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To summon a demon, one must first obtain the tome in which a demon is sealed. They then must draw the demon’s name with their blood in a circle of red and place the tome in the center. Call forth the demon’s name and whatever you wish, shall be granted.

The Great K’uhul Ajaw was a prideful demon. During his prime, he was summoned to great battles spilling gore wherever he went satisfying the ones who summoned him that their enemies coward at his presence. All this with the simple price of eating half of the summoner’s lifespan. 

Oh, how Ajaw reveled at the look of his summoners when they realized too late that their lifespans had been shortened. The Dragonlord demon K’uhul Ajaw savored every bite of his summoner’s lifespan. Promising men who could have lived a life of peace, or have a family, becoming the inspiration of generations were gone at the blink of an eye.

Of course, most of the story is exaggerated by Ajaw’s boastful nature, but most of it is true. But as the years went by, Ajaw found himself sealed away in his tiny book collecting dust. Ajaw had no idea how long it had been or where he was. All he knew was that the moment he was set free, he was going to destroy everything with hellfire and bring misery to every human possible for a single demon. 

So when the day the book unlocked for Ajaw, he flew out with a fiery blaze.

“Muwahahahaha!” Ajaw roared with laughter, “Finally… After all those years! I’m free!” 

“Who are you?” 

Ajaw turned to see who dared speak while enjoying his glorious release only to see a boy with dark hair standing in surprise. He looked frail, wearing a loose shirt stained with dirt and torn at the hems. 

“Hmph,” Ajaw voiced, “To think people these days would still request the almighty demon K’uhul Ajaw’s strength. Ha! Pathetic.” 

“You’re… a demon?” 

“Of course!” Ajaw fumed, slightly annoyed at these questions, “Isn’t that why you summoned me?” 

“Uh…what?” 

Ajaw finally took his time to look at his surroundings. It was a tiny room bare of furniture except for a ragged mattress in the corner and a prickly rug. The clay walls were melting, revealing the skeleton straw that held it together. It was also then that Ajaw looked down and saw that there were no red circles around him.

“Would you look at that,” Ajaw smirked, “No circle! I’m completely free!” 

Ajaw laughed as he realized just how stupid this human who had summoned him was. For you see, the red circle is to keep the demon under control as you make a deal with them. Without it, they can run wild. 

“Kinich! Is that you!” 

A loud voice behind the poorly shut door made the boy in front of Ajaw jump. He scrambled down and picked up the discarded book — that damned book. Ajaw was not going back in there. 

“Go back go back go back!” The boy, Kinich, whispered in a small voice of desperation as he continued to push the opened book at Ajaw’s face. 

“Hey! Stop that you little –” 

“Is someone in there?” The voice behind the door sounded closer. 

“No one!” Kinich yelled back. He turned to Ajaw and whispered again, “Please just hide! I’m begging you.” 

Ajaw frowned. Although he disliked being ordered around by this brat, he couldn’t help but notice a hint of fear behind that quiet voice. With a roll of his eyes, he snapped his fingers as he poofed himself into a comfortable small 8-bit form. 

The moment, Ajaw transformed, the book slammed shut on him like a bookmark molesting the pages of a book. Ajaw gave out a muffled shout at the sudden action but wasn’t hurt too badly thanks to his flat form. Mind you, this was not how you seal a demon back into their tome. 

Ajaw felt himself be thrown about and a shade of darkness enveloped him. Once he managed to collect himself in his new form, he peeped out of the pages of the book only to see he was under a blanket. It was then the door slammed open followed by the stomps of angry footsteps entering the room.

“I swear I heard you talking to someone,” A deep voice boomed. 

“No one was here father,” Kinich spoke. 

“You dare talk back to me?” the father slurred. He was drunk and Ajaw could smell the strong booze even as he was under the sheets. 

“I’m sorry.” 

A loud slap, followed by a thud was heard as Kinich spoke the first syllable. 

