Bethel glanced at Amon, catching the subtle jab in his words. He nodded openly. "He does support me."
It was the truth. Whenever Alaric or Klein discussed the topic of the Lord of Mysteries, their stance was clear: if Mr. Door could become the Lord of Mysteries, no one would compete with him... they'd all back him. If he couldn't, Klein would step up. Bethel could see that Klein genuinely had no interest in the Lord of Mysteries's position, even wishing Bethel would take it... despite knowing that, in the original fate, Klein was destined to claim it.
Alaric, on the other hand, didn't care who among them became the Lord of Mysteries, as long as it wasn't Amon. This attitude made Bethel chuckle and feel a rare sense of ease. He liked Alaric and Klein and didn't want the Lord of Mysteries issue to strain their relationship. Unlike Klein, Bethel did crave the position, fully aware of what it entailed.
Amon clearly hadn't expected that response. He clicked his tongue, glancing at Bethel with a rare hint of sincerity. "You're practically the people's choice."
His words carried both a sigh and genuine acknowledgment. To Amon, it wouldn't be surprising if Bethel became the Lord of Mysteries. Back in the Fourth Epoch, Bethel was the closest to the position, even more so than Amon himself. His edge wasn't just his Sequence but the support he commanded. Had he not been unexpectedly tainted by an Outer Deity, Bethel would have been the prime candidate. If Amon was a pariah in the outside world, a normal Mr. Door would likely have even the Evernight Goddess backing him for the Lord of Mysteries's seat.
Bethel met Amon's gaze, his expression free of pride. "If you weren't the way you are, you'd have a better shot than me."
"Amon, maybe you should try embracing humanity."
Amon paused, his eyes lowering. He didn't respond.
Humanity, huh…
"Jack, you're hosting the game." Alaric, under his Lucifer guise, said, brushing off whatever Amon was pondering. He turned to "Jack Jones" with a directive.
"Always dumping work on me. No honor, old man." Jack Jones grumbled, pulling out a small notebook from nowhere. "First game is animal-themed charades. Everyone participating will temporarily transform into a small animal. The rules are simple: two people per team. I'll give one person a word they can't directly tell their partner... they have to draw it. If the other guesses the word correctly, they score a point…"
Jack Jones laid out the rules, then looked at the group. "The team with the most points wins a prize: one request to my teacher, within his principles and abilities. Participants also get a consolation prize."
The angels, initially lukewarm on the game, perked up. Consolation prizes were irrelevant, but the top prize was tempting. Many had wishes that required Lucifer's power... like Azik's desire to reunite with his children or Amon's longing to see his father.
Jack Jones continued with a grin. "Those who want to play, sign up with me."
The group exchanged glances. Klein raised his hand first. "Jack, count me in."
The odds of winning against so many heavyweights were slim, but since he was here, Klein figured he might as well try. A monthly meeting with his family eased his longing, but who wouldn't want more?
"I'll join too." Azik said with a gentle smile.
"Tch!" Medici clicked his tongue, thinking of Sasrir. He gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll humor you and join your childish game." His body might be ashes, but his mouth stayed sharp.
"This sounds too fun to miss." Amon said, adjusting his monocle.
"I want to play." Ouroboros said, raising his hand a beat late.
The others glanced around, and aside from Reinette Tinekerr, Maric, Pallez, and Bethel, most opted in.
"Bethel, you'll oversee and prevent cheating?" Jack Jones suggested.
"Alright." Bethel said with a smile and a nod.
Amon glanced at Jack Jones. He hadn't sensed anything special about the kid, but there was something off about his identity. Smiling, he started, "You're…"
Before he could finish, Jack Jones cut in with a smile. "I'm Lucifer's student. You can call me Jack."
Lucifer… Amon noted the name, glancing at Lucifer and suspecting it was a false identity. The name Alaric Zoroast flickered through his mind but was quickly dismissed. Amon knew "Alaric Zoroast" was just a minor Zoroast family member he'd consumed. The monster before him wasn't Alaric Zoroast but something that had descended into his body.
Still… Amon looked at Lucifer again, smiling. "So you're going by Lucifer now? I thought your name was…" He paused deliberately.
"What's my name?" Lucifer met his gaze, smiling calmly. "Go ahead and say it. I don't mind." He chuckled, leaving the rest unsaid.
Amon swallowed the name he'd nearly spoken. He could tell Alaric didn't care if he said "Alaric Zoroast." but even so, Alaric would definitely retaliate. In the past, Amon wouldn't have cared about revenge, but now, facing someone who held his lifeline, he hesitated.
***
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