This is one of the earlier transformation stories I wrote. I never did finish it. I have decided to rewrite it and see it through. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think.

The curtains had already gone up in flames before Emmanuel wakes up. He is panicking as the smoke swirls around him. The flames almost seem to be coming straight for him.
"Mom!" He yells. His lungs hurt. He coughs. "Mom" he tries to say again but this time, it is nothing more than a whisper.
The part of the large blanket that's touching the floor catches fire and he pushes it off him.
"Mom!"
"Emmanuel!" He hears from the other side of the door. He realises it's locked as the handle bar goes up and dow. Why is it locked?
He scurries out of bed and heads for the door. As he is getting closer, he is blown back unto the floor. The door shatters and his mum is standing there. She is burnt and she is bleeding.
"Emmanuel!" She shouts. He can't breath. She rushes up to him and grabs his wrist, pulling him to the door.
The lintel gives way and sends fire and ash to the floor. The exit is blocked.
She looks to the windows and then to her son realizing that the bars on the windows have them trapped. The ceiling isn't going to last much longer. She kneels in front of him
"My beautiful boy" she says as she runs a hand through his hair
"Mum?"
"You have to be brave now" she wipes sweat from his face and she starts crying.
"Mum, I'm scared"
She shakes her head "You'll be okay"
A bit of the ceiling breaks and falls beside them. She kisses his forehead.
"You'll be okay" she repeats as she hugs him. Her tears running down his neck.
"Mum, we have to go" she hears him say.
"You are destined for great things, Emmanuel. Never forget that"
She hugs him tighter and begins speaking in a foreign language he doesn't understand.
"Mum?"
She doesn't reply. She continues chanting.
"Mum, we have to go"
Emmanuel doesn't see his mum turn into light, covering his entire body.
He is standing in a white space. He is alone.
"I will always be with you, my beautiful boy" His mother's voice echoes as he falls unconscious.

"Happy Birthday, babe!" Susie says as she walks up to kiss her boyfriend.
"Hey" Emmanuel replies as their lips part.
"I didn't see you in class"
"Yeah I just wasn't feeling up to the French revolution"
"Well you didn't miss much" She says taking a seat beside him at lunch.
Emmanuel doesn't have that many friends. Susie is always trying to bring her new boyfriend into one of her groups but it never stuck. He's not a loner. He's good around people. He just doesn't feel right here.
"Still thinking about that box?" she asks.
"Yeah, I don't know what it is about that thing. It's hard to think of anything else."
"Maybe you should just open it and be done with it. You said it's only gotten worse?"
He nods. "I might as well do that when I get home. Are we still on for tonight?"
"Well yes but.." Susie put on her pleading face "I may have invited Joan and that guy she's been hanging out with"
"Seriously?" Emmanuel half-shouts "It was supposed to be just us"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry" The puppy dog eyes come on "But they needed a place they could get some privacy and it's such a big house, we won't even know they're there"
He takes a breath "I guess it's fine"
She shrieks and kisses him on the cheek. "I promise we'll have the best time. I might even give you that show you've been asking for"
He smiles "I'll hold you to that" he says as she gets up to go rejoin the cheerleaders.

"Look what I found, you guys" Emmanuel says as he rejoins the group. Susie, Joan and Mark sat in a circle in the living room talking about school.
"Is that..?" Mark begins but he's cut off.
"A Ouija board!" Joan exclaims. "We have to use it!" She stands to take it from Emmanuel.
"Was that in the box?" Susie asks as Joan places it on the coffee table.
He nods. "Along with a lot more junk"
"Have you guys learnt nothing from all those horror movies?" Mark says
"Don't be chicken, Mark. It's fine" Joan replies
Susie gestures for me to come sit beside her which I do. She scoots closer and cuddles.
"Yeah, famous last words" Mark chuckles.
Joan gives him a playful look before continuing.
"It's fine, really. My grandma taught me how to use it." Joan says excitedly.
"Your crazy grandmother?" Susie laughs
"She's a seer. Guys! Don't be dicks. It'll be fun"
"I'm in" I say
"Oh the party pooper finally wants to play" Susie retorts.
"There's one!" Joan says happily "Anyone else"
Susie looks at me and smiles "Well if my boyfriend is in, I'm in" she says to the group.
"Yay" Joan squeals. She turns to Mark.
"Fine" He gives in "I can't resist that face"

