“Aw hell, not again,” was not the words Pam expected to hear. To be honest, Pam was not sure what she thought would happen when she finished the chanting. The website online outlined how to set up the ritual. How to draw the containment circle, what herbs were needed, the right amount of blood, and the words to summon a devil were all laid out in detail. It even listed substitutions for the hard to get ingredients. Pam glanced back down at her notes, trying to see if she missed something. That is the only reason she could come up with why a woman in a housecoat and hair curlers was standing in front of her. Tapping drew Pam’s eyes back up.

“I don't have all day, dear,” stated the devil. “ There is a realm-wide address I need to finish getting ready for, so what did you call me?”

Pam gaped at the devil, not believing what she saw. The devil threw her hands up and stepped forward. She passed the lines of chalk as if nothing was there. Bending down, she snapped her fingers in front of Pam’s face. Pam jumped and scrambled backward. The devil tilted her head as if she was trying to complete a puzzle.

“You do have a reason, right dear,” a smile crossed the devil’s face. “It would be a shame if I was dragged up here for no reason.”

No words escaped Pam’s mouth, only frantic puffs of air. Her eyes darted back to her notes and then to the circle. Pam looked around the circle design and then back to the devil.

“You’re not supposed to do that.”

“Do what, dear?”

“The circle,” Pam pointed at the chalk on the floor. “It’s drawn perfectly. You should not be able to cross it.”

“It is a beautiful woven drawing, but there is a flaw.” The devil picked up Pam’s notes, held them up, and pointed at a section.

“I am not sure where you got your information, dear, but this part is wrong. Instead of a properly closed containment, it symbolizes a more fluid circle. Which is okay for a lesser being, but not for myself.”

“What?”

“Were you not aware of daemon hierarchy?” The devil stood and put her hands on her hips. “Where did you get your information? And why were you summon a daemon in the first place? Be quick, dear, because I do not have all day once again.”

“They left me,” Pam whispered.

“Who left?”

“My parents. When I was ten, they dropped me off at boarding school and never returned. They have traveled all over the world for the past eight years without contacting me. Now, as I finally start to find myself, they come back.” Pam jumped up and started pacing. “And you want to know their first words to me after being gone. It’s not we missed you, or we’re sorry. No, we have a husband picked for you, and here is the date of your wedding.”

Pam stops in front of the devil, with frantic puffs of air stopping her words. The devil reaches out and tucks a stray cul behind Pam’s ear.

“Why have you called me?”

“I don’t care if he is rich, handsome, or the nicest man on this planet. I do not want this wedding to happen.”

“So you called a devil, that is pretty extreme, dear.”

“This is my last hope. If you can’t stop it, then tomorrow I’m wed.”

“There is a price.”

“I’m willing to pay.”

“So you shall, dear.” The devil cupped Pam’s face. “Now, say my name and complete our contract.”

Pam whispered the devil’s name and watched it smile before everything went black.