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Iona: Coeds By Julie O Edited By Robert Arnold This story features characters from Turbulence, Fresh Start; Change of Course; The Protector series; Ambition and Purpose, Revenge of the Goddesses: Athena's Assassin; and Corruption. Jennifer Stevens appears courtesy of Bob Arnold (There's a list of characters at the end of the story) Chapter 1 It felt good to be back in San Diego after spending the past three weeks jetting around the country. While I have always loved travelling, this trip hadn't been a vacation as I had been meeting a group a very interesting young women; who like me had undergone a gender change. While we had all undergone a variety of transformations, ranging from medical to magical, we all shared a common trait; a feeling that our change was tied to some greater purpose. Aunt Kayla was waiting for me at the luggage carousel. It was so good to see her and as we hugged. Even though I had been living with her for several years I still couldn't bring myself to call her anything else but Aunt Kayla, even though she had told me it was perfectly acceptable to just call her by her first name. I guess part of the reason I couldn't do this was out of respect, and because she had helped me adjust to my new life. I mean, it was difficult enough to adjust to becoming a woman, but toss in the fact that I had magical powers and well, you can see how comforting it was to have a mentor like Aunt Kayla. "Thanks for being here," I said as we waited for my bags to appear. "It was my pleasure, Iona," she replied. Even though I was now both engaged and a part-time college student, I still lived with Aunt Kayla at her home in the Sunset Cliffs neighborhood of San Diego. My fianc? Bill Somers was currently out of town for a six month exchange course with the Boston DA's office. "Did you get a chance to see Bill?" asked Aunt Kayla. I nodded. "We got to spend a weekend together, we had a wonderful time. He's also learning a lot from Fiona. They seem to be getting along famously." Bill was an assistant DA in San Diego, and part of his normal duties was to work cases that involved human-magical interaction. Pure magical crimes were handled by a separate judicial system, but those cases that crossed boundaries required special attention. Bill was currently working with my mother, Fiona Beddau to better understand the complexities of these sorts of cases. Fiona and I had a complicated relationship to put it mildly as I really wasn't her daughter. The original Iona had swapped bodies with me and then had been killed in my male body in a car accident. I knew that Fiona loved me, but she never quite accepted me as her daughter. In many ways, Aunt Kayla was my mother now. "I'm glad to hear that, my sister can be a bit impatient at times," said Aunt Kayla. "With a human?" I whispered Aunt Kayla shook her head. "No, with everyone, especially when it comes to her work." I laughed. "Well, Bill is a fast learner and he really enjoys the law." My bags arrived and we headed home. Chapter 2 When we got to the house, I was mobbed by the cats Salem, Tully, and even Bran. Salem gave me the most enthusiastic greeting, but that is to be expected as she is my familiar. I had a lot to talk about with Aunt Kayla so I didn't bother unpacking my bags. I just grabbed my notebook and headed out to the garden. I was immediately greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed tea. "Hmm, what's that? It smells wonderful," I stated as I sat down. Salem, jumped up into my lap and quickly settled in. "It's called Vanilla Monsoon and I picked it up at Extraordinary Desserts last week," replied Kayla as she referred to a wonderfully decadent dessert caf? located near Balboa Park. "It's a blend of Ceylon tea and vanilla bean." I took a sip of the tea and nodded. "It tastes as good as it smells." She nodded. I took one more sip before setting my mug down so I could open up my notebook. Thankfully the other cats were content to lie around my feet. I doubt there was room for three cats and me in the chair. "It was a very interesting trip," I remarked as I flipped through the pages. "Please tell me all about it," she replied. "Well, you know that Beth and I go way back...back to when we were both men," I replied. "She's still working part-time as an agent as she works her way through Penn." Beth Williams was originally Ben Carlson and we had served together in the Navy. Beth also knew Bill and it was a source of constant amusement for her to know that he was now my future husband. I didn't mind as Beth had agreed to be my maid of honor and I planned to pick out a practically hideous dress for her to wear to get back at her...just kidding. "When we finalize this, I can put her in contact with a few others at the Agency who are like us," said Aunt Kayla. That wasn't a surprise as many of us with magical powers worked side-by-side with regular people. "I've also told you about Celeste Farnsworth," I continued. "Her foundation for TG teens continues to grow and she's looking into expanding to another facility." Aunt Kayla nodded. "She's quite a remarkable woman. It's nice to see someone blessed with wealth that is willing to do some good with it." I flipped to the next page of my notebook. "Jennifer Stevens is extraordinary...the press reports about her don't even start to give her proper justice. Her media ties will be very useful," I stated. "Because she is so well known, she recommends that she stay in the background so that the others don't get an unwanted spotlight." "I agree," said Aunt Kayla. "I really like her," I continued. "She's so much more intelligent than she's given credit for...she also has a great sense of humor." "To survive everything she has had to she would need one," added Aunt Kayla. I looked at my notes. "Dr. Hallie Pappadimos is equally brilliant...and I also like her partner Kim. They have the cutest daughter too." "I've read some of her work on the discoveries in Crete," said Aunt Kayla. "Well, that doesn't even scratch the surface," I replied. I then gave her a summery of Hallie's life and her discoveries, including the evidence of Minoan artifacts in New Mexico. "I'm not surprised as we've long known that Minoans had interaction with the early Celts and Druid cultures. We suspected for several decades that they spread out to the new world. When this current crisis is resolved I would like to have one of our historians talk with her." "I'm sure she would be interested," I replied. I looked down at my notebook again. "Tessa Phoenix Barnard is the most mysterious of the group and definitely the most dangerous." I told her about the ex-Navy Seal who had been murdered and resurrected by the Goddess Athena. "Please don't get me wrong, she's a very nice person...but she reminds me a lot of a large jungle cat. I pity those who get on her bad side," I explained. "From what you told me she sounds like she's in control of her fury. With the type of people there are in the world today, Tessa sounds like the type of person you might need on your side," said Aunt Kayla. "I'm not promoting violence, but as you well know there are some very bad people out there.' I nodded. "Oh, I like her a lot. She's married to a reporter and she also has a daughter. They live in Boston and were very nice to me." "Still, you seem troubled," said Aunt Kayla. "It's not really about her. She told me how close she came to losing it and how she found love with her husband...and a drive to live. It's just that I sometimes have a hard time accepting all the things that I've been exposed to. I mean, knowing that Athena is real is so incredible." Aunt Kayla nodded. "I sometimes forget that you weren't born into this life." "Is Athena really a goddess?" "Who is to say? I mean, she may have started like us and just reached a higher plane of existence. Our kind was once human and over time we branched out and changed. The thing to remember is that we have a common past." I sighed and drank the last of my tea. I got up and refilled my mug from