By the time Carossan walked down the aisle on her wedding day the faith and trust she had in God had been obliterated and she cursed Him with every cell and fibre of her being, renounced Him and vowed she would sell her soul to the Devil before ever setting foot in a church again.

        Arrayed in the pews, dressed in their wedding bests, the congregation watched the bride on her father's arm as she walked the last fifty feet to the altar, where the priest and bridegroom waited. Flowers of many colors decorated the church and the stained glass windows turned the bright summer's light to blues and reds on the expectant faces gathered within.

        Carossan fainted. After a moment's stunned silence she was picked up, taken to the vestry and laid on the great oak table where matters of church importance were discussed. Smelling salts did not revive her, the frantically waved fans of the women did not restore the color to her pale drained face, though the slap of her father's hand did bring a red flame to her cheek.

        But Carossan was not unconscious. She was in the presence of the Devil and naked, a caustic reek stinging her eyes.

        " So, " he said, " you would sell me your soul. What, pray, is your price? "

        Carossan did not hesitate. " Keep me from marrying that vile woman-hater, and let me wed my own true love and raise our child. "

        The Devil's handsome face was impassive. " That can be arranged, but you cannot keep your child. "

        " Why, what do you mean? "

        " I mean your price is to high, your soul not worth that much. This is my offer. You may marry whosoever you please but your child will be stillborn and you will bear no other. Take it or leave it, and decide now. "

        Seeing the implacable gaze of the Devil, Carossan gave her assent. The Devil reached out with his right hand, and with a long fingernail cut a small gash into Carossa's breast, above her heart. As the blood trickled down towards her nipple he leaned forward and licked her breast clean.

        " The deal is done, your soul is mine. When I have need of it I will return. Until then I will look after it well. "

        Carossan came back into her body. She saw a wizened old man with spectacles waving acrid smelling salts under her nose. She screamed, sat bolt upright and everyone around her jumped back several feet. At that moment the door to the vestry opened and the priest called out in a panicked voice,