When you make a deal with the devil, the devil usually wins. They ALWAYS win. However, this is one of those extremely rare cases where that doesn’t happen. As the contract that was formed between a man named Kalfu and the devil was now being looked over one final time before he was being sent to hell. This is the story of that same man who outsmarted the devil, but got sent to a new world with the duty of being in charge of becoming the god of all things otherworldly and ethereal.

Kalfu eyes snapped open as he found himself sitting in a wooden chair in front of a desk. A rather large and fancy looking wooden desk with a large crimson arm chair. As he looked around, he knew exactly where he had ended up, but wasn’t really surprised given his life style.Soon enough, the armchair began to turn around as a low but alluring feminine voice spoke. “Well well, looks like your time on the mortal copil has finally ended, Kalfu.” said a rather large amazonian woman with red skin, horns and long black wavy hair. She gazed down at Kalfu with a wicked smile and narrowed eyes as the contract appeared before them along with a file that was relatively thick.

“Ah, so it would seem. Good to see you again, Lucy. Still maintaining the last form I saw you in when we formed the deal huh? Gotta say, I am not disappointed.” he said as he leaned forward and took the contract in his hands. The devil nodded as she took her own copy of the contract and began to read through it. “In accordance with the terms of our deal. In return for the majority of your soul, I grant you the power of performing voodoo and hoodoo until the end of your life comes. As you can see, the terms have been met. And the transaction is complete. So if you could just initial by your original signature, we can get you sent to the upper layer of hell. While you weren’t a terrible person and lived a fairly balanced life, you still sold your soul to me. If you ask me, you are getting a pretty good deal here-.”

The devil was cut off by Kalfu raising a hand up as a smile formed across his face. Not just a smile, but a shit eating grin at that. “Hmm, this is quite interesting. Before I just go signing this, it says here in article eleven section nin. That you own a majority of my soul. But, I have been making my own deals in the mortal realm myself. And now, I own fifteen souls myself which have been added to my own. But, you are indeed one of the sixteen board members who own my soul. So let's put it to a vote. How many for heaven and how many for hell?”.

All was quiet for a moment as the devil stared at him with a narrowed gaze, that smile vanishing from ehr face as she slowly raised a hand. Kalfu nodded as he took in her vote and tapped the pen to his chin “Ah yes, excellent. So that’s one vote for hell. And fifteen votes for heaven. So, if you could show me the way out of here and to the pearly gates, that would be sweet of you, Lucy.” She suddenly slammed his fists on the desk in front of her before standing up, fire rising up behind her before her face contorted into something out of a nightmare “I WILL NOT BE DENIED!!!” she shouted in a demonic tone.

Kalfu stood up before signing the documents and tossing them upon the desk. The deal was done, and had the amount of his soul that was indeed promised. “A deal is a deal, Lucy. I simply found a way for it to work in my favor. Besides, I shouldn’t even really be here since I never really practiced Either christianity or satanism. I feel like I should be standing before Bondye or Legba. You know, the voodoo gods that I actually worshiped?”. Before the devil could say anymore, the figure Kalfu knew right away as the voodoo god of death, Baron Samedi. He was wearing his signature skull face paint and formal attire with his top hat.

“I am afraid this young man is right, Lucifer. Now that your business is concluded with him, it is time for him to come with me. As we have something different in mind for Kalfu. Now then, au revoir!” he said as he placed a hand upon Kalfu’s shoulder before disappearing in a haze of black mist, leaving the devil speechless before she flipped her desk over in absolute rage.

Kalfu opened his eyes again before he noticed where he now stood. He was standing on a path that was lit up by light green fire torches that lead down a rather foggy dirt road before an old man in black and red tattered clothing approached him slowly as a black lab accompanied him at his side. Kalfu smiled before bowing his head to the old man before offering his arm in respect to help the old man walk.

“Ah, so you have manners, young man. It is good to see that we were right about you. Walk with me while we discuss what awaits you at the crossroad then.” he said as Kalfu nodded, the trio beginning to stroll down the pathway. Kalfu knew exactly who this old man was. This was Legba, associated with the crossroads and second in command under Bondye.

As they walked, they discussed how Kalfu led his life. As the devil said before, he lived a rather balanced life. Delivering justice for those who were wronged and sought out his help and worshiping the voodoo gods accordingly, using his abilities evenly. “What really amused uis the most is the clever trick you devised to prevent the devil from paying full claim to your soul, Kalfu. Making that many deals for other souls to be added to yours so that when it was your time, they could only obtain a small fraction of it. ]i\very clever, young man.” he said as he tapped the side of his head with an all knowing smile.

Kalfu chuckled lowly in his throat at the praise “Getting Lucy to agree to those terms was rather easy. All I had to do was appeal to her sense of superiority over humans and the rest fell into place. Then the rest was simply living out my days until my time came. But, I can only assume that you have other plans for me?” He asked as he turned his head to Legba, the man nodding in return to his question before answering “Well, given the life you lead. Bondye has tasked me with offering you either to rest with your family in Anba Dlo or send you on your way to another world entirely to live out a new life. But not as any mere mortal.”.

