Creak...Creak...........Creak

An odd yet persistently annoying creaking sound would echo in Rohrkhel's ears as he groaned and squinted, an eerie glow emanating from a crack in the ceiling as he found himself laying down in a dusty and seemingly broken down home. He'd groan as he pushed himself upright, raising a hand up to his head as he ran his hand against his braided hair. His index finger would reach the end of one of his braids as he pricked his finger with the metal hook that tipped the braid, raising it to his face as he observed the blood. He wasn't dreaming nor was he in any sort of trance...So where was he?

Rohrkhel would mutter to himself as he pushed himself off the floor, dusting himself off as he glanced around to observe his surroundings. Dusty cobwebs, cracked and peeling paint, and an ominous aura surrounding him. His head would turn to the left as he heard ghostly whispers closing around him, a chilling air springing up from the floor boards as a dark mist seemed to form seemingly from nowhere. He'd glance upward, towards the ominous glow that was leaking through a crack in the ceiling that seemed to be calling to him. He'd reach down and grip the handle of his sword that was strapped to his back, slowly pulling it out as he held it out to the side, the segmented blade straight as a standard longsword. He was starting to get an idea of where he was and why - It was time to make a deal; he may as well enjoy himself with his client for the time being.

He'd make his way for the stairs, slowly moving to the second floor as he dragged the tip of his blade against the wooden floor, a raking sound steadily growing louder soon flicking his wrist as the blade shifted, extending itself and turning into a segmented chain blade that was raking against the floor, like shackles dragging. He'd walk down an empty hallway, seeming to gravitate towards one of the rooms with a shut door at the far end that had the same ominous glow showing. He'd arrive as he stood in front of the door and raised his foot up before sending his boot right at the knob, seeming to have little trouble busting the door open as it swung wide to reveal a hooded man with his back turned to him and a summoning circle painted in blood on the floor, the room illuminated by numerous wax candles and a corpse as an offering laying at the center of it all. Rohrkhel would tilt his head to the side as he flicked his wrist, his weapon converting back into a longsword shape as he rested it on his shoulder before speaking with an annoyed tone, " And who the hell are you supposed to be? "

He would be greeted by the man casting off his cloak in Rohrkhel's direction followed by a bolt of fire. Rohrkhel would swing his blade, slicing through the cloak as he shifted his footing and turned his body to avoid the bolt of fire. His arm would flick once more as he sent an extended blade out like a whip, the length of it wrapping around the man's waist who was caught off guard as the segments dug into his flesh and Rohrkhel roughly yanked on the handle to pull the man towards him. Rohrkhel would roughly grab the man by the throat, bringing him in close as his flesh seemed to melt, flames bursting forth from his eyes and orifices as a demon skull was soon revealed growing horns as his entire head became ablaze with a ghostly flame, his jawless skull speaking in a haunting tone " Rude of you to attack me when you were the one to summon me don't you agree? " The man struggled as his feet kicked at empty air while being lifted off the ground as his eyes widened in surprise, gasping for air as he struggled to speak, " I'm sorry I didn't know! "

Rohrkhel would loosen his grip as the man fell to the ground, walking past him as he moved over towards the corpse that lay in the center of the summoning circle. He'd kneel down as he observed the lifeless body of a woman, bruises around her neck to indicate strangulation. He'd reach his hand out, palm facing upwards as he pressed his fingers together before he pressed the tip to the bottom of her ribcage. His hand seemed to phase through her flesh as he pushed further up towards the heart before grasping something, slowly pulling out as his hand soon revealed a faint glowing orb in its grasp - her soul, still intact. It would seem to disperse into tendrils that soon wereabsorbed into his forearm as he spoke in his haunting voice, " So that's half of the payment up front...And what is it that you seek o weary lost soul? " He'd stand up to his full height as he turned around to face the man.

"My wife...Her absence makes my very being ache..." Rohrkhel would tilt his head as he already had an idea of where this was going to go. If his demon form had the ability to show emotions, it would be clear that he was grinning. Unfortunately it did not, and gave the man no indication of how Rohrkhel felt. " Then let's make a deal shall we? The price to see your beloved once more...In exchange for the life of another once your time with her is over. A fair exchange, wouldn't you agree? Especially when you seemed to have little trouble providing the sacrifice to summon me... " The man would nod without second thought or hesitation, though Rohrkhel would continue on. " However...There is something I require in order to bring your beloved from beyond the veil...And that is a closer look at your own soul. " The man seemed to grow slightly pale at the added statement before gulping as he spoke with a shook tone, " Whatever it takes to see her once more... "

Rohrkhel would let out a cackling laugh that sounded like metal grating against metal with screams of agony being drowned out as he stepped forward, holding out his hand. " It's a deal then. A pact is made, and you shall see your beloved once more..." The man would reluctantly take hold of Rohrkhel's hand to seal the pact as he spoke once more, " Try not to pass out...You wouldn't want to miss your beloved's face... " He'd reach his hand out as it phased through the man's chest, seeming to draw life from him as he grew even more pale and started to break out in a cold sweat, feeling as if his heart was being held in a frozen grasp.

Rohrkhel would reach behind him as he rummaged around a small pouch for something before pulling out a small crystal mirror, holding it up to the man's face as it at first showed nothing but his own reflection. Shadows seemed to swirl in the reflection, soon revealing a ghostly visage of a skeleton come into view, followed by muscle fibers, blood vessels and finally flesh to reveal the features of a young woman - the man's beloved but deceased wife having forcibly been brought back into the realm of the living.

The man seemed to calm down as his breathing slowed, seeing the face of his dear wife once more, a small smile forming. Her lovely features would soon contort and twist into one of pain however, before a banshee like shriek could be heard from the reflection, a look of horror coming over the man's features as his wife's reflection was soon deteriorating rapidly; her flesh began to rot, her eyes becoming milky white, her body soon turning into a maggot infested host to reflect her rotting corpse within the grave as the man screamed and pulled away from Rohrkhel, starting to scramble along the floor as he kicked himself away from Rohrkhel. He'd turn as he tried to make a break for the door. Rohrkhel would cackle in amusement as he simply followed after the blundering man who was bumping into the walls as he attempted to flee the worn down home.

The sound of ragged breathing could be heard as the man stumbled down the stairs, the dark mist seeming to thicken and make it more difficult to breathe, his own energy seeming to be drained from his body. He'd fumble with the door to the front porch as he struggled to get it open, having to bash his shoulder into it repeatedly to force it open before stumbling out onto the front yard. Rohrkhel's voice seemed to echo from all directions as he continued to stumble to get away from the decrepit home, "The life of another once your time with her is over. That was the terms of our arrangement... " Not a soul could be seen anywhere around the home, the sudden realization coming over the man as he realized the terms of the deal were meant to result in him being the soul that was promised. He'd reach the iron gates that led to the road only to hear something fly through the air - Rohrkhel's chain blade flying out like a whip as it wrapped around his neck and pulled him backwards, sending him to the ground as he let out a scream of agony while the segmented links dug into his flesh, kicking and thrashing about. It seemed to have little impact as he was slowly dragged back into the decrepit home, his screams echoing and filling the night sky with bone chilling cries soon overwhelmed by Rohrkhel's demonic laughter as the screams soon subsided.

The pact had been fulfilled and the price paid in full. How foolish it was to summon and trust a crossroads demon.