Lambs of the Harvest Moon (Part 7)

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 Michelle. 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.” Michelle 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.

Michelle 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.” Michelle 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.”

Michelle 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,” Michelle 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 Michelle 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.” Michelle 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.” Michelle 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.”

Michelle 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.” Michelle 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.

Michelle 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.”

Michelle 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 Michelle.”

“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 Michelle 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.”