Into the Vanessaverse

Dawn idly rocked on her stool, bored on the job. Forbidden Arts, the premiere adult needs store, was experiencing a slow day in sales, currently serving no customers at this time. This left Dawn to sit behind the counter as she waited for a new client, and her coworker Caterina, an Italian maiden who served as a temporal fish out of water, was busy restocking shelving and facing the contents. At least this would be productive either way. 

She sighed, however, brushing her straight black hair out of her eyes. Dawn would enjoy this breather far better had the stool been more comfortable. As it was, it was clearly aged, purely hard-wood, and with one leg out of the three that was slightly shorter than the others, causing it to wobble. It took half of her concentration to even stay steady upon it. She really had to request a better seating position to her boss. As much as Dawn looked like a brooding Japanese goth, she was well-mannered enough to merely request an addition to the store. 

“Excuse me?” 

Dawn was suddenly alert, having just noticed the gothic woman in front of her. Had she always been there? Certainly not, the front door bell hadn’t rung to signify it had been opened. So how did…? 

“Thank you for visiting Forbidden Arts,” Dawn said, deciding not to worry about those questions and instead give her usual procedures. She did seem to be a fellow goth, anyway, which helped ease her nerves. “How may I help you today?” 

“I’m here doing a routine shopping trip,” the woman said. “And you are…?” 

Dawn blinked. “Oh, my name is Dawn,” she said. “Was there anything in particular you were looking for?” 

“Your manager,” the woman said. “Blaire, specifically.” 

Again, Dawn blinked. She knew who Blaire was, then. That would make this particular client extraordinary. “Understood,” she said, as she stood up. “If you’ll just follow me.” 

Forbidden Arts commonly acted as an adult sexual device store, although that was purely for the mortal element. For the supernatural element—namely, for spellcasters—there was an entire basement to browse. A myriad of artifacts waited for those with the sorceress mentality to control them. 

The woman followed Dawn downstairs, where an assortment of additional shelves awaited. Two more workers were also there, Mona and Irish, both of whom were busy with their own tasks, dusting and restocking. They were some of the more experienced with magic, and yet simultaneously not as skilled with the arts, Irish the anthropomorphic grey wolf particularly, having only started this job recently. Once they saw the woman Dawn was leading, however, they both paled. Seems they knew her already, or at least heard of her. Mona, the bespectacled brunette, certainly did, having been on her business end a few times. 

Dawn reached the office door, gently rapping on it with her knuckles. “Blaire?” she called. “You were requested by name.” 

“Just a moment,” Blaire called from within the office, the sound of shuffling papers audible. “Just getting these tax forms in order.” 

She eventually came out, the silver-haired owner of Forbidden Arts herself, dusting herself off from her office environment, carefully removing earphones from her ears before pocketing them with her portable CD player. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said. “How may I…” 

Then she caught sight of the customer, who was grinning at her. “Hello, Blaire,” she greeted. 

“Vanessa,” Blaire commented, eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?” 

“So very hostile,” Vanessa teased. “Why, I’ve been meaning to shop at your store for ages now, darling. And it just so happens…” She suddenly pulled out a significant wad of money from her cleavage. “That I have the funds to spend on something nice.” 

Blaire was apprehensive about the whole affair. Vanessa had carried a reputation, not one for villainy, but for mischief. She had already gotten hold of Mona more than once, nearly Irish as well. And from what she understood, she was a dangerous entity within the Duel Club. At the same time, Blaire had emerged victorious from her own duel with Vanessa, and if she was merely buying something, she couldn’t deny a sale. So, she sighed and nodded. 

“Very well,” Blaire said. “I’ll personally escort you around and show you the artifacts.” Simply, she didn’t trust Vanessa an inch, her proclivity towards chaos far too great to leave unattended. And to demonstrate her behavior, she gently set her CD player on the counter, making sure to slip on a small ring, a temporary Immunity Charm designed to keep herself safe from Vanessa and the artifacts themselves. One can never be too careful. 

