The Devil's Pact Pt. 03

"Body and Bath should be the last stop," I told Mark as we left Bruno. "Alison and I will need our beauty supplies."

"Of course," he said. "I think I'll pop into Gamer Boutique."

I nodded; he had put up with shopping for longer than any other guy. "Okay, hun, we'll meet you back here in twenty minutes. Enjoy buying your video games."

"Sure," he nodded, and pulled some of the money he took from the prudish bitch back at Goth Topic and handed it to me. I gave him a quick kiss and led Alison and our pack mule off into the mall.

* * *

Mark Glassner

I didn't head to Gamers Boutique like I told Mary. I went to The Karat, the jewelry store nearby. It was well lit with white flooring and walls, and full of glass displays draped with gold, silver, and precious gems.

Maybe it was crazy, but I loved Mary. Even if I hadn't known her for a full day yet, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I felt it deep inside me. I had always felt like I had been missing something deep inside, and I found it in her. I had wished for the power to let me have any woman in the world, and all I really wanted was Mary.

Though sharing all those women with her would be the filling in the pie.

"Hello," the clerk, a middle-aged woman named Patricia, greeted me. She had horn-rimmed glasses perched on a narrow, pinched face and bony nose and a gaudy nametag pinned to her drab blouse. "How can I help you? Shopping for your mom or girlfriend?"

"I'm shopping for an engagement ring," I answered, an excited buzz in my stomach.

She gave me a happy smile, and motioned me over to an entire display case full of rings. There must have been over a hundred. Which one should I choose? I was quickly overwhelmed. I looked at them, trying to decide which band of gold and glinting diamond was perfect.

"What does your girlfriend like," Patricia asked, clearly sensing I was out my element. "What type of jewelry does she wear?"

"I'm not sure," I said, studying all the rings. "We haven't been together long."

"Ahh," Patricia said. "When I was eighteen, I was swept off my feet by this twenty-year old sailor. I thought he was the one."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I got the clap," Patricia said with a impish giggle. "Turned out, I wasn't the only girl he was seeing. So you're sure you're not rushing things?"

I shook my head. "No, she's the one. I feel it in my heart. She...I don't know, makes me feel whole. I know, sounds stupid."

Her grin was motherly. "It doesn't, sonny. I can see it in your eyes. You're head-over-heels for the girl."

"Yeah."

"Good luck. Hopefully, she feels the same." She looked down at the rings. "How about this one?"

She pulled out a white-gold band surmounted by a brilliant diamond and flanked by lesser ones set in the band. I shook my head; it didn't feel right. She pulled out a couple more, every time I shook my head and she immediately plucked out a new one.

"Sorry," I shrugged as the seventh one was rejected.

"It's okay," she smiled. "This is the most important decision you'll ever make. Take your time."

As she bent down to grab another, my eyes fell on one ring. This was it. Patricia noticed my gaze and reached in, pulling it out. The ring had a large, black diamond set in white gold and flanked with many, smaller white diamonds, ringing the black. The band of the ring was set with small, black diamonds. It wasn't the most expensive ring, but I found it the most beautiful.

"This the one, sonny?" Patrica asked.

"Definitely," I said.

So Patricia placed it in a black, ring box and I decided to look for some more jewelry for Mary. I found a heart-shaped, silver locket with a pink rose sculpted on the front; a gold bracelet made of X's and O's with little hearts engraved on the O's; and a pair of gold stud earrings set with amethysts.

"Alright, let's ring that up."

I sighed. "I'm afraid not. I'm robbing you, Patricia."

She blinked in surprise. "What, sonny?"

"Walk into the back room," I commanded her. She was a nice, old gal, and I didn't want her to get in trouble for my theft. "I'm going to tie you up."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Because I can," I shrugged. When you had my power you could do what you want. Who was going to stop me?

The back room was full of boxes, and I found a roll of packing tape. I bound her wrists tight with packing tape as she sat on a chair, then taped her feet to it. She had such a betrayed look on her face as I taped her up.

"Listen, you won't get in any trouble this way," I whispered. "I'll make sure someone frees you before too much longer. Thanks."

Jewelry in hand, I walked over to the Gamer Boutique. Sadly, no hot, beautiful, cute, or even a moderately attractive woman wandered into the store, so I just browsed the games, picking up a few I didn't own. Mary and Alison were late and worry filled me? What could have held Mary up? I pulled my phone out to call them and realized I didn't have either of their phone numbers.

"Shit."

I was about to set out to search for them when they walked up, laden with more than just the Bath and Body shopping bags, but also several department store bags. Relief flooded through me.

"Just some toiletries and such," Mary explained with a smile. How could I be mad when she smiled so beautifully?

"So anywhere else?" I asked.

Mary thought for a minute. "No, I think that's enough for today." Mary noticed The Karat bag and her eyes widened. I grinned and handed the bag of jewelry over. I had already slipped the engagement ring box into my pants pocket.

Both Mary and Alison cooed in delight as they opened the jewelry boxes. Mary immediately put on the locket, the bracelet, and replaced her silver studs for the gold, amethyst studs. Bedecked with her new jewelry, Mary hugged me, her arms tight about my neck, and kissed me soundly on the lips.

"Oh, they're so beautiful," she said, tears in her eyes, "thank you, thank you." The thank yous were punctuated with sweet kisses. "I love you."

"I'm glad you like them," I told her when she calmed down.

Arm in arm, we walked through the mall. After a few minutes of wandering around the parking lot, we found my silver Mustang. Alison and the pack mule placed our purchases into the trunk, and I told the young man to go to the jewelers and find Patricia and free her. As he ran off, the three of us piled into the Mustang with Alison squeezing into the backseat.

"If you could have any car in the world, Mary, what would it be?" I asked as the Mustang's engine roared to life.

She frowned. "I'm not sure. A Volkswagen, probably."

"A Volkswagen?" I asked. That would not have been my answer.

"Ooh, they make the cutest cars!"

Laughing at her girlish squeal, I backed my car out of the space and headed off to find a Volkswagen dealership. I'm sure we'd get into more naughty fun there.

To be continued...