What's a guy to do when his mother shows up after being gone for thirteen years and tells him she's the last of the mythical Amazon race?

Part 2

Detective Jennifer was kind enough to contact my school and let them know the situation. Not that everyone in town, much less the nation, hadn't seen the video about a billion times already. It was all over the major news stations for the entire weekend. I'd seen enough panelists talk about the Magical Threat taking over the United States to last me a lifetime, and I was only eighteen.

My cell phone had so many text and voice messages that I had to contact the phone company and have them turn it off. Marcus and I had to go down and get a new account set up under his name so that I could even have some form of communication.

That was yesterday.

Today is Monday, the third day after the incident. Marcus' sister was kind enough to braid my hair for me, but that was about all. My best friend was on the outs with his parents. Apparently 'shacking up' with the crazy white chick on TV was against their religion or something. So she was trying to stay in their good graces for the time being. I could call her on her cell if I had any female questions. So that was nice.

He hadn't voluntarily been more than a hundred feet away from me at any one time. Sunday morning I went out to the back yard while he was in the shower. The next thing I knew, he was beside me in only a towel, dripping wet, holding his axe. That's one of the things Artemis did to him. He instinctively knows exactly where I am at all times, and it makes him crazy if I go off on my own. Not literally, of course, but he gets really antsy if I'm not close by.

Saturday night, after the thing with Artemis, I had a nightmare about the incident. I woke up dripping with sweat, my mother's name on my lips, and panicked. He was already there, sitting on my bed, wide awake, calming me down.

That's when I found out he hadn't any sleep whatsoever. The same thing happened last night -- Marcus' lack of sleep, not my nightmare. After I had to almost pull his teeth to get the information, he finally admitted to Artemis' extra gift to him. He would be my protector in every way, twenty-four hours a day. That's the price my friend paid for wanting to help me. I still hadn't decided whether or not it was a gift or a curse.

What was a curse were the clothing choices I had for school. Absolutely everything my mother owned accentuated her body. Luckily she had few dresses, and the skirts she had were practical. Everything else below the waist was skin tight, mostly made of leather or stretch denim. Leather gave better protection for fighting, and I guess the denim was for days that she didn't feel like sweating to death. Leather may be nice to look at, but it's hot as hell.

Her shirts were form fitting and there was a lot of form to fit in my chest area. I need to get out and get something less revealing. There was only so much reminding I needed of my new breasts; I didn't need to see the top half of them sticking out everywhere.

For an Amazon, my mother wasn't very liberated.

A light knock at my door announced Marcus' presence. "You about ready to go, Veronica?"

I sighed. I told him to stop calling me T.J. It was just one more reminder that I wasn't the guy I was two days ago. "Yeah. Be right there."

You may be asking yourself, why am I going to school? It's a good question. I mean I just lost my parents and I was changed into a girl overnight. Why not take a week or so and ease into it. Nobody would blame me for needing some time to myself. So why should I go back to the grind?

Maybe it's my male ego. I'm not going to give up and throw myself down on the floor to cry. I never did it as a guy, so why should I do it as a girl? I'm sure all the people at school are gossiping about me. I imagined the guys leering or the girls giggling all day yesterday. If I waited until next week to go in then it would just be that much worse. Speculation would run rampant. By the end of the week I could either be a sex-crazed porn star or psychotic murderer depending on whom you asked. That's what the teenage grapevine is like. It's better just to nip it off at the bud. Show them I'm still sane, I just have tits.

I chose the skintight stretch jeans, a white scoop-necked t-shirt, and a dark green cotton blouse to kind of mask the gigantic globes that announce my presence before I turn corners. I let the blouse hang loose. It may not cover the amount of cleavage showing, but it helps on the sides. The choice of loafers was just to match the outfit. Running shoes would work, but it just didn't look right.

No, I'm not magically a clotheshorse. However, I did have a good sense of style and color coordination before the change. It didn't go away afterward. A model, I'm not, but I'm not going to look like I'm ashamed about the choice I made on Friday either. Pride before the fall.

I opened the door to see Marcus leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed. He gave me a quick once over, in a non-leering fashion, and then turned and led the way down the stairs. My backpack was waiting by the front door.

"I made sure your temporary I.D. and wallet are in the front pocket. Phone is in the side, and I put three cans of mace in the grab pocket."

I raised my eyebrows in question at that last little thing.

He shrugged. "It's probably safer than pulling your sword. Less likely to be a lawsuit that way."

See, a protector in every way. "Thanks, Marcus."

The Camaro was still in police impound along with my mother and father's car. That left Marcus' Harley. A 2008 Heritage Softail Classic. His parents didn't skimp on his ride. Black… of course.

He grabbed my backpack and hefted his up as well.

"Marcus, I can carry my own pack."

He smiled at me, showing his white even teeth before holding the door for me. "Get used to it, Veronica. It's one of the perks of being a chick."

I let the 'chick' comment go with only a purse of my cupid's bow lips. Yeah, when I purse them they turn up into two little cute peaks making them very attractive to guys. Not that I've been hit on… yet. I was a guy just three days ago. Now I'm a damn wet dream. Maybe I should stay home after all.

"We stayin' or goin'?"

With a frown I pushed myself out the door. Marcus set the alarm and locked up. Then joined me by the bike as I was putting my helmet on. Yes, it was black. At least it wasn't pink. The braid at the back of my hair wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it gave way. I really had to go get it cut. I just can't deal with three feet of hair on a daily basis. Kicking out the pegs, I tossed my leg over and shimmied up the pillion seat while Marcus secured the backpacks in the leatherish saddlebags. When he was done he climbed on and started up the bike. I refuse to call it a hog; let the Harley guys rage away the day. When he settled, I slid into him and locked my thighs in place.

