Everything in Creation is governed and bound by Laws;

Heaven and Hell are no exception.

In times when Demons refuse to comply,

When the actions of the rogues jeopardise the balance,

Hell sends their ancient and most dangerous spawn;

The Contractor…

Act VII – The Lovebird

“No one knows whether death is really the greatest blessing a man can have, but they fear it is the greatest curse, as if they know it well.

“Plato said that. My father, Andrew John Anderson, as y’all know, was a strong man; a brave man. He didn’t fear death like we regular folks would; y’all could say he’d charge Hell with a bucket of ice water. But he wasn’t without his fears. He feared change; he feared differences.

“When I was younger, my daddy used to take me to baseball games and drive me all the way to Austin for the rodeo shows. He used to sit me down on his lap and tell me ‘Jessie, days like these make me the happiest daddy in the world; don’t you ever change darlin’.’ But I did change daddy; I found my life partner and I love her. And you loved her too! She was our neighbour, daddy; she was the Jenna that grew up with us. You treated her like your own daughter too! You loved us… so why couldn’t you love us… as us?

“I prefer to remember my father for what he used to be, not for what he did to himself in spite of me. My father taught me to love, he taught me to be strong and I will miss the father that loved me before he became a homophobic dictator who eventually took his own life.

“Thank y’all for coming today. May God be with y’all…”

He stood in the darkened parking lot of the ‘First Christian Church’ on the corner of West 6^th Street and North Lee Avenue in the sleepy town of Odessa, Texas. Stretching lazily and letting out a long, pained sigh, he reached into his crimson red trench coat and produced a small cigarette, putting it to his lips and letting it rest in the corner of his mouth.

Reaching inside his crimson coat once again, he extracted a small, silver bible and leafed through its pages, eager to kill the agonisingly slow time. The weathered, brown pages flicked beneath his thumb before he suddenly pressed his fingers down on the page. The text was written in his own messy scrawl but he could not recall having ever written a passage into his own bible.

‘The first time was the hardest, but you will be, for the second time in your life, Nyxanoth Faust, the Devil’s Contractor. AVG -’

The crimson-clad man, Nyxanoth Faust, the Contractor, scratched his head confusedly. ‘The first time,’ he thought to himself, furrowing his eyebrows for answers, ‘why can’t I remember writing this.’ He studied the last three letters of his note. ‘AVG… A signature? Someone’s initials?’

His thoughts immediately ceased at the sound of a small chime from his coat pocket. Faust shook off the creeping curiosity in the back of his mind and pocketed his bible only to replace the book with a jet-black pocket watch. He clicked it open and stared at the two hands, one red and one black, both sitting motionless at the 12 o’clock position.

Faust stood up and dusted the back of his crimson trench coat staring down the night’s road and awaiting his mark.

Down the road, two women were walking holding hands and talking to one another in hushed voices.

‘I don’t know baby, I think mama’s really coming around,’ said one, ‘Leviathan really came through.’

‘Well... okay, I guess I should be happy for you then.’ Said the other.

‘You should be happy for us baby; we’re changing the world one person at a time.’

‘But selling your soul to a Black Prince of Hell?’

‘I don’t know what it is, but he’s making the world better. I mean, mom hated that we were both in love, but look at her now; she’s asking us what our plans for the future are and she even wants us to go to Canada to get married. Can you bel -’

Both girls stopped in their tracks and stared at the curious man that appeared before them. He wore a long, flowing, crimson trench coat that fell beneath his knees. Unbuttoned and perfectly straight, the coat accentuated his long slender body, culminating in a messy head of ebon-black hair, flourishing over a pair of glowing, blood red eyes.

‘Good evening ladies,’ he said, walking towards them, ‘I believe you know who I am.’

The shorter one let go of her partner’s hand and stared at her expectantly. ‘Jessie,’ she asked, ‘is this man… one of them?’

The taller woman, Jessie, placed her arms around her partner’s shoulders and looked down at her, smiling reassuringly. ‘No Jenna, he’s the Contractor.’ She turned her head to him. ‘Mr Frost… right?’

‘It’s Faust.’ He corrected sharply. ‘You know why I’m here right?’

Jessie let go of Jenna and stepped towards him. ‘But it’s only just happened, Contractor,’ she said softly, ‘he said that you’d be here after the deal is done.’

‘I’m not here for it yet,’ he said offhandedly, ‘I’m here to tell you what’s gonna happen after your soul gets reaped.’

Jessie shook her head. ‘That’s not necessary Faust; I know exactly what’s going to happen,’ she quickly hushed him, ‘my soul will remain the property of Hell and its Dark Lord, Leviathan: the Throne of Envy.’ Her eyes narrowed as if to caution Faust not to say anything further. ‘That’s it.’

