It was a clear day when the woman decided to go down to the river to gather herbs. The village needed it, and she thought the fresh air would do her some good. She rounded the bend and found some of the children playing in the soft grass. She wanted a child of her own, but she knew that none of the men preferred her. She was either too old for them, or too young. She was too thin in places or too fat. Her hair was thin and brown. Her eyes were a pale blue and never really went with her face right. It was a very long time ago when she made the choice to live alone. It was even a mystery as to how she got to the village in the first place. She never could seem to remember her past, and she always got by with the most basic of common knowledge that every woman knew.
The children saw her and whispered amongst themselves. Already there were rumors about the lonely lady being more than what she was. And the rumors were spreading. Apparently, none of them were good. She had only lived in the village for ten years, and even that seemed much too long to many. They fled from her, and she shook her head sadly. What could I do to get a child?
"I would do anything to have a baby of my own! If only it were a girl who possessed fine, flawless white skin with chocolate brown hair, and eyes as green as the sea. I would name her Lilith, and she would be my most precious secret."
"I can help you make your wish come true."
She jumped at the masculine, yet velvety noise that came from the bushes beside her. She looked around and saw nothing.
"Who are you?!" she said cautiously.
"I am someone who can give you the little girl you crave. However, there is always a price for such a thing."
"Let me see you!" she said. A little cloaked figure appeared in front of her. He was no more than two feet tall, yet he looked at her with no teasing gestures. His face was too dark to see, but the black eyes glimmered with an unearthly presence and seemed to swallow her soul. She shivered and gasped at the unknown struggle.
"Can you see me?" the velvety tone asked in a seductive hiss.
"You are evil!" she breathed.
"Yes," the creature laughed. "I am on the evil side. But, I have been watching you for quite some time. My name is Shade. I am willing to help you. I was waiting for you to say something. Now that you have, I am able to appear before you. I can help you make the child you crave to bear and have."
"You said for a price. What price?" she asked cautiously.
"I must take your soul when the girl turns eighteen. You and I will remain together throughout eternity, and our daughter will take her rightful place in the hands of darkness when the time is right."
"I…I don't know," the woman shivered.
"I will give you until tonight to decide. Enjoy the rest of your day," Shade said sarcastically, as he vanished. The woman sat on the ground and thought hard. She really wanted a baby. There was no doubt in her mind about it. But, to ask a servant of evil to help her get one?! She knew she had to tell the town Wizard, but, at the same time, she didn't want to. No one cared about me. If I told anyone, I know the townspeople would think I'm crazy and only outcast me even more. They were hard enough to sell herbs to as it is! I'll have to keep this strange encounter to myself.
"Maybe it won't be so bad," she mused. "If all I can attract is evil, then maybe I should say yes. I do want a baby…"
She kept quiet the rest of the day and did her chores around the little hut. At sunset, she checked her window and watched the sun settle down among the trees. When the sky was black and the stars began to appear, she felt a sudden chill down her spine.
"Have you made your choice?"
She turned at the voice. The figure was back.
"Yes. I have. I want a child."
"Even at the cost of your soul?"
"Yes."
"Very well, then. Undress and lay back in the bed. It may be quick, for I have little time. I have other places to be."
She looked at him strangely, but she undressed. She felt the scorching gaze of lust in his eyes, as she pulled the covers over her. In a split second, the figure's cloak was on the ground, and she was looking at a solid black demon with glittering onyx eyes. His face was incredibly slender and handsome in the faded light of her fireplace. He grew six feet tall and stretched his bat-like wings out to reveal his broad, yet solid, muscular chest. He had long, black hair that spiked out, as it reached the floor like a shaggy lion's mane. He smiled a fanged smile, and he ran a clawed thumb under his chin with amusement.
It was time. He glanced at the moon with a smirk, as he nodded to himself. He merged with the shadows, and the sheet was flung off of her. She felt her body getting brutally ravaged by him, and she started to try to push him off. She screamed that she changed her mind and didn't want the baby. All the demon did was grin and torture her with heavy slaps to her body. A moment later he was gone. All that was left was his cloak on the floor. Even that slowly melted away to become an eerie, vanishing fog.
"What have I done?!" she shrieked and curled up into a little ball. Bruises were already forming into large welts on her body. She cried the rest of the night.