the teapot. "That makes as much sense as anything," I said as I looked into my notebook again. "The last person I made contact with is Jirra Reid," I said. I then told Aunt Kayla about her. "In some ways, I feel a closer bond to her than most of the others. Maybe it's the fact that she's still adjusting to her new life and the fact that she's worried about someone discovering the truth about her." Aunt Kayla nodded. "On the positive side she has a very protective group of friends," I said. "That can make a huge difference." I hesitated for a moment before saying what was on my mind. "I was wondering, would be it possible to give her a complete transformation...I mean concerning her identity?" Aunt Kayla shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. It can be dangerous to mix different types of magic; we know so little about the process that transformed her in the first place. She was transformed by a combination of ancient spells and raw nature, both of which are very powerful forces. An identity spell might have an adverse affect on her and those around her. I can have Amelia look into it, but I'm not optimistic about it. Did you talk to her about the possibility of such a spell?" Amelia was a close friend, distant relative, and also our family doctor. Like us, she had powers and was one of the top experts in the world on identity spells. "No, but from what Beth and the others told me about Jirra, I thought it might be worth a try. They know the stress she's under and they're worried about her," I said. "Don't worry, I wouldn't try it myself." An identity spell was a very complicated enchantment and well beyond my current skills. I had seen the damage done by improper use of magic and there was no way that I would ever try the spell on my own. While I had made great strides in the control of my own powers, they were still developing. I was very good at casting protection spells, which in the past had saved my butt several times. I had also developed some powers that could be used offensively. I didn't like the idea of constantly being on the defensive. I had also discovered that I was capable of limited ESP, although it, like the rest of my magic skills, was still a work in progress. I still had trouble focusing on the targeted person and my range needed improvement. I also had trouble filtering out other people. "I know that my dear," said Aunt Kayla. "So, do you think that they will help us?" "I'm positive they will help us," I replied. "I'll run it past Fiona and see if she can obtain permission," said Kayla. "I don't see any other option," I replied. "I mean, their investigators have been one step behind, if we're going to catch who is doing this we need to detect them before it happens again." Aunt Kayla nodded. Chapter 3 Twenty minutes later I was talking to Fiona after Aunt Kayla laid the groundwork. Fiona listened to my arguments without comment. It took me almost an hour to explain my position. "I have to admit that I'm impressed. You've obviously spent some time working on this idea," she replied. "There's a lot of time to think while waiting at airports, I used to do it a lot in my previous life," I replied. "That's true," she replied. "So does that mean you approve of it?" I could almost picture the look on her face as she contemplated her response. "I don't mind you using your friends to be on the lookout for ...our suspect or suspects...but I'm not sure I like the idea of you being the one who actually tries to apprehend them," she replied. "This isn't my first time," I replied. "I know...that's what bothers me," she replied. "What do you mean? I've done pretty well in the few cases I've been involved with," I said. "Yes, you helped break several cases, but you've also put yourself in great danger." I couldn't argue with her reply. "I've improved a lot since then." There was another hesitation. "It's not that, Iona, it's just that I would prefer that you focus on your studies. You have a sharp mind and I have no doubt you will be an excellent lawyer." It was now my turn to be silent as I tried to think of the right words. "What are you afraid of?" I asked. "I don't want to see you get hurt. While we may not have the perfect mother-daughter relationship...you still mean the world to me," she said. "Thank you...I appreciate hearing that from you," I replied. "However, there's something else...I can sense it in your voice." "Very observant, Iona. I'm worried about the path your life is taking you. You like the thrill of the hunt...the satisfaction of the capture," she continued. "Um, is it that obvious?" I replied. I heard her sigh clearly over the telephone. "I suppose it is pointless to stand in your way. Would you like to become a fulltime investigator?" she asked. "You mean for handling magic violations?" I asked. "Not exactly. We have plenty of agents who handle pure magically cases...no we've been looking at expanding our department that handles cases that involve humans and the misuse of magic," she replied. "Your rather unique background gives you insight that would be very useful in these sorts of cases." "So my theory about this case is right?" I asked. To be honest I really didn't want to be a lawyer. There was something very satisfying about going after the bad guys. "Yes, we're convinced that whoever has been misusing these spells is human. That's why we've had so much trouble in finding them," she said. "And you don't think that this is a good career for me?" "No, it's the exact opposite, I think you'd be wonderful at the job...it's just that I don't think you're ready." "Why not? My skills have been improving, you can ask Aunt Kayla," I replied. "I have no doubt that you can handle a human," she said flatly. "Then what are you worried about? It's not another succubus is it?" There was another stretch of silence. "Mom...what are you holding back?" I asked. I heard another sigh. "Not everyone with powers abides by our laws and policy of coexistence with humans. There's a small group of militants who believe that any human who misuses magic should be immediately and severely punished," she explained. "Our agents have had more than a few run-ins with them." "And you think they're also hunting the suspects?" "We know that they are...we have contacts in their group. The only good thing is that they haven't been any more successful than we have been," she replied. "So it sounds like I'm the perfect person for this case," I said. "Dear, these militants will let nothing stand in their way. They won't hesitate even for a second to hurt you," she said. "Oh," I replied. "There is one way this could work...it would be very dangerous," she said. "Sounds like you've been doing a lot of thinking too," I said. I almost thought I heard her laugh slightly. "If you do this...you will be on your own. If we make you an official investigator it might tip them off. I think the best chance for your success is for you to have minimal assistance from us." "Does that mean that your organization has been compromised?" I asked. "I have no proof, but I think so," she replied. "I can help you...as no one would see our conversations as being out of the ordinary." "I'll do it," I replied. "You don't want to think about it?" she asked. "I think you know the answer. Fiona...Mom....ever since I became Iona I've been looking for some meaning in my life. I mean, I love my life, but there's been something missing...until now." "Okay, it's obvious that this is your destiny," she said. "So, how do I report to you? Do I just call you up?" "Yes, I will provide you with a special cell phone that will ensure that our conversations stay secure," she replied. "A magical phone?" I asked. She laughed. "What? No, it's just a secure cell phone. Not everything is magical!" Chapter 4 I got the phone a few days later, just before I caught a flight to Columbus, Ohio to meet with the others. Holding the meeting in the capital of Ohio made a lot of sense. Hallie taught at Ohio State and Jirra's girl friend also had ties to the state. As for the others, they made