Carina Bissett‘s story “Serpents and Toads” is included in Gluttony: An inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires (Seven Deadly Sins Book 6), which was published by Black Hare Press. This is her first Australian publication credit.
“Serpents and Toads” is a contemporary retelling of the fairy tale “Diamonds and Toads.” In this version, the narrator make a deal with the devil to be thin. But is she willing to pay the price? This piece was originally published at Enchanted Conversations.
“Sign here.” Painted a lurid scarlet, the dark-haired woman’s lips spread into a thick smile. She tapped a red fingernail on the paper she pushed in front of me.
“That’s it?” Now that the promise sat in front of me, I was hesitant to take the next step. What if this was like all of the other false miracles I’d tried? But then again, what if it actually worked? What if I could be as thin as the women I envied? “That’s all I have to do? Just sign this paper?”
The Nearby Universe 