Chapter 14: The Devil’s Bargain

The ruined mansion groaned as the wind howled through its broken walls. Evelyn stood in the dim glow of moonlight, her form wavering, yet more solid than before. She had a purpose now.

Laurence Duvall had killed her.

And she would make sure he answered for it.

Azrael watched her with that ever-present smirk, but something in his gaze had shifted. There was amusement, yes, but also interest. She was no longer just a lost spirit; she was something more now.

Something dangerous.

“You have murder in your eyes, ghost,” he mused, crossing his arms.

Evelyn didn’t look at him. “Can a ghost even kill?”

Azrael chuckled. “Oh, I like this new side of you.” He tapped his fingers against his chin, considering. “It’s possible. But revenge isn’t so simple for the dead.”

She turned to him then, translucent fingers curling into fists. “Then tell me how.”

Azrael’s smirk widened. “Ah. Now that’s a request I can work with.” He stepped closer, his presence dark and imposing. “I could give you power. Make you more than just a lost soul.”

Evelyn hesitated. “What do you mean?”

Azrael’s eyes gleamed. “A bargain.”

The word sent a chill down her spine. “What kind of bargain?”

He tilted his head. “I am a devil, remember? I can offer you a taste of something… more. But power always has a price.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And what would you want in return?”

Azrael grinned, but this time, there was something almost genuine beneath the mischief. “Your help in finding the Stone of Immortality.”

Evelyn’s form flickered. “You think my past is connected to it.”

“I know it is,” Azrael corrected. “Your murder, your lingering soul, even your connection to Laurence—none of this is coincidence.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping. “If you want your revenge, and I want my prize, then our goals align.”

Evelyn studied him carefully. Every instinct screamed at her not to trust him—he was a devil, after all. But he had helped her this far.

And if what he said was true, then she couldn’t do this alone.

She took a deep, steadying breath—a habit from her human life.

“Fine,” she said at last. “We have a deal.”

Azrael’s smirk turned wicked. “Excellent.”

He lifted a hand, and power pulsed in the air between them. Dark, swirling, ancient magic—something far older than this world itself.

Evelyn hesitated only a moment before she reached out.

Their hands met.

And everything changed.

The air crackled as darkness wrapped around her, sinking into her very being. Her ghostly form solidified,shadows clinging to her like a second skin. For the first time since her death, she felt… strong.

Whole.

Azrael let go, watching her with satisfaction. “How do you feel?”

Evelyn flexed her fingers. They no longer passed through objects—she could touch. She could hold. A slow, cold smile curved her lips.

“I feel powerful.”

Azrael chuckled. “Then let’s pay your murderer a visit, shall we?”

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