Chapter Two (Sin)

I stretched to keep myself awake as I watched the scene before me. My subjects had decided that it was time for me to find a queen. Of course, my subjects were offering their daughters and nieces, trying to get their bloodline to become part of the royal bloodline.

Tedious, I didn’t want any random she-demon. I wanted someone I had a connection with. My subjects had become so boring, they were too comfortable and predictable. How disgusting. I need excitement. Something different and entertaining.

“Sire, are you listening?” My right-hand man, Merula, asked, shattering my train of thought. Merula reminded me of a rat with his slight frame and shifty features, he never looked you in the eyes. He always seemed to be there, listening and watching. He was smart and gave good advice, and he always kept me informed of what was happening in the castle. Merula was surprisingly lucky when it came to women.

“Yes, and none of them will be my Queen.” I frowned at him. His beady, black eyes widened as he looked behind me.

“You promised you would find a Queen.” Hellebore, my father's mistress, scolded me. She was the closest thing I had to a mother figure, but we never bonded, and I didn’t trust her at all.

Hellebore was tall with an hour glass frame which she loved to flaunt with tight dresses in bold colours like reds and purples, her long black hair usually up in fancy braids. My father was drawn to her beauty and her unique pink eyes and pointed features.

“I did,” I agreed. “But did I say that I’d find her down here?” I stated as I headed away from the throne and headed towards the door.

“Where will you find her, then?” she scolded as she moved to follow me.

“Wherever I feel like.” I smirked, deciding I’d go to the human plane. They are always doing crazy shit and I haven't been there in ages.

As she yelled at me infuriated, my flames consumed and swirled around me as I disappeared from the hell plane.

I hadn’t been on the surface in a few hundred years. I couldn’t wait to see the chaos they have created since I was last there.

The flames dispersed, revealing glorious chaos. Metal machines ran rampant throughout the streets, people running around like little ants in an anthill, hurrying from one task to another as pollution pumped from their buildings into the sky, slowly destroying the nature that surrounded them. I could sense the corruption among them: killers and thieves. Sinners, the very people whose souls I revelled in tormenting.

Smiling, I headed down the street, stealing a fedora from one of the stores displays on the sidewalk, putting it on to cover my horns. I glanced around, soaking in the sights, delighted at the new scenery and not my stuffy throne room.

Women dressed differently now, less modest, bolder and more provocative. I raised my brows and frowned as a woman in a skirt so short it left nothing to the imagination walked by. Me personally? I liked a mystery.

A woman across the street caught my eye. She was rushing from her car towards a tall building. Something drew me to her. Her long red hair was up in a messy bun. She struggled to open the door as she juggled papers, her purse and a coffee. A passerby opened it for her, thanking him as she rushed inside.

She wore dress pants and a white blouse. To make the outfit her own. She had multiple piercings on her ears, her nose and lip were pierced as well. Her make up heavy on the eyeliner and eye shadow. The dark brown lipstick she wore was attention catching. The clothing was modest but amplified her curves, drawing my attention. Judging by the way she presented herself, it was not her normal attire. 

Unable to help myself, I followed her into the building. She was entering a tiny room with no exit. Strange, why would she want to go in a broom closet? I was transfixed on her and studying her features, her striking blue eyes like oceans of water pulling me in. Two doors slid from the walls, closing in front of her, breaking the spell.

Unable to help myself, I spent the next few days following her. She was a mystery. She differed from the other women I had met, not concerned with getting attention, just doing her own thing and being content with that. I had a feeling she was the perfect person to help me repay a debt I owed.

The more I watched, the more drawn to her I became. I decided to mess with her luck, minor inconveniences that would build until she’d be willing to make a deal with me. The manipulative bastard that I am did too good of a job. A few days ago she would’ve been killed by a bus If I hadn’t of pulled her back at last second.

I spotted her and followed as she headed into a coffee shop dressed in black jeans and t-shirt, her hair braided down the middle of her back. I don’t think she realizes how attractive she is, always hiding behind hoodies and baggy clothes since she lost her job as assistant to some big wig architect. She stopped wearing dress pants and blouses that had been a requirement, and wore more dark greys and blacks, seeming to want to blend into the background.

