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Peter's college had recently picked up gambling games as a full time affair, and whenever people weren't in class they'd be playing their luck near the dorms by playing blackjack, poker, or even roulette, it had become a spectacle to say the least. The college had tried to stop the gambling as they figured it caused them a bad reputation, but when money started exchanging hands the college surprisingly became supportive of it. People had bet away days' lunches, and tuition money was drained away in the hopes to win high stakes games. For Peter though, he was in the high echelons of the games.

The lion was a frequent visitor of the blackjack table, and would always walk away with large pots. People had accused him of card counting, but he had proved him just extremely lucky. Game after game he would wrack up money, and leave just before the low balls started hitting. Peter was in the middle of another successful game as the crowd gathered, and he smiled as he saw the king and ace get laid down in front of his large pile of chips. "Blackjack," he said smugly, and the other players growled in irritation as he asked for his chips to be cashed. "You boys better leave, this tables about to be hit by a storm," he said, grinning as the others miserably took their meager piles away to cash them.

"Peter, you'd better be careful," Chuck said, the panther had approached as his friend had hit his third table with far too much speed. "You know last time you did this well they cut half of your earnings on suspicion of counting."

Peter had been accused of counting so many times that many times a few of the professors had come to observe to make sure that he bounced enough times from table to table that it was impossible for him to be counting, and his luck held up even between tables. Now he had used the winnings to pay off his college, and he was setting up a fund for afterwards. "Don't worry so much, bud," Peter said, and thanked the teller as he gave him his cash. "Tomorrow's my twenty-second birthday, and I'm going to make it big where it really counts!"

"Las Vegas?" Chuck asked, this was the first he had been hearing of his friend's plans for his twenty-second.

Looking over at Chuck the lion had a fierce fire in his gaze that seemed unquenchable. "Not just Las Vegas my friend, but the Blackjack world series in Las Vegas," he growled in excitement, and Chuck realized that his friend had a large goal in mind.

"How're you going to get into the tournament, Pete? Only the pro players in the world get to play at that table," Chuck exclaimed, but Peter didn't seem to worried about that news. With a grin he pulled out a tape from his backpack and flaunted it.

"This has footage from my games from all around the table for the last few months, and to make sure that they didn't think I was counting I made sure to have it zoomed in on my table especially so they could see that I wasn't cheating," he explained, the lion seemed way too proud of himself for something that seemed too good to be true.

Scratching his head Chuck shook his head. "Peter, we still have college. You can't just drop out for something like that, at least finish this semester..." he pleaded, not wanting his friend to jump into something he couldn't get pulled out of.

Peter was too stubborn though to listen to his friend's words of wisdom, and waved them away. "I've already withdrawn from my classes. I have everything paid off, and I have everything in order. Chuck, I'm going to become rich!" he said, grinning that wide smile that Chuck knew too well.

For Chuck though he couldn't follow his friend's blind luck, and just shook his head. "This can't lead anywhere good. I know that you've had a lot of luck, but it's going to run out when you need it the most. I can't stand behind you doing this, because if you fail you're going to lose a lot."

For Peter though he was too blind from his luck to see that his friend was right, so he just shrugged as he started away. "I'll call you from the top of the world and tell you what life's like up there," he shouted over his shoulder, and Chuck just sighed and went on to his next class while his friend went towards his destiny.

***

Dropping into his house, Peter rushed to get the last of his stuff together as his father popped in to see what the ruckus was about. "Peter?"

Sighing as he heard his dad's voice, Peter to turned to face the older lion. "What's up, Dad?"

Gesturing to how his son's room was all packed up he cocked his eye. "I think explaining what's going on is one thing."

For a few moments Peter threw the last of his stuff in a bag before turning back to face his father. "I'm going to Vegas," he said, and from the look on his dad's face the older lion wasn't impressed. "Dad, I need to follow my luck. It's held me up so far and..."

"Yeah, so far, Peter. Don't do this to yourself. You know that if you pull some stupid shit like this, and fail, you're going to end up on your ass in the street!" His father wasn't one to mince words, and he had always given to it Peter straight up. "I don't want you to do this, son," he said, his eyes sad as he approached his son.

Peter had decided on his path though, and wasn't going to be swayed to any other path. "Well I do, Dad. I'm sorry that you feel sad, but I'll be back as soon as I win the tournament. Then I can do whatever I want!" he exclaimed, grinning up at his father.

There was a pain in his father's face though, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times before sighing deeply. "Peter, this is your choice, but please... be careful. If you jump too far into the frying pan... you're going to fry."

