Shape Shifting 201 Read online

Bara grinned. “For us. The rumour is that Reegar has agreed to take in a few more students, but he is going to be very precise about who he lets in.”

  “Of course. It is his home, and he is in much better control now than he was last summer.”

  “That is due to you.”

  “Well, a side effect of me.” She chuckled. “So, where are we going again?”

  “To a party at the Echo Hall. There will be food, drink, and party magic. I just hope they don’t mix the three.”

  Imara giggled and kept up with Bara as they made their way across the increasingly congested quad toward a building filled with light and music.

  Her mind was filled with the details of what she needed to learn about flying as she met folks, shook some hands, and avoided others.

  When she felt she had introduced herself to about sixty percent of the partygoers, she eased away from the crowd and analyzed the party.

  Bara was speaking with a group of senior classmates, so Imara was free to scan the room at large. She spotted three people in a matter of seconds she was probably related to on one side of her family or another. Running into cousins and such hadn’t really occurred to her. Sure, she knew that at least four of her brothers were still at the college, but the more distant relatives hadn’t entered her consciousness.

  The tingle of magic got her attention, and she turned to the doors that led to a wide patio. Not one to ignore a display of enchantment, she wandered outside and obtained a soda from a young woman sitting behind a makeshift bar.

  “Are you a second-year?”

  Imara blinked at the sudden question from behind her. She turned toward the man who asked it and shook her head. “No. I am not.”

  He grinned. “Excellent. Come with me. I need an assistant for the demonstration.”

  “I don’t recall volunteering.” She sipped at her orange soda.

  “Would you please assist me in a demonstration of physical magic?”

  “Who are you?”

  The woman at the bar leaned forward, her blond braids with their bright ties swinging as she moved. “He is the light enchantments professor. Professor Breedwell.”

  Imara looked at his dark features and the amused sparkle in his brown eyes. “Sure.”

  He didn’t press his luck. He took her hand and led her to an open tent where folks were lounging and engaged in casual magic. It was a bit beyond bending spoons, but they had to get up and get their own beverages, so the magic was for entertainment only.

  “We have a volunteer!”

  The crowd cheered. Imara pasted a nervous grin on her features and approached the makeshift stage.

  The chair was ready for her, and a cursory check with a diagnostic spell told Imara that there was nothing magical about the carved wood.

  “Please, miss, have a seat.”

  Imara took her seat and settled in.

  “Now, miss, we just met out near the bar.”

  “Correct.”

  “Your name is...”

  “Imara Mirrin.”

  “Well, I am Professor Breedwell, and tonight, we are going to learn about the details possible in physical magic.”

  The group clapped politely, but there was an air of anticipation to it.

  The professor cast a warding spell, and that gave Imara the first inkling that the group didn’t want to be disturbed.

  “Now, we are going to see what use can be made of household objects.”

  Imara quirked her lips. “Should I be nervous?”

  He smirked. “Yes.”

  Extension cords whipped around her wrists and held her tight. She took a deep breath and looked around the room for anyone who would keep this from getting out of hand. All the living faces were eager and nearly trembling with anticipation.

  The faces of the spectres in the room were more concerned, and as her tension rose, so did her power output. They went from barely visible to solid, smiling at her as they slowly approached.

  Words weren’t necessary. If they ever wanted to see her back at Echo Hall, they needed to intervene.

  “Professor Breedwell, these restraints are highly inappropriate.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I do this every term. You won’t remember a thing.”

  “We will.” Five spectres stepped toward him and smiled.

  “How did you get past the wards?” The professor looked irritated and nervous.

  “We were already inside. This is a really bad idea, Poul.” A woman in a delicate lacey gown with her hair twisted up and held by a series of carved fans smiled brightly.

  “Do I know you?”

  “Your grandfather did. Very well in fact. Did he ever get that mole on his lower back taken care of?”

  The professor looked ill. “You are a ghost.”

  “Spectre. There is a difference.”

  A man in the audience called out. “What is the difference?”

  Imara felt the tug on her senses as one of the spectres reached out and elevated him above the audience with the flick of his fingers. The man smiled and murmured. “Magic.”

  The room rioted with students trying to get away from the spectres who were giving a very detailed example of physical magic. Clothing flew, students flew, and the professor was hung by his ankles from the ceiling.

  Imara was still tied to the chair as she watched it all.

  The professor finally realized that she had to be related to the events. “Stop it.”

  “Great. Untie me.”

  The cords released, and she rubbed her wrists as she stood up. “They will gradually lose power, but if you want this to cease completely, drop the wards. I need another soda.”

  She felt the wards come down, and the crowd scattered. It seemed that this private party was over.

  She gave the female spectre a small nod. “Thank you.”

  “Our pleasure, mistress. I hope this experience does not stop you from visiting again.”

  “Oh, no. This has been very entertaining. I believe you can put the professor down now.”

  The woman smiled slowly. “May I play with him a little?”

  The professor’s flushed face drained of colour.

