With the curtains pulled shut, Jessica sat cross-legged on the couch in the dark. The only source of light was a few candles that sat on the coffee table which caused her shadow to wickedly dance on the wall behind her. She nervously rubbed her hands together as she waited for the chime of the hour that would signal Lucifer’s return.

Her breaths were rapid and shallow as sweat formed along her brow. She tried to calm herself by controlling her breathing but it proved as effective as trying to stop a freight train with a wet tissue.

Jessica tried to distract her thoughts by watching Oliver, the black cat Behm had brought. She had opposed the idea to use him in their plan but due to the time constraints and lack of better options, she had no choice but to submit. You can do this Oliver, she thought to herself despite the absurdity of it all. She was the one that would have to stand up against the ruler of Hell.

On cue with her phone’s alarm, an angry red ring of light appeared on the floor. It glowed hot as flames erupted several feet in the air that gave off a light so bright it blinded Jessica. She shielded her eyes with her hand as smoke began to fill the room that left her nose burning from the sulphuric stench.

“Ah, Jessica!” Lucifer said with a flourish as he flicked a few locks of his red hair out of his face. He stepped out of the circle he had arrived in and left a charred brand on the carpet. “You certainly know how to set the mood,” he chuckled with a subtle nod to the candles.

Jessica sat upright and fidgeted with the cuff of her sweater.

“You don’t exude the confidence I expected,” he said as he made his way to the fridge. “How’d the revenge session go, hmm?”

Jessica swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I didn’t go through with it…”

Lucifer gasped with feigned shock as he held the fridge door open. He eyed the contents with a disappointed look, “You were given the powers of the almighty Lucifer himself, the power to bend reality to your will, and you squandered it? I expected better from you.”

“I want more time,” she demanded with a quiver in her voice.

“Excuse me?” He asked as he forcefully shut the door which caused the contents inside to rattle.

“I want more time with the powers,” Jessica said with more confidence as she stood up.

“I don’t think you understand how these contracts work,” Lucifer scoffed. “I propose a deal. We agree on the deal. I collect on the deal,” he said with annoyance as he walked away from the kitchen toward Jessica. “In the end, I always win.”

“Then let’s make another deal,” she suggested.

“Ha!” Lucifer threw his head back and laughed. “I already own your soul. Unless you have another hidden away somewhere you’re out of luck. Maybe you would have been better off asking for pants with pockets.”

Jessica’s eyes fell to Lucifer’s feet. She stared at the rug in front of him for a few moments before she locked eyes with him. “What if I give you someone else’s soul? Nikki’s?”

He smirked as he took a step forward. “Oh, the betrayal. Unfortunately, that’s not how souls work.” With another step, Lucifer bumped into an invisible wall like a bird that flew into a clean window. He scowled and rubbed the tip of his nose, “What is this?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

With the toe of his shoe, Lucifer lifted the edge of the rug he stood on. Thick black lines streaked across the floor to bear an ugly pentagram with several runes drawn within. He furrowed his brow and offered a disappointed sigh. “Oh, Jessica… I was feeling generous. I was going to let you live out the rest of your eternity in purgatory.” He crossed his arms and locked eyes with Jessica, “Tell me, what was your plan here? This devil’s trap will never hold me.”

“It doesn’t need to…” Jessica slowly raised her hands, fingers clenched with palms exposed. “We just need it to slow you down… Nikki, now!”

On cue, Nikki log rolled across the floor from under the couch, fire extinguisher clutched tightly to her chest. She sprang to her feet and pointed the nozzle at a surprised Lucifer. With a mischievous grin, she pulled the trigger, “Get fucked, scumbag!”

A powerful stream of dry powdery chemicals blasted Lucifer in the face as the room was filled with thick rolling clouds. He coughed and sputtered as he raised his hand to try and block the stream.

Oliver’s feline body began to twist and contort. He yowled with pain as a thick viscous liquid was expelled from his form. Like a snake, the black ooze slithered toward Jessica and began to materialize behind her. Once solidified, Behm offered a mischievous grin.

Lucifer snapped his fingers as several black ethereal tentacles erupted from his feet to shield him from the onslaught of the fire extinguisher. “Behemoth! What in the nine circles are you doing here?” He growled.

“Nothing personal, Lu, just business!” Behm hollered as he placed a hand on the small of Jessica’s back. His veins began to glow a menacing shade of black that flowed into her being. “Just as we practiced,” he whispered into her ear.

Jessica’s body began to shake and tremble from the rush of power that flooded her. To say the sensation was similar to climaxing would be an injustice to the overwhelming waves of pleasure that washed over her. She couldn’t help that a moan of satisfaction escaped her lips. She felt the runes they had painted on her arms burn as the energy flowed through her. The rush thrilled her as it coalesced into a sphere that swirled with a brilliant light that illuminated the room. This is amazing, she thought.

Nikki frowned as the fire extinguisher sputtered. “I’m out!” She hollered as she hurled the empty container toward Lucifer which rang out like a gong upon impact.

“I’m going to drag you all to Hell!” Lucifer growled as he wiped some blood from the corner of his mouth. Black tendrils of energy leaped from his fingertips and smashed against the barrier that trapped him.

Behm eyed the rune they had painted on the floor as it rapidly shriveled in size. “Any time now Jess,” he warned.

“This is kind of my first time!” Jessica shouted over the swirling mass of energy that she struggled to contain within her grasp. As her hair flew about wildly, she fought to focus as her arms felt like they were ready to snap from the pressure.

The apartment shook as large cracks erupted across the floor. With the devil’s circle broken, Lucifer’s demonic tendrils shot out in all directions. One of which, nearly struck Jessica in the head as it rocketed past her into the wall.

“Now!” Behm shouted over the wind that buffeted through the apartment.

Jessica gritted her teeth and hurled the ball of energy forward. The swirling mass collided with Lucifer’s body with the force of a runaway freight train. He hunched over as his form twisted and contorted into a liquid-like substance. With Behm’s hand to help guide her, she directed the flow of energy into Oliver. Lucifer’s form was forced into the feline’s as angry demonic yells filled the room. The two beings writhed and squirmed as they were forced to coexist as one. Then Jessica’s knees buckled as she began to fall.

Behm caught her and eased her down to the couch. “Good job, kid.” Behm clapped her on the back.

“We did it?” Jessica asked with a surprised tone.

Oliver angrily bared his claws and attacked the cat carrier that contained him. His howls loudly rang out from his prison.

“Yeah. The forced possession worked.”

“Did you hear that, Nikki? It worked!” Jessica cheered as she looked to her friend for a moment of celebration.

Nikki offered a weak smile as she stood hunched over. Her hands cradled her stomach as blood flowed in thick streams that soaked her torn shirt. “Sorry, Jess…” she muttered before she collapsed on the floor.