Page 4 of Ashes to Ashes

Raising one clawed hand, Leviathan snapped his fingers, calling forth a half-formed thought that quickly solidified into a twisted vision - jealousy incarnated. It swirled before him like a living creature, ready to do his bidding. A wave of the hand sent it spiraling away, disappearing into the shadows. It would serve its purpose soon enough, he could feel it creeping closer to fruition.

Inhaling deeply, Leviathan tried to calm himself down. Focusing on the task at hand always soothed him, so he allowed himself to remember why envy was really the king of sins, if not of Hell. He thought of how none could compare to his splendorand extravagance. He allowed himself a smirk at the thought - for now.

“Bring me the ledger, I need to know how the world feels,” he growled, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened demons in his service.

A small demon whose body was purple and twisted like gnarled branches scurried forward, careful not to make eye contact with the master of the pit. The parchment he presented was singed at the edges as if it had been pulled from the very jaws of Lucifer himself.

“Tell me, am I not the most feared and desired in the land aside from King Lucifer himself?”

“It is as you suspected, My Lord,” the minion replied, his voice trembling as he kept his gaze on the book’s pages. “The other princes—lust, greed, even sloth—have usurped your position in the eyes of the mortals. They have done. . . more.” He spat the word as if it were wreathed in flame.

Leviathan’s wings unfurled, casting an ebony shadow over the trembling minion. “More, you say? I want details, and I want them now!”

His servant gulped, his words coming out in a rush as he recited Leviathan’s sibling’s vile deeds.

The demon’s words were like poison, seeping into Leviathan’s mind and fueling his rage. He listened with twisted delight as the servant detailed the heinous acts committed by the other demon princes—acts that made even Leviathan’s blood run cold.

Armoros, with his sickeningly sweet charms, lured in unsuspecting mortals and devoured their souls in a frenzy of desire. Botis, Demon Prince of Greed, hoarded riches and power, crushing anyone who stood in his way. And Apollyon. . . lazy sloth, took pleasure in watching an entire city crumble around him while doing nothing to stop it.

But it was Abigor, the demon of pride, that truly irked Leviathan the most. He always flaunted his supposed superiority and belittled others for their perceived weaknesses.

Jealousy, a vile serpent, coiled tighter around his cold, black heart.

It was time to put an end to this charade.

“Enough!” Leviathan bellowed, crumpling the ledger in his fist.

Paper and charred souls scattered like ash on the wind.

It was time he reminded the pit who was their true master. With a flick of his wrist, the shadows parted, revealing a gilded mirror. The human world, so ripe for the taking, lay before him. His reflection stared back at him, his radiant beauty marred only by the fire in his eyes. “I, Leviathan, shall have what is mine,” he hissed, a wicked grin curling his lips. He needed a mate, someone to add his darkness, someone to walk beside him through the empty halls of his own heart and become the envy of all those who were not with her. “And I shall start by claiming the most beautiful prize the mortal world has to offer.”

But how to do it?

The mortals were not off limits, but they were not exactly rushing to leave their mortal coils or their earthly tethers.

Suddenly, an idea began to form in his sinister mind, one that would not only reaffirm his place as the demon prince of envy but also satiate his own hunger for admiration.

The air around him shimmered with a green glow—an indication of his power and influence over envy itself. His piercing blue eyes flashed dangerously as he thought about how best to use this power against them.

A sinister grin spread across his face, revealing razor-sharp fangs beneath full lips painted red as wine. “A ball,” he whispered too quietly for any to hear, savoring the taste ofrevenge on his tongue like sweet nectar. “A grand event that will demonstrate our superiority.”

With a flick of his wrist, a scrawny imp appeared before him, quivering in fear. Leviathan leaned forward, whispering in the pitiful creature's ear to ensure none could overhear and attempt to outdo him.

Satisfied with his plan, Leviathan rose to leave but then hesitated. Taking one last glance at the ledger held tightly by his minion, an idea struck him—a way to not only prove himself superior but also strike envy into all those who dared challenge him.

He snapped his fingers, summoning another servant to attend him immediately. “Gather every luxury this realm has to offer,” he commanded, “and prepare it for an extravagant ball.”Yes, a ball.“Everyone is invited; leave no soul or realm uninvited.”

The advisor bowed low before scurrying off to carry out his master’s command.

“Let them come,” Leviathan cackled maniacally as he paced before the fiery veil that separated his realm from the rest of creation. “They shall all come, drawn like moths to a flame by their envy. . . and desire.”

With a beat of his wings, he was gone, leaving behind only the stench of brimstone and the pounding of unworthy hearts in his wake.

CHAPTER 3

Ashe’s hands trembled ever so slightly as she scrubbed the bloodstained wooden table in the dimly lit chamber. Despite Belial healing her body from the lashes of his whips after two days of pain, her muscles were already worn from cleaning up after his disgusting messes. Then, she’d been spared from the usual torturous tasks for the past three days, healing from the latest round of “entertainment” meted out by one of the Seven Lords of Sin.

A shudder ran down her spine at the mere thought of gluttony’s grotesque form.

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