He could punch mein the face as many times as he wanted. I could take it. As long ashe left my family alone, I would take it.Gladly.
“And it probablywon’t be the last,” he replied softly, his lips against my temple.“Especially with an attitude like that.”
“I want to make adeal with you,” I said seriously.
Darren pulled backand looked at me, an intense look of surprise across hisface.
“You want to makea deal with me,” he replied, narrowing his eyes atme.
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure youhave much to bargain with,” he said, regarding meclosely.
“I have a lot morethan you think,” I replied with confidence.
“Well, let’s hearyour proposal,” Darren said with intrigue.
“You have me, thismuch is obvious, but what youdon’thave … is mevoluntarily.”
Darren raised anyeyebrow at me, but I could tell he knew where I was going withthis.
“Notyet.” Hesmirked.
“Precisely,” Ireplied. “If you agree to leave my family alone, to let them liveout their days without harm, then I will remainyoursvoluntarilyfor aslong as you want me.”
This time,both of hiseyebrows raised.
“I’ll obey everyword you say without question or complaint. I won’t argue, I won’ttry to run, and I won’t fight you unless you want me to. I’llsurrender my subconscious to your rules and become the perfectlittle princess you’ve always wanted. I’ll walk down that aisle ina white dress or nothing at all and give you asmanysonsas you ask of me.You’ll be able to trust me to leave yoursightand return to you without command orcoercion. I will be yours for the rest of my life and admit it toyou every day without revulsion and replace it with pride. All Iask of you in return is that you simply let my loved oneslive.”
That was it. I hadofficially surrendered my soul to the devil to spare my family historment. I felt my heart break as I realized what I was giving up,but in the end, knowing they would live would be worth it no matterthe sacrifice.
Darren stared atme for a good long time. I pleaded with my eyes for him to take myoffer. He had to have known his life would be so much easier if Iwas cooperative and accepting of what he wanted from me. This wasthe deal of a lifetime. Fucking literally.
As I looked upinto that dark deep blue of his, something shifted in them, and aslight smirk formed in the corner of Darren’slips.
“My sweet, sweet,Jaden,” he smiled. “That is one hell of a deal you’vepresented.”
I felt my insidesquiver as I waited with baited fucking breath for hisresponse.
Takethe deal. Take the fucking deal!
“But why on Earthwould I agree to give up something I desire for something I’malready going to achieve?”
I felt my eyesbulge as I stared up at him. Was he seriously turning medown?
“Wait, what?” Iasked, not sure I even understood. Darren still held my face in hishands, and he suddenly began to walk forward, forcing me to takeseveral steps backward as I fought to remainbalanced.
“You see, Jaden,everything you justofferedme is already going to happen anyway,regardless of whether I agree to spare your family or not.Voluntary or not makes no difference to me. You are mine no matterwhat you try to rationalize and no amount of bargaining will changethat. In fact, those lovely words you just declared can beconsidered your wedding vows to me because that is exactly what Iexpect from you and, in time, that is exactly whatIwillget from you.I don’t need to make a deal with you to ensure that. I hate tobreak it to you, princess, but I’m declining your offer because,like I said, you have nothing to bargain with.”
I felt my entirebeing completely shut down. I felt my knees give out, but Darrencaught me and held me against him. I felt myself begin tohyperventilate as I came to the realization that the devil didn’tneed to bargain for my soul … because he already fucking had it. Mybody shivered with fear as more hushed tears rolled down my face,soaking Darren’s shirt.
“Shh …” Darrenwhispered, his arm tight around my body, as his hands caressed upand down my back. “You’re going to be all right, Jaden. It will behard at first, but eventually, it will get easier. Ipromise.”
Rage instantlybuilt up inside of me again. It would get easier? He thought itwould get easier for me once my family was dead?! Was this guy ondrugs?! How could he possibly expect me to forgive him forthis!
I tried to containit, but it needed an outlet. Badly.
“You …” I startedto say softly, and eventually, I finally found my voice. “You can’tfucking do this to me!” I shouted at him, pulling away, but hisarms remained around me. “I’ve already given you everything! Whythe fuck do you need to take them from me,too?!”
