<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/ljYAgW2.jpg)</div><br/>Shugar had a very valid point when Zerxel asked about her soul fruit and what she planned to do with it.  It was a good strategy even, especially since she couldn't accompany her and Bo to the resting room, provided they could even find the proper exit out of this level.  Having an ally, someone subservient and perhaps even trustworthy once the gaes wore off, would be a tremendous asset to anyone.  As for Bo's response, she too had a good reason not to devour her own soul fruit for a more practical application of its power.  Having such a boost in one's strength and health when you needed it would be beneficial in its own right, and the promise of future aid was always a good thing, even though both ideas had their drawbacks too.  Still, Bo was also right in that Zerxel had unfortunately made a deal, and she intended to keep it.  That meant she had to devour her own sooner rather than later, and hope it was someone she hated with a passion that came out of her womb, otherwise she'd be back to square one in needing to find someone to hand over to the spiderlings.  So it was with slight reluctance that she took that fateful bite.<br/><br/>While the lust that hit her left the drow rogue breathless and in greater need than before, the sheer power and rush of pleasure she got out of consuming the fruit was hard to ignore even as rivulets of her liquid desire ran down her dark skinned thighs.  The feeling didn't last, leaving her wanting for another's touch, but Zerxel made a mental note to save the next fruit she'd come across, if for no other reason than to savor that tingling, warm sensation that had hit her and pooled in her stomach.  Once she had gotten over her enjoyment though, and the more present revulsion of having consumed another person's very soul, she started towards the magic shop.  It took a considerable effort for her to ignore the way her g-string ground against her nether regions and pushed against her clit, mostly her biting down on her tongue to give her something else to focus on, but it wasn't impossible for her to proceed thankfully.  And while she couldn't help but notice the way Shugar walked, her breasts and shapely hips swaying with every step, or the way Bo filled out the remnants of her armor, Zerxel was able to mostly ignore the temptations provided by her companions.<br/><br/>Zerxel took in the snake woman they were soon standing before and narrowed her eyes at the lamia and how she made Shugar visibly uncomfortable.  She had never really gotten a straight answer regarding whatever this woman had asked of the bugbear, but she had other concerns on her mind in that moment.  Still, it would likely be necessary to take whatever deal the lamia asked in exchange for her help since they had no money to speak of, and a pile of useless gear, well, useless to them anyway, but perhaps they could trade?  Only one way to find out, but Zerxel wanted to set one thing straight at least.<strong>"I don't care <em>you're</em> a monster girl, and Shugar, whatever she is, is just Shugar to me.  But we didn't come here to debate that rather non important issue."</strong>She shrugged and shot the woman in question a quick, accepting smile before returning her gaze to the lamia.<strong>"We came here because it's our hope you might be able to help with a cursed item, a ring.  It's not an immediate danger, and if not for the fact it makes some of my other items useless, I'd even consider keeping it, but I need either the curse removed so I might use those items again at the very least, or the ring removed completely."</strong>She doubted the lamia would be able to make it possible that it'd allow Shugar or another friendly mage like her to use their magics on her, but simply being able to remove the ring and thus, remove the influence it held over her, would be a good thing in her mind.  She liked having the choice to put it on or take it off as she liked, but barring that, she supposed she could always trick someone into wearing it instead.<strong>"We don't have any money, but perhaps we can work out some kind of trade since we've found a fair amount of treasure recently.  That, and just what is this deal you mention?"</strong>Just because Shugar was against it didn't mean she would be, but she'd find out soon enough she supposed.