There's a trick to riding when you aren't in control. If you are afraid to touch the person in front of you then it makes it more difficult to steer the bike into turns. The balance gets thrown off slightly and if you need to make a quick correction mid turn, well then you're pretty much screwed. My hands slid to his ribs. I'd be damned if I was going to hug him. It wasn't that long of a ride. But I wasn't going to sacrifice safety for my temporary insecurity with pressing my breasts against his back. It didn't matter anyway. The bastard leaned back against me when we took off.

He got a smack in the helmet for that one.

~O~

Here's a hint if you decide to go motorcycle shopping: you can't make a quiet entrance anywhere on a Harley. They can hear you coming from a mile down the road. That was one of the selling points for Marcus. For right now, I didn't need the added attention. It was like I was saying to the world, "HEY, IT'S ME! THE GUY THAT GOT CHANGED INTO A GIRL! LOOK AT ME WHILE I HAVE MY LEGS WRAPPED AROUND THE GUY IN FRONT OF ME!"

The school parking lot was already half full by the time we arrived. We weren't being stared at too much at first. That was until I took my helmet off. Unlucky for me that we were up front in a special area designated for motorcycles. That's when the whispering started for the day. I made busy work getting my backpack out of the saddlebag and tossing it over one arm while Marcus secured the helmets, then we made our way inside to the front office.

I received a double-take from the receptionist before he closed his gaping mouth.

"I guess you need to see Ms. Little," he mumbled.

I nodded without saying anything. Ms. Little was the school counselor for my grade level. Any changes in schedule, classes, and oddly enough gender, had to go through her. I guess they added that last part over the weekend.

He picked up his phone and dialed her extension. A half second wait later and she answered. "Ms. Little, T.J. Jennings is here to see you."

I got use to that by middle school. T.J. is short for Thales Jennings. J is not short for my middle name, since I don't have a middle name. People just assumed I did and it started with the letter J.

He hung up and nodded his head to the side. "Go on back. You remember where her office is?"

I gave him a looked that asked if he was retarded. "Dave, I turned into a chick. I didn't lose my mind."

The pressure of Marcus' hand on the small of my back pulled me away. "Dudette, you need to chill if you are gonna make it through the whole day without ripping someone's throat out."

He was right. I knew he was right, but that didn't make things any easier. Whatever hormone they put into girls that make them cry like little babies at sad movies, well it makes them pissed off just as easy. I needed to get control of myself.

A big squared off 'U' was the shape of the hallway that led back to Ms. Little's office. After the turn, it was the second door on the right. It was opened when we arrived and she was behind her desk looking up away from her computer with a smile on her face until she saw me. It faltered for a second, but she plastered it right back up there. Can anyone be more fake?

"T.J. come in. Have a seat." Her eyes moved to Marcus. "Marcus, I can take it from here. You can go ahead to class."

"You'll need to see me too, Ms. Little."

She looked back and forth between us for a moment and then thought better of trying to make a big deal out of the situation. Hey, point for her. "Very well."

Without waiting for her to ask for it I opened my backpack and retrieved my wallet, or what I thought was my wallet. With a glance at Marcus he shrugged and looked away. It wasn't my tri-fold wallet anymore, but one of those purse wallets girls have with twenty compartments, plastic picture holders, and a cutsie little change purse at the front. I was beginning to wonder if Marcus was laughing it up in his head or if he was just trying to make it easier on me. It really was a toss up.

With a mild scowl I hunted for my temporary I.D. and found it with my old driver's license which I immediately handed over. Ms. Little took it and made some changes in the computer.

"You're going by Veronica now?"

I wanted to snap back, "Can you read?" but checked myself. "I thought it would be better to take a girl's name."

While the school counselor takes care of mostly paperwork, I had momentarily forgotten that they were actual counselors as well. "That's very positive thinking… Veronica." She was all fake smiles and chirpy attitude. I might actually have to vomit in a moment. Instead I just raised one of my newly plucked and arched eyebrows at her. Marcus' sister didn't argue with me about not wearing make up. Apparently the natural look is still in for the time being, but she wouldn't give way on the eyebrows.

See, when I changed genders I didn't automatically look finished. I still had my guy hair on my legs, underarms, and eyebrows. It was thinner, but it was not polished. Now I'm polished, for the most part, anyway.

Returning to her computer and clacking away at the keyboard she seemed to have tuned us out for the time being. I looked over at Marcus and gave him the international signal for jerking off. I guess it looked kind if weird coming from a girl, because he leaned back and put his hand over his mouth to hide his smile. After a few more seconds she handed my I.D. back and I stowed my girlie wallet away.

"I'll send an email out to your teachers informing them of your status." Like they didn't know. "I also need to inform you to make sure to use the gender neutral restrooms just outside the office to the right."

"Excuse me?" I said, before she moved on.

Uh oh, I'm sure she realized, confrontation. Eeek!

"Well, considering your status…"

Now my voice acquired a certain edge. "Exactly what status are you talking about?"

She interlocked her fingers in front of her. I could tell by the shape of her lips she almost called me T.J., but at the last second she corrected herself. "Veronica, you were a male on Friday. We can't just let you go into the girls restroom or the boys. It wouldn't be prudent."

I narrowed my eyes before taking a slow intake of breath and letting it out. "So when I come out of Calculus and need to use the restroom I have to trek all the way across the school and then back for TV and Film? All of this, through the push of people in the already overcrowded halls, before the tardy bell rings."

She didn't even bat an eye. "I would suggest you use the facilities before Calculus."

A groan of metal broke the silence of the room after that last statement.

"Uh, Veronica?"

With a glance at Marcus he pointed to the arm of the chair. I looked down and saw that the steel arm was crushed downward making a mess of the chair. Ms. Little openly gaped.

"I…I…" she stammered. "I'm sure arrangements can be made."

