“Ghilanna! Ghilanna!” Gmizavi screamed as he ran towards the leader.

Seeing him upset, she jumped on her feet quickly, ‘’What’s wrong?”

“They’re here!”

“Who? The devil?”

“Yesss! They are at the entranccce! Quickly!”

Fetching her weapons, she ran towards the entrance with Gmizavi. Most of the other adventurers were already there, letting her know that Gmizavi did an excellent job of alerting the entire camp.

“Where is the devil?” She asked as soon as she arrived.

“Right here,” the wolf named Vulin answered, pointing his finger in front of them, “Svinjko is already talking with it.”

Looking up front, Ghilanna saw that the devil was already standing at the very entrance. Although … it didn’t look like any devil she had heard of. The devil was awfully similar to the Sun elves of Greadinall, both in looks and in skin color, although noticeably bigger in … volume.

And in all the right places.

She could see it all because the devil was completely naked, save for the necklace that hung around her neck. The devil talked with an unabashed attitude of full confidence and superiority. And while that demon who came to negotiate earlier had the face of an ugly elf, this devil took the form of a noble elven lady with exaggerated sexual features, both facial and otherwise.

She instantly understood the difference between the devils and the demons.

“I knew the devils are ugly and disgusting, but this is far worse than I’ve imagined,” Vulin commented, openly displaying his disdain for the sight in front of him, “It makes me want to puke.”

Ghilanna gave him a quick glance but decided not to respond. She knew that most people of this continent had a strong disgust for hairlessness, as it reminded them of sickness and curses.

“I am much more worried about that huge scar on her neck. There is no way someone can survive a scar that big,” Ghilanna said, “Maybe she is a vampire or some other kind of undead.”

She strode forward with the intent to stand next to Svinjko, but the Devil fixed her with a piercing glare, interrupting her.

“Well, well, well … hello there, beautiful,” The devil’s seductive voice sent tingles down Ghilanna’s spine instantly.

But she collected herself quickly, “You … know how to speak our tongue?”

“Why yes, of course! I’m a very educated person,” the devil responded while sensually moving her hand.

“You didn’t tell me that,” Ghilanna said while glaring at Svinjko.

“I didn’t know! The other guy never mentioned it! Besides, we’ve only just met.”

“My servant doesn’t know your tongue,” the devil said while pointing her thumb at the demon Ghilanna saw before, “But I do.”

“Then why didn’t you come to negotiate instead?”

“Because pawns go first. I may be a powerful devil, but I’m not a fool. You don’t become a devil by trusting others and rushing blindly.”

“No, you become a devil by tricking people.”

Ghilanna’s retort only drew an amused smile on the devil’s face, “That’s right. I’ve tricked many. But this time, I came to make a blood contract.”

“What?” Ghilanna’s face twisted in confusion, so she looked at Svinjko for clarification.

“Yes …” he shifted in his place, “that idea is mine. You see, I’ve never hidden the fact that I don’t trust devils one bit. But some lawful devils are willing to sign a blood contract as an assurance that they will keep their end of the bargain.”

“Isn’t that exactly how the stories with a bad ending start?” Ghilanna pointed out.

“Would you rather team up with a devil with or without the contract?” Svinjko asked.

Ghilanna remained quiet at that, unsure of how she should respond.

“Yes, there is blood magic involved,” Svinjko continued, “and blood magic is always bad. But in this case, it’s only bad for the devil. The contract will be between the devil and me, no one else needs to be involved.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“Come here for a moment,” wrapping her arm around Svinjko’s throat tightly, she pulled him deeper into the camp, “We’ll be right back, devil. I just need to have a quick word with him.”

“Take your time,” the devil said without hiding the amusement on her face while waving her hand at them, “I’m not in a rush.”

After taking just a few steps away from the devil, Ghilanna started: “I swear Svinjko, if you’re …”

“I know, I know. I’m not …”

“If you are trying to pull something behind our back again …”

“I’m not …”

She placed both of her hands on his shoulders, “A blood contract with a devil? Are you out of your mind?”

“Trusting this devil blindly is out of our minds. I’m just making sure she doesn’t trick us.”

“Will only you be making a contract with the devil?”

“Yes. The rest of you have nothing to worry about. I’m taking this risk upon myself to atone for my past mistakes.”

“Are you? Or is there something else behind this? It wouldn’t be the first time for you to do something we’re unaware of! How do I know the rest of us are safe? What if you’re the only one safe because you made a contract with her, and the terms don’t apply to the rest of us?”

“We will make a contract where I’ll make sure she and her companion can’t harm any of us. And they will also have to do their best to keep us safe from harm. In turn, we will provide them with the means to transport the guardian’s blood back to the devil’s lair.”

