Zulo had watched the battle unfold from the corner of the room. When the room was struck by light, he had fallen along with Eira.

Which was great because it meant he did not need to search for her body. Since forever, he desired the grimoire. If the user died, then whoever touched the grimoire would become the new owner and would have all the deals that the previous master had made.

He desired it.

Zulo tried to tear the book from her arms, but it might as well have been held by iron talons. She would not let it go.

It made Zulo sigh. He had dropped his gun somewhere in this room, and he did not have any weapons on him that could make quick work of her. That meant to kill her, it was going to get to close and personal.

He flipped her on her back. Her bangs covered her eyes and her mouth was wide open. Just to make sure, he checked her pulse, her heart was still beating, though it was faint.

She needed to die.

He wrapped his hands around her throat and was ready to throttle the breath from her, but stopped when something glimmered in the corner of his eyes.

The grimoire was glowing ominously. Little ripples of purple light originated from the book and it grew darker and more sinister. His stomach twisted and turned and Zulo rushed behind a rock. He peeked from behind it to see Eira standing up.

“Eira?” He called out. “Are you alive?”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Her head snapped towards him, he saw her eyes glow the same purple light the book was. And he had his answer just from that.

“You’re the grimoire, aren’t you? Want to become my new slave?”

She held the book close to her chest like a small girl clutching a book for her parents to read.

“You are a disgusting man. I have no wish to know you, scum.” Her eyes looked at him like one. “Why don’t you go ahead and walk away, before you regret it.”

Zulo stepped out into the open, fixing his tie. “That’s where you’re wrong. I know all about grimoires. You don’t have much say in this matter. Once your master dies, whoever touches you becomes your new master.”

The Grimoire stayed silent.

“Make this easy. Because if you don’t, when I’m your master, I’m going to make your life a living hell. Actually, do books have a life?” Zulo giggled at that.

The Grimoire opened her book, flipping to a page and turning it towards Zulo.

“You owe a great deal to Eira, Ozul or Zulo or whatever you want to be named. You have unfortunately failed in keeping your end of the bargain of killing Satoshi.”

“He’s dead.”

“Did you kill him?” She said with a smile.

Cold sweat dripped from his face. Like a predator, the spirit stepped towards him.

“You didn’t did you? You just tossed him into this world, you didn’t see if he was alive, and allowed him to live.”

“But he’s dead!” Zulo stepped back. “He died because I threw him in my world!”

“He died because of that young man I made a contract with.” She pointed to the intense battle in the distance. There were flashes of light and the floor rumbled. “You. Did. Nothing.”

He needed to run.

He turned, but before he could run away, he was grabbed by purple tentacles. Purple light bled from Eira’s eyes.

“You will suffer for your failures.”

“I…I will not!” Zulo tried to pull away, but he was pulled in instead. He had one chance. If he used his Charm Eyes, he could charm the Grimoire. He didn’t like the idea of charming someone in Eira’s body, but he was desperate.

He turned to face her, pulling up his bangs. The Grimoire’s head flew back, hit by his charm. His yelled in delight. He was saved.

“That hurt.” She lifted her head back, glaring at Zulo.

“Ho-how? I know I got you with Charm.”

“I’m a book,” she answered.

The book ate him.