The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 1

“Hurry up dude. We’re going to be late.”

Nick didn’t move. “Sorry bud, I need to study. I’ve got a big geology test on Friday.” Roger had been obsessed for weeks, but it was time to tell him the bad news. “I can’t go.”

“Fuck that. We’re talking about the Phi Lambs. Have you seen those girls?”

Nick nodded, “Yeah. I’ve seen them.” He sighed. Everyone had seen them.

Roger was a great roommate despite Nick’s initial misgivings. They hadn’t met before move-in day, and considering some of the other guys he’d met in the dorm, the pairing could have been much worse. Roger didn’t make a lot of noise. He had good study habits. He wasn’t messy. He didn’t snore. Nick’s roommate was a genuinely likable guy with two minor annoyances – his constant reminder about the size of his penis and an incessant chatter about every girl he wanted to bed.

To be fair, Roger wasn’t different than most guys on campus. Conversations with other guys usually revolved around the subject of girls but Roger took it to the next level. The first week of school Roger saw a girl in the quad and decided he needed to meet her but didn’t do it in a normal manner. He spent the next few days learning her class schedule then for the next week, positioned himself strategically to ‘accidentally’ bump into her again and again. After two weeks, his efforts ended with a threat to call campus security.
Now Roger wanted Nick to go with him to a girl’s sorority in hopes of stealing their panties?

“Sorry dude. You know I’m on scholarship. I can’t afford to get in trouble.”

Roger held up a flyer. “They invited us.” Roger read the words out loud. “All freshmen are invited to celebrate Phi Lambda Phi’s 28th Annual Harvest Moon Freshman Mixer. Gates open at sunset. Don’t be late or you’ll be shut out.”

Nick had seen the flyer. Everyone had seen the flyer. It was the main topic of discussion in the dining hall and whispered about in the hallways before class. Despite the lack of mention on the official brochure, it didn’t take long for upperclassmen to inform them of the event’s unofficial name – the Phi Lamb Panty Raid.

“I’ve got to study.” Nick said, “Stealing girls' panties isn’t my thing.”

“Seriously, dude?” Roger gave a look of disbelief. “You know … some of the other guys have been talking … I don’t care if it's true.” Roger stared at Nick.

“I’m not gay if that’s what you’re implying.” Nick said the words louder than intended. It wasn’t the first time in his life someone had accused him of being gay but it was the first time at this school.

Roger shook his head. “Why don’t you want to go? There’s a sorority full of the best looking girls on campus who invited us to steal their panties.”

Nick understood more than Roger knew. You couldn’t miss the Phi Lambs and their matching pink shirts with Greek letters in baby blue embossed across the front. He’d seen one up close every Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday from 10-11 AM in his Intro to Geology class. She was the reason he needed to study.

Nick had spent the last month working up his courage to get a name. He determined he had to meet her the first time he saw her. She was different from the girls back home. It had gotten to the point where he wondered if he’d been spending so much time with Roger that he was taking up his roommates’ obsessiveness.

A review of his geology notes showed he’d spent more time in class doodling about her than paying attention to the professor’s lectures. During Monday’s class, she’d caught him staring and met his gaze with a wink and a smile. He hadn’t dared to look up for the rest of the class.

Now Roger wanted him to visit this same girl’s sorority with a bunch of horny guys. Invited or not, Nick had already made a bad first impression. He was determined to do better the second time and her stealing panties was not part of the equation.

“I can’t…”

A voice boomed from the hallway. “Are you guys coming?”

A big guy popped his head into the room. Two smaller guys stood behind him.

Roger said, “Nick’s being a pussy. He says he has to study.”

Stanley said, “Seriously, Nick?”

Nick shrugged. He’d never been great at making friends, but for the last month he’d felt like a part of the group with Roger, Clem, Gary, and Stanley.

Gary held up his phone, “We need to get going. It’ll be dark soon.”

“Don’t worry. I got this.” Clem smiled, putting his two thick hands on Nick’s shoulders, pinning him to the chair.

Nick protested, “What the fuck, dude?”

Clem said, “You’re not making us late.” Nick felt the pressure of two strong arms lift under his armpits. “You guys grab a leg. I got his arms.”

Nick protested, “You’re going to carry me all the way across campus?”

Clem lifted Nick out of the chair like he was nothing. “You think I can’t?”

Clem was 6’3” and weighed at least 275 lbs. Rumors said he’d been an all-state offensive lineman in high school and had a couple of D1 scholarship offers but turned them all down, preferring instead to attend Asher College.

Nick felt like a toy in the big man’s arms, “Put me down, Clem.”

Clem asked, “Are you coming with us?”

“I’ve got to study.” Nick said, “Why is this so important to you guys?”

Gary shook his head. “It’s the Phi Lambs, dude. Because they’re hot?” He stated the idea as if it were an impeachable closing argument.

Nick said, “I mean… Sure…”

Stanley said, “You’re coming, Nick. You’re part of the group. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Nick’s throat choked up for a second when he tried to speak. He’d always found it difficult to make close friends and hated to disappoint them. Over the past month, he had more fun with these guys than in his four years of high school combined. It would be a lie to say the idea of going to the Phi Lamb house didn’t excite him. “If it’s important to you guys…”

“Awesome…” Clem said, loosening his grip. "... then it's settled." The others were already out the door.

Chapter 2

Lines of male bodies poured out of Allen Hall like someone had pulled the fire alarm. The same could be seen at freshman dorms all over campus with every freshman boy headed in the same direction. An outsider might think Asher College was about to have a football game but the football stadium was in the opposite direction.

Gary asked, “Have you seen the Phi Lamb house? That place is huge.”

Stanley said, “I can’t believe the fraternities let those girls snag the best spot on Greek Row.”

Roger said, “My grandfather told me stories about the Phi Lambs from his days at Asher. They were hot shit even back then.”

The buildings at Asher College were split into two groups. There was the old campus, constructed over a hundred years ago, with patches and updates that did their best to bring the structures up to code. Then there were the more recently constructed buildings that tried to keep the same rustic feel.

Nick fell in love with the place as soon as he saw it. He loved it even more now that he’d lived here for a month even if his situation was different from the other guys. Most everyone on campus came from money. Gary and Roger’s grandfathers had gone to Asher. They couldn’t relate to someone who couldn’t lose their scholarship.

Roger pointed. “I bet half our class is here.”

Stanley looked in the opposite direction, “There’s more behind us.”

Nick stared at the Phi Lamb house which grew larger with every step. It dominated the hill, standing between the college and the town of Asher. A small sign stood near the entrance of the town,

The Sisters of Asher met under the shade of an elm near this spot in June 1790, resulting in the founding of Asher Convent with a purpose of nursing the sick, aiding the poor, and teaching the uneducated. Word of their efforts caused people to flock to the area, the result being the village of Asher, a place where kindness to strangers still reigns supreme.
The people of Asher dedicate this plaque in recognition of these pioneering women on the 200th anniversary of the town’s founding – July 23rd, 1999.

Gary asked, “What time does the sun set?”

Clem pointed at the sky and the growing full moon. “I don’t know the exact time but it’s gonna be soon.”

Thick hedges surrounded the property on every side. At least two hundred freshmen already gathered near the front gate.

Roger pointed at a nearby girl, “What’s that chick doing here?”

The girl turned, “The flyer didn’t say ‘boys only’. It said ‘freshmen’.”

“Oh.” Roger said, not discouraged in the slightest by the girl’s tone. Thankfully for her, Roger was turned off by girls taller than him.

“Sorry, Kristy.” Clem said, “My friend doesn’t know his manners.”

Gary looked at Clem surprised, “You know her?”

“She’s in my calculus class.” Clem shook his head at Roger before looking at Kristy. “Sorry about my friend’s rudeness.”

“I’ve met worse at this school.” The girl was taller than everyone but Clem, and had a husky build Nick guessed outweighed him by thirty pounds. “It’s good to see you, Clem.”

It didn’t surprise Nick Clem knew this girl. His friend seemed to know everyone on campus but most here went to the same private high schools.

Nick didn’t need to see the gates open. A loud cheer told him before he noticed the crowd moving. The mass of bodies pushed through the narrow entrance as more guys continued to arrive. When Nick passed through the entrance he found a much bigger courtyard on the other side than he expected.

The clang of iron gates closing announced the party was about to start. A look around showed the place a veritable fortress, with the imposing building rising high in the night’s sky. Nick didn’t blame these girls for their obsession with security. The house was bordered on the other side by fraternity houses, with the guys there doing things twenty-year-old guys like to do.

“Welcome to Phi Lambda Phi.”

A look showed the second story balcony bathed in the faint glow of candlelight. Behind each candle stood a hooded figure in a silken robe colored pink and baby blue. They’d appeared out of nowhere, and the light appeared all at once. Scanning from one end to the other showed no signs of ‘geology girl’, the outfit making each girl indistinguishable from another.

A single voice called out.

“Welcome to the 29th Annual Harvest Moon Celebration. Our doors will soon open and remain so for exactly thirty minutes. You may enter, you may explore, and you can touch but I warn you … despite what you may have heard … taking items from our premises without our express permission is not allowed.”

Groans of disappointment echoed from the crowd below.

“… isn’t taking panties the point …”
“… this is bullshit …”

The Phi Lambs exited the balcony into the darkness behind them as the guy's complaints grew louder…

“… I’m leaving …”
“… not me … I’m getting me some …”

The crowd was divided into three groups. Some headed for the exit. Others ignored the warning and began sprinting for the house’s front door. Nick found himself in the third group who hadn’t moved. They found Roger near the stairs.

“I’m surprised you aren’t inside.”

Roger sounded panicked as a stream of guys filed past. “We’ve gotta move. Those assholes are going to take everything.”
Stanley and Gary looked at Clem and Clem looked at Kristy. Kristy said, “Don’t look at me. I came here to see the house.”

Clem shrugged, “They did invite us to go inside. There’s no reason we can’t take a look.”

Roger took off at a sprint with Gary and Stanley close behind. Nick watched the trio and shook his head.

Kristy said, “Your friends are assholes.”

Clem smiled. “They aren’t bad once you get to know them.” He took a position near the stairs, blocking off the paths of guys who tried to cut the line. “After you, Kristy.”

A shiver crept up Nick’s spine as soon as he entered the building. “It’s cold in here.”

“You think?” Clem said, giving Nick an surprised look.

The interior didn’t match Nick’s expectations. The oak moldings, parquet floor, and brass fixtures looked brand new, not shouting girl as much as it screamed money. A look at the stairs showed guys of every size and shape running up and down the halls with no Phi Lambs in sight.

Roger shouted from a balcony. “Come on guys. We’re headed to the third floor. No one has gone up there yet.”

An entry stairwell rose around one side of the room and wound around to the second floor then circled again leading to the third floor. Kristy pointed to an open door as they passed the second floor, “Isn’t that the entrance to the balcony?”

Kristy popped her head outside then looked around the stairwell. “I wonder where the Phi Lambs went?”

Nick tried to get a lay of the land. “They can’t be far.”

“True.” Clem nodded, “Some of those guys were really moving when the doors opened.”

Guys ran in and out of every room with some already running towards the front door holding as many pairs of panties as they could carry.

Stanley shouted down from the third floor. “We found a room no one has hit.”

Roger greeted them with a shout as they entered, “You guys won’t believe what we found in the bedrooms.”

Nick scanned the room before looking at Clem. “Aren’t you going back there?”

“Nah. They said not to take anything.” Clem replied. “I’ll guard the door.”

Unlike the entrance area, this room looked exactly like Nick expected. The walls were painted in a pastel color and the picture frames were full of smiling Phi Lambs engaged in the sorts of activities you’d expect of girls at college. The decor itself was nice and tasteful. The comfy looking couch had more pillows than cushions. The small dining table had actual place mats and a centerpiece. The kitchenette looked spotless.

“What are you doing in the living room, Nick?” Roger ran into the living room, holding a pair of panties in each hand. “The good stuff is back here.”

Roger pulled on Nick’s arm, dragging him to the back. “You’ve got to see this.” As he did so, the shock of a soft silk thong in Roger’s hand pressed against Nick’s arm causing him to fall to the floor.

Roger held out his hand. “Dude? Are you okay?”

“Sorry.” Nick told his hand and picked himself off the floor.. “I … musta tripped.”

Roger laughed, “I can’t take you anywhere.” He pointed to one of the bedrooms in the back. “They’ve stacked panties on their beds. I told you this was a panty raid. We hit the motherfucking motherlode.”

The bedrooms looked as spotless as the living room, each a mirror image, holding two beds, two desks, and two dressers. Shelving units circled the walls of the room. The occupants of this room chose to fill their shelves with stuffed animals.

Roger clapped his friend on the back. “There’s hundreds of them. There’s so many I’m having trouble choosing.”

Stanley held up his hands filled with various colors of cotton and silk cloth, “Why bother choosing? Take them all.”

Nick stared at the bed. Panties of every variety lay side by side and in separate rows. He never claimed to be an expert on panties, but he did know more than most guys from his time working inthe department store. When he turned he saw Gary wearing a pair of granny panties over his head.

Stanley held up a pink thong. “Isn’t this amazing?”

Roger picked up a g-string and covered his face with it before taking a big whiff. “It’s too bad they did the laundry.”

“Dude. Seriously?” Nick said, “You need help.”

Roger didn’t answer as he took another sniff.

Stanley stood at the door of the bedroom, a grin on his face and a g-string in each hand. “You guys ready to get out of here? That chick said they were closing the gate in thirty minutes and I don’t want to be late.”

Roger nodded before grabbing a final pair, this time crotchless panties made out of black lace.

Gary pulled the granny panties off his head and shoved them into his pocket. “Are you getting anything Nick?”

“I don’t know.” The Phi Lamb warning stuck in his head.

Roger said, “Don’t be a pussy, Nick. They put them here -- they want us to take them. Just grab something so we can go.”

Stanley looked at his watch. “That leader chick sounded serious about the thirty-minute time limit. I have no idea what they’re planning but the whole idea of a panty raid is quick in and quick out.”

Roger popped his head around the corner. “Sounds like something your girlfriend would say.”

“Ha. Ha.” Stanley replied with his trademark dry wit. “Very funny, asshole.”

Nick couldn’t take his eyes off the bed.

Gary said, “I don’t think there’s any way those girls can make this mob leave any time soon.”

“I don’t care about the others.” Stanley said as he held up two pairs of red panties. “I got everything I came for.”

Gary pointed to the granny panties. Several others hung from his pockets. “Yeah. Me too. I’m ready to go.”

Roger joined the others. “Are you ready, Nick?”

Nick stared at the bed. Dozens and dozens of pairs of panties remained. He saw briefs, thongs, and g-strings. There were bikinis, boyshorts, and a dozen other kinds. He had no idea a girl could own so many pairs of panties.

Stanley shouted from the doorway, “Pick something, Nick.”

Gary laughed from down the hall, “Maybe he’s looking for a pair that might fit.”

“Nice.” Stanley held up the granny panties. “But now that you say it, I bet these would feel good on my balls.”

Roger said, “You would think that.”

Nick didn’t bother to respond as a tingingy feeling grew inside. When he reached forward to touch a pair of pink cotton briefs, he passed out, falling head first onto the bed.

“Ha. Ha. Great idea Nick.” Gary laughed, “That’s one way of choosing.”

Stanley said, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Roger laughed, “I’m going to the other bedroom to do the same.”

Nick struggled to move as the tingles from the pieces of lycra, cotton, and satin pulled at him from every side. Only a panicked cry freed him from his cage, sending panties flying in every direction.

“Nice.” Roger said, giving a thumbs up. “That was boss.”

A look back showed he’d thrown most of the panties off the bed.

Gary laughed, “Whoever has to clean up this room is going to be pissed. We need to get out of here quick.”

When Nick stood he realized his right hand held the pair of pink cotton panties.

Years of cleaning up messes at the department store kicked in. “I need to clean up the mess I caused. It won’t take long.” Nick took one step before being yanked backwards.

“No time, dude,” Stanley said, pointing to his watch. “We've got to go.”

Nick fought Stanley and Gary with every step, the pull of the bedroom no match for the combined strength of his friends.

“Dude, stop fighting us.”

Nick knew he had lost when Clem joined the fray, and seeing the pandemonium outside realized his friends were right. It was time to leave. Clem pointed the way. “Follow me. I’ll take the lead.” As they waited, Nick watched several guys pass wearing panties on their heads, screaming and shouting joyous cries at their haul.

Clem waited for a break in the mob then led his friends through the hysteria, the fevered pitch of the others no match for Clem’s bulk. Nick took his place at rear, the pull of the room lessening with every step.

A sudden flash of light ended all thoughts of panties. When the light subsided, Nick saw the room had turned to darkness, now every step more hesitant than the last. Shadows danced in the distance but none resembled his friends. As gray light turned to black a sense of impending doom pressed him forward as the sound of disembodied male voices filled the air. When Nick found his feet no longer able to move, one voice drowned out the others.

“You must lose that which belongs in this house if you wish to leave. That trinket is a mere bauble compared to what I can give you.”

Nick turned around to find the source of the voice but the darkness was too thick. His right hand had a vice grip on the panties so Nick used his left to force his hand open, allowing him to toss them towards a corner wall. His strength returned as soon as the fabric left his grip, allowing him to rush forward towards the door and the night’s sky.

“Made it.” Nick shouted in triumph as he exited the house, not understanding the gravity of the moment. Another two steps showed the true state of affairs, the forgotten series of steps resulting in a tumble that knocked Nick unconscious.

Chapter 3

“You may rise.” The voice sounded from above as Nick woke from his stupor.

Movement echoed through the courtyard though Nick couldn’t see much. The only light came from the balcony, where the speaker held the only flame.

“What the hell…”

A woman’s voice cut through the chatter. “Silence. You are not allowed to speak until given permission. Anyone who breaks this rule will find the hospitality of this house at an end.”

Nick’s knees wobbled as he attempted to stand so he decided to remain seated. A look in every direction showed not one familiar face.

The voice on the balcony said, “You have passed the first test and showed you can respect our requests. As a result, we now give you a choice.”

A light revealed a large box near the exit overflowing with what appeared to be pink panties. “You may leave with a parting gift and our thanks.” A second light revealed another box near the entrance of the house. “Or if you wish, you can re-enter the house, but only if you take off your clothes and change into this.” She revealed a cotton garment, each hand holding a thin strap.

“… is that a dress?”
“… fuck that shit.”
“… I’m outta here, dude.”

Three groups formed. Some headed for the exit. A few headed for the house. The undecideds huddled in the courtyard.

One voice braved the demand they remain silent. “Boxers too?”

Laughter sounded in the leader’s voice. “Boxers too. After all, this is a panty raid.”

“… they’re trying to humiliate us.”
“… I bet they want pictures …”
“… No fucking way, dude.”

Nick tried to stand, stumbling at first before regaining his balance. A search for his friends proved unsuccessful until he saw Clem’s hulking frame in the shadows. Nick rushed through the crowd overcoming his desire to hug his friend to give a simple greeting instead.

“Heya Clem!”

Clem put a finger to his lips when he saw Nick then pointed to the balcony.

Nick nodded. Of course. No talking.

A look around the courtyard showed the place in chaos over the options given to them. Many guys hurried for the exit. A few were removing their clothes. One person walked towards Clem and Nick.

Kristy smiled when she arrived, holding a dress in each hand, offering one to Clem and the other to Nick.

Clem smiled at Nick before taking the dress with a nonchalant shrug. The garment look tiny in his name. Nick took the other, the shock of the cotton blend tickling his toes as soon as it touched his hand.

Nick inspected the dress – double stitched, quality material, pink of course, and like everything else Phi Lamb, a sorority emblem sewn in baby blue over the left breast. Clem was naked by the time Nick looked back at his friend.

Nick tried not to look. He always tried not to look. It had been a month since his first communal shower in the dorm. For the first week of school he showered at odd hours but fear of this practice making him an outcast got him to join the others.

The first time was downright embarrassing. How could anyone be expected to have a normal conversation with all those dicks hanging out? It didn’t take long to understand the unspoken rule of keeping eye contact even if everyone knew the practical impossibility of averting your eyes completely.

And now, Nick did his best to avert his eyes again.

Of course, Kristy had no such restriction – her low whistle of approval sent a blush to Clem’s face as he finished putting on the dress.

Kristy turned to Nick and seeing him fully dressed pointed at the dress then back at Nick.

Nick shook his head.

Kristy nodded her understanding as did Clem and a second later the pair walked towards the front door leaving Nick all by himself. A look around showed the front courtyard emptying quickly. A look at the balcony showed the Phi Lambs had disappeared. Soon, he was all alone.

Nick took a deep breath. He preferred being alone. That’s why he loved working second shift at the department store after school. It took a year before he gained the manager’s trust so he could close the store by himself. This gave Nick the freedom he craved.

It wasn’t like he didn’t want to wear this dress. Every strand of its fabric called to him but another part recoiled at the idea of being found out. He never liked being an outcast and now he’d found a bunch of friend who didn’t judge him. Then again, one of those friends was Clem and Cle had already gone inside.

The group elected Clem as their leader the first time they’d met though it wasn’t like anyone put the matter to a vote. Genetics made the decision long before any of them met. People naturally gravitated to Clem and he appeared to enjoy it. He was the kind of friend everyone wants to have at their back and if Clem could wear a dress…

Nick stared at the bright moon shining down from above, revealing a swirl of dark colors circling the house. He’d felt darkness as he’d descended the stairs. Every fiber of his being screamed, but nothing mattered once he pulled the dress close.

Nick’s pants hit the ground after he loosened his belt, the sudden loss of clothing sending a jolt up his legs. A double check showed no one looking as he removed his shirt and not seeing a soul, Nick let his briefs slide to the ground as well. The warm feeling of acceptance crept up his body despite the chilly night air, the warmth growing as the dress settled into place.

Was it wrong this felt so right? This was a college party after all. Crazy things happened at college parties.

Light from dozens of bronze candles showed above the entry hall, a marked difference from the courtyard. Once his eyes adjusted, Nick saw at least two dozen boys milling about the entryway with Clem easy to find.

A voice announced from above:

“Congratulations. You have passed our second test and are allowed to speak freely. Come upstairs and meet our membership. We have drinks and food waiting.”

Most of those waiting ran up the stairs but Nick saw Clem and Kristy hadn’t moved. “Did you guys feel anything weird when we were in the house earlier?”

Clem nodded, “I had trouble seeing as I walked down the stairs. I think they set off a smoke bomb to get us to leave.” Nick watched as his friend pulled at the straps of the pink dress, trying to make it longer.

Kristy added, “Things went hazy for me too.”

“I could barely move inside the house.” Nick said, deciding it best to avoid the subject of panties, “I fell down the stairs running out the front door.”

Clem shrugged, “We passed their test. Now we get to party.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing.” Nick looked around. “Have you seen Roger, Stanley, or Gary?”

“Nah but given the choice of panties or wearing a dress? I bet they’re halfway to Allen House by now.” Clem laughed. “Can you imagine one of those guys wearing this?” He looked at Nick. “To be honest, I’m surprised you’re here.”

Nick’s face flushed, “I … well … I followed you.”

Clem’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you needed to study?”

“Yeah … uhhh…” Nick felt his face flush.”… well … uhh … I mean the Phi Lambs invited us inside their house. How can you say no to that?”

“I can’t argue with that logic.” Clem nodded as he looked around the room, “It looks like 90% of our original number bailed. I’m not sure what that says about us.”

Kristy shrugged. “Who cares? We’re having fun.” Nick saw she kept looking at bulge straining to remain hidden at the bottom of Clem’s dress.

Nick looked around, wondering about ‘Geology girl’. “I had to stay. What kind of idiot wouldn’t want to party with the Phi Lambs? Roger is going to be so jealous when he finds out…” He looked down at the dress that ended at Nick’s mid-thigh. “… though I think it best if we leave out a few details.”

Clem smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

The Phi Lambs had scattered throughout their party room, most chatting amiably with each other. It didn’t take a genius to realize they’d hid in this room while most of the freshman class ransacked their bedrooms.

“I think that’s the last arrivals.” A tall blonde strode to the center of the room. “Feel free to grab a drink and some snacks while I talk. I promise to make it as short as possible.”

The few of the other Phi Lambs groaned.

She gave her sisters a look, “I’m serious. I’ll keep it quick.”

Gone were the Phi Lamb’s formal silk hooded robes. The Phi Lambs now wore clothing similar to the casual-wear Nick had seen on campus, a mix of t-shirts and sweatshirts.

“My name is Mitsy Roberts and I’m president of the Alpha Chapter of the Phi Lambda Phi sorority. We have a long storied history at Asher College, established in 1862 with a stated purpose of bringing young women of high moral standing together in bonds of friendship.”

A smattering of laughter echoed from the members of Phi Lambda Phi. Mitsy pretended not to notice.

“For most of our history our gatherings were chaperoned by men. After all, everyone knows we women are too addle-brained to run our own affairs.”

A few of the sisters laughed. A few of the guys laughed too.

“To be fair, the administration’s concern about our safety isn’t totally without merit. Violence against women is rampant on college campuses and in response we started our annual Harvest Moon party with a goal of helping us find the nature of those we can trust to respect women’s wishes and those who do not.”

Nick looked at Clem. He had no doubt where their friends ended up.

“We consider everyone in this room a ‘friend’ of Phi Lambda Phi. This is not a designation we bestow lightly, nor should you receive it as such.”

Nick looked around the room. He counted thirty-two guys and one girl.

Every member of Phi Lambda Phi raised their glasses high. “To our friends.”

Mitsy raised her glass, “Welcome friends. This is a party so I invite everyone to mingle with our members, get something to drink, and most of all, have some fun.”

Clem looked at Kristy and then to Nick, “I need to talk to someone.” He didn’t wait for a response as he headed towards a group of girls.

Nick looked at Kristy who gave him a shrug. “Clem knows everyone.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

Kristy looked over at the table full of food. “I’m going to get something to eat.”

She didn’t wait for an answer either. A second later, Nick found himself alone. A look around the room showed everyone talking but he saw no one he recognized. Not wanting to appear like a wallflower, headed for the table with the drinks.

The first sip told the red punch didn’t have any alcohol, a surprise considering movies showed someone always spiked the punch at college parties. Even worse, the punch wasn’t very good.

A voice called from behind. “Don’t you understand the meaning of the word mingle?”

Nick jumped at the sound, the scare temporarily giving his punch the ability to fly. A second later red punch splashed down across the front of Nick’s dress and down his legs.

“What the???” Nick turned in anger then froze when he saw Geology Girl.

Geology girl gave him a mocking look. “Girls find shy boys cute, but the act gets boring after a while. Sometimes a girl is forced to make the first move.” She smiled and pointed at the splotches of red now staining Nick’s dress. “Though perhaps I misjudged you. It appears you can make a splash when the situation demands.”

A thousand ideas sparked in Nick’s mind but he’d lost the ability to speak. He’d practiced dozens of ways he might introduce himself to this girl. Being surrounded by the laughing faces of most of the Phi Lamb sorority was not on that list.

The girl said, “We better get that dress in the wash or it’s going to stain.”

“Uh … umm …” Nick tried to speak but instead grew faint as the beginnings of a panic attack took hold.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door. “The laundry room is this way.”

Nick couldn’t feel his feet as she led him from the room. Her hand felt so soft. Her voice sounded like an angel’s. Her body looked even more fit when viewed up close. Somewhere in the depths of his brain, Nick wanted to find something witty to say but the best he could do was to remain quiet as the beautiful girl led him down the stairs.

“We have more dresses in the laundry. We didn’t know how many would take up our offer of friendship.”

Nick did his best to keep up as they went down the stairs into the lobby, then followed her down another set of stairs to a room lined with washers and dryers.

The girl held out her hand. “Gimme.”

Nick attempted to speak. “What? … no … I … can’t.”

“I’ve already seen you naked if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“What?”

The girl smiled. “I watched from the shadows of the balcony when you put the dress on.”

“You what?” A surge of anger gave Nick the power to speak. “That’s … that’s … not right!”

The girl said, “Neither is staring at a girl in class every day for a month.”

All of Nick’s confidence disappeared in a flash. “Well …”

The girl’s hand grabbed Nick’s arm. “I’m teasing. To be honest, I was hoping you’d come and talk to me, shy boy. You’re kinda cute in your own way, Nick Wilder.”

Nick replayed the word ‘cute’ in his mind several times. “Wait … you know my name?”

The girl grinned. “I try to make a point of knowing the names of all my stalkers.”

“Stop messing with me.”

She smiled. “I’m not kidding. We need to get you out of those clothes or that dress will stain.”

Nick looked down the length of his dress, aware of a growing problem. “I can’t.”

“Nonsense. You can. If you want to be a friend of Phi Lambda Phi, you should know we are very body positive. The naked body is nothing to be embarrassed about. Would you like me to take off my top?”

“No … no… that would make my problem worse..” Nick tried to focus on something … anything … stepping on shards of glass … bamboo shoots under his fingernails … toothpick in his eyeballs …

The girl said, “I’ve seen you Nick. You're perfectly average sized.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Ok, you’re bigger than most guys down there. Does that make you feel better?.” The girl grinned., “Everywhere else you’re a perfectly average guy. Not too tall. Not too short. Not too fat. Not too skinny. On a scale from 1 to 10, I’d give you a 5. I haven’t gotten to know you but if you have a good personality you could bump it up to a 6. You’d easily be a 7 if you hit the gym a few times a week.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Nick asked.

The girl smiled. “Was I being too mean? Was I being meaner than a person who stared across a classroom for a whole month without a hello?”

Nick sighed. She had him dead to rights. “Look … I’m sorry for staring in class. I knew it was wrong and I tried to stop but you …“ He weighed his words, knowing only a fool would complete that sentence. “The truth is I’ve never been good at talking to girls.”

“So you'd rather scare them.” The girl stared for a moment.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

She offered her hand. “My name is Gwen Bradford. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Gwen…” Nick repeated the name over and over in his head. “Hi Gwen, I’m Nick Wilder.”

“See…” The girl smiled. “Was that so hard?”

“What do you mean?”

Gwen said, “If you’d done that four weeks ago, we might be geology study partners.”

“Seriously?” Nick couldn’t stop his nervous laugh. “Study partners?”

“That could still happen but you’re going to need to take off that dress.”

“That’s not fair.” Nick tried to explain. “It’s not close to the same.”

Gwen asked, “How so?”

Nick said, “You weren’t naked when I stared at you in geography class.”

“True.” Gwen nodded, “But you came to my sorority house. I didn’t force you to come here and I didn’t force you to take your clothes off in our courtyard. All of this is your choice. If you’d rather, we can find your clothing, but I’m afraid to say someone with your attitude might not be a good fit to be a ‘friend’ of a Phi Lambs.”

“Seriously?” Nick said.

“I told you.” Gwen nodded, “Those who associate with us need to be comfortable in their own skin. If you can’t deal with that, it’s best if we part ways now.”

“But I’m not comfortable in my skin.” Nick closed his eyes. “I’ve never been comfortable in my skin.”

“Obviously.”

“Maybe I should go.”

Gwen said, “If that’s what you want.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Then give me the dress.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Nick hesitated. “…I have my reasons.”

“I’ve already seen you naked. I was teasing you about the average comment. You have no reason for shame. Don’t you want to be part of the Phi Lambs? Don’t you want to be friends with me?”

“I’m nothing like you.” Nick closed his eyes. “Everyone knows the world stops spinning when a Phi Lamb enters a room. I could never be someone like that.”

“Ahh…” Nick felt the warmth as Gwen’s lips kissed his cheek. “That’s sweet. If you keep saying things like that, I might bump you up to an 8. But you’d still need to hit the gym.”

Nick felt the warm spot where Gwen had kissed his cheek. This girl was so far out of his league it wasn’t funny. He continued stared at Gwen until he realized what he was doing.

“Sorry. Bad habit.”

“It’s ok. I liked it when you stared.” Gwen took Nick’s hand. “You need help losing your fear and I can help you if you’ll let me. The first step is giving me that dress.”

Nick sighed as he slowly pulled the stained dress over his head. Gwen took the garment and threw it into the washing machine before turning back to Nick, her stare ending at his crotch. “You’re going to need to take care of that before we go upstairs.”

“Take care?” Nick looked down to see his growing problem had gotten worse. He smiled. “Are you offering to help?”

“Ha … ha … very funny.” Gwen said as she ran into an adjacent room. “I’m not that easy but I do like this Nick with a sudden burst of confidence. You pass the test.”

“There’s a test?” Nick tried to swallow but found his throat dry.

“Haven’t you been paying attention? You boys have been tested since you walked through our gates.” Gwen pointed towards a door. “The bathroom is over there.” She held up a clean dress.

Nick took the dress then looked down. “What about my … uhh … problem?”

Gwen held up a bottle of lube. “Don’t take too long. The real party is about to start.”

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 4

Mitsy tapped on the microphone before speaking, “Congratulations to everyone has been chosen by a member of our freshman pledge class.”

Nick saw only twelve of them remained. He didn’t see Kristy but Clem’s bulk was impossible to miss.

He found it hard to believe he’d been chosen for anything, especially in a group like this. These girls were so beautiful, they made his eyes hurt if he stared too long. Of course that didn’t stop him from checking them out one by one. If someone asked him to describe a Phi Lamb, his answer would have described Gwen – blonde hair, a striking face, body with curves in all the right places, ample breasts, and a smile that could break any man’s heart. He assumed they all looked the same.

Seeing them gathered in a group showed vast differences between each of the girls. He saw blondes, redheads, and brunettes. Some were tall and others short. A few looked ready for sports while others had a studious quality. They all had one thing in common. Every single one had it – the thing that separates cute girls from the kind that turns heads.

Nick had never had the courage to talk to any girl at his high school. They too had their own range of looks but none were in the same league as any Phi Lamb. A flush fell over his face as he imagined one of these girls speaking to him. It made no sense.
A sudden panic filled his core. What could he say to one of these girls? They were all way out of his league, including Gwen. What was he thinking, coming here? How long until they found him a fraud?

A voice whispered in his head, “You are as worthy as any other.”

Nick felt a pull on his hand and saw Gwen yanking him towards the door.

“We need to hurry.”

Nick asked, “What’s going on?”

Gwen’s face showed mild annoyance, “Were you too busy staring at my sisters’ breasts to listen to instructions?”

Nick stammered, “No …”

“Save it,” Gwen said, shaking her head.

Nick sensed he’d failed a test, “Where are we going?”

“Upstairs.”

Nick watched as other Phi Lambs hurried their freshmen charges into rooms. Gwen continued to the third floor.

Nick tried to calm himself when he realized their probable destination. “Do you live up here?”

“I’m a freshman, just like you.” Gwen spoke in a matter of fact manner.

“Oh yeah … “ Nick nodded, “… I forgot.” Every freshman had to live in a dorm.

“My ‘big sis’ said we could use her room.” Gwen pointed.

Nick didn’t need to look to see where Gwen’s ‘big sis’ lived. He didn’t have that kind of luck. He told Roger he didn’t want to come to the place for the sole purpose of not making things more awkward with Geology Girl. Now that girl pulled him up the stairs, as Nick tried to think of a good excuse for what they’d done. “About the mess we left…”

“Mess?” Gwen said, as she led him through the door and into the bedroom. The room looked spotless.

“Uhh …” Not a single pair of panties was to be seen in the entire room. Someone had even gone to the trouble of making the bed, Nick said, “The room didn’t look like this when we left.”

“I know.” Gwen smiled at Nick. “It’s a little sis’ job to clean her big sis’ room. You did leave a bit of a mess but I got off easy if the stories my sisters told are to be believed.””

Nick remembered the frenzied looks of freshmen boys running up and down the halls, each holding their pairs of panties like they’d won a trophy. He could only imagine the things they’d done behind closed doors.

“I’m so sorry … my friends got out of control.” Nick remembered falling onto the bed. “I made a bit of a mess too.”

Gwen nodded, “I know what you did. I saw the whole thing. Do you think we’d let the entire freshmen class go into our bedrooms without a monitoring system?” Gwen smiled, “The truth is I watched you the entire time as I know from personal experience you’re a perv.”

Nick blushed, “How many times do I need to apologize?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Gwen said before disappearing into the room’s closet.

None of this made sense. For the last month he’d made this girl feel uncomfortable and by her own admission she rated him a five on a scale of one to ten. He struggled to make conversation earlier and to top it off, she’d had to clean up the mess he’d made.

“Why did you choose me?”

Gwen didn’t answer or she didn’t hear the question. She called from the closet. “Do you prefer blondes or brunettes? Or something in between?”

Thinking of such things always made Nick tongue tied. His words came out in a whisper. “I … don’t know.”

Gwen popped her head out of the door. “I can’t hear you when I’m in the next room, you’re going to need to speak louder.”

Nick took a deep breath and held it. He did his best to sound confident. “I like blondes.”

“What kind of blonde?”

“You know … blonde-blonde. Like yours.”

Nick could see he’d disappointed Gwen somehow. “I’m not blonde-blonde. The technical name for my hair color is honey blonde. You need to be more specific.”

Nick said, “What’s the difference?”

“There’s a huge difference.” Gwen said, her annoyance growing by the second, “There are thousands of variations of blonde in the world. Go to the hair dye section next time you’re in a store. You’ll see hundreds of boxes claiming they’ll turn your hair into various shades of blonde.”

Nick asked, “Do you dye your hair?”

A sudden chill filled the air as Gwen stuck her head out of the closet. She did not look happy. “Does it look like I’ve dyed my hair?”

“No, of course not.” Nick said. He was dumb when it came to girls, but smart enough to know when he’d said something stupid.

“That’s a good boy.” Gwen said, winking at Nick, “You’re not totally hopeless.”

She disappeared into the closet announcing names of blonde hair from its depths, “There’s light blonde, medium blonde, dark blonde, platinum blonde, dirty blonde, champagne blonde, bleach blonde, ash blonde, honeysuckle blonde, golden blonde, reddish blonde, strawberry blonde and that’s off the top of my head. There’s a thousand variants in between.”

Nick asked, “What’s a strawberry blonde?”

“Ohhh … strawberry blonde could be cute.” Gwen said, speaking with a sudden delight in her voice. “Do you prefer long hair or short hair?”

Nick asked, “Why?”

“We don’t have a lot of time, Nick.” Gwen popped her head out of the closet. “Just answer the question.”

As this beautiful girl stared at him Nick couldn’t help but be entranced by Gwen’s long locks swaying back and forth like a pendulum. “I like girls with long hair.”

“Me too,” Gwen smiled as she ran back into the closet. “As luck would have it, my big sis has something I think you’ll enjoy.” She re-emerged from the closet a second later with her hand hidden behind her back. “Long hair can be a pain but guys do seem to like it.”
Nick pointed at Gwen’s obvious attempt at deception. “What are you hiding?”

