Devil's Deal (Infernal Contracts Book 1)

by Tessa Hastjarjanto

  Seating arrangements never bothered her, until she had to choose between two guys who she was sure of had a crush on her. And she wasn’t sure about either of them.

  She picked the other corner. It didn’t matter much who sat next to her, it would be awkward either way. Ben who sat down next to her, Michael sat in the armchair on the other side of her.

  Nora noticed Diana observing them. She still hadn’t said a thing.

  The movie started and Josy and Danny were softly talking about school, and Emily and Felicia. A topic she wanted to avoid as much as possible, but they were friends, no matter what happened. She was grateful that these people knew the truth: that she wasn’t the bad guy.

  They took a break halfway through the movie. Nora walked to the kitchen to refill a few glasses. Diana was behind her with two empty wine glasses.

  “What’s the deal with Felicia?” was the first thing Diana said.

  “Straight to the point. Why do you ask?” Nora said. She couldn’t read Diana at all. She showed no sign of emotion.

  “I picked a few things up since I came here. But boys don’t talk, even when I’m like a surrogate mother. No, they talk to the man of the house. But I know you’re at the centre of all of this, you’re the reason we’re having this movie night. So you can tell me what’s really going on,” she said with a straight face.

  “Eh, I’ll probably disappoint you, but all I know is that Felicia’s behaviour changed after she saw Danny. She became obsessive and threw me out of our group, just because he flirted with me a little. She thinks I’m a threat. She banned Emily and Josy from talking to me and I have to stay away from Danny and Ben.” Nora wasn’t sure if she wanted to share all the intimate details of what happened between her and her friends, but Diana’s stare frightened her a little.

  “Has she shown such behaviour before?”

  “Yes, to a degree. She would go after good-looking guys and she would claim them. Neither of us was allowed to be friends with them. The boys only had eyes for her, and we didn’t care. This was the first time one of her targets was interested in someone else. This is also the first time that she didn’t care if someone got hurt because of her schemes. I’ve never seen her so selfish before. And Danny’s behaviour encouraged her.” Her frustration came out.

  “And you’re absolutely sure this all happened after she saw Danny?” A small frown appeared on Diana’s forehead.

  “No, not really. I hadn’t seen her for two months before she had seen him.” Nora saw a twitch in Diana’s right eye when she said that.

  “Why are you so interested?” Nora asked. She thought it was strange an unfamiliar woman was so interested.

  “I’m a friend, but I also want to raise him like a responsible being. If he’s provoking bad behaviour in girls, I have to punish him.”

  Nora nearly spilled her soda, surprised by Diana’s strict words. “I think he needs a good role model more than punishment. I have no idea where he lived before, but he needs to learn more about how we do things here. His charms won’t get him far in life.”

  “Regardless, something has to change. Can I trust you and your friends to look after both of them? Danny isn’t the only one who has some adjustment issues.” Diana grabbed a bottle of wine. She popped the cork without a problem.

  “Sure, but what’s wrong with Ben?” She wondered. “I think he’s doing well considering the circumstances.”

  “You don’t know the circumstances.” Diana’s eyes pierced through her skull. A shiver went down Nora’s spine.

  “I know that he came from a very isolated place to our high school. That’s a big change; he’s doing very well getting used to school and other people.” Defending Ben felt good, like she became a better friend.

  “That’s a… way of saying it, but still not everything. I wish I could say more, but it’s not my place. I do, however, feel responsible for their time here. It’s a promise I made.” Diana swirled the wine in her glass and smelled it.

  “Who are you? To them, I mean. I don’t care if you’re Matthew’s girlfriend.”

  “I’m not his girlfriend. I’m a friend of the family. Even though none of these men are blood related, right now they’re my family. And I’ll do anything for family.”

  “I feel like you’re threatening me, while I’m trying to help your sons,” Nora used her fingers to air quote sons. “What are you trying to accomplish?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around teenagers. I have to make sure they succeed.” All emotion had left her face again. Nora had a hard time reading her.

  “You look young enough to be a teen yourself.” Nora hoped she hadn’t been too mean.

  “I appreciate the compliment, but it’s been a long time since I was a teenager.” Finally a smile appeared on Diana’s face.

  “Let’s go back, I think they want to continue,” Nora said, as she grabbed the drinks and walked back to the living room.

  The talk with Diana confused her. Who was she, and what gives her the right to act so motherly? And why was she so vague about everything? She hoped Ben could enlighten her.

  Nora knew the party was to celebrate her victory over Felicia. Her friends in that room had all shown Felicia they didn’t agree with her. Nora still hoped she would get her friend back. If it was true and everything started with Danny, he might be the only one able to snap her out of it. She didn’t care what he had to do, as long as he did something. Otherwise people could get hurt, Felicia herself included.

  ***

  When she came home from church, her parents were in the living room. Her father reading a book and her mother working on her cross-stitching.

  “How was it?” her mother asked.

  “It was okay. I saw Danny there, and we talked a little.” Nora sat down next to her.

  “He’s one of the new kids in your class, right?”

  “Yes. Felicia has got an eye on him, but I hope she’ll stop chasing him because he’s religious. You know how she thinks about that.”