Though Peter wanted to reply he found that he couldn't, and just slipped past his dad without any more words. He found his mother downstairs and gave her a quick hug confusing her before going out the front door, and by the time he was driving away he could see her running out of the house in an attempt to stop him, but he was on his way to Las Vegas.

***

Peter passed through a few states before stopping in Utah for the night with Las Vegas being his plan in the morning. He had left his cell phone at home as he didn't want his parents to be calling him every few minutes to try to get home. His dad and mother both worked, so they wouldn't be able to just ditch work to come after him, so he was set to go to Las Vegas. The night went quick though Peter had to talk to some missionaries for more than enough time for him, and in the morning he was off before they were able to come to his door once more for their follow up.

Off to Las Vegas Peter went, and as he entered into the city that never slept he found himself with a big grin on his face as he stopped at a very ritzy hotel he'd ordered a room for. It was running him a pretty penny, but he wasn't above forking out cash for his own luxury, especially when he was about to become a legendary Blackjack winner. After checking in and dropping his stuff off, he went downstairs and approached the front desk. He'd heard that the big leaders of the tournament were housing in the hotel, and Peter was going to get in one way or another. "Excuse me, I'd like to know Mister Davis' room number," he said confidently, and from the look on the vixen's face she wasn't buying it.

"Mister Davis is a very busy man, and if he wanted you to be meeting him you would've already known his room number," she said, obviously having been asked this question far too many times.

Peter wasn't one to be swayed easily though, so with a wise smile he nodded a few times and slid away and walked into the large casino room. "If Mister Davis is staying in a place like this, then he can't resist watching some amateur play..." he chuckled, and walked over to one of the counters. "I'd like to buy in for some poker chips."

From the look on the teller's face, he was in no way buying it. "Sir, this is a very high priced establishment. Unless you're willing to buy in for five thousand..."

Slapping down a stack of five thousand, Peter smiled smugly as the teller blinked in shock and got down to flipping through the billfolds quickly before tightening his lips and grabbing the chips. "Here you are sir," he said tightly, and Peter took an eternity to slowly pick up the chips before turning around and smiling.

"Let's go," he said to himself, and Peter hit the blackjack tables. Like a force of nature he started sweeping through the tables, and started to wrack up an insubordinate amount of money in a fast pace. Usually he attempted to stay low in the tables so nobody would think he was counting, but this was exactly the point that he wanted to make. If Davis was watching, this would make quite the impression.

Scratching the table, swishing his hand, and playing the cards was Peter's life, and lion only at 22 was making himself a good rack of cash in a short amount of time... too short. He knew that the cameras were turning on him, and they were trying to catch him counting. The lion hopped too much though, didn't pay enough attention to count all of the tables. Finally he felt a tap on his shoulder, and Peter put on his biggest smile as he turned to face a muscular fox in a very tight thong. "Yes?" he asked, the fox didn't seem too bright, but from his muscles Peter was pretty sure he didn't have to think with his brain.

"Mister Davis, wants you," the fox said in a low tone, and motioned for Peter to follow. Peter nodded and quickly cashed out his chips before following behind the fox. At a table surrounded by muscular anthros there sat a simple looking horse, and as Peter approached he set the cards down and motioned for peter to sit across from him.

As the lion sat down, Mister Davis shuffled the deck a few more times as he observed the young man, and finally he spoke. "So I heard you were asking about me," he stated, not a question. Peter nodded, and Mister Davis nodded a few more times. "Why would that be?" he asked, though Peter knew that the horse knew exactly why.

"Do you have to ask?" Peter asked, hiding his smile behind his paws.

"Indulge me," the horse said, smiling as well.

For a few moments Peter was quiet before nodding. "I've always been good at blackjack," he started, glancing at Mister Davis as if he might ask something, but the horse just looked at him. "Card games in general actually. Since I've been young I've had a deft hand at cards, and I've rarely if ever lost a card game. I've swept boards without hardly trying, and now I think I'm ready to enter the blackjack world series," he said, grinning at Mister Davis.

The horse sniffed and nodded a few more times before setting his cards down on the table. Peter noticed that when he looked at them that they seemed to be completely black on the back with a few odd scribbles on the back. "So you'd like to get into my game?" he asked, and Peter shivered as the horse asked. From the way Mister Davis had spoken about blackjack, he seemed to be asking if Peter was good enough to play with his very own child.

For a few moments Peter felt doubtful, his tail swishing a few times nervously before he steeled himself and that confident grin appeared again. "Of course," he said, and the horse nodded a few more times.