Gwen moved her hand from behind her back, revealing a wig, “You asked about strawberry blonde hair. This is strawberry blonde.”

Nick said, “It looks red.” Gwen put her arm around Nick’s shoulder. He nearly passed out the moment her body heat joined with his, a sudden shiver moving down his whole body until the tips of his toes were tingling.

Gwen explained, “A strawberry blonde is blonde hair with red overtones. This wig is one variation. Some strawberry blondes are more blonde. Others are more red.”

Nick felt Gwen’s hands touching his head, the intrusion into his personal space allowing him to speak. “What are you doing?”
Gwen said, “I would think it’s rather obvious.”

Nick watched as long strands of reddish hair fell piled on his shoulders. It was something he’d considered many times but never dared try.

“You’re putting the wig on me?”

If Gwen answered, Nick didn’t hear it. A thousand tingles from the wig pressed down against his scalp, entering his mind as the rest of his body fell limp.

***SLAP***

“Ouch!” The hand was soft on Nick’s cheek yet hard enough to wake him. “That hurt.”

Gwen said, “That didn’t hurt, you big baby.”

Nick shook his head. As he shook, long strands of reddish-blonde hair shook with him. “What happened?”

“You passed out when I put the wig on your head. Are you so shy that the mere touch of a girl’s hand causes you to faint?” Gwen’s voice was teasing, but spoke in a matter of fact manner.

Nick pulled at the long curls falling around his neck. “I meant … this.”

“It’s a wig. Did you listen to a word Mitsy said about the next challenge?”

Nick thought back, vaguely remembering Mitsy’s words as he stared at the room full of Phi Lambs. “I listened … some.”

“We have ninety minutes to get ready …” Gwen sighed as she looked at the clock on the wall. “… make that eighty-four minutes.
Contestants will be judged in five categories - Poise, Presentation, Verbal skills, Talent, and Fitness.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know you weren’t listening.” Gwen said, her face annoyed. “The next test is a beauty pageant.”

Nick shook his head. “No … no … way. I can’t do that.” The long curls of his strawberry blonde wig flew back and forth.

“We don’t have time for shy Nick anymore.” Gwen said, fixing Nick’s hair.

“I can’t be in a beauty pageant.” Nick explained. “I’ve always been shy. I can’t help it. I can barely speak to you without passing out. How can I go on stage in front of the most beautiful girls on campus with this on my head?”

Gwen nodded, “You don’t have to go on stage and participate in the pageant. That’s your choice but if you choose that route, you’ll be given a pair of panties and asked to leave the house like the others.”

“I thought I was a ‘friend’ of Phi Lambda Phi”?”

“I consider you a friend.” Gwen’s face grew serious. “But if you leave, you’ll be missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime.” She pointed to a beautiful evening gown hanging from the door’s frame. “Let’s cut the BS. We both know you want to wear that.”

“What?” Nick looked at the dress. “I don’t want …” His voice froze the longer he stared at the gown’s sparkles.

Nick's inner voice spoke, “She knows. Why hide the truth?”

Gwen said, “It’s like I told you before, hanging with Phi Lambs means ridding yourself of inhibitions. We do silly stuff all the time and I guarantee you won’t be the only nervous person on stage. And everyone who joins you will be wearing something similar.”

“Even Clem?” Nick tried to imagine Clem in an evening gown.

Gwen nodded, “Even Clem.”

“How do I know this isn’t payback for the things we did to your rooms?” Nick said, “How do I know you aren’t filming this and going to show it to everyone on campus for revenge for the panty raid.”

“Well, first of all, none of the guys who took panties are in the contest.” Gwen held up a pair of pink panties. “You carried these to the front door, but dropped them right before you exited.”

“How do you know that?”

“I told you before.” Gwen tossed the panties on the bed. “I watched you from the moment you walked through our gates.”

“Because you think I’m a perv?”

“I don’t think you’re a perv. Not really.” Gwen said, “I think you are special and I think we could become very good friends if you stop trying to be something you are not.”

“I can’t …” Nick stared at the gown. It called to him, begging to be worn. “Everyone will laugh.”

“No one in this house will laugh unless you do or say something funny. They will not laugh if they see you in that dress. It’s a pre-planned part of tonight’s festivities.” Gwen sat and the bed next to Nick. “That wig looks great on you by the way and there are lots of other things we can do to make you look even better. By the time we get you into that gown, you’ll look like the belle of the ball.”

“You think so?” Nick blushed. He looked towards the mirror on the other side of the room. Gwen was right. The wig did look better than he expected.

“I think you can win.” Gwen put her hand on Nick’s thigh. “Never forget. Girls like men who aren’t afraid to show their feminine side.”

“They do?”

“I do.” Gwen moved her hand a little higher. “But I can’t speak for every girl.”

“Oh … uhh …” Nick tried to speak as his whole body began to tingle. His mind went blank as the feeling moved to his entire body and he started to feel faint. “What are you doing?”

Gwen pulled at Nick’s dress. “You need to take off your clothes.”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t be so shy.” Gwen smiled at Nick as she removed her sweatshirt. “A naked body is a wondrous sight. It should be celebrated.”

Nick saw Gwen wasn’t wearing a bra. “Oh my god.”

“Focus, Nick.”

“I am focusing.” Nick couldn’t take his eyes off Gwen’s chest. He’d dreamed of them but never expected to see them in all their glory.
Gwen’s hand slap wasn’t so gentle this time.

“Ouch!”

“I didn’t mean for you to focus on my tits.” Gwen’s voice sounded angrier than her face showed. “My god you boys are so single-minded at times. Do you think it would help if I let you touch them? I’m made of flesh of bone, just like you.”

“Touch them???” The mere thought pushed the tingly feeling from head to toe. “I can’t…”

Gwen sounded frustrated, “I’m not sure if I should be disappointed by your lack of enthusiasm or impressed by your restraint.”

“It’s not…” Nick had dreamed about breasts for years. The idea of touching Gwen … holding a pair of breasts in both hands. It was too much. ”Are you sure it’s ok?”

The voice spoke, “Push through your fears.”

“See, you are different.” Gwen smiled, “I doubt there’s a dozen guys on campus who’d restrain themselves if a Phi Lamb offered them their tits.” Gwen grabbed one of Nick’s hands and moved it to her chest.

Gwen’s warmth flowed into Nick’s fingers, the energy flowing to the rest of his body. Her skin was so soft, like two pillows resting on a cloud. His hands had a mind of their own, pressing – pulling – exploring as the heat inside his body grew to a fever pitch.

When he opened his eyes he saw Gwen doing similar things to his own chest. “What are you doing?”

“It’s only fair.”

Nick watched Gwen’s attempts to manipulate his underdeveloped chest. He’d never been much of an athlete or had the definition of a person who lifted weights, hardly worth the effort.

Gwen smiled, “Does this feel GOOD?”

A series of shivers ran down Nick’s spine as he continued his digital manipulations. Gwen ended her own efforts, her reciprocal attempts not appreciated.

“I’ve never understood guys’ fascination with breasts. They’re fatty protrusions with nipples. They’re no big deal.”

Nick said, shutting his eyes. “Says you.”

“So you’re enjoying yourself?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Are mine big enough?”

Nick hesitated a second, “Ummm …. sure.”

“Wow.” Gwen pulled away leaving Nick’s hands cold. “Really?”

“You’re breasts are amazing, Gwen.”

“Too late.”

“Your boobs are the first ones I’ve ever touched. I’m hardly an expert.” Nick said, realizing the bras Gwen wore to class made them look bigger than the reality.

“Yeah, yeah. I know what you want.” Gwen stood up. “Be right back.”

Gwen returned with a bra in her hand. “I’m a C cup. This is a DD. Would you prefer boobs this size?”

Nick shrugged, knowing there was no good answer to her question.

Gwen jumped on the bed. “Raise your arms.”

“What? Why?”

“It annoys me how guys always seem to love big boobs but they aren’t the ones who have to lug them around.” She put his arms through the straps then fastened them in back. “Try to imagine all the flesh it would take to fill this thing.

Nick closed his eyes. He’d imagined it thousands of times. He wiggled his chest, looking down disappointed at the lack of feeling. He reached around to take off the bra, an act he’d perfected in the back room of the department store.

“Leave it on. You like big boobs. The truth is so do our judges.” Gwen pointed to a chair on the other side of the room. “Time for your makeup.”

Nick’s heart skipped a beat when he heard the word. “Makeup?”

“You’ll never win the pageant without makeup.” Gwen placed a finger under Nick’s chin, forcing his eyes to rise up from her chest. “Don’t worry, the other contestants will be wearing makeup too.”

“So I have no choice?” Nick smiled, doing his best to hide his excitement.

“Not unless you want a guaranteed loss.” Gwen pointed at a chair next to the large mirror. “Sit.”

Gwen turned the dressing table’s chair around as soon as Nick sat. “We’re behind schedule so no questions as I work. Do you trust me?”

Nick nodded, “I trust you.”

“Good.” Gwen said as she started spreading lotion all over Nick’s face. “You have great skin. Has anyone ever told you?”

“The ladies at the department store said it all the time. They wanted to know my skin care regime.”

“What is your skin care regime?” Gwen had moved on to some other type of crème, spreading it under his eyes.

“Don’t have one.” Nick shrugged. ”Soap and water I guess.”

“Good genes get you so far but everyone, including Phi Lambs, needs a skin care regime.” Gwen used some sort of stick around Nick’s eyes, then rubbed it in with a finger.

“Even you?”

“Even me.”

“Can I see?” Nick wanted to see.

“Not until I’m finished.”

“You suck.”

“Yeah.” Gwen said, her voice growing serious. “There’s something you need to know but before I tell you, I need you to promise me you won’t get mad.”

“I won’t get mad.” Nick said, half listening. Gwen never put on her sweatshirt back on. As she leaned forward, her naked chest was inches from his face.

“I’ve been hiding something from you.”

“Hiding?” Nick said, his eyes rising from Gwen’s chest. “If anything, you’ve shared more than I ever thought possible.”

“I’ve got plenty of secrets.” Gwen had moved on to applying some sort of powder. “It’s about you … I mean … this sorority gets a lot of stalker types.”

Nick smiled at Gwen’s sudden stammers, “I said I was sorry.”

Gwen ignored the interruption. “You were investigated. It was very thorough.”

This got Nick’s attention. “What does that mean - investigated?”

Gwen recited from memory. “Nick Wilder. Pinewood High graduate. 2.6 GPA. No pictures in the yearbook. No sports. No academic achievement. No extracurricular activities. Worked in a department store after school for the past three years to help his Mom with expenses. Dad left before first birthday. Under $1,000 in savings. No car. Only child. Graduated high school with a little over a thousand classmates but no one he called a close friend.”

“Holy shit, Gwen!” Nick exclaimed, “And you call me the stalker?”

“This sorority takes the safety of its members very seriously.” Gwen didn’t sound apologetic in the slightest. “I know your secret. I sensed it the first time I noticed you staring.”

“What does that mean?”

Gwen pressed on the bra. “You wanted to wear this as soon as you saw it. You like wearing it.”

“What???” Nick shook his head. Gwen couldn’t possibly know. He hadn’t dressed up one time since he’d stepped on campus.

“It took a while to figure out you didn’t want me.” Gwen put her hands around Nick, feeling him up as she pressed against his chest. “You want this.” She continued to grope him. “You want it more than you can admit to anyone, even yourself.”

Nick shook his head. “That’s not true…”

“Our investigators are very thorough. They hacked the computer at the department store and went through the security tapes.” Gwen shared her sweetest smile. “Do you want to guess what the tapes showed on the nights you closed the store by yourself?”

Nick didn’t need to guess. “It’s not what you think. It was customer research.”

“Sure…” Gwen didn’t say another word, instead picking up her makeup brushes and applying one color after another.

Nick wanted to explain but couldn’t find the words. He’d known from a young age he was different from the other guys. Hanging with them never made sense. It wasn’t that he wanted to play with girls either. He’d never been into dolls or once had a desire to bake a pretend cake. But seeing classmates in their pretty dresses did something to him and the feeling got worse as he got older. He’d made several attempts to fit in but found it easier to retreat altogether. When he got the job at the department store it was easy to blame family finances as the reason he wanted to spend all his free time there.

Gwen ran a brush through Nick’s hair. “Has anyone ever told you, you’ve got beautiful eyes?”

Nick shook his head, trying to push the memories from his mind. “Does my Mom count?”

Gwen smiled, “The trick to makeup is using colors which accentuate a person’s best features while hiding their flaws. There are girls in this house who guys wouldn’t look at twice until they’ve spent a half hour at the dressing table. She turned Nick’s head towards the mirror.

“What do YOU think of YOU?”

Nick couldn’t believe what he saw. Feelings of awe and guilt intertwined his thoughts of angst and joy. A girl’s hair. A girl’s eyes. A girl’s lips. A girl’s face. “That’s not me.”

“I disagree, Nick. I think this is you. The real you.”

The inner voice repeated, “The real you.”

Gwen continued, “This face needs a name. What do you think about Nicky?”

Hearing his secret name out loud brought Nick out of his stupor. There’s no way Gwen could know this, no matter how good her investigators. He’d never dared to speak the name out loud.

Nick stared at the woman in the mirror. “How did you know what I name her?”

Gwen shrugged, “Nick … Nicky. It’s not a large leap.”

Nick nodded. “This girl spells it Nikki. N-I-K-K-I. With two Is and two Ks.”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “Of course she does.”

Nick nodded then turned his head back and forth. With the wig and this makeup … at a distance and at night … would anyone be able to tell? “I want to go outside.”

“I like this sudden burst of enthusiasm but that’s impossible.” Gwen said, while shaking her head. “We’re running out of time and we have a lot left to do.”

“We do?”

Gwen looked down. Nick followed her gaze to see something sticking out from under the bottom of his dress. “Oh my god. Why didn’t you say something?”

“It isn’t hurting anything but we need to address the problem before you put on that gown. It’s going to show every bump, curve, and bulge.”

Nick nodded, “Of course.”

Gwen held up a bottle of lube. “You’ll find the bathroom down the hall.”

It didn’t seem possible that he was standing in a Phi Lamb’s bathroom. Masturbating in a Phi Lamb’s bathroom was next level crazy.
The bathroom looked like any other bathroom. A standup shower with shampoos and razors, a toilet sitting next to it, and a large vanity covered with all sorts of cremes and lotions. He’d never considered women as beautiful as the Phi Lambs would need any help. In his mind, he assumed Phi Lambs sprang from their beds as goddesses fully formed, ready to take on the world.

A look in the mirror showed a body full of dichotomies -both top and bottom. Nick struggled to believe the top half could look so good while the bottom half showed his most unladylike bump.

The voice called out but it sounded different. Darker and more intense. “Give in to desire. I will do the rest.”

“Did you say something, Gwen?”

Gwen shouted through the door, “I asked if you were almost done? We’re running short on time.”

“Working on it.” Nick grabbed himself, manipulating his member like he’d done a thousand times before. A look in the mirror showed a girl staring back.

The girl wasn’t a beauty, far from it but she was pretty enough to fool someone from a distance and with Nick’s unathletic frame and massive bra he dreamed of massive boobs bouncing on his chest.

“What is wrong with me?” The woman in the mirror mouthed the words as Nick said them.

The voice said, “There is nothing wrong with.

It wasn’t the first time Nick had heard a voice. He’d been hearing voices his whole life, telling him to do things against the dictates of normal society.

The voice commanded, “Close your eyes.”

A check in the mirror showed the woman’s lips hadn’t moved.

Nick couldn’t remember the first time he had the feeling of being different. He didn’t remember the first time he’d put on women’s clothing. He’d gotten them from his Mom’s closet but as far as he’d known it was something he’d always done.

The funny thing was that even with an early start, he’d hid his fascination with the closet from his Mom. It wasn’t hard. The woman worked twelve hours a day, six days a week, always tired whenever she was home. She never said a word when an old ratty blouse turned up missing or when her shoes weren’t returned to the exact proper place. He’d worried she’d catch him every single time which is why getting the job at the department store was so great. It gave more options and more freedom and after everyone was gone, the back storage became his private sanctuary, a home away from home.

The voice said, “Imagine yourself as a girl and I can help you feel like one.”

Nick couldn’t remember the first time he heard Nikki’s voice, egging him on to do the unthinkable.. Every step, every little indulgence they took increased the chance of discovery. He’d run from her, run from temptations present everywhere in the department store. Now it seemed running to a college three hundred miles from home wasn’t far enough.

The pressure grew slowly at first then built … built … built … Nick’s body tensed at first, but he willed himself to relax, opening himself to new sensations. He gasped as the force entered his body, his instinct to cast out the foreign presence overcome by a fiery presence building at his core, flipping the world on its head. The warmth built like a wildfire allowing him to sense every cell, every pore, every hair on top his head forcing Nick clenched his legs tight as breath came in ragged gasps. He was a girl, happy and free, his skin slick as the pleasure coiled tighter and tighter. All that mattered was the dance of a primal rhythm, building, growing as Nick’s hands held firm on fleshy mounds until the first wave of pleasure crashed down followed by a second and then a third.

Gwen asked, “Is everything okay in there?”

“Yeah.” Nick said, trying to catch his breath. The bottom of lube lay upopened on the counter. A look down showed his unsightly bulge temporarily at bay.

“Hey Gwen?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have those panties?”

“You read my mind.” A second later Gwen’s hand appeared through a crack in the door, passing him a pair of panties along with an item Nick hadn’t requested.“Thanks.” Nick recognized the panties at once, the panties he’d chosen the first time he’d entered this room. He read about the second, never daring to buy one, his face flushing as he stared at the gaff.

“Any questions in there?”

“No.” The situation was embarrassing enough.

“I can come in if you want.”

“No … no way.” Nick answered.

“If you’re sure.” Nick heard a girl’s giggle outside the bathroom door.

The gaff wasn’t much more than two pieces of cloth pulled together, too small to cover much of anything. Nick pulled it up his legs like a pair of panties, pull it tight against his waist, then remembering the videos he’d watched, allowed the device to press his penis down while his balls pressed so tight he thought they might burst.The sudden *pop* *pop* forced Nick to his knees as he expected pain but when none came, he stood to full measure. Uncomfortable … to be sure. But that didn’t matter when Nick pulled up the panties and saw he had nothing to show across his entire front.

The voice sounded happy. “Well done.”

Nick opened the bathroom door, anxious to show Gwen but when he did he saw her in the hallway, holding out a pink razor.

“ Time to shave.”

“I shaved this morning.” Nick replied.”

“I wasn't talking about your face.”

It took Nick a second to understand Gwen’s meaning. “No … no way.” The wig, the dress, the panties … they could be removed but shaving my legs? Every guy at the dorm would notice the next time he took a shower.”

“If that’s how you feel, you might as well go home right now.” Gwen said. “Is that what you want?”

Nick shook his head.

Gwen’s voice softened. “Tell you’re worried about your dorm-mates, tell them you’re taking up biking or thinking of joining the swim team. Trust me, you wouldn’t be the first guy on campus who shaved his legs. Consider that and consider how you’re going to feel appearing in front of the entire assemblage of Phi Lambs wearing a gown with hairy legs.”

Nick shook his head, “I thought we were out of time?”

“We’ll make time for this.” Gwen insisted, “You’ll find the shaving cream on the side of the tub.”

Nick looked at the tub and then back to Gwen before shutting the bathroom door. While her words might make sense, he didn’t have to give her the satisfaction of letting her watch. A look in the mirror proved Gwen’s point. Long strawberry blonde hair, bra and panties, and a painted girl’s face with hairy thighs and hairy calves.

The voice said, “Don’t pretend that you haven’t dreamed of this.”

Nick took off his dress, closing his eyes as the cream spread even over his skin. He drew strength from it, the perfumed scent sending tingles to every strand of hair, allowing the razor to find its way through the thick growth and leave nothing in its wake. Two shapely legs appeared with every flash of the blade, the remaining flesh no longer resembling those of a boy.

“How far do I need to shave?”

“You’re wearing a knee length gown. No need to give yourself a Brazilian.”

Nick wanted to stop but his hands had different ideas, pressing through the thick forest above, only stopping when it reached the panty line. A spray of the showerhead removed the evidence, allowing a mass of fine hair to make its way to the drain.

“Don’t forget to moisturize.”

Nick’s hands sliding moisturizing cream over now smooth skin, his pores ingesting much needed hydration, the lotion‘s magic turning his skin an even hue. He continued to rub until all signs of the moisturizer worked their way deep into his skin, and when he was sure quickly pulled the dress on to see the results in the mirror.

“Holy shit. I could pass as a girl.”

Tears crept into Nick’s eyes. He’d dreamed of this for so long and now…

Gwen’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Did you remember your pits?”

Nick knew the answer to Gwen’s question before he dared to look, and grabbing his weapons of pink razor and lady’s cream with new found determination, found no whisper of complaint.

Nick twirled on the balls of his feet. “How do I look?”

Gwen’s silence gave Nick pause, “Not too bad.”

“Not too bad?” Nick said, a little disappointed.

Gwen held up the emerald green formal gown allowing Nick to step into it. “Have you thought of a talent?

“Talent?” A surge of fear crept up Nick’s spine.

“Have you ever watched a beauty pageant? Every contestant needs a talent.”

“I don’t have a talent.”

Nick felt the zipper pull into place as the gown pulled tight to his body. He turned one way then the other, watching the material follow his hips. “This dress feels amazing. It must cost a fortune.”

“You should know. You’re the one who worked in a department store. You look amazing by the way.”

Nick took a deep breath. He could scarcely imagine allowing Gwen or anyone on campus seeing him like this a few hours earlier, but now … being in this room with Gwen … it didn’t seem so bad.

“Thank you.”

Gwen loosened the zipper on the gown, loosening the shoulder straps. “Take off the bra.”

Nick noticed the problem too. Thin straps of the bra showed alongside the thin straps of the gown, this type of fashion faux pas would never do in a gown this nice. Luckily, years at the department store gave him knowledge on how to handle such matters.

“Does your big sis have a bandeau bra?”

Gwen gave Nick a look, “Someone knows their bras.” She opened a dresser drawer, pulling out a stretchy piece of black cloth,
Nick blushed as he hurriedly pulled the strapless bra into place. When he finished he saw Gwen holding two large silicone lumps.

“No way.”

“The gown needs them. You will throw off the dress’ curves if you don’t stuff that bra.”

Nick turned to the side, seeing at once Gwen was right. “Do they need to be so big?”

“You’re the one who likes big boobs. Are you telling me you don’t own a pair of these?”

Nick shook his head. He’d checked them out dozens of times online but never dared.

Gwen asked, “Do you need me to help?”

Nick grabbed the breast forms, his hands moving them into place before his brain had a chance to think.

“I thought you said you didn’t own a pair…” Gwen smiled.

“I’ve watched a lot of videos.” Nick said. “How do they look?”

“Check for yourself in the mirror.”

Nick knew he was blushing but didn’t care. He looked in the mirror, then did a slight jump. The bra rose then fell then jiggled a bit.

Gwen asked, “You like?”

Nick nodded. “I like. I like very much.” He squeezed the bulges on his chest, disappointed to feel nothing. “They’re heavier than I expected.”

The voice said, “Real breasts are lighter than those fake things. Would you like a pair?”

Gwen shook her head. “You need to be thinking of a talent, not playing with your fake tits.”

Nick watched the mirror as he jumped again, marveling at the realistic way his ‘boobs’ bounced. “It’s too bad I can’t feel anything when I touch them. It ruins the fantasy.”

“Seriously, Nick.” Gwen said. “You need to stop playing with your tits and start thinking of talent.” Gwen held up a package of press-on nails. “I assume you know how to put these on?”

Nick nodded, removing the adhesive on the artificial nail before pressing the first one on his right index finger. It took less than a minute to finish his right hand, showing Gwen by tapping his nails on the counter. “One time I tried those do-it-yourself acrylic kits when my Mom was away. Those are a lot harder than the videos make them look.”

“Acrylics can be dangerous.” Gwen said, showing off her French manicure. “You gotta be careful taking them off or you’ll tear your nail bed.”

“My nails looked like shit for a few weeks after I tried acrylics but Mom never noticed.”

“You’d be surprised what women notice. We pick up on more than men know.”

“Perhaps.” Nick smiled, enjoying the sound of the audible ‘tap, tap, tap’ of his fingernails on the counter. “My Mom went out of town for an entire weekend. I wore fake nails the entire time. I made a mess trying to make dinner. Using my cell phone was impossible. I kept stabbing everything. I don’t know how you ladies get anything done in these.”

He held up his hands, both now had fake nails extending a half inch past the end of his fingertips..

Gwen wiggled her fingers. “You get used to it. I can type 80 words a minute.”

Nick closed his hand causing several sharp pokes to press into his palm.

The voice encouraged, “Bask in the feeling.”

Gwen said, “Do you think you can handle a three inch spike?”

“Yes.”

“I doubt it.” Nick shook his head, “I’m pretty good in two inch blocks.”

“This gown needs more.” Gwen pointed to a pair of heels sitting near the end of the bed. “Do you think you can handle those?”

Nick picked up the heel. “Are these Louboutin?”

“Put them on! Put them on!”

Gwen smiled at Nick. “You know your shoes.”

Nick took a deep breath as he strapped the heel to his ankle. He never dared to try anything so fancy at the department store for fear a broken heel might cause an investigation.

The Louboutin cupped his ankle as the tiny metal buckle fastened tight. When Nick stood, the heel stood with him. His first step was like walking on air.

“Oh wow…”

“Told you.”

Gwen nodded, “You’re a natural.”

Nick took another step. “These heels are incredible.”

“I suppose there’s a reason they’re so expensive.”

Nick turned when he reached the bedroom wall, turning on a heel like he’d seen models do at a fashion show.

“There you go.” Gwen smiled.

Nick smiled back, pausing for a second to give her a slight wiggle before turning around.

“Now you’re showing off.” Gwen looked at her watch. “We have five minutes. Have you thought of a talent? Walking in heels isn't a talent.”

“Not yet.”

“It doesn’t need to be fancy.” Gwen said, “What can you do?”

Nick shook his head. “I’ve never been good at anything.”

Gwen said, “Everyone can do something.”

“Not me.”

“Can you dance?”

Nick shook his head. “I’ve got two left feet.”

“Sing?”

“Only in the shower.”

“Do you play an instrument?”

Nick said, “I quit the band in the 5th grade.”

“What about acting? Can you tell a joke? Or do a dramatic reading?”

“No. No. And no.” Nick shook his head, “I told you. I’m not good at anything.”

“You are good at many things, Nikki. It is fear which holds you back.”

Gwen frowned, “I’m running out of ideas.”

Nick said, “Your investigators already told you I never joined any clubs or any did any extracurricular activities. I spent all my free time in a department store.”

Gwen looked at her watch, “We’ve gotta go.”

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 5

Nick stayed close behind Gwen as they walked through dark house until the light of the party room came into sight. A line of girls wearing gowns waited by the door.

“Holy shit…”

Gwen squeezed Nick’s hand. “That’s your competition. I told you wouldn’t be the only one on stage.”

Every ‘girl’ looked completely convincing. Even Clem somehow managed to pass.

Mitsy called to the crowd. “Are you ready to meet this year’s contestants?” A loud cheer filled the hall, growing louder when the door opened, revealing the bright hall inside.

Nick couldn’t stop staring. The confidence he’d found in the bedroom disappeared as he looked at each one. Nick waved at Clem but got nothing in return.

Mitsy’s voice called out. “Ready for introductions?”

The crowd roared again, and a song began to play. Nick counted the girls in gowns. Only eight remained.

Mitsy shouted, “Let’s give a big Phi Lambda Phi welcome to all of our contestants.”

Something pressed the group to move. “Go … go … go ladies … it’s your time to shine.”

Nick’s heart pounded in his chest as he followed the others onto the stage.

Mitsy mimicked the voice of a pageant orator, “Say hello to Erica…”

A short contestant with long black hair and matching fingernails turned towards Mitsy looking completely petrified. She took a moment to compose herself then with a deep breath and a sigh, she raised her hand and attempted to smile before walking across the stage.

“Marcia…”

This time a heavy set girl in a curly red wig and thigh high boots made the walk.

“Clementine…”

Nick’s tall friend answered the call this time, looking even taller in 3-inch stiletto heels. Instead of looking freakish or out of place, Clem somehow pulled it off, the combination of the long form-fitting dress, long well-coiffed hair, the bouncy walk, and the air and confidence of a supermodel. Clem strutted across the stage, then stopped, giving the crowd a stunning smile, before returning to the group. Nick started to wave as Clem passed…

“Nikki…”

Nick froze when he heard his name, the stage too visible, the eyes of the audience too heavy, the other contestants too good.
Gwen’s voice whispered as she gave a shove from behind. “You can do this.”

Thankfully Nick’s first stumbled steps didn’t lead to disaster. He’d done this a thousand times before. One step. Two steps. Every fiber of Nick’s being told him to run. He’d run his whole life. He’d hid as a child and again as an adolescent. Now he’d run again, leaving his mother and everything he’d known to come to a school hundreds of miles from his home. This was supposed to be a new start, a new beginning and here he was once again, repeating the same mistake. The difference this time, everyone at school would soon know his deepest, darkest secret.

“Do not let your fears control you..”

Nick stared into the audience, finding a sudden sense of calm. His knees stopped knocking, his hands stopped trembling, and his back stood straighter. A few girls in the crowd must have noted his nerves, and began shouting his name.

“Nikki. Nikki. Nikki.”

He’d watched Clem do this. Why was everything so easy for him? It wasn’t a difficult task. A simple walk out on stage, a wave, and a walk back. How many nights had he imagined this very thing in the stock room?

Another step. And then another.

Nick raised his right hand when he arrived at the stage’s edge then turned on a heel like he remembered. The cheers didn’t sound as loud as the others, the sound of blood pumping in his ears as a rush of tingles hit as he waved.

“Let the audience feed you. Drink in their power.”

The interruption caused a slight wobble but no fall as Nick turned and attempted a smile. It didn’t take long to reach the safety of the wall, allowing him to spend the next minute trying to push down the feeling to puke.

His discomfort eased by the time the sixth and seventh ‘girls’ made their way across the stage, each looking as uncomfortable as him.

When the eighth ‘girl’ made her turn, Nick found his knees had stopped knocking enough so he could join the others.

“Let’s give a round of applause to our brave ladies.” As the entire Phi Lamb sorority stood and cheered, he saw relief appear on most of the other contestants. At least he wasn’t alone.

Nick stared at each one by one. All of them had supermodel looks, well-filled outfits, and expertly painted faces. All looked perfectly comfortable wearing feminine attire or they would have left with the others. Nick saved his last look for Clem.

Someone that big shouldn’t be able to look so good in women’s clothing and yet Clem pulled it off. It didn’t seem possible that someone like his friend could be someone like him.

“You’ve seen our contestants. Would you like them to introduce themselves?” Mitsy extended the microphone to the huddled group,

“Jessica… come to center stage and tell my sisters about yourself.”

Jessica strode across the stage in a confident manner but that confidence died as soon as she took the mic. “My … uhh … my name is Jess… ica … and I’m … uhh … a first year student at Asher College. I’m looking to get a business degree with a focus on finance. I like video gaming and … uhh … taking long hikes in the woods.”

Mitsy smiled. “Not bad, Jessica. It’s tough being first, but you did great. Samantha…you’re next.”

Mitsy pulled Jessica to the side and whispered in her ear as Samantha made her way to center stage.

Nick panicked trying to remember how beauty contestants introduced themselves. What could he say? How did the ones who’d gone already introduce themselves? Was it possible to boil a person’s essence into a few short sentences?

“Victoria…”

Nick watched as the other contestants gave a quick speech then turned, all sounding more confident than on their walks.

“Nikki.”

Nick stumbled as he took his first step, but quickly righted himself. His mind froze when he saw a hundred eyes staring back.

“My name is Nick … err Nikki. I’m a freshman at … Asher College and … I … I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I currently work in fashion retail.” The crowd didn’t react when Nick finished his ‘speech’, unsure if he had finished done.

Polite applause sounded when Mitsy call the name, “Chrissy.” but a few cries of ‘Way to go Nikki’ rang through the silence.

Mitsy pulled him aside and whispered in his ear like she’d done with the others. “Well done, Nikki. You gave an honest answer. That will serve you well.”

Nick didn’t dare look up, uttering a barely audible. “Thank you.” before rushing off to stand next to the others.

“Clementine…”Clem strode confidently across the stage, flashing the crowd one of his trademark smiles.

“Hello everyone … My name is Clementine and I’m a first year student at Asher pursuing a degree in elementary education. My goal is to work with children, and I spent last summer working at a summer camp for kids with learning disabilities. I love fashion, and wearing things that show off my body. My main hobbies are physical fitness, writing poetry, and gardening. And I believe anything is possible in life if you work hard enough.”

Clem’s face held a frozen smile for five seconds before giving the crowd a wave as he turned to speak with Mitsy. How was it possible Clem was so good at this and Nick so bad?

Nick tried to get Clem’s attention but his friend appeared not to hear, standing like a statue with a planted smile as both Marcia and Erica gave their speeches. Mitsy spoke next.

“My thanks to our contestants for their compelling introductions. We are going to take a five-minute break so our contestants can set up for the talent portion. Remember ladies, five minutes means five minutes … not fifteen … as you know we are on a tight schedule.”
Nick called after Clem but his friend hurried out the door. Nick started to follow until a hand grabbed him from behind.
Gwen’s face looked like she might get sick. “Not great but not terrible either.”

“Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

Gwen smiled. “I’m teasing. You did great.”

“No, I was terrible. I almost fell a few times in these heels and my answer was pathetic.”

“But you faced your fears and did your best. That’s all that matters.” Gwen pointed out the door. “Have you thought of a talent yet?”

Nick rushed out the door to find Clem. “I need to talk to my friend.”

Gwen called after him. “You don’t have time.”

Nick raced down the stairs, skipping several steps, jumping on the landing with confidence as if he’d worn three-inch heels his whole life. By the time Gwen caught up he was in the laundry room with the other contestants. “Does this room bring back memories?”

“I want to speak with Clem but he keeps ignoring me.” His friend was talking on the other side of the room, having an intense discussion with another Phi Lamb.

“We don’t have time.” She pointed, “Clementine is getting ready for the talent competition. You need to do the same.”

“I don’t have talent. I’ve never been good at anything.” Nick stared at Clem who dwarfed the Phi Lamb standing next to him. For the past month, he’d watched women flock to Clem. It didn’t seem possible the guy had anything in common with him and yet …

He’d spent years at the store dreaming of this kind of acceptance. He should be having the time of his life.

“Yes, you should.”

Gwen said, “We’re almost out of time. Think of something.”

Nick shook his head, “I spent hours in the back room of the department story, dreaming I’d get a chance to wear clothing like this. Now that I’m here, it feels like I don’t belong.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Bullshit.” Gwen cursed, “No one is expecting a virtuoso performance. There has to be something you can do. It needs to be something you do well.”

“I don’t do anything well. I’ve always been a loser.”

“You’re a loser if you give up.” Gwen insisted, “No one expects you to be perfect – this isn't about being better than anyone else or trying to measure up to a standard. This is about facing your fear and pushing through it.”

“I can’t do it.”

“You can.” Gwen kissed Nick’s cheek. “I believe in you. I felt your fear on stage but you pushed through that. Do it again.. Think of a talent, any talent. If you can’t sing or dance, think outside the box.”

“What are you good at? It can be anything…”

“I don’t know.” Nick shook his head, “For the last three years I've spent all my free time working in a department store.”

“A department store? I’m sure there’s nothing you've done in a department store that might interest an audience of girls.”

The idea started as a flash. Did it matter if it came from Nikki or Nick? Nick had done his best to ignore her over the years but the voice had become so ubiquitous it was sometimes hard to know where her thoughts began and his thoughts ended.

“You said it could be anything?”

“Anything.”

Nick shook his head. “I’ve thought of something dumb.”

“Is it dumber than standing on stage with no talent?” Gwen asked.

“Maybe.”

Gwen asked, "Do you have another idea?”

Nick shook his head. “No.”

“Then you have no choice.”

Nick took a deep breath, “I need a few props. It might take you some time to put together.”

Gwen didn’t look worried, “Tell me what you need and I’ll get it.”

Nick hesitated before whispering his idea into Gwen’s ear. She smiled as soon as he said the words.

“See…” Nick sighed, “I told you it was dumb.”

Gwen smiled, “Ha ... ha ... It'll work but you’re going to need to sell it. Do you think you can do that?”

Nick shrugged, “After three years at a department store, selling to girls is one thing I do know how to do.”

The crowd grew quiet as the contestants entered the room. This time they went in reverse order, Nick looking at the door, waiting for Gwen’s return.

Erica did a little dance number that wasn’t bad. Clementine sang a song with a surprising amount of range for someone with a deep voice. Chrissy did tap dance, clearly experienced in the art. Then Mitsy called Nikki’s name.

I … uhhh…” Nick looked at the door then back to the crowd. No one said a word as he pulled a dining table behind him to center stage.
His eyes scanned the gathered crowd of Phi Lambs, their stares filling him with dread as he kept looking towards the door. His life had been little more than a series of awkward pauses though never before with so many people at the same time. He didn’t blame these people for staring. He was standing on a stage, not saying a word and standing behind a table. Time to embrace his weirdness.

“About damned time.”

Nick looked back towards the crowd as the clatter of heels sounded on the stage. A second later he felt Gwen’s hand on his back.

“Sorry, it took longer than I expected.” Nick turned to see Gwen holding a box. She looked out of breath and curiously apologetic.
“Everything you asked for is in there.”

Nick whispered. “Thanks.”

Gwen said, “Remember to smile.”

Mitsy’s voice sounded annoyed at the delay. “Are you ready, Nikki?”

“Yes…” Nick took a deep breath. Gwen had done her part. Now it was up to him.

The crowd which had been so patient to this point, laughed when Nick pulled the first item from the box. Nick answered their laughter, surprised at the strength of his own voice.

“I’m sure all of you are wondering the same thing … Why is Nikki carrying a laundry basket?” Nick took another deep breath as the laughter died down. “For the last few years, I’ve worked the same job. Five days a week, eight hours every day.”

Nick placed the basket on the table. He remembered the first day he’d worked at Lola’s. He only got a half hour’s instruction before she sent him to work out on the floor all by himself. He remembered feeling a similar fear when the first customer approached. The woman had no idea it was his first day. All she saw was the tag on his shirt. In her mind, he was an expert. His boss’ advice? Fake it until you make it.

Nick held the item high in the air, shaking it a few times so all could see.

“The humble t-shirt. Washed. Dried. And now wrinkled. I can’t imagine a Phi Lamb walking on campus in a t-shirt that looks like this. Can you imagine the scandal?”

