The plan

Asmodeus p.o.v

Selena is pulling me away towards an old tree. As we reach it, she finally let's go of my hand.

I rub my hand from the joint and cast a minor healing spell. It won't do much, as is the same hand Olden broke a few days before. It still hurts, and the fact that this crazy girl pulled me almost for an hour has damaged it again.

“Hey, I did not hurt you so much that you need a healing spell.” She says, looking at me with sorrowful eyes.

“Yes, girl, you broke my hand. See, it’s swollen. “I immediately take advantage of the situation and make her feel guilty.

“Hahaha, you’re lying. It was already like that, “she’s looking at me and seems to be listening to something.

“No, you broke it. How could I have broken it? You’re crazy, “I tell her.

“The same way you got that black eye, I don’t think it‘s because you tripped and hit your head. Because you seem to be flying, haha, “she laughs at me.

I knew it; like her mother, she doesn’t miss anything and always observes and evaluates you, like a demon cat stalking her prey.

“How do you know that‘s just how I look? I don’t think you saw many demons like me around here,” I joke with her.

"No, I didn't. You're kinda cute, like an ugly baby with a big mouth and little horns, “ She reaches and squeezes my cheek.

"First, you say I am cute, and then you say I am ugly, but whatever, why did you drag me out in the middle of the forest?”

“Because you seem sad and miserable and in need of some fresh air, am I right?” she says, raising an eyebrow.

She is questioning me like a skilled torturer. The way she dragged me here playing innocent, I am sure her mother put her up to it. They didn’t buy the all-friendship story. But I don’t care. This could work in my favor either way. The moment Olden revealed me. I am one step closer to achieving my goal. I, too, must learn more about that curse and then negotiate on my own. This way, I can get rid of Olden. But even if I can’t help them, I am sure I can find something they want. A deal with the devil is underway very soon.

“If you are far away from home, you would be like that also. “ I say to her.

“And why don’t you return to your home then?” she again traps me with her logic.

“I borrowed some money from some bad demons, and they are searching for me. “ I lie to her, and she looks at me weirdly, almost angry, but then she smiles.

“You bad imp, what did you do with the money? She again asks,” still smiling.

“You gonna interrogate me all evening, or do you have anything else to say? “ I cut her off as this is becoming annoying. She takes me for a fool, and I wouldn’t say I like it.

She shuts up for a while and jumps all the way to the first branch of the big tree.

“Fly here. I'll show you where I’ll stay, “she shouts above me.

I fly upward and then see a small house hanging in the middle of the tree. She even put up a door.

I head inside the small hut and can't help but admire the skillful hands of the hunter. Furs and animal heads hang on the walls. There is even a bed that is wholly made of furs stacked one on top of the others. This girl might have killed all the animals in this forest.

"Wow, that's impressive you killed all those ugly animals that you humans have," I tell her.

"No, silly, “she laughs.” These were all old and diseased. I never kill young ones. Except for those werewolves over here. They were killing people”. She shows the skull of an immense head resembling the human lands wolf, but the mouth is shorter and more extensive and has almost human eyes.

“That thing looks dangerous. How did you manage that?” I ask her this time

“First, I separated them and emptied an entire arrow quiver in each one, but that wasn’t enough. I grabbed my two knives and went close. This one hit me to the ground, but the moment he opened his mouth to bite me. I freed my hand and stuck my knife right down his throat. You see the mark here. “She shows me where the fur was cut. “This is where the blade got out. “

Somehow, I believe that what she told me must be the truth. If that thing were to hit me, I would probably be dead in a second.

"That is impressive. How come you are this strong at such a young age? I've seen human girls like you who couldn't even lift a sword."

“O, and now who’s interrogating who, my dear Asmodeus? Trust must come both ways,” she tells me with an absent-minded look, like her soul was elsewhere. “You know, I used to play a game with my mother when she was sick in bed and couldn’t move. It’s called Catch the Liar. What do you say if you and I play this game.” She takes off her quiver and bow and hangs them on the wall. Then she takes off her cape and sits comfortably on her fur bed.

She indeed reminds me of Aldea, one of my succubuses. She was smart and vicious like a scorpion; now that I think about it, her tail indeed resembled a scorpion tail.

“I first must know the rules of this game and must be allowed the beginner trial of error,” I tell her, as this was the rules of all demon games.

“Beginner trial of error. What is that? “she seems confused

“Yeah, it is presumed that you have experience with this game, and I don’t, so I must be allowed a bonus at first, “I tell her.