  “I think you can save that for another day. If he returns here, send word to me at Reegar Hall, and I can come and add some life to the events.”

  The spectres in the chamber grinned.

  “Thank you, again. Please enjoy the party.”

  With that little pleasantry done with, Imara headed out to get another soda.

  This party isn’t so bad after all. She was grinning the entire way back to Bara’s side.

  Chapter Three

  “You were right. I am having fun.” Imara grinned at Bara.

  The waves of shock and scandal were making their way through the crowd.

  Bara glanced at her, saw the grin, and excused herself from her conversational group. “What happened?”

  “A professor asked me to volunteer, but the situation turned unwholesome, so I asked him to stop, and when he wouldn’t, I sought alternative assistance.”

  One of the spectres walked into the room and bowed elegantly to the ladies before striding to his portrait and examining the plaque below.

  Bara sighed, “You released some ghosts.”

  “No, I let some spectres enjoy the party. There is a difference.” Imara chortled.

  “You could have casted for help.”

  “Nope. There was a heavy ward around the area. I am fairly sure this wasn’t the first time, but the audience was putting out some severely pervy vibes. I decided that I didn’t want to play anymore.”

  “Do you want to stay?”

  “Sure. The spectres are out and enjoying themselves, the display was broken up, and the professor had to beg for freedom. It is quite the party.”

  Bara sighed. “I am glad you got loose, but try and keep out of trouble.”

  “I try, but trouble finds me.”


  “Stop wearing a neon sign.”

  “Imara! I am so happy to see you.” Mesook rushed up to her and linked arms. “You wouldn’t believe what just happened.”

  Imara nodded to Bara and let her classmate drag her away. “What?”

  “Well, there are ghosts at the party. Real thinking and speaking ghosts.”

  Imara twisted her lips. “When they are mages and attached to a structure, they are spectres.”

  “Right. Well, a necromancer set them to attack one of our professors.”

  Imara blinked. “Our professor?”

  “Yes. He is teaching the ethics class.”

  “Oh, good grief, he said he was light enchantments. That man has no business teaching ethics.” Imara snorted.

  “You know him?”

  She chuckled. “We have met.”

  Mesook led her out to the rear gardens where music was playing, and light streamed from dozens of enchanted illuminated globes that bobbed and levitated over the partygoers.

  “So, Imara...”

  Imara felt her eyebrows lift. “Yes?”

  “Have you chosen your beast yet?”

  She blinked in surprise. “What?”

  “Your beast, your shape-shifting animal. You are going to be a cat, aren’t you? I mean you have one, so it is an easy transition.”

  “Uh, I don’t think it will be a cat. Why do you ask?”

  Mesook’s expression was bashful. “I didn’t want to pick the same creature and have you outdo me. I am going to try a family icon.”

  “Well, I am pretty sure you are safe. I don’t have a family icon to change into.”

  Mesook smiled, and she sighed. “Right. So, Asian dragon for me then.”

  Imara was startled. “Are you sure?”

  “Are you afraid I will get better marks than you?”

  “No, I am afraid you will lose control and get stuck. That is a lot of square footage. They are huge. The instructor recommended changing into a creature nearly your own size.”

  “I think you are nervous about my choosing a more impressive beast than yours. You keep your own council.”

  Imara nodded. “Fine. I will. I wish you luck with your creature. Remember, if you do want to practice, do it in a large area.”

  Mesook snorted and walked away, her shining black curtain of hair swinging against her lower back. The competitive side of her was a bit of a surprise. She had seemed perfectly fine in the herbology class.

  She honestly hoped that they only had the two classes together.

  Shrugging, Imara headed inside, passing a group of young women gathered around what looked to be a second-year student who was sobbing. Imara passed them and avoided staring. She found Bara, inclined her head, and mentioned that she was leaving.

  “So soon?”

  “I have had enough fun for one evening.” She grimaced. “I want to leave before someone gets the plague or something.”

  “Ouch. Do you mind if I stay here?”

  “Nope. Go ahead. I have some more zoological studying to do, and I am not sure what Mr. E is getting up to in my absence. He was a little too happy to be rid of me for the night.”

  Bara chuckled. “Thanks for coming out. See you at the hall.”

  Imara nodded and headed off, walking upstream through the crowd still entering the party. The night air had cooled considerably, and she shivered in the shock from the warm building to the cold quad.

  She smiled slightly as she passed a few spectres near buildings in her path. They nodded in greeting and didn’t ask her to speak to them. It was a politeness that she appreciated, as talking to spectres when the living were around was frowned on.

  Approaching Reegar Hall, she could feel the magic pulsing inside the walls. Entering, she clapped a hand over her mouth as bubbles filled the air and appeared to be coming from the study area.

  Magus Reegar was waving his hands with precise motions, and Mr. E was leaping around catching the magical bubbles that were floating out of a small portal.

  Imara kept her hand over her mouth as her little familiar pounced from bubble to bubble, blinking as they exploded before he sat on his hind legs with his front paws stroking the air to catch the next bubble.

