Demonic Devourer's Development

The next day, I had a lot to do. First, I had to greet my cultists. Just like Bishop predicted, they were ecstatic to see me. Just like the last time, they were awed and terrified by my looks, the new ones and the old ones alike. Gi was there too, and he was the one who paid the least notice to the show. But then, the boy saw some shit.

Only after that did I brought Rosha and Risha to a designated place. Which was a cave right next to the one where Bishop conducted his rituals. Least to say, the girls were very curious to know where I was bringing them instead of, as they expected, Bishop's house.

I wasn't going to spoil the surprise. Not for them, for myself—I wanted to see their reaction when we got there.

And when we did… The shock written on their faces was worth the wait..

Bishop outdid himself. The cave that before was just a rock sack had a complete makeover. Bright drapes hid the walls, multicoloured rugs and soft pillows were thrown on the floor, and the dank smell of underground was replaced with a sweet aroma of incense coming from burners placed in a corner. A brazier full of coals stood next to a wall, warming the place up and adding more light to those.

A long, low table stood in the middle and was overflowing with dishes. Despite the logistical trouble of cooking so away from decent kitchens, the diversity was mouth-watering. Fruits, vegetables, meats and cheese were neatly cut and artfully arranged on plates near baked goods. An assortment of sweets created a small pyramid in the middle of it all. Glass jugs of wine, water and rainbow water were waiting for someone to drink from them.

And of course, there was not only food and drinks and decorations. There was entertainment, too! A duo of musicians were playing a quiet tune in a corner. Two servants and also dancers—a man and a woman—scantily clad, waited next to a wall. All were debt slaves that Bishop bought—the contracts they had wouldn't let them tell on me.

Yvenna was already there and eating, but when we entered, her eyes turned to me. So did the slaves'. But if Yvenna looked happy to see me, slaves immediately lost a couple shades of their skin tone.

I grinned at their reactions, causing them to lose another shade, and turned to Rosha and Risha. "A private party just for the four of us. Eat, drink! Bishop bought all the best stuff. Try out the rainbow water—I found a stone that makes it in the caves. It raises your stats! Just don't drink too much at once." Having said that, I walked to the table and plopped on a seating pillow next to Yvenna.

"Wow," was Risha's laconic reaction. She slowly walked forward, looking around in awe. "This is like something from a fairy tale!"

"How much did you spend on that?.. Oh, you know what, don't answer it," Rosha shook her head and followed, giving a frown to the slaves that waited for orders. "I don't want to know. Long time no see, Yvenna."

"Same," she nodded and bumped me with a shoulder. "Hey, I meant to ask—do we get that as a reward, or what?"

"I have the same question," Rosha said. She stopped next to the table, but didn't sit. "What sort of fucked-up thing you are up to this time, Voren?"

"Fucked-up? I'm just living my dream!" I let out a bark of laughter and grew a second mouth on my chest to put something in it while I spoke. The female dancer turned a little greener in addition to pale. I gestured around. "Me and all the nice stuff, starting with food and ending with the company. By the way, you two!"

Dancers, realising I was addressing them, stood a little straighter.

"You are dancers? Start dancing, then. Musicians, play something more… energising."

As they followed the order, I turned back to Rosha. "See? So wipe that expression off your face and enjoy yourself!"

A flicker of realisation appeared in her eyes. "Ahh… I get it…" For a moment, she appeared wanting to say something else, but then shrugged and sat down at my other side. "Well then, let's not waste any food!"

Risha sat down too, on the other side of the table. Instead of eating, though, she looked at our entertainment. "Are these people slaves?"

"Who else? People have to be either really desperate or lacking in marbles to dance at my party," I shrugged. Then, with a sly grin, I threw an arm around Yvenna's shoulders. "I wonder if you have lost enough marbles to dance, Yvenna."

Her immediate reaction was to plant an elbow in my gut, but she could've as well gave me a gentle pat. Her next reaction was to try and shake off my half-hug, but she could've as well tried to shake off a pair of steel shackles. "I have all my fucking marbles right there. Why won't you dance instead!" she said through gritted teeth.

Rosha pressed on me from the other side. "Oh, I'd love to see it. I don't think there were any dancing lessons in Hell. It would be hilarious."

"It doesn't matter if you can or can't dance. It's all about the fun you are getting!" Risha chirped. "I want to dance, but first I have to try as much food as I could! Oh… Look, this cheese is all covered in mold. It must've got there by mistake."

"Wait, wait," I grabbed the slice of a moldy cheese and gulped it down. It had a strange taste… spicy, but not rotten at all. "I will eat it." I concluded. "The moldy cheese is all mine."

Risha looked at me with a mix of doubt and concern for a moment, but then smiled again. "Well, if you say so."

"What is some mouldy cheese compared to other stuff I eat?" I looked at what else around the table I could get. "Oh, I will need more mouths to avoid deciding what else to try out first."