Sean took an embarrassed step away from Dark, but Dark pulled him back to his side with a bright grin. For a moment they watched the belly dancers dance, listening only to the soft jingling of the coins on their outfits. As more people in the temple took notice of the dancers, a small group of musicians quickly rushed to their nook to start playing for the women. The women's faces brightened into smiles as the lead dancer began to sing with one of the men who played an instrument. Filling the temple with a pleasant swaying tone that echoed around the sandstone walls. Salazar's black tongue flicked out, but he looked almost sleepy as he watched the women. Sean bit his lip when he observed Salazar's long coiled body. It had looked so tightly coiled around the throne before. Now his body seemed to be softer as the women resting on him stroked his him and hummed against his scales. He couldn't imagine being as comfortable as they were with him. Salazar was more than capable of swallowing four of them at a time. Beside him, Dark cleared his throat quietly and mumbled out to him. "See something you like?" Meeting Dark's eyes, Sean answered in a whisper. "I'm not into snakes. But I think he's calming down." Dark narrowed his eyes on Sean, only lightly teasing back. "Ya... and the slender bare breasted women draped over him... you didn't notice?"

Sean opened his mouth but stopped himself from trying to reply to that. Instead, giving Dark a narrowed look. Dark's lips curled with a tiny hint of a smirk, before his eyes returned to the dancers. Nudging Dark in the ribs, Sean innocently teased back. "What are YOU looking at?" Dark avoided looking at him but gave him a tight-lipped smile as he crossed his arms. Sean was going to smack him, but Verine leaned closer to whisper over his shoulder. "Look. Your plan is working." Peeking at Salazar's face, Sean couldn't help himself from smiling as he saw Salazar's head swaying to the rhythm with his eyes still fixed on his lovely dancers. Dark glanced at Salazar himself, whispering to Verine. "How long do you think we should wait before trying again?" Verine shrugged, answering devilishly. "After his snake orgy? How the hell should I know? I don't hang around Salazar." Dark shot Verine a scowl, growling out softly. "Salazar doesn't like sex." Verine snorted, correcting quickly. "He likes massaging and licking his women. What do you call that?" Sean covered his mouth to keep from laughing, while Dark shot back with a smirk. "Lazy foreplay." Composing himself, Sean put his hands on both of them to stop them long enough to tell them. "Snakes don't like being threatened. It stresses them out. Makes them aggressive."

Dropping his hands from them, he gestured to Salazar and continued coolly. "We intruded in his sanctuary. That stressed him out. So, he hid from us. Dark threatened him. He got aggressive. I can only assume that just like a snake... to make him feel comfortable... we stay here and make no sudden moves. Let him calm down. And... feed him?" Dark raised an eyebrow, prompting Sean to quickly tell them. "Snakes get hangry. When was the last time he ate? Maybe we ruined his breakfast?" Verine chuckled a little, straightening up to look around as he said casually. "I don't know. I'll ask." Grabbing his arm with no sudden movements, Sean cautioned him seriously. "Remember. Walk casual. Don't rush. You'll tense him up again. The last thing we want is a fast-moving angry snake." Verine nodded, keeping his pace calm, swaying his hips and tail in time with the music. Sean held his breath as Salazar's yellow eyes darted to Verine's movement, but his eyes lingered on him very briefly. He didn't stop swaying to the music and just as quickly his eyes darted back to the dancers. Dark had observed Salazar's reaction, before slipping behind Sean. Wrapping his arms around his waist, Dark rocked with him in time to the music as he whispered into his ear. "How do you know this about snakes?"

Inhaling slowly, Sean answered blissfully over his shoulder. "Movies, mostly. Sometimes a game. Or animal planet." Dark chuckled warmly into his ear, and Sean leaned back against him as he swayed with him more sensually. After a short time, Verine walked back to them and informed them calmly. "Turns out the snake is hungry. They had prepared his breakfast... but when he heard that we were coming... he sent them away. So... I guess we just need him to eat." As the music finished, Sean pulled from Dark's arms and stepped out slowly to stand in front of the dancers. Dark tensed, but Sean ignored him. Salazar's eyes stared to narrow on him, and Sean made sure to focus on the scales of Salazar's face to avoid meeting his eyes. Bowing deeply, Sean addressed Salazar in a clear flattering tone of voice. "King Salazar. It's a pleasure to meet you." Salazar let out an exhale that sounded like a very light hiss when he stated flatly. "We've met before. The Dominion council. You draped yourself over Dark like his whore." Straightening up slowly, Sean brushed off his insult and still politely regarded aloud. "Yes. But we weren't properly introduced to each other. Which is a sin in itself, isn't it? Of all the kings that sat at that table... you appeared to have the most inquisitive mind. Must be tough to deal with the others and their... strong personalities."