“Worthless,” the father continued, “Weak. What use are you if you can’t even obey your father?” 

Ajaw then heard a rough shuffle of clothes. Then there was a crash shattering sound of glass. 

“How dare you glare back at me you worthless child!” 

There was the sound of beating and a curse with each hit. 

“This is why your mother left,” the father spoke after he continued to hit the body, “She was sick of looking after such a pathetic, disobedient child.” 

The father then spat on Kinich and left the room with his footstep sounding smaller and smaller. 

Once the sound was gone, Ajaw shuffled out of the sheets and took a peek. The boy was curled in the corner, surrounded by broken glass. He was covered with bruises and blood coming from the cuts on his skin. If he looked pathetic when Ajaw first saw him, he was beyond wrecked now.

“Hmph,” Ajaw floated out of the blanket, “What a bastard.” he stuck out his tongue in the direction of the door. “To think that my summoner was this pitiful that he couldn’t even stand up for himself.” He looked at the boy in the corner who hadn’t moved an inch. 

“Hey! Get up!” Ajaw snapped. 

“..-eave- … .” 

“What was that? Speak up!” 

“Just leave me alone.” Kinich cried as quiet sobs filled the room. 

Ajaw groaned. His chance to showcase his suppressed power after all those years was wasted because his summoner hid the demon instead of using his potential to smite his abusive father. This puny human somehow summoned a demon in his room and didn’t even perform the basic procedures of making a contract with him. 

Wait… Come to think of it… 

Ajaw could have easily snapped his fingers and killed the boy and his father since he wasn’t bound in a red circle. Heck, why didn’t he? 

*snap* 

Nothing. 

Guess he was still bound by something that prevented him from a reckless rampage. 

“Hey brat,” Ajaw said, “Why did you summon me?” 

The boy shifted from his position. “I didn’t.” 

“Well something is preventing me from killing you and you’re the only one in the room when I was summoned.” 

“I didn’t do anything I swear.”

The brat was still shaken by the way he sounded. Ajaw ignored it and continued his interrogation. “Do you know what I am?” 

Kinich paused and looked up with a tear-stained face. “A lizard?” 

“Why- you little –” Ajaw held back his anger and exhaled a heavy sigh, “You seriously have no idea what I am or who I am.” 

The boy blinked and shook his head.

“I’m a demon,” Ajaw said, “Specifically the great K’uhul Ajaw. For years I made multiple contracts with humans with the greatest results in exchange for a price that I deem fit.” 

Kinich seemed to ponder for a while on what it meant before nodding his head. 

“You don’t believe me?” 

“Not a bit.” 

The duality of this idiot! “Urgh, never have I have ever been so insulted in all my years!” Ajaw waved his tiny little cube arms, “No wonder that bastard beat you up. You deserved it for that sharp tongue of yours!” 

“Do you grant wishes?” Kinich asked unfazed.

Ajaw stopped his tantrum in surprise at the boy’s sudden change of tone. “Of course. I can grant any wish be it destroy your enemies, riches from the old domains of kings, anything.” 

The shards of glass pooled down the floor like rain as Kinich stood up. His feet were bare but he didn’t even wince as he walked over the small crystals. Ajaw on the other hand did, feeling squeamish at the sound of crackling with each step. 

“Anything?” Kinich asked. 

“Anything,” Ajaw repeated. 

“Then,” Kinich's voice dropped, “Can you kill me.” 

Ajaw's eyes went wide, “Woah woah woah! Hold on!” Looking at the boy, his expression remained stoic. He was serious. 

“Do you even realize what you have here?” Ajaw waved his hands, “You have an all-powerful demon here in your service. I could lend you power beyond imagination. Riches from the unknown. Hell, I could even put that no good father of yours in his place.” 

Kinich shook his head. “Every prize has a price. My death has no consequence or reward.” 

Ajaw grumbled. “Well too bad, I’m forbidden from killing my summoner. So until you request something different I can’t do squat.” 