The four of them are kneeling around the rectangular table when Joan begins. The singular bulb that's still on gives the room a very eerie feeling.
"There are three important rules we must never break." She says "You must never play alone, in a cemetery and you must always say goodbye"
"Say goodbye to what exactly?" Mark asks.
"That's the point, you never know. Now shh" Joan replies.
She places her hand on the planchette.
"First we circle the board for each player" Joan says as she makes a small circle on the board four times.
"Then together we say" she continues "'as friends we gather, hearts are true"
"As friends we-" Joan begins but then stops when no one says anything.
She looks at the group briefly "Come on, it's important"
The three others look at each other before beginning.
"As friends we gather, hearts are true" They chorus.
"Spirits near, we call to you"
"Spirits near, we call to you" they chorus again.
"Is anyone there?" Joan asks. Nothing happens
They all sit there for 10 seconds before Mark removes his hand.
"This is stupid" he says
"Put your hand back on it" Joan says sharply.
As soon as Mark's reluctant fingers touch the triangular block, it begins to move.
"Mark, cut it out" Susie says.
"That's not me" Mark replies.
"H" Joan reads as the planchette moves to settle on the letter 'H' before making it's way back to the middle "I"
"Hi" Emmanuel says.
"S" Joan continues
"Mark, I swear if you're doing this" Susie says visibly afraid
"O"
"I promise I'm not doing anything"
"N" Joan says finally as it rests in the middle of the board.
"Hison?" Emmanuel asks
"Oh my God" Susie says "It says 'Hi son'"
They pause for a second.
"That doesn't make any sense. All our parents are alive" Joan says.
Susie turns to Emmanuel. He instantly knows what she's thinking.
"Mine aren't" He says to Joan "The Pemroses adopted me"
No one says anything.
"Mark doesn't know that." Emmanuel tells Susie "There's no way he could have fucked with the board"
Joan screams and drops the planchette which she had raised to her right eye.
"What?" Emmanuel asks
"What'd you see?" Mark asks.
Susie is freaking out. Joan picks up the planchette and slowly raises it to her eye again "There's a woman." Joan is looking straight at Emmanuel.
"She is behind you" Joan continues looking at Emmanuel "She is glowing, orange or yellow"
Emmanuel doesn't move. He is terrified because he can feel something behind him. He can't move.
He slowly begins to turn when the phone rings and everyone is shaken.
Joan brings it up to her eye again but there's nothing. Emmanuel feels it too. The emptiness. They phone rings again ad he stands to go get it.
"I need some water" Susie says as she gets up too and walks to the kitchen.
"Wait you have to say goodbye!" Joan says but everyone is already on their way.
"You were joking about that woman thing, right?" Emmanuel hears Mark ask as he reaches the house phone.
"Hello?" He presses his ear into the old telephone.
"Good evening, is this Emmanuel?" A woman is on the line.
"Yes"
"Oh wonderful. I hope this isn't a bad time"
He looks around the room. Other than the board on the table, there's no one in the living room.
"No, it's not"
"Good" The woman says "I was wondering if we could talk"

"Joan had to go. Mark is taking her home" Emmanuel tells Susie who he had woken up as he comes into the room.
"So it's just us now" She replies smiling, wrapping both arms around him as he climbs into bed.
They kiss for a while.
"I've decided to go visit my aunt tomorrow. I should be back by Sunday"
Susie sits up in the bed.
"This was supposed to be our weekend together" Susie pouts "My parents even think I'm staying with Joan ad yours are gone.."
"I know. I'm an idiot. Ditching you to go visit my aunt"
She doesn't reply.
"I can't explain it, I fell like I have to"
She doesn't say anything for a while "I think it'll be good for you" she finally says.
"You think so?"
"Yeah" she smiles.
"So, you're not mad"
"No. I'm not mad"
"You're the best" Emmanuel replies smiling
"You're gonna have to make it up to me tonight though" She looks at hi suggestively.
"Oh I plan to" he says as he pulls her onto him as she's laughing.

"Child, this better be important. It's so late"
"Grandma, I think I saw a spirit tonight" Joan says into phone.
"A spirit, how?"
"Through a planchette, it was behind my friend - this boy at school"
"I told you not to play with Ouija. They can be very dangerous."
"I know, I'm sorry"
"This spirit, tell me about it"
"It was glowing, even in the dark room"
"That's good. It means that wasn't a dark spirit. Did you notice a color?"
"Yes!" Joan says sharply remembering "A light orange or yellow"
"A powerful one. He's a lucky boy. You have nothing to worry about"
"There's another thing"
"Yes? What is it?"
"I also had a different feeling from him. It wasn't there before"
"I see. That could be many things. But if you could feel that, then you may be like me. Come see me, you shouldn't ignore this"

