Yair rapped his metal knuckles on the front door of the Fortress of Nymphs. Nikodemus, who had not slept at all but for the brief time in C-150’s arms, yawned, nearly falling asleep while standing. The purplish dawn looked beautiful, but made him feel all-the-more queasy and exhausted.

I’ve been up all night… Nikodemus thought to himself angrily. He didn’t know why, but the person he was always the most furious at when he did not get enough sleep was himself, even when it was clearly not his fault.

The metal door peeled opened with a shhk, revealing a tall, brown-haired woman who was nearly as tall as C-150 and twice as hardened.

Nikodemus’ eyes widened. I’ve seen some behemoth women in my time, but this one is a mountain!

Ellia looked Nikodemus up and down. She looked rather unimpressed.

“This is him?” Ellia had to confirm.

Yair nodded. “This is the Last Man.”

She just couldn’t hide her disappointment, and Nikodemus couldn’t hide his offense. Geez, I know I’m not… Eros by any means, but I’m not that unappealing, am I? Nikodemus had been a fan of the Greek myths since his father had first read them to him when he was ten-years-old, and he kept a travel-sized version of the myths in his pockets at all times. Eros and Psyche was always one of his favorites.

Nikodemus held out a hand to the woman. “Nice to meet you. I’m Nikodemus. What’s your name?”

Ellia didn’t reach for his hand. She turned her nose up at his gesture. “Ellia. Come inside, Last Man.”

Ellia spun on her heel and headed back inside the fortress.

Nikodemus just stood there, immobile for a moment, feeling sorry for himself. It’d be nice if a woman would genuinely take an interest in me.

Yair nudged him gently. “I suggest you hurry. Ellia is not a patient woman.”

“I guessed as much.” Nikodemus replied with a grumble. He strode inside with his head held high, following the mammoth-of-a-woman down the pristine hallway.

“Ellia?” Yair said.

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“Yes, Yair?” The woman replied, not bothering to look back at him.

“You have it from here, right? I need to go tell Hilargi the good news.” Yair said.

“Yes. I have it from here. There’s no way this twerp will escape me.” Ellia answered coldly.

Yair parted ways with them, traveling further down the long hallway to meet up with his creator.

Ellia was quiet, her footsteps heavy. She wore clunky, black boots and a tight, polymer suit to match. Her body was almost entirely covered, but her neck was exposed. Like most tribal leaders, she was covered in scars.

Nikodemus could relate. Although the tribeswomen of the Wasteland never intended to harm him when they fought over him, it just couldn’t be helped when they were yanking him around during swordfights or dragging him around during explosive gunfights. It resulted in his once soft and unblemished skin being marred by cuts and scars, and even being grazed by one or two bullets.

Ellia opened a door on her left down the hallway and began climbing up the steps of a staircase. The woman rubbed her aching shoulders, groaning under her breath. Nikodemus noticed that she was carrying her left leg, and wondered what injury caused her to do so.

After climbing the stairs, they arrived on the second floor. In contrast to the almost blinding first floor, this floor had softer lighting and was decorated with a burgundy rug beneath their feet and ragged curtains on the walls.

Nikodemus realized that this was most likely where the Nymph bedrooms were located.

Ellia stopped in the middle of the hall and faced the door on her right. This door was different from the others; far more extravagant with the outline of a tree carved into it. Ellia opened the door and finally turned around to face him. “Come in.”

It was an order, not a suggestion.

Nikodemus couldn’t help a frown. He obeyed wordlessly.

Nikodemus’ eyes widened.

Ellia’s room was furnished with the body parts of dangerous, desert monsters. Worms, aqrabuamelus, and even the malformed limbs of mutants hung on her walls. A meticulously embroidered, blue mosaic rug lay under Ellia’s bed, nearly stretching to the corners of the room. Violet blue tapestries featuring boldly colored, golden nymphs hung on each wall.

Ellia sat on her bed, knees apart, and hands clasped between them.

Nikodemus whistled his amazement at her room. “You’re good at killing things. Even better than most of the tribe leaders I’ve met.”

Ellia, who had been looking down at her feet, now met Nikodemus’ eyes with a scowl. “Have to be if you want to survive in this environment.”

Ellia began slowly removing her polymer armor, starting with her shoulder pads. “No time to waste. Off with those clothes.”

Nikodemus sighed heavily.

His eyelids felt puffy from lack of sleep as he closed them in pain.

At first, sleeping with so many women was fun, but it had long since lost its luster. It was boring and made him feel sick.

He clasped his hands behind his back, forcing a smile and trying to maintain a positive attitude. “Tell me something about yourself.”

Ellia paused in the midst of removing her other shoulder pad. She raised an eyebrow with a small smile. “Tell me about yourself? Seriously?” She repeated.

Nikodemus nodded eagerly. “Please. It can be anything. I just want to know you a bit before I have a child with you.”

Ellia crossed her legs and arms, her smile melting into a solemn frown. “Why would I do that? You’re not exactly in a position to make requests.”

Nikodemus cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’ll be more fun if…”

Ellia rolled her eyes. “Sex? Fun? Sex hasn’t been fun since I was in my twenties.”

“Just humor me. Truthfully, I would like to feel less like an object and more like a human again.” Nikodemus admitted.