Page 75 of Insatiable

“What’s going on? A party without me?”

Everyone turns toward the door to see a man in a sharp suit, impeccably dressed, with a slight goatee that gives him an air of smug confidence. He exudes authority, and the tension in the room shifts slightly as he strides in, his eyes gleaming with interest as they land on the chaos unfolding.

“Ah, I see we have a bit of a situation,” he observes, glancing around the room, his gaze lingering on Anthura’s seething form before shifting to me, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. “Care to enlighten me?”

Anthura’s expression darkens, her claws retracting slightly as she realizes her chances of lashing out might be compromised by this unexpected arrival. “Stay out of this, Baal,” she snaps, but there’s a tremor in her voice that hints at her uncertainty. Is this finally someone that Anthura is scared of?

Baal, who I assume is the same Ballam that Twila mentioned, steps fully into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Hades,” he says smoothly, “Care to enlighten me as to what’s happening in my circle?”

“I didn’t want to burden you,” Hades responds, his voice tight. “Twila found these contestants running through the corridors.”

“Ex-contestants,” Anthura interrupts, her voice sharp. “They were eliminated in the last circle.”

Ballam's brow furrows in confusion. “Then explain to me how they’re here if they failed. Don’t tell me your demons brought them down by accident, Hades?”

Hades shifts, visibly uncomfortable. “No. They came down on their own. They got past the Hellbeast.”

Ballam’s eyes widen in surprise. “Past the Hellbeast? Without assistance? Remarkable. How did you manage that? I was informed that passage was... impossible.”

Tate steps forward, her voice steady. “I dressed up as an angel. It let us pass.”

Ballam sidles up to her, his smile curling in a way that makes the air feel colder. “And how did you know to do that?”

Tate hesitates, uncertainty flickering in her eyes for the first time. “We saw it in the Earthery,” she lies smoothly. “If you don’t believe us, ask the demon in Gluttony. We just copied what we saw.”

“Ingenious,” Ballam murmurs. He straightens, glancing between them with newfound intrigue. “So now that you’re here, what do we do with you?”

Tate lifts her chin, her voice full of defiance. “You’re going to let us back into the Inferno Games.”

She says it as if the decision had never gone against us at all.

“Like Hell,” Anthura snarls, her fury palpable. “We’re going to kill the fucking nuisances.”

Ballam licks his lips, his gaze traveling over Tate with obvious interest. I can’t shake the feeling that her ethereal appearance is going to play in our favor. “Let’s not make any hasty decisions. Weren’t you telling me just this morning that half the contestants were beheaded by persons unknown? We could do with more people in the games… in case the same thing happens again.”

It’s clear he’s needling Anthura who, I suspect, has no clue who’s been murdering people.

“Not on my soul will I let you add them to the games,” Anthura retorts, her voice laced with venom.

Hades bursts into laughter, a deep, booming sound. “Anthura. You have no soul. You never did. Let them in. Ballam’s right. Even with the contestants from the other towers joining us, we need more people should the same unfortunate circumstances of the last trial arise again.”

I let out a low breath, incredulity washing over me. That’s it? It was that easy? We’re actually going to get back in? I can hardly believe our luck.

But Hades’ voice turns cold as he gestures dismissively. “Better let this one in too.”

He shoves Twila toward Ballam, sending her stumbling to the floor.

“Hades. Why?” she cries out, panic flaring in her eyes.

Hades' voice turns cold, dark, and twisted as he glares at Twila. “I’m not the fool you think I am,” he growls, his words dripping with venom. “Maybe your friends did use the Earthery, but the Earthery wouldn’t have shown them an angel unless they already had that image in their minds.”

He steps closer to her, his presence suffocating. “Now, I didn’t tell them. And judging by the desperately pathetic look on Anthura’s face, she didn’t tell them either.” His eyes narrow, glowing with malice. “That leaves only you.”

“Hades, please!” Twila’s voice breaks, trembling with fear. Tears brim in her eyes as she looks up at him, pleading. Hades steps over her, cold and uncaring. “Baal, do what you will with her. The games start in roughly two hours. I’ll see you there.” I hold my breath as he strides out through the door, slamming it behind him.

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