Rise of The Fallen Son-in-law Vol. 2

Chapter 7: Terms and conditions

Nick studied the dagger in his hand. It was a beautiful weapon, perfectly balanced and razor sharp. He could feel the power it held, the potential for destruction. But he also felt a twinge of guilt. Was he really willing to go through with this plan? Was it worth the risk?

"I don't know if I can do this," Nick said, his voice barely a whisper.

"What? That's a stupid idea, we'll be killed."

"I know."

"What are we going to do Nick?"

"Do you have a dagger?"

"Sure, it's your funeral."

"Timmy, Diablo said he hated sheep."

"So what?"

"He said to bring the heart of his enemy so we're going to take the heart of a sheep."

"Brilliant! What if he comes back."

"He didn't grant any wish silly. And we had a contract so he can't reverse it. Unless I actually die."

Nick was a thief, and he had stolen a sheep.

Crowe had given him a dagger, but he wasn't sure if he could trust Nick. "I promise I'll return the dagger," Nick said.

"Keep it," Crowe replied, turning away. Nick began to butcher the sheep, while Crowe looked the other way. The sheep's heart was soon in Nick's hands.

Nick and Crowe rubbed the sheep's blood all over their clothes to make it look like they had been in a fight. Then they went to the imp, and Nick presented the sheep's heart as proof that they ...had killed the vampire lord. The imp inspected the heart, and a look of surprise crossed his face. "This is not a vampire's heart!" he exclaimed. Nick and Crowe exchanged nervous glances.

"What do you mean?" Nick asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "This is exactly what you asked for."

"No, it's not!" the imp said, his voice rising. "This is a sheep's heart, not a vampire's!"

"Are you sure?" Crowe asked, trying to sound casual. "Maybe you're mistaken?"

The imp's eyes narrowed. "But I never said to bring me the heart of a sheep!" the imp protested. "I said to bring me the heart of an enemy!" He glared at Nick and Crowe, and they could feel the danger in the air. "It seems to me that you have deceived me, and that is something I do not tolerate. You have one chance to make things right, or I will have my revenge."

The imp was about to unleash his wrath upon Nick and Crowe, but then something strange happened. The contract they had signed suddenly appeared, hovering in the air between them. The contract began to glow with a bright light, and the imp's rage turned to confusion. He looked at Nick and Crowe, his eyes wide with fear. "What is this?" he asked, his voice quivering.

Nick grinned. "It's the contract we signed, remember? You can't take revenge on us. You can't hurt us at all.

The imp frowned. He thought maybe if he couldn't kill him, he figured he could use Crowe against Nick somehow.

"I know your desires, Crowe, it's at your fingertips but your "friend" Nick planned to run away with the money and leave you in the dust. It's written all over his face!"

The imp's words hung in the air, heavy with accusation. Nick's mind was racing, trying to think of a way to prove his innocence. But before he could say a word, Crowe spoke up.

"Don't listen to him, Crowe. He's just trying to turn us against each other. He's not to be trusted."

"Prove it then, give me half of the money."

Nick hesitated, torn between his desire for the money and his loyalty to Crowe. Finally, he spoke. "I can't give you half of the money."

Crowe's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean? We made a deal, remember? We were supposed to share the money."

When they first made the deal with the imp, it was Nick who came up with the plan to trick him. It was Nick who did all the work, while Crowe stood by and watched. Now, Nick was being asked to give up half of the reward, and he didn't think that was fair.

"You didn't do anything."

Crowe's face turned red with anger. "How dare you! I risked my life to help you! I thought we were partners, but I guess I was wrong. I should have known better than to trust you."

Nick felt a stab of guilt, but he forced himself to remain calm. "I'm sorry, Crowe. But I can't give you half of the money. I just can't."

Crowe glared at the imp, his face twisted in anger. "I wish I could take my revenge on Nick!" he shouted.

Nick's eyes widened in horror. "No, Crowe, don't!" he cried. "If you do that, you'll break the contract and the imp will take you instead!"

But Crowe's mind was made up. "I don't care!" he yelled. "Just give me the power!"

The imp smiled, and with a snap of his finger. "Wish granted!"

Crowe became the embodiment of revenge, a deity of revenge and a slave of Diablo.

"Crowe..."

"I warned you trickster. Now face the music."

He tried to blast Nick who ran off.

"Finish him, finish him!" Diablo watched.

Nick ran as fast as he could, but the embodiment of revenge was gaining on him. The deity of revenge was in hot pursuit, and Diablo's laughter echoed in the distance.

Nick was running out of options. He could feel the heat of the deity's power closing in on him, and he knew he had to do something drastic if he wanted to survive. He closed his eyes and focused all of his energy into a single thought: "Help me!"

Suddenly, the world went dark. Nick felt himself being pulled away from the chaos, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange new place.

He saw a lady with a white and pink aura standing before him.

"Laureline." Nicklaus shuddered.

Crowe stopped, his powers were sapped.

"What's happening to me?"

"Leave." Laureline said to Crowe and he ran off.

Laureline came closer to him. Her voice growing louder and louder.

"Nicklaus... Nicklaus!"

PRESENT DAY

Nicklaus woke up from his sleep, he saw that he was entangled Laureline who smiled flustered, he rolled in his sleep.

Nick pulled back and she rolled off as a result

They both sat up, a bit dazed from their encounter. Nick looked at Laureline, and she looked back at him. A moment of awkward silence passed between them.

Finally, Nick spoke. "I'm sorry about all that," he said. "I didn't mean to grab you like that."

Laureline laughed. "Don't worry about it," she said. "It was an accident, after all. No harm done!"

Nick let out a breath of relief. "That's a relief," he said. "I was worried you'd be angry with me."

"I'm still sorry," Nick said, his cheeks turning pink. "I just...well, it was an accident. I would never intentionally hurt you."

"I know that, silly," Laureline replied with a smile. "And I appreciate the apology, but it's not necessary. I'm fine."

"Still," Nick insisted, "I feel awful about it. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Laureline paused for a moment, considering his offer. "Well," she said, "there might be something..."

The tension in the air was palpable as Laureline leaned in close to Nick, her lips rounded. She brought her lips to his ear and whispered, "We have to find Crowe."