“We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.”
* Oscar Wilde
“Okay but hang on a second,” Kieran looked around at the other occupants of the room. “Hear me out.”
Kain groaned as he placed his head in his hands, attempting to massage away the headache that was forming between his eyes. Five days had passed since the revelation on the plateau. Following the bright flash of white light, Kain and his reluctant allies had awakened in a luxurious hotel suite. Further investigation had revealed that they were booked up for an entire week at one of the top hotels in Las Vegas. Kain would have laughed at the irony, had the fundamental truths that governed his whole existence not recently undergone a drastic shift.
Magic, real magic, existed. Power outside the realm of scientific understanding, and he had witnessed it firsthand. Were that his only experience on the plateau, Kain would have struggled to process it. But that was only the beginning. Monsters. Legends. Spirits that could take human form. Beings from beyond this physical realm. They were real. He had seen them. He had spoken to them. The Devil was real. And he wanted Kain.
He had gone into seclusion shortly after waking up in the suite, needing time to sort through all he had discovered on the side of that mountain. His companions had mercifully left him undisturbed, no doubt working through their own experiences in their own ways. The meeting with the Cardinals had certainly left its mark on them as well as he. Kain remembered their first night in the hotel, and how he had been awakened by Layla’s screams. It was a testimony to their experiences that someone as unstable as she had suffered nightmares after the encounter. And they had been offered contracts by those monsters.
Kain had considered burning the contract after that first night. He was not a religious man, nor was he given to primitive superstitions by nature. But the infallible proof of the existence of the Devil and his ilk had shaken him to his core. He had spent most of the night and a good portion of the next day considering the implications of that fact. If those ancient monsters existed, then it stood to reason that God, or some derivative thereof, existed as well. Before Wyoming, Kain had considered himself an agnostic. Either a higher power existed, or it did not. Either way, Kain never had much use for God in his life. He pursued his own desires, free of the moral restrictions that belief in a deity might create. He was content with that life.
Even now, after confronting Lucifer himself, Kain felt no desire to run off and join a church. Whatever god or gods existed to counterbalance the Cardinals, it had never taken an interest in Kain, and he had responded in kind. Why disturb the status quo? All of this made sense to Kain, but there was a problem. A higher power, albeit an evil one, had now taken interest in Kain, and made him an offer. Would he be inviting the ire of some deity if he accepted the offer? And what about his Nephiyl bloodline? If Lucifer and the Bible were to be believed, his ancestors had been at least partially responsible for the end of the world. Did that bloodline place a target on his back? And if so, didn’t that mean he was already damned? If that was the case, why not take the contract?
The truth was: Kain wanted what the Cardinals promised. He wanted pleasure the likes of which he couldn’t imagine. He wanted the freedom to walk through this world without a mask of morality. And above all, he wanted power. There was something inherently enticing about the power Lucifer had displayed on the plateau, and Kain was being offered a piece of it. There was a price, sure. Whatever this apocalypse was that was coming, Kain knew that he likely wouldn’t survive. None of them would. They were cannon fodder to be thrown at some unknown, world-ending enemy. But, as the old man had made clear, there was no hiding from what was coming. Whether he took the offer or not, it looked like he was a dead man. And because of something in his blood, his soul was likely already damned. What else could the Cardinals really do to him?
It had taken Kain three days to emerge from his seclusion, at which point he requested a meeting with his companions. Interested to hear his perspective, they gathered in the suite, where he revealed the secret of their bloodline. He was positive, by this point, that they were all Nephiyl. Everyone on the plateau had been. The contract the Cardinals were offering seemed to be exclusively for his kind.
Kain also took the opportunity to explain why he had decided to accept the contract. His declaration was greeted with general surprise. The group was understandably resistant to the idea of accepting a deal with the Cardinals, given that every story depicting such a deal ended badly for the mortal.
Kieran had been particularly concerned, skeptical of Kain’s story about the Nephiyl bloodline. As it turned out, he had been raised in a Catholic orphanage in Dublin before coming to the states and had been indoctrinated with stories from a young age detailing the evils of Lucifer. He had long since dissolved any relationship with the church, but he was still staunchly against making any deal with the devil. Kain wholeheartedly agreed that the fiend and his colleagues could not be trusted but maintained that they should consider the offer anyway. After a long argument, Kain managed to convince Kieran and the others to at least review the contracts they had been given.
Kain had been surprised, and frankly underwhelmed, when he had finally opened his scroll. There was no fine print. Nothing was written in dubious language that could be misconstrued. It was written on parchment in fancy calligraphy, the actual content not so different from a standard contract of employment.
