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Chapter Eleven
Lesser Evils
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Austin wanted to leave the party after that. He wanted to flee to his room like a child and hide. Unfortunately, he still had an image to maintain and demons to entertain. Jedrzej left him standing alone on the balcony with Exton. Austin rushed to his hellhound.
‘Are you okay?’ Austin asked. Exton was still shaking his head as though trying to get water out of his ears.
‘I think so,’ the man growled. ‘What happened?’
‘You don’t remember?’ Austin asked uneasily. The hellhound looked down, staring at the knife he was still holding.
‘What the fuck? Austin!’
‘Keep your voice down!’ Austin hissed.
‘He was here, wasn’t he?’
‘Yes, but-’
‘No Aus, enough is enough. We’re going to your mother.’
‘Now!? Look around, Exton! These people literally want to eat us alive!’ Austin said. He could hear the panic and desperation in his own voice. Exton’s face was twisting as though he were chewing on his tongue. From inside came a flood of laughter, some from clearly non-human vocal chords.
‘This can’t wait Aus.’ Exton felt jittery in his own skin. It was like waking from a doze that he was only partly aware of. The demon that tormented his master had been right here and he couldn’t do anything about it. Exton studied the miserable human in front of him. ‘What did he say to you?’
‘He wants me to start making contracts for him,’ Austin rasped. The hellhound snarled, the sound utterly canine. Austin couldn’t meet the man’s eyes. He had fucked this up so badly. ‘What am I supposed to do?’ His voice came out weak. He just continued to stare at the floor, listening dispassionately to the crowd swaying about inside. He just wanted to be a normal person working in a bakery. Why couldn’t he have that? He tried to blink back tears.
‘I’m sorry this happened to you Austin. You’re a good kid, even when you’re being a brat,’ Exton said softly. He tugged the pup in and hugged him. Austin sniffed.
‘We will need to tell your mother… but we can choose how we phrase it. Also…’ They pulled apart, Austin staring up at the hellhound with a little hope.
‘Also?’ Austin said.
‘Well, how many opportunities do you have to make new contracts with a wide variety of demons. You also can’t break the contracts you construct. The more people, the more chance of creating problem for others who want similar contracts. It’s a dangerous game,’ Exton pointed out.
‘But that’s how we have to play,’ Austin agreed. ‘Pick the lesser of two evils.’
The hellhound nodded. ‘I’ve got your back.’
Austin smiled weakly. He scrubbed at his face, brushing away the last of his anxiety as best he could. ‘I know. You always do.’
‘And Aus? One more thing?’
‘Yeah?’
The hellhound raised a dark eyebrow. ‘No more drinking tonight.’
They headed back inside, Austin making a beeline for the grazing tables. He wanted to put more food in his belly, partly to soak up the alcohol but also to try and settle the nervousness in his stomach. He felt as though every eye in the room was either on him or searching for him which was ridiculous. Most demons were trying their best to be the centre of attention in their own little groups. Typical.
After Austin polished off a few small quiches and canapés, he felt a little more put together.
‘My, don’t they feed you?’ said an amused voice. Austin turned to see a tall and willowy demon, her horns needle thin and sticking straight up out of her chocolate brown hair. He dug into every ounce of training his mother had given him and hitched a charming smile onto his face.
‘These events take a long time to plan. I’ll admit I didn’t eat much today. That and I’ll need my energy if I’m going to offer new contracts,’ he said. She tried to hide it, but Austin caught the wild, hungry glint in her eyes.
‘So, it’s true that you are offering contracts?’ she asked delicately.
‘Oh yes. Have to start somewhere, don’t I,’ he replied in a care-free sort of tone. ‘I don’t suppose you’re interested?’ He saw the hesitation and added, ‘I’m not sure how long Overlord Nathair will allow me to diversify.’ Her pupils contracted. Bullseye.
‘You’ve made contracts with Overlord Nathair?’ She took a measured sip of her drink.
‘Well, yes. I’m flattered that you think so highly of my family but really, why else would someone of the overlord’s status be here?’ The demoness’s nostrils flared, as though scenting for trickery.
