[Fanfic] Contract 1/1
Gobi Desert
Today was the day.
The day he imagined in dreams and visions. The day he’d worked for, planned for, and trained for. The day he’d kill the demon lord who murdered his mother and father, tortured his sisters and ruined him for life. The scars on his neck, wrists and thighs would never fully heal. A permanent reminder of the hellish existence he lived in before escaping with his siblings.
Blood trickled down his esophagus, triggering a coughing fit. Pain ripped through his body, burning his shredded flesh and aching in his broken bones. Every gasp of air was a struggle against the throbbing pain coming from his shattered ribs.
A cloudless sky hung over head. The sun sat directly above him at its apex, directing intense rays to the barren desert below. The air was thick with heat as it wavered in the distance. Sweat soaked his matted hair, mixing with the excess blood. The nasty mixture soaked into his clothes and shone brightly on his pale, sun burnt skin. He tried to lift his left arm in an attempt to cover his face, but the muscles of his shoulders cramped and tightened, unwilling to comply. His other arm was cut, lacerated and mutilated beyond hope. He sighed and closed his eyes.
At least…my sisters are safe. Ivan thought. He will not find them.
The thought comforted him. He relaxed his body despite the racking pain and reveled in the intense heat. It was something he’d always wanted… to be in a warm place, surrounded by sunflowers.
At least it is warm. Ivan accepted, turning his head away from the sun’s rays. Having sunflowers around me would be nice, but…this will do.
Footsteps punctuated the deafening silence. They started some distance away, coming closer to his prone form until they came to a halt at his right side.
Ivan opened his eyes and stared. The figure stared back.
“Man… you got your ass kicked.”
“What are you doing here, Alfred.” Ivan sighed, having no patience for the half demon. “Can’t I have the satisfaction of dying in peace?”
Alfred stared down at him. He was clothed in frayed blue jeans, cowboy boots, a white sleeveless shirt and an old, well-worn cowboy hat. He seemed perfectly comfortable with his surroundings.
“The desert is my domain, remember?” Alfred smirked and kneeled on the dry, cracked lakebed. “I happened to be in the neighborhood.”
“You followed me.” Ivan stated, his voice flat and un-amused. “Did you enjoy watching my defeat?”
“You under-estimated him.” Alfred explained, ignoring Ivan’s question. “He isn’t like those weak, mindless demons you’ve slayed before. He isn’t even a lieutenant, like me. Khan is a demon lord. The very same as Francis.”
Ivan glared at him. “I know.”
“I thought about warning you…but then you would have never learned this lesson.”
Alfred motioned to Ivan’s battered, lacerated, bleeding body.
“Go away.” Ivan turned his face away. “I want to be alone.”
Because I failed.
“You know… “ Alfred remained in a crouch at Ivan’s side. “There is a way to survive this.”
Ivan kept his eyes turned away and said nothing.
“A contract.”
“I’ll never forge a contract with a demon.” Ivan said with disgust as he turned back to narrow his eyes at Alfred. “Especially with you.”
“I could heal your wounds.” Alfred urged, ignoring Ivan again. “Give you the power to defeat Khan.”
“And make it so that our lives would forever be bound together.” Ivan growled. “If I die, you die…remember?”
“But your dream of defeating him could become a reality.” Alfred grinned, eyes blazing.
“Forget it, demon.” Ivan breathed, but gagged and coughed violently, spitting more blood up his throat and past his lips.
“I’m giving you a second chance, Braginski.” Alfred pushed. “If you reject me again, I will leave. And you will die alone in this desert, with nobody but the crows for company, as they strip the flesh from your carcass.”
Ivan turned his head away, teeth clenched together in frustration.
“…But if you take my offer… you will get a second chance at life.” Alfred dropped his crouch to kneel beside him. “A second chance to see your sisters again.” Alfred held a hand out. “A second chance to defeat Khan.”
Ivan stared at Alfred’s offered hand, and then turned to stare at Alfred’s face.
“A contract will only share your power?” Ivan asked. “You won’t control me?”
“Yeah, I can’t control you.” Alfred grinned, and two sharp fangs appeared at the corners of his mouth. “Because I still have my horns, I don’t need your life energy.” He pulled his hat away, revealing two large black horns that poked out from just above his ears and stretched back into two needle points “They look small now, but that’s because I’m conserving energy. They get bigger when I fight.”
“I know.” Ivan breathed and coughed again, spitting up blood.
“Don’t have much time left…” Alfred glanced at his watch, frowning for a moment before turning back to Ivan, hand still out stretched. “Well?”
“…A second chance.” Ivan stared at Alfred and managed to lift his hand up to grip Alfred’s offered hand. “Is all I need to defeat him.”
Alfred clenched Ivan’s hand, eyes widening, the dark pupils shrinking to pin-pricks flooded in pools of azure.
“Good.” Alfred gasped, breathless. “Now…to forge the contract.” He placed his other hand on Ivan’s bloodied chest. “This might hurt.”
He sunk all five of his clawed fingers into Ivan’s left breast and surrounded his heart. Ivan cried out in sudden pain, but kept his hand clenched around Alfred’s. The air grew static as blue electricity danced over Alfred’s body and surged into Ivan’s chest, filling his body and surging into each wound. Skin knit together, bones snapped back into place…and then it was gone with an electric crack. Ivan gasped as Alfred pulled away and stood.
Ivan sat up and touched his chest. Dried blood flaked off, revealing healthy pale skin. Slowly, he staggered back to his feet and faced Alfred.
“I am stuck with you now?”
Alfred grinned and jammed his hands into his jean pockets. Ivan sighed, pushed the hair from his face and pulled his compass from his pocket.
“Let’s go.”