It's been a few hours since he left the city. He'd never been to the town his mum grew up in. He doesn't know what to expect. He suspects that it's one of those town that are wary of outsides. The kind where everybody knows everybody.
Susie had offered to come with him this morning but he declined. He wants to do this on his own.
'Welcome to Erie. Enjoy your stay' he reads as he speeds past the old sign.
Not too long later, he drives through a very old gate with some of the most beautiful and intricate patterns.
The town has an air of mystery around it. The roads just after the gate are surrounded by full forests. It takes a few minutes before he reaches the first home. After that, more and more they begin to pop out. And so do the people.
It takes a lot of asking around before he finds 8021 Elmwood.
As we walks to the door after parking just outside the small fence, the door opens to reveal a middle aged woman.
He smiles, walks up to him and hugs him tightly. "Emmanuel" she says softly.
"Aunt Theresa?" He asks after the hug is broken.
She nods. "Please come in" she guides him into the house.
It is very quaint. There's all sorts of trinkets and jewelry everywhere. There is a large shelf to the far left with a lot of books. Some of them are on the table and some on the floor. Most are leather bound or hard cover.
On another wall, there are pictures. A picture of Aunt Theresa and his mother catches his eye. They are young. In their twenties if he has to guess. His mother is wearing a familiar necklace.
He hears the door lock and soon she is standing beside him.
"I have seen this before" He says.
"It's very likely that you have. Your mother loved that necklace" Theresa says smiling "Our mother gave that to her when she turned 16. She wore it everywhere"
"I can't remember much about her" His head drops.
Theresa puts a hand on his shoulder.
"I used to dream about it." He continues "That's where I saw it"
Theresa let out a concerned look "Dreams are mysterious things. But we must never disregard them."
"I have so many questions" He said turning to her.
"Please take a seat." She said as she walks to the arm chair. Emmanuel walks over to the couch and sits.
"All your questions will be answered" She says seriously "But I must first tell you a story"
He looks puzzled "A story?"
"Yes. It is important you know your history"
"Okay then"
"Every town has their stories but the difference is that here, those stories are true. Generations ago, a traveler stumbled into our town. A woman. She sat by the lake where she met four girls. They tried to get her help but she was too badly hurt and nothing she said made sense"
'The darkness has caught up to me. My time has come'
"The girls tried to help her back to town but she was bleeding. 'I am unable to continue so you must continue in my stead'. She bestowed on the four women her burden and they became the incarnation of the sources of life itself as the woman once was. Each of the women represented water, fire, earth and air."
Emmanuel shakes his head.
"To prevent the darkness from ever finding the vessels, she willed it that this power will move from one vessel to another through birth and so it has been since."
Emmanuel chuckled.
"That's some story. But I'm sorry, I'm not buying it"
"It's real, it's your destiny. You should know this. Our family has passed on this power for generations"
"This is crazy. You should have been brought up knowing this. You should have been prepared"
"Let's pretend any of this is real, why now? Why didn't you reach out all this time?"
"Mady she... when she left, she hid you" Theresa says sadly.
"What do you mean she hid me?"
"Not physically. She hid your aura. I didn't even know you were still alive"
"You have to see how crazy, this is" He stands up.
"It sounds crazy but it's true. Four families have passed on these powers for years. We are one of those. When your mother got pregnant with you 17 years ago, it was a day of joy. Everything was according to plan. You were the last of the four. The four women that would possess the power of the sources in 16 years had all been born. Then you were born and you were a boy and it was a day of sorrow"
"Why?"
"Only women can be vessels. The belief was that if a male child is born, he had to be killed so the next child, hopefully a female will be the first child."
Emmanuel sat back down. "What happened?"
"The elders pressured your mother to slip a poison into your meal. A silent painless death that had been done before but she would never agree to that. She took you and she disappeared. Blocking both your auras so we couldn't find either of you"
"What about my father?"
"They never saw each other again. He is one of the elders"
"He's alive?"
"No one has seen the elders since then. We have no way of knowing their fate. They just vanished."
"What happened then?" He asks
"There is a ritual, to make another girl the next vessel. It had been done before. When a woman for some reason never has any daughters or when a vessel is killed before she has any daughters." She pauses "But never when a possible vessel is alive"
"I didn't work."
She shakes her head "The girl that was to be the next vessel was suddenly in the most horrible pain. With you alive, we couldn't do the transfer. When my sister died 7 years ago, I was finally able to sense her. With no heir, we expected the power within her to become lose and with the darkness finally able to sense it, gobble it up and use it to track the rest of the sources. We got ready for the fight that we thought was coming. But nothing happened."
He doesn't say anything when she pauses. He just listens intently.
"All that power was safely locked away, in the next vessel"
"How?"
"At first I thought, you died, even if I still couldn't sense you. I thought Mady had another child but recently I started getting small readings and they have only gotten stronger. I started feeling you again and the power that's inside you."
"Wait, you don't mean-"
"Yes. You are the next vessel"
"You said-"
"I know, but it doesn't matter. It is an amazing thing"
"What does this mean for me?" He asks
"There is a ceremony to complete the circle. You and the other vessels are linked and that's that."
"And then I can leave?"
"And then you can leave" she says smiling reassuringly.
"I gotta-"
"Take a drive? I know, I'll be waiting"

After driving for a while, probably in circles, Emmanuel comes up the cemetery. He parks and walks in. It's really clean and well taken care of for an old cemetery.
It's not at all creepy as you'd expect a cemetery to be in the evening. It is calming and reassuring.
There is a small fence and a small arched gate marked 'Vessels'
There are lots of tombs and lots of flowers on them. As he walks through, he notices that some of the tombs date as far back as the 18th century.
Eventually he notices one that threatens to bring him to his knees.
'Madeleine Crowe 1971 - 2006 The Free Spirit'
'Mum must have been using her maiden name" He thinks.
He hates that he never really got to know her. He kneels by the stone and starts crying which he never does.
After a few minutes, someone tapped his shoulder after which he turns. A beautiful girl about his age is standing there. She's wearing a white dress with green flowery patterns.
"You shouldn't lose control like that. Not all folk in this town like our vessel history"
He is confused. She points at the sky and his gaze follows her hand. A thick storm cloud is gathering above the cemetery but nowhere else.
'Did I do that?' He thinks totally shocked 'It's real'
"Before the circle is complete, our powers are unstable, hard to control. It's first grade witch class" She says.
She suddenly laughs "I'm kidding we don't have those." She's smiling broadly "I'm Harriet"
He stands and brushes his knee "Emmanuel"
She smiles again "I was starting to think you're... unable to speak"
She eyes him down.
"So, the free spirit was your mother?" She asks looking at the grave stone.
"Apparently" He replies turning to look at it "I didn't really know her"
"I think that's cool. My mum is the Protector of the Will." She says and then laughs "I know it's cheesy. They give the vessels these nicknames"
"We don't even get to pick our own nicknames? Bummer. Cause I have a few good ones" He says.
She laughs which makes him laugh.
"Sadly not. I'm partial to the Fire Queen, myself" she replies and they're both chuckling. "We're similar, you and I"
"Yeah?"
"I'm you. Without the complications" she replies
"Complications?"
"Everyone who knows about this have been fussing over you. What this could mean, you being a boy. Why couldn't you jut have boobs? This would be way simpler"
He smiles "I wonder why" he says sarcastically.
"I actually think you'll make it work. You wearing the ceremonial dress"
He laughs "I'm not wearing a dress"
"You are if you don't want to deal with the immense pain of the ritual"
"No one said anything about a dress" He replies visibly upset.
"Relax, it'll be fine. Besides, I think you have the right shape for it"
His face turns red. "Gee thanks"
She laughs "I think we'll be good friends. I should go" She starts walking away "See you later" she says turning one last time before disappearing out the small gate.
It's getting cold. He says a mental goodbye to his mother and makes his way out the cemetery.

