Chapter Twenty

Ambrose and the devil child stood across from one another. The line of the gym divided them. Todd was smirking,

“No one has ever beaten me in any game, friendo! I bet you taste good, like chicken! Oooh, ooh! Or maybe bacon!”

Ambrose suppressed a shudder at the thought of this devil eating him in child form.

“What are the rules?” He asked the devil in child form.

Todd gave him a look suggesting he was a big dumb head.

“You don’t know the rules to rock, paper, scissors? Seriously? What kind of adult are you?”

Ambrose rubbed at the bridge of his nose,

“The kid act is getting old. I know the rules; are there any other rules I should know about?”

Todd cocked his head, grinning,

“You’ve dealt with my kind before, haven’t you, friendo? I sense the influence of another of my kind upon you.” Suddenly, Todd’s voice was much deeper and much older, but there was still that subtle, child-like edge to his expressions and tone.

Ambrose shrugged,

“Are there any other rules I should know, or what?”

Todd shrugged, red pupils twinkling like twin rubies set within a sea of black.

“Take as long as you like before selecting rock, paper, or scissors. Before the reveal, we each get one chance to change our selection. Best out of five. Are you ready, human friendo?”

Ambrose nodded and put his hand behind his back. Todd did the same. Almost casually, the devil said,

“You’ll pick rock, of course. Human men always do. It’s in your nature.”

Todd stared at Ambrose, his eyes gleaming.

Ambrose sighed.

“Really? Head games, this is what we’re doing?”

The devil twitched his lips into a wry smile,

“Merely an observation. You are, of course, free to choose whichever of the three you like; if I am correct, then I’d be choosing paper, wouldn’t I?”

Ambrose closed his eyes and groaned. I should have known he’d do this. Devils in mythology had almost always been depicted this way, and Todd was playing that up to a T. It was working. Ambrose felt like the devil was trying to get him to choose something other than rock that left scissors or paper. Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose as Todd’s grin widened.

The best chance Ambrose had was to choose something other than rock. It would leave him with a fifty-fifty shot of winning the exchange.

“Now that I’ve said that you probably think I’m messing with you. Allow me to make it easier for you, human friendo! I’m going to choose paper.”

Ambrose clenched the fists he held behind his back, closing his eyes and blowing out an explosive breath. Todd watched him, that same infuriating, wry smile on his lips. If Ambrose took him at his word, he should choose scissors. That was the problem: was the devil lying, or wasn’t he?

“Alright then, I’ll choose scissors and win,” Ambrose replied, watching the devil child.

Todd nodded, his smile not moving an inch.

“This should be an easy win for you, then. Let’s show them on three, shall we? One, two, three!”

Ambrose held out a rock, and Todd grinned wider as he held out the paper.

“That would be my win, friendo! Two more of those for me, and I’ll be chomping down on you in no time. After I win tic-tac-to too.”

Ambrose set his jaw, brow twitching. He felt for sure the devil had been lying.

“Now we are on round two. I’m considering scissors this time.”

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The devil hadn’t lied so far, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t. Ambrose felt his chest tighten as frustration mounted within him. He studied the devil’s face, but the child's body it wore was relaxed; that wry smile didn’t move or change even a little bit.

Ambrose had always felt good about being able to spot liars, but Todd was giving him nothing. If he assumed Todd was telling the truth, which he had been last round, then it could lead him to being burned if he chose something different than rock.

“Ready? Okay then! One, two, three!”

Ambrose revealed rock, while Todd held up paper with a wink. Ambrose swore, glaring at the devil.

“So, you will lie, then!”

Todd arched an eyebrow, a weird expression on a child.

“Did I lie? Are you certain that’s what I did?”

Ambrose levered a finger at the devil’s child's face.

“You said you’d pick scissors!”

Todd shook his head,

“I did not, friendo! I said I was considering it. Very different, I think you’re forced to admit.”

Ambrose growled, knuckles popping.

“Tricksy bastard, aren’t you?”

