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Vox tensed up as Mammon brought him back to his palace at their camp. The Deadly Sins had sent up their HQ all the way out in the forest, having cleared out an entire area not only for themselves, but for their armies…
There were so many armed forces…if he had to guess, there were several hundred of them in total. It was frightening to see all of the Deadly Sin's best armed men lounging about and to think they had gathered entire armies just to capture them was chilling to the bone…
There were so many of them…so many resources packed in…this was intrinsically planned.
To think they had literal armies pursuing them was terrifying, even more seeing it behind enemy walls as a captive. The fact they weren't far behind and had likely been watching them for quite some time even more so…
'God…there are hundreds of them…and that's just the ones that are here…' He thought to himself as he examined his surroundings closely. It was best to know the area well, especially considering he likely wouldn't be leaving the perimeter anytime soon with his luck…
"You've been rather silent, Vincent," Mammon commented, tearing Vox's focus away from his surroundings and back at his Master.
"There wasn't much to talk about," Vox admitted truthfully, his voice still hoarse and sore from sobbing prior. May not have been the detailed answer Mammon no doubt craved, but it was the one he felt that he deserved in that moment.
It was a simple statement given that there weren't exactly many things to speak of, much less anything he WANTED to speak about at this point.
The emotional devastation was very much fresh and Vox was not interested in prodding the wound any further before he had any time to recover. He still thought about her, even despite the great pain it brought within him.
"Still upset about your little siren's betrayal? Don't worry," Mammon comforted, grabbing the younger man's chin,"I'll make you forget all about her, my sweet subject…"
Vox averted his gaze shamefully, still greatly hurt from the incident. The Jester Lord made a face at his subject's lackluster reactions.
It wasn't like he hadn't expected Vincent to be miserable and broken, but it wasn't as entertaining to have him around if he was constantly miserable.
Prior, there was at least some fight in him, now it seemed to have been dashed within an instant and his personality was down the drain to boot.
Vincent's resistance was part of what drew him in and he didn't want it to fade away simply because he got his heart broken(again). That'd be no fun after all given he was the first mortal Mammon ever found himself personally invested in to this degree.
"Now now, Vincent, don't be so sullen," He chided,"I understand you are hurt, however, it's not all bad you know? You've been returned to your rightful place at my side and I believe it's time you've become situated with your new life…"
"My new what now?"
"Your new life, you silly mortal!" The Jester chuckled at Vox's bemused expression,"After all, it's been quite a long time since we've seen each other and the circumstances are a bit…strange for the two of us so we'll have to settle for what we can until this situation is behind us. Rest assured, everything will be normal once we capture your little friends…"
"My friends…Mammon, don't hurt them…" He pleaded desperately.
"Vincent, Vincent," He tsked,"I cannot make any promises for that isn't truly my call. You were my utmost priority and now that I have you safe and sound I plan on keeping it that way. As for your friends, I cannot make any promises they will come out unscathed or alive for that matter. The only one we're truly interested in keeping alive is Charlotte and that's because Lucifer wants his precious brat back despite her disobedience."
"Please…if you don't have to…don't order their deaths.." He begged,"My friend, Velvette, she's the one who's stuck by me thick and thin, I don't want her to die…"
Mammon glanced at Vincent almost pitifully,"Now now, there's no need to cry, Vincent. Perhaps we can work an arrangement to spare some of your comrades, though the other Sins will likely want to put them to good use if they remain alive."
"Can you at least try?"
"I'll see what I can do…there is no guarantee after all," He said simply,"No matter, let's not divert the topic. Your friends are the least of your concerns right now. You should be focusing on yourself considering you'll have to get accustomed to the way things work around here."
Just then, Vox's stomach began to rumble. All those emotions being spent must've worked up quite the appetite as the former Overlord found himself on the receiving end of an empty stomach.
Mammon blinked before smiling,"Oh..it appears someone has neglected their appetite…"
Vox's face flushed, despising how loud his stomach was,"Um..actually, I'm not really that hungry-"
He scoffed, cutting Vox's rambling off before he could dare finish."Your tongue may lie, but your stomach most certainly does not. Come, let's fill that stomach of yours. No doubt you've been starving for quite some time…"
Without further ado, he grabbed Vox's hand and led him away, ignoring Vox's protests that he was alright. He led Vox to a dining area and situated him at a table.
The former TV Demon blanked as Mammon sat horizontal to him before summoning a few servants to his side.
"You, go get Vincent and I some food. My mortal is starving and he needs nourishment pronto."
The way he said it made it clear that this was a command and one that should be followed. Without a second of hesitation, the servants rushed to the kitchen and began to deliver pre-made consumables to their table and set it down for them to devour.
Vox blanked at the sight of the buffet before him. There was a large feast before his very eyes and despite himself, he couldn't help but feel his mouth water. It had been so long since he had a properly prepared meal, having survived primarily off of what the forest provided that he had missed these sorts of extravagant meals.