When he parks his car outside the small gate, the house door opens to reveal Theresa welcoming him back. Harriet had made him more relaxed. This ceremony had occurred for centuries. He has nothing to worry about, he tries to reassure himself.
"A ceremonial dress? Really?" He asks as he enters the house.
"It has only been women. There'll only be 8 of us there, no one else has
to know"
"Still, it's a dress"
"Don't you worry about that now, go take a shower and come out for dinner"

When he comes out for dinner, Theresa is horrified.
"The day's clothes?"
"Yes" He replies but quickly continues "But I have nothing else to wear to wear. I didn't really plan on staying"
"Oh no, take that off this instant. I'll bring you something"

She comes in carrying a bundle of clothes. He picks them up examining them. It is a satin camisole, a large sweater and very comfortable tights.
"I'm not wearing--" He pauses, takes a breath "You know what, thank you"
"At least it's clean" she says.
He smiles reassuringly "It's fine, thank you"
She smiles and leaves.
When he slips on the camisole, it feels weirdly at home. He enjoys how soft it feels on his body. His body hair has never been this light but he doesn't read too much into it.
There are lumps on his chest that he hadn't noticed before. Hardly noticeable if he's not paying attention.
He notices his waist and hips look different as he slips on the tights but it's really not worth any more attention. He doesn't feel like he needs the sweater but he puts it on anyway, if for no other reason than to cover the camisole.
When he shows up downstairs, Theresa doesn't say anything. She just stares at him.
"What?" He asks self consciously holding his right elbow with his left hand.
"Nothing." She smiles "It just suits you"
He smiles and takes a seat "Not a compliment" he says but it did feel like a compliment.
He feels at home here. Like he's never felt before. he feels complete.
Theresa drops a small box in front of him on the table.
"Open it" she says smiling.
He slowly opens the box to reveal the most beautiful necklace. The one his mother wore in the picture.
"Your grandmother gave that to your mother on her 16th birthday. I was so jealous" she laughs and so does Emmanuel "She'd want me to give it to you on yours"
He removes it from the box. It is a dainty thing. Small and beautiful. A thin chain holds a circle with a symbol that looks like water in the middle.
It is a woman's ornament, clearly. But it is his mother's so he can't wait to have it on his neck.
Theresa senses this, walks up to him, takes it and goes behind him. She puts it in front of him and clasps it firmly around his bony neck.
She walks away to get a mirror, returning it and placing it in front of him.
He looks different but that is overcome by the feeling of closeness to the free spirit.
He looks at Theresa who is smiling widely. He starts crying again which is totally out of character for him. It must be this place.
"Oh honey" Theresa says lovingly hugging him.
After a while, the hug is broken. He looks at her "Does my hair seem a lot longer than when I came earlier?"

Emmanuel is watching his mother from a corner. He is holding the extra wash soap she had asked for. She is dancing. She is so beautiful. The water is dancing along with her, mimicking her movements. Left, right, it's dancing in circles around her.
She sees him standing there and the water returns to the bucket.
She is smiling.
"Oh my beautiful boy" she says as she walks towards him.
He is smiling as she gets closer and closer. He wants to close the gap but he can't move.
Just as she's about to touch him, she bursts into flames.

He wakes up sharply. It's morning and the sun is shining through the blinds.
He brushes hair away from his face and behind his ear which he's never had to do before.
He groggily leaves the very comfortable bed. He's suddenly dizzy when he's on his feet. He is very weak.
He walks past the large mirror on his way to the bathroom and doesn't recognize himself out of the corner of his eyes.
He returns to examine himself. His face looks different. Not that you can pick out anything in particular that's changed, just all-around minor things that give it a weird appearance.
His usually short slicked back hair is a disheveled mess that encases his face coming down to below his cheeks.
He takes off the large sweater and is shocked by the changes to his body.
The light hair present yesterday is gone and his skin has achieved a new smoothness. He feels smaller all around except his hips and butt which are increasingly pushing against the tights, he couldn't help but feel feminine.
He does a twirl and mentally slaps himself.

