Part 3
Xellma eventually become a mere curiosity in the inn as the hours passed and the empty kegs around her became a veritable fortress of tripping hazards, her drunken haze far too deep to bother bringing them back to Vaust anymore. By the time the Inn closed for the night, nearly 30 of them lay around her chair, and Vaust could only laugh as the last customer went to their room, and he pulled the tavern into the place between the planes.
"Rebecca Ashe, I never thought I'd see you again." Vaust laughed.
"I ain't Rebecca no more, Vaust." Xellma said, burping. "I'm a... wazzit? That's right. I'm a demon. The demon. Demon Queen Xellma."
"Let's get down to business. Why did you come to my Inn to drink all my ale, and why did you make Randal break his own hand earlier today?" Vaust asked as he began to clean up the empty kegs, and left another full one in front of Xellma, who immediately dug into it.
"Needed to- what's the word?" Xellma said between chugs. "That's right. Had to see my demonic aura. Xolarand smells like farts. Xalgaman runs hot. Mine's easy."
"Is it now?" Vaust asked, quite amused at the drunken demon in his tavern.
"Sure is. If I say their name, they have to obey. S'like a... what's that word? Command?" Xellma explained, motioning for more ale.
"How much ale are you going to drink? Even if you pay for it all I need something to serve the customers." Vaust said angrily.
At this point, Vordea arrived, sensing what was going on.
"Oh look at my dear sweet drunk demon." Vordea cooed, sitting on Xellma's lap. "No no sweetie that's enough, no more beer for you today." Vordea placed a finger over Xellma's lips, and smiled. "Yes you can just sleep it off in dear old Vaust's inn won't you?"
"No Mommy I'm a big girl I don't wanna sleep!" Xellma protested. She opened her mouth to say more, but Vordea interrupted her by placing her entire hand on her lips.
"Shush it's okay my beautiful demon, sleep now." Vordea cooed softly, stroking Xellma's hair.
Xellma was asleep in seconds, out cold in the lounge chair she had occupied all day.
"How did you do that?" Vaust asked, stunned. "She seemed ready to go all night."
"The demons are my beautiful children, every single one." Vordea said sweetly, still sitting on Xellma's lap even as she snored loudly. "Even gruff old Xalgaman turns into a little boy in my hands."
"Really now." Vaust said with a raised eyebrow.
Vordea looked back at Xellma and smiled again. "The creation of a demon, it's oh so intimate. Like two lovers having their very first time. I learn their entire body, as I remake it into one of my most beautiful children. They respond in kind, learning the body of their lover and mother, as she remakes them into a wonderful demon." Vordea said softly, gently touching Xellma's body. "I love every single one of my demons, both as a mother, and as a lover. Xellma is the most perfect, most beautiful one I've created in dozens, maybe hundreds of kalpas. I'm going to keep her. Forever."
"I have to say, this is the first time I've ever seen you like this." Vaust admitted.
"My demons bring out the best in me." Vordea said, now sitting in the chair and cradling Xellma in her arms, holding her head against her chest. "This is why they belong to me and me alone. They know their mother." She sighed and curled a tentacle around Xellma, squeezing her tightly.
"What are you doing now?" Vaust was completely lost now.
"Xalgaman neglected to tell her how to purge alcohol from her body, so when she wakes up she'll be just as drunk as when she fell asleep. So, I'm helping her. Vaust, I would appreciate some alone time with my child. I will take her to one of the empty rooms when I'm done. But first, you deserve an explanation of sorts."
"About what?"
"A demon's capacity for alcohol is infinite, limited only by their ability to drink it. So unless you want to run completely out of beer, set limits on how much demons can drink if they show up. As for Xellma herself," Vordea paused to stroke Xellma's head. "She is going to be the most annoying demon you’ve ever dealt with. Think of her as a demigod, beyond even the dragons, because that's what she will be."
"Vordea what did you create?" Vaust asked, as he finished the cleanup.
"Something wonderful." Vordea said dreamily, gazing down at Xellma.