Red Light

I felt many hours pass within the darkness of Nox's chamber. The shadows that had crawled like abyssal worms had dissipated into shades against the cold stone walls. My weak form slowly drew from the earth's strength to at least sit up and lean weakly against the wall.

I took a deep breath of the cold damp air around me. The smell of wet stone and dirt met my senses refreshing my mind a bit with their cool sensation. I let out a breath releasing the heat from my lungs that seemed a bit tensed and uncomfortable.

Even as I sat I could feel the changes in my body. The muscles had bulged taut and gained a more obviously masculine physique. Each one elegant and powerful looking. But the biggest difference was my smell.

I would normally smell akin to a nice Applewood smoke or that of a forge. But this was much more mellow. Mixed with something akin to apples and vanilla roasted till the sweetness was maximized.

As I took a deeper wiff my scent changed again. Chocolate and Roses? ( What in the world happened to give me this freakish scent?) I thought as my mind grappled with the change.

Its true I had mastered transformation but I hadn't really mastered changing pheromones and scents. So there was only one variable that could have changed it. ( Lust)

/We are here./

(How do your powers effect my current state? I do not wish to enter a town with a possibility of being the core of a very sudden unwanted orgy.)

/The powers of Lust merely allow for better influence over all people who's power is below your own. Though it allows for pheromones to be adjusted it also makes others more susceptible to your charms and negotiation skills. We also understand that (for those with a physical form) that Libido is increased significantly. Though "needs" are suppressed so as not to stress the host more than usual.

(So what you're saying is that Lust makes me more of a Boy toy and sex magnet. Did I get that right?)

(...)

/.../

( What the F@€#!)

/ You only have your gluttony to blame for this. Not us./

(That only makes it worse!!!)

I sat with my eyes glaring ahead of me wishing I could physically glare at my system.

/ Glaring accomplishes nothing. But you have found the shards on this continent. On to the next one!/ Sin declared boldly.

I shook my head as images of Sam's disappointed face went through my mind. It has been years for her. But it has only felt like days to me. (I'm not going to do anything with Lusts abilities for now. I am still mourning.)

/Acknowledged. We will suppress unwanted outbursts and limit Lusts usage till you are more mentally stable./ Sin replied

(Thank you)

I pulled myself from the ground with a groan and stretched. My body shivering with a nice release of pressure as I relaxed again. I had hunted many of the people outside on my way in but I could still sense a few stragglers within the tunnels now that the corrupted Box was gone.

I sunk my mind into the land and dug into the tunnels. The feeling like each was a mouth as it approached the unknowing prey before they crashed down crushing their victims between the tunnels ceiling or floor.

When I couldn't sense another person I withdrew my senses and opened my eyes seeing the dark chamber and it's torches.

"Nox... We are heading to The North this time. I hope you understand that I'm not judging you for the past. But let's make a better future." I rumbled as I walked through the tunnels and back into the mines open air.

I felt a shiver run through my shadow. I couldn't tell if it was of approval or fear. But only Nox would know and I wasn't about to push farther with my statement. I moved further into the forest and could feel a change already taking place. The air was less cold and the animals seemed to move about where previously there hadn't been any.

"It seems balance is restored." I mumbled.

"For that we thank you child of eternity." A whisper echoed through the air. A tree close by visibly shivered as a face formed. "Thanks to you we now have our full body back. No more blockage and unwanted rot. " It whispered.

"Are you saying that you like some Rot?" I questioned.

"Indeed. As you already know Balance is maintained tenderly in the forest. Rot and decay give new life nourishment and help in growth. For we can only grow new things after old ones die. But too much Rot can only lead to suffering and lands of death." The Tene responded.

"Indeed. Well then. I did what I came for. As such I hope that you help any lost within your grasp. Often humans and the like make mistakes. But we learn better if we live after making them." I said with a slight nod. And The Tene only smiled before vanishing back into nothingness.

I stretched as I made my way out of the woods. The starlit sky dazzled like diamonds amidst the darkness. "I really missed this sight. 100 years of being in darkness can make you forget what other beauties lie out there waiting to be seen." I said as I gazed into the night. The moon shined high above in it's fullness making the scene complete.

(Well... I think I worked up an appetite after that hunt. I'll have to see if another place is open.) I wondered as I spread my wings and took off toward the city.

The cities torch lit streets made it easy to see in the distance as the lights flickered making the castle town seem more hauntingly beautiful.

Though as I grew close the scene unfolded where a guard was leaning against the wall fast asleep. I grinned a little. "Peace makes people too at ease it seems." I said as I passed the toll to enter. A few coppers, but I put a pearl in the box as that was all I had on me.

"I really need to get cash. Really don't like pulling gems off my body. Almost feels like handing someone a toenail or a tooth. Ugh." I said with a shiver.

