Demon's Embrace

The Demon's Gambit

I paced back and forth in my cluttered cottage, frustration and anxiety gnawing at me. Not only was I at a loss for how to travel to the forbidden realm to retrieve the potion Selena demanded, when my magic was failing me at every turn. To make matters worse, Vegas, the demon bound to me, lounged in the corner, indifferent to my distress.

"Hey, I know you can't help, but at least don't annoy someone who's already stressed," I  snapped at Vegas, who was casually flipping through my spell journal – a lighthearted project I had started ages ago.

Vegas glanced up, his expression unreadable. "You're the one who summoned me," he replied nonchalantly. "Don't blame me for your troubles."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration.I knew Vegas was right, but that didn't make it any less aggravating. With a defeated slump of my shoulders, I sank onto a nearby chair, my mind racing with futile attempts to find a solution to his predicament.

Vegas chuckled, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Is this a common witch thing, or is it just you, little witch? Making journals and adding cat stickers as magic pics?"

I scowled at the teasing remark, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. "It's called creativity,"  I retorted defensively. "And for your information, cat stickers are a powerful symbol in some magical traditions."

Vegas raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Sure they are," he replied sarcastically, flipping a page in the journal to reveal a particularly colorful sticker of a cat wearing a wizard's hat. "Well, whatever floats your broomstick, I guess."

I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore Vegas's mockery as I focused on finding a solution to my dilemma.

Before I could gather my thoughts, I felt a sudden presence beside mw and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Vegas sitting there, seemingly materializing out of thin air. The demon's unexpected appearance sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins, my heart racing in my chest.

"Why did you do that?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration.

Vegas merely smirked, unfazed by my reaction. "Oh, did the little witch almost have a heart attack?" he taunted, his tone dripping with amusement.

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to lash out at the demon. I knew that getting riled up would only give Vegas more satisfaction. Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of my heart.

"Stop messing with me," I muttered, my voice strained. "I've got enough on my plate without you adding to it."

Vegas chuckled, leaning back in his chair with an air of nonchalance. "Where's the fun in that?" he replied cryptically, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Despite my irritation, I couldn't help but feel a grudging admiration for Vegas's ability to remain unfazed in the face of danger. But deep down, I knew that the demon's presence in his life would continue to be a source of both frustration and intrigue for a long time to come.

"I will help you" Vegas suddenly says.
My eyes widened in astonishment as Vegas spoke. "You... you'll help me?" I stammered, disbelief coloring my voice.

Vegas smirked, his expression smug. "I said I will help you. Is it really that hard to understand?" he replied, his tone laced with amusement.

I shook my head in bewilderment. "But... why?" I asked, my mind reeling with confusion.

Vegas's smirk widened as he leaned back in his chair. "Because, little witch," he explained, "as long as I am here, I am bound to you. And your dumb and broke ass definitely can't travel to that place by yourself. You only have one week, right? You wasted one day just thinking, and with your powers, I can't let you go alone there. That's why."

I blinked, processing Vegas's words slowly. It was hard to believe that the demon, who had been nothing but a thorn in his side since the moment they met, was now offering his help. But despite his skepticism, I couldn't deny the logic in Vegas's words.

"Fine," I conceded, begrudgingly accepting Vegas's offer. "But don't think this means I trust you."

Vegas chuckled, unfazed by my distrust. "Don't worry, little witch," he replied, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I wouldn't trust me either."

"And I am doing this for myself as long as I am here, I will use you for my own good" before I can reply to him, Vegas disappeard in thin air.

My frustration bubbled up as I muttered to myself, "Of course, he's only doing it for himself. He's a demon, after all. Why would he care about someone who's giving him a place to stay and even ready to give him food if he asks?"

Before I could dwell further on my thoughts, Vegas reappeared before me, causing mee to let out another startled scream. The demon's sudden appearance sent a shiver down my spine as I found myself trapped between Vegas's arms, the chair preventing any escape.

"You are the one who summoned me, little witch," Vegas declared, his voice low and dangerous as he leaned in closer, his eyes locking with mine. "And now, you're going to help me."

My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the weight of Vegas's presence bearing down on me. Despite my fear, a stubborn defiance rose within me.I refused to let Vegas intimidate me, even if I was bound to the demon's will.

"Fine," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unease gnawing within me. "But don't think this changes anything between us. I'll help you, but I won't be your puppet."

Vegas's lips curled into a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes. "We'll see about that, little witch," he murmured, his breath ghosting over my skin. "We'll see."