The first conquest

With the power to remake minds and bodies to my whim, I figured it didn't really matter who I got, and I should go for quantity, not quality.

That afternoon, I was sitting at a table, with a large sign labeled "Atheist Society", and under that "would you sell your soul for ten dollars?" In front of me, a stack of printed contracts and an envelope full of cash. Particularly with the aura of normalcy around me and mine, I had every confidence that I'd get a fair number of people willing to sign a piece of paper giving up their souls for the good and sufficient consideration of ten dollars, cash. There was a blank for their phone number.

I had set up shop on a fairly busy downtown corner. The weather was pleasant, and almost as soon as I got set up, I had my first inquiry. He was scruffy, bearded, and argumentative. I told him I thought we could do without his particular soul, and shooed him away.

A few minutes later though, I had my first sale. She was nothing special to look at; 5'4, plump, tangled brown hair, perhaps 25 years old. "I'm not superstitious, and I want the money. Where do I sign," she demanded. I handed her a pen, she scrawled something illegible, and then I handed over the money.

At first I wasn't sure it would work. But then she shuddered a bit and gave a soft moan.

"I never did get your name," I murmured.

"Linette, sir." Her skin was turning flushed and pink.

"Linette. Will it inconvenience you or will anybody notice if you spend tonight with me?"

"No sir. I live alone, I lost my job three weeks ago and haven't found another."

"Come by my place before dinner, call it six o'clock. Bring your things, expect to stay for a few days"

"Oooh, my pleasure, sir."

"Till then."

The rest of the afternoon went quickly. By the time I packed up and went home, I had about sixty souls. Most were smart-alecky men, but I figured more power was better, and took them along with the women. A few of the men were carrying considerable cash and I came out slightly ahead for the day. I had been nervous that demanding cash from slaves would undo the payment that got me their souls, but the universe was forgiving.

A handful of promising candidates were told to meet me at my place in the coming nights; for the rest I just took contact information and told them I'd be in touch.