Lust didn't look behind, while walking out of the room, where they met with Death. They came all this way just to find out that Shane's soul was in possession of Asmodeus. He felt like the universe was trying to screw him up. Out of all demons, why did it have to be him? On the other side, it gave Lust the perfect opportunity to show Asmodeus once again who was the only one and true demon of lust.

The Casino guests were gazing at Lust, part of them with curiosity, others with malevolence, but he ignored them all, going only for one demon. He was sitting in the middle by the table of Russian Roulette, giving bets of which soul gets to live and which will die. The players, in that case the unfortunate souls, were placing a single round in a revolver, spinning the cylinder and placing the gun against each other's head. After all the bets were made, they were pulling the trigger, hoping that the opponent's loaded gun wouldn't fire, killing them that way. They were pulling the trigger to the moment when one of them vanished due to the weapon's discharge and the other got to still exist.

"Any luck?" he referred to Asmodeus, who was watching the souls of two women, who were getting ready to pull the trigger.

"We'll see in a moment," he answered, without a shadow of a grudge deep within him. "Come and sit beside me, Lust." He was wearing a long black and red coat, matching casual, for Hell, clothes underneath it. His dark hair was pulled back, emphasizing eerie horns.

Lust showed two fingers, symbolizing two souls at stake, and pointed at the woman on the right. He didn't really care about winning or losing here, he just wanted to get into the circle and check out the ground.

"Shall I bring you a drink?" the female demon leaned to Lust, ready to serve him.

"Yes, two shots, for me and my friend," he answered, taking a place at the table by Asmodeus's side.

Revolvers fired, killing neither of the women. The game wasn't over. Asmodeus showed that he's doubling his bet for the survival of the woman on the left. Lust nodded as a sign that he's doubling his bet as well. They were on the opposite sides.

"You've made many bold decisions, but the bluntest of them might have just been bringing a living human to In Between," Asmodeus said, already knowing what everybody in the Casino knew. "I suppose I could never understand why someone like you is considered as the king of lust, one of the original sins."

"I suppose that's why you are not one," Lust talked back, with a sweet smile on his face. "I have my reasons to bring that human here, and now, unfortunately, I also have some business with you."

The guns fired again and the woman on the right ceased into existence in the moment that bullet went through her skull. Lust lost four souls, but that didn't upset him. He had millions more.

"You're out of luck," Asmodeus commented, standing up with satisfaction of winning this little battle of theirs. "I don't make any deals with human lovers and dishonorable demons."

"I want the soul of the police officer, Shane Blackwell. Died today, by stabbing."

Asmodeus stopped, not because he wanted to make a deal, but out of pure curiosity. Demons didn't usually care about single souls, but Lust wanted this particular one. Why? It was a new arrival, coming into his possession quite accidentally.

"And what can you give me in return?"

"More souls," proposed Lust. He was ready to give even hundreds for that one.

"I have plenty of souls," replied Asmodeus, who wasn't that poor either.

"Then you won't be missing this one."

Both of them noticed the other sin demons and Hailie at the back, watching them carefully. If it was for any other demon, Asmodeus wouldn't have a problem with giving up one soul. It really meant nothing for him. But it was Lust, who wanted that soul. And whatever reasons he had, Asmodeus just didn't want to help him or make things easier to him in any way. Why would he? If demons had any emotions at all, then his strongest one would be hatred towards Lust. A filthy little demon, who was called as even more powerful than Asmodeus. He didn't deserve all this power, immortality and fear.

"I might consider this." Asmodeus started creating a plan in his head. "You want the soul of Shane Blackwell, we can play for it." He wondered if that had something to do with the human that Lust brought to the Casino Hell. Asmodeus, unlike others, had no interest in Hailie. He saw and made deals with many humans, enough to know there was nothing special in this one. "Actually, whether you win or lose I can give that soul to you or your fellow demons." He pointed at other sins demons. "If you win, it's yours. If you lose, it's yours as well, but in this case, I want something in return."

Whatever it was, Lust already knew he wouldn't like it. Asmodeus wasn't in for making a deal with him. He must've wanted something way more precious than one soul.

"What do you want?"

Asmodeus smiled. "Your kingdom," he dared to say, making other demons and creatures pay attention to their conversation.