I wasn't in the mood to make 'arrangements'. "Ms. Little, do you have doubts about my gender?" I stood up and pulled the green blouse open baring the scooped neck tee and the tops of my breasts to her. "If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to drop my pants and show you that I'm a girl. I have a uterus, ovaries, and in less than a month I plan on bleeding and cramping just like girls that have been female all their lives."

She tried her best to get control of the situation. "Veronica sit down and calm yourself."

I wouldn't have any of it, not after what I had been through. "Am — I — a — girl?"

"That's not for me to say," she shot back.

I stripped off my blouse. "Marcus, watch the door."

He was up and closing the door before I had my fingers under my t-shirt.

"What are you doing?" Ms. Little said somewhat shakily. "You open that door this second."

~O~

"I wish I could frame that memory."

After pursing my lips I hitched my backpack up my arm. "Oh shut up."

"Baby's got some serious back."

"I have a sword now," I warned.

~O~

Against my wishes, Marcus dropped from baseball. He swears that he was only in it so we could have fun and without me there he didn't want to be there either. I think he's a big fat liar. So with that we both dropped from all the extra courses that we didn't need. What's that mean? I have four classes now instead of the usual seven, and we leave before third lunch, at 12:30. It rearranged both of our schedules a little, but we would still have enough credits to graduate. That was the main reason for staying in school. After four years of putting up with the thing, I wasn't going to walk away with only a month and a half left to go. And Ms. Little would have given me her first born child just to get out of her office and never look at her again. Needless to say, I get to use the girls bathroom.

Homeroom was over with and the first period bell rang when we walked into Senior English. It was like someone ran a needle across an old analog album. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared, even the teacher.

Marcus went and sat down while I stood there and let everyone get a good look.

"Yes, it's me. Yes, as you can see, I have breasts. Questions?"

I saw Steve Jameson in the second row start to raise his hand.

"Anyone who isn't sexually repressed have any questions?" I reiterated.

Steve lowered his hand and a girl in the back raised hers. I couldn't remember her name. Mary something.

"Are you really a girl now?"

I closed my eyes and shook my head in mild annoyance. I swear that the world must be blind or something. "Okay, last chance. Any intelligent questions?"

Three hands went up at that. I frowned and turned a little to look at the teacher… who was eyeing my ass. He saw my movement a little too late and shifted in his seat to make it look like he wasn't picturing what I looked like naked. "Go ahead. I doubt will get anything accomplished today anyway."

One of the girls that had her hand up jumped at the chance. "Christie Defoor said that before you ran out of Film and TV that you said the lady with the sword was your mom."

I nodded.

She got an uncomfortable look on her face. "Sorry." I guessed she realized what she sounded like.

Before the next question was asked I raised my hands up. "Let me just give you the Cliff's Notes version. My mom was an Amazon. Yes, like Wonder Woman. Those creatures she was fighting are called the Scourge. They attacked my dad inside the store and my mom killed four of them before they wound up in the middle of the street and on TV.

"They killed her and when I took up her sword to kill them it changed me."

I hadn't told them anything that they didn't already know, except for the Amazon part. And frankly I wanted people to know what she was. As far as I was concerned, it was stupid to hide.

"Does that mean that you're an Amazon too?" I looked over in the back corner and saw a guy that I used to hang with in Middle School.

"Yeah. I am."

Class got stupid after that announcement.

~O~

By third period people were asking me where my magic lasso and invisible jet were. They thought I lived on an island in the Aegean Sea where thousands of naked women were running around in some lesbian love fest. Every class I was in was a wash; nothing was learned and I was the topic of conversation. It got old real fast. Marcus and I decided to ditch fourth period and just leave. Maybe school was a bad idea for now, at least until the administration could get things under control.

I accomplished what I needed to do. The official word about me was out and I showed up to confirm or deny the rumors. Now it was up to the school officials to get things back to normal.

On the way out, Marcus and I had to cut through the commons area where first lunch is held. That's when we were accosted by the nerd herd, or I should say the unofficial comic book club. I say unofficial because they weren’t school sponsored they just read comic during lunch. They consisted of mostly freshmen and sophomores as it was even more nerdish to be caught reading comics in the later years. That is if you ever stood a chance of getting laid. Strangely enough there were even three girls in their midst. One of which wasn't shy in the least bit.

"Is it true that you're Wonder Woman?"

I stopped making my way to the exit. "What?"

"Mark's brother," she pointed her thumb to the guy standing next to her, "is in your English class and he said that you said that you're Wonder Woman."

I shook away the annoyance of being taken out of context. "I said that my mother was an Amazon and that I am too. I said we were 'like' Wonder Woman."

"Oh." She frowned in disappointment.

One of the herd grabbed my blouse covered arm very briefly and his eyes bugged out. I pulled away and gave him a scowl. "What the hell?"

He took a step back and pointed at my arm. "She's got the bracelets!"

The 'not shy' girl scowled at him. "They're called vambraces, idiot." Then she turned to me with a bright smile. "Can I see?"

I looked at Marcus and he shrugged. "You're the one that started this with the whole Wonder Woman thing."

With a sigh I pulled in my cuff, but it really didn't move up much. My only other choice was to take my blouse off. My shoulders dropped a little. Oh brother. There was a growing crowd as interest started spreading. I decided to just metaphorically rip the bandage off and I took off my blouse.

"Whoa." The girl looked on in wonder. "They're to remind her that women should never be subservient to men and the times that the Amazons were slaves to men."

I had to correct her. "That may be true in the comics, but these… vambraces are to remind me of my service to Artemis."

"The goddess?" she asked.

I nodded. "The very same."

"She's real."

I nodded. Then I saw the grabby boy again. Except he wasn't looking at the vambraces so much as he was ogling my breasts. I reached out and thumped him on the forehead with my middle finger. His hand shot up to his head and he flinched away. After glowering at him I turned my attention to everyone else in the growing crowd. A good three-quarters of them were starting at my new equipment, and I don't mean the vambraces.

