InsaneJournal

Teja had been summoned. He'd never been summoned by a demon before. He'd only ever dealt with one, prior to this, and it was one he didn't particularly care for. In fact, the debt between himself and Asmodeus had been paid in full and still he felt the effects of the demon's hold on him. He had to break through it. He needed to break free.

Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't do it without the knowledge and power. He didn't have the power, and he was guessing that the demon of Wrath and Contempt was looking to strike a bargain with him.

He found himself in the Malebolge again. It wasn't the first time he'd been here. He figured it wouldn't be the last. "What's this about?" He muttered, arms crossed over his chest as he looked through the trees of moaning suicide souls to see the demon in his human form. He was dark and sightless and stitching up what looked to be a pair of gloves.

"You're intending to kill Ashmedai," Mephisto said, his voice so low that the ground trembled, "So I intend to help you do it, and survive WHEN he returns."

"Killing means forever. I want to send him into the Void," Teja was still wary, refusing to move from his place, the place he'd seemingly come in from. "I have to free my mother. Myself."

"Of course you do, Teja," Mephisto said as he stood, walking closer to the red haired human. "And you will, but do you know what happens when princes die? Quite the same as when human princes do. The title must go to someone else. Are you willing to take on that burden?"

"No," Teja said in disgust, "I don't want to be one of you."

"Really, you have no choice in the matter. You could take over for him, or you will be one of mine and deny that fate. It's really up to you."

Teja blinked as he realized that there was no other recourse. Either serve Mephisto, or become Alexia's replacement. "How long do I have until I have to choose?"

"About a year and a third from when you dispatch him," Mephisto said, his tone almost flippant. "Would you like to hear how it'll happen?"

"Yes." Teja figured by knowing what will happen AFTER he killed the demon, it would give him some time to find a way out of it.

"You will kill him, and things will be good for a time. Your daughter, however, will find herself confronted by a smooth lower evil, and he WILL try to corrupt her. You will kill him. Either you will use that blood to drive that crown onto someone else's head, or you'll resurrect your old friend. If you don't, you will become the prince of Lust and Vengeance. Sounds terribly fun, to me."

"My daughter? I have no children!" Teja disputed. Would Lilo be getting pregnant?

"You will have a daughter, and she will be the light in your life that you will defend beyond your own grave. She'll be around soon. She's important, Teja, she's pure, and possibly the best creature your family line will have ever made. But right now, the more important thing at hand is this; you must kill Ashmedai. When you do, you'll be free. The crown will temporarily rest on Cerenus' head, so to speak, and you'll do as you wish. But when the time comes, and it WILL come, I will be there to protect you from whatever vengeance the other devil may inflict." With that, Mephistopheles stepped closer and dug his claws deep into Teja's forearm, burning it deeply. "This will be the hand that will kill him. From his death onward, it will be your greatest power. And it is my arm, now. When you die, and you will die once between this time and I claim you, it will come easily to you." He let go and seemed to watch as Teja's arm healed over.

Teja clenched his jaw. "So, I am yours. There's nothing more to it? I can't get out of this?"

"You've killed too many people not to be. But believe me," Mephisto comforted, "It's better than being his. Have a pleasant rest of your life." That said, Mephisto sent Teja back up to the surface.

Teja found himself in his bed at Mordhaus, drenched in sweat. There were two things in his mind. One was that he had to destroy Alexia, and the other was simply, "A daughter?"