The Queen looked down the table, observing her dinner guests, a random gathering of the corrupt souls of high society. She had spent hours preparing this guest list, and had made three copies before sending the invitations. Now she smiled, with all the familiar faces of sin talking and whispering all around her. The Queen examined the dinner; the table cloth and napkins were a deep scarlet, not her usual white. She had new chairs as well, carved especially for her. They were a matching set with her regular chairs, but instead of flying cherubs she had requested dancing imps. Her guests had admired the chairs upon arrival at the dinner table, complimenting her taste and style. A special rug had also been made for the dinner, a black mat, with red vines and spikes curling all around. Although hidden from the eyes of her guest, on the floor side of the rug, a devil had been woven, glaring with red eyes and wearing a black crown studded with crimson rubies.

She had requested this especially, and had drawn the design herself. Despite an apparent theme for the evening, the Queen had requested white candles be burned for light for the dinner. These candles burned slower, and gave off better light, creating interesting shadows and endless fun for her guests. She glanced around at her company and sensed the tedium they felt. She could see it in their dark eyes. She tapped her wine glass with her spoon, not to get the attention of her guest, but to signal her servants it was time for the drinks. Her maids carried out the burgundy wine, and began to pour for each guest. As the wine was poured around the table, the Queen followed her maid’s path, and examined each guest that was served. Directly across the table sat Henry, the alcoholic, and a dear friend to the Queen. He called upon her at least twice a week, and they spent many a bottle of wine together throughout the years. Unknown to most her guests, she and Henry had had an affair, and still occasionally snuck off to small inns in the country, lying to Henry’s spouse and spending a weekend of lovemaking and wine drinking.

Next to Henry sat Charles, a thief. He and the Queen had never been close, but she liked the stories he told, of opium dens and Asian whorehouses. He had traveled the world, taking money when it was there to be taken, and remaining alive due to his conniving ways. Charles’ best stories were that of the Middle East, where he had spent years losing reality with opium. He told of the decorated tents, where orgies of 20 took place every night. In fact, he mentioned at dinner, that he would only be in Paris for a month, than he was planning to stowaway on a boat, wherever it would take him. Next to the Queen sat Robert, an adulterer, and a young man of 28. Although he had married three times, and had never been single for more than two months, Robert had never been faithful for more than a month. The Queen knew this, and it was no coincidence that Robert sat directly to her right. These and many more sat around the table, all shrewd faces distorted by sin. Examining the dark faces had made the Queen uneasy, with a queasy feeling building in her stomach.