“But I didn’t summon you.” 

“Oh ho! You really know how to piss off a guy,” Ajaw seethed in anger, “If I could kill you I would burn this place to the ground.”

“They why don’t you?” 

“For the millionth time, I told you I can’t! That’s not how it works!” Ajaw flew back to the bed pulled out the tome and threw it at Kinich, “Here! Read that if you have any questions!” 

Ajaw then plopped himself on the bunched-up pile of blankets and fell asleep. Perhaps once he wakes up, the brat will have educated himself. In the meantime, Ajaw decided to relax. Although the blanket wasn’t as soft, it was much better than being imprisoned in that damned book. 

When Ajaw woke up, it was dark and the brat was nowhere to be seen. Did he chicken out? Ha! A coward like him wouldn’t last long. Ajaw bet that the boy didn’t have much lifespan remaining. 

Just then, a scream interrupted the night. 

Ajaw was fully awake now and jolted up. He exited the open door and out an opened window. 

“By the great sovereigns,” Ajaw silently cursed at the sight he saw. 

A corpse of a man lay dead on the ground, seemingly having fallen from a great height. Ajaw looked up and noticed a tiny figure dangling in the sky, lowering themselves to where he was. 

“Guess the brat has some guts after all,” Ajaw smirked. 

Kinich said nothing. Instead, his fists were clenched tightly as he looked at the unmoving body below his feet. 

“What, never seen a dead body before?” Ajaw mocked. He flew over and poked at the mangled face, the face of a drunk who faced the consequences, “Humans are so pathetic.” 

“Don’t touch him!” Kinich growled grabbing the tiny demon. 

“Ow! What do you think you’re doing? Stop!” Ajaw howled at the death grip. His pixelated form struggled to keep him stable and he felt the glitches shivering throughout his body. 

When Kinich finally let go of Ajaw, he was ready to shout a string of insults at the boy only to stop himself. 

A single tear. Barely noticeable to the eye, was shed. An inexplicable expression as Kinich stood over his dead father with eyes shut and heavy pants. As if a string that held him together snapped, Kinich’s face twisted as he toppled over, coughing as he struggled to get air. 

Ajaw watched dumbfounded as the mortal began to experience what he could assume to be an overwhelming pressure of stress and anxiety. Kinich fell to the ground clutching his stomach and a hand covering his mouth. He wasn’t going to be able to breathe if he continued. 

After giving a heavy sigh, Ajaw transformed himself into his usual human-demon form and approached Kinich. 

Grabbing the boy caused a great deal of shock and panic that Kinich started to scream. Ajaw was able to remove the hand that covered his mouth forcefully. His strength kept Kinich from thrashing around as he commanded the human to take deep breaths. 

Eventually, the thrashing stopped and the breathing returned to normal. Kinich’s body limped in weak response. Ajaw lowered the boy to relax against his chest as he cursed himself for getting soft. 

“Have you finally come to your senses?” 

Kinich nodded and stood up only to fall back down from dizziness. Ajaw burst out a laugh. “Weak as always.” 

Kinich ignored him and brushed himself off. He then picked up the fallen grappling hook next to his father’s corpse. The following events were a slow and tedious task of Kinich dragging the body and burying it into the earth all of which Ajaw sat and watched. 

The boy was clearly in need of help and Ajaw would offer it if the boy had only asked. But he was met with silence and the bugs singing in the late dusk of the night. 

Once finished, Kinich wiped his hands and went back to his little home where Ajaw followed closely behind. He collapsed on the bed and curled into a ball once more, unaware of Ajaw’s presence. 

“Hey!” Ajaw snapped, “Not even a thank you from before?” 

Kinich looked up, “I didn’t ask you to comfort me.” 

“I wasn’t comforting you!” Ajaw counteracted quickly, “I would much prefer you to suffocate to death.” 

“Then you should have left me alone.” came a nonchalant response.