up creditable excuses to be there. The other cool thing about being in Ohio was that I could meet with my sister from my previous life. While I no longer looked upon Columbus as my hometown, it was always great to visit. Everyone was able to come to the meeting in person with the exception of Jennifer Stevens; however she was able attend via the Internet. Hallie and her partner were gracious to host the event in their new house, which was located a few blocks away from the campus of Ohio State. To be honest I wasn't completely sure that they would all agree to help. I had only told them that I needed some assistance and I hadn't told them the true nature of my request. We gathered in Hallie and Kim's living room. If I wasn't so nervous about what I was about to tell them I would have taken the opportunity to study the collection of artifacts that the two archeologists had displayed in their home. I was also impressed with the artwork that covered their walls. I noticed several signed movie posters that had been produced or directed by Hallie's father Richard Thorn. Hallie hung up the phone. "Sorry, but I just wanted to check with Carla and Alex. They've agreed to watch Annie this weekend." I recognized the names of Carla and Alex Pappadimos from some archeology books that I had once read. Hallie had had also told me that they had been the ones who had actually raised her. Annie was Hallie and Kim's daughter. "No need to apologize," said Tessa. "I just called Richard to make sure that our little girl is okay." I noticed that Jirra's partner Alexis gave her a slight nudge. I suspected that it was due to all the talk about children. Hallie had told me that Jirra had urges to have a child. To be honest I was slightly shocked that Tessa was a mother. Even If I didn't know her past life as Navy SEAL, I would have suspected from her demeanor that she was a warrior. Yet, Hallie told me that Tessa was a wonderful mother who was totally devoted to her daughter. "Well it looks like everyone is here," said Beth as she took a seat next to Celeste Farnsworth. "Let's get the party started," said Jen Stevens through the speakers of the computer. I looked around the room and took in a deep breath. "I want to thank you all for coming here. I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't extremely important," I stated. I took a sip of my soda. "I need your help." "What do you need, Iona?" asked Beth. "As I told you, I have powers. I'm not alone, in fact that there many of us living along side you. Our abilities are something we are born with...or inherited in my case. We live by a set of rules and laws that govern the use of our gifts. We even have a legal system that enforces the proper use of our powers," I stated before taking another drink. "There are powers that one is born with and then there are spells. To put it in simple terms, one is born with powers, but anyone can learn a spell." "Does that include people like us?" asked Celeste. I nodded. "However, there's more to it than just saying some words or mixing up some compounds. It's a very exact and unforgiving science. In most cases, if a spell is botched nothing happens. However, there are those times when a spell is improperly cast it can do great harm." I looked around the room and they were all looking at me intently. "I'm looking for one...possibly two people...humans who have discovered a spell and they have used it for their own pleasure," I continued. "What does it do?" asked Tessa. "In the simplest terms it's a spell used to greatly enhance sexual pleasure," I replied. "It allows two people to share and feel each other's emotions." "That doesn't sound too bad," said Kim. "It isn't," I replied. "Unfortunately it also allows the person who casts the spell to mold their partner to serve their desires." "So, if the person wants something...how do I put this...wants something very kinky the other person will do it?" asked Tessa. I nodded. "That's not all. It also allows the person to physically change their partner." "What do you mean?" asked Hallie. "I'm not just talking about common fantasies like larger breasts or things like that...if the person casting the spell wants to make love to say...a mermaid... then the other person transforms to fit that form," I said. "They also stay in that form for the rest of their life." There was total silence in the room. "How is the spell cast?" asked Jen. "It's a liquid and it's odorless and tasteless," I replied. "The good thing is that it's very difficult to create. Also the ingredients are rather rare and expensive." "So how can we help?" asked Beth. "I need you to act as my eyes and ears. If you hear of anything strange let me know," I said. "I will also give you a list of the ingredients. If you hear anything related to this, call me immediately. Under no circumstances are you to intervene." "Okay, I'll ask, why not?" asked Tessa. I told them about the group that Fiona had told me about. "I can defend myself against them... you won't be able to," I stated. "I don't want to see any of you get hurt." "That makes sense," replied Tessa. "Who else can we tell about this?" I hesitated for a moment. "Anyone you trust with your life. I know from talking to you that you have all faced danger and have dealt with the supernatural. I know that some of your friends and family might be able to help. However, I need to emphasize that all I need is for you to gather information." "So you think that there are only one or two people doing this?" asked Tessa. "It's either a couple... or one person who is changing gender at will," I replied. "And how many people have been affected by this person or persons?" asked Beth. "Thirty-seven that we know of," I replied. "Do you have case files on these victims?" asked Beth. I nodded. "I'll brief you on some of them and I will also give you each a flash-drive with pertinent info on the cases. However, the drives have a protection spell on them. If any unauthorized person looks at the file they will see nothing related to the cases." Chapter 5 "We're really not sure how many victims there are," I said. "It's very possible the person or persons using it didn't initially realize the power of the spell." "So it would have been used as an aphrodisiac, and they might have used it on many people...until they discovered the real power of it," stated Kim. "That's right," I replied. "Judging by the number of known victims we know that whoever is using it knows what they are doing." "Can the spell change the appearance of the person who...cast it?" asked Jen. "Yes...that's why we're not sure if there are one or two people. The victims' memories are hazy, but they have all said that they were with only one person. The spell is designed to affect the memories of the victims and so the physical description of the person varies greatly...race, gender, size...you name it." "How do you know that it's not a whole gang of people?" asked Alexis. "Without getting too technical, the spell leaves a very distinctive signature," I replied. "And from analyzing this signature you can tell that there are only one or two people using it?" asked Tessa. I nodded. "It's either one person who is changing gender or a brother and sister." "I hope it's just one person," said Jirra. "Me too," I replied. Tessa was studying a page of the report that listed the last known ten victims. "It appears that they all belong to one of three main groups," she noted. "College students, expensive upper-class society, and show business." "Luckily we have all three groups covered here," said Beth. I nodded as I passed around some files on some of the more recent cases. "This is the one that first caught our attention," I stated. The victim was a male, although you would never know from the photo. Twenty-two-year-old Jimmy Kellor had been a second string linebacker for Nebraska. Now he could pass as Paris Hilton's twin. The reason I called Jimmy male was that he still had his male sex organs and still saw himself as male. "We were lucky to have someone working at the