Page 42 of Insatiable

“Do I want to hear this?” Twila asks.

I look at her and weigh up her question. On one hand, she’s my friend and I trust her, but on the other she is still sleeping with Hades and I’m not sure I want this to get back to him.

“Probably not. Sorry.”

Twila gives me a grin. “Thank fuck. I was worried I was going to have to sit here with my fingers in my ears singing la la la, or worse still, have to listen to another harebrained scheme. I think Hades is probably ready for bed now, anyway.” She stands up from the table.

“Bed?” Quinn looks at her Hell Cell. “It’s half-past six.”

Twila winks. “I never said he would be sleeping.”

“I love that girl,” I say as she wanders back across to Hades on the other side of the canteen. Sure enough, they both leave together, his hand on her ass the whole way to the elevators.

“So?” Quinn leans across the table, her expression one of excitement. “How do we get past the hellbeast? Don’t tell me you were actually thinking of fucking it. I thought that was a joke.”

“It was,” I reply, keeping my voice low, so no one else can hear. “It wasn’t the hellbeast I was thinking of, although I could be persuaded to change my mind. What does it look like, anyway?”

“Like a big hairy monster.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“It had teeth longer than my forearm and claws like scythes.” She brings up a photo of it on her Hell Cell.

I scrunch up my nose. It was worth a thought and probably sexier than the alternative, which I put to Quinn.

“So Twila is hooking up with Hades and basically has a free passport through the circles. Felix has been hooking up with Anthura and by some unknown miracle has managed to get through unscathed,” I say sarcastically.

“What are you saying? You’re going to seduce George?”

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly, as though the thought doesn’t make me feel sick to my stomach. “I honestly thought I was going to have to fuck Orlin throughout the last circle.”

“Which you didn’t?”

“No! I fucked those two gorgeous bodyguards of Noémi’s, which also turned out to be revolting imps, but there’s my point. I know I can seduce even the grossest of creatures and not lose my lunch if it gets me what I want.”

Quinn’s face is a screwed up picture of disgust. “Are you serious?”

“Have you figured out a way to get past the hellbeast yet?”

“No.”

I cross my arms. “Then I’m serious. I’ll charm my way into George’s bed and when I have him wrapped round my little finger, I’ll put it to him that I want me, Ro and Dade to be back in the games. Call it taking one for the team.”

“Well, I can’t say you’re not a devoted friend, but George? I think I would rather fuck Orlin, and that’s saying something.”

“I’d rather fuck anyone than George. Hell, I’d even rather fuck Tate, but needs must. I’m not staying in this circle, doomed to an eternity without a bacon sandwich. I know how to seduce men, Quinn. It’s probably all I am good for.”

Quinn reaches out and places her hand on my arm. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”

I shake my head, determined to finally do something to help my friends, no matter how awful. “Where do you think he’ll be?”

Quinn shakes her head as though I’ve lost it and I probably have. What I’m considering is horrific. Trying to push the imageof a naked George to the back of my head, I stand before I change my mind.

“I’m going to check on Dade,” Quinn says on a sigh, “But do me a favor. If George tries to eat you, send me a message on the Hell Cell and I’ll come and save you.”

Being eaten by George. I hadn’t thought of that. My stomach lurches, but as I’ve not got any food in it and I haven’t developed Ro’s weird ability to puke nothing, I put my best foot forward and head to the elevator. I don’t have a marble key to get to the demon level like Dade has, so I press the button to the lowest level I can get to. The level with the Earthery.

Once down there, I don’t know which way to turn. It’s a long shot he’ll be down here anyway, but half of me is hoping I don’t find him so I can’t put this ridiculous plan into action. Infernos’ red lights shine brightly, illuminating the cobbled courtyard. If only they served something other than imaginary alcohol, I’d go in there and get drunk. As they don’t, I head right and walk down the long row of classrooms. I’ve only ever seen the classrooms full of Inferno Games competitors, but now as I open the doors to peek into each one, I find the skeletal inhabitants of Gluttony taking night school classes. I almost stop in the one where they are learning to decorate cakes until I see they are using cardboard cakes and shaving foam as the buttercream. I try a few more, coming to a stop in the painting class. Scanning the room, I hope to see Rowena, who I know signed up for this class, but she’s not here. I guess she’s sick or tired. She did leave rather swiftly earlier. I remember my own pregnancies and how tired I felt all the time. Closing the door, I head into the last classroom. My breath catches when I see Tate. The class seems to be dressmaking as the room is filled with a variety of tailor’s dummies, all of which are wider than the painfully thin people who are busy with pins and scissors and material. Tate is making some kind of flowing white dress. Surprising really,as everything I’ve seen her wear so far has been uber slutty with less material than a handkerchief. I mentally say sorry to Rowena for thinking of the word slut, but then take it back as I watch the way Tate runs her hand over the white material, bending over, revealing her tits at the front and ass at the back much to the delight of the skinny tutor. She’s probably making a wedding gown to marry Tomas in. I close the door before she sees me and head back along the corridor. With no idea where to go next, I wander down the other way, past the shops. In the previous circles, this area was always bustling with people and featured shops I’d actually want to visit, like bakeries and cafes. Now, the shops are deserted except for the bored-looking demon shopkeepers, their eyes glazed with disinterest.

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