"Why do you serve the witch?" Lex asked. It was strange how that bothered him more than the surrounding debauchery. Equinacum stared at him with her multi-shaded blue eyes. And for a moment, there was silence between them. "Is she what keeps you here, or is it something else?" Lex asked.

"She summoned our mother and bound her to this Inn hundreds of years ago. We capture any inquisitors that come our way, and in exchange, she leaves us alone. It's a mutually beneficial relationship." She leered at him and grinned maliciously. "What's wrong? Is all the sex getting to you? Do you want to try it out?" Equinacum asked.

Lex turned away; all around him, there were scenes of carnal pleasure in motion. For hours on end, the inquisitors drank, reveled in their stories, and fucked the barmaids. It was like Valhalla on earth. Many of the Scandinavian Confederacy lords attempted to bring Valhalla to their mead halls, but this was the closest, in his opinion. It was ironic that none of these men worshipped the Asir Gods.

When he looked at them, he felt pity. None of them were aware of their actions. The drug that afflicted the inquisitors in their ale was potent. For the rest of their lives, they'd live in intoxicated revelry. It was a non-stop party celebrating nothing. They had all failed even to reach the witch. Even the failing spell around his inquisitorial party wouldn't matter so long as they threw back mugs of ale here. Only Capt. Franco and a few other inquisitors left their mugs unattended as others of their party drank in the Inn’s delights.

He shook his head. "No, I think it's nearly time for me to leave. But, don't worry, I'm not after the witch's head. No, I came here to make a familiar contract with a nightmare. Rumor has it there's one in these woods; do you know anything about that?" Lex asked.

She turned her head to the side, and her ears stood on end. "The elusive nightmare, they're a little more than a rumor. I've searched all over these woods and only caught a few glimpses. There is a stream nearby where they like to drink, but they'll vanish leaving only tracks behind if they sense either of us. You don't seem like the stealthiest sort." Equinacum said. She pointed at a fireplace with an empty mantle over it. "That's where I plan to put a painting of her. Then, decorating the first floor will finally be complete."

Lex scratched his head, unsure what to say. He had a plan or the making of one.

"Where do you keep the inquisitorial armor? I have an idea." She turned her head to the side. For a moment, she breathed in his desire testing him for his motive. As he learned more about cultivating, these things became more apparent.

She licked her lips and smiled. Lex tried not to compare her abnormally thick tongue to a normal human girl. When she flashes her teeth, he could tell they were a little bit flatter than normal. Every time Equinacum stared at the mantle, she licks her lips. Was sating her passion like enjoying a large meal after fasting to her? The way she stared at the mantle made him want to shudder.

"This way then, we don't have much time. In less than an hour, the herd will make their round at the pond. If we're not quick, we'll only find horse tracks and apples." Equinacum said. She led him through a door to a darker section of the Inn to a place called the forbidden area.

Lex froze at the sound of sloshing water and groans of pleasure. He sucked in a breath and nearly choked at the acrid scent. It was worse than the ale.

Equinacum turned to him sharply and raised an eyebrow. Her unbelievably deep blue eyes widened in sudden realization. “Focus on me, and you’ll be alright. I’m used to the smell, so it doesn’t bother me.” Equinacum said.

By watching her feet and holding his breath, he passed into the forbidden area. Pale purple light whipped around, exposing a giant shadow. Lex had to look and see what made the massive shadow.

When his eyes left his escort, Lex froze. He couldn’t believe what he saw. The shadow belonged to a demoness easily towering above him at 12m. Lex didn’t know how but time had fused this creature’s flesh to the Inn. Out the corner of his eyes, he saw a line up of Inn staff, and one succubus climbed up the giantess. The giantess opened her mouth and exchanged fluids with the smaller demoness. Other waitresses from the Inn waited their turn to make their deposits.

Attached to the massive demoness is own genitalia was a tube. The staff didn’t stop Lex from picking up a section and comparing it to his forearm. He could fit two of his arms in the tube, and the succubus jammed it deep in the giant demoness's urethra. Lex heard a sucking sound like a cork before it popped from a wine bottle. Out through the tube, an amber liquid flowed into the barrel attached to it.

Bovalabia was next in line, and she noticed him. A sinister smile spread across her face.

"Do you see the secret; this is why our ale is so good you'll never want to leave? We, of course, make sure it's as fresh as possible. Those inquisitors claim it's the best ale they've ever had. Some have suggested we send it to compete in a local festival." The giantess lifted a great bag of barley and poured it down her throat before one of her daughters climbed up to help wash it down.

Serving men piss and calling it ale hurt the drinker in him. He had faced many difficult situations in his short life. But seeing a group of demons serve piss to customers disturbed him. A trap like this had come out of left field. From appearances alone, the operation wasn't terrible. He wasn't a friend of the Inquisition or the witch. From what he could tell, those men would live luxurious lives pampered by beautiful waitresses and trading stories of their past adventures. Sure, they drank piss all day, but he was sure some alehouses served that anyway.

Then again, it could be the milk. Even now, Lex could feel it warm and squirming through his veins. That warm feeling crept deep; he could even feel it settle in his bones.

Lex shook his head. Whatever they did to him, he would not have his purpose corrupted by the inquisitors, the witch, or their allies.

"So, what now? I'm not under your spell. What are you going to do with me?" Lex asked.

Equinacum tugged at his hand. "They're not doing anything with you. We're leaving if any of you want to stop me, bring it." Equinacum said.

"No, he killed one of us. Xanderslock was a good boy; all he wanted to do was breed with horses. He never hurt a human before, and you killed him in cold blood." Bovalabia accused.