Faust lifted an eyebrow sceptically. ‘Whatever.’

‘Umm… excuse me, Mr Contractor?’ Jenna interjected meekly, raising her hand slightly in the air.

‘Seriously?’ Faust replied sardonically, ‘serious with the hand raising?’ He sighed. ‘Fine, what do you want?’

‘Umm… didn’t Leviathan say that a… a demon would be bringing back Jessie’s soul?’

Faust ran his hand tiredly through his hair. ‘Usually they would but I’ve become very… wary of fire demons recently. I’m just here to make sure everything goes smoothly.’

‘But umm… what can go -’

‘You’re very short on time here lady,’ Faust cut in impatiently, ‘I suggest you both go and wrap up your affairs before time’s up.’

Jenna and Jessie exchanged looks and nodded, making their way back home with the tall, slender, crimson-clad Contractor in tow.

They entered a small, two-storey townhouse and Jenna threw her keys into the red Chinese-style porcelain bowl that sat on a small table next to the doorway.

‘Is that mah baby girl?’ Came a high-pitched voice from the sitting room nearby. ‘Did ya bring Jessie with ya?’

‘It’s me, mama,’ Jenna replied politely, ‘what are you still doing up? It’s almost three.’

A middle-aged blonde lady came into the hallway holding a white ‘Texan and Proud’ mug in her hands. ‘Oh sweet pea, ah couldn’t get me a wink o’ sleep. Must’ve been missin’ ya lots.’ She said in a thick, Texan accent. Her eyes darted over to Jessie. ‘Ah, there’s mah other baby girl!’ She walked over and planted kisses on both Jenna and Jessie’s foreheads before turning to Faust and staring at him curiously. ‘Ain’t ya gon’ introduce me to yer friend here?’

‘Oh, mama this is umm… Mr Faust. He is -’

‘I’m their attorney ma’am,’ Faust interrupted, ‘I’m here to settle some property disputes with Miss Anderson and her father’s estate next door.’

‘Well ain’t that nice. Ah’ll be in the sittin’ room if y’all need me. It was nice meetin’ ya Mr Faust.’

He nodded and she turned back into the sitting room to resume watching her programs.

Jenna smiled at Jessie. ‘Mama’s been like that all day, baby,’ she told her, ‘and it’s all thanks to you… I love you so much Jess.’

Jessie returned the smile and kissed her partner tenderly on the lips. ‘I’m glad your mom’s coming around to us.’

‘I’m glad baby,’ Jessie replied with tears of joy welling in her eyes, ‘I’m glad that your house is free from intolerance. I wish I could have done this earlier before daddy…’ She trailed off and Jenna gave her a reassuring hug. ‘I’m glad you live next door baby,’ Jessie said longingly, ‘I can’t stand being in that house. Too many bad memories of living with a daddy that is always angry at you for being who you are.’

‘But look at us now, baby; we’ve risen from the ashes and now we’re actually making a difference in the world.’

Faust let out a sarcastic snort of derision and rolled his eyes.

‘Excuse me?’ Jenna piped up, seeing the look on Faust’s face.

‘Nothing, I just think you’re both full of shit.’ He said rudely.

Both women stared at each other in shock and looked back at him. ‘We’re idealists Mr Faust,’ Jessie defended, ‘we’re trying to rid the world of intolerance. We’re encouraging people to live how they want and not be hated because of how they are.’

‘So you’re encouraging people to feel and think the way they want by forcibly removing your girlfriend’s mother’s hatred towards gay people?’ He shook his head disapprovingly. ‘You see the fucking irony in what you just said right?

‘This is different!’ Jessie protested loudly. ‘We’re removing intolerance so that she can now make decisions free from her own hatred.’

‘Mama’s been happier since we removed her homophobia and now she can look forward to having a daughter-in-law that she can love and not look at what we are like we’re some kind of lepers.’ Jenna added.

‘Exactly,’ Jessie agreed, ‘it doesn’t matter that we had to change her mind with force; it’s just a stepping stone to making her life and our lives… Hell, even the lives of the gay and lesbian community in Texas better for everyone. We’re promoting and encouraging freedom and equality in all of America, Contractor.’

‘By taking away someone’s right to their own belief?’ He replied curtly.

‘Are you a homophobe, Mr Faust?’ Jenna asked angrily. ‘Do you hate homosexuals?’

‘Of course I hate homosexuals!’ Faust answered with the same amount of heat in his voice. ‘The same way I hate heterosexuals, metrosexuals, pansexuals, transsexuals, bisexuals, biracials, multiracials, interracials, republicans, democrats, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, blacks, whites, yellows, greens, oranges…’ Faust took a deep, heavy breath. ‘And the Kardashians! I hate everyone on this breathless, husk of a plane. So don’t flatter yourselves and don’t impugn my honour by limiting my hatred to the small minority to which you fucking belong!’