“Oh, before you do that?” Dawn added; both witches turned to her. “I just wanted to formally request that we get a new stool for the registers. The current one’s pretty old and uncomfortable.” 

“I’ll be sure to replace it after this sale,” Blaire nodded, smiling. “Just need a few first.” Dawn seemed satisfied with the answer, and went back upstairs to resume her post. 

Then Blaire turned towards Vanessa once more, examining her carefully. She then gestured for her to follow, and Vanessa did so, squeezing through the immense aisles and past different relics in Aisle Six, Magical Garments and Accessories. Nothing particularly jumped out to her until she found a unique pocket watch within a glass case. She stopped to examine it. 

“How fascinating…” she said. “But what does it do?” 

“Ah, that’s the Chronomaster Multicomplication Life Watch,” Blaire explained. (“Gesundheit,” said Vanessa.) “This device, when one speaks aloud a name while thinking about them, locks onto their essence upon being opened. Then one can adjust their age forward and backward with incredible accuracy.” 

“How fascinating,” Vanessa remarked.  “Where did you recover this?” 

“A trip to the world of Horos, the steampunk universe,” Blaire explained. “Part of a business trip, trade opportunities. Evidently the watch is so powerful, it can change a subject’s age anywhere in the world, provided you’re in the same reality.” 

“I’m roughly familiar with Horos, and the Council Realms,” Vanessa remarked, not adding that she was effectively banned by that particular magic wielder’s council for the number of pranks she had pulled. “So, I could imagine the craftsmanship. Although…I may need to examine it closer.” Blaire gave her a questioning look. “A formality, really.” 

Blaire hesitantly removed it from its case, handing it to Vanessa. “Fine, but don’t do anything you shouldn’t,” she warned. 

“I’m wounded, Blaire,” Vanessa said, feigning an insulted pose. “Why, it would never even dawn on me to do such a thing.” 

Blaire nodded idly, but hadn’t noticed Vanessa’s inflection. Nor did she realize that Vanessa was indeed thinking of Dawn upstairs as she clicked open the watch. The insides looked like a unique pocket watch, with three clock faces, two of which resembled a typical clock. The third was merely numbered one through ten, however, leading Vanessa to deduce this related to years and decades; the other two were based on a traditional clock, the second being related to days and months. Her thoughts gravitated to the decade hand, the smaller of the trio. 

“Such interesting mechanical parts…” she mused, pushing the side buttons and tweaking the dial. To Blaire, it would look like nothing more than a test without a victim. For Vanessa, she watched the selection fall upon the year-long face, then the decade hand winding back, the dial shifting from twenty-two to simply two. She could barely suppress a smile as she closed it, then lifted it up to inspect the price. She narrowed her eyes. 

“Yikes,” she said. “A tad bit beyond my price range, I’m afraid. It’s interesting, though.” 

“Then we can move on,” Blaire said, reaching for the watch. Vanessa handed it over slowly, and Blaire put it back under the case. They began moving when there was the rushed sound of footsteps, Caterina running downstairs. 

“Blaire, abbiamo un problema!” Caterina shouted, her wavy brown hair having partially blinded her in her rush down the steps. “We have a problem! It’s Dawn, she–” 

Blaire turned to see what the matter was, shocked to see that Caterina was holding a small toddler. Namely, Dawn, having been regressed into a two-year old. She still retained some of her adult form’s features, namely the hair style and facial shape minus some newly-returned baby fat. Caterina had wrapped her among her own dress to keep her safe. 

“She’s una bambina, Blaire!” Caterina added, accidently letting her native 17^th century Italian language slip from stress and concern. “One minute I was speaking to her, stocking the shelves, and the next, she was shrinking down to a little girl in her clothes!” 

Dawn tried to speak, only to let out mere babbling, the watch having regressed her in mind as well as body. She was certainly in no condition to fix herself in this state. 

“What should I do?” Caterina asked Blaire, fearful. 

