Parry expected the fluffy kitten body in his hands to dissolve the moment he brought it out of his knowledge vault. In the absolute darkness of night-blindness, he felt no change.

"Demon?"

"Styak. It's a name written into your soul, I'll thank you to use it."

Parry sat up, still holding the "kitten" by leg and throat, sensing no heartbeat or breath, which made sense. It was only an imposed shape on an infernal spirit.

"I've dealt with thousands of demons thousands of times, Styak. I know you can discorporate, and even take other forms. Unless you enjoy being a cat?"

"Set me down or insult me, I don't care."

The creature in the room that did have a heart to beat and breath to take was having trouble with both. The tables were turned: in his mind, he could hold the demon to that shape, resist anything it might attempt, control and bind it according to the alterations he drew on his soul. Out here, he was blind, in his bedclothes and very concerned why the demon sounded so reasonable, even accommodating.

They're beings of power from a lower realm, they work in this world through deceit, he reasoned carefully, warding off panic. They have power but can only grow it with a host. This small demon couldn't have accrued much in so short a time bound to him, not while in the prison of his mind. Even so, without question, it has some now. Whatever it's doing must be a trap.

The demon was one slit throat away from freedom. Parry carefully set it on the nightstand.

A horrible choking sound, a wet-flesh heaving cough erupted from the fiend, and suddenly Parry could see.

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Floating above the calico kitten was a flaming hairball, burning smokeless and bright.

"Better," the demon observed, licking its lips and whiskers. "It was dark enough in your brain, this is an improvement."

Relief flooded Parry. There was no attack, the demon assumed no horrible guise. It didn't fly off into the night to lurk, able to strike at any time. It didn't dash off to slaughter anyone in the house.

If this is a trick, it's too subtle for me.

"Thank you," Parry offered, sitting up, feet bare on the worn, cozy wood floor. "You're keeping that form?"

Another shrug very unlike what a true cat could manage. "For now. You're obviously comfortable with it, I've learned to make do. If we come to blows, you'll see a very different side of me." Its predatory smile was, in fact, frighteningly feline.

After a long breath, "What did you mean 'work together'?"

"Just that. You have a goal. I can help you achieve it."

"My goal is the undoing of this universe."

"You don't think small, I'll grant you. And cunning as your plan is, there's no guarantee it will work. The power you'd need is vast beyond even your apex last life. Can you even get it? Or hold it, or learn to use it, let alone turn it against the Creator? Who can tell."

"Remind me of my plan again?"

The kitten laughed. "I think not. I'll keep holding that card."

Parry looked up, drew in a breath, then looked down at the cat-shaped demon.

"Why? What's in it for you?"

"Right now? Very little. But we can formalize an agreement that would make it worth my while and yours too. It's an opportunity."

Both hands cradled his head. "You want me to re-inscribe you on to my soul."

"Half right, human." Styak produced a piece of chalk. "This time, we draw it up together."