Greed's Charity (Seven Deadly Sins Book 1)

by R. A. Pollard

“Hey now! I’m thirty, not thirty-five!” Isabelle pushed away from her desk. She needed to be involved in the clothing choice or she would end up looking like a hussy.

  “You dress and act thirty-five. Tonight, you’re going to at least dress your age. I’m pretty sure hell might freeze if you broke a smile and had fun.”

  Isabelle grumbled under her breath. She could do this, right? One hour around people; she would strengthen her mental barriers to Defcon three. Sixty little minutes, that was all, she thought. Her eyes turned longingly to her pile of papers and books. Soon, my pretties, I’ll be back!

  CHAPTER THREE

  “Why are we here Ze? I have seen orgy participants wearing more clothes.” Greed glowered in the corner of the room as he watched the humans gyrating and milling about with one another. It appeared humans had lost their stomach for alcohol in the last five centuries. One drink and they were about ready to rip their clothing off and get involved in all sorts of acts. It had once been a challenge to find those that allowed greed and envy to rule their souls. From what he now witnessed, the world was corrupted by every sin, and those once pure souls were wreathed in the darkness they freely embraced.

  “This is a university, not unlike the ones from ancient Greece, although…” Ze’s voice trailed off and Greed frowned at him. Then he saw why. Ze’s gaze was locked on a thin blonde female in a skirt that showed the bottom of her ass cheeks. Envy looked hungry and not for sex. No, this female emanated sin, she was wreathed in the sin of envy. It had taken only a look and Ze had been entranced as if caught in the song of a siren.

  Greed sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. When any of them came face to face with their soul’s Sin, they were caught in the web. Greed watched from the darkness, observing his brother as he moved in this new world like he belonged.

  Ze watched the blonde walk past him, the throng of people falling away. Hunger gnawed at him making his silver-hued eyes shimmer. This human, she was so sure of herself. She inspired the envy of so many, she was alight with it. The demon’s eyes burned with that craving. Licking his lips, he pushed off the wall, dropping the glamour that hid him from human eyes. The silver of his gaze locked on the female, her sin blazed from her like a dark flame. It reached out touching those around her, corrupting them as she brushed past them, spreading and sinking into them like an infection.

  Ze threaded through the crowd and brushed past the female, bringing her gaze to him. She was ensnared the second she saw him. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than a simple look and that lit the flame inside her soul. He continued sauntering through the throng of people, feeling her annoyance he hadn’t come to her prickling on the back of his neck. He could hear her sin whispering in her mind. She was incensed, how dare he not stop and speak to her! How he could just move on like she was nothing? Who else was he interested in? Only she deserved a man like him. He was perfection, just like her. They belonged together.

  Making his way into the kitchen, Ze paused, leaning across a small petite brunette so he could grab a beer. The female wasn’t his target, but she would be a part of his game. She blushed prettily, and he moved back.

  “Oh pardon me, very rude to reach over like that.”

  “Err…No! No, it’s fine. I was in the way here, anyway.” Ze could feel the blonde’s thoughts, the voice of envy easily read by him. She steamed in outrage as he spoke to this little human and not her, she’s plain, how dare he speak to her! Who is she and how do I destroy her?

  Wow, this female was so consumed, she was willing to harm a stranger? Yes, best he purifies this one before she could do real damage to the balance around her. Not that she needed any encouragement, her sin had already consumed her soul. Ze concentrated on the little brunette female before him, each word he spoke served to deepen the jealousy writhing though his target.

  “I suppose given our little interlude I should introduce myself. I’m Ze.” He kept his voice pitched low and seductive. The little mortal blushed brightly, which he found rather endearing.

  “I’m Stacie, I… err. I haven't seen you here before. Did you just transfer in?” She dropped her eyes, her natural shyness taking over. Ze was amazed at how some mortals, like his target, were so filled with sin you only had to touch them once to inspire it. Yet this little thing before him was so innocent she probably didn’t have a jealous bone in her body. Such a rare gem in a world filled with darkness. He only hoped she could keep her inner innocence and light in a place such as this.

