Shape Shifting 201

by Viola Grace

  The pear tree was moving, but there was no wind. It was a good sign.

  “I am going to drop another strip. You might want to guard your eyes.”

  She let one tiny piece flutter to the root of the pear tree. The flash of light nearly blinded her. “Found it.”

  Argus watched her cap the vial. “Where did you get those?”

  “I made them for this purpose. I can dig here.” She dropped to her knees and took out her bags, knife, and spoon. Mr. E kept his balance neatly.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I don’t want to disrupt the appearance of the gardens, so I thought I would slice up the sod and peel it back before I dig out the soil.”

  “May I speed up the process?”

  “As long as you keep the garden neat.”

  He extended his hand, shifted it to display large claws, and he sliced the grass in a one-foot cube that he carefully pried upward and set aside.

  “There you go. Get spooning.”

  “Thanks for that.” She took her spoon and the bags and collected a few pounds of soil. When she was done and the bags were sealed, she replaced the sod cut and tapped it down. It sank a bit but was otherwise fine.

  As Imara stared, the soil filled up again and the turf fused into a pristine condition. “That was weird.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, it was. Shall we go?”

  She nodded, and they followed the path they had taken through the gardens. When they stepped through the gate, it slammed shut behind them.

  Imara jumped, and Argus turned slowly. “I am guessing our time was up.”

  She nodded. “That seems like a safe assumption. Well, thank you for the meal and the ride back.”

  He gave her a look. “I am escorting you back to your hall.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Thank you. That is very thoughtful.”

  They walked back to his car, and she carefully kept the bags of soil on her lap.

  “So, why do you need magical soil?”

  “Herbology class. To make potions, you need herbs, and magical herbs make the potions more effective. Magical soil helps make magical herbs, and that increases the effect of the potions.”

  “Sensible. What exactly do those strips that you used do?”

  “They detect magic. The stronger the magic, the more violent the reaction apparently.” She got the vial out and used the tweezers to remove the strip. She put it on the dashboard, and nothing happened.

  “Nothing is happening.”

  “Well, unless you enchanted this car, nothing would happen. However, if I touch it or you touch it, it would flare.”

  She carefully closed the container and attached the tweezer to the band.

  The little piece of paper sat on the dashboard as he drove her back to Reegar Hall.

  When they were parked again, she reached out and touched the strip with the tip of her finger.

  “Damn! I should not have been watching that.” She covered her eyes with her free hand. Sparks and shadowed rainbows were in her vision for several seconds.

  “Have you tested your familiar?” Argus’s voice was amused.

  “No. I don’t want to go blind.” She muttered it, and Mr. E silently snickered.

  She blinked and her vision stabilized. “Whew. That is better.”

  “Didn’t you test it on yourself?”

  “Nope. I know I am magical. I know you are magical. I sure as hell know that Mr. E isn’t natural. That left your car.”

  He left the car and walked around to open her door for her. The first time it was weird; now, she just let him do it.

  She gathered her bags, checked Mr. E, and swung her legs out of the vehicle before she realized she was still buckled. A bit of muttering and some fumbling later, she hopped to the ground and glanced at his grinning countenance. “You didn’t see anything.”

  “Madam, I am an XIA agent, I am trained to see everything.” He bowed, and they walked from the guest parking, across the quad, and over to Reegar Hall.

  He was made of curiosity. “Where do you get the herbs that you plant?”

  “I have already picked them from fields and public gardens around the college. They are at the hall, waiting for a proper receptacle.”

  “The building is very cold from the outside. Are you happy there?”

  She chuckled. “I love it. There are only two of us there so far. I know that Reegar is being pressured to take more students on, so I am enjoying it while it lasts.”

  “Magus Reegar is a little strange. He doesn’t smell like anything.”

  She chuckled. “That is because he isn’t alive. He is a spectre.”

  “He was holding a book.”

  She blushed, “Yeah, remember when I told you that I turbocharged spectres? I can also make them solid with enough exposure.”

  “Can he wander freely?”

  “No, he is tethered to his building, or within fifty feet of it, just like any spectre.”

  “Ah. He seemed so alive.”

  “He is living consciousness. He has the same hopes, dreams, and desires that he did when he was alive. His soul has probably been recycled already.”

  “Recycled... you mean reincarnated?”

  “Same thing.” She hugged the bags of dirt to her chest.

  “So, there are two of him?”

  “No. The soul has a body. Reegar’s spectre is forever the same age with different experiences. He loves the same man he loved when alive and is lucky enough to have his lover be practically immortal.”

  “They have seen each other?”

  “A few times. It is so sweet. With the internet, it is a whole new take on their relationship.”

  They approached the hall, and he walked her right to the door.

  “Would you like to come in and discuss his afterlife with him?”

  He chuckled. “No. I will see you in class tomorrow. Congratulations on your first shift, my friend.”

  He leaned in and kissed her cheek, turned, and walked away.

  Her heart was pounding in her chest, and Mr. E was laughing uproariously in her mind.

  She got into the building, went to her room, and dumped Mr. E on the bed. He lifted his hind leg and groomed his toes, looking at her with direct eye contact.