He waited for a response. A few laughs echoed through the crowd.

“During my time at the department store, customers loved to try on items but found inventive ways of not returning items to the proper spot and when they did they rarely put them on the rack correctly." Nick looked out at the crowd. "I'm sure no one in this room has ever done that."

Nick paused to calm his nerves. A few more laughs.

"I faced piles of clothing every day that need to be returned to the shelves but before that happened they needed to be refolded to my boss' satisfaction."

Nick laid the t-shirt flat on the table, repeating the words his boss had taught him.

Step one - Lay the item on a hard, flat surface.
Step two - Fold each side in a clean, straight line.
Step three - Bring the bottom of the item a third of the way up.
Step four - Bring the bottom part up again, for a second fold.
Step five - Flip it over and smooth the edges.

The process wasn’t as easy as it sounded. It had taken him a month before he could do it to the boss’s satisfaction.

Nick said, “Once you know the basics, it’s simple repetition until you become an expert.”

As he began to fold the t-shirt his fingers fumbled on the first seam, sending the garment flying. The t-shirt flew up into the air before crumbling to the ground.

“Shit.”

The audience let loose a howl, the power of their laughter knocking him down. Nick stared at the pink t-shirt on the floor and then to hands that had never failed him in three years. He forgotten about the press-on nails.

Blood pounded in his brain. He couldn’t see anything. He couldn’t hear anything. The laughter grew louder still until it seemed to shake the rafters.

“Center yourself. Use their laughter.”

Nick was used to laughter. Long ago, he’d told himself not to let it hurt him but it always did. Nick picked himself off the floor, holding the pink t-shirt as the laughter continued unabated. How long had he feared a situation such as this? Only this wasn’t one person, he’d become a laughingstock to an entire sorority. Tomorrow, they’d tell the whole school.

“Use their energy. Turn a negative into a positive.”

Nick stared at the tiny daggers sticking out from the end of each fingernail. Nick made a fist, drawing on the pain.

Nick gave the crowd a goofy grin, “A slight correction:"

New Step One - Check to see if you’re wearing press-on nails you’ve never worn before.
New Step Two - Make necessary adjustments.

Nick smiled as the laughter washed over him. As it died down he held up the t-shirt, then shook it a few times. “Shall I try again?” A loud cheer sounded back.

“See how easy you won them over? Now feed off their energy.”

Nick laid the t-shirt on the table paying close attention to his nails, taking his time as he folded each side in a clean, straight line before bringing the bottom of the item a third of the way up, then bottom up again, for a second fold before flipping it over and smoothing the edges.

Cheers mixed with laughter as Nick finished the first, the sound growing louder as he did the second, but he ignored them as he continued falling into a trance as the mindless work continued. Fear fell away as each shirt landed folded on the table. When Nick finished, he saw the entire audience standing, their applause sending tingles from head to toe.

“Do you see what you’ve done? Let me show you.”

Faint white lines floated from the crowd and into his body, the power growing stronger every second. The white light inside grew and grew until Nick thought he might burst.

“Embrace the power, Nikki.”

Nick touched the spot where the energy entered his body and found the area cool, moving his hands higher either by intent or unconscious need. As he did so, an audible gasp rose from the crowd as the shock wave exploded.

Nick crumpled to the stage floor.

Chapter 6

The woman’s voice sounded a thousand miles away. “How do you feel?”

Nick opened his eyes to see Gwen hovering over him. “Like someone wrung me out from the inside.”

“You gave us quite a scare. You passed out on stage.”

“I did?” Nick tried to sit up but a chill wracked his body from head to toe. A look at the clock showed 12 o’clock midnight.

“Save your strength.” Gwen pulled a second blanket over Nick’s body. “This should help.” The blanket was pink and had the sorority’s letters embroidered in big blue letters.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Gwen’s eyes narrowed.

“I failed.” Scattered memories returned. The laughter … the t-shirts … the stupid press-on nails."

"Nah." Gwen said, “You were doing fantastic until you passed out. You were funny and authentic. The audience loved you.”

Nick felt better than he'd expected. He’d dressed up like a girl in front of others and lived to tell the tale. His face was made up pretty, the wig, the fancy dress. He’d had more fun than he’d ever dared to dream. “I tried my best.”

“I know. I'm proud of you.”

Nick looked around the room. "Where am I?"

Gwen pointed at a nearby desk. “You’re in my big sis’ bed.”

Nick shook his head. “I’m screwed up.”

“You didn’t screw up. Quite the opposite.” Gwen smiled. “But you do need rest.” She flipped off the light. “Find me downstairs when you feel well enough to walk.”

Nick saw two girls in the hallway. The blonde gave Gwen a concerned look as she exited the room. The cute brunette smiled at Nick then closed the door. He fell asleep in seconds.

Chapter 7

“Do you have extra potions?”

“I never leave home without them.”

“Have you memorized your speech?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And the song?”

The past week had been nothing but a series of non-stop calls from his Mom and Dad. Even Grandpa Putnam made a call. Clem snapped. “I’ve got it under control.”

“Don’t take that tone with me.” Clem’s Mom’s voice hardened. “Tonight is important to the family.”

“I know, Mom.” Clem complained. He’d been prepping for this night for the past seven years.

Gary popped his head into Clem’s room. “Are you ready? It’s going to get dark soon.”

“Yeah, be there in a moment.” Clem nodded at his dorm mate. “I’ve got to go, Mom.”

“Of course. Can’t be late.” His mother paused a moment before adding. “I love you … son.

Clem couldn’t help but notice his mother’s hesitation. If everything went as planned, she’d address him with a different affectation the next time they spoke and actually mean it. “I love you too, Mom.

Clem couldn’t remember the first time he felt the urge. As far as he knew it had always been there. As the youngest child with two older brothers and four older sisters, it wasn’t like he needed to work hard to find clothing to wear.

Everyone says the youngest child is the most spoiled but it’s easy for any child to get overlooked in a big family. There are only so many hours in a day to gain a parent’s attention and in a big family it is impossible for a parent to satisfy them all. Clem used this to his advantage for quite a few years.

Memories of Daphne’s voice echoed in Clem’s brain. “Who has my favorite pink bra?”

Lucy, Daphne, Margot, and Clara. Lucy was the eldest sibling, eight years older, with the others at six, three and one year older respectively. Clem hadn’t said a word as each of them grew and developed into beautiful young women but that didn’t make the feeling go away. Had the feelings started when he watched Lucy or was it one of the others? Or maybe it had been there all along, waiting for a moment of weakness?

Clem spent years of his childhood squirreling away panties, bras, blouses, and skirts.

Daphne’s voice echoed again. “Who has my favorite pink bra?”

The other girls denied taking it so his mother cast a ‘lost-and-found’ spell. A minute later she discovered the pink bra along with the rest of Clem’s stash.

“We’ll discuss this further when your father gets home.”

Clem thought he was in trouble. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Gary asked, “Have you seen the Phi Lamb house? That place is huge.”

Clem didn’t answer. He’d been inside the Phi Lamb house more times than he could count. All of his sisters were Phi Lambs, with Daphne and Clara at chapters in Boston, Lucy and Margot here at Asher College.

Stanley said, “I can’t believe the fraternities let them snag the best spot on Greek Row.”

Roger said, “My grandfather has told me lots of stories from his days at Asher. The Phi Lambs were hot shit even back then.”

The idea Clem would attend Asher College was never in doubt. His grandfather made sure he went to the best tutors and the best private schools. His mother insisted he dress in female clothing while at home. He started working with the best witch instructors when the first hint of magic ability appeared.

Roger pointed at a nearby girl, “What’s that chick doing here?”

Clem smiled when he saw Kristy.

Kristy replied, “The Phi Lamb flyer didn’t say ‘boys only’. It said ‘freshmen’.”

“Oh.” Roger said.

“Sorry, Kristy.” Clem said, “My friend doesn’t know his manners.” His friend also didn’t know Kristy had a superpower that could prove quite handy once they were inside the house. The spirit who lived inside the house’s walls couldn’t cast spells on girls.

“You know her?”

“She’s in my calculus class.” Clem shook his head at Roger before looking at Kristy. “Sorry about my friend’s rudeness.”

“I’ve met worse.”

Clem gave Kristy a knowing look. He’d known her a lot longer than Calculus class. As the two tallest kids at Danvers Preparatory Academy, they’d been paired in every school photo.

Kristy smiled at him. “It’s good to see you, Clem.”

“You too Kristy.”

Guys of all shapes and sizes ran up and down the halls, most clutching several pairs of panties in their hands.

Clem smiled at the display. It wouldn’t be long until they were gone.

It sounded like Stanley, Roger, Gary, and Nick were having a great time in the back room. He’d had a lot of fun hanging out with his new friends for the past month. A part of him wished he could hang with them longer.

But Clem was destined for greater things…

Nick’s voice shouted from the back room, “I need to clean up this mess.” Clem turned to see both Stanley and Gary pulling Nick from the bedroom.

“We’re out of time, dude,” Stanley said, pointing to his watch. “We've got to go.”

Clem stood at the door. He could feel the house’s darkness clawing at him even though he hadn’t taken a pair of panties. “You guys ready?” He nodded at Kristy. His family promised her a large payment to make sure he got out.

Roger asked, “Aren’t you getting any panties?”

Clem shook his head.

Gary held up three pairs. “Why’d you come here?”

Kristy winked at Clem. “I told Clem, I’d give him mine.”

Gary smiled, “Nice.”

Clem exited and cleared the way as the others followed. The pull of the house didn’t affect him until they started down the second set of stairs. He could see the doorway ahead but even with his strength he struggled against Goody’s pull. The others disappeared by the time they reached the bottom of the steps. He’d read stories about the power Goody could wield but nothing had prepared him for the magic whirlwind now streaming throughout the house.

Clem shouted at Kristy. “I need your help. The portal is about to close.” Years of weight training allowed Clem to press forward. A look back showed no signs of his friends, just hundreds of freshmen being pulled into Goody’s thrall. Goody wasn’t one to let corrupted men fall out of her grasp, and Clem had never claimed to be a saint.

Kristy whispered, “Should I cast a protection spell?”

He shook his head. A spell would only anger the spirit. “Pull me out if you see me fall.” Clem reached out with his mind as he tutors had taught. ‘Speak to me Goody. I am here. I want to be your chosen.’

A hand smacked Clem’s cheek. “Ouch.”

“Wimp.”

Clem pressed at his jaw. “You hit hard.”

“I got you out. That’s all that matters.” Kristy smiled. “How do you feel?”

“Severely drained.” He reached into his backpack.

“Need a potion?”

“Way ahead of you.” Clem pulled an energy drink from his bag and downed most of it in two gulps. It didn’t taste like a thousand dollars.

“One of your friends made it out.”

Nick lay on the ground near the front steps. Clem smiled, “Gary thinks Nick is gay.”

“And you aren’t?”

“Very funny. You know from first-hand experience I like girls.” Clem finished off the magic potion in hopes it might rid him of nausea.

“An overrated experience as I recall.”

“I never heard you complaining.”

Most of the popular kids at Danvers Prep questioned why he hung out with Kristy. The pair certainly hung out with different crowds but there are some secrets only shared between those in families who’d made an alliance long before the country gained its independence. Those bonds ensured Kristy would go to her grave if necessary to protect Nick’s deepest secret.

A voice boomed from above.

“Silence. You must not speak or you will find yourself cast with the others.”

Clem recognized Mitsy’s voice. He stared up at the balcony lined with Phi Lambs, all wearing traditional Phi Lambda Phi ceremonial robes. He had no doubt his sister Margot was paying close attention. To tease her, Clem began taking off his pants.

“You have passed the first test and showed you can respect a simple request. As a result, you have a choice.” An instant later a light showed a large box full of what appeared to be pink panties near the exit. “You may leave with a parting gift or you can re-enter the house with a catch. To re-enter you must take off all your clothing and change into the outfit we provide.”

Kristy pointed towards the second box. Clem nodded, pointed at Nick and held up two fingers. A scan of the balcony showed the Phi Lambs leaving the balcony but Clem’s enhanced vision showed a few sorority sisters decided to stay. One was staring directly at him, most likely Margot. By the time Clem turned around, he caught Nick staring. Maybe Gary was right about Nick’s sexuality. Kristy returned with two Phi Lamb dresses, offering one to Clem and the other to Nick.

Clem picked up a piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth.

“You look good in a dress.”

Clem knew the voice without looking. When he turned, he saw a Phi Lamb and gave her a bear hug. She leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Good to see you, sis.”

Margot pointed at the room’s entrance, “Who’s your friend?”

Clem looked. “That’s Nick. We live in the same dorm.”

“He looks terrified.”

“He’s a good dude, but terribly shy.” Clem laughed, “I had to threaten him to make him come here tonight.” Clem watched as a blonde girl snuck up behind Nick, causing his friend to spill his drink.Margot shook her head, “That’s embarrassing.”

Clem sensed Nick’s anxiety from across the room. “I should help him.”

“We don’t have time Clem. Katherine is waiting.”

“That girl is a real bitch.”

“She’s a useful bitch.” Margot continued to watch the drama on the other side of the room. “She’s well connected and has a lot of ambition, just like someone else I know. My sisters think she’s the favorite to be Phi Lamb president by her senior year. It’s good to keep people like that on your good side.”

“Friends close and enemies closer?”

Margot nodded, “Something like that.”

Clem sighed. “You know I hate stupid political drama.” He scanned the room. Half the room was pointing and laughing as Nick's face got redder and redder. “I need to help him.”

“You can’t. You know what Mom would say.”

Clem nodded, “Yeah. I know.”

Margot pointed at the blonde girl who’d grabbed Nick’s arm. “It looks like Gwen has the situation under control.”

Clem stared at the hulking form staring back from the mirror. He’d never asked for any of this.

Clement Withrow Putnam. Each part of his name had a history going back hundreds of years. He could see it in every picture that lined the walls of his home. Every line in his face. Every hair on his head. None of it belonged to him. They belonged to someone else.

He never expected the growth spurt which started right after his Mom found his stash of clothes. He’d always been a husky child and the growth spurt stretched everything out. Girls began to notice him. The addition of muscles made it even worse.
Football, basketball, shot-put, and discus. Class president and homecoming king. He had everything anyone could ever want, at least that’s what most of his classmates thought.

“Have you taken it?” Katherine’s voice sounded through the door.

“Not yet.”

“Hurry up. We don’t have all night.”

Clem looked in the mirror. He wasn’t sure why he was hesitating. He’d hated this body. It didn’t matter that his Mom made sure he had plenty of clothing in his size. It didn’t matter his Dad made sure his brothers never teased him. He’d become a family secret and he needed that to end tonight.

“Are you doing this for yourself? Or your family?”

Clem looked around the room then whispered towards the mirror, “Goody? Is that you?”

No response… but a good sign. The nursery rhymes said her voice alone could drive men insane.

Clem didn’t feel insane as he pulled the vial from his pocket. This was the sanest thing he’d ever done. One sip would start the desired change … at least for a short while. Clem held his breath then unscrewed the cap, “To you Goody.” He tipped the vial until it touched his lips. “This is my choice. I am ready to make the sacrifice.” Clem swallowed the bitter liquid in a single gulp.

Clem stared at himself as he waited for the change. How many years had he prepared for this night? The seconds passed slowly as his pulse began to quicken. Soon, the warmth from his stomach moved up his throat finding its way into his arms.Sinewy muscles disappeared. The five o’clock shadow pulled back into his skin. Changes rippled up his arms, and subtle changes occurred on his face. A look at his hands showed them thinner and his fingernails longer.The rumble in his stomach caused momentary distraction as dark brown tresses blocked his vision and he felt the slight pressure building on his chest.“Katherine?

“Yes?”

Clem opened the door. “What do you think?”

Katherine stared at Clem from head to toe, “Looks like the potion worked as advertised.” Her eyes stopped when she looked at his crotch.
“You’re going to need one hell of a gaff.”

Clem smiled at the compliment. The salesperson promised this concoction would make superficial changes for a few hours. No one would mix up the person in the mirror as a female but someone his shape and size needed every advantage they could get.

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 8

A large group shouted outside the house, each of them wearing dark clothing and carrying a torch. Bare feet stumbled through grass as Nick’s belly pain increased. In the distance he could see the safety of a nearby forest and the chase continued through withered fields as the hooded throng followed close behind high heels. A chorus of laughter sounded as Nick dove into the woods, the bright lights in its shadows causing him to stumble through the crowd. A bloody trail followed his steps while hated jeers left palpable marks on his skin.

One girl asked, “Why are you naked?”

Nick lurched forward in bed, heart pounding in his chest. A dream. A bad dream. Every part of his body hurt but at least the chill was gone. A look in the darkened mirror showed he continued to wear the wig but wore nothing else. A hand on his chest confirmed a pounding heart. Nick took deep breaths until the pounding began to subside.

“A dream. Just a dream.” he told himself.

Similar dreams had haunted him for years but tonight felt like he’d jumped into the demon’s lair.

“Some would call that an accurate description though I deem it unfair.”

Nick jumped at the sound of his inner voice, almost falling out of the bed in the process. “Ouch … goddamn it.”

“Hahahahahahahahahaha… made you jump.” The high pitched laugh sounded more like a cackle.

Nick placed hands over his ears to make it stop. “Am I losing my mind?”

“No more than usual.”

Nick looked around the room. “What’s going on?”

“You did well. I thought I’d end the show with a bang.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We scared them. They need a scare from time to time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you need a demonstration too? Put your hands on your chest.”

Nick pressed his hand on his chest, finding the two doughy pectoral muscles he’d lived with his whole life.

“How long have you imagined what it might feel like to have breasts? Not flabby imitations of your imagination, but the real thing.”

Nick's heart pounded as the strange warmth in his belly moved into his chest, concentrating in two distinct spots. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a tingling both exhilarating and slightly uncomfortable.

A look down showed a subtle effect, barely noticeable at first as Nick’s hands tried to restrain the force pushing out against his skin. The flesh was tender, almost sore, as it stretched.

“What are you doing?”

“This will be our tiny secret … one between you and me.”

“How can I possibly hide this?” Lumps under both nipples caused them to protrude while a slight puffiness affected the area all around. A shirt could hide this but guys living in dorms don’t always wear shirts. “Everyone will see me in the shower.”

“Hmmmpfff…” The voice grunted, “Such ingratitude. You’ve thought of little else for years and yet you complain when I give you a gift.

“I’m not complaining…” Nick said.

“Fear is your greatest enemy. The time has come to force you from your shell. Come see me downstairs when you’ve come to your senses.”

“Downstairs?” Nick asked, his chest growing hot. “What do you mean downstairs?”

Silence.

Nick shouted in the darkness, “Hello?”

A voice answered from the hallway. “Is everything okay in there?”

Nick scrambled under the covers before the light switch flipped on. When his vision cleared he saw a cute brunette standing in the middle of the room.

She asked “Did I scare you?”

“No … uhh …” Nick said, while pulling the covers over his body. It was a dream. Just another dream.

The brunette held out her hand in a casual manner. “I’m Zoey, Gwen’s big sis. You’re in my bed.”

Nick carefully took her hand. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“You’re ok. You aren’t the first guest I’ve had in my bed.” Zoey smiled. “And you needed the rest.”

Nick tried to put together the pieces of his fragmented mind. “What happened on stage?”

“Gwennie didn’t tell you? That’s odd.” Zoey looked up at the ceiling. “I’m sure she had a good reason.”

“She told me to rest.”

“Rest … yes … you needed rest after what happened.” Zoey nodded. “I’m sure she didn’t want to worry you.”

“Worry me?” If this girl only knew. The last thing he remembered was standing on stage and everything getting hot. “Why should I worry?”

Zoey bit her lip, “I’m not sure what I’m allowed to tell you. Everyone says I can’t keep a secret.” She moved closer, placed a hand on Nick’s forehead. “You’re burning up.”

Nick pulled the covers higher. “What happened on stage? Please tell me.”

“I’m here to watch you.” Zoey said, looking at the door. “But it can’t hurt to say you gave us quite a scare.”

“What happened?” Nick said, trying to hide his discomfort. “Please, Zoey, I’m great with secrets.” He’d kept secrets for eighteen years.

“Well…” Zoey looked at the ceiling. “Your folding thing was great … I’m terrible at folding clothes.” Zoey bit her lip. “My roommate says it's because …”

Nick interrupted. “Zoey… don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not.” Zoey looked at the ceiling. “You were on stage doing your act and … you got all quiet … then started pulling energy from everyone and cast a spell.”

Nick interrupted. “I what???”

“Ooops.” Zoey said, scrunching her nose. “Did I share too much?”

Nick asked, “What do you mean – I cast a spell???”

“Can you forget I said that part?” Zoey bit her lip.

Nick shook his head. “I cast a magic spell?”

Zoey nodded, her eyes full of worry. “Yeah.”

“A magic spell?” Nick pulled his knees as the heat built in his chest, “Magic? Magic isn’t real.”

“I can prove it.” Zoey sat on the bed. “Pull on your wig.”

“What will that prove?” Nick saids as he yanked on his wig. “Ouch …”

“See? You cast a spell.”

Nick’s body grew hot. “How does that prove I cast a spell?”

Zoey ignored hime, holding up a hairbrush then pulling it through Nick’s hair. “We think you pulled energy from the crowd and cast a binding spell.”

“No part of that sentence makes sense. I can’t cast spells.”

“That’s what we thought too.”

Nick gave another tug on his wig, “Ouch!”

“Your spell turned the wig into real hair.” Zoey nodded. “The seniors had a meeting to discuss what it means.” Zoey looked at the door. “Have you been hearing voices?”

“Why?”

“Forget I asked.”

“Zoey…” Nick sighed. “You can’t say something like that and then say ‘forget I asked.’”

“Then answer the question.” Zoey said, “Have you heard a voice?”

Nick nodded. “Yeah.”

“Interesting.” Zoey said, trying to hide her smile. “That’s not supposed to happen for someone like you.”

“What does that mean? Someone like me…”

“I can’t…I’ve told you too much already” Zoey shook her head. “We’re not supposed to help.”

“I think something else might have happened.” Nick whispered through gritted teeth. “It’s something I don’t want to tell and I’m afraid to look.”

“Ohhh???” The offer of information drew Zoey’s attention.

Nick pulled down the covers to reveal his chest, but instead of the breasts buds Nick covered when Zoey entered the room, he saw they’d tripled in size. The warmth in Nick’s chest rushed up his throat. “Oh god, I think I’m going to be sick.”

Zoey continued to stare as she rushed to grab a wastepaper basket. “It’s not uncommon to feel nauseous after a spell. I’ve thrown up lots of times in magic class.”

Nick made several dry heaves into the basket but didn’t get sick. “Breasts sprout on my chest and that’s your comment?”

Zoey’s eyes drifted downward. “They look great.”

“Seriously Zoey? You think I care how they look? I can’t go to class like this.” A thousand thoughts hit Nick at once. “My roommates. The shower. All those guys … I can’t …” Nick tossed off his covers, the chill of the autumn air resulting in predictable results. “I’ve got tits!”

“I don’t know what to say.” Zoey looked up at the ceiling. “Gwennie only told me about the hair.”

Nick clasped both hands to his breast to be sure this wasn’t another dream. “What am I going to do?”

Zoey gave Nick’s chest an appreciative stare. “I suggest a good supportive bra.”

Nick took a deep breath and did his best not to explode. “I’m not worried about the bra, Zoey.” Nick put his head in his hands. “How am I going to face my roommates?”

Zoey’s face brightened. “I’m sure Gwennie has a plan. She’s really smart. She told me to send you downstairs as soon as you are able.” Zoey paused. “Can you stand?”

Nick tried to stand, making it on his second attempt. Long red hair fell past his shoulders, its length hiding the new additions to his chest. “I can’t go downstairs like this.”

“Of course.” Zoey said. “You need clothing. Do you think I’d send you downstairs naked?”

“With this crazy place I never know what’s going to happen next.” Nick had barely finished his words when he saw Zoey had removed her shirt.

“What are you doing?” Nick found himself staring at Zoey’s tits.

“I thought so. We could be boobie twins.”

“I … don’t…” The ability to form words escaped from Nick’s brain. At the start of the night it seemed a pipedream if he’d ever see a girl’s breasts. Now, he’d seen his second pair in two hours, and not just any breasts but Phi Lamb breasts. On the flip side, Zoey apparently thought so little of his male prowess she was now treating him like one of the girls.

Zoey said, “I’ve got the perfect bra for you.”

Nick called out, “I told you, Zoey. I don’t want a...” It was too late. Zoey was already in the closet.

She returned a minute later holding a huge purple brassiere, much too large for most girls, and yet in Nick’s experience, it looked like he’d need every scrap of cloth.

Nick said, “I think the voice did this.”

Zoey nodded, “That would make more sense. You've shown no ability to cast spells until tonight.”

Nick tried to prop himself up, the flesh more than his hands could handle. “I can’t believe she made them this big.”

Zoey bit her lip before speaking. “Did you piss her off?”

Nick nodded. “I think so.”

Zoey looked at the door before whispering. “You should count yourself as lucky. She’s done worse to other guys. Much worse.”
Nick didn’t bother pressing the matter as he stared in the mirror.

Zoey asked, “What are you thinking?”

“I think I’m going to cry.”

Zoey said, “I get it.”

“No Zoey … you don’t understand. You can’t.”

“I understand more than you think.” Zoey closed her eyes before starting to speak, “I prayed for years my boobs would come in. My chest hurt for a long time but nothing happened so I prayed harder and then boom. Next thing I know I’m the biggest girl in school.” Zoey paused for a moment. “I got what I wanted but I found boys can be so mean. They teased me so much. I cried every day after school.”

“I’m sorry, Zoey.” Nick remembered being one of those boys. “Boys suck.”

Zoey nodded, “Yeah they do.”

A look at the clock showed 12 o’clock midnight. Nick said, “So you understand why I can’t go to class like this. How could I face my roommates looking like this?”

“It’s not so bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“It gets better. With that hair and those…” Zoey appeared to be searching for a word.

Nick sighed. “Boobs.”

“Yeah.” Zoey smiled. “With that hair and those boobs. You could live as a girl. You would pass easily. Isn’t that what you want?”

“I’m not a girl.”

Zoey asked, “Are you sure? Why did you stay when we opened the gates? Why did you go on stage dressed in girl’s clothing?”

Nick wanted to give an answer but found it hard to put into words. “I don’t know.”

Zoey smiled. “You know what I do when I’m confused?”

Nick shook his head.

Zoey smiled. “Makeover.”

“How is a makeover going to fix anything?”

Zoey grinned, “Makeovers fix everything.”

“You’re stalling.”

Nick shook his head. “Zoey?”

“Yeah?”

Nick said, “I think I’m going crazy.”

“How so?” Zoey continued to apply makeup to Nick’s face.

Nick lowered his pitch until he spoke in a whisper. “The voice won’t shut up.”

“You won’t shut up.”

“I think Goody likes you.” Zoey said.

Nick asked, “What’s a Goody?”

Zoey said, “Oh shoot. I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

“You can’t take it back.”

Zoey looked at the ceiling before deciding to speak. “Goody lives in the house and gets real chatty around Harvest Moon time. Gwen told me she thought Goody helped you cast the spell on stage. The seniors are worried about what it means.” Zoey bit her lip. “Oh, darn it. I shared too much. Can we keep that between us?”

“I barely understood half of what you said.”

“Thanks.” Zoey said smiling.

“Do you really think I could pass as a girl?

Zoey turned the chair around. “I know you can.”

Nick stared in the mirror. He figured he’d look ridiculous when Zoey said she wanted to give him a makeover but the mirror didn’t lie. The girl had magic in her brushes. The person staring back didn’t need a darkened sky to live as a girl.

“You made me look like one of you.”

“I told you.” Zoey said, kissing Nick’s cheek. “You could live your dream, Nikki.”

“No more stalling.”

Nick shivered as the voice sent a cold chill down his spine. “I should get downstairs.”

“Of course.” Zoey waited until Nick had almost reached the door before adding. “Lots of us are rooting for you, Nikki. It’s been a long time since an outsider won Goody’s favor.”

“Goody’s favor?” Nick turned. “What’s that?”

“Ooopsie.” Zoey said, biting her lip as a grin grew on her face. “Can you forget I said that?”

Nick smiled at Zoey realizing this girl was not the airhead she seemed. “My lips are sealed.”

Chapter 9

Phi Lambs ran in every direction as Nick made his way down the stairs but none paid him any mind. He found Gwen on the ground floor, rinsing out a sponge into a bucket.

Nick looked around at the buzz of activity, “What the hell is going on around here?”

“You look nice.” Gwen said, her eyes drifting down to Nick’s chest. “But the pageant is over.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“I’’m not.” Gwen said, “I’m trying to figure out what to say.”

Nick said “The truth would be a good start. You’ve been hiding a lot from me.”

“Yes... ” Gwen nodded, motioning for Nick to join her in a side room. “I have my reasons.” She paused, “What did Zoey tell you?”

Nick shrugged, “She told me magic is real. She told me the seniors think I cast a spell.”

Gwen nodded, “Most people dismiss Zoey but I love her. That girl doesn’t have a single duplicitous bone in her body. I thought it might be easier to hear the truth from her.”

“What truth?”

Gwen looked around to make sure no one was listening. “Everyone assumed someone like you would never get this far.”

Nick nodded, “Zoey said the same thing. What does that mean?”

“My pledge sisters laughed when I picked you. You never showed any sign of ability. You don’t know our world.” Gwen looked Nick in the eye. ”But some in Phi Lambda Phi have been watching you for a long time. Do you remember coming to campus last fall?”

“Of course. I saw the brochure and decided to visit.” He knew he had to attend Asher the moment he stepped on campus.

“How many other schools did you apply to?”

“The State school and the local Community College.” Nick said, “Why are you asking? Your investigators gave you my whole life story.”

“They did.” Gwen said, “I know everything, including your GPA.”

“I’ve never claimed to be a good student.”

Gwen asked, “Why would you leave your Mom and everything you’ve known to move to a tiny school three hundred miles away?”
Nick shrugged, “I don’t know. The scholarship offer was too good to pass up.”

“A scholarship to someone with your GPA? Curious…” Gwen smiled, “\When you visited, you tested off the charts for a normie.”

“A normie?”

Gwen explained, “Someone who has shown no signs of magical ability and has no ties to our world.”

“What does that mean?”

Gwen took Nick by the hands, “It means I need you to trust me. I chose you when no one else would and you need to trust me there are things I can’t tell you right now.”

Nick wasn’t sure if he believed the words but said them anyway. “I trust you.”

“I’m in the dark about a lot of stuff too.” Gwen pointed to a clock. “You notice the time? It’s been 12:00 midnight for a couple of hours now and I have no idea how that works. We’ve been told it’s some sort of magical pocket dimension but that concept is well beyond my ‘History of Magic 101’ class.”

“You take magic classes?”

“It’s why so many of the best witches come to Asher.” Gwen said, her eyes betraying no hint of deception. “This place has some of the best instructors on the East Coast. You can take a half dozen courses at Asher that can give you the basics of time spells if you’re interested.”

“Is everyone at Asher a witch?”

“Hardly. Witches have found it best to hide in plain sight. We live amongst normies while reserving certain places and certain organizations exclusively for us.”

“Like the Phi Lambs.”

“Exactly.” Gwen did a quick check to see if anyone was listening, “A normie isn’t supposed to get this far. We aren’t supposed to tell our secrets to normies but after the wig incident… the leadership isn’t sure what to do about you.”

“About that…”

Gwen asked, “What did you do?”

Nick pulled down his sweatshirt. “This...” Despite its large size, the bra strained to hold back all the flesh.

Gwen grabbed Nick’s sweatshirt and pulled it back into place. “Has anyone else seen this?”

“Zoey. And I guess she’s shit at keeping secrets.”

“Zoey has a gift for gathering information. She told you what you needed to know.” Gwen appeared to be lost in thought. “But she won’t tell anyone else. She knows what’s at stake.”

“What’s at stake?”

“Do you trust me?”

“I do.” Nick nodded, believing the words this time.

“I think you’re ready to see what’s really going on.” Gwen handed Nick a scrub brush and bucket. “But before we go outside, there’s something I need to tell you about the Phi Lambs.”

“What’s that?”

“We’re sex witches.”

Chapter 10

“What the hell?” Nick said while chasing after Gwen.

Gwen didn’t respond as she moved through the courtyard, past dozens of motionless freshmen lined up in rows.

“Gwen? Will you stop? What’s going on?”

Gwen turned, allowing him to get close. “Don’t make a scene. This is another test.”

Nick closed his eyes as he tried to catch his breath. “Are they dead?”

Gwen gave a cryptic smile, “No, they aren’t dead.”

Nick asked, “Where are my friends?”

“Your friends are fine. I checked on them right before you came downstairs.”

“I need to see them.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She pointed at a guy on the ground with a smile on his face and a hand on his private parts.

“Ewww…”

Gwen tossed Nick a pair of gloves. “You’re going to want these. It’s rather messy out here.”

“What about my friends?”

Gwen pointed towards the far side of the courtyard. “They’re in final processing.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Nick insisted, “Final processing? What the fuck does that mean? I want to see them.”

“Your friends are being drained.”

“Drained? Of what?”

“Sexual essence.” Gwen said, as if the idea was something witches dealt with every day. She pointed around the courtyard. “The Phi Lambs have been doing this far longer than either of us have been alive. Every person has sexual essence inside them and there are two ways to extract it – the fun way and this way.”

Nick asked, “Why are you extracting sexual essence from these guys?”

“It’s a valuable resource.” Gwen’s tone made it sound like her response was the obvious answer. “Tonight’s extractions could fuel this sorority’s magic for the next year but honestly, we don’t need it. This campus has a neverending supply of men with overactive hormones.”

“Ewww. So why do this?”

Gwen smiled, “Do you know how much money an older witch will pay for potions enriched with the sexual essence of an 18-year-old? That money pays for this house, our food, our clothing, our team of private investigators. It pays for our scholarships.”

“Scholarships?”

Gwen ignored him, “I’m sure our methods are shocking to a normie but the process is very practical.” She pointed out at the crowd. “Think about how many of these guys are virgins. They’ve been building up sex energies their whole lives without a true release. So we bring them to our house with the promise of ill-gotten gains, then fill their heads full of naughty images until they’re nice and horny. After that they go to final processing where they’re drained by one of our members.”

Nick thought he might get sick. “Do I want to know how you drain them?”

“We don’t give them blowjobs if that’s what you’re thinking … We aren't a bunch of bimbos. Phi Lambda Phi is sex positive institution. We don’t take anything unless it is freely offered. And these guys came here.” Gwen smiled to herself at her little joke.

“How does it work?” Nick asked, almost certain he didn’t want to know the answer.

“Well … when a guy is about to … you know.” Gwen smiled, looking more embarrassed than Nick expected from someone who just told him they were a sex witch. “We put them into a waking dream and send them to final processing. After that it’s only a matter of time until nature takes its course.”

“You watch?”

“No…” Gwen blushed. “We don’t watch. A trained sex witch can pull sexual energy from a distance. We can even pull it through a bathroom door.” Gwen’s discomfort turned into a grin.

“Wait a minute …” It was Nick’s turn for his face to grow red. “Are you saying you did that … to me … in the bathroom?”

Gwen’s smile turned downright wicked. “A witch never tells.”

Nick put his hand down as if to protect his crotch. “You took advantage of me.”

“Seriously?” Gwen said, “I did nothing other than offer lube. If you’re worried, the sexual essence of a healthy 18-year old restores itself over the course of a week. It’s not like you were using it.”

“Hey!”

“So let me repeat the question…” Gwen’s face broke into a grin. “Do you want to watch your friends in final processing?”

Nick shook his head. “I need another shower.”

“You’ll really need a shower soon enough.” She held up a bucket. “Ready to start helping with clean up duty?”

Nick looked around the courtyard. “No way.“

“It’s either that or you can join them.” She pointed to the guys in the courtyard. “To stay in the game you have to play the game. If you don’t, you’ll wake up tomorrow with no memory of tonight, only sweet dreams and a lot of questions. Your body will be returned to its state before you walked through our gates and our friendship will never be the same.”

“Seriously?” Nick asked, trying to determine if Gwen was telling the truth.

“I wasn’t lying when I said to be a part of this place you’d need to rid yourself of your inhibitions.”

Nick sighed. “You didn’t tell me you were sex witches.”

Gwen sighed. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I know you don’t have any experience with magic, or with sex for that matter…”

Nick looked around the courtyard. Every guy had a smile on his face, “You’ve tricked me ever since I got here.”

“I told you what I thought you’d be able to handle when you were able to handle it.”

“It’s still a lie.”

‘That’s fair.” Gwen leaned forward and gave Nick a soft kiss on the cheek. “Can you ever forgive me?”

Nick blushed, his embarrassment forcing his eyes to look down. In the chaos he’d completely forgotten.

“Rejoice in the feeling of making yourself whole. Will you let fear stop you?”

A look around the courtyard showed row after row of his classmates. He’d never been like them. How many of them would delight in the changes he’d experienced so far. How many of them would run when given a choice to flee?

Nick picked up the bucket and grabbed the brush. “Where do we start?”

After hours of scrubbing, and more dry heaves than Nick cared to remember, Gwen led him to a strange looking gazebo near the back of the property. The structure looked old, with weathered wood panels sheltering twelve small stones in a circle. Carved grooves led from each stone on the weathered floor to a pedestal that held a large stone in the center. The stone appeared to glow from the light of the moonlit sky.

Gwen said, “You work on the inside. I’ll take the outside.”

Nick felt the building’s energy with every step. The feeling was similar to how he felt on stage but this was more raw, more potent. His body went limp after one step on the stone structure. The bucket and brush fell to the floor. Nick barely managed to put his hands out before hitting the ground.

“Feed on my power, Nikki.”

Nick tried to call for help but no words would come out. He tried to move but crackles of energy pinned him to the stone. Then as soon as it started, the feeling went away.

“I have given you what you need to make the journey. Touch the stone on the pedestal if you seek my truth.”

Nick pulled himself up, the stone drawing him forward. He crawled on hand and knee until he sat within arm’s length. The stone on the pedestal shone with an iridescent glow, though its worn surface had none of the elaborate carvings seen on its supports below.

Nick reached out with his right hand nearly touching the surface until he felt crackles of electricity tickling his outstretched palm.

“I have felt your pain. Touch the stone and you will know mine.”

Tears fell from Nick’s eyes as disappointments of a lifetime filled his thoughts, and reaching forward with both hands he felt the cold darkness of the stone’s smooth surface. The outside world disappeared in a swirl of colors as a thousand points of light pressed hard against Nick’s skin.

“How dare you refuse me?”