The responsibilities were largely what the old man had said. They would receive training for the better part of a year, at the end of which they would travel to undisclosed locations around the world, as necessary. Their mission was simple if a bit vague: eliminate hostile forces and protect Cardinal assets. The whole section sounded suspiciously like a DOD contract, which suited Kain just fine.
Kain perused the rest of the contract quickly, noting the Cardinals agreed to provide “all necessary skills and abilities” to carry out the mission successfully. To his disappointment, however, it did not detail what those skills and abilities were. They also agreed to “full autonomy of the undersigned” without elaborating exactly what that was. Surely there had to be some limitations to what the Cardinals were offering. He just was not savvy enough to catch it.
The last part of the contract was the only part that was clear and specific. If they accepted the deal, the five of them would attend a gala in their honor at the end of the week. Their training was to commence the following morning. The contract was to last for seven years, at the end of which they would be released from all obligations and allowed to maintain ownership of any assets and benefits acquired during the contract. All in all, Kain thought the contract favored him and his comrades.
Most of the group had agreed with Kain after perusing their own contracts. Even Damon, whose understanding of the parties they were dealing with seemed to rival his own, seemed satisfied with the agreement. Kieran, however, maintained his suspicions and had, up until now, refused to commit. Two or three times a day he would come up with a new objection, and it was beginning to wear on his companions.
“I’m just saying,” Kieran continued. “Whether we caught it or not, something in that contract is going to come back to bite us! No way do we shake hands with these demons and walk away when it’s over.”
Kain’s mask was once again slipping. He had worked so hard over the years to understand and control his impulses, but Kieran was being rather annoying. Fortunately, others in the group possessed even less self-control, and he was saved from responding by Layla’s outburst.
“Kieran you idiot!” she exclaimed. “There’s no way we walk away period! If we refuse, then either they kill us or they arrange for us to be killed by these new enemies. We are too much of a liability to be left alive if we don’t take the deal!”
Layla glared at Kieran, daring him to disagree. He didn’t bother. They had all come to this conclusion eventually. Instead, he tried a counterargument.
“Maybe you’re right,” he said more calmly. “But isn’t dying free better than serving the Cardinals?”
This time, it was Layla who paused. Kain had to hand it to Kieran: he made a valid point. It was just too bad it did not apply to them.
“Tell me, Ki,” he asked quietly. “Do you feel free?”
Kain watched the reality of his question sink into Kieran as the man fell silent. He knew the answer of course. None of them were free.
“We have been serving the Cardinals for years. We just refused to admit it until we had no choice. There is no free for us. At least this way we get to choose how.”
Kieran sat down on the sofa quietly. Kain could almost see the existential crisis brewing behind the man’s eyes. Kieran knew who and what he was, just like Kain did. The difference was that Kain had made peace with who he was, while Kieran, like so many others, had gone through life justifying his behavior. Kain admired the effort, honestly. Any man who could burn down the world and then convince himself he was right was a dangerous man indeed. In fact, the only man who was more dangerous was the one who knew he was wrong and didn’t care. It is impossible to reason with a man like that. Kain considered this as he watched Kieran slowly come to terms with himself. When the man finally looked up, there was a calm acceptance in his eyes.
“Fine,” he said, a wan smile spreading across his face. “You guys wanna dance with the devil? I’m game.”
He looked around at his new team, his eyes finally coming to rest on Kain.
“You’re wrong though. We don’t serve those loons. We’re free agents! We serve ourselves. If they happen to benefit, good for them.”
Kain considered Kieran’s words for a moment before smiling himself. He was unsure of the accuracy of the man’s statement, but he liked the idea anyway. He was his own master. If the Cardinals wanted to take his soul, they would have to work for it.
**************************************************
Once the companions all agreed to take the contract, the rest of the week passed in a blur of celebration. They had discovered early on that all their expenses were being covered by a local business that Kain suspected was owned by one of the Cardinals. Their last few days in Vegas, they decided to take advantage of this and indulged themselves to the fullest. Food, drink, gambling, clubs, they did their best to experience all of it. And the city provided endless opportunity for their insatiable debauchery.
The morning of the gala arrived to find Kain joining in a high stakes’ poker game. Kieran had disappeared at some point in the night with no less than two ladies of ill-repute. Kain smirked at the memory as he called his opponent’s raise. He had come up with trip jacks on the river, and simply could not live with himself if he folded on a hand that good. It turned out his luck held, his opponent coming up with two-pair. It was a solid hand, but not quite good enough, and Kain took the modest pot.
“You gentlemen mind if I join you?” A familiar deep bass had Kain looking up to find Damon had appeared. There were general nods of agreement as Kain stood and shook the man’s hand.
