As soon as I come to the realization that I could actually be looking at the whip the bitch used on my father, the mood of the party changes for me. I’m thankful that we took Cara back down to our suite. I’m not sure how she would fare here, now that the party has officially gotten underway. The music is jamming and everyone has begun to dance as if their lives depend on it. Daxell has pulled me into the protection of his arms, sheltering me from all the illicit acts of heavy petting and all the bumping and grinding taking place in Mammon’s den of iniquity. He whispers into my ear, “Lillie, we can go. We have time to figure out what is going on here. Mammon will make his grand appearance shortly.”
“No, Daxell, we need information.” Shaking my head, I indicate the back wall, “Did you see the whip above the bar?”
“I only have eyes for you, Lillie.” Daxell pulls me closer. Over his shoulder I see Poppy and she’s found a handsome blonde satyr to dance with. The apple definitely doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Well, we have work to do, demon boy. Come on, we need to mingle.”
“Honey cheeks, I don’t think that is a good idea. You promised you would stay by my side tonight.” He growls.
“And I will, but Daxell, you have to let me out of your grasp long enough to see if I hear or see anything that could help us figure out who is leading the New Raven Order. We have to discover what is going on here. I promise that I will not go very far and I will make my way back to you when Mammon makes his entrance.”
“No, LJ, you will stay by my side,” his demon demands, I can see he’s on the verge of shifting.
“Both of you need to settle down. We’ve got this. I just want to go check out Vengeance. That whip is legendary. I’ll be back before you know it and I’ll be within eyesight. No harm, no foul.” I lean in and press a sweet, cool, kiss to his lips and without waiting for his answer, I turn and disappear into the crowd. Then I bound toward the whip with one last glance over my shoulder, I see Daxell’s concerned face before something garners his attention and he turns away from me.
In a matter of moments, I find myself surrounded by bodies gyrating to the beat of the hypnotic music. The bloodstone hangs heavy against my breast and begins to warm against my bare flesh. The mob seems to be pushing in on me and I turn to glare at the male behind me before he can invade my personal space. He backs away and once again I set my gaze on the prize at hand. In mid-stride, the music lowers a couple of notches and a beautiful lilting and compelling voice announces, “Let’s all pay a very warm welcome to our benefactor tonight. Rapa-City’s very own Maximus, also known as Mammon, prince of The Underworld… and head of the House of Greed!”
“Dragon balls and troll turds, I’m supposed to be back at Daxell’s side for this,” I mutter to myself as I change course, Vengeance will have to wait till later. It’s at that moment that I realize that the bloodstone has grown so warm it’s almost become uncomfortable against my breasts. I finger it absently as I begin to push back through the crowd.
Most of the party-goers are taller than me. Shocker. Even in five-inch heels. I can just barely make out Dax through the throng of people assembled here, and he does not look happy. He’s being pulled away from me by several large intense reptilian looking demons. My need to get to him has just increased by leaps and bounds. He’s being forced to appear before Mammon. All the Underworlders are. The highest-ranking members of this court are directed to kneel before their higher-ranking prince, with the exception of Asmodeus, Levi, and one other that appear to be equals in this realm, but they acknowledge that this is Mammon’s domain. The glamour the fallen prince wears changes from the handsome Egyptian looking male before us, who’s beautifully tanned, with gleaming black hair slicked back into a ponytail fastened at the nape of his neck, to a handsome looking businessman in a beautifully cut suit with his hair still slicked back and confined to hang down his back. Mama and Da’s account of him from their Underworld adventures is fairly spot-on. Good god, this male loves the spotlight and preens under the attention of all who gather here. No wonder he fell from grace. Sighing, I push through the crowd determined to get back to Daxell.
All eyes are on the showman that is Mammon as he takes his seat on a throne that is now in the spotlight, something that I had not registered from before. It sits at least
