I never liked this room, or this part of my mansion, for that matter. It was still furnished as it was when my father died, and left the manor and his money to me, his only son. Twenty acres of grassy land with a manor, stable, and everything expected of a high-class rich white male. This particular wing of the manor, I had allowed Septimus to live in, seeing as how I would never fill up the entire estate. It was a dreary room, with old empirical curtains and furnishings. The fireplace along was made of cold stone, and was much too large. The stuffed lion’s head overhanging the mantle only added to the image. I would have grimaced at it any other day, but today; something else was on my mind.

"Surely you can't be serious? I mean, a crime of this nature is almost unforgivable. Aren't you scared of repercussions at all?" Asked Septimus, his eyes wide with shock.

Septimus was my oldest and best friend, and would someday be the best man in my wedding, had there ever come such a day. He was the one man that I could confide anything in, and expect a fair and rational response. He was probably the closest thing to what I am had things gone differently in our rearing. We were friends since we were in grade school, and although we were completely different people, we were still best friends. Usually a reserved, soft-spoken, and a man of well-chosen words; this day, he was almost in a state of pure astonish and shock. And to be honest, I couldn't blame him.

"No. Do I look like a guy that's scared of anything? I've never been frightened of anything in my entire life, why start now?" I calmly asked back.

"You…YOU!"

"Yes?" I raised my eyebrow. His emotional response was quite amusing for me. I would have laughed, but this was about to turn into a serious matter.

"I can't believe you! On top of this, you fucked another girl!"

"Not like that's a big deal. It's number 265."

"Not a big deal? I’m not surprised about the number; it’s that you deflowered a senator's daughter! And when he found out! Oh dear god. The consequences in this and the afterlife are immense beyond my imagination!”

"Not like the senator will do anything about it."

"That’s just it! You killed him when he walked in on you guys and got defensive! Killed him! You ended a life. Surely, if you weren't going to hell by now, you are doomed!"

I paused to consider his words. I reflected on the memory of the senator turning red at the sight of my face, and attacking me, on top of his daughter. I smiled at the thought. The man knew not of any art of combat, or welding a weapon. He never stood a chance.

"The man pulled his gun on me; I acted out of self defense." I added.

"That doesn't change the fact that you killed him!" Septimus quickly fired back.

"Maybe, but it's not like I had any choice." I laughed. I caught a glimpse of myself laughing in the full-length mirror to my right. A perfectly groomed face looked back at me, in a three thousand dollar Armani suit, black on blue. I liked this suit, seeing as how the large stitching brought out my statuesque figure. My newly given good looks were the one thing that kept the woman coming back. I loved having the features that others dreamed of. Vanity was not a sin in my mind.

"You could have stopped sleeping with a new girl every week, and stopped inviting this kind of trouble into your house."

I smiled. The number of girls I had slept with was once equal with Septimus, until I took a major turn in my life. Four years ago, I took a pact with the devil. I still remember that eventful day in that I had reached a point of despair, a feeling that tore me to the ground. I had fallen for a girl, who did not have the same feelings for me. She was the perfect woman for me, but I wasn’t the perfect man for her. It was purely devastating. I had lost all hope in myself, so I did something that I never saw myself doing. I called upon Lucifer and offered him a bet. I asked for the gift of wit, cunning, good looks, intelligence, and perfection. My wish was granted on the condition of the bet: that I sleep with a new girl every week, and never the same girl twice. If I failed, I was to sell my soul, if I kept my end of the bet, then I would keep my soul. I quickly accepted.   

That was four years ago. My life up to this point was perfect.

"Yeah, but that's no fun." I rolled my eyes.

"Selling your soul to Lucifer. For what? You're going to hell because of your gift anyway."

 I just laughed. The vice on my gift was merely a blessing that was easy to uphold.

"All I know of certain is that there is a hell. I know not of any heaven. Therefore, I'd rather live a full life on earth before the afterlife,” I explained yet again “and from what I've read; God is just a kid with an ant farm. I have no worries."

He rolled his eyes. We had this conversation before.

"Fine. Your life is your own until you involve me.”

Septimus looked away, shaking his head.

A slow smirk grew along his face.

“I will admit though, it IS fun listening to your new conquest every week." Septimus couldn't help but smile while saying this.

"At least tell me that you're going to the father's funeral. Do it for my own conscience, please." He added.

Septimus was always a more compassionate man than me, and I was fine with completing his task.

“Slightly ironic, isn’t it? A killer going to the victim’s funeral? Almost makes me look…compassionate.”

“Good,” Septimus added, “a little compassion on your character might do you good.”

I smiled, turned, and walked out his room.

The funeral was a bleak affair. They passed off the murder as an act of random violence and robbery, despite the fact that no valuables were taken. The daughter was keeping her mouth shut, for some reason beyond my comprehension. It was fine by me either way, of course. Not even the government could take down a man of my inheritance and reputation.

