The Book of Beauism: The Temptation at Hakkasan

1. And Beau Magic sat at the MGM bar, a chalice of cold beer in his hand, watching the lost souls of the city drink themselves brave, gamble themselves poor, and laugh like they weren’t dying inside.

2. And the screens above flickered, the music changed, and lo—No Angels by Justin Timberlake filled the air.

3. And on the screens, demons danced. Not horned, not red-skinned, not the kind you read about in children’s books—no, these were the real ones. The ones who smiled too wide, who moved too smooth, who whispered in your ear and made you forget you were ever whole.

4. And Beau Magic saw this and knew: this was a sign, or this was nothing. And sometimes, there’s no difference.

5. And he set his drink down, because men like him don’t stay still when the universe throws a punch. They move forward, even when forward leads straight into hell.

6. And the gates of Hakkasan opened before him.

7. Inside, the air was thick with bass, sweat, and sin. The lights flashed in time with heartbeats. Bodies moved together, colliding, pulsing, chasing something they’d never catch.

8. And among them, she appeared.

9. A woman wrapped in red, gold upon her skin, eyes like an invitation to ruin. She did not wait for him to speak, because real predators never do.

10. And she said, You’re not like the others.

11. And Beau Magic smirked, for she spoke the truth.

12. And she whispered, Dance with me.

13. And they danced, and the world blurred, and time bled, and the music pulsed like the heartbeat of something ancient and hungry.

14. And she leaned in, her lips brushing his ear, and she said, Let’s leave this place.

15. And he led her to his chamber, high above the city on the top floor of the Luxor. And she smiled, slow and knowing, because men have led women into darkness before, but never realized the darkness was leading them.

16. And lo, the mask began to slip.

17. Her form shimmered, the gold of her skin cracking like old paint. Her nails lengthened. Her eyes deepened, black as the space between stars.

18. And she grinned, sharp and terrible, and she said, You don’t get it, do you?

19. And Beau Magic, though wise, knew that wisdom means nothing when the trap is already sprung.

20. And she laughed, and her laughter became a thousand voices, and the room stretched, twisted, dissolved into nothing.

21. And she said, There are no angels here.

22. And darkness swallowed him.

The Awakening.

23. And Beau Magic awoke in his bed, the city unchanged, the sun indifferent.

24. And he sat up, his breath heavy, his mind uncertain. Had it been real? A dream? A warning? A joke played by the universe, or by something far worse?

25. He rose, lit a cigar, exhaled slow. Outside, Vegas kept breathing, never stopping, never sleeping.

26. And he knew this truth: the devil does not wait at the crossroads. He waits at the bar. He waits on the dance floor. He waits in your bed, wrapped in silk and lies.

27. And some nights, he waits in you.

28. And Beau Magic left that room, wiser but unchanged, because the war was not over, and Vegas was still full of demons.