university," I said. "They whisked Jimmy away before anyone saw his new form." "How big was Jimmy before the transformation?" asked Tessa as she studied the photo. "He was listed in the press guide as six-six, and weighing two hundred and sixty pounds," I replied as I reviewed my notes. "Where is he now?" asked Celeste. "We have him in a safe house. Without knowing the exact formula for the original spell we can't change him back to his original physical appearance," I said. "So he's stuck like this?" asked Beth. "For now. There's an alternative but he doesn't want it," I replied. "You mean total transformation into a woman?" asked Hallie. I nodded. "His identity would also be changed...but he doesn't want that. He's holding out for the hope we catch the person who changed him." "Oh my god!" exclaimed Jirra as she looked at one of the other files. She held up a photo to show the others. It showed a beautiful female centaur with long blonde hair. "I know her!" exclaimed Alexis as she took the photo from Jirra. "It's quite possible," I replied. "She's an actress...nothing big, but she worked on a lot of TV shows. Her name is Lara Irons." Alexis nodded. "She had a part in my first show. Where is she now?" "We've moved her to a special ranch in Colorado," I replied. "We have several other of the half-human half animal-victims there." "Like what?" asked Hallie. "Two other female centaurs and one male centaur," I replied. "We also have a fox girl, a pig man and a snake girl with a human head and torso. She has six arms and from the waist down she has a thirty-foot long snake body. Then there are the two female and one male merpeople we're supporting at a facility in California. At least they're still their original genders." "And all of these were done by the same spell?" asked Kim. I nodded. "I know you just asked us to be on the lookout for strange things...but I want to do more than that," said Tessa. "Whoever is doing this needs to be caught. This is one sick bastard." "I agree with Tessa," added Beth. I shook my head. "I wish it was that simple." I reminded them about the others who were hunting the person who was committing these violations. "And they wouldn't like us getting involved?" asked Jirra. "They wouldn't see problem with killing any of you. They don't have a high regard for non-magical people interfering in what they see as a strictly magical problem." "No offense, but we're hardly normal humans," said Tessa with a sly smile on her face. "None taken, Tessa, but I doubt it would matter to them. Granted some of you have been touch by supernatural powers, but that might not be enough to keep you out of harm's way. For all I know they might not even approve of me...if they knew the truth about me that is. Very few people know what happened to the original Iona and they are all very close to me. In fact the main reason I'm on this case is because I'm not part of the authorities. Officially I'm not part of the investigation and that's why I need your help. The others may have compromised the magical authorities and I can only call on them to help once I've either identified or captured the person...or persons doing this." "I see," she replied. "I may be new to the magical world, but I have pretty strong defensive powers. I've also been acquiring some spells that will allow me to be more proactive," I replied. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Well, I have several very effective protective powers. One sends the spell back at the person who cast it," I said. Tessa nodded. "That would be very effective, still it would be nice to have someone covering your back...I learned that the hard way." "I agree with Tessa," said Beth. "You may be attacked from two sides." "I don't plan on being alone. I have someone in mind to cover my back," I replied. "Anyone I know?" asked Beth. I smiled back. "Not that I'm aware of...but anything is possible." "So what do you want us to do?" asked Hallie. "Call me if you hear of anything strange...no matter how bizarre," I replied. "I work in Hollywood, any way to narrow down the term bizarre?" asked Jen. I couldn't help smiling at her question. "Well for a start, anything related to exclusive parties would be a good start. Many of the victims recall something about being at a party." "I'll see what I can do," she replied. "What else?" asked Jirra. "Any strange disappearances," I continued. "If the person has undergone a transformation they will want to go into hiding." "So you'll need to catch the person who is doing this in one piece in order to change the victims back to normal," stated Beth. "That's the preferred method," I replied. "There's a very good chance that the spell's power will be broken upon the death of the person casting it." "So if the people you have in the safe house suddenly change back to normal that means the others got to the spell caster first," said Tessa. I nodded. "However, the others as you call them, could care less about the victims...they just want to preserve the so called purity of magic," I replied. Kim looked at me. "I know this sounds like a stupid question...but just how common is magic....does that make sense?" I nodded. "I wouldn't be able to ask it any clearer, Kim. To be honest we're not sure. Yes, we know many of the people who have powers and we also know about more mystical beings." "Like elves and werewolves and things like that?" asked Celeste. I nodded. "Just to name a few. According to my aunt all sorts of mystical and magical beings used to live side by side with ordinary humans. Over time they learned to blend in and hide their powers and differences. They even helped create the mythology and tales about themselves. Over the eons, mankind accepted the stories and forgot the truth. A few races stayed closer to the mystical roots...like the Minoans and the Anasazi." "That makes sense," said Hallie. "As I said earlier, some spells can be learned and over time some humans have done just that. There are also objects that have been changed so that can store and transmit certain spells. For example, all those stories about magical rings and medallions....they're all aren't fairy tales." "This is pretty cool," said Alexis. "Also pretty terrifying too." I laughed slightly. "Trust me, Alexis; I know exactly what you mean. I don't mind my eyes being opened to this world...but it does take some getting used to." "So what will happen to the person when you catch them?" asked Beth. "They will get a trial. This isn't a one time mistake. Whoever is doing this knows what they are doing," I replied. "Um, when you say a trail...you mean a real trial?" asked Celeste. I nodded again. "Yes and they'll even have a lawyer." "Magical lawyers....now that's scary," said Jen. The group broke out in laughter. "The best defense lawyers are vampires and werewolves," I said. They all looked at me to see if I was serious. "Just kidding," I replied. "I don't know...this might explain some of the corporate lawyers I've met in dealing with the studios," said Jen. "Actually weres and vampires have too strong of an ethical side to be lawyers," I replied. "At least that's what my mom told me." Chapter 6 Hallie and the others looked over the list of ingredients for the spell. "A lot of these things can be picked up at any health food store," said Kim. I nodded as I pointed to the list. "These are a bit rarer." "Dried jellyfish power?" asked Jirra as she read over my shoulder. I shrugged my shoulders. "I have no idea who makes it, but there are stores that sell it. In fact there's one not far from here." "Where is it?" asked Kim. "It's called the Ye Olde Magik Shoppe," I replied. "I know where it is; it's just north of Lane Avenue on High Street. I always thought the place was a joke," said Kim. I shook my head. "The woman who runs it is a family friend. Her name is Rowena and she can be trusted...she's helped out some people here on campus who have magical spells cast on them. If you want I'll give her your names." Kim nodded. "So she's probably been alerted to keep an eye out for someone