He washes his face and heads downstairs.
"Morning, sleeping beauty" Theresa says without turning to him.
There is a lot of noise coming from the streets outside.
"Morning" he takes a seat at the table and a cup of tea is placed in front of him "What's going on out there?" he asks as Theresa retreats into the kitchen.
"Oh isn't it wonderful?" She replies smiling as she drops a plate of toast and eggs in front of him "The festival of new beginning!"
When he doesn't reply, she continues.
"It's celebrated every year on the day the ritual is meant to happen. But it's especially important today because there's actually a ritual to perform. Of course, the people don't know what they're celebrating. It's happened for so long now, it's long since become a part of our culture"
He takes a bite before going to the window. There are people marching the streets, shouting and singing.
"That's really something" he says.
"It is, isn't it?" she walks up to the window to stand beside him "You should go"
He looks outside again. He wants to.
"Are my clothes dry?"
"No sorry, but my daughter had so many clothes" she laughs "too many if you ask me"
"I can't wear her clothes" he says turning away "Not outside"
"Nonsense. What are you so afraid of?"
"Uh that people are going to laugh at the boy wearing a dress?" he gives her an expectant look.
"Well, nobody is going to see a boy wearing a dress"
"So you see it too?" he exclaims "I'm changing, aren't I?"
She puts on a motherly look "Oh honey" she places a hand on his cheek "change can be a good thing. But that's not what I meant. With a little makeup, you'd make such a pretty girl"
He blushes "Not a compliment"
"Don't worry about that. Now eat and go and get yourself cleaned up. I'll be over shortly with some clothes" Theresa says smiling.
Without any more defiance, he finishes his breakfast and leaves for the room.

Emmanuel is out of the shower, his hair is slightly wet. He is sitting on the bed with the large towel over his chest to cover the embarrassing flesh. He looks over to his phone near the bed lamp.
Sometime yesterday, he must have turned his phone off but he doesn't remember it. He turns it on and he's greeted with 3 missed calls from Susie.
It rings for a few seconds before she answers.
"Are you okay?" he hears her familiar voice.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Oh I don't know, you go to meet a mystery woman and I don't hear from you again. You said you were coming back yesterday"
"You're right, I'm sorry" he says adjusting the towel around his chest.
"I'm not mad. Just worried" she says.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, I just decided to stay longer. Get to know her better"
"That's nice. Are you coming down with something, you sound different?"
"Do I? I don't know"
"Everything's fine? How long are you staying?"
"It's been amazing, Su. I feel closer to my mother than I ever did"
"That's good. You never talked about her"
"I know but that's because I didn't remember anything about her or her family or even this place. I feel like it's all coming back"
"Do you need me to drive over?"
"No, it's fine. I'd like to spend some time with my aunt"
"Okay babe, call me"
"I will"
"Love you" she says expectantly.
"Love you too" he replies after which he hangs up.
He wanted to tell her everything like he always did but he didn't want to worry her.

He walks up to the mirror with one hand holding the towel up. He is awestruck at how different his thighs look after the towel stops high above it. His free hand goes to his waist and he admires his form.
He thinks that he shouldn't be standing there like this but he shrugs it off.
"You will make such a pretty girl" he hears Theresa say behind him.
He turns sharply. He wants to bring the towel down to his waist in a typical boy fashion but he doesn't want to reveal his new body problems.

She drops the stack of clothes on the bed and hands Emmanuel a bra and panties set.
"You didn't say anything about girl's underwear" He says.
"You're not wearing briefs under a dress" she replies firmly.
"You didn't say anything about a dress either"
"If you're going to be difficult, I'll cast a compliance spell on you"
He takes a breath. "Could you please turn around?"
"It's nothing I haven't see before"
He shakes his head and turns around letting the towel drop to the floor, he steps into the panties which have no problem falling into place after which he picks up the bra.
He turns around covering his fleshy chest with one hand. Theresa doesn't say anything about this.
"I don't know how to put this on"
She smiles. "Put your arm through the straps and turn around"
After he's done this, she clasps it firmly behind him. It's only then he realizes what the bra is doing. Pushing the flesh up to give him cleavage. It's very embarrassing as he thinks about all the times he's looked at Su's or another girls'.
He turns around slowly and again Theresa doesn't say anything.
"Good. Now for your make-up"
She sits him down in front of the large mirror, covers it like she used to with her daughter and begins.
She starts by adding foundation to his face. Then she goes on to add a bronzer to parts of his face for a little color. She curls his eyelashes and uses tweezers on his eyebrows. After applying mascara and a rosy pink lipstick, she's done and she is happy with the result.
Emmanuel has never felt this way before. He loves the attention and the feeling of everything being applied to his face. He doesn't admit it but this feels right.
"Now for the dress" Theresa says smiling.
He stands and she helps him into the vintage style lace dress carefully so as to not ruin his makeup. His makeup.
The dress has a strap just wider than the bra's and comes low enough that his cleavage is visible. His cleavage.
It is a short white lace dress with a green tint which pairs very nicely with a very lightweight mint cardigan that Theresa hands him.
"Are you ready to see yourself?" Theresa asks.
He smiles.
"Ta-da" she says smiling as she pulls the cover from the mirror.
He is speechless. He is very pretty and he knows it. His right hand gently touches his face. His hair that cutely encases his face is just icing on the cake. It's hard to believe that that's him.
"I told you no one would think that you're a boy in a dress. What do you think?"
'Why does this feel so right' he wonders. Theresa is standing beside him smiling and he wonders if they'd always been the same height.
"It's perfect"