Nick opened his eyes, seeing himself nearly naked, and tried to cover himself but his body would not answer. A ruddy looking man sat on the other side of the room with an annoyed look on his face.

Nick spoke in an unfamiliar voice. “Holy scripture says we must wait for the bonds of marriage…”

“You think you can lecture me about God?”

The tall man stood, his face reddening with anger. “Does not the Bible say ‘… if I have faith I can move mountains but without love I am nothing?’ How many times must I say I love you? Isn’t that not enough?”

Nick’s mouth spoke again. “I must pray on it.”

The tall man’s voice softened, “Don’t pray too long. My time is precious with many others demanding my attention.”

Nick didn’t say a word as the man stood and walked out of the barn, leaving him all alone.

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 11

The first few weeks were hell until he got used to the routine. Up at 530am for morning prayers. Bath after morning prayers … Godliness is next to cleanliness after all. Then their only true choice of the day – black frock or gray frock.“

“Nice rack.”

“Don’t be an ass, Nikki. I can return you to the Phi Lamb House courtyard at any time.”

Things weren’t as bad as Nick expected when Goody told him he was living inside the body of a 15-year-old girl in 17th century Massachusetts. The food was bad, the work back breaking, and the preaching non-stop. But Nick got to experience every day as a girl.

He watched Goody slide the long undershirt over her shoulders, then let it fall past her waist. The long petticoat pulled up past the undershirt, the whole thing covered with a simple frock. As for Goody’s beautiful brown locks, this was the only room where Nick could see them. Before leaving the room Goody tucked them inside a linen coif so not a single strand was shown.

“You’re cute, Goody. Add a little make up and you’d be the belle of the Puritan ball.”

“Makeup? Ha. Ha. Do you want me to burn on a stake?” Goody giggled like a 15-year-old.

Goody straightened her outfit and made a final inspection before leaving her bedroom.“Good morning, Father,” kissing him on the cheek.

“Good morning, Goody.”

Goody sat in her normal place at the table and began nibbling on a piece of bread.

“Your mother isn’t feeling well today. Once you finish morning chores, I need you to run to town and pick up a few things from the smithy. I’ve made a list.”

“Yes, Father.”

It had been over a month since they’d been allowed to leave the property other than church. Nick didn’t need to ask Goody if she was excited. He could feel it as they raced through morning chores. Then it was off at a sprint through the fields of neighbors, past the old mill-house, and into the town square. Her first stop was the church.

“Good afternoon, Reverend Cotton.”

“Good afternoon, Goody. What brings you to town today?”

“Father asked me to pick up some items from the smithy. We need to repair our fence.”

“It’s good to see him be so trusting of you. Will you be in town long?”

Goody gave the man a knowing smile. “It may take the smithy some time to craft my father’s needs.” Her turned her voice low. “I hope you aren’t mad at me.”

“Quiet foolish child.” The reverend's eyes flash anger before returning to their usual kindly demeanor. “You need not apologize to me. Forgiveness belongs to our lord and savior.”

“Yes, Reverend father.” Goody nodded, adding. “It’s like the Book says … if you forgive others their transgressions, our heavenly Father will forgive you.”

“Very good. I see you’ve been reading your scripture.” The man grinned. “You better run along now. I wouldn't want to keep the smithy waiting but if time allows, I will be happy to continue our discussion later.”

“Yes, sir.” Goody smiled at the man before running out of the room as fast as she entered.

Purity wasn’t a wealthy town, but by the looks of the gathering of the town’s square showed everyone worked hard and everyone took pride in its appearances. Of course the whipping post was a constant reminder to those who flouted social norms.
Goody handed the paper to the blacksmith. The man scanned the list, “This will take a few hours.”

Goody nodded, “Father expected as such. I will return later.”

The blacksmith nodded as Goody ran out the back door. She started towards the church then cut through a side street, snuck through the fields, staying off the common paths before circling the destination twice.

“Took you long enough.” Reverend Cotton had already removed his tunic. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“No sir.” Goody said, still out of breath. “I did like you asked. Circled twice and everything.”

“Good.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody in a close hug, the man’s strength stealing her breath.

“I missed you.” Goody said as she held him tight, the man’s strong presence filling her with joy. Nick felt it too.

“I missed you as well. You’re truly a blessing, Goody Peters.” Reverend Cotton smiled, “Now … take off your cloak. Let me get a better look at you.”

“Yes, sir.” Goody said, obeying the man. When she took off her top, Nick saw her breasts pressing against the undershirt.

“My my, Goody. You have become a fine looking lass.” Reverend Cotton’s eyes never looked up. “How old are you now?”

“I turn sixteen in three months.”

“Of course. I should have remembered.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody’s undershirt over her head.

“It won’t be long now until men will call on your father from all over the county.”

“I doubt that very much.” Goody’s body shivered at the man’s touch. “The boys in town only care about Sarah Bradford and Patience Cooper.”

“Then they are truly fools. Goody Peters, I swear you are the prettiest girl for fifty miles around.”

“You think so, Reverend?” Nick felt his knees go weak.

“Call me Solomon when we are alone.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody closer, placing a soft kiss on her lips, Nick feeling jolts of lightning.

“Yes, Solomon.”Solomon Cotton leaned forward, his hand pressing up the seams of Goody’s petticoat and climbing up her knee. Goody slapped his hand away. “I can't. You are married.”

Solomon’s eyes flashed hot. “You know my wife is quite ill. It’s only a matter of time until she is gone. I have promised we will wed you when that happens.”

Goody smiled, “I want nothing more.”

“God has filled me with such passion … I cannot wait.” Solomon’s hand moved up Goody’s knee another time.

Once more Goody pushed it away. “Is that not the devil's temptation? The Bible says the marriage bed shall be undefiled."

Solomon’s eyes flash in anger. “We have spoken of this many times. You forget the next verse. ‘Only God can judge the sexually immoral and adulterous’. Who do you think knows God’s will better? You or me?”

“You.”

The reverend said, “Have I not told you “Goody, do you remember in the Bible where it says “a woman cannot exercise authority over a man, as she is to remain quiet?”

Goody nodded.

“How many times do I need to tell you I care for you before you believe me? I love you more than words can express. I like to think you feel the same. All I ask is you do as I ask. If you cannot follow my guidance now, I cannot see how we can wed when my wife is gone.”
“No.” Goody said, ignoring the command she remain quiet. Tears filled her eyes.

“Do you want this?”

“Yes.” Goody said, her body began to tremble at the man’s touch.

"Then it is not a sin." The reverend’s hand moved up her dress a third time. “Lay quiet without complaint.”

A kiss on Goody’s breast sent shivers to her toes. Solomon said, “Who are we to deny God’s will?”

Nick had long since stopped trying to fight Goody’s movements. He was as captive of her memories as she. How many times had Goody relived these memories? How many times had she felt this pain?The entire memory lasted less than three minutes from beginning to end leaving Goody alone in the abandoned barn.

“He raped you.”

“I loved him. I thought he loved me too.”

An old woman stared up Goody’s dress. “How long since your last flow?”

“Three months.”

The woman squeezed Goody’s breast. “How does that feel?”

“It hurts but I’ve been sore for a long time.”

“You’ve grown big but you’re about to get bigger. You’re a fine looking woman, Goody Peters. It’s why the fine Reverend targeted you. You aren’t the first to fall for his charms.”

“Are you sure I’m pregnant?”

“I’m sure.” The old woman nodded, “I can gather herbs to help to restore your flow. A mixture of cedar bark, ginger, and pennyroyal should do the trick. It comes with some discomfort but will fix the problem.”

“I can’t, “Goody insisted. “God says, ‘Thou shall not kill.”

“It’s for the best, child.”

Goody exclaimed. “The Reverand loves me. I cannot harm our child.”

“Reverend Cotton says a lot of things. Not all are true.”

“He’s going to marry me … you’ll see …”

Dust hung in the stifling air, the quiet of the room interrupted by the occasional stamping of feet of the packed house. The trial started in August soon after the summer’s heat brought first tiding of a bitter fall. The charges, only whispers at first, grew louder as crops began to fail. A lone candle sat on the magistrate’s desk, its wax dripping fast despite the cooling temperature outside. Three men in black sat behind the prosecutor’s desk. Across from them sat a young girl.

“I have had long acquaintance with the family of Goody Peters’, and know them to be fine, upstanding members of our town. But we all know, repeated exposure to the devilish charms can cause a delirious effect in the most sturdy of the chosen.

I do not blame the Peters’ family for fleeing our company as the shame belongs to Miss Peters’ alone.The evidence we have shown against her is overwhelming. A dozen of our neighbors have testified how her body has swelled in unnatural ways this past year, and how she’s used her lustful ways to tempt menfolk with her devilish charms. She’s spread sickness and disease to our livestock as our crops bake in the fields. Even our children have fallen prey to this vile girl, and we’ve shown sworn testimony how on at least two occasions babies have cried her name before they grew cold. Meanwhile, in her own belly, the spawn of the devil grows stronger inside her poisoned womb every day.

Throughout this entire sad chapter, Miss Peters has exhibited no remorse for her crimes. She speaks in defiance and continues to spread lies.There is only one possible decision the court can make in this case. The verdict must be to choke this devil dead before his foul hold on our town can spread further.”

As soon as the man turned, the gallery exploded with the sound of cheers and hurled epitaphs.

The magistrate pounded on his desk. “Quiet! I will have quiet in this court!”

A look to the jury box showed twelve men nodding and bobbing their heads.

Goody looked down at the desk where her tears had formed a puddle.

Trees swayed in the distance as a small crowd formed in the early afternoon. The crowd grew little by little as the full moon made its slow climb into the night’s sky. Shouted cries arose when the magistrate arrived. The town’s bell rang out announcing to those not present the time of judgment had come. Vengeant cries grew louder and louder until they saw two men emerge with Goody in tow.

A loud woman’s voice cried out over the others. “Hang the witch!” Other voices shouted the same.

In Goody’s ear, a man repeated the same words. “It is not too late to repent my child.”

Tears and the dimming light made it impossible for Goody to tell one neighbor from the other, especially since their familiar faces had turned purple with rage. Goody got a better look at the crowd when the bailiff placed her on the gallows stone, as it allowed her to stand taller than any other in the square. This crowd looked nothing like the ones who came to town for Sunday service. Most had come straight from fields so their state of dress was sweat-filled and dirty.

Goody’s eyes moved from one to another and not finding a friend, she searched until she saw the shadow of a man near the back of the crowd as the magistrate’s loud voice boomed.

“A trial of peers has found this Goody Peters to be in collusion with Satan. Her sentence is to hang until her life be snuffed out.”

A loud cheer rose from the crowd as the hangman pulled the rope taut around her neck.The magistrate whispered in her ear, his voice sounding of remorse. “Speak thy final words child … I suggest you use them to save your eternal soul…”

Goody breathed deep. She’d done nothing wrong. Two innocent lives stood on the gallows though she’d long figured out no one in the crowd was willing to hear. She could feel the presence of friends nearby, though they all hid safe in the woods. They promised power beyond anything the fools in this crowd could understand.

Goody shouted. “Shame on this town. Shame on you all.” As she spoke the crowd grew silent. This was the moment they’d come to see.
She took a deep breath then began to recite words to give those hiding nearby the time needed to focus their spell and assist a young witch with their power:

"You called me a witch; all know this a lie
But in my despair, I gave it a try
A baby unborn, unmarked by sin,
Cursed by those present before life could begin

For thirty score hence, a curse I have sown,
For all in this meadow, whose guilt I have known
Thy crops rot in fields; thy wells will run dry,
Thy stock will soon sicken; and in agony they’ll die.
Thy wounds shall long fester, your pustules run deep,
And when you seek slumber you’ll never find sleep.

So draw on thy noose and play thy own part,
But understand this - my work will soon start.”

Nick felt the rage and darkness building in Goody’s breast as she stared into the crowd. Her eyes focused on the man hiding near the back of the crowd as light of the magic of her friends began to swirl around the gallows.

For a moment they floated in the air and in that instant they were free. A split second later, Nick felt his neck snap.

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 12

“Nick!”

Nick heard the voice but found he couldn’t move.

** SSLLAAPP **

Something hit his left cheek. “Wake up, damn you.”

He felt a pair of legs straddling his waist.“… please be okay…”

A pounding pressure struck Nick’s chest several times then moments later he felt two soft lips pressing down on his then filled his lungs with air. The process repeated several times as a tingle in his chest spread to the rest of his body.

“Mmmmmph.” Nick groaned.

“Nick?”

Nick blinked once, then again. An indistinct figure looked down on him. “Goody?”

A familiar voice repeated. “Nick?”

“Gwen?”

Gwen remained seated on Nick’s chest. “Did you call me Goody?”

“I …”‘

What you experienced in the past must remain between us. Don't make me cast a spell on your friend.’“

I…”
Nick shook his head and tried to move. Gwen pressed down on Nick’s chest, leaning forward so their faces almost touched.

“… I remember falling and then darkness.”

Gwen sighed in relief, “You scared the hell out of me. You stopped breathing.”

You were in time stasis. It is common for inexperienced witches to confuse it with death.

“I’m fine.” Nick felt his face redden as Gwen kissed his cheek.

“I’m glad.”

“You called me Goody.”

“I did?”

“Where’d you hear that name?”

Nick searched his memories. It felt like a month since he’d been in this house.. “I think Zoey mentioned it.”

Gwen smiled. “Of course. That girl can’t keep a secret.”

An uneasy silence rose as Gwen continued to straddle Nick’s body. “Is that a harvest moon?”

“Yes.” Gwen looked up. “Don’t you remember? Harvest Moon was announced on all the fliers. Are you sure you're OK?”

Nick nodded as he tried to remember. He'd spent so long in the past and his memories of this place were so fuzzy. “Yes … yes … Phi Lamb Harvest Moon Mixer … ” Thoughts of both Goody and thoughts of the party jumbled in his mind.

Nick said, “The party … it’s about witches and much, much more.”

‘Tread carefully. Some secrets remain between us.’

Gwen held out a hand to help Nick to his feet. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier about the the whole witch thing.”

“It's fine.” Nick said, closing his eyes trying to bring back memories. "How long was I out?”

“I don’t know. I was working on the outside of the gazebo and when I went to check on you I saw you on the floor with a nasty bump on your forehead.”

Nick tried to stand up but his feet refused to work. “I’ve always been a klutz. I must have tripped when I entered the gazebo.”

Nothing felt familiar. How long had he lived in Goody’s body? Chores for twelve hours a day. The rest of his time was spent in church. And then the trial. Women in the Massachusetts Bay Colony had no legal standing except through their husbands or fathers. When Goody’s family left town, she had no one to stand for her.

Much in the world has changed since then.

Nick thought to himself, 'And much hasn't.' He placed on a hand on his chest. He now knew why Goody had made them so big. She'd been the same size, It was nice to feel something familiar. “I’ve spent most of my life dreaming of living inside a girl’s body. Now, I’m not so sure.”

Gwen pulled Nick close. “It’s perfectly normal to have doubts. We’ve put you through a lot tonight.”

Nick pulled Gwen tight as tears filled his eyes, “I need to apologize to you about the way I acted in class. It was creepy, it was wrong, and I’m so sorry.”

“About that…” Gwen released the hug. “… I might have cast a teensy-weensie attraction spell on you.”

“You what?” Nick stared unbelieving. “You’ve teased me all night about being a stalker.”

“I know.” Gwen said, “Right after our first class, a voice told me to make sure you came to our event. It was a voice I think you know.”

“Goody.”

Gwen nodded, “It was my job to make sure you came to our party. All I did was cast a spell to heighten your interest in the Phi Lambs.”

Nick laughed, “I almost didn’t come tonight because I was embarrassed about what happened in class on Monday.”

Gwen put her arm around Nick’s shoulder, “That would have been ironic. And bad. For both of us.”

“Why?”

Gwen said, “Because there are some things in this world you don’t want to piss off.”

Nick nodded. He remembered Goody’s anger. He’d felt it in his bones. The fact she appeared to be living in this house raised a thousand questions he knew Gwen wasn’t supposed to answer. “I wanted to talk to you in class. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“I know.” Gwen said, “The other girls laughed when I told them my pick. They didn’t feel what I did when I saw you in the courtyard. They didn’t feel your strength inside. That’s when I knew.”

Nick stared at the ground. “I’m tired of the secrets. I’m tired of the lies.”

“Your torment is almost over. You’ve got one more hurdle to pass..” Gwen put her arm around Nick’s shoulder, “I’m on your side Nick. I hope you know that. Everything I’ve done is in hopes of helping you get the thing you want the most.”

Nick nodded. “What do I want the most?”

Gwen gave Nick a look of disbelief, “Now who’s lying?”

She’s got you there.

Chapter 13

Nick pulled the hem of his skirt.

“Stop doing that.”

Both Nick and Nick’s clothes were filthy after the cleaning detail in the courtyard. The shower felt nice as did changing into a new outfit.

“It’s too short.” His memories of a time when girls had to hide their beauty under layers of clothing was still fresh.

“It’s a tennis outfit.” Gwen said, as if the comment explained everything.

Thin spaghetti straps strained material meant for a girl half his size in both shoulder width and chest volume. The result left little to the imagination. The mix of cotton and lycra did little to inhibit the bounce of his step or the cold night’s effect on his nipples which pressed through the thin material.

The proportionally narrow hips of a male and his thin ass did nothing for the skirt’s lines. It was so short it required the use of the gaff to pull his offending member to places unseen.

“I look ridiculous.”

“You look amazing.”

Gwen placed her hand on Nick’s shoulder and gave his hair a toss. It’d been a half hour since he’d woken in the courtyard but Nick could tell something had changed between them. Gone was the flirty innuendo, replaced by a protective vibe of a sibling.

“My panties are showing.”

“That’s because you don’t know how a proper girl walks or sits. Do you think we pop out of the womb knowing how to cross our legs? We are taught from a young age that every move we make requires an expected mix of sexuality and chastity. Many girls' reputation has been lost by straying too far toward one or the other.”

“I understand more than you know.” Every morning Goody’s father inspected each of his children with the detail of a drill sergeant. Modesty and humility were paramount virtues and for women that meant covering every inch of skin. “I don't feel comfortable wearing clothing that shows so much.”

Gwen put her arm around Nick’s waist, pulling him close, her voice lowering to a whisper. “Don’t listen to shy Nick.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Gwen turned Nick to the mirror. “Say - I look amazing.”

Nick looked at himself. He had to admit, he did look pretty good. “I look amazing.”

“Better.” Gwen smiled and gave Nick a big hug. “Now we’ve got to go. The others have been waiting.”

She led him out the door and down the stairs, past the laundry room, and into a modern looking maze of corridors, past a workout room, a pool and a series of conference rooms.

“You’ve done great tonight, I’m really proud of how far you’ve come. I hope you remember that no matter what happens.”

Nick looked inside room after room. This house was much larger than he would ever have guessed. “This place smells earthy.”

Gwen nodded, “This is the oldest part of the Phi Lamb complex. The gazebo where you bumped your head is almost directly above us. Few are allowed to come down these halls. They were meant for people like you, especially on a night like tonight.”

In the distance, Nick could see three hooded figures under a portcullis. He whispered, “Are they waiting for us?”

Gwen shook her head. “They’re waiting for you. I wish we had more time to get you ready.” She whispered in Nick’s ear, “Remember the tenets of Asher College. They will serve you well.”

“What?”

A woman’s voice sounded in the distance. “Careful Miss . These walls carry sound quite well.”

Nick tried to remember anything about the school and tenets. During freshman orientation they taught incoming students the school’s fight song, its creed, and its alma mater but he didn’t remember anyone saying anything about tenets.The three women all wore the formal robes of Phi Lambda Phi with the hoods pulled up so Nick couldn’t see their faces. The only distinguishing feature between them was the girl on the left was several inches taller than the one in the middle. And the girl on the right was a couple inches shorter. All three spoke with one voice.

“You’re late.”

Gwen curtsied before the them, “I need time to prepare my charge for this contest. As you know, they are at a disadvantage.”

The shortest of the three answered. “Yes. We are quite aware.”

Nick could feel all three staring at him from behind their shrouds. Memories of similar stares from those at the trial caused him to step back. The cries of witch still rang in his ears.

“You have done well pledge. You are dismissed with our thanks.”

Nick turned to Gwen. “You’re leaving me?”

“SILENCE! You may speak only when addressed.”

The three voices spoke as one.Nick took another step back at their outburst finding comfort in Gwen’s steadying hand pressing against his back.

“These ladies will take care of you.” Gwen took him by both hands and squeezed them. “I have faith you will find your best path forward. I am confident the next time we meet, I will call you my sister.”

Nick wanted to say something, anything as tears came to his eyes.

Gwen pulled Nick toward her, embracing him in a tight hug and Nick hugged her back. “I want that too.”

Gwen smiled upon hearing Nick’s words but didn’t respond. She turned away and gave a slight wave before retracing her steps down the long corridor.

No one spoke as they waited for Gwen’s departure. The tallest of the three hooded ladies spoke first, ”Consider your future with care and listen when we speak. Nothing in our world is given without cost.”

The middle said, “Know that by entering this portal, there is no going back. However, if you turn around now, your body will return to normal and you will wake tomorrow with no memories of this night.”

The shortest added, “Do not underestimate the consequences. You are not alone in vying to be chosen. Moving forward means you might lose everything and everyone you know. What are you willing to risk?”

The three women spoke with one voice.

“Give us your answer.”

Nick looked at the portcullis above. The words read ‘Ex Sacrificio Unitas, Ex Unitate Potentia’.

“I wish to enter.”

The three hooded women parted. “Rise and enter, Nikki. Your destiny waits.”

Chapter 14

The cadence sounded familiar though the words were hard to make out.

Lah la lah la lah lah … lah la lah la lah

Indistinct words of a song rang in Nick’s ears as he banged into one wall and then another. The room wasn’t dark but thick choking gas made it impossible to see. The hum of Goody’s voice was impossible to ignore.

Lah la lah la lah lah … lah la lah la lah

He remembered singing with Grace and Prudence, Goody’s little sisters, along with the neighbor girls once they’d all finished evening chores. The rules were simple. One girl would stand in the middle of the others, who’d all join hands and dance around her before starting the chant.

Ashes in the barley,
Shadows on the wall,
Broomstick by the window,
Witches in the hall.
Mind the bell at sundown
Now run before she CALLS!

All hands unclasped at the word ‘CALLS’ and the dozen girls scattered until the ‘witch’ caught someone, at which point the process would start all over again. It was the village’s most popular game and girls played most nights until the town's bells did ring. It was an innocent game, or so the girls thought, never realizing the adults of the town might use it against Goody at her trial.

Was it really so bad she let the younger girls catch her in hopes of drying their tears when they couldn’t catch anyone?

Nick shouted out the rhyme.

Ashes in the barley,
Shadows on the wall,

At the first word a light appeared in the distance. He took a few steps and this time not finding any barriers blocking him, hurried his pace. He said the second verse when the light began to dim.

Broomstick by the window,
Witches in the hall.

Again the light grew bright as Nick said the words. With each word Nick sprinted even faster, not sure what would happen when he finished the third.

Mind the bell at sundown
Now run before she CALLS!

The light was close now. Nick dove as he said the word ‘CALLS!’, flying through a portal and landing on the floor nearly crashing into a table.

The voice of a 15 year old girl sounded in his ears. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha … nice first impression.”

When Nick rose he saw a familiar face but also different in every way as a nearly six foot blonde girl towering over him.

“Clem?”

The tall girl’s smile grew large. “Nick?”

Nick stared at Clem longer than was appropriate. His friend did the same. Clem looked like one of those Nordic warrior maidens Nick had read about in books. He struggled to find words and only two came to mind. “You look different.”

“I look different?” Clementine said, giving Nick’s body a once over, and then a second and third look. “You need to look in a mirror.”

Clem helped Nick to his feet, and that’s when he saw everyone staring. His face flushed as he turned away, finding ornate mirrors placed in all four corners of the room. In between the mirrors stood bookcases at least ten feet tall. A look towards the center of the room showed a tall support pillar, with tables and chairs lined in a circular pattern. The three hooded women he’d seen outside looked to be in deep discussion. Next to them stood a fourth person he recognized from his dreams.

“Goody?”

The spirit’s face and puritan manner of dress stood out from the others, as did her otherworldly glow. She turned and smiled at Nick for a brief moment, then pointed to a nearby mirror.

All who gain entry into my sanctum are given reprieve from their corruption.

A quick look showed six people in the room, none showing any hint of masculinity. A look down at Nick’s own chest showed the now familiar bumps complemented by wide hips, and a narrow waist.

“What the hell?”

Clem slapped Nick on the back, “This is you if you'd been born a girl. This is me.”

A quick check proved Clem’s claim, Nick knowing he should feel greater distress at the sight of a girl grabbing at her crotch in a most unladylike manner. She looked cute in her pink and blue tennis outfit, while strawberry blonde hair hung halfway down her back. The boobs on her chest looked enormous on her slighter frame while her plain looking face reminded Nick of his Mom.

“I look so … different.”

“We both do.” Clem pointed at himself in the mirror.

Nick asked, “How long have you been waiting?”

“No idea.” Clem shrugged, “Time works differently in this place. I assume you made it through Goody’s village?”

Nick nodded. “The memories are going to give me nightmares for months.”

Clem nodded back. “I think time works the same here. This place is a nexus of time and space. I’ve never seen a spell this powerful. No living being could hope to cast it.

Nick looked over at Goody. She appeared innocent as ever but hints of malfeasance emanated from all corners of the room.

Don’t assume anything - darkness is as darkness does.

Nick shook his head. “Has Goody been talking to you?”

Clem nodded, “I can’t get her to shut up. I get the impression she can only speak to one person at a time so she’s not omnipresent … lately she’s gotten real chatty.” Clem paused for a second then turned and shouted at the glimmering form on the other side of the room. “I am not being mean.”

Nick shook his head. “This is so weird… I mean like … before tonight, could you have believed magic is real?”

"It's not a surprise to me." Clem smiled. “But then I’m a Peabody.”

“What does that mean?”

Clem stared as if the name alone explained everything. Nick’s friend did look a little embarrassed by the admission. “The Peabody’s are part of the Salem triad.”

“Your entire family is witches?”

“I know you’re a normie but my family is a big deal in the witching world.” Clem said, “There’s an old saying in Salem --- ‘The Peabodys only speak to the Putnams. And the Putnams only commune with the spirits’.”

Nick stared at his friend. “Wait ... so that means you knew about Goody before we came to this party?”

Clem shrugged. “Yes.”

Nick felt his anger grow, “You let me and Gary and Stanley and Roger come to this place knowing what these girls were going to do? You should have warned us. Our friends are in the courtyard being ‘processed’.”

Clem looked taken aback, “That wasn’t possible. The witching world has a strict code of secrecy and all witches are bound to it. And by bound, I mean there’s an oath with consequences if they find out you’ve broken it. Besides, do you think anything I said would have kept Gary from coming to an event nicknamed the ‘Panty Raid?”

Nick sighed. “Probably not.”

“You should be thanking me.” Clem pointed at Nick’s chest. “I’m the one who practically carried you here. It’s clear you’ve been hiding yourself from me. I saw what happened on stage.”

“Goody did that.”

“I figured as much.” Clem shook his head. “I never sensed you had any ability but I wasn’t talking about magic.”

“I’ve always been different.” Nick couldn’t look at Clem.

“Of course.” Clem agreed. “No one gets to this room by accident. I assume you closeted yourself before coming to Asher.”

The annoyance of being questioned about this subject fueled Nick’s voice, “Are you any different? Do you expect me to believe this is the first time you’ve worn a dress or fancied yourself living inside a woman’s body?”

“Of course not.” Clem said, "As a child, my brothers and sisters scared me with nursery rhymes about Goody. My family began preparing me for tonight the day my Mom discovered I’d stolen my sister’s underwear. When my ability appeared, they sent me to the best witching academies. There was no doubt I’d attend any school other than Asher."

Nick’s anger at his friend dissipated as quickly as it rose. “My Mom never found my stash.”

“My Mom took it well … too well. I lived as a girl whenever I was home.” Clem sighed, running a hand through long blonde hair. “So to answer your question - this situation is not foreign to me at all.”

Clem appeared not to be listening and his face took a faraway look. “I’m not gossiping.” Clem nodded then turned to look at Goody.

“I understand.”

“What’s going on?”

Clem looked at Nick. “Goody wants to play a game.”

Chapter 15

The hooded figures stood alongside the 15-year-old girl dressed like a Pilgrim. The situation would seem ridiculous if Nick hadn’t lost his ability to be shocked hours ago.

“I’m not a Pilgrim.”

Goody smiled at Nick before speaking, “It has been a long night and I’m sure you both have questions you want answered.” She pointed to the bookshelves. “Your questions can be found on these walls and nowhere else.” She stared at Clem. “I’ve gone to great lengths to ensure my history is shrouded in secrecy despite the efforts of some families.”

The tallest of the hooded women stepped forward, “You have experienced Goody’s final moments but clearly her story didn’t end there. The goal of this game is to understand the rest of her story and determine the source of her power.”

The shortest of the hooded figures overturned an hourglass. “You have until the final grain of sand runs out. You can work together or apart. That is your choice.”

The library was set up chronologically with the oldest section holding books from the middle ages focused on the witch purges of medieval Europe. Next came books about groups of witches who decided to move to the New World in hopes of finding religious freedom. An entire column of books was dedicated to American witch trials era with a focus on Salem.

Nick didn’t see any book titles mentioning Purity. It was like someone had decided to erase it from history. If Nick had to guess, that someone sat on the other side of the room.

Finding information about the nuns were a different story. They had a section all to themselves with book after book with fantastical titles of these women. It didn’t seem possible to have that many books on a subject that was practically unknown outside the town of Asher.
The largest section detailed the history of the founding of the town of Asher and Asher College. The final section were books exclusively about Phi Lambda Phi.

Clem focused on the section devoted to the town of Asher, grabbing several books related to the origins of the sorority.
Nick looked up at the tall rows of books, not sure which to grab.

“Focus, Nikki. Trust your instincts.”

Nick had always loved history. It was the only class he enjoyed in high school and one of the subjects that first bonded him to Roger. The first time he saw the plaque outside the town, he’d gone to the library to find out more about the nuns, finding little more than a superficial portrait of their story and not a single article about the area before their arrival.

‘It can’t be a coincidence.’

Nick stared at the bookshelves that climbed to the ceiling, his eyes darting up and down the stacks of books. One title in particular caught his interest. A diary with the title - ‘The Women of Asher’.

The book was separated into thirteen chapters, each with a name as its heading. Nick chose to read the first of the chapters - ‘Sister Rosa Murphy’.

“June 7th 1790 - The forest seems to stretch for many miles in all directions with no signs of cultivation. We chose the tallest hill in the area as our base of operations. This spot has the advantage of a natural spring providing us with plenty of fresh water and great sight lines to help us with our search. The regrown forest has provided plenty of wood for use as temporary shelters and will be quite valuable this winter to warm our hearths.”

“

June 29th, 1790 - After several unsuccessful negotiations with nearby masons, we contracted with a man to help us procure the stone to start work on the main chamber. The masons insisted we use their men as laborers which should speed up progress but complicate other matters. We have agreed to build the structure in standard Puritan style, but we insisted on expanding both wings for the purposes of housing our members along with providing a large courtyard for those needing convalescence.”

“August 3rd, 1790 – Our dowsing party discovered remains of an old community at an intersection of two ley lines. We found the houses abandoned with valuables left untouched. Very curious. It will take weeks to document our findings and bring items of interest to our camp for further study.”

“September 24th, 1790 – We were drawn to the village just after dusk by the arcs of lightning in the woods. When we arrived we observed a ghostly visage hanging from the old gallows which disappeared just after midnight. When we returned to our camp, we found two of our masons babbling incoherently. Others masons greeted us in a most ungentlemanly state of dress. Every man remaining has made it clear they are leaving our company tomorrow.”

Goody approached, her eyes on the book as Nick read the final words.

“What do you think, Nikki?”

It was weird to see Goody up close after spending a month inside her body.

“The nuns were witches. Same as the women we met in the forest.”

Goody’s smiled, her face revealing nothing. “An interesting proposition.”

Nick noticed Clem made no secret of listening to the conversation. Nick said “The book speaks of dowsing rods and ley lines - that doesn’t sound like standard fare for the nun.”

Goody replied, “That would be out of character.”

Nick asked, “They spoke of an abandoned village.” He felt Goody’s immense pain at the mention of Purity.

Goody turned to Clem, “Have you found anything Clementine?”

“It’s common knowledge that Phi Lambda Phi was founded on this campus in 1862.” Clem held up a book. “What is not so well known is that the convent continued to administer to the locals until the start of the Civil War when they volunteered as nurses for the duration of the war. No one objected when the sorority took over the convent site.“

Clem looked at Nick before speaking, “The nuns and the sorority were witches. They’re here to keep you under control.”

“Control me?” Goody smirked, “Hardly.” A book floated off the shelf.

The tome landed on the table in front of Nick, more of a pamphlet than a book with had no illustrations or flourish of any kind. The date of publishing said the year 1710 and had a title written in red - ‘The curious case of Solomon Cotton’.

Goody explained, “The copy before you is the only one of its kind. All the others have been destroyed, the same as most of the information from this time. I’ve made sure my vault is the only place where anyone will hear details about Solomon Cotton.

The book opened up to a specific page. Nick read the words out loud:

‘Solomon Cotton was considered a moral man by all. This is to be expected of a man of the cloth, even one the gossips claimed liked women more than a married man should.”

The stories of the man’s stamina are legendary. He was known to walk a hundred miles in a week making his rounds to the countryside.
Some say a disease of the mind struck Solomon. The gossips claim his moral failings caught up with him.

Whispers started of Solomon speaking to an invisible host during his rounds. His penchant of doing so with women’s attire hidden under his clothing took several more years. The magistrate could not ignore such behavior but the man’s service to the community saved his life.
The man spent his last days as a pitiful sight, dressed in a woman’s gown and wearing a linen cap while making rounds no one wanted.”

“Some claimed he had seen the face of God. Others said he’d merely lost his mind. His conversations grew more frantic and he began speaking in a foreign sounding tongue until one day the townspeople found Solomon hanging from the gallows in the town square.”

“Solomon’s tragedy became a local legend few remembered until the next generation began to show the same weakness of mind. Neither prayer nor medicinal cures appear to have any effect and always followed the same pattern. Men hearing voices followed by a desire to wear women’s clothing. Eventually they’d begin speaking in tongues, a clear sign their end was near. Some believe a demon in the forest is behind these afflictions. Others think the source is due to foul vapors rising from the soil. People have begun to move from Purity leaving all their earthly possessions behind. If this continues, it will not be long until we will no longer have a town.”

Nick closed the pamphlet and looked at Clem. He nodded and said. “That makes sense. I think I understand.”

‘You understand nothing.’

Nick found himself falling into a waking dream. This time he watched from outside Goody’s body as she tried to keep her balance on the gallows stone. He watched as someone kicked the stone away.

Falling … falling … falling …

It seemed to take forever for Goody’s body to come to its abrupt stop. Hundreds of voices called out to him … calling him home … The need for vengeance was overwhelming as Goody’s body continued to swing.

Drip … drip … drip …

At the first drop of essence from Goody’s body, Nick felt his body fly from its resting place, thrust through the crowd towards the dark presence near the back of the proceedings.

“Do you understand now?”

Nick started to answer but Clem spoke first, “You cursed Solomon.”

Goody didn’t say a word. Nick sensed she found Clem’s answer disappointing.

Clem explained his thinking. “We have studies which show certain genetic markers yield a better chance to become your chosen. The Putnam family tends to be high in such numbers.”

Goody scoffed, “You think my power comes from DNA?”

“No.” Clem said quickly, realizing he’d made a mistake.

Goody turned to Nick, “What do you think?”

Nick shrugged, “I’m struggling with the concept of magic. I don’t pretend to know a thing about what drives your power.”

“The answer isn’t complex. Don’t overthink it.”

Nick sensed they’d both let Goody down.

Goody pointed at the hooded figures who hadn’t said a word during the entire conversation. “I need to speak to them. I will give you until the sands run out. I will be very disappointed if you don’t come up with a better answer before I return.”

Nick stared at Clem. “What do you think?”

Clem shook his head, "There's no way a 15-year-old could have cast that spell without help. I think the witches in the woods used Goody, similar to Solomon. They used her vengeance as a weapon, delving into blood magiks, using Goody as their conduit and turning her spirit into an agent of chaos.”

Nick said, “I have no idea what that means but it doesn't sound good.”

“It isn't.” Clem nodded, “I’m sure Solomon is the key somehow. The man spread his seed far and wide throughout the countryside. Imagine how many descendants the man had in Massachusetts by the time the nuns of Asher arrived.”

Nick did some quick math. “If Solomon impregnated fifty women and each following generation had five children, in a hundred years his offspring would number in the hundreds of thousands.”

Clem said, “The men of Solomon’s line are known to be prolific. Five children might be a serious undercount.”

Nick nodded, “There’d be millions today. All carrying Goody’s curse.”

Clem said, “Billions. It’s more than could ever be contained with magic. I’ve heard Goody’s ability to influence men during Harvest Moon makes her one of the most powerful entities in the world. She could literally control any man within a thousand mile if she chose to do so.”

“Damn.”

Clem added, “I’m sure you saw our classmates. Did that look normal to you?”

Nick shrugged, “Nothing has looked normal to me since I stepped into this house.” He remembered the feeling when he first stepped on campus. “Wait, does that mean you and I are cursed too?”

Clem shrugged, “Goody’s curse only works on men. We’re a special case…”

Nick opened the book of the first founders. “So that’s why someone sent nuns to ‘cleanse the land’. They were afraid of what Goody might do if they sent men.”

Clem nodded, “That’s the theory.”

Nick said, “Goddamn.”

Clem nodded. “God damned is right.”

Goody appeared out of nowhere holding an hourglass with few grains of sand remaining. “It sounds like you two are having a fun discussion but I fear you are no closer to answering my question.”

Nick asked, “What’s the question, again?”

Goody appeared annoyed, “I asked you to find the source of my power.”

Clem interrupted, “I think I know. It’s the gallows stone. You are bound to it. It is your link to this world.”

Goody gave Clem an annoyed look. So did Nick. They hadn’t discussed the gallows stone at all.

“What about you Nikki? Do you have an answer?”

Nick shrugged, “You return on the night of the Harvest Moon to punish those who’ve wronged you. You pull sexual energy from the guys who come here to fuel her magicks.”

“Incorrect, Nick.” She stared at Clem and then Nick. “Think about the thing I wanted the most in this world.”

Nick looked up to the ceiling, seeing the long at the wisps of light circling the room. Some moved in a haphazard fashion but most drew themselves into the center of the vortex where the gallows stone lay in the gazebo then dove down in a solid beam into Goody’s body, the light giving her an otherworldly appearance.