Ajaw growled, “If you died before accepting a contract from me then I’ll be sealed in that confounded book again!”

“That’s not a bad thought,” Kinich said, “Demons are evil to the core after all.” 

“So the lackey finally decided to educate himself huh? Go on then, what have you learned?” 

Kinich sat up with a deep sigh, “First, your kind are all tricksters. You offer rewards from our wishes with the price of a lifespan which is the source of your power. You grow more power the more lifespan you absorb and if you fail, you ultimately perish from an unfulfilled contract.” 

Oh, Ajaw didn’t know that. 

“As of now, you are in an unfulfilled contract with me because you haven’t granted my request.” 

“I said it before and I’ll say it again,” Ajaw groaned, “I. Can’t. Kill. You.” 

“And if something happens to me before the contract is fulfilled, you will be sealed away again,” Kinich continued. 

“That’s right,” Ajaw said, “And I won’t allow you to kill yourself until you make a new request that I can actually grant.” 

Knich shrugged and pulled the sheets over his head again. 

“Hey! Don’t ignore me!” No matter how much Ajaw yelled and complained at the boy, he did not move. 

Once Ajaw blew out of steam, Kinich finally spoke. “I asked where mom was.”

Ajaw looked at him in silence, already predicting where this would lead. 

“She left me behind because she was scared that father might pursue her,” A pause, “I understand why she did it and I don’t blame her. I was able to do things on my own, even keeping Father satisfied. But…” 

Here it comes. 

“It was lonely.” 

There it is.

“Blah big deal,” Ajaw spouted trying to put an end to the sappy tale, “Look, I’m not your therapist Nor am I your mommy. I’m an all-powerful demon and I got things to do so hurry up and make a wish already.” 

“Can I ask you something?” Kinich said, “What would you do when you had gained freedom?” 

“Simple. Once I grant whatever it is you wished for, I’ll consume your entire lifespan and put it to good use. I’ll unleash my full power over the people who foolishly kept me sealed in that godforsaken tome for eternity. Muwahaha!” 

“Then you’ll have nothing left,” Kinich whispered. 

“What?” 

“I said you’ll have nothing left but deadly loneliness.” 

“Doesn’t matter,” Ajaw puffed, “I get my vengeance and that’s all there is to it. However, I can’t do any of those things when there’s an idiot who wants to take the easy way out leaving me to suffer in that damned tome!” 

Suddenly Ajaw felt a sharp pain. His body lurched in response like he was hit by lighting. Screaming he dug his claws into his skin only to find that he was unable to grab hold of anything. 

His eyes darted around the room trying to find something. Something to stop the searing pain in his body. 

He’s losing energy. 

The ability to sustain himself in the physical form. 

With a blink of an eye, he glitched himself to his 8-bit form that require less strength. 

He needed energy. 

He needed blood. 

Oh, he’s drinking some right now… 

Oh, wait. He’s biting the boy’s arm. 

“I thought you said you can’t hurt me,” Kinich said arms extended where a small lizard-like creature dangled as they bit into his flesh. 

Ajaw grumbled and licked whatever few drops of blood he could from his tiny punctures. 

“Just because I said I couldn’t kill you doesn’t mean that I can’t break your legs.” 

Kinich nodded as he put his arm away rubbing on the tiny punctures. “Care you explain what just happened?” 

“Energy depletion,” Ajaw concluded, “Likely because I haven’t been summoned for a long time and the stored lifespan I absorbed over the years has depleted.”

Maybe that’s why Ajaw didn’t sense any other demons in the world. A few but not as much as before he was sealed up. 

“Do you have other ways to get energy?” 

“Unless you sacrifice the offering of fifty men I’m afraid there’s nothing but to salvage on your lifespan that you are holding back from me.” 

“Don’t you have other means to break a contract?” 

