A black whip flailed above her.

Mammon yanked her towards him, shielding her. She felt his flinch as something hit him from behind, but he wrung her close. Something wet, warm spread on her and ran down her dress. She had no time to look, something was coming for them. Whatever it was, Mammon wasn't letting her see. He clinched her close, letting his back face the threat. The two were forced on their knees as the table and chairs went flying; the donkey couple fled, while other guests pulled further back.

Mammon's grip was weakening. A small opening, just above his shoulder, finally let her to see Leviathan. His eyes glared red, and his smile was scornful as he moved on them. What she thought had been a whip, was in fact his long tail, thrashing about like it had a life of its own, sinuous, and with fangs gaping.

Then something black cut off her view. Feathers.

Lucious?

He pressed Mammon’s shoulder, and everything became a blur. When her eyes regained some focus, she and Mammon were at the foot of the large table on the dais. She choked and held her head, pleading with it to stop whirling. It took her a moment to understand that he had somehow moved them there, away from their attacker. When she looked at her old table, Lucious was there, facing Leviathan.

The tailed demon lunged, a fist ready to hit, but Lucious spun and dodged it with ease. A quick kick also missed its mark; it was if Lucious knew what was coming. He then used his wings to boost Leviathan’s momentum and push him down, at the same time expertly avoiding that nasty tail, already gunning for his neck. Unable to stop himself, Leviathan crashed face down into a nearby table, his mask falling off of the side of his head and breaking to pieces. Lucious was on him immediately. In a flurry of swift and precise movements, he pinned him down and squeezed his neck. With his foot, he trapped the tail against the ground and pressed.

No one moved, no one interfered; not even the ox guards. The surrounding guests stared, some genuinely terrified, more dumbfounded, others with a strange excitement Mara found distressing. Why was no one stopping this?!

Lucious' wings doubled in size. They began flapping, creating a wind she felt even where she was, on the dais. She thought he was about to take flight, but it was just the opposite; it seemed to help him keep pressure on his brother. No matter how hard he tried, Leviathan could not break free. The red shimmer surrounded both of them, but Lucious' seemed thicker. He snarled viciously as he pressed down. Mara was startled to see that instead of hands, he had claws around Leviathan's neck; he was like a falcon fastening its prey; Leviathan was the snared viper, still holding its dangerous and defiant grin, searching for its opportunity to bite back. The brothers exchanged words she could not hear.

**

‘Touchy much? If we can’t share toys, what’s the point of being brothers?’ Leviathan said, straining.

‘She’s not a toy! Keep your hands and your disgusting tail for your own groupies.’

‘What's this now, little brother? She’s a soul, an experiment! Didn't you say so yourself? That categorically makes her a toy! Why are you getting your pants in a twist-.... Or wait.’ -- he paused here, dramatically widening his smile. -- ‘Oh, I see what’s going on. You want to have your own private play time, don’t you? All by your lonesome self. Aah-ha-ha! Am I finally rubbing off on you? Why didn't you say so, I can lend you one of my special rooms; the one in my bedroom is the best one, you know, the one with the wheel.’

Lucious couldn't believe his ears. What the hell was he talking about now? He squeezed his neck harder, forcing Leviathan’s smile into a frown.

‘Alright, alright! The best room is in the west tower! I'll let you use that one. It's all cleaned and ready!’

‘You’re disgusting. Do you really see me doing one of your sordid plays?’

‘So it’s a no. Damn it! When did you get so strong?? Ugh, fine!’

Lucious held fast.

‘I said I’ll leave her alone! Let… go…’ His voice was a mere rasp now.

‘Luci, that’s enough, Let go.’ The queen said, her tone determined.

Lucious didn't want to hear this now.

‘Boy, you better listen to your mother.’ Though there was no effort in it, Satan’s voice resounded through the hall. It’s finality impossible to oppose. Lucious finally let go.

Leviathan rolled over on his back and gasped for air. He then smoothed his bruised neck while he sat up. Spitting blood on the floor, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and scowled at Lucious.

‘You’re an arsehole. What’s so wrong with me having a little taste? Don’t know why you got her all covered up, her scent is-’

‘She’s my guest, you're not allowed any taste. And you attacked Mammon, you think I'd just let that go?’

‘What, he got in the way. It’s his own fault.’ He said with a dry smile.

‘If you try anything with either one of them again…’

‘What, go on, what about it?’ — Leviathan stood came close to his face. — ‘What will you do? Don’t let this little trick you pulled here fool you into thinking you’ve got what it takes. You’re still light years away, little brother.’

Why was he so stubborn; border line delusional. It was not worth more trouble, Lucious sighed. As he turned to walk away, he said: ‘Let’s try this again when your neck is healed. I wouldn’t want to catch you off guard, now would I.’

Leviathan gave a bitter smile and licked the blood off of his lips.

‘Ooh, I can’t wait.’

***

Mammon was hunched over on the floor, holding the side of his stomach. He looked too pale, too sweaty.

‘Mara, you’re alright now.’ He said to her, his voice strained. She was about to lift her veil, -- ‘No, don’t!’ He made to reach her hand.

It was then she saw the blood. She pulled back, just enough to look at him properly. It soaked his waist and ran down to his leg, and then to the floor.

‘You must keep the veil on. They mustn’t see you.’ He looked ready to lose his consciousness at any moment.

She didn't realise when Lucious approached, just in time to grab Mammon before he fell. Up close, she saw that indeed his hands had changed into these long terrifying claws. Without much thought, she pulled back. He watched her for a short moment, but she couldn't tell what kind of expression he held, he still had his mask; but his claws gradually shifted back to his hands.

‘We're going to the elders.’ Lucious said to Mammon.

‘I failed... I’m sorr-’ Mammon coughed some blood. Mara’ felt herself tremble. She couldn't hear their exchange, but she read their lips.

‘Don’t talk.’

‘But Mara... we must take her-’

‘I said don’t talk. You're making your injury worse.’

He summoned the black which surrounded them instantly in a whirl.

‘Mara, come closer.’ His voice was in her mind as he offered his other arm. He didn’t sound like himself, not like she had always heard him; his tone was urgent, nervous even. His cold composure wavered.

'It's okay, I won't harm you. No one else will.'

She hesitated still, but then seeing Mammon's pained expression was more difficult to bear. When she held his arm, something shifted in the air, a kind of pressure, and things started going blurry again. She forced her eyes shut, knowing full well it was a poor attempt to retain some control over her fate.