“Purity’s gallows stone isn’t a source of power.” Nick spoke each word slowly then more rapid as the idea formed. “I felt the pain of those trapped inside, unwilling to let go of their hatred at the injustice of their deaths. The beam of light isn’t a source of power. It is Goody’s prison.”

Clem’s eyes grew bright. “Yes … yes … of course. I remember the anger of the others when I fell into the stone. They wanted vengeance due to the manner of their deaths.”

Goody didn’t sound amused. “Is that your answer?”

Nick closed his eyes, trying to think back. “All in the stone were bound by their hate.” He remembered the feeling of Goody’s body swinging from above. Hundreds of innocent voices screamed for vengeance as two souls joined them. An instant later, Nick felt himself flying.

“Not all who entered the stone did so with hate in their hearts. One did not belong there.” Nick said, looking at Clem.

“Of course.” Clem nodded, “One inside the stone was too young and too innocent to know hate.”

Nick felt his confidence grew as he looked at Clem. Both seemed to read the other’s mind. They answered at the same time. “Goody’s power comes from her unborn daughter.”

As they spoke, Goody’s body lifted from the floor as power crackled through the great hall. The bright light made it impossible for Nick to watch Goody's ascension to the ceiling.

“I must go. The time of culling is at hand.”

A moment later a flash of light knocked both Nick and Clem senseless.

Chapter 16

Nick woke up with a start. Across the room Clem struggled to stand. “What’s going on?”

Clem shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“Bullshit. You’ve known about this place before we left the dorm.”

“I didn’t know about this. My sisters hid information from me.”

A dim light appeared in the ceiling as Goody floated to the floor with tether in tow. The aura about her wasn’t as bright allowing Nick to better see her haggard face and hollow eyes.

“I see you’ve woken from your naps.”

Nick couldn’t take his eyes off Goody. For him, it had only been an hour since he’d lived for a month inside her body. This did not look like the same person.

Clem asked, “What happened to you?”

Goody didn’t answer the question. “The culling is over. Only two remain.”

Nick asked, “What does that mean?”

Goody’s ghostly hand settled on Nick’s shoulder, the warmth of her energy tingled his toes. “Solomon’s progeny are drawn to this place, men most of all. The pull is strongest on the most dangerously sewn with his seed. As I cast the blood curse, only I can undo it.”

The faces of Roger, Stanley, and Gary flashed in Nick’s mind. “What did you do to our friends?”

The light surrounding Goody dimmed for a moment and she seemed lost in thought. “For years I drove anyone mad who I found tainted with the Mark of Solomon. As my powers are greatest on the night of the Harvest Moon, I waited each year before striking out like a pestilence from the Old Testament.”

Clem asked, “You drove our friends mad?”

“I have not performed such acts in a long time. It was the nuns who helped me find peace. They found me blind with rage as the lands surrounding the gallows stone lay fallow as a result of my anger. They asked me to heal not harm, and in return they promised to give me the only thing I ever wanted. They promised me a daughter.”

“A daughter?” Nick said, “How is that possible?”

“You said it yourself. My daughter is my strength. When I cast the spell on the gallows stone, her spirit joined with Solomon, driving the man insane, sending the curse down through the generations. Those strongest in her essence became afflicted in the same way as Solomon, feeling an overwhelming need to present themselves as women because, in fact, they had the soul of a woman.”

Clem nodded his understand. “We are both Goody’s children.”

Goody nodded back. “Few will remember the truth of what happened here tonight. The Phi Lambs and my chosen. The need for secrecy is part of the deal I struck with the witches of Asher as the last thing any of us need is unwanted attention. I promised to stop my annual mischief as long as they brought me candidates strong in my daughter’s seed on the night of the Harvest Moon.”

Nick looked at Clem. “We are Goody's chosen?

Clem shook his head. “Only one can become Goody’s chosen each year. The other candidates are returned to their old life and a memory charm cast so they don’t remember a thing. Isn’t that right Goody?”

“Yes.”

Nick looked at his friend, “When did you figure that out?”

Clem shrugged, “Becoming Goody’s Chosen is why I came to this school. The rest I’ve pieced together in the last hour.”

“I grow tired. I need to recharge my strength and get ready for the choosing.”

Nick’s heart sank as he looked at his friend and then to Goody. He watched as the light surrounding her body grew dimmer and dimmer until she disappeared in a flash.

The two friends sat without speaking for a long time.

Clem said, “It’s funny when you think about it, us being the last two standing.”

“I don't find it funny.”

"Think about it." Clem said, “You lived two doors down from me. What are the odds?”

“Asher College is a small school.”

Clem said, “It’s not that small. That odds would be at least one hundred to one.”

“True.”

Clem sighed. “I consider you a good friend.”

“I feel the same.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Clem said, his eyes meeting Nick’s. Because I need you to let me win.”

“Let you win?” Nick looked in the mirror, “I can’t beat you.”

Clem nodded, sounding more confident, “I’m glad you feel that way. You’re part of our world now. Nothing can change that and the witching world is more ruthless than you can imagine. You’re going to need connections. I promise my family will protect you and make sure you Mom never has to work another day in her life.”

Nick watched remnants of magic floating around the hall, feeling the tickle as one after another entered his body. “I appreciate that. But I can’t forfeit. I don’t think Goody would like that.”

“I’m going to win. We both know it but I'd rather not take a chance.” Clem’s eyes grew dark. “I have a good memory and have unlimited resources. Do not cross me.”

Nick fell back upon seeing the change in his friend, “I’m sorry.” Nick took a deep breath. Despite the hardships, he couldn’t back out now. “I know your family is pressuring you, but I can’t drop out now.”

“Fuck you, then.” Clem spat before pausing to regain control. “You will live with that choice.”

Nick wasn’t sure how to respond. Clem was right. Nick didn't have any connections to this world. He never knew his own father and his maternal grandparents died before he was born. From the beginning it had been him and his Mom. She’d worked miracles to keep him fed and clothed but had no magical powers as far as Nick knew. She worked two jobs to stay ahead of the creditors. It would be so easy to let Clem win.

Nick closed his eyes and hugged himself tight. The problem was … nothing in his life had ever felt so right.

The short hooded figure appeared. “It’s time for the choosing.”

Chapter 17

Murmurs erupted from the crowd when Clem and Nick stepped in the shadows of the stage.

The tall hooded figure ordered, “Take your clothes off.”

Nick replied without thinking. “Why???”

The tall hooded figure replied with an annoyed tone, “I don’t see how that command needs further instruction.”

Nick sighed. The Lambs had been pushing them further and further all night. The last time Nick stood on this stage, it had taken Gwen a half an hour to convince him to stand in front of this group wearing a form fitting dress. As he stood in the shadows, he realized he hadn’t given a single thought to the short skirt and revealing top he wore. Now they wanted him to get naked?

Nick saw Clem’s top and bra already on the floor. A look in the darkened backstage mirror showed the contrast between their bodies. One fit and lean. The other … not so much of either. Even if Nick tried his best, this wouldn’t be much of a contest.

The short girl asked, “You must demonstrate complete comfort with your body to be chosen. Are you going to undress or is this going to be the shortest choosing in history?”

Nick gave the hooded figure a grim nod while consoling himself with a humorous thought. There’d be no embarrassment if he lost. He wouldn’t remember a thing.

The top pulled off easy at first, catching on both breasts, the effort pulling them up with the fabric then freed themselves with playful fall, then bouncing a few times before coming to a rest. How many nights had he dreamed of such a thing?

The skirt and panties came off next, the ease of their movement giving Nick pause. How could any man, even a cursed man, not reflect upon such a loss?

And then Nick realized was naked, standing on a stage. Clem stood nearby in parade rest position, feet slightly apart and hands behind back, assuming a relaxed posture that put both top and bottom on display for any who cared to look. A hooded figure called out before Nick had a chance to do the same.

“Contestants … to the stage.”

Clem approached the podium with steady strides and Nick attempted to do the same. A look to the crowd showed the Phi Lamb’s wearing their ceremonial robes and all had their hoods up making recognition impossible. The chairs were gone, and they all stood in four distinct groups of two lines with six in each line.

The tall hooded figure stood next to the microphone, “I know it’s been a long night for everyone, but we have one final task.”
Nick expected to hear cheers but no one made a sound.

The tall hooded figure read from an ancient looking book -

“On September 19th, 1793, after several failed attempts, the sisters of Asher successfully came to an accord with the chaotic spirit formerly known as Goody Peters.”

The tall figure stopped back allowing the second hooded figure to approach the podium and read from the ancient book -

“The sisters scoured the countryside during the summer of 1794, looking for possible candidates. Three men were chosen.”

The hooded figure stepped back allowing the shortest of the three to take her place -

“On September 9th 1794, the Sisters of Asher put each man through a series of tests and put the matter to a vote. The one chosen became a sister to all.”

As the hooded figure said the final word a brilliant light appeared at the back of the stage. Every eye in the hall turned towards Goody. Cheers rang through the crowd, for the woman at the heart of this place. She looked different than the last time Nick had seen her. Gone were the Puritan work clothes, replaced by a modern dress and a fancy hairdo that would take three hours in a salon.

Goody spoke, “Thank you for the introduction, my daughters. You may return to your proper places alongside your sisterhood.”

The three hooded figures walked off the stage, each stopping with a group, increasing the number by one, bringing each to number thirteen with the exception of one.

Goody began to speak as if giving a sermon. “As has been the case since the beginning of the year, the Phi Lambda Phi freshman pledge class is missing a member and the time has come to fill that spot. I have long watched all my children grow over the years and I’m proud of both standing before you now. It is unfortunate our agreement allows only one but I am grateful to be able to add another daughter to my flock.

Goody turned to Clem and Nick. “For your final challenge, you need to tell the assembly why you should be chosen.”

Nick continued to stare at Goody. Clem used the opportunity to speak first.

“My name is Clementine Peabody, a surname which I’m sure needs no introduction to those in this room. I have many sisters who have preceded me at this hallowed institution, one who lives among you right now. I have longed to be part of Phi Lambda Phi for most of my life. I attended Danvers Preparatory Academy, and spent my summers at magic camp. I am currently casting at level 1 though my tutors say I will be able to cast at level 2 shortly. I also lettered in three sports in high school and maintained a 3.9 grade point average…”

Clem’s voice faltered for a second. He looked in Nick’s direction for a brief second then turned away.

“I first met Nick at the beginning of the school year. I consider him a friend but he doesn’t know our world. He’s shy and passive. He’s not a good student nor has he excelled in any form of physical fitness. I’m fairly certain he’s a virgin. The truth is he didn’t want to come tonight. I literally carried him out of his dorm room. If I had not done so, another would be standing in his place…” Clem paused then added for effect, “I think the choice is obvious.”

The hall remained completely quiet as every eye in the hall turned towards Nick. Nick on the other hand, stared at his friend as tears fell from his eyes. He couldn’t dispute his friend’s words. Nothing Clem said was untrue. But to be told in front of strangers with such fervor, stirred the anger in Nick’s heart.

“My friend is right, my name is Nick Wilder. I don’t know your world. I have not gone to any fancy magic schools. I am not a good student. I am shy. I’ve never had a girlfriend, or a boyfriend for that matter. I am a virgin.” Nick laughed. “A virginal sex witch. Who has ever heard of such a thing?”

A tattering of laughs filled Nick with hope as someone called for the room to remain quiet.

I've felt lost my whole life. I’ve never fit in anywhere or with anyone. I hid in the shadows afraid to be seen. I didn’t know about Asher College until last year. I knew I belonged at this school the moment I stepped on campus but I didn’t know why.” Nick paused. “I came to Asher to run from my past. I didn’t understand the truth until I passed through your gates.

Nick fell to his knees and prostrated himself on the floor, looking through the crowd until his eyes met the hood hiding Gwen.
“I’m not sure what I want. You ladies put me through a lot tonight and my head is all jumbled. I do know I’ve spent my entire life running and tonight is the first time I wanted to stop.

I am a daughter of Goody Peters. Many who entered these halls tonight have the same claim and I am honored to be counted among the final two. As my friend said, the answer before you is obvious. Many of those who came here tonight deserve to be chosen but there can be only one. I think those in this room know which of us is worthy of that honor.”

Nick kissed the floor, then raised his head to stare into Gwen’s eyes before unleashing his final plea.

“Ex Sacrificio Unitas, Ex Unitate Potentia”

As Nick spoke the words, a flash of light knocked him senseless.

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 18

Every body part cried out as a flash of light made it impossible to see. When Nick’s eyes adjusted, he saw someone had flipped on a light and then the distinct outline of a girl on the other side of the room.

“Ouch…”

The girl gave a sympathetic smile. “A shower will help with the pain.”

“What’s going on?”

The girl didn’t look to be an inch over 5’3” and couldn’t have weighed more than 100 lbs. Nick noted her cute blonde bob and well rounded chest as she strode across the room. She held out her right hand when she arrived at his bedside. “I’m Michele. We met last night.”

Nick took her hand, noticing she’d painted her fingernails fire engine red, matching his own. Seeing the color, he held out his left hand which had five painted fingernails attached to five feminine looking fingers. “I don’t understand.”

“You were chosen, Nikki.”

“Are you serious?“ Nick shook his head as the panic set in. “Clem was a better candidate in every way.”

“Not every way.” Michele said, the smile growing on her face. “Ex Sacrificio - Unitas, Ex Unitate - Potentia”. It means “From Sacrifice - Unity, From Unity - Power” though I suspect you already knew that.”

“I recognized a few words.” Nick admitted.

Michele nodded. “Clem knew the words. They’ve been the motto of our order long before any of us were born. I’m sure he read them as a child but the question our membership had was whether he knew how to live them.”

Nick said, “Clem is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.”

“I’m sure that’s true.” Michele said as she sat on the bed next to Nick. “You were his test. You and Clem were put in the same dorm for a reason. We expected you would become friends.”

“We did.” Nick said, his thoughts turning to Clem. “I hope we can still be friends.”

“That’s doubtful. He won’t remember you.”

“Oh damn." Nick said, "I forgot.”

Michele put her arm around Nick’s shoulder. “Goody watches her daughters as they grow and she knows the strengths and weaknesses of all her children. She is no different than most mothers who, despite their best intentions, find themself liking one child better than others. The display of magic you showed during the beauty pageant was a test for Clem as it displayed to everyone the power hidden inside you. Instead of celebrating your strength, he tried to tear you down. That was not the act of a friend nor was it a sign he’d have proper respect for the bonds of sisterhood.”

Nick looked at his arms. Gone were unimpressive biceps, replaced by thinner versions without any tone. “I don’t feel very powerful.”

“You’ve spent most of your life in the shadows,” Michele said. “Trust me, I understand. One year ago I sat in your spot as my big sis explained I had been picked as Goody’s Chosen.”

Nick stared at Michele as the reality of the situation dawned. “You were Chosen too?”

“As were the other two hooded figures in Goody’s sanctum. You’ll meet them later today.”

Nick looked down scarcely believing his eyes. “It doesn’t make sense. Clem knows your world. He’s more suited in every way. I barely believe magic exists.”

“You met the moment, Nikki. Clem did not.”

Nick said, “I feel the same inside.”

“I understand. You can’t expect to undo a lifetime in a single night.” Michele put her arm around Nick’s shoulder. “One year ago, I sat in the same spot, scared half to death, and wondered if I could ever stop thinking of myself as Michael.”

“Did you stop?” Nick asked, “... thinking of yourself as Michael?”

“Yes, but it took a while. To be honest, there are times I wake in a sweat wondering if I’m stuck in Goody’s dreamworld.” Michele stood and walked to the window, saying nothing for a moment as she looked into the quad. “For Clem we had to think of a different challenge as his family connection gave him every advantage. For him we had one question - loyalty.

“Clem is a good person.” Nick insisted.

“That may be true but it is easy to be a friend when nothing is on the line. The true test of character is how you react when you have something to lose. There is nothing Goody hates more than betrayal by a friend and my sisters value sacrifice and unity before all else. From Sacrifice - Unity, From Unity - Power.”

Michele turned towards Nick. “The vote wasn’t close. Even his sister voted against him.”

“Really? That's hard to believe.”

In the distance, the faint sound of the campus bell chimed eight times. “I’ve got to go.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I’m not leaving you alone.” Michele shouted at the bedroom door. “You can come in.”

The door burst open and a familiar face appeared. Gwen ran across the room, jumped on the bed, and pinned Nick in a bear hug. “I told you …” Gwen kissed Nick’s face then hugged him again. “I knew we’d be sisters.”

“Oww … ouch … owww…” Every inch of Nick’s body hurt.

Michele made her way to the door. “Line up starts at 4PM sharp. Don’t embarrass me by being late. You and I will talk more tonight after you finish evening chores.”

Nick looked at Gwen.

Gwen said, “Don’t worry. I’ll explain.” Gwen yanked the blanket off of Nick, revealing his new body.

“It’s freezing.”

Michele waved from the other side of the room. “I see you’re in good hands, Nikki. We will talk more tonight.”

Gwen waved goodbye as Nick continued to shiver. “Later Michele.”

“Did I sleep in Hays Hall?”

Nick stared out the bedroom window watching students scurry in every direction around the South Quad. In the distance, he could see a stream of boys exiting Allen Hall.

Gwen smiled at Nick, “You’re in my room. We’re roommates.”

“Really?”

Gwen nodded, “Isn’t it awesome?”

Nick stared at the guys on the other side of the quad, laughing and joking. A day earlier that could have been him. “None of this seems real.”

“It is real.” Gwen put her arm around Nick’s shoulder. “Want some advice?”

“Sure.”

“Step away from the window. People are starting to stare.”

Nick looked down to see he wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing above the waist. People outside were pointing as he dove for the floor. “What is wrong with me?”

Gwen closed the curtain, ending the show. “They told me it will take time for your psyche to adjust to your new circumstances. Your brain thinks of you as a boy and you don’t know the rules of how to live as a girl.”

Nick tried to control his breathing, “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I’m told the brain part won’t take long. A few weeks at most. Learning to keep your legs crossed or wearing a shirt at all times may take longer.” Gwen smiled.

Nick peeked through the curtain to look again at the line of guys streaming out of Allen Hall. “What happened to my friends?”

Gwen said, “The same as every other freshman guy on campus. They remember coming to our house, partying a bit, finding a pair of panties, and racing back to their rooms for the greatest night of sleep of their lives.”

“What about Clem?”

Gwen said, “He’ll know he wasn’t chosen. He won’t remember you. None of your friends will.”

“That sucks.” Nick said. He’d spent the last month in the company of Roger, Gary, Stanley, and Clem. It didn’t seem fair to lose them as friends. An image flashed of their time spent in the communal shower. A red faced Nick asked, “What about my Mom?”

“She remembers having a daughter and raising her as Nikki. Nikki is all anyone remembers. Except those of us in the room last night.”

“That sucks.”

“It can’t be helped. Few things in the world of magic come without a cost.”

Nick walked to the dresser, “Clem mentioned it would be harsh. He said that's why I should have let him win.”

“Our world can be harsh.” Gwen agreed. “But remember, you have your sisters to pick you up.”

Nick said, “They don’t know me.”

Gwen gave Nick another hug, wrinkling her nose as she pulled away. “I know you.”

“True.” Nick held up a pink sweatshirt with the Phi Lamb insignia. A winner should feel happier than he felt at the moment. He couldn’t rid his mind of the things he’d lost. “I need to take a shower.”

“Yeah, you do.” Gwen said, “You really stink.”

Water streamed from the shower head as the tears started to flow. None of it made sense. Goody’s story. The curse. Magic. The Phi Lambs. His friends. His Mom. Gwen. The water felt good on his face. The soapy water streamed down unfamiliar bits until it hit the drain.

‘What do I know about being a girl?’

He’d spent time in Goody’s body but living for a month as a teenage girl in 17th century Massachusetts had little relevance on this campus. Panicked thoughts drove him from the tub. A hurried towel dried him.

“That was fast.”

Nick said, “I don’t want to be late for class.”

“We have plenty of time.” Gwen smiled at Nick, “I picked out an outfit I thought would be perfect for your first day – a sweatshirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of tennies. We got you a bra and panties too.” Gwen tossed a bag on the bed from the local box store. “We weren’t sure of sizes but these should fit.”

Nick stared at his body. “No one is going to believe I’m a Phi Lamb. I don’t look like you. I don’t act like you.”

“Stop…” Gwen twirled on her toes, doing a complete circle. “Do you think I wake up looking this good? Being a witch has its advantages.”

Gwen waved her hand causing a swirl of colors to rise from the makeup table smacking Nick square in the face. “Ooops.” Gwen gave an apologetic look. “Not my best effort. I learned that spell in summer camp when I was fifteen. I don’t cast it often.”

Nick checked himself out in the mirror as he pulled on the clothes. He had to admit, he didn’t look half bad.

Gwen insisted on doing his hair by hand, brushing through the entire length for a few minutes then tying two broad braids along both sides of his head, before combining them to form a cute pony tail in the back.

Nick turned one way then another. “It looks so girly.” The unruly hair from a minute earlier lay tamed by Gwen’s magic weave. “I don’t know what to say.”

Gwen said, “Say ‘Thank you, Gwen.’”

Nick admired himself in the mirror while trying to avoid Gwen’s smug look. “Thank you Gwen.”

Gwen said, "I won't be long until your phone is full of offers from guys wanting a date."

"That's not going to happen."

"If you say so." Gwen held up a purple-pink book bag, “Are you ready to face the horrors of the dining hall?”

“No.” Nick grinned before looking at his newest friend. When Gwen opened the door, streams of girls hurried down the hall, none of them paying him any mind.

“Gwen?”

“Yeah, Nikki?”

Nick nodded at the unfamiliar name. “After we go to the sorority, and after we do our chores, and after I meet with Michele and the others … Do you think we could study for Friday’s Geography test? I’m way behind.”

Gwen smiled before giving Nikki a wink, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter 19

A mob mingled outside the dining hall, the crowd of a definite feminine bent. “They’re staring at us.”

No one said a word as the pair of Phi Lambs passed, the stares similar to the feeling Nick got when he stood on the gallows stone.

Gwen waited until they got to the door before speaking, “Every freshman on campus is talking about last night. Guys will be talking about it for days. The ladies are the least thrilled, especially those with boyfriends.”

“You’re saying they hate us.”

“Envy and hate is an inevitable part of being in Phi Lambda Phi on the best of days.” Gwen agreed. Today is bound to be worse.”
Nick nodded, “I hadn’t considered how the girls on campus might view last night.”

“To be honest…” Gwen said, looking back at the crowd. “... me either.”

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter as students filled their plates and found seats. Nick looked around, wondering how many of them had secrets like him. He had the same feeling every day he’d entered this place. The cafeteria line, made up of mostly guys, allowed the pair to pass. It didn’t take long until Nick found himself at the front of line.

His order came out with practiced ease. “Scrambled eggs, two pieces of toast, and three pieces of bacon.”

Gwen got her food from the a la carte section. When Nick exited, he found her sitting at an empty table in the corner of the room.

“Hungry?” Nick noticed Gwen’s plate consisted of a bagel, an apple, and a container of yogurt.

Nick said, “I get this every morning.”

Gwen nodded then took a bite of her apple. ”Uh huh.”

“Have I done something wrong?”

Gwen paused a second, “I didn’t realize you were training for a triathlon.”

“I’m not.”

“Oh. My bad.” Gwen looked at Nick’s plate. “That’s a lot of food.”

“Shut up.”

“Do you mind if we sit here?”

Nick noticed a familiar face among the group who’d approached, “Clem?”

Clem looked tired but no worse for wear. “Is that a yes?”

“Of course.” Nick said, “Sit down.” The girls standing behind Clem didn’t look too happy, preferring to stand. Alll of them wore sweatshirts with ΜΓΚ embossed across the front. A look at Gwen got a smile and a shrug.

Nick said, “Heya Kristy.”

Kristy responded with ice in her tone. “Do I know you?”

“I hear things got wild at the Phi Lamb house last night.” Clem’s face betrayed nothing.

Gwen said, “You know we can’t talk about that, Clem.”

Kristy answered for Clem, “Yeah. We know.”

The girl on the left added, “My boyfriend showed up at my dorm room at 2AM with a pair of Phi Lamb panties in his pocket.”

The girl on the right nodded, “Mine too.”

All three girls looked at Nick, none bothering to hide their seething hatred, the intensity of the feeling hitting like a sledgehammer.

“You ok, Nikki?” Clem’s words sounded friendly but his eyes told a different story.

“Yeah.” The energy from Clem had an altogether different feel than the others sitting at the table. Not a red hot feeling of hate but something darker, its touch causing Nick to lose his breath. A surge of energy made the feeling go away.

“Nikki’s fine. Thanks for asking.” Gwen said, “As everyone on campus knows, we didn’t get to our dorm until late either.”

“4:30AM if the rumors are true.” Clem’s words sounded like an accusation.

Tingles of electricity surged towards Nick from another direction. He made contact with the strongest and when Nick turned towards the source, a boy quickly turned away.

“Fight it,” Gwen whispered in his ear. “Don’t let the energy consume you.”

Nick closed his eyes as he took a bite of eggs.

Clem said, “That’s a lot of food for a girl.”

“I guess.” Nick shrugged.

Both groups ate in silence pretending nothing was the matter. Nick focused on his breakfast, trying to ignore the swirl of emotions around him. The hostile atmosphere didn’t appear to faze Gwen in the slightest. When he looked at her, she returned a reassuring smile.

Nick had almost finished his eggs when a loud commotion erupted at the cafeteria entrance. Roger, looking especially jovial, led the noisy group followed by Stanley, Gary, and a guy Nick didn’t recognize.

Roger’s grin grew when he saw Clem but this excitement was short lived. “Hey, Kristy. Could you take your friends and go sit with my dormmates? Nikki and I need to have a private conversation.”

Kristy said, “Seriously?”

The other two girls echoed Kristy's complaint, “Your friends are weird.”

Clem said, “They aren’t that bad once you get to know them.”

All three girls looked at each other then back at Clem. “Yes they are.”

“Will you do it for me?” Clem said in his sweetest voice. “I’ll owe you one.”

The girls stood together. “You’ll owe us more than one.”

Clem stared at Gwen as the other girls left. Gwen said, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Clem shrugged, “I didn’t figure you would.”

Gwen waved her hand. “Just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Clem looked annoyed, “Is that necessary?”

“You tell me.”

Nick watched the verbal spat go back and forth between his friends. “What’s this about?”

Gwen said, “He knows.”

Clem gave a slight shake of his head. “Phi Lambs and their secrets. I can’t get my sister to tell me what happened last night but it was easy enough to figure out the winner, even with all the memory charms you placed all over campus.”

Nick looked at Gwen. She gave him a slight shake of her head.

“Your sorority is shit at protecting its secrets.” Clem stared at Nick as the darkness passed between them. “I know Nikki is this year’s Chosen.”

Nick felt his face flush.

Gwen spoke with a smooth tone, “You lost Clem. Take it like a man.”

“Like a man … very funny Gwen.” Clem grinned. “I’ll never understand why the Phi Lambs chose a no-talent outsider when they could have had me.”

Gwen smiled. ”You’d know the answer Clem if you had even the smallest amount of introspection. You want to know a Phi Lamb secret? The vote wasn’t close. Even your sister voted for Nikki.”

Clem stood, his face turning red as Gwen’s words had the effect of a body blow. He looked lost in thought, trying to think of an appropriate comeback when he slammed his chair into the table. “Fuck off. I didn’t want to be a part of your stupid sorority anyway.”

Nick called out as his friend stormed off, “Clem!”

“Don’t bother.” Gwen said, “There’s nothing you can say that will make things better. He needs time to cool off.”

“You didn’t help matters.”

“Ooops.” Gwen said, her mannerisms mimicking Zoey. “Did I do something wrong?”

“You know what you did. You didn’t need to be so mean.” Nick had never seen this side of Clem. “He hates me.”

“You have your sisters now.” Gwen took Nick’s hand. “You have me.”

Nick nodded as he took another bite of breakfast. Every once in a while he looked over at the table full of his friends, all of them laughing and joking save one. Nick kept looking hoping for a glance from Clem but he never looked back.

Chapter 20

“A quick reminder: our first exam is on Friday which will cover Chapters 1-5 with a primary focus on plate tectonics, igneous processes, and the formation of minerals.

Now, let’s pick up where we left off - metamorphic processes. Last time, we talked about the paths rocks follow during subduction and continental collision. Monday’s reading assignment reviewed the concept of metamorphism so today, we’re going to tie that into regional tectonic environments.”

Flashes of energy hit one after another as boys in the classroom continued their glares. Nick knew he should be more bothered but the only thing he could think of at the moment were images of his classmates' hot breath causing heat to build in his core.
Nick looked at the blank page in front of him, the professor’s words might have been Greek for all he knew while Gwen scribbled a furious set of notes beside him.

Over the past month he’d been so consumed with her, he’d barely bothered to open his textbook. A look at page after page of notes showed little more than hearts surrounded by indecipherable scribbles.

Nick leaned towards Gwen, whispering, "I don't understand any of this."

Gwen’s eyes returned a look of annoyance mixed with sympathy. "Don't worry," she whispered back. We'll go over it later."

Nick tried to listen but couldn’t calm his thoughts. ‘Fuck off.’ Clem’s words kept repeating in his mind. That lasted until Nick felt several boys looking in his direction which soon caused problems of their own. Nick looked for a safe place, his eyes meeting a boy on the other side of the room wearing a cross necklace. His boy lowered his eyes to Nick’s chest, the images intruding on Nick’s thoughts, a most un-Christian fantasy.

An out-of-control sex witch. That’s what he’d become.

He should have listened to Clem. Clem was used to being the center of attention. Surely Clem wouldn’t turn every stray glance into a lust filled dream.

Another guy, another thought. This time his classmates' images took them into a nearby bathroom where Nick found himself on his knees…

“Are you ready to go?”

“Huh?”

Gwen pointed. Most of their classmates were now standing. Others were sprinting for the classroom’s door.

“Class is over?” A look at his notebook showed lots of scribbles along with what appeared to be an attempt at drawing a phallus. Thankfully Nick wasn’t blessed with artistic talent.

“Daydreaming again?”

A look at Gwen’s notebook showed pages full of notes. “I hope you weren’t kidding with that offer to help me study.”

“I’ve got you covered.” Gwen said, giving him an enigmatic smile. “What’s your next class?”

“Calculus.”

“Ewww… you didn’t do yourself any favors with that choice.”

Nick shrugged. “I’m doing better in that class than Geology.”

“Really?”

“I’m shocked too.” Nick said, “I didn’t have good grades in high school but did fairly well in math and history.”

“It helps when you aren’t spending half of class staring at girls.”

“Yeah.” Nick grinned. “That too.” He gathered his things, following Gwen out of the classroom. The feelings of lust returned as they made their way through the busy hallways.

“Do you have a second?” Nick asked as they approached the courtyard.

“Sure.” Gwen nodded, pointing to a secluded bench. “We need to make it quick.”

Nick looked both ways before admitting, “I can’t stop thinking about sex.”

“You can’t?” Gwen didn’t look surprised. “What happened to ‘never gonna happen’?”

“Every guy that looks at me is like a non-stop barrage.”

Gwen's expression softened, “Yeah, I went through hell after I got my blood.”

“Your blood?”

Gwen didn’t say a word, waiting for the realization to hit.

“Oh.” Nick closed his eyes, “Your blood.”

“It’s a euphemism girls use. Magical abilities don’t usually manifest until after first menstruation but there’s a big difference between a 12-year-old boy and a college boy. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

“You’re enjoying this.”

“A little.” Gwen grinned. “It’s something all girls go through. You’re going to struggle in all your classes until you learn control.”

“When’s that going to happen?”

“It’s different for everyone. Some girls never get the hang of it but you won’t find those kind of girls at a school like Asher.” Gwen placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder. "You’ve got a lot on your plate. Would you like me to cast a spell to ease things?"

“You can do that?” Nick felt the eyes of a passerby ogling his ass. "Sure.”

Gwen wiggled her fingers and appeared to whisper something. The strain of interruptions came to an end almost at once. “What did you do?”

“Not much.” Gwen said, “It’s a simple shield spell. It should get you through Calculus without interruption.”

“If it’s so simple, why didn’t you cast it on me during Geology?”

“Payback.”

“Seriously? We’re playing that game again?”

“Nah.” Gwen shook her head. “You need to get used to the feelings generated when guys stare at you. It’s the only way for someone like us to learn control.”

“Great.”

Angry looks followed the pair as they made their way through the buildings but Nick didn’t feel a thing. The shield spell Gwen had cast helped with the angry thoughts of others but nothing could erase the discomfort he felt in his own skin.

Gwen said, “I’m in Hawthorne Hall.”

Nick nodded. “My next class is in Bowditch.”

Gwen nodded, “Do you feel up to it?”

Nick looked to the south. He could be in the dorm room in under five minutes. “I’m nervous.”

Gwen nodded, “You’ve gone to class by yourself before today, correct?”

“Yeah.”

“Do the same thing you’ve always done. You’ll be fine.”

“I know.” They both knew it wasn’t the same.

Nick turned to leave when Gwen grabbed him by the shoulder. “I almost forgot. You’re meeting someone in the dining hall at noon. Same place we sat this morning. Make sure you aren’t late.”

Chapter 21

Nick fixed his eyes on the ground ahead to avoid the ire of everyone around him. The weight of Gwen’s shield spell did have an effect as he made his way to Bowditch but nothing could stop the whispers his pink outfit created in the crowded hall.

He found his normal seat in the back row. Others hurried to their seats, as usual no one bothered to sit near him. While the shield spell dulled the intensity of the lustful glances, nothing could stop the anxiety.

Nick did his best to follow along with the material but numbers and equations filled the board then blurred together in Nick's mind. His thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the previous night, to Goody and the feel of the rope around her neck.

“Are you ok?”

Nick looked up to see a fellow student, a girl with a look of concern in her eyes. He forced a smile, “I’m fine.” A look around the hall showed the classroom mostly empty.

The girl laughed, “Not by the looks of your notes.” She held up her phone. “I can send you mine if you’re interested.”

Nick looked at his notebook and his notepad. Neither made much sense. “That’d be great.”

The girl smiled. “I have a program that transcribes the professor’s words and summarizes them.”

“Really?” Nick said, “Are you taking Geology 101 by any chance?”

“No.” The girl shook her head.

"Too bad."

The girl whispered, “I know who you are.”

“You do?”

“I woke up at 2AM to help with the crack.” The girl looked proud.

“Crack?”

“It’s tech-speak for a breaking into secure computer systems and extracting unauthorized data.” She smiled, “It’s easy for people in our world to change physical memories but digital footprints aren’t so easy to hide.”

“Our world?”

“You know …” The girl gave a knowing grin. “... OUR WORLD.”

“Oh …” Nick said, “So you’re a …”

The girl leaned forward, placing a finger on Nick’s lips. “Best not to discuss it here.” A look around the hall showed people from the next class starting to file in. “My name is Cassy, by the way. Care to join me for a cup of coffee?”

“I don’t drink coffee.”

“Me either.” Cassy said with a grin.

Nick’s heart pounded, his questions compounding as he gathered his things.

Cassy asked, “Could I get a large caramel macchiato, but with extra vanilla syrup and a splash more caramel drizzle than usual?”

“Of course, ma’am. Happy to make it for you.” The barista’s eyes told a different story.

Cassy turned to Nick, “You sure you don’t want one?”

NIck shook his head. “I’m good with water.”

“These are soooo good. This is my third one today.” Cassy held up her cup and pointed at a table in the corner. “Are you sure you don’t want one?”

“Thanks, I’m good.” He had enough outside influences already and didn’t need another if Cassy’s jitters were any indication of what the drink did to a person.

“Your loss.” Cassy said, speeding off for her chosen table.

Nick followed Cassy, then watched as she stirred her drink. While he didn’t drink coffee, he had to admit it had an intoxicating aroma.

“What did your ‘crack’ tell you about me?”

Cassy took a sip of her drink. “Are you always so direct?”.

Nick yawned, “It’s been a long day.”

“I bet.” Cassy said, fidgeting in her seat, “Do you have your ID on you?”

“I … uhh …” He usually kept his idea in his wallet and he kept his wallet in his bookbag. Nick checked his bookbag, now colored purple, finding a pink woman’s wallet inside. Inside the wallet was his bank card, student ID, a medical card, a couple of credit cards, and a driver’s license.

He withdrew the driver’s license and handed it to Cassy.

Name: Nicole Wilder
Sex: Female
Age: 18

“Do you think information changes by magic?”

Nick shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Cassy held up Nick’s ID. “Something like this takes planning, a good team of programmers, and a pen team able to access any system. Thank god everything is moving to digital. I’ve heard horror stories about the lengths teams went to change birth certificates back in the day.”

“So you’re not …” Nick lowered his voice. “... a witch?”

Cassy’s face grew animated, “Are you saying I don’t look like a witch?”

“No… no…” Nick barely got the words out before Cassy interrupted.

“I’m messing with ya.” Cassy grinned. “And if you’re worried, I put up a sound barrier. No one can hear us.”

“So you are a witch.”

Cassy shrugged. “I’m a witch, an Information Technology major, and a member of Bishop Hall’s pen team. Nick Wilder disappeared from all public records at 4:07AM this morning. Nicole Wilder appeared at the same time. It took us until 4:54AM to crack your old identity.”

“You need to speak slower Cassy. I don’t speak IT.”

Cassy took another drink before continuing. “What part don’t you understand?”

Nick said, “I haven’t understood much of anything since about 7PM last night.”

“I bet.” Cassy nodded. “But it’s a simple process. The Order has IT teams who specialize in changing a person’s digital footprint but it’s possible for someone to miss something. So they assign follow up groups to penetrate their work and fix any holes in the data. It’s turned into a sort of game between the witch IT group assigned to make the changes and us college kids. It’s not like being one of Goody’s daughters is a secret in the witching world but it’s a fantastic opportunity for us college IT witches to do real world work.”

Nick nodded. “I bet that’s how Clem found out so fast.”

“Clem?”

“It’s nothing.”

Cassy took another large gulp of her drink. “The witching world is full of gossips. There’s always a lot of interest in the new Chosen.”

“So you know … everything?”

“There’s not much to know. You graduated from Stirling High School. You worked at Lola’s department store. You were a guy.”

“Damn.” Nick frowned. “It sucks to hear your whole life summarized in three sentences.”

Cassy held up an empty cup, “I’m getting another. Are you sure you don’t want one?”

Nick shook his head. “I can’t. I’ve got to get going. I’m supposed to meet someone at noon.”

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 21

The young blonde girl checked the watch on her impossibly small wrists. “Thank you for being prompt.”