"Okay, have it your way. Then, the game consists of putting one question, and the other must answer truthfully or not. If one is caught with a lie, he must answer truthfully as to why he did tell that lie and so on. It's pretty simple." She tells me

"How would one know whether the second answer is truthful or not? One can carry on lying forever. "I say.

"No, you see, because a bunch of lies will make one big truth. You see, at the end of the game, that person's character will be revealed. Is he worth trusting in or not? It's up to him”. She tells me, smiling.

"Oo, an interesting game, but let's wait until tomorrow and see what development Olden has. They might never reach an agreement. Plus, I am tired from all the talking I did today. Believe it or not, I probably never talked this much in hundreds of years," I say to her, and she seems annoyed that I don't stick around.

"Okay, you're right. We will see, but I have a feeling you and I will see each other many times from now on.” This time, she has a sinister smile, sowing her teeth like a cat.

"Good night, Selena. Then, for all it's worth, I am glad I got to know you and your mother."

I say to her, and she seems surprised and wants to say something, but I get out and take flight up above the forests. I see the tiny house south and begin descending; I must make my way back to Olden before he zaps me through the chain. But as I descend, I hear voices in the trees below me. Walking through the forest path is Arya and Olden. I drop quietly behind them, just enough to listen to what they are saying.

“Is true, Arya doda. You were my role model in the academy”.I hear Olden already starting to suck up to the big-ass blonde.

"I don't know what to say. I just did what seemed right at the time. "

"Anyway, I am grateful for sticking up for me back then and teaching those bullies a lesson, "Olden again says. “I was weak and couldn't defend myself, and anybody was picking on me."

O, for the chaos, lord's sake, he is playing with her the same card that he played with me. I am miserable and weak. How unfair life is with me. I was a fool back then to have believed his lies, and now I pay the price.

“I can imagine, but you made it through and are a powerful mage now, “ Arya says, smiling at him; she’s embarrassed.

“That is also the reason I decided to help Arya doda until this curse is vanquished, “ he says, taking a proud posture.

“No, no, I can’t ask that of you. We don’t know if there is a solution yet. Asmodeus has not yet seen the runes. There is also the problem with Tristan.”

“What is the problem with him” Olden immediately sees an opportunity as he walks several steps back to get a better view of the blonde’s ass.

This horny dog might just have struck gold here and now is thinking of a plan. I guess we are staying after all. You take care of the dump blonde, and I must deal with the smart redhead.

"Well, he is young and only just started hunting. The plan was to form a unit of hunters to tackle the demon lands. "She says to Olden, who looks like he doesn't like the idea. This coward will piss himself off only when he sees the Demon land's coast, not to mention exploring the grounds.

“No, Arya doda, we have Asmodeus. There is no need for that.” he says almost instinctively.

“Well, yes, but if you two wouldn’t have come, that was the only solution.” And by the way, I am genuinely grateful that as soon as you heard, you had to leave your mission up north and come back to the guild.” She says, and I nearly burst into laughter. He had already filled her head with a bunch of lies in the short time I was with Selena.

“Yes, Wendy is a good friend of mine, and I am glad Arya doda confines in her.” Olden, again, is spewing lies.

“Yes, she helped me a lot, and now that she sent you two, my gratitude toward her cannot be repaid anymore,” Arya says

“Arya doda, there is no need. That is what friends do; from now on, you should also consider me a friend.

“Yes, you and Asmodeus are truly god-sent this time, “she says. Yes, you dumb blonde, I am a godsend but another god.

“But Arya doda, one thing puzzles me: didn’t you have a prince as a boyfriend back at the academy? Do you still keep in touch with him? Is this human you’re second?

“What, no, no, Tristan is human and doesn’t know about matriarchy customs; I decided, like Wendy, to keep one man only,” she says again, embarrassed.

“Oo, that is too bad, but then again, Wendy disclosed that it was not long ago you and this human are together. Isn‘t this a bit unfair for Arya doda .” he already hints at something.

“Well, noo, Tristan is my beloved, and we had a great time together. “Yes, you tell him.

“Yes, Arya doda is correct. Cultural differences are irrelevant if there is passion, great love, and sensual pleasure.”

"What, me and Tris…” she wants to say something but stops along the way."Yes, you're right." She seems unconvinced and looks sad and miserable.

"Anyway, Arya doda, if we have already reached an agreement, I will tell Asmoodeus, and we can finally leave this place. I don't enjoy the countryside too much. He makes a disgusted face.

Shit, this is bad if we leave, I can't make a deal with that guy's family. I need to find a way to stay here longer. I need at least one day. And the only solution, I think, is Selena.

I retake flight in the sky and descend where Selena's tree house is, and I knock and open the door.