“Fellas, allow me to introduce Damon Sèvére. He is a relatively new business associate of mine.”
Kain felt it appropriate to acknowledge his relationship with Damon before he joined the game, since there was a fair amount of money on the table. No one seemed to object as Damon sat down, and the cards were passed around.
“I don’t believe you told us what it is you do, Mr. Hunter,” a man named Donnie with a thick New York accent asked, keeping up polite conversation as bets were placed.
“Private security,” Kain answered without hesitation. He supposed it was true, in a sense. Donnie looked at Damon’s large form, before looking back at Kain.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Yeah, alright. I’ll buy that.”
The flop came and Kain schooled his expression. He had been dealt the ace of spades and eight of clubs. The table showed the five of diamonds, four of hearts, and the ace of clubs. A pair of aces was not a bad way to start a hand, but he noted the beginning of a possible straight on the table. He decided to wait it out and see what happened.
The turn produced a two of spades, and Kain caught the knee jerk response of one of the other players, Marshall Thompson, as he checked his cards. It looked like someone had either gotten their straight or was at the very least one card closer. Kain was preparing to fold when the man checked, no doubt hoping to cover for his tell and tempt others into betting on the river. Why not? Kain thought as he checked as well, and the river was flipped.
The eight of spades.
Kain realized two things at the point. First, the almost imperceptible sigh told him that Marshall had just missed his straight, which meant it was likely he’d won the hand. Second, when his turn came around, he folded, tossing his cards into the center of the table. He was not a superstitious man by nature, but he figured he was tempting fate enough already. He addressed Damon as he stood.
“I do believe that’s enough cards for me.” He donned an amicable expression. “Have you seen the girls this morning?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Damon responded easily. “They mentioned something about brunch and then a day of pampering before the gala.”
At this, the attention of the table sharpened noticeably. Donnie looked to be reappraising the two men. He was a middle-aged man, with slightly thinning dark hair and garish sunglasses. His suit was expensive but worn with disdain, the top two buttons of his shirt open, exposing a gold chain around his neck. Kain regarded him quietly. He looked like he was about to speak but thought better of it. Kain decided to ignore the man’s attention and turned back to Damon.
“Of course they are,” he rolled his eyes as he spoke. “I think I’m gonna go relax myself. You gentlemen enjoy the rest of the game.”
There were a few nods and farewells as Kain headed back to their suite. While he had feigned exasperation at the women having a stereotypical “spa day”, he applauded their decision. The team needed to look their best tonight, himself included. Obviously, the Cardinals agreed with his sentiment as there was a card sitting on his bedside table when he arrived in the suite. He picked it up and read it.
Mr. Hunter,
In preparation for our little party this evening, I took the liberty of procuring the services of the finest tailor in the city. He has been reserved for the entire day, so feel free to contact him at your leisure. Do enjoy yourself.
L.
Kain snorted, half in amusement, half in annoyance. He had grown accustomed to the creature knowing his thoughts, but he still did not like being so easily predicted. He would have to look into how to prevent that as the opportunity presented itself. In the meantime, he turned the card over and dialed the number on the back. An impressively short time later, Kain heard a knock at the door.
Waldon Peters was an elderly man with closely cropped gray hair and a neatly trimmed beard to match. His suit was tasteful yet functional, and he spoke with a refined English accent.
“Master Hunter, I presume?”
Kain nodded and led the man into the main room of the suite. The man traveled lightly for a tailor, with a medium-sized briefcase in one hand and a suit bag draped over his alternate shoulder. He skipped further pleasantries as he laid out the suit bag and opened his briefcase.
“Master White provided a general idea of what you would require when he requested my services,” he began, as he pulled out the unfinished suit from the bag. “He did not, however, provide the specifics. At your pleasure, I will take measurements, and after we can discuss the finer points of your attire.”
Kain nodded, and the elderly man got to work.
**************************************************
The sleek, black limousine reflected the lights of the hotel entryway as it pulled up to the door. At some unseen sign, a man in a tuxedo approached the vehicle and opened its door. Three men emerged and were escorted through the noisy casino to a quieter area of the hotel. Two of the hotel security personnel stood silent vigil in front of elaborate French doors at the end of the hall. One had a tablet in hand, but did not bother checking it as they approached, recognizing the man escorting the small group. He whispered something in the guard’s ear, and he promptly opened the doors. Kain and his companions stepped through, their ears greeted by light, but energetic classical music.
The room was stunning, to be expected from a five-star hotel ballroom in the middle of Vegas. Everything, from the table décor to the curtains, was a vision of contrast in black and white. Marble and obsidian busts encircled the room, while paintings of black and white drama masks hung on the walls. White lilies sat in dark vases on white tablecloths, surrounded by ebony plates. The room was an artistic tribute to duality, and Kain applauded the Cardinals’ taste.
