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The world of gambling was one Husk moved in like a fish in the vast depths of the ocean, which was ironic considering Hell had given the sinner a cat's body with wings after his death. It had taken him far, this world of loaded dice, cards hidden in sleeves and rigged slot machines. It had brought him to the top and he was not planning to give it up. It had turned his weakness into a strength and made him an overlord with thousands of souls under his claws and millions of bucks on his bank account. Of course, not everything had gone smoothly, it hardly ever did. He'd lost everything three times on his way to the top and he probably would have drunk himself into another grave if it were possible to die down here. But now he was at the top and he was enjoying the fuck out of it.
If the world of gambling was an ocean, then the Casino ‘Dime Cat’ Husk's coral reef. He had paid good money to build the casino exactly the way he wanted it. He even hired a fancy interior decorator and probably paid way too much for his troubles. But it was worth it.
It was a huge building with dazzling banners and glowing lights designed solely to lure sinners behind its ornate double doors and keep them inside until they gambled away either their possessions or their very souls in their deceitful eagerness. Inside was a labyrinth of corridors and rooms. Once you had entered, it was difficult to find your way out again. Every single room was designed for a specific game: glowing slot machines, round, smooth poker tables, roulettes coated in shiny paint – everything a demon needed to leave as much money as possible in Husk's unholy halls. None of the rooms had a clock and the high windows were draped with heavy, red-golden curtains to ensure the visitors lost track of time before they lost every single penny in their pockets. There was a bar in each of the rooms to get patrons drunk and light-headed, and particularly handsome staff in crisp uniforms walked between the tables, encouraging guests to keep playing. The air was filled with the smoky sounds of Jazz mingling with the happy or resigned cries of players, creating the perfect ambience. Should anyone decide to leave earlier than planned, there was a lounge just before the exit, where a performance was given every day and plenty of drinks were served on the house. After the performance, most of them turned back, their loss long forgotten, and sat down at the tables with a renewed thirst for another game. Far at the back was Husk's private playroom, where he received only special guests.
Today Husk was in this very private playroom, leaning back with satisfaction into the soft plush of the red sofa with gold decorations. The room was filled with the same Jazz as the rest of the casino, but here it was quieter, nothing more than a pleasant background noise beautifully blending with the muffled sounds that crept under the closed door. Every time Husk heard an indignant yell, his heart skipped a beat, for this sound meant someone had lost, and if someone had lost, the overlord won. Husk leaned back casually in his sofa, his walking stick adorned with a golden knob, he carried solely to maintain his image and not because he needed it, resting loosely against his thigh and a glass of golden whiskey in his hand. In his other hand he held the cards, all of which he threw onto the table with a triumphant grin.
“Royal Flash” he said casually, sipping a little from his glass “you know ʹTino, I'm really starting to think you're not putting in any effort” he snorted and his bodyguard for the day, a broad dog demon called Bill, which was ironic considering Husk was a cat, pushed the pot towards his boss with an amused grunt. Husk's heart leapt again, feeling almost high from the win, yet knowing this feeling would only last for a few moments. He would have to win again to get another dose.
"You, fucking little..." Valentino spat out, staring down at his own cards with narrowed eyes, as though he couldn't believe Lady Luck had flipped him another big fat middle finger. He gasped for air, eyes darting across the table behind the pink glass of his ridiculous heart-shaped glasses to his stake, he had gambled away with such ease. He threw the cards away and plucked a tuft of white fur from his collar, only to cry out moments later while realising it was part of his body. Husk knew when he was facing a sore loser and Valentino was clearly one of the worst of them. They'd been playing for hours, and the other overlord lost every single game so far, only to ask for another. Husk didn't even have to cheat; he suspected the pimp having bad eyesight and barely seeing his cards. This suspicion grew stronger with every game. Idiot.
"I want a rematch" Valentino spat out, taking a frantic drag from his long cigarette and puffing its sweet, pink-coloured smoke out into the air. Husk screwed up his nose and waved in front of his face to get rid of the smoke. Everyone knew it was a drug and Husk really didn't need to get high right now or ever.
"And what do you want to offer?" Husk raised one of his long, red eyebrows "I already have all your cash, your car, your watch, several of your gold chains," the cat snorted, "what can you possibly offer?" he leaned forward a little. Now was the time to throw out the bait. He'd got him far enough this time, he was sure of it. He had instructed his security not to let Vox or Velvet in if they showed up, no one to drag that fool from the table before Husk was done with him "your studio perhaps?" he asked "I could use a second casino" he added casually. The line was cast, all Valentino had to do now was swallow it.
"I..." Valentino furrowed. Oh, there seemed to be some brains left after all.
"You could go, of course" Husk took another sip from his glass "I'm sure you could buy a new car quite easily and hey, Vox and Velvet certainly won't cause any trouble when they find out you've lost again" he added casually. Go on, take the bait. Husk could see Valentino thinking, the little gears covered in pink slime starting to spin in his head.
"Val" Valentino's companion suddenly looked up from his phone. If Husk was honest with himself, he had almost forgotten about the kid; after all, he was nothing more than an accessory, just there so Valentino had something to grope. After the second game, Valentino seemed to have forgotten about him as well.
"Shut up" Valentino hissed at him.
"Vox will kill you" the kid shrugged and lowered his eyes back to his phone, disinterested. Had Vox told him to stop Valentino from betting something he shouldn't? Husk should have paid more attention to him.
"I have another idea" Valentino's lips suddenly twisted into a wide, malicious grin "you're also gambling for souls, aren't you Husker?" he almost purred.
"What am I supposed to do with the soul of a whore?" Husk grimaced. He had many weaknesses, like any other inhabitant of Hell, after all they were here for a reason and not in the hallowed halls of the golden city. Nevertheless, Husk was neither a pimp nor was his casino a brothel and he had no intention of changing that.