‘See?’ It’s attitude like that that makes us desperate for a change in the world.’ Jessie snapped. ‘We’re only trying to make the world a better place!’

‘Do you have any idea how hard it is for us to walk down the street?’ Jenna asked outrageously. ‘People look at us like we’re different; like we’re mutants! Me and Jess, we’re practically the same people; we talk the same as them, we eat the same foods, we even have the same coloured eyes! Everyone but us sees us differently; we only want them to see the world through our eyes; through the eyes of equals, Mr Faust. It doesn’t make us bad people.’

Faust growled angrily. 'How many of you naive idealists will sell your soul just for a shot at world peace? So long as differences exist, prejudice exists. If you can't make peace with that, then sell your soul for a condo in the mountains so that you don't have to give a shit about the rest of the world.'

Jenna and Jessie were speechless. All three stood in the landing, saying nothing through the uncomfortable cloud of silence until finally, Jenna spoke. ‘We should…’ she began meekly, ‘we should have chat with mama before you…’ Her voice trailed off.

‘That was an awful lot of noise yer making there sweet pea,’ Jenna’s mother remarked concernedly as they walked into the sitting room, ‘what’s this about ya tryin’ to change the world?’

‘It’s nothing mama,’ Jenna said softly, avoiding eye contact with her mother, ‘we were just having a… a difference of opinion.’

Jessie walked over and sat next to Jenna’s mother. ‘Marlene,’ Jessie said softly, ‘how are you feeling?’

Jenna’s mother, Marlene, placed her hand on Jessie’s and grasped it tightly. ‘Ah am really lookin’ forward to our trip up to Canada next week darlin’,’ she said comfortingly, ‘you have always been the apple of mah other eye and now yer gonna be mah daughter for real. I love ya both a tonne and ah can’t wait to see mah two angels walk down the aisle together.’

Jessie wiped a tear of joy from her eye and laid her head against Marlene’s shoulders, sobbing slightly and beaming widely.

‘You see that Mr Faust?’ Jenna stated, also rubbing a tear from her eye. ‘Do you see what we have achieved here? This is love; love for a family, love for one another; harmony. My own mama can now see past her hatred towards homosexuals and love us for who we truly are on the inside.’

Faust folded his arms and stared at Jenna, unimpressed at her childish idealism. He opened his mouth to retaliate but was interrupted by Marlene.

‘What’s this now? Hatin’ ya for bein’ gay?’ She said, furrowing her eyebrows angrily. ‘Baby girl, what nonsense are ya spoutin’?’

Jessie lifted her head from her soon-to-be mother-in-law’s shoulders. ‘It’s nothing Marlene,’ she said, slowly getting a hold over her soft sniffling, ‘it’s just we knew you didn’t approve of us.’

Marlene shook her head fervently. ‘That’s true child; ah didn’t approve of yer union. In mah ignorant eyes, it was unholy and blasphemous and somethin’ the good Lord would frown upon. But it weren’t because you were gay.’

Jessie and Jenna exchanged confused looks before Jenna walked over and kneeled before her mother, dropping down so that her eyes were perfectly level. ‘Then why, mama,’ she said slowly and cautiously, ‘why did you hate us being together so much?’

‘Oh child,’ Marlene began sympathetically, ‘ah’m sorry for causin’ ya such anguish but at the tahm, ah thought it was unholy for two siblin’s to be marryin’ one another and sleepin’ with one another. But y’know, ah can see the light now; y’all are in love and there ain’t nothin’ unholy ‘bout that.’

There was a deafening silence in the air as the last few words escaped Marlene’s mouth. Jenna’s mouth opened and closed mutely as she struggled to process what she had heard. ‘S-siblings?’ She stammered. ‘You… you said siblings?’

‘Yes sweet pea,’ she said innocently, clearly not understanding the gravity of her words, ‘but it doesn’t matter baby girl; ah just realised recently that there’s nothin’ more beautiful in this world than the love of two human beings; gay or no.’

‘We’re… siblings? We’re related!’ Jenna shouted fearfully.

‘My daddy… you had an affair… w-with my daddy?’ Jessie stammered.

‘After yer mama died givin’ birth to ya, sweet pea, yer daddy dad needed some consolin’. He used to climb the fence and come over and we’d chat an-’

‘So my daddy didn’t kill himself because I was gay.’

‘No darlin’. We discussed this at length and he always loved ya for who y’were.’ Marlene finally noticed the distraught look upon Jessie and her daughter. ‘But none of this matters, Jessie,’ she said reassuringly, ‘y’all love each other, ya found each other an’ next week, we’re all gon’ be a family together.’

