The deal

Valdemar's POV

There are a few aspects of life that can excite a being who has existed for millennia. My weakness, or, better said, my obsession, is humans. Humans as subjects, of course. They lack of appeal from any other angle aside from the biological. Humans are too sensitive, emotional and codependent, which makes them vulnerable to every insignificant threat. A mystery how they could position themselves as the "most powerful beings on Earth", whilst even a small bug can cause them to die; I glanced, chuckling over the corpse that laid split open over the table, recently stung by a Black Widow.However, stating a specific human has never caught my attention would be lying in a terrible way_just like humans do_. Scientifically speaking, there were plenty of subjects who had unique features; immune to illnesses, features of other individuals, extreme resistance to pain, among others. Now, in a more... mundane aspect, I am afraid to say I have fallen into the claws of love. Caring about another being, longing to spend time by their side and, what is most shocking, eagering to save them from whatever might hurt them? That is new. Even to me. And this evening I am to join this eerie creature for eternity.Denying my feeling of nervousness would also be an obloquy for what goes on in my mind. Humans are particularly known for getting what they call "cold feet". Actually, that is an expression I have never understood, do your feet really go cold when you doubt of doing something you have already agreed on executing? Just like "heartwarming"; no heart ever went warmer because of dainty expressions reaching the owner's auditive organs.Anyways, if marriage, which is only a temporary state for humans either interrupted by a separation of the beings or_as they ideally promise_by death, is capable of causing these feelings of terror... how will she feel now that our union will be eternal in a non-figurative way?I sighed as I dismembered the body and threw the pieces into the swarm of beetles, watching bemused as they ate the flesh. What if she runs away? I am used to chasing my prey until I have them. No matter what it takes, I always get it. Yet, she is not a prey. She is the woman I love. And should she leave me, how will I react? Will I pursue her until I catch her and doom her to be by my side? Or will I let her be free? After all, she is human, just another insignificant and emotional human who deserves no demon like me. I am beyond her understanding, am I also beyond her loving? Until yesterday, she sounded sure of our imminent union; about the former count and countess' judgement, about the deal... about being forever mine.

Y/N POV

"WON'T YOU JUST STAY STILL?", Vulgora yelled at me as I paced up and down the place."I'm nervous like hell, Vulgora. What if anything goes wrong? I-I do not know! I...""THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BLOODY BUSINESS. YOU ARE THE BRIDE AND YOU HAVE TO RELAX. YOU WILL BE AT THE BEAUTY SPA IN AN HOUR"."Amazing", I mumbled. All that luxury was recommended by Valerius, who, by the way, was to accompany me in my "Beauty afternoon"."And we have everything under control. The kitchen staff is working non-stop, Vlastomil is in charge of the venue's arrangements, Valerius is taking care of your appearance and me... well, I am just trying to keep your nerves low and make sure you eat something for lunch"."I am not hungry, sorry", I said laying down on my bed."You may not be hungry but I do not want Valdemar taking actions over me just because their bride did not eat. Also, what is bothering you so much? Valdemar won't run away, you know?""And nor will I! I just... I am concerned over the trial... what-""You wanted the people to judge"."I know! Maybe they... maybe they do not want me"."SERIOUSLY? You've given them everything they had always asked for. You had Valerius repair the city, build new houses-""Humans are ungrateful", I muttered in a sombre tone."That's nothing a bride-to-be should worry about. Can you eat now?", they demanded."Can't I just talk to them?""Not today! Seeing the bride beforehand is bad luck. I had to tell them the same this morning".I sighed deeply and grabbed the plate."I guess I'll simply eat", I shrugged.

Valdemar's POV

I arrived at the coliseum just as the first lights of twilight glowed in the sky. By the end of it, I was to be married, thus, the trial should not be long. My eyes found Y/N standing by Count Valerius and I slipped through the crowd next to Vulgora who, under no circumstance, would allow me to turn my eyes to her.The former counts were brought some moments later, the Preator expressed the charges against them, emphasizing on Lucio's brutality and Nadia's indifference. The crowd roared in anger and resentment, others cried in disbelief, considering it was all a sinister tactic to dethrone the legit royalty and replace it with mere civilians. I sighed and sat with my companions, enjoying the warm breeze that anticipated the most pleasant of evenings. Lost in myself, I heard the distant booing and cheering of the crowd. I knew not what was being discussed around me, and to be honest, I did not care. Should the results be as expected I would have one or two mostly interesting subjects as a dowry.I smiled at the thought of having Y/N see the body of the man who hurt and abused her the most dismembered over the vivisection table. Or maybe even better, she could do it herself. I could picture her smile, her expression filled with an unsettling tranquility... and nothing could make me happier than that.Vlastomil's voice brought me back to reality; the pinkish colours in the sky had turned into a sombre purplish shade, with only enough light to see what went on in the centre of the coliseum. Soon, the torches would be lightened up."The public deliberation has chosen the punishment of execution by beheading for the former Count of Vesuvia and the eternal exile for the Seventh Princess of Prakra, Nadia Satrinava. Nevertheless, her corpse shall be brought back to this city after her natural death", announced the Preator solemnly.I got on my feet and clapped. My excitement at her cleverness could not be greater. Soon, the multitude joined me.

