She appeared, not in a cloud of sulfurous smoke, but rather a mist of sweet perfume. Her naked form was awe inspiring, long back-swept horns of gold mingling with hair of the same color. Eyes a soft orange with slit pupils stared at me with calculation, a confident smile twisting her beautiful lips. I had called her by name, and she had come into the circle of protection.
Her confidence wavered though at my first words, tone bland and eyes not quite holding the heat of lust she had hoped for. "You cut such a tragic figure, Onoskelis. The very embodiment of a woman desperate for love but incapable of inspiring it. You make do with worship and lust, but they can never truly fulfill you. But to be loved, you'd need to change in ways you can't; at least not without a soul of your own."
It was amusing to watch her face, as she first took on the aspect of a tragic and broken woman to match my words and seek pity, then settled into an anger that seemed far more genuine. "Have you called me here merely for this mockery, sorcerer? You think to bend me to match a human mold? Or perhaps you think that tormenting demons will win you some special place in-"
I cut her off. "Every man who sleeps with you inevitably hangs himself." It was impossible to be certain, but I thought the anguish on her face from that declaration was quite real. "You will not be an object of worship for me, Onoskelis."
Glaring at me, she replied in a small voice. "I cannot change, Michael William Ferrant. Many times I have tried. Always I fail. This is all I am." My apparent lack of lust had clearly damaged her sense of self, as her gesture at her own perfect form was contemptuous.
I reached into a pocket of my jacket and showed her a parchment scroll, untieing it and letting it fall open. Her fingers were burned by the edge of the circle as she reflexively reached for it. "I have your contract, Onoskelis. That means I own you."
She could tell it was authentic, I could see it in her eyes. To preempt whatever she was going to ask next, I volunteered "I traded for it. I located Asmodai's current obsession and told him I'd spare her life if he gave me your contract."
She laughed nervously. "Come on, master, what did you really trade? A bluff would never have worked on a demon."