AN: These first few chapters will have character deaths. Just a bit of a warning.

As I woke, my face turned into the crook of my bare arm. My hand rested on one of the soft pillows further up from my head. I felt a soft pressure on my chest. I looked down at my sleeping partner.

It must have been a good night. She was probably the third prettiest girl I had ever slept with. Blonde. I kissed her hair golden honey hair.

She mumbled as she shifted awake. Her arms around my chest held me tighter for a moment.

"Buenas Dias, mi amor." I went back to my favorite pet name. I couldn't quite remember her name. My hand went to her side and traced up her curves. My touch raised goosebumps on her skin.

"Is it morning already?" she replied sleepily.

"Sí." I kissed her head again. She tilted her head up and slowly kissed my lips. Her lips moved in a sweet, intense way.

"Do you really have to go?" She was reluctant to let me, but I escaped from her reach.

"Sí. The ship leaves and just a few hours. My crew is already waiting for me."

I picked up my clothes which were strewn haphazardly on the floor. Women loved a man in uniform, but it seemed they really loved them when their uniform was on the ground. I heard the bells at a nearby church ring. Damn, I was already late. I finished up the rest of my buttons, slipped on my boots, and practically ran out the door.

"Captain Antonio..." my love of the night called out.

Right, I'd have to make this farewell short and sweet.

"My love for you burns brightly like the sun. And in the morning, when I look east, I will think of you and my home fondly. I am not certain I will return to either of you, but I know I must leave you both for my God and my country."

I rushed down the stairs of the small inn. I had told them to meet me at the ship and ready to sail at a quarter 'til nine, and the bells were already on the ninth toll.

"Well, if it isn't Conquistador Carriedo."

I stopped mid-step when I heard the familiar voice. I turned and grinned at the aging man.

"Padre!" I hooked my arm around him and hurried him along with me. "It's been too long!"

"It seems like just yesterday you were running around in the orphanage with the rest of the boys." He huffed along as he tried to keep up with my pace.

"What brings you this far away from the monastery, Father Miguel? How are the little niños? I'm sorry I couldn't visit this time. Tell Pablo I'll keep my promise to play football with him next time I come back."

We had made it outside and were headed straight towards the harbor. I'd never hear the end of it once I was reunited with my crew.

"Oh, the boys are fine. They are always eager to hear stories of their older brother," Father Miguel continued our conversation. "Actually, these stories are part of the reason I came to see you off before you headed out to the New World."

"Oh, and what has the rumor mill been saying this time? Any good ones?"

I was used to people talking about me in one way or another. I had always been too adventurous for the orphanage walls and tended to get myself in a bit of trouble. Father Miguel had to bail me out several times.

"I'm afraid not, Antonio. Rather horrible stories this time."

My ship wasn't that far away. I could see its sails billowing in the wind, eager to go. Father Miguel stopped me dead in my tracks. He had the stern face that he always wore when he lectured me.

"They say that you're a legend on the battlefield. That you can kill seven 'savages' with one swing of your battle axe."

Seven? That was pretty impressive. I'm pretty sure my record had been five. I wonder where the other two came from?

"But you don't just conquer on the battlefield. They also that you're a legend in the bedroom. They say that you've broken over 100 women's hearts. You sleep with them and vanish without a word."

Had it really been one hundred already? I lost count long ago.

"Let their tongues wag. You know how the people in the village like their gossip," I tried to comfort the old man.

"Oh, Captain."

It was the blonde from this morning. She approached me from behind.

"You forgot your hat."

She placed my old hat over my brown curly hair. She wrapped her arms around my chest once again. Her body was pressed up to me from behind. Her fingers spread apart as her hands felt for my muscles under my clothes. Her hands went lower and lower and then slowly back up.

"Remember to save some treasure for me," she said, finally unwrapping herself from me. She squeezed my ass, strongly suggesting just what sort of "treasure" she was looking forward to.

I turned around and grabbed one of her curious hands. I brought her fingers to my lips.

"Of course, mi corazón." I smiled and winked at her.

She headed back the way she came. My eyes were glued to her hips as they swung side to side. Maybe I would come back to this one. If I could actually remember her name.

When I turned back, Father Miguel's face was getting redder by the second. He was so angry that the red reached all the way to his bald spot.

"I see now that they weren't all baseless. Have you no shame, Antonio? Just what kind of sinner have you turned out to be?"

"You caught me, Padre. But who am I to deny someone a little adventure? I would take any of them as my wife if any of them liked adventure half as much as me, but they always want to return to their boring lives. What's one night of sinful passion? As for the savages, it's not like I enjoy killing them. But if mother Spain wants me to, who am I to say no to my boss? Tell you what. When I come back, I'll come and confess all my sins to you. How does that sound?"

Father Miguel shook his head. "There is so much you have yet to learn. You aren't invincible. You never know when a moment will be your last. Especially in these times."

"Why don't you come along with us? You could keep an eye on me, and our ship is in need of a new chaplain," I suggested.

"You know I can't do that. The boys in the orphanage need me," Father Miguel replied. I thought I could see a little twinkle in his eye. Everybody loved the allure of adventure, but like most, he stuck with his boring regular life.

