“Are you saying I’m worthless?” I asked, getting annoyed with the smith. “I’ve been busting my ass trying to think of how to beat Mammon and studying the book.” Part of me wanted to smack her with my copy of the Once and Future Builder, but I didn’t. I might damage it on her thick skull.
“Not at all,” Sam said, shaking her head. “If that’s what you’re taking from this, you’re taking the wrong thing. You’re the most important person here because you’re the only one who can read that.” She gestured toward the book where it lay open, revealing the recipe for the gauntlets Sam had been following. “Just like you’re the only one who can get Mammon’s favor.”
“The problem is, I don’t know how to get Mammon to help us,” I grumbled. “I already told you that. Besides, the guilds want her gone. If I help her, it might piss them off.”
“They’re going to be pissed off, anyway. They haven’t given you anything but the bare minimum.” Sam shook her head. “I’m pretty sure you can find a way to convince Mammon to give her your favor.” She picked up the two gauntlets and offered them to me. “Arthur, my work is done. I’m going to go work on other things. You should do the things you’re good at.”
“What if I can’t get her to help us?” I asked, knowing it was a distinct possibility. Even still, I accepted the gauntlets. They were cold to the touch, and I hastily shoved them in a bag.
“Then at least you’ll have tried.” Sam kissed my cheek. “I know you aren’t a coward, Arthur, but right now? Right now, you’re sure acting like one. If you lose, you lose.” She smiled. “But if you don’t try, you won’t know.”
“You’re right,” I said, taking the bag and slinging it over my shoulder. “Might as well get this over with so we can figure out a new way.”
“Who knows, Arthur, maybe you’ll surprise yourself.”
I nodded to Sam as she moved back to her forge, pointedly ignoring me. I watched the pink-haired blacksmith for a moment longer. Ever since she’d gotten back, she’d worked harder than ever before. Only I wasn’t quite sure why. No, Mammon’s presence had definitely caused a change in Sam, and the most infuriating part was she wouldn’t tell me why.
“How come you think I’ll get her favor?” I asked suddenly. “You’ve always known more than you let on, but ever since Gabriella and Mammon showed up, you’ve acted differently.”
“Arthur, we’ve been through this. It’s personal.” Her back stiffened as she spoke. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m busy.”
“Fine, but if your story would help me know my enemies, I wish you’d trust me enough to tell me, but if you don’t want to tell me, I understand.” I shrugged and headed toward the door of her shop. Her building had been one of the first constructed, mostly because we’d needed a place for her forge that was indoors. Even now, only one other building had been planned, and it still hadn’t been started.
“Okay, you know what? I will tell you,” Sam said, whirling around and glaring at me so hard I felt a little bad for bringing it up. “But only after you secure Mammon’s favor, okay?” She held out her hand to me. “Deal?”
“Deal,” I said, taking her hand and shaking it. “I’ll succeed.”
“Good because if you don’t, I expect you to drop it forever.” She met my eyes then. “Because after I tell you, I know you’ll think less of me, and I don’t want that.”
I opened my mouth to tell her that was impossible, but before I could, she shoved me backward out of her shop and shut the door in my face. I stood there staring at the door to her new shop and swallowed. I had no idea what secret she thought would be so bad, but I was pretty sure she was wrong. There was no way what she’d done would make me think less of her.
Still, I knew what it was like to be worried about what others thought of you. No. The best course of action would be to somehow convince Mammon to help me and find out the story. Then I could tell her it didn’t bother me.
Nodding to myself, I made my way across the Graveyard of Statues toward the back gate near the Nexus Gateway.
A moment later, I stepped through the Gateway and found myself standing near the entrance to the Royal Centre. It was as I’d remembered it, and as I moved toward the entrance, I realized it was the first time I’d ever come here by myself. It was strange, I’d been here numerous times with both Gwen and Buffy over the last few days, but never by myself.
As I looked around, I sort of wished I had the money to stop at Voodoo Star. Gwen would like it if I brought a treat back.