"Everyone getting a good look?" I almost shouted. "Do I need to wear a bikini tomorrow?" I felt the heat rising to my face and I didn't know if it was embarrassment or anger pushing me on. "Get a good look. Go home and jerk off to your heart's content, and get it out of your system, because if it happens again I'm kicking your ass."

I felt a hand on my upper arm and spun around with clinched fists to see Marcus and the really concerned look on his face. "We need to go."

"Wonder Woman's not supposed to act that way," I heard the comic book girl say. I almost walked away, but that comment just shook me down to the core. Spinning around I grabbed her shoulders and got in her face. "I'm not a super hero you stupid bitch!"

Marcus pulled on my arm, but I didn't budge an inch. "My fucking mother was eviscerated, and there would have been a lot of other people that way if I didn't do what I did." I pushed her away and looked up to the crowd. "Think about that the next time you freaks decide you want to check out my tits!"

I shook away my friend's hand. "Get off me Marcus!"

"Jennings," a deep voice carried from behind me. I spun around and saw Coach standing there. My fists were clinched and I realized I wanted to pound something. I needed to sink my hands into battle. The rage had reached its apex and I felt like I was about a second from giving it its head. "My office, now."

His tone brooked no argument, but I'd had enough. "Fuck you, and fuck this school too. I'm outta here."

I was halfway to the parking lot, coming around the corner of the building when I lashed out at the brick wall. A foot wide section exploded under my fist and it felt good. That was when something hit me back.

Being airborne surprised the hell out of me and landing on my ass wasn't that much better. My jaw ached and I tasted blood in my mouth. That's what set me off. It was like I took a backseat to my sane mind, everything else, my body went on automatic after that. Furry creatures appeared from behind the massive azalea bushes that stood guardian in front of the school. The Scourge had returned.

Pushing off the ground I rose to my feet in a second, wiping the blood off my lip with the back of left my hand, and drawing my sword with my right. I didn't wait for them to come to me. Instead, I charged them, the sword an extension of my arm waving left and right. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't poetry in motion as I stormed into their midst. It was brutal. I didn't care what I was hitting, just so long as it was Scourge and it bled and screamed when my blade carved its way to the center of the furred mass.

I heard my name screamed in the background, but I didn't care.

Fire tore at my ribs and shoulder and I responded in kind, swift bloody death for those to my right and agony for those to the left as I drove my fist into their chests. I heard my yells of rage at them, shrieks of anger for the race that made me choose this life. For taking away everything that I loved, everybody that I loved. For leaving me alone to face the world in an alien body. For turning me into a freak of nature cursed to do nothing but hunt them down. I didn't want this.

I wanted to rage at the world and the so-called Gods of Olympus for making my family a pawn in their little territorial war of power. I cursed Ares for creating the Scourge, and Artemis for subjecting Marcus to look over me effectively destroying his life as well.

It fueled the anger, making me stronger than before, making me rage until it burst through my breast and overflowed into world.

Their claws felt like little stings against my skin, their fists like an infant's again my body, but I still pushed on until there was none left and my temporary insanity stilled for a moment. My sword arced around my body as I turned to survey the bloody scene. Then I broke.

"ARES!" My ears had gone numb somewhere along the line for I could only hear my words echoed in my head. "ARES! I'M COMING FOR YOU. YOUR HUBRIS WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL, OLYMPIAN! VENGEFUL FATE WILL HAVE ITS DAY. SO SAYS, NEMESIS!"

Adrenaline induced energy left my body and I dropped to my knees, driving my sword into the ground to support me so I wouldn't fall flat on my face amidst the carnage I left in my wake. My ears popped and I could hear once more. Sirens were sounding in the background and from the red and blue flashes of light I perceived, more than actually saw, I knew that some law enforcement was already on the scene.

"Veronica."

I couldn't see properly and then realized that it was due to the blood that coated my face. I wiped at my eyes until they cleared somewhat. Marcus was bloodied as well, his chest heaving, out of breath as he stood there with his double bladed axe in a two-handed grip.

The smell of cordite was in the air, along with other unmentionable scents. I cocked my head to the side and saw two police officers with their guns drawn and still pointing at the mass of bodies. The front doors of the school were open and I could hear students filing out to witness what I had done. Teachers voices were calling for them to return under penalty of detention, like that would stop them. People -- teenagers en masse were fearless creatures. The chatty girl from the comic book club caught my eye and I gave a heartless laugh.

"What do you think of your super hero now?"

Her face looked dried with tear stains as she took in the scene. To my surprise she moved into the mass of severed limbs, not really flinching from the blood or internal organs spilled on the grass, but strategically placing her feet in a way so that she wouldn't fall down. It took her a minute to reach me while I subconsciously stayed kneeled in judgment from my peer.

When she finally got to me she opened her purse and pulled out a small pack of tissues, undoing the wrapping and spreading them out as she did so. I looked up at her and she blotted my face, wiping away the worst of the mess. Tears burned at my eyes and eventually fell, but she kept on working anyway.

"What do you call someone that is a hero and has super powers?" she asked me with almost no emotion, like it was a quiz.

I shook my head. "I'm no hero."

Her face took on an expression that I would called quizzical. She was looking for something or trying to reason a puzzle out before she spoke again. "I know you think I'm an idiot, that I just read comics, but I read them for a reason."

I was willing to go along with that for the time being. "Why?"

The corners of her lips tightened up making little crescents on either side. "Because I want to see the good in people. I don't believe in the gray, just in black and white, good and evil. I read them because I want to root for the good guys. I want to see them win. I want to be them."

She dropped the soaked tissues on the ground and reached for more in her free hand before working on my ears.

"No, you don't," I responded.

