Person in the Bearskin Coat

“Is anyone there?”

Fawn placed her delicate fingers, ruby red nail polish beginning to flake, on the planchette and took a deep breath. She had never stopped at this hotel before but thanks to a mugger she had been chased from her usual corner down a street she’d never been.

It’s just one night. No clients coming out in this snowstorm anyway. 

The Ouija board was laid out perfectly on the desk when she arrived, the planchette placed perfectly over the letter "F."

For Fawn?

“The hell?” She had said, chuckling. “Stupid prank.”

Not so stupid, she found out, when the planchette started to move.

“No way!" Fawn was bewitched, her eyes sparkling with curiosity about the demonic realms. "Um, ok…like I said, anyone there?”

M-E 

Fawn nearly took her hands off the planchette that moment and darted. If only she had, but Fawn was lonely and- she suddenly realized- desperate. 

Bloodied.

Broke.

Bitten by the cold.

Before Fawn began selling herself for money, she had been raised in a very religious household. She remembered that demons enjoyed tricking people by promising them things; gifts. What if people actually received what they wanted from these demons? What if the church had it all wrong and these demons were...helpful? Fawn smirked and looked down at herself. Through her sheer dress her ribs were clearly visible and the rough, patchy rash that had been spreading now reached the backs of her hands. Her once brilliant blonde hair was frizzled and caked with filth. She tasted the blood from her chapped lips, destroyed from copious amounts of ruby insta-dry matte lipstick. She needed medicine, food, and for someone to see her. 

Well, whoever was on the other end of this board might be able to see her.

“Ok, let’s get outta this place.” Fawn determined. “Who are you?”

F-R-I-E-N-D 

“That’s good to hear!” Fawn delighted. “Um…I don’t know how this works usually so-”

The planchette began moving and Fawn was left shocked. The board recited her entire situation- the corner, the money, the pain, the illness, the fatigue and loneliness until Fawn was in tears begging it to stop.

It paused.

D-O-N-T W-O-R-R-Y F-R-I-E-N-D

Fawn was in shambles. This really was some demon, something with power. It could read her very soul if she had one. She was never sure about that and yet she felt a burning sensation where she always imagined her soul would be. It was awful and exciting all at once.

“So…” Fawn weakly tried to continue. “Can I ask you what your name is?”

P-E-R-S-O-N

Fawn chuckled. 

“Okay. Yeah right! Look I might be desperate and I know my good looks make people think I’m some dumb blonde, but I’m not! I need help! Just stop joking around and help me!” Fawn began to tear up before letting out a faint whisper of, “I’m dying here…” 

The planchette moved slowly and deliberately. 

L-O-O-K U-P 

Fawn swallowed the lump in her throat as her grief and humiliation turned to rage, a rage that burn a flame of determination within her. When she looked up and saw the man with the wide and dark eyes, she did not flinch. When she saw his cracked skin and unnatural skinniness, she felt it unfair to judge. He removed his long, brown coat with fur trim and extended it to her. 

“You are shaking.” He said in a voice like gravel. 

Fawn took the coat and wrapped it around herself. Why, it was the finest coat she’d ever worn! Made from real bearskin, delicately stitched with golden embroidery on a silky interior. It felt just like a hug. A real hug. Not clawing, tugging, or rubbing but a real and earnest embrace. Warm and cozy, the cold melted out of her like a flower thawing. She gasped,

"Thank you..."

The man smiled and asked, “What is it you ask for my child?”

This was it. Fawn wanted to make sure she phrased her request just right. 

“Wealth.” She said, “An amazing amount of wealth. Enough to buy a palace with three fireplaces and a real pink diamond necklace!” 

She showed the man the large pink pendant around her neck.

“It is fake.” He correctly stated. “Pawn shop. Traded for a wristwatch you stole from a man.”

All correct, so Fawn nodded. 

“I shall make it so.”

And with that the man vanished and left behind a golden compass with a bear engraved on the back. It pointed towards the woods outside no matter where she moved in the room. With her delightful new coat, Fawn slipped on her shoes and headed out, eagerly.

She trusted this man. No, she loved this man more than anyone in the world. She would go wherever he thought she should and right now that was straight into a blizzard through a gnarled old forest. That sort of thing should bother most people, but not Fawn. Not now that she had someone on her side and a coat to fight the cold. Indeed, although the snow was falling hard, Fawn couldn’t feel its chill anymore. Everything was warm and wonderful. She continued to follow the compass, running. The snow powder flurried up by the momentum of her feet. That’s when she saw the chapel. It was old and forgotten. The wooden door did not slam from the wind. It was wide open. Fawn dashed for it and inside the chapel was completely ruined. Wallpaper torn and filthy, the floor decayed, a piece of the ceiling fallen out…and then she saw it. On the altar sat a perfect sapphire larger than her hand. Elated, she ran to grasp it.

Suddenly, there was a vast sea of fire. The waves were surprisingly beautiful and it was so warm. Oh the warmth was exhilarating. Nevermind the screams and the sweat, they brought her joy. She laughed wickedly as she descended and fell into the man’s arms who had been waiting for her. She was still holding the sweet sapphire, marveling at its perfection. Fawn looked up at the man.

"Thank you so much!" She cried. "I love it! I love you! You actually did it, you saved me! Hell, I wasn't sure you would!"

She ran to hug the man and his all-too-wide mouth let out a rough,

"The gift is not complete. Watch me..."

In one swift motion, the sapphire was made into a sword and a beautiful pink diamond necklace adorned Fawn’s neck.

Fawn looked up and gasped, still laughing. She saw her body turned into a stunning sapphire statue in the middle of the church. Her body! Why, she looked down at herself and noticed her rash had vanished. The pain was gone and she was adorned in the prettiest silk gown anyone had ever seen, and still the luxurious bearskin coat. In the distance, amongst the flames, Fawn saw her sprawling palace with deep blue spires and, yes, a grand hall with three- no! Four fireplaces! The man placed the sapphire sword in her hand, with shimmering fingernails of sapphire. No longer ruby, and never again.

“Fight for me.” The man said. “Be my legion…”

In response, Fawn kissed the man hard on the lips before plummeting to embrace the soft, dirty ground beneath her, clinging to it in an enamored frenzy as deep blue wings of pure and hateful flame sprouted from her back.