The explosion erupted, not leaving me any time to have any last-second musings about destiny or how much of an asshole I was. Energy crackled around us both as Pearl grabbed me close. White light blinded me for a brief second, and the ringing in my ears was unpleasant.
Vision cleared to see the demon with her eyes narrowed, a pulsing aurasurrounding us. A demon-magic shield, no doubt. Possibly had saved our lives, or at least prevented a lot of damage. I kept a calm and collected poker face, wondering whether she’d also remove her sword from my leg or we’d continue like this.
She grabbed my shirt and pulled me in for an impassioned kiss, which was made only slightly uncomfortable by her extended fangs. After a few seconds of me wondering if she was trying to eat my tongue, she pulled away and glared at Wight.
My pact demon had been standing with arms crossed, looking a little put off that he hadn’t been included in any of the current proceedings - the fighting part, at least.
“Go home, Wight. We’re done here,” she said as nicely as possible while still looking like she might tear my throat out with her teeth.
He rolled his eyes and started to fade away.
“Cut the cord, Eric.” Her pearlescent eyes glowing with… well, I knew that look.
“Home. Bedroom. Naked. Now.”
She vanished in a flash of pink, taking the sword with her - which was a relief. I funneled energy into healing the wound up, taking a brief second to look around at the Mids in which I was here alone and untethered to anyone else. It felt... terrible.
A flash of vertigo and I was back in the basement. Wight was already in my recliner with his arms folded and a scowl leveled at the wall.
“We lost connection there, Eric. Is everything…?”
I held up a hand to quieten the Blank as I power-walked past them. Fate was calling to me, and I would not leave it wanting.
Although, I did make sure to close every door possible along the way. I wasn’t a monster.
----------------------------------------
When I returned to the basement, towel drying my hair, the two young men had taken on a similar expression to my pact demon.
Wasn’t really worth explaining to them the nuance of why Pearl was so enamored with my new power to the point that she couldn’t wait to duel me in the bedroom. Power was a big thing for demons. She had told me that she would still love me even if I was a normal human, but for me to be close to equaling her was something that resonated with her core being.
“No Pearl?” Rodney asked, clearly having run out of patience for my little side quest.
“She fell asleep, actually.” I shrugged. Was worrying at first, but somewhat understandable given our… activities.
He sighed and shook away some of the ire from his expression. “Sweeping all of that under the rug, it looks as though you’re actually… stronger from your random encounter with another unfathomable entity.”
“I certainly can’t fathom it,” David agreed. He seemed pretty tired still, clearly seen more than anyone should have to.
“Seems so,” I said with a smile. “Oh, Pearl requested that we order in lunch. Specifically, pizza, if you could to do the honors, Rods?”
“Not quite as good as the therapy I need due to you two, but a close second.” He gave me a nod. “The usual?”
“Ah.” I rubbed at my chin. “She requested not just pizza, but a ‘fuckload’ of pizza. Hope you brought your appetite today, David.”
The Church man tilted his head from side to side. “I might be able to eat to cover up the horrors I have witnessed. Veg only, though.”
“I know,” Rodney murmured.
I grinned and went over to my pact demon. Exhaling, I folded up the towel and left it on the shelf. He continued to glare at the horizon with arms crossed.
“I’m sorry if I made you jealous in any way.” My hands went into my pockets as he tilted his head up to me.
[Part of me is elated that you have once again ascended and become as powerful as I had always hoped.]
“And the other part?”
[The time in which we part draws ever closer. Could we… talk in private, Eric?]
I nodded and gestured to the time-out room. As he hopped down from the chair and I followed behind him, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of his words slow my footsteps. There was an end to all of this. I knew this, but had allowed the shining curtain of the heroic side of my inevitable self-sacrifice to blind me. So that I didn’t have to think about the void beyond.
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Into the small room, and I shut the padded door. We needed this kind of sound proofing upstairs.
[There is something I need to tell you and now seems like the best time.]
“Go on.” For some reason, my insides felt like they were knotting up.
[I have a way to destroy my pact vessel at the Org.]
We stared at each other for a few seconds, a blank expression on my face as I tried to parse what he had just told me. “Should I… ask how?” He shook his feathered head.
[No. Just know that in doing so, two things will fast become fact. I will be bound solely to you. We will become enemies of the Organization and any living Hunter.]
I clicked my tongue. “Never liked them much, anyway. Will this… being bound only to me, will that unshackle your power?”
[Again, no. I am still bound by the pact and their imposed rules, but I would no longer be under their direct control.]
As much as that was quite the mouthful of bad news to swallow down, I could read between the lines well enough. If he had a way to destroy that vessel, there was a chance he could do the same to the one in my arm. Not something I needed to speak out loud.
Instead, I sighed and rubbed at my eyes. “We’re going to finally do it, aren’t we? Ruin the Org, I mean.”
Wight nodded and relaxed his feathered arms.
[They serve some purpose still, but things are on a knife’s edge. Too many secrets are known by the wrong people for trouble to continue to lurk amongst the shadows.]