"Yeah I do. I know it's not all fun and games. With great power comes great responsibility and all that. It's not just a Spider-Man line, you know."

I almost chuckled but knew it would come out as a giggle, so I held myself back. Instead, the slightest of grins reaches my lips.

"Just like all super heroes you've been given a gift and its come with a great cost." She paused as she turned my head and worked on my other ear. "I knew about your parents. It was on the news. I didn't mean to be insensitive. We just got… stupid. I mean, here you were, everything that I wanted to be. It was real. I just forgot how real."

She dropped the tissue again and reached into her purse with a frown on her face. "I'm all out."

"Thank you."

I didn't notice Marcus beside me until he held out his hand and helped me to my feet. Pulling my sword out of the ground I noticed that it was still in pristine condition, not even marred with the blood of the Scourge.

The girl was in awe of the weapon, and I could tell that she wanted nothing more than to feel the hilt in her hand, hoping that it would change her into an Amazon as well. I smiled slightly at that.

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked.

She looked up at me and nodded.

"You can't tell anyone."

She shook her head. "I promise."

"Number thirty Wilcrest Boulevard. Seven o'clock tonight. Can you be there?"

Her eyes widened. "Uh-huh."

"Alone."

"Veronica," Marcus interjected. "Are you sure you want to show her our secret lair? They call it a secret lair for a reason."

I didn't need to look at him to know he was playing up the scene. "I think she's earned it."

~O~

By the time we dealt with the police and a med tech covered my minor injuries we made it back home about three o'clock. I had to actually stand under the shower for fifteen minutes just to peel off my clothes. Everything was a total loss and after soaking through two baths I was finally clean and smelling of something else other than the inside of the Scourge. Marcus had cranked up the air conditioner, I assume to get rid of the smell we left behind on our trek through the house. Candles were lit in my room and I assume throughout every room we occupied for more than thirty seconds.

The chill in the air justified the leather pants I put on. The thong was justified by the leather pants and visible panty lines. No, I didn't care if people could see the shape of my underwear. As stupid as it may seem, I didn't want people to know I was wearing panties. The matching sleeveless silk top was there because it just felt good against my skin. I needed a reason to feel good so I grasped at any and everything that I could. The one thing I might grumble about was that the only thing that went with the outfit were boots, and my mother didn't own anything with less than two inch heels and pointy toes. It wasn't that I couldn't walk in them. They were only two inches; I'd owned cowboy boots that were about the same size. As long as I didn't try to enter any footraces I'd be fine. It was just overly feminine for me at the moment.

Yeah, I already know — silk, leather, thong -- I was already girled up about as much as was possible, but nothing screams sexy girl like high heels.

My stomach tightened for the hundredth time that afternoon and I wanted to get something to eat and maybe do something normal to make me feel good about myself for once since the incident on Friday. By the time I had made it downstairs, Marcus was waiting for me with a smoothie in his hand. I swear the guy can almost read my mind.

"There's a cab waiting outside. I thought maybe you'd want to get your hair cut, feel a little more normal."

If I didn't fear the extreme gay feeling that it would imply, I would have hugged him right then. "You're the best friend a guy…" I winced a little.

He nodded. "You too."

The ride was made in silence, except for the bad Indian music that was playing on the radio, or CD player, take your pick. It really wouldn't surprise me that we had an "All Indian All The Time!" station in town. I mean there was a Bollywood theater in the city. Don't ask. We rolled up to a stand alone Beauty Parlor. No, I don't mean salon. It was painted pink and pastel blue and the sign over the door read, 'Miss Molly's Beauty Parlor.'

"This is where Lakisha gets her hair done. She was able to arrange a last minute appointment for you."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Thank her for me." There, see, no overt anger on my part, and appreciation for someone doing something for me.

We entered the shop and I noticed one other customer there besides us.

"Good Lordie look at that hair!" A lady, looking to be about fifty years old came from around the counter and bustled up behind me to grab a hold of my still damp hair. "Smooth as a baby's. Lakisha told me you'd be by and were lookin' to chop most of it off. That true?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied. "Can you help me?"

With a big smile she came back around in front of me. "Sugar, there are some ladies around here that would pay a pretty penny for a wig made outta that hair. You're getting the full treatment for this." Her eyes only left my hair for a second and I could see dollar signs replacing her pupils.

At Miss Molly's, yes she was the owner, insistence I received the full treatment. Hair cut and style, manicure and pedicure. It would have included leg waxing as well, but luckily I was still smooth from the day before. I don't think I'd be able to be pampered as she said every lady deserves. Having one's hair violently removed by the roots isn't something that I would consider in the realm of being pampered.

In the end she showed me a few ways to style my new shoulder length arrangement and then set about curling it. I just closed my eyes and let her have her way. I could always wash it out later if I looked like an idiot. When she was finally done I was kind of shell-shocked at the new style. I looked really good. I mean reeeeealy good… and really feminine. I was definitely washing it out at my first opportunity. My heels clicked on the floor when I appeared in front and saw Marcus sitting there with his eyes closed, almost like he was asleep. When I came around the counter they snapped open and he blinked at me. Then he looked decidedly uncomfortable for a moment before standing and walking up to the counter.

His hand was in his back pocket, but before he could pull his a wallet out, Miss Molly stopped him with a wave. "No need this time, Marcus. Tell your sister if she has anymore friends with hair like your young woman here then bring them on down."

I was about to protest me being called "Marcus' young woman" but he smiled and thanked her graciously.

~O~

I stared at my nails most of the way home. They were painted a color I would described solely as Harlot Red. The desire to pick up a whip and a dominatrix suit was strong, but I held myself back.

When we arrived, it was a quarter to seven and the girl from school was already there. I hadn't even gotten her name. That made me feel a little guilty. However, I thought it best to keep it that way. There was no need to form any attachments with only six months until we leave. She looked overly relieved when she saw us get out of the taxi. Probably thought we were either standing her up or playing a prank on her by getting her out here in the first place. The funny part, if it were any other person other than me, was her initial reaction to seeing me.

