You may reach out your hand to ask for something sweet

You may reach out your hand to receive a cold drink during summer heat

You may reach out your hand to offer a shake

You may reach out your hand to receive a piece of cake

You may reach out your hand to show others what you desire

You may reach out your hand to receive a flier

You may reach out your hand for many different things

But you should be aware of what power it brings

For when the devil puts out his hand, he wants to make a deal

And if you reach out your hand, your fate will be sealed

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Mommy! Mommy, where are you?"

A young girl's desperate cry caught Dixon's attention. His nose was overwhelmed with a mouthwatering scent of innocence--the thing he craved for the most.

Under a large, moss covered angel oak tree sat a small child who tightly held her knees together as tears streamed down her face. There was a toppled over basket of daisies with the fallen flowers straying from her as the wind blew them further and further away.

"Mommy, I'm lost. Please come find me. I'm scared."

Dixon shape-shifted his body to match that of a little boy's.

The sobbing child became stiff as she heard the sounds of crunching leaves approach her. Dixon was met with forest-green eyes that stared at him warily.

"Who are you?" She asked, wiping her tears away.

"My name is Dixon."

She stood up timidly, embarrassed that a stranger watched her cry.

"My name is Jules. I was picking flowers in the forest and now I don't know where I am. Can you help me find my mommy?"

"What will you give me in return?" It was in his blood to make deals and trick those who were naive. The little girl was no exception. She was in the most vulnerable position for him to make a deal.

Jules patted her pockets and sighed, "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to give you."

Dixon couldn't help but smirk. This was way too easy. "I'll help you on one condition."

The child's face lit up. "What? I'll do anything."

"I'll help you find your mom if you become mine."

Jules, as he predicted she would, looked at him confusingly.

"You mean you want me to be your friend?" She asked.

Dixon nodded his head even though he meant something much more than that. The girl was too young to understand even if he did tell her his true intentions.

Jules smiled. "Okay! I'll be your friend if you help me find my mommy."

"Alright, give me your hand," he commanded her.

When Jules' warm, soft hand came in touch with his dry, cold ones, he felt small sparks pulse through his arm. It was as if a dove had trusted putting its wing in a tiger's mouth.

"Do you promise me that you will be mine if I help you get back to your mom?"

Dixon knew this was an unfair question. It was a deadly question. It was trap in disguise.

He especially knew from first hand experience that humans underestimate the power of the word yes. Sometimes they said it without knowing what it entailed. Sometimes they were too caught up in unimportant things that they forgot about the consequences. Sometimes they forgot that the word gave .

"" Jules answered.

Her answer...one word...one syllable...one second...had allowed the question's deadly potential to break loose.

Yes can give confirmation.

Yes can create a relationship.

Yes can create deals.

In this case, yes made the beautiful dove unknowingly lock itself in a cage with a starving tiger.

A red symbol in the shape of the letter D immediately appeared on the right side of Jules' neck. It was Dixon's symbol. A mark that showed she was claimed. Thus, a mark that would scare others like him away from her.

Jules caught Dixon staring so she looked down into a puddle of rain water to see her reflection.

"What's this?"Jules asked, rubbing the strange symbol that would not go away.

"It's a sticker to show that we are now friends," he easily lied to her.

"Oh, it's so pretty! I like it," she gleamed,"Now can you show me where my mommy is?"

Dixon nodded his head, "Yes, but give me your neck really quick. I'm going to hide your mark so that it can be a secret between us."

He put his hand on the symbol and began chanting strange words the child couldn't understand. When he finished, the mark disappeared.

Dixon took a big whiff. He was able to detect a trail of Jules' sweet scent.

She followed closely behind him until they were finally out of the forest. There was a nice wooden house at where the trail stopped.

The backyard was simple with a swing and a small garden. Dozens of dandelions mixed in with the healthy, tall green grass.

Jules quickly ran up to the house with Dixon following closely behind.

"Mommy, I'm back!"

A distressed young women appeared from the kitchen and engulfed the child with a hug.

The woman's messy bun had her hair sticking in every direction and the apron she wore had spots of food decorating it.

"Jules, where have you been? I take my eyes off of you for two seconds to bake my casserole and what do you do? Disappear! I was worried sick and I almost called the cops! Are you hurt? Are you okay? Don't you ever scare your mother like that!"

"Don't worry mama. I'm okay. Meet my new friend Dixon. He's the one that helped me find you."

The poor girl didn't know that only she could see him. He thought it would be more convenient to not show himself to the mother. That would entail too many questions and him having to make up lies. Not that he wasn't good at that.

"Honey, what are you talking about? Stop making up nonsense and go take a shower and get to bed," her mom ordered looking around, her eyes passing him.

"Dixon is right here," Jules pointed.

Something suddenly seemed to click in her mom.

"Oh hey Dixon. Nice to meet you. Thank you so much for taking care of my baby girl. I welcome you to our home," Jules' mom muttered awkwardly while looking in the direction her daughter's finger pointed to.

"Can he stay?" Jules asked with her green eyes filled with hope.

"Sure. Just make sure y'all stay out of trouble."

Jules jumped up and down excitedly.

"Dixon! We can have a sleepover! Will you stay? Will you please stay? Please!" The child pleaded desperately while jumping as if she had springs under her shoes.

"Of course. We're friends, aren't we?" He would not decline such a great offer.

Jules laughed and nodded her head. Dixon knew her mom couldn't actually see him. The mother was just pretending for her daughter's sake. Adults always underestimated children.

Jules led them to her small room which had toys littered everywhere on the floor. Dixon scoffed at the dozens of crosses hung on the walls. Like that would do anything to protect your daughter.

Once the Jules saw her bed, her energy died down and she let out a yawn. The day had been emotionally draining for a child who had not yet reached the age of 10.

"I'm tired Dixon, lets play tomorrow." Jules went under her snugly bed sheets. Her duvet consisted of a pattern of cartoon angels flying in the sky happily. It was quite ironic.

Dixon sat next to her and watched with interest as her body began to sink and rise. He was confused when he felt a small twinge of regret surface within him.

No. Creatures like him didn't feel regret. But even so, he couldn't help but think about how this pure little girl didn't deserve to be tainted by his curse.

She could have lived a happy life. A normal life.

Normal. That word always angered him. It reminded him of what he used to have, what he gave away carelessly. He would give anything in the world to be normal again, but it was an impossible wish. Satan had a tight leash around his neck with a collar that choked out all the life and happiness he ever had...leaving him an empty shell whose only purpose was to be the devil's puppet. He was bound to an eternity of darkness.

Dixon shook away his depressing thoughts, blaming his thirst for messing with his head. He was going to continue doing what he did best and what he was known for being: Satan's favorite apprentice.

Jules smiled in her sleep. If only the child knew what he truly was then she wouldn't be smiling.

"Goodnight Jules."