“Miss, your coffee,” the cashier called after her as she turned to leave. She thanked the cashier and rushed back and grabbed the coffee and exited the building. Not two feet outside the coffee shop. She stumbled and dumped the hot contents on her shirt, cursing she grasped the material and held it away from her body.

“Stroke of bad luck?” I asked as I followed her out of the shop and finally deciding to talk to her.

“You could say that.” she muttered in response, preoccupied with keeping the hot shirt away from her skin.

“I could fix that for you?”

“How?” she asked doubtfully, releasing her shirt and sipping what was left of her coffee.

“I have my ways.”

 “I’m good, thanks.” She replied, turning from me to walk away. I was dumbfounded. No one said no to me. I was a king, and a feared one at that.

I grabbed her arm. “You really don’t want my help?” I asked, trying to keep the anger from my voice.

“No. it’s just some bad luck it’ll change. It always does.”

“hmmm, I guess you will find out, won’t you?” I whispered with a silent promise and a smile, as I disappeared into my flames in front of her, grinning at her shocked expression and reappeared a block away, but still in view of her. I was curious about her reaction, but she didn't really give one. Just seemed to shake it off. She would concede to me. It was only a matter of time, she would help me.

She walked to her rental car, unlocked it and sat in the driver's seat, closing the door. I waited a few minutes, smiling when the car didn't move. Her car needed repair, thanks to me, and now so did this one. I laughed as she got out of the car, angrily slamming the door while on the phone. A few minutes later, a yellow car picked her up.

Again, I followed. She was surprisingly easy to track. Her presence drew me to her, and I could find her anywhere. It was as if an invisible thread connected us.

I found her inside a massive building full of kiosks. From the outside, it looked like a misshapen castle. I found her in a kiosk inside the enormous building filled with spell books, crystals, tarot cards, candles, and a variety of other witch tools. Too bad none of them would work, this type of magic was wiped out a few hundred years ago.

She was talking to a man at the counter and seemed irritatingly infatuated with him. Maybe I should drop him in a pit? I debated with myself watching their interaction, anger turning into hatred for this flawed mortal. I walked closer, eavesdropping on the conversation.

"She wanted to work here?" I think not. The stupid male behind the counter grabbed a piece of paper and was about to hand it to her.

“No, she won’t be applying.” I declared.

“And who are you?” She asked, spinning around to look at me. As I walked to the counter and grabbed the application from the man and ripped it up, he had been about to hand her.

“Me, I’m Sin.” I smiled, tipping my hat to her. I loved her fiery personality.

“Yeah, and I'm Lust.” she snapped sarcastically.

“Are you now?” I smiled, intrigued.

“No, I am not. It was sarcasm… Why won’t I be applying?” she asked, crossing her arms, scolding me.

“Because you are going to make a deal with me?”

“And why would I do that?” she paused. “Are you stalking me?”

“Well, I don’t call it stalking. I find you entertaining.” I mused. “Because if you make the deal with me, your luck will change, and you won’t need this mediocre job. It’s beneath you.” I waved my hand around the store, frowning slightly when I looked at the man behind the counter.

“I won’t be making a deal with you!” She snapped, turning to leave.

“Oh, you won’t have a choice, little flame.” I sighed, grabbing her arm. She tried to pull from my grip unsuccessfully. Maybe if I misplace her, she will submit to me, and I knew the perfect place and it would help me at the same time.

As my flames surrounded us, I looked up and saw Hellebore hiding in her friend's body. What was she doing here? She smiled as she waved goodbye.

Deciding to drop her in the past, I rewound time as images flew past us as we went further and further back in time. When the flames dissipated, we were standing deep in the middle of the forest.

“Wh… what did you do?” She asked as she spun around in alarm.

This will be sufficient, I thought to myself. A few days here and she’ll do anything to go home.

“You will make that deal, one way or another.” I smiled evilly. “Goodbye little flame.” Tilting my hat as I disappeared.