Shobek had three total drinks before Mammon's patience finally wore down and he basically dragged Shobek out with him. Shobek, barely feeling any buzz, was not happy about this arrangement he had made. Another mistake in a pile of mistakes. But, since it was a deal, he had to follow through with it.
"Where to my friend?" Mammon smiled widely, his eagerness barely contained.
Shobek unenthusiastically mumbled something like 'follow me' as he walked back up the path a little way and stopped outside the Inn. He turned back at Mammon and frowned for a moment, "Please give me a moment to make sure she is alright and fill her in."
Mammon nodded and turned to fix his appearance, to look as well kept as ever. Going so far as to change the color of his suit and tie. "Sure, sure. Let me know when I can come in!"
Shobek nodded half-heartedly and knocked before unlocking it with his powers and slipping his way inside. Kasey was halfway across the lobby area and the demon he left in charge of her was tugging on her cloak to keep her from leaving. The pair paused at the sudden entrance of him and Kasey let out an audible sigh of relief before yanking her cloak free from the demon and rushing over to greet him.
"Are you okay? What took so long??" Though she was trying to sound casual, her eyes were glassy and her body was trembling slightly.
He looked at the demon he left with her and asked Kasey with a sickeningly sweet tone, "Do I need to kill anyone for you, dear?"
Stutter shivered and fell to his hands and knees, ready to beg for his life if need be.
Kasey smiled and shook her head, "No, everything is just fine. I was just concerned because you were gone for so long. I was about to go after you..."
Shobek turned his attention back to Kasey and gave her a soft smile, "There was no need. In fact, I would like you to meet the person who will be helping us get to our destination." His gaze turned back to the lesser demon and his smile grew sharp and threatening, his voice rising to make sure everyone heard his next words, "Which also means every demon in this place better make their way outside before I kill them."
Loud thuds and wings flapping suddenly sounded, along with hurried footsteps of a few rushing down the steps and out the back door, not daring to try the front door. Stutter quickly bowed before hurrying after everyone else. Another second went by and the house was utterly quiet. Shobek, still sensing someone hidden in one of the rooms, snarled and told Kasey to sit down on the couch. After making sure she obeyed, he stomped his way up the steps. Kasey listened closely, following his steps until they stopped, a rattle of the doorknob, then another snarl, and a loud crack followed by more stomping. A screech sounded as Shobek again snarled. Glass shattered and a loud thud sounded on the ground outside. Shobek came back down a moment later as if nothing happened.
"Are you ready, dear?" Shobek looked at her, carefully checking her reaction.
"Yes." No.
"He will try to ask you some questions. You are welcome to tell him a few things, but everything you tell him, he will never forget. And he will welcomely sell any information to the highest bidder. So watch what you say carefully, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to." Shobek slowly walked over to the Inn's front door, his sigh soft as he looked up at the ceiling as if preparing himself. "Are you sure you are ready?"
Kasey stood and turned towards him, her hands gently pulling back her hood as she squared her shoulders and said as evenly as possible, "Yes, I am sure."
Shobek glanced back at her and nodded, he slowly opened the door and stepped inside to let Mammon walk through the doorway. Shobek's only thought was, Now let's hope they don't kill each other.
Kasey's first impression was that this demon was simply an american businessman. His black and white striped blazer lay over a black dress shirt with a deep red tie. His hair was neatly combed back into a bun, and his striking red eyes sparkled at the sight of her. A broad smile covered his stubbled face as he walked forward with a strong, confident stride.
"Ah, you must be who I am here to meet!" He stuck out his hands, his black nails like claws. But what really caught her attention, was that he wore silver bands on almost every finger. "I am the demon of greed, Mammon!"
Kasey slowly took his hand, expecting it to be cold, it was rather warm and firm. "Kasey."
Mammon gave her a firm shake before releasing her, figuring it best not to touch a dragon's treasure for too long. And just as he expected, Shobek appeared by her side in the next second, his eyes glowing with rage. "Ah, I can see why Shobek is very protective of you! You haven't figured out how to control your powers yet! Perhaps it's from the missing pieces of your soul. Or from that void, you seem to hold within yourself. Much like Shobek's I see."
Kasey, confused and startled by this glanced between Shobek and Mammon, hoping for clarification. But Mammon charged ahead with the conversation, not noticing or not caring that her mind was reeling with confusion.
"Though I can already tell that your powers will certainly grow once you figure out how to properly navigate the flow. Maybe if you practice long enough you can break Shobek's high score of destruction! Course if you do that, please try and refrain from destroying half of my businesses." Mammon gave Shobek an unhappy look before smiling brightly back at Kasey. "Anyway! I am happy to be of some use to you both through your journey over the abyssal sea! I am also quite pleased to see that you are becoming more and more like us so you won't stand out or draw unwanted attention from the scent of life that can never be attained but never forgotten!!"
Mammon finally took a deep breath from his quick conversation and watched Kasey, expecting her to participate. But Kasey had become more lost and confused as the conversation went on. As Mammon went to continue on after realizing she wasn't going to put any input she held up a hand, "What are you talking about? I'm so confused.."
Mammon glanced at Shobek perplexed before turning back to the mortal, "what's confusing?"
"A lot. What do you mean missing pieces? Matching voids? A high score? And what the hell do you mean by 'becoming like you'?" Kasey, annoyed at Shobek for undoubtedly keeping things from her again, kept her gaze on Mammon; who seemed rather surprised.
Shobek glared at Mammon before looking back at Kasey, "Don't mind his words... He... says a lot of cryptic things when he is excited."
"I'm not asking you, Shobek." Kasey hissed sharply at him. Shobek frowned and crossed his arms.
"I see you are unaware of your circumstances..." Mammon carefully looked over the two. His heart skipped a beat at the realization that perhaps he could build off of her ignorance. Perhaps meeting her was fruitful after all...
"They don't tell me anything," Kasey muttered, crossing her arms and looking away from both of the gentlemen.
Another juicy secret Shobek clearly didn't want out... He has a PARTNER in this... Mammon reveled in the tension Shobek's body betrayed. She doesn't think before she talks. Does she? "I'm sure...THEY just want to protect you. Afterall... Knowing too much can make you are a bigger target."
Kasey, finally realizing that Mammon was unaware of Shobek's affiliation with Apophis, tensed slightly. "Y..yeah. Samael never told me anything when I first came here. And they both refused to tell me why."
Mammon, questioning his guess on a secret partner, dropped that for the new detail. The WHY. "Well, you're here because of Shobek aren't you?"
Kasey frowned, "of course, I'm in this place because of Shobek, but what I meant was WHY I was targeted in the first place."
Mammon smiled, "So did I."
Kasey furrowed her brows and stared up at the business demon in confusion. What the hell did that mean?
"We should head to the docks. Unless we want to delay our departure for tomorrow." Shobek said tightly, glaring daggers into Mammon who brushed it off.
"Ah, yes, you are right!" Mammon set route for the Inn door, quickly letting himself out as Shobek carefully looked at Kasey who was still pondering what Mammon said.
"We should follow him, Kasey," Shobek said gently. Hoping to whatever god would listen, that she wouldn't connect the dots.
Kasey nodded and let Shobek lead her, he paused outside the front door and pulled her hood over her head. Smiling sweetly at her, "how bout we ponder his words on the boat?"
Kasey sighed and finally agreed, knowing it's best to keep her wits about her when they exit back onto the street. "Alright..."
The two left the inn, hurrying after Mammon who was again flowering his two girls with attention as they walked. Kasey, although she agreed to think about it later, kept wandering back to Mammon's words.
I was targeted...because of...Shobek?