“Don’t panic, Caterina,” Blaire encouraged, taking charge. “I want you to take Dawn into the testing room, and use this incantation–” She handed Caterina a small paper, gently. “–in order to create a nursery. Then put her in a diaper and set her down for a nap. I’ll fix her shortly after.” 

“Yes…” Caterina was calming down now. “I’ll do as you asked, Blaire. Thank you.” She began walking towards the testing room, still cradling the gently-resting Dawn in her arms. Vanessa smirked behind Blaire’s back, but it disappeared the moment she whipped around. 

“Want to tell me what that was about?” she demanded. “You know full well that the Chronomaster activates with a mental picture of the subject, and she just so happens to turn into a baby after I hand you the watch.” 

“It was an involuntary thought, Blaire,” Vanessa explained, lying through her teeth. “She was the first person I had met in this store, and I guess it slipped into my head at that moment. It was an accident,” she added, helpfully. 

Blaire sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She doubted this very much, but she supposed it could have been an error. At any rate, it wouldn’t do to accuse a potential customer of such an act. She decided to cure Dawn after Vanessa left, and to not press further without additional proof.  

“Let’s just keep moving,” she finally said, and Vanessa nodded. They walked again through the aisles, browsing, until Vanessa stopped at a pair of glasses, green, adorned with scales. She lifted them in curiosity, and Blaire gestured to both Mona and Irish, who had stopped what they were doing. 

“See if Caterina needs a hand,” she said, trying to get them out of the room with this particular relic in play. Mona and Irish nodded, proceeding behind the counter and into the testing room themselves, before Blaire returned her attention to her client. 

“Those are Gorgon Glasses,” Blaire explained. “The wearer merely has to make eye contact with a potential victim to immobilize them, turning them into polished stone. 

“How interesting,” Vanessa said, as she put them on over her own glasses. Then she looked to Blaire, frowning. “They don’t seem to work.” 

“They wouldn’t on me,” Blaire explained. “I’ve taken precautions in this store and worn an Immunity Charm.” 

Vanessa removed her original glasses, leaving just the Gorgon Glasses on her face. She tilted her head in thought, hand resting under her chin. “I’ve come to a conundrum,” she said. “I want to see how I look, but worry that I’ll petrify myself in the process.” 

Blaire gave a hesitant nod. “I suppose I could loan out another charm while you look,” she said. She walked back to the counter, returning with another such charm, this one a necklace. “Be sure to return it before you leave.” 

“Of course, darling,” Vanessa smiled, as she put it on. “The woman’s room is nearby, correct?” 

Blaire nodded, pointing towards where the stairs were located. Vanessa wasted no time in entering, grinning all the while. All part of the plan. If she was correct, Caterina would have to resume her post upstairs, and when she did… 

Vanessa idly tweaked at her lashes as she examined herself in the glasses, waiting. They weren’t bad, she thought. But weren’t doing much for the eyes. 

She could hear the light sound of footsteps eventually, which Vanessa matched to Caterina’s. Putting on a casual face, she opened the door at the exact time Caterina was due to pass. Their eyes locked, and the Italian lass barely had enough time to react before she froze in place, her skin turning to stone in an instant. Her clothes met the same fate, except they were far too thin and brittle to withstand the punishment, and disintegrated into pebbles at her feet, leaving her marble form standing there on display, completely naked from head to toe. Her expression was that of frozen shock, betraying her new body’s provocative appearance. 

Vanessa put on a display of concern and cupped her face as she watched Blaire approach, equal parts concerned and agitated. “My goodness…” she said. “I’m sorry, Blaire, that was poor timing on my part…” 

“I…” Blaire was about to protest, when Vanessa handed back the glasses without any argument. “…Very well, I’m sure it was just an accident.” Not likely, she cynically thought. 

“Those were too dangerous for my blood,” Vanessa remarked. “I think it might be best if I search for something else. Would you mind if I browse for myself while you…” She looked carefully over Blaire and Caterina, as well as Mona, who had just come out with Irish. “…Sort things out?” 

