A Deal with Death

 I wouldn’t exactly say Death and I are friends, we’re more like business partners. I enjoy imagining that they like to hang out with me, but I doubt they really do.  

I am your average person, I suppose. Everyone wants some kind of revenge deep down, right? I, however, am not your average person in that I act on my desire for revenge.  I’ll also admit that I am pretty bitter, so I’m pretty easily pissed off. Everyone has made me feel alone, and now want to kill anyone who’s ever hurt me. 

Yeah, I’m psycho, so what? I know Death, have a deal with them. The whole world should be terrified of me. 

I take a breath and wait; I’ve gotten used to seeing Death step out of the shadows, their long cape flowing with the dark.  

The deal I made years ago was simple; Death would kill people for me, and I’d give them a life in return. I think the reason they first tried to make the deal with me, was because they didn’t like how many people I’d been killing. They said some shit about wanting to teach me the value of life.  I doubt they counted on me owning an ant farm.  

Ants make quick work of cleaning meat from bones; bones are great fire fuel. The ashes from burning bones makes amazing fertilizer. Fertilizer grows amazing gardens. I had a whole system in place.  I could afford to sacrifice a few ants to be able get more revenge, even on my lazy days.   

Death had made their offer and I’d taken it. I know they regret it now, but there’s no going back. Some law or some shit bind the supernatural to the deals they make, and it’s not like the laws here that you can break. More like the law of gravity; except airplanes, gliders, and such don’t exist. 

Death steps out of shadows, their dark cape trailing behind them. “Who now?” 

I laugh maniacally, “This older dude at the grocery store took the toilet paper from my cart. He said some shit about needing it and being out. I want him to die painfully.”  

Death sighs, their hooded head drops, shoulders fall, “How painfully? I wish you wouldn’t be so mean to someone who has done such a small crime.”  

I walk over, I’ve upset Death, good. It brings me the closest semblance of joy I’ve ever felt to bother Death. They’re at my every beck and call until they have to take me themselves, and I relish it.                  

I know Death can’t just take people because they want to, they have to receive an order from someone first. I should be safe for a while.  

“Crush him with a bookcase or something, I don’t care. Just make it hurt.” I reply, handing them a small glass jar with a single ant inside. “You know the drill.”  

They extend a pale hand to take the jar, the black of their veins standing out under skin so pale it’s almost translucent.  

“I don’t know why I retrieve the blood for you.” They say, as they snap their fingers and the ant drops to the floor of the jar, curled into a little grainy ball.  

I chuckle as a sketch a portrait of a water nymph. One of those brighter fae folk who I absolutely despise. She’s immortal and a goddess by human standards, but even the immortal and the powerful can meet freak accidents and perish. “It would be a shame if you had to take her life before her mother even approved you two being wed.” I say. 

I feel grateful that that the laws of nature bind Death to their contract and to secrecy. I smile at the pale face hidden beneath that shadowy hood. I pick up the sketch I just finished, and make eye contact with Death as I press my nail through the paper, right where I drew the neck. I smile at them while I crumple the paper and throw it to the fire. “Make sure it hurts, and make absolutely sure I get my blood.” 

Death bows their head, and retreats into the shadows to do my bidding. I look around at the walls, all crimson with dim light shining through each tiny glass bottle. Every one filled with blood I’ve ordered taken, a small black ball rests on the bottom of them all. I walk slowly, running my hands across the smooth surface of the jars, planning where I’ll place my newest acquisition.  

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This is based off the writing prompt by u/Darkiceflame on the r/WritingPrompts subreddit