  You are never going to make it three years.

  She only needed two scoops of the soil, and the herbs stretched, flourished, and glowed.

  “Damn. What am I going to do with the rest of this?”

  Store it. That kind of power isn’t something that you should waste.

  “Right.”

  She got a canister and slipped the two closed bags of soil into it, marking it carefully with the words, Enchanted dirt—do not touch.

  Why aren’t you out with Bara tonight?

  “I didn’t want to. I wanted to get the planting done, just in case the soil didn’t work.”

  You knew it would.

  “I wasn’t sure. I am never sure. Using luck to figure stuff out isn’t reliable. Sometimes it leads me down a path that will benefit me in the long term but sucks in the short term.”

  So, you were worried about failing your herbology course?

  “I am worried about turning myself into a large squid.”

  Ah. Well, you might need to see a therapist.

  She grinned and picked him up, snuggling her face into his fur. “Why get a therapist when I have you?”

  He squirmed before settling and purring. I despise being a slave to my baser urges. Scratch under my chin.

  She grinned and did as her familiar requested. With the lab tidied up, she headed up to her room for a well-earned rest. It had been a very full day.

  Her dream of playing bongos turned into the sound of someone pounding on her door.

  “Imara! Wake up!” A hand shook her shoulder.

  She jerked awake, and her lights were on with Reegar staring at her with a frantic expression. “What? What
’s wrong?”

  “Bara. Bara is the latest victim. She’s downstairs.”

  “Shit.” She got out of bed and jerked on her robe. Mr. E ran ahead of her as she stumbled down the steps.

  Bara was sitting in the common space, tears running down her cheeks. Ivar and Lio were trying to question her while Argus was speaking with someone on the phone.

  Imara stepped in, close enough to hear what Bara was saying but far enough to let the XIA agents do their jobs.

  “I drank a soda, and then the world got blurry. I woke up, and I felt hollow.” Bara wiped at her tears, her bandaged fingers moving with short jerks.

  Imara wanted to do something, so she did. She rushed to the lab and pulled the ingredients for the reversion charm together. It was all she could think to do.

  “Mr. E, can you grab one of Bara’s bandages, preferably one that has touched a burst blister?”

  I can burst it. Back in a minute.

  In a handful of heartbeats, she heard a shout of confusion and a shriek of surprise.

  Mr. E had done an excellent job. He brought three bandages in, and two of them were stained with white cells and blood.

  She pressed the stained gauze into the paste she had prepared, and she poured magic into it, using as many time-bending chants as she could.

  The mess in the bowl hardened into a scarlet jewel. She got some tongs and picked up the charm. “Stand back.”

  Mr. E stayed out of her way as she walked to the common room. Lio must have read her expression because he pulled Ivar away from Bara.

  “Hold out your hands.”

  Bara sniffled and extended her hands, catching the charm in her palms.

  “Repeat after me. Chrono-Key-Amber.”

  “Chrono-Key-Amber.” Bara leaned forward, and the charm started to glow. “What is it doing?”

  “It is resetting you by two hours. Your body will be like it was two hours ago. I don’t know how long it will last, but you can repeat the call on the charm when it wears off, just don’t drop the charm.” Imara knelt in front of her, exhausted.

  “How did you...” Bara trailed off and smiled, opening her hand and conjuring a ball of light.

  “Shape-shifting reversion charm. I used your broken blister to reset you. It was all I could think of.”

  Mr. E brushed up against her and purred; she could feel him trying to support her with his tiny body.

  Reegar was explaining what had taken place to the XIA agents, but Imara didn’t care. She passed out where she was.

  Chapter Eleven

  Three worried faces were staring at her when she woke, and Mr. E was on her head.

  “Hey, agents, why the worried faces?” She sat up, and Mr. E transferred to her lap.

  Argus crouched next to her. “You fainted.”

  “I did not faint. I surrendered to exhaustion. There is a difference.”

  Bara was curled up in the chair, her chest moving evenly.

  Reegar brought her a cup of tea. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you, Magus.”

  “That was inspired spell work. Where did you find the time charm?”

  “Eberhart’s Enchantments. It was theoretical. I am glad it seems to work.”

  Reegar walked toward the library and came back a few minutes later with the book in his hands. “Show me.”

  She set the teacup and saucer down and flipped rapidly through the pages until she got to the one she was looking for.

  “Here it is.” Imara handed the book back to him.

  He took the book and frowned. “You should not have been able to do this.”

  “Why?”

  “It is an immortality spell.”

  She looked over at Bara and then to the XIA agents who looked a little surprised. “Um, sorry?”

  “Don’t be sorry, but this shouldn’t work.”

  “I guess I got lucky that it did.” She smiled tightly and finished the tea.

  “Yes, that would describe it. Bara is doing well. The charm you gave her is keeping her magic flowing, but we need to know who took it.”

  She looked to the XIA. “Can any of you track magic?”

  They shook their heads.

  I can.

  She looked at Mr. E. “Seriously?”

  Of course. Would you like me to track Bara?

