Trading Places

  Fear gnawed in Harper, settling in the pit of her belly like a heavy ball with every step she took further into the dark hall loitered with people. A few small light bulbs hung from the ceiling, giving a dim glow in the long and narrow hall, barely enough to see three feet ahead. Glancing at a young man with too many piercings on his face to count, his small, beady eyes followed Harper as she made her way further and further into the underground nightclub -not one she would likely enter willingly. She preferred the loud clubs with humans dancing with no care in the world, not supernatural beings looking for their next prey. Harper liked to dance and she wasn't a stranger when it came to drinking but coming to one of these low key clubs would be like a fly laying on a spider's web -plain old stupid.

That was her half sister though. Olivia loved to spend her free time in these clubs, her fascination with the darker side of the supernatural world dragging her to trouble usually ends with Harper having to bail her out of a sticky situation. That being said, Harper was here now to do just that.

  Earlier this hour Olivia called her older sister drunk and sounding panicky. Due to her incoherent slurs and the loud music ahead Harper could barely understand her but she did catch a few words that caused for concern. Olivia mentioned something about a new man along with the name of the club. Harper recognized the name immediately and jumped into her car angry beyond belief at her half sister's carelessness. Searching for over a half an hour she discovered Olivia wasn't on the lower level nor in any of the restrooms, asking around she was told Olivia went upstairs to the VIP section.

Upon arriving at the end of the hall, Harper scanned the area surprised to see no security standing guard in front of the large velvety curtain that separated the VIPs from wandering club goers. A soft, sensual beat sounded from behind the thick curtain, it was all that could be heard. A sliver of fear wiggled its way into her over the lack of security, shaking it off Harper grabbed a fistful of the heavy fabric and pulled it aside ready to deal with anything -or anyone- behind the curtain. What she found before her set her blood cold, her grip on the curtain dropped allowing it to fall back in place. The warm room smelled like smoke, it's velvety walls shimmering in the soft lights shining in each corner of the small room. One table stood in the middle of the room with a red booth at its side and that's when she saw a sight that had her blood freezing. She didn't bother scanning the room for others, not with what she witnessed before her.

Pressed against the wall with a large hand wrapped around her throat was none other than Olivia. Her short silver dress rode up nearly exposing her bottom, legs hung mid air with a shoe missing, her short hair stood on all ends, her mascara ran down her cheeks as the tears continued to flow. Her eyes found Harper, a small wheeze passed her busted lip in what Harper assumed was a plea for help.

The momentarily shock wore off, anger filling it's place. Flowing through her veins like hot lava at the image of her sister being strangled in mid air. Her eyes narrowed the large back facing her and without reconsidering her approach Harper grabbed the nearest object, her body burning with rage toward the stranger. It didn't matter that she didn't know who her opponent was or know her surroundings, none of those details mattered to Harper. All that mattered was hurting him.

Rushing forward with the champagne bottle in hand she swung the bottle hitting her target directing between his shoulder blades. He stumbled and released his grip on Olivia, like a rag doll she dropped to her knees with a soft whimper as her head hit the wall behind her. Harper didn't give the man much time to recover before she thrust the broken bottle into his back, pulling it out just as swiftly and plunged the blood stained glass back into the open wound. Years of skills and training came in handy as she jumped back as he swung his arm back, nearly catching her in the face. Gritting her teeth, Harper snatched a drinking glass from the table nearest her and tossed it with enough force that it shattered over the back of his head. The stranger dropped to one knee giving her an opportunity to finish him. Charging forward with speed, she knew one kick to the back of his head would have him down for the count but as she approached the stranger took her by surprise.

Throwing an arm out he caught her ankle, he grinned as he pulled her down. With a loud thud she landed on her back, her head throbbed by the impact. Her mind went blank and for a brief moment she felt her body fail to respond when she attempted to rise as if she weighted a ton. Fighting the dull, fuzziness surrounding her she wiggled her fingers and lifted her head but no sooner regretted it. Groaning at the sharp pain in the side of her skull, Harper slowly sat up when a low tssking sounded nearby. Scrambling to her feet she felt the fire from before return as she saw the stranger had Olivia at his side, her small figure quivering as she attempted to lower her dress further over her exposed skin. The pain in her skull dulled as she stared her opponent in the eyes -his dark, bottomless eyes that made the huntress in her rise to the surface ready to defend herself and Olivia.

"You are quick, I'll give you that." he spoke in a deep drawl, a sound she could have sworn she was sure she heard before "But not quick enough." he added as he pressed Olivia closer to his side

To a outsider it might have seemed like Olivia and the stranger were a couple of friends hanging out but the look of pure dread shimmering in Olivia's glossy gaze told another story. She was petrified, a first for Olivia.

Ignoring the pain in her lower back and the throbbing of her head, Harper spoke in a strained, edgy tone. "I'll tell you only once to let her go before you find that bottle in your chest."

