The wind whistled upon its breath. It carried a stench of blood fuming upon its lips. It sounded almost mocking like faint laughter.

Was the world mocking him or was it hoping that he would fail?

The moon shone its vulgar eye upon the cold, lined corpses upon the deck. A party it began and a feast it ended. Music blared, yet the chorus was the only audible noise that was heard over the intense munching and growling.

An elevator to the top, the yellow tiles were expensive. The once blue pool was first class—a glass cover to block the rain from falling. Bottles of champagne littered the floor—one was the equivalent of the everyday man's salary. It was luxury at its finest.

The women had strutted around in their bikini each distinct with unique sparkling colours. They all had the look of euphoria when he first entered. This wonderful dream of grandiose that they had was now—finally over.

Red took centre stage—sprayed and splattered from the pool to the umbrella like an artist mad at work as monstrous beasts, bathed in the dirt, grime, and blood. Tugged and pulled as they shot whatever remaining fluids of the deceased around in quick bursts upon the air. They were all helplessly scattered around like mannequins, some hands still reaching for the elevator, and those that had made it in only knew a far worse fate. Their faces now held the correct expression of life, one that I could sympathize with, despair.

A bargain, a deal, a promise their black souls no longer lingered. What awaited them was a hell no human could endure. Just like him, their lives were bartered. Unlike him, they were not the same.

Was it worth it paying more than a pound of flesh? He wondered.

An eternity of torture awaited them, and the trade was for temporary beauty, for temporary fame. It matters not the want, the need, or the dealer, only the confinements of the fine prints of the offer. Such fools, and yet soon more will follow. Their lives were for his own benefit, like a fuel that kept him running.

Samael sat at the edge of the towering building. Ears twitching now and then as the munching persisted. His legs dangled upon the nothingness below him. His eyes fixated upon the insignificant dots to the human eyes; that went back and forth in the dark. Within each one, he could see their souls. Some corrupted to the core, others merely held a dot.

Things had not all gone according to plan. While two vices worked heavily the others were moving at a snail's pace. They had to meet their quota and then self-destruct while the door remained closed.

The vices were getting harder to find and were growing outside of his control. Would they end up as powerful as him someday? Was it possible for him to be replaced?

He bit down on his lip as his left hand opened and extended out to the glowing lights. He gripped the bare air in his hand with a sudden motion.

His contract limited the feelings now what dominated him the most was hatred, anger, and fear. Only at the smallest moments did he feel pleasure, and only from a depraved affair. He merely had to play this hand, he was given. Still, he did not want to think about what would happen if he failed.

Three years had passed and although the world was brinking on the edge, it wasn't enough. Poverty was high and disparity gaps were far stronger than ever before. Riots and police were now dancers hand in hand.

This much death and disappearances and people brushed it under the rug. The news didn't cover it as much anymore, only when it was someone of weight. A chill ran upon his back as the wind passed. He already knew who was already watching him. The devil—he could not outrun. Would this last resort work?

The seven cardinal sins: pride, lust, greed, and envy. He thought about the pills he had given and to whom. In his right hand, he held the remaining few. They were calling for their new victims.

"Soon," he said out loud.

He had gifted them the power to bring out their own deep-rooted vices, but now they acted on their own accord. This city was the heart in which all others would fall. He just needed to give them the right guidance. The gate eventually would be opened and the merge would be completed, but before that time. He must be the one to be in the strongest position, it was the only way. He smiled much at the thought of his idea of guidance as the crunching noise persisted in the back. Then he would be safe and his deal would be complete.

Lilith was another problem, she was an existence to which he could not compete with. How was she able to be free while all the others were not? It hadn't reached that time yet. Not knowing what she wanted confused him. Why was she with the pawn he needed? Was this also a part of his plan too? Am I really that expendable?

So many years and still yet Samael knew nothing—almost as a small child playing around in the dark. He guessed that both Domenic and himself were similar in that regard. They were both mere actors on a stage.

His mind pondered the unnecessary complications. He hoped that Domenic would have died or he would have come under his control. He reminded him too much of himself when he was human. Maybe, that is why he was chosen for a mark that reflected that. Then, if he is my mirror, I must destroy the glass to live? To feel again? He sat in deep contemplation as his form changed from one human to another.

Who am I, really? So many names I take but that of my own I do not know.

He got up and took the first step into a puddle of blood. It sat like a decoration on the floor. This world was doomed, to suffer the same fate of his. He stared at the creatures he had once feared. As their body changed and contorted taking on the form of the flesh, they had just taken. Naked with evil grins upon their lips, they licked their soaked bodies cleaned. He heard it on the wind; he heard its laughter:

Hahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahaahahahhahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahaahaa.

It sickened him. A war was coming against the living, both body and mind, only I will survive.

Domenic, he thought as he looked to the sky. Our games have only just begun.