  She must have made a sound because Reegar paused before resuming with a smile.

  “He is giving the kitten in him a night to itself. If you are home, you will be pressed into tummy scratching detail after this.”

  Imara grinned. “Right. I will be on it. First, I am doing some research on my shape shifting. He can jump on my lap when he wants my attention.”

  “Excellent. I think he has taken in enough power from the bubbles. He will probably want a nap and then a cuddle.”

  She chuckled and went through the sparkling bubbles, taking up her position at the desk and getting back to her studies. Choosing a vulture as her beast was going to be difficult socially, but it felt right. She just had to find the details that would confirm her gut feeling. Time to study.

  An hour later, with a purring kitten in her lap, she stared at her free hand and tried to compare the visible structure to that of a bird. It wasn’t that different, but there would have to be the hollow nature taken into account during the shift. Unless she were a vulture nine feet tall, she would need to work on mass dispersal and return. It was more complicated than she wanted to go in her first form, but things were what they were. She would have to find a way to become her beast.

  A sleepy voice whispered in her mind. Why is it so important that you get it right the first time?

  “Because, Mr. E, I am making a form that flies. If I screw this up, I am going to be pavement pizza.”

  Keep rubbing my tummy.

  She chuckled and pushed aside her diagrams and sketches. Her watch pinged, and it was time for bed.

  “Well, I guess that I have to head for bed. There is an ethics course in the morning, and I want to be bright eyed and ... well, that’s it. No tail required.”

  She scooped the sleepy kitten up and put him on the table. “Did you want to stay out here tonight?”

  He purred in response.

  “Fine, you know how to get in when you need to.”

  He purred again, his tail covering his nose.

  She snickered and headed for bed. If he wanted to curl up with her, he could open the door. Nothing could stop a familiar from getting to his charge.

  Gathering herself, she stepped into the ethics class and took her seat, not looking at Professor Breedwell. Mr. E sat upright on her shoulder, and he kept quiet.

  She glanced at the other students and was a little surprised at the fullness of the course as well as the variety of ages represented. It seemed that everybody needed an ethics course now and then. Her familiar got a few stares, and several cooing sounds. He was remarkably cute.

  Five more students arrived after she did, and when they were seated, the professor straightened. “Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to your first Magical Ethics class. We will learn all of the legal and moral ramifications of using and abusing your enchantments, as well as how to minimize the trouble with law enforcement.”

  Several of the older students chuckled. It was suddenly clear what they were doing there.

  Imara smiled. She was in a class taught by a pervert, and she was surrounded by law enforcement. Well, that was certainly a stroke of luck. She took out her book and pen, settling in for the lecture. It was definitely a pretty good day.

  Mr. E kept his own council during the lecture aside from the occasional snort when the professor said that the vulnerability of those you were with always needed to be considered.

  Imara raised her brows at the professor, and he blushed. It appeared he didn’t practice what he preached.

  What did I miss?

  She bit her lip and tried to focus. Nothing. I handled it.

  Then there should not have been anything to handle. I will check your memories.

  Be
fore she could do more than shift in her seat, he had found the details of the party, and his fur fluffed up. That kind of charm was slimy when I was a mage. Now, his work is just tacky.

  Don’t do anything.

  What can I do? I am just a kitten.

  There was a dark intent beneath those innocent words, and Imara frowned until he calmed down and his fur resumed its normal level of fluff.

  By the time the lecture concluded, she had ten pages of notes regarding historical events which pointed to skewed ethics, as well as her assignment for the following week.

  She scooped her work into a pile when the class was over and headed for the door. The man who had been sitting next to her paused and smiled. “Hi.”

  She looked at the man whose bearing screamed law enforcement, and she nodded. “Hello.”

  “Since we will be sitting next to each other, I thought I would introduce myself. I am Argus Dencroft.”

  She juggled her work and extended her hand. “Imara Mirrin.”

  He grinned and shook her hand. Mr. E growled softly.

  “Is he your familiar?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I have never seen a bound familiar before. Is he inherited?”

  She blinked. The class was emptying around them. “Uh, yeah. He is. Mr. E, this is Argus. Argus, this is Mr. E.”

  She shifted her grip on her papers and books. “I haven’t met a griffon before.”

  He stared at her, his dark gold eyes wide in his tanned face. He was gold and white from head to toe. His soul screamed that he was a griffon, and she was very attentive to souls.

  “You... how do you know that?”

  She smiled. “It is a conversation for another time. Right now, I need to put this paperwork down before I drop it. I am feeling a tectonic shift will occur at any moment.”

  He paused and then took her books. “Would you care for coffee?”

  She blinked. “Um, sure. There is a nice café about a block away if you don’t mind the walk.”

  He grinned. “I think that meeting you is something I should make time for.”

  The air went out of her lungs as his features went from interesting to devastatingly handsome. She blinked, blushed, and led the way to the café. Keeping ahead of him was her only way to maintain dignity. Mr. E laughing uproariously in her mind didn’t help.