Chapter 18: Zoi: 1 Demande: 0
[Scene: Demande Blackmoon's private grotto. Which isn't nearly as wonderful as he wants you to think it is.]
Zoi: Open that door right now, or I will pull your guts out of your belly and use them to strangle you with!
Demande: I honestly don't understand what you're getting so upset about. [Stares into Zoi's eyes as the crescent moon on his forehead rotates like the second hand on a clock]
This is the most magnificent place you've ever seen. No matter what you've seen before, or what you've been told, it wasn't nearly enough to prepare you for the beauty and splendor of the paradise you see before you. Just look at all the flowers, the waterfalls, the veins of precious gemstones embedded in the walls –
Zoi: What are you talking about? This place is nothing but a sleazy sex dungeon! And how the hell is that thing on your forehead moving?
Demande: [Taken aback] You can see that?
Zoi: Yes, I can see that!
Demande: [smiles nervously] You're obviously imagining things. I think you're just stressed out. We should go for a swim.
[Demande walks over and dips his hand in the pool]
Demande: The water in this spring is as warm as bathwater. I'll tell you what. I'll race you to the other side of the pool and if you win, you can leave right now.
Zoi: I don't have a swimsuit.
Demande: [smiles] That's ok.
Zoi: No it isn't!
Demande: If it makes you more comfortable, I'll take mine off too.
Zoi: How would that make me more comfortable!
Demande: [chuckles] You're a little firecracker, aren't you? I never did like firecrackers.
Zoi: Open that door right now or we're going to have a problem!
Demande: But I haven't even shown you around yet.
Zoi: I've seen enough!
Demande: [Leans against the wall with his arms crossed and smirks] You haven't seen anything yet.
Zoi: [crosses his arms in front of his chest] Are you aware my father is chief of police?
Demande: Are you aware my father is a judge?
Zoi: Yes, but does your father keep a loaded gun on his nightstand?
Demande: [smiles] You're not going to tell your father about this, are you?
Zoi: I have to! He'll want to know why I stole his gun and used it to kill you with!
[Demande's smile vanishes. He approaches Zoi while Zoi backs away. The moon stops moving and a third eye opens in the middle of his forehead. A beam of light shoots out and
hits Zoi in the eyes.]
Demande: Give yourself up. You're in my power now. You are intensely attracted to me. You think you might even be a little in love with me. You want nothing more than to please me and allow me to please you.
Zoi: *shrieks* You have three eyes! You're a damn triclopes!
Demande: [Frowns] Why aren't my powers of persuasion working?
Zoi: I don't know but you'd better open that door right now or you're going to wish you had a fourth eye so you can find all your teeth!
Demande: [sighs as his third eye vanishes] Fine. Except this puts me in a bit of an awkward situation. You see, I've never not scored when I brought someone into my grotto–
Zoi: You bring your own brother in here!
Demande: Like I've said, I've never not scored when I've brought someone in here, and I don't want to ruin my perfect record. So how about I just give you a quick no-strings attached BJ and we'll call it a day?
Zoi: Absolutely not!
Demande: Oh come on. What hotblooded highschool boy turns down an offer like that?
Zoi: Forget it! I'm saving myself!
Demande: For what? A rainy day? Look outside.
Zoi: No… for… my boyfriend! He's big and he's buff and he'd kick both of our asses if he knew I came in here with you!
Demande: [chuckles] Oh, come on. You don't have a boyfriend. I see how the others look at you.
Zoi: How do the others look at me?
Demande: Like you don't have a boyfriend.
Zoi: Um…they… don't know about him… he's still in the closet!
Demande: Really? Why isn't he here?
Zoi: He…couldn't make it…
Demande: Right. So you're dating some closeted homosexual, who is extremely violent and jealous, and you haven't put out for him yet, but he's not over here keeping an eye on you. That makes no sense. Unless… [worried frown] It's not one of the O'Sama boys, is it?
[Zoi gasps involuntarily and breaks into a sweat.]
Demande: It is, isn't it! I knew it! You're dating Jeddy O'Sama! [laughs] You know, I always did have my suspicions about that guy, after all, he's being chased around by a hot piece like Thetis and he seems to care not at all.
Zoi: Um…right… so, uh, you're not going to tell anyone, are you?
Demande: Oh, course not. [sighs] Oh, for heaven's sakes. That explains why my powers of mind control don't work on you. You should have said that to begin with. [opens the door and ushers Zoi through] We'd better head back.
[Zoi wastes no time in getting out the door while Demande follows after him.]
Demande: And to think, I nearly bagged one of the OSama boy's kills. Not that he'd be able to do anything about it, but still. No sense in poking at a caged grizzly. You do know they're Shitennou, don't you?
Zoi: Um… no. I don't even know what that means.
Demande: Demons. Demigods. Energy vampires. I'm not even sure exactly, but one thing I do know. It means that if he ever gets around to tapping it, you're probably not going to survive the ride.