Chapter 2: A Binding Deal

It has been a week since her funeral. They buried her before her face could rot, just as she desired.

Fortunately for me though, because I ascended to her office just as fast.
The complete control of House Striggs vested unto me.
Anointed by her will and recognized by her people, I am now officially.
Viscount Striggs. How delightful.

That is how I ended up inside of her office, about to take on my first duties.
It felt strange, now that she’s gone, this place feels… different.
I traced the wooden desk, my eyes roaming the shelves of literature.
Before I sat… the chair hugged my form as I closed my eyes.
With the windows, the cool air blew against my skin.
My eyes then fluttered open, and my arms stretched out as I yawned.
“Well, time to check some ledgers.” 

But a confounding sight interrupted my thoughts.
A piece of paper, one left at the desk, for all to see by those who enter.
“Strange. I was sure the servants had cleaned out her office.”
I shrugged and turned it over.

Only to be presented by one of the most terrifying sights of my life.
A Seven sided star ‌stared back, each line glowed with power as I froze.
My hair stood on end as my stomach sank in panic.
The Devil’s Summons was in front of me. 

“What the fuck?”
That was all I could say as the piece of paper glowed with intensity.
The Heptagrams were artifacts that the Seventy-Two Covens possessed.
It was supposedly guarded with zealotry. It doesn’t simply appear before you.
If the Tower of Covens finds about its existence, I’ll be fucked.
More than fucked. So why the fuck is one here?

A headache then pounded in my head. I shook it off. I need to think!
There are a few things I could do here, take it to the Tower and gain their favor.
Then turn those archanists’ attention to me and have them meddle in my affairs.
No thanks, I’ve dealt with them before and I’d rather not be a point of interest. 

Then I could just throw it away, forgetting it ever existed.
The problem is, I don’t know if they already know I have it.
If I throw it away and they try to find it from me, I know they’ll have me burned.
Or flogged, whatever’s easier to those archanists.
And it’s a power, I’m unwilling to let go.

Then my last option is to use it, harness whatever power I could get from it.
Shit, that means I’ll have to deal with a devil, take whatever power they offer.
Then again, it should give me an edge in any future endeavors.
Especially when I fight for the Earldom of House Dinidae.

And so, with determination, I took my knife out of my pocket and sliced my hand.
The blood pooled at the edges of my fingertips and I grinned.
This might be my teenage immaturity talking.
But, let’s see how far I can go. 

 

I probably went too far.

That became evident as the surrounding wind picked up speed.
Then the shelves started rattling, and the drawers shook.
Everything around me fell to the ground, anything that could shatter shattered.
And a storm formed with me in the center, before it suddenly vanished like air.
It felt like eternity of me waiting as my heart slammed against my chest.
My breath hitched in trepidation before it appeared. 

A wisp of black smoke flew from the paper, floating about as it stared at my soul.
“What is this?” I muttered to myself.
I looked at it in confusion before it slammed into my chest and I froze in disbelief.
“What just happened?” I muttered, my hand feeling up my chest, trying to find whatever ‌went inside me..
What did this mean?

It meant an hour of me just looking at my chest.
The bleeding wound in my hand, gone, as the servants fixed the mess it left.
I don’t know what changed, I just know I did.

A knock then took me off my stupor. “Sir, there’s someone asking to meet you.”
I jolted straight up and held my head, an unknown visitor at this time?
“Uh, sir? Is there a problem?” My head snapped to the door as it opened.
An old butler stood by the door, dressed in a formal black and white suit.
I sighed and waved him off. “Nothing of the sort, just let our guest in!”
“As you say, Milord.” The man bowed and left.
And a woman sauntered in. 

 

She was a young mature woman, hair tied up in a bun, a dress clinging to her figure and her expression devoid of emotion. Each and every step clicked against the floor as her green eyes locked with mine. A deep dark void of green, one that has sucked in any and all emotions. I should know, I’ve spent a year with her and I never once saw anything but calm indifference. 

Almost thought she hated me. Apparently that was just the default, a soft apathetic go fuck yourself face. Fortunately, that didn’t diminish her charm. It could have even accentuated it into levels that left me… tingling.
Or maybe that’s just me. 

You are reading story The Devil’s Deal at novel35.com

“Ah Diane! It is a delight to see your beauty.”
She sat, shaking my hand with a little caress. “Damian. It is good to see you well.”
“It’s Viscount Striggs now, Diane. It’d be remiss of you to forget that.”
She nodded, a soft placating nod. “As you wish, Viscount.”