buying these ingredients," said Hallie. "That's right, but there are other places...non-magical shops that might have the components too," I said. "For example?" asked Alexis. "How about any decent Asian market," said Tessa. I nodded. "That's true, but there's not as much quality control, remember there's no room for error in mixing the spell." "Do you have a list of possible stores...I mean magical ones?" asked Beth. I nodded. "I can send them to you for your areas. Now, if no one else minds, I would really like to get something to eat" Beth looked at her watch. "Wow, I lost all track of time," "Do you want to go out? We have a great Chinese place within walking distance," said Hallie. "Sure...ignore the woman in the computer," said Jen with a laugh. "I'll treat you to dinner the next time you're in San Diego," I said. "Deal!" she replied. "And I may have some resources to help those transformed partially into animals if they can't be changed back so let me know how that all works out. The entertainment world has its own kind of 'magic' and maybe some of it can be used to make their lives easier and give them a purpose." Chapter 7 We agreed not to talk about the case over dinner and it was nice to relax with people who knew my secret. I hated not being honest, but let's face it; most people aren't ready to know that magic really exists. We also agreed to order different meals and then share them which always makes going out for Chinese more fun. "So how long will you be in Columbus, Iona?" asked Kim. "I'm staying a few days with my sister, she has an art gallery in the Short North," I replied as I scooped some Kung Pao chicken onto my plate. "So you're originally from here?" asked Hallie. "In another lifetime," I replied with a grin. "And was your sense of humor as bad?" asked Jirra. I nodded. "Pretty much." "So your sister knows all about you?" asked Kim as she reached for the pot of tea. "She's the only one in my old family who does. It's nice to have a connection to my past," I replied. "I know how that feels," said Beth. I noted the sadness in her voice and remembered that she had told me her grandmother had terminal cancer. "How's she doing?" I asked. "She's at peace with it. I mean she's in her nineties and has done some incredible things in her life. The doctors are impressed with her status considering she has refused surgery." "Does she know everything about you, Beth?" asked Kim. Beth nodded. "Including what you do for a living?" asked Hallie. Beth smiled. "Oh yes, she's happy to see that I'm in the family business." "Why don't you tell us about her, Beth," suggested Tessa. "I don't want to bore you with old stories," said Beth. "Tell us the one about her escape from a POW camp in Germany," I suggested. The others agreed and Beth began to tell us the story. I could tell that it cheered her up a lot. Chapter 8 We met one last time the next morning. I had checked my email and realized that there were no new cases of abuse reported. After the meeting I headed to my sister Jenny's gallery. Ever since she had learned the truth of our family heritage her artwork had really taken off. The actual gallery section of her business was small. She used the back of the building as her workshop. The second floor was her home. I walked inside the gallery and the bell above the door announced my entrance. Jenny stepped out from the back and smiled at me. "Well, it's good to see you," she said. "It's good to see you too," I said as we hugged. "Any trouble finding the place?" she asked. I shook my head. "Well, let me show you around," she said. Currently she was doing a lot of sculpture and was starting to experiment with glass. "These are incredible," I said. "When did you start glass blowing?" "Last year. I finally got good enough to put some of the items out for sale. I can barely keep them on the shelf," she said. While Jenny didn't have powers like mine, she was very in tune with her artistic side. Aunt Kayla said that many artistic people had magical powers, although many were unaware of it. "How are your lessons coming along?" I asked as we sat down on a couch near the back of the gallery. "Not bad. Amelia says that I'm doing quite well considering I never knew I had powers until after you changed," she said. "I have learned one spell" "What is it?" I asked. "I can boil water just by touching the outside of the mug. It makes getting my morning tea a lot more simple," she replied with a smile. I laughed. "I use a variation of that spell when I'm taking a bath. When the water gets too cool I just warm it a little. It's not that different from the spell you're using," I said. "Oooh that sounds very useful. I'll have to ask Amelia to show me that one the next time she's in town," said Jenny. "So how did your meeting go?" I gave her the details without giving out names. "You definitely have some interesting friends," she said. "They're good people. I feel at ease around them," I replied. "So how're things going with Bill?" she asked. "We're getting along fine. We still haven't set a date yet for the wedding, but neither of us are in a rush." "Well, I definitely want to be there...just to see you in a wedding gown," she said. I laughed. "Oh, you'll be there...in the most hideous bridesmaid gown I can pick out." We both started laughing. "I never though we'd be having conversations like this," said Jenny. "That makes two of us," I replied. "I'm so happy to have you in my life." Jenny smiled back. "How's the family?" I asked. "Mom's still not over Dad's passing," she said. "But she is thinking of selling the house and moving into something smaller." "That would be nice," I said. "Um, does she still blame... Iona for Roger's death...I still have trouble referring to myself like this..." "Unfortunately she does," said Jenny. "I didn't tell her that you were coming to town...it wasn't worth the arguments." "I wish I could tell her...but I know that's impossible," I said sadly. Jenny nodded. "I doubt she would be pleased to hear that I have magical powers too." We talked a little more about the family before ordering lunch. There was a small caf? a block down the street and they delivered. "I haven't bothered hiring a staff so I eat most of my meals here," said Jenny as she handed me a menu. "Are you dating?" I asked. "Nosey little witch aren't you?" "I'm not a witch....I'm a sorceress," I replied as I stuck my tongue out at her. Jenny laughed. "I starting seeing someone a few months ago...nothing serious, but we have dinner a couple of times a week." "And that's it?" I asked. "Tell me more." Jenny sighed. "Her name is Robin." "Cool," I replied. "So you're not shocked that I'm dating a woman?" she asked. I just laughed. "Considering what I've gone through that's tame." "Point taken," replied Jenny. I nodded. "Do I get to meet her?" Jenny shook her head. "Not yet. I want to see how it goes before I share my deeper secrets with her." "That's fair. What does she do?" Robin was the owner of the caf? up the street. She was a few years older than Jenny and had been out since she had graduated high school. "So Mom doesn't know you're dating another woman?" Jenny rolled her eyes. "Say no more," I replied. "I plan on telling her if it gets more serious. Oh, she's met Robin, but she doesn't know that we're a couple." "Are you happy?" I asked. Jenny smiled. "Extremely." "That's all that matters," I replied. Chapter 9 It was later that afternoon that I got a call from Fiona. "We have a new one," she said. "How did you find out?" I asked. I had to admit that I was more than a little bit curious about how our people were finding the victims of these crimes. She signed slightly. "It's a bit complicated." I laughed. "Isn't it always?" I almost thought I heard her let out a slight laugh. "We have agents...who are exceptionally attuned to the scent of spells. They can usually pinpoint the location of the victim within ten to twenty hours after the spell has been cast," she said. "I know that some spells give off odors...but I wasn't aware that any of us could smell them over