[77.6] You're Hungry, Right?

****Disclaimer: This chapter includes mention of cannibalism and the death of a child that some may find uncomfortable.

A few days later his father did and brought with him an extravagant meal as if to reward his son for his loyalty.

"Go on… Eat it. You're hungry, right?"

The boy crawled out of his hiding place, timidly glancing at the twisted angel in front of him.

He stood up and walked over to the man he considered a father. Orphelio picked him up and carried him over to the table.

The young child was placed on his lap and handed utensils. He struggled to maintain his grip on the silverware, so Orphelio picked up the fork and placed the meat to his lips, "Here."

The boy opened his mouth and was fed by Orphelio who smiled ear to ear. As the meat went down his throat, he felt a strange warmth spreading out from his stomach.

Had his father poisoned him again for fun?

No, this felt different.

This felt good.

Really good.

But at the same time…

-STOP EATING ME-

Was someone screaming?

-YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND-

The pup looked around in confusion, but the voice was coming from inside him instead of out. He wanted to ask what it was, but Orphelio was forcing more meat into his mouth so he ignored the screams that were becoming louder and more agonizing.

After he finished the entire meal, Orphelio hugged him tightly and took a deep breath.

"Ah… My darling pup… Was the meal good?"

He nodded obediently.

"Did you like the taste?"

He nodded again.

"Would you like more in the future?"

The pup nodded again.

Orphelio's grin turned sinister as he snapped his finger, "Alora."

The woman entered the dungeon and threw the body of his friend's little brother onto the ground in front of him. Zolf spat out a mouthful of blood before glaring at the pup, "Y-You! You traitor!"

The pup felt his blood grow cold.

"YOU ATE MY BROTHER!"

*Thump*

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS FRIEND!"

*Thump*

"WHAT KIND OF DEMON EATS HIS OWN KIND!?"

*Thump*

The pup slowly turned to look at his father who laughed happily, "He tasted good, right?"

The pup covered his mouth as bile burned his throat.

That overwhelmingly good feeling of power…

It was the result of him consuming his friend's soul and power.

The pup couldn't hold it in any longer and threw up the tainted meat, retching until there was nothing left in his stomach.

Orphelio pursed his lips, "That's no good. You're a growing boy. You need your nutrients. Alora. Go prepare another batch of meat… Use this boy this time."

"NOOOOO!" Zolf screamed as he was dragged off, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE! PLEASE!!!"

The pup panicked and grabbed ahold of his father, tears stinging his eyes. "F-Father… Please don't."

Orphelio leaned forward to kiss away his tears, "Little pup, you asked for this."

His breath caught in his throat, "Wha-What?"

"You asked me to play with you, so I am…" His smile twisted menacingly, "Isn't it fun?"

The priestess returned and put down a fresh plate of meat which Orphelio grabbed and shoved into the pup's mouth.

Tears rolled endlessly down his cheeks as he was forced to eat that rancid meat.

Even when he puked, more would be shoved down.

Every day an extravagant meal made out of questionable meat would be prepared.

Every day he was forced to eat the questionable meat only to discover it was another demon who had been killed only to be fed to him.

As the meals increased, his skin started turning grey.

His power grew stronger, but so did the voices that would scream at him from the shadows.

He spent most of the time hidden under a table, covering his ears to prevent himself from hearing the malevolent ghosts who were forced to watch themselves get eaten then become trapped within the one who ate them.

The voices screamed at him from the depths of his own soul.

-YOU'RE NO DEMON! YOU'RE A MONSTER!-

-MURDERER!-

-MY BROTHER SHOULD BE ALIVE-

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT MY CHILD DIED-

The pup whimpered, covering his ears, "Please… Please stop…"

-YOU'RE A MURDERER!-

-YOU ATE MY BROTHER!-

-YOU'RE A MONSTER!-

-A FREAK!-

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

-YOU DON'T DESERVE THOSE HORNS!!!-

-REMOVE THEM YOU TRAITOR-

"My… Horns…"

He sat up, staring dully at the reflection of his horns in the puddle of blood.

Shadows twisted around him uncontrollably, each one in the shape of the demon he had been forced to consume.

He could see them.

He could hear them.

They were the shadow people who cursed at him every day.

They were the ones that he had absorbed to become more powerful.

But at what cost?

His voice wavered, "I… I don't want to be a demon either…"

-TORTURER!-

-MURDERER!-

-MONSTER!-

He stared at the one part of the body of a demon that wouldn't regrow if damaged.

He slowly raised his hands to grab each horn, "I don't… Deserve these… I'm no… Demon-"

Screams echoed off of the walls as flesh was torn and bone was split. He continued to claw and dig until there was no trace left of either horn.

He collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily as blood poured from the two new holes in his head.

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

-TORTURER!-

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

-MURDERER!-

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

-MONSTER!-

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

The two torn horns were tossed to the side as if insignificant.

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

He chuckled weakly as he listened to the voices screaming at him, "It still isn't enough… Is it?"

…Asmonious woke up from his nightmare, his fingers drenched in blood. He felt the top of his head and realized he had been clawing the holes in his sleep again.

He let out a heavy sigh and sat up on the bed, covering his face with his hands. He murmured as the voices continued to scream at him from the void that followed him every day after his first cursed meal.

-IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT-

"Can't you all just let me have one moment of silence…"

The voices ceased, but he felt their presence linger. Their gazes from the void harshened until finally one broke the silence.

-DIE-

Then, as if a gate had broken forth, all other voices joined in.

-DIE-

He ignored this and stood up to get out of bed. After wiping his head and cleaning his hands, he got dressed and headed outside. With dark circles under his eyes, he gave a weak smile, "Good morning, Master."

His savior turned to him and the blinding light shone from her face, silencing the voices from the void.

"Good morning, my perfect boy. Did you sleep well?"

"As well as I could."

Zephyr heard him and ran at him laughing rambunctiously, "Momo!"

Asmonious picked up the small boy and tossed him into the air, catching him several times. Lovi scowled as she watched, "How come he calls you Momo?! Why won't he say my name!?"

Asmonious held Zephyr as his siblings all gathered around him.

Rose spoke, "He doesn't call me either."

Koale added, "Same."

Lene pointed to herself, "Who am I, little brother?"

He chewed on his thumb, "Wen!"

Lene grinned, "Hehe! He said my name."

Koale eagerly asked, "Say Koale!"

"Kowe!"

Rose pointed at herself, "Say Rose!"

"Ro!"

She shrugged, "Close enough."

Lovi pushed them aside, "Now say Lovi. Come on, say Lovi!"

Zephyr blinked at her slowly.

She pursed her lips, "Come on! Say Lovi! You said everyone else! It's Lovi! L-o-v-i, Lovi!"

"Hephie!"

Everyone froze, "..."

Lovi's face twitched, "Who is Hephie…"

Zephyr giggled and pointed at her as if mocking, "Hephie! Hephie!"

"OH come on!!! That's not even close!"

"Pfffft!" Their master laughed before coming over to pat Lovi's back, "Hephie is a cute name."

Lovi cried out, "THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE!"

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