The Return of the Order - Act 5

Malphas grinned, despite his recently deceased master's attempts to draw out the contract, he had completed his end of the bargain and had finally feasted. It had not been the best quality soul, but it had sated his hunger. More importantly, the end of the contract meant he could finally return home to his mate and children. Children, he considered the word; they were hardly children now. The twins had turned seventeen while he had been away and were coming fully into their powers. He was proud of the young demons they were becoming, of the control they were showing, and of the strength Louisa had shown in directing their education.

As he prepared to leave the master's house for the last time, he found himself unable to move. He heard ancient words being spoken, it was faint, but there was no mistaking the power that lay behind those words. He fought against them as they bound him; as the words grew louder, the magic grew stronger, pain seared through his body, as his reality and his human form were ripped away. Fully transformed, black mist surrounded him, saliva dripped from his fangs, and his wings fought against the circle of power that held him in his new surroundings. A low and menacing growl emanated from him as he turned within the circle, searching for the one who had bound and summoned him.

Snarling, arms, and wings outstretched, talons facing the quivering human who stood safely outside the circle, he spoke, “who dares summon and bind the might Malphas against his will?”

“I do,” whispered the approaching male.

Malphas sneered at the trembling, barely audible voice, “a mere human, how does such a pitiful creature know the words of power?”

Malphas moved again against the circle, pain seared through his flesh. He snarled and hissed, the being may be pitiful to behold, but the magic was strong, and had left nothing to chance. The binding held, he could not escape, nor could he reach the space between worlds or the demon realm; Malphas’ frustration and anger grew.

Seeing the magic he was holding, the human straightened a little and spoke with greater authority.

“I am Sir Malcolm Birch, and I summon the great Malphas to do my bidding.”

Malphas’ laugh echoed around the room.

“The cost of such impudence is high, and you will suffer for it, pitiful human.”

"My end is of no consequence, and my desire is simple. Once the task is complete, you may take my soul as painfully as you wish."

Malphas quietened his raging and focused on the human that stood before him. Exquisite pain and sadness ran through its very being, and informed its every movement. In his stillness, Malphas was almost overwhelmed by the purity of the soul emanating from the human; the only stain upon it was the actions it now undertook. Intrigue began to overcome Malphas’ anger.

"What is it you desire Sir Malcolm Birch, for what do you imperial your immoral soul?"

“To know those who murdered my wife and child, and to ensure they know my pain before they meet their maker.”

Malphas’ anger subdued further at the mention of the wife and child and his tone softened.

“Any demon could accomplish such a task and would do so willingly for such a pure feast as you. Why risk my wrath by forcefully binding me?”

“I had to be sure that it was you that would answer my call. My wife spoke highly of you and one other. I had no idea the incantation would cause such pain.”

Curiosity now fought with the remains of Malphas’ anger.

“Then, do you freely choose to form a contract with me, knowing that the gates of paradise will be forever closed to you?”

“Yes, I do.”

"Then choose where the seal shall be placed and let the contract be completed. The more obvious the mark, the closer the bond between master and demon."

“Then let it be upon my eye.”

“Then approach the circle and let it be done.”

Malcolm moved forward, his face against the protective flame of the circle; Malphas raised his clawed hand, level with Malcolm’s right eye and spoke the words. Pain seared through Malcolm’s face as the mark sealed his contract and the circle that bound Malphas disappeared.

Malphas returned to his human form, complete with butler garb, and plucked white gloves from the air. His eyes flitted from the mark that now sat upon his right hand, and the one that stared back at him from the eye of Sir Malcolm Birch. He would need to find a way to communicate with Louisa. He knew from experience that the summoning and binding incantations that Birch had used meant he remained cut off from the space between worlds and the demon realm. He would have to rely on the closest thing he had to a friend in the human realm to get a message to Louisa, he only hoped that his new master lived close enough for it to be a viable option. He sighed, once more pulling on the gloves that both covered his mark, and signified his role within the household.

“Now my Lord, one last task for this evening, you must name me.”

“Name you?”

“Yes, my Lord, it wouldn’t do for my true name to be widely known now would it?”

“No, I suppose not. What have you been called previously?”

“I have been known by many names, my Lord, one of my most preferred was Sebastian, Sebastian Michaelis.”

“Then I name you Sebastian Michaelis.”

Sebastian, knelt before his new master; placing his hand on his chest, “then, I, Sebastian, will be your loyal servant, unwaveringly follow any order you give, do everything in my power to aid you in reaching your goal, and be by your side until the very end.”

He did not add, not out loud anyway, that at that end, he would rip out the young man’s soul slowly and painfully, ensuring that he paid for every moment that Sebastian would now lose with his family.