‘But that’s not what’s wrong here,’ Jessie shouted, ‘what’s wrong is -’

She stopped suddenly and fell out of her chair, dropping onto the floor and clutching her chest painfully. Jessie let out a loud, excruciating moan as she rolled around the sitting room floor writhing.

Jenna stood up and turned to Faust, shaking his arms. ‘What’s happening to her? What’s going on Faust?’

Faust stared back into Jenna’s eyes with cold indifference. ‘We’re out of time.’ He stated simply.

‘What’s going on baby girl,’ Marlene cried, rising out of her sagging couch, ‘do we need to get an ambulance?’

None replied as they watched Jessie’s chest heave up and down as she lay on the floor. With both hands, she grabbed her shirt and tore off the material desperately, revealing a large red, circular sigil glowing on her bare and sweaty chest. She stared down at her torso in horror as a darkened, decaying, red demon poked its cackling head through the glowing symbol between her naked breasts. Before long, the demon emerged fully from Jessie’s body, its gory talons clutching onto a small, golden orb as it stepped over the unconscious form of its former host.

The fire demon let out a satisfied snicker as it heard the whimper of a middle-aged Texas woman collapsing from shock in front of it as it surveyed the room with its black, hollow eyes. The demon, however, had little time to react; as soon as it had made eye contact with the Contractor, Faust had already had his strong hand around the demons neck. 

With a maddening glint in his eyes, Faust wasted no time in reciting the exorcism rites that he memorised from his silver bible. ‘Mors ultima linea rerum est! In morte requiesces!’ No sooner had he finished his incantations, he could feel the flesh of the demons neck char and crumble under his skin until all he was holding onto was a handful of ash.

He patted his hands indifferently and bent down to retrieve the golden sphere from the pile of grey dust that sat on the sitting room floor, pocketing the small orb triumphantly.

He stood up and straightened his crimson trench coat, before about-facing and heading for the door. Faust took a quick glance back at the sitting room, spotting Jenna sitting on the ground in front of Jessie, rocking back and forth on her heels and looking absolutely stupefied.

Against his better judgement, Faust walked to her and stood above her, pondering what to say to her. He hesitated and opened his mouth mutely before finally deciding on his approach.

‘When making deals with devils,’ he began, ‘you should always remember that there’s some ironic consequence behind what they do; kind of like a monkey’s paw. Their sole goal for this world is to make it as chaotic as the shitstorm that is the fiery pit. Do you understand?’

Jenna sat catatonically on the floor and simply nodded her head in acknowledgement. ‘What… what should I do now?’

Faust tilted his head left and right, cracking his neck and demonstrating his annoyance towards her. ‘All you have now is, ironically, a choice.’

‘Choice?’

‘Yes, mortal, a choice,’ he folded his arms defiantly, ‘that’s more than what she got.’ He jerked his head, indicating Marlene lying on the floor.

Jenna lowered her head shamefully. ‘It seems like Jessie wasted her soul… for nothing.’

‘Because striking deals with demon princes always worked out well for everyone right? Ever heard of “Dorian Gray”?’

‘I… I don’t know how I should be feeling.’

‘You know what, and this is hard for me to say because I’m fucking arrogant as Hell, but you were right: in this instance, having a choice is a curse. Stay with your half-sister and get married or leave and be heartbroken?’ He turned back around and headed for the door once again, leaving Jenna sitting on the floor. Her face pale and gaunt, her eyes darted incessantly towards Jessie and then back to her mother and as she heard the door latch click shut, she whispered the last words of the Contractor: ‘choice is a curse’.

Faust’s feet landed on the dusty wooden patio, clopping loudly as his mighty strides carried him down the broken, red-brick path and towards the corrugated-iron fence. As he stepped through the chicken-wire gate, he noticed a man wearing an impossibly-dark suit and vest with pitch-black hair and black, hungering eyes walk towards him.

‘Greetings Faust,’ the stranger said familiarly, ‘had a good night?’

Faust stopped in his tracks and nodded in acknowledgement. ‘Leviathan.’ He replied solidly as the Black Prince of Hell swaggered towards him. ‘What do you want with me?’

To Faust’s surprise, the Throne of Envy walked past him and said only one, off-handed word in passing; ‘nothing’.

Faust’s eyes widened in shock; he wheeled around on his heels and saw Leviathan close the chicken-wire fence behind him as he entered the property. Infuriated, the Contractor turned tail and marched away breathing heavily at the futility of his teachings.

‘Fucking mortals.’ He hissed angrily. His blood red eyes burned into the darkened horizon and his crimson trench coat whipped madly behind him as he stormed down the road and off into the cold Texan night.

And so ends the tale of the Lovebird… and the Contractor.