I woke up, struggling against an extreme sense of drowsiness.

Violet’s sleep-torture was bearing its fruit. No way I would've been able to endure it otherwise.

It took several attempt to open my crusty eyes and realize my situation. I was shackled to a chair in what looked like a laboratory. My clothes and shoes had been removed, and I was left only with some undescript brown rags. I could see various kinds of reagents, and alchemical implements. How did I get here? I asked myself, but my brain had no answer to offer.

My magic wasn’t working and I felt like shit. I could feel like something was squirming and twisting around my spiritual body.

Right… I had been cursed… I recalled that another demon had shown up right after I had assisted the Demon Lord into impaling himself, a Grand Vizier maybe… Then just a haze of dreams.

Feras was silent, it looked like he had taken a break from intruding my spirit.

I was almost surprised when I finally started feeling my body again. I didn’t waste time and shifted my awareness into it.

There was no telling how long I had before Feras, or his minions, would come back to check why I wasn’t being cooperative.

I tested the shackles, but they were secured tight. Same for the chair, carved out solid obsidian. I struggled again. Maybe the shackle on the right foot gave a slightly different vibe, so I kept that in mind. It looked like I couldn’t swing to the floor like the movies. Not that falling sideways would have helped me in any case. No in fact, obsidian was like glass... it might have skewered me to death. I was not sure, but I didn't care to try.

I looked at my hands. No rings… as I had feared.

I scolded myself again for not swallowing the damn things. I really didn’t want demons to research this technology. I needed a head start to be ahead of the game.

On my right there was a table with several jars, bottles, and vials. I caught a movement in one of the jars.

It was kinda hard to see, because the glass was tinted dark, but there was a little creature floating inside. It looked like a child with insect wings. Could that be a fairy?

Cool, I thought, since it was the first time of me seeing one, as they were said to be very elusive and mischievous spirits. I couldn’t see its eyes clearly but I got the impression it wanted my attention.

I shrugged my shoulders, there was nothing I could do. My hands were tied, literally.

I started wriggling my right foot, slowly but repeatedly. It hadn’t been just my imagination, something was grinding and loosening.

Excited about the prospect of aggravating my captors by damaging their property, I continued the work.

I wasn’t sure how long it took—I was fighting drowsiness the whole time—but with a sharp crack, the shackle detached from the chair. The skin around it had turned red from abrasion, but I had a whole leg and foot to move around.

A smile spread over my lips. Take that Demon assholes.

Of course, what was I gonna do with just a freed foot?

Not much. I couldn’t summon mana infused strength and I wasn’t a circus acrobat.

A movement on my right caught my eye. The small spirit in the jar was again shaking his hands to catch my attention.

I stared at him, and then my foot.

Right.

I just had to turn a little… So, I pushed against the floor, careful not to make too much noise, in order to turn the heavy obsidian chair in the direction of the table.

The chair was heavy, but thankfully it was not a massive slab of pure obsidian stone. It took a few tries, as my leg and foot weren’t moving as nimbly as I wanted.

Done!

I lifted my right foot setting it against the edge of the wooden table. And I pushed as hard as I could.

I sent everything flying and crashing. Many precious glassware lost their lives and spilled their guts on the floor. Had I managed to break the jar holding the fairy? I couldn’t see with the table in the way.

The little guy jumped up in the air letting out a high pitched chirping sound. Now that I could see it better, he had black shiny eyes, he was grinning at me.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

I smiled back. I was already playing several novel scenarios in my mind where spirits would aid their saviors by snatching keys and stuff.

But our excitement was short-lived. Footsteps, quick approaching. I moved my foot back in position, even knowing it wouldn't hold up to scrutiny.

The small spirit hid itself out of view just before the door opened.

Before a moment of confusion and the subsequent damage assessment, the Grand Vizier—whose face I recalled from when I got caught—hissed and cursed in his demonic tongue. He didn’t look happy.

I fought to keep a straight expression. His dismay gave me strength.

「Allen: Must have been the wind.」

I teased, imitating the NPC of a videogame. That earned me a sound slap on my cheek, which left my ear ringing.

「Vizier: You… You were supposed to be asleep! How did you…」

He said in fluent Arstei, with extra emphasis on “s”. The demon seemed eager to break every single bone in my body, but instead moved on checking my restraints. He quickly found about the detached shackle on my right foot.

「Allen: Clearly not Dwarven workmanship.」

That earned me a punch in my guts. Quite painful since I could hardly defend against it in my current condition. Even though I smiled defiantly, it took me a while to regain my breath.

Thinking back perhaps my mind wasn’t fully awake, but then again I never stood down against a bully. Unless I was planning to get back at him later, in some contrived way.