Feeling dejected because I was poor and unable to do even small things, I made my way toward the Osprey. It was a hotel on the opposite side of town and was where I knew Mammon had taken up residence. Hell, for all I knew, she owned it now.
Finding it didn’t take long because the crowds drastically thinned as I got closer. Instead of being filled with quaint stands and peddlers, the street leading up to the hotel was filled with expensive shops displaying designer goods. I’d never actually gone in one, and for the most part, that didn’t make me feel bad. Though there was one shop, an ice cream parlor, that made me sort of sad I didn’t have more free cash.
I wasn’t sure what their ice cream was like, only that no matter when I approached it, the line inside was wrapped around the block. Even now, the Slate Straw was brimming with people all enjoying their ice cream. It was a stark contrast to the other side of town where the poorer people lived. Not because they were poor, it was more because the Stained tend to crowd the streets, making them smell of urine and worse.
A sigh escaped me as I turned my thoughts away from it and moved toward the Osprey. It wasn’t that big of a building, standing maybe three floors, but what it lost in size, it made up for in grandeur. The entire thing had been done in Greco Roman theme, and through the giant archway entrance, I could see carved white marble pillars.
Just stepping inside was like stepping into a movie set. Between the gold-flecked marble floors, the fountain of Poseidon in the center, and the expensive, masterful artwork hung on the walls, I was a bit jealous of those who stayed here.
No wonder Mammon had chosen the place. Just looking at it screamed money. It was the type of place where, back home, the vice president of a company would slap down his credit card to show off.
“Can I help you?” a lanky dark-skinned woman in her mid-fifties asked as she moved around the front desk to come toward me. She looked me over, eyes taking me in and clearly finding me not up to snuff. She let out a small huff.
“Yes, sorry. I’m Arthur Curie. I’m here to see Mammon.” I looked at my hands. “Could you see if she will see me, please?”
“I know who you are.” She turned to point at the elevator. “Go ahead and head up to floor three, room six. Mammon has been expecting you.” She paused, mulling over her words. “Next time though, if you’re going to come dressed like that, use the service entrance in the back. We have an image to keep up.”
“Sorry,” I said, looking down at my shirt and jeans. They were the clothes I’d come here in and had been laid out for me in the morning by Gwen. I wasn’t sure why she felt the need to always lay out my clothes, but I’ll be honest, I sort of enjoyed it. “Um… where is the elevator?”
“To your left past the pillars.” She extended one well-manicured finger in the direction. “Do you see it or shall I escort you?”
“I think I’ll be okay,” I said, moving in the direction she’s spoken of. I soon realized that ancient Greek Gods had actually been sculpted into the columns supporting the ceiling. It was a nice touch, and if I’d had longer, I might have looked at it for a while. Either way, I’d have to bring Annabeth back to check it out. I wasn’t sure if she’d seen it before, but if she hadn’t, she was in for a treat.
Pulling my gaze from the sculptures, I found the elevator only a few feet away. I quickly made my way toward it and hit the button. A second later, the gold filigree doors opened, revealing an elevator that was much too nice for my liking. As I stepped into the marble box and hit
the button for floor three, music started to play. Soft classical filled my ears as I headed to the top floor.
As the doors opened, they revealed a long marble-filled hallway. I took one glance down the hall, noting the expensive landscapes hung on the walls and made my way toward room six. I didn’t have to go far because there were only six rooms on the whole floor. Room six seemed to take up the entire far side of the left wing while rooms four and five were on the other side of the hallway.
Before I reached the room though, the door opened. Mammon stood there wearing a Cheshire cat smile and a silver negligee that somehow left nothing to the imagination while covering everything.
“I’ve been expecting you, Arthur. Tell me,” she said, taking a step back and gesturing to her room, “Are you man enough to come inside?”