Salazar stretched his head out over the stairs, flicking his tongue mere inches from Sean's chest before he replied. "You think I can be flattered so easily? Run back to your master. Whatever delights that Dark finds in you, I don't. So, save your sex-soaked words for him." Fearlessly standing his ground, Sean told him nicely. "I don't expect you to be flattered by me. I don't expect you to join us. I can see why the look of your realm and the company that you keep that you prefer to take things much slower. I can respect that. You can't trust someone that you don't know." Salazar turned his head slightly to try catching Sean's eye, prompting Sean to shyly avert his gaze to the floor. Salazar huffed smugly, almost purring out. "You won't look me in the eyes? Do I scare you, little mouse?" Dark jerked forward and Verine snapped his arm to hold him back. The fast action caused Salazar to snap his head in their direction with a fanged hiss. Fear pulsed through Sean and gasps came from the dancers behind him. Waving for Dark to stop moving, Sean waited until Salazar's fangs retracted before answering with calm sweetness. "Forgive me, Salazar. But snakes... make me... uncomfortable." Salazar slowly turned to look back at him with suspicion.

Giving him a meek smile, Sean shrugged out. "They don't have snakes in Ireland and... I haven't interacted with any in my travels." Salazar's tongue flicked out small and thoughtfully, before he stated with amusement. "No?" Sean shook his head, then bowed again to say nicely. "My name is Sean." Salazar's lips curled up just enough that Sean could see the row of sharp teeth hidden within. This time when Salazar flicked out his tongue, Sean gasped as the cold tongue licked the side of his bare leg and arm. Dark's every muscle tensed but Verine held him back with everything he had. After tasting him, Salazar told him casually. "You're a brave one. But I expected no less from Anti's vessel. Yet... there is a sweetness in your veins. I can taste it on your skin. A peacefulness." Slightly circling him with his head, Salazar asked him curiously. "This... Ireland with no snakes... describe it to me. I love hearing of many places that I will never go. Ssso... Amussse me." Swallowing, Sean proudly lifted his chin, answering honestly. "It's old and full of green meadows that grow wildflowers. Everything there feels... frozen in time. We Irish are never in a hurry to get anywhere. We enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. But we sure do love our parties and a good smoke every now and again."

Chuckling, Salazar curled his head around him more. Slowly herding Sean up to the throne as he said with a deep dreamy voice. "Sounds just lovely for a snake. Maybe... I'll let you stay awhile. Come. Sit with me. Tell me more." Staying cautious not to touch him or look into his eyes, Sean let him herd him up to the steps toward the throne but halted at the sight of Salazar's body resting before the chair among the large pillows. Sean turned to try protesting but Salazar's nose nudged him off his feet and into the pile of silky pillows. Falling into them with a yelp, Salazar asked him excitedly. "Sit. Speak of your land. I love a good story while I eat." Scrambling to sit up in the pile of eerily warm pillows, the surrounding bare breasted women giggled and massaged Salazar with renewed vigor. Leaning back, Sean was about to speak, but inhaled sharply when he realized the pillow at his back was really Salazar's body. Swallowing nervously, Sean shrugged out a bit meekly. "Well... W-w-what do want to know?" Salazar's lips curled into a smile, before he lightly purred out to him. "Scared, little mouse? Many wish to sit where you do. Relax. If I wanted to eat you... I would not have brought you up here. Now come on. Flatter me with a tale of how Ireland came to have no snakes."

Crossing his legs, Sean began to tell him how. Although, he was becoming distracted by the men dressed in white robes with a golden serpent headdress. They looked like priests as they slowly walked down the long hall of the temple. Four of the priests were carrying a golden platform decorated in bowls of colorful fruits and veggies that had a naked young woman of about twenty laying across the center. She lazily ate the veggies and fruit around her with a blissful smile of satisfaction. Sean's stopped his story, his eyes going to Dark. Dark didn't get to say or do anything, before Salazar told him proudly. "Excuse me for a moment. Then you can continue your story." Sean's breathing hitched when he asked bluntly. "Are you going to... eat her?" Salazar smirked, his eyes on her, when he answered in a regal tone. "A sacrifice. Raised just the way I like them. Beautiful and full of all life's pampering. She has been loyal to me, and this is her reward." Sean's blood turned to ice as he stammered out. "Her reward is to be... e-e-eaten by you?" Salazar nodded, his voice powerful now when he purred out. "I don't just eat anyone. It's an honor to be chosen." Sean could only watch as the priests swayed to the music that the musicians began to play, and the dancers began to dance. They reached the steps, and the men lowered the platform to the ground.