"Oh, this isn't about some whore" Valentino continued to grin so wide his golden tooth shone in the dim light "this is about him" he pulled his companion onto his lap, who breathed a startled gasp and almost dropped his phone, but caught it again in his two pairs of hands "this is Angel Dust" he added, as if Husk was supposed to know something about the name. Wasn't that some drug? He didn't know enough about it; alcohol was more his thing.
"And that's supposed to tell me exactly what?" Husk snorted, but still took a closer look at the kid. He was pretty, he had to admit, no, he was more than pretty, gorgeous would probably describe it better. His fur was white and shone almost pearly in contrast to his tight, sequinned black dress. The dress had a wide neckline that showed off his chest fluff especially well and a cut in his skirt that gave a glimpse to just the right amount of hip. Around his thin neck was a black choker where a pink teardrop-shaped diamond shone and drew the eye to just the right areas. He was tall, which was probably due to his long legs tucked into black boots. Should Husk stand next to him, the kid would probably tower over him by a head, which wouldn't intimidate him in the slightest. His two pairs of hands were encased in black gloves that reached up to his thin upper arms. His large, mismatched eyes – one normal and pink, the other also pink but with black whites, just like Husk's own – were rimmed with thick lashes and fixed on Valentino in disbelief. Below them were pink dots, Husk initially thought were freckles or birthmarks, but turned out to be additional eyes. His face looked familiar to Husk, but he couldn't remember where he might have seen him. Valentino certainly hadn't brought him along on previous visits, had he? Surely, he would have remembered a face and demeanour like that, right? But it didn't occur to him, flowed through his claws, when he thought he could get hold of the memory again.
"Boss" Bill bent down to him "this is Angel Dust" he murmured to him, as if the name meant more the second time round "he's famous, a porn star, posters of him are all over Pentagram City. He's been the main source of income for Valentino's studio for the last twenty years. He's worth a fortune and would probably attract a lot of customers"
"Is that so?" Husk said thoughtfully and his gaze returned to the kid, Angel Dust. He took another sip from his glass and watched as Angel spoke to Valentino, presumably bargaining for his soul. He didn't seem stupid, at least. This could be a risk. Husk usually chose his employees carefully. The souls of most of them belonged to him, but not all of his contractors worked for him. He had a standard deal with most of them: he got most of their earnings and could use their souls in gambling, the rest of the time they could do whatever they wanted as long as they paid. Only those he considered competent enough actually worked for him, like Bill, for example. There was always a risk in hiring a stranger, but in this case it could be worth it. If a celebrity had a performance here, it would certainly attract his fans to the casino. And he would have leverage over Valentino. He might not realise it now, but he was about to bet his cash cow...in a game he could never win.
"Shut up!" Valentino exclaimed and blew his smoke in Angel's face. The kid immediately looked dazed and slumped against his master, who embraced him contentedly with two hands. "That's better, baby" Valentino purred and pressed Angel closer to his side. His upper left hand wrapped around the spider demon's narrow shoulders and the lower one around his even narrower waist, only to disappear under his skirt. Husk hastily tore his gaze away. Disgusting bastard.
"Val" Angel tried again his voice weak and hoarse.
"Shut the fuck up already, if you don't want me to lose, then do your fucking job and start bringing me luck, slut" the moth demon hissed "so, Husker?" his eyes wandered back up to Husk "do we have a deal?"
"'Toss his contract in the pot," Husk nodded, watching Angel tense up in his master's hands, even in his dazed state. Husk almost felt sorry for him.
The game lasted almost exactly ten minutes and Husk could feel the familiar tingling at the tips of his claws as he gripped the cards tightly. Angel had half regained his senses a few minutes after the game began. The gaze of his mismatched eyes was fixed on the glowing contract on the table, as if he could influence the outcome if he just looked hard enough. His phone lay forgotten in his lap and Valentino's hands clutched his thin body just as tightly as before, but he didn't seem to care in the slightest. He looked... edgier, more serious, almost dangerous, and tension seemed to emanate from his body in waves. Husk ignored him and concentrated on the game; he could deal with him later when he belonged to him.
"Straight Flush" Husk laid out his cards one by one on the table, almost bored.
" No way!" Valentino exclaimed and jumped up from his seat. Angel landed not very gently on the floor and stared wide-eyed at his now former boss.
"Val" he breathed, barely audible and in disbelief, so quietly that Husk could barely hear him.
"You should listen to your business partners from now on, ʹTino," Husk grinned broadly and fished the contract from the table "you should go now, it's getting late, and you have nothing left to bet. I can go without your studio for now"
"You fucking little..." Valentino growled again, both of his hands clenched into trembling fists at his sides.
"Bill, take Gary and go with the kid to his flat to get his things. If he tries to run away, don't be squeamish, but be careful with his face, he still has to look pretty. Take him to my office afterwards, I'll prepare the paperwork in the meantime" he added, more of a warning to Angel than an instruction to his employee. It was always better to make sure a new soul knew who it belonged to, less problems. Husk could see Angel swallowing hard, his eyes still fixed on the contract that now lay in Husk's clawed hand. Still, he let Bill help him up from the floor and made no fuss as the dog demon led him out of the room.
"I want a rematch" Valentino demanded, his voice higher than usual. Probably the realisation slowly dawned on him that he'd just gambled away his golden goose like the idiot he was.
"Another time ʹTino" Husk rose from his sofa. Valentino towered over the cat demon by almost three heads and yet Husk didn't feel intimidated at all, knowing very well he was more powerful than the moth before him "and now go, I think you've had enough for today"
"This isn't over yet" Valentino growled and left the room with his coat flowing after him.