"Oh my god! Your hair!" She ran up and interlaced her fingers, I assume so that she wouldn't be all grabby. "It's gorgeous!"

My eyebrows rose and I looked at Marcus out of the corner of my eye. He took the bait. "Yeah well, destroy the Scourge, get a new do. All in a day's work for Veronica."

I just flipped him off. My new number one fan eyed my vambraces for a moment and then turned around. "This is it? It's beautiful."

"The good stuff is underground," I commented.

"You gotta cave?"

At that I giggled. That thought brought an end to the girlie laughter. Oh god, I giggled. "Think of it like a few rooms underground. I think they're called basements. I could be wrong."

She reddened a little. "Sorry. I'm really excited."

"Really," I replied in almost mock astonishment. With a smile I put my arm around her shoulders. "Come in and see my Batcave."

"Cool."

Even though there wasn't much to see other than the workout room and the computer room she was still excited. When we reached the Armory was when something odd happened. She looked up at the various blades hanging on the wall and shifted to a very pensive persona.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She turned her head slightly to me and then back to the blades. "It's awful." Before I could say anything else she corrected herself. "I don't mean the display. I mean what it represents."

I shifted my gaze to the weapons representing generations of fallen Amazons and nodded. "You're right."

We stood in silence for another minute before she started in on the questions. I motioned over to a couple of chairs and a tea table placed in between so that we could be more comfortable.

"What was that thing Marcus said about the Scourge?"

I felt my face darken for a moment at remembering what happened this afternoon. "That's what those things were at school." At the look of recognition and a slight wince of disgust she acknowledged the memory. After a brief explanation about Ares role and what my mother had done for the last thirteen years in trying to annihilate the creatures, the girl seemed almost angry.

"She's been alone?"

I nodded.

"Why hasn't Artemis done anything? Why aren't there more Amazons? She's a goddess, surely she can make more… or… I don't know, give you more power, or something."

She looked exasperated so I tried to explain. "The gods aren't supposed to interfere. They set the stage and we play our parts. But because I made a certain promise, she is giving me the power to search for more to join our cause."

She almost jumped out of her seat. "I'll do it!" She saw my reaction and I could tell she regretted her outburst. "Veronica, you don't know how much I've wanted to do something like this. I've already had arguments with my parents about not wanting to go to college. I wanted to do something more with my life than sit behind a desk selling insurance like my parents." Her face bunched up in revulsion. "Since I started high school all they talk about is how they're going to pass on the family business to me after I graduate college so they can retire and go traveling."

I shook my head slightly. "You don't know what you'd be giving up. And anyway, you're too young. You have to be eighteen to receive Artemis' blessing."

Her heart almost visibly broke in front of me. It was like I dangled her fondest desire in front of her face and then snatched it away just as quick, and in a way I guess I did.

I leaned forward to try and lessen the blow, but at that moment the wispy hairs on the back of my neck rose. The feeling of static in the air metaphorically crackled. Something caught my eye and I looked to the wall of Amazonian blades to see one of them shining above the rest. Normally they all almost sparkle from the lights above. They were just like mine in construction, all unblemished, so it wasn't odd that they gleamed at certain angles, but this was unnatural, or I guess I should say supernatural.

"Ohhh crap," I groaned.

The girl followed to where my attention was diverted. "What?"

I looked back at her. "You can't see that?"

"See what?" Her eyes were dancing all over to find what I was looking for. "What's wrong?"

It took me only a few moments to move to the wall and look up at the still shining blade. A standard, no nonsense cruciform sword, I found out later. I had to move a rolling ladder in place to be able to reach, but I was able to retrieve the blade a minute later. I almost broke my leg on the way back down. If you haven't ever climbed a ladder in high heeled boots then it probably isn't a good idea to try it on the day you first wear them.

Showing her the overly shiny blade I asked, "You sure you don't see a difference between this one and the rest?"

She shook her head but never broke eye contact with the weapon. I had to pull it out of her reach when she inched her hand out to touch it. "It's not really a good idea to handle magical weapons." Pointing at my breasts I remarked. "Things tend to happen."

Her eyes widened and then she nodded with understanding.

"Come on. I think you might be wanted."

She scurried behind me. "Wanted for what?"

With a grimace I answered. "You'll see."

~O~

Marcus was in his recliner with a beer in one hand and the remote control to the TV in the other. I sighed at SportCenter, and a pang of melancholy ran through me. He looked back at me and the weapon in my hand. "What's up?"

"Artemis is calling."

He stared at me and then upended his bottle of beer to finish it off before taking to his feet and looking more intently at the weapon held at my side. "What's with the light?"

"That's what I want to know." I pursed my lips and thumbed at the girl.

She tried to look innocent, but I wasn't buying it for a second. She knew something was up and that it might concern her.

When we got to the computer room I grabbed a hold of the handle to the big gigantic heavy door that led to the small temple of Artemis. I really didn't know what to expect when I opened the door, but the room remained as Marcus and I had left it on Saturday. Before we entered I turned to our guest. She looked like she was going to pee herself with excitement. I was going to warn her away one last time, but I could see that it would be a fruitless endeavor. Instead I turned back and entered the temple.

Marcus took his place at the door while I watched the girl take in her surroundings. "It's beautiful."

I never really thought about it. I mean if you've seen one temple to a Greek goddess you've seen them all; white marble, statue, oil sconces, it's all very… temple-y.

"Does she appear in person? Does the statue animate? Is it a metaphysical journey or is it all mental?"

Raising my hands in defeat I ended her rapid fire questions by picking up the box of matches. "Here, light the sconces, and find out for yourself."