His mouth curved in amusement "Why would I release my latest catch?" he asked in a cool and collected voice

Grinding her molars, Harper swept her eyes around her in search for her newest weapon, knowing she wouldn't allow this monster to take her sister for any sick reason he had. Before she could do just that a rolled up paper was thrown in her direction, the soft shades of mustard yellow all to familiar to the world she knew well. Catching it in mid air she watched the stranger, awaiting for his next move but none came.

"Go on, read it." he grinned, the smile sinister

Hesitant, Harper unrolled the paper all while her gaze remained trained on the dark headed stranger. Her fingers tightened on the paper as she glanced down at the large blood red letter on the top, a symbol she knew filled her with unease but not as much as what she read below. Her heart dropped, knees weakening  and for a moment Harper thought she'd faint but as quick as the thought crossed her mind she banished it and steeled her shoulders. Pushing her obvious dread aside she met the stranger's smug stare with one filled with fury.

Arching a dark brow he placed a hand on Olivia's head in which she flinched "She has sold herself to me therefore making her my property."

Turning her dark stare to Olivia, Harper clenched her fists "How could you be so stupid?" she hissed

Her bottom lip trembled, a look of regret shone in her glossy, red rimmed eyes "I'm so sorry Harper, I never meant for this to happen, he came and I needed-"

She didn't hear the rest when the stranger clamped a hand on her shoulder, silencing the explanation Harper craved for "No matter how I got her, all that matters is that she is mine now." he pointed out

Glancing down at the contract in her hand Harper reread it's contents hoping to find a loop hole, if there was one she did not find it. Then again what did she expect? It is a contract drawn up by a demon, a collector of unwanted deals. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she glanced at the black ink where Olivia signed herself away for who knows what. It was obvious by the slight tilt of her body that Olivia was tipsy but to sign a demon's contract! She'd have to be on the brink of insanity to have agreed to a deal with a demon, she knew never to associate with those manipulative bastards. Yet here they both were. Skimming through the neatly written lines Harper's heart sunk lower at the job Olivia had to do, mistress. Being the sexual, horny creature's toy. Made by sin and evil it's self made demons rough in the sexual area and a hazard to any who bedded them. Especially a mere human like Olivia. She wouldn't last one night with the demon before he snapped her neck in some horrible sèx position gone wrong. Wide eyed Harper turned to her sister who wiped at a stray tear, the small streak it let behind had Harper's chest constricting.

How could this have happened?

Harper's head spun as she tried gripping the reality of the situation. This was Olivia, her young and wild half sister who she swore -the day their father tried training her to become a huntress and failed miserably- that she would protect her from this life, and it's darkness. It wouldn't be the first time she was unable to protect a family member. Failure and guilt assaulted her, the thickness of the gloomy emotions bringing up bad memories. No! She refused to accept this.

Shaking the past away she turned to the demon who watched her with hooded eyes, determined to keep her sister safely away from his claws.

"How can this-" she held the contract up "Be broken?" she asked in a flat tone

His lips thinned, piercing gaze watching every move she made. Harper didn't over look the way his dark, coal like eyes scanned over her in a brief, yet thorough examination. She wouldn't allow him to make her squirm.

"A deal is a deal." he replied

"There is always a way to break a contract so what is your price?"

When he remained silent Harper grew concerned that he would refuse to release Olivia from their bargain. Being the one who drew the contract up only he could release her from her duties. "Money? Another woman? More souls? Name it and be quick."

"No." he smirked, his arm tightening around Olivia

Although Harper's heart pounded with the fear that he'd turn away with Olivia in tow she took a step forward, desperate to rescue her sister from a horrid fate. Upon realizing his smug expression and eerie stare that hadn't wavered Harper realized he wanted her to be frightened. "I can get a a room full of people for you to trick into a deal and women too."

It went  against everything she stood for but Harper was a Grant, and the Grant family always stood by their family, no matter the cost. It was the motto that every Grant before her has followed and to this day did, it was a lesson her father pushed into her head long ago. It was the only lesson he taught her that she still believed in strongly. Family comes first, before any group of strangers.

"I can get you fifteen now, mainly girls if it is your preference." she continued, bile rising in her throat as she thought of trapping the poor girls to this monster but she would do anything to keep Olivia from his grasp

A dark smirk touched his pink lips and for a moment she thought the idea of having a room filled with girls would appeal to him. The guilt that came with freeing her sister would have to be left for a later time when she could properly deal with it. Harper made a silent promise that she would choose  girls with no family to worry after their 'disapperance'.

"There's no way out of this for her." he smirked allowing her a glimpse of his pearly teeth "Unless of course you take her place." he added his chilling dark eyes fixing on her

"Take her place in the deal?" she repeated in disbelief

He nodded, his lips spread further and his eyes narrowing to thin slits "A swap, your friend goes if you take her place in our deal. That means you must oblige to every rule we discussed, deal?"

