A/N: Hey... This story kind of just popped out from my mind... so yeah... Happy reading...
Prologue
Year 1988
"So are you sure about this?"
"Yes." Christopher answered, not daring to stare into the eyes of the man - or creature - before him.
"But you do know about the conditions if you want to obtain power over the world, don't you?" the man's lips curved into a smile revealing sharp pointed teeth.
"I'll give you the most precious thing in my life in exchange for making me a billionaire and giving me the luck of the devil or whatever you are." Christopher replied, fully aware of what he's asking. He had met this man in a bar who told him that he can grant him anything he wants in the world in exchange for something dear to him. At first, he didn't believe him but later on, something happened that made him realize that the man before him now was the devil or closely related to one. He quickly agreed to it, not bothering what the deal was about since he found no importance or precious in anything in his life.
"Very well, then. You have been warned though… When the time comes, I'll come and collect my debt. Till then, enjoy what I have given you, mortal." the man answered, breaking away Christopher's trail of thoughts.
"Hold on a minute! When will I know that you can really do it!?" he called out the moment the man turned his back away from him and started to disappear into the darkness.
"You will… oh, you definitely will. It'll start tomorrow the moment the sun rises! But remember what you've done! I'll come in due time to collect what's mine be it tomorrow or 20 years later!"
The man shouted back before a thick mist enveloped around the him and with a strike of lightning as if on cue, he disappeared completely out of Christopher's sight. Christopher smiled greedily at the turn of events and walked under the pouring rain. He was dying from poverty, his eyes were hollow, he had sunken cheeks, and he was all skins and bones - literally - but that was going to change tomorrow, he was sure of it because he had made a pact with the devil…
Year 1991
The sun was bright and today was the day Christopher had always been waiting for: The birth of his very first child with his beloved Bianca.
He was nerve wrecked, pacing around in the waiting room with family members all waiting anxiously for the announcement of the birth of a baby girl.
Finally, a nurse popped her head out from the delivery room and smiled warmly, "Congratulations, Mr. Howard! Your wife has had a smooth delivery and you're now a father of a baby girl!"
Christopher eyes widened in pleasure and sighed in relief that everything went fine. When the nurse told him that he may enter the room, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and anxiously entered the room. His face was filled with joy the moment his eyes set on a beautiful baby girl. He sat beside his wife and touched his child's cheek with his finger. His heart was overwhelmed with love as he looked at his wife and child, his two most important people in his life. His pride and joy…
Year 1992
Christopher couldn't sleep at night. Something was hindering him but he did not know what. He had a happy family and his business was running better than ever. Shaking away the feeling, he crept into his daughter's room. He smiled at his lovely Roxanne who was sleeping soundly in her cradle.
"I love you…" he whispered lovingly and softly but his heart was racing. Something wasn't right and he knew it. It was this room. Something about it was unsettling, as the hindrance in his heart grew. What's going on? he panicked.
"Long time no see…" a familiar voice came out of the blue from behind him. Whirling around, getting ready for a fight, he saw someone he met years ago and his body began to shake with fear. It was a creature that looked like a man with blonde hair and purple eyes. Skin as white as a ghost with a body that showed agility and magnificence. It was the devil he made a pact with four years ago and memories of the agreement he had made with him flowed through his mind.
"It's you! What do you want!?" he hissed in fear.
"Relax, Mr. Howard. I've plainly come here for a visit!" the devil smiled menacingly and looked towards the baby in the cradle.
Terror struck Christopher the moment he knew what the devil wanted as he rushed to the cradle and hugged his child protectively. "You can't have her!" he shouted, voice shaking which sent his wife running into the room in panic while Roxanne started to cry.
The devil cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? On the contrary, Mr. Howard, I can and I will. We've made a deal, don't you remember? You were poor, pathetic, and on the verge of dying. It was I who gave you this life! And in returned you clearly promised me that in exchange, you would give me the thing that is most precious to you. I spared your wife and decided to take your daughter. Be thankful for being to be able to at least keep your beloved wife, Mr. Howard!"
The laughter of the devil sent chills down Christopher and Bianca's spine. "You can't do this, Lord Seth!" Christopher cried out in a plead.
The devil just shook his head and grinned threateningly. "I've told you that I will. Don't make me repeat it anymore. Don't worry, though. She's too young to be useful now. I'll come to get what is owed to me on her sixteenth birthday. Until then, let this mark be a reminder to you of your debt." A long, white slender finger pointed towards the child and a mark of thorns appeared on her left eye. The baby girl began wailing in pain as smoke sizzled out from the burnt mark.
"No! You can't do this to me!" Christopher cried out in horror.
"This is what you deserved, mortal! For greed, you accepted the pact with me and now you shall pay for it!" Without waiting for an answer, the familiar mist that Christopher once saw four years ago appeared again and enveloped the devil, making him and his wife choke before disappearing together with the devil.
Bianca broke down and cried, shouting at her husband at what was going on. Why didn't he tell her anything about this?
All Christopher could do was shake his head and passed his Roxanne to his wife as tears streamed down his face. For the first time after four years, he found regret seeping into his heart. When he finally learned to love, it was taken away from him so easily.
He was lost and didn't know what should he do. He looked at his crying child and the mark of thorns that started from the top of her left eye that went on all the way down till the middle of her cheek in anguish. Kneeling down, he hugged with his wife and child and whispered sorrowful words of apology over and over again, dreading the day when he will have to give the devil his child…