Fantasy Deals with a Devil

[Jacrezz]

What if there was a place that wasn't supposed to exist? Where the lines between right and wrong were just as blurred as reality and fantasy? Where said lines might not have existed at all? A place where the weary, the convicted, the abused came for refuge? A place where magic came as easily as breathing, where the not as human walked freely? What if a place like this existed?


Deep down in the Louisiana bayou there's a Victorian manor, old and worn and untouched by humans for centuries. Well, regular humans. The manor is said to be a demon's now, and his business is in trade. The currency and goods? Favours, information, and wishes. Only those in desperate need of something --escape, health, shelter-- can walk the manor's grounds, and only those few that he finds interesting will the demon converse with. Not all are human, beings of the supernatural and beyond coming as well, but all that do come must have a goal or need, and seek shelter in the Cajun haven.


(Please don't post here until you've been accepted)

 

[Jacrezz]

Deep in an overgrown and abandoned section of land, a manor was slowly doused with morning light. It was old, worn down and falling apart due to years of emptiness. The yard and drive up to the house carpeted in weeds waist high, and the tall iron fence encasing the property was bent at odd angles. Grass moved without help of wind or animals. Lights shined briefly through windows long broken. The surrounding town's people stayed far away, either in fear that the house would collapse on them or the spirits within would go after them. Overall, it was exactly as Azeel hoped. No one bothered him or the other residents, and as a rule of his house they didn't bother the locals.


One thing that the local population always missed were the runes carved into the fence, no bigger than a child's thumb and the cause of the manor's dilapidated appearance. Only those with Azeel's name in mind could see the true beauty his manor was. It was truly stunning what a willing work force and unlimited number of small favours can do. For example, Azeel's house was over two hundred years old yet looked like it was built the day before. Three stories tall, large bay windows, several balconies, and a wrap around front porch added to the manor's character. Azeel kept most of the house old fashioned, with standard electricity and plumbing, but he had the kitchen state of the art brand new. The kitchen was the heart and soul of any house, and nothing but the best would do for him.


That was where he was when the day began. Standing over the stove with the room warm and smelling of biscuits, Azeel went about making breakfast. Sure, he could always have one of the residents do it but he was in charge of breakfast and dinner. He liked cooking, and enjoyed the compliment immensely(though he'd deny it if anyone ever asked). Checking one of the pots he was stirring and covering a pan with a lid, Azeel used a bit of teleportation magic to get the fresh baked biscuits from the over to the cooling rack on the kitchen island. It was a petty use of magic, but hey, why waste time pulling them out himself? "Breakfast is done!" He yelled, voice carrying throughout the house as he dished himself some biscuits and gravy with sausage. The early bird gets the worm, or in this case fresh, hot, homemade breakfast.


(Not every post has to be this long FYI, just starting it now.)

 

[Fey]

Long since awake, the angel sat holed up in his room as usual, piles of old books and parchments neatly organized on his desk as he scribbled away notes on each one. Ever since he’d arrived at the manor, Liam had been dedicated in finding a way to restore his memories as soon as possible. He might have found himself gradually growing more comfortable living in the grand house over these last couple of weeks, but in the end he knew he didn’t belong here and refused to allow himself to think otherwise. His days were mostly spent in the library, admiring the manor’s impressive collection in his search and avoiding the head of the mansion as much as possible. The angel might be grateful to man for allowing him to reside here for the time being, but he was was still coming to terms with the fact that he was here because he’d resorted to striking a deal with a demon of all things in the first place.


Still, he had to admit - there were also a few perks to this whole arrangement. Such as the mouthwatering scent of fresh breakfast as he made his way down to the dining room each morning. Hearing the call from downstairs, Liam dipped the quill back in it’s bottle and stood up.


“Good morning,” He greeted with a polite nod as he entered the room. “What’s on the menu today?” Liam asked, recognizing freshly-baked biscuits and something else in the air.

 

[Jacrezz]

Azeel looked over his shoulder and smiled in a charming way at Liam. He liked having the angel in the house. It made things interesting and he just loved trying to get the little winged man to strike another deal. Or at least bother him. Didn't matter to Azeel really, since actually finding a way to get the angel's memories back would require extra work. Work was for those too stupid to be able to live lavishly without lifting a finger, and if Azeel was one thing it wasn't stupid.


"Breakfast is a good ol' southern favourite," Azeel replied, waving to his right. A plate drifted weightlessly across the room to set itself into his hand, where it suddenly obeyed gravity again. As he filled the plate with food for Liam, he explained what each item was. "We have buttermilk biscuits with a milk gravy, pork sausage, diced and fried potatoes, with a side of grits." Azeel put a fork on top and slide the plate across the kitchen island to Liam, impressed that he didn't have to use magic to stop it in time. The plate was loaded, but Azeel figured that the little house angel would hole himself up after and forget lunch. Plus, the more on the plate, the longer Azeel got to bug him, since a major rule was no eating outside the kitchen, dinning or living room. Food makes a mess, and a mess is bad. "So," Azeel leaned on the counter and grinned at Liam, his red and black eyes shining with mischief. "My offer still stands. I can get you your precious little memories back if you tell me a way into Heaven." Liam had given him lots of helpful information, like how to avoid getting zapped by an angel and what the big guys were talking about, but the gates were kept secret. And Azeel hated being kept from a secret. "Come on, no one's gotta know you told you."