'Gods…it smells so delicious…' He thought hungrily to himself. He truthfully did wish to dig in but felt apprehensive, glancing up at Mammon nervously. A part of him wondered if this was some sort of trick, a depraved punishment of some sort just to kick him while he was down.
The Jester was eyeing him intuitively, having not taken his eyes off of him for one moment. He titled his head to the side, bewildered by Vincent's hesitation before saying in a honest yet disappointed tone,"I'm not going to punish you for eating, Vincent. That is absurd…"
"What? How did you-"
"You gave yourself to me, remember? I can read your thoughts if I choose to," Mammon reminded,"I only refrained from doing so prior since I didn't want you to become aware that we were pursuing you. However, now that you are in my custody, I feel no need to hold back…"
Vox flinched at Mammon's brutal honesty, he stated such things without even raising his voice for that matter and his disappointed glare made him feel meek, like a small child before their parents.
It felt embossed that Mammon had such a profound effect on him that his mere judgment made him quiver, yet he was unable to help himself.
"Go on," Mammon gestured,"Eat it…We both know you want to…"
After a few seconds of hesitation, Vox reluctantly swallowed his saliva before making a move towards consuming the food in front of him.
His eyes widened. It tasted..scrumptious, the best thing he had ever tasted in fact. His stomach was a void at this point and he couldn't help but grab more food that was on his plate, stuffing his face like a child devouring a forbidden late night snack past their bedtime.
Mammon observed Vox's ravenous feeding frenzy with an amused smirk on his face. Seeing mortals give in to their sinful desires and stuff themselves to their heart's content was truly an entertainment sight.
The sight was truly something to behold and Mammon couldn't tear his eyes away.
He wasn't sure why, but something about the way the man's will endeared him to Vincent. He was so fragile, physically and mentally so, yet he always remained resilient even when on the verge of defeat.
Most mortals would've been completely shattered by now, yet a small part of Vincent managed to become adaptable, slowly piercing himself back together. He couldn't fully recover but he'd live…no matter how miserable he became.
"You seem to like the food my servants have prepared…" He remarked observantly as Vox sipped the wine chalice hastily.
"Yeah, the food is great, Mammon…Better than anything I've ever tasted," He complimented through stuffed cheeks, still chewing on his food as he spoke.
"Oh is it now? That's wonderful," The Lord of Greed mused,"My chefs are the finest in the land and specialize in culinary arts, they wouldn't dare to disappoint me. After all, the only best food should ever be prepared for my precious little Vincent and nothing less…"
"Thank you…" He mumbled, more out of obligation if anything,"I really appreciate the efforts to cater to me. You know you don't have to and-"
"Oh but I do. You're my property after all and I can't be neglecting my precious little mortal now can I?" He teased,"No, that won't do at all. I'm quite a sucker for spoiling my favorites and it's been so long since we've been together that I feel something like this is long overdue, isn't it, my sweet submissive subject?"
Vox's face flushed at this new term of endearment towards him. It only now dawned on him that this was Mammon's way of giving him some sort of pet-name.
Perhaps the man had warmed up to him somewhat as the other times he referred to him as anything other than his name were usually derogatory terms like slave, whore or slut.
They may have been apt descriptions of his relationship with Mammon, but they were certainly not romantic terms.
It was a far cry from 'Voxy', a name Valentino had given to him over the years of their dysfunctional relationship but it was something in the very least.
"I…I suppose so…" He said quietly, a part of him contemplating the situation around him.
In a strange way, it felt like he was…on some sort of date. Like, he was having a nice dinner, the wood was great and he was with a conventionally attractive guy.
Of course said guy owned his soul and was also keeping his arms in cuffs to ensure he couldn't use his powers to escape. Definitely lowered the romantic appeal but the comparisons were there.
Even if this was some sort of manipulation tactic, he did appreciate the food nevertheless. It was better than what he ate back out on the run and he figured he should take solace in the luxuries he'd receive while under confinement.
After all, he didn't know when he'd get on Mammon's bad side and face some sort of punishment for defying him…
For now, he did his best to push these negative thoughts away and enjoy the moment while he still could.
Vox's eyes shifted to the plate of food in front of him and noticed a dessert out of the corner of his eye. It appeared to be a chocolate cake and a gooey one at that. It looked absolutely scrumptious and he wondered if it tasted as good as it looked.
Only one way to find out….
He grabbed a spoon and eagerly took a bite, amazed at how wonderful the cake tasted. Mammon sure as hell wasn't kidding when he said he got the best chefs in the land because this cake was no doubt the most scrumptious thing he had ever tasted in either life!
He was prepared to devour the entire thing until he noticed Mammon eyeing it. It was subtle but he could tell that the embodiment of Greed was glancing at it.
"Do you want some?" He offered.
