Chapter Thirty-One: Famine's Chat

Famine led her to yet another secluded room and took a seat at the desk as he nodded for her to take the normal seat. "I assume you want to know how I found her before you give me any serviceable information?" he questioned.

Holly scowled. "You know I do."

He nodded once. "When I found her Death and her in that trance she's in. I don't know if she'll awaken, but my guess would be no. I sense a spell on her, and if it doesn't break she might be exposed to an unpleasant truth. I'd wager she's been set up as a trap for us, which is why I'm not allowing you to be alone in the same room as her."

Holly rolled her eyes. "She's my friend. I can make that decision myself. I don't know why you guys want to try to control my life all the time."

"For your own safety. Now, I've told you what you needed to know, I'd like my time now. First of all, what do you feel towards my baby brother?"

"Dagon?" Holly frowned. "I don't know what you think but I have no romantic interests towards anyone but Quix, he's who I choose."

"That's unacceptable." Famine brushed dust off his suit sleeve. "You have to pick Dagon. I can't chance War or Death becoming the King of Hell, and to be frank, neither can you. The world as you know it will be gone."

"The world as I know it never existed in the first place," Holly pointed out. "Besides, why should I care about the world? It's fake.'

"This one is fake, but its fate is linked to the rest as are you. You were sent here to die, and yet you avoided that fate, and part of that is because of Dagon and those that follow him. Do you deny that without Eros you would be dead right now?"

No, she couldn't deny that. At least not outright.

He nodded as if she had spoke. "It stands to reason that if you are reborn again the remaining sins will try to pressure you into a similar situation. Defeating sloth will not be easy. They won't show themselves as easily as they did previously. They thought you weak and alone, so they struck."

"I wish I could be alone," Holly grumbled.

"It wouldn't be wise for you to be alone at all. At the very least you should stick with your companion of this time, that Quix reaper. Also, stay away from Ruby if you can help it. Only interact with her if there's more than one person in the room in case she turns on you."

"If I had known you were just going to lecture and order me around this entire time I'd never have agreed to this," Holly grumbled. "Listen, Ruby is my friend, and I trust her."

"You shouldn't," Famine interrupted. "You shouldn't trust many people at all. Your soul is a precious commodity and once its power is used up it is very difficult to restore. Your previous self was fortunate that she was born in a place that would restore her."

"Why are you so determined to help Dagon anyway? Aren't you competing with him?"

"I've told you, I don't want Death or War in charge. When Father passes on his power, it can't be to one of them. It will throw things out of balance. I might be one of the four horsemen, but we don't all desire destruction. I'd rather the world stay stumbling forward. Dagon is my precious baby brother, and he appears to be happy with you."

"With my soul," Holly corrected.

"With your soul, in any case you make him happy and that's all I desire." He nodded to himself. "As for my interest in you, as of now it's only in that vein. However, I do understand the pull that Dagon does. Your soul attracts others. I'd imagine it's a way to protect the holder."

"I just wish I could be me," Holly grumbled. "I hate hearing this about my soul all the time. It's just constant. I even have to question what i feel for others and what they feel for me. I just want it gone already."

"I can't help you with that," Famine replied. "Out of all your suitors you only have feelings for the reaper? Is that really true?"

Holly winced. She didn't expect him to be so accurate. "It has to be," she answered instead. "I can't possibly be like those other women. I can't just love more than one guy, especially as many men as they loved."

"Why?" Famine questioned. "What is it about that idea that disgusts you so much?"

Holly wrinkled her nose. "It's not natural, and it's cheating on the one I really do like."

"What if he gave his permission? What if he realized that you being with others would help keep you protected? Would it still be considered cheating if he was to agree to it?" He smiled at her a flash of his teeth. "Just think about it, would it truly be so bad if you were to be with multiple people? If you were to experience the love of all those that care for you?"

Holly could imagine it. She could imagine it vividly. All of those that cared for her she had some degree of feelings for, besides that Angel guy. Him she wasn't a fan of at all. "I don't care, I want to do what's right," she answered.

"What's right for whom?" Famine questioned with a smirk. "If everyone agreed to it, why would it be bad? Now, I had another question for you that doesn't relate to any of this at all. I've heard that you have a power, a special one. Would you mind telling me what it is?"

Holly glanced away. "I was told I'm not allowed to tell anyone."

"Even me?" he pressed. "I am the one that saved your friend. Who knows, maybe this power of yours could break the curse on her. Wouldn't that be worth it?"

Holly frowned. He was pushing her, hard. "Actually, you trying to get me to tell makes me trust you less. Just because you rescued her doesn't mean that you're not part of the reason she is like she is right now. For all I know you could be working against Dagon."

Famine chuckled. "I like you more and more. How would you like to be my wife instead?" his lips twitched. "I would take better care of you than Dagon and anything you wished would be yours."

"No," Holly didn't hesitate. "You claim to be your brother's supporter, and yet you're asking me that? Maybe you shouldn't even bet staying here with him."

Famine only chuckled more. "I wasn't serious about my proposal. I'm just very amused by you. Maybe you will be okay after all. I would imagine you to be more vulnerable, but you don't appear to be."

Holly rolled her eyes. "Now you expect me to believe this was all just some test?"

"Exactly," Famine answered. "Because I inherited my Father's silver tongue. I can lie with ease. Dagon doesn't have that ability. I wouldn't want a woman with him that is easily led astray. You pass yet again, Holly."

"Can I go now then?" Holly demanded. "If I've passed your tests, I'd like to go check on Ruby and try to help her."

"I wasn't testing you when I told you about her condition. It's dangerous for you to be around her. I wouldn't advise it."

"I don't care," Holly sniffed. She got to her feet and left, slamming the door behind her. If he was just going to talk in circles, she had no more business with him. But still, she wasn't exactly sure he had been testing her with that proposal of his. The way his eyes had been focused on her had sent goosebumps all over. Yet another one she'd have to keep a close eye on.

*That would be a good idea.*

Holly froze in place. That voice hadn't been an outward one, that had been from inside her head, and not only that, she knew this voice already. *What do you want?*

She hoped that thinking the question would get through to him. It wasn't as easy as just opening her mouth to speak.

*I would like to offer you a deal that I do not think you'll be able to refuse. You give me what I desire, and I'll give you what you wish for the most right now, an escape from this cruel fate shoved upon you.*

The soft velvet voice made her insides tingle. *I know better than to just accept any offer thrown my way. There has to be a catch, what is it?*

*I love that you think hard enough to ask such a question. It's refreshing. There are no catches here. I want your soul, and I will separate the current personality you have, from the divine future that this one has. I'll even stop the Sins from their cycles since that is a matter of importance to you.*

*What about Eros? He's a Sin but I don't want him lumped in with him.*

*Done, he'll never be touched, do we have a deal?*

Holly thought about it. This wasn't the smartest decision and getting a promise didn't mean that it would stick. *Let me think about it.* Besides, she still wanted to check on Ruby. The things that Famine had told her about the reaper worried her.