The main was a sizable beef wellington with roasted potatoes and steamed vegetables; but Mara couldn't get enough of their entrées still decorating their table. The bite-sized quiches, the bruschettas, the crispy little tacos filled with duck strips, the addictive mini-sized grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, the lightly grilled oysters... it was troublesome to eat such delicious food and remain so composed. Mostly, it was the veil getting in the way, but part of her was also thankful it helped cover up some mouthful mishaps; she would die first before letting Mammon pick up on her gluttony! She’d never live it down.

Some of the other guest demons had different things to eat, she noted; thick and gooey things she preferred not to enquire about.

The atmosphere settled as people turned to their small chatters, drinks and nibbles. Some grey servants walked around clearing tables, while others topped up drinks, and served whatever other aperitifs the guests wanted. She looked around, but Miina was nowhere to be seen. Neither was anyone that looked remotely similar to Louis, not as she remembered him anyway.

Then someone tapped her shoulder. It was Lady donkey, as she now thought of her. With a ghastly smile, the demon Lady nudged her to the new tray a grey servant was holding for them. It was time for dessert! Her attention span zeroed in to the choices: Cherry apple tart or chocolate fondant cake?

No one should have to make this dreadful choice!

She picked both. Then smiled eagerly at Lady donkey, but this one was already throwing down spoon-fulls of her own chocolate cake.

‘Such a small person, such a bottomless stomach. I hope it’s just nerves and not endless hunger?’ Mammon said as he sipped his tea.

‘Brain food; sugar is good for the brain.’ She replied, as dismissively as she could.

‘Yes, of course. Many dead diabetics here will agree with you. Just by that measure though, you must be the smartest soul in the room right now.’

Mara dismissed the sarcasm and fixed her eyes on her plates. Which one to start with? Cherry tart, it is.

‘Oh, my god! This is divine! How can you not have dessert at a party?!’

‘I care little for sweet things. Also, I would suggest refraining from calling out to god, or using words like divine around here, even if through your mind. If you just take a moment to remember where you are right now, I think you'll know what I mean.’

It was easy to ignore him. Nothing could ruin this deliciousness.

**

‘You seem distracted, son.’ His father’s timbered voice cut through his thoughts.

‘I’m just enjoying dinner, father.’ Lucious replied, indifferently, though annoyed at himself for being caught; his eyes kept finding their way to Mara’s table. At least she seemed more relaxed.

‘Hm. I hear you have a special guest this evening.’

Lucious squeezed his glass of wine ever so lightly. ‘I do. Not one of major importance, just a girl.’

Leviathan gave a loud and dismissive cackle.

‘Which one is she?’ — Satan continued after giving Leviathan a look that told him he was not invited to this conversation. — ‘The one with the veil sitting with your wolf? Why haven’t you introduced her to us?’

‘She’s no one important; Just an object of research.’

‘Hm. What kind of research?’

Lucious wavered. Satan had never shown an interest in his work before.

‘Nothing that you would deem interesting, father. It’s for a new medicinal plant I’m trying to grow in Nebula’s Arc. Some human souls have a particular component that may-’

‘Sounds fascinating! Let’s have a look at her then.’ Satan said as he downed the last of his wine only to have the glass immediately refilled by a grey servant.

Lucious pressed his lips. His hesitation had cost him. There was little anyone could hide from Satan if he really wanted to know after all. He had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but at least they had prepared for it. He nodded to Mammon; it was time.

***

Mammon’s hand was extended to her after he stood up. She searched his face as she swallowed the first piece of the delicious chocolate cake, unsure of what he was after. She was startled to find his smile was gone.

‘What, um… what’s going on?’

‘We will introduce you to the royal family, it’s time.’

It wasn’t what he said, but how it devoid of emotion.

She hesitated. Looking over at the royals proved to be a mistake. They were all looking in her direction, in wait, but it was Satan’s eyes that met hers. Lucious and Mammon told her that no one could see her under the veil, but there he was, the devil himself, staring at her; right through her soul, she felt it.

‘Mara, this is what we talked about. Just take my hand and it will be alright.’ His urgent tone was there, but she only saw Satan’s pitch-black eyes fixed on her. Fear weighed her down in her seat. A prickling sensation rose from the back of her neck, and her hands felt moist, even as she crumpled them in her dress.