Mammon seemed to bristle up at the question, noticeably taken off guard by Vox's offer. He quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat,"Uh,you know this food is for you, right? Perhaps I need to make myself clear but us Sins don't require sustenance like you fragile mortals…"
"Fragile we may be but our kind is perceptive enough to tell when others want the things we have. And I can tell you want the cake I'm holding. Hold on, let me get some for you…" Vox then scooped up a piece and held it out for Mammon,"Say Ah~"
Mammon stared at him with wide eyes before his face turned crimson, his calm demeanor shattered as he became flustered,"Have you gone mad!?" He exclaimed,"Do I look like some sort of child to you? I don't need to be spoon-fed like an helpless infant! I am the embodiment of Greed, Vincent, not some teething brat!"
Vox scoffed,"I wasn't implying anything, Mammon. I just wondered if you wanted some, though judging by your attitude, it seems you don't…"
"I..I never said that…" He muttered under his breath, still sounding embarrassed.
"Oh, so you do want some?" Vox asked, his voice becoming somewhat playful as he teased his Master. He knew he was playing with fire but he couldn't help but try and mock Mammon within reasonable limits….
After all, he might as well try and have some fun with this while he still could…
"I…I…I…"
"Come on, you know I want some…Just open your mouth. I promise you'll love it…"
The Jester grit his teeth,"Do you not see how infantilizing this is? Having a mortal feeding me with a spoon like I'm a child?"
"Only if you think about it in that light. You know sometimes couples do this when they go out…"
"Are you implying we're a couple?" He balked, his cheeks becoming redder,,"I am your Master, Vincent. Not your boyfriend…"
"I"m aware. I'm just saying, it's not as infantilizing as you make it out to be…"
"It's still dead humiliating…"
"Look, do you want it or not because if I didn't know any better, I'd assume you're a damn child with how much a fit you're pitching."
"You're treading on thin ice, Vincent," He warned, a genuine threat in his voice,"Do you wish for me to punish you?"
Vox felt a tinge of fear course through him. Every part of him wished to just roll over and give in and his broken soul truly did wish he stood down. But a part of him was curious to see how far he would get and wanted to attract Mammon's ire.
So he swallowed his fear and forced himself to remain calm as he spoke.
"Do you want it, or do you not, Master? I'm more than willing to share it with you. Because deny it however you may, I know you want a bite and deep down, you know that too. And I doubt it'd be very enjoyable to watch me eat while abstaining all because of your pride…"
The Lord of Greed stared at him in disbelief before he cackled in amusement,,"So you still have some spark in you after all, Vincent? Guess even defeated men still have a bit of backbone when push comes to shove. I was worried you were completely broken for a moment…"
"What…you wanted me to defy you?"
"Well, I wasn't expecting you to offer me something so childish but I am glad I didn't have to test if you were still functioning as you should. Perhaps you will recover after all in due time…" He admitted.
Vox narrowed his eyes,"That still doesn't answer my question. Do you want some or not?"
"I don't want it spoonfed to me…" He growled.
"Come on, just this once? You said you wanted to celebrate my return, didn't you? Why not have a bit of fun while we're at it?"
"This is not my definition of fun…"
"Can you please consider it for me?"
Mammon looked him in the eyes for the longest time before begrudgingly groaning in defeat and pinching the bridge of his nose,"Alright, Vincent…Just this once, I will cater your ridiculous request by lowering myself to your level…"
"Thank you, Mammon," He said before holding up the spoon,"Now say, Ah~"
Mammon cursed internally,'This is without a doubt, the dumbest thing I've ever done in my entire life…I cannot believe I'm doing this..' He then opened his mouth and unenthusiastically said,"Ah…"
Vox put the spoon in his mouth and let him swallow,"See? Wasn't that awful now was it?"
"Silence," He commanded, though his stone lacked any bite.
"Oh come on, Mammon. Don't be so glum. Have a bit of fun and enjoy yourself," He then scooped another piece of cake and nudged it against him,"Come on, open wide…"
Mammon glanced at it before saying,"You shall tell no one about this, Vincent…This is something that is only to be known between the two of us, understand?"
While the Jester hadn't made any direct threats, the line was enough to clue Vox in that this was to stay between them and them alone.
Not that he planned on telling anyone anyway…
"I understand…now are you going to take a bite or not? The cake isn't gonna eat itself you know…"
"Tch.." He rolled his eyes before reluctantly opening his mouth again and allowing Vox to feed him the cake.
Vox was…uncertain how to feel as he did this. It reminded him of the dates he and Val had together. Sometimes when he and Val were on 'good' terms with each other, Val would let him feed him the food that they had bought. Sometimes they even shared drinks.
He knew it was different, that what he and Mammon had wasn't the same, but he couldn't help but feel reminded of those times and that he deeply missed having someone to be romantic with…
Those times were long dead and gone, but that didn't mean he couldn't at least pretend that everything was alright, even if it was just for the moment.