Y/N POV

I saw terror in Lucio's eyes and despair in Nadia's. In them, I could see my past self's anguish, yet I couldn't help but burst into laughter at their sight. Finally, they were suffering the mistreatment and negligence they had shown against me... against every citizen of Vesuvia. Finally... they were paying fairly for their crimes.The executioner seized Lucio's clasped arms, put him on his feet and got him to the stage, where he kneeled down again claiming for a mercy he would never receive, just as he had not had it towards others when it was their turn to die in the Scourge's hands.The axe quickly blew the former count's blonde head off and in no time, everything was over. I got up from my chair, descended from the box, and dived into the carriage that would lead me to the gothic ruins Val had chosen as our wedding venue.

As soon as I arrived, Vulgora and Volta guided me to a hidden place within the ruins, where they aided me to put my dress on and arranged my hair in a simple but lovely half up half down hairstyle decorated with a red beetle ribbon. I smiled at the small mirror Volta held out for me; but for the lipstick, the rest of the make up had remained pristine. I gave the final touches to my appearance and grasped onto Vlastomil's arm, breathing heavily in my excitement.Together, we headed down an aisle covered with white rose petals that made a strong contrast with my red roses bouquet. On the other side Valdemar, in their ivory uniform, waited with a clear anxiety shining in their eyes."You look stunning", they gasped marvelled as I reached their side.I smiled softly, reached out for their hand and Vlastomil began the ceremony."We are here to join in an eternal bond these two beings who are willing to love and respect each other for the entire depths of eternity", he announced. "Soon after your vows are professed, the deal shall be set before the alliance is sealed", he looked at me. "Quaestor, you may begin"."Y/N", they pronounced staring deep into my eyes as if I was the only thing that existed. "I swear upon my Science I will be by your side until the end of times as your loving spouse. I promise to accompany, protect and hold you in your darkness, helping you to always see the light, just like you made me after a millennia of existence", they chuckled nervously. "With my blood, I, Quaestor Valdemar, shall now sign my love", Valdemar finished solemnly, removing their right glove and provoking a slight cut in their hand, allowing the blood to fill the chalice."Valdemar", I replied with the same fixed stare into their eyes. "I swear upon my deceased loved ones I will be by your side until the end of times as your loving wife. I promise to be your confidant, companion and partner in crime; accepting your hand just as you accept mine", I grabbed the dagger. "With my blood, I, Y/N, shall sign my love", I finished copying Valdemar."Now, now, before the sealing, we should wait for Him", Vlastomil's voice echoed in the open air. A sudden chill went down my spine as, in the very fading lights of the day, a humanoid goat-like form appeared."My minions, you called me", the thing expressed in laughter."My, what do we have here?", it said, pushing a claw under my jaw just like Lucio would."A deal", Valdemar answered."We are having no deal without me getting her in the end"."I... we have something better to offer"."Better than your bride?", he inquired mockingly."Listen, Devil", I spoke firmly. "I offer you the ruling of the entire Vesuvian territory and every living soul that inhabits it. You shall rule upon any living thing"."Mortal living thing", Valdemar specified."What do you get in exchange?""Y/N's immortality", they replied in their usual tranquil tone.The Devil caressed his chin in deep thought."Think about it well... the entire city... maybe even the world itself in your hand... for something as mere as my immortality...", I whispered seductively."Will you obey me?", he asked."Even if I tried to escape your claws, I couldn't", answered Valdemar. "Are you willing to bound me for one last time before the lights of the day disappear?", they asked."I accept", he said. "With you as my puppets"."Have I ever not served you?", the Quaestor kept proving their obedience.The Devil shook his head and extended Valdemar a paper and a blood pen to be signed with the terms and conditions of their deal.Once they had sealed the agreement and a burning crimson chain wrapped around Valdemar's waist, they handed me the chalice where our bloods were mixed together and warned:"It might hurt a bit, especially the part in which you abandon humanity to join me as a demon... a free demon, though", they smiled eagerly.I shrugged, poured some of the liquid down my throat and handed the chalice back to my future spouse.Suddenly, everything turned black.

I woke up some moments later, feeling a power I have never seen before. I felt no pain, no sorrow, no earthly attachments... just resentment and the strange feeling of love... everything seemed so distant yet so near.A familiar hand helped me stand up and, as my eyes matched theirs, my memories came to life."Val!", I exclaimed, hugging them. "I don't remember... are we married already?""I'm afraid you passed out, Y/N", Vlastomil's unmistakable voice intervened. "Shall I proceed with this union?""Please do!", insisted Volta in tears."COME ON WORMHEAD, LET THE COUPLE BE""Let this end", groaned Valerius sipping on wine.I chuckled, I had missed those three.I turned again to face Valdemar and then Vlastomil."Ahem, now that Y/N shares with us the immense grace of immortality, I shall now bless you with these rings of eternity, forged in the very core of our parallel realms and embedded in your bloods as faithful and rightful spouses".Valdemar grabbed one of the rings and slipped it through my ring finger; an action I imitated perfectly."You may kiss", the Preator allowed.My spouse grasped my waist in obvious delight and pushed their lips against mine."I love you, Y/N. And I will be yours forever, little rabbit"."I love you too. I shall be yours forever as well, Val".

The End.