Contract For Your Love {mxb}

Part 3: Soul Trading Club

Noel felt comfortable, like he was floating on a cloud. He slowly aroused from his sleep. He woke up and looked around in surprise. He was laying on a large, fluffy bed in a large elegant room.

Voice: You are awake. Good morning, young master Noel.

Noel: *shocked, gets up quickly. Who?

*Next to the bed stood a very beautiful girl, she wore a maid costume, had long wavy white hair tied into two high ponytails. Her skin was white and delicate like glass and almost transparent. Noel then noticed that this girl was a humanoid machine. Her body parts seemed to be able to take apart yet she looked so much like a real human. Looking at her black eyes, he can see multiple tiny gears moving and spinning.

Puppet: My name is Joyce, I will be at your service. Master Reaper is out right now and had me get you ready for work.
Noel: "Master Reaper"?
Joyce: The one who hired you.
Noel: So it was that man. I wasn't dreaming. O-Ok. . . I'm curious about his identity but to ask. . . that seems rude. . .

Soon after, Joyce led Noel to a large, luxurious bathroom where a large tub was filled with warm water and white petals floated on top. He was sent to the changing room and he took off his clothes to reveal a slender and white body.

Noel: My bruises and cuts are gone. . .

He slowly dipped his foot in and soaked in the bath, subconsciously sighing with comfort. The fragrance was gentle and calming, he felt so relaxed. From behind the screen, Joyce introduced his job.

Joyce: You are now hired as a working employee of the Soul Trading Club, just the Club for short. All you have to do are some odd jobs here and there and you'll be given lodging and three meals a day. You can start working today after you clean up.

Noel: *surprised. That's it? Thank you. . .

After getting out of the tub, he was then given a haircut by Joyce and changed into his uniform which was a nice, white dress shirt with a silk black ribbon tied into a bow around his collar; a buttoned up vest; light brown dress pants that hugged his slim legs; and he was given white gloves.

What reflected on the large mirror was an incredibly beautiful boy. His skin was smooth and unblemished, his long, light brown bangs were cut shorter to reveal his small nose, pink lips, blue eyes with long lashes, and a rosy tint on his delicate cheeks. His appearance was calming and breathtaking.

Joyce then gave him a quick tour of the mansion which was actually a dimension in disguise. It had an infinite number of levels which was accessible through the elevator or stairs, there were multiple rooms on each floor.

The first floor was the Dream Club, connected to the dining room, and the large living room, while the floors above were used for resting and playing.

Bell: Ting~
Joyce: Master Reaper is back, let's go to the shop.

They take the elevator down to the first floor, when Noel steps out he's surprised. The store was stuffed to the brim with numerous treasures and antiques but the organization and decor gave off the feeling of elegance and mystery. Dark maroon wallpaper with gold designs, glass cases, chests full of jewels, shelves of thick books, a crystal chandelier, velvet chairs surrounding a polished round table that held a beautiful tea set. Sitting on a sofa chair reading a book was the stranger he had met at the alleyway.

Joyce: *motions to Noel.
Noel: *shy. . . U-Um. . .
Reaper: *looks up. Oh? *throws the book that vanishes, walks over and gives him a once over, then smiles. How cute.
Noel: Eh? . . . *blush.
Reaper: *chuckles. He's shy~ I think I haven't introduced myself, everyone calls me Reaper.
Noel: That isn't his real name? *fidgets. Um . . .
Reaper: You're probably very confused. . . Let me show you what I do. . .

Reaper suddenly picked Noel up in a princess hold, Noel gasped and instinctively wrapped his arms around Reaper's neck. The area around them disappeared and suddenly, they were in the sky.

Noel: *shocked, clings tighter. Wah!
Reaper: *speaks gently and holds him closer. Don't worry, I've got you.
The surroundings change again and they are now in a room with the same setting as the store. Many colorful orbs are placed on long rows of endless shelves.

Reaper: The Soul Trading Club is a special place where the troubled come for a wish.
Noel: A wish?
Reaper: That's right. They could wish for anything in the world and I would provide them with it as long as they give me something worth the same value. . . I don't take money. You can wish for things like: a longer lifespan, incredible treasures, a talent, anything is possible. And for their wish they could pay with things like intelligence or happiness, but most pay with their soul.
Noel: T-Their soul?
Reaper: After they die, their soul will belong to me. All these orbs are the souls that I have collected so far.
Noel: *looks around. So many. . .
Reaper: The different colors represent how pure their soul is. From black, gray, purple, blue, to silver, bad to good respectively.

Noel looks around amazed, he wondered about the color of his own soul. And as if he read his mind. . .
Reaper: The color of your soul is a shimmering silver, it's very beautiful.
Noel: *startled, blush, nods in thanks.
Reaper: *chuckles. Any question?
Noel: *hesitates. . . U-Um, the children at the orphanage. . .
Reaper: Ah, don't worry, though I can't send them to a new home, I replaced the person in charge to a more reliable person.
Noel: *sighs with relief, smiles. Thank you very much.
Reaper: *pauses. . . . How cute, you should smile more.
Noel: *blushes harder.
Reaper: Anything else?
Noel: *timid. Um. . . What. . Are you? This power is unfathomable. . .
Reaper: You might have guessed, but I'm a demon.
Noel: A. . . Demon. . .?

And in an instant, they are back to the store, Joyce hadn't moved, waiting for them with a plate of cookies.
Reaper: *sits down with Noel on his lap. Since we made a soul contract you belong to me, I've given you immortality and forever youth so you won't grow old.
Noel: Eh? . . . Eh?! When did- Ah, when I gave you my name. . .
Joyce: Master, you obviously tricked him.
Reaper: *looks to Noel. Do you feel regretful?
Noel: . . . . He doesn't seem like a bad person, and he helped the children. Plus, there's no way I can go back. *shakes his head. No. .
Reaper: *smiles. Good. *feeds him a a cookie. You can start your work tomorrow, you can go explore or rest, if you're hungry, go ask Joyce.
Noel: *munching, nods his head.
Reaper: *ruffles his head playfully. No need to hold yourself back. I promised I'll take good care of you.