He knew Mammon was probably just humoring him and maybe he was a tad delusional in hoping that he was more than just a slave to him. It was wishful thinking, but that was all he could really hope for in a position such as this…
Back at camp, Velvet clutched her doll minion tightly as nightfall approached. By now, most of the group had fallen asleep, everyone except her and Al, who seemed to stay up at unholy hours of the night just to stare into space.
It was rather late and she hadn't seen Vox in quite some time. Last she had heard, he had gone out with 'Helsa' since 'she' wished to show him something.
Now Velvet may not have been the smartest girl in the world but that didn't mean she was a complete moron. It didn't take much to think about what 'Helsa' had in mind for Vox and while she didn't exactly like it, she knew not to get involved.
And hey, if Vox wanted to get his cock turned into an icicle inside the ice Princess she wasn't going to stop him if that was what truly got his rock's off. She knew the man long enough to know that Vox was a bit of a masochist when it came down to it and he'd probably find a way to get off to something like that.
What he got off to was none of her business but she did think it was taking an awfully long time to have sex. She had seen Vox and Val go at it and even they never took this long to fuck. Not even when they did that kinnky BDSM shit(don't ask how she knew how long they did it, she just did).
She groaned,"Ugh…what the hell is taking them so long?"
She flinched when Alastor asked,"What is taking who so long, Velvet?"
"Why do you ask, buster? Something you want?"
"Not really, just curious. It's been awfully quiet lately since we escaped that Martha lady and I'm a tad curious as to what you're thinking about…" The former Radio Star admitted.
"You got bored that quickly?"
"You're acting like there's anything to do around here," Al retorted.
Which was true. The forest didn't exactly provide any grade-A entertainment and Velvet swore she was about to start talking to her dolls to keep herself company at this rate…
Though now that she had someone to converse with…why not delve into some questions? After all, it wasn't everyday she got a chance to talk to Vox's rival and without Vox around, he likely wouldn't be hostile…
"What'd you do before you fell down here?"
"Oh you know, listen to the Radio, read the newspaper. The works. Course I can't do that now..especially since I can't see for that matter and they don't seem to be very accommodating towards those with disabilities down here…"
"Figured as much. I guess we both relate in that regard in having our personal means of communicating being nonexistent. There ain't no fucking Wi-Fi down here and even if I had my phone it'd be a useless plastic box considering how primitive this stupid world is, "She huffed,"I swear, this place is either batshit dangerous or fucking boring, there ain't not bloody in-between in this world."
"For once, I believe we can agree on that," Alastor said,"This world has brought us nothing but misfortune ever since we landed down here and almost every person we've met has tried to torture or murder us."
"Ya think we lost em this time?"
"Who? The Deadly Sins? Probably not," He confessed,"You know their kind is quite stubborn and given Charlie's dispapernace has no doubt been noticed, they're likely going to hunt us down on Lucifer's order. Probably won't stop until they have her too…"
"Just trying to be optimistic," She groaned,"I don't fucking get it honestly. Why do they want all of us? Is it because they're triggered over us wrecking their shit? Big whoop, they can afford it. They're the richest fuckers like…ever! They don't need to constantly breath down our necks because we messed their shit up."
"They're quite vindictive if you haven't noticed, Velvet. Had they been reasonable they likely wouldn't be Deadly Sins at all…"
"Guess your right..though I do wish Vox would be more honest with me…"
"What do you mean?"
"You know how Vox had that little..freak out prior to us getting caught by Lucifer?"
"Hard to forget. He acted like a mad-man and was in an awful mood at all times." Al retorted.
"Yeah, guess that's what having a Demon Lord in your head does to ya. Though I don't get why he didn't say anything to me. I'm his best friend. Even if he didn't feel comfortable telling you guys, he could've told me."
"He was probably scared you'd think less of him. I know Vox cares all too much about how people think about him and he likely thought you'd look down on him if you truly knew what was going on…"
"But why me? I'm his best friend! Why would he keep something from me when it's hurting him? Especially since he told Charlie what was up but anytime I try getting answers, I get told it's none of my business. Like, who does she think she is? I've known Vox way longer than her, I deserve to know dammit…"
Al put a hand under his chin,"It's likely they fear your reactions if anything…"
"Why? Because I'm crazy? Because I've got a few screws loose? As if that's a rarity!" She huffed,"Doesn't everyone in Hell have something wrong with them? Why is it just me that has to be out of the loop? It ain't like I'm deluding myself into thinking I'm the pinnacle of mental health! Just tell me what I need to know dammit!"
The former Radio Demon glanced at the former Doll Demon with a look that resembled pity.
"I wish I could answer that. Unfortunately, I am no mind-reader so you'll have to figure out the answers you desire from Vox himself when he gets back…Speaking of Vox…where is he anyway?"
"Didn't ya hear? He wnet out with Helsa, probably to go fuck like rabbits right under our noses," Velvet informed,"Though they haven't come back yet for some reason. Ya think they'd get bored of trying to bone each other by now because I can't think of any real reason for them to still be out there…"
"That's…very suspicious…" Al admitted.
