crossroads

devil may care

the smokey air sat still around them, as if the sky itself was hold its breath.

"what do you want from me?"

"it's simple, really."

"why don't you run from me?"

"i need something only ... you ... can give me." she spat the word like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

"spit it out. what is it exactly? fame, money, love."

"immortality."

the hymn of voices laughed, breaking the air out of its trance, the sound like knives clattering to the ground. "never, in all my centuries, has a mortal been made immortal."

"but is it possible?"

it seemed to ponder for a moment. a grin of pure white fangs blinded her temporarily. "as you wish." it unrolled a contract, at least ten feet in length.

"oh, definitely no hidden clauses in there. if you don't mind, i'd like to read it."

it's grin faltered only the slightest. "of course, darling."

she felt the parchment - no, skin- under her nimble hands. the blood red ink (or was it real blood?) shone in the night. and so she read. and read, and read, and read, and read until the sky opened up with the first rays of sun. all the while, the devil sat in wait for her signature.

"pen," she commanded.

a small knife was placed upon her palm.