The Hotel Drake
Story written by: Wolfy
Circe's Funhouse
Managed by Myron J. Comus, Esq., Ph.D., TF
Under Mystic License, Mystic Inspiration and Magical Permission of
The Enchantress Circe
Donald Marsh was going on a much-needed vacation. The day started sunny
and bright, and Donald could not help but admire the beautiful scenery
as he drove down the highway.
As he drove, however, clouds began to roll in. Soon it was raining, lightly
at first, but becoming heavier as the day went on.
'It would figure.' He thought, as the rain poured down. It was becoming
harder to see the road. Donald knew that he wouldn't be able to drive
much longer, but sleeping in the car overnight wasn't an attractive idea.
Suddenly, a light appeared in the distance.
Focusing his concentration on the road, Donald managed drive until he
came up to a neon sign reading "Hotel Drake". Pulling closer
to the building, Donald saw that there was a sheltered parking garage
next to the motel. He pulled in and took the luggage out of his car.
Donald went into the motel. The interior was brightly illuminated, and
oddly decorated. It seemed that the name "Hotel Drake" was more
than appropriate - the wallpaper had duck designs, the furniture was shaped
like ducks, all the pictures involved wetland scenes - even the light
fixtures had duck motifs.
Pulling his rolling suitcase up to the desk, Donald was greeted by a beautiful
woman in a feathery outfit. She smiled at him warmly, and Donald felt
himself blush.
"Welcome to the Hotel Drake" she said pleasantly "I am
Circe, owner and runner of this establishment. You would like a room for
the night."
"Yes. I can't drive anymore in the foul weather outside."
Circe laughed merrily "But of course." She started reaching
for the key to room 301, then hesitated and gave him the key to room 101.
"Very few people come this way," she explained at his look "so
the hotel is currently empty." Donald nodded and followed her to
the elevator.
"You certainly have interesting decorations." Donald commented
as Circe pushed the duck-shaped elevator button.
"I love animals, and I love dedicating different parts of my various
establishments to them." The elevator stopped - emitting a "quack"
instead of the usual "ding". They entered, Donald feeling a
little embarrassed at being so close to his beautiful hostess.
When the door opened and Donald saw that his room was straight across
from the elevator. Circe opened the door for him, and gave him the key
to the room. "I do hope that you enjoy your stay."
The interior of the room was no different than the rest of the hotel.
As Donald unpacked his suitcase, he began to have the unnerving feeling
that he was being watched. Looking around he saw that all the duck pictures
were staring out at him.
Donald laughed at himself, 'My imagination is working overtime.' He thought.
'What I need to relax is a nice warm bath.'
Donald entered the bathroom. Like the rest of the hotel, this room had
multiple duck themes. The toilet seat was shaped like a duck's bill and
had a large duck picture above it, as did the tub. Donald found himself
strangely drawn to the picture - the duck in it seemed to have a knowing
smile on its face.
Shaking his head, Donald looked at the tub. It was a fairly large one
- almost as if it were meant to fit any size person. It was shaped like
a duck, the head of the duck faced into the tub, and Donald saw that its
eyes were actually knobs to turn the water on. That there was a very realistic
rubber ducky in the tub that Donald found too cute to remove.
After he started pouring warm water in the tub, Donald noticed that there
was also duck-related bath oil on a shelf directly above it - Lucky Duck
Special Bath Oil.
Taking the oil off the shelf and uncapping it, he found that it had a
relaxing, fruity scent mixed with something more exotic - a spice he couldn't
name. Forgetting to recap it, He placed it back on the shelf, not noticing
that the bottle was slowly spinning around and about to tip over.
As the water finished pouring in, Donald considered trying the bath oil,
then decided against it. 'After all,' he thought, 'who knows what it'll
do to my skin.'
Lowering himself into the warm water, Donald found it easy to relax.
The rubber ducky was in the water with him, and Donald found it oddly
soothing to watch it float. Donald closed his eyes briefly.
Donald thought he heard a small 'plop' like a plastic container falling.
Soon after, a familiar fragrant smell filled the air. Donald realized
that the oil must have tipped over. 'I'll clean it up after I'm out of
the tub.' He thought, not noticing that the vial was pouring its contents
into the bath water.
As the lotion spread soundlessly into the water, Donald felt a pleasant
warmness, relaxing all the muscles in his body. He ignored the tingle
as the hair over his body grew thicker, changing slowly from brown hair
to yellow down. Soon even his head was covered in the thick yellow down.
Though he could feel it growing, he dismissed it as five-o-clock shadow.
As the down continued to thicken, his feet grew wider and gained a yellowish
color. His toes began to spread apart and grow longer; the two outer toes
began to merge, becoming both longer and thinner. Donald felt only a very
pleasant warmth as the merging took place. He completely ignored the sensation
of stretching skin as the webbing between them grew larger and fuller,
covering all the space between his new duck toes.
White feathers began to emerge from the down, rapidly thickening across
him. He could feel fingers slowly became longer and more feathery, but
dismissed this sensation to the relaxing qualities of the water. His suspicions
were finally aroused, however, when the little rubber duck floated under
the stream of the lotion, giving the unmistakable sound of a liquid hitting
rubber.
Donald opened his eyes and saw the liquid falling into the tub. He saw
his new duck-like feet and felt as his mouth began to extend and harden
as it started turning into a bill.
"What th'
" he started as he stared at the feathers covering
his body "QUACK?!" he finished aloud as what was happening to
him became apparent for the first time. He raised his now feathered hands
in disbelief.
"My - my fingers - th-they're TURNING INTO FEATHERS!!!!" He
felt his neck begin to grow, as a strange pricking sensation came from
the base of his spine "I'm turning into a duck!" he realized
in horror. "I've got to get out of this tub!"
He found, however that the once large tub was now suddenly too small.
Doing his best to get out of the shrunken tub, Donald couldn't avoid getting
under the flow of the lotion. As it hit his feathered back, he felt an
almost overwhelming sensation of pleasure. At the same time he could feel
the transformation speed up. He could feel his arms rapidly changing into
wings, and turned to see his tail blossom out of his white-feathered bottom.
He felt his neck extend outward, and looking into a full-length mirror
opposite the tub he saw, as well as felt, as his mouth finished turning
into a bill as the white feathers covered what remained of his human hair.
Finally, with a "drip-drip-drip", Donald realized that the
lotion had run out. The tub suddenly released him and returned to its
former size. He waddled over to the mirror and looked at his new duck
body.
"Waddle I do now?" he wondered aloud. He shook his head and
turned towards the bedroom. Waddling in, he saw that it was now morning.
'I spent the entire evening in the tub?!' he thought in disbelief. He
also noticed a sheet of paper laying near the door way. It was the bill
- complete with a picture of a duck's bill on the cover. Donald realized
that Circe must have dropped it off.
Donald waddled up to the front desk. Circe was there, smiling broadly,
apparently undisturbed to see a duck coming up to the desk.
"Good morning Mr. Marsh." She said "I see your stay was
a transforming experience." She walked around the counter and rubbed
the feathers on his belly. Donald was in ecstasy. "You are much more
handsome now." She said.
Donald suddenly agreed. What was not to like about his handsome new feathers?
Not to mention his powerful wing.
"There is," she said in mock seriousness "the matter of
payment."
Donald looked her square in the eye "Just put it on my bill."
He said.
Circe laughed merrily, as Donald waddled his way out the front door.
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