I pulled my coin purse out of my pocket. I shook it a bit so the father could hear the clink of gold coins. I grabbed his hand and placed it in his palm.

"Buy some chocolate for the boys for me," I said, winking.

Father's eyes went wide when he pulled back the drawstrings to see just how much of my salary I had given away. I really needed to get to my ship. I walked quickly past him.

"Sometimes, Antonio, I can't tell if you're a devil or a saint. May God bless you and your ship on your voyage."

I waved my hand in acknowledgement. I pulled my cross necklace from under my shirt. I kissed it in an echo of Father Miguel's prayer.

I climbed onto my ship. Just as I suspected, my whole crew was waiting for me. They burst out in applause when they saw me. A few whistled loudly. They all knew of my exploits of last night and why I was late.

"All right mi amigos! Let's cast off! The New World isn't going to take itself! Vamanos!"

The ship was full of cheers. Many were eager for the gold that awaited us. Before long we were out in the great ocean.

I woke from my nightmare in a cold sweat. I sat up immediately. Damn it, that was the ninth one in row. I was hardly getting enough sleep as it was.

This last conquest had been a particularly horrifying one. So much death. Women and children soaked in their blood on the ground. The smell of iron and dirt and rain. The man who slit his own throat in front of me before I could kill him. The memory always woke me up shaking.

Was it even worth it anymore? I couldn't take it anymore. Maybe settling down wasn't such a bad thing anymore. Maybe I could help Father Miguel at the orphanage. Maybe start a little family with a little chica with some spunk. Go into early retirement. We had certainly gotten enough gold this time. Blood money.

My ship lurched to the side. I could hear the yells of my men above deck. Damn it, not pirates. I slipped my clothes on, grabbed my sword, and ran to join my crew.

There was fog everywhere. They had come without warning. The only inclination that we had to where they were was from the gaping whole in the hull of the port side of the ship. My men were firing blind. The disconcerting thing was that each cannonball splashed harmlessly into the water. We were sitting ducks.

Suddenly, dozens of grappling hooks hooked onto the starboard side of the ship. They must have sailed to the other side without us noticing. I yelled for my crew's attention. We cut as many as we could, but the barbaric swine dared to force their way to my ship. My men were falling one by one. My comrades were dying all around me. I could feel my blood lust rising. I mercilessly killed the barbaric English men closest to me. I knew my nightmares would only get worse after this, but I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, urging me to kill.

Then I saw him. The infamous English captain, Arthur Kirkland. Several of Spain's ships had been raided by this guy. He only kept survivors as hostage. And they never lasted long once given back.

The steel of my blade hit his before I knew it. I wanted his head, that's all I knew. This guy had ended the lives of dozens of my friends. Cost my country several thousand galleons. It was my duty to my country and sincere pleasure to kill this monster.

He just grinned at me. There was no need for a common language between us. He was itching for a fight just as badly as me. He gestured for his men to back down, and he returned my attack.

I found out pretty quickly he was out of my league. He was merciless. He held nothing back. He was experienced with killing fighters. I had only killed people who could hardly defend themselves. My blood rage faded, and I was just fighting to stay alive. My adrenaline was pumping, but it still wasn't enough. I was getting tired. I began to question why I was even fighting. Either way, I was going to die. My crew was all dead at this point. I had absolutely had nothing to live for anymore.

I wasn't even paying attention to my surroundings. My fear was all focused on Captain Arthur Kirkland. I tripped over one of the dead bodies. I couldn't scramble out of the way. Captain Kirkland gave an evil little smile. He knew he had won. He raised his foot and smashed his boot onto my head.

I hadn't expected to regain consciousness. My head felt like I should be dead. Blood sealed one of my eyelids closed. It hurt to open the other one. I could see Captain Kirkland not far from my face. He had been waiting for me. I spit in his face. That was the only thing I could I do considering I was tied to a chair, though I don't I could actually move without the tight ropes.

He simply wiped the saliva from his face. Then he pressed his fingers into my head wound.

I screamed in pain. I could feel my consciousness slipping away again as my vision went black and red. He smiled through my torture. One of his crew men gave him a handkerchief, and he wiped the blood off his hands. He said something to me, but I couldn't understand his ugly language. He abandoned my ship for his own and sailed away.

How cruel. He was going to abandon me here in the middle of nowhere on my sinking ship. At least I wouldn't have to endure the torture of being his prisoner. The corpses of my crew lay around me. How long would it take me to died as well? I considered biting my tongue to hasten the inevitable.

The ship lurched again. My chair tipped over. Great, now they were using me and my ship as target practice. I just prayed that this would just cause death to come faster.

My prayer was heard. A bullet ripped through my forehead. He must have had a moment of mercy, or just wanted to show off the skill of his marksman. Either way, I was happy to greet death. To see my friends in heaven.

It was hot. Too hot. The flames were licking at my skin. I screamed in agonizing pain. My voice was in sync with thousands of other screams. What was happening? I was already dead, why did I hurt so much? Did they decide to set my ship ablaze, too? My body turned to ashes?

