The Serpent

The great debate has begun. Blood from both parties have been spilled. Now the time has come for peaceful negotiations to take place. On opposite ends of the dining table, Rosemary and Regan Gravely eye their mother and stepfather carefully. Rosemary spoke first. "We think the time has come that we had a pet of our own."

"Is that so?" Their mother said. Her tone balanced between calm and concern.

"Yes. Owning a pet will help us prove we are responsible." Regan cheered in.

"I'd agree with you if you knew what responsible meant." The devil sarcastically chimed.

Carmen then continued. "It means that the two of you must equally take care of the pet, which means feeding, bathing, and picking after it."

The Gravely sisters looked at each other with big smiles. "We can do it."

"Then let's make a deal." Lu sneered. A swift snap from his pale fingers summoned a small spark of fire on the fire. The fire then fabricated into a long sheet of paper with numerous of scribbled words. "If you two can agree on a pet, we'll buy said pet.

But only if both of you like the animal and agree to take care of it."

"Not bad." Carmen whispered to her devilish husband. "They don't have to sell their souls, do they?"

"Only if they signed in blood. Anyone got something sharp?"

"No signatures necessary," The eldest daughter remarked. "We agree."

"Very well." The devil smiled. Another snap from his fingers and the contract incinerates. "It just so happens you girls are in luck. Big Mommajam just had a litter of puppies. Why don't we take a look?"

The Lord of Lies snapped a third time as a fiery portal opened in their kitchen. The family migrated to the hellish gateway to the realm of nightmares.

                                                                   ***

The Gravely family stood behind a large glass window, watching the small black, cindered creatures at play. The pups barked, wrestled, and ran all around the large enclosure. 

"Aww, they're so cute." Regan said, jumping up and down in excitement.

"What do you think, hon?" Lu nudged.

"I don't know," Carmen said. "I don't like the idea of cleaning sulfur stains out of the carpets."

At the other end of the pen a door open wide. Out flew the small bat-like demon Scrugs, personal assistant to the Fallen One, hauling a large slab of meat. His small bat wings fluttered rapidly as they tried so hard to carry his little body while dragging a boulder sized meat slab. 

"Dinner's here!" Scrugs huffed and puffed. "Come and get it!"

The pups then paused their playtime and ran towards the tired demon. They all pounced on the meat at once. The impact knocked little Scrugs down to the pen floor as the pups began tearing chunks apart with their carnivorous teeth. The family watched in horror as the monstrous infants munched on their caregiver.

"NO, NOT ME!" Scrugs hollered frantically as the feeding frenzy started chewing at his feet. "I'M NOT ON THE MENU. OH GAAAAAWWWWDDD!"

"Maybe we should go to an actual pet store now." Carmen nervously gagged.

"Good idea." Lucifer replied as he snapped open another portal. The family rushed their way into the portal just as the speakers made their announcement. 

"Clean up in the dog pen!"

                                                                   ***

When the family arrived at the pet store, the Gravely sisters were free to look around as their mother and stepfather waited by the register. They wandered into the encased wilderness of the large pet store, gazing at each animal both exotic and strange alike. They both liked each animal, but one could not agree with the other. 

Regan presented a family of mice but her older sister insisted on a parrot. Rosemary bargained for a tarantula while her younger sister requested for a tank of fish. As they kept searching and disagreeing, a large box toppled to the floor. Cautiously they crept to the box for further investigation. Both girls stared at the unusual creature that nested inside.  Carmen and Lu waited patiently at the front desk for their daughters to return. 

"Hey!" A voice cried behind the duo. "We found a pet."

"Find someth- OH MY FATHER! WHAT IS THAT?" Lucifer shrieked. 

In the Gravely sister's arms was a large seven-foot python with cream-colored scales and small, soulless, pink eyes. The massive snake calmly greeted the surprised parents with a quick flicker of its forked tongue.

"Eww, it's a snake." Carmen Gravely squirmed at its sight. 

"Geyaw, that's a snake!" The devil cringed. 

"Wait. The Serpent is afraid of a serpent." Rosemary chuckled as she carried the python's upper half.

"Afraid? No. Terrified? Yes!" Her stepfather corrected as the teleported behind his wife. His pale hands clung to her like a narrow shield.

The pierced faced cashier looked over the counter and witnessed the two girls holding the elongated creature. "Oh hey, you found our albino python. We've been looking all over for him. So you guys want to buy him or what?"

"Look how cool he is," Regan praised. "He's all long and slinky."

"Hey, that's a good name for him." Rosemary joined in. "We'll call him Slinky!"

"I like Slinky. Can we have him? Please, please, please?" The youngest begged jumping up and down.

"Oh yeah right." The devil begrudged. "Like we'd ever-"

"Um honey." His wife interrupted. She signaled her deceptive husband to look at the puppy-eyed girls as they hugged their new friend.

Lu was confused. He remembered the deal. If they could find a pet they both agreed upon, it was their pet. But they wanted that? He never liked snakes, nor could understand why mortals associated him with snakes. He wanted to say something, but words never came out. He stared at their sad eyes. Normally he had no problem turning down a pitiful bargain or a tearful plea, but this time felt different. For some reason he couldn't find the urge to say no to these two girls. As he continued to ponder on his next move, the snake slithered away from the girls and looped around Lu's legs. It coiled around his body until resting around the devil's neck. Lu stared into the serpent's eyes, begging to be brought home too. With a small sigh, Lu finally said. "Welcome to the family, Slinky."

The girls cheered loudly as their mother pulled out her checkbook. They danced around their stepfather, and even Slinky thanked his new master by giving him a strong, loving squeeze.

"Look!" Regan said. "He likes you too. He's hugging your neck."

"That's...not...hug-gin'..."