Chapter 77 - Welcome To The DAA (2/2)
Whatever that meant. She wasn't sure, exactly. Still though!
Dolly recalled a question Mother once asked her.
”What's best in life, Dolly?”
”Huh?”
”What's best in life?” She repeated patiently.
”I don't know.”
Mother had smiled down at her with love and affection. ”To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of their families.”
Dolly had never understood what she'd meant until now.
They were not just words. They were a life lesson. She felt her mouth form a cold crescent moon, thinking perhaps it was now time to apply that lesson.
Just then Dolly looked down and found the silver tray Day had given to Cory. She caught sight of her own reflection and had a sudden thought:
Wasn't her hair getting curlier recently?
***
A dozen women, of varying ages from loli to milf, all sat in a circle. They met in a wide, empty room.
”Hello. I'm Patricia. And I'm a, uh....a Damien addict.” A young woman with long hair and a luxurious dress breathed out slowly. ”I've been a DDD follower since it's founding. I've read every article, boughten every released drawing. I even have a n.a.k.e.d picture of him under my pillow to sleep with at night. It's been...gosh, a year or two since I've seen him? The last time was my massage appointment. I'd gotten one every week back then. They were just so wonderful and the way he touched me…” Her eyes wandered into the distance before refocusing. ”My husband can't satisfy me anymore. When we have s.e.x I'm not even thinking of him. The only way I can even get off these days is when I remember Damien's hands over my bare skin. It's sick, isn't it? I know it is. And I've started, you know, stress eating. I think I'm going to divorce him soon, too, my husband. I don't know. It's just there's this Damien-sized hole in me aching to be filled. But I can't. I can't fill it. And it's driven me away from my family, my friends. I know I have to give him up and I'm trying to. But it's hard. Gods, it's so hard…” She started crying.
Damien's face was frozen. He slowly shut the door.
...Okay then.
Haha. What? This was like an AA meeting, but the subject was him.
What the f.u.c.k was a goddamn Damien addict?! Since when was he a drug?!
He recalled the conversation leading him to this awful place.
”What do you mean, they got probation? They performed inhumane experiments on animals...and each other!”
Damien had risen from his bed as soon as Vera told him what was going on.
She'd been feeding Rufus, the Roo that had been caught by Damien on the first floor of the dungeon some time back as a present for his favorite tree.
The little ball of fuzz begrudgingly ate the offered treats with a sour expression while being pat on the head.
”Oh yes.” Vera had nodded. ”It seems they used the Damien defense.”
”The what now?”
”Apparently it's a new thing.” Vera went on to explain. ”It's similar to an insanity plea. The claim is that the offenders aren't fully responsible for their actions due to being under the influence.”
”What 'influence?'” He'd asked with narrowed eyes. Vera had pointed at him and said,
”Yours.”
”Oh now that's f.u.c.k.i.n.g bullshit!”
A shrug. ”They say that their actions are a direct result of Damien addiction. They even have a support group called the DAA. The Damien Addicts Anonymous. There's one in almost every major city in the Kingdom, or so I hear.”
Obviously, Damien had to see it to believe it. And so he'd had Vera take him to the nearest DAA meeting.
”See?” Vera pointed out the four lolitas. ”The judge has them on medication and group therapy. Since they've got a severe case of Damien Disorder they've been acquitted of their crimes. Though they'll be spending time in a psychiatric ward, it won't be long. There simply isn't a precedent for what they were trying to do. At most, they would be charged with animal cruelty but there's no strict punishment for that in this realm. The magic involved? They weren't the ones using it. Not to mention, those vines they created have been deemed an important breakthrough for science. The potential applications for their invention have actually earned them all awards if you can believe it. Oh. Also, they're too young for incarceration. I think someone may have pulled strings for them too, just in case. I think they'll be out of here within a few months. Since their crimes were basically kicked under the rug they may even be asked to tour and give lectures regarding the vines. Which really are works of art, by the way.”
Damien listened to her and felt like hitting someone. These damn lolitas are working the system! They're being awarded, too!
Works of art my ass.
DAA, Damien defense. That's all SUCH bull. How the heck can he not have heard of that till now? Which God is making fun of him?
And then he listened to stories from several DAA members about how obsessed with him they were and how he ruined their lives.
He was about to walk away when he heard a familiar voice.
”Well. I'm grateful to him.” Someone announced. ”My life made a turn for the better after meeting Damien. I was able to leave my abusive husband. I spent time with my relatives, got a a job. Started meeting new people and met good friends. My son's been happier than ever. Recently I've even won custody of my daughter. In fact, that's the reason I came to this city. I only stopped here on a curiosity, but I have to say I'm disappointed. You can't just use him as an excuse like this. I doubt any of you had happy marriages even before him. Aren't you just shifting the blame?”
Someone else then spoke up as well. ”Actually my husband and I have a great marriage.”
”Mine too.”
”And me.”
”I love my boyfriend.”
”We aren't blaming him for anything. Actually, we're more of a fan group? Most of us are fine with our husbands and lovers.”
They cleared their throats. ”But Damien's...you know.”
”Yeah.”
”Totally.”
”Oh heavens yes.”
”Those hands.” Someone sighed dreamily.
”That face.”
”That spear.”
”Spear?”
”You haven't seen it yet? It's like….wow.”
”Seriously?”
”Girl, trust me. It could qualify as a weapon of ass destruction.” Some excited, and pervy, giggles.
”...Anyway.” The conversation moved on. ”Our families just don't get it. They think we're sick or something. But we aren't. We just really like him, okay? So when they stuck us in here we just made it into sort of a book club. We have all kinds of Damien paraphernalia. ”
”Hey, so do you guys follow him too?”
”I do.”
”I work for the DDD, even. It's been harder lately though. Does anyone know who that blonde s.l.u.t is?”
”Oh, her. I only know she's a right royal bitch. I was trying to take steal his shirt to use as material when he was doing his morning exercise but she hit me with a stick and told me to go away! The nerve!”
That familiar voice once more spoke up. ”...I think I'll be going now.”
A couple minutes later the door opened. And who did he see?
A stylish woman with short layered hair the color of chestnut. The previous expensive and elaborate dresses she was once partial to were now replaced with a simple black one with a slit to expose along and enchanting leg, her tight-fitting blue bodice pushing up a pair of soft melons still ripe for the pickings.
That wasn't the important part, however. The important bit was the dark stockings wrapped around that exposed leg. And the dark garter-belt keeping it up.
”Damien?” A pair of smokey grey eyes widened in surprise.
”Garter-belt milf.” He grinned.