"Astrael, our pact, our blood, unites us... I offer flesh and spirit, I call your name, I ask for your assistance, grant my wishes, greater demon."
"No! Stop! I beg you!" Edgar fell backward, crawling on the ground, and screamed at the top of his lungs when he saw black smoke rising from the pages of his book of dark magic. The paper burned, the smell of blood filled the air, and soon a large, dark figure loomed before the man, the sacrificial victim. The demon smiled, and its black mouth opened wide, showing its sharp, red eyes, revealing sharp teeth and a hunger for human flesh.
Grimilde watched as the demon took possession of the human, waiting for the ritual to end, barely holding back the shivers from Edgar's screams of terror. She had made the right choice, the hard one, and she had no regrets: that man would have destroyed Arran and killed Snow White if he had lived.
Soon the demon, in its most grotesque form, disappeared, and in its place a man arose, similar to Edgar yet different: the advisor's once brown hair had become pitch black, and his shrewd eyes had become sharper and more penetrating. His body had also undergone a transformation: broader, more robust shoulders, muscles, and a posture that asserted dominance and strength. Astrael had taken possession of Edgar's body and now belonged solely to him. His beauty was dark and mysterious, but fatal. Grimilde had never seen a possession with her own eyes, and was both amazed and internally shaken: their pact certainly prevented retaliation against her, but she couldn't help but wonder just how strong the demon was at that moment.
"Grimilde, I owe you. You have given me a wonderful gift: I am finally free from my slovenly, unfit form..." Astrael took steps toward the queen, straightening his dirty, tattered clothes; he eyed them with disgust and turned to the blonde:
"Your Majesty, would you mind finding me something decent to wear in your presence?"
Astrael's grin would have seemed charming to anyone unaware they were facing a malevolent figure. The woman snorted, irritated by the situation: she was already regretting having opened a door to the world she lived in and that she wanted to keep away from Snow White. She called the guards, who found themselves facing a different man from the one they had left in chains, and ordered them to bring him some clothes.
Astrael, knowing the queen's thoughts, took care to alter their memories with his powers. "I wonder why you gave me this gift out of nowhere, but I think I already know the answer... it's about someone, right? Her skin is really pale now, but she's still the most beautiful woman in the kingdom." Astrael raised his eyes to the ceiling, placing a hand on the dark beard beneath his chin. He grimaced: he would trim that beard later.
"Snow White is her name, and you, my dearest obligor, have fallen into a grave sin. And no, I'm certainly not talking about love, if that's what you were thinking." He sneered, placing his hands behind his back and leaning toward the woman who was slightly shorter than him. Edgar wasn't a tall man, but his body had lengthened slightly since the possession. His bodily transformation was due to the need to host the demon's strength.
"Astrael, can you break the curse?" Grimilde was tired of listening to his monologue and watching that mocking smile, so she cut him short, declaring her intent, but Astrael took a moment to toy with her:
"I don't know... maybe yes, maybe no... it's hard to say. I need to see her first, but I can certainly confirm your doubts: Edgar would have destroyed the city and killed you and your beautiful princess if he had succeeded. Don't you think it's wonderfully ironic that he found himself in the presence of another practitioner of forbidden arts and died at the hands of a demon? He himself had repeatedly attempted to draw up a contract, promising the lives of thousands of people as the price! But he fell into a trap... wretched man. And the demon he spoke to didn't even have half my power."
In the meantime the clothes had arrived, and Astrael had changed into a new white shirt and a dark green elegant suit: the queen had waited for him outside the room, finding it intolerable and suffocating to spend any more time with him in the same enclosed space. When the demon emerged from the cell, he looked at the various guards condescendingly, then turned back to the queen: "From the memories of your former advisor, I know for certain that the curse would have brought death to anyone who kissed the princess, the apple was poisonous even to the unfortunates who tried to break it. Clever, yet stupid and useless, if I may express my honest opinion. At least you didn't try to kiss your beauty yourself..." He smiled and winked. Since taking possession of Edgar's body, the demon had become A stray threat. Grimhilde furiously grabbed his collar and dragged him from the dungeons: "You must respect the pact and my commands if you don't want to suffer—"
"I know, I know, but believe me when I say I'm grateful. I would never lie to you, my dear." He smiled, narrowing his eyes. Astrael looked around, noting the elegance and luxury of the castle: he loved to bask in the richness and beauty of material things. Now he could do so, using Edgar's body, and he was truly grateful to the human who had taken care of providing him with what he needed.
Astrael had never been a difficult demon to understand: he was vain, lustful, greedy to the core, and characterized by a wit that was devoted solely to the pleasures of the flesh. Like many other demons, he despised humans and was tolerant of those who became his servants, but Grimilde was a completely unique case for him. She was the only human he tolerated, a person who even deserved his respect.
The pact was more of a facade for a deeper and inseparable bond...