"You're telling me? I'm honestly kind of worried for the guy…It's been several hours and not a peep…Wonder if I should go out there myself or send some of my dolls to fetch him…" She divulged her concern, and seemed a tad uneasy.
Before anything else could be said, they heard the sound of someone rushing towards their campsite. No one was supposed to be out there at this time and with their recent conversations, the two felt as though that someone might have discovered their camp.
The two turned their attention to the sound and remained on guard as Velvet shouted,"Hey! Show yourself! Who the fuck is there? I won't hesitate to attack!"
"Neither will I…"
Moment's later, 'Helsa' revealed 'herself' visibly panting as 'she' held her 'arms' in the air to indicate that she wasn't a threat.
Velvet's threatening expression wavered, her expression becoming flat,"Oh…it's just you, Helsa…For a second there I thought you were someone important…" She then glanced closer at her and even through the limited lighting the fire gave off, she could tell that 'Helsa' was visibly distressed and panting from running, as if she had been doing a marathon,"What the hell is your damage, lady? And where's Vox?"
'Helsa' put up 'her' fingers to communicate but Velvet wasn't fluent in sign language and hissed,"I don't speak hands dammit! You gotta use your voice with me!"
"Velvet, she's mute…" Al reminded,"She's communicating the only way she knows how…"
"Oh right…" She groaned.
"Don't work yourself up. I'm certain at least some of the other's know sign language if you wake them up. They'll be able to translate for her…"
"That's a good point…" Velvet then walked over to the other's and began shouting,"HEY! WAKE UP EVERYBODY! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! GET YOUR ASSES UP RIGHT NOW! WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Everyone groaned as Velvet's loud voice snapped them out of their peaceful slumber,slowly rising from their tents.
It took a few moments before everyone came out of their tents to see what the commotion was, though none of them seemed all too enthusiastic if the bags under their eyes were any indication.
No one seemed happy about this.
"Please let this important," Niffty pleaded.
Vaggie grit her teeth,"I swear to god, Velvet, there better be a good reason for waking us all up in the middle of the damn night."
"Yeah, what the fuck is the big idea?" Husk grumbled.
"Hey, don't get mad at me!" The Doll Demon defended,"If you want someone to get mad at, get mad at Helsa for fucking running over here in a panic like her life was on the line!"
"Oh really?" Angel hissed, rubbing his eyes with free hand as he held Wiggles in the other, glaring at 'Helsa' irritably,"You know some of us need our damn beauty sleep, don't you? Got some nerve getting us all up like this…"
"Angel, calm down," Charlie eased up,"I'm sure Helsa has a reason for this. I doubt she'd just get panicked without any explanation. Especially if she came running back here at this time of night…"
"Tch, you're too damn generous with her, Charlie…"
"I'm willing to hear anyone out if need be," She reminded before turning to 'Helsa,"Alright, Helsa. Can you please explain what the situation is because I know you wouldn't wake us up for no reason."
"I was attacked earlier," 'She' informed, looking visibly exhausted as 'she' rushed to explain this as urgently as 'she' could.
"Attacked? By who?" Charlie asked, now becoming greatly concerned.
"I don't know who in particular, but there were a lot of guards from the Deadly Sin's forces while I was out with Vox and had the misfortune of running into their camp."
"What?" Husk asked,"Those Deadly Bastards caught up with us that quickly?"
Panic consumed the area as a flurry of whispers filled the room.
Charlie then raised her voice,"Guys, enough! We don't know the full story! Let's hear Helsa out before we rush to conclusions…" The Princess then glanced at Helsa who seemed to be visibly shaken."Helsa, we need more information to go off. Can you please explain in detail what happened to you and Vox while you two were out?"
She reluctantly nodded,"Vox and I were just walking around when we discovered their base. We were planning on leaving but I suggested we see what they were up to. There were some armed forces, a small squad of fifteen. Clearly just a small portion of their army. We were going to head back when one of them spotted us and their entire fleet began chasing us. In a last ditch effort to lose them, we split up and I eventually hid behind a bush for several hours until I felt the coast was clear…"
"But what about Vox?" Velvet questioned urgently,"What about him?"
"Yeah, what about him?" Charlie pressed, her voice growing more concerned when 'Helsa' didn't respond,"Helsa…what about Vox? Where is he?"
"I…I don't know…"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Velvet snapped,"You were with him!"
"What part of, 'we split up' do you not understand, Velvet?" 'Helsa' hammered in,"I don't know where he is…"
"Does…does that mean they have him?" Vaggie inquired, daring to ask the dreaded question, the mere notion causing Velvet's heart to sink into the pit of her stomach.
There was a thick cloud of tension in the air before Al broke the silence,"It sounds likely that Vox was captured in that case…"
"Yeah, that much is obvious," Angel admitted,"Honestly, the bigger question is what did they do with him once they nabbed him? Did they just tow him away to jail and throw away the key?"
