Tessa Hastjarjanto [Hastjarjanto - Devil’s Deal (Infernal Contracts Book 1)

Devils Deal

By

Tessa Hastjarjanto

Copyright 2019 by Tessa Hastjarjanto

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First Published, 2019

Cover art & design by Tessa Hastjarjanto

Edited by F Teunissen

ISBN 9789083006543

Learn more about the Infernal Contracts series on http://www.infernalcontracts.net

For all the women who perceived someones good intentions as bad.

Prologue

Two silhouettes stood in the clearing. The only things visible were their wings: A pair of white and a pair of black. The rest was covered in dark clothing, to make sure no one could recognise them. The place they picked for their meeting was small, remote. No one dared to come to here as a giant beast haunted it. This was perfect for the pair.

They had to be certain no one could stop them: the ceremony shouldnt be interrupted.

Are you really okay doing this? There is no way back after its done, the one with golden eyes and white wings whispered.

Yes, Im bored and need some fun. It wouldnt be fun without something big at stake. Its not like I would lose, Ive already done it before. The dark figure smiled, showing bright white teeth and a set of fangs.

I hope you enjoy being human. The other grinned, showing equally white teeth, but without fangs.

You have more to lose. I was already banished. This is my punishment. You could lose what you have just for making this bet. His dark wing twitched. Just thinking about having to go back to Hell made him shiver.

If youve done this for a thousand years, it becomes tedious. I need something exciting, to get my blood flowing again. My last mission was long and boring. I dont know why I was needed there. The golden eyes didnt blink. He was determined to follow through with the bet. Its not like a humans death will instantly sentence me to eternal damnation.

It isnt death you should worry about. Love is what will get you killed. Figure of speech, of course.

Yeah, yeah. You dont have to share your love history with me. I know what happened to you and to others. Its not like they will shut up about it upstairs. But I doubt a mere mortal will sway me over. Their love is fickle and theyre easily persuaded. They will pick one of us before I will be in any danger. His white wings spread out, making himself bigger than he was.

Sure. It could benefit me when youre overconfident. Lets get started. Black feathers rustled through the wind and a howl sounded through the woods. The beast was awake.

His pale hand reached inside his coat and took out a candle and matches. He lit the candle, while his other hand reached into his pocket. The dark-skinned hand revealed a small vial containing a black liquid.

Is that? For real? The golden-eyed shadow held the candle closer to the vial. A red shimmer reflected the candlelight in the black substance and shaped itself to mimic a demons face. He grinned and let out a peep of excitement.

You better believe it, buddy. He always liked extreme bets. He was very willing when I asked. Especially when it was his chance to get another set of wings. The shadow didnt share the same excitement. This bet might be his only way out. He lifted the vial so the other shadow could see the black liquid moving in the candlelight. As he popped the cork, smoke swirled up.

Both of the figures started chanting in a forgotten language. They held the vial and emptied it above the candle while whispering the oath they prepared. The liquid slowly trickled out of the vial and black smoke rose from the now purple flame.

The deal is sealed. Ill see you soon. You know where. The silhouettes smile disappeared, only showing the tips of his fangs.

The hooded figure blew out the candle; the wax sticking to his pale skin as it splattered from the breeze and flew away.

The bet made that day wouldnt only change the lives of everyone involved but had terrible consequences. Possibly for the world.

Chapter 1

Back to school campaign posters were everywhere. Nora wondered why people wanted to draw so much attention to this recurring event which isnt even worth celebrating. One thing Nora liked about school was the routine. She didnt have to think about what to do with her days, or what her future would be like short term. As long as she survived, shed be in school for three more years. It wasnt an achievement and definitely wasnt worth celebrating. She even skipped her own birthday.

She liked her life. A normal teenage life without too much drama. Her classmates often went into town, hanging out in cafes. Nora preferred going to the library or a museum. The only drama she wanted, was inside the many books she read. Not like a regular teenager going through puberty; getting drunk on alcohol they found in the back of a closet. Nora had never thought of herself as the average Dutch teenager, but she didnt mind.

Nora spent most of her time outside of school with her three friends: Felicia, Josy, and Emily. Felicia dubbed them the Fab Four, but they all hated it.

Their friendship existed because of Felicia. Josy and Felicia were friends since kindergarten. Emily and Nora joined when they entered high school. Felicia had two faces; one for the public and one in private. She was proud and didnt want people to see her as weak. A few weeks after Nora became friends with her, Felicia had a breakdown in the school library. Her father promised to be at her first hockey game of the season and he had broken that promise. Work called him away. It was her debut in the first team and it meant the world to her. Felicia had kept it to herself, bottling up her feelings. That was the first time Emily and Nora saw the real Felicia.

Nora cycled to Felicias house after her last shift at the bakery. The Sunday shifts often ended early because they didnt bake as much bread as on weekdays. Even though most of the city centre was open until five oclock, the bakery closed around three because everything was sold out. Nora didnt mind, because now she could see her friends again.

She headed to Felicias place for dinner and girls night. Since none of their parents agreed on a full-scale party, they had a self-care evening. Facials, mani-pedis, and lots of girl talk.

Felicias house was thirty minutes away, and the sun was scorching. Nora was glad she brought a change of clothes. Maybe she could take a quick shower before dinner. She cycled passed a small beach near the lake. Teenagers crowded the sand and water, some even jumped off the bridge. It was dangerous, but it didnt stop them. They all wanted to enjoy the last hours of the summer break. Tomorrow theyd all be stuck in classrooms with temperatures asking for ice cream and tanning.

Nora looked forward to the classroom, to the comfort of her safe space. Safe without the peer pressure of taking off her clothes, of bathing suits and bikinis. Ever since she grew into her womanly body, she felt uncomfortable with men watching her naked skin. It felt inappropriate. Maybe it was her fathers conservative view influencing her, but she agreed that a bikini revealed too much. She wouldnt want a boy her age see her in her underwear, and a bikini covers just as much, or even less.