Scene IV - Sacrifice Play.

Takes place in: Month I - Day 5.

"And that is Beatrice. Great singer, even if her death seems to have damaged some of her vocal cords."

"She HAS a very nice voice. Couldn't she heal, though? She is a Sinner now, the damage was done while alive. A nice replica of the mythological Siren in fact, so it doesn't fit for her throat to be, ya know, lesser."

"Oh, she could. I bet she could. But her death came as an offering for Lady Rosie, although she did offer Beatrice a chance at being an unowned Sinner, what with the ritual being done incorrectly."

"Ya mean the idjit that summoned Rosie fucked up?"

"Precisely. Lady Rosie DID visit the living world, but the summoning was botched, so she did as my grandmother and punished the ignorant cultists. Unlike my grandmother, Rosie did not find a safe and sound victim. Instead? She found an actress and a singer with her neck sliced, but momentarily alive. Sadly, since she didn't die outright it seems not all of the damage was deemed as the cause of death. Instead of just a Death Mark she also has damaged vocal chords. Even then she is just sublime when she is on stage."

An opera. Surprise achieved: Zero. Interest? Above that number for some, not for all.

Evelinde was enjoying the act thoroughly, that was for sure. She was in front, alongside Carlos, with Leonor taking the other space next to the mortal man and Zana bored to tears as she watched the play in front of them.

It was a beautiful act, though. That much all of them could admit. The Cannibals and Sinners present were all truly invested, be it as members of the play or as those watching it unfold. It was an interesting sight for the human if nothing else.

Carlos hadn't been out of the Tower all that much since the first day came to pass. He had been helping demons around, funny as it may sound, so the quickly made new abodes could fit his family. He had no real construction skills, unlike his father, and he wasn't in the best shape, nor did he have magic, but the young man wanted to help.

Funnily enough, this was what started his good PR among some of the demons. And, in hindsight, also what made sure he was going to be known as a soft target for a long while. Carlos couldn't give less of a shit though. 'Noble' or not, thanks to Lucifer, he wasn't going to slack when work was to be done.

Trying to make time, and appear to be unbothered, to spend with the girls had also been a bit complicated. Three full days in Hell, this was the fourth. His fire, his anger, and his determination had all been lessened to some degree.

Revenge was still fresh, but the idea of killing his heavenly family members? That was always distracting him now. Same with the women now surrounding him on both sides.

This, however? This was relaxing. He still had the women around, but-.

SCHLK!

The fuck?

"Oho! Perfect cut!"

Evelinde became enthralled as Beatrice, the siren like Sinner, had her throat cut. The expression on the woman was one of surprise and betrayal, but it wasn't so much genuine as it was practiced. Oh, sure, the pain did hurt like a bitch, no duh, but this was a scene she had done hundreds of times over. It would be worse when it regenerated in a few hours at worst, and at this point Beatrice was used to it.

"You can see her professionalism and devotion right here." Evelinde muttered in a more subdued tone. "Seventy years working like this and she still shows so much passion!"

Evelinde's words were accentuated as the strong Cannibal man, the other actor in this scene, finally took the knife he had used to 'murder' Beatrice and slashed it along the air, splattering many in the audience. It made Zana groan while Leonor hissed in disgust as both had to clear black blood from their faces.

"Well." Carlos did his best not to spit, considering the actor got him the moment he was going to ask something to Evelinde. When in Rome, right? So he swallowed… and tried not to puke. "It is… a very vivid scene, that is for sure."

"I know!" The Cambion didn't notice, or it just didn't register, that Carlos wasn't exactly excited the same way she was. "A shame Beatrice is to be killed this early in this particular one too. Then again, its focus is Michaelo and the many women he betrayed and murdered until his last wife finally calmed the beast. A classic."

Leonor could only look at the Cambion with a sidelong glance. "How was this play called again?"

"Nine betrayed lovers and a sharp-fanged angel."

"Riiiight."

If nothing else, Zana's more brutal needs had been met with the 'murder' she just saw. For her the small bouts of carnage were at least something to be enjoyed.

"At least this has its highlights." The imp muttered.

Two hours later the group, covered in blood and gore, alongside many other happily chatting attendees, left the Jeu Sanglant theater with clear high spirits. Many of them had this as their first outing, the clothes likely to remain bloody and gore coated, probably trapped in enchanted glass as a memento of such entertaining play.

Carlos was just happy that, for this day, he had been given clothes by Rosie. She was willing to allow him and his family, and anyone else that joined their little clan, to avoid the usual rules. But only in public. Proper venues without Rosie's presence, and even some of those that had her, would need mandatory clothing regulation. Proper clothes wouldn't be needed to stay safe, but they wouldn't allow anyone in without the right attire. Though the young man found the suit to be comfortable, but far too tight for his tastes. As for Leonor? This was her usual, although, much like Carlos, she had given slightly older fashion, which also meant her usual clothes had been spared the bloodbath.

Zana, on the other hand, looked ready to rip hers apart before and after this was all said and done. The gore didn't seem to make her any better or worse.

"That was… something." Carlos muttered. He hadn't openly disliked the play. He wasn't much for opera and other acts, but he wasn't opposed to them. Still, this was… different. "Would you mind if I run home and get my usual? I'd prefer not to go around covered in blood."

"Oh." Evelinde seemed to deflate a bit at that. Of course for her, and most others in the Colony, this would be perfectly normal. "Of course. Are we still going to have lunch-?"

"Of course we are. I just want a change of clothes." Carlos was still fast to turn around and placate the woman however. "I am plastered in blood, Evelinde. I know you may like it, but I don't want this clinging to my skin later."

"Seconded." Zana growled under her breath. "I want some food in me, but first I'll wear something that doesn't squeeze my everything."

A quick goodbye to the imp and human had Leonor and Evelinde sharing a short walk towards the Smiling Rapax. The restaurant had made it a thing to have an open spot for the family always at the ready after Rosie's visit. Considering it was one of the few places deep within Rosie's territory that also caters to non cannibalistic needs, the mortals had visited it a few times already with the money Rosie had 'paid' Carlos for his employment already. Or better say, for the meat he and his family provided.

"You do know he swallowed blood, right?"

Leonor didn't mind having a small chat as they headed there, the blood barely bothering her.

"Oh, I do. I saw." Evelinde's smirk was wider than ever.

Leonor just stared at the other woman blankly. "And you saw him almost puking his guts out? That face and green color weren't normal."

"I did see, yes." But the Cambion's smile didn't fall. "It just means he needs time to get used to a… proper diet. Our dear beloved will partake in due time. I know he will. My mother got my grandfather to adapt and so shall I help Carlos get used to our… cultural differences.."

The shark demoness grimaced. She hated blood in her mouth, unlike many of her kind. Cannibalism wasn't all that rare in Greed, considering all the poverty you had to deal with, and the brutality always present. She couldn't see herself partaking in the practice.

But who knows? Time changes a person. Perhaps Carlos would come to appreciate Evelinde's madness. No, she was sure. At least Carlos would, he seemed to favor her simply because she tried to follow him everywhere. Leonor wasn't sure she could stomach her insanity and clinginess.

Suddenly Leonor wished she had gone with the others.