“So, my dearest tutor. Why have you arrived here at my doorstep? I don’t think I owe you any outstanding debt. And neither do I remember us making some plans.”
“None of the sort. Viscount. I merely came to give you my condolences.”
“After a week? That’s a bit late? Isn’t it? So forgive me if I doubt your sincerity.”
She nodded. “I know of such. But I was tied up in a new endeavor of mine.”
A smile crawled its way up my lips. “Oh, do tell.”

She then spoke, her lips an unusually vibrant red. “Then allow me to indulge you.”
With a flourish of her hand, a piece of document then fell onto my desk.
“You can read the details here, but I can explain to you the opportunity I found.”
I took the paper off my desk as I gestured for her to continue. 

“You must have heard of the storm that struck the Kingdom of Enron three months ago.”
“Why yes, I heard it struck quite far in, a true tragedy, really.”
“Yes, but a certain opportunity emerged. Merchants and businesses almost closed, flooded by the rampaging storm.” She then pointed at the document. “I accrued approximately fifty thousand aurins from it.”

Ah, Diane, the epitome of ruthlessness, where there’s tragedy, there’s profit.
I shook my head. Really, I should have expected this from the girl that used orphans for her profit, it might have been morally bankrupt and utterly reprehensible but hey as long as the bottom line isn’t affected, who gives a shit, right?

Really, her personality is as greedy as they come. 

“That was merely what I have earned from the interest of their debts. I have also saved various businesses from closing altogether. Though with a change of hands.”
“By swiping them off when they can’t continue with the interest they accrued?”
“Yes.” She responded, regarding me with a slight puff of her chest. 

A cleavage of her bountiful chest then came into view. It was an unusual act, especially for this woman. If I wasn’t so bold, I’d think that she seems to be trying to seduce me. I’m not sure if it’s working or not.

“That seems quite the plan, then. If I may boldly ask, why do you need me?”
She grabbed my hand, rubbing it all so gently as she spoke. “I would need your capital to continue with my progress. My other competitors have already caught on, my saved wealth can only do so much before it dries up.”
“I see. So, you want to pursue this line of business then? Loaning to various small stores and smithies and swiping them off their hands once they fail at your exorbitant interests. How cold of you, Diane.”

She giggled… She fucking giggled.
Now I know there’s something she needs from me.
With that, I scoured my mind for every clue, connected points and information.
Her status as a commoner, her continued seduction and her need for funds.
But something was amiss, she needed something more… political influence.
I came to a single conclusion. 

Oh my, this might work out better than she could predict.

“It’s not as cruel as you may think, Viscount. I have offered these people their livelihood, their traditions and wealth. Only changing hands on paper, yet they hold all the power in its management. Really, all I’m here for is the money.”
“Oh my, giving them a sense of normality and complacency as you suck them dry? I applaud you for such an ingenious thought.”

Her head shook in fondness as she squeezed my hand. “Then are you willing to work with me?”
“Of course, I am more than aware of your capability.” I raised the document up like a testament. “Even this model of yours is groundbreaking. Only a fool wouldn’t see it.” Her once soulless eyes lit up before I snuffed it out. “But I can’t agree with it.”

She stiffened as she forced out an ugly smile. “May I ask why?”
“Well, I just couldn’t see if what I’ll gain here would be enough, since it seems like a cut of seventy-thirty would leave me with less profit if I would have just done it myself. Truly, even in this minor city, I could proceed with this plan of yours and make quite the profit.”
“Even so, with my connections, I could.” 

I waved her off like a child and watched those cold dead eyes turn into an epitome of fury as I chuckled, “Connections are easily forged, Diane. Really, I could do the same thing you’re doing and make more money than you just because of my status.” I scoffed at her, “And besides, no self-respecting noble would do business with a commoner.”

Her hand left mine. “Then what do you propose I do?”
“The same reason you came here for, right at the moment of my ascension.”

It was a few seconds of silence as we stared at one another. A melodious laughter echoed from her lips as it graced me with her first genuine laughter. It was a beautiful sight, her mouth curled up, her eyes alight in delight and she held her hand over her mouth in an act of genuine delight. 

“Then will you marry me?” “Then will you marry me?”

You can find story with these keywords: The Devil’s Deal, Read The Devil’s Deal, The Devil’s Deal novel, The Devil’s Deal book, The Devil’s Deal story, The Devil’s Deal full, The Devil’s Deal Latest Chapter