Chapter39: Who You Gonna Call?

The day that followed was relatively peaceful. Amina left the room, explaining that she was going to find Ren and calm her down. This gave me some time to think about how stupid I had been.

The aching in my back reminded me of the horrible pain I had felt after falling through that trap door. Without Ren, I could've ended up a cripple. And that would have meant the end for my journey (and independence.)

Speaking of Ren, I wonder if she's ok.

I expected that kind of reaction from Amina. But from her? I must've scared the hell out of her last night. My little stunt had caused everyone so much trouble, and it made me feel sick to my stomach.

And what am I to do now? Sulk in my bed until they get back? Actually, that's all I can really do, being in the shape I am now (this really sucks.)

A sudden knock on the door jolted me back to reality.

"Umm, Yes?" I called out weakly.

Magenta walked inside, carrying what looked like a bowl of warm soup on a wooden tray.

"I thought you would like something to eat." She offered. Her smile and voice was so tender and motherly, it made my face go red.

"Y-yes, that would be wonderful." I responded awkwardly.

Very carefully, Magenta placed the tray onto my lap. Judging from the colour and smell, the soup contained mashed pumpkin and potato (yummy!) It was also garnished with thin slices of onions, which were somehow shaped like love hearts (gross!)

"It looks….lovely?"

Magenta stared at me for a moment, then suddenly held a hand over her face to stifle a giggle.

"Cinnamon was so upset when I told her what had happened, she almost fainted whilst preparing your food." (*Barf*)

"That does sound like her." I remarked.

She then leaned down and whispered into my ear, "She even insisted on feeding you herself." (*MEGA BARF*)

I decided to force back a shudder and got started on my meal. It was delicious. And I was grateful that Magenta had hadn't offered to spoon feed me herself.

"Has Amina had any luck finding Ren?"

The smile on Magenta's face faded a little as she thought for a moment.

"I don't think so." She answered softly, "It is likely she will not show herself, until she is ready to be found."

It made sense. Ren was small enough fit into just about anything. Trying to find her in this joint would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. A needle that can fly and cast spells, I might add.

"I thought I could figure this out on my own." I muttered to myself.

"And did you?"

I took another sip of my soup before putting the spoon down, closed my eye, and considered my answer.

"There's some kind of creature, living inside of me."

Next thing I know, Magenta has a hand on my shoulder, and an alarmed look on her face.

"What kind of creature!?" She exclaimed.

The urgency in her voice broke my train of thought as I looked up at her in surprise (damn, woman!)

"I….I don't…."

"Was it a Demon!?" She pressed, "A Spirit!? Please tell me!"

"I don't know!" I shouted angrily.

Magenta pulled away from me as though she had burnt her hand.

"I'm….I'm so sorry." She said in a choked voice, "I almost came back to life when I found you in the attic. I thought maybe your possessor had tried to kill you."

"No, I shouldn't have yelled either." I returned nervously, "But, no. I fell through that trap door because I was being stupid." (A valid answer.)

The Zombie maid placed a hand on her chest and steadied her breathing.

"I'm pleased that your captor is not trying to harm you. But how did you become aware of it's existence?"

"I remember being in a lot of pain when I hit the floor. But it went away after a few moments. And then, I found myself back home again."

Magenta tilted her head slightly.

"Back at your family's farm, you mean?"

"Yeah. It was like I was reliving a memory." I explained, "But instead being a part of the memory, I was watching it from the sidelines."

I glanced over to Magenta. Unsure if I was making any sense.

She gave me a blank, undead stare (like a picture book.)

"Did that make any sense?"

"I think so." She responded hesitantly, "What was this memory, if you don't mind me asking?"

I did mind. But she wanted to help me, and pushing people away was what landed me here in the first place.

"I saw my brother being taken away." I answered joylessly.

Magenta picked up my food tray (I was finished, anyways) and placed it on the ground, before sitting herself down on an empty space on my bed.

"You mentioned him a few days ago." She said softly, "Who took him away?"

"Kat." I said spitefully, "A Nekomata from Vastum."

Magenta's eyes flew open.

"From the northern wastes?

"Yep."

"So….then…."

She shifted her gaze to my eye patch, winced, and looked away.

"I'm….I'm so sorry."

I was not in the mood for such a sombre conversation, and decided to get back to the matter at hand.

"Anyways, I was watching it happen all over again, when a little girl suddenly appeared."

Magenta turned towards me again and blinked.

"A little girl? What did she look like?"

"White."

"White?"

"Yep."

"White, as in ghostly white?"

"More of a snowy white." (Is this really the time for jokes?)

The Zombie maid rolled her eyes.

"You know what I mean."

" Sorry. She looked similar to a Ghost. But she denied being one."

"Then what is she?"

I shrugged.

"I have no idea. And neither does she….apparently."

Magenta folded her arms and frowned.

"That doesn't sound suspicious at all."

"I know." I responded. Pulling myself back down into a lying position, "And better still, she doesn't even have a name."

Magenta grimaced.

"Did she give you any useful information?"

"She wants to help me find him." I pull out one of my fingers.

"How sweet of her." She responded with a faint hint of sarcasm.

"Our souls have fused together." And another finger.

"Very romantic." (I'm starting to like this one.)

"Oh, and she told me to be careful around my friends, because everything is not what it seems" And that's three fingers.

A teasing smile formed on the Zombie's face.

"Sounds like someone's a little jealous of Ren and Amina."

A chill ran down my already aching spine.

"I'd rather not have another Monster Girl following me around, thank you."

"But your going to Vastum, aren't you?"

"Yep."

"And because of her, your immune to our pheromones?"

"Correct."

"So, what's the problem?"

"It's….well…."

Magenta's smile, and the cheery mood we had built up, began to fade away. Magenta waited quietly for my answer. An answer I could not find.

"What's wrong?" She asked me apprehensively.

I didn't know what to say, or how to say it. Something just didn't feel right. Something deep inside was telling me that this….thing, inside of me had to go (don't look at me!)

"I just don't feel safe with her inside of me." I answered dejectedly.

I then looked her hard in the eye, and said firmly "If you know someone that can help me, then please say so."

For at least ten minutes, Magenta gave me a blank stare. But I knew that she was thinking long and hard on the situation at hand. Was she going to help me? All I could do was wait.

Very slowly, Magenta pulled herself off my bed, picked up the tray, and headed for the door. Only when the door was part ways open, did she give me her answer.

"If your instincts are telling you that she's dangerous," she announced calmly, "Then I shall send a letter to a friend of mine, and ask her for assistance."

"You know someone that can help me?" I asked expectantly.

"If this thing inside of you is a Spirit or Demon, then yes." She responded, before closing the door behind her.

I closed my eye and gave a long sigh of relief.

This was it. This was the solution to my problems. Hopefully, I won't have to wait long for her to show up. But then again, it could take some time for me to be able to move around again. So it wouldn't hurt to take it easy for a little while.

All I had to do now, was explain everything to the girls (good luck with that.)