Nick had trouble speaking. It was clear this was no ordinary blonde.

The girl leaned in close, her smothering perfume causing Nick's head to spin. "I heard you were quite the center of attention last night.”

“I … uhhh …” Nick looked around the hall.

The girl smiled. “My … my … you are quite raw Nikki.”

Nick gathered his courage. “Who are you? How do you know about last night?”

“I use the name Heather when I visit South Quad. I would think the rest is obvious but we can make it a game if you’d prefer.”

Heather didn’t look up as she started eating her meal of granola mixed with yogurt.

Nick said, “You’re a witch.”

“Obviously.”

Nick gave himself a moment to think, taking a bite of the cheeseburger he’d grabbed from the lunch line, and making several chews before answering. “You said you know about last night. Are you part of the Phi Lambs?”

Heather said, “Many witches outside the sisterhood know about last night.”

“I think all of them do by now.” Nick stared at the pretty girl. Her face betrayed nothing. “Gwen told me to meet with you so I bet that means you’re a Phi Lamb or an associate of some sort.”

“Better.” Heather nodded, “Continue.”

“Umm…” Nick picked up four french fries and began gnawing on all of them at the same time. “You’re older than you look.”

“Older?” The blonde’s eyes flash red, “I have hexed fools for less. Are you sure you want to start our first conversation by insulting me?

“I … uhhhh …” Nick tried to think of a way out of this mess. “… I meant you seem self-assured.”

“Nice save.” The girl smiled a wicked toothy smile.

“Sorry.”

“Never apologize Nikki. Continue your thinking…”

“You sound like a teacher.” Nick took a deep breath. “You know the inner workings of Phi Lambda Phi. Are you a teacher?”

“Give the girl a prize.” Heather’s face brightened, “Maybe you aren’t as dumb as some around campus are claiming this morning.”

“People are talking about me?”

“Only everyone.” The girl held out her hand in a most delicate manner. “Most at this school call me Miss Applebottom though I prefer Heather while wearing this guise. I’m a teacher and the house mother of Phi Lambda Phi.”

Nick shook the woman’s hand, a jolt of electricity arcing between them as their skin touched. “You watched last night?”

“Me? Watch? No … no … no … That would have been against the rules. Last night’s proceedings were for current members alone.” Miss Applebottom smiled a cryptic smile. “But I have been known to break the rules from time to time.”

“So you watched?”

“I saw the Choosing.”

“So you know who I was up against.”

Miss Applebottom ignored the comment, “You and I will have breakfast at this table every morning from 7AM until 8AM every Monday to Friday for the next month to work until I am satisfied you have completed remedial instruction.”

“I didn’t know magic existed until last night.” Nick paused to take a bite of his cheeseburger then followed it up with a handful of french fries.

“So I’ve been told.” Miss Applebottom said, shaking her head. “But I’ve always liked a challenge.” She looked around the room, her gaze fixing on one particularly buff freshman. “I do love coming to south campus so it’s not all bad.”

Nick protested. “I’ve already got fifteen hours of class. Now you want me to spend another hour every day learning magic.”

“It’s worse than you know.” Miss Applebottom retrieved a piece of paper from her purse. “Here’s your new weekly schedule. It’s the same as your old schedule but with ‘A History of Magic’ at 3PM on Monday-Wednesday-Fridays and ‘Spellcasting 101’ at 3PM on Tuesday-Thursdays along with everything expected of you at the Phi Lamb house.”

Nick looked at the list. “This is impossible. I’m barely keeping up with my studies now.”

“Nothing is impossible.”

Nick tried to do the math. “I’ve got class. I’ve got to study. I need to be at the Phi Lamb house by 4PM and who knows when I’ll be able to leave that place.” Nick looked at his state of dress. “And it’s going to take me twice as long to get ready in the morning.”

“I’m glad you brought that up.” Miss Applebottom pulled a brush from her purse and began combing her hair. “Your face reeks of Miss Bradford’s magic. Freshmen aren’t allowed to cast Level 1 spells on campus. I understand her reasons but I won’t be lenient if I catch it again. I suggest setting your alarm at 5AM for the foreseeable future.”

“5AM?!?! We don’t meet until 7AM.”

“How much experience do you have with makeup?”

“Some.”

Miss Applebottom smirked, “Dabbling at your mother’s dressing table while she was away doesn’t count.” The corners of her mouth turned upward in what some might consider a smile. “Women face a much more daunting prospect every day. Your face will be judged by every line you draw on your face and it needs to look perfect. That’s doubly true of a Phi Lamb. The artistry of makeup is learned through years at a makeup table not shortcuts. Many witches have found their ruin by becoming too reliant on magic. Hard work and dedication are what we teach at Asher.”

“I can’t cast spells anyway.”

Miss Applebottom didn't appear phased. “Your file says you’ve always wanted to know how the other half lives. You’re getting a crash course.”

Nick shook his head. “It’s too much.”

“Quit with the complaints. You’ve never had anyone push you out of your comfort zone, Nikki. I’m going to push you so far you won’t recognize yourself by the end of the year. Remember, it was your choice to remain in the contest.” Miss Applebottom made a slight wave with her hand. A second later a stream of hate and lust hit Nick.

“I removed the shield spell Miss Bradford placed on you. Can you feel the energy the room is feeding you?”

Nick nodded.

“Every woman, even those without magic, faces this feeling every day. The truth is there aren't enough hours in the day for any of us to get everything done.” Miss Applebottom’s face softened. “You aren’t alone, Nikki. Life is a series of choices and made easier by finding alliances. For example, I think you’ll find several girls at the house who would love to spend a weekend putting makeup on your face, taking it off, and putting it on again.”

“Ohhhh.” Nick said as the room’s energy continued to surge into him. “Zoey might help.”

Miss Applebottom nodded. “A perfect choice.”

Nick ran a hand through his hair. “I could cut my hair.”

Miss Applebottom didn’t look as happy with this idea. “It would be a pity to cut such beautiful hair but again it’s your choice. You will find shortcuts and compromises necessary to meet the challenges of your new life. I expect you to fail … I expect you to fail quite often if I’m being honest but you will not feel my wrath as long as I think you are putting in the effort.”

Nick shuddered. Wrath? He popped the rest of the cheeseburger into his mouth and began to chew. “I need to sleep sometime.”

Miss Applebottom waved her hand unleashing the full force of the energy in the room. “Witches don’t need sleep. We can and usually do because it’s the best way to replenish our stores but we don’t NEED to sleep.” Miss Applebottom stared at a nearby group of guys. “For example, You’ll find the boys around here to be quite an invigorating morning pick me up after an all nighter. Soak in their energy. They’re literally offering it to you.”

The lustful stares gave Nick a burst of energy, but also caused unbidden thoughts in return. “Ohhh…”

“Do you feel it?”

Energy stirred in Nick’s belly. “I feel something.”

Miss Applebottom waved her hand and the energy went away. “You are feeling magic in its raw form.” She slid a book across the table. It stopped an inch from the edge. “That is your spellbook.”

The book looked like a regular notebook you could buy at the campus bookstore. "Spellbook?" Upon opening Nick saw page after page of nothing. "It’s blank."

“Place your left hand on the inside cover and your right on the inside back cover. It may begin to feel hot, but don’t move your hand. Grimoires are quite rare and very expensive.”

As Nick placed his hands, the book began to bulge, the covers growing hotter and hotter but short of the point of pain until an electric jolt shocked both arms. “Dammit. That hurt.”

“Good. The pain means you’ve attuned.” Miss Applebottom smiled. “We’re making great progress.”

“You could have warned me about the shock.”

Miss Applebottom smiled. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Nick re-opened the book, expecting to see writing. “It’s empty.”

“Check the front.”

One page in particular caught his eye.

Name: Nicole Wilder
Age: 18
Sex: Female
Caster Level: 0
Specialty: None
Inventory: None

The name read the same as his school ID. “That’s it?”

“Magic isn’t as simple as reading words off a page. It takes work.” Miss Applebottom pulled a book from inside her purse. “This is my grimoire. I’ve spent decades learning my craft and mine is a quarter full.” Nick noticed Miss Applebottom now stood, assuming the posture common to many teachers. “Turn to the table of contents in your grimoire.”

The table section that listed spells by category:

Abjuration - Shield, ward and protection spells.
Conjuration - Bring forth creatures or objects from other dimensions.
Divination - Grants Insight into the unseen to gather information or locate hidden things.
Enchantment - Manipulate the minds/emotions of others.
Evocation - Direct manipulation of elemental forces.
Illusion - Deceive senses. Create false realities.
Transmutation - Temporarily alter the physical properties of an object or living thing.
Transformation - Permanently alter the physical properties of an object or living thing.

“Evocation sounds cool.” Nick said, wiggling his fingers. “Ka-zam!”

“This isn’t a movie Nikki.” Miss Applebottom shook her head. “Even if you become skilled in evocation, you won’t be casting spells in that specialty for a long time, if ever. Not only are they high level and hard to learn but they are extremely regulated in our society. As I’m sure you are aware, witches have good reason to blend into society. In the 21st century, we rely on knowledge and illusion instead.”

“So no magic missiles?”

Miss Applebottom ignored him, “Spells will appear under the appropriate level and category after you’ve learned how to accumulate and channel your power.”

“Channel my power?” The idea sounded ludicrous but little of the last day made sense. Nick stared at a nearby group of guys chatting and laughing, totally unaware most of them spent half the night being drained of essence. “This is a lot.”

“You are part of our world now. The sooner you come to terms with your new reality, the quicker we can begin your instruction.”

Nick looked at his hands and wiggled his fingers and pretended to cast a spell, “Abracadabra…”

Miss Applebottom didn’t look amused. “We will cover the basics until you prove yourself to me.” She placed a book on the table with an ominous sounding title ‘Colonial Economics in Pre-Revolution South Carolina’. When Nick picked up the book, the title changed to ‘‘Magic – A Beginner’s Primer’.

“Neat trick.”

“It is no trick. It’s an illusion which is something you will understand once you read the book. We will cover this book and others until you’re caught up to your classmates.”

Nick looked around the dining hall. “Is everyone at this school a witch?”

“Not all. Only a small fraction.” Miss Applebottom said, shaking her head. “The current freshman class currently has a total of ninety-three witches, most of whom are female. Male witches tend to stick to the state schools for some reason.”

“Football games?”

“Perhaps.” Miss Applebottom smiled, seeming genuinely amused by Nick’s answer. “I think the truth is they fear us. Men are a minority in the witching world and the instruction at Asher is quite competitive. This might be my alumni bias showing but there’s no better place to learn magic in New England.”

“Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

“I’m not here to make you feel better.” Miss Applebottom gave a studious glare followed by a wave of her hand. “Ready to start your first lesson?”

Nick doubled over as the surge of energy caused a shudder. “What did you do?”

“A witch’s body craves energy, MIss Wilder.” Miss Applebottom smiled. “But to store more energy one must exercise it like a muscle.”
Torrents of energy streamed into Nick, “Wh…what’s going on?”

Miss Applebottom’s voice remained steady. “Every new witch has difficulty storing magic within themselves but it’s nothing to fear. Embrace it. Once you’ve learned that, you’ll be able to reach into your core and tap into it.”

Nick closed his eyes while taking a deep breath, allowing the warmth to settle in the pit of his stomach. He felt it for the first time when he’d entered the Phi Lamb house but this felt different. It filled him with … something … growing … building … morphing … as his hunger grew.
Images of the guys ravishing his naked body flashed in Nick’s brain as the warmth expanded through his chest, spreading to his arms and down his legs before diving deep into his loins.

Miss Applebottom spoke in a whisper, “Don’t fight it.”

Nick closed his eyes, feeling each boy’s approach, feeling their essence enter as their imaginations grew stronger, each boy’s imagination more lurid than the last. They pulled at Nick’s body, touching his shirt, removing his top, one pushing him to his knees until Miss Applebottom’s voice sounded in the distance.

Miss Applebottom spoke in a calm tone. “Close your eyes and breathe. In and out. In and out. You are seeing the dreams of silly boys. Nothing is real.”

Nick pressed through the maze of groping hands and ran towards the light.. When his vision Miss Applebottom smiled from across the table.

“Not bad for your first foray into controlling male essence.”

Unbidden thoughts continued to bounce in Nick’s brain. “I think it controlled me.”

Miss Applebottom nodded, “Girls have desires, same as boys and that’s doubly true for the Chosen. You were created through the essence of male yearning but it goes away after a few weeks.”

“That’s what Gwen said.” Nick caught a cute guy at a nearby table staring at his breasts causing a reciprocal shudder. “I don’t want to feel like this. Why can’t I use a shield?”

“Embracing your abilities is the only way to improve.”

“It’s too much.” A look around the hall showed everyone going about their daily lives. In the middle of the room Roger sat next to Stanley in their normal spot, both laughing and talking, neither bothered by Nick’s disappearance. “My friends are over there, eating lunch without me. I ate with them every day for the past month and now they don’t know me.”

“If it makes you feel better, every Chosen has gone through a similar process.”

“It doesn’t.” Nick looked across the room to where his friends were laughing. “I always knew I was different. But this…” NIck looked down at his body. “Finding out I had a centuries old curse that turned me into a sex witch wasn’t something I’d ever considered.”

Miss Applebottom shook her head, “Don’t use that word.”

“What word?”

“Sex-witch. I find it offensive.”

“Oh.”

“Open your Magic Primer to page 4.”

Nick did as asked. On page 4 he found the following:

Magic is accumulated through the three pillars - Mind, Body, and Soul.

Mind - Essence gained through harmony of spirit
Body - Essence gained through physical exertion
Soul - Essence gained through emotion

Miss Applebottom said, “Magical essence permeates everything. It is in the air we breathe and over time accumulates in organic matter. Every creature, every tree, every person - has some magic inside them. If you go to a forest, and learn to listen to the trees, they will give you a portion of their magic. Witches have always communed with nature as a means to fuel their spells. You can find a similar form of magic through prayer and devotion. There’s nothing like a good church sermon to fill your stores though it does tend to make one self-righteous for a few days.”

Nick interrupted. “That doesn’t explain my feelings.”

“Less talking … more listening.” Miss Applebottom’s eyes grew sharp before relenting. “Every time a guy sees a pretty girl and fantasizes about her, he accumulates a small amount of essence. Then he sees other girls, repeating the process over and over. This can occur over the course of months and sometimes over years. It is an easy source of magic for any witch. It’s the Phi Lambs tapped into last night.”

“Don’t remind me.” Nick thought of the lines of guys in the courtyard.

“Sex is the one of the most potent sources of magic as it starts in the mind, moves to the body, and upon release, touches your soul in a way nothing else can. It is why many witches throughout history have found their calling in a brothel and there’s nothing wrong with that. But being a sex-witch, as the girls call it, is not the only path forward. At Asher we teach a balance of all three sources. It is why you must learn discipline. You will feed your mind while training your body and searching your soul.”

Nick asked. “I need to start working out?”

Miss Applebottom smiled. “Was that the only thing you heard?”

“I heard the other stuff.” Nick insisted. ”It’s just … like I said … I’ve got a full schedule.”

“You will find the time.” Miss Applebottom’s face grew grim. “I will help you. You should know there are things you will hear about my past when the girls start their gossips. I want you to understand it is easy for a witch to lose themselves if they forget the pillars. If there’s one thing I want my witches to learn during their four years at Asher, it is balance.”

“I will try my best.”

“That’s all I ask.” Miss Applebottom didn’t speak for several seconds, “I think that’s enough for today.”

Nick nodded. “I appreciate you taking time out of your day to spend it with me.”

“Of course. It’s what I’m here for.” Miss Applebottom had a faraway look in her eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a guy on the other side of the room who hasn’t stopped looking at me since I arrived.”

Miss Applebottom stood then pranced across the room. Every eye in the room followed.

Chapter 22

“Did she tell you about the pillars?”

Nick nearly jumped out of his chair. “Where’d you come from?”

Gwen smiled. “You zoned out. I didn’t want to bug you but we need to leave now if we’re going to get to your next class.”

“Uh … sure.” Nick looked at the clock on the wall. Time had flown by. “Miss Applebottom hit me with a lot of stuff. She said... ” He looked at the nearby tables. “... am I allowed to talk about this here?”

Gwen nodded, “I put up a barrier.”

Nick gathered his things and stuffed them in his bookbag. “I thought freshmen weren’t allowed to cast magic on campus.”

Gwen nodded. “Inert spells like protective barriers and shield spells are allowed.”

Nick wasn’t sure what to believe. “I found out you lied to me. Magic isn’t always about sex…” Nick tossed the books Miss Applebottom gave him into his bookbag, a flash of lust hitting as he stood and guys all over the room turned their gaze in his direction.

“You were saying?”

Nick shuddered under the weight of the room’s gaze. “The Phi Lambs aren’t sex witches. Miss Applebottom made it clear I wasn’t supposed to use the term in her presence.”

“That wasn’t a total lie…” As Gwen smiled, the energy hitting Nick decreased by half. “... but with all this free energy we might as well be. Just wait until the first time you have sex.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Planning on joining a convent?”

“No ….” Nick hurried out the door and into the courtyard to avoid the stares. “You made me think I had no choice.”

“Sex is hard to avoid in our world. Most guys you meet are thinking of one thing. They make it so easy to take their energy.”

“You make it sound like no big deal.”

Gwen shrugged, “It’s not. Not for me, at least.” She closed her eyes. “I love the feeling of a guy wrapping his arms around me, feeling his heart quicken and mine quickening to match. The best lovers are the ones who take their time, allowing the power to build and build and then …” Nick nearly fell as he felt Gwen’s whole body shudder from the memory.

“I think I had a contact orgasm.”

Gwen laughed, “You’d be in a state of delirium if you experienced one of my orgasms. I’ve spent years honing my craft, and perfecting the art of lovemaking.”

Nick took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the energy surge. “I’m going to need you to cast another shield. Miss Applebottom removed the last one.”

“I’m not allowed.” Gwen explained. “Miss Applebottom instructions were quite clear. I wasn't to cast any more spells on you, and that included defensive spells. She says you need to experience the world without a crutch or you’ll never improve.”

Gwen's words echoed in his mind, as he watched classmates passing by on the sidewalk, their thoughts about him as plain as the noses on their faces.

Gwen asked, “What’s your next class?”

“Pre-Civil War US History. We finished the War of 1812 and the War Hawks. I expect we’ll be talking about the rise of Andrew Jackson today.”

Gwen yawned. “Sounds boring.”

“It’s not … oh shit.” Nick froze.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Roger.”

“What about him?”

“He’s in my US history class.”

“So?”

“I sit next to him.”

Gwen shook her head. “He’s not going to recognize you. He doesn’t even remember you. It’s unlikely he’ll sit next to you … then again …” Her smile turned devilish.

Nick shook his head, realizing what Gwen was thinking. “No way.”

“No, this is perfect. He’s not one of us. He’ll never know.” Gwen nodded, convincing herself with every word, “Go talk to him. Stretch out your feminine wiles.

Nick exclaimed. “I don’t have feminine anything.”

Gwen laughed. “Do you need me to pull out a mirror?”

“You know what I mean.”

“You’ve got to talk to a guy sometime. You told me last night that Roger’s a nice guy.”

“He is … but has stalker tendencies.”

Gwen’s face looked way too excited. “I’ll zap him if he gets out of hand.”

“What about Miss Applebottom’s prohibition on spells?”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Two dozen eyes turned in Nick’s direction as he walked into the hall. The feeling was not so intense this time as he scanned the hall. He found Roger in the normal spot, middle back of the last row.

Nick took a deep breath as he made his way up the row. “Is this seat taken?”

Roger looked one way and then the other then back to Nick. “Are-are y-you t-talking to me?”

It was nice to hear a familiar voice. The first week of class had been rough on them both even if Roger would never admit it now. Most people thought Roger was an asshole but they hadn’t listened to him speak about his deepest insecurities in the dark of night.

Nick smiled. “Is there anyone else sitting here?”

Roger sat up straight causing the accumulated crumbs of the cookie he’d eaten to fly from his chest onto the floor. Nick smiled at the panicked display from his friend, enjoying his surprise of seeing a Phi Lamb standing in front of him. As a side benefit, the surge of panic overrode any sense of desire, allowing Nick a brief respite.

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure.” Roger said, moving his books to make room. “Are you sure you want to sit here?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You normally sit over there.” Roger stammered, pointing to a group of girls Nick assumed to be witches.

“Someone told me you know a lot about history.” Nick smiled. He’d heard it from himself.

“I dabble.” Roger said, his obvious nerves lessening. “My favorite period is ancient Rome. I find antebellum US history to be quite dull.”

“Not me.” Nick said. “The period is full of men who set the course of the country. Jackson, Calhoun, Webster, Scott, Taylor, Polk, and then there’s Douglas and Lincoln.”

“There wasn’t a president worthy of the office after Jackson.”

Nick smiled. He’d had this argument countless times while laying in their beds. When Roger said he liked Roman history, he meant he liked reading about the Roman Empire. Nick preferred the Republic.

Nick held out his hand. “I’m Nikki, spelled with one N, two I’s and two K’s.”

Roger’s hand was clammy to the touch. The surge of energy that followed in its wake made Nick glad he was sitting down. “I’m Roger.”

“Nice to meet you, Roger.”

The teacher stood at the front of class, looking at the ceiling and reciting facts from memory...

...Andrew Jackson’s rise to power marks the change from the Revolution period in the United States to what could be considered the country’s adolescence. Jackson was orphaned at a young age and rose to prominence through sheer determination, becoming a lawyer, a landowner, and a military hero. Jackson was far from a perfect man. He killed a man in a duel after the man insulted his wife. Jackson was a slaveowner like many of our founding fathers, and while president pressed for the expulsion of native tribes from their homeland.

It was Jackson’s military exploits, particularly the decisive victory at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 that catapulted him into national fame. This triumph not only solidified his reputation as a formidable leader but also laid the groundwork…

Sitting next to Roger had an unexpected benefit. Instead of a torrent of stares he’d experienced in class that morning, most guys ignored him, directing their emotions of disbelief at Roger instead.

As the teacher moved through Andrew Jackson’s political advancement in wake of the Seminole Wars, so too did Roger’s arm slowly make its way up the armrest until their arms nearly touched at which point, Roger lost his nerve. When the teacher began explaining the Election of 1824, Nick used a convenient yawn to break the impasse.

“Ooopsie.” Nick said, remembering Zoey’s favorite word.

Roger appeared unable to speak as the steady flow of energy flowed into Nick. It was a strange sensation, being at the center of someone else's inner turmoil.

The energy felt like the feelings Miss Applebottom showed to him, then grew stronger as the images from Roger’s brain grew more distinct. Roger taking off his clothes. Roger getting in the communal shower. Nick felt himself growing wet as someone turned the knob, then fell to his knees when Roger turned.

“No.”

Nick looked around, hoping he hadn’t spoken out loud. Seeing several classmates had turned to stare wasn’t what he wanted to see. By instinct, Nick took Roger by the hand to keep their conversation private, pushing the images back into his friend as the scene moved to their dorm room.

Nick laying on his back without a stitch of clothing while Roger, wearing a pair of silk boxers, took firm hold of Nick’s breasts, the accompanying loud moan only occurring in Nick’s mind. At least he hoped that was the case.

The scene changed and Nick started moving the power back and forth in a rhythmic dance, the titillation growing more vulgar with every change of scene.

It wasn’t the first time Nick had dreamed of being with a guy. It wasn’t even the first time he’d dreamed of being with Roger. Nick gagged as his vision took Roger in his mouth. This didn’t count if it was a dream.

Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the intrusive thoughts away, blocking out the overwhelming surge of energy that threatened to engulf him. The scene shifted to one Nick remembered well which allowed him to regain control. The scene returned to the dorm room with Nick sitting on the bed.

‘Hey man, good to meet you. I’m Roger Cooper. I’m your roommate.’
‘I’m Nick. Nick Wilder.’ Nick felt his face blush.
‘A shy guy … don’t worry. Stick with me and you’ll be swimming in pussy.’
Nick felt his face blush even more.

Nick pulled back, realizing he had crossed a line. The emotions running between him and his friend was palpable, and Nick had gone too far.

The sound of his classmates standing pulled Nick from his stupor. A look at Roger showed his friend staring into space. "Thanks for letting me sit here," Nick said with a friendly smile.

“A-any-anytime.” Roger stammered, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "It was nice talking to you."

“Maybe we could do it again sometime.” Nick said, immediately regretting the words. He moved down the aisle as quickly as he could, knowing better than most the monster he’d unleashed.

Roger’s lust coursed through Nick’s veins, the feeling calling to Nick as he struggled to leave the classroom, the anxiety so unsettling Nick welcomed the wave of desire and hate when he appeared in the hallway.

“How’d it go?” Gwen asked, appearing out of nowhere.

“Will you stop doing that, Gwen?”

“Doing what?” Gwen said with a grin.

“Appearing out of nowhere.” Nick said, “Wait … didn’t you have a class in a different building?”

Gwen nodded, “I did but I thought it would be more fun to watch you pop your cherry.”

Nick blushed “I assure you no cherry popping happened in that classroom.”

Gwen gave Nick a knowing look as she peeked into the classroom. “Roger hasn’t moved. What did you do to him?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Gwen looked again. “You did something.”

Nick grew concerned. “Is he ok?”

“He’ll survive.” Gwen looked again. “We should get out of here before someone notices.”

The pair sped out of the hall and into the courtyard. Nick said. “I can't believe I did that.”

Gwen smiled. “How are you feeling?”

Nick stopped walking, drinking in the feelings of desire pouring into him in hopes it might make the feeling disappear. “Hornier than a toad in Texas.”

“Oh-my-gawd … you’re such a dork.” Gwen laughed, “Tell me exactly what you did so I can cast an appropriate counterspell.”

Nick tried to pull as much energy as he could from the guys in the quad but the images of Roger wouldn’t go away. “I touched his arm.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know.” Nick shrugged, “Thirty minutes?”

“Thirty minutes?” Gwen laughed. “No wonder he’s in a daze. You mind fucked him.”

“Is that bad?”

“Nah. Just be careful. Your friend doesn’t seem the type to let go easy and few boys want any other meat once they’ve had a taste of Lamb.”

Nick shook his head. “You say something like that and say I’m the dorky one?”

Gwen smiled as she pointed up the sidewalk towards the Phi Lamb house, “We need to find a safe place for you to drain off the extra energy or you’re going to be useless the rest of the day.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“Only if you don’t tell me all the details.”

Chapter 23

“Am I a bad person?”

“Nah.”

Nick expected Gwen to take him to the Phi Lamb house. Instead they sat under a copse of trees next to Bishop Hall.

Gwen pointed to the trees one by one. “It’s peaceful here … don’t you think?”

“Yeah.”

“Some of these trees were around when the town was founded.” She pointed to an old oak. “The founders of this place formed their charter on that very spot.”

“Wow.” Nick stared at the old tree’s twisted limbs and ancient bark which dominated the other trees in the grove.

Gwen said, “This isn't just a tree, it’s a living archive. Generations of witches have found shade and shelter under its limbs. It’s my favorite spot on campus.”

Nick looked up the path, watching students making their way to their next destination. “I never noticed this place before you brought me here.”
“That’s by design.” She pointed at the old stone building next to the grove. “Witching classes are in Bishop Hall. This whole area is spelled to be inconspicuous. Most people walk by and never give it a second glance.”

“That’s cool.”

Gwen smiled, “Our society learned the hard way over the centuries of the need to be invisible. You’d think modern society might grow more enlightened as the years pass but we’ve found the opposite to be true. So we’ve learned to hide ourselves from the world, usually in plain sight.”

“Does that mean witch doctors are a real thing?”

“Not how you’re implying.” Gwen grinned. “But there are Witch-doctors, witch-lawyers, witch-politicians, witch-scientists, witch-computer nerds, witch-lobbyists, witch-business leaders, and witch-whatever. We are everywhere and nowhere.”

Nick said, “Sounds like the Illuminati."

Gwen nodded. “It is in a way. There are many factions in the witching world, each with their own agenda, but we know it’s in our best interest to work together when it comes to secrecy. Nothing is more important than keeping our existence hidden which is why some of the majors here are devoted to training our members in SecOps. No one outside our world can know about us. Billions are spent every year to make sure that happens..”

“So I can’t tell my Mom?”

Gwen shrugged. “Outsiders have been brought into our world but it’s best if she doesn’t know.”

Nick shook his head. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

“It’s for her protection… and for yours.”

Nick said, “I tell my Mom everything.”

Gwen laughed. “I know that’s not true or are you forgetting the time spent in her closet..”

“Not everything, obviously.” Nick sighed. “It’s just … I’m all she has.”

“You don’t have to part ways. You live the same but keep that part of your life from her. I have several good friends who aren’t witches. It’s not always easy but nothing worth a damn is.”

Nick asked, “Is that how it works with your parents?”

Gwen shook her head, “My parents are witches.”

“Oh.”

Gwen explained. “Most young witches have fun mixing with normies for a while but eventually find it easier to stick within the community. It’s easier to marry a fellow witch than to hide a secret life from your spouse.”

“Makes sense.”

Gwen said, “The odds of having a child with abilities are greater when you marry another witch too. That’s why you normally see the most talented witches coming from the old families. It’s also why someone like you has created such a buzz.”

“I’ve created a buzz?”

“New blood always creates a stir.”

Nick looked up at the old oak. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

Gwen took Nick’s hand, “I blew Billy Peterson under the basketball bleachers in ninth grade.”

“Uhh … thanks for sharing.” Nick said.

Gwen ignored him, “I was in your shoes once. I didn’t know about magic. I might even have said, ‘I can’t do this’ on this very spot.” Her face took a faraway look. “I sensed Billy liked me and I liked him too. One thing led to another and next thing I know he’s taking me under the bleachers. I couldn’t stop myself. The bastard told everyone in school and I ran home in tears.”

“That’s terrible.”

“My parents said they kept the knowledge of their world from me to protect me.” Gwen’s eyes glistened as she spoke, “My grandmother was sitting at the kitchen table when I got home from school. My Mom’s car pulled into the driveway a few minutes later. We got in Mom’s car but no one told me the destination. I cried in the back seat the entire trip.”

“That sounds sucky.”

“A poor choice of words considering my experience with Billy Peterson but yeah… it sucked.” Gwen’s face cheered some. “We parked at the Phi Lamb House and they brought me here. Grandma explained how female witches don’t usually start showing signs of power until their first blood. They’d been watching for years to see if I showed power. She told me she’d seen promising signs but nothing definitive. Then it broke through in the most embarrassing way possible…” Gwen’s voice trailed off. “Anyway, that’s how I found out I was a witch.”

“What happened to Billy Peterson?”

Gwen gave Nick a wicked grin, “Lots of memory charms, a social media sweep, and an unfortunate streak of bad luck to the classmates who wronged me. They made the mistake of messing with a witch with an excellent memory.”

Nick drew back. “You can be scary when you want to be.”

“Then you should be grateful I like you, perv.” Gwen smiled. “Close your eyes.”

Nick closed his eyes, the images of Roger continued to bounce around in his brain.

Gwen asked, “What do you feel?”

Nick said. “I see Roger.”

“Of course you do but look past that … tell me what you feel.” Gwen’s voice softened with each word. “Center yourself. Listen for an older, wiser presence.”

Nick quieted the scattered memories of the past day until the only thing he heard was a background hum. “I think I hear something.”

“Let the trees share their energy with you.”

Nick cleared his mind, the hum tickling the back of his throat moving down his spine and to his extremities as a musky odor filled his nostrils.

Energy from the trees flowed into him, a sudden calm as each tree introduced themselves one by one. Oak, Maple, Ash, Beech, Cherry, Chestnut, Cedar, Birch, and Elm. Each had their strengths and all had their weaknesses but together they exuded a power unlike any Nick had ever felt.

Energy moved back and forth, Nick’s power a mere speck compared to the power of the trees, their whispers soothing his thoughts and taking his pains without complaint.

“Nick?”

Nick opened his eyes to see Gwen standing over him. Nick’s phone showed he’d been in a trance for a half hour. “Wow. I was out for a while.”

“How do you feel?”

He couldn’t feel a trace of Roger’s energy and the angst and sexual tension he’d accumulated all morning had dissipated too. His body felt clean and full of energy, unburdened by the stresses of the world. “That was amazing.”

“Now you know why some stories show witches as hermits living in the middle of a thick forest. It’s just as easy to get addicted to natural magic as it is sex.”

“Thanks Gwen. I feel better.”

“Gathering magic from nature takes a lot of time but thankfully this grove is faster than most. You’d need to sit there all week to achieve the same result in a young forest.”

“Damn.”

“The time factor is one of the reasons there are more sex witches in the world than druids.” Gwen sat down in front of Nick and held up a shiny object in her hand. “Now that you’re full of tree juice, would you like to learn a magic spell?”

“Is that allowed?”

“You’re a witch. Of course it’s allowed.” Gwen grinned. “Miss Applebottom has forbidden me from casting another shield spell on you. She didn’t say you couldn’t cast one yourself and your next class is with a room full of witches, most of whom hate you. Do you want to go in there unprotected?

“What do I need to do?”

Gwen placed the crystal on the ground between them. “Pick it up.”

Nick picked up the crystal, feeling the smooth surface warm against his skin. “It feels hot.”

“That’s a spell stone.” Gwen said, the small smile growing on her lips "It’s a practice aid meant to help new casters. I’ve cast a shield spell on this one. Clear your mind and listen like you did with the trees to see if you can pull it out.”

Nick closed his eyes, focused on the stone, and connected with its warmth. A second later he felt his body begin to grow hot. The warmth started with his hands, moved up his arms, then his head, his torso, his legs, and his feet.

“Congratulations.”

“Huh?”

“You cast your first shield spell.”

“I did?”

Gwen nodded. “Look in your grimoire.”

“My grimoire?” In the excitement of the day, Nick had almost forgotten about the book. He opened his backpack and pulled out his spell book. “This book?”

“You tell me. It looks like a normal book to me. You’re the only one who can read it.”

Nick opened the book to the table of contents. The section marked ‘Abjuration’ had a new entry.

“Scutum?”

Gwen explained. “It’s the Latin word for shield. The grimoires most witches use today were first developed by medieval priests. They named the spells after Latin words though you can train yourself to use any code word if you prefer another name.”

“Like abracadabra?

“Don’t be a dork.”

A sharp pain seared Nick’s whole body. “Owwww. What did you do to me?”

Gwen smiled a mischievous grin. “I cast a ‘Pilum’ spell on you. It’s the fastest way to take down someone’s shields.”

“That hurt.”

“Don’t be a baby.” Gwen raised her hands as if to cast a hex. “I’m going to cast another ‘Pilum’ spell. You better have a shield spell up before I do or it will hurt a lot more.”

Nick grabbed the spell stone and focused on its warmth. A second later its warmth covered his body. A second after that he felt a sharp pain. A look at Gwen showed her smiling.

“It didn’t hurt as much that time.”

“That’s because your shield is stronger. Improvement is easy at first but takes years to master. Try to cast the spell without using the stone. You know the spell, to cast it - remember the feeling and say the words.”

Nick tried to remember the warmth of the stone. As he did, he said the word, “Scutum”. An instant later, a familiar warmth covered his skin. “I did it.”

“Congratulations.” Gwen said, the mischievous smile growing on her face. A second later Nick felt the sharp pain of Gwen’s Pilum spell.

“Ouch.”

Gwen said, “The summer after my ability showed itself, my parents sent me to a camp where kids cast ‘Scutum’ and ‘Pilum’ spells at each other all day. Every cast makes your shield stronger. If you learn a spell but rarely work on it, your spell gets weaker. Improving your witchcraft is a constant cycle of learning and training. Are you ready?”

Nick cast ‘Scutum’.

Gwen cast ‘Pilum’.

“Hey!” Nick said, “It didn’t hurt at all that time.”

Gwen nodded. “Good. That means you’re improving.” She cast a ‘Pilum’ spell without warning.
“No fair.” He quickly recast ‘Scutum’.

“How do you feel?”

Nick realized he was sweating. “A little tired.”

Gwen smiled. “A person’s ability to cast a spell isn’t the only determinant of their strength. Casting a spell takes a lot of energy, more than any witch can regenerate. So it’s important to tax your energy stores and with continued practice you will be able to store more energy. At camp we spent our days casting spells at each other, exhausting ourselves, and at night learned to replenish our stores.”

Nick gave Gwen a look. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

“For most of the kids in camp, yeah.” Gwen looked up at the old oak. “I learned to talk to the trees. The other kids teased me all week but they learned a hard lesson at the end-of-camp competition.”

“Did you win?”

Gwen smiled. “Asher has their pick of the best witches in the country and the Phi Lambs are the best of the best. What do you think?”

“Asher apparently gets the most modest witches too.”

Gwen laughed, “Are you ready for class?”

Nick recast a ‘Scutum’ spell. “Yeah.”

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 24

Nick found the classroom just after the bell and hurried into class.

“Glad to see you could find the time to grace us with your presence, Miss Wilder.” An older woman stood at the front of the classroom, a pair of reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose looking every bit of a slutty school marm you might see in a porno. The woman didn’t look a day over thirty-five and had an uncanny resemblance to the young blonde girl Nick met earlier in the day. The placard on the teacher’s desk proved his hunch.

“Sorry, Miss Applebottom. Won’t happen again.”

Miss Applebottom scowled. “You know how I feel about excuses.” She stared at Nick freezing him in his tracks. He could feel something pressing against his shield but it didn’t break. “I see you and Miss Bradford have been playing games.”

Nick couldn’t think of anything to say. “Yes, ma’am.”

The sounds of snickering sounded behind him. A look in Miss Applebottom’s eyes showed the word ‘ma’am’ struck at her core in a way no spell could ever achieve. She didn’t say anything for several seconds before ordering, “Find a seat.”

Nick nodded but didn’t say a word, not wanting to repeat his offense. When he turned he saw a hand waving from the back of the class. He saw several girls wearing ‘Phi Lamb’ sweatshirts but he didn’t know them and like the old saying goes, any port in a storm is a good port.

Cassy smiled. “I saved you a seat.”

Nick nodded, before whispering a quiet, “Thanks.” Purposely avoiding the use of the words ma’am’. No need to face any more of Miss Applebottom’s ire.

Miss Applebottom’s voice boomed through the classroom. “As I’m sure most in this room are aware, we’ve been blessed by the presence of a celebrity today.”

Nick heard a couple snickers and got more than a few looks.

“As yesterday’s class focused on the witch trials of the 1690s, today’s lecture is going to focus on the aftermath. Everyone turn to page 54 and …” Miss Applebottom stared at Nick. “As you were late today Miss Wilder, you get the honor of the first reading. Stand and read the whole page.”

