The Devil's Bargain by Jenna Lombardo

Author:Jenna Lombardo [Lombardo, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jenna Lombardo

Chapter 12

Lights twinkled like stars behind clouds of smoke and perfume, outshone occasionally by lightning flashes from a thousand machines packed tighter than sardines inside the casino. Moving with the determination of ants in a hive, people milled about, intent on chasing their dreams of fortune, throwing away thousands of dollars and receiving nothing in return. The layout of the main floor of the casino was a labyrinth of such complexity that even Asterius the Minotaur would have been dumbfounded. From his elevated position, Lucifer could see that the ingenious layout kept people moving in circles like cattle, endlessly bombarded by games that paid out at infrequent intervals that winning big on the slots was more legend than reality.

​Lucifer stood at the railing of the second floor bar, gazing down at the huddled masses below him with a look somewhere between pity and disgust. He took a sip of the ichorous drink he had conjured, closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh and opened his mind to the people below, allowing himself to hear their prayers for a winning pull of the lever, for the right sequence of numbers or fruit to be displayed. God didn’t answer any of these prayers and when people became significantly frustrated, the prayers turned to Lucifer himself as people offered their souls for the chance to reclaim their savings. He had no interest in their souls however, laden down with conventional vices and minor sins, completely lacking in potential. These were the overweight, underachieving, endless buffet seeking gamblers that were literally a dime a dozen. Their souls simply weren’t worth his time.

​He roamed the second floor, moving randomly between the blackjack tables, waiting to find the place that felt the best. He circled slowly, taking time in his search, preferring something with a view. He spotted his table off in a corner formed by the back wall and the railing overlooking the slots below. The players were positioned so their backs were to the wall, facing out over the rest of the tables. He sat down, joining the two current players who appeared to be regulars, gave a nod to the pit boss and with a slow wave of his hand produced a sizable stack of chips on the table.

​Lucifer took a sip of his drink and smiled. It was time to place his bet.

​The cards were dealt, his coming third, just before the dealer’s card. He pounced upon his first card, stopping it mid slide and smiling inwardly at the shiny red nine. The second set of cards were dealt and he glanced at the two men to his right as the dealer slid them their cards with expert finesse. A black seven over a king and a red queen showing over a two. The dealer was showing a red jack. Lucifer quaked with excitement as the tension built and he was dealt an ace. The man with the seven stayed, indicating he was content playing it safe at seventeen.

​Coward, thought Lucifer in disgust.

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