Lust started laughing, "What?"

"If you lose, you're going to be dethroned and I will become the new, only one and original lust demon, the new ruler of the Lust realm."

It sounded so bizarre that for a moment Lust had no idea how to answer Asmodeus's request. New lust demon? New king of his realm? Oh no, Shane's soul wasn't worth risking that. He didn't even like him, moreover, he utterly despised him.

"Why should I risk so much in the name of one, meaningless soul?"

"You tell me." Asmodeus put his hands on the chair and leaned on it.

"No, I will not give it on the stake, leaving the result in the fate of randomness that accompanies all games at this casino. That's simply not worth it." They can find another way to get his soul back.

"I couldn't agree more." Asmodeus wasn't completely out of his mind. There was one game that wasn't random. It was all about smarts, tactics and intelligence. "That's why I challenge you to a duel in the Divine Hellish Chess."

There was a sudden, nervous whispering in the Casino among its guests. Creatures were talking to each other, full of disbelief and wonder. Most of them haven't heard the name of that game for hundreds of years.

It changed Lust's mind as well. He started wondering, whether he should agree on the duel or look for another way of getting Shane's soul back. If it was only about the police officer, he wouldn't agree, but there was much more at the stake. Killing Shane released the darkness and neither of them knew what's going to happen next. Yes, he could've left it as a problem of the greater forces, but honestly, he didn't want to lose the house. Moreover, all of them were seeking now a way to leave the house and be able to wander Earth freely. Besides, if Shane's soul stays in Hell, then Wrath will have to answer for his crime.

"No!" Pride stepped ahead, making both Asmodeus and Lust gaze at her. "He will not agree on these conditions," she dared to say in his name, full of worry. She hated Lust, but she didn't hate him enough to wish him death and being dethroned.

"That's incorrect. I agree." Lust already made his decision.

"No! You can die during that duel." Pride tried to find a way to make him think reasonably. She was sorry for Shane, but getting Lust killed wasn't going to help the situation.

"What?" Hailie turned to Greed, feeling completely lost. "I thought you cannot kill the sins demons. You've told me that unlike other demons, you can't be killed."

"Because we can't be killed. The Divine Hellish Chess is the only exception," Wrath answered instead of Greed, who stepped ahead as well.

"Are you both aware of the rules of the Divine Hellish Chess?" she asked, taking a place between Lust and Asmodeus. "The lost one is going to die. There can be only one winner of the game, only one coming back alive. Lust, if you're going to lose, you're going to die, cease into existence, and Asmodeus will become the new lust demon and king of the Lust realm."

"But you're going to get Blackwell's soul whether he wins or loses," Asmodeus reminded, looking more than satisfied.

"No. No!" Hailie wanted to come up to Lust, but Wrath quickly caught her. They didn't need the audience to witness how a human dares to give any commands to the original demon.

"Forgive me for a few minutes." Lust said to Asmodeus.

He took Hailie by the arm and led her to the corner of the Casino where they had some privacy. They needed to talk. She surely had no idea what was happening.

"I-I don't want to trade your life for Shane's," she said fearfully. That was not a solution. She wanted to get Shane back, but not if that meant that Lust might die.

He took a step toward her, so that there were only inches between them. Then, he took the lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.

"You must understand that it's not only about Shane. Wrath is going to answer for the crime he committed and the rest of us will probably be sent back to Hell. I cannot leave you all alone on Earth. Moreover, I would never forgive myself for destroying your life like that. It's partly my fault that Shane's dead." What was this feeling called? Responsibility. He felt responsible not only for what happened, but mostly for Hailie. She must be safe. He wouldn't stand being trapped in Hell and leaving her, knowing they will never meet again.

"We can find another solution." They were the original sins demons, they surely could do something more about it!

And they probably could, but not at the moment.

"We're running out of time." The situation was critical. Maybe in other circumstances he would take some time to find another way and he would get Shane's soul anyway, but right here, right now, they must've worked with what they've had.

"It's not worth it!" she called, catching him by the shirt. "Please, Lust, I cannot lose you too!" she said, before thinking about it. It didn't matter. It was the truth. She wanted him to know that after all that happened, she truly cared about him.