Nick saw everyone else had their copies of ‘The History of Magic’ sitting open on their desks. He hurriedly searched through his backpack.

“Any time now, Miss Wilder.”

Nick found the page as he stood then took a deep breath. He’d never been good at public speaking.

“Witches arrived in New England with the first ships coming to the land…”

Miss Applebottom interrupted, “Louder, Miss Wilder. I can barely hear you.”

The sound of snickers filled the room. Nick took another deep breath hoping it might chase away his anxiety. His voice sounded shrill as he spoke.

“Witches arrived in New England with the first ships coming to the land, each hoping to find a place to practice their religion without persecution like they’d endured in Europe. It didn’t take long to realize the New World was as unwelcoming to their kind as those in the Old World. A brave few continued to practice in the area but after the trials most witches moved from the area altogether. Those who remained moved to the forests, living much as their ancestors did a millennia earlier.”

Miss Applebottom interrupted again, “Are you on page 54, Miss Wilder? Remember to stand tall when you read. It allows a better use of your diaphragm.”

Cassy stood, pointing to the number of the book at the top of the page. It read 44.

Nick stared at Miss Applebottom, the anger building beneath his skin. She could have told him he was reading from the wrong place earlier but chose to embarrass him instead. After another deep breath and stretching out his spine, Nick’s words had a force of their own.

“The rains didn’t come to the town of Purity in the summer of 1691. Corn and squash baked in the fields and seven children died in their sleep. The villagers knew they had a demon in their midst so when the daughter of the local preacher accused Goody Peters of bewitching her it led to the events of the night of the harvest moon.”

“That’s enough.” Nick looked up. Miss Applebottom gave him a slight nod. “Miss Carver, continue from there.”

Nick took the opportunity to get a look at the others in the classroom. A dozen girls wore shirts with sorority letters though only four wore Phi Lamb colors. In the class of thirty, there were only four guys. The rest of the class dressed like Cassy. The girl now standing and speaking on the other side of the room wore a maroon sweatshirt without any markings. She didn’t look like a witch, but then again, Nick had gotten his idea of witches from books and TV. A look around the room showed girls of all shapes and colors. It seemed to be a safe assumption they were all witches or they wouldn’t be in this class.

Miss Applebottom said, “There’s no need to remain standing after you’ve finished your reading, Miss Wilder.”

Nick replied, “Yes, ma’am. Sorry ma’am.”

Snickers echoed through the classroom as Nick gave Miss Applebottom an obstinate look. She returned what a generous person might call a smile.

Nick returned to his seat and tried to read along but the story deviated in several places from the story he knew to be true. Each person in class took their turn at reading with Miss Applebottom challenging anyone who made a mistake. Each witch read their section with varying degrees of confidence as a palpable energy built in the room with every moment.

Nick didn’t notice the gentle tug on his shield at first. The feeling was distinct from the pain of Gwen’s Pilum spell. It was more like a subtle drain, sapping his strength bit by bit. He looked around the room but the sensation was too scattered to pinpoint a source.
Nick looked at Cassy whose eyes were full of concern. He whispered, “What’s going on?”

She whispered back, “They’re being jerks.”

A glance at Miss Applebottom showed her looking in a different direction. Nick doubted she condoned what the others were doing but she couldn’t stop something if she could pretend not to notice. He should have known poking the mama bear came with consequences. His suspicion was confirmed when the readings went around the class and she didn’t call on him as they went around the class again.

They were testing him.

Nick tried to listen to the words the others were saying but the draining sensation grew more insistent as his shield dwindled to nothing.
Nick whispered the word and made the sign Gwen taught him for the ‘Scutum’ spell, the energy in his shield back to full strength in an instant but it didn’t stop the others from their casts. If anything, their probes grew more insistent until Nick found the need to recast the spell every minute, his head growing more lightheaded with each one.

“That’s enough for today.” Miss Applebottom’s voice betrayed no emotion as she said the words. A look at the clock showed twenty minutes of class remaining.

Cassy put a hand on Nick’s shoulder, the concern apparent in her eye, “Call me later?”

“I don’t have your number.”

Casey smiled. “I hacked your phone during class. It’s in there.”

Nick felt the stab of betrayal, “You too, Cassy?”

Cassy’s face looked panic stricken. “Sorry. I get bored easily. I swear, I didn’t look at anything … I did it to add my phone number.”
“You could've asked.”

Cassy’s face relaxed, “This was more fun.”

Miss Applebottom’s voice sounded over the din of the student hurrying from the class, “Miss Wilder, a moment if you please.”

Cassy asked, “What’s that about?”

“I have no idea but I doubt it’s good.”

Cassy picked up her empty coffee cup and packed up her things. “Don’t forget to call.”

The classroom emptied faster than Nick thought possible. Miss Applebottom seemed to have that effect on everyone.

It didn’t take long until Nick saw they were alone, “About the shield spell…”

Miss Applebottom held up her hand. “I didn’t have you stay to talk about the shield spell. I told you to find helpers and Miss Bradford helped you. I would caution you against keeping up a shield all the time. You’ve hid yourself away from the world for the past eighteen years but you can’t hide behind a ‘Scutum’ spell and excel as a witch.”

“I understand.”

“I hope you do.” Miss Applebottom said as she began moving items from her desk into her purse. “Do you remember the magic trinity?”

Nick nodded, “Mind … Body … Soul.”

“Excellent.” Miss Applebottom said, seeming genuinely pleased. “If you’d let your shields down you might have noticed the growth of knowledge energy in the room as your classmates read out loud.”

“I noticed something in the air.”

“Good.” Miss Applebottom nodded, “The Socratic Method provides the best results but today’s class had too much chaos flying around the room to add more.”

“You noticed?”

“Nothing happens in my classroom without my notice.” Miss Applebottom reached into her desk and pulled out a water bottle. “Learning to cast a spell works in a similar way to how weightlifters build their muscles. You start off small and build in increments until your body gets a little bigger and you can do a little more. The same is true of your ability to store magic.”

“And with the shield, I couldn’t get more.”

“Exactly.” She handed him the water bottle. “That’s why we have these. Take a drink, but only a sip.”

“Only a sip?” Nick looked at the bottle. It looked like any other bottle but the label gave him the creeps. “What’s Tule Springs?”

Miss Applebottom took the bottle and twisted off the cap before taking a sip. “There’s nothing in here that will hurt you.” She handed the bottle to Nick.

Nick sniffed at the opening. The liquid inside smelled like water. He drank a gulp, falling to his knees as a torrent of energy surged to his core.

“What the hell is in that stuff?”

“I told you to take a sip not a gulp.” Miss Applebottom said, “As for what’s in it, it's magic infused water.”

He’d played more than his share of video games over the years. “Like a mana potion?”

Miss Applebottom shook her head. “It’s not a mana potion. It’s a magic augmentation drink. We use them in situations like in class today where you’re casting faster than you can replenish your stores. They are not a game.”

Nick sniffed the bottle again. “Sounds like a mana potion to me.”

Miss Applebottom took the bottle from Nick and drank the remainder in a couple of gulps. “I hope you know how much this cost me. This bottle costs $1000.”

“Holy crap! $1000? For a single bottle of water? That’s ridiculous.”

Miss Applebottom said, “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what has to be done to make one of these.”

An unbidden image of Roger appeared in Nick’s head. Their eyes met and their lips got closer and closer. Nick shook his head to make it go away.

“Sex magic.”

Miss Applebottom smiled. “Remember the courtyard last night?

Nick stared at the empty bottle. “Yuck.”

“The Phi Lambs make good money with their magic augmentation drinks.” Miss Applebottom smiled before crushing the empty bottle with a wave of the hand. “This particular brand is made by a company I’ve invested in out west. As is this.” She held up a box with a picture and with the title ‘Wicked Wand’.

Nick asked, “Is that what I think it is?”

“It’s a vibrator.” Miss Applebottom instructed. “Don’t be afraid of the truth. This is a sexual pleasuring device spelled with the ability to store magic inside. Use it when you feel the urge and you can tap into it to replenish your stores whenever you feel drained. Continued use has the added benefit of helping to increase your magical stores.

“Yuck…”

Miss Applebottom handed Nick the box. “Take it. With a campus full of horny guys and your current state of mind, you’re going to need it.”
Nick looked around to see if anyone was watching before putting it in his backpack. He’d pissed off Miss Applebottom enough today and didn’t need to do more damage. He’d hide it tonight in the furthest reaches of his closet. It would never see the light of day.

“Is that all Miss Applebottom?”

Miss Applebottom nodded, “That’s all.”

Nick had almost made it to the door when Miss Applebottom’s voice sounded behind him.

“You did well against your classmates. Better than I expected.”

Nick turned to see Miss Applebottom looking down, reading a book. “Th-thanks.”

Miss Applebottom turned her gaze towards him, the look freezing Nick in his tracks. “You best not challenge me in front of the other students ever again. I know you’ve had a tough day but I can’t be seen to be playing favorites.”

“Yea, ma… Miss Applebottom.”

Miss Applebottom’s eyes returned to her book, “You are dismissed.”

A looming presence stood at the end of the hall. It was clear they were waiting for him. “I don’t have time for you.”

Clem’s eyes flashed with anger. “You know why I’m here.”

“I know.” Nick said, “Look, I’m sorry you didn’t win... ”

“I’m not talking about that.” Clem’s eyes flashed anger. “I’m talking about Roger. Attacking me by attacking my friend is way over the line. I would kick your ass but…” He stared at Nick’s body. “I don’t hit girls.”

Nick’s heart leapt at being called a girl and sank at the mention of his roommate. “I didn’t know that would happen.”

“Fuck you.” Clem said, his anger unabated, “It took me a full hour to get his head straight. You’re lucky I’m not taking this to the magi disciplinary committee.”

Nick asked, “How’s he doing?”

Clem spat his words. “Like you care.”

A surge of emotion ran up Nick’s spine. When he closed his eyes a tear ran down his face.”I do care. More than I want to admit. Roger and I lived in the same dorm room twenty-four hours ago. I didn’t plan for that to happen. I took my normal seat when I saw him in class.”

“You and Roger were roommates?”

Nick nodded. “I figured you knew.”

“So that means…”

“We spent the last month together. You, me, Roger, Gary, and Stanley. We were inseparable.” Nick gave Clem a hopeful smile. “We were friends.”

“You can fuck off with that friendship BS.” Clem looked at his phone. “I didn’t come here to be your friend.” He held up the phone around to show the time. “Mission accomplished.”

The phone’s screen read 4:01PM. It took a second for Nick to realize what Clem meant.

“Oh shit.”

Clem’s laughter echoed down the hall as Nick ran to his appointment with the Phi Lambs. Nick stopped when he realized he was in trouble whether he was one minute late or five. He didn’t know when he’d have the next opportunity to speak to Clem alone.

“I know you’re a good guy, Clem. I appreciate the things you’ve done for me over the last month more than I’ll ever be able to repay and nothing you say to me now can change that. I'll always consider you a friend.”

“What you did to Roger was inexcusable. He’s not part of our world. There are rules.”

“I don’t know the rules.” Nick said, “but I have to live with my actions. He was my best friend and I hurt him because I wasn’t honest with myself.” Nick paused before adding. “But you weren’t honest with us either. I know things about you that Roger, Stanley, and Gary would never guess.”

Clem said, “Is that a threat?”

“I won’t tell a soul. I promise.” Nick reached out with his mind. He felt Clem’s inner sadness before a shield flashed into place, “I know better than anyone at this school what you’re going through. If you ever need to talk…”

“I have plenty of friends.” Clem said as he stormed off, before disappearing around the corner.

NIck looked at his phone. Another two minutes had passed.

Chapter 25

Nick ran past the empty classrooms, out the front door, and hurried down the steps. After a day of constant bombarding energies, it was weird to mingle with other students and not feel their resentment, lust, and hate. It was even weirder to know he’d cast the magic spell that ended this torment.

But even with the shield, Nick could feel the growing ache in his stomach. After two large meals today, he knew he didn’t need food. It was more like a craving, a need, and it grew with every passing smile and every interested look.

Head staring forward. Walk straight. One step at a time. Don’t make eye contact with anyone.

Nick tried to quicken his pace but the book bag felt heavier with every step. A nearby group of guys began to laugh. Nick couldn’t help being transfixed by their toothy grins. The closest guy drew Nick’s full attention. He was tall with dark hair and full lips. His eyes were a deep shade of brown and sparkled as he smiled.

Nick looked away when his heart began to race. He wasn’t sure why he found himself so nervous all of a sudden. He’d stood naked on stage in front of the entire Phi Lamb sorority.

The guy’s eyes followed as Nick followed Gwen up the path towards the Phi Lamb house. He didn’t sense any magic coming from the guy but that didn’t stop Nick’s craving.

Gwen shouted from the other side of the street. “How are you late to lineup? It takes two minutes to get here from Bishop Hall!”

An entire line of angry girls stared as Nick waited for a break in traffic to cross the street. Tendrils of anger hit his shield with every passing car. It didn’t seem possible a town this small could have a rush hour.

*HONK HONK*

Nick ran when he saw a slight opening, towards Gwen who stood with the others. This was not the first impression he was hoping to make.

“I’m sorry. I …”

The entire group of girls turned in a single line with Nick at its end. When the got to the halfway point the girl at the front shouted, “Say it loud, sing it proud”. The entire group began to sing:

Phi Lambda Phi, we sacrifice for thee,
Our voices rise in harmony.
A love held strong by unity,
To you we vow eternally.
Sisters of power and purity,
We give our hearts and loyalty.
A lifelong bond of sorority
Forevermore, Phi Lambda Phi.

Upon reaching the gates the lead girl turned to face the others.

Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our motto?

Sacrifice, Unity, Power

Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our vows?

Sisters ‘til our final hour!

Nick watched the procession but didn’t move as he didn’t know the words. He watched the girls enter the gates one by one leaving Nick alone on the sidewalk.

“Bitch.”

The word was so unexpected, it took a moment for the word to register. “What did you call me?”

A nerdy looking boy stood on the sidewalk. On the other side of the street a crowd of young boys were laughing uncontrollably. Nick didn’t need a magic spell to know their thoughts.

“I’m sorry.” The boy’s face turned ashen.

Babe. Bimbo. Bitch. Nick never expected to be called any of these names. He smiled at the boy who had begun shaking in his sneakers. Nick pointed at the boys on the other side of the road. “Are you with them?”

“I suppose so.” The boy’s face looked as unsure as Nick felt. The others had clearly put him up to this.

The boy asked, “Are you with them?” His eyes stared at the gate where the Phi Lambs had disappeared.

“I suppose so.”

The boy said, “I didn’t mean it. Those guys…”

Nick nodded, “I get it.” It was a dare to the weakest member of the group. He’d lived through similar experiences many times. “Can you do me a favor?”

The boy smiled. ““Of course.”

“Can you take a look inside the gate?”

“Sure.” The boy took a few steps before peeking around the corner.

“Do you see a group of angry looking bitches inside?”

The boy blushed. “Yeah.”

“Thanks.” Nick beckoned the boy towards him, leaning up as if to tell him a secret. When the boy knelt forward, Nick placed a chaste kiss on the boy’s cheek. “Tell your friends they don’t want to mess with us bitches again or they’ll live to regret it. Now run along.”

The boy’s eyes looked big as saucers as he turned towards his friends. None of them were laughing now, all standing in stone silence as they watched their nervous friend make his triumphant return.

Nick watched the boy cross knowing his own reception wouldn’t be so kind. The young man’s body wasn’t so different from Nick’s at that age. The boy didn’t look a day over fifteen and in the awkward stage of life. Skinny and lean, their two bodies weren’t so different at the moment though the boy was already a half-head taller and outweighed Nick by at least twenty pounds. In three years, the boy’s body would continue to grow and add muscle. By then he’d look like any other scrawny boy on campus. He might even look like Nick did one day earlier.

Nick spent hours in the department store cursing the differences between a boy’s body and a girl’s body. He’d spent hours in prayer wishing he could switch to see how the other half lived. Nick looked down. How could something feel so wrong and so right at the same time? Like the young boy, he remembered going through that awkward stage of life where he felt like a stranger in his own body. Most people get one puberty. Nick had two, the second happening in a single night.

He watched as the boys on the other side of the street clapped the nerdy boy on the back like a conquering hero. Nick took a deep breath. No more stalling. Time to face the music.

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 26

“You are to be at the gates when the bells ring at 4:00PM. Not 4:01. Not 4:02. And definitely not 4:12.”

The older girl had been screaming at them for well over a minute. Nick knew enough to keep eye contact.

A brunette girl said, “It’s not our…”

The screaming girl continued, “No excuses, Lizbeth. You know the rules - you succeed as a group - you fail as a group. How many times do we need to remind you?”

A girl at the back said, “But she’s yet not part…”

“Really?” The leader interrupted. “We aren’t here to play games, ladies and I won’t tolerate any personal grudges. Those weren’t words out you sang on the sidewalk. Sacrifice. Unity. Power. It’s the Phi Lamb way of life. Do not test us. There are a dozen other girls on campus who’d love to take your place.”

Nick’s eyes darted around the group, but nobody dared to say another word. He’d messed up.

“It’s my fault.” Nick said, hoping it might undo some of the damage. “It won’t happen again.”

“Damn right, it won’t happen again. Phi Lambda Phi is the best sorority on campus for a reason, but if we want to stay on top, we can’t accept mediocrity no matter who your daddy is or how you were chosen.” The girl emphasized the word ‘chosen’ with a voice dripping of venom.

Nick saw a few girls exchange looks and then over to him, but none of them said a word. He didn't blame them for being mad.

“Get in your grubbies.”

A loud groan echoed from the gathered group.

“Actions have consequences, ladies. We meet in the basement in ten minutes. Do not be late.”

The groans got louder.

Nick waited until the screaming lady and the others had left before approaching Gwen. “What’s a grubby?”

Gwen ignored him. “What the hell happened to you? I went over to Bishop Hall to find you. Miss Applebottom said she’d dismissed you with plenty of time.”

Nick followed Gwen into the house. “It was Clem. He…”

Gwen held up a hand. “Don’t give me your excuses. I told you it was important to be here by 4PM.”

She led him into a room with a bunch of lockers. “Throw your stuff in there.” She opened a locker and Gwen pointed to a pair of worn-out sweatpants and an old t-shirt. “Those are my grubbies. Be thankful I keep an extra pair.”

Phi Lambs stripped around him on all sides, paying Nick no mind. He stared at Gwen, who’d already taken off her top.

“Take off your clothes, dumbass. You’re not making us late again.”

Nick began pulling down his pants. It didn’t seem possible a day earlier at this time, he was sitting in his dorm room, reviewing his geology notes. Now he was surrounded by the most beautiful girls on campus, most of them naked.

“Take off your bra.” Gwen ordered.

“Why?”

Gwen wasn’t in the mood. “You’ve lost the right to ask questions. Just do it.”

Nick reached around his back to loosen the bra. The clasp came off with a snap of his fingers, a sudden weight falling from his shoulders.

“Wow.”

“Feels good to be free doesn’t it. I hate bras. You don’t want to wear a nice one while we’re doing chores.” Gwen grinned, giving Nick hope she might be over her anger.

Nick nodded, “I had no idea that would feel so good.” Less than eight hours and the straps had cut grooves into his shoulders.

“Did I tell you to stop getting ready?” Nope. Angry Gwen was still in there. She tossed him the ratty looking t-shirt. “Can you put this on without my help?”

Nick was afraid to object, even when the shirt pulled tight over his chest. The cold air encouraged two nipples to show through the shirt’s thin material.

Nick asked, “Do you have a bigger grubby? This one is too tight.”

“Maybe you should start working out.”

“Seriously?”

“Sorry, that was a bitchy thing to say.” She sighed. “The actives look for reasons to make us do discipline work. They always find something but you made it too easy today.”

A nearby girl waved her hands, seconds later hair was tied in a bun. Another girl did the same only she tied her hair in braids.

Gwen tossed him a hair band. NIck pulled at his own hair that had fallen out of its braids at some point during the day. “You’re going to need this or your hair will drag on the ground. They love making us get down on our knees. Tie it in a pony tail.”

Nick looked at the band and back to Gwen who was fixing her own hair.

“I don’t…”

A brunette grabbed the band. “I’ll do it for you.” She gathered his hair in a bunch behind his head then pulled the hand band around it. A couple of twists and a tuck made Nick’s hair disappear into a bun.

“Done.”

Nick looked in the mirror. Their hair would look the same if he had brown hair. “I thought you’d used magic.”

The girl shook her head. “Check out social media videos.”

A blonde checked the doorway before speaking, “Am I the only one who was freaked out by last night?”

A red-head nodded, “I can’t believe they sprung this Goody stuff on us. I thought it was a party. I spent half the night on clean up duty in the courtyard. It was so disgusting.”

A third girl added, “I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”

The first girl looked at Nick. “And now we need to deal with her.” The way she said her, made Nick sound like an alien creature.
All of the sisters looked at him, judging him. It was his worst dream come true.

Gwen spoke up, “We aren’t the first group to go through this. Every one of the active members went through the same thing. They’re trying to break us. They want to see how we perform under pressure. They want us to prove ourselves worthy of the insignia.”

The blonde asked, “Who made you boss?”

Gwen said, “I’m not trying to be the boss. I’m just saying…”

“I don’t care who’s boss.” The brunette in the bun interrupted, “I don’t want to end up back in Nebraska with my mind wiped. The witch studies programs at NU are very limited.”

The brunette with the pony tail said, “They’re not sending you back to Nebraska.”

The bun brunette responded, “How do you know?”

Another girl shouted, “Can we argue later? Becky is waiting downstairs. I don’t want to think what she’d do if we’re late again.”

The shouting stopped, and the whole group began to move. Gwen held up a hand creating a logjam at Nick’s locker where he was putting on shoes. All eyes bore into him.

Nick shrank back, “What’s the matter?”

Gwen said, “We’re waiting for you to finish. Do you think we’re going to take another chance you’ll be on time?”
About half the group laughed. The other half rolled their eyes.

“Oh.” Nick tied his shoes and hurried to the door.

Nick walked out of the room and into the lobby. The house looked different in daylight. Nothing sinister or threatening. No feelings of angst or darkness. It looked like any other house. An expensive house but something lived in.

He followed the group downstairs past the laundry room, and around a corner.

She smiled when she looked at Nick at the front of the group. “You made it with twenty seconds to spare. Good job. Everyone grab your magic wands off the table.”

Nick gave Gwen a look. A magic wand?

Gwen shook her head and mouthed the word ‘nerd’.

A pile of pink and powder blue toothbrushes lined the table along with several jars of grout cleaner. The others grabbed a toothbrush. Nick took the toothbrush that remained. A closer inspection showed its gnarled bristles and tiny scratches from previous use.

Becky said, “We’re going to the pool today.”

Groans filled the hallway.

Nick whispered to Gwen, “You have a pool?”

“We …” Gwen shook her head while pointing at Nick, “... have a pool.”

The procession made their way down still more hallways, past the TV room, a couple of study rooms, and what looked to be a library until they arrived at a pair of huge, wooden doors behind which revealed a large swimming pool completely drained of water. Along the both walls were subrooms full of weights and various elliptical machines. Tanning beds lined the other side of the pool.

“Get to work ladies.”

Nick hadn’t done a lot of swimming but this pool was half the size of the ones he’d seen at the Olympics with one end much deeper than the other. A couple of the girls had already jumped into its depths to scrub the mosiac tiles. A look showed ΦΛΦ in large letters across the bottom of the pool.

Nick waved his toothbrush. “I better get busy with my magic wand.”

Gwen stepped back, “Stop waving that thing around or you might hurt yourself. Or worse, you might hurt me.”

Nick looked at the toothbrush. “What am I going to do? Bristle you to death?”

Gwen picked up her toothbrush and waved it in the air. A spark of electricity flashed as soon as she pressed it against Nick’s skin.

Nick rubbed his arm at the spot of Gwen’s spell. “Ouch, that hurt.”

Gwen said, “Don’t blame me. You let your shield fall too low.”

Becky’s voice shouted from the next room. “You better not be casting magic in there!”

Nick looked at the toothbrush. It didn’t look any different than a regular toothbrush.

Gwen explained, “Any long stick can magnify a caster’s ability by being the focus of a spell. Any pointy object will do but few people would ever give a second look to a toothbrush in a woman’s purse. That’s why Becky called these our magic wands. She was being sarcastic.”

“Oh.”

A girl with a high-pitched voice chimed in, “Can I teach Nikki the next lesson?”

Nick turned to see a short red-head girl who looked like she’d been poured into her tight red top and black boyshorts. She took a much different tack than Gwen when it came to ‘grubbies’.

“I’m Rosa.” The red head whispered.”

Becky shouted from the next room, “Less talking more working!”

Nick got on his hands and knees, applying a generous portion of cleaner, and began scrubbing the tile like the others. The rhythmic motion of his hand and toothbrush joined the sounds of the others, the entire group soon scrubbing to the same cadence.

“Brushes down. Ten minute break.”

Gwen sighed and took a deep breath before acknowledging Nick’s presence.

Rosa joined the conversation. “I’m dying to know - what was up with you and that boy on the street?”

Nick said, “I was being stupid.”

Gwen said, “You kissed him.”

Nick said, “On the cheek.”

Gwen smiled. “Was that your first kiss?”

“Shut up.” Nick blushed realizing the accuracy of Gwen’s words.

Rosa added, “He looked about fifteen.”

The conversation spread to the other end of the pool.

“Who kissed a boy?”
“Nikki kissed a boy.”
“Why?”
“Who knows.”
“It was one of those idiot boys who watch us every day.”
“Why’d she kiss him?”
“I have no idea.”

By the time the conversation died down, Nick could see everyone was staring at him.

Nick steeled his nerves, “The boy wasn’t part of the group. Those idiot boys dared him to cross the street and call one of us a bitch.”

“You kissed him after he called you a bitch?”

Nick shrugged, “He was nerdy and nervous as hell.” I think those boys hoped I’d slap him or worse. I decided to teach them a lesson.”

“Ahh.” The brunette with the bun said, “That was sweet.”

The other brunette said, “You made us late.”

“I know. It won’t happen again.”

The tall blonde said, “It better not.”

Becky shouted from the elliptical, “If you are going to gossip like a bunch of old hens, I guess you don’t need a break. Back to work ladies.”

Groans echoed in the pool as everyone returned to their hands and knees and began to scrub.

The brunette with the pony tail dared a whisper, “They planned this.”

Rosa whispered back, “Why do you say that?”

The brunette with the pony tail answered, “They emptied the pool.”

The blonde girl nodded, “Yeah. Why drain it unless they knew they were going to make us clean it?”

Another blonde said, “I’m getting tired of these silly mind games.”

Another girl answered, “They aren’t silly.”

Gwen growled at the group, “Please everyone, be quiet. Do you want Becky to find something worse?”

Nick kept his head down and continued to scrub. He’d spent hours cleaning up messes at the department store all by himself. It was more fun to do in a group.

Chapter 27

Suds covered everything and everyone in the communal shower. Everyone but Nick. He stood outside, eyes closed, trying to block everything out.

One of the girls asked, “Are you okay?”

Nick shook his head. “It’s been a long day.”

She smiled, “Come and join us. A good shower always revives me when I’m feeling beat.”

She grabbed Nick by the hand, leading him inside. The conversation stopped as soon as he entered. Twelve pairs of eyes staring. Twelve heavenly bodies fixated on him. The scene in the shower was the fantasy of every twelve year old boy.

Nick found sanctuary at an empty showerhead, closing his eyes as he turned the knob. As the pounding drumbeat of water rained down, he felt every fibre of his hair, every pore on his face, the sinews in his arms, the muscles in his legs, and, especially, the new bulge on his chest.

“Better?”

Nick nodded. “Much.”

He hadn’t touched the soap. He hadn’t touched himself at all. He’d made it through the day pretending this second puberty was some sort of dream. It couldn’t possibly be real. The warmth of the water made continued delusion impossible. Loud voices broke him from his stupor.

“I swear if Becky makes me recite that goddamn song backwards one more time…”
“It’s a power trip. She’s not much older than us.”
“She’s our Pledge Mother. We have to do what she says.”
“Are we supposed to be grateful she had us scrub base boards with toothbrushes?”
“It builds character.”
“This doesn’t feel like sisterhood. It feels like a military school.”
“Maybe you’re too soft to be a part of this house.”
“I’m not soft. I’m human. They’re asking the impossible.”

“Do you know my name?”

It took Nick a second until he realized a girl stood next to him.

“I’m Kathy.”

Nick offered his hand. “I’m Nikki.”

Kathy laughed. “I know.”

“Yeah…” Nick nodded, “I guess it would be hard to forget me after last night.”

“Trust me, you aren’t alone.” Karhy agreed, “There isn’t a girl in this room who hasn’t done something embarrassing since we pledged ourselves to Phi Lambda Phi. Honestly, last night was one embarrassment after another. I’d tell you the details but I’d rather not think about them. Trust me, it’s all one big mind fuck. They are trying to break us so we learn to rely on each other.”

Nick smiled. “My mind is certainly fucked.”

“I bet.” Kathy grabbed a towel. Nick noticed the other girls had stopped their arguing. They were all staring at him. Kathy said, “We failed you today.”

“No.” Nick shook his head, “I messed up. I was supposed to be at the gate at 4PM and got distracted. I failed you.”

Kathy pointed at her sisters, “We expected we were attending a party last night. They didn’t tell us the truth of the Harvest Moon ‘panty raid’ until three nights ago. Most of us haven’t slept a wink in the last three days and I’m not too proud to say this whole experience kicked my ass. I get bitchy when I’m tired.”

A voice sounded from the other side of the shower, “You get bitchy when you aren’t tired.”

“I heard that.” Kathy smiled, “What I’m trying to say is this week has been tough for everyone and now that Harvest Moon is over, all of us have spent the day catching up in our own lifes and only a couple bothered to reach out you.”

“What are you talking about?” A voice in the shower shouted.

“She’s our sister.”

“Not technically.”

“She’s our sister.” Kathy repeated, her face growing more intense. “How many of us bothered to introduce ourselves today? We got caught up in our own BS and forgot about Nikki. She needed us and we didn’t do the simplest thing possible.” Kathy held out her hand. “I’m Katherine White.”

“I’m …” Nick paused. “Nikki Wilder.”

The others lined up one by one. Nick shook their hands as they passed.

… Desiree Priest …
… Abbie Thompson …
… Dory Warren …
… Sarah Park …
… Susan Goodman …
… Gwen Bradford …
… Lizbeth Story …
… Prissy Carter …
… Alice Martin …
… Rosa Lopez …
… Mary Button …

The names flashing by in a storm of faces and words. Nick wiped at his eyes. “I hope you don’t expect me to remember everyone’s names.”

Someone shouted. “There will be a quiz later.”

Kathy replied in a serious manner, “They won’t quiz you tonight but I wouldn’t be surprised if they start tomorrow. They are always quizzing us. Not remembering our names and stories of your sisters would be a sin above all others.

Nick laughed.

Gwen said, “She’s not joking. The active members love to quiz us on names and places. We expect us to know everything in the pledge book forward and backwards. It’s only a matter of time before they start on you.”

Great. One more thing to learn.

Desiree pulled a towel around her body, “This afternoon, they got me in the freshman dining hall at lunch and they don’t eat there. They can show up at any time, at any place, and ask anything. You have to be ready to answer at all times.”

Nick said, “I’m not good at memorization."

“Me either.” The girl who called herself Prissy spoke. “I have flashcards on everything. We can practice together if you want. They help me a lot.”

A voice boomed from the hallway. “I see you ladies are standing around like a bunch of hens, gaggling and gossiping. Have you forgotten about dinner?”

The entire group hurried out of the shower and hurried up the hall to the locker room, this time with Nick in close in tow.

Chapter 28

“I look ridiculous.”

“It’s cute.”

“Does this have to be so short?” Nick pulled on his skirt.

Gwen said, “Be thankful. Girls working at diners used to serve customers in an outfit like that while wearing roller skates.”

The entire pledge class wore imitations of a maid’s outfit, cut shorter so it barely hid a thing. The skirt bowed out in a bell shape, the material not longer than mid-thigh. The top looked more like a corset, pushing up Nick’s ample breasts so everyone could see. The outfit was topped by a tiny little maid’s bonnet with no apparent look other than to humiliate.

Gwen pointed to the computer screen. “If you have special dietary instructions, you will see them here.”

“Orders?” Next to the name Nikki Wilder were three names - Michele Fletcher, Charlene Turner, and Patrice Brewster. The special instructions were blank on all three.

Gwen asked, “Do you remember their faces? Things get hectic out there so you have to be sure.”

“I think so.” Nick stared at the screen. The file had an image of each of his charges. “That’s the Michele I met this morning?”

“Yes. She’s your big sis. Charlene is her big sis. Patrice is Charlene’s big sis. We all serve our bigger sisters.”

“Oh. So you serve Zoey. That’s neat.”

“You won’t think it’s so neat if you mess up their order.”

Nick tried to imagine Zoey being mad as the other sisters grabbed plates of food as they appeared and headed into the dining room.
Gwen pointed towards a table near the stage. “You're lucky. Your big sis’s decided to sit together so serving them should be easy.”

A voice from behind the counter shouted. "Six more regulars." A tall thin man wearing a bandana wrapped around his head smiled at Nick as he placed six plates on the counter.

"That's Petey. He's our chef." As he finishes a meal, he puts them on the counter. If there's a special order, he calls it out. The process is pretty simple.”

Nick watched a brunette put three plates on a tray then lift it with one hand.

“It doesn’t look simple.”

“Abbie is showing off. Her parents own a restaurant. She worked there in high school. It’s safer to take them out one at a time.”

Gwen picked up one of the other plates. “We need to hurry. Active members don’t like to wait for their food. Seniors get served first, then Juniors, then Sophomores.”

Nick’s stomach growled as he looked at the plate of food. It looked delicious. Sort of chicken casserole with green beans and a roll. The faint memory of lunch wasn't the best of ideas. “When do we eat?

“We serve the upperclassmen, we clean up, then we eat.”

"That sucks. You do this for every meal?"

"Just dinners. Petey makes dinner Sunday to Wednesday. Finding food on the weekend is up to us."

Gwen picked up a plate of food and then a knife, fork, and spoon wrapped inside a napkin then created another plate for Nick. "Follow me."

Sounds of girls talking echoed through the room, their chattering stopping as soon as Nick exited. Gwen headed off towards her charges. Nick saw his own near the fireplace.

Nick’s heart quickened as he approached the table, suddenly unsure of the older girl’s names.

All were exquisitely dressed, their faces looked ready for a runway. Both were blondes, one had her hair cut into a bob while the other's hair hung halfway down her back. Nick searched his memories…

"I'm Nic ... Nikki. I'm your server." He said, stalling for time. Unders, he placed the plate in front of the girl with long blonde hair.

"Thank you, Nik..nikki." The girl laughed as she slid the plate to the girl next to her. "I'm Charlene." She pointed at the girl with bobbed hair.

"She’s Patrice."

“Oh.”

Patrice didn’t look nearly as happy. “Hurry along. The others are hungry.” Nick, well used to dealing with angry customers, bowed, “Yes … of course … I’ll take care of that right away.” He hurried back to the kitchen, finding Gwen waiting with another plate.

Two more trips. No mistakes. The years of working customer service kicked in. “Can I get you ladies anything else?"

Patrice barely acknowledged him. "Another Diet Coke would be nice."

Nick nodded looking around the room, seeing his classmates scurrying around with a singular purpose. Doing everything they could not to screw up. Nick could feel the eyes of the room on his as he made his way through the crowd, seeing a line of his pledge class waiting at the drink station.

He copied the others, taking a can of Diet Coke and filling it half full of ice before pouring the contents of the glass inside, then hurrying back to Patrice with her drink. She took it without comment.

Nick looked around the room. Trying to figure out what he was supposed to do next. A second later a voice at another table shouted, "Song!" The other upperclassmen started shouting the same thing.

"Song ... song ... song ... song ..."

The other members of the pledge class stopped what they were working on, all heading to the stage at the front of the room.

When Nick moved, Patrice grabbed his shoulder. "Not you. You stay here."

She gave no explanation. Nick looked at Charlene and Michele, but their faces were clean slates.

Nick whispered, “What do I do?”

Patrice didn’t look amused. “When a superior tells you to do something, you obey." She pulled back the chair next to her and faced it towards the stage. "Sit."

In the hectic rush to get dinner served, Nick didn’t realize the room. Twenty hours ago, he was the one on stage. His sisters gathered on stage, each taking a predetermined position, all looking calm and composed. He recognized the song at once.

Phi Lambda Phi, we sacrifice for thee,
Our voices rise in harmony.
A love held strong by unity,
To you we vow eternally.
Sisters of power and purity,
We give our hearts and loyalty.
A lifelong bond of sorority
Forevermore, Phi Lambda Phi.

One of the blondes shouted:

Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our motto?

Sacrifice, Unity, Power

Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our vows?
Sisters ‘til our final hour!

So much had changed for him in the last twenty-four hours. Nothing seemed real. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. A new body. New classes. New friends. And magic?

The girls on stage were so smart, so beautiful, so talented. Every one of them had trained for years to be a Phi Lamb. It was a good thing he hadn’t gone on stage. Nick couldn’t help the feeling of a stranger in a strange land. An outsider looking in. Tears welled in his eyes despite his best attempt to hold them back.

“You okay?”

Nick turned to see it was Patrice who’d spoken. Unsure of his voice, Nick returned a nod.

“The first day is the worst.”

Nick nodded again.

Patrice looked at the others. “Are you two finished?”

Michele and Charlene nodded.

Patrice ordered. “Let’s go.”

Nick followed Patrice and the others through the crowded dining room, a guilt ridden feeling of relief as they walked out of the hall, leaving his new sisters behind.

“Are you sure it’s ok for me to leave them?”

Patrice said, “Are you questioning an upperclassman?”

“Sorry.”

The trio led Nick downstairs, past the pool and the workout facility, the only sound the click-clack of his heels. He’d forgotten he was wearing them, one of a thousand adaptations he’d made on this day. When the air turned musty, Nick knew their destination. The portcullis came into view a moment later.

The other three spoke as one, “Ex Sacrificio Unitas, Ex Unitate Potentia”.

The words carved into the stone overhead appeared to glimmer for a second while other intricate symbols around its circumference pulsed with energy.

“I met you three last night. You were the ones under the hoods.”

Michele smiled. “Took you long enough to figure out.”

Patrice shot Michele a withering look, “Let’s go.”

He watched Michele and Charlene enter the portal. Nick followed them into the inky blackness, exiting into a familiar library a second later. The place looked the same as it had the previous evening with one notable exception. The central pillar now held a large rock in a hollowed out area near its base.

“Is that what I think it is?”