He and Damon blended in perfectly with the theme of the room, as they were visions of contrast themselves. The tall dark-skinned man was wearing a suit of all white, while he had elected apparel of uniform black. The tailor had been worth his weight in gold, Kain’s suit fitting like a second skin. Kieran’s outfit stood out a bit more. He wore a dark green suit, with a white dress shirt and gold tie. While it was a bit loud for Kain’s taste, he thought it suited Kieran quite well.
The group made their way into the ballroom, where several others had already arrived and were talking to friends and acquaintances. It appeared there was a certain level of familiarity between most of the guests, which Kain supposed made sense. He recognized no one present, save a few of the Cardinals flitting about and engaging the guests. Kain found the scene a bit bizarre, knowing the true nature of their hosts. He wondered what these members of high society would think should the Cardinals reveal their true nature, as they had with Kain and his friends. He smirked as he imagined the ensuing chaos.
The girls had elected not to travel with them, instead spending extra time and effort in preparation for the event. Kain did not begrudge them the tardiness, knowing the final result would likely be well worth it. He wanted his team to leave a lasting impression tonight. Gone were the intimidated candidates who had been cowed on the mountain plateau. In their place was an elite group of professionals who were in total control of their surroundings.
Kain was unsure exactly when he had begun thinking of their group as his team, but he found that the sentiment was accurate. He would not go as far as to say he was fond of his companions, but they were efficient, intelligent, and lethal, all qualities that he valued. They had begun to develop a certain familiarity with one another, and he found himself satisfied that this was the team he would be working with.
Kain was interrupted in his musings as one of the Cardinals noticed them and began making his way over.
“Good evening,” he said with an accent that denoted both Latin and Slavic roots. “I do not believe we were properly introduced before. My name is Vlad Dracul.”
Kain had to stop himself from smirking as he shook the man’s hand. Kieran, however, showed no such restraint, instead outright laughing.
“Of course it is, Vlad! Because why would it not be?”
Damon chuckled at this, and even the son of the dragon cracked a smile.
“I suppose that reaction is a fair one, given the company I keep,” he said.
“Both a mass murderer and the original vampire?” Kieran raised an eyebrow, still smiling. “Yeah, you fit right in. So when do we get to meet Jack the Ripper?”
Vlad actually laughed at that, a high cold sound.
“My dear boy, the Ripper wasn’t one of us. He was one of you,” his smile turned sadistic. “Enjoy the party.”
He walked away, once again leaving Kieran speechless.
“What did he mean by that?” Damon asked.
“If I had to guess, I would say he mean that Jack the Ripper was Nephiyl,” Kain replied. It made a certain sense, given what he knew about his bloodline. Kain was not given long to consider the implications, as the two missing members of their team had finally arrived. Kain had been right. They did not disappoint.
Raven was the picture of elegance, her hair done up in an elaborate bun, with a few dark curling strands framing her face. Only a light smattering of makeup graced her face, accentuating her natural beauty. She wore a long gray dress that hugged her curves tightly until it reached her hips, where it flowed around her legs with slits on both sides, occasionally teasing glimpses of her caramel flesh. She had even donned heels for the evening. Kain was impressed. Kieran was practically drooling.
While Raven’s apparel was elegant and conservative, Layla’s was most decidedly not. Her hair tumbled down her neck and back in wavy layers, intentionally messy and yet alluring. She had applied her makeup liberally in just the right way, giving her a seductive, confident look. The silky bit of black fabric that flowed about her curvy body could barely be called a dress, covering her most sensuous areas, and not much else. Her legs were clad in fishnet stockings, and the outfit finished with a set of black pumps. Kain just shook his head as he admired her. The woman certainly knew how to command attention.
The ladies soon noticed them and walked over. Kain was certain every head in the room followed them as they moved.
“That was quite an entrance,” he teased as he made sure to let Layla see him look her up and down.
“Well, you know what they say,” she said with a wink. “If you have it, flaunt it.”
Kain heartily agreed with the sentiment.
“It is good to see my tailor has not lost his touch,” a familiar voice interrupted Kain’s appraisal. The group turned to see Lucifer strolling up to them. “You gentlemen look quite distinguished.”
A tense silence followed as everyone present remembered their last meeting with the fallen angel. Kain noticed Kieran’s hands balled into fists as he glared at his former tormentor.
“Oh, come now,” Lucifer attempted a disarming smile as he extended his hands out from his sides. “Let’s not hold on to the past! You’re all planning to accept our contracts, yes?”