"Shane will be brought back to life whether I win or not."

"But you won't be!"

He smiled, realizing that he mattered for Hailie that much. He wasn't going to lose, but he couldn't promise her anything. Asmodeus wasn't an easy opponent. "For you, everything's worth doing." He kissed her in the forehead. "Everything," he repeated and slowly started walking away, creating the distance between them.

"Lust, please!" she cried with tears in her eyes, but he didn't stop. "Please."

She watched him walk away, ready to take a part in a game that could change Hell's hierarchy. That could make him vanish forever. She cared for Shane, but she didn't want to choose between the two of them. Who's going to live and who's going to die? It shouldn't be a choice between Shane and Lust. It wasn't Lust, who stabbed Shane, why couldn't it be Wrath playing the game? Why him?

Pride stepped in Lust's way. She was angry, but most importantly, she was worried. They've had their ups and down and she wished for so many years for Lust to pay for everything he has done. Now, when her wish finally came true, she wanted to take it back.

She knew the whole truth now, and she saw enough to make a brand new opinion about Lust.

"You don't have to do this. It's Wrath's mistake, not yours."

"No, Pride. It's our mistake. We're no longer divided, standing apart or even against each other. The house showed that our strength comes from being united. Missy's case showed it ever clearer. Playing the Divine Hellish Chess is the only possible way to make it all right, no matter on the outcome."

She shook her head. "It's not going to be right, if you die. In what light will you put us?"

He smirked.

Like anybody's opinion ever meant anything to us.

"I'm sorry for Gregory, Pride." It was time to finally say it aloud. "Now, you know why I did this, but I'd like you to know that I truly regret killing him. One of my biggest mistakes. I shouldn't have hurt you in that way, even if I did it for Wrath. I hope one day you'll be able to forgive both of us, because from what I've heard, if a demon is able to forgive, then it's truly the strongest entity."

Pride chuckled, "You just made it up, didn't you?"

Lust smiled as an answer. He never believed in Pride and Wrath's relationship, but they've proved him wrong. They were good together, but they don't know it yet. He was ready for another bet with Envy on how long it'll take them to get back together. That was one of the reasons why he must win. To see how long it'll take them this time.

"Take care of Hailie," he asked her, just in case.

"I will."

He nodded and returned to Asmodeus, who was patiently waiting, trying to strike a conversation with Greed, saying something about becoming one of them soon.

Over my dead body, Lust thought.

And he was right.

"One more condition." Asmodeus gazed at him, curious what else Lust wanted. He was ready to give it at the stake. He already put his life there. "If I win, I'll add one more title to my collection, because I'll become the prince of Hell."

Asmodeus shrugged. "Fine." He didn't believe that Lust had any chances.

The moment they shook their hands, making the deal sealed, Death appeared in front of them. As the most powerful entity in the Casino, it was about to become a judge and a keeper of adherence to the rules.

"You'll have to decide which army you're going to command," Death said, showing them to pick up one card. The one with the stronger card was about to choose his army first.

"This chess, it's like normal chess?" Hailie whispered to Pride, trying to stop the tears.

"Not at all." Pride took her by the hand. "I'll explain everything to you in a minute."

Unfortunately, the one to choose his army was Asmodeus.

"Still out of luck, huh?" he said with a smirk on his face. "I'm taking under my lead Hell's army."

"We have it chosen," Death said aloud. "Hell's army commanded by Asmodeus, and Heaven's army commanded by Lust."

"What a joke," sighed Lust, not particularly happy about being on the heavenly side.

"And now, location."

They've chosen the cards again. Luckily for Lust, he won, but he didn't answer straight away. He needed to think it through.

"For the Divine Hellish Chess, you must choose a playboard out of seven possible choices," explained Pride, wondering herself which was the best one. "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World."

"But six of them don't exist anymore."

"That doesn't matter. It's just a playboard created to be their similarity, it's not the actual place."

The Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.

The Colossus of Rhodes.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Which one Lust was about to choose? 

***

Hello! ❤️

So, what do you think? In which location Lust and Asmodeus will have their chess match? 

And what will be the outcome of this game... 

Have a wonderful day! ✨

Kisses, Caroline ❤️