The Wish Warlock: Disobedience

Slight delay on the ocean pred story; it'll be out tomorrow.  In the meantime, enjoy this Wish Warlock short. C:

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Cedric flipped in his book of runes, searching through it for the fifth time that evening.  The crow and Reginald were huddled in their cave, and the sheep demon had just eaten a new mortal seeking a wish—a timid wolf who had whispered his wish into Cedric’s ear.  Reginald had enjoyed devouring them, and turned the animal into a steaming pile of shit.  In the morning, they'd head out to fulfil the wolf’s wish.

But for now, the crow searched.  He studied the runes, traced his finger over the symbols in his book.  There had to be a combination of these magic lines that could release him from the deal had had made with the Reginald.  There had to be!

He already knew the symbol for “pact”, but “remove” was trickier.  There were certain types of removal runes and spells, but not one that could be joined with a rune.  And even then, the curse between him and demon was too strong for just one rune to break—he had already tried.

But he had to be close.  He just needed to find—

“Well, well, look what I’ve found.”

Cedric jumped and slammed the book shut, spinning around in surprise.  Reginald was standing there—and from the look on his face, he knew /exactly/ what the crow had been doing.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” the sheep smirked, grinning up at Cedric.  “Trying to escape our deal again?  You know that’s not allowed, warlock.”

The crow gulped, backing away from the demon.  “I know, I’m sorry!” he squeaked.  “Forgive me!”

“You know what’s going to happen,” Reginald said playfully.  “Now I have to give you a time out.  My gut’s certainly missed you.”

Cedric’s eyes widened.  “No, not again, please—!”

Too late.  Reginald held up one dog-like paw and snapped his fingers.  One second the crow was standing in the cave, his back to the wall.  The next, he was curled up tight in a suffocating stomach, surrounded by wet liquid and deafening, hungry growls.  The heat in Reginald’s gut was unbearable, and Cedric shifted as he began to sweat.

“You always feel so good in there,” he heard Reginald say—the crow could hear the smile in the demon’s voice.  “See, I don’t /mind/ that you can’t learn your lesson—I like having you in there.  Makes me eager for the day I get to digest you.”

“I-I’ve learned my lesson!” Cedric managed to gasp.  He could feel the digestive juices starting to gather.  “Please, let me out!”

“Not yet,” the sheep said, his voice barely audible over the belly’s increasing noises.  “I want to savor you for a little bit longer. . .”

The stomach tightened around the prey inside, and Cedric gasped for air.  His feathers were starting to tingle now.  “PLEASE!” the crow begged.  He didn’t want to melt alive in here—not again.  “I’M SORRY!”

For a moment he was left in despair, wondering if the Reginald had even heard him.  But then he was on the floor of the cave, dripping with stomach juices, and the crow found himself breathing a sigh of relief as cold air hit his feathers.

“You’d do well to remember these moments, mortal,” the demon said, smiling.  “Don’t look for ways out of our deal, and I won’t eat you.  It’s that simple.”

Cedric nodded fearfully.  “I’m going to wash up,” he said, and walked away from the sheep.  He traveled the underground paths, ones he knew all too well, and soon found himself at the pool within the cave.  The crow lowered himself into it, shaking from both the cold water, and from his experience in the stomach.  It had been a close one.

But after all, when one angered a demon, one always paid the price.