Theo lay on a stone floor, a silver chain wrapped around his neck, and velvety red quartz bars keeping him from freedom. His eyes opened as he looked past the bars, seeing a steep cliff only inches away. Behind him was more of the blood quartz surrounding him like tall walls. Theo placed a hand on the bars, the jagged edges of the quartz digging into his hand. His blood red again as it stained the few white pieces of crystal.
"Shit," Theo said, holding the cut on his hand. "What the fuck happened?" he said, sitting down on the hard floor.
"You don't remember?" A familiar voice said from behind the wall to his left.
"Meloch? Is that you?" Theo asked, rushing over to the left wall, his fingers hesitantly touching it.
"Mammon tried to force you into his deal... Remember?" Meloch said as all the memories of their interaction suddenly rushed back to Theo's mind.
"So... Theo, I know that it is a big decision and I said I would give you all the time you need to think about it, but have you made a decision?" Mammon asked, his grin returning. Theo looked at Jaxa back then at Mammon. His head raced as Mammon asked the question. Theo could feel a sudden jolt of energy as he shot up instinctively. His hands moved without thought as he reached for a knife on the table, but Mammon was faster. Mammon slammed Theo's arm down, pinning it to the table.
"Theo, what the hell are you doing?" Jaxa asked, dropping her fork and standing up. With one nod from Mammon, Focalor stood up and slammed her hand into Jaxa's neck, instantly knocking out the hellcat. Jaxa's eyes rolled back, and her body went limp into Focalor's arms. Theo's arm tensed beneath Mammon's claws.
"I'll take that as a no," Mammon said, gripping tighter, cutting into Theo's arm. Theo didn't say anything as his eyes lit up with a bright white light. Mammon's eyes thinned with a satirical chuckle as he released Theo's arm. "That bastard gave you some holy magic, I see," Mammon said, bearing his golden fangs in a crooked grin. Theo's grip on the knife tightened as he swung his arm around in a drunken attempt to back Mammon away from him. The light in his eyes suddenly flickered out as he looked around in confusion.
"What the hell?" Theo asked, looking at the knife in his hand and the scratch marks Mammon had left. Theo looked back up at Mammon only to see the Sin's fist moving quickly towards Theo. Theo acted quickly, moving to the side of the thrust, then trapping Mammon's arm under his own. Then Theo's foot swung around, knocking Mammon onto the ground. Theo let go of Mammon and backed away.
"My Lord, it is the Angelic instincts he was given," Meloch said, assisting Mammon off the ground. Mammon's eyes were full of rage as he stood up.
"Is that true, human... were you unable to answer me because of your new instincts?" Mammon asked his teeth on full display as he stood to his full height, feet above Theo.
"I...I don't know," Theo responded, backing up even more as he looked up at Mammon.
"Then what about your ability to knock me to the ground? Was that you or your instincts?" Mammon said with a threatening growl. Theo backed away as Mammon got closer.
"Well, the knife thing wasn't me, I don't even remember picking it up, but after you scratched me, I think... Damn... I don't know what happened." Theo said, looking at his hands, then back up at Mammon. Mammon glared down at him with a faint grin forming at the edges of his lips.
"Then we will just have to find out," Mammon said, his eyes locked on Theo. "Meloch... Bind him down." Mammon ordered.
"You want me to bind him, my lord?" Meloch choked.
"Is there a problem, Meloch?" Mammon growled, his eyes glancing over to the small demon.
"N-No, my lord... r-right away." Meloch stuttered slowly, moving behind Theo. A sudden flash of blue flames appeared over Theo, then dissipated just as fast, leaving behind small chains of silver wrapped around Theo's hands.
"What are you doing?" Theo asked in outrage.
"You are not in control of yourself, Theo. For the safety of Hell and the circle of greed, I... unfortunately must keep you here, until I can prove you are not a threat to this world." Mammon said with an evil smirk of absolute pleasure.
"Master Mammon, What of the Bezekira?" Focalor said, holding up Jaxa's unconscious body.
"She is of no consequence, feed her to the crows," Mammon said dismissively.
"No, my lord, I must protest!" Meloch shouted in defiance.
"And why is that?" Mammon barked back at Meloch's unusual outburst.
"She could... still have some use in controlling the human," Meloch said, his words filled with sudden doubt. Mammon looked at Jaxa, then at Theo, who still stood in front of him. Theo's eyes were filled with defiance and anger as he heard what they said about Jaxa.
"I... I'm ready to make a deal!" Theo suddenly shouted." His words caused a sudden silence. Focalor's eyes quickly locked onto Theo with a hint of surprise on her face. Meloch's fists clenched suddenly. Mammon's eyes widened, and his ears perked up.
"Oh? And what would that be?" Mammon asked, lowering himself towards Theo, his face only inches from Theo's.