"Maybe they killed him," Niffty brought up in a whipsery tone.
"They better not have," Velvet hissed,"I swear to God I'll fucking murder them if they killed him…"
"It's neither," Husk said.
"How would you know, Husk?" Angel asked,"You can't predict the future…"
"I may not, but I still have my wits about me and I know enough about Vox's circumstances to know that those soldiers wouldn't dare kill him. Not if they valued their lives anyway…"
"What do you mean?"
"Have you all forgotten? Vox's soul is owned by Mammon," He pointed out.
"And what relevance does that have here?"
The former Cat Demon scoffed before pointing at his head and tapping on it several times,"Use your damn brain, Angel. Vox is Mammon's property so chances are, Mammon explicitly asked for him to be brought in alive since he has a vested interest in keeping him that way. And I imagine none of the soldiers wish to sign their own epitaphs pissing off a Demon Lord by killing his runwaay slave."
"That…is a good point actually," Angel admitted,"Still, I just don't get it…"
"What do you mean you don't get it? Isn't it obvious?"
"No, not like that. I understand that Vox is Mammon's slave. The thing I'm struggling to wrap my head around is why Mammon is so invested in him. Vox is just one guy, he ain't anything special compared to him. It's not like he made him big bucks or anything like that. I just don't get why Mammon thinks Vox is worth all this trouble. I at least understand the other Sins coming after us because Charlie's missing and Lucifer's no doubt hounding them to retrieve her. But why does Mammon want Vox in particular? What's he even gonna do with him?"
Charlie grit her teeth as she clenched the folds of her dress tightly. She still recalled that moment she saw Mammon on top of Vox, lips meshed over his as he had his wrists pinned above his head…
It was an awful sight and she dreaded to think of what was happening now that Mammon had Vox in his clutches.
"Well..what is he going to do to him, Charlie?" Velvet asked-no,demanded. It was eerily creepy how someone who appeared so young held such a disdain in her voice,"Come on,Charlie. Out with the truth. Tell us what Mammon will do to him. We deserve to know. I deserve to know…"
"I…I…" The Princess winced,"Velvet..I can't…"
"You can! You just don't want to tell me!" She hissed,"Is it because I'm too 'immature' to handle the truth? Because Vox didn't want to 'hurt' my feelings? Too fucking late for that! Just tell me the damn truth already! I'm tired of Vox keeping shit from me!"
"He's going to sexually assault him," Husk admitted, unable to hold it back anymore.
The silence thereafter was deafening and no one dared to make a comment or joke about the situation. Not even Angel dared to open his mouth…
"He's going to what?" Velvet growled, her expression becoming deadly. Velvet's sual perky self vanished, replaced with a colder and more twisted exterior.
"You heard me…"
"No shit I did," The pigtailed woman snarled,"I fucking heard you alright. And I want to know, why the fuck did no one say this earlier!? Why didn't he tell me Mammon violated him? Why did you two keep this from us? From me!? Why did Vox feel comfortable with you two knowing but not me? Was I not deserving of this information?"
Velvet was beyond furious and it became evident that she was about to lose her damn temper. Her hands were glowing fiercely with soul magic and the others backed away, fearing the magical aura she produced might come to harm them or their souls for that matter.
"He feared your response," Husk informed,"Thought you might do something stupid like trying to outright attack Mammon or something like that…"
"Attack?" She giggled manically,"Attack? No, I'm not gonna 'attack' him. I'm going to fucking MURDER him and devour his damn soul…" She said this while creating a soul construct of a skull and crushing it within her grasp.
"Velvet, I understand your rage…" Charlie said,"But you can't attack Mammon. It's too risky…"
"I don't give a damn, he needs to pay!" She snarled as she stomped her foot,"Why won't you let me at him!?"
The Princess of Pride wearily approached Velvet despite Angel's attempts to stop her. She kept her guard on but tried to speak with her in a calm and collected voice,"Velvet, Mammon is too strong to be taken down. He's on an entirely different level and while I understand your desire to get revenge, you'll only end up hurting yourself…"
"I don't care! I want to get back at him for what he did to him! He hurt my best friend, he cannot get away with that!"
Velvet was having a tantrum, acting more akin to a child than an adult and she seemed to be on the verge of breaking down with how unstable her voice was. Charlie could sense her anguish, the frustration and all of her pain…
It was a sorry sight and she empathized with her greatly, yet knew that the path Velvet was heading down would bode her no worthwhile results…
"But would Vox do that?" Charlie asked,"Would he want you risking your life to hurt someone out of your league?"
"No…but-"
"Velvet, I understand your grievances, but there's nothing we can do for Vox…It's out of our hands…" She admitted as she got closer and closer. When she was within a foot of Velvet she outstretched her hand and placed it on her shoulder,"This isn't the way and deep down, you know this too…I know everyone thinks you're crazy but I know that isn't all there is to you. So please, calm down. You're scaring everyone…"
Velvet's body twitched before she let out a choked out sob as she cried, covering her face. Charlie reached out to hug her, not only to comfort her but to prevent her from falling to her knees as her legs seemed to almost give up instantaneously as her rage was replaced with great sadness.