Glancing down at Olivia who stared up at her with pleading in those dark brown eyes Harper sighed in defeat, Olivia was only a human despite their father's supernatural blood she never had the special gifts hunters were born with including the ability to heal. If she left tonight with him Harper knew the next time she'd see her sister was at her funeral, eyes wide with shock, mouth gaped, clothes torn proof of what caused her death. Once again this evening the past plagued Harper's thoughts, bringing the fear of losing another member of her family to the dark world she was born into. Harper thought of screaming no but rethought her answer. Being of the supernatural world she would be able to handle the pain the monster would throw her way, it wouldn't be a picnic but she would survive. Still it went against every rule she made after leaving that part of her life behind to enter this contract not to mention she was selling herself to the devil.

Sighing she knew there was only two options; one she could say no and watch him take Olivia away like a cow being led to the slaughter house. Or option two, she could take her place and walk herself to the slaughter house. Either option caused Harper a great amount of grief but when it boiled down to her main priority Olivia was the only option. She wouldn't let her die.

Meeting the mysterious man's gaze she gave a small nod "Deal." she agreed flatly, concealing her own worries about taking the position of mistress to a demon of all creatures.

His dark grin widened but didn't quite reach his ears, yet the simple flash of those pearly teeth held the same affect any good looking man with a devilish smile possessed. Retrieving another rolled up paper from behind his back he placed it on the table where the shards of the champagne bottle lay scattered, like magic words scribbled themselves in a bold print as he slid his index finger across the empty paper. Standing from his brief hunched position, he held out a thin glass pen and inclined a brow. Daring Harper to either keep to her word and sell herself off or cower and flee like he most likely wanted.

Chin pointed up in stubbornness she took the thin pen from his hand wondering if she'd be quick enough to lodge it into his throat and make a run for it with Olivia. Shaking the foolish thought she knew he would find them, no matter where they hid. Once a contract was signed with a demon that was it. He owned you and no one could change that fact or help you hide from it. Sooner, if not later he would find Olivia and then-

With the weight of her sister's life in her hands Harper bent to sign when a small needle pricked her thump, sucking the dark liquid into the clear tube of the pen. Bile rose in her throat, her fingers trembled revealing the fear that lay beneath her cool exterior and she seriously considered backing out but one glimpse at Olivia's red rimmed eyes convinced her to lower the silver tip of the pen. Wincing she scribbled her signature as the needle sucked more of her blood to provide for her to sign her life away. The dark red liquid soaked through the thick paper as she finished off her name. Quick as it appeared the needle returned to its hiding place as the blood staining the inside of the pen drained itself, as if it were never there.

"There." Harper said and pushed the paper towards him

Just as soon as the words left her lips a dark band rose from the paper in the table, creeping up the side of her leg like a river of black. It curled by her chest before swirling further up until it reached her throat. She gasped as it tightened around her windpipe, warm, liquid heat licking at her skin as it sunk through like her blood on the paper earlier. Squeezing her eyes shut she bit back a whimper as the dark bands enclosed over her chest, sliding down her arms and locking at her wrists, leaving a scorching trial of molten in its wake. She wanted to scream, to thrash out in pain but knew it would give him a great deal of satisfaction so she fisted her hands and endured the agony. The burning bands sunk beneath her skin, marking her as it curled in a pattern she could not follow. Tears prickled the back of her lids but she refused to release them, she steeled her trembling legs and released a long breath from her nose as the heat withered slowly. It's heat pulling away leaving a tingly, cool sensation on her skin. Harper waited for the remainder of the pain to subside before she reopened her eyes.

For the first time since she entered the dark velvety room he released his hold on Olivia and with a look of disgust he pushed her away from his side as if she were a toy he no longer wished to play with. Catching her wobbling sister, Harper tucked her safely to her side while watching the stranger roll the contract up and return it to the front of his jacket. Smoothing the front of non existing wrinkles he smirked -a lopsided grin that had Harper's hand itching to grab a shard of glass and push it into his chest.

"A pleasure doing business with you." he drawled out and bowed from the waist "Until next time, Harper."

Her spine stiffened as her name passed her lips and a warm tingle shot through her veins, with out her meaning to she nodded. The man grinned and turned on his heels, without another word he strode through the velvety curtain casually leaving them alone. Harper shook her head wondering why she nodded at him. Deciding to leave that for another time when she'd analyze it further she wrapped her arms around Olivia who mumbled an apology, her entire figure trembling with the aftermath of her experience with the demon. Harper wanted to be angry but found no space for the dark emotion in her.

"It's okay Olivia." she sighed and kissed the top of her sweaty brow "You're safe now." she assured

Ushering her through the way she came earlier Harper wished with a desperation that she could tell herself she was going to be fine. That everything would work itself out and she would be safe but knew it would be a baldfaced lie. She wasn't delusional nor naïve, she didn't know what she signed herself up for. After years of running from the supernatural world Harper found herself walking into its dark abyss.

Everything wouldn't be fine and she was no where near being safe.

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At long last this chapter makes its debut!!!! There is more to come but I'd appreciate any comments you all have, I feel like I grow better because of them :) remember this story will be rated R so if you can't handle that you might want to stop reading now, as for the rest of you you'll love the rest of the story ;D