I stay in place as It draws closer, the smell of death burning my nostrils.
There’s a reason why everyone must fear the Devil. It has no heart. No emotions. No purpose other than to wreak havoc and instill fear in everyone who’s done bad in the world.
I know not to push back. No violence or words will win this for me.
Desperately, I fist my hands. “Please let her go.”
“You are the greatest sinner. The one who escaped his own prison. Tell me, how does it feel to be powerless? To no longer be enough for her? How much did it hurt to see your friend die in front of you and not be able to do anything?”
I avert my eyes to Sable. She’s sweating, trembling, and her eyes are still glued to the ceiling, trapped in her own torturous nightmare.
As soon as I feel the claw drag down my cheek, I brace myself for more, even though everything inside me is on fire. The simple scratch has my blood heating to a deadly temperature, and sweat coats my skin.
“P-please.”
My lungs seize, my airways closing, and I fall forward and grab my throat as pressure builds behind my eyes.
The world goes dark and light, and I concentrate on what I can hear—the sound of It circling me, Its claws clicking on the ground with each slow and harrowing step; chains rattling as Sable flinches—and I force myself to stand and fight against the mental strangulation.
It releases me with a dark chuckle.
Dragging air into my lungs is painful, and blood trickles from my nose. Everything in me wants me to give in and give up, but Sable is still chained up, and I need to get her out.
“Nothing in this world comes free, Lincoln. You know this.”
“Name your price,” I say in desperation, my voice croaky. My gaze flicks from the Devil to my girl hanging from the shackles. “Anything. Just let her go free.”
It grunts and turns away from me.
“Please,” I beg.
The heavy footfalls stop, and the Devil turns back to face me. The crooked smile on Its mouth becomes an evil grin. “Your soul.”
I’m certain my heart has stopped beating.
“What?”
“You escaped,” It says, dragging Its one claw across my chest. “Your soul is no longer mine, and I want it back, just as I want hers for a hundred years when she passes through the veil.”
“Done.” The word comes out before I have time to think—not that it would make a difference. Sable needs to get out of this place, and I’ll do anything possible to ensure that happens.
It steps closer, leaning down and sniffing, inhaling deeply, trying to smell any hesitation from me. It’s hard to make out the face—Its features are bathed in darkness. When It stops, Its eyes lower to clash with my own. Dark and beady and full of nothing but death.
“Say it.”
“Free Sable,” I reply, gulping, knowing this is it—my time with her is over. “And I will give my soul back to you. In exchange, Sable will be free to live her life and return for a hundred years when she dies.”
Not even a millisecond passes before the coldness sinks into my chest, my soul spiraling and thrashing like a beast in shackles deep within me—I feel it the moment it’s pulled from me yet again. This time willingly to save the girl I love.
Invisible manacles lock around my wrists.
I drop to my knees.
The deal is made. I can feel it sinking into my butchered, charred, soulless self. I can no longer leave here—I’m trapped for eternity. But being able to save my girl, even if I only get a second to tell her how I truly feel before she’s dragged back to life, means it’s all worth it.
33
Sable