As they came to a stop at a set of crossroads, One path led down and incline while the other led up. No light or divine hints that would show where the paths lead. “To the left, we have where you will go and rest in eternity with your family and ancestors. But, to the right, you will enter a new world as your younger self. But, given your skill and devolution to our religion, along with your ancestry, Bondye would like to offer you this one chance to become like a god. As they know your fascination with the otherworldly powers and knowledge that you so crave. And wishes to grant you these in return of spreading the word to another world that is just waiting to be tapped of the abundant power you wish to command. It's a win-win situation for you and us really. So, what do you say, Kalfu?”.

Kalfu placed a hand under his chin in deep thought. This new world will soon be introduced to the ways of voodoo and hoodoo. Not to mention, the added bonus of becoming a god-like being who can control and conjure powers of all things beyond the mortal plain. It was a dream come true in fact.. But what of his family? Would they be waiting for him to join them here after..? “What about my folks..? And my ancestors? Won’t they be sad that I won’t be joining them?” he asked as he thought about his mother and father who had died tragically when he was a child.

Legba understood Kalfu’s worry, placing a gentle hand upon his upper left arm in reassurance “They know about the offer Bondye and I are speaking to you about. And both of them encourage you to take the position. But, they will also happily welcome you to their side once more, young Kalfu. But, it is ultimately your decision. Neither will be held against you.”. Kalfu thought about this big decision once more. In the end…how could he pass up such an amazing deal?

“Very well…” Kalfu said with a firm nod. “I will take on this responsibility of further spreading the teachings of Bondye in exchange for the wealth of power and knowledge that is being offered. I am ready to part for the next life, Legba.”. The old man smiled softly, the wrinkles on his face pulling a bit as a kindly grandfather would to his grandchild. He placed a hand upon Kalfu’s shoulder before guiding him to the path that would lead him where his new life began

“Just so you know. We do not know much about this world ourselves. Other than that it is swimming with great amounts of power. Establish a foothold and check back with either Bondye or myself every now and then to let us know how it goes. We will be wondering about you after all. Now, off you go Voodoo King Kalfu.”.

Suddenly, the area around them both vanished in a blinding green light. Kalfu felt his body rush forward as if he was standing on a rapidly powered treadmill belt as he held an arm up in front of his face, trying to shield his eyes from the ever constant light. The best he could describe it was seeing himself traveling at light speed like in those science fiction space movies or TV shows.

Soon enough, the light went away, and Kalfu fell to his hands and knees as his vision slowly started to unblur before he slowly stood to his feet in a daze. He took a few steps forward before nearly tripping over his feet, luckily catching himself against a tree. He held his hands up in front of his face…they seemed slightly smaller and more youthful than he remembered. And his skin was no longer a golden shade of brown from all the sun that had kissed his body throughout the years. Now, it was a ghostly pale gray. And his hair had gone back to its raven black sheen with no white streaks to show his older age.

He soon came upon a lake in the middle of the forest that he had been dropped in. He reeled back slightly as he took notice of his changed appearance. It was far more ghostly and ethereal, especially the new glowing green eyes that definitely threw his look together fully. Even his new outfit that he now wore was similar to Baron Samedi. A formal outfit with a long black coat and a top hat to hold it all together “I..am liking this new look so far!” he exclaimed as he took a spin in the reflection.”All that is missing is a fancy walking cane with a diamond skull and emerald eyes and this look would be complete-.” and as if on cue, that very same walking cane appeared in his hand, fitting perfectly within his grip as if it was made just for him. “Oh hell yeah!” he said as he started strutting around with it, twirling it around.

He then wondered just what kind of abilities he possessed after making this materialize. He then closed his eyes hard for a moment before concentrating before his feet left the ground. He slowly opened his eyes as he noticed that he could actually fly before he flew up and over the forest ceiling before gazing upon the land below with widened eyes of wonder and awe. It was a beautiful starry night, but incredibly clear. He could see a castle off in the distance on the side of a mountain and a small town between its valleys.

“Wooooaaahh…this really is another world isn’t it? I can only imagine what its inhabitants are. Are they human like more…? Or something else entirely? It truly is an exciting thing to think about.” he said to himself before flying off towards the small town in the distance, swerving and nearly dropping back into the forest on his way there as he learned to fly on his way there.

As he got closer, he made his way on top of a house and peeked from behind one of the chimneys as he spotted many of what he assumed were children dressed up in spooky costumes. A smile formed across his face as it seemed they celebrated something similar to halloween! Did he get lucky or what? Coming on this night of all nights to be introduced to this world!

He saw that they had similar games as decor as well. And even the tradition of handing out sweets to the young ones and even some of the adults as well. However upon closer inspection, he noticed that the people here weren’t people at all. They were humanoid, yes. But…had more cutesy equine features. Some were plain equines, others had either wings or horns. And their eyes. Like big sparkly jewels. “Hmmm…they remind me of something my little sister used to watch at gram’s house back in the day when she’d cook us waffles….” he whispered to himself.

He slowly and quietly floats down to the ground’s surface in an allerway before making a black cloth bag appear in his hand. No better way to blend in other than to look the part with his youthful appearance. It was time to learn all he could about this new world. And tonight was indeed the time to do so. He had a mission, and he wasn’t about to let Bondye and the others load down.

You know, I see super powers galore on stories here. But none of those super powers involve much paranormal stuff. And given my intense fascination with all things spooky in RL. I am going to make a story about that very thing. So, here's something I am starting up.

May the darkness grant you peace.