“It’s looking that way,” Kain affirmed.
“Wonderful!” Lucifer brought his hands together in a loud clap. “Then let us look to the future and much more profitable interactions!”
He turned to address the ladies, kissing each of their hands. It amazed Kain how he was so effortlessly able to flit between acting the perfect gentleman one moment and torturing people the next.
“Ladies, you both are a vision,” he pandered. “Lust is my absolute favorite sin, and you make it effortless.”
It was not a compliment. Every word the serpent uttered was spoken in a back-handed way, meant to remind them of their inferiority. Kain respected the manipulative tactic, but he was not about to allow this monster to break his team again. The Cardinals might be old gods and devils, but for whatever reason, they needed the Nephiyl. That gave him and his companions leverage. If they had leverage, then they were not inferior.
“Really? I always thought pride was your favorite,” Kain stepped up between the two girls, putting an arm around each. “What with the whole picking a fight with God and getting kicked out of Heaven for it.”
Kain knew he was taking a chance. The creature in front of him could destroy way more than just his body. He was leaning heavily on a theory that was, yet, untested. For just a moment, an inhuman look of rage crossed Lucifer’s face and Kain wondered if his time was up. A familiar cackle caused the moment to pass, however.
“He’s got your number Lou!” The unnaturally beautiful woman who had addressed the candidates on the plateau had wondered over. She extended her hand to Kain by way of formal introduction.
“Lilith Knox.”
Kain took the proffered hand, lightly brushing his lips across the back.
“The mistress of the night,” Kain said with a smile. “What a pleasure.”
He was not at all surprised to learn the identity of the woman before him. At this point, she was just one more nightmare given flesh. If he was honest with himself, he wanted to meet the rest of the Cardinals, if for no other reason than to learn what other demons existed in this world.
“It’s not very often I get to see old Silver-Tongue rendered speechless,” Lilith smirked at Lucifer. “You simply must have a drink with me once business is concluded.”
Kain had absolutely no intention whatsoever of being caught alone with the demoness. Her scorn for men was legendary. Thankfully, he was spared a response when another Cardinal signaled their group before stepping into a side room.
“Speaking of business,” Lucifer reentered the conversation, no trace of his previous ire present. “If you would care to join us, we can conclude the formalities and move on to enjoying the evening.”
He beckoned toward the same side room, and the companions followed him into it. The rest of the Cardinals were waiting for them.
“Welcome!” Faust stepped out and motioned toward an antiquated stand in the center of the room. His usual brusque irritation had been replaced by an uncharacteristic politeness.
“To officially enter into the contract, simply step up, place it on the stand, prick your finger, and press your mark to the parchment.”
His oily manner and smile set Kain on edge, causing him to hesitate. Before he could question the proceedings, however, another voice filled his head, nearly causing him to black out.
YOU FORGET YOURSELF, SCRIBE.
Kain could not pinpoint where the voice had come from as he attempted to recover from its force. This was something new. Something he and his team had not encountered from the Cardinals. Kain steeled himself as he prepared to deal with this new threat.
THE ACCORDS MUST BE HONORED, the voice continued, and Kain saw…something resembling a man step forward. It was hazy and indistinct, as though Kain were looking at the mirage of a man, rather than the man itself. The effect had Kain blinking and averting his eyes. Just what was that thing?
Faust looked as though the creature had taken away his favorite toy. To Kain’s surprise, however, he did not dispute the point. Instead, he turned his ire on Kain.
“I assume you speak for the other miscreants?” he snapped, the Faust that Kain had come to recognize finally surfacing. He turned to his team, and there was a general round of nods.
“Good. Talking to one deviant is trying enough,” Faust was making no effort to hide his contempt at this point. “Talking to all of you would take all night.”
He rolled up his sleeves, gesturing first to the hazy figure, and then to Kain’s jacket pocket, where his contract resided.
“The Avatar believes you would like to have the terms of the contract amended before signing.”
Now that was interesting. Apparently, he’d been right. He did have negotiating power. And not only that, but one of the Cardinals had spoken on his behalf! He wanted to know more about this Avatar, but he supposed some questions were best left for another time. Apparently, Faust agreed.
“Well? Don’t keep me waiting, human.”
Kain decided that he’d had enough of the man’s condescending attitude. Perhaps he was subconsciously relying on whatever tenuous leverage he had, or perhaps he was counting on this Avatar to intervene again if things got out of hand. Either way, Kain felt a change come over him as he began to speak.
“I’ll keep you waiting as long as I please demon.”
Silence fell over the room as the attention of everyone present focused on the man who had just defied an immortal.