Everything in Blaire’s mind was telling her ‘no’, but she eventually nodded anyway. “Don’t touch anything until I get back,” she warned. “Mona, I’ll need a hand with her. She can go in the testing room for now.” 

“On it,” Mona agreed. The two started to heft Caterina’s nude shape with some effort, slowly maneuvering around the counter. Irish stood by the register, the novice wolf looking nervous as he watched Vanessa turn the corner past aisle six into aisle five—Asian Imports. She always did admire the mythology that went into Asian culture, especially enjoying such entities as Japanese yokai. But her attention was focused on a small handheld bell resting on the shelf, one that Vanessa couldn’t place. 

“Excuse me, what is this item?” she asked of Irish. Irish perked his ears up, coming around the counter to see for himself. He eclipsed Vanessa in height, but his demeanor was nothing but friendly. 

“Oh, that?” he said, nodding and smiling. It was the first time he had spoken since Vanessa arrived, and it seemed his name and his brogue were one and the same. “I know this one, Blaire taught me about it. It’s the Bell of Surabhi, an artifact Blaire found in India. Apparently, it has a connection to the Hindu faith; cows are sacred in that religion, you know.” 

Vanessa nodded, already familiar with this. “And what does it do?” 

“Blaire warned us to not ring it,” Irish added. “She said, when it’s rung, everyone who can hear it would turn into a cow.” 

“Everyone without an Immunity Charm, you mean,” Vanessa remarked to a quizzical Irish. 

“That’s probably true,” he agreed. He involuntarily started to sweat now, not liking where this was going. 

“Fortunately I already have one,” Vanessa said. Indeed, she still wore the loaner necklace Blaire had handed her. Irish did not have such protection, and he knew it. 

“Didn’t Blaire say not to touch anything?” he asked, receiving a smirk in answer. 

“And I won’t,” Vanessa said. Without moving a muscle, the bell began to rise in the air, to Irish’s shock. Before he could cover his ears, it tilted back and forth, tinkling gently. Irish’s eyes dilated upon hearing it, and he gave an involuntary moo. 

“My, quick-acting as well,” she remarked, as the bell had dropped to the floor. She stepped back as she watched Irish’s body swell up, his anthro form forcing itself to all fours. His hands were hardening into hooves, as were his feet, and his existing fur was giving way to a traditional white coat with black spots along the surface. Horns grew to each side of him, an udder emerging against his stomach region, his tail thinning out into one more ideal for swatting flies. 

Eventually, where Irish the wolf stood, there was now Irish the non-morphic cow, who idly mooed as he—or based on the udder, she—stood. Just in time for Blaire and Mona to come out and witness the results. 

By now Blaire was turning red at the sight, glaring at Vanessa. “Okay, this is ridiculous,” she said. “Three of my employees! This isn’t funny anymore, Vanessa!” 

“Darling, I haven’t laid a finger on the bell,” Vanessa said, technically honest. “It’s just as likely your own associate knocked it over while cleaning.” 

Blaire wasn’t buying it. “A likely story.” 

“You know, I don’t appreciate being treated in such a manner,” Vanessa remarked, feigning anger. “Maybe I should just take my business elsewhere, perhaps leave a negative review for other witches to see.” She started towards the stairs, although she was busy counting in her head. One, two… 

“Wait,” Blaire said, and Vanessa stopped. She had come too far here to simply cut her losses. Not to mention with Vanessa’s connections—multiversal wide ones, at that—there would be big trouble if she instigated a boycott. So, she swallowed her pride. 

“I apologize for the accusations,” Blaire said, through gritted teeth. “I’ll ensure it doesn’t happen again.” 

Vanessa smirked at the sight. “I accept your apology,” she said. “At any rate, I’ll not be getting the bell. I can perform my own cow spells without a cow bell, so perhaps something a bit more…sleek.” 

“Mona, if you could?” Blaire gestured her head to Irish, then to the testing room. Mona got the picture. 