“Duty-bound,” Ajaw replied, “I am forever condemned to granting the wishes of my summoner and sealed into another contract whenever a new person summons me. I can’t kill my summoner until their wish is fulfilled and once it is I’ll feast on the souls of their enemies and their lifespans.” 

“What happens if you run out of energy?” 

“Well, I go to a sleeping state to regain energy but that’s time-consuming and I’m tired of lazying around.” 

“Is that why you were in the book when I found you?” 

Ajaw shook his head, “Nah, my last summoner wished me to be locked up forever because I ‘killed their lover’ which they never specified so I didn’t break any contract. But that stubborn idiot was heartbroken that he sealed me up in anger.” 

If Ajaw could find the person who sealed him for all those years, he’s sure to eat their remaining lifespan. Chances are they’re already dead in this era and Ajaw is running out of time before he’s sealed again unless he’s able to find a new source of energy. 

Oh, but there was one other method. 

Ajaw looked at Kinich examining the boy’s body. Small frame, small muscles. Thin waist from the lack of proper meals and tired eyes from the suppressed tears. It's not attractive in the slightest and a total turn-off. At least the guy’s eyes looked pretty like a jewel of a jungle canopy. 

“You’re staring.” 

Ajaw blinked and clicked his tongue looking away. 

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” 

“Well there is one more method,” Ajaw mumbled, “I can forcefully take your lifespan away.” 

It was an old method Ajaw heard from fellow demons who were not dragons but incubus. Despite being a demon, Ajaw never found sexual intercourse to be an entertaining method to absorb the life force of a human. He tried it before and it left them with a disappointing feeling, opting for violence and betrayal to be a more tastier experience. 

Seeing how the situation was, Ajaw probably wouldn’t mind if he forced himself on the human to get enough power to break away from the cursed contract. Yet, he felt turned off by it regardless not because of the boy’s appearance but because Kinich pissed him off. 

Blood offerings were another option but Kinich looked like he was about to pass out. One minor mistake and Ajaw might get sealed again for accidentally killing him. 

“I’ll do it.” 

“Huh?” 

“Seeing how you are an evil demon that anyone could summon with this book, it’s dangerous to just leave you alone, and even if I hide the book you’d still be found by treasure hoarders or something. The risks are unpredictable.”

“So would you be making a new wish?” 

“No.” 

“Oh, C’mon!” 

“I’m willing to live out my life,” Kinich said. 

“So you have the will to live,” Ajaw spat, “What was your deal? First, you wanted to die so badly. Now you want to live? What gives?”

“This is different.” Kinich said, “I have a reason to stay alive, and that is to keep you from ever being free in this world.” 

Ajaw let out a loud laugh and glared at Kinich with red hot eyes, “So a form of self-sacrifice huh? Your very existence to suppress the great demon K’uhul Ajaw from his glorious freedom.” 

“Whatever it takes,” Kinich said with eyes glaring back. 

Ajaw laughed some more. “Is that a challenge?” He snarled.

“Whatever you need I’ll provide, in return, lend me your power so I can get what you need,” Kinish said, “And when I die, then I’ll allow you to feast on my soul.” 

Ajaw howled in laughter. Oh, this was going to be so much fun.

Kinich wants to die? Alright then. There are many ways to kill a person without dirtying your own hands. Lending his power to him is but a temporary matter, Ajaw wasn’t bothered. 

Speaking of energy, Ajaw had to do something about his currently depleting energy. With such an arrogant and stubborn confession, how could he not find this moment exhilarating? 

Switching to his human form, Ajaw took the arm he bit earlier and gave a good lick at the small hardened droplets around the punctured wound, licking away the crimson marbles like candy. Kinich barely whimpered at the pain and didn’t push Ajaw away. A good sign of submission, Ajaw thinks. 

“Tell me human,” Ajaw licked his lips, “You any good with osculation?” 

“No.” 

“Well let’s find out.”