「Vizier: I hope you refuse the Great One’s offer…」

He said grabbing my chin with his sharp nails, and sneering.

「Vizier: Then nothing will save you from me.」

Those felt like weak threats. Why hadn’t they already worked their magic on me? I was here alone and helpless in their place of power. Yet for some reason they were holding their hands back.

Though I felt weak and sick, now that I was somewhat awake my brain was elaborating the information acquired so far.

「Allen: I don’t feel very threatened, yet.」

I stated.

「Vizier: I should have killed you as soon as I found you.」

「Allen: But Feras stayed your hand?」

I said, smiling defiantly. The demon tightened the grip on my chin. I felt the wetness of blood running down my throat.

「Vizier: Careful of what you say, Human.」

He hissed furiously. The pain from the nails biting into my flesh was starting to annoy me.

「Allen: Or what? I can’t be afraid. Or Maybe you think I’ll break down if you hurt me a little?」

The Vizier smiled cruelly.

「Vizier: Let’s see about that…」

He pressed his left hand on my chest. Crippling pain coursed through my whole body. I grunted as all my muscles clenched. My anger flared up. I was almost hoping it would have helped me break the shackles and break this guy’s neck. No such luck, but that was anger talking, bad for survival.

Demons were stronger than the average human, as I had unfortunately experienced.

My eyes were lacrimating and my muscles twitching. But I raised my head and grinned back at the motherfucker. It was just thrice as painful as the pain ring. A walk in the park. If the park is make of nails.

「Allen: That all you got?」

I said through gritted teeth. The demon amped up the voltage, making me twist involuntarily.

「Allen: Kuh-」

I embraced the void and relaxed my body, then I calmly raised my head again, with my best impression of an evil smile. Bad guys who smile evilly under torture have higher chances of getting free and turning the tables. Maybe the universe was punishing me for being too good and reasonable. Perhaps it was time to try a different approach.

It was too hard to say anything, though, so I just kept silent. I felt on the edge of passing out.

I always enjoyed a challenge to my mental fortitude, and for some reason he still wasn’t using spiritual interference. Why only physical torture?

After a few breaths the demon hesitated and stepped back. Then in his frustration he punched me in the face, I barely managed to tilt my head to save my nose.

He hit like a truck.

「Vizier: It was meant to be mine!」

He yelled, punching my stomach again. I took the hit the best I could. He grabbed my throat and hissed at my face a few inches away.

「Vizier: Give it back!」

I had no idea what he was talking about. The position for Feras #1 certified lapdog? Sure, take it.

「Allen: Earn it.」

It came out as a whisper, not having enough breath for more.

The Demon regained his composure, but now I knew he wasn’t allowed to kill me, and that I had something he wanted. Plus there was the freed fairy. If it hadn’t fled already.

My chances were going from certain doom to almost certain doom.

Aggravating this guy was proving to be effective.

「Allen: Don’t you know that-」

Feras wants to recruit me? I finished mentally while still moving my lips.

「Vizier: Know what?」

He inquired, his eyes narrowing. I smiled inward, having just confirmed he wasn’t reading my thoughts, or at least not verbally.

「Vizier: What trick did you use to shield from the Great One? Answer me!」

But before I could open my mouth, he twisted his head a bit to the left, as if hearing some sound. I hadn’t heard anything.

He smiled and turned back to me.

「Vizier: No matter. He has returned.」

And as he said it, I felt it, ExFeras’ presence, once again invading my mind.

I stopped my thoughts and embraced the void. I didn’t want the God of Nightmare to read my mind, because I was certain he could, unlike the Demon in front of me.

Without the aid of mana, I could only do so much.

Feras took his time, pushing and prodding, and projecting a feeling of dark anticipation, before speaking inside my mind.

『Feras: You have two nights to swear fealty to me.』

An ultimatum. At that moment I found it amusing.

Haste makes waste, I said mentally. Isn’t there a bad feeling building up somewhere in your guts?

Feras expressed a silent anger. But if I was fucked anyway, I might as well aggravate him until the end.

『Feras: You won’t be so bold once you realize the choice will be taken for you.』

He promised again. I had no idea what that meant. Perhaps there was a correlation to why they were being so “gentle” with me?

How long have you kept me here? And not even a single reasonable offer, I accused him. You’ve cursed me, threatened me, hurt me. My excitement to join team Feras is at an all-time low.

『Feras: You have nothing to bargain with, Human.』

I wanted to argue more, but I felt a new wave of hurt beginning to wash over my spirit body. The curse was acting up again.

『Feras: Join me willingly, or not. Either way, I just have to wait.』

His voice hammered in my head.

I passed out.