Patrice nodded, “The gallows stone leaves this room once a year, the night of the Harvest Moon. That’s the only time Goody’s power crosses the veil into this world. The rest of the year it stays here for safekeeping as there are some in this world who would pay a king’s ransom to attain the stone.

The room looked the same as it did a day earlier but without the ominous darkness. “What is this place?”

“It’s a world between worlds spelled where only Goody’s daughter may visit. It’s a place where we can talk directly to her.”

“I can talk to Goody?”

“You can but not tonight. She spent a lot of energy last night and needs time to recharge. I do know she’s looking forward to speaking with you.”

Nick looked around the room. “Why bring me here?”

Charlene placed several books on the table in front of Nick. Michele held up a pink cloak.

“You’re technically not part of Phi Lambda Phi.” Patrice said, “We need to prepare you for the ceremony.”

“Another ceremony?”

Patrice gave a sympathetic smile. “You’ll need to get used to ceremonies if you’re going to be a part of the Phi Lambs.” She tapped one of the books Charlene had placed on the table. “Many of our traditions go back thousands of years.”

“Thousands?”

Patrice nodded, “You’ll need to go through the pledging ceremony before learning our secrets. That’s our purpose for bringing you here. We are making a formal offer to join us - would you like to be a Phi Lamb?”

Nick fought the lump in his throat. “I’m not sure I belong. These girls are so smart, so beautiful, so talented,” he voice broke as he spoke. “I feel like a fraud. Every witch on campus knows it. I could feel them mocking me all day, laughing at my inability. I felt it from some of the Phi Lambs too.”

“That wasn’t mockery. It’s their own insecurity.” Patrice placed her hand on Nick’s shoulder as did Charlene and Michele. “Every witch on campus knows we are different. They know we lived eighteen years in a male body and now…” Patrice stepped back to do a pirouette. “... we are as feminine as any girl on campus. We are the children of two worlds, three if you consider our link to Goody.”

Charlene said, “We scare them.”

Michele nodded, “Few of them say it but Charlene’s right. Our connection to the next world gives us advantages and causes envy, even among our sisters. It won’t take long until you’re the equal of any witch on campus.”

Patrice said, “You’ve done well today, aside from the unfortunate enchantment you performed on your previous roommate and being late to line up.”

“You know about that?”

Patrice smiled, “Phi Lambda Phi has a team who work continuously to safeguard the sanctity of this house. Sometimes we send them to watch over a new member. They’ve been watching you all day … from a distance of course.”

“You saw everything?”

“I didn’t see. I received a report.” Patrice said. “Did you know Miss Applebottom cast a hex on you in the lunchroom and again after class, amplifying your carnal desires?”

“She did?”

“Her motives aren’t as pure as she proclaims. She’s part owner of a large prostitution operation out west. They’d love to recruit one of Goody’s daughters into their executive training program.”

Nick shook his head. “Isn’t she the house mother?”

“Miss Applebottom is an excellent teacher and a good house mother. She can be a little overzealous at times when it comes to sex but she’s right about one thing. You have to experience the world to get the most out of your abilities. I know today has been tough on you but it’s part of the process. You need to expose your vulnerabilities to the world and experience new things to improve.”

“Do I have to join the Phi Lambs?”

“You have a choice in everything, Nikki.” Patrice said, “It would be awkward if you didn’t join Phi Lambda Phi but it’s your choice.”

“It doesn’t feel real.”

“I know.” The three Phi Lambs spoke at the same time.

Nick couldn’t believe the words as they entered his head, “I want to be a member of Phi Lambda Phi.”

Patrice nodded. “Good.”

Michele held up a pink cloak. “Let’s see how it fits.”

The other two girls smiled as Nick put his arms through the sleeves.

“Perfect fit,” Michele said.

Nick had to agree. The pink material hugged his body in a way that gave support, yet wasn’t too hot or too cold. He watched as the others put on their cloaks.

“So what happens now?”

“I need the cloak. You’ll get it back at the pledging ceremony.”

Nick took off the cloak to reveal the short serving dress underneath. “I look ridiculous.”

Michele said, “I think that outfit looks cute on you.”

Charlene nodded. “Me too.”

Patrice asked, “Ready to go?”

From the balcony the entire campus of Asher College looked small, like a series of candles lit up so NIck could tell them apart. Students hurried up the street, some getting a head start on their weekends, others headed for the libraries. Everyone looked tiny from up here.

A day earlier he’d looked up to this monolith on a hill and the idea of talking to one of the girls inside was an unattainable goal. That he might stand in this spot would have never occurred to him in a million years.

Most people took at least one look at the house as they passed. One thought kept repeating - Could these people see him in darkness? And if they could, what did they think about what they saw? Whatever it was, they’d surely be wrong.

“We’re ready.”

Nick nodded. He was ready too.

Michele led him across the hall and through a set of double doors. The first time he’d entered this room, Mitsy called it a party room. The second time he’d come here, it was a stage where he performed in a pageant. On his third, it was the place he’d battled with a good friend over who should be Chosen.

The truth? He now knew this was the Phi Lamb dining hall though at the moment all the chairs and tables were missing. The room contained multitudes as did every person within it.

Michele led him through the lines of girls dressed in pink cloaks with the hoods pulled up. No one said a word, the only sound in Nick’s ears was the pounding in his chest and his own ragged breath. Mitsy began reading from a book when he stepped on stage.

“People say thirteen is an unlucky number. They’ve said a lot of things over the years. Some say Eve was the first of our number. If this is true, it is quite fitting as her only crime was to be a woman seeking knowledge.

Our sect has gone by many names over the millennia. We were called the Sisterhood of Asherah when twelve of our members arrived in this land with orders to cleanse the pain caused by rogue members a century earlier. Upon our arrival we found a once kind soul named Goody Peters at the heart of the darkness and in time soothed her rage with the promise of a daughter.

That’s how twelve became thirteen, a most fortuitous number.”

Mitsy closed the book.

“Who speaks for Nicole Wilder?”

Patrice took one step forward. “I do. I have spent time with Nicole. She is a fine young woman who will make a fine addition to our ranks.”
Mitsy asked, “Does anyone else speak for Nicole?”

Charlene and Michele stepped forward in lockstep. “We do.”

Mitsy nodded, “Very good.” She turned to Nick.

“Nicole, do you pledge to uphold the values of our sisterhood? To always strive for excellence, to support your sisters in their endeavors, and to always remain loyal to the ideals of Phi Lambda Phi?”

Nick nodded without hesitation. “I do.”

Mitsy said, “Repeat after me,

I, Nicole Wilder, pledge to pick up the torch of those who came before me,
Doing so in full knowledge of sorority to my sisters and myself
And commit my loyalty, forever and ever, to the sisterhood of Phi Lambda Phi.

Nick repeated the lines as Mitsy spoke them, receiving a big smile as he said the final words. She held out a pledge pin, placing it in Nick’s hand. “Wear this with pride.”

“I will.”

Mitsy turned him towards the crowd. “It is with great pleasure that I welcome Nicole Wilder as a pledge to our sisterhood.”

Nick felt a tug at his shoulder and saw Michele holding the robe. She helped him get his arms through both sleeves before asking.

“Do you need help with the pin?”

Nick nodded. He couldn’t trust his shaking hands.

Michele affixed the pledge pin on Nick’s chest, close to his heart.

Mitsy said, “You are ready to join your sisters.”

A look at the crowd showed they’d taken off the hoods, their smiling faces congratulating him as he made his way to the stand with the rest of the freshmen.

When Nick stood by them, MItsy called from the stage. “This year’s pledge class is now complete.”

The room roared with applause and high-pitched screams and the sisters jumped and cheered with congratulations all around. Soon, the cheers turned to chatter and laughter turned to smiles as girl after girl made a point of introducing themselves. There was no way he was ever going to remember them all. It felt like a dream seeing so many amazing women and knowing, somehow, he was one of them.

A voice cried out:

Phi Lambda Phi, we sacrifice for thee,
The rest of the sorority joined in:
Our voices rise in harmony.
A love held strong by unity,
To you we vow eternally.
Sisters of power and purity,
We give our hearts and loyalty.
A lifelong bond of sorority
Forevermore, Phi Lambda Phi.

Mitsy called out:
Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our motto?

Sacrifice, Unity, Power

Who are we?

Phi Lambda Phi!

What’s our vows?

Sisters ‘til our final hour!

Nick did his best to repeat the words, singing an entire octave higher than he thought possible.

He did remember the end part, and shouted with the rest, “Sisters ‘til our final hour!”

The faces passed in a congratulatory haze until Nick found he had to sit down. It didn’t take long for most of the others to head off to their own responsibilities.

A loud voice shouted from behind. “NIKKI!”

Nick barely had time to react before Zoey crushed him in a hug so hard he thought she might crack a rib. “I knew you could do it. I knew you could.”

Nick said, “Thanks.” It felt nice to be held tight in a woman’s arms. “Zoey?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think you could help me work on my makeup skills this weekend?”

Zoey’s face looked like she might explode. “You know there’s nothing I like better than a makeover.”

“I appreciate it.”

“I hate to break this up but…” Nick noticed Gwen standing behind Zoey holding his backpack. “Ready to head back to the dorm?”

“I don’t want to leave.”

“I understand the feeling.” Gwen smiled, “I remember the night of my initiation. Ours was on a Friday night, and we partied until dawn.”

Nick shook his head. “I’m too tired to party.”

“Me too. The last few days have been exhausting for everyone.” Gwen handed Nick his bookbag. “Michele gave me your pledge manuals.”

“Thanks.” Nick threw the bag over his shoulder, the weight digging deep into his shoulder. “I can’t believe how much stuff they make us carry.”

“It’s important. You’ll need to study whenever you aren’t doing something else. Hell week is the week of Halloween. You’ll need to know it all by then.”

Nick’s face turned beet red, remembering the gift Miss Applebottom gave to him. “Did you look inside my bag?”

“It’s no big deal.” Gwen laughed. “That woman gives those out like party favors.”

“So embarrassing.”

“I keep mine on me all the time.” Gwen opened her purse, removing an item that looked several times larger than the tiny purse where she stored it. “See?”

Nick whispered. “I’m not keeping a dildo in my purse.”

Gwen said, “I’ll teach you the purse spell tomorrow. It’ll make carrying your books easier and so you can hide items you want on you at all times but would rather others not see.”

“I don’t need a dildo.”

“You say that now,” Gwen said, waving hers around. “A good dildo is every girl-witch’s friend.

Nick pleaded, “Can we change the subject?”

“Of course.” Gwen said, returning her dildo to her purse.

A voice called after them. “See ya this weekend, Nikki!”

Nick waved at Zoey. “See ya later, Zoey.”

---

---

The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 29

No cars were on the street as they exited through the gates.

“Michele told me to remind you we have a mixer on Saturday night. You have to find a date.”

“A date?”

“Yeah. You know … asking a boy out, or a girl if that’s your thing … talking … laughing … having fun … maybe some lighting petting with the promise of something more.”

“I know what a date is.”

“Good.” Gwen said, “You’re a Phi Lamb. You shouldn’t have trouble finding a date.”

“Do you have a date?”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?”

Gwen teased, “There was a guy in my Geology class who I thought might need a win after last night. Turns out I was wrong.”

“You were going to ask me out?”

“Are you one of those backward types who think it improper for a girl to ask a guy out on a date? You were a cute guy. Totally awkward with a complete lack of social ability but definitely cute.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”

Gwen ignored the question, “I remember the first time I felt you staring at me in class. Your energy was like being licked by a puppy dog. There was aggression, but it was benign and fun. The energy felt like pure joy and I have to admit, I started looking forward to our interactions in class.”

Nick thought back to that day’s interaction with Roger, “I was on the other side of the room.”

Gwen gave a wicked grin, “I’m that good.”

“You drained me in Monday’s class. That’s why I feel asleep. I was so tired I skipped my afternoon classes to take a nap.”

“I had to be sure of your magic potential before choosing you.” Gwen smiled, “I like to win.”

“Unreal.” Nick glared at Gwen. “I’ve felt guilty all week for creeping on you.”

“All’s well that ends well, right?”

“I guess.”

Gwen pointed up the sidewalk. “We have company.”

Clem sat on a bench by the sidewalk, oblivious to everything around him as he stared at the ground.

The pair approached at a leisurely pace but Clem’s eyes never moved. Nick asked, “You ok, Clem?”

Clem looked up with a start. It took his eyes a second to find their focus. “Heya Gwen. Heya Nikki. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Gwen’s eyes turned cold, “You’ve been waiting for us?” Nick felt her energy spike even though he had his shield up.

“It’s not like that Gwen. I need to talk to Nikki.”

Gwen’s eyes narrowed, “She told me you purposely made her late to line up.”

“I did.” Clem shrugged, “Can you give us a minute?”

“No way, asshole.”

Nick put a hand on Gwen’s arm. “It’s ok.”

“You sure?”

Nick looked at Clem. He’d never seen his friend look so glum. He sat on the bench next to Clem. Nick’s backpack landed next to him with a thud. “Go home, I’ll be fine.”

Gwen walked backward so she could face Nick and Clem as she continued down the sidewalk. “Do you remember where we live?”

Nick laughed. It was a fair question. He’d only been there once. “I’m sure I can find it.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Nick and Clem watched Gwen disappear down the sidewalk. “Your roommate is one scary witch.”

“She’s nice once you get to know her.”

“I know Gwen.” Clem said, “We met in the semifinals of last year’s under 18 Massachusetts state witching competition.”

“Who won?”

Clem smiled then laughed. “Who can remember the details of something that happened so far in the past.”

Nick smiled back. It was good to hear Clem laugh.

Clem asked, “Did I get you in trouble?”

“Some.”

“Sorry.”

Nick said, “It’s ok. I get the feeling they would have found something else to scream about if it wasn’t me.”

Clem nodded, “I had dinner with my sister.”

“Oh? How’d that go?”

Clem took a deep breath. “She laughed at me.”

“Really?”

“She said I’d been the family’s Chosen for the past six years.” Clem’s eyes looked at the ground. “She said all my brothers and sisters were looking forward to me being the black sheep of the family.”

“That’s harsh.”

“It’s fair looking back.” Clem sighed. “I never considered how they might feel about Mom and Dad’s obsession with me becoming Goody’s Chosen.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Nick shrugged, “It kind of is … my fault.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Clem smiled. “Asshole.”

The pair sat on the bench with neither speaking for a long while. Nick stared up at the sky and to the moon, completely full if not for the slight sliver missing on one side. It felt good to sit under the stars and moon, their combined light giving a slight energy boost.

“Mom used a fire spell to destroy my clothes.”

Nick looked down from his stargazing. “She what?”

“She yelled at me for an hour straight. Dad won’t speak to me. Grandpa said he’s taking me out of his will.”

“That sucks.”

Clem sighed, “The crazy part is the only thing that bothers me is the clothes. I spent years collecting every piece and now they’re gone in a flash of smoke. Mom says I can’t wear women’s clothing at home and it’s not like I can wear them here.”

Nick nodded. He knew better than anyone the fear of being found out. “What are you going to do?”

Clem said, “My sister teased me all through dinner but got serious at the end. She said being rejected by the Phi Lambs gives me a chance to find myself. I suppose she’s right.”

Nick said, “You can come to our room and dress anytime if you want.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Clem pointed down the sidewalk. “It’s getting late. Want to head home?”

“Yeah.” Nick tried to pick up his bookbag, its weight almost more than he could handle.

“Need some help?” Clem said, putting his hand on one of the straps.

“Sure.”

Clem lifted the bag as if it were made of paper, helping to place it on Nick’s back.

Nick said, “A real gentleman would carry my bag.”

Clem answered, “A real witch would know the spell to make the bag lighter.”

Nick realized he was taking two steps for one of Clem’s. “Can you slow down?”

“Sure.”

They settled into a leisurely pace, the two friends falling into old patterns. Nick looked up at Clem, staring at his face, his muscles, and places lower down.

Clem said, “You need to work on your shields if you’re going to try to sneak stares at me.”

Nick blushed, “Yeah … uhhh … well … there’s this Phi Lamb mixer on Saturday and you’re the only male witch I know.”

Clem shook his head. “I think it’s best if I avoid that place for a while.”

Nick nodded. “I understand.”

“I know someone who’d love to go with you.”

“Roger? No way.”

Clem said, “I know you like him too. When I helped him out of his daze, I realized the energies of lust weren’t all in one direction.”

“It’s not like that. He was my roommate.”

“You’ll never unlock your full potential if you lie to yourself.” Clem said, retrieving his phone from his pocket.

“What are you doing?”

Clem ignored him, speaking into the phone instead. “Hey dude. Meet me outside Allen Hall.”

Nick muttered under his breath. “Asshole. I told you I don’t like him.”

Clem clicked the button to hang up the phone. “If that’s true, then you’ll have no trouble passing a little test.”

Nick asked, “What are you proposing?”

“If you don’t have any feelings for Roger, then you should have no problem taking a short walk with Roger through Corey Park to your dorm … with your shields down.”

“I can do that.” Nick replied a little too quickly.

“We’ll see.”

Nick saw Roger’s goofy grin broaden as he exited Allen Hall. “Hey Clem. What’s up?”

Clem spoke in a most earnest manner. “The streets aren’t safe for a girl this time of night and Nikki needs someone to walk her to Hays Hall. I’d do it but I’ve got plans. Do you think you could help me out?”

“Of course.” Roger’s excitement couldn’t be more apparent.

“Great … well I’m off.” Clem said, “Nikki, aren’t you forgetting something?”

Nick did his best to smile as he removed his shield. “I’ll pay you back for this.”

Clem performed an over-dramatic bow . “No need. I’d never charge a fee where a lady’s safety is concerned.”

Roger asked, “Do you need help with your bookbag?”

The interruption took Nick by surprise. His books had gotten quite heavy. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.” Roger said, a little too quick.

Nick let his bookbag fall from his shoulders, letting it hit the ground with a thud.

Roger asked, “What are you carrying in here?”

Oh shit. Nick remembered the thin black rod sitting on top of his books, “Most of my teachers are old school. They don’t believe in digital books.”

“That sucks.” Roger tossed the bookbag over his shoulder as they started to walk.

Nick snuck a peek at Roger. His roommate had always been the taller of the pair, even more so now. Broad shoulders. Tapered waist. He closed his eyes at the memory of the communal shower, along with the pull of energy from his friend.

“No!” Nick opened his eyes, catching Roger staring at his tits.

“Sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

“It’s not.” Roger declared. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like I’ve lost my mind since I got to this school but I swear I’m not that guy.”
The realization hit Nick like a thunderclap. Roger had been drawn to this campus by Solomon's curse as well. “I’ve heard stories about you.”

"Oh?" Roger nodded, “I understand if you’d prefer to walk home alone.”

“It’s not that.” Nick said, “I was thinking we could make a detour to walk through Corey Park.”

Nick’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “Are you serious?”

Everyone on campus knew what ‘Going to Corey Park’ meant. It was late in the season to spend an evening under the stars but Nick heard resourceful couples took extra blankets.

“Unless you’d rather not.”

“No.” Roger shook his head. “I would … like to …go.”

The walk to Corey Park was longer than Nick realized. Probably because he’d never been to Corey Park.

They walked without speaking until Roger broke the silence. “I was thinking about what you said in class.”

“Oh?”

Roger said, “You’re right. I think Polk was a good president. Do you know he doubled the size of the United States?”

Nick smiled. He and Roger had this conversation many times. “I think the people of Mexico and the indigenous who lived in the area might have a quibble with Polk’s methods.”

“It was Manifest Destiny.”

Nick looked up at the moon and stars. Destiny is a strange concept. Was he always fated to be in this spot? Did actions and decisions before he was born leave him no choice? Was Roger always fated to be his roommate? Did their discussions create the feeling he now felt?

Nick said, “We’re almost to Corey Park. Everyone on campus knows what happens there. Are you sure this is the time and place for a discussion on the pre-Civil War United States?”

“I know. I’m an idiot but I’m trying to be better.” Roger said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve never been good at talking to girls. I come on too strong but when you sat next to me in class, it was like I’ve known you forever. I knew I could say anything to you and you’d understand. I could tell you’re different from the other girls.”

“Different?” A flood of every insecurity Nick had ever known pulsed in his core. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I like you and as crazy as it sounds, I think you like me too.”

Roger’s words struck Nick in the chest, its warmth spread throughout his body until it inflamed every hair on his head and tingled every one of his toes. Gwen was right. It did feel like being licked by a puppy dog.

Nick stopped walking, basking in feeling.

Roger’s passion turned to panic, “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” Nick shook his head, “You did good.”

The two old roommates walked into the cover of Corey Park, the evening dark appearing darker here. Couples in various phases of becoming familiar with each other echoed through the woods, their energies wafting into the trees, the commingled essence raining down on Nick.
Gwen, Miss Applebottom, Patrice, and Clem were as different as four witches could be but all told the same truth. If he wanted to survive this new life, he had to change how he thought, how he acted, how he moved through this world. He’d have to kill his old habit of shrinking from the things that scared him and let life pass him by. He’d chosen sisterhood with all its strange magic and messy loyalty but for the first time in his life, he wasn’t going to run from the things that scared him. It had taken eighteen years but he’d found a place he belonged and he wasn’t about to do anything to screw that up.

“Wanna sit down?”

Roger’s head bowed as he answered, “Sure.”

They found a good spot near a secluded tree. As Nick sat, dew filled blades of grass tickled his bum, a reminder he still wore the top and short skirt meant for the Phi Lamb dining hall.

Gwen knew he’d left the house wearing this outfit wearing the house and hadn’t said a word. Clem had seen him in this outfit and now he’d invited Roger to Corey Park wearing it. What must he be thinking?

Shadows danced across his faces as they turned to face one another, their legs sitting close but not touching, not yet. Roger’s eyes drifted to Nick’s lips then up again, his stare making his intentions clear. Nick didn’t look away.

Roger leaned forward, his movement slow, too slow. Nick met him halfway, his eyes closing a moment before their lips touched. A whisper of breath passed between them and in the quiet of the trees it felt like the only sound in the world.

A second kiss followed and a third then more afterward. Roger’s energy crashed through Nick’s feeble attempt to keep them at bay, along with the lust and desire every eighteen year old boy carries in his core. Nick lay back on the grass, his hot skin unaware of the cold grass as Roger straddled his body.

“You ok?”

Nick nodded, unsure of the truth. “Yes.”

Roger’s next kiss wasn’t unsure, and neither were his hands as they slid under Nick’s skimpy top to find a bare breast. The touch sent a torrent of energy into Nick, by the time he regained control he saw the skimpy top laying on the ground next to him as Roger suckled his breast.

Nick’s moan was quiet but real, and when he heard it, something in him unraveled. Every breath was shared, every motion deliberate. Their bodies moved in unison in the kind of need that came from years of wanting something and never getting it.

Nick’s hand reached down, Roger’s audible ‘ahhh’ bringing a smile to Nick’s face when his found denim separating him from his goal. Nick sidled away from Roger’s grasp, moving down his body until he found the zipper allowing the object of Nick’s search to pop free.

“No.”

“What?” Nick couldn’t believe his ears.

“This is a mistake.”

“What do you mean?” Nick watched as Roger began zipping up his pants and adjusting his shirt.

Roger’s eyes grew intense. “I like you, Nikki. I was hoping we could take things slow.”

Roger’s energies coursed through Nick’s body making speech difficult. “I …”

Roger said, “I was thinking maybe we could have dinner on Friday. If that’s ok.”

It took all of Nick’s strength to keep from unleashing a torrent of energy on his friend. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Yes,” Roger stood, holding out a hand.

Nick stared at Roger’s hand. “I’m going to need some time.”

“I understand.”

Nick watched as disappointment filled his friend’s eyes. “Not about the date. I’d love to go on a date with you.” Nick looked down at his nearly naked body glistening in the moonlight. “I’m going to need a minute before I can get up.”

“OK.”

“I need to be alone if you don’t mind.”

“I can’t leave.” Roger said, “I told Clem I’d walk you home.”

“I’ll be ok.”

Roger said, “It’s not safe for girls at night on this campus.”

Grrrrr … one more nuisance girls had to deal with because men couldn’t control themselves. “Hays Hall isn’t far.”

“Are you sure?”

“I don’t need a white knight to save me.” Nick remembered the near coma he’d put Roger when they flirted in class. “I’ll be fine.

“If you’re sure.” Roger took a step back before giving Nick a broad smile he’d come to know so well. “See you Friday night?”

“You’ll see me sooner than that.”

“I will?”

Nick replied. “We’re in US History together on Friday. Save me a seat?”

“Oh yeah.” Roger's excitement showed on his face. “We can finalize our plans then.”

Roger walked backward, a silly grin painted on his face. He continued walking backward until disappearing in the darkness. Nick watched him go, his lips tingling from the memory and the over abundance of energy coursing through his veins.

Roger was right. These woods weren’t safe but not in the way he thought. Nick closed his eyes, calling out to the trees for their help. It took a while to clear his thoughts but eventually he found focus on the hum of maple and oak. These woods weren’t nearly as old as the one by Bishop Hall and its ability to help him find tranquility was not as effective. It probably didn’t help, these tree’s branches spent generations soaking in the passions of freshmen men and women.

Nick found his top sitting near a small pile of leaves. In a few weeks this place would be covered with them. In another month, the trees would be bare and not even the horniest souls would dare brave a half-naked night in the New England cold.

Nick knew he couldn’t go home. The repeating cycle of sex acts in his head turned him into some sort of sex fiend. Even if he made it out the woods without attacking a guy, it would be worse to get home and face Gwen’s mockery. No, better to take care of it here.

Nick felt around his bookbag. Even in the darkness, Miss Applebottom’s box wasn’t hard to find. The device inside felt foreign in his hands.
The piercing cold numbed Nick’s lips as he put it into his mouth. He got the dildo halfway in before his gag reflex kicked in. His second attempt returned similar results as did the third.

Nick slid his hand down the shaft, now covered in his saliva but no longer cold. Nick tentatively pressed the dildo against his new sex, his eyes widening at the alien sensation. His body yielded slowly, stretching to accommodate the unfamiliar intrusion as a soft moan sounded from Nick’s lips. His body tensed at the initial discomfort, but he didn't stop, he couldn't stop. Primal force drove him forward, every inch a reminder of his new reality.

The cool night air felt good against his exposed skin, but inside, a fire was building, a warmth that spread from his core outward. He took a deep breath, the scent of earth and leaves grounding him in the reality of the moment as he held the dildo inside him, his body trembling with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Nick slowly began to move the dildo, moving it in and out, his hand somehow knowing this new body’s song, each thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body.

His mind raced, trying to grasp a situation unlike anything he’d ever known. His body responded instinctively, his hips arching slightly to meet each thrust, drawing the dildo deeper inside.

Words came without thought. “Oh god … oh god.”

Nick bit his lip, trying to stifle a moan as a jolt of pure ecstasy moved in waves through his body. Breath came in short gasps as everything moved with more urgency, each thrust building upon the last, his body on fire, every nerve ending alight with sensation.

The part of Nick’s mind still able to form rational thought spun out of control, a raw, primal need driving him forward as the energy within him built a pressure that demanded release, increasing the pace, as the dildo moved faster and deeper, each thrust sending waves of pleasure that left him gasping.

Nick's back arched as he drove deeper, a low moan escaping his lips as a wave of pleasure engulf him whole, the energy coursing through his veins erupting in a series of spasms, leaving Nick motionless on the cold earth, staring up at the heavens with an understanding nothing in his life would ever be the same.

Nik didn’t expect the tears. They came in a torrent leaving his face wet as the device grew cold. Extracting it caused a series of shivers, and a realization of an aching need he couldn’t control.

‘I’ve become a slut.’ Memories of touching Roger, Nik looking up ready to do anything to achieve satisfaction. Fear at what might happen next made the tears fall faster and a need to flee the scene as fast as possible.

Unsteady legs made standing impossible. A check of the area told his cries had been one of many. The voices of the trees were clearer now, their song reminding him of a song from a game he’d played in a forest not far from here.

Ashes in the barley,
Shadows on the wall,
Broomstick by the window,
Witches in the hall.
Mind the bell at sundown
Now run before she CALLS!

Nik smiled at the memory.

“Hello, my daughter. Is everything ok?”

“Goody?”

“Who else?”

“Patrice said you needed time to replenish your energy.”

“I always have energy to respond when one of my daughters' calls.”

Nik moved the item in his right hand behind his back and felt for the backpack with his left.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about Nikki.”

Nik returned the dildo to the box before putting it in his backpack.

Goody said, “It’s too bad such devices didn’t exist in Purity. The world might have avoided so much unnecessary pain.”

“How so?”

“It takes time for young witches, much like young women, to understand their power. Experience is the only way to learn. I know I didn’t understand my power when it emerged. I often wonder if those who hung me had a point. I was a witch, brimming with power, only I didn’t know it. I’ve often wondered if my burgeoning power put me in that room with Solomon, initiating all that that followed.”

“That’s ridiculous. You can’t blame yourself.” Nik grew animated, “Solomon impregnated half the county. He was at fault.”

“So why were you crying when I arrived?”

“I…” Nik smiled at the realization of Goody’s verbal trap.

“Roger is no Solomon.”

“I’m worried he’s going to tell everyone I was on my hands and knees, begging to have sex.”

“Consider it a test of his worthiness. For his sake I hope he makes the right choice. It is never smart to get on the bad side of a witch, especially a young witch. Some of us have been known to react quite poorly to those who wrong us.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” Nik laughed, a weight lifting from overburdened shoulders.

“It is not easy for a young witch to understand their power. Only time can do that. I never got the opportunity to discover mine but I’m looking forward to helping you as you discover yours.”

“I need all the help I can get.”

“You’re doing fine. Better than most.”

“I am?”

Goody said, “It’s your first day and you’ve … learned a shield spell … improved your ability to control magic … met your sisters … joined the sorority … reconciled with Clem … and kissed a boy. I’d say that’s a full day.”

“I wanted to have sex with him. I wanted him to have his way with me. I lost control.”

“Did you?” Goody said. “You could have sent the energy back into him and made him do anything you wanted. You didn't do that. Isn’t that control?”

“I guess.” Nik said, conceding the point. “It's just ... I feel wrung out from the inside.”

“My Chosen experience trauma in both body and soul. Do you regret your decision to join me?”

“No. Of course not.” Nik said, pausing to search for words “Nothing is like I expected. I have to work twice as hard as I did before.”

“Welcome to life as a girl.” Goody said. “It’s a good thing there’s a simple solution.”

“What’s that?” Nik asked.

“Get to your feet as quick as you’re able whenever life has knocked you flat on your back.”

“That’s shit advice.”

“I meant now.” Goody’s voice took on a playful spirit. “Or at least put on a top, my daughter. You’ll catch your death in the night air.”

Nik looked down to see two large and very naked breasts. A quick search found the outfit's top, a pull and a tug bringing needed support and also warmth.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Some.” Nik said, while struggling to stand up, taking Goody’s advice literally.

“That’s my girl.”

Nik picked up the backpack, the contents as heavy as ever as they searched for the path out of the woods. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

Sounds of couples echoed through the trees as Nik found the path to his new home. “Back home in New Jersey…” The place felt a thousand miles away at the moment. “... when I was all alone in the department store late at night … sometimes a voice would instruct me. It helped me out of my comfort zone.”

Goody didn’t answer until Nik crossed the treeline. “You know the truth. You said it in my sanctum. While Phi Lambda Phi protects the gallows stone, the true source of my power has always resided inside those who can hear my voice.”

“What about Clem?”

“Clementine is a curious case. She’s my daughter and a very strong witch with unlimited potential, the same as you. I tried to speak to her many times over the years but she couldn't hear me until I bathed in the light of the Harvest Moon. Perhaps things will be different now that she no longer is shackled by the expectations of family. She will need a friend. Perhaps that person can help her find her way to me.”

“Is that possible?”

“Anything is possible for a determined witch.”

Nik nodded, “I think I understand.”

“Excellent, then it is time for me to take my leave.”

“Wait … Goody? I need to tell you something.”

“Yes, my daughter?”

Nik basked in the glow of the night’s sky. A large universe shone overhead but Nik knew their place. “Thank you … for everything.”

Chapter 30

“What happened to you?”

Nik had walked up the path towards Hays Hall when a voice broke Nik out of their oblivion. It took a second to recognize the girl’s face. “Hey Cassy. What are you doing out here?”

“Can’t sleep.”

Nik looked at Cassy’s right hand. “I wonder why.”

Cassy held out the thermos. “Want some?”

“No, thanks.” Nik pointed at Hays Hall. “It’s been a long day and I’m going to bed.”

“Your loss.” Cassy unscrewed the cap and took a drink. “You didn’t answer my question.”

The pair walk towards their dorm. “It’s a long story.”

“A good story?” A grin grew on Cassy’s face. “I noticed you came down the path that goes to Corey Park. Any juicy secrets you want to share?”

“I kissed a boy.”

“That’s all that happened?”

“He asked me on a date.”

“That’s juicier.”

Nik stared at the twitchy girl standing beside him. How did Clem say it? ‘You can’t trust anyone in this world.’ Cassy was asking lots of questions, certainly probing for good gossip. Perhaps she wanted to engage in friendly banter - perhaps it was something more. But Nik’s instincts sensed a good heart.

“What are you doing Friday night?”

“I hadn’t given it much thought.”

“Wanna go on a date?”

Cassy gave Nik a queer look, “I thought you already had a date.”

“I do.” Nik nodded, “But I’m not sure if I can trust myself. I was thinking maybe we could double. My date has a couple of friends. They’re a bit nerdy but they’re both good guys.”

“Nerdy you say?” Cassy said, the revelation seeming to pique her interest. “What’s their majors?”

Nik shrugged, “I don’t know.” In all their conversations the topic had never come up. “I know Stanley likes science fiction.”

“Oh? Who’s he into?

“I remember seeing some Asimov on his bookshelf.”

Cassy brightened at the name. “OK. I’m in.”

“You’re in?”

“Sounds like fun.” Cassy replied. “Where are we going?”

“Not sure.” ” Roger might be pissed when he learned Nik made their single date into a double but he’d get over it. Nik looked up at the girl’s dormitory. The entrance to Hays Hall loomed large over the courtyard. Stanley and Gary would sing Roger's praises forever if Nik could turn a single date to the triple, never knowing the real friend who'd done them a solid.

Nik yawned. “I’ll text you the plans when we finalize them.”

“Okay.” Cassy offered her thermos. “Are you sure you don’t want some?”

“Nah. I need to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be another long day.” Nik continued to stare at the building, trying to get a sense of the place. “I do need your help with a small problem.”“Oh?” Cassy said, “What’s that?”

“I don’t remember which room is mine.”

Cassy laughed. “Follow me. You live up the hall from me.”

Gwen didn’t look amused. “You want me to do what now?”

Nik yawned. “Gary’s a good guy.” Gwen hadn’t responded to Nik’s idea with the same level of enthusiasm as Cassy.

“Isn’t he the one who put underwear on his head?”

Nik laughed. Gary was always doing silly stuff. “Cassy is a better fit with Stanley and I can’t leave one of my mates behind.”

“What about Clem? I’d rather go with him.”

“I got the feeling he doesn’t feel the same about you. He said something about a tournament last year. ” Nik explained.

“I wondered if he remembered me.” Gwen smiled with a wicked laugh.

“Clem told me he needs time to figure things out. The last thing he needs is to hang out with some Phi Lambs.”

“Makes sense.” Gwen paused for a second. “But Gary?”

“Don’t be a snob.” Nik said, coming to the defense of his friend. “Gary’s a good dude once you get to know him.”

“You’re gonna owe me one.”

Nik gave Gwen a big hug. “I owe you more than one.”

Gwen blushed. It was nice to see her flustered for once.

Nik yawned, “I was thinking we could go to a department store Friday afternoon to find a cute outfit.”

Gwen laughed. “You’ve been in a girl’s body for less than a day and you already want to go shopping?”

Nik replied, “You know I’ve wanted to go shopping a lot longer than a day.”

Gwen gave a grudging nod, “That’s true.”

“Is that a yes?”

Gwen bobbed her head up and down. “Yes.”

“Awesome.” Nik gave Gwen another big hug. “You won’t regret it.”

“I already do.”

Nik started making a list. “Do you think we’ll have time to get our hair done? And a manicure?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Nik asked, “What?”

Gwen held up a Geology textbook. “You and I are supposed to study for Friday’s test.”

“Damn.” Nik yawned. “Can we do it tomorrow?”

Gwen shook her head, “I don’t think there’s any way you’ll be able to learn a month’s worth of geology in a single night.” She held up her other hand which held several pieces of paper.

“What’s that?” Nik asked.

“A copy of Friday’s test.”

“Where’d you get that?”

Gwen smiled. “Being a witch has its advantages.”

“Isn’t that cheating?”

“Are you majoring in Geology?”

Nik yawned. “I have no idea what I want to be.”

“Based on what I've seen in class, I doubt you’re going to be a geologist.” Gwen said, placing the test on Nik’s desk. “Make sure you miss a few questions. We wouldn’t want the prof to get suspicious.”

Nik’s eyes fluttered “Okay.”

“You should get to bed.”

“Yeah.” Nik said, undressing with every step as pieces of clothes hit the floor. Nik fell into bed wearing only panties. “Can you make sure I’m up by 430?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks, Gwen.” Nik said, her brain half in slumber. “You’re the best roommate a girl could ever want.”

Gwen pulled up the blankets. “Get some sleep, Nikki.”

Nikki didn’t hear the words as she was sound asleep. Tomorrow was sure to be another long day.

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Author’s post-note:

First - I want to thank Emma Anne Tate for her great feedback as I wrote this story. It wouldn’t be half as good without her help. Just like Nikki in the story, life is a lot easier when you have a Gwen helping you along the way.

Second - I’ve always wanted to write the cliched ‘Boy walks into a sexy sorority house and is turned into a horny girl’ story. I love the concept as it is easy to hit all the fun spots common in TG fiction but many of these stories struggle to make the change feel earned and my goal was to avoid that. Frankly I fear I went too far into the weeds at times trying to 'earn' Nikki’s horniness but I hope those who’ve made it this far enjoyed the tale.

Finally - If you enjoyed this story enough to want more, I’m afraid this is where I’m ending Nikki’s story (unless I find new inspiration for her). It would be easy to write a few chapters about Nikki dating, learning more magic, and sorority politics but without an overarching narrative goal, I'm fairly confident day-to-day life would begin to feel hollow. That's because this story is told hour-by-hour and transitioning to day-by-day as her life falls into a routine is usually both boring and jarring to the reader. I liked the symmetry of ending the story where it started with Nikki going out with her friends, old and new. I also like that I’ve left Nikki in a world full of magic, a maybe boyfriend, and unlimited possibilities full of hope. In these uncertain times, it seemed like a good stopping point.

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