  “Let me get dressed.” She stood, and Argus moved to block her.

  “Where do you think you are going?”

  “Mr. E says he can track Bara’s magic. He knows her well and knows me, so he won’t be thrown by my scent in the spell.”

  “He can lead us.”

  “No, he can’t. He is my familiar; he can only communicate with me.” She glared into his metallic eyes. “Out of my way, buddy.”

  He stepped aside.

  She ran back to her room, dropped her robe and pajamas and then pulled on her jeans and a t-shirt. Underwear wasn’t necessary, she was on a mission in the middle of the night.

  She yanked on her sneakers and headed downstairs. “Mr. E, lead the way.”

  Argus grabbed her arm. “You can come with, but let us go first.”

  “You can come with me. You won’t be able to find Mr. E if he hits the shadows.”

  He paused, Lio nodded. “Right. Stay with at least one of us.”

  Mr. E yowled and pawed at the door.

  “Agreed. Let’s go.” She nodded, and Ivar opened the door.

  They sprinted after the tiny shadow as he sniffed out the magic trail.

  Argus stayed next to her, and he muttered, “This is where she was found.”

  Mr. E circled the area several times and then yowled again. I have it!

  The small bundle of fluff streaked off away from the shadowed space between buildings and ran into the open door of the house where the party had just been held.

  Students were holed up in every corner of the rooms. Couples were making out, and some exhausted and disappointed singles were cleaning up with unsteady motions.

  Mr. E was feeding her his senses, and he tuned out the smells of sweat, sex, and vomit. He was on the trail of magic.

  They worked their way into the centre of the building where the ancient structure hosted a ballroom. The small bundle of fluff made a beeline toward the bar, and he crouched on the ground, growling with his tail lashing.

  Lio and Ivar halted and waited for her to tell them what was going on.

  She made eye contact with the woman behind the bar that was loaded with non-alcoholic drinks.

  “It’s her. She has Bara’s magic.”

  As she spoke, the woman decided to act. She jumped over the bar and ran.

  The agents were after the fleeing in a moment, and Imara collected Mr. E. “You did well, little buddy.”

  Thank you. She should not have messed with Bara. If the agents weren’t here, I would have dealt with her.

  “I am glad you didn’t have to. Let’s get back home.” She cuddled him and made her way back through the detritus of the party and into the night air.

  The path to Reegar Hall was longer than it had seemed on the way out. She walked past a few spectres and nodded to them politely. It was nice when they nodded back.

  Watch out! There is—

  She was hit hard in the side and knocked to the ground, sending Mr. E flying. The grass was crushed as she skidded to a halt and the scent of soil was in her nose.

  She turned, and the bartender was standing above her, her chest heaving and fists clenched. “It was perfect, bitch. Everyone was looking at the men.”

  Imara tried to get to her feet, but the woman kicked her in the chest.

  “The drink would have made this easier, but you have enough to keep me strong enough to start over.”

  Imara saw tendrils of darkness coming toward her and inhaled sharply just as a low growl came from her left.

  Acid green light flared, and a roar distracted Imara’s attacker. Imara rolled rapidly to
the side and got to her feet in time to see a giant panther tackle the woman and crush her throat in his jaws. The cat held her and shook her hard. The snap of her neck was horribly audible.

  The cat let her go and turned to Imara, pacing toward her, his red eyes blazing and the green flames snapping around his silky black body. She leaned back, and he kept advancing, shifting into his kitten form and rubbing against her leg.

  She whispered, “I didn’t know you could do that.”

  I didn’t either. None of my other forms had this option, but she was going to kill you, and my body transformed.

  “I suppose that is a good thing.”

  You are alive. It is a very good thing.

  The XIA agents appeared at the far end of the green space, running toward them intently.

  She held tightly to Mr. E and watched Argus and the others as they slowed and walked carefully toward the body.

  Argus asked, “What happened?”

  “She knocked me down, kicked me and was going to do whatever she did to Bara, only without the sedation.”

  “What happened?”

  She buried her fingers in Mr. E’s fur. “My familiar stopped her.”

  Lio looked surprised. “Your kitten?”

  “He’s not a kitten. He’s an energy projection with the soul of an ancient magus. He’s registered if that is what you are worried about.” She bit her lip.

  Ivar was kneeling next to the body. “She’s very dead. Her throat is crushed.”

  Argus frowned. “Go to the hall. We will be there when we have taken care of the body.”

  Lio nodded. “I will call it in.”

  She bobbed her head and walked briskly across the grass and toward Reegar Hall.

  Magus Reegar met her at the door and ushered her inside. He settled her on the couch in the common room, covered her shoulders in a blanket and got her another cup of tea.

  You can let me go now.

  She sighed and relaxed her grip. I just wanted to hold you for a bit. I don’t think I have ever been that scared.

  In that case, scratch my belly.

  Imara sighed in relief and scratched his tummy. He curled in her arms, and she kept petting him while the vision of him killing her attacker rang in her mind.

  “Bara’s normal magic returned ten minutes ago. I took the charm from her and put it in the lab. She’s gone to bed.”