Alejandro wasn’t one to really over-think things. He liked the thrill of the unknown and despite minimal struggle, the fun was usually worth it. Juliet was an anomaly in his eyes. Seeing a woman probably only a year or so younger than him spar almost one handedly in a dress, was impressive. Let alone the fact that she beat him with a broken heel. She had a stoic approach to things; a maturity well beyond her years. She hid her insecurities, the weight of her crumpling house on her shoulders, but he could see it. The subtle frustration when she wrinkled her freckled nose or the look of melancholy when she admired the estate’s garden. 

When approached by the lady in waiting, Yvette, he was going to turn down the offer because clearly Juliet could handle herself just fine. And yet he found himself agreeing anyways just so he could see how Juliet handled herself. Her actions definitely spoke louder than her words. Traveling on a whim to such a salacious place with barely a word in what she had planned. It just increased his curiosity more.

Free to gamble? He certainly didn’t mind. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his ankles and propped his feet on the parlor table, fanning himself with the cards in his hand. This was nothing. He used to do this all the time in his home country. Though perhaps the games he played there were less than legal. He tossed a pair of dice; a four and a six.

“Evens!” The spectre called.

His opponent with the balled head groaned, admitting defeat as he folded his cards.

The one with the tooth pick placed his cards down. “Two of a kind.”

The man with the large mustache laid out his own cards. “Draw. Two of a kind.”

Releasing a whistle, Alejandro grinned as he placed down his cards; all sporting the same symbol in even values. “Straight house boys!”

The ladies he surrounded himself with cheered at his success as he pulled the chips he won closer to himself. He gave a few to the women who initially betted him in, giving one a smack on the ass. “Go enjoy yourself ladies. Thanks for your time.”

He let them take over his seat as he pocketed his winnings and left the table. He knew when to cut his luck short before he started making enemies. Instead his attention went to Yvette who yelled at the poor arcane contraption that apparently took her money. 

“Oh you aren’t worth the execution you could cause! One number! One number! How are you off by one number!?”

“You know it doesn’t have sentience, right?” Alejandro asked, patting Yvette on the shoulder.

She sighed. “I know but now I’ve lost all the coins my lady invested in me!”

She was already crying, tearing at the fabric of her handkerchief with her teeth.

Alejandro patted her on the back. “Well, that’s supposed to happen. Let’s go find our lady before you sell your fingers to this thing.”

“You can do that?” Yvette asked, looking between Alejandro and the contraption as the male walked away without an answer. “It can do that?!”

The two found themselves traversing between a bourgeoisie of fanciful individuals clearly indulging in otherworldly activities; some with more than the price of money at stake. These people found themselves approached by men in suits with a similar mask; always upturned in a smile. These masked men would present them a scroll of sorts and upon losing, the poor patron found their soul seeping from their ears and eyes like mist and into a vial in the masked man’s hand. Only for it to be tucked away like a pocket watch and their bodies dragged away by large ghoulish like creatures.

Yvette stuck to Alejandro’s arm, allowing him to guide through a crowd that was gathering around.

“Why are there so many people here?” Yvette asked.

Pushing through the crowd, a knowing look spread across his face as his eyes settled on his precocious mistress. “It seems our lady is having quite the time.”

Across from them, Lady Juliet sat, her red and black feathered fan out and hiding her face. Besides her was an enormous pile of coins. The poor spectre across from her looked like he was staring at an intimidating monster.

She pushed the full pile forward. 

“All in.” She said it as though it was almost practiced at this point. The cards were dealt and the spectre laid the cards out forward.

Its voice, soft and almost child-like“Odds or crosses?”

“Crosses.” She said automatically. Her cards are still placed down in front of her; unseeable. A crowd had gathered around her table at the amount of money she had won. It was almost inconceivable because by her expression and reaction, she wasn’t trying very hard. This was what Alejandro meant. She was an enigma. She looked so determined she appeared almost expressionless in the feat she was accomplishing.

First cards are revealed. Queen versus Jack. Juliet wins. Next set. King versus 6. Juliet wins. Next set 8 versus Queen. House wins. Last set. Ace versus 6. Juliet wins.  

“3 out of 4. Crosses!” The spectre says shakily, doubling Juliet’s already impressive pile.

Alejandro moved to approach but paused, holding Yvette back as a man with a mask approached her.

“Quite the impressive pile you have there  madam, might I suggest a larger bet?” He bowed towards her.

Juliet didn’t look perturbed at all. “No, thank you. Betting the full amount has been beneficial enough.”

The man looked a little caught off guard, but continued. “I insist. What you could get your way might double time and time again. But with a smaller price, well, you could get enough to rival kings.”

Juliet seemed to think it over and that put a dreaded look on Alejandro’s face. He moved forward, but just as he and Yvette approached, Juliet held her hand up to stop them; not looking their way.

“What do you have in mind?”

“What price would you give your freedom? What price would you give your soul? Why, what price would you give a pinky?”

“Freedom? Soul? Sounds very final in my opinion.” Juliet responded.

“Why yes, I won’t lie to you, miss. It very much is, but what’s the problem? You won thus far. Surely you can win again and be ten times richer.”

“But surely people have lost as well.”

“Of course. It’s always a toss up. But that’s the thrill of it. And you can always win it back, right?”

“ . . . If I betted my soul, how much more would I get?”

“Ten times your current amount.”

“100.”

“Ma’am?” The man looked, wondering if he had heard her right.

“One hundred times my current amount. It’s my soul after all.”

There was a bit of pause in him before the man’s smile shifted to one that presented an expression of laughter. He processed a scroll with a snap of his finger. “Very well Ma’am! One hundred times your current amount.”

Alejandro felt his heart sink, a bit of nervousness entering his throat as Yvette squeezed his arm tight. She probably was feeling the same way he was. He looked on unsure of what to do as he watched his mistress put her soul up as a bargaining chip. Wasn’t that what they weren’t supposed to do?!