Understanding

For a moment, I could do nothing but stare into the light, mesmerized, then I yanked my hand back, staring at the floor, fighting back tears of hopelessness and rage. I balled my hands into tight fists, then looked Minias square in the eye. “You will remove this bond, demon, or so help me, I will remove it for you! I asked you to free me from Emanuel. That was our arrangement and nothing else. THIS was not a part of our agreement and therefore our previous contract is null and void and you OWE ME ONE FAVOR!” My voice was shrill and panicked, but Minias looked at me as though I was a child.

“Are you through with your tantrum? I have all day, make no mistake, but I grow bored of your outbursts. They get you in trouble far too often, little witch.” I detested the way he knew me, but I suppressed the urge to cross my arms over my chest and huff. I waited for him to continue. “I cannot remove a demon bond, it is beyond any beings power.” He smirked. “Unless you wish to die, because that can certainly be arranged.” I glared at him, my arms at my sides, fists still clenched, but said nothing. “Very well. As you wish. Then we will spend all of eternity with this bond.” His voice took on an irksome, dejected tone.

“Eternity?!” I practically choked. “I am not immortal, I am a witch!”

I could sense his impatience. “You hear, but you do not listen. You have demon blood inside of you. Which means,” he grabbed my chin, tipping it up to his face, and spoke slowly, “you have the lifespan of a demon. I did not say you were immortal- your human body is still as fragile as it ever was. But you will not age.” I pulled my face back angrily. I didn’t want to hear anymore. I wanted to get the hell out of the Ever After. He peered at my curiously. “Why did you come here? Another joy ride?” He smirked slightly, then frowned, obviously remembering my last ‘joy ride’ here happened to involve me saving his life.

I sighed, then explained to him my need for a familiar. He nodded while he listened, confirming my suspicions were right. When I was finished, he left the room, and I hesitated, unsure if I should follow. Before I could take my first step, he’d returned, holding a sphere the size of a magic 8 ball. He held it out to me, and I looked him over suspiciously before taking it. “What is it?”

“This is an energy sphere. More accurately, this is my energy sphere. I believe, as my bonded, you will be able to spindle your energy through it, and seize it’s force. It works as my familiar. I created it.” He lifted his head proudly. I looked at him, shocked. “You’re sharing this with me? Why?”

He sighed and shook his head, muttering, “I do not know. Just take it and leave the Ever After. If I need it, or you, I will call on you.” He frowned again. “Can you be summoned?”

I blinked. “Demons are summoned, and I’m not a demon…right?” He looked at me perplexed for a moment, then seemed to dismiss the thought. “Go now, Evelyn. Go back to your dimension and do NOT return to the Ever After until I call on you. Is that understood? If you are harmed, I am harmed, and I will not allow that.” He murmured more Latin, and I could feel the line energy spindle quickly into my head and I knew I could teleport. I nodded. “Thank you, Minias. For not letting me be sold, for the sphere, and for explaining it to me…” I watched him, confused, for tapping into the line and teleporting home, my hands grasping the energy sphere tightly.