"Alright, well I've been watching you since you started sweeping the tables out there, and I have to say that I am indeed impressed. If you were trying to make a statement, then my dear boy I have to say that you did. Now since all of the players have officially already been chosen, for you I have to make a very special deal," he said, smiling as he pulled out a paper from his pocket and set it out on the table.

"Deal?" Peter asked, curiously glancing at the paper, but the words on the paper were all law mumbo jumbo.

"Yes. It wouldn't be fair of me to just let another player in all of a sudden changing up the game, so as a sort of bargain for you to enter the game, I just have a few stipulations." Mister Davis looked at Peter, and the lion nodded for him to go on. "The first stipulation, is that you must win. If you don't there will be... consequences..." he said, smiling with an almost fiery gaze at Peter.

"Don't worry, I don't intend to lose," Peter chuckled, and Mister Davis chuckled as well.

"Confidence, there's nothing more I love. The second stipulation, is that you are not allowed to drop out at any time. If you do, it'll be considered losing and the consequences will be the same," Mister Davis said, and with a confident nod Peter made it known that he didn't intend to drop out. "The third, and final, stipulation is that you will never speak of our deal. Even if you do win, our deal is never to be spoken of. It is of dear importance," he said, and Peter grinned.

"You have my word, Mister Davis," he said, and with a flourish the horse pulled out a quill pen.

"Then sign away," he said, and Peter though surprised to see the quill pen signed the paper and slid the paper back to the horse. "Our deal is done then," Mister Davis said, and waved Peter away. "Someone will come to your room with the information for your first match, be ready," he said, and Peter walked away with a giant grin on his face. He was in!

***

Peter received the information in the middle of the night from one of Davis' muscled men. The first game he was to play in would be happening the very next day in the basement of the building they were in now, and Peter couldn't wait to show off his playing abilities. He didn't sleep for the rest of the night, and instead practiced a few games of blackjack online just to make sure he was up to snuff.

It was at noon that the lion left from his room for the game, and after being directed to the correct elevator by the front desk woman he made his way down. Something was odd though as he stepped out of the elevator, all of the walls seemed to shift with some sort of shadow. Peter assumed it was his lack of lseep though, so he made his way to the poker room, but upon entering he realized something was wrong. Rather than a bunch of people sitting around a large table, it was a small table you'd see at a family reunion for the family members who got there late for dinner, and on the other side of an empty chair was Mister Davis himself shuffling the cards. "What's going on?" Peter asked, stepping into the room with a cautious step.

"My dear, Peter. I know that you assumed you would be playing in the tournament, but if you had actually read our contract you would've seen something else. The first game you were to play wouldn't be in the actual tournament, but rather a game against me before you could even enter," the horse chuckled, and setting down his cards he motioned for Peter to take a seat.

For a moment Peter about near flipped the table that Mister Davis was sitting at, but taking a deep breath he sat down. "This isn't what I agreed to," he said, his claws digging into the surface of the table.

"Oh but it is. You signed the contract, and it is quite binding," Mister Davis said, smirking as he quickly dealt two cards to the lion. "You will be able to play in the world series as promised if you can beat me in a game," he said, and Peter started to get the feeling that something was very wrong as when he looked back he realized the door was gone.

Turning back to the horse, Peter shakingly picked up the cards but didn't look at them. "What is this really?" he asked, fear starting to take over as he got ready to play.

"This is a game for your luck my dear, Peter. You and the rest of the world know me as Mister Davis, but in fact I'm not any ordinary horse. I'm a demon, and a very very ancient one. One who's dealt with luck for all of the eons that I've walked upon this plane. I've made all of these games that you creatures all play, and I love to play against those with an inordinate amount of luck such as yourself." All the while the room had seemed to close in tighter and tighter with darkness until Peter found that there was no way to run and he was forced to stay seated at his tiny chair.

"Luck?" Peter asked, his breaths were shallow as he nervously fiddled with the cold cards in hand.

"Yes, such as yourself. You see the creatures of this world come with it naturally, and some come with more than the ordinary. You are such one, and you have a ridiculous amount if I do say so myself. The amount of luck you have pretty much promises that you will win in any game that you play. That is... unless you played against one who's absorbed mortal luck for eternity such as myself," he chuckled, and Peter realized how much trouble he was in as he gripped the cards tightly.

"So if I lose, the consequences are..." Peter started, and Mister Davis nodded.

"I take your luck, but not only that. I take you into my fold of men, as I'm sure you've noticed I've accumulated many men. They were all once like yourself, extremely lucky, and very cocky. Once I beat them though, I took away their luck, and their mortality, and their souls. They are my immortal slaves, and they've all grown to love it since I made them into my horny pets," the horse chuckled, and with a motion of his hand he smiled. "Your go, Peter. Here we start the real game."