‘And you’re… offering contracts to others?’ Austin became hyperaware of several people around them. There was more than just the woman in front of him listening in. Exton stayed a good distance away, ready to pounce if anyone invaded his master’s space.
‘Only for a short while. If you aren’t interested, there is no pressure.’ He made to walk away but her long fingers snagged his suit jacket.
‘One moment. You must allow a lady some time,’ she said sweetly.
Austin smiled. ‘Of course. Perhaps another drink and we can talk?’
The demoness beamed at him. ‘That sounds wonderful.’
Her needs were fairly basic, actually. Apparently, the demoness was quite young and had made the dangerous decision to piss off a hellhound from an old family. Her contract? Change her scent so the hound couldn’t track her. As far as contracts went, it wasn’t overly complicated.
The feel of her magic was fair less abrasive and sickening than Nathair, but that was hardly a surprise given the difference in power. She walked away ten minutes later with a smile on her face and a kiss to Austin’s cheek. One contract down. However, many more to go…
It took him half an hour to find a new target.
It was a fairly repulsive rat-faced demon who had only received an invite to the gala due to the ridiculous amount of wealth he had managed to accrue, mostly through blackmail. It took ten minutes of listening to the man whine about his problems for Austin to offer a contract that would make the man’s main antagonist forget that he existed for a whole twelve months. Rat man jumped at the chance. Another contract done and Austin couldn’t help but feel incredibly dirty.
Once the word got out that Austin was offering contracts, he barely had to look around before another demon sidled up to him. Thankfully, Nathair was still utterly preoccupied being the centre of his own world. Austin’s mother was delighted. It was utterly bizarre that Austin felt like curling up and dying whilst everyone else around was so happy with what he was doing. It was as surreal as it was horrifying.
As the night crawled by into the wee hours of the mornings, Austin had a pounding headache, an upset stomach that he was barely holding onto and no less than sixteen contracts under his belt. He tingled all over. It was so bad, he thought more than once about trying to scratch off his skin. Thankfully, the party was finally winding down.
Gods, he wanted a violently hot shower and to sleep for a month.
‘I am so glad you could come,’ Elizabeth was saying, looking just as radiant as she had at the beginning of the night. Nathair took her dainty hand in his and gave a very serpentine smile.
‘Not at all. Honestly, dear, if you were my pretty little bonnie, I wouldn’t let you leave my sight,’ he said with a leering smile. Austin ground his teeth together.
Elizabeth smiled. ‘Ah, yes. Well, overlord, you know the ways of women.’
The demon shook his head. ‘Honestly, I don’t understand how Rimmon managed to hold your loyalty. He’s such a dog.’ For a moment Austin thought he saw something flicker in his mother’s face, but it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
‘Overlord Nathair, perhaps I can walk you to your vehicle?’ Austin said, inserting himself before the asshole could make any further comment. He saw Nathair’s nostrils flare.
‘Oh my, you have been busy.’ Austin had to fight with every muscle in his body not to flinch as the demon overlord slid his arms around Austin’s waist. He heard the man sniff delicately as the man’s jaw brushed his throat.
‘I never promised exclusive contracts. Where would be the fun in that?’ Austin said, keeping his voice light. Those arms tightened dangerously, and he felt more than heard the man hiss.
‘Careful pet, you know playing hard-to-get only makes me more interested.’
‘You and everyone else,’ Austin muttered. He yelped as he felt a sharp canine cut his neck. He jerked back, hand slapping over the small cut. The overlord licked his lips, eyes glowing. Wanting this to be over, Austin rather forcefully took the man by the arm and walked him to the exit with the rest of the crowd.
‘Are you going to visit my club again soon?’ Nathair cooed. Not if Austin could bloody help it.
‘Well, I suppose if you want another contract, I’ll have to,’ Austin replied, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead. It felt like the snake-man was undressing him with his eyes and his skin prickled worse than ever.
‘Oh, I will. I’ll call you, sweet thing. Thank you for the lovely night. I look forward to… working you soon.’ Austin didn’t miss the distinct lack of the word ‘with’ in that last sentence. Gross.
