Hellfire

Kit sat on her ass in the pit, looking at her friends – and Felicity – unable to hear anything they were saying or see above the edge of the hole, holding the cut rope in her hand. Her brow was furrowed in frustration. How could she have been so stupid?
 
There was a sound from above, and a burst of flame, as Kit cried out in surprise, and everything went black.
 
At first, there was silence in the darkness. A feeling as though she were floating. And then, she found herself in a familiar place — the place Asmodeous had first offered her Killian's life in exchange for her fealty. As the darkness cleared slightly, Asmodeous was in front of her, this time sitting on a molten throne instead of standing near her. He looked unhappy, perhaps angry even, as he draped himself over the large chair, looking at Kit.
 
"I'm disappointed, my dear. In your foolishness and in your plotting."
 
Kit crossed her arms and stared back defiantly.
 
"You are much smarter than to talk for a trap like that, and yet here you are, on the brink of death."
 
Kit's resolve flickered slightly as the dark lord hit a nerve. She thought back to Arathorn, Oak, and EGO who were also in the pit. And Killian. What would be do? Would be even know she was dead? And all because of a stupid need to prove herself in front of her party.
 
"You think I'm unaware of your talks for change, of believing you can be something free from me? Of your… infatuation… with that Forester? I can't blame you, I've seen him. But do you really think he's interested in you? Kit, dear, you're smarter than that. You're simply another mark. You know the bounty on the Chaos Twins' heads – do you think this is anything more than getting you to drop your guard so he can take you in?"
 
Kit stiffened, trying, but failing, to keep her breaking composure hidden.
 
He clicked his tongue in disappointment, shaking his head.
 
"It seems I've overestimated you and your brother dearest. But at least this situation has presented me with the opportunity I was waiting for."
 
Asmodeous stood, walking towards Kit as his form grew, now towering over Kit intimidatingly as he walked slowly around her.
 
"Once again, it seems a McKenzie life is in my hands. This time, it's your own. You're smart enough to know I won't let you die, so I won't try and convince you to give up more of your power for life."
 
He finished circling her, then leaned down, taking a finger and lifting her chin towards him as he had all the those years ago.
 
"You seem to think you have the ability to defy me; that you can choose to simply ignore your contract. You have no choice, Kit McKenzie. Do you think you are the only killer I have in my employ? Do you think I wouldn't have plans to account for every possible choice you could make?"
 
He shoved her face back down, and walked towards his throne.
 
"You will survive this, because I am not finished with you yet. So, Kit McKenzie, before I do, I will give you one opportunity to renew your committment to me. You can sign a contract, right now, that you will never break the original and will return to serve me and me alone whenever you are done this fool mission you and your brother have pursued, or you will take the lives of those you are traveling with when I deem it appropriate. And if you fail to carry it out, one of my other emissaries will do it for you, and you will pay the penalty of a broken contract."
 
Kit clenched her fists and was about to reply, when she felt something. Killian, his presence around her. Her stomach leapt as though she were being lifted through the air, and she somehow knew, Killian was getting her out of the pit.
 
"I'm not signing anything," Kit spat at him, hoping this meant someone else was about to revive her.
 
She could feel her spirit being pulled back towards her body as someone uttered a healing spell.
 
Asmodeous, sensing what was going on, snarled angrily at her. "I'm not done little girl. Just remember, there is nothing stopping me from forcing you to forfeit your contract or forfeit their lives."
 
As Kit was yanked back inside her body and she opened her eyes, her stomach twisted in knots. Her defiance may have just cost everyone their lives.
 
When the battle wrapped, Kit couldn't get Ashmodeous' words or the reminder of how she led everyone straight into that trap off her mind. She was so weak, in so much pain even after the healing from Felicity, and she just needed to disappear.
 
She curled up behind the tent to sleep, hoping for some rest. Instead, as she finally drifted, she found herself back in front of Asmodeous. This time, as she materialized into the plane, chains snapped around her wrists and ankles.
 
"You know, Kit dear, your defiance was adorable for a while. But now, now you've crossed me one too many times."
 
Kit yanked her arms around, trying to break the chains.
 
"You do not own me," Kit snarled. "There was never any signed contract. I never agreed to be your emissary for eternity."
 
Asmodeous chuckled a dark laugh.
 
"Kit dearest, do you think all contracts require a signature? You agreed without asking the details. One should always request the fine print."
 
Kit shook her head. "No. You do not get to add pieces to our deal after the deal. It doesn't work that way."
 
Asmodeous laughed. "Kit, I am the ruler of the nine hells. I decide how my deals work."
 
He paused, watching her with a raised eyebrow.
 
"You never fought me this hard before. Why is…" he stopped, and then he began to laugh and laugh. "Oh this is rich. You actually bought that speech from the Forester. You actually believe you're more than a cold-blooded killer, that you," he burst out laughing, choking out between roars, "that you could actually do good in this world?"
 
Kit started thrashing harder, trying to break free of the chains. "I am not just a killer."
 
"You are whatever I tell you to be," Asmodeous yelled, leaping forward until he was inches from her face. "If I tell you to wake up and murder your whole camp, you will wake up and murder that whole camp. If I tell you to gut that Forester you like so much and pin this whole war you're trying to stop on him, you ask me 'how deep do I plunge the knife?'. I own you, Kit McKenzie. You have no soul, you have no heart, and you are nothing more than a cold-blooded killer."
 
Kit screamed angrily, trying to pull her hands together to form an Eldritch blast.
 
Asmodeous laughed.
 
"I've waited so long to break you, Kit McKenzie. It's delicious seeing it happen now."