“On it,” she said. “But Blaire, shouldn’t you…?” She was getting the sense that this was a wild goose chase. And, as she looked to Vanessa, she felt goosebumps on her arms.  

“It’ll only be just a few moments,” Blaire insisted, as Mona led Irish around the corner. “I’m sure you’ll find something you like in our more futuristic department.” 

From aisle five, they walked to aisle three, Spellcasting Aids. Blaire noticeably walked quicker, her temper still smoldering, but Vanessa merely fed on it. She was enjoying messing with such a witch, as much as she respected her. What was life without a good prank or several? 

Mona had come out of the back at the same moment Vanessa discovered a new product on the shelf, one that she knew she would be bringing home. It resembled a smart-phone in shape and size, although it seemed thicker, and was presented amongst other similar technology. “This looks fascinating,” she said. 

“That’s the ATR, or Automatic Transformation Remote,” Blaire explained, slightly relieved. “Technology keeps progressing, so this was designed for the busy witch in today’s modern world. It’s a touchscreen, so all one has to do is select an option and point it at a subject, and it does the transformation for you.” 

“So lightweight and convenient,” Vanessa remarked, hoisting up the device’s box to inspect it. “Oh, and so affordable for what it does! I think we have a winner today.” 

Mona couldn’t help but notice what was being discussed, and she visibly was sweating. “Um, Blaire?” she asked. “Is that a good idea?” 

“It’ll be fine,” Blaire said, with utmost confidence. What she knew, and what Vanessa had seen, was that the box did not come with two AA batteries that would be required for the device to function. It would be impossible for Vanessa to screw with them immediately. 

“Well, I do believe I’ve made my choice,” Vanessa decided, holding the box close. “I’ll meet you two by the register.” 

Blaire gave a sigh; finally, she would leave. This was too much hassle for a single transaction, but at least it was done. She approached with Mona, giving the latter full permission to run the register. “I’ve been meaning to cross-train you anyway,” she told her protégé. 

Mona cautiously scanned the box, the register beeping upon recognizing the cost. “That’ll be one-hundred and fifty-nine dollars exactly,” she told Vanessa. 

Vanessa bent herself to fiddle with her wallet, but as she did so, she noticed how Blaire’s CD player was still strewn on the counter, having not been put away yet. She considered the current ATR she was buying, and yet another idea struck her. She pulled out one hundred and sixty dollars in twenties, and as she waited for Mona to press the proper button that would provide her change, she gently rested her hands on the counter, the right hand’s fingers ever-so-gently brushing against the CD player’s plastic. It tingled with energy as she did so. 

Mona handed back a dollar, giving a relieved smile. “Thank you for shopping at Forbidden Arts,” she said. “And we hope to–” She cut herself off once she realized what she was saying. 

“See me again?” Vanessa chuckled. “Both at the club and here, darling, if the device is anything to go by.” She was already removing the box to inspect the item personally, fascinated by its sleek shape. Blaire was smirking, knowing there wasn’t a thing that Vanessa could do to hurt them. 

She was then shocked when, after tilting it towards Mona in curiosity, Vanessa had managed to zap Mona with the remote. Her ward was jolted with energy, before poofing into a full-sized human onahole. No arms, legs or head remained, as the torso had dropped to the floor, retaining Mona’s brown pubic hair and mid-body assets but nothing more. Her glasses had fallen after a delay, clattering along the ground, fortunately not breaking in the process. Vanessa stood in surprise herself, or so it seemed. 

“Huh,” she said, tapping the ATR. “I suppose someone accidentally left the batteries inside the machine before it hit retail. Why they put the ‘randomize’ button at the bottom, I’ll never know.” She shrugged. “Ah, well, it saves me the trouble of finding some later. A pleasure as always, Blaire, I’ll be sure to return again.” She chuckled to herself, turning to leave. 

