The Deceit Of Sin

The skyline was unlike any she had ever seen. The sun blazed a brilliant pink and orange-red that seemed to span the length of the universe. Standing at the edge of a long-paved walkway bordered by apple trees, red and pink peonies littered the landscape. The grass was the most captivating shade of green, grown an inch and a half high it swayed like feathers. Walking in disbelief at the beauty of the scene before her. Hell is nothing like she had expected. 

    Even more stunning than the countryside was the palace preached at the ascension of the path. Two towers sat on each side, six hundred feet high and seeming to ascend to the edges of the clouds, and painted in marvelous colors of black and gold, that spiraled to its base. It took on fantastic shapes curving in unexpected places, making it difficult to see where it began and where it ended. Gargoyles sat on both sides of the gigantic double wood doors, with a golden knocker too enormous for her to use. The atmosphere was elaborate. It would have been enough to lift even the most jaded spirits, had its legacy not reeked of mythological suffering.

    She stood contemplating how she would open the doors, or if she even wanted to. But she need not be worried about trouble entering. The stage was already set for her journey through an infamous play. Before having time to think too much about her current position, the doors opened, and she was greeted by her host. 

“Hello,” he said, with an abruptness that did not suggest much hospitality. 

“Come in. I’ve been expected you for some time.” leading her through the door his blue eyes sparkled with a touch of madness. She could not avoid how beautiful he was. He was tall, 6’6. With surprisingly angelic features. He had a thin nose and deep pink lips, red hair heaped in curls atop his round head. The pride taken in his appearance was apparent. His shirtless torso was cut into muscular lines so deep she could almost feel the intensity of his workouts. Dressed only in linen pants, he stepped barefoot across the floor motioning her towards a small sofa in a cozy corner of the room. 

She was not shocked by his arrogance but impressed. She instantly wondered if that was wrong. 

“You don’t look anything like I pictured,” she admitted nervously. 

“I know.” he smiled, “You were looking for horns and a tail. Thought maybe I’d red, breathing fire.” 

She grinned. That was exactly what she had thought. 

“People so easily forget I was God’s most beautiful angel. Why they insist on making me look the way I behave is beyond me.” to say he gave a devilish grin would be well-worn, but appropriate and she couldn’t help being a little shaken. Crossing his legs in a manner to gentlemanly for someone of his occupation he began examining her closely. 

“I suppose you’d like to know the details of why you’re here?” 

Suddenly unable to speak, her insides tightened at the prospect of spending the rest of eternity ablaze. 

“You’re worried about punishment?” 

“That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”, she asked. 

Giving a phony look of revelation, “Of course not dear, life, as well as after-life, is all about choices. You will make them here just as you did on earth. You can choose to be here or otherwise. However, if I were in your position I’d take time to carefully consider the benefits of being in my company.” 

      “In your company”, she scoffed. “How does one benefit from keeping company with a demon? Will you teach me how to torture people or maybe we could mock God together.” 

She was laughing, and more than anything he loathed being laughed at. Most would be stunned to know how seriously the Lord of vice took himself. 

Aware that she had offended him she saw no need to apologize. Even if he was a demon, she did not feel there was reason to be too afraid. She was already dead and obviously, she had not made it to heaven, what more could he do to her. 

“Dear I don’t torture people and I have far better things to do than spend my valuable time mocking God.” 

“Well?”, she crossed her legs imitating his posture, flashing a condescending smile. “How does one benefit from keeping company with the devil.” 

“I prefer you call me Lucifer. Follow me.” 

He stood and began his graceful walk across the huge living space. And paused at the entrance of a long corridor. 

“What is this?”, she asked staring down the hall. 

There were seven doors in the passageway. She gazed in wonderment at the entrance of each, eager at being shown something she felt was exclusive. But her cheerful excitement quickly turned to panic when she observed the words printed on each door. On the first, etched in ivory was GREED and across from it, GLUTTONY. It went on like that the entire length of the hall. ANGER, SOLTH, LUST, ENVY, PRIDE. More confused than ever she turned to Lucifer with a questioning glare. 

“It is the process before reincarnation.” 

“You mean I get to be reborn? I have another life?”, she giggled. It was possible that she had never been filled with as much joy in her entire life as she was at this moment. 

“Yes. But you have some decisions to make first.” 

“What kind of decisions?” 

“Fairly simple ones if I do say so myself. You have an opportunity to secure a certain standard of living in your next life.” 

“How?” 

“You will pay a visit to each of the sins. They will offer you their assistance to ensure that your next life does not involve the tribulations of your past.” 

“How can sins make my life easier? They exist to make men suffer. I’m not stupid. If anything, I’ve learned about excesses. They have never brought me any happiness. It only leads to wanting more. Thanks, but no thanks.” 

“I wouldn’t be so dismissive if I were you.”, he snipped. “Think hard. your former life. Don’t you wish you had help then? I am offering it to you now. It is guaranteed. How many times in life did people disappoint you? Leave you stranded? No one has been as kind to you as I am being now. And you reject my help without even hearing me out.” 

His voice was so soothing. No one had ever spoken to her with such consideration before. 

‘What could it hurt to hear him out?’ she thought. Simply listening was no crime. 

“You’re right. I guess I didn’t have to be so rude.” 

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.” But that was a lie. He wasn’t accustomed to guests questioning his motives. They could only think of the material possessions they would have and nothing of their actual happiness. It took a few lifetimes before people learned that joy came internally, it was never external. 

“Here”, he said leading her to the first door. “You’ll visit Greed first. None of the sins are rude and I am sure they will be very accommodating. Whatever questions you have they will answer, nothing is off-limits.” Or if you should be so foolish you could opt to not take any at all. The choice is yours.”

And as soon as he was done, he vanished. She stood there for a minute breathless. Reeling from everything that had taken place in the past few hours. It was unbelievable. Not even a full twenty-four hours ago she had been a junkie with no concerns other than where her next high would come from. Today she was a woman about to be reborn, with possibly every opportunity she had always prayed for. 

What a difference a day makes.