Marry

“Aiju, I hereby give you control over Fisti.”

Both Aiju and Fisti looked at me in confusion. “Mari, what are ya planning?”

I took a deep breath and steeled myself. “I am sorry. Aiju. You will escort Fisti to her hometown. Hand control over her to whoever Fisti desires. Don't come looking for me.”

Aiju was so inconsolable that I had to command her to calm down. I then wired 300 Gold coins to Fisti's account. “Do with that money what you want.”

“Yer a cruel man”, Fisti said with a sad smile before she followed Aiju out of the room. Leaving me and Cassandra alone.

“I suppose I won't get the same kindness”, Cassandra asked with a casual smile.

“No”, I replied. “Get a normal job somewhere around the free cities. You are allowed to life a modest life. Any excess money you have or make will be spend on freeing as many slaves as you can. Now leave me.”

“Rather choose hell over that”, Cassandra said with a curse before exiting the room. I wasn't sure if that would violate the close proximity rule, but that was for Cassandra to manage.

Not five seconds later I heard the familiar voice. “Very noble of you, Sir. Truly, I'm moved.”

“These three have nothing to do with me any more”, I growled. “Leave them out of this.”

“Why, of course!” Femto made an exaggerate conciliatory gesture. “We devils do not meddle in the affairs of mortals without due cause. So what will it be, Sir? We can still have sex if you want, but I feel compelled to inform you that it won’t cut the mustard.”

I shook my head. “I will face you and Beatrice tomorrow.”

Femto seemed very amused by that. “If that is your choice, Sir. See you tomorrow then.”

“Wait”, I hesitated. “The stuff you said...about my sister.”

The devil sighed. “Sir, I am afraid this is highly confidential.”

“I have a right to know. You owe me this much.”

She laughed in my face.

No, even now the devil is trying to provoke me. I need to remain calm. “Please.”

“Sir”, another sigh followed. And for a brief moment there was almost something humane on her visage. “I did not kill your sister.”

“What do you mean? Is she still alive?”

“Sorry, sir!” And she’s back to grinning again. “That’s as much as I can divulge! NDA and all that. Anyways, I gotta jet. Toodles!”

And with that, the devil vanished.

For the next minute or so. I just stood there.

Then I put my affairs in order.

I wired the remainder of money to my brother and apologized for letting him down. It was way too little to make even a dent in the funds we need. But I have **** but to leave it up to him.

I won’t mention my talk with Femto to him. At least I want to die knowing that he won’t try to get **** or anything stupid like that.

Next, I sharped my dirks. They needed the maintenance. Then, I took a shower, masturbated to a porn flick on magic vision and went to bed.

After a restless night morning came and with it the fight. I didn't have any illusion of victory, but therein lied my advantage.

Beatrice knew I needed her to surrender. As such she did not expect me to come at her with such **** ferocity. My intend from the start wasn't to get her to surrender but to kill. The witch had trouble dealing with this. As she wanted me to surrender, she couldn't bring all her powers to the fight. She also never summoned Femto, perhaps out of pride.

“Fire Laser!”

But even so, eventually she got me.

The powerful spell pierced my chest and I slumped to my knees. I see. So this is what dying feels like, huh?

…

..

.

“You idiot!”

The witch accosted me while I was in the arena’s infirmary. Even with the immense healing in place, taking a Fire Laser to the chest has its toll. “Why didn't you surrender!”, she screamed, from the sound of it genuinely upset.

I merely spared her a cool look. “Because I didn't want to give you what you wanted.”

And for once the haughty witch was at a loss for words.

All the better.

“Hey, Femto”, I shouted. “You out there? Let's get this over with.”

In an instant a black void engulfed the two...no the three of us.

“You wish to reschedule your appointment to an earlier date? No problemo, Sir, but are you quite sure?”

“Died already once”, I stated. “Turns out it’s not that big of a deal.”

“Femto w-wait”, Beatrice cut in. “His soul isn't worth all that much. I can offer you a much better one. Just give me a bit time.”

“Yeah I pass”, I said, crossing my arms. “Don't fancy sending anyone else to hell. Unless you want to offer up yourself?”

That got a bit of the witches anger back. “Go to hell!”

“That's what I'm planning.” I looked directly at Femto, my course was set. “So, can we move this along now? I'm getting bored.”

Femto gave me a grin. “Your wish is my command, Sir. Enjoy your stay.” She snapped her finger and the void around me got blacker.

Then I felt a hand on my chest.

And then. Nothing.

I am sorry, Ceri.