[ WP ] `` Ahh ! ... Not again ! '' You exclaimed in desperation as you 've been , yet again , summoned from the pits of Hell by a high-schooler to help them with their homework

“ Atrexa, ” the fiendish creature warned as he lowered his head, causing his massive horns to raise into the air ominously. I could feel my lips sneer as I turned to face him, the heat of his presence causing an eye to momentarily close. Putting up a hand in defense, though it would be useless if he meant harm, I took in a sharp breath before speaking. 
 
 “ O wise Yisl, ” I could hear the distain and irritation in my voice but I was unable to control it. “ Have I angered you? ” 
 
 “ It is not my anger that should concern you, ” his voice gravely spoke, his voice sounding hoarse as if he had been yelling for hours. Or eating coals. Or both. I could imagine both. 
 
 “ What have I done this time? ” I asked in a bored tone. I have this terrible, terrible habit of becoming more arrogant and defiant as my fear grew. In fact, most of us hellish creatures possessed that wonderful quality. It came in handy in the face of enemies, though certainly damned us amongst each other in the hierarchy. 
 
 And this had been no exception. In a moment ’ s flash, Yisl reached his arm out for my throat. Instinctively I remembered drawing back, my hands moving out to defend myself but the searing and familiar feeling of transportation stung at my skin. The fires of hell broiled me out and the resultant steam carried my presence through the earth ’ s mantle and crust to the location of… 
 
 A human child ’ s room. 
 
 “ Not again! ” I remember exclaiming, a foot slamming down on the carpet of the room as my skin was steaming in the dramatically cooler room. Now able to think and process in my own form, I was able to recall the voice I heard in the flight here… 
 
 I wish this homework would do itself. 
 
 Great. It was one of those deals where the mortal was not inherently clear on how they want this magical thing accomplished, or what they would be willing to give in return. This was going to be painful… and all the while, Yisl was going to get worse. 
 
 “ I- “ a small voice cracked out and my eyes snapped in his direction. The paleness of his face was likely due to my appearance; although I find myself of the more appeasing hellish kind, the yellow eyes and horns seem to inspire fear in those mortals I meet. 
 
 “ All right, let ’ s cut to the chase, ” I sniffed, stepping forward as my eyes reviewed the homework. I could see the advanced calculus and the multiple failed attempts at the right answer. Why was it always math? “ What would you give me in exchange for finishing your ….homework? 
 
 Ugh, this felt degrading. I miss the old days of bitter rivalries, murders, curses, and more. Now mortals sold their souls for money, sex, and cars. How boring. 
 
 “ What do you mean? ” the boy croaked, the sweat beads dripping down his face as his eyes flickered between myself and his closed door. 
 
 “ They can ’ t hear me, ” I explained quickly as I conjured a chair to sit upon in front of him. “ Only you can, since you ’ re the one that brought me here. Now, I ’ ll ask again: what will you give me? ” 
 
 “ N-not my soul, ” he shook his head vigorously. 
 
 “ No shit, ” I rolled my eyes. “ They aren ’ t comparable. ” 
 
 “ Then… ” he paused, blinking as he looked around the room. “ What would you want? ” 
 
 “ Nothing here, ” I gestured around the room and squinted, staring at him intensely as I probed his happy memories and desires. My thoughts briefly drifted to Yisl; I needed to hurry up. “ Ugh, just – how about the day your sister was born? That memory? ” 
 
 “ Huh? ” 
 
 Ugh, his stupid little face and his stupid little brain! 
 
 “ Your homework will be done, complete, perfect, A+, 100 %, in exchange for the memory of the day your sister was born. Deal? ” 
 
 “ That ’ s – like I won ’ t – “ 
 
 “ Yes yes, you won ’ t remember anymore, it won ’ t hurt or change how you feel about your sister. That ’ s what homework is worth, ” I rushed in saying, my hand gesturing to hurry up. “ I have things to do, you see, and you have to make a decision to do this homework and fail, or get the night off and play video games. Do we have a deal or not? ” 
 
 The boy lifted his eyebrow, glancing now from his homework to the game still in its wrapping. A new release, had yet to play… the temptation was too strong. He nodded and in an instant, the homework was done and I was gone with his memory in tow. I appeared where I had left, though Yisl was nowhere to be found. 
 
 
 “ Great, ” I sighed.
