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The taste of the sentiment of fading innocence. The most delicious taste the media mogul, Charles Augustus Milverton could ever swallow. He considered himself to be the incarnation of pure evil whose greatest pleasure was tempting the good-hearted to sin. He was like the ancient serpent which made the first humans, Adam and Eve, fall for their temptation and caused their banishment from paradise. Adam and Eve were innocent at the start, they didn't have the knowledge, they couldn't see who they really were, who they meant to become - but after their first sin, their eyes finally opened and they saw that they were naked. This was Milverton's chosen mission as well. To erase innocence from the world completely and make everyone's heart turn to sin, make them see their real self.
Which was evil.
Milverton ruined the souls of more people he could even count. All of these temptations were fun and fuelled his urge to continue his mission even more. When he swallowed that delicate taste, he felt like he was reborn - a new wave of power spread inside him. This made Milverton's hunger for evil grow and the evil joy after each crime was bursting in his heart. The sins he made his victims commit made him content - almost content. He was aware that he still needed something - someone to reach the highest level of fulfillment.
His very own Eve.
Milverton always longed to have a partner in evil. Someone who listens to him just like Eve listened to the snake, someone who wants to get the forbidden knowledge as much as he craved it. He craved his own Eve - but he didn't want to rush with making the decision who it should be. He knew that he needed to choose the candidate really carefully. Only one person out there was worthy to be his Eve, to fall to sin by Milverton's temptation - and being happy by it. Milverton tried to find the right one who could understand the beauty of his mission, but until that fateful day, all his choices failed him, so Milverton needed to get rid of them cruelly. He started to give up on the hope that he would even find the one he was looking for when he met that young man with wide, brown eyes.
His next secretary - and last choice for the position he wanted to fulfill.
The young man's name was Ruskin and he was a hard-working and usually silent employee. Yet, despite his shy nature, Milverton could see the stolen glances the young secretary gave him. They were all filled with awe and worship like Ruskin thought of him as his god. Whenever Milverton complimented him, Ruskin became flustered like he was about to pass out from the joy, his wide eyes were sparkling from love and devotion. Milverton watched him and he thought that this was the look of his perfect Eve, the one he imagined next to himself as the snake. He was sure that he found his partner in evil, but he still needed to put the young Ruskin through a test to determine it. One last test - and if the young man fails, Milverton will remain without Eve, not chasing the evil dream picture further.
Oh, Ruskin, you can't fail.
He called his secretary in the study that afternoon. Ruskin walked in and stopped in front of him, his brown gaze was full of the usual emotions. Awe. Worship. Devotion. Love. Milverton watched it for a long moment and he knew that it will be decided now.
"You are loyal to me, Ruskin - at least, you swore to be when you entered my service." He started and curiously tilted his head. "But how far will your loyalty go towards me?"
A smile started to form at the corner of Ruskin's mouth. Milverton never saw him smile before and this hit him again. The face of his one true Eve.
Ruskin knelt down in front of him and lowered his head while he still kept eye contact with Milverton. It was like he expected this question to come. He was not surprised at all. It seemed that his devotion even grew as he gave the answer.
"I would do everything for you, Mr. Milverton. Everything you wish for."
Milverton liked this straightforwardness. He leaned towards Ruskin and asked in a serious voice.
"Would you even kill an innocent person if that is what I wish for?"
He watched Ruskin's expression, but he saw no sign of horror. Ruskin was not disgusted or bewildered by the request. Instead, his smile widened and his devoted gaze sparkled even more.
"Of course, Mr. Milverton." He answered cheerfully. "Just tell me the name of that person and I will bring their head to you on a plate in a few hours."
Milverton finally responded to Ruskin's smile with a wide grin. The feeling of certainty made his heart beating faster. He just watched Ruskin and he didn't doubt that he would commit the crime for him.
He will finally get his Eve.
"Perfect." He said and licked his lips. He could already feel the taste of innocence fading away. His very own Eve's innocence.
It was the sweetest taste in the world.