Very true. Makkari, the demon at the head of all the problems in my life, now knew the Last Lantern had returned and was set to interrupt his plans. I had to kill him for Melissa and Cody. I had to kill him for Pearl’s lost love. I had to kill him to save the world from whatever he was trying to bring to life.
The Org was an awkward point of contention. Clearly, they never had my best interests at heart, at any point. Why did they send so many people to death and insanity to churn around the endless sea of violence in the Lowers? What purpose did Demon Hunters even really serve? How had they become the staging site of the demonic plot in the Mids of Hell?
Some answers I could accept not knowing. Others clawed at the insides of my skull in frustration. But… I understood what Wight meant. All the involved players were soon to be clued into the breaking point where all of this came to a head. It’d be time to dig around for answers, burying the rest with the shovel held in anger.
“Let’s at least live for today, bud.” I smiled and held out a hand for the demon to shake. He returned the gesture. “Wherever fate takes us, my life has been blessed by your presence. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
[Clearly. Are you always so emotional post coitus? I am surprised the Pearl can stand you.]
I pulled a face and rolled my eyes. Last thing I wanted with destiny at my door was Wight using words like ‘coitus’. Hell truly didn’t prepare me for such horror. I turned from him and grabbed at the door handle before pausing as he placed his clawed hand on my arm.
[Most demons revile those they are shackled to. I view you as a friend and equal. While I am not used to this neutered life, I hope that one day we can continue our partnership once the dust has settled.]
“Me too, Wight.” I grinned and tipped my hat at him. Wasn’t sure when I’d even put it back on between the shower and right now, but it seemed appropriate to be there now.
While we still didn’t know what he really was, it was nice to imagine that it wouldn’t be something terrible that would erase me from existence. Of course, he might not know if he’d even keep the same personality and thoughts once the ocean of his essence was returned to him. We lived and hoped, however.
Back into the basement and the two still there stopped their conversation abruptly - at least, I assumed it was a conversation. Maybe whispering, considering how close they were. “Shall we head up to the lounge?” I pointed with my finger, as was natural to do.
They agreed, and after packing up the last of Rodney’s devices and gear, we made our way up and into the softly lit room at the front of the house. A more relaxing vibe than the stark gray of the downstairs area. Fewer demonic portals probably helped, although we still needed to repair the scorch line running up the wall.
“You’re not required back at the Church, David?” I raised an eyebrow as we all slunk into our respective seats. “Not that you’re not welcome to stay as long as you like.”
He gave the Blank a quick glance before he shrugged. “Now that I have dissociated from how weird you all are, it’s nice having some company for a change. Church life is often isolated and the higher-ups are hardasses. Plus… who’d want to miss out on the end of the world?”
[Everyone, I would assume.]
Rodney smiled. “It would be nice to be able to hang out like this without the worry of something terrible happening for a change. Maybe after Super Eric saves the universe, we can do just that.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, knowing full well that it could never happen. My deal with the Blacksmith had been pretty clear on that.
Should I tell them? While I didn’t care to keep secrets from my odd found family, there was also no point in worrying them about something like that right now. Chance was I’d be dead soon anyway - enjoying what we could in life while I had it made me feel better about the whole deal.
Starting with way too much pizza, soon enough.
I turned my head back to see Pearl walking down the stairs I the lobby. With a soft smile, she joined us in the lounge and sat beside me. Now wearing an oversized hoodie and black leggings she got up in my face to peck me on the cheek, before lingering near my ear.
“Short nap?” I asked.
“Mhm, I used a lot of energy in the last half an hour. Just needed a little reset.”
I smiled and ran my fingers along her cheek, coaxing the secret message out that she was holding hostage close to my lobe.
“No pressure, but my father has agreed to bind us, if that is what you want.”
Being soul bound to a demon sounded… well, there wasn’t much chance of being any closer to Pearl after I had died for destiny. It wasn’t something our relationship really needed, yet it felt like the right thing to do.
“I want nothing more,” I replied, watching her bright eyes light up. “There’s a catch, though - right?”
“Smartass, Eric Redd.” She pulled a face and sunk away from me. “It’s just a little duel to the death against a chosen champion.”
“A Higher demon? I barely kept up with you when we were sparring.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You gave it a good shot.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How much of your power were you using?”
Wight was watching us intently, either wondering how close to matching her I was, or already knowing and waiting to see if she’d be honest about it.
But no, she shook her head animatedly. “No chance that I’m telling you. Either you’ll get an ego, or disheartened, depending. Also, I’m kidding about the duel thing. You’ve already proven your worth to Frank.”
“Yeah? I’m in then. Let’s get soul-bound.”
She beamed and hugged onto me tightly, while David and Rodney got up to go wait for the pizza delivery.
Where do souls go? The question shot through my mind quicker than my eyes over to Wight, hoping to blurt out the words to him so I wouldn’t forget.
I opened my mouth and closed it, unsure why I was worried about forgetting something. Can’t have been anything important, I reasoned - plus I now had a demon-wedding to plan for.