To my disappointment, he turned and continued leading me out of the hall.
“The sooner Mammon swallows you, the better,” he spat.
My chest deflated when the cauldron came into view, and the moment we stepped out the door, a wave of demented cheers erupted through the forge.
Goblin creatures cheered and cackled as Belphegor led me toward the dais, bowing out of his way and murmuring amongst themselves. A few reached out to touch me, and I jerked away from their grubby little hands.
I looked around and found Mammon, giant fiery wings ablaze, sitting on an imposing iron throne at one end of the forge, watching the spectacle unfold. Rather than tossing me in the cauldron himself or skinning me alive for his subjects to watch, it seemed he was going to let Belphegor do his dirty work.
On either side of him were the demon lords I’d seen earlier. Now that the demon with the gigantic eyeball for a head was standing, I could tell he was less humanoid than I’d originally thought. His body seemed to be made of braided cords of tissue, winding together to make his form. Rather than hands or feet, his extremities ended with tentacles.
The spider-looking demon with no eyes seemed like he’d doubled in size now that all his legs were spread wide, and he bared his several rows of razor-sharp teeth at me as I stared. I had every intention of staying as far away from his creepy limbs as possible.
“Our feast is about to begin,” Mammon's amplified voice echoed through the forge, followed by a fresh wave of cheers and hollers from the goblin creatures.
“Feast! Feast! Feast!” they chanted, more and more voices joining the chorus as we approached the stairs leading to the dais.
I tensed in Belphegor’s hold, pausing at the base of the steps, my eyes glued to the cauldron overhead.
There was still no sign of Belial, and I didn't have a backup plan. As much as I hoped for a last-second salvation, I couldn't see my way out of this.
“Up,” Belphegor snapped, dragging me up the stairs. If I fought and he let me go, I'd fall to my death in the lake of lava. If I went along with it, I'd be boiled to death.
Either way, I was cooked.
Personally, falling to my death seemed less painful and more dramatic than being slowly boiled alive. Mammon also couldn'teat me if I was swallowed by magma, so that was another hair-thin silver lining.
The air wafting up from the lake of lava below was scorching, burning my skin. The bottoms of my feet were raw against the hot stone, and every inhale left my lungs feeling scorched.
Belphegor dragged me all the way to the top, shoving one of the goblin servants out of his way, nearly sending him to a fiery death below. The top of the cauldron was as tall as I was and just as wide, but Belphegor was tall enough to peer inside. He watched whatever was in the cauldron for a long moment, his gaze intense.
His fingers were still locked around my arm, but he didn’t move to throw me in or drag me up the ladder. He didn’t do anything at all.
What is he waiting for?
“Well, get on with it,” Mammon’s commanding voice echoed through the forge, followed by another wave of cheers. “Don’t keep your brothers waiting, Belly.”
My stomach dropped.
“Belphegor.” I wasn’t sure why I said his name; I’d learned my lesson about trying to appeal to the better nature of demons, and I was fairly certain Belphegor didn’t have a better nature. I’d already done my best to convince him to defy Mammon, to get me the fuck out of the forge, but he seemed loyal to the Lord of Greed. Or at least he had moments ago.
Was he…changing his mind?
Another minute ticked by, my bones rattling with nerves as I awaited my fate.
“Belphegor,” Mammon’s voice whipped through the air, snapping the shape-shifting demon out of his daze. “My precious meat isn’t going to cook itself, and I don’t have all day. Throw her in already.”
A muscle ticked in Belphegor’s cheek, and his eyes narrowed. I stiffened, prepared to fight if he turned around to grab me. If I was going over the edge of the cauldron, I might as well pitch myself off the dais. I refused to be eaten.
“I think…” Belphegor said, his voice carrying despite the low tone, “not.”
“What did you say?” Mammon rose from his throne and stalked forward, his eyes glued to us.
I caught my breath, worried that if I moved or breathed too suddenly, everything around me would explode. I’d already watched two demon lords battle it out over me. Was I about to witness another fight? And whose side would Eyeball and Spider guy take?
“Belly, do what I asked,” Mammon gritted out, his fiery red gaze landing on me. “Don’t make me do it myself.”
Belphegor scoffed. “If you wanted it done, you should have done it from the start. I’m not taking any more orders,Mon-Mon.In fact, I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to keep this little mortal for myself.”