Fat globs of tears mixed with makeup streamed down her face and Charlie winced at the overwhelming emotions radiating off of Velvet.
She patted her on the back and said,"Shh…don't worry. I got you. We're going to get through this together, Velvet…All of us. Everything is gonna be OK..I promise…"
She wasn't sure how she was gonna uphold that promise, but she was sure as hell going to try.
"So…what do we do now? Now that Vox has been captured, surely that means that the Deadly Sins have realized we're not too far ahead," Alastor asked, his voice strangely…forlorn? It was hard to tell but he most certainly didn't sound happy about the events that recently transpired.
"Smiles brings up a good point," Angel admitted,"Those Deadly Fuckers are no doubt realizing we're not too far away. We need to skeddale before those fucker's decide to head our way instead."
"B-But what about Vox?" Velvet sniffled.
"Velvet, it's too late for him," Niffty said, glancing at her friend with sorrow,"I'm sorry about your loss but there's no feasible way to retrieve him. We'll have to continue on without him unfortunately."
"Indeed, it's a shame we lost another person in our journey out of this world," Charlie admitted somberly,"Thankfully, we shouldn't be too far from Gluttony by now. It's only a matter of time before we arrive. We just have to hope we don't run into any problems on the way there and maybe we'll finally escape this hell space once and for all…."
'Helsa' then motioned for the others to follow 'her', taking out a map from 'her' bosom and revealing a full fledged map of the area and pointing to where they were.
"How did you get that?" Husk asked suspiciously.
"From the camp. One of the men dropped this…" 'She' said,"This should lead us to Gluttony. We're already over halfway there. Given enough time,we will arrive at their Kingdom and follow the map to a T…" 'She' then motioned for everyone to follow,"Come on, I'll lead us forward…"
"Helsa, do you think maybe I could have the map and-"
"No," Seviathan snorted,"I can handle the act of transporting us, Charlie. Just because you think I'm incompetent doesn't mean I'm incapable of leading us to our destination."
"I…I wasn't implying that. I was just thinking maybe I could help and-"
"That is not necessary. I can do this myself…" He huffed,"Now come on. Nightfall is still upon us and we might actually get somewhere if we don't waste time arguing over semantics…"
Charlie sighed before deciding to drop the subject. She knew better than to press the topic and decided to just let it go…
She then got up on Bombproof, patting him under the chin as she said,"Giddy up boy…"
The horse obediently followed her command and trailed behind Helsa along with the others.
No one dared to say a word as they walked, the mood had taken a downpour as rain began to fall from the sky, muddying the area.
Seviathan smirked under his mask, this plan was far easier than he had anticipated. This mission was almost a cake-walk and he had the other's following his lead like animals to the slaughter, unknowing of the fate that lay ahead of them…
'And to think I almost felt bad…' He thought, chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny, Helsa?" Husk asked judgmentally, his voice clearly offended at the sound of 'Helsa' giggling after such a sensitive topic was discussed.
He sent him a glare before signing,"I was just thinking to myself at how lucky I was to escape those fools. Don't be so judgemental, Husk. I'm aware bad things happened today but I can still be thankful for my own sake…"
Husk seemed…to not believe this, his gaze distressful. Regardless, he decided not to press on, instead just glaring suspiciously as he said,"Whatever…"
The Prince narrowed his eyes at Husk, he was a tad worried he had suspected him.
'The old man is quite perceptive…I cannot have him risk my mission…' He thought to himself,'Not that he's aware of my true identity, but he likely suspects something is amiss. I cannot allow him to compromise my position…'
For if push came to shove…Seviathan was more than willing to 'get rid' of Husk in a discreet manner if it meant satisfying his master's whims.
He would not fail…never again. And if he had to tarnish his sister's reputation, then so be it…
Back at Mammon's palace, Mammon had taken the time to show Vox around the place after their little moment after dinner. The place was large and extravagant, even if it was only a temporary home away from home base.
However, as it got late, Mammon insisted on showing him a surprise…
This wouldn't be such a problem had Mammon not commanded him to wear a blindfold prior to leading him to the surprise he had in store for him.
"Mammon, is this blindfold really necessary?" He whined,"I can't even tell where I'm going…"
"That's the point my dear, Vincent," He teased, Mammon's voice sounding far more sultry than one would've thought. Perhaps it was just the effect having this cloth on him but Vox swore Mammon sounded flirtatious when he said those words."And don't worry, I've got you. You're not going to fall nor crash into anything on my watch. Besides, we're almost there…just a little further…"
After a couple more steps, they came to a halt. Vox heard the sound of Mammon unlocking a door, a sense of anticipation and suspense pumped through his veins.