a long distance," I replied. "That's correct. Kayla has been doing an excellent job in teaching you," she replied. "Um, so when you say agents you aren't referring to people...like us, right?" I asked. "That's also correct," she replied. I had only met a few supernatural creatures, but I always was hoping to meet more, but I knew this wasn't the time or place. "Do the others have...agents like this too?" I asked. "They might," she replied. "Okay...so what do you want me to do?" I asked. "I'd like you to talk to the victim. She's in a safe house just outside Philadelphia," said Fiona. "She...has she always been a woman?" I asked. "No," replied Fiona. "I'm still working on the file. It will be waiting for you in Philadelphia." "Okay...so where do I go?" I asked. Fiona gave me an address for a house just outside of a town called Phoenixville. "Why is the name of that town familiar?" I asked. "They filmed part of the movie 'The Blob' there," replied Fiona. "They now have an annual event there every year called Blobfest." I snapped my fingers. "That's right. I didn't know you liked old horror movies." "I don't...I had a big time crush on Steve McQueen," she said. "Really?" I asked. "Is it that surprising?" she asked. There was a tone of slight disappoint in her voice as if I thought she was incapable of such emotions. "Well, to be honest it sort of is. I guess there's a lot I don't know about you," I replied. "Maybe when this is all over we can spend some time together." "I'd like that. I know that we haven't always gotten along. We may never have a real mother-daughter relationship...but I would like to be friends with you." "I'd like that too," I replied. "Bill is also very nice. I'm pleased that you have someone like him in your life," she added. "I'm glad you like him...I mean that," I said. I was being really truthful as deep down I wanted her approval of the man that I was due to marry. "Well, we can talk more later. I checked the flights out of Columbus and you can catch one tomorrow morning at 7." "I'll be on it," I said. "Be careful dear," she said. "Um, thanks Mom," I replied. I then laughed. "What's so funny?" she asked. "I just can't see you having a crush on a mortal like Steve McQueen," I said. "Who said he was mortal?" she said then she hung up before I could ask her if she was kidding or not. Chapter 10 I had dinner with Jenny that night and I talked to her about Fiona. "I hope that you two can have some sort of relationship together," said Jenny. "I know you have your friends and there's also Kayla, but you need family too." "I call her mom sometimes, but she doesn't really feel like my mom. Maybe it's because I still see our mom as mine. Does that make sense?" I asked. We were having dinner at one of our dad's favorite places. It was a German restaurant called Schmidt's Sausage Haus & Restaurant and it was located in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus. "It makes as much sense as anything you say," she replied with a wink. "I suppose that my feelings for Fiona may be in part due to lingering memories of the original Iona." "Iona, can I ask you a question...just how much of her do you remember?" asked Jenny. "If I press those memories hard enough I can remember everything...it feels strange...sort of like I'm trespassing," I replied. "She and Fiona weren't getting along much...even before she was abused by that bastard Keir. I try not to do it too often." "It must be very difficult," she replied. "It is," I replied. I looked around the restaurant and smiled. "This is the first time I've been here since...the accident. It looks exactly the same." "We had Dad's memorial service here," said Jenny. "That seems fitting," I replied. "I wish I could stay here a while longer." "Well, when you get done with this why don't you come back for a longer visit?" I nodded. "I'd like that." "Just promise me to be careful with this case," said Jenny. "I will," I replied. The waitress arrived with our dinner. Jenny had ordered the sauerbraten and I was having the Alpine Chicken Spatzel. "I was almost temped to get Dad's favorite," I said as at the chick breast and German spatzel noodles. Jenny laughed. "They should have named it after him as he had it every time we came here." "Somehow I doubt they would rename the meatloaf after him," I replied. "Oh, one more thing...try to keep your clothes on this time," she said as she took a bite of her beef. In some of my adventures as Iona I had ended up either partly or completely naked. "No promises," I replied with a grin. Chapter 11 I talked to Bill the next morning as I waited to board my flight. "I hope we can get together soon," I said. "That makes two of us, Iona," he replied. "I guess you really don't know how much someone means to you until you're separated." I sighed as his words really touched my emotions. When it came to romance and love I was completely a woman and I was so deeply in love with Bill. I was also happy that Bill now accepted me as a woman. "Maybe I can head up your way," I said hopefully. "I'd like that," he replied. I heard then making the initial boarding announcement for my flight. "I have to go. I love you Bill." "I love you too, Iona." I never get tired hearing him say that. Chapter 12 There was someone waiting for me when I arrived in the baggage claim area of Philadelphia International Airport. A young woman with short hair was holding a sign with my name of it. She was dressed in a rather cute looking all black chauffer's uniform. She was wearing a tight jacket, a black skirt and knee high black leather boots. On her head was a black leather chauffer's cap. While I didn't recognize the face of the young brunette woman I immediately knew who it was thanks to my ability to detect people I had previously met. In fact, the sensation was so strong that I picked it up as soon as I left the secure area and headed down the long hallway to the baggage area. I walked over to the woman and read her name tag that was on her jacket. "I'm Iona Beddau...Michaela," I said as I pointed to the sign. "Very good, Ms. Beddau, do you have any bags besides the one you're carrying?" she asked. "Yes, but I doubt you will be able to lift them...you're rather short," I replied. "Unless you plan on making yourself larger." Michaela smiled back. "Ahh so you know who I am..." I rolled my eyes. "I picked you up long before I set sights on you...and nice name, I would never have guessed it was an alias." Michaela smiled back. "I suppose the name is rather obvious. I also can't do a damn thing about your radar." "It's good to see you again," I said. Chapter 13 As we drove out of the parking lot, Michaela handed me a sealed envelope. "Your friends asked me to give this to you once we left the airport," said Michaela. I took the envelope and started to open it. "So do you always take chauffer jobs, Mick?" I asked. "Only for people I like," she replied. "By the way, you were right about trying life as a woman. I've been having a blast." Michaela, AKA Mick was a mystical being who called himself...or in this case herself a traveler. I had first met Mick when I had gone undercover as a high school girl and our paths had crossed a few times since. "I'm glad to hear that...I'm also pleased that you're here. I do okay by myself, but it's nice to have backup," I said. "I'm not sure how good of a backup I am...if I remember correctly you saved me the last time," she said. "That's true, but you distracted that creature long enough for me to break its spell," I replied, referring to the succubus that we had encountered. "Your mother told me about the case and the possibility of other magical folk being against us," she continued. "Hopefully we can catch the human who is misusing the spell first and avoid any trouble," I said as I began to read the file. "Avoiding trouble doesn't sound like your style, Iona," she said. I would have laughed at Mick's comment but I was too shocked by the contents of the file. "Whoever is doing this is getting more and more depraved," I said. "It happens," she