I managed to open my eyes. I was chained to the burning ground. The hot metal searing my skin. This couldn't be happening. This was hell!

"There must be some sort of mistake! I don't belong here!" I cried out. Could they hear me? Other souls were calling out around me. I called out louder and louder.

A demon appeared before me in a blaze of dark red fire. His hair was silvery white, but his eyes were burning with red fire. Long red horns protruded from his head. His long red tail flicked from side to side like a whip. "Dude, would you just shut up?"

"You don't understand! I don't belong here!" I tried to explain.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. None of these people do."

"Then let us go!" I struggled against my chains. How could they keep us here?

"Dude, I was being sarcastic. Truth is that you fucked up in life, Antonio Carriedo. Murder, adulterer, thief, liar. That's a pretty hefty list. You're pretty lucky that you only get an eternity of burning," he said as he read off some sort of paper.

"No! I was a good man!" I pleaded.

"Are you saying you didn't do any of this? You can lie all you want, I guess. You're already in hell," he raised one bleached white eyebrow.

"But I was going to confess! I was..."

"Too bad. You don't get to heaven on good intentions," he sneered and disappeared.

I closed my eyes. Father Miguel was right. Why couldn't I have just listened to him? I focused on the cold metal cross that rested on my chest. Father Miguel had given me that day when I became a man. The memory comforted me. If I could hold onto this, I could have just a bit of comfort in hell.

The burning disappeared. The chains fell from my wrist. I opened my eyes. What was happening now?

The fire was still on my skin, but it didn't burn anymore. I took a step. I tingled, but I wasn't in pain.

The demon burned into view again. "Can't you just burn in peace like everyone else? What the hell did you do this time?"

"I don't belong here," I said with more confidence this time.

"Dude, we've been through this. I don't know what you did, but just..."

His hand went to my chest, right over where my cross was hidden. Smoke came from where he touched me.

"Ouch! Seriously, what the hell?" He held his hand tenderly.

With genuine curiosity, I brought out my cross necklace. It was glowing a dull orange.

The demon hissed at it. I held it in front of him. He flinched.

"Get me out of here," I threatened.

"Fine! Just put that thing away!"

I put the cross under my shirt. The demon hesitantly grabbed my arm and we burned away.

We were in a different, black burning room. I ripped my arm from his traitorous hand.

"You demon scum! I thought I told you to get me out of here!" I reached for my cross.

"Shut up!" he hissed insistently at me.

"Gilbert, how many times do I have to tell you not to bring such filth into my presence?"

The powerful voice sent me shaking. It sounded like rotting flesh and terror and brimstone and fire. I was brought to my knees unwillingly. Like there was the weight of ten worlds on my shoulders.

"Lord Lucifer, this undeserving soul has a blessing on him. A pretty powerful one at that," the demon named Gilbert cowered.

"What have I told you about wasting my time?" Lucifer shouted.

Gilbert writhed on the ground. His body contorted, and his eyes rolled back. White foam seeped from the corners of his mouth.

I struggled to get my hand to my necklace. I drew out my cross that was now glowing a bright white light.

The weight slowly began to lessen. I was able to regain the ability to stand.

"I don't belong here," I repeated.

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "You dare to bring something like that into my presence, unworthy soul?"

I didn't back down. I had my cross for a reason. Father Miguel's blessing was all I had left. "Release me."

Lucifer laughed. "You have no power here, foolish mortal. Your tiny blessing does nothing to me." He flicked the air, and my cross fell out of my hands and swirled around my neck.

Hopelessness set in. I had nothing. I was never going to leave here. I had only been fooling myself.

"Yet, you have pleased me, little soul. Your persistence amuses me. I'll give you a rare gift."

I raised my head in confusion. The devil was never known to show mercy.

"Work for me, and I'll give you a second chance at life. A fresh start. Convert one billion souls to evil and I'll let you free."

"Demons don't create promises," I repeated one if Father Miguel's lessons.

"Do not underestimate my powers!" Lucifer shouted. "And do not try my patience! I will not hesitate to throw you into the deepest pits where the pathetic desire of life is thrown aside in comfort of the searing fire."

I was brought to my knees. Tears of blood streamed from my eyes.

Lucifer walked over to me. He placed one long finger on my forehead. It held like acid was being poured through my head. I screamed in agony.

"You will be my demon." I could hear him over my deafening screams. "You will not ever take out your cross again. You will tell no one of your pathetic blessing. You will obey my every command. Is that understood?"

I nodded. My blood tears and sweat evaporated in the fire. Growths pierced out of my head. Lucifer removed his finger and I caught myself as I fell forward. I panted in and out.

"Gilbert, take him out of here," Lucifer as he walked away. I barely noticed as Gilbert took me and burned me away.

"Dude, you were so lucky. He must have liked you because of my awesome recommendation. Kesesesese!" Gilbert said.

I ignored him and his ego. The room was surrounded by red blood glass. I got closer to the wall and placed the hand on my reflection. Devilish horns stuck out from my brown hair. My fingers wrapped around the tail that came from my pants. It really was mine. I was a demon. A servant of the devil. Just what had I done?