All I can see is Leaf’s wide green eyes in a black void. He’s no longer struggling, and I’m not sure if he’s capable of movement.
“My Gramps hated them,” she continues. “Said they brought nothing but death and destruction.” Minnie purses her lips, something clearly on her mind since we met her outside. Yet she hadn’t said anything beyond cooing over Leaf. “You like cats?”
“I’ve only ever read about them as witches' familiars. Our histories aren’t so interested in the fauna and flora of the mortal realm. Though, seeing it in person, I wish that were different.”
Minnie’s brows raise, and she cocks her head. “That’s a very sensitive sentiment. Are you sure you’re a devil?” Her voice is so soft, like the strumming of a harp. I’m used to that question being asked in rasping, judgmental tones.
“You’re the one who summoned me,” I remind her for the second night in a row.
Minnie makes atsksound and mutters, “Not my brightest idea…”
She starts chewing at her bottom lip. I could ask her what was on her mind. But despite her earlier comment, I am in fact infernal, and torture, no matter how small or internal, will always be amusing. Minnie’s self-inflicted turmoil, her chewed lip and distant gaze, is a joy to watch.
She sets Leaf down and frees him but continues to rub his body with the cloth. “So this contract… Explain to me what you get out of it?”
There it is. “If you sign a contract with me, your mortal soul belongs to me.”
“That’s all, huh? So you’re like a soul lawyer? Making sure I get my dues in exchange for my soul?”
Leaf nudges her hand.
“That implies our contracts are fair and just,” I say.
Minnie blinks.
Leaf comes to me, rubbing my legs. I chuckle and reach down to run my hand along his back. “Tell me, what is a fair trade for someone’s soul?” I pause. “Make a deal with me, and when you die, you won’t pass to the Veil. Your soul will remain in Hell with me for an eternity, until I eventually retire to the Veil myself.”
“I didn’t realize devils die.”
“All things die, Minerva. The Veil awaits us all. Unless you somehow fail to cross over and become a demon.” I pick up Leaf ,who makes a littlemurpsound but does not otherwise struggle. “But then even demons can be banished–exorcized, I think you mortals call it.”
Minnie shakes her head before joining me on the floor. “I don’t care if my soul is damned to Hell,” she says, ignorant of what that entails. “Maybe I should, but I don’t.” Her head tilts. “I mean, Hell isn’t that bad, right?”
“For me? Or for you? The torturer and the tortured.”
I hold Leaf in my arms like a little babe, which he does not appreciate, quickly flipping over in my arms and falling back to the floor. He struts over to Minnie’s lap.
“You’d let me suffer in Hell?” she asks as Leaf places his paws on her stomach and nudges her chest, his cheek rubbing against her breasts. Minnie scratches his head, encouraging him. “Well?” she pushes.
My jaw is tight. “Hell is not a paradise…”
I’m fixated on Leaf, who tries successfully to climb Minnie’s chest. Minnie squeaks as he does so. He starts to lick her cheek with that scratchy tongue of his, and Minnie giggles.
“You will suffer,” I tell her gravely, but she is too enamored with Leaf to care.
“Wow,” Minnie deadpans. “Youaresensitive. Why do you care what happens to my soul?”
“I care about Leaf’s shits more than I care about your soul,” I assure her. “An eternity from now, I don’t want to listen to you bitch and whine about our deal despite me warning you. Eternity is a lot longer than your mortal life.”
“I know what an eternity is,” she bites back.
“I know that’s not true.” I point to her. “Mortal.” Then back at me. “Eternal.”
“If we’re all going to die, what does it matter?”
“I just said I don’t need to hear you bitch and moan–”
“Alright!” She throws her hands up, dropping Leaf, who darts around the living room like he’s frightened. “I get it! I mean nothing to you, and I’m annoying. Happy?”