26
“Do you find my lack of pants disturbing?” Mammon asked, glancing back at me as she leaned over her bar, giving me a spectacular view of her assets while she fixed us a drink. “Because I told you to strip down and get comfortable.” She wiggled her ass slightly. “But instead, you’re just sitting there on the bed like a bump on the log.
“I’ll be honest,” I said, swallowing hard as I leaned back on the bed. It was one of those huge four-poster numbers and was covered with pink satin sheets. “I kind of want to keep my clothes on for this meeting.”
“Oh?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at me as she stood back up. “Why is that?” She moved across the room then, each hand clasping a glass full of dark liquid. I could smell it from here, and just that let me know it was strong stuff. If I drank that, I’d be drunk for a week.
“Is that a serious question?” I replied as she sat on the bed and sidled next to me until her lithe body was pressed against mine. Then she encircled my neck with one arm and pressed the glass to my lips.
“Drink up,” she said, smiling as she sipped from her own glass.
“Yeah, okay,” I said, taking the glass from her and trying to move away, only I couldn’t. She held me in place with no more effort than it’d take me to restrain an infant. A shiver shot through me. Mammon was powerful beyond all reason, and here I was sitting next to her in her room. And what’s more, she was practically naked. There was no way this was going to end well.
“You’re not drinking, Arthur,” Mammon released me then and waggled her now free hand at me. “If you don’t, I might think you don’t like my hospitality.” She pouted slightly.
“Right, okay, sorry,” I said, taking a sip of the drink she’d made for me. The flavors of pineapple, cherry, and rose blossoms hit my tongue all at once before coalescing into a fine burn that melted across my senses.
“Good?” Mammon asked, raising a curious eyebrow at me. “I should hope so. That costs a million coins an ounce.” She pursed her lips. “Maybe more.”
“A million coins?” I practically sputtered. “Are you kidding me?”
“No.” She shook her head. “See, here’s the thing, Arthur. I always get what I want, and I have expensive tastes. Show me something I can’t have, and I want it all the more.” Her free hand drifted to my thigh and began finger-crawling up my leg. “And I want you, Arthur.”
“See, normally when a woman says that to me, I get really excited, especially when they’re dressed how you are, which, no offense, is quite nice—”
“Quite nice?” she asked, her hand stopping in mid-motion. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, I’m an idiot,” I said, trying to wave off the comment. “What I’m trying to say is I don’t think you actually want to have sex with me. You just think it’s part of my price.”
“Why wouldn’t it be part of your price?” Mammon asked, leaning back on the bed so her breasts strained at her top, and causing the fabric to slide enough to reveal the barest hint of her nipples. “You sleep with all your girls.”
“Yeah, but not because of that.” I looked up at the ceiling, trying to collect my thoughts. “It’s because they want to sleep with me.”
“You are not making sense to me, Arthur,” Mammon said, lips curling into a dissatisfied smile. “What is it you wish from me if not to join me?” She gestured at herself. “I have offered you gold and power before, and you refused. Now I offer you myself, and you also refuse.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “What is it you would have to join me?”
“Can’t we just be allies? Friends? Why do you have to own me?” I asked, leaning forward and taking her closest hand. Her skin was cold to the touch, and for a second, I wondered what it’d actually be like to sleep with her. Would she be cold on the inside too?
“It’s like you do not even know me,” Mammon said, pulling her hand away. “I recognize that there are things I cannot buy. Beauty for one. Your succubus is far prettier than I am, as are most of your women, but I am still attractive.” She shifted, allowing her negligee to slip off her shoulders and pool around her waist. “I will make you happy if you just let me. You will be the best kept of my pets.”
“Look, I don’t want to be your pet. That’s kind of the point, but I would like if we could be friends,” I said, shaking my head in an effort not to stare at her bare breasts. It was hard because they were the perfect size to fill my hand, and the urge to cup them was nearly overwhelming. “I don’t want things or sex, or anything from you but your favor.”