‘Good night, Overlord Nathair.’
—
‘You okay Aus?’
‘I’ve been better,’ Austin growled as he stalked out of the shower some forty minutes later. His skin was scrubbed raw, but the tingling had hardly subsided at all. He glanced at his hellhound who was staring at him with wide eyes.
‘How bad is it?’ Austin asked nervously.
Exton hesitated. ‘You took on a lot of contracts in a very short time.’
‘There is no hope for me to stay human after this, is there?’ Austin said dully.
Exton opened his mouth, closed it, gulped, and tried again. ‘No. Your aura is already changing. But really, I think - Aus?’
Austin was already moving away. It didn’t matter that the sun would be up in less than an hour. His curtains were thick. ‘I’m going to bed.’ He shut his bedroom door before Exton could reply.
Everyone got up very late that day. Austin knew that the cleaners had probably already been through and all evidence of the gala from the night before had been swept away. His mother was in high spirits when he finally dragged himself back downstairs after noon. The slight heaviness under her eyes was all that gave away that she had not quite recovered from the night before, but she beamed at her son as he collapsed heavily into a chair.
He’d managed not to hurl but it had been a near thing. Exton had snuck in and left him some painkillers and a bottle of water. He was glad for the late lunch of pumpkin soup and fresh bread. He ate quietly, hyper aware that his hellhound was looking between his two employers with meaning. It was no good.
‘Ma?’ Austin began.
‘Yes dear,’ she said, looking up from her phone, her spoon balanced delicately between her fingers.
‘I need to talk to you about something.’
’You did so well last night,’ Elizabeth sighed happily.
He winced. ‘Yeah, well it’s about that.’ How the hell did he begin to explain this? His insides twisted as he thought about what she might say. ‘Ma, I…’
‘Spit it out, love,’ she said, her eyes starting to drift back to her phone.
‘I was marked by a demon.’
She paused, blinking. ‘Someone proposed?’ Her tone grew oddly closed and Austin swallowed hard.
‘No, ma. I didn’t even notice the mark until Exton saw it.’ He pulled up the sleeve of his shirt before he remembered that his mother wouldn’t be able to see the glowing gold mark. She had no demon blood in her.
‘It is an insult and an invasion of privacy, ma’am,’ Exton rumbled from where he stood.
‘Who was the one who marked you?’
‘A demon named Jedrzej from the Veida Clan.’
Her lips thinned dangerously. ‘That name is not familiar to me. I do not remember inviting him,’
‘You didn’t, ma’am. He invited himself,’ Exton said promptly. Austin shot the hellhound a grateful look. Maybe she didn’t need to know that the asshole had actually marked Austin much earlier…
‘That’s outrageous! My son is not cattle to marked by the first taker! There is a process for these things,’ she snapped. Austin’s soup bubbled dangerously in his belly. A process. As though the demon had just cut in line at the grocery store. Realisation arose on her stern features as she studied her son’s pale face. ‘This is the reason why you have started taking contracts?’
‘Yes,’ Austin bit out.
She huffed. ‘Well, I can’t say I’m upset that you have finally started taking your career more seriously, but this insult can’t go unanswered. Continue with your studies. I will make some inquiries about this Jedrzej.’ She rose elegantly from her chair, her long black hair sweeping back over her shoulders.
‘Ma-’
‘Don’t worry about it, tesoro.’ She swept away without a backwards glance. Austin stayed in his seat, feeling his spirits drift ever lower.
‘Well, that could have gone worse,’ Exton said in what he clearly thought was a comforting tone.
‘I have to meet with Jed tomorrow,’ Austin said dispiritedly.
‘About that. I recon we should visit your family ruiner.’
‘Whatever for?’ Austin spluttered.
The hellhound smirked. ‘Because they might be able to make something for you that will help tomorrow.’
Austin sat up a little straighter. ‘Like an amulet?’
The hellhound nodded. ‘You might risk pissing off Jedrzej even more though…’
‘In that case, I’m in!’
Exton grinned. ‘Thought you’d say that.’
—
END
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