For the moment my story remains invisible. Hopefully someone who will enjoy it will discover it soon.

"It's been a while."

"Yes, it has."

"Six years I think?"

"Approximately."

"How is your new power serving you?"

"Enough with the small talk." Devont Grey stood in the familiar chamber. It was just as dark, illuminated by candles and an old lantern.

The trickster's home. It hadn't changed at all. Neither had the trickster for that matter. His skin was red and two small horns protruded from his round head. His arms were still longer than his legs and he wore the same tailored suit as he sat behind his desk.

He viewed his client with glowing yellow eyes.

"Have it your way, Devont Grey. We shall skip the pleasantries. What can I do for you?"

"I'm here because of something you said to me last time we spoke."

The trickster watched quietly while the human paused. "I want a copy of the contract we made." The monster was quiet for a while, but then his lips stretched up his face revealing his sharp and jagged teeth.

He gave a raspy laugh.

"Of course…" Spinning in his expensive office chair the trickster opened one of his desk drawers and started fishing about inside. He found an envelope and opened it, briefly checking the contents before reaching over to Devont.

The black haired man reached forward and took the envelope. "It's been six years." The creature wheezed. "One must wonder why you would return at a time like this." Devont pocketed the envelope and stared emotionlessly at the monster who owned his soul.

"I don't owe you any explanations." Those yellow eyes blazed fiercely for a few moments.

"As long as you're not planning anything funny. Once you make a deal with me, it must be honoured. I fulfilled my side of the bargain and you even got to have your revenge."

"Trickster-"

"Please, call me Marlo."

"Alright, Marlo. I have no interest in breaking my deal with you. I got what I wanted. Now all I want to do is understand more about this power you gave me."

"I see." Marlo's expression changed. It was difficult to see in the poor lighting but his eyes always glowed with the level of his intensity. "When you first used the power I gave you to claim your revenge the heat of your vengeance was so great you lost control and it burned down half the city block, killing several innocent people.

"Nowadays I'd be willing to wager, you can't even create a flame big enough to scorch one human." Devont said nothing and Marlo's smile broadened. "The power was associated with your own sense of vengeance. Once you had your revenge against the people that killed your family that rage inside of you subsided somewhat."

"Subsided, yes, but it never disappeared." Raising his hand a bright orange flame illuminated the room from a point above the palm of Devont's hand. "I'm always angry. My power has depleted, but nothing will change that fact.

"My power isn't so straight forward either. I can equip it to things, like guns and even swords. That's why I need a copy of the contract, so I can learn to control this power." He closed his hand and the fire extinguished.

"Well everything you need is in that envelope." Marlo said quickly. "If that'll be all I'm going to have to ask you to leave.

"As privileged as you may be, having received a portion of my time you are not my only client. I am a very busy daemon." Needing no further convincing Devont turned and walked away, down the corridor of shelves and to the exit. "Until next time, Grey."

…

Lora Sanders was running. Her feet padded against the pavement beneath her desperately. She hurried around corners and along the busy street. One look behind her and she could see from the shadows cast upon the buildings from the street lights that her hunter was still near.

The form was disproportionate to a regular human body, her hunter was not human. There was no way for her to escape, so why was she running? Instinct? If so it was a foolish instinct indeed.

Her foot became snagged on the curb and she fell forward, her long black hair billowed behind her as she skidded along the road. There were footsteps in front of her. Looking up in fear she could see the red skinned daemon in the expensive suit eyeing her.

"Marlo." Her voice was dry and raspy. Another pair of footsteps could be heard from behind her as her hunter stopped some several feet away. She turned to stare at the skeletal daemon as it observed her with eyes that glowed a fierce purple in the dark of the night.

"My dear Lora. You were a model client of mine. Not once did you try to betray me and break free from our deal. Aside from this desperate little chasing game." Lora looked up at him fearfully before whispering.

"I don't want to go to hell…"

"When you made the deal with me ten days ago that gave you power it was to avenge your murdered lover and child.

