The Jersey Devil perched on the chimney of a colonial house, wings spread against the moon. Devil's Scream. It let out a blood-curdling shriek that shattered windows in three counties. It was hungry, angry, and looking for trouble.
Inside the house, Ekkekko was checking the pantry. The Andean dwarf god, laden with miniature goods, frowned. "Too noisy."
He climbed out the window and onto the roof.
The Jersey Devil hissed, revealing horse-like teeth. Bat-Winged Leap. It prepared to swoop and eviscerate the little intruder.
The Gift
Ekkekko didn't draw a weapon. He reached into his poncho and pulled out a tiny, perfectly detailed model of a slaughterhouse. Miniature Manifestation.
"For you," Ekkekko offered, holding it out.
The Jersey Devil paused. It was a creature of impulse. It saw something it wanted. It snatched the model from the god's hand.
Alasitas Pact.
The moment the Devil took the gift, the trap was sprung. In Ekkekko’s world, a gift creates a debt. And a debt has weight.
The tiny model suddenly felt as heavy as the building it represented.
The Jersey Devil yelped. Its wings buckled. The metaphysical weight of the obligation pinned it to the roof. It flapped frantically, but it couldn't lift off. It was anchored by the gift.
Ekkekko nodded, satisfied along with the quiet. He tapped his pipe on the chimney. "You break it, you buy it," he muttered, and climbed back inside to finish his inventory.