All eyes turned to him even the giantess gave him her full attention. In this kind of situation where enemies surrounded him, Lex had to be cunning. He had to use what he knew about them like a sword, or he’d get mobbed. "They weren't his to use. The price for horse theft is death. Are you saying demons are above our laws?" Lex asked.

"Yes," all the staff spoke in unison.

Bovalabia lunged forward to lift him in the air. "I'm going to feed you so much milk that you'll become one of us or melt. You'll forget about your human life and be reborn a demon. And I'll name you Xanderslock to replace the member of staff you killed.

Chachung!

A crossbow bolt slammed into the waitress’s shoulder. Immediately, the wound festered, veins of white light spread around the shaft. The massive cow demon fell to a knee as the glowing white veins spread through her body. Skin flaked off around the wound.

There in the corridor beside the sign that said staff only was Capt. Franco. Still dressed in his armor, with a crossbow in hand, and wearing his medallion, he looked untouched by the debaucheries of this place. Only the bags under his eyes revealed the truth. This place had taken something from him, and he'd never get it back. Even so, the captain reloaded his crossbow and pointed it at the nearest demon.

"Let the boy go." Capt. Franco said. And behind him, the sounds of battle crossed the boundary of the staff-only area. Waitresses screamed, clay mugs shattered, and the patrons of the Inn revolted. Finally, the captain leveled his crossbow at the giantess. "I know that she is the heart of this place with her death; our way forward is assured."

The giantess opened her mouth and spoke. Her voice rattled the Inn, the tone both feminine and dominant. "You're mistaken; even if you kill all of us, the way forward will not open. You think this is the only Inn or that there are no other dangers on your path. How many of you are in fighting shape?" The massive demoness smiled cruelly. "Leave the boy, and I'll give you a direct path to my mistress.” Once again, Lex felt a blow to his worldview. For a demon bound to a witch to betray them had seemed impossible.

Capt. Franco looked torn for a moment. Then, in the blink of an eye, the captain sacrificed Lex for the greater good. Capt. Franco’s gaze hardened.

“Decide, will you complete your task and sacrifice an ally, or will you throw caution to the wind and gamble to save his life. I know you, inquisitor, though your face has changed who you are as not."

"Very well open the way, and you can keep the boy. An untrained talent for a direct path to victory is a good trade." Capt. Franco said.

Lex plucked the arrow from Bovalabia, placed a hand on her wound, and pulled the white qi into himself. Flashes of a thousand pious prayers flew through his mind. They were there; generation after generation, they prayed to better their fellow man, society, and the nobles who ruled them. Those who had nothing offered their last scrap of bread as tithes. He could feel the industrialized Yang Raja as it coalesced, refined into qi, and enchanted the crossbow bolt. That Yang qi of the Sentinel flowed into him, and Lex’s cultivation based merged it with yin qi before absorbing it.

The white veins around the crossbow bolt retreated flowed up through the bolt and into him. The cow demon's flesh soon returned to vibrance even the pieces of meat that fell away moved to return to their proper place. If you the demons gasped in shock, Bovalabia leaned in and kissed him.

Capt. Franco gagged in disgust. "We had a deal; now open the way." The Inn rumbled as an opening appeared in the wall. The inquisitors rushed in, and the captain led them away. Capt. Franco turned when his men had exited and glared at Lex.

"Don't forget what they are, boy. These are not women. They cannot love you, cannot be faithful, and cannot bear you heirs. If you value your soul, then find a way out of this place." Capt. Franco said.

Lex snorted. "It's not like you care; you sold me for a way out," Lex said.

"I thought you weren't a fool. You were a random boy we found on the road. Why would your life matter more than our mission? If you survive this, you'll understand that young blood must be sacrificed for a cause to be realized. The only question is the value of that cause." Capt. Franco turned away and left with his men.

Of the nine that had entered the Inn, only three left with Capt. Franco. The other men were long-time patrons. Still, they numbered just over 20. Their numbers had increased, but Lex felt that their chances of success had greatly diminished.

When the door to the outside closed, all the demons turned to him. The giantess spoke, "I don't know what to do with you anymore. You killed one of my consorts, but you saved one of my most unique daughters. I had waited patiently for that consort to ripen before I drained him dry." She looked down upon her daughter. Bovalabia met her mother's gaze. "Will you turn him? I can sense that once fully grown, he would be even more of a delicacy than Xanderslock." The great demoness said.

Bovalabia touched the streaming red mark on her shoulder. She gasped in pain and looked at him. "He saved my life, and we weren't looking forward to any offspring of Xanderslock anyway. Once the mistress kills the inquisitor again, you could have her summon a better mate, one more suited to you. I don't know if my milk can even turn Lex into a demon." Bovalabia said.

The giant demoness snorted. "You've turned virgin sentinels before; I doubt a human boy no matter how talented holds such conviction. Teenage boys are the easiest to corrupt among humans. But they don't often make the greatest consorts." She shook her head. "He did save your life, very well. I will leave his punishment up to you. Now, come to me, my daughters, and feed me." The procession continued as if this situation had never happened.

Lex strapped on the inquisitorial armor, belted Gram to his side and picked out a shield. Bovalabia watched Equinacum and him armor themselves for their next adventure. The giant cow demon hummed as they prepared themselves. Finally, he stood before her and waited for the verdict.

Bovalabia held her silence for a few minutes. "I owe you my life, and you owe us a life. One debt doesn't balance the other. Mother won't be satisfied unless she has a replacement mate. I've prepared something for you." She gave him a clay jug gilded in bronze and covered in cuneiform runes he couldn't read. "Within this jug is my fermented cream; find someone you hate and trick them into drinking this. They will become a demon, and mother will summon them." Bovalabia said.

Lex took the jug and tied it to his belt. He knew who he wanted to use it on but didn't know where to find him.