The thought that nothing has been right before returns and he feels at peace. He feels guilty for never really feeling like he belonged with the Pemroses. He loves them to death, but it wasn't quite right
When his mother died 9 years ago and the state couldn't find any records of his father, he was put into the foster system.
He had bounced from one to another until be was 12 when the Pemroses adopted him.
You see, Bernard Pemrose was new money.
His father had stumbled unto an untapped oil well about 30 years ago and had built an empire on it.
Bernard had inherited his millions and the group of companies and had gotten married to Mary not long after.
Mary had been in an accident as a teen. She had survived but she wouldn't ever have any children of her own.
Everyone considers Emmanuel the luckiest foster kid because he will most likely inherit all those millions and the Pemroses love him and he loves them right back but he always knew something was wrong. Something was out of place.
"You look a lot like she did at your age" Theresa says.
"Really?"
"Yes. And that's totally normal too. The first offspring and the vessel always looks strangely alike"
Another batch of marchers passes the house, shouting and cheering.
"It's really picking up. You should get going" Theresa says. "Your sandals are by the door. I'll get your bag"
Emmanuel steps into the white sandals looking into the mirror at the finished look. He smiles as he takes his phone and wallet and heads downstairs.
Theresa meets him downstairs and hands him a bag.
"You need to be back here at 7" she says as she goes behind him to clasp his mother's necklace again "Tonight is very important"
"Okay, aunt Theresa" Emmanuel says.
She gives him a loving look. "You've grown up beautiful. Mady would be proud"
Emmanuel smiles. He feels all warm inside,
"Now get going. Go have fun" she says as she hurries him out the house.

The festival is in full swing now. It is mid afternoon and there are people everywhere. It feels like the whole town has come out for this. There is a large platform carrying show girls and performers which Emmanuel follows to a carnival.
He's simply looking through all the attractions when he starts noticing all the looks from people of all ages. He starts getting self conscious when boys are staring at him.
He is thinking about going back home when a hand taps his shoulder. He turns to find Harriet.
"I can't believe you're here. Isn't it amazing?" she says enthusiastically.
His heart leaps to his throat "You know who I am? Can everybody tell?"
She smiles "No, not at all. We're drawn to eachother"
He calms down.
"You look amazing by the way. I'm loving the new look"
He had wanted to see her again but not like this.
"Thanks, it's a long story"
"I'm sure it is. Come on, the others are this way" she says grabbing his wrist pulling him
"Others?" He asks panicked as she takes him to meet other people

They get to a group of kids all about the same age talking. The talking stops when they see Emmanuel and Harriet.
"Who's your pretty friend, Harriet?" One of the boys asks.
Emmanuel blushes.
Harriet laughs turning to Emmanuel "This knucklehead is Will"
Will is a really handsome guy. He already has a full beard and his short messy hair is parked under a cap.
He laughs as he hops off the platform the group sits on.
"Wilmer Lund, pleasure to meet you" He says as he walks up to Emmanuel taking his hand and kisses it. "And you are?"
Emmanuel doesn't know how to feel about that. It's oddly satisfying.
"Emma" He replies not really sure why he does that.
Wilmer looks around the group before continuing "That's Perry and
Cyrus"
'Emma' waves at them.
"Those 2 lovely ladies are Jenna and my beautiful girlfriend Stacy" He grins as he leans in to kiss her.
Jenna drops from the platform and hugs Emma. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. We've heard so much this past week"
"Yeah, like you're supposed to be a boy" Stacy says as she breaks away from Will.
"Yeah" Jenna adds "I said that was crazy. A vessel can't be a boy"
Emma takes a deep breath.
"I'm actually a boy" He says.
"Well you don't look like a boy" Stacy says.
"Guys" Harriet starts "What does that matter? Emma is just here to do the ritual then he's gone. Let's be nice"
'This is so fucked up' He thinks.
Emma and Harriet both take a seat on the platform during which Emma has to remember to smooth the dress and keep his legs closed.
He notices the boys looking at him.
"So are you two--?" Emma begins to ask but is interrupted.
"Yep, I'm the air vessel and Jenna is earth" Stacy cuts in.
"So you knew nothing about this?" Jenna asks
He shakes her head.
"My mum says a vessel needs years of training to properly fulfill her duties" Jenna adds.
"What duties?" Emma asks turning to Harriet.
"Don't worry, Magnolia just gets really intense with this vessel stuff" Will says laughing.
"You know our parents hate it when you use their first names" Harriet says sharply.
"What does it matter?" Stacy says "They're not here"
Perry speaks for the first time "Ms. T is probably listening' He chuckles.
The group laughs.
Harriet notices the puzzled look on Emma's face.
"Theresa has the sight. We don't really know how it works but she sees and hears things"
Emma nods.
"You guys wanna go do stuff?" Cyrus asks.
After everyone mumbles their agreement, they are off.

