#muamun

The midwife had seen a lot of babies, in a lot of shapes and a lot of forms. But this one, this particular baby had to be the strangest baby she had ever seen.

For one thing, it's skin wasn't a newborn pink, it was a maroon red, and it's eyes were as black a coal. It was also much larger than a normal baby, and didn't cry like one either. Instead it growled and grunted, like an animal.

But none the less, she washed the babe, checked to make sure it was healthy, which it was, and wrapped it in a blue fluffy blanket, then turned to the mother. "Would- Would you like to hold..... it?"

The mother looked up from her book. She had recovered rather quickly from the labor and seemed more interested in her book than her baby, as a matter of fact she seemed almost bored to be there. "Yes. I'll hold it." She said, calmly.

The midwife delicately placed the infant in the mother's arms.

The mother gave it a once over, then looked at the midwife. "Please go out and send for Corneilia Attelbury."

Corneilia Attelbury couldn't believe her luck, when a pregnant woman came to her doorstep, asking for riches in exchange for her first born. Most of the time Corneilia had to trick people into giving up their children, to have one come so willingly, it was to good to be true.

And now Corneilia realized why the woman was so eager.

"It's a demon!" She shrieked, looking at the baby in it's mother's arms.

The woman smirked. "It's only half. I made a deal with a demon to have it's child in exchange for eternal life."

"You- You have tricked me!!" The witch screeched. "I wont take it! I wont!"

"We made a deal." The woman said, looking down at her child who let out an odd grunting noise. "I said I would give you my firstborn. Which I am." The woman smirked at Corneilia. "You wouldn't be breaking your deal would you?"

Corneilia was enraged. She did not want to raise a demon child. But if she broke her deal, her reputation in the Witch world would be ruined. So she handed the mother a special chest that would always be full of gold, no matter how much you took out, and the mother pressed a kiss to her child's head before handing it over to Corneilia.

"I'd like to stop by every so often and see the child if you don't mind." The woman said, picking up her book and opening it.

"Fine." Corneilia hissed through her teeth.

Zimbach did not understand. The woman had come to it, oh so willing, begging for immortality in exchange for bearing it's offspring. The time had come for the babe to be born, and Zimbach stopped by the woman's place of residents, only to find the babe was not there.

She explained what she had done, and it was furious. How dare this mortal- Immortal- give away it's offspring to a filthly witch.

"I said I would have your offspring. I never said I would give it to you." The woman said, her nose in her book.

Zimbach paused. And glared. "Where do I find this witch."

"What do you mean it's yours! This child was given to me!" Corneilia shrieked.

The baby, as it turns out, was not so bad. In fact, Corneilia had grown rather fond of it, and they were living a carefree life, until this blasted demon showed up.

"Little Muamun is my blood. My offspring. The child is rightfully mine." Zimbach said, losing it's patience quickly.

"It's name is Dilwyn!" Corneilia shouted, clutching the babe tightly to her chest. A barrier had been spelled between them and the demon the minute Zimbach showed it's ugly face, preventing the demon from moving closer.

"It is my child, I shall name it whatever I wish."

"I'm the one raising it. I'll name it whatever I want."

"Foolish witch!!"

"Dumb demon!!"

"Good evening."

Zimbach and Corneilia turned to see the mother walking in, her book held at her side.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to see little Dilwyn." The mother said.

"See! Even the mother agrees!" Corneilia shrieked.

"I have had it with you foolish beings!" Zimbach shouted. "I will have my Muamun!"

"Why don't you just share?" The mother asked, calmly, taking the babe from Corneilia.

"Share?" Corneilia asked.

"Yeah. Joint custody. Dilwyn could live here every week, and visit Hell every other week end." The mother suggested, giving the baby a stuffed goat.

Zimbach and Corneilia looked at each other.

"You- You could take the child this weekend." Corneilia stammered. "I planned on visiting my sister."

"Very well." Zimbach said, nodding.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Dilwyn-"

"Muamun!"

"Dilwyn!"

"Muamun!"

"Happy birthday to you!" The mother said, with a beam as the witch and demon once again fought over names.

The child had just turned ten and was already as tall as Corneilia.

"I have a very special present for you this year." The mother said, pulling a small wrapped package from her pocket. "It was given to me by my great grandmother."

The child ripped the package open and withdrew from it, a book that it had so often seen it's mother read. It was a brown, leather book, with no title on the front. Somewhat ordinary. But inside, everything was written in gold ink, and on the back of the front cover it read, "Tips And Tricks On How To Deal With Magical Beings" in loopy golden handwriting.

"It had helped me gain everything I have. Even you." The mother said, looking at it fondly. "I've added my own additions, and I'm sure you'll find use for it someday."

The child smiled.

It isn’t uncommon for this particular demon to be summoned—from exhausting Halloween party pranks in abandoned barns to more legitimate (more exhausting) ceremonies in forests—but it has to admit, this is the first time it’s been called forth from its realm into a claustrophobic living room bathed in the dull orange-pink glow of old glass lamps and a multitude of wide-eyed, creepy antique porcelain dolls that could give Chucky a run for his money with all of their silent, seething stares combined.

An old woman hobbled out, bent and old. She took one look at him and her face lit up. "Todd! Todd is that you! You've come to visit me at last!"