“What are you able to see?” Declan asked in the tone of a man who knew the answer probably wasn’t what he wanted to hear or ever imagine, but asked anyway because he knew it was inevitable.
Allienna, sadly, didn’t disappoint. “If these”—she tapped the breasts on show—“were sentient they could move out of the way during battle and maybe even smother enemies who come to close.”
“You mean like parasites.” Morbid fascination colored Troy’s voice.
“Yes, I believe we watched a movie where somebody ingested some black goo and could then change and move their body parts. It was most fascinating. Perhaps these things could be the same?” Like all demonesses, Allienna didn’t have breasts to speak of. Certainly not more than any demon. They were warriors, their bodies had adapted to fighting over millions of years. Inconvenient body traits like breasts had probably been erased long ago if they had even been there to begin with.
“I think you meanVenom.” Sammy smiled at Allienna. “That’s a funny movie. And I can see what you mean.” His expression turned contemplative. “Still, I don’t think it’s right to sexualize women. They have enough on their plates as it is.”
“Yes, thank you, Sammy!” The ancient vampire who could rip a man in half without breaking a sweat blew Sammy a kiss while the other females present—a banshee of unknown powers, which meant nobody had ever challenged her and lived through it, a demoness who loved to attach blades to her wings when she went into battle, and two witches who could kill with a well-placed spell—smiled indulgently.Well, it’s the general thought that counts and there are a lot of human women who don’t need the oversexualization either.Milo thought of his own mother, who wasn’t a doormat by any means but had suffered under the social conventions the patriarchy imposed on women just like most of them.
“So semi-sentient breasts who aid in battle?” Declan tapped his chin. “Not entirely far-fetched. Imagine that! It would be like two mini brains attached to the front!” The werewolf was clearly getting into the swing of things, much to his mates’ chagrin. Before anybody could derail Declan, Amber chimed in.
“I always thought only men had one in their trousers?” She was visibly confused.
Emilia looked at her fondly. “As always, you make a compelling argument,kochanie. Let’s not be like men.” She shuddered. “They’re quite adept at being obnoxious without further help.”
“Hey, we resent that,” Declan protested with a wink.
Emilia rolled her eyes. “Present company excluded,” she muttered. “To varying degrees.”
Everybody laughed and Sammy handed out more drinks. Milo got his favorite cocoa with whipped cream and Quirion the special blend Sammy had fixed him on.
“Enough of that.” Maribel clapped her hands. “We’re here to do an important job, aren’t we?” She gestured toward the laptop on the coffee table. “Where’s the list?”
Barion started looking around wildly until Jon stroked his arm and held up a piece of paper. “Let’s go over it one more time before we start watching the videos.”
Declan, Troy and Amber made disgruntled sounds while Emilia just rolled her eyes. Alerion smiled indulgently and Sammy was already leaning forward, apparently eager to hear the rules. The rest wore varying expressions of indifference, which seemed to bug Quirion, who held up a hand. “You must listen carefully. A uniformed list of evaluation criteria is of paramount importance for the successful selection of a worthy winner. Don’t forget, this is also PR for the firstDemon Warsmovie and there absolutely can’t be any blunders!”
“I’m not sure if I should feel flattered for you even knowing about the film, annoyed because you’re lecturingagain, or panicky in face of the possible failure of our film. Thank you, by the way, big brother, for reminding me. I’ve been able to forget about it for about half a second.” Barion’s scrunched-up expression was proof that Milo wasn’t the only one going through a stressful period in life.
Quirion, as usual, appeared completely unfaced. “First, of course I’m taking an interest in what you’re doing. This is the first phase in your life since you were born that you’re doing something productive with a definite goal in sight. It’s absolutely fascinating how long it has taken you to grow up. Although, I guess, most of the credit for that goes to Jon.” Quirion nodded in Jon’s direction. The zombie was busy trying—and failing—to hold his laughter in. “Second, I can’t, in good conscience, let you carry on with flawed methods when I have the means to better your endeavors.”
Now Jon was giggling, holding his sides. Emilia’s facial muscles were twitching as if she were hooked up to an electric wire. The rest of the gang was either staring in disbelieving awe or silently laughing. Milo leaned back to enjoy the show because Quirion was far from done.
“Third, being nervous about the outcome of a new project is perfectly normal and even wanted, because it ensures your continued devotion to make it as good as demonly possible to avoid ridicule not only from the human world”—Quirion said that as if it was the very least of Barion’s problems should the film turn out to be a flop, which Milo doubted, because the game was such a huge hit, Jon and Barion were busy designing a follow-up—“but also from your friends and fellow demons.” Judging from his tone, Quirion found that prospect the worst.
Barion stared at his brother open-mouthed. Jon was still busy holding his sides, his entire body racked by hysterical laughter—Barion wasn’t the only one whose nerves were shot to hell. The others were too engrossed in the show to intervene, and it fell to Sammy to help Barion out.
“Their friends would never ridicule Barion and Jon should the film be unsuccessful, which it won’t be, because they worked so hard for it. And they have our full support, no matter what the public might think. We are family and our love is unconditional.”Sammy patted Barion’s arm, who turned to him with a watery smile.
“Thank you, Sammy, you’re my favorite brother.” He shot Dre and Quirion looks of pure venom.
“Can somebody explain to me what the problem is?” Allienna looked confused. “If the film isn’t to peoples’ liking, we just make another one. We have tons of ideas, and the Demon Wars spanned several centuries. Plenty of inspiration to draw from.” Smiling happily because she obviously thought the topic was dealt with, she took another sip from her mug. Milo didn’t know what she got, but it seemed coffee was part of the concoction.
“Well said, Allienna.” Alerion nodded at the demoness who was beaming under the praise from her king. “Now that my oldest son has so elaborately explained how important a proper judging system is, can you please read the list to us once more?”
Barion stopped glaring daggers at his brothers and cleared his throat. Before he could get out a single word, though, Mavis chimed in. “I don’t think anybody will be able to keep in mind all the points. Plus, we need to write our scores down.” She waved her hand and all of a sudden, Milo held a clipboard in his free hand, on which he found the paper he assumed Barion had been holding. The title—Parameters for Videos—suggested it. There was also a doodle of two stick guys doing the nasty in a position Milo thought was highly unlikely. The snickers all around him told him that he wasn’t the only one who had gotten the paper.
“Damn, Mavis, couldn’t you ask first?” There was a definite whine in Barion’s voice.
“Where would be the fun in that?” The witch didn’t look repentant in the least. On the contrary, she did a high-five with her wife, aka partner in crime, Maribel.
“Does it bring extra points if anybody can show that kind of coitus?” Amber asked.
Declan and Troy started laughing so hard they had to put their mugs down on the coffee table.
Emilia shook her head. “I’m afraid that’s not the kind of film we’re reviewing today,kochanie.” She tapped the clipboard with her knuckles. “Look, we have to concentrate on artistic value.”