Salazar lifting his head to look over the platform, causing the young woman to gasp up at him in surprise. For a second, Sean thought she might bolt and scream. Instead, as her eyes met Salazar's... her own eyes turned a soft solid golden color and she giddily laughed like a child up at him. One of the priests brought the young woman a golden goblet with an open snake mouth. Pressing her lips to it, she drank from the snake's mouth and almost instantly fell lazily back against the platform. The men removed the bowels of food, then slowly lifted the platform up as high as they could. Sean hugged himself, feeling sick to his stomach. Salazar leaned down more, watching the young woman giggle and moan. Her hands ran over his nose like a child petting an animal. Flicking out his tongue, he licked her body, and she moaned loudly in pleasure. Then adjusting his head to the end of the platform, Salazar menacingly opened his jaws with a slow show of power. The young woman sleepily stroked herself and then absently reached out to stroke the massive long fangs that rested on either side of her. She seemed completely unaware that the platform was tilting, and she was sliding legs first into his massive maw.

Sean realized that they'd drugged her heavily. Which made the sight so much worse for him. She couldn't fight back if she wanted to. He watched her hips vanish down the back of Salazar's throat and draping her hands back over her head to rest them on Salazar's tongue, she let out a blissful moan before Salazar slowly closed his jaws and Sean watched the form of her body slide down his long throat. The priests lowered the empty platform, bowed and then turned to leave. Salazar licked his lips, then closed his eyes and stayed very still for a while. Sean tried to follow where she might have ended up in Salazar's body, but he could no longer tell. He was so big that her body didn't stand out. Then he started to hyperventilate as he realized why they'd drugged her. Snakes took a long time to devour their food. Hours. Or sometimes even days. She'd be laying confined in a fleshy prison with acid that would melt her way! Gasping at his throat, he tried to slow his breathing, but ultimately blurted out. "What the fuck... That's... She..." Salazar finally opened his eyes, his head lazily turning in his direction as he carelessly shushed him and told him firmly. "She can still hear you. Silence." Covering his mouth with a shaking hand, Sean looked to Dark with terrified eyes.

Dark raised a hand and gestured for him to breath slowly and just look at him. So, he obeyed. Breathing in as Dark did and exhaling as he did. He wanted to run to him but was afraid to move. He'd never seen anything so sadistic. Even the way Dark killed seemed to have more mercy than that. It was made exceedingly worse, when even the music couldn't hide the shrill muffled screams coming from Salazar's gut. That appeared to be right behind him. Crawling away from Salazar, Sean tried to keep himself calm as he made his way back over to Dark. Dropping to his knees, Dark wrapped him up in a hug as he reached him. Covering his ears and humming loudly against his ear to a song that made Sean only think of dancing with Darkiplier. Beside them, Verine shifted uncomfortably and glanced around like a cat afraid someone was going to sneak up on him. When the screaming finally stopped, Salazar rested his head down the floor and asked them with mild curiosity. "Does your little mouse need to lie down?" Dark's hands wrapped protectively around Sean as he retorted firmly. "He's fine. Can we talk about gaining your help?" Sean felt faint as he gripped Dark tightly but listened as Salazar cooed back. "If you must waste your time and energy on such a thing."

Hefting Sean up into his arms, when he felt him wavering on his feet, Dark moved into the center of the room. Staring Salazar down, Dark spoke firmly but kept his tone light when he said. "I just need you there to show your support. If you don't wish to fight, fine. If any fighting happens, you can leave. But... I need you to do this for me." Salazar perked up a bit, his tongue flicking out as he sinisterly said. "A favor? Now that... intrigues me. He means that much to you?" Dark's hands cradled Sean closer to his chest, when he answered swiftly. "Yes. Do me this favor... and I'll owe you one." Salazar blinked, his expression a thoughtful one. Then with abroad smile, Salazar told them coolly. "Very well. I agree. A favor for a favor. I won't fight. But I'll witness." Dark bowed to him, then turned on his heels to leave. Before they got out of the temple though, Salazar teased after them. "You know, Dark. If you tire of your little mouse. Leave him here. I LOVE his long legs and arms." Dark growled but didn't stop or slow his pace. Forcing Verine to pick up his to keep up with them.  To Be Continued...