I looked around the gathering. I was wearing a black suit, looking well trimmed and cut. I was already receiving some looks from various girls. None were interesting me for this week's conquest, though. And besides, I had already slept with half of them. The grave was overly flourished. They were trying too hard to please someone who was already dead. Pointless, in my opinion. The wife cried. The daughter grieved. The son lay quiet. This family torn apart and it meant nothing to me. This lack of emotion was nothing.

"How did you know him?" A young blonde beside me asked. I didn’t even notice her walk up to me. She smiled, smiling at a funeral. She was proud of her perfect smile, and wasn’t afraid of showing it.  She was probably only 20; too young to be a victim of mine. She knew why she was talking to me, and so did I. I looked at her, and then looked away.

"I'm too old for you, little girl. Find a nice Abercrombie and Fitch model for yourself." I didn't even make eye contact with her. Being smart assed was one of my favorite parts of being me.

"What makes you think that I'm too young for you?" She quickly fired back.

I looked down, and made direct eye contact. She longingly looked back. I could tell that she loved the way my eyes gazed at her. Her eyes were full of hunger; a hunger that I could, but would not satisfy.

"You're not hot enough."

She looked stunned, and quickly turned around and marched away. She was expecting me to run after her, as any young horny boy would, but such games were beneath me, and not of my interest.

The funeral crew and family quickly left, but I stayed behind. To this day, I still do not know why I did so, but one of the most pivotal points in my life remains the act of me remaining there. Soon, it was only I and the gravestone. I stared for a moment, before kneeling down, remembering all the acts in my life that inevitably led to the devastation of another's soul, but left them with their life.

The wind carried softly by, rustling through the grass that softly blew against my leg. It was a three thousand dollar suit, but yet again, I didn’t care. It wasn’t of my concern at the moment.

Something peculiar happened at this moment. I was reflecting all my past actions, when I questioned whether or not what I did was regrettable. It was almost a fleeting thought that left a shadow behind it. This ‘curse’ that I had bestowed upon me, became the highest, and lowest point of my life. But did I regret it? I didn’t have enough time to inquiry into the answer.

"Don" a deep voice whispered behind me. I stood and turned in the same action to face this man. Nobody was there. I looked around, but nobody was near.

"Don!" the voice strongly whispered. Nobody, again.

And then, there it was. A ghost, sitting on top of the gravestone. It was the senator.

"Why, hello Don." The ghost said, "It’s good to see you again."

"What the hell are you doing walking this plane? It is not yours." My hand was inside my jacket, resting on my Sig Sauer. What effect it did on un-parted souls was about to be seen.

"I'm here to merely talk to you, Don."

"What is it that you want?"

"Only to apologize to you, for my irrational act of emotion and protectiveness.”

My heart skipped a beat. Something wasn't right, akin to having a trap about to be sprung. I was still wary of my surroundings.

"That's it?" I asked.

"That is it" he replied. "Now shake my hand as a mark of forgiveness and empathy. For I finally understand your position and your way of life. I can see your life from the heavens, and I can finally empathize with you."

He put out his hand, a sickly white color that was transparent, and there, but not, at the same time.

The wind blew in the graveyard again. The autumn leaves rustled, and a few fell to the ground. I still stood, my hand inside my jacket, only staring at this ghost. Was this a trick my brain was playing on me? Some form of subconscious karma?

A single red leaf fell, and was carried away in the wind. It passed behind the senator’s ghost, and I could see it shimmer through his apparition. It was falling. It was fall.

I hadn’t blinked for the last 30 seconds.

The ghost’s hand still lay outstretched, with the senator’s face in a genuine smile.

To anger a ghost was not something that I wanted to do.

There was still something not right here.

I took my hand off my weapon's safety, and slowly took his hand. It was a physical manifestation. It gripped my hand back, and I immediately knew something was off. I tried to pull my hand away from this cold grip, but his hold on my hand was too strong. The senator smiled a large smile at me, and only said;

"Bye Don…"

And then I was sinking. Free-falling. Moving through space and time at a rate that I had no recognition of. It took forever, and no time to get to where I was traveling to. I felt as if I was consciously sleeping, without gravity, without senses, without any coherence. I had time to think, but come to no conclusions. I had time to run, but no time to walk. I could see everywhere, and nowhere. Cold heat surrounded me, while I was in a complete state of confusion. I hit the ground with a sickening thud, and let out a groan.

The ground was made of dusty rock, and hot to the touch. I was already beginning to sweat. I heard the clacking of small shoes on the rock, getting louder as they walked towards me. I was still catching my breath as I got to my knees, coughing from the dust that clouded the area. The shoes were now in front me, a red pair of a little girl’s. I looked up at the owner of them. It was a little girl, only 6 years old, her hair black and long, eyes that gleamed something beautiful. She would probably grow up to be a model. Her red dress only added to the image of a young model. I looked around and saw more red rock, with the only light coming from the strategic torches hanging from the walls in the cavern. The cavern flickered red with the light. I saw no walls, only more jagged rock. I got to my feet, and stepped back from this out-of-place girl.

"Where am I? And who are you?" I timidly asked; my mouth already dry from the heat and lack of humidity.

"Those questions are not important" she replied, her voice that of a 6 year old. "What is important is that a reckoning has come to your foot."

