Rise of The Fallen Son-in-law Vol. 2

Chapter 6: A deal with the devil

"Laureline, I don't know what love is, let alone how to give it," Nick confessed. "I've spent my life focused on one goal - to please my father. But it's never been enough. I feel like I'll never be good enough." He paused, his eyes downcast. "I'm not sure I can ever be the person you want me to be."

Laureline placed her other hand on his cheek, turning his face towards hers. "You don't have to be any particular person for me," she said firmly. "I care about you, not about who you are or what you can do. I just want to be here for you, to support you and be a friend. That's all I ask of you." She smiled, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I know it's not easy, but I promise it will be worth it."

Nick looked at her, and for the first time, he allowed himself to truly see her, to feel the warmth of her hand on his cheek, and to believe that maybe, just maybe, she was right.

"You don't have to know how to give love," she said softly. "Just allow yourself to feel it."

The air between them was charged with tension, as if a storm was brewing just below the surface. Laureline's words hung in the air, unspoken but undeniable. Nicklaus stood frozen, unsure of what to say or do. Should he turn away and run from this unfamiliar feeling, or allow himself to be vulnerable for the first time in his life?

"I'm not sure I'm ready for this," he said finally, his voice trembling.

Laureline's hand stayed where it was, steady and sure. "That's okay," she said softly. "I can wait."

In a moment of vulnerable honesty, Laureline had reached out to Nick, and he had hesitated. She could feel the conflict in him, the walls he had built around his heart. But she was patient, and she would wait for him to be ready. Her hand was a silent reminder of her presence, a tether to the moment.

But the moment was fleeting, and soon enough they were back in the real world, with all its complications and imperfections. The future was uncertain, but for now, they were here, together.

Nick clutched her hand.

'I'm going on a quest,' she said.

'Already? But we just accomplished this,' he replied.

'I know, but I have a feeling that Crowe could be useful to us,' she told him.

The revelation hit Nick like lightning. 'Crowe?' he asked.

'Your old friend, the one you've told me about,' she said.

It had all started with a simple conversation. Nick had told Crowe about his plan to outwit Diablo Onyxheart, and had suggested they split the fortune if they were successful. Crowe had agreed, eager for the chance to finally get his hands on some money. But Nick had no intention of sharing the fortune - he had planned to betray Crowe all along. And when they finally defeated Diablo, Nick made his escape, leaving Crowe behind.

As Nick ran away from Crowe, he knew he had made a terrible mistake. Crowe had always been a good friend, and Nick had betrayed that friendship for money. He felt a deep sense of shame and regret. And yet, he couldn't bring himself to go back and face Crowe. He was too afraid of what he might say, and what Crowe might do. So he kept running, his heart heavy with guilt.

FLASHBACK

It was a dark and stormy night, and Diablo Onyxheart sat alone in his castle, brooding over his defeat. He was still bound by the powerstone, forced to grant wishes against his will. It was a bitter existence, and he longed for the day when he would be free of the stone's curse.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Diablo was suspicious - who would dare to visit him in the dead of night? But he decided to answer the door anyway. And there stood Nicklaus, a sly smile on his face.

"Greetings, Diablo," Nick said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "How are you doing on this fine evening?"

Diablo's eyes narrowed. He didn't trust Nick for a second, but he decided to play along. "Fine, thank you," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to check on you," Nick said, still smiling. "And to see if there's anything I can do to help you. After all, we should be looking out for each other, shouldn't we?"

Diablo's eyes narrowed even further. He knew Nick was up to something, but he couldn't figure out what. He decided to play along for now, and see where this conversation led. "Yes, we should," he said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well," Nick said, his smile growing wider, "I thought we could start small. Maybe I could do something nice for you, and you could do something nice for me?"

"Oh, and what might that be?"

Nick was taken aback by Diablo's response. He hadn't expected Diablo to be so adamant about keeping his wealth, nor had he expected him to mention his hatred for sheep. It was all very strange.

"I see," Nick said, trying to hide his confusion. "I understand that you're not willing to give up your wealth. But I'm curious - what's your beef with sheep?"

Diablo narrowed his eyes, as if assessing whether Nick was worthy of the truth. After a moment, he spoke. "Sheep are stupid and helpless creatures. They rely on others to feed and protect them. I have no patience for such weakness. I am a strong and independent creature, and I do not need anyone's help. I would rather die than become a sheep-like creature, relying on others for my survival. I know it is a harsh view, but it is the truth."

Nick was silent for a moment, digesting what Diablo had said. He knew that Diablo was a proud and independent creature, but he had never realized the depth of his disdain for sheep. "I see," he said finally. "I appreciate your honesty."

Nick was serious as he spoke, his words ringing with determination. "I'll do it, Diablo. I'll take down Franklin and get your wealth for you."

Diablo's eyes widened. "You would do that?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and intrigue. "You would kill Franklin for me, even though he is a powerful and dangerous creature?"

"Yes," Nick replied, his voice steady and confident. "I know the risks, but I am willing to take them. If it means helping you, it is worth it to me."

Diablo considered Nick's words for a long moment. Then, he nodded slowly. "Very well," he said. "I accept your offer. You will have my wealth, if you can defeat Franklin."

Crowe was leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He took a long drag, then blew out a plume of smoke. He raised an eyebrow as Nick approached. "So, what's the verdict?" he asked. "Did the imp give you a wish?"

Nick shook his head. "He didn't," he said, his voice quiet. "But it's okay. I think I'm going to be all right without it."

Crowe eyed him suspiciously. "You sure about that?" he asked. "I mean, you were pretty adamant about getting that wish. What changed?"

Nick and Crowe were standing in a darkened alley, the rain pouring down around them. Crowe was speaking in a hushed tone, his words barely audible over the sound of the rain.

"We have to do something, Nick. We can't let this go on any longer."

Nick looked down at the ground, his expression conflicted. "I know, but I don't know what to do. I can't just sit back and watch people get hurt."

Crowe's eyes are full of compassion. "You're a good person, Nick. You want to help people, and I admire that. But we have to be smart about this. We can't just rush in blindly. What if we get hurt, or worse? What if we make things worse?"

Nick sighed. "You're right. I'm just so tired of seeing people suffer. I want to do something, anything, to make it stop."

Crowe puts a hand on his shoulder again. "I know you're frustrated, but we have to be patient. We have to think this through."

"Give me a dagger."

Nick studied the dagger in his hand. It was a beautiful weapon, perfectly balanced and razor sharp. He could feel the power it held, the potential for destruction. But he also felt a twinge of guilt. Was he really willing to go through with this plan? Was it worth the risk?

"I don't know if I can do this," Nick said, his voice barely a whisper.

"What? That's a stupid idea, we'll be killed."

"I know."

"What are we going to do Nick?"