Play along.

Dago could guess that the other tunnel he didn’t pick led to the Pride castle which was the last place he wanted to be. He opened his mouth to say something before thinking that he probably wouldn’t sound like Leopold either.

“Where is it, Leopold?” the brunette woman asked anxiously, “Tell me where it is!”

“Don’t be so cruel, Lettie, you know he’s a mute!” giggled the blonde.

Ah, well, that would have been bad to say anything then. Dago was glad he hadn’t. The women took both of his elbows and began leading him down the tunnel. He didn’t figure there was much chance of escape now that they had both of his arms. They looked more like they were being escorted by a gentleman than escorting a prisoner, so he had a glimmer of hope at least.

They led him down the right tunnel and he started to smell a lot of food cooking. It smelled delicious, even to him, who hadn’t eaten actual food in a very long time. He didn’t need to now, but damn, whatever that was baking was heavenly.

The women separated from him and began to move about the kitchen with a sense of urgency. They were putting the finishing touches on several dishes and plates. The blonde quickly motioned to Dago to take a place at a wooden cutting board with a small paring knife.

“Remember how I showed you, Leopold? The master wants the fruit cut like that, in slices and served on the pie, alright?”

She waved at what looked like a pile of practice pears, all cut in a pretty simple manner. Dago saw a steaming pie next to the cutting board. He figured he might as well continue pretending and cut the pear into several slices and placed them on the pie gently. The woman picked up the pie and moved it over to the large cart of food that was quickly being magically taken away.

Dago suddenly saw a gagged figure enter the kitchen. He took this as a sign he needed to leave, fast. He assumed that was Leopold, so he ducked out of the kitchen at top speed. He was in the heart of the Pride castle now. He didn’t see anyone immediately, but could hear voices coming from behind a large set of gilded doors. He approached them with some caution and peered through the crack between them.

He saw a lavish banquet set out for what looked like several thousand people. The room looked huge, like it was banquet hall or a ballroom. It was set with ivory tables and huge banners with red and gold and black symbols on them. At the very end of the room, there was a raised platform with a pure white throne on it.

Lucifer, the Lord of Pride, sat at that throne. Dago could see his glittering black eyes from here. He looked larger than life sitting in his throne with a grin set upon his lips. Dago cringed, he had only seen Lucifer once briefly, but he knew who it was, just by setting eyes on him. No wonder Marian hated this man, Dago was feeling the revulsion and fear and he wasn’t even in the same room.

He noticed the cart with the pie he had so hastily prepared zooming into the room and toward the throne. A piece was delicately cut for him and a man who looked exactly like the hunched man who tricked him here was nervously holding the plate and fork out for him. Dago wondered what the fruit was, as it was obviously abnormal, perhaps magical.

Suddenly, Lucifer stood from his throne, a champagne flute in hand, “My esteemed guests, I have a very special treat for you tonight.”

There was a polite applause from the thousands of guests in the banquet hall. Dago listened closer.

“I have prepared several desserts, but have a bit of a game for you all. One of these desserts has been prepared with the Fruit of Life! There are several pieces of it in this room that will give you the shivers at night and you will lust for more bedmates than you ever thought you might. You won’t get your desserts then, but the **** who prepared it has the only cure for the itch,” he announced with a proud and amused voice, “And of course, if you know me, which you should, he will be at your disposal.”

There were some gasps and laughter among the crowd. Dago swallowed heavily. If the person who prepared the meal was the cure for that, Lucifer’s **** certainly wasn’t it. He suddenly remembered that fruit was likely the same fruit that drove Marian to ask for a cure fro Lucifer. Well, that posed some interesting possibilities. This might not be as bad as he originally thought.