The group spends the next couple hours trying to have fun, trying whatever activity they come across. After a while, Jenna gets sick and starts throwing up.
Harriet and Stacy takes her to go get her cleaned up. Emma is sitting under an old tree when Perry joins him.
"You shouldn't feel out of place anymore" He says as he takes a seat beside him.
Perry is also really handsome. He has short beautiful hair and a very defined bone structure. Unlike Will, he is clean shaven.
Emma smiles. "It's hard not to. All I've ever wanted was to belong somewhere. Now I'm not even one of the guys or girls"
He laughs "It's an odd predicament you have here"
Emma lets out a brief laugh "It is"
"For what it's worth, I think you're pretty cool" He replies charmingly
"Do you really?"
"Yeah! The way you're handling this whole thing. Most people would be running scared"
"Trust me, it's unlike me" Emma says looking at his nails.
"I doubt it" Perry is looking straight at him.
They sit there for a while enjoying the evening breeze. Most people had retired for the night and at this point, the carnival is almost over.
"Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you grew up here?" Perry asks.
Emma shook his head. "Up till last week, I'd never thought about this place. The memories of my mother are only just returning."
Perry thinks for a few seconds.
"That sounds like a memory block"
"A memory block?" Emma asks confused.
"I don't know for sure but it can't be a coincidence that your memory is only just returning"
"My memory was blocked? That's why I couldn't remember her all those times I tried?"
"Probably"
"Why am I remembering now?"
"I honestly have no idea. You're better off asking Harriet's or Jenna's mum about that stuff"
Emma sharply turns to him. "Will you tell me what you know about her?"
Perry smiles. "Of course. Whatever I can"
Emma turns to listen intently.
"I don't know much except that she was totally badass. She learnt how to manipulate the waves like no other vessel ever could. She was also a master at using spells and sigils. She is a legend. One day, she was just gone. I don't know why"
He doesn't but Emma does.
He is suddenly saddened. He feels he took all of that away from her.
"There you are" Harriet calls out. "We need to go get ready. It's almost time"
Emma turns to say goodbye to Perry who is already standing.
"Good luck" he says slightly nodding.
Emma smiles. "Thank you"
Perry hugs him which feels odd and first but nice and safe. He feels his chest pushing into Perry's which isn't something he's felt before.
"I'll come see you before you leave tomorrow"
Emma smiles and nods and breaks the hugs.
He walks over to Harriet. He is shaking.
"You ready for this?"
He nods and they are on their way.
He had fun today. He even enjoyed wearing this dress. And he is saddened that he leaves soon. But he can't shake the feeling that everything is about to fall apart.

Which do you prefer, magical transformations or realistic transformations? Or are you like me and you prefer an androgynous guy wearing a girl's clothes? Let me know!

Emma lets out an audible frustrated sigh as Theresa returns to his room fully dressed in her black dress.
"Need help?" She asks smiling.
He lets out a breath. "I can't get into this stupid dress"
"Funny, your mother said the exact same thing" Theresa laughs
He has only managed to get the skin tight dress over his hips which is the easy part.
The top part of the dress lay hanging from his waist. He is standing there wearing only a strapless bra which goes better with the black sheer lace dress.
His hair has been styled and his makeup light but focused on his eyes.
"It's really not funny" He says pouting "It's going to rip"
She walks behind him.
"Let's not do that. This dress is history" She says as she takes one of the long sleeves.
"Do I even have to wear it?"
"It's part of the ceremony, Emma. You have to" She guides one arm into the tight sheer lace sleeve and proceeds to the other.
Every since Harriet had said "see you soon, Emma" earlier that evening, Theresa had called him nothing else.
She smooths the dress and take the fragile zip moving it up his body as the dress takes its shape encasing his body and his small breasts.
"Let me look at you"
Emma turns around and the loose long skirt of the dress does a spin.
Theresa is getting emotional. "Your mother would be so proud. I know I am" She is smiling and so is Emma.
"Thanks, aunt Theresa"
Theresa checks her watch. "We should get going"

"What's going on?" Emma asks as they walk down the street referring to all the candles on the windows of most houses.
"Erie tradition. Centuries old." She explained "On the night of the festival, there is a vigil. Families stay awake to show solidarity while the circle ritual goes on"
"Does it have anything to do with the ritual?"
"Yes. The people of this town are our eyes during the ritual. You see, the ritual tomb blocks magic from entering or leaving. It is to protect the ritual in many ways. But that means I can't see or feel anything on the outside"
"You're a seer"
She smiles and nods "It is an important role. It is my job to keep track of all the vessels. There are others like me but it is a great worry that none have been born to Erie after me. Someone will need to keep track of your generation"
"How do the candles help?"
"They have a powerful scent that I can perceive even without my abilities. You shouldn't worry too much about this. You are leaving in a few hours, aren't you?"
That saddened Emma. He's come to feel at home here but he has a life out there. A family, and class on Monday.
They walk in silence until they come up to a large house. There are six women standing together. Emma recognizes Harriet, Stacy and Jenna standing with three older women.
The three girls are dressed exactly as he is, wearing necklaces identical to his but with different symbols.
"Emma!" Harriet says running up to him "You look amazing"
He smiles "So do you"
They walk back to rejoin the other women.
"I've waited a long time to meet you, Emmanuel" One of the older women says. "My name is Magnolia Addington. I am the earth vessel"
"It is an honor to meet you." He replies smiling "And 'Emma' is just fine"
She smiles and nods. "This is Hilda Creighton and Delia Keeling" she refers to the two other older women.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I am the air vessel." Delia says.
"The pleasure is all mine" Emma says politely.
"Yes, yes. We must begin. Follow me"
Jenna says "Hello" as they all walk into the house and Stacy says he makes a surprisingly hot girl.