Ajaw then pushed Kinich down the mattress and put his lips on his in violent fervor. Kinich, surprised by the action, muffled against the kiss while his arms were pinned down next to his head. His eyes shut tightly unable to steady his breathing through his nose. 

Being more daring, Ajaw licked Kinich’s bottom lip making the boy gasp. Ajaw dug his way into the open chance. His long tongue filled the warm cavern of Kinich’s mouth as he began to absorb the life force from Kinich. 

(Note: Life force is not the same as Life span although both are a source of food for demons.)

The moan Kinich gave out vibrated against Ajaw’s tongue giving the demon a shudder of excitement. Connecting themselves had allowed Ajaw to have a taste of Kinich’s soul, and the excitement came from deep within Ajaw. Although it was just a taste, Ajaw was already drunk, addicted, wanting more and more out of the human. 

A panicked hand smacked and clawed at Ajaw’s shoulder which eventually pushed the larger body away. Kinich gasped for air, panting heavily in a hazed gaze. 

Ajaw licked his lips. It was divine, delicious, a feast for a king, were all comments Ajaw wanted to string out, but all that came from him was a simple, “Not bad.” 

“You done?” Kinich panted still trying to catch his breath.

“For now,” Ajaw said, testing out his energy flow. 

Ajaw had enough to maintain himself for another week or two. However, he felt like it wasn’t enough. He looked down at Kinich. His disheveled appearance followed by his loose clothes hanging on one side of his shoulder and his lips parted slightly with drool on the corners as he got himself in a steady breathing. Ajaw swallowed the lump in his throat. Temptation building up inside him to charge at those swollen lips once again to get a taste of the forbidden nectar.

He wasn’t satisfied in the slightest. He wanted…. More!

Ajaw slapped himself, startling Kinich. 

Kinich propped himself up with his elbows. “Do… Do you need more?” 

“No!” Ajaw snapped, fearing if he had more he ends up sucking the boy out dry, killing him. 

The two then hung in awkward silence as Ajaw blushed in a bright red. Kinich pressed his lips and looked to the side. “Uh, want to cuddle or something?” 

Ajaw nodded awkwardly and a moment later, held Kinich tightly in his embrace. 

“You’re warm,” Kinich said. 

“You… Urh… I mean obviously, I’m a demon, our bodies are naturally hot.” 

Kinich hummed and snuggled his head close to Ajaw’s chest. 

“I haven’t been held like this since mother left,” Kinich spoke softly. 

“Spare me the sap story, ‘Ajaw interrupted, “Now sleep, I’m tired.” He lied, demons don’t sleep but he needed a distraction from his ‘meal’ and the fact Knich’s scent is right under his nose. 

“You know today was my birthday.” 

Ajaw’s eyes went wide. So this brat of a human summoned a demon in his room, had his father killed, got his first kiss stolen by the demon earlier, and half of his life force drain, all in his birthday??? 

Talk about a wild day!

“Happy birthday or whatever,” Ajaw said with a scruff.

“Demons don’t care of things like that I assume.” 

“Obviously. Don’t expect me to get you a gift either.” 

“You know, for a demon, you know a lot about human culture huh?” 

Ajaw grumbled and bit his tongue unable to further embarrass himself. “You know,” He said changing topics, “Something that bothered me from the start is that I still don’t understand how you were able to summon me without the ritual.” 

“Oh yeah about that,” Kinich turned his head and picked up the tome relic, “The book said something about summoning a demon without the circle or calling their name and whatever.” 

“Huh? Let me see that,” Ajaw took the book from Kinich and looked at the line where he pointed. 

‘In rare cases, there are summoners who are compatible with the demon and do not require a red circle or know their name. The demon cannot harm the summoner and the summoner will find it hard to rid the demon. For their soul will be intertwined in a permanent Hell on Earth until death do them part. The ultimate price for a demon finding their soulmate.” 

Ajaw threw the book across the room with his face burning red. 

He seriously needs to find a way to burn and destroy that book.