  “Yes, that’s right, just moved to the area.” He continued the small talk, his fingers brushing lightly over the hand of the little mouse. Small touches and smiles, making the human believe she was the center of his world. All the while his target steamed in the corner, watching the innocent female with hate as if she had somehow stolen what belonged to her.

  Greed moved towards the door. He wanted to see the show unfolding. Shit Ze was a true Rembrandt. Already the envious mortal was ready to sell her soul for a chance with the man she believed worthy of her. Someone like this could’ve been corrupted with any of the sins and she would have created a dark spot, a Blight around her, infecting others. Her soul was a dark pulsing oily thing within her, when once it would have shone with light. Over a life time of embracing sin, it had become black with selfish desires.

  He could read the blonde like a book. Lust. She wanted everyone to lust after her, crave her. Pride, she was perfect in everything she did. Greed, she wanted it all, the best men, the money, the power. She wanted to be loved and she would do anything to get it. Hell even Tanus could have a field day with this one, with that anger boiling in her blood. Some human souls were just evil.

  As Lucifer had reminded him almost daily since his release from the Pit, it was their job to collect those souls, preventing them from poisoning those around them. Almost like cutting a cancer from the body to stop it from spreading—preventing a Blight from forming. Yeah, yeah, as if he could ever forget. He had it cut into him by his jailors a thousand times with a thousand different knives. He could never forget. Pulling back from the memory before it swamped him, he focused back on the room. One of the woman’s ‘friends’ was trying, unsuccessfully, to distract her from Ze.

  “Vanessa, come on. Give it up. We have other places to be. Bradley is here, and he is looking for you…” The female talking was shoved away so violently, she crashed into the wall.

  “Back off Melony, no one shows me up. Especially not some no-nothing, mousy little bitch.” Her voice was sharp and harsh as she spoke, her friend cradling her arm where it had been crushed against the wall. The girl, Melony, didn’t answer, she just frowned at her ‘friend’ and vanished into the crowd shaking her head.

  Greed could see it now. It had been so long. The darkness seeped from the mortal’s skin, almost like smoke, the power of sin and corruption upon her soul. No wonder Ze had become so ensnared. Greed could feel it too. He was starving to make her feel the greed raging inside her heart, but she belonged to Ze. She had from the moment he’d touched her and opened the floodgates to her sin.

  Leaning against the door frame, the show beginning to reach its climax, Ze tugged gently on the small mouse’s curly hair, and the blonde snapped. She walked in, taking a moment to compose herself, adjusting her obviously fake breasts before sliding her body between Ze and the little human. She made damn sure those breasts of hers brushed up against his brother’s chest.

  “Oh excuse me, I just wanted a drink. I haven’t seen you before. I’m Vanessa, student president and Captain of the cheerleading squad.” She was literally plastering herself against the demon and had no issue with the fact she pushed the other woman out the way.

  “Oh really? That’s very interesting, but I was having a conversation—Vanessa was it? Maybe I could find you later?” Damn his brother knew how to rile up the green-eyed demon of jealousy in someone’s soul. It was almost poetic to watch.

  “Oh forget about her, she’s not worth your time. Come with me.” The fe
male grabbed his hand and pulled him from the kitchen. Greed felt the ghost of a smile pull at his lips. Stupid woman, willingly she dived head long into the sin that had turned her soul black.

  Greed followed behind, hidden by glamour as Ze was pulled into what looked like an office. Sliding through the door before the woman closed it, he propped himself on the desk as the female pushed Ze roughly against the door and stepped back.

  “Look, I can give you so much more than that little mouse. I’m a real woman. You can have all this…” She began to strip, her tight top left little to the imagination as she unbuttoned it, exposing her overly large boob-job held up by thin scraps of black material. She shimmied out of her skirt, if one could call it that, the thong she wore showing off the smooth skin of her ass.

