That’s more money than anyone has ever spent on a date.”

“Maybe. I don’t know.”

“There’s usually an ulterior motive when money and a date are involved.”

“Mhm.”

“I – I’m sorry, but I’m not the right person for that.”

“Do you find me unattractive?”

“What? No – No! It’s not that.”

“Then it’s nothing of the sort, Jovi.”

“Why me?”

“Why not you?” Vincent said. “I offered those two boys playing for Plymouth State College a wonderful opportunity to launch them into their dreams. Timothy, the one sweating bullets, believed he was worthy enough to seize that opportunity. His friend Paul didn’t.”

Jovi fixated on Vincent’s suit’s brooch. Even if the story checked out and he was just a nice guy, Jovi knew there had to be something more. Vincent was intimidatingly above her league.

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“When I see potential in someone, I act,” Vincent continued. “Not out of physical attraction, but because they carry a spirit that I simply cannot let go of. For you, Jovi, I believe you are more than worthy to succeed.”

Jovi envisioned herself accepting that college letter and throwing herself at the every opportunity she could to build a career for her family’s sake. But she wasn't competitive. Attending a prestigious business college seemed like a pipe dream. Right before she closed the door to her chance at Manhattan University, Vincent propped the door open... and all he asked for was a date.

And a date still made her feel gross. How many women has this guy paid out? Jovi didn't look like she was meant to be a high status man's accessory. Plus, her cousin Emma wouldn’t like the thought of Jovi being some guy’s toy.

Maybe there was some truth behind Vincent's dark eyes. Maybe he wasn't as evil as Jovi intuits him to be. This could be the opportunity Jovi needed to toughen up and better her family. But all of that for their disappointment?

Jovi swallowed and turned. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not the person you’re looking for.”

Jovi couldn’t even take a full step towards the street. She nearly bumped into Vincent, looming over her. She took a step to the side. Vincent mirrored her.

“What’s your biggest worry?” Vincent asked. His cologne pierced Jovi’s nose.

“I don’t want to sell myself to you.”

Vincent chuckled, “No, no, no. I don’t expect anything more from you than a dinner or so. The rest is up to you.”

“But it’s still too much money – I’m sorry, I have to leave!”

Jovi darted passed Vincent. Even if all he wanted were some dinner dates, what could he possibly do to her when she’s hundreds of miles away from home?

Jovi turned at the corner and flung her hands on her knees. She tried to catch her breath, her beating heart posing it to be a challenge. Did big shots really sell themselves – their souls – for money? Jovi didn’t want to make that much money – but she did want to ensure her chances of providing cushion for her family were as high as possible. She still believed Manhattan University was the gateway for that comfort.

Vincent could be her gateway to comfort.

But he was a stranger. Jovi didn’t know if the unfamiliarity was worth the risk. Lots of people go on blind dates, Jovi thought. A date with someone I sort of spoke to already couldn’t be that bad.

Emma would resent Jovi for relying on a man and not taking responsibility on her own. Wouldn’t Emma rather a break for all her hard work, though? Jovi’s entire family sacrificed so much to hold themselves together. Jovi wanted her own turn.

Jovi looked up. She nearly fell backwards. Vincent crouched along the sidewalk, smiling.

“I’m not asking for your soul,” Vincent said.

Jovi’s mouth gaped. Did Vincent read her mind?

Vincent remained crouched, his hands gesturing outwards. “You know, all I’ve done is give people things they want. But I’ve never known all the details of the success that I’ve brought people. So, you’re right. I do want something from you. I want to celebrate all your successes with you.”

Jovi’s chest rose up and down as Vincent watched her. She focused on her feet. “Like a case study?”

“No. More like an experience.”

“Why do I have to date you, then?”

“How else would you introduce yourself to potential employers?”

Jovi didn’t know what industry she wanted to work in quite yet. She did know that New York was a big city with a lot of opportunities to discover what Jovi really enjoyed doing. The chance of her earning a half-decent job doing something she enjoyed was practically guaranteed. Vincent’s offer would increase her chances, but she still felt gross.

“You don’t want to… you won’t… make me do things I don’t want to do, right?”

“I will never make you do something you don’t want to do.”

Jovi finally looked at him in the eyes. “Promise?”

“It’s written in ink.”

Jovi blinked. Was that a yes? “Then I will take your offer.”

“Excellent,” Vincent said, pulling a notepad and pen from his pocket. From the corner of her eye, Jovi saw black shapes forming words on the notepad, as if the paper was put through a printer.

“Then it is settled,” Vincent said, holding out the fountain pen and notepad. “You will graduate from Manhattan University so long as you attend dates with me. Please sign your name here so we may stay in touch.”

Jovi took the pen and notepad. So Vincent had meant he’d make the promise on paper – well, a notepad, but Jovi assumed that even a notepad had some worth.

Jovi found the blank signature line. Vincent’s name was already signed, but Jovi hadn’t noticed him putting the pen to paper even once. Jovi signed her name anyway.

“May I have a copy of this?”

“Of course.” Vincent fumbled with the notepad. Jovi watched if more words were appearing on the paper like magic, but she couldn’t tell.

“Thank you, Mr. Vincent,” Jovi straightened herself as she tucked the contract next to the acceptance letter in her satchel.

“I look forward to your success,” Vincent winked.

Jovi left. A few blocks away, she stopped at a bush, looked around, and pulled out the contract.

Jovi looked at the top of the paper. Her full name was written in print. She never told Vincent her full name; only her first name.

The agreement was, for the most part, exactly what Vincent had described. Vincent would pay for all costs of Jovi’s college attendance, including but not limited to rent, food, and tuition. Jovi would graduate from a college. Jovi would accompany Vincent on a variety of dates as his girlfriend and she would set the pace of their relationship.

Jovi’s chest clenched. That made Vincent her official boyfriend. She never had a boyfriend before.

Furthermore, the contract would terminate only on the terms of Jovi’s graduation. Once Jovi graduated, she wouldn’t have to accompany Vincent anymore.

Jovi’s hand shook. That’s a long time to be someone’s girlfriend.

A paragraph above their signature seemed misplaced. It read: ‘Vincent, a demon fairy of the Devil Fairy, is an unregistered independent fallen spirit of Hell. All rights of the soul who signed will be turned over to him after the termination of their material life if stated in the document.’

Jovi cracked a smile. He put that in the paper?

She reread the paragraph once. Then twice. Maybe I should’ve read this before signing, Jovi thought. She made a deal with a psychopath.

Jovi read the contract three times. Four times. Five times. Jovi’s smile contorted.

No. Vincent was no psychopath. Jovi made a deal with a demon fairy.

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