replied. "The problem with pleasure spells is that they cause the user to seek out more intense experiences." I continued to read the file. "Mick...I mean Michaela...you're an expert on sensual pleasures right?" "I guess you could put it that way," she replied. "Do you think we're chasing one person or two?" "One," she replied without hesitation. "Why?" I asked without looking up. "From what Fiona told me this could only be the work of one person. Why use it on strangers if you have a partner?" she asked. I nodded. "And what gender do you think this person is?" "Both," she replied. "If Fiona is right about the number of times the spell has been used, this person sees themself as both male and female...depending on how the spirit moves them." I let out a sigh. "You have come to the same conclusion, right lass?" asked Michaela. I looked up at her and nodded. Chapter 14 The victim was, at one time, twenty-six-year-old Bob Mannix. According to the information he was a lawyer from a large Philadelphia firm. I looked at the photo of him and he looked as if he could also play football for the Eagles. His dimensions were listed at six-six, two hundred and twenty pounds. I stared at the photo taken of Bob and couldn't believe it was the same person as he...make that she now looked to be in her early teens. According to the medical staff she had undergone several age transformations, in addition to the gender change. Bob said that "she" had met a woman at a party on the Mainline and they had driven out to the man's apartment. It was there that the woman transformed into a large muscular man and Bob became female. Our agents found Bob wandering the streets just outside of Phoenixville almost a day later. According to the report, Bob had no idea how he had gotten there. Bob refused to talk any further to the investigators about what had been done to her. I picked up my phone and called Fiona. "What is it, dear?" she asked. "Um, Mom, if...Bob doesn't want to talk...what good am I doing here?" "Amelia did the initial physical exam and she explained that someone who had undergone similar experiences was available to handle the investigation, Bob agreed to talk to you...and you only." "Oh...okay," I replied. "One more thing, thanks for tracking down Mick for me." "You're welcome," she replied. Chapter 15 We pulled up to a rather nondescript house. It was on the end of a suburban street called Evergreen Drive. To be honest, it didn't look any different than the other homes. "Here's my cell phone number, call me when you're ready," said Michaela. "I doubt the victim will want anyone else there but you." "Okay," I replied as I slipped the card into my purse. I was nervous and trying not to show it. "Just be yourself, Iona and you'll do fine," she said. "Thanks," I replied as I walked up the sidewalk to the front door. Amelia met me at the door and we hugged. "I'm glad to see you," I said. "Are you the only one here...besides Bob?" She nodded. "There are others, but they aren't in the house. I nodded. "It's strange, but I didn't pick up on your presence." "We have a masking spell over the property," she replied. "We need to make sure the others don't know what's going on here." "Okay, so where is...Bob?" I asked. "Upstairs," she replied "And do I call him...or her Bob?" I asked. "Bob is fine and he doesn't accept that he's physically female...or ten," she added. "Ten? In the file he looked to be in his teens," I stated. Amelia nodded. "Whoever cast the spell did a very sloppy job and we've seen several age changes in last twenty-four hours. It looks like Bob has settled in to be an eleven-year-old girl physically and is slowly changing mentally. I would say that unless the spell is reversed in the next week that the effects will be permanent." "And does Bob know this?" I asked. Amelia nodded again. "I see no reason to lie to him." "Okay...so do we go up together or do I go up myself?" I asked. "I'll introduce you," she said. Chapter 16 Bob was sitting on a bed with his arms wrapped around his knees. He was dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants. He looked as if he had been crying a lot. "Bob, this is my friend Iona I was telling you about," said Amelia as we stepped into the room. Bob looked at me without saying a word. If I hadn't known the truth I would have never suspected that the petit strawberry blonde haired girl sitting on the bed had ever been a male. "Hi," I said. "May I sit down?" Bob shrugged his shoulders. At least it wasn't a no. "I'll be downstairs," said Amelia. I sat down on the edge of the bed. "I understand a little what you're going through," I said. "I was once a man too." Bob stared at me with disbelief. "No way," he said. His voice matched his body and he sounded like a young girl. I nodded. "My change was a little different, but the end result was the same." "I can't believe this has happened," said Bob. "I know what you mean...it took me time to accept my change," I replied. "They told me that unless they find the...person who did this to me...I will live out my life as a woman," said Bob. "That's true," I replied. "That woman... Amelia said that I will change and become a girl...in my mind too." "She's usually right," I said. "She helped me adjust to my change." "Do you think you can find who did this to me?" "I'm working on it," I replied. Bob smiled slightly. "I notice you didn't say yes." "I wouldn't lie to you just to make you feel better," I said. "Thanks," replied Bob. "What will happen to me if you fail? I mean, I know that I'll be a girl..." "You won't be on your own, there will be people who will take care of you," I replied. "So like a family?" "Yes, but just because they aren't related to you by blood doesn't mean that they wouldn't be important to you. I don't think that I could have gotten through this without the people who took me in and treated me like family." "So your real family doesn't know what happened to you?" asked Bob. I nodded. "My change occurred due to a body swap," I said. I then told Bob what happened to Roger. "Wow," replied Bob. "To make matters worse, my some of my original family hate me and blame me for my own death." Bob stared at me in silence for what seemed like minutes. "I had no idea that these sorts of things happened," said Bob. "Thanks for telling me your story." "You're welcome," I replied with a smile. To my relief Bob smiled back. "So I suppose you want to ask me what happened," said Bob. "If you're ready," I said. "Are you hungry?" Bob nodded. "Starving!" I laughed. "Let's go down and see what they have in the kitchen and then we can talk okay?" "I'd like that, Iona," said Bob. We started to go downstairs when Bob stopped and stared at me. "What's wrong?" I asked. Bob began to cry. "I'm so scared Iona!" I wrapped my arms around him. "Let it out, Bob, it's okay to cry." Chapter 17 Bob washed his face before we headed down to the kitchen. "Did you cry after your change?" he asked. "Many times," I replied honestly. "Did it make you feel better?" he asked. "In some ways it did," I replied. Bob dried off his face. "Okay, let's go." The kitchen was well stocked with food. "What do you feel like eating?" I asked as I looked in the cupboards. "How about pancakes?" asked Bob, who was sitting at the kitchen table. "Okay," I replied as I reached for a box of pancake mix. Chapter 18 "Thank you for the pancakes," said Bob. "You're a pretty good cook." "Thanks," I replied. "Um, did you know how to cook before you became a girl?" he asked. I nodded as I took a sip of my tea. "Cooking isn't just for women. What did you do?" Bob fidgeted in his seat. "I pretty much ate out all the time." "What about when you lived with your parents? Bob shook his head. "We had a cook. I grew up in a very rich family." "Well, it's not that hard," I replied. "I'm no chef, but I do okay." "I guess that makes sense," he replied. "Did you ever do the dishes?" I asked. Bob laughed. "We had a maid too." "Well, there's no maid here, so why don't you give me hand, okay?" To my surprise, he nodded and jumped out of