Her eyes sparkle in anticipation as she makes her rounds. I take advantage of the silence to lay the sword at Artemis' feet and then back away. When she finishes I accept the box and dispose of the burnt match.

"This is your last chance to leave. I have a guess about what's going to happen, and if it's right then your life is never going to be the same. You won't be able to go back for a long, long time."

I thought she was going to jump right in with both feet regardless of the consequences, but her brows furrowed.

"But you went back to school."

I nodded knowingly. "And you saw what happened on my first day back. I can't endanger my friends by trying to lead my life as I always have. It's over." I let that sink in for a few seconds before compounding more of the downside. "No friends, no family, only death lays ahead."

Now she looked worried. "I can't ever see my mom again?"

"You can. I won't stop you. However, every time you go to see them you put them at risk. My mother was only back in town for a week when my father was killed and I got changed." The reality of what I've done and what she's about to do was finally settling on her shoulders. "This isn't a choice to be made lightly. This isn't a comic book."

At that she looked up into my eyes and her face hardened somewhat. "Will you go with me so that I can say goodbye? So that they'll be protected while we're there?"

I nodded. It was the only thing I could do.

Her eyes reddened a little and started to get glassy. She sniffed once and then tried her best to smile. "Okay, I'm ready."
I led her to the altar and had her lift her arms up. I told her the words to recite and then unsheathed my sword. She looked a little nervous when I cut the back of her wrists. A muffled whine of pain escaped from her lips and I gave her a gesture of apology before backing away. After she placed her wrists in the statue's hands I closed my eyes.

"Goddess Artemis, it is time."

At a sharp intake of breath I reopened my eyes and saw my goddess standing once again on the altar, as real and unreal as anything I have seen before. Her head moved to face me. "So soon, my daughter?" She smiled wide. "You do not waste any time. I am pleased."

I dropped my head in mild supplication. "Thank you Artemis."

The goddess released the girl and stepped down from the altar. I sheathed my sword and waited for what I knew was coming. Her hands went behind her back and clasped each other. "Already your name is being passed around on high. They call you Nemesis Aresbane." The goddess laughed and it almost hurt my ears. "The one from whence your name was given was especially pleased at your words this day."

She spun on her newest potential. "Did you witness the event, woman-child? Yes, of course you did. Why else would you be here?"

If I didn't know better I would think Artemis was about to jump up and down, but instead she leaned into the girl and I knew her tri-colored eyes were penetrating into her newest supplicant. "One of my Amazons, the last of her kind, a man-child at birth, is the first to personally challenge Ares." She spun back to me with preternatural speed making me flinch slightly. "The audacity! To challenge the god of savage warfare. HA!"

Her movements became erratic; one moment she was taking a step and the next she was across the room finishing that same step. It was dizzying.

"Utterly stupid, of course. You have no chance against a god, my daughter. You would be a smear of blood on the temple floor if he wished it so, but then again his power is held in check as is mine, so your challenge cannot be met at this time."

The next moment she was inches from my face. The swirling colors of her tri-colored eyes hypnotizing me.

"Is this the first of your new children, Nemesis Aresbane? Do you wish me to gift her with the honors due a sister Amazon?"

I blinked and broke away from her spell. It was then that I noticed I had stopped breathing. "No, Goddess, but she wants the gift."

From the way her eyebrows rose I could tell her interest was peaked. "Ares worshipers have dwindled by seven and twenty this day due to your berserker rage and that of your protector, and mine have risen by twelve."

What?

"You seem vexed, Nemesis Aresbane. Was that not your intent when your told the children of my true presence in this world?"

The comic book club.

"Yes, you see the results of your casual words." She turned and began pacing one more, this time with a bit more restraint. "Even now they are praying to me. One is even burning an offering. It has been a long while since a goat was sacrificed in my name." She flexed her hands. "Quite invigorating if I do say so."

Something didn't sit right with me. "There were twenty-seven Scourge there today?"

Artemis' smile brightened. "Yes."

"And they worship Ares?"

"Are you finally making the connection, daughter. Do you finally see the true face of your enemy?"

I think I was. "The Scourge."

"Yes?"

I was starting to feel a little lightheaded. "I thought that only humans could worship the gods."

The delight on her face was almost maniacal. "Very true."

Marcus interrupted in realization. "The Scourge are men. Human men."

In a blink Artemis was atop the altar. "Thus endeth today's lesson." Her eyes settled on the girl who I had almost forgotten about. "The sword, woman-child. If you would be Amazon then give it to me."

Without a second thought she bend down to lay her hand upon the hilt and then fell to her knees in pain. I lunged to her side, but Artemis held her hand up preventing me from touching the girl. It was then that I saw her change. Her legs lengthened and her arms filled, full and defined. A scream rent the air. She was in agony that I was well familiar with, as I went through the same thing on Friday.

Her hair nearly doubled in length then lightened in color until it was bleached through. The t-shirt on her torso stretched as the seams started to tear under the stress. Then it was over.

Artemis reached down and took the offered sword kissing it, filling it full of her magic. "Stand Amazon."

The girl was panting as if she had run a marathon, but followed the command of her new goddess. The shorts she wore were pulled tight but not destroyed as her shirt was soon to be, and she was now easily as tall as me, gaining almost a foot in height. That must have seriously hurt.

While I was taking in the changes to her body, Artemis had bound her forearms in vambraces similar to mine and was kissing her lips. When she pulled back, Artemis smiled knowingly. "Do you know the story of the Judgment of Paris, woman-child?"

She shook her head in the negative.

"A great wedding feast was celebrated on Mount Olympus. All were invited except for Eris, the goddess of discord, for she is a spiteful bitch and generally unliked by all. In revenge she cast a golden apple upon the table at the feast, whereupon was inscribed, 'for the fairest of them all'.

"Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite argued that they were the fairest and bowed to Zeus' choice. Now Zeus, being a somewhat intelligent male, was smart enough to defer judgment to a mortal known for his fairness in previous roles as judge. His name was Paris.

"All three goddess wooed him, and bribed him with his fondest dreams. He finally chose Aphrodite for she offered him the most beautiful woman of his time as a wife and lover. He sold his honor and acquired a wife that was soon to cause his downfall and the death of his nation. You may know her as Helen."

At the shake of the girl's head Artemis explained. "Helen was already married and Paris stole her, bringing her back to Troy. Have you ever heard of the Trojan war young Amazon?"

A nod was returned.

"Then you know the price given from the gods for poor judgment. You will be known as Paris to remember your place and be true to your judgment for I see the soul of a justice seeker within you. Take care that you remember your namesake's, lesson."

Artemis seemed more reserved than she did when she first arrived. "The sword you carry was once known as Durindana. It is the sword of Paris' brother Hector. It is a noble weapon. Kill many Scourge daughter."

Artemis stood and resumed her original place at the altar, but before she changed back into the white marble statue she eyed Marcus. "Regretting that vow yet, Protector?" She didn't wait for his answer before her features hardened and she was gone once more."

I did hear Marcus whisper, "Never." I don't think he meant for me to overhear.

~O~

"Is it me or did she seem like she needed to cut back on the caffeine a little?" Marcus asked as we exited the temple.

"Uh, guys?"

Marcus and I turned around and saw Paris standing there holding her sword with one hand and trying to cover up her extraordinarily developed body with the other. Artemis — or was it the sword's doing — really did a number on her. Gone was the waif-like five foot nothing, thin as a board comic geek and in her place stood a true Amazon. She was my height now, standing a little under six feet tall, and her muscle definition was just this side of a professional body builder. I could see she had muscles to spare, but it wasn't done in the 'I have no body fat and look at all the gross veins that are showing' way.

Her thighs could probably crack walnuts with no problem, but her now, existent, breasts were probably hurting with as much strain she was putting on her once snug shirt.

"Come on, Paris. I think I might have something that will fit until we can get you something of your own."

Marcus was gentleman enough to avert his eyes as we retreated to my bedroom and Paris struggled to get her clothes off. I finally had to retrieve a pair of scissors from the bathroom and cut them off. While she stood there stunned, in front of the mirror, I searched through my drawers to find something she could wear. Her thighs alone ruled out any of my jeans or leather pants. They were almost twice the size of mine. So I wound up giving her a pair of stretchy workout Capri's and a matching sports bra. It was tight, but it didn't look ridiculous. In fact it looked planned, like she was showing off her body on purpose.

Then something occurred to me as I stared at her. I wasn't turned on, not in the least bit. Only a few days ago I would have jumped to go out with her. I would have probably been awestruck to see her nude like I did only a minute before. She had the perfect butt and with that muscle tone she could probably fuck for hours. But I just didn't care.

A pain in my chest made me sit down. It wasn't a heart attack or anything like that. It was the sudden realization that I'd been walking around for the last few hours not really thinking about being a girl. I mean, hell, I'm wearing tight leather pants and high heels for gods sake. I'm a guy! I know I am. If I had a choice to turn back and be a guy, I'd take it in a second.

It may sound stupid, but I miss my penis. It was a great penis, not too long, not too short. The girls really liked it. We'd been through some great times together, and now it's gone, forever.

"Are you okay?"

I shook myself from my thoughts and looked up at Paris and her worried face. "Can you give me a minute." On second thought, "Can you give me several minutes. I need some time to myself."

She nodded and made for the door. I followed. "Get Marcus to show you the kitchen and stuff. I'll be down in a little while."

"Okay," she said sounding subdued.

When I heard the latch to the door click closed I felt the first tear slip down my face. I'll never have sex as a man ever again. That may not sound like it’s a big thing since I could still, technically have sex, but it's nowhere near the same. Even though I may not be a control freak like some guys I know, it was the control that I really loved. To know that every sound my lover made was because of something I did for her. It was a rush. To hear their utterance of pleasure when I entered them for the first time, it was all worth the time I spent working them up with foreplay.

I loved the response of a girl when I took her from behind, animal-like. The savagery of it was enough to make me lose it and want to start all over again minutes later. Don't get me wrong; I wasn't an inconsiderate lover. We both had fun and it was all consensual. I just loved everything I could do as a guy and now it was gone.

If a time came when I had destroyed the last of the Scourge and was released from my vow of chastity then I would be the one who would be on her hands and knees getting pounded from behind. I would be the one whose wrists would be held down while a man was having his way with me. Would I like it? Would I crave it like I did when I was a guy? Was I even attracted to guys, or was my sex drive taken away with everything that I was before as well?

I sat down on the bed and grasped one of the four posts of the canopy.

It was probably gone. I haven't been able to feel anything other than anger and apathy since Friday. Is that normal. At that I laughed bitterly. Like there was a 'normal' for guys like me. It's not like this is a commonly occurring thing: magical sex changes.

On the other hand I had pretty much avoided my body. Out of sight, out of mine, so to speak. Granted I couldn't not see my own body, but even in the shower or bath I took only as much time touching myself as it took to, practically, wash myself. I treated it like working on a car engine. Maybe if I took my time and tried to enjoy myself I could accept the changes easier. But the thought of masturbating in a woman's body was… a turnoff. My body had betrayed me. It had changed to something foreign and unfamiliar.

How many other things had changed?

(To be continued)

Author's note: This story has expanded to 4 chapters because this chapter was already 15,000 words long and was getting unwieldy. So, I'll release the second half of this chapter (part 3) when I finally finish it.

On a side note, don't forget to check out The Poseidon Adventure to see what Poseidon is up to if you haven't read it already. It's entered into the May Day contest so if you like it don't forget to vote for it. (Wink) Lili