Blaire sputtered to herself, unable to respond immediately. How in the world did Vanessa pull this one off? Wouldn’t she have noticed a conjuration of batteries in the device? Magic of that nature would leave evidence… 

Then she saw the CD player. 

Having a hunch, Blaire pressed the play button and put her earphone up again. No sound emanated from the device, nor did it power on. It was completely drained. And despite this knowledge, despite the frustration she experienced for the past twenty minutes…Blaire grinned. 

She finally had proof. 

Vanessa had used a transferal spell! A conjuration would require far more energy to pull off, but a transferal would be nondescript and far easier. She had merely taken out the batteries from the CD player and installed them into the remote herself, without being noticed. But the proof was evident. And now that Blaire had finished the transaction, she could finally get some payback. 

Vanessa had yet to leave the basement, approaching the stairs, when Blaire caught up. “Just a moment,” Blaire said, and Vanessa stopped. “There’s one more thing…” 

“Oh?” Vanessa asked, turning to face Blaire once more. “What would that be?” 

To Vanessa’s surprise, Blaire pointed to the necklace around her neck. “The Immunity Charm,” she explained. “We never put that back. Trust me when I say, you did not want to walk out of here with that on; the store’s security measures can be dire. My mistake for not catching this before, but fortunately we caught it before we set it off.” 

Vanessa slightly blushed, having completely forgotten this oversight. “Ah, yes,” she said, appropriately humbled. “I should have caught that myself. My apologies.” And she did seem genuine about it. She was a prankster, not a thief. 

“I can take it back if you want,” Blaire offered. “Although it does look nice on you. You’re welcome to buy that too, if you wish.” 

Vanessa gently held the Immunity Charm in her hand, giving a shrug. “Alright, darling, if you think it matches,” she smiled. How nice indeed; Blaire couldn’t pin it on her, and had no idea about what she pulled off. She could have just let Vanessa walk out the door and trigger the security protocols had she been sussed out, but Blaire elected to warn her instead—ergo, she was in the clear. Plus, she was buying two excellent items today. An excellent stunt! Her confidence was brimming now, as she approached the register with Blaire. 

“Now I’ll just need to see the charm itself,” Blaire explained, taking her position behind the register. “Both to scan it and to remove the anti-theft security enchantments.” 

“But of course,” Vanessa said, lifting the necklace off of her head, handing it to Blaire with gentleness. She then scanned it, dispelling the security measures as she did so. “Twenty dollars,” she requested. She did not intend on handing it back after the sale, but what better way to truly cement dominance than conning a rival into exposing themselves while simultaneously bleeding them dry of funds? 

“Surprisingly inexpensive for what it does,” Vanessa chuckled, pulling out another bill to hand off. Blaire nodded in satisfaction, taking the twenty. Then she instantly shocked Vanessa with a restraining spell. 

Vanessa could barely gasp in surprise, held in place with a powerful energy. She couldn’t even move her fingers to touch the ATR. But she could move her eyes, and they widened when Blaire idly waved her CD player at Vanessa’s face. 

“You thought I wouldn’t notice your transferal?” she asked, almost taunting. “Now I have proof you’ve been messing with my employees, Vanessa. You paid for your goods, so you’re no longer a customer, and that means…” 

She grinned, and Vanessa paled. 

“That means I can finally rectify all of this. But what to do with you that would compensate everyone for your mischief?” 

… 

Several hours later, Forbidden Arts was back to working condition. All four employees had resumed their duties without hesitation or concern, far more relaxed than when Vanessa had walked in. Dawn especially was smiling, relaxed behind the upstairs registers. 

“Comfortable down there?” she asked her stool beneath her. She had to say, Blaire certainly came through with her promise of a new stool. This one had a lovely black cushion with a small red streak, as well as a black and purple design along the legs. It also seemed to not speak, something that Dawn smirked at lightly. 

“I thought so,” she said, leaning back as she rested her legs on the counter. “I hope Blaire isn’t in a rush to replace you, Vanessa, you’re very comfortable like this.” 

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