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Feb. 26th, 2025 06:33 pmMy Lucifer is lonely
Emerson Noah Atwood is a normal guy, he attends college where he is studying to get his medical degree to be a pathologist. He currently works as a phlebotomist, often keeping odd hours to make ends meet. The youngest child and the only boy out of five, he was spoiled and doted on, his father taught him how to be a man but his sister’s taught him how to be good. His eldest sister Ava, was like a second mother to him, older by 15 years, she was always someone he could go to with any problem, and the only one he still sees.
When Emery was in high school he fell in love with Riley. She was a goth, a “bad girl,” often missed class or was found in detention. Everyone told him she was a bad idea. He didn’t care. He liked who she was, thought she was funny and sweet, misunderstood, her housing situation was terrible, so when she needed somewhere to go, he always snuck her in. He tried to help her with her homework and offer her what he could. If he's honest, he might have tried a little too hard to save her...still he doesn’t blame her for what happened, if he had the chance, he’d do it again.
Riley was depressed, suffered from abuse by her foster family, was always looking for a way to change her fate, to rewrite her history. The night of the senior prom, she figured out how to do that. There was a spell, a chant, a way to be granted whatever wish she wanted. She was sure it would work, that everything would be different. Emery didn’t believe in that kind of stuff but wanted so badly for her to be happy that he went along, said he would help however he could. The spell worked, but not the way she expected. Her chanting opened up a door and the being that came through was less than kind about being summoned. He would grant her wish, but needed something in return, an ultimate sacrifice, a soul. Emery stepped forward, he was young, he was dumb, he had no idea what he was signing. He offered himself as sacrifice, gave a bit of his blood and the deal was done.
Unfortunately spells always come at a price. The price of Riley’s wish was moving away. An estranged relative came out of the blue, they had money, had means, and wanted to care for her. They also lived on the other side of the country. So they broke up. They were 17, Emery was about to start college and Riley was about to be kicked out of the system, they had no choice. After a few years they lost touch and Emery started to forget all about the deals and the promises and whether or not he had a soul. He was busy, he started school, started work. He thought life was good. He was wrong.
When Emery was in high school he fell in love with Riley. She was a goth, a “bad girl,” often missed class or was found in detention. Everyone told him she was a bad idea. He didn’t care. He liked who she was, thought she was funny and sweet, misunderstood, her housing situation was terrible, so when she needed somewhere to go, he always snuck her in. He tried to help her with her homework and offer her what he could. If he's honest, he might have tried a little too hard to save her...still he doesn’t blame her for what happened, if he had the chance, he’d do it again.
Riley was depressed, suffered from abuse by her foster family, was always looking for a way to change her fate, to rewrite her history. The night of the senior prom, she figured out how to do that. There was a spell, a chant, a way to be granted whatever wish she wanted. She was sure it would work, that everything would be different. Emery didn’t believe in that kind of stuff but wanted so badly for her to be happy that he went along, said he would help however he could. The spell worked, but not the way she expected. Her chanting opened up a door and the being that came through was less than kind about being summoned. He would grant her wish, but needed something in return, an ultimate sacrifice, a soul. Emery stepped forward, he was young, he was dumb, he had no idea what he was signing. He offered himself as sacrifice, gave a bit of his blood and the deal was done.
Unfortunately spells always come at a price. The price of Riley’s wish was moving away. An estranged relative came out of the blue, they had money, had means, and wanted to care for her. They also lived on the other side of the country. So they broke up. They were 17, Emery was about to start college and Riley was about to be kicked out of the system, they had no choice. After a few years they lost touch and Emery started to forget all about the deals and the promises and whether or not he had a soul. He was busy, he started school, started work. He thought life was good. He was wrong.
Don't say I didn't warn ya
Three years after the deal was made, Emery woke up in the middle of the night to the feeling of his skin on fire, when he pulled back the covers, his arms and legs were glowing with symbols and swirls, like tattoos made of gold, they covered his entire body, chest and back, only his hands, feet and head were free of the symbols. He writhed in pain, unsure what to do, and after an hour it stopped. The marks remained, thick and dark, some of them moved if he looked at them long enough. Then the being spoke to him, inside his head, telling him it was time to make good on his deal.
Since that night, the tattoos have remained, though they look more like regular tattoos now, black and bold, they still move if you stare for long enough so he tends to wear long sleeves and pants whenever in public. He doesn’t know who he belongs to, who he works for, he hasn’t seen him again since he made the deal, sometimes he will send him messages by animal, usually birds or rats, sometimes he will just speak directly in Emery’s head, or sometimes the shadows will move, the fog will have a voice, whatever way he speaks, it is always the same. Emery is to perform whatever task is asked of him, usually it’s sending a message of his own, sometimes it’s collecting a debt, every so often it’s spying, but whatever it is, he has no choice but to obey.
The tattoos, as far as he can tell, stake the claim, he remembers some of the writing from what he signed, but they also offer protection. He’s impervious to magic, spells, wards, defense and offense, none of it works on him. They are also a punishment, if he doesn’t do what is asked or he doesn’t do it fast enough, they burn again, setting his entire body alight until he’s screaming in agony. He’s learned the hard way that it is easier to obey than to wait for that to happen. He keeps to himself, has absolutely no semblance of a normal schedule because of the requests he receives. He does okay in school and tries his best to keep on top of it all. He's resigned himself to the hand he's been dealt, after all, what else could he do?
Since that night, the tattoos have remained, though they look more like regular tattoos now, black and bold, they still move if you stare for long enough so he tends to wear long sleeves and pants whenever in public. He doesn’t know who he belongs to, who he works for, he hasn’t seen him again since he made the deal, sometimes he will send him messages by animal, usually birds or rats, sometimes he will just speak directly in Emery’s head, or sometimes the shadows will move, the fog will have a voice, whatever way he speaks, it is always the same. Emery is to perform whatever task is asked of him, usually it’s sending a message of his own, sometimes it’s collecting a debt, every so often it’s spying, but whatever it is, he has no choice but to obey.
The tattoos, as far as he can tell, stake the claim, he remembers some of the writing from what he signed, but they also offer protection. He’s impervious to magic, spells, wards, defense and offense, none of it works on him. They are also a punishment, if he doesn’t do what is asked or he doesn’t do it fast enough, they burn again, setting his entire body alight until he’s screaming in agony. He’s learned the hard way that it is easier to obey than to wait for that to happen. He keeps to himself, has absolutely no semblance of a normal schedule because of the requests he receives. He does okay in school and tries his best to keep on top of it all. He's resigned himself to the hand he's been dealt, after all, what else could he do?