‘What’s taking so long? Wolf, bring her over here.’ The Devil said loud enough to silence the hall. Even Lady donkey stopped eating, her eyes wide.

‘Mara, I promise you it will be alright. Take my hand. Mara…’ Mammon again.

He called for her repeatedly, but just like when she started losing her hearing as a child, his voice in her mind became small and distant until she no longer heard him.

****

At his table, Lucious’ knuckles turned white, so hard was his fist below the table. He couldn’t reach her mind without risking his father hearing him. His mother reached for her husband’s face, with a gentle caress and whispered words seeking his attention, but Satan’s gaze was rapt on Mara. He would not let this go.

Lucious clenched his teeth.

With a snap of his fingers, Satan fired. Too quick for her, or anyone else to react to. Like a laser beam, it pierced and disappeared in her chest.

‘Mara!!’ Lucious shouted as he stood knocking his chair and ran to her.

Mammon reached for her, saving her from hitting the ground, but she had already buckled. Lucious was with them the very next second. Loud gasps erupted through the hall, confusion reigned in:

Satan had attacked his own son’s guest.

Lucious heard his mother call out to him as she too shot herself up, but then there was only Satan's laughter.

‘Mara! Mara!!’ Lucious shook her.

She blinked a few times and took a ragged breath, confusion in her eyes. There was no blood, no wound. Nothing.

‘It was a shot of the grey.’ Mammon told him.

Lucious inspected her again, as if he hadn’t heard him. He needed to make sure. Why isn’t she responding! He then felt Mammon clasp his shoulder.

‘Lucious, it was a shot of grey. Nothing else. She’s unhurt.’

Mammon’s tone brought him back, reminding him where he was, and that he was being observed. He needed to control himself.

He observed Mara one more time. She was more awake now, and though she did not seem in pain, tears were forming in her eyes. Mammon helped her up while Lucious remained hunched over.

This was a trap. His father’s way to dig into his plans or to test him for sport. Either way, it was blatant provocation. If he reacted now, it would be against his better judgement, he’d be risking everything he had been working for.

He knew this.

Yet the image of Mara falling wouldn’t leave him.

He let the red take him. His horns and talons grew longer as he stood and started towards the dais. Through gritted teeth, he said:

‘This is how you treat a guest under my protection?!’

‘Last I checked, this was still my house. Besides, your guest was being impertinent, I think I was actually quite lenient. We’ve done much worse for far less rudeness; I shouldn’t have to explain this to you.’ Satan said coolly.

‘You have no right!’ Lucious almost shouted.

‘No right, he says!’ Satan burst into a hearty laughter which spread to Leviathan, and then across the hall. When Satan gradually stopped, the chamber went silent again. His tone grew colder as he said, ‘What would you know about rights? What have you ever done to earn yours, hm? Whatever rights you think you have, you must be really confident in them, to pull the red on me. This is indeed a momentous evening, or maybe, a challenging evening! Is that what this is, boy? A challenge?’

Reluctantly, Lucious called off his red and pulled back his claws. Instead of infuriating him further, the laughter that had spread around the room had helped him back to reason. He shouldn’t fall further into his father’s affronts. It was all the devil wanted. Maybe realising his provocation had fizzled out, his father returned his dark gaze to Mara.

‘More importantly, I sent a command, did I not? Why is she not obeying?’

Lucious clenched his fists. Everything could collapse here before it even began.

‘Tell me, boy. What exactly is she?’

*****

Mara stiffened with the Devil’s terrifying gaze on her again.

No, no, no. This was not the time to fall apart.

As far as she could tell, she was still alive. Now would be the time to remember a prayer (any prayer!) her mother had tried so hard to teach her. She shut her eyes, but even then, it was as though Satan's dark eyes could touch her.

A hand squeezed her forearm and pulled her close. That's right, Mammon was there.

When she opened her eyes to look at him, his eyes weren't on her. His whole stance was locked on Satan, as though bracing for something.

Calm down, Mara. She took a steady breath. They had prepared for this. She just needed to trust herself; trust the veil, the feather (whatever good it did), trust Mammon and-

‘Don’t you smell tasty.’

A husky voice stormed her mind.