Chapter 35: Well, I'll Be Damned

Magenta stared into my eye. Seemingly at a loss for words. And I in turn, stared awkwardly back at her. It felt like we were having a standoff (A very awkward standoff.) But I felt strangely liberated when the words left my big mouth.

Maybe this wasn't a mistake after all. Maybe there was something else going on that I should be aware of. That strange dream I had the night before. I could only remember a few parts of it (the scream in particular.) Did she have something to do with it?

I tilted my head slightly. "Well?"

Magenta blinked a few times, then looked away from me. For the last few days, I had myself believing Magenta was a dry, emotionless deadpan. Nothing more than a walking corpse, with basic training and etiquette drilled into her hollow head.

But there she was. Standing there, fiddling with her hands. Her lips would open and close as though she was trying to speak. But nothing would come out. And her pale, decaying cheeks continued to flush a faint shade of pink. Was my question a little personal? (Yep!)

A few more uncomfortable moments went by before the Zombie maid finally decided to answer my question.

"You….don't know what this place is. Do you?"

Not quite the answer I was expecting.

"It's a motel." I answered nonchalantly.

Magenta just stared at me.

"….A haunted motel?" I offered more hesitantly.

Still nothing. Just a blank stare (did I break her?) At this point, I was starting to get angry, and threw my arms into the air.

Look, what more do you want from me, woman!?" I exclaimed.

"When I asked Ren and Amina where this road would lead to, they….well, Ren told me it was a haunted motel! Looking at the exterior of the place during a thunder storm, I saw a haunted motel!"

I then gestured to room we were currently standing in.

With this room being the exception, when I saw the interior of this place, guess what I saw!? A haunted motel! I think I was even attacked by a GHOST the first night we were here! So, when you ask me what I think this place is! I will tell you that THIS is a haunted, fracking, motel!"

Magenta continued to stare blankly at me as I took a few deep breaths. Then a smile began to form on her face. Then she began to giggle. Which in turn, became a cackling laughter that threatened to awaken the entire building!

"W-what's up with you!?" I shouted.

"I'm….I'm so sorry, sir." Magenta struggled to say between heavy breaths. "But you are….absolutely adorable."

It was my turn to stare at her this time. Although, my expression would have looked a little more confused and embarrassed than hers had.

"Didn't any of you know this place was a bordello?"

Her tone was sincere. But there was nothing she could do to hide her amusement. And I really couldn't blame her. A bordello was a fancy word for brothel. This place was a fracking brothel (oh, the horror!)

"You're not joking around, are you." I said in a subdued tone.

Magenta shook her head slowly. She was no longer laughing. But she still had a faint smirk on her face.

"I'm afraid not. I was surprised to see someone so young pay us a visit."

"Well, yeah. I'm only thirteen." I responded defensively. "So, is everyone here a prostitute?" I probably could have worded that a bit better (you think!?)

"That is correct. Although, those people from Wonderland were just guests having a birthday party." She explained. " But now that I think about it, a number of them seemed to have taken an interest in you that night.

" She then flashed me a wicked grin.

"Especially that Cheshire Cat."

The look on my face must have been very amusing, because the Zombie maid was soon giggling away again.

It was then that I suddenly realized my companions had been none the wiser. Or so it seemed. Did neither of them know this place was a whorehouse? Ren didn't seem to know. But Amina….Amina!

"Amina was rather hesitant of coming here." I said aloud. "I thought it was because she was afraid of spooks."

"That may well have been the case." Magenta offered gently. "Amina told everyone the night before she was still a virgin, after all."

But then she placed a hand under her chin and thought for a moment.

"Although, it is common for Monster Girls to remain a virgin for a number of decades. Given that they outnumber men by a considerable amount."

I was just about ready to bring this topic to an end (please.) But Magenta had other ideas (seriously!?)

"Anyway." She began in a more professional tone. "That's not quite what I was trying to say earlier."

I narrowed my eye.

"What do you mean?"

"Well….there were a few things that surprised me." She then turned her gaze to the counter. Behind it, I could hear the faint sounds of snoring. "When you first saw Amelia, for example. What did you think of her?"

I thought carefully for a moment before answering.

"I thought she was cute." I answered. "I thought she was adorable. I wanted to pick her up, and give her a big hug."

Magenta smiled endearingly.

"That's very sweet. But what else?"

"….What else?" I repeated. "What do you mean?"

Magenta started to look uncomfortable again. "You….said you were thirteen, correct?"

I quickly caught on to what she was getting at.

" Yes. And I have reached puberty, if that's what your wondering." I answered. Now struggling to hold my composure.

She raised a fake eyebrow and regarded me for a moment.

"Have you really?" She asked me suspiciously.

"I most certainly have!" I shouted angrily.

"But you didn't seem even a little bit interested in her." The maid stated accusingly. "Sexually speaking."

"That's because I wasn't! She might be older than me, but she still has the body of a bloody five-year-old!"

"You don't understand. She's a Dormouse. A Monster Girl from Wonderland." She explained tentatively. "When men enter this building, she's usually the first one to greet them. And because her body radiates demonic energy, her presence alone can, and will, make men very frisky."

"I'm well aware of what her kind can do." I responded. It made sense too. Having a Dormouse at the counter to get customers into the mood would be a very effective marketing tactic (You're starting to sound like a pimp!)

"But I just assumed she had her pheromones switched off when I was around."

Magenta had to force back another giggle.