Looking down at his hand, Peter blanched as he saw pictures of extremely realistic people in the cards. They looked very similar to the people that served the demon, and looking up all he saw was Davis smiling widely. "Is something the matter?" he asked, and Peter shook his head nervously before looking down. He had a King and a ten, so as long as Mister Davis didn't have anything higher he should be good.

"I'll stay," he said, his hands shaking as he looked up.

For a moment Davis looked at his hands and nodded, "I'll stay as well." They both presented their hands, Peter had a twenty and... Davis had a twenty one with a King and an Ace. "It looks like you've lost this one," Davis said, and Peter gasped for breath as he felt something... disappear. "Also, I'm sure that you've noticed that we aren't betting with chips. You see, we both have three 'chips' so to speak, and if either of us lose all three, then we lose. That was your first 'chip', so only two more to go."

"Yes, Master," Peter said, and slapped his hand over his mouth.

"Oh, little tidbit about your 'chips', Peter. Your freedom, and luck are also being taken away with each just to let you know. So you'd better be careful, as I've had many people forfeit their last chip because they wanted to serve me so badly," Mister Davis laughed, and with a slap of his fist to the table Peter glared at him.

"Let's do the next round, demon," he growled, and Mister Davis nodded and with a gesture to the cards they each received another hand. Peter glanced at his hand, and smiled when he saw a twenty one sitting there. "I'll stay," he said, and Mister Davis just nodded.

"I'll take a card," Davis said, and from the pile another card slid to his hand, and with a look at the card he nodded. "It seems that I went over," he said, and laid down a twenty two.

Peter sighed in relief as he saw the demon shiver a little before two more cards were laid before him. Looking at the hand he saw that he had a ten and a five, and for a moment he nearly said that was good enough before he blinked away the thought. "I... hit me," he said, and another card came to hand. It was a six, and with a relaxed sigh he smiled. "I'll stay." Davis looked at his hand, and nodded. "I'll stay as well," and when they revealed they both shared twenty one. "It looks like a tie, and I'll have to admit that I don't like ties. I always feel that they make the game a bit dull... so..." Peter shuddered and felt breathless once more as he felt another 'chip' get taken from him, but at a glance he saw Davis take one too.

"You can't do that..." the lion huffed, it wasn't fair that though they had a draw they still lost the 'chips'. "We should've been spared, master," he said, and winced as the word came out again.

"It doesn't matter much to me, Peter. If I lose then I lose, and you get to go to your dream. If you lose though... I win," he smiled, and Peter knew that he would win much more than just the game. The next draw happened, and Peter looked down at his cards, and saw that he held a twenty one, but one of the two, the ace was blank save for the A. He knew he could win... he would win... and as he looked up at Mister Davis he saw a smirk on the demon's face, and he knew what to do.

"I'm dropping out," Peter said, and for a moment he froze completely as he realized what he said. "I didn't mean that, I mean I'm dropping out and surrendering to you, Master," he said, and with a slap to his mouth he realized that he couldn't announce that he had won.

Mister Davis's smile was growing larger as he watched the young lion try to announce what he really meant. "Peter, just say what you mean. I'm all ears," he said, and with one last grin he leaned forward. "Do you announce defeat?" he asked, and Peter froze as his hand slowly fell to the table, and the cards landed there face down.

"Yes, I surrender my luck, and my soul to you," he said, and with a final shake he slumped his head as the demon set his hand face up revealing that he held two twos.

"Very good," the demon said, and picking up Peter's cards he pulled out the blank ace and held it right up for Peter to see. "Look at this, Peter."

Peter looked up, and everything disappeared for a moment as his very own image appeared on the card, and all of his luck and freedom faded in favor of his master's will. Peter vanished as his body twitched, and his clothes ripped off as all of his muscles grew to ridiculous proporitions. His underwear faded for Mister Davis' much preferred tight speedos, and the room reverted back to normal as his master stood up, and the dim lion stood up as his speedo bulged out to meet the massive meat held behind it. "Master," he said, completely enthralled by his master's will.

The demon was silent for a moment as he felt Peter's luck fill him, and grinned as he realized that there was no game he could lose now. "My pet, truly you're one of the finest I've ever caught," he said, admiring the lion as his chest bulged into a gorgeous eight pack, and his arms swelled with muscle. "A bet that I'm glad to have placed," Mister Davis chuckled, and with a flick of his finger a hole appeared in the wall. "Follow me, we're to return to my home. I have to show off my hottest prize to my family," he chuckled, cupping the lion's giant member as they stepped through the portal.