The Ultimate Bet

im turned to walk away, then stopped and looked back to the devil. “I’ve got a question for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Why me? Why was my soul so important?”

The devil steepled his fingers over his nose. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yeah. How bad could it be?”

“Very.”

“Go ahead. Lay it out.”

“All right. I guess the best way to put it is that you’ve been in my sights for a long time. I liked your courage, your exuberance, your sense of right and wrong. I can always steal the soul of a corrupt person. Nothing to it. But you were different. You’re not a very religious person or completely pure. But you’re a good man. Snatching your soul would be a trophy.

“That almost sounds like a compliment.”

“It was. That’s why I came after your soul several times, Mr. Steadman. We’ve spoken and had clashes of will. But I was never able to get you to compromise yourself. You never did anything that deserved ever-lasting fire.”

Jim’s forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”

“Think back. Who were the people in your life that tempted you or tried to hurt you?”

Jim tensed. “I’m not sure I know who you mean.” “Oh, I think you do. That’s why your body just flinched. Are you sure you want me to go on?”

Jim paused. “Yes. Go ahead.”

“I almost had you in high school. If I could have gotten you to do one wrong thing—specifically, to cheat with me—I think I could have gotten you to do another, and so on. But you wouldn’t bite. Too honest. So, I made you pay. Dearly. You put on a good show, but I know I broke your heart.”

The devil’s face morphed into Danny staring at him, smiling his evil smile.

Jim stumbled back a step. “No! That can’t be.”

“Oh, but it is. And in Vietnam. Corporal no balls. Remember?”

And the devil’s face became Calor’s.

Jim gasped. “Calor! Captain Calor. You son-of-a-bitch! The pain, the hurt, the fear you caused me.”

“I’m aware of that. But that’s not all of it. Again, are you certain you want to know the rest?”

Jim breathed rapidly. “How much worse can it get?”

“Extremely,” Ignis said. “Shall I continue?”

Jim clenched his fists and braced himself. “Yeah, tell me.”

“I honestly thought I had you in our last encounter. It was by far my best performance but you managed to thwart me again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Yes, I thought for sure I could steal you from your wife.”

The devil’s face morphed into Carlotta.

Jim grimaced. “Oh, no! You’re lying. You’re just tormenting me. Tell me you’re lying!”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Ah. No! I made love to you.”

“Don’t let that bother you too much,” Ignis said, waving his hand casually. “I was in human form—quite a nice one at that—so it’s not like you actually fucked the devil.”

“I feel like I just swallowed a mouthful of chewing tobacco. It makes my stomach turn. I feel like I want to puke.”

“You’ll be all right. I apologize, but I had to use every trick I could.”

Jim pinched the bridge of his nose, then squeezed his forehead. He dropped his head to his chest, then looked up at Ignis. “Okay. What’s done is done. But I’ll never get that out of my mind.”

“Yes, you will. I’ll see to that. When you leave, you won’t remember it.”

“I hope so.”

“Rest assured.” He put his finger on his heart. “Cross my heart … and so forth.”

Jim’s eyes blinked rapidly. “Is that all?” he asked anxiously, “And are you coming for me again?”

“Yes, that’s all of it. And no, I won’t come after you again. Three strikes, you know.”

“Hmm. That’s a relief.”

“I’m sure it is. Anyway, congrats again.”

“Okay. I think I’ll go now.”