Todd held a hand to his chest, eyes widening,

“Moi? Surely not, friendo! I’m as honest as they come.”

Ambrose glared, then took a breath.

“Are you? Okay then, I’m going to pick rock, big-time devil. Or am I lying? You decide.”

Ambrose put his hands behind his back. Todd watched him, considering him like an interesting insect he was considering whether to crush.

“Are you an honest man, Ambrose Severen?” The devil said, watching him.

He shrugged,

“Guess we will find out, won’t we?”

Todd smiled.

“I suppose we will. Ready? One, two, three!”

The devil showed him scissors while Ambrose showed rock. Ambrose laughed as his heart beat faster.

“I win that one.”

Todd inclined his head,

“So, you did. Even so, I only need to win one more round, Ambrose. What shall you choose this time? You haven’t chosen paper yet. Perhaps you’ll pick that.”

“Nah, I’ll pick rock again,” Ambrose said casually.

Todd grinned,

“Very well. One, two, three!”

Ambrose revealed scissors while the devil also picked scissors.

“A draw! You are willing to lie, Ambrose. Well played.”

He gritted his teeth. The devil wasn’t wrong. Ambrose was willing to lie. He just hoped it would pay off here. Todd laughed, shaking his head,

“You humans, we devils have been on your planet for a while, you know. You think I cannot tell when you’re lying? You have about ten different tells. I have been studying human psychology since before you and your ancestors were born, friendo! Your mind is racing for anything you can say or do to throw me off. It is rocky ground you stand on, Ambrose. You won’t win. The odds are in your favor, however. All you must do is win one game. Are you ready?”

Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“What? No word tricks on this one?”

Todd chuckled,

“I think I have made it hard enough for you as it is. No, I no longer need to have you stumble and bump along. Let us finish this game and roll on to the next, friendo!”

Ambrose stared at the devil. He couldn’t think of anything he could try. The word games felt played out and done with. What do I pick, though? He considered scissors, but it felt wrong. It was between rock and paper. Paper didn’t feel right, something told him to pick rock, and Ambrose had always trusted his instincts before.

“Read?” Todd asked, black eyes watching him.

Ambrose nodded.

“One, two, three!”

Ambrose put forth rock once again and cursed loudly when he saw the devil show paper.

Todd beamed at Ambrose.

“That’s one game won for yours truly! It’s time for tic-tac-to! Lose this one, human, and I will get to eat you. This is just a friendly reminder. I must say, human, you performed a little better in that game than I thought you would. You’re just so gullible, that’s your problem. Oh, don’t look so sour, friendo! All humans are gullible. It’s that brain of yours, so impressionable. You get better in the later grades, but for now, it’s like…what’s that expression you all like to use? Ah, yes! It’s like taking candy from a baby. Now then, let’s get to the second game!”

The room shifted and twisted. Ambrose found himself sitting at a school desk, with the devil in one very like his next to him. There was a large screen in front of them with a tic-tac-toe board. Todd gestured at the screen,

“All you have to do is state where you want to put your X or O. I shall allow you to go first, human. After all, you will become the meal if you lose.”

Ambrose stared at the screen before looking at the devil.

“Best three out of five, again?”

Todd shook his head,

“Best two out of three, this time. I’ve been generous enough already.”

He crossed his arms,

“How long do we get?”

Todd opened his mouth, revealing rows upon rows of gleaming, razor-sharp teeth.

“As long as you need, just as before. I understand the need to stall, friendo, but it is time for you to make the first move. Let it be a good one.”

Ambrose turned his gaze to the digital-looking tic-tac-to board on the screen. This was his last chance. If he lost, the devil would eat him. Or, at least, he would try to, as Ambrose had no intention of just rolling over and dying. If he did get eaten, that meant Vivienne was without a Knight again, and Mordred would remain undefeated, allowed to continue twisting the island and luring others to be drained like batteries. Not to mention, he would fail Alice for a second time.

No pressure. You just have to win, that’s all.