  “Well, like what you see?” She was so proud of herself, so sure she must be perfection in his eyes.

  “Actually, I prefer women with a bit more of a modest streak. As pretty as you seem, I prefer the ‘real’ thing.” That pulled a snort from Greed as he watched the woman descend into rage. Yeah, Tanus would have liked this one. Her rage was palpable.

  “REAL! I’m better than any bitch out there.” Ze watched her with uninterested eyes as she stalked towards him, pushing him against the door. She yanked his head down, forcing her kiss on his unresponsive lips, her fingers digging into his silver hair. He hissed in pain as she scraped those talons down his neck. Ze grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand from his throat.

  He turned quickly and pinned her the door. One hand wrapped around her throat, the other holding her arms above her head. He was only after her corrupted soul, but he was still a red-blooded male.

  “Yes, like this. Take what you want!” Her voice panted with lust. She had no idea what she had just given him permission to do.

  “Oh my dear, I will.” Ze’s voice was pure sin itself.

  Ze tilted her head back, covering her mouth with his. It might have been considered a kiss, if not for the sudden struggling of the woman he now had pinned. His lips lifted from her open gaping mouth, the black mist of sin that covered her body being drawn from her into his open mouth. The female struggled as her soul was torn from her body, her bright, envious eyes turning dull as the essence was drained from her.

  Ze released the lifeless shell, which now crumpled to the floor. He let out a groan close to pleasure. Swirling etchings hidden under his flesh shone and glimmered as the soul was purified by the demon’s essence. Cleansed of the darkness and sin, her soul passed on to Hades for judgment. If their father judged her worthy, she would be granted passage to the Isle of the Blessed to be reborn. If she was found lacking, then she would wander the banks of the river Acheron for the rest of eternity.

  “Such a shame, but it was for the best,” Ze murmured, regret clear in his tone. He walked to his brother’s side and looked back at the crumpled shell, remorse in his silver eyes.

  “What about her body? Won’t someone get suspicious when she doesn’t return?” Greed was loathed to admit it, but people who went missing in this modern age were generally missed quickly. Ze nodded, kneeling to brush a strand of the woman’s hair behind her ear.

  “What happened? What turned you into that Harpy who hunted men for a fix of lust? I’m sorry Vanessa. I’m sure Hades will judge you fairly. I hope you live well in your next life.” With a click of his fingers, the human shell began to disintegrate into dust, falling in on itself in silence.

  “Just another missing person in a sea of empty faces. Don’t tell me you feel pity for her, Ze? You saw what she was, what she would have become. You know what her future would have wrought.” The disgust in Greed’s voice had Ze turning his head, the flash in his silver eyes was the only warning.

  He moved fast, grabbing Greed around the throat he slammed him up against the door. Licks of silver flame flickered over Ze’s skin, casting shadows against the wall. He easily held his brother off the floor.

  Greed gripped the arm that held him. “What the fuck?” He forced out the hoarse words.

  Ze growled low. “Have you forgotten why we do this? Why we go out night after night? Why we take these lives? Ending their futures?” Ze tightened his grip around his brother’s throat, cutting off his airway.

  “Don’t think I have forgotten brother. I know my place. It was ripped into me long enough.” He hissed the words, scowling at Ze the whole time. Ze swore and dropped him, backing up a step he turned away his shoulders dropping. Greed leaned back against the door, rubbing his throat scowling.

  Ze dragged his fingers through his hair and turned to Greed, he spoke with conviction. “We do this so souls polluted that badly have a second chance. She deserves a second chance. The people around her deserve not to be infected by her illness. They deserve a future. That is why we do this, Mammon. Never forget that.” Ze shook his head and pulled open the door, he returned to the party in silence.

  Greed scowled. Fucking righteous prick. Ze had no clue what he’d been through in that hell. None of them did. They just expected him to slip back into his old skin. That wasn’t going to happen. If only they knew. He rubbed his hand over his chest. Old skin, yeah right.