“You wish my favor?” she asked, confusion playing across her face. “I do not understand.” She got to her feet then, causing her negligee to slip around her ankles. She stepped out of it casually and moved across the room clad only in a silver thong. “At every turn you thwart me and deny me, Arthur.” She sat down in the plush pink chair next to the window and sipped her drink. “That is not how one wins favor.”
“Look, Mammon. This whole time we’ve been fighting amongst each other, the Darkness is attacking heaven. They will soon win, and they will come here. Hell, I don’t even quite understand why they haven’t won already. From everything I’ve seen, Dred could conquer Hell in an hour.” I got to my feet and moved toward her. “I need your help, and to get that, I’ll do nearly whatever you want, but I can’t let you own me.”
“You do not need to worry about Dred just yet.” Mammon put her drink down and looked at me. “We have time enough, even if you do not realize it.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, puzzling over her words. “Have you seen the horizon?”
“Yes, I have, but you are missing one key fact.” Mammon shrugged. “Dred may be powerful enough to kill us all. I think I would wind up owning him too, but perhaps you are right about that.” She took another sip of her drink. “He will never get the seventh Armament though, and because of that will never defeat Michelle and her prissy band of adoring leeches. Thus he will not come here, for if he leaves the front lines for even a day, Heaven will push the Darkness back. Even now, he has only just recovered the territory he lost when he took Nadine.” She drained the rest of her drink. “This is where you ask how I know this, and I refuse to tell you, so I suspect we are at an impasse.”
“Hold up,” I said, making a time out gesture as I knelt down in front of her so I was eye level with her face instead of towering over her. “Assuming I believe that, tell me, how will he never get the seventh Armament?”
“Because it’s here,” Mammon said. I’m not sure what the look on my face was, but it had to have been utter fucking confusion because after searching my face for a moment she continued. “The seventh Angelic Armament is in Hell, and for him to come get it means ceding territory. Oh, he will come eventually, but Dred is a proud man, and he will try to win without it. Even now, he does not pursue the sixth Armament.”
“Gabriella,” I said, swallowing hard.
“Bingo,” Mammon said, nodding at me. “As long as she is here, that Armament is safe. Well, relatively speaking.”
“Does this mean you won’t help me?” I asked. If what she’d said was true, then we had time to find the other Armaments and get stronger. It might ta
ke longer given everyone was trying to fuck us both literally and figuratively, but at the same time, it was the first good news I’d heard in weeks.
“Oh, I’ll help you,” Mammon said, licking her lips. “But it will cost you.” She held out her hands. “Give me the gauntlets.”
“You know about them?” I asked, surprised.
“I knew the moment you started making them. I can feel them calling to me, begging for power, and I know you need me to activate them. I will do so under two conditions.” She looked right at me. “Would you do that for me?”
“Why do I feel like you set me up by asking for something unreasonable and then giving me the option to do something else that I’d have initially objected to?” I asked, wondering if I’d been played.
“It’s called negotiating, Arthur. Maybe you should brush up on it.” Mammon shrugged. “Either way, you should hear my terms. I’m sure you’ll find them reasonable. After all, we need each other, do we not? I need something from you, and you need something from me.”
“Fine,” I said because she had a point. “What is it you want, Mammon?”
“It is simple, I wish you to enter my lands and cleanse them from the Darkness. It is not hard to do, but only you can do it. Dred put a curse upon them requiring the Builder to spend a year inside them. Do this, and I will finish your Armament.” She smiled at me like she hadn’t just asked me to give up a year of my life. “If you do so, I will consider leaving this silly little town to the guilds. I know you’ve made a deal with them though I am unsure why. You should have come to me. I could have offered you more.”
“I can’t leave for a year, Mammon. If I do, what will happen to my people, my town?” My heart sank as I realized the truth. There was no way I could do this, not now. I couldn’t leave them to fend for themselves right on the edge of the Darkness without me. Sooner or later they’d get crushed, and I’d return to find them all dead.
The Builder's Greed (The Legendary Builder Book 2) Page 16