Eight Ball

It was a test I had to pass. A notorious thief is looking to form a crew to steal something from an art museum. Some rich spoiled brat wanted a priceless artifact to add to their collection. The downside is that the museum refused to sell it as the artifact is part of their collection, making it priceless. I was sent undercover, posing as a thief looking for my next job. My boss told me that my skills would be tested in a game of billiards, which made me smile. Time to channel my inner pool shark.

I showed up at the venue with my trusty pool cue, ready to take on whoever I played against. A brief look of shock appeared as I realized that I would be playing the person who would hire me. The atmosphere in the rooftop club soon went from smooth and mellow to nervous electric, with the sound of balls clacking and the murmur of intense concentration filling the air. My opponent and I were locked in a fierce battle, each taking turns sinking shots with precision and skill. Every move was met with a nod of respect or a muttered curse as we pushed ourselves to the limit.

As the game progressed, the tension in the room grew thicker, and the pressure seemed to hang heavy in the air. The crowd around us had grown in size, drawn in by the dramatic back-and-forth nature of our match. Every shot felt like a make-or-break moment, and the stakes seemed to rise with each passing minute. I felt like I had the game in the bag, but there was a cost for celebrating an early victory.

With the score deadlocked and only the eight ball remaining on the table, I could feel the weight of the moment settling on my shoulders. My heart pounded, and my palms were drenched in sweat. I took a deep breath, lined up my shot, and sunk the ball into the corner pocket with a resounding thud. The room exploded into a cacophony of cheers and applause as I revelled in the intoxicating taste of triumph. My soon-to-be employer was impressed and hired me on the spot. I smiled and thanked him as I reminisced my winning shot. It was a game that would forever be etched in my memory.

Purgatory Absence

“It’s always better to ask for forgiveness than permission, isn’t it? Not that I care, of course.” Lucy said absentmindedly to an imaginary audience, twirling the pendant necklace given to her by her father who had banished her to the Underworld where she reigned as the Princess of Darkness. The Lady of Hell grew bored of the day-to-day dealings with tortured souls so she decided to leave the Underworld to take a vacation in the world of humans. Good thing her father didn’t take away her beautiful wings when he banished her for all eternity.

She decided to go to Las Vegas, otherwise known as Sin City. “A perfect place for someone like me.” Lucy smiled as she landed outside the city limits. She muttered a concealment spell to make herself human. In her humanoid form, she is 6’7” with long, ink-black hair and wears a dark red blazer and dress pants ensemble complete with 4-inch black heels. Her ample bosom peering through her black dress shirt, bouncing lightly as she walked.

Lucy walked along the streets of Las Vegas, head held high and back straightened as if she owns the place and came across a posh nightclub called Morning Star. She softly chuckled at the irony that her last name is similar to the club name and proceeded to enter the club, only to have her way blocked by a tall, muscular bouncer. “ID please.” The bouncer asked gruffly.

Lucy stared at the oaf in front of her and a small smirk appeared on her seductive features. She sauntered up to the bouncer, looked at him with her mesmerizing hazelnut eyes and said in a sultry voice, “Come on, big guy, can’t you make an exception just this once?” The bouncer, affected by Lucy’s powers, said in a drone-like voice, “Of course, Miss. Anything for a beautiful lady.” He then unhooked the velvet rope and let Lucy into the club. 

The Lady of Hell made her way to the bar and ordered a drink. Just as the bartender turned to make the drink, everything slowed down as time stood still. Lucy rolled her eyes, already knowing what’s to come. The sound of flapping wings was heard as Lucy turned in her chair to face the person that put a damper on her fun. “Hello, dearest sister. What brings you here to Sin City?” Lucy asked with a fake smile. “You know perfectly well why I’m here, Luce.” Amora said. “I’m here to bring you back to Hell.”