The elevator doors slide open to reveal a lone hallway with a single door at the end. It’s fitted between thin glass panels covered by thick privacy drapes that signal if it’s safe to enter or not. Closing in, I hear hushed voices and tune in my already acute hearing. When planning, I triple checked the schedule and didn’t expect a third wheel. It’s nothing I can’t handle though.

“Alice, did you think about my offer?”

“I did Mr. Davidson. Isn’t there any other way?” The feminine voice trembles

“I’m afraid not. I believe I’ve given you a very generous offer. You’re lucky I’m such a nice and generous guy Alice. Most people would have fired you on the spot and pressed charges, no questions asked.” Through the crack in the drapes, I see the man step closer. He pushes a strand of blond hair behind Alice’s ear.

“But it wasn’t me! I didn’t steal from you!” The voice is manic.

He presses his finger against her mouth. “Shhh now, we’ve been over this. The ten grand was found in your locker and only you have a key. I’m not mad. You’re in debt with no way to pay, and are about to lose everything. I can sympathize and ease that burden. All I ask, is you do me a little favor in return.” He gives her forehead a soft kiss.

She shudders at the touch. “I’m married and faithful to my husband. Please Steve, I’ll work from morning to closing and on weekends. I’ll take no breaks. Anything but that! Just please, I’m begging you.” Her voice trembles, no longer a whisper.

Steve purses his lips. “I’m afraid I’ve done all I can Alice. Do you accept my offer, or do I need to press charges?”

Tears stream down Alice’s face as she whimpers and stares at her feet. He hooks a finger through each thin strap of her tank top, pulling them to reveal more cleavage. “You are wearing my gift as instructed, right?” His lecherous eyes scan every inch of her, breathing in every detail. As if she were already wearing nothing at all. Alice raises her head and removes the tank top revealing the black lace lingerie bralette beneath and reaches behind to unfasten it.

“Atta Girl… Good Choice—” Before he can finish, I raise my hand to the door and focus. It explodes, sending shards flying across the room. Alice screams and both duck. I crack my knuckles as I enter the room.

“Envy, it’s been far too long. Let’s have a chat, shall we?” Realization sets in and Steve’s eyes grow wide.

“D—Damien. H—how did you?”

With the of wave my hand, three seats come pummeling through the air. One lands behind me and the other two scoot under the others. Alice yelps when the chairs move on their own and hers sweeps her off her feet. I know this may be a loose end that could bite me in the ass later, so I motion her to shush and give me a minute then turn back to Envy. “Before we begin, I know you have spare keys to those lockers and planted money in this woman's. Where is it?”

He rolls his eyes, annoyed. “Why do you care? It’s in the briefcase under my desk.”

With the wave of the hand, it comes flying to me. “What’s the code and how much is in it?”

“If that’s all you want, take it and get out of here. As you can see, I’m busy. The code for the right side is five-four-eight and the left is six-two-three. With the ten grand added back, it’s right at two million.”

The dials turn with ease as I check the combination works and turn the case toward Alice. “I’m going to plant the code in your memory and give you this under the condition you forget everything you saw here. You’ve been harassed enough and deserve compensation. Spend it wisely and not too much at one time. Make a better life for your family. If you betray my condition at any time to anyone, and I will know, you’re all dead. Deal?”

She stares at me for a few seconds as I close the case, mouth agape. “Deal! I’d be stupid to pass up this opportunity. T—Thank you so much Mr. Damien, was it?”

Envy grumbles under breath as I motion her toward the door and she takes her leave

“Now why’d you have to go and do that? I wanted you gone, not her. Do you know what trouble I went through to get that foxy bitch under my thumb?”

Getting comfortable, I lean back in the expensive looking chair and cross my arms. “I’ll say this much, I didn’t expect to find you in a place like this. Greed, absolutely. But not you. After witnessing that interaction though, it kinda makes sense.”

Envy stares at me, both anger and confusion evident but stays cordial. “Fine, you want to small talk and dance around the real reason you’re here, I’ll oblige for a moment. Greed set me up here. Turns out, he was on to something. Money is in fact, power. Anything your heart desires can be yours, for a price. Even if that something happens to be owned by another. Even if moral code or even laws dictate you can’t have it. Throw enough money at it and the problem fixes itself. The world is at our fingertips Damien. As our original human host, you should be reveling in all your heart's desires even more than us. It’s your nature as a human.”

“You know what, you’re absolutely right and I have been. These four years haven’t been the best, but I’ve gained new experiences and learned. The first two years were rough, I’ll admit. Finding out I killed my own mother in that awakening was a bummer. I almost went insane, but wrath promised to take my body on a joy ride if I lost my mind. The last two years were good though. I learned to harness my anger and emotions. Took control of my life.” Our eyes lock with intense friction, “I took control of a lot of things.” Envy looks uneasy, a silent fury scorched those last words, burning right into him.

“That was a tragedy, we all liked your mother. Obviously lust more than the rest of us. I don’t know how she loved you at all when lust was on a rampage.” It was a truthful test. Poking at my control of the situation. “Glad you’re doing better now though. We should all get together and do something one day, we can pin the expenses on greed for the fun of it.”

We both laugh with genuine joy at the thought. It did nothing to quell the standoff tension in the air though. “So, where’s Wrath these days?” Envy wasn’t stupid, he’d know if this was a friendly demon to demon visit Wrath would be in control, or at least popping his head out to cause a ruckus.

“Well, see that’s kinda why I’m here. We had different ideas on direction in life. So, we parted ways. He did however, send me to sloth who sent me to pride, who sent me to you.”

Envy relaxes a touch, but stays vigilant. “Is that right? It makes sense you’d find pride, we’re all connected to her whether we want to be or not. What are you looking for, maybe I can help?”

“Well, you see. I’m looking to find more information on this.” I reach into the inner pocket of my jacket and hand him a photo.

“That is a magick infused stone piece. A fragment of a larger mural. It protected me when I was a child. I want to know anything you know about this stone or the runes drawn on it. Or direct me to someone who knows.”

He goes rigid when he sees the photo. “Why do you want to know about this?” Sweat beads near his hairline.

“I’m exploring my families past. I want to learn what purpose of locking you away inside me served. Why are you the only supernatural entities in all the world? Things like that.”

His head rises slow and steady. Concern reflecting in his eyes. “Listen, I don’t know much, but you should stop looking into it. There are things in this word that should remain buried. This is one of them, I’m sure.” There’s a slight tremor in his hands when he hands the photo back.

“What do you know?” I ask, stuffing the photo back into the inner lining of my jacket.

He exhales hard. “Look, I don’t know everything but if you’ll drop this deep dive into your family I’ll tell you what I know.” I nod in agreement. “Your family was not only a powerful witch family, but the most powerful of them all. The seven of us have been passed down for many generation, from parent to child. Every couple hundred years or so we’re unleashed upon the world to replenish our lost power. I can’t tell you much beyond our creation and what I’ve gleaned from the family over the years. But I’ll try.” I wasn’t sure a demon could know fear. That is until I heard his wavering voice.