Mammon then gently pushed him inside before whispering into his ear playfully,"You may open your eyes, my subject…"
The Former Overlord removed his blindfold as his jaw dropped, awestruck at the sight before him.
In front of him was a magnificent bedroom filled with lush furniture. There was a large windowsill and even a private bathroom. The room was painted in hues of blue and there was even a body-sized mirror.
"W-What is this?"
"It's your room, silly," Mammon cackled as he placed his hands around Vox's shoulders,"What else?"
"It's…it's beautiful," He gasped,"There's no way all of this is for me is it?"
"Of course it is, Vincent, why wouldn't it be?" The Jester sneered.
"Do you do this to others under your service?" He questioned, causing Mammon to snort,
"Only you, Vincent…" He said,"Only you…"
"But why? What makes me so special?"
"You intrigue me," He admitted,"It's been centuries since a mortal has caught my eye and you are truly one of kind. I'd have to be insane to let you go…"
"I..I'm flattered you feel that way," He said nervously, doing his best to pretend he wasn't creeped out at the same time,"I um…really appreciate the gesture, Mammon…Thank you…"
"You're so very welcome, my dear subject…"
Vox then pulled away and dashed towards the window, gazing down at the camp from the vantage point. It was truly a sight to behold under the moonlight and he couldn't help but find himself captivated by the outside world.
"God…it's so majestic…" He muttered to himself,"Hey…Mammon?" He asked.
"Yes, Vincent?"
"Can…can I go outside tomorrow? Like, just to see what the rest of this camp looks like?"
Mammon frowned as he said,"No."
"W-Why not?" He inquired,"Why can't I go outside?"
"Vincent, you know why," The Jester reminded, moving next to him at the windowsill,"You know why I cannot let you out there. You did betray my trust and I can't take any risks with you escaping…"
Vox's eyes lowered,"Mammon, I'm..I'm sorry…"
"I know you are, but I can't change my stance," He said,"Especially if it's not safe for you out there…"
"What do you mean?"
"Considering your last interaction with my fellow Sin didn't bode too well for you, I'm hesitant at letting the others near you."
"Aren't they your friends? Shouldn't you trust them?"
"They are my allies," He admits,"And while we are quite fond of each other, I wouldn't go as far as to say I trust them with the souls I own. Especially considering how Belphegor treated you while I was away…" He then tangled Vox's hair through his fingers,"I regret not being there for you and I shall rectify that mistake now by keeping you under my watchful eye."
The shorter male frowned,"So am I just to be confined to this room all day for the rest of my time here?"
"Oh no, that's not how it works, Vincent," He said,"You see, the rules here are quite simple. You may not step foot in the outside world and you are to remain in your room at nightfall, however you are free to explore the palace so long as either I or another person accompany you at all times."
"So you're just going to have a servant watch over me? You're just going to leave me alone?" He asked, clinging to Mammon's arm tightly.
"I cannot be there for you at all times, Vincent,"He reminded softly,"I have duties to attend to but I will be there for you when I can and I promise once this is all over, we'll spend more time together. And if you truly do find yourself needing me, just remember that a part of me is always with you," Mammon then gestured to the sigil on Vox's wrist.
"Always?"
"Always…" He assured, grasping Vox's cheek possessively,"And Vincent?"
"Yes, Mammon?"
Mammon's brows furrowed as his expression darkened, his voice deadly serious,"Don't ever ask to leave this palace again…"
Vox's face fell before sighing in defeat,"Yes,Master. Your words are crystal clear…"
Mammon's expression reverted back to normal as he smiled before lowering himself and grazing his lips on top of Vox's foreheads,planting a small kiss on his pale gray skin,"Rest well, my sweet subject. I will see you soon…"
He pat the shorter man on the head one last time, fluffing his hair before taking his leave and locking the door behind him.
The former TV Demon groaned as he found himself alone in his new 'bedroom'. It was more akin to a gilded cage if anything, for he could just about anything…
But leave.
That was the one rule Mammon had for him and he disliked having his freedom restricted in such a suffocating way. Yet he knew better than to resist, least of all when he didn't have any access to his powers.
He was powerless, helpless and worst of all, alone…
A part of him wondered if anyone had even noticed he was gone. He dryly laughed,"Even if they did, Helsa probably gave them a sob story about losing me so they didn't suspect that she washed her hands of me. No doubt they've already gone on without me…"
Vox slumped, he wanted to be angry, wanted to be sad, but found himself too spent to do either and instead, crawled into bed and collapsed against the plush pillows and satin silk.
Thanks for 21,876 views, tell me what you think below!
Enigmus-288: They are progressing...it's just that they're getting stalked by Deadly Sins who want their heads lol. It's hard to get away when you are literally bound to one of them and Mammon has been eagerly waiting for his prize for a while now. They're approaching Gluttony with each passing day so that's a good thing...only downside if you know, Seviathan impersonating his sister giving the Deadly Sins info on their exact location at all times and everything.