  Her mother nodded.

  “Danny has lived in Italy most of his life. We talked about art and what it was like living there.”

  “Oh really? Where did he live?” Her father perked up.

  Nora shrugged. “I haven’t asked yet.”

  “Maybe you should invite him for dinner sometimes.”

  “Dad, he’s just a friend. Or maybe not even. We talked once. It would be weird to ask him to have dinner with my parents.” Nora was flustered. She wouldn’t even think of bringing a boy home.

  “Michael has dinner here all the time. What’s the difference?” her father asked.

  “Michael knows he’s a friend. Danny might get the wrong idea and think I want him to be my boyfriend.” Her father didn’t understand teenage boys. “Most fathers would hate it if their daughters started dating.”

  “So do I. I don’t ever want you to get married. I want you with me. My little princess.”

  “Stop it. You’re teasing her,” Nora’s mother interrupted.

  “But it’s true. She has to stay my little girl.”

  “She will grow up. You know that. And she will find someone she loves and brings home. And you will accept anyone, you hear me?” Her mother threatened him with her needle.

  “It wouldn’t hurt for her to make the right friends now. This boy seems like a good friend to have. Educated, well-mannered, and experienced?”

  “You mean, he goes to church and has lived in the same country you did? You don’t know anything about him.”

  “Probably more than you do, my little princess. If he’s lived there, I know what kind of upbringing he has had. Especially if he still goes to church. He will turn out to be a good man. You’ll see.” A grin spread on his face. “Keep him close and you’ll know.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. Your father is in a weird mood. One of your nieces is getting married and it’s all he can think about.”

  “I just want you to be hap
py and share your life with someone exceptional.” He looked at her mother and love overflowed his eyes.

  Nora knew how much he loved her mother. If he didn’t, they wouldn’t have moved back here. She’s everything to him and he would go to the end of the world for her. She wished she could find that kind of love.

  Every time the Fab Four discussed something like this, the others already had their perfect partners picked out. Nora’s mind was blank. She had no idea who her partner would be. Danny and Michael might be favourites of her father, but she felt nothing for them.

  Nora was only sixteen and didn’t want to think about that yet. Marriage wasn’t on her list of priorities right now. Going to Italy and graduating was.

  Maybe if she practiced Italian with Danny and worked Saturdays in the bakery, her dream of going to Italy could become a reality. If she could speak the language, her visit would be so much easier. She had enough saved up for the trip itself, but she wanted to earn more, to visit museums or buy souvenirs. She wanted to bring her family presents. Her father had offered to pay for some of it, but her mother encouraged her to earn it herself. It would be more rewarding, and the working experience would be a plus on her resume.

  She loved her parents and felt their love. Both had their own way of showing it. Her mother expressed it through actions and advice, while her father was more verbal about it.

  “I appreciate you looking out for my happiness, but don’t go renting wedding venues yet. I first have to graduate high school and then I want to go to college.” Nora rose from the couch and grabbed her bag. She kissed the top of her father’s head and headed upstairs.

  “Of course, my princess. Your education is important as well,” he said before he went back to his newspaper.

  Chapter 13

  School wasn’t fun anymore without her friends. Felicia sat with Danny, and Emily and Josy sat next to each other, supporting Felicia’s boycott of Nora. She now spent most of her time alone.

  Spanish class was the only class where the four friends were separated. Felicia and Emily thought Spanish was a waste of time. She was glad Josy still sat next to her there, although it was a little awkward. They mostly said hi’s and goodbye’s. The teacher often required their attention and total silence, so they didn’t have much chance to talk.

  “Hey, can I ask you something about Felicia?” Nora asked Josy. They had an hour to work on the assignment. Nora needed to take this chance to speak to her friend and see what was going on.

  “Eh, sure, I guess.” Josy hadn’t expected that question.

  “Did she tell you and Emily to stay away from me?”

  “She did.” Josy looked ashamed, even though it wasn’t her fault.

  “Is Danny that important to her?” Nora could barely believe it. That Felicia would let a random guy come between them, and that she exiled her from everyone else.

  “I guess. I don’t really get it, though,” Josy admitted. “It’s the first time I’ve seen her so clingy and desperate. But only when you’re around. The rest of the time, she seems so normal.”

  “I’m not the only girl he flirts with, but I’m the only one she exiles?” Nora said.

  “Hey, don’t take it too hard,” Josy said, putting a hand on Nora’s arm. “She’ll get bored with him quickly enough. Or the other way around. She’ll find someone else before the year is over.”

  “They haven’t hooked up yet?” This surprised Nora. If Felicia wanted something, she would get it—especially with guys.

  “Nope, and not for a lack of trying on Felicia’s part. Danny has become skilled in avoiding her when going home. She even went to his place once to ambush him, but Ben was the only one there.” Josy giggled.

  “You mean, like she did before? Just a coat and underwear?”

  “Yes. Ben couldn’t believe a girl would do that, but there she was. Standing in front of him with just that,” said Josy. “That’s how ridiculous she is. She’s taking out her anger on you and you don’t deserve it. If she wants to be angry at someone, she should be angry at Danny for not giving in nor telling her to stop. I’ve never seen her like this.”

