A Trade

**Due to violence, gore, dealings with devil worship, death, body dysmorphia, sexually suggestive and coarse language. Reader discretion is advised.**

A note from the Author:

This is a snippet from the life of Sabrina, The Witch of Strasbourg. If you would like to better familiarize yourself with her, here is the first story I wrote about her:

The Witch of Strabourg

The beach fell dark, only the light of the moon and the flicker of my roaring fire mingled on the cold sand. The crash of the waves colliding with the shore and the crackle of the flames were the only sounds permeating the scene, I found myself in.

The sand is littered with the remains of three shredded bodies, mangled beyond recognition. They could have been animal or human, but how someone might begin to put them back together? I would never know.

I stood motionless as a light breeze tussled my hair, my mind reeling as I replayed this evening's events in my mind.

It all started many years ago when I had been banished from my Coven for performing dark magic and interfering with the lives of humans. Having no more ties to France, I tried my fortune at traveling the world. Soon having found myself across the pond and far out of the reach of the Coven’s Council. Or so I thought.

As the years rolled by it became apparent that they were keeping tabs on me. As I sought more power and grew in strength, they felt the need to continually interfere.

By this time it had been nearly 100 years since the Strasbourg incident and I was much more practiced in my dark ways. But my mortal body was now becoming weaker with each spell, as it started to come at a cost.

I remember the day that I gazed into the mirror and didn’t see the young girl with carefully carved curves and hair as golden as sunshine. My curves faded as my body became skin and bone, with my wrinkled skin hanging off my skeleton grotesquely. My hair no longer had the golden shine to it but more the dull and listless shading of drought-ridden grass.

That was the first time I had considered an upgrade.

In my travels, I met a witch who claimed to be over 500 years old but looked no older than myself at the time. She had claimed that there was a way of trading a soul for a soul, you only need to perform the correct enchantment at the height of your power, on the eve of the summer solstice.

It sounded simple enough but as I had begun to gather the means necessary for the enchantment, the Coven’s Council showed up. Seeking to put a stop to my plans.

“This is the last straw,” Hazel growled in her gnarled, fading voice. “We refuse to chase you anymore, you must reform your ways or we will be forced to eliminate you.” She threatened in her scraggly speech.

“You three don’t scare me if you had the power to eliminate me. You would have done so already.” I replied, calling her bluff. Unable to suppress the smile that formed on my lips as I watched their superior expressions fade into those of fear.

“What you believe is not our concern.” Zelda interrupted, “We will give you three nights to amend your ways and then if need be we will break our vows to end you.” She stated. Her bony hand pointed to me scoldingly, shaking with what I assumed was a mixture of fear and feeble weakness.

“Then I look forward to seeing you on the eve of the summer solstice.” I purred in excitement. “I’ll be waiting for you on Dead Horse Beach,” I replied, tingling in growing excitement.

This was the battle I had been anticipating all these years, why I hadn’t thought to challenge them like this sooner was beyond me.

“So be it.” Scarlet agreed, puffing her chest out in faux authority.

The three of them turned in unison after giving me one last appraising look, each.

They were afraid of me. I could see it in their eyes.

The thought of which brought me more joy than I knew how to accept, as I watched their worn cloaks billow away into the darkness.

My revelry was interrupted by a familiar pop, that dampened my mood.

With a sigh I turned to face him, illustrious in all his human-like glory, I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

“I’m not in the mood, Sam,” I commented, walking passed him as I sought to leave the forest.

“You don’t even know what I want from you, darling?” He cooed, in a rough yet sultry purr of a voice. As he popped just a couple of feet ahead of me, now casually leaning against a tree. Smiling at me through a suffocating smoulder.

“I don’t care what you want, I’ve got things to take care of.” I mused, sidestepping him and heading for the edge of the forest.

“Then I’ll cut to the chase.” He began, popping up again and blocking my exit. “I know you want an upgrade and I know those three crones have challenged you for the last time. But what you don’t know is that they also possess dark magic and that they plan to beat you at your own game.” He explained, holding his hands out in anticipation.

“And?” I asked, knowing he wasn’t here just to warn me.

“And I want to help you win.” He replied with an excited smile.

One that made me wish I already had my upgrade so I didn’t feel so repulsed by the thought of him touching my wrinkled saggy body.

“What do you get out of it?” I inquired, biting my lower lip and looking to the ground in avoidance. Doing everything in my power not to look at him and give away the lust I felt for his borrowed body.

“I get to collect those bitches and bring one of my dark creations to life.” He explained, now withdrawing a vial from his pocket. It held a sea-green liquid that sloshed around sluggishly in the dim forest light.

I remained silent in contemplation, focusing only on the potion he offered.