"She can't turn her pheromones on and off like a light, you know?" She told me. "I don't think there are any that can."

I wasn't sure what to focus on. The part where Monster Girls are seemingly always letting off their love fumes. Or the concept of turning on and off a source of light (what sorcery is this!?)

"Wait….your saying I should be getting horny when I'm around her?" I asked her nervously.

"Well, if you have sexually matured as you say you have, yes."

I was curious. I needed to know for certain. I walked over to the counter and, after a nervous pause, tapped the bell. Right on cue, I could hear Amelia giving a horribly sweet yawn. And there she was. On the counter. Right in front of me. Sleepy and sweet as she had always been.

"Can I help you with something, sir?"

I didn't answer. I just stared at her. Waiting for her mere presence to put me into heat (weirdo.)

About twenty seconds went by before Amelia began to realize what I was doing. She didn't seem frightened or uncomfortable. Which was rather surprising. She looked more confused than anything else.

"You did ring the bell, didn't you?" She asked. "Or am I just…."

The Dormouse let out a high-pitched squeal as I hoisted her up into my air. Holding her close to my face, I waited for my nose to work its magic.

Amelia tried to struggle for a few moments. But unlike Amina, who was a similar size to her, this little mouse had the strength of a toddler at best.

"P-please be gentle!" She squeaked timidly.

I found the whole thing to be adorable. But I wasn't smelling, or feeling anything. Desperate times called for desperate measures. You know when a dog finds something new and tries to figure it out by sniffing the crap out of it? Yep. I'll admit, I've had better ideas (Hahaha!)

Magenta, who had been standing behind me, observing, erupted into laughter as she watched the strange spectacle unfold. Amelia, meanwhile, began to struggle again. But she quickly relented to my serious sniffing business. And by the time I had given up and put her back down again, she was fast asleep.

"I don't get t." I said to Magenta as she gently laid Amelia back into her bed. "I could smell her skin. Her Hair. Even her Clothing."

"But no pheromones." She finished for me. "Your certain you've sexually matured?"

I rolled my eye. "Look, as much as I'd enjoy pulling down my trousers and showing you a boner, I ask that you take my word for it."

"But that shouldn't be possible." Magenta argued. "All men should be affected by her pheromones, in some way or other." She then gestured a hand towards me. "But you say you can't even smell it."

"Yeah…. Weird."

"It's not just weird. It's unnatural. But what surprises me most, is that you seemed completely unaffected at that party."

"Yeah….Yeah! All I could smell that night was sweat and perfume!"

I then paused and scratched my head nervously. "I felt a little turned on every once in a while. But that was when I had a girl on my shoulders, and people were starting to take off their clothes."

The Zombie maid smirked at my little side comment.

"But that's normal." She explained softly. "Regardless of species."

"So, why am I like this?" I said sullenly. "Is something wrong with me?"

"No." Magenta answered firmly. "You're just a bit different. This could even be a rare blessing from the Chief God."

I did a double take on Magenta. Its true that the Chief God has given people special abilities in the past. And a number of them possessed the power to fight back the seductive callings of monster girls.

But why the hell would he bless me of all people? My family acknowledges his existence. But we've always worshipped the old gods of Himinndómr. Such as Fylkir, the cloud lord. And his spear maiden, Asger.

"My family don't even worship him." I said dismissively.

"The Chief God doesn't bless people because they suck up to him." Magenta laughed.

"He way have chosen you for an important task the very day you were born. A birthright for a future champion."

I didn't like the sound of that. All I wanted was to find Sherwin and bring him home. End of story. Unless, that had something to do with it. Could it?

"Born with special power?" I muttered to myself. "Never to be….affected?"

I remembered. I remembered the day Amina took me inside that mansion she had be living in. I remembered being hugged from behind by that Succubus, Gamila. The softness. The warmth. The smell. Hell, even the sound of her voice drove me absolutely insane (*howls like a wolf*)

And that wasn't the only time. Back when I was snatched by that Sahuagin, she had some kind of affect on me. I could feel my willpower being drained away. If Amina hadn't been there, I would probably still be behind that waterfall.

So, no. I wasn't born with this power. It was given to me. But was it a gift from the big guy in the sky? (stop rhyming!) And when did this even happen?

"Um, is something wrong?"

I jumped at the sound of Magenta's voice.

"Ah! Yeah! I'm good, I'm good!" I responded awkwardly.

"Your probably right. The Chief Gods probably chosen me for some silly holy mission, or something. No idea what, but I'm sure I'll find out later."

Magenta, with a concerned look on her face, tried to put a hand on my shoulder. But I stepped back and began to make my way back up the stairs. Praying to every god I knew that she wouldn't try to follow me.

"Anyways, I should probably wake up the girls." I said over my shoulder.

"Thanks for the talk, Magenta. It was very interesting. See you later!"

And that was it. I was gone.

Making my way to our room, I thought back to that dream I had earlier. Still couldn't remember much. But I didn't feel right when I woke up. I felt as though I had been contaminated with something really nasty. And there has only been one other time I have ever felt that way before.

All those weeks ago, when I was having my eye taken out, I had a weird dream too. Just like the other one, I could only remember a few bits of it. But I was asleep for more than two days. Two days! And when I finally woke up, I felt like absolute shit.

This happened before that encounter with the Sahuagin. But those dreams had to mean something.

I had no idea what had happened to me, or why. But this wasn't a blessing.

This was a curse.