Page 177 of Just One Little Bargain

Krell’s hand lowers. The factory is quiet except for water dripping somewhere beyond the ruined wall.

He studies me as if he’s checking for the punch line, then chuckles.

“You came all the way out here to bargain for him?”

“I’m not seeing the funny part.”

“No, no. It isn’t funny.” He presses his lips together, failing to suppress his amusement. “It’s simply so much better than what I thought you wanted.”

“Can. You. Do. It?”

Krell rubs a thumb along his lower lip. “Zavian is going to be absolutely unbearable about this.”

“What?”

“Forgive me.” He straightens, though the delight refuses to leave his face. “There are certain professional pleasures one rarely anticipates.”

“Krell.”

“Yes, yes. We’re in a hurry.” He glances at his watch again. “But to answer your question . . . There are ways.”

“You’re sure?”

Krell’s expression turns mildly offended. “Evie. I am many things. Imprecise about what I can deliver is not one of them.”

I stare at him, waiting for the catch.

“So,” he says, almost conversationally, “you want Zavian to remain in Brindlewood. Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“And in exchange, you’re willing to enter into a binding bargain with me.”

“I am.”

“Then we understand each other.” Krell’s smile deepens by a fraction. “Hell is exceedingly particular about language, but fortunately for you, precision happens to be one of my better qualities.”

That should worry me more than it does. Instead, hope has already gotten its hands around my judgment and squeezed.

“What do I need to do?”

His eyes brighten, and this time there’s no mistaking the satisfaction there.

“Very little. I’ll give you the terms exactly as they need to be spoken. You repeat them back to me without changing a word, Hell recognizes the offer, the contract presents itself, and you sign.” He tips his head. “Simple.”

There’s nothing simple about trading my soul, but I’ve passed the point where the absurdity of that sentence can help me.

“And that’s enough?”

“More than enough. You don’t have to understand every mechanism behind it. You only need to be certain of what you want.”

That, at least, is easy.

“I’m sure.”

“Good. Then repeat after me.”

I get the ridiculous urge to ask Krell for five minutes, even though we don’t have the time for that. Instead, I nod.