The streets were dotted with people here and there with only one area filled with lights and noise. The people were dressed revealingly and the smell of certain activities was obvious. The smells of sweat, passion, and alcohol drifted from certain alleys and hotels that made up its face. And I already knew what area this was. The red light district.

I huffed as I turned away despite something in my chest yearning to go down it. Like a dogs leash getting lightly tugged when it goes the wrong way.

(Sam was separate from me for a hundred years. But it still feels like yesterday that she was within my arms. I cannot, I will not betray my bride in such an act of weakness!) I angrily thought to myself as I moved.

I felt a sudden weight on both of my arms and back a long with something soft. "We found a big strong man! How about you come play with us?" Two sweet voices graced my ears and I saw two women wearing revealing low-cut dresses were now hanging from my arms.

"My dears I'm afraid I just lost my wife. I have no love or fun to give you right now. I am greatful for your consideration but-" I tried to cut them off but another three joined in trying to entice me. That was when I knew something was off. Two or three I understand but more than that is overkill for attempting certain activities.

I looked at a couple of their faces and noticed their eyes were hazy and raw red energy shrouded them like a shawl. As I traced the energy I saw it was linked to me like a cocoon to a thread.

(Sin! Cancel Lusts passive NOW! You know I can't do something like this with everything that's happened!)

/ We regret to inform you we have withdrawn all we can. There isn't anything else to do./

( Then what am I supposed to do?)

/Leaving them in this state with be detrimental to their health. Possibly lethal. As long as you remain more will be effected and you will have to be the one to relieve it. We urge you to use your own thoughts to figure things out. We are merely a system of support. Not control. Figure it out./

"Shit!" I growled as I saw another five get effected by my energy. I wanted to just drop them all and leave. But if I leave it could potentially kill them or worse. "Shit!" I shouted before I started mentally scanning everything I could do with my skills. Every opportunity I could grab hold of as I scrolled through my mental screen.

My mind finally landed on it. Duplication.

I drew energy from my surroundings as my body began to morph into a gel-like mass before splitting off several masses which grew into normal looking versions of myself.

These versions retained a type of consciousness. An understanding or programming of what they had to do but nothing more. They weren't me. But they were parts of me. And if I was right. They'd do the job.

I made enough copies for the "infected" which was good because they grabbed the people in question and hauled them away to somewhere private.

I quickly reformed myself and hopped onto the top of a building away from the district and sat for a bit to take a breather. I felt dirty. Dirtier than I'd felt in a long time. But in the end I had held out. And that brought me some semblance of peace as I sat watching the horizon and the distant night sky.

Soon the sky began to lighten with the hues of the rising sun. It's oranges, reds, and yellows danced slowly across the world till I heard a rooster cry out for the morning.

And as the sky lightened a few of my clones came back to me morphing into sludge I absorbed into myself. But the least expected happened as I did so. Power filled my body from whatever Lust brought back. I couldn't tell you. My muscles bulged slightly and a sheen covered my scales making me stronger. But it was releasing emotions and experiences. Pleasures I hadn't had in a hundred years.

The memories of the clones activities screamed through my head like static and I growled angrily. "No! Nonononono!" More and more clones arrived till the last laid his hand on me and returned.

My face was filled with angry self hating tears as I crouched on the roof holding my head in my hands. The red energy of lust trailed off me like steam. (Sin! Erase the memories the clones brought back! I cannot stomache them right now!)

/We cannot tamper with the hosts memories. But we can temporarily seal them till you are ready. Would you like us to pursue this course?/

(Yes. Please.)

/Confirmed./ Sin chimed and I felt my heart lift as the memories that had piled up suddenly seemed to vanish. I knew they were there. I just couldn't access them. The weight of them lifted and my tears slowed as I slumped down a little.

(Thank you.)

I stayed there a while till I stopped shaking. My breathing evened out and I felt less like throwing up. The sun blinded me as it looked up from my hands making my face cringe as my stomache suddenly growled.

I frowned a little and grumbled how the sun shouldn't be so bright right at dawn. I stood up slowly and took a deep breath of the morning air. It was warm as the smell of smoke and baked goods began to fill the surroundings making my stomache growl hungrily.

"Right, right. I never did eat last night. I think there's a place close by I could grab something. I feel like venison. Maybe a nice stew would help me wake up." I hummed as I dropped to the street below.

The shops were just opening but I found a little restaurant with a breakfast menu. It only took a few moments before I was seated and enjoying a hearty breakfast of venison stew with toasted nut bread and this worlds type of orange juice. I had to order six servings to stop my stomache from growling. Which made the chef quite proud of himself.

"Good stomaches know good food!" He shouted from the back when I apologized for the amount I ate. And the waitress was very helpful with directions to a place for selling jewels. I could make jewels appear like sand on a beach but I needed coins to get anything worthwhile. Some people wont just take jewels as currency. Crazy capitalism.