“And what about fighting the guardian?”

“Yes, of course. That goes without saying.”

“And how are you going to write the contract? In what tongue?”

“It’s called a contract, but it’s not a piece of parchment. It’s a spell.”

“In what tongue will you word it?”

“… in a demonic one.”

That made Ghilanna stare even more intensely at him, “Really, Svinjko?”

“That’s how a contract with the devil is made. There is nothing I can do about it.”

Releasing her grip, Ghilanna strode back to the devil, “Devil … I have a few questions for you.”

“Ask me whatever you want, cutie,” the devil responded in its alluring voice, looking quite eager for some reason.

But Ghilanna didn’t let it faze her one bit, “This contract you’re going to make with one of my companions … is it only between you and him?”

“That’s right. Making it with all of you would be redundant and energy inefficient.”

“What is the contract about? I want specifics.”

“It’s very simple. You will give me the guardian’s blood once we kill it, provide me with something that will help me transport that blood back to my place, and will try to heal my companion. The guy right here.”

The devil pointed at the familiar, ugly face next to her.

“He looks fine,” Ghilanna responded.

“He is. But I want you to try and heal him anyway.”

Ghilanna turned to look at Svinjko, “And this isn’t suspicious to you?”

“My companion is confused,” the devil continued, “He refuses to accept his true nature. He thinks he is a normal person, like the rest of you. I need your healer to prove him wrong.”

“What is she talking about?” Ghilana asked Sviknjko.

But someone else offered the answer instead, “Ah! I see,” the short, mouse-faced healer said in a squeaky, feminine voice, “He refuses to accept that he is a demon, is that right?”

The devil smiled, “Yes, that’s exactly right. He has somehow convinced himself that he is the same as you guys are. I need your help to bring him back to his senses.”

“What do you mean, Mishica?” Ghilanna asked the mouse-faced healer.

“Godly magic can’t heal demons, it can only hurt them. The devil hopes that will help her companion remember his true nature.”

“It won’t make him remember because he is way too stubborn, but it will give me one more argument,” the devil clarified.

“Is that why I can’t sense his soul?” Svinjko asked.

The devil considered its words for a while, “It could be. Maybe his subconscious is suppressing his soul, or maybe he doesn’t have it at all. His people have lost their struggle. Their gods have won. So it’s also possible that the gods have taken their souls as the punishment.”

“Wouldn’t it make much more sense to just outright exterminate them in that case?” Svinjko asked.

“Maybe their gods are especially cruel and want them to suffer until the end of time. Maybe their gods wanted to make an example out of his people. The point is, I don’t know. And he knows even less.”

“So, you want our healer to hurt your companion?” Ghilanna asked.

“Precisely. I’ve already told him about it, so he will know you aren’t trying to hurt him out of malice. I need him to understand he is nothing like you.”

“Well … a person without a soul is already …” Mishica commented.

“Ok. Let’s go back to your contract,” Ghilanna got the conversation back on track, “You want the guardian’s blood, something to move the blood with, and our healer to hurt your friend. Anything else?”

“And also, none of you are allowed to attack or hurt me.”

That made Ghilanna frown, “And I hope the same is true for you.”

“Of course, but we are talking about my conditions right now. By the way, that is all I’m asking, those four points.”

“And in turn?”

“In turn, I will help you kill the guardian and won’t attack or hurt any of you.”

“And she will also do everything she can to stop the guardian from hurting any of us,” Svinjko added.

“But only as long as I’m not putting my own life on the line or the life of my companion,” the devil clarified.

“Hmm …” Ghilanna considered the devil’s words, “What about transporting blood? Are we supposed to help you take it to your lair?”

“The only help you’ll need to provide in that regard is to build me something I can carry the blood in. So, it will need to be a large cauldron on wheels. And it needs to be very sturdy. You can’t build me something that will break mid-way and spill all the blood.”

“Our dwarf builds only sturdy things,” Svinjko said, “Even when he doesn’t need to.”

“And when does this contract cease to be valid?” Ghilanna asked.

“Once we are out of this dungeon,” the devil responded.

“Yes,” Svinjko confirmed.

“So … does that mean you will have to help us get topside?”

The devil laughed at that, “No, absolutely not! It ceases to be valid once anyone leaves the dungeon. Meaning, once I teleport myself out of it. And also, I’m only supposed to protect you from the guardian. I’m not to blame if someone gets killed in the corridors. Our contract doesn’t cover that.”

“And what about not hurting us?”

“That is in effect until the contract is valid. So, do we have a deal? I mean, we can do this without the blood contract if you want. I’m not the one insisting on it,” the devil said with a wide smile.

Ghilanna considered her next words very carefully, “… hmm …”