She’s looking like she was waiting for me; of course, she heard I was coming.

“Asmodeus, you already miss me or what?” she again begins with her games.

“I need a favor, and I don’t have much time, and tomorrow I will tell you everything you want to know. What do you say?.” I immediately jump at the matter at hand.

She looks at me hesitantly, but finally she says

“What ?”

"I need you to delay Arya and Olden's departure:" As soon as I say it, I feel a current of electricity through the chain and nearly drop to the ground.

"You alright?" Selena is looking worried.

"I have to go. Remember, delay them. "I recover and take flight, leaving Selena confused.

She is a smart girl. I am sure she will figure it out. I take flight toward the house before this bastard zaps me again. He already got what he wanted, but I didn't, so let the battle of wits begin.

I find him outside the house. And he signals me to follow him. He goes towards the bathroom and gets in, leaving the door open.

"Come here, "I hear Olden say, and as soon as I enter, he closes the door and makes me a s Sushh sign. And then he begins to chant the water bubble spell. I know what he is doing. He doesn't want anybody to hear us. A crystalline water form begins to shape around us, and he says.

“Good, now we can talk safely. What did that girl do to you? I hope you didn’t squeal like a weasel,” He says to me.

“No, boss, that bitch wanted to brag about her hunting trophies. I told you she was dangerous. “

“Yeah, you don’t know the half of it. Arya tells me she can hear for miles, and her senses are enhanced. That bitch is a freak of nature. We got off easily. Tomorrow we say goodbye to that bitch and the old crone.

“No, boss. I wanted to make them pay for insulting me. I hate them, please, “I say to him.

I must play the bastard myself. If not, he will become suspicious when I spend too much time with Selena. A bastard can only trust another bastard because he anticipates how he will act.

"Keep your pants on, imp. We don't have time for your squabbles. "Arya proposed to me 10,000 gold if we get rid of the curse, but you know what? I refused. Haha!" he laughs like a madman.

"Why boos, why? "I play dump.

"Because that bitch has been unfucked for years. You know I have a nose for those things. She is just begging for cock. “I only need a couple of days with her, not 10,000 gold but a million. This is a great opportunity imp, and you also will reap the benefits in the future. So you better not screw this up with all your talking about the chaos lord," he lectures me.

"But boss, this is disgusting. What if when you fuck her, the other guy appears? You must be careful, boss. "

"Yeah, that's why you must keep track of time and tell me. I know you have a spell for that. She will give you great treasures in the future so you better help me. "Yeah, sure, trust me to help you.

"Woah, that is great, boos. She promised me ten demonic staffs, remember? "

"You will have hundreds. You need to get rid of the curse, and then I'll take care of the other guy if you understand what I mean. "

"Sure, boss, like those adventurers back then. "I tell him.

"No, that thing got a little messy at the end, but. We do it cleaner this time. "Yeah, it got really messy. You poisoned an entire tavern to get rid of 3 adventurers.

"O key boss if put it like that, "I tell him.

" Let's get to sleep so tomorrow morning we are fresh for the road," he says, finally.

We enter the main house, and I lie down in a corner and close my eyes. I hope Selena comes to my rescue.

Third person p. o. v.

Selena is creeping into the house and into her mother's cellar. Sonya is awake and is rubbing her old bones with an oil extract that was supposed to cure her old age arthritis. She got the recipe from an Elven cosmetic alchemy magazine.

She sees her daughter entering the cellar.

"How did it go? Did you find out anything? "Sonya asks her daughter, who has her head down as a sign of failure.

"No, Mom, he is smart. He's avoiding my questions. He's not that simple to deal with. "Selena says with a surrendering voice.

"Yeah, I've noticed that thing is dangerous. "

"First, he went out and then came back, saying that I must delay Olden and Arya's departure. Then I saw electricity on his neck, and he was in pain like someone was hurting him through that chain he is wearing. It was weird.

“Yes, I am familiar with that chain. They were using them on orc captives and enslaved people. They are nasty. If you try to remove them, they will kill you.” Sonya is talking to her daughter, who listens with a worried look.

“What do you think, Mom? “

"I don't know. Arya told me they will head out tomorrow, but the question is, do we let Tristan alone with those two before we know their intentions? Either you go with them, or we delay them as he suggested. So it is your decision. Sonya smiles at her daughter.

"Nice mom throwing this whole thing on me, no, I won't go with them. We delay them until we learn more. "

"Okay, then leave it to me. Go and take some rest because tomorrow you're dancing with the devil again. "Sonya's laughter reverberates on the cold stone cellar walls.