"I... Theo will make a deal with Mammon, the lord of greed, in exchange for the freedom of Jaxa... Without being harmed." Theo stated, his eyes glancing toward Jaxa, then back at Mammon. Mammon started laughing as he backed away from Theo's face. His laughter was pure and unadulterated delight.
"I agree!" Mammon shouted with pure fury in his voice, his head tilting towards the ceiling as he laughed even harder. He managed to compose himself as he reached out his hand to Theo. "Shake on it, boy," Mammon stated. Theo took a moment thinking before confidently shaking Mammon's hand.
"No, let her go free, without harm," Theo said.
"Of course. Focalor, be sure to take care of her when she wakes and inform her of the situation." Mammon said, glancing at Focalor, then back at Theo. Focalor nodded and teleported away in a flash of water and lightning.
"Just like that? No catch or anything?" Theo said, blinking with disbelief.
"Of course not, I have obtained what I wanted, what truly happens to that hellcat is of no consequence to me," Mammon says, returning to his charismatic voice. "However, I will need to confirm some things before we can move forward with our new arrangement," Mammon said, suddenly striking Theo over the head, knocking him out.
"My lord!" Meloch said, catching Theo's body.
"And as for you, Meloch, you dared to question me?" Mammon asked, the rage returning in his eyes. "Focalor has informed me of your sudden doubts, and I will not tolerate them. Maybe some time in a cell will remind you of your place." Mammon said, grabbing the small demon by the throat.
"So that's how we ended up here?" Theo said as he lay against the quartz walls of his cell.
"Yes, and I have been sent here for the next hundred years," Meloch responded, also leaning against his cell wall on the other side.
"So what now?" Theo asked with a sigh.
"We wait and see what Lord Mammon wishes to do with you, as for me... I will serve my punishment alone in this cell." Meloch responded.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Theo said, standing up.
"Theo... so made a deal with a Sin. There is nothing you can do now to stop him." Meloch said, his voice full of defeat. Theo paused and looked out at the chasm that stretched out hundreds of feet from the mansion. His cell hung from a large bridge that connected two parts of the mansion. On one side was the mansion he had been in that connected to the top of the greed ring, and the other side connected to a large spire that stretched from the dark depths of greed to the roof of the ring.
"So what is in that tower?" Theo asked.
"That is lord Mammon's personal quarters and where he keeps his vast riches, or at least where he used to keep them," Meloch said.
"What do you mean used to?" Theo asked. Meloch opened his mouth, then paused, biting his tongue.
"Forget what I said." Meloch stuttered.
"Are you saying what I think?" Theo asked, his eyes widening with a newfound idea.
"I... I don't know what you mean." Meloch said with an unconvincing lie.
"Is that why Mammon wanted me so badly? Because he is... financially struggling." Theo said with a humorous quip. He began to chuckle slightly.
"It's not funny," Meloch whispered.
"How is that not funny? You mean to tell me that the Sin of greed, the embodiment of money, has run out?" Theo said with an uncontrollable laugh. "I have an idea, if you're willing to assist me," Theo said.
"No, I have already disappointed my master too many times," Meloch responded quickly.
"He treated you like shit!" Theo said.
"I am his servant, I would not have been created in the first place if it weren't for Lord Greed." Meloch protested, his words quiet with emotion. Theo's smile vanished, but the edges of his lips curled up.
"Meloch... This is Hell. What does it matter?" Theo said, his words flat and distant. "You're a living, breathing demon or whatever you are... the point is that you can choose what you want to do," Theo said, his words hitting Meloch hard. Meloch lifted his head from his knees.
"That isn't how things work down here. Sinners are free to do as they wish, but for us Hell-borns, our paths are set." Meloch said, his voice reaching for some sort of optimism.
"Well, that's bullshit," Theo responded casually.
"What?" Meloch asked, whipping his now teary eyes.
"What about Jaxa then? She is a Hell-born, and she's the freest damn person I've ever met." Theo said his hand was gripping one of the bars as it cut into his hand.
"But she isn't contracted to a Sin," Meloch responded.
"And?" Theo asked.
"She isn't bound to the will of a Sin; she can be free," Meloch explained.
"Based on what I've seen, you have just as much free will as her; you're just too scared to do anything with it," Theo said.
"What do you mean? I have to follow every order that Lord Mammon gives me." Meloch responded.
"No, you don't, or did he let you question his decisions during dinner?" Theo asked with a full smirk now. A sudden look of realization appeared on Meloch's face as he remembered his own words in the dining room.
"Wait, I... No, that couldn't be right." Meloch mumbled in confusion.
"You questioned an order Mammon gave you. I think you have more free will than you think." Theo said.
"But... But that shouldn't have been possible, or I would have been shocked into submission." Meloch said in disbelief.
"Have you ever been shocked by your binding?" Theo asked. Meloch pondered on the question for a moment before shooting up.
"N-No, I haven't!" Meloch shouted in realization.
"So... Do you want to stay in these cells for another hundred years, or do something about it?"