Sans Zul, Laudon takes me to his office to finalize our deal in writing. Meanwhile, I dwell on what my future holds and how I'll never be able to block this traumatic experience from my memory.

I'll never be able to forget coming to Hell and finding out that I'm something other than human. I'll never be able to forget how I was forced to make a deal with the devil's son, essentially condemning an innocent stranger's soul to the underworld for the rest of eternity. All for keeping my loved ones safe.

"You're sulking," Laudon comments after a while. "Would you rather stay here than return home to your family and friends?"

"I'd rather pluck my eyelashes out one by one while dancing on broken glass than spend another day trapped in Hell with you and your lunatic sidekick." I look up to meet Laudon's gaze, silently questioning just how long he's been watching me. "No offense?"

Laudon chuckles. "None taken. I respect your honesty."

When we arrive at his spacious office, he opens the door and allows me to enter first. I struggle to keep from making a snarky comment about him being both an emotionless prick and a gentleman.

"We'll begin in a moment." Laudon shuts the door before walking over to a wall of books. "There's something I need to grab first."

"What are you looking for?"

"A book."

I roll my eyes. "That much is obvious. What kind of book?"

"A spellbook." Laudon levitates to the top row of the bookshelf a few minutes into his search. "My head is filled with thousands of spells. When dealing with the more complex ones, I like to rely on the written text rather than go off memory."

"Well, I would greatly appreciate you more if you performed the right spell versus the wrong one and accidentally turn me into something that looks like Atiko."

"I will try my best to keep you exactly as you are—an annoying tiny human," Laudon replies in a teasing manner while making his descent. He walks over to his desk and places a thick book in the center. He holds both of his hands over it before closing his eyes and whispering something in his native language. When he opens his eyes, the book opens to the spell that I assume he was searching for. He looks over at me. "Come here."

I stand to move closer to his desk, briefly looking down at the book even though I'm unable to comprehend any of what's scribbled on the old wrinkled pages.

"I always have to ask..."

"I know you do."

"What is this spell for, and will it hurt me?"

"It will not hurt you," Laudon answers. "This spell is what will make your job easier after I send you back to Earth. It will temporarily grant you the ability to tell the pure from the wicked."

After Laudon is done studying the spell, he asks for my right wrist. I give it to him. He then wraps his hands around my wrist and proceeds with reciting the spell. I feel nothing as he speaks. He stops and pulls away from me minutes later. I look down again to see that I'm now wearing a bracelet. Hanging from the simple black band is a pretty red jewel. Instinctively, I try to remove the bracelet, but it doesn't budge. I look up at Laudon, not even needing to ask the question out loud.

"It will not come off until the ritual is complete. Now listen to me carefully," he says. "When in the presence of someone pure, the jewel will glow. When in the presence of someone wicked, the jewel will darken in color. The type of soul that you're required to obtain is a pure one; Hell can't have yours, but it'll accept the next best thing. An even exchange, so to speak."

"I understand, but how am I supposed to respond when someone asks about my glowing bracelet? This ugly thing is going to draw attention in public."

"The bracelet is only visible to you."

"Oh... okay, then."

"Keep going." Laudon smirks. "What else troubles you?"

"How do I get in contact with you after I find my replacement?"

"All you need to worry about is how you plan on getting your person out to the forest," Laudon says. "Once there, you need to have them start the ritual. I will then show up and take over."

"And afterward, we'll officially be done with one another, right?" I ask. He nods. "Cool. So when can I leave? I'm ready to get out of here."

"You first have paperwork to sign."

A blank sheet of paper suddenly materializes in Laudon's hands. He grabs a pen from off his desk and then pricks my index finger with the sharp tip of it. I gasp but say nothing when he does the same to prick his own finger. He begins writing on the paper, using our blood as ink.

"Once signed, this contract cannot be amended or broken," Laudon explains. "As previously stated, your friends and family will remain alive if only you are successful in finding a replacement within the next thirty days to take what would have been your spot in Hell; if you fail, as punishment, they will be killed. You agreed to this deal by shaking my hand earlier. I now require your signature." He points to a specific spot on the paper and I can't help but stare at him crazily. "What is it now?"

"I know we still have no clue about what I am, but... I thought my blood was fatal to demons. And you just... I-I don't understand how you're still alive."

"I told you before that my father and I are built different," Laudon casually replies. "Also, after Myrlande collected samples of your blood, I tested it on myself to see what would happen. You've already used your powers on me, and I was curious to see what other damage you could do. Luckily, I didn't end up like Atiko, which proves you're still no match for me."

"But you're a demon!" I frantically wave my hands around, desperate for more information. "You touched my blood. You should be dead right now, or at least injured in some way..."

"It's a bit insulting how you continue to forget who I'm the son of." Laudon sighs. "Before becoming the King of Hell, my father was once an angel. God's favorite until he cast my father out of Heaven for breaking a few rules. God stripped my father of his angelic powers and cursed him with immortality. Merge that with the pain and humiliation of getting banished from the only home he'd ever known, all that hatred having festered inside him for centuries, and you get the bitter beast that he is today—Lucifer, the demon king. He is evil incarnate; the last of the original seven. Little can harm him, and only God can kill him."

"I get it. You're the son of a very powerful deity, so... whatever's in Lucifer is also in you."

"Correct."

"But what still doesn't make sense is how your father is immortal and you're not."

"Others have tried to replicate it, but true immortality is a gift that only God can bestow." Laudon leaves it at that before getting us back on track. "Your signature."

Knowing it's too late to back out, I take the pen from him and sign my name where he tells me.

"Something else you need to know about the ritual you performed, if it is not successfully completed, you will be bound to Holloway until Hell receives the soul of your replacement. If you try to leave before that happens, even putting one foot into the next town over, you will experience pain so unbearable you'll wish you were dead."

"I won't try to leave. You have my word." 

"Good girl. Are you ready to go home, or do you have more questions for me?"

"No, smart-ass. I'm done talking. Take me home."