Colin's posts

".........hm." Azazel mumbled after a pause.

"I... suppose so." he said.

"That's a frightening thought, though." he sighed.

"Just... the thought that she's 'overdue' is... horrifying." he muttered.

"I think I'm going to go see if she's doing all right. Pay her a visit."

Azazel just sighed.

"I was afraid of that." he said.

"Guess I'll go and visit her myself." he said further.

"...I just hate that she deals with this." he mumbled.

"Those markings really mess with her." he continued.

"And it's clear she suffers because of it."

Azazel just sighed.

"Not now, Roxie." he said dismissively and almost distractedly.

"I met up with Erica a few days ago." he told her.

"Her markings were acting up." he informed her further.

"Been searching for info about it, got nothing." he lamented.

"Wanted to see if anyone's seen her around or anything."

The demon then laughed as he left her.

-A few days later-

"Hey, Roxie." Azazel said to Roxie as he approached her.

"You seen Erica?" he asked.

"Or talked to her at all lately?" he asked further.

He looked... like he had been busy. He didn't look tired, but he DID look frazzled and like he'd had no time for himself as of late.

"I don't have to answer your questions." he replied.

"You are nothing. A lowly maggot. And it's time you learned what I can do." he told her. "...or... rather... have a taste of what I can do." he went on.

"Before you are driven to near-madness... you'll get your answer, though." he then said.

"What do I want? Your power." he informed her.

"...we'll see if you remember that, though, after all this." he finished.

Then, before she could say anything, he took out what looked to be a business card, and it became pitch-black with his mana... before tossing it over towards her, the card landing on her.

In a literal blink of an eye, he was in front of her. Not even a teleport. He was just there, which spooked her for a moment.

"You listen here." he said, his tone dark and ominous.

"You don't GET to speak to me that way." he told her.

"You've paid your dues when I SAY you have!" he then demanded, anger rising in his tone.

"...I think it's high time you see JUST what you're dealing with." he commented, his tone suddenly far calmer.

"People won't be expecting to see you for a while... I think I'll make use of that." he said ominously.

"...your resistance is impressive." she heard from her kitchen.

"Annoying, but impressive." the demon said, walking out of the room, having effortlessly teleported inside.

"But sorry. You are mine now." he told her.

"And you have nobody to blame but yourself." he continued.

"Oh, and that little gopher of a pet of the boss's? He can't help you." he then said, referring to Azazel. "He'll try. But there will be no info that he'll be able to find." he went on.

"And he'll run himself ragged trying." he chuckled. "Miserable little imp like him deserves it." he then growled.

The demon took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and harshly grabbing her wrist... the one on the side of her markings.

As soon as he did, he smiled.

"I can feel it." he said.

"Your power. It's strong." he commented.

"Also... you cannot tell me what to do." he went on. "You made a contract with a demon... but you signed nothing. And in those cases... the demon decides when the contract ends." he informed her further.

"So tell me... are you going to adjust your attitude towards me?" he asked.

"...or do your markings need to get worse?" he asked her, as she felt them grow stronger in intensity.

The male just smirked as he accepted the wad of money, and looked at it.

"Should be." he said.

"But guess what? It isn't." he told her, as the money went up in flames.

He then looked at her, his eyes glowing an ominous red... a red that she'd seen in Azazel's eyes. In Roxies' eyes. In ALL demon's eyes.

"My dear... you have NO idea who you are in debt to." he continued, narrowing his eyes.

"Your contact ends... when I SAY it ends."

When she opened the door, she saw that the one she owed money to was standing there.

"Well, hello." he greeted her, his gaze piercing.

"You look mighty healthy for someone that's so violently ill." he commented.

"..." he was then silent, before crossing his arms over his chest.

"So, tell me." he went on, pausing for a moment.

"Are you sick and tired of always shelling out money?" he asked.

"Your finances can NOT be in good standings." he said further, smirking ever-so-slightly.

There was another bout of silence... before she received another text from them. One that seemed... a bit more ominous.

Interesting spin. I cannot fault that choice of words. it read.

However, before she could really wonder what that meant, or ask him what he was talking about, there was a knock on her door.

It was sudden, and it was formal... but it wasn't sharp.

But she couldn't deny the inherent sense of dread that she felt when she heard it.

Even though she couldn't pinpoint WHY, exactly.

After a few seconds, she received a series of messages. 3, to be precise. All from the one she had just texted.

That is not how our agreement goes. You know that. the first one read.

I do NOT do digital payments. You know that. the second one iterated.

You have ONE text to explain yourself as to why you are unable to pay e today. Make it count. the third one warned her.

And even though they were texts, the threatening nature to them were... palpable.

She could almost feel the anger and impatience in them.

As just sighed in response.

"It's all right." he said.

"Nothing to be done about it." he assured her.

He then gave her one more quick hug, before ascending to her bedroom and disappearing once he reached there, appearing in the den of his own house.

Once there, he hung his head, and looked around.

Back. he sent to the two that lived there.

Az nodded in response.

"Of course." he said.

"I'm sure he'll understand." he told her. "He's more than reasonable like that." he assured her.

"But then again, you already know that." he shrugged.

He then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a friendly hug. It was all he could think of doing to help her at this point, as he was the only one that COULD hug her when she got like this.

So he did.

He had a feeling that just that closeness would help her mental state. Or at least, he hoped it would.