  “I miss you. School has been a horrible place for the past weeks. I wish I could just talk to you guys again. I need a friend,” said Nora.

  “Don’t you have Michael? I see you two together sometimes.”

  “But he’s not the same. Michael is still a guy. He doesn’t do girls’ night or understand fashion.”

  “That’s true.” Josy nodded.

  “I hope we can talk normally while we’re in Spanish class. Then I would have a few normal hours at school.” A feeling of loneliness welled up inside of her.

  “Of course. I’ll try to talk Felicia, but I can’t promise anything. It’s no use talking to Emily since she’s Felicia’s minion.”

  Nora nodded. “Thanks.” She was glad Josy still wanted to talk to her, and she had no expectations of Josy’s talk.

  “I have to say something about Ben. Felicia told Emily and me to get friendly with him. Neither of us has an interest in him, but he sits with us during lunch. I think he’s not who he says he is.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “The stories he tells, they’re unreal. Has he shared anything with you?”

  “He told me about his first kiss, but nothing more.”

  “Why did he tell you? Did he ask you?”

  “No,” Nora thought back. “It seemed a little weird for him to randomly tell me that. He thought it was a good icebreaker.”

  “Well, apparently I have a grand destiny to fulfil.”

  “Huh. He said that? Is he a psychic?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know what to do with that kind of information. I don’t feel special at all nor do I have the ambition to be.”

  “No Nobel Prize for literature?” Nora joked.

  “That I’ll gladly accept,” Josy laughed. “But it doesn’t seem like the kind of destiny he was talking about. It was more like a Nobel Prize for peace.”

  “Really? You’re setting the bar high.” Nora enjoyed teasing Josy a little. She knew her friend had so much more in her.

  “Like I said, no ambition.”

  “You never know what life throws at you. Maybe world war three will break out and you’ll be the head of the resistance. I can totally see you do that.”

  ***

  November 23 was Felicia’s birthday. It was her sixteenth birthday, and she wanted to celebrate big. She never passed on a chance to show off what she had. The Halloween party would be nothing compared to this. Felicia started planning it two years ago, and Nora knew what she wanted.

  She had a notebook filled with cutouts from magazines about what she wanted. Dresses, decoration, cakes—all of it. Nora felt sorry for the people who would be involved in her wedding.

  Invitations had been sent out, and Nora hadn’t received one. She knew it wasn’t a mistake in the mail when Danny showed her his invitation. They looked exactly like she expected.

  It was the perfect soft ivory card stock with golden filigree she had found online a year ago; an expert calligrapher handwrote all of them.

  Nora noticed that Danny wasn’t allowed to bring a plus one. He didn’t mention it, but she knew the reason.

  Ben had also received an invitation, with a plus one, and he asked Nora to come with him. She was still the only one he talked to, and there was no sign he was even interested in talking to others.

  The memories of the Halloween party were still fresh in her mind which made her wonder if she should accept the invitation, this time Michael wouldn’t be there. The guest list was limited and didn’t only include people from school; her parents’ colleagues and friends would be there as well. Josy thought it would be the perfect time to make connections for internships or jobs. Nora didn’t care about that. If anything, she just wanted to have fun with her friends.

  This was the first formal party she’d go to. She already had the little black dress handpicked by Felicia.
Her three friends couldn’t outshine Felicia, so Felicia took control and bought the dresses for each of them. Emily happily accepted the dress. Nora and Josy had more problems with it. And Felicia wouldn’t hear any of it. It was her day and everyone should do as she says.

  That’s what bugged Nora. Felicia didn’t invite her, but she didn’t tell her not to come either. At least she couldn’t make a scene with all her parents’ friends around. Maybe they could talk.

  Matthew had offered to drive the three of them. He would wait in a pub nearby until the party was over. He used his connections to get an exclusive necklace Nora knew Felicia didn’t have, but wanted. It was too expensive for herself to buy, but with Ben and Danny pitching in, the three of them could afford it.

  The navigation system had trouble locating the parking place close to the mansion. The surrounding gardens took up a large part of the village it was in, but there were no pathways that showed where the parking was.

  “Damned systems. Why aren’t they up-to-date?” Matthew cursed the device built into his car.

  “Have you thought about using an old-fashioned map?” Danny asked, as he opened the glove box to look for one.

  “I don’t have one.” Matthew grumbled and looked around for signs by the road, to see where he had to go. It was already dark and it was hard to see.

  Nora took out her phone and looked up the address. Her navigation instructed her exactly where to go. She gave her phone to Danny so he could guide Matthew.

  “Thanks Nora,” Matthew said.

  Nora looked outside again, hoping to see the mansion. Even though she knew what it looked like, seeing it in person was different. Trees blocked her view when she noticed a large iron fence, but Matthew was going too fast to see what was behind the trees.

  He had to stop at a traffic light and Nora finally caught more than a glimpse. It was beautiful. Sand-coloured bricks with white trims and large windows. It was bigger than she remembered. She couldn’t imagine anyone living there. Maybe a large family with three generations and extended family.