End: Blaze Stays...And Wins

They showed their cards.

Lois: Q♣ 8♦

Blaze: 10♦ J♣

The reporter stared at the cards. It rankled her to lose, even though she knew she shouldn't be upset. Blaze had obviously been confident in her hand when she had made the bet. Yet now the reporter owed her three dates...and there were still three souls to save.

The scarlet succubus reached out to gather the cards. She was slow about it, methodical, efficient. Yet the demon did not bother to hide her smug half-smile. She had gotten something she had come for, and Lois could see it. Which is why, perhaps, Lois Lane suddenly broke in...

"Want to make the game more interesting?" The reporter said, her violet eyes meeting the demon's in a challenging stare.

"What do you have in mind?" Blaze said.

"One more hand. If I win, the women go free. If you win..." Lois bunched her hands on the table. "The women still go free. But they can be sex dates."

The demon paused. Her nostrils flared, slightly.

"Just so we're clear," Blaze said. "You'll give yourself to me of your own free will? No backing out, no I-have-a-headache, no calling on Superman to save you. Anything I want, oral, vaginal, anal, with or without a condom. You will be mine for three nights."

"But the women go free," Lois said, emphasizing her point.

Blaze smiled. "Martyr yourself as you'd like, Lois. I think perhaps you are excited at being my slut...but very well. I agree to your terms. Let's play."

She dealt the cards:

Lois: (A♥) 6♠

Blaze: (?) 4♥

Lois Lane released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. 7 or 11, depending on how she counted the ace. Would that be enough? Blaze couldn't have more than a 15...and that meant Blaze would hit. That could be a problem. On the other hand, even if Lois drew a face card, she was not any worse off than she was right now.

"Hit me," Lois said.

Lois: (A♥) 6♠ 5♥

Worse than before. Lois didn't hesitate.

"Hit me."

Lois: (A♥) 6♠ 5♥ 8♣

The reporter paused, counted. 20. She didn't dare go higher...but it was enough.

"Dealer hits," Blaze said. She accepted her card...and then flipped it over.

Lois: A♥ 6♠ 5♥ 8♣

Blaze: 8♠ 4♥ 9♥

"Blackjack," the demon said...and Lois Lane's lips parted...surprised, shocked...and then she nodded, curtly.

"The women," Blaze said as she gathered the cards, the chips sinking out of sight into the green felt. "Are free. I've called them here, you can speak to them, interview them. You'll get your story. As for our dates..."

Lois Lane's fists were tight little white-knuckled balls on the tabletop, her nails digging into her hand.

"...let's say, Monday night? I'll send you something to wear. Pick you up at sunset...and don't expect to return before dawn."

The reporter nodded, cheeks flushed. She knew that there was nothing holding her to her word except her sense of honor, but she also knew what that was worth to her. Morality wasn't about obeying the law when surrounded by people, it was what you did in the dark, by yourself. Blaze had beaten her fair and square, and Lois would honor that debt. Just one thing bothered her...one question left unasked.

"If I had won...what would you have done?" Lois asked.

Blaze smiled. "Kept playing until you lost. I can afford to lose a few souls, to get what I want. But it's better this way, isn't it sweetmeat? I've wanted to take you out since I first saw you step into my club this evening. You wanted your story. Now, we both get what we want."

Lois Lane frowned. The demon had been playing a different game all along.

"Don't think I'm going to fall in love with you just because I let you fuck me," the reporter added.

Blaze smiled, but said nothing. There was a knock at the door.

"That's them. Go do your thing, Lois Lane. Enjoy your night out. Because Monday night...your ass is mine!"

So it was. Yet that is another story.