A young man with dark brown hair, blended in within the crowd as he prowled through the marketplace as if in a hurry. He weaved his way through the crowds, making his way to any merchant he could find. Asking if anyone saw a bottle with strange markings only to be met with dissapointment. It wasn't long until he decided he wouldn't find what he was looking for. As he made his way towards the gate he was stopped in his tracks. 

"I've heard you were looking for a bottle with strange marking correct?"

The voice was deep and had a slight rasp.

"And you are?"

The man has a presence to him. Dressed in a black tunic with blood red sleeves and a pair of dark colored trousers, he doesn't look to be an ordinary man but doesn't look important either. Intrigued, and also wary, he introduced himself.

"I am Levideht. Pleased to make your aquaintance."

Making his introduction, he arcs his right arm across his torso and gives a small nod. A grin spreads across his face as he finishes. He begins to look at me but at the same time not? It feels like he knows who I am but it should be the first time meeting for both of us.

"I know of the relic you seek. Marked with runes and sealed with powerful magics yes?."

He knows the contents of the bottle? No one should know what's inside of it besides him. I need it but it can't stay with him. It's not safe for anyone.

"It should just be a bottle with some child's drawings. Nothing as grand as that."

A flismy lie.

"I believe we both know that the contents of this bottle is worth more that you could imagine. All the dreams, the wishes, the hopes. All contained inside this tiny prison. I wonder where such a marvel could have been birthed?"

A sly grin overwrote his face. As he begins making his reason known, he begins to conjure up an image of the very same bottle I was seeking. 

"You see, I myself am quite interested in this miracle of an item. So I'll make a deal with you. I'll cure you of your ailment."

'He knows about my curse?'

"What do you mean?"

A small chuckle sounded the air.

"You know what I speak of. You've been suffering from it for nearly twenty years now haven't you? How did it go again? A winged demon, as red as the fires of the seven hells themselves, sweeping across the skies to find little Leon and his mother."

I stared at him as my blood began to boil. My face became visibly distraught. He smiled as he saw my reaction to his play by play, continuing his story as if he were the torturer of a poor prisoner.

"My oh my, your mother indeed did try. It was quite a spectacular sight you know? Were it not for your father, you would have been sent straight to the hells along with your mother. A disappointment really. But one I am willing to forgive."

I lashed out in anger and demanded who he was as I grabbed his tunic and held him up. 

"WHO ARE YOU!? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!?"

Without a word an invisible force blasted me away from him. I groaned in pain as I was blasted flat onto my back. Footsteps began to walk towards me and Levideht's grinning face towered over me as he stepped onto my chest and leaned on his knee.

"You should know when to listen till the end child. You could miss something important."

In frustration I grabbed his foot and attempted to push him off but it wouldn't budge.

"Here's the deal I have for you. You bring me the bottle, and I bring back your parents."

Still trying to defy his oppressiveness I resisted.

"Why should I do that for you?"

"Because without me, they would be lost and damned in the hells for eternity. I am a collector of sorts you see. When I find something that catches my eye, I make it worthwhile. Your parents are just perfect for the situation as of now. So? What will it be?"

He reaches out his hand in front of me as he steps of of my chest, leaving me on the ground in shock. 

'Is it true? Are my parents really still alive? Can he really bring them back?'

I stare at him as I contemplate what to do as my mind begins to race and a drop of sweat rolls down my chin. My hand turn clammy and my blood turns cold. An impossible choice with no end in sight.

'Do I save my parents? Or leave them for eternal damnation and be free of my curse?'

'Would I even have the right to see them again? After all I've done?'

I looked towards the hand offered to me as I reached out. If I could see them again safe and sound then I would go through all seven hells to brings them back. 

Levideht's face distorted as what he expected did not come to fruition. What he had thought was a contract to be made was instead met with a slap to the hand. Annoyed by this transgression he spoke once more.

"An interesting response to your situation. Fine. Allow yourself to struggle to the end until you see no other option but to turn to me. Use up everything at your disposal and once you've reached the end I will be there to take it all. And you will regret that you didn't take the deal I made back then. I will come to you again." 

With a foreboding voice, Levideht made his final statement before disappearing.

"Next time, with less favorable terms."