his seat. "Sure...another first." After we finished cleaning up we moved to the living room and sat down on the couch. "I suppose you want me to tell you what happened," he said. "Only if you want to...but remember that I'm trying to help you," I replied. Bob's head dropped down. "I don't deserve any help...this is my punishment." "What to do you mean by that?" I asked softly. Bob looked up and wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes. "I was a real jerk as a guy...I did some bad things and I don't deserve to be helped." I moved slightly closer. "What have you done that was that bad?" Bob sniffed and wiped away another tear. I looked around the room and spotted a box of tissue. I reached over and grabbed it; I then hand Bob a tissue. Bob took it without a word and blew his nose. "Well?" I asked. "I took advantage of women," he replied. "In what sort of way?" I asked cautiously. Sensing my uneasiness, Bob shook his head. "I didn't rape anyone or anything like that...I just recorded what we did." "How?" I asked. "There are two cameras hidden in my condo; one is in the bedroom and the other is in the living room," he replied sheepishly. "So you recorded yourself having sex?" I asked. Bob nodded. "And did you tell your partners?" I asked. "No," he replied. "And did you show the tapes to anyone else?" Bob shook his head no. "I did it for myself. It doesn't really matter...I'm such a pervert." "I wouldn't put it like that...it's a bit twisted, but I've seen worse, much worse," I replied. "This is my punishment for doing it," he said sadly. I reached over and put my hand on his shoulder. "You made some stupid decisions but you didn't deserve to have your life taken away from you. Bob, did you record the night this happened to you?" Bob nodded. "Tell me about it," I asked. Chapter 19 "I think you should leave this to the authorities, Iona," said Amelia. "Bob trusted me with the info. I'll slip in and grab the cameras and tapes and come right back," I replied. "Whoever did this to him is long gone." Amelia stared back. "I'm not worried about that person." "I know that this is a risk, but it's worth it. I doubt they would try anything out in the open and I will have Michaela with me." "Okay, but if you're not back in a reasonable amount of time I'm calling Fiona," she said. I leaned over and hugged her. "Thanks for trusting me." Bob gave me directions to his place and told me where he kept a spare key hidden outside. I also had the location of the hidden cameras. We arrived back in Philadelphia ninety minutes later. I stepped out of the car and looked at Michaela. "I'll be out in a few minutes, keep an eye out for anything unusual." She nodded. The key was right where Bob had said it would be and I had no trouble getting into his home. The living room was ransacked and I suspected that it hadn't been done by Bob and his lover...or Fiona's officers. Thankfully the cameras were right where Bob had said they would be and both were in perfect condition. I checked to see if the tapes were still in them and I also confirmed that they both showed Bob's transformation. I slipped both cameras in my bag and slipped out. A minute later I was back in the car, it had all been so easy, or so I thought. "We're being followed," said Michaela as we drove away. "Don't turn around; they think that we don't know they're there. They're driving a silver BMW...not a very inconspicuous car." "How many are in the car?" I asked. "Two, a man and a woman," she replied. "What do you want to do?" I thought about it for a minute. "Drive out of the city; I doubt they'll try anything with people around." Michaela nodded. "And then?" "We'll see," I said. I knew that I would have to confront them as I didn't want to lead them back to the safe house. Chapter 20 "How about there?" asked Michaela as she pointed to a sign. I nodded. "Why not?" The BMW followed us as we pulled into Valley Forge National Park. We drove for twenty minutes before pulling into a parking area near the statue of General von Steuben "Now what?" asked Michaela. "Stay in the car, but be ready to come out if you think I'm in trouble. I'm hoping they just want to talk," I replied. "If you can, take some photos of them. "I'll be ready," she said as she pulled the camera out of its bag. I stepped out and walked towards the statue of the Revolutionary War hero. I stopped and turned to watch the couple get out of the BMW. They were both tall and very thin. Both had short, nearly white colored hair. Both the man and the woman were dressed in all gray outfits. I also noticed that they were both very pale in complexion and they also had deep cobalt colored blue eyes. I watched them approach and when they were ten feet away I addressed them. "Well, what do you want or are you students of the American Revolutionary War too?" I asked. The woman glared at me. "We've been hunting you for a while...I'm sort of surprised that we caught you so easily. It was very stupid to go back to the scene of your crime...but humans aren't that smart." "You must pay for your crimes," added the man. "We don't care that you're hurting other humans, but you cannot continue to abuse spells." "You have no right to misuse that which you are not born with," continued the woman with bitterness. "We are so sick and tired of seeing your kind steal from us. Thieves must be punished." Their reply caught me off guard. The fact that they thought I was the person abusing the spell made me laugh. "You won't think it's so funny when we disembowel you," said the man with annoyance. "I'm laughing because you have the wrong person," I replied. The woman shook her head. "No, we have who we're looking for. Now, you're going to come with us and you will beg for death by the time we finish punishing you." "You must be kidding!" I replied. "Who writes your lines, you sound like characters from a bad movie." "Enough of this!" growled the man as she turned to the woman. "Bind her and let's get out of here. I'll kill the driver." Good luck with that I thought. "You only play with magic...we will show you what real powers are," said the woman as she glared at me. The fact that they thought I was human and without powers gave me more than enough time to cast a protection spell. When the woman tried to use a paralysis spell on me, but my counter spell threw it right back at them. While they were frozen in place, I knew that they could still see and hear me. I walked slowly over towards them, my boots clicking on the ground. "I bet you didn't expect that to happen," I said as I reached into the man's back pocket. I pulled out his wallet and read his name. "Davin Freiberg," I said as I looked at his ID. "Pleased to meet you." I also noticed that he was carrying a throwing knife in a leather shoulder harness. I took the knife and examined it. It was a very beautiful weapon, with a very sharp blade. "You better be careful playing with toys like this, someone could get hurt," I said as I tossed the knife on the ground. It clanked loudly on the pavement. Next I then reached into the woman's bag and pulled out her wallet. "And you are Aila Freiberg. Husband and wife? No, you look took much like each other; you must be brother and sister, right?" I memorized the info on their driver licenses and other forms of ID. As I did I could sense fear coming from Davin and rage from Aila. I put their wallets back. "Now, I know who you are and you still have no idea who I am...except that I'm not the person you were hunting. You do know that I'm not someone to be underestimated. I know more than protection spells and if our paths cross again I promise that I won't be so nice. Now, I could leave you here and let the spell wear off...but that could take hours and someone might wonder what you're doing. No I'll be kind and I'll release you when I leave...but if you come after me you'll regret it." I noticed that Michaela was walking back from the BMW and that she was smiling. Chapter 21 As we pulled away I could see that the spell had been released and they were slowly regaining use