  He pulled open the door, instantly assaulted by the noise of the party. He needed to get out of here. Too many damn people. The door closed behind him, and he vanished into the hub of drunken debauchery. No one outside that room was any the wiser a soul had just been cleansed behind those doors.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The music was too loud, there were too many people, and if one more frat boy grabbed her ass or her breast, she was going to scream and smack them across the head with a beer bottle. Jostled for the tenth time since she arrived, Isabelle wondered at the insanity that made her agree to this.

  Hopefully it was only temporary lapse in sanity. God forbid, she be stuck with the insane need to get out and be “social”. The very idea had her skin crawling. She desperately wanted to be back in her nice little room with her books and the old myths of a world that so fascinated her.

  Isabelle wanted to be away from the jocks vying for attention by drinking as much beer in ten seconds as humanly possible. Cheered on by frivolous little females in skirts that left little to the imagination and who would literally do anything to be with one of the jocks. Isabelle wept for the future of the human race.

  The walls of her mind were being battered over and over by the blazing emotions of everyone around her. Each touch was painful to her soul. Even through the joyous descent into depravity, some of these people were bordering on depression and suicide.

  She felt it all, like knives cutting into her brain. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to center herself, to feel only within. The noise dampened for a moment. Maybe she could do this. How many minutes left until her sixty-minute ordeal was up? Damn it, forty-five! She had only been here fifteen minutes? Already she felt strung out and drained. For one insane moment, sorrow rushed over her. Some deep part of her heart had hoped, just this once, she could be around people, be normal. It had been a foolish delusion.

  She lifted the red plastic cup to her lips, allowing the tepid, tasteless beer to touch her tongue. She held it in her mouth for a few moments. Looking around the room to make sure no one saw her, she spat it back into the cup quickly and set it aside. Who could drink this crap? How did anyone get any pleasure from this? These people were crazy! This wasn’t fun. How could anyone in their right mind find this fun?

  It was no doubt evil of her to keep silent as some drunk twenty-something grabbed the beer she’d just spat in and began drinking. Oh well, he could have her cooties. More spit was being exchanged between couples in the corners of the room than what she had deposited in that cup anyway.

  Her neck was getting stiff, her head was beginning to pound, and this place was making her feel sick from the filth. Someone bumped into her and the fragile hold on her protective wall faltered. Her vision was flooded with light and flowing colors, everything coming to her at once. Then she was that frat boy
, she felt as he felt.

  Poor boy, he was so desperate to be accepted, he was willing to be the butt of all the jokes, allowing his Fraternity to humiliate and belittle him. He had to get in this House. He just had to. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to live. Thoughts of suicide if he failed beat at him, but he put on a façade of enjoyment. Laughing, he rejoined his “Fraternity Brothers” ‘brothers’. What a fucking joke.

  The connection broke and Isabelle fell back against the wall. She felt like she was about to retch, breathing through the mini panic attack, she moved out of her corner of safety, making a break for the door. Natalie was tonsils deep with some guy in the corner, so now was the perfect time to escape the madness. The air around her was too close, too hot, filled with the smell of sweat, beer, and the raging emotions of humanity. Panic started to grip her anew as she barreled towards the exit and freedom.

  She did not get far. In her blind rush to leave, she ran straight into what she at first thought was a damn wall it was so hard. Blinking and straightening she went to apologize but her breath caught in her throat. She took a step back and looked up into the brightest green eyes she had ever seen in her life. Those green eyes however were looking at her in total and absolute shock as if someone touching him were against every principle he stood for. Damn jock, no doubt. She barely noticed the second male who, in turn, also looked as if someone had slapped him.

  “Did she just run into you?” The second man asked.

  Isabelle looked between the two. Both turned their full and terrifying gaze upon her, one with eyes like liquid silver and the other with eyes of angry evergreen. She backed up another step, her mouth wide and no doubt gaping like a fish. The green-eyed man could have been ripped right from the pages of her romance novels. No, wait. Let’s call him what he was. A sex god. Mr. Sex God.