The Devil's Contract

Ideas on how to handle the Infernal Bargain

The insidious creature unfurled the parchment scroll on the table and proffered me a foot-long quill. There wasn't an inkwell anywhere to be seen, which I thought odd.

"Just sign here," she said with the tiniest hint of a smile.

I took the quill and put pen to paper. The moment I started to write my name I understood exactly where the ink was coming from. With the first swish of the quill's nib along the surface of the parchment I felt a slashing cut along my forearm causing my hand to recoil in pain, dropping the feathered pen in the process. Rolling back the sleeve of my tunic I discovered pearly droplets of blood beginning to ooze from the streaking cut.

"Does it sting?" she asked. "Most first-timers react that way. Nothing to worry about. I suggest you grit your teeth and be quick about it." That smile widened and the fangs of her radiantly white teeth practically glowed.

I picked up the quill and reluctantly resumed signing my name, now understanding the first price I would pay in this bargain. By the time I finished the sleeve of my tunic was practically soaked in blood from elbow to wrist and my fingers were too weak to grip the writing instrument.  Dear gods, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but the searing pain in my arm was rapidly sowing doubt about my predicament.