Page 18 of Insatiable

“There wasn’t a monster like this either,” Dade replies, his gaze steady. “But it tells us one thing.”

“What’s that?” I ask, a shiver running down my spine.

“It tells us that they are on to us. From now on we can expect to have our every move watched. If they don’t know how we get down here now, we can assume they’ll find out. We need to figure out how to fight it sooner rather than later.”

Fear grips my heart. Jenny is down here somewhere. All the times we’ve been down in the underbelly of the towers, it felt terrifying, but I always had hope that we’d find her. When we found the elevator in the last tower, I could almost taste freedom, but now, if Dade is right and this monster is here just for us, then we’ll never find her… not unless we win the games and get through the next three circles. I pull out my Hell Cell and snap a photo of the massive growling beast.

Dade raises an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not risking your life just to get to a door. If you’re right and that… whatever it is, was put here just for our benefit, I think it’s safe to assume it likes to eat humans.

“Giving up, Valentine?”

I shake my head, the determination in my chest burning hotter. “Never. But I’m giving up for today. I have a plan. One that won’t have us ending up as monster food.” I tug at his arm, pulling him back from the edge. “Come on.”

I take Dade’s hand in mine and guide my reluctant hero from the chamber. We sneak back through the corridors, but there’s no need for our stealth. No other monsters or demons jump out at us. I guess the demons thought the monster was enough.

Once upstairs, I say a swift goodbye to Dade and head to the canteen. The giant window is projecting images of milkshakes which would usually have my stomach grumbling if not for the fact I’ve just eaten half my weight in food. I need to speak to Twila. I have no idea where Twila and Hades sleep, but I’mguessing they have a room down in the dungeon somewhere. They both know we can get down there thanks to Hades saving us last time, but I have no wish to roam the corridors looking for them. Luckily, I spot them straight away, sitting at one of the tables. In front of each of them is an elaborate milkshake, similar to the ones on the big screen. One of the emaciated residents of this circle sits at the next table, not hiding the desperate desire for a sip of their milkshakes. It’s perverse and sick and I can’t watch his drooling, so I turn my eyes back to Twila, hating myself for ignoring the man nearby after eating such a scrumptious meal. My stomach rumbles in agreement.

“Hey Quinn, What’s up?”

Twila looks as ravishing as ever. Being in Hell has never suited anyone like it does her. She’s wearing a tightly boned black corset which hoists her boobs right up and, looking down, it seems she’s gone for tight leather pants instead of her usual black lacy skirts.

“Nothing really,” I finally answer, trying to think of a way to start a conversation. Then I remember Juliette begging me to get her food from the demon levels—which I didn’t. Not that Hades would care about Juliette’s hunger. He might care about Ro’s, though. I pull a conversation starter from my tired brain. “I’m just glad to have got through to the next trial. I was wondering if I could ask you both something?”

“We can’t tell you anything about the next trial, Quinn,” Hades cautions.

I shake my head. “It’s not about that. I was wondering if either of you know what happened to Noémi? I mean. She was the person that tried bringing down the games, right?”

Hades eyes me suspiciously. “She was dealt with by his highest majesty, Satan. You will not have to worry about her any longer.”

This is interesting information. She sabotaged the games which took her right where she wanted to be, where we all want to—it gave her an audience with Satan himself. However much the thought of that sends shivers down my spine, we all must pass him if we ever want to get out of here, and Noémi somehow managed to fast track her way there.

I’m learning a lot though I’m not sure how helpful this information is. Sure, Noémi probably got an audience with Satan, but he probably reduced her to ash, or whatever it is that infernal deities do to demons that go against him. Now that I have Hades’ attention, another question pops into my head.

“You know that Noémi made Rowena pregnant, right?”

Hades quirks a brow. “I believe that was actually another of your ranks. Mr. Felix Barclay if I’m not mistaken.” He glances across at Twila, who nods her head in affirmation.

“Yeah, well Felix and her definitely bumped uglies, but that’s not my point. She’s pregnant.”

"I can't break the rules, Quinn. I already know what you are about to ask me," he says sternly. "The baby is unlike anything I've known in Hell," he adds with a deep sigh, looking weary and troubled.

"Don't demons get pregnant?" I ask, trying to understand. "I mean, you all sure seem to fuck a lot."

Next to me, Twila can't contain her laughter at my blunt question.

"Demons don't procreate," Hades states matter-of-factly. "Sex is for carnal pleasure alone. Demons can't get pregnant."

I furrow my brow, processing this new information. "So, where do demons come from?" I lift my hands up into a half shrug. "I mean, there are so many of them. I know they can die, or at least stop existing, but they must come from somewhere in the first place."

Hades answers with a hint of bitterness in his voice, "They are brought into being by His highest majesty, Satan. Only he can produce life in this place of death." He pauses, considering his words carefully. "Everyone you see here that didn't start off as a human was created by Satan and put to work.”

I ponder Hades' words, trying to wrap my mind around the concept of Satan creating life in Hell. It seems so contradictory, life springing forth in a realm defined by death and suffering. But then again, everything about this place defies the natural order.

"So Satan just... conjures demons out of thin air?" I ask, still grappling with the idea.

Hades chuckles darkly. "You have no idea the extent of his powers, Quinn. Creating life, even demonic life, is child's play for him. But enough about that—I already told you I cannot break the rules, not even for your pregnant friend."

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