‡ Promise 30: Collecting A Debt ‡

-As told by Darvin-

stood outside the arena of a Vorhan fight, within a demon kingdom, going over my sheets with my friend Lemri. This is place where demons go to gamble, over the outcome of the fights between two Vorhans, a dragon/spider like creature. Ugly bastards, they are, and considered as cattle down here. But their fights are the hottest sport in the darker realms and they keep me in high demand, for those gamblers who don't know when to quit.
"So," says Lemri, looking over the list on his palm-pilot, "You've got Rowogyr, Vesysk, and Xardy. What about Rolmir?" Hatred filled my face and I let out a sour grunt. "He's the worse one." my friend reminds, "Twenty one thousand." "I know!" I growl, "The bastard keeps hiding behind that other Rolmir." Yes, the Rolmirs are well known and hated in the demon world, a more popular conversation than the Vorhan fights. Almost every kingdom has an ax to grind with that one family, but no one has the guts to do anything about it.
Tales of the Rolmirs' destruction and vengeance have been going around for centuries and no one wishes to lose their kingdom to the newest king, just yet. But one day, someone is going to put those half-breeds in their place. I, personally, didn't care one way or another about the Rolmirs. Blood has no consequence with me, in my business. But that Faldan thinks he can do whatever he wants, just because his bloodline is feared, and skip out on his debts. And that's when I became a little irked with the Rolmirs.
What made me detest them, as much as any other demon, is when that Keith decided he was some hot-shot, telling me how I may or may not do my job. No one gets into my face and threatens me, I don't care who they may think they are. I let it go, last night, but it won't end there. Faldan will pay and his cousin's head will be a trophy on my wall. And for extra measure, I may just have a little fun with that dark-haired girl. She was kind of cute.
"Uh-oh." frowns Lemri, "What are you thinking about? You have that look! You're not going to get into trouble again, are you?" "I'm all about the trouble." I shrug, looking towards the cheering from the arena, "Look, I'm going to catch Faldan. You handle the other two here." "Don't do anything stupid." warns Lemri, as I walk ahead. "I can't promise that." I grin and then disappear.
I knew of the gate, in that small town, in the woods. Perhaps Faldan would be there, because I knew he wasn't stupid enough to be in his usual spots, where I could find him. Don't get me wrong, he is pretty stupid to run up a high debt and then try to ditch me, but he's not stupid enough to not watch out for his own neck. No, he would most likely stay close to his bad-ass cousin for protection. And of course, that was exactly the case.
I watch in the shadows, not far for the gate, as Faldan and some undead girl stand arguing. "I had a tea-party planned for tonight." she whines, "And I had to cancel it, to babysit you!" "I don't need you for a babysitter!" shouts Faldan, his face turning red, "Why don't you get lost!?" "I would!" she shouts, "Gladly! But Master told me-" "Oh, come on!" hiss Faldan, "Don't you ever stop slobbering over Master's butt!? Come up for air, once in a while!"
"Oi!" she shouts, stepping closer to him, as if she were going to strike, "That's your ruddy problem, isn't it!? You blow off any direction from any authority, doing whatever the hell you please, and breaking all of the rules! That's why you're always in trouble with Master, always in trouble with bookies, and always in trouble in general. You're a walking mess! And you want to criticize me, because I choose not to live your reckless existence? How well did it work out for you, yes? Master isn't angry with me, I didn't put Lily in danger, and I don't have a twenty-one thousand dollar debt! Darvin is going to kill you, you know!"
I had to grin. The undead girl was right in so many ways, except one. I wasn't going to kill Faldan, because I'd never get my money that way. And I've already beaten him, breaking both legs on one occasion, and it didn't seem to sink in. So, my next step is to torture and kill those he cares for. And there weren't many that Faldan cared for either, except for his family. But maybe his cousin cares for this undead girl and if I should mess her up a bit... I stepped a little forward, but had to pull back, as movement brushed right past me. A sweet and wonderful scent filled my nostrils.
"Well," sighs the undead girl, "At least I'll have Lily to chat with. It's getting rather dull having a conversation with the dimwitted." "Screw you!" shouts Faldan, turning his back. "What's going on?" asks the girl named Lily. "Nothing, love." waves the undead girl, "Just keeping an eye on this one, here. Did you come to visit Master? He's a little busy with the council, along with Dore." "Council?" asks Lily, unknowing of the ways of the demon world. "It's held every autumn." nods the girl, "Master and his First Guard form a group with other old stuffy demons and go over the issues of the kingdom." "Oh," says Lily, clearly disappointed.
I've decided that using both the human girl and undead would be my best bet. Faldan may not care about injuries to himself, but he may care if his cousin's best servant and girlfriend is killed. I have a feeling that Faldan is highly afraid of Keith. So, I'm going to use it to my advantage. I step from the shadows, swiftly. "Eep!" shrieks Faldan, ready to disappear. But I quickly grab the girls by the hair, pulling them roughly around. "Uh-uh." I sang, getting Faldan's attention, "If you leave now, you'll miss their deaths!" "Stop!" he shivers, "You can't do that!" "I can." I grin, yanking the hair of the struggling human girl. She stops fighting, realizing that she'd lose her hair from her scalp, before she could ever escape my angry grip.
"This isn't right." pleads Faldan, circling me and the girls. "What's not right is you not paying me." I stated, calmly watching his desperate movements, "I want my money now or the girls will die." I felt a sudden bite in my left arm and left leg, where I had the undead one. Two dolls were attacking me, the pain causing me to let go of the girl for just a second, long enough for her to run free and disappear. "Dammit!" I growl, kicking both dolls into the gate. I wrapped my left arm around the human girl's neck, my other arm around her waist, pulling her into me.
"Well," I sigh, unleashing my claw on my left hand, "I still have one girl. And she's the most important one, anyway." I gently touched my claw against her right cheek. "So," I continue, "Where's my money, Faldan?" "I-I-I-" he stammer, wringing his hands in worry, "I don't have it! But, I promise I'll get it soon!" "Hmm..." I frown, "That's what you said, last week... and the week before... and four months ago." "I'll get the money!" he pleads, as the girl shakes in my arm, "I swear!"
"No," I said, shaking my head, "I don't think your word is worth crap. No... What I think is, you're just trying to jerk me around again. And I think I will not fall for it again. And- this is the important part- I think you need an incentive for giving me my money. Something to inspire to." "Darvin." he pleads, falling to his knees, "Don't do it. You can't. She has nothing to do with it. She belongs to Keith. You don't want his wrath! He'll kill us both." I ignore him, not worried about his cousin in the least.
"I think," I continue, "I won't kill her, this time. But, when I'm done, she'll wish I had." I cut into her soft cheek and she screams in fear and slight pain. "No!" shouts Faldan, rushing towards me. I dodge out of the way, the girl still in my arms, and move my claw against her neck. "Oh, no." I grin, shaking my head, "If you do that again, I'll definitely slit her throat. Just sit there and watch the show, like a good little boy, Faldan."
There is a rush of air and suddenly we have company. A very pissed off Keith and his masked henchman stand before the gate. "Now the fun will begin." I sneer. "Darvin," says Keith, calmly, "Didn't I tell you that the girl was mine?" "You did." I nod, my claw ready for any sudden movements, "But I don't care to listen. I will get paid one way or another. And you don't scare me, Rolmir." We stare at each other, waiting for each to make his move...