"Not long ago your powers vanished and it was time for your soul to be collected. The amount of life the traders are given upon receiving their power differ from each contract. The lucky ones get to live out the rest of their remaining life before their soul is collected.

"When you came to me ten years ago you were desperate and I asked you if it was worth it. You told me you would've given me your soul right then and there for the chance to have your revenge." Marlo watched the pretty woman as she looked at him with frightened eyes.

His teeth glinted hungrily. "Are you telling me you regret your decision?" Lora looked down and her long raven hair veiled her face. She looked truly helpless, before her head tilted upwards and her voice came out cold and lifeless.

"I always understood the cost. When I received power from you I was able to hunt down the psycho that killed my husband and our child. I didn't just murder him there, I tortured him for hours. I never tried to find a way to break our deal because…"

She paused and Marlo looked on in curiosity. The skeletal daemon behind her showed no reaction. Lora's head snapped up and she looked the trickster who owned her soul fiercely in the eyes.

"I wouldn't have taken it back for anything. Except for the chance to see their smiling faces again." Her head fell and she began to hold herself pitifully while she thought of her family. A large gate manifested into existence to their left.

It was black with skeletal knockers and stone gargoyles on the edge. The red doors opened revealing darkness with the faint flickering light of glowing fire. Inside could be heard the distant screams of millions of tortured souls.

Above the door was a sign that read 'Hades' and below it 'Abandon hope all yee who enter'. Marlo approached the unmoving girl and touched her forehead lightly with his hand. Her body immediately went limp and fell forward.

Approaching the door he cupped his hands, delicately cradling the silver soul. He tossed it inside and then stepped away as the doors closed themselves. The enormous entrance faded from existence.

"Yet another victory for the kingdom of darkness." Marlo muttered to the daemon behind him. The skeletal creature turned its head at the unconscious woman.

"What is going to happen to the vessel?" It asked in a crackly female voice.

Marlo turned around before replying.

"Without a soul the body won't operate. It will die in a matter of minutes. Either way this works out conveniently for us, you see I have a job for you."

"Anything, Mr. Marlo, sir."

"I have a client who has been acting suspiciously. I have reason to believe he may be trying to break his deal with me. You are to track down and follow a young Mr. Devont Grey.

"He appears to be in his late twenties and is Caucasian with black hair and eyes. Last seen today at the Nan Tien Shrine, inside being one of the many entrances to my home."

"It will be done."

"Remember, this is only a precaution of mine. You will use that girl's body for convenience. That means you will have access to her memories and personality, so blending in shouldn't be too difficult for you."

The skeletal daemon looked at the body on the ground. "You will give me regular updates of Devont's doings, is that clear?"

"Yes." Marlo smiled, satisfied, and walked away while the daemon loomed over the woman's empty body.

…

After hitching a few more trains and at the cost of half his day, Devont Grey was back in Blackwood. First he would need to find a place to stay. However it wouldn't be anything new to him if he had to sleep out on the street.

Before doing so he found himself sitting in a quiet bar with a drink on the counter in front of him. A regular past-time of his. At least no one had wondered up and started hitting on him. The next thing he knew the stool beside him was pulled back and someone slid themselves onto it.

I recognised him as the middle-aged owner of the gun shop: Hughes Grant.

"Can I get you a drink?"

"Already got one, but thanks."

I pointed lazily to the half full glass in front of me. "No offence, but I also think you might be a bit too old for me." He gave me a toothy grin before replying.

"You know, I have a wife."

"All the more reason as to why this would be a bad idea." I reached for my drink and took another sip.

"You're a funny man, Grey."

I placed my glass back onto its coaster.

"How do you know my name?"

"I've been looking for you for quite some time. I have a business proposition that I believe you will be interested in."

My body froze. "Yes, I know you're a trader."

"Then why are you bothering me?"

"Didn't you hear what I was just telling you? Business proposition? As in money. You do like money don't cha?"

I took another swig from my drink. "We'll talk more at my store, shall we?"

A business proposition with Hughes Grant, the gunman? Being stalked by a Daemon sent from Marlo disguised as a beautiful young woman called Lora? Review to find out what happens next!