I paused. Could this really be; this soon? I looked up at this girl, before getting to my feet. I stared at the girl for a few seconds before speaking again.

"You’ve lost weight since I saw you last. Hello Lucifer."

"Hello Don.” Said the devil, as a small smile grew on her face. “I have a new challenge for you."

I raised an eyebrow. Even the devil had to obey pacts he made.

"Have I not satisfied what it is that you want of me up to this point?"

"Of course, but the stakes changed when you committed mortal sin."

“Last I checked, he was the one committing wrath, and I acted out of self-defense.”

This little girl’s voice changed to that of Septimus’.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you killed him!”

I took a few angry steps toward her.

“Don’t you dare try to make a mockery of me!”

She changed her voice back to that of an innocent’s.

“Relax Don. Do you really think that you can do anything to me? I’m more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”

I sighed. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"What is it that you want of me?"

The little girl beamed, and began to skip around in a circle, her arms outstretched, imitating an airplane.

"Let's play a game! I have made a deal with god. He likes you, for some reason, and wants you for his court. I disagree, as up to this point, you belong to me. I made a deal with him. A bet, really. If he wins it, you go to heaven. If I win, you get to stay here with us, and wear this suit, for all eternity."

She pointed to a jester's suit lying on the ground. It wasn’t there when I had gotten to my feet.

"So what's the game?" I asked, grinding my teeth. This was starting to get on my nerves.

"Very simple, Don," she started. "To date, you have fucked 265 women. Name one of them."

The little girl using vulgar language almost struck me in revelation, had I not known who I was talking to. But this bet was ridiculous.

"That's it? Let's play."

The little girls stopped prancing and smiled at me.

"Game on!"

A young girl, roughly 15 years of age came out from the darkness, and stood in front me. She wore jeans and a tight t-shirt, as was the style at the time. She looked at me, and smiled. I knew her. She was my first lay, and a lousy one at that. We were both 15 at the time, and had no idea what we were doing. I remembered it perfectly. In her bedroom, with her parents gone for the weekend, only one position, and it being over in 5 minutes.

"You've got to be kidding me, this one's easy! You lose, Lucifer." I said

The little girl crossed her arms. "And her name?" she asked.

"It's...it's....." I stumbled. I could not remember her name. It was beyond me, I couldn't understand why I didn't know but I didn't. I looked around wildly, I couldn't believe myself.

"One, nothing, me!" cried the little girl. The 15 year old in front me waved, then disappeared.

Lucifer, corrupting this 6 year-olds innocent body, started her prancing again, chanting some children’s hymn.

The senator's daughter was next. I could not remember her name.

My friend's sister. I could not remember her name.

The girl from the grocery store. I could not remember her name.

The saleswoman from the jewelry store. I could not remember her name.

The girl from the frat party in college. I could not remember her name.

My second serious girlfriend. I could not remember her name.

A girl from the club. I could not remember her name

More and more girls appeared before me, only to disappear seconds after my silence.

My anguish rose with every name I could not summon, and the little girl's glee grew greater with every woman. I still could not understand why it was that these girls’ names were not of my recall.

I was only halfway done, when a new girl stood in front of me, perhaps 26, only two years from my age. There was something about this girl that separated her from the rest.

Her long blonde hair flowed down her perfect shoulders, where her yellow dress fit her perfectly, bringing out her immaculate body. Her skin glowed gorgeousness, not an imperfection on her. She radiated in this dark gloomy cavern. Her beautiful green eyes were flooded with tears that ran down her cheek, past her flawless lips, and fell to the ground. I didn't know why she was crying, but she looked at me with despair, eyes wide, expecting her name to be uttered from my lips.

The little devil stopped her mindless prancing and humming when she saw my pause at the sight of this girl. The smile grew on Evil’s face.

“Do you remember this girl?" Lucifer asked a little too loud.

I looked over at Lucifer, with nothing to say. Seeing my silence, the devil drew closer to me.

“Well, Don?” the little girl asked again, almost a whisper, from where she stood at my feet.

I looked back at this girl that stood before me. I knew her for some time before we had sex, and then grew apart. I could tell you where it was that we had sex, what we did, and how perfect it was. But it was outside of me: I could not remember her name.

The face of evil only looked pleased with my response.

"Ah, yes," the little girl said, the perfect expression of glee on her face. "This is the one girl that truly loved you."

No.

I looked deeper into her emerald eyes, harder and harder. She could only let another tear fall. My despair was unbearable, and the longer I looked, the more misery filled my body.  I looked away, the agony excruciating to the point that it cut into my soul.

It broke me.

I looked back at her, this time with a tear on my cheek.

Lucifer giggled, holding her hands to her mouth to try and cover it. She giggled again, extremely pleased with herself.

I turned away, my back to this crying girl, and looked at devil. Lucifer looked back at me, and I could feel my conquest’s eyes on my back.

The only girl that truly loved me fell to the ground, her brilliant dress collapsing around her. She lay crying, her slender hands helplessly trying to hold in her tears, her breaths coming in short gasps; as she slowly faded away from sight.

"Give me the suit."