The Witch in the Woods: The Transmigration of Hazel-Anne Davis
Chapter 55: The Devil Is In The Details

Chapter 55: The Devil Is In The Details

I looked between the woman who reminded me of my mother and the Aunt who helped raise me.

"I’m not sure how you view demons here," I started, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. This was not part of my plans for today, but with Hattie showing up, nothing ever went according to plan. "But they aren’t undead, or anything like that. They are real, just like you. They live, raise a family, have a job. There is just a bit of... spice added to them."

Flattening my hand, I called an orb of my white mist. "I am what is called a halfling: half human, half demon, all me. I can heal," I reminded her before clenching my fist, dispersing my healing power. "I can kill," I continued, making an orb of black mist. I felt Shi Yaozu stiffening beside me when he remembered the assassin from the other night. "I can call fire, I can manipulate metal, and I am stronger and faster than your average human."

"That’s because you are special," pointed out Aunt Hattie as she stuck the banana lollypop back in her mouth. "And we love you for that."

"But to go back to your original question, and Aunt Hattie’s offer, there are seven deadly sins, or seven different categories of demons," I scrambled, feeling the blush on my face as Hattie told me that they loved me.

I missed that reassurance.

"Pride, Wrath, Lust, Envy, Greed, Gluttony, and Sloth," nodded Hattie, waving her hand for me to continue.

"Most categories of demons came with their own set of powers, once upon a time. Lust always controlled fire and disease; Wrath was metal and fighting, that sort of thing. But we discovered that when the different categories intermingled and had a baby, the powers didn’t always stay the same. I have parts of Lust, Pride, and Wrath in me, but that is because of my grandparents and mother. My father was completely human," I add on almost as a side note.

"What does this have to do with the gift the King of Hell is willing to give me?" asked the Empress, her eyes narrowing on my face like she didn’t know if she wanted to kiss me or kill me.

My vote was for neither, but that was just me.

"Aunt Hattie is willing to give you a demon seed, but depending on how powerful it is, and how powerful you are, different things might happen. You might live to 150, or you might never die. If there was a power you were desperate for, you might want to pick a demon in that category."

"I like the idea of healing," murmured the Empress, and Hattie’s eyes went wide as she squirmed in her seat. "But I also like the idea of disease."

"Lust controls fire and disease, because like love, lust can burn hot, but it can also be toxic," agreed Hattie. "But Wrath is fun too. They can fight like there is no tomorrow, they never run out of stamina or strength, plus, as long as there is metal around, they can make any type of weapon they can imagine. Pride is a bit tricky. They have spirit and lightning powers, which basically mean that they can call lightning and can read minds and manipulate people."

"Gluttony controls air and water," I nodded, pretty sure that was the case. Most people, by the time I came around, kept their powers pretty close to their chest. "Greed had space and earth?" I continued, looking at Hattie. She nodded her head.

"The point is that there are a lot of powers that can be at your disposal, if you want them," shrugged Hattie. "And all you have to do is promise to protect my Little Wolf in this world. That’s it."

"How do I get the powers of disease and metal?" asked Shi Yaozu, his voice coming out of nowhere. All three of us blinked, completely forgetting that he was still in the hall.

"You make a deal and hope to the Devil you get what you want," dismissed Hattie before turning her attention back to the Empress. "So, what do you say, Lanyue, are you willing to protect Xinying to the best of your abilities?"

The Empress studied me for a while before taking in a deep breath. "Lust," she announced, her head high. "I want fire and disease."

Hattie nodded her head but otherwise didn’t move.

"You need to say it all," I offered, letting out a long sigh. "I, your name, wish to become a Lust demon. In exchange, I am willing to protect Zhao Xinying, otherwise known as Hazel-Anne Davis, to the best of my ability."

The Empress straightened her back even more, her chin jutting out as she took in a deep breath. "I, Wei Lanyue, wish to become a Lust demon. In exchange, I am willing to protect Zhao Xinying, otherwise known as Hazel-Anne Davis, to the best of my ability."

"Deal accepted," chuckled Hattie. Holding out her hand, a glowing golden dandelion seed sat on her palm.

"What do I do now?" asked the Empress, her eyes never leaving the seed.

"Just close your eyes. The less you fight it, the more power you will have," said Hattie. When the Empress closed her eyes, Hattie blew on the seed, sending it over to the other woman’s heart.

----

Shi Yaozu had more questions than he had answers as he watched a glowing ball leave the palm of the strange child and enter the Empress’ heart.

He expected something big to happen, an explosion, or for the Empress to change appearance. Instead, nothing happened.

"Did it work?" asked the Empress, clearly having the same concerns as Zhi Yaozu.

"Powers work on intent," said the woman beside him. "Open your palm and think about a flame. Think about its warmth, what do you want to do with it? Fire burns, but it also warms. It cooks our food, even as it destroys entire communities. Think small at first, we don’t need you setting your entire courtyard on fire."

The Empress nodded her head and stared at her palm. Suddenly, a small yellow flame appeared in the middle of her hand. "Amazing," she whispered, twisting her palm over and over again, staring at the flame. "Thank you," she whispered to the little girl.

"Just remember your promise," shrugged the girl coming to her feet. "You won’t like me much if you don’t keep your side of our agreement."

"Wait!" called out Shi Yaozu. "I want to make a wish."

"Are you sure?" asked the small woman, turning to look at him.

"I am," he nodded. "I, Shi Yaozu, wish to be a Wrath demon. In exchange, I am willing to be the servant of Zhao Xinying, otherwise known as Hazel-Anne Davis. I will obey her in every circumstance until she no longer requires me."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" demanded Zhao Xinying, her eyes wide with panic as she looked at Shi Yaozu. "You can’t take it back."

"Deal accepted," smirked the girl with some type of stick sticking out of her mouth. "I just hope that you don’t end up regretting this choice."

Like with the Empress, she held out her hand, this time with a glowing red seed or something in it. Shi Yaozu dropped to his knees, his eyes closed. With this seed, he could do everything that he had never dared dream of before.

He could create his own weapons, be stronger than those sent to kill him... with this seed, he finally found a hope for the future.

He felt a punch to his heart, and he gasped, his eyes flying open. "Listen to me, Yaozu," whispered the girl, her face inches away from his own. "I see you, I know exactly who and what you are. Don’t change for anyone, do you understand me? I’ve given you so much more than what I gave Lanyue. Don’t waste it."

Shi Yaozu closed his eyes as he felt something digging into his heart. He felt someone else’s feelings, someone else’s intentions as the seed merged with his very being. But while the human felt some fear, he also felt the strength he had been promised.

"I won’t," he vowed, his eyes unknowingly flashing bright red before they settled. "But understand this, Devil. I am not yours to order around."

The girl, the King of Hell, paused for a second before tilting back her head and laughing. "I already have ten men to order around, I’m not looking for any more," she assured him. "If you have any questions, don’t be scared to ask. It’s better to know than try to figure it out on your own. Whatever you are feeling, Xinying has already felt."

With those parting words, she hugged Zhao Xinying and disappeared into thin air.

"Your Majesty," called out a voice from the other side of the closed door. The sound was jarring enough to knock everyone out of their own heads. "The banquet is about to start."

"Right," smiled the Empress, coming to her feet. "We can’t miss that, now, can we?"