“I’ll give you unlimited powers once they are out of the way, you’ll have the ability to perform any charm or spell of your choosing without having to learn the theory. Just the simple thought and your wants will become reality.” He explained, his cunning smile spreading further across his lips, “You wouldn’t need a ritual or solstice to perform an upgrade. You could do it any day and time as you pleased.” He added, his ruby-red eyes dancing in excitement.

“This is too good to be true,” I muttered, more to myself than him.

“Aren’t all my deals?” He teased, then scooping my chin up and pulling me towards him. “This is just a down payment, for good faith.” He cooed, caressing my lips with his and allowing our warm breath to mingle. “Now, you’re unbeatable.” He breathed as he pulled away, followed by the pop of him disappearing.

“I never said I agreed,” I called back, but to my surprise, my voice wasn’t as rough and ridged as it had been only seconds ago. It had its silky purr that I had many years ago.

In a haste I marched back to my home, eager to appraise myself in the candlelight. My skin was suddenly taut and my hair had its shine once more, I looked at least 50+ years younger.

“Okay fine, I’ll do it.” I agreed, talking to myself in the mirror but knowing full well he could hear me.

“Let’s just not make this another dancing plague fiasco, alright?” I muttered to myself as I continued my appraisal from every angle.

The next morning the vial of green liquid found itself on my kitchen table with a note that contained instructions and a list of ingredients. I would need a young man of working age, the light of the full moon, and three victims for him to consume upon creation. All I needed to do was add a strand of my hair to the vial and have the young man consume it.

This brings us back to Dead Horse Beach on the night of June 21st.

Earlier that evening I stopped by and set up for a bonfire, then made my way over to a local tavern where I would then persuade a young man to come home with me. At which point I would lure him to the beach and give him the potion that would render him unconscious until the moon was at its full height.

As the sun began to set and the moon rose, the beach grew scarce of any life other than me. Having just lit the fire, the only sounds on the beach were the crackling of growing flames, the billow of the waves on the beach, and the sound of soft feet shuffling through the sand.

“Council members. You are earlier than I anticipated.” I greeted them with a faux smile as I stood to acknowledge them.

“Have you considered our request?” Hazel’s course voice crackled.

“I have. Please have a seat and we can discuss my reformation.” I offered, gesturing towards the logs arranged around the open flame. Taking a seat myself as I did so.

“How did you-“

“Change my appearance, it’s a long story but I promise it was achieved without the use of black magic.” I interrupted, nervously watching the moon inch closer to the peak of its arch.

There was a twinkle in Hazel's grey, fading eyes as she appraised me. “Then you must have reformed.” She replied with a smile, “If this is true then we would not only be willing to welcome you back to the Coven but offer you a spot on the council.” She explained, analyzing my every move.

I felt my cunning expression falter, but before I could reconsider I heard rustling in the trees behind us and I knew the transformation had already begun.

Clearing my throat I tried to keep my expression neutral. “This is an unexpected offer,” I stated, hearing the rustling grow louder and a guttural growl begin to rumble. “However, I am afraid I had a better deal on my hands and all it cost was the blood of my enemies,” I explained, just in time for a creature so hideous I shrieked at its appearance. Watching it jump over me and pursue its intended victims.

The thing was covered in fur, half man and half wolf-like animal. Its claws were longer and sharper than a pocket knife, its teeth bared as it barrelled after the three old ladies. Scrambling with horrified expressions in an attempt to get out of its path.

The carnage was a mixture of blissful and horrifying as I watched blood spray the sand and limbs go flying, the ordeal was over in a matter of moments. After which the creature ran back into the forest behind me and I was left alone on the beach. Watching the blood run and mix with the sand, glistening in the moon and firelight.

My world fell to silence again, well as silent as a beach with crashing waves and a crackling fire can be. Only interrupted by the pop of his arrival.

“My Sabrina, you make me proud. That was better done than I imagined.” He stated in excitement, placing an arm around my shoulder and giving me a quick peck on the cheek.

Suddenly I felt a tingling as my body warmed like I was standing in the hot afternoon sun of a mid-summers day. The guilt that I had begun to feel faded as I felt the power surging through me.

With a snap of my fingers, I could feel the skin of my body tighten. With a glance at the hair that rested on my shoulders, my guess was confirmed. I now looked like that young brunette that I had envied at the market, all those days ago. My guilt had disappeared completely as I took on my new persona.

“Did you like my creation?” He asked, now standing in the middle of the gore. “I call it a werewolf.” He explained, turning to face me and being caught off guard by my choice of body.

“Let me show you how much I like it,” I stated with a silky voice as I strut across the sand. My lips curled into a lust-filled smile as I grabbed the man the Devil possessed and we engaged in something that would soon be called the devil’s tango.

Update:

Another addage to the Sabrina Series: A Devil in the Making

and To Hell and Back