The group walks down to the basement of a large house which has a secret passage leading to some old tunnels.
The candles light up as they near them which gives a very ominous feel.
"You nervous?" Harriet asks.
Emma nods.
"Me too" she says

They eventually reach a large open area with a stone platform.
"We will now perform the ritual" Hilda says as she walks to take a spot.
"Madeleine should be here" Magnolia says as she and Delia take theirs in the shape of a triangle around the circular platform.
"It has been done with three before. It will be fine" Delia says.
"Girls,your turn" Hilda gestures to the platform.
Using one of the four steps each, they all get on.
"Bind!" Hilda yells after which she makes a choking gesture towards Magnolia and Delia.
Emma and the others on the platform are suddenly incapacitated as a large symbol appears on the platform. The two older women are also unable to move.
"Hilda!" Theresa shouts "What is this?"
"Quiet!" Hilda reports.
"What--" Magnolia manages "Why?"
"I'm sorry, Maggie. I'm doing this for us"
Emma can't move or speak. He is held in place by an invisible force.
"Mum?" Tears leave Harriet eye.
"I'm sorry baby" Hilda is saddened at her daughter's suppressed voice "You will understand someday"
"They're coming Hilda. You're wasting time" Theresa shouts. She is not being targeted but there is nothing she can do.
"You will understand someday" Hilda repeats.
"Tell us what they promised you!" Theresa shouts.
Hilda shakes her head.
"Tell us. What did they promise you? Power?" Theresa continues.
"Power?" Hilda turns sharply to Theresa still holding the two other women in place. "You think I'm doing this for power"
"Then what is it?"
She thinks for a second "They said if I stopped this ritual, they'd return Ric!"
"Ric's dead"
"No! He's not. They're alive" She turns to the other women "They're all alive. They said if I stopped this, they'd return all of them"
"Don't be stupid, Hilda. If you stop the completion, they find us. They'll kill everybody"
"I have to get him back!" Hilda shouts "We can get them all back"
"Hilda, listen to me. If they find us, they find them" Theresa gestures to the platform "They'll kill them all to get the power. They'll kill Harriet"
Hilda is crying.
"Shut up! They'll kill her if I don't" She shakes her head.
"They'll kill her if you do. Stop this, let's complete the circle. If they're still alive, we'll find them"
Theresa starts walking up to Hilda "We'll bring them home. But we have to complete the circle while we still can"
Hilda closes her eyes visibly struggling before she kneels. The two other women fall to the floor after that.
Magnolia stands sharply "Delia come, help me"
They put their hands together and say something in a different language after which the sign on the floor disappears and Emma and the others fall.
Harriet starts to leave the platform but Magnolia shouts for her not to.
"We need to perform the ritual" Delia says.
"Hilda, we need you if we are to complete it in time"
She doesn't move from her position on the floor.
"Mum!" Harriet shouts, Hilda looks up "Please"
The kneeling woman struggles to stand after which she nods.
They speak in a different language repeating a phrase for a long time before all the candles in the room flare up and Emma and the others fall at the same time.
"Did it--?" Theresa begins to ask.
"It's done" Delia replies.
Emma groggily gets up while the others are doing the same.
"Tell us everything" Magnolia says walking up to Delia.

"It started a few months after I had Harriet" She began looking at her daughter who had a very angry look on her face. "She was having nightmares, like she was getting attacked every night. Then I started having them. They came to me in my sleep. They said that they would kill her if I didn't kill Mady's baby in her womb. I didn't know what they had planned but I had to. I had to save my daughter"
She takes a step towards her daughter who takes a step back. Hilda stops and continues her story.
"I couldn't bring myself to kill you so I had a plan. I cast a spell that turned you into a boy in her womb. I figured as soon as you were born, the elders would have you killed"
"Wait are you saying--?" Emma begins but he is cut off.
"Yes" she says apologetically "You were going to be a girl"
Emma takes a step back and sits on the platform.
"But then Mady took you and ran and hid you and then the elders went missing"
"You tried to have my sister's baby killed!" Theresa says.
"And I have had to live with that all these years but I couldn't let my baby girl die. I figured Mady would have another child" Hilda's head drops.
"I tried to forget about it but then 7 years later, it starts again. Mady is terribly sick, she is dying and they come to me again in my dreams. They say they have the elders and they would release them and let Mady go forever if I killed you. I don't know how they found both of you but they gave me an address. Sure as they had said, Mady was there, you were sleeping. I started the fire to kill you. I never wanted to hurt her"
She is crying "There was no way a simple fire would kill Mady but you surely wouldn't survive"
"You bastard!" Emma stands shouting. He is crying "You killed her!"
"I mourned Mady. I did." She continues. Everyone else is listening quietly as Emma sobs "The attacks on Harriet stopped after that but the elders were never released. I didn't hear from them until last night. They said tonight was my last chance or else I'd never see Ric again"
Emma is still crying. Harriet walks up to him, hugging him.
They all stand there quietly for a while. The only sound, Emma's soft sobbing.

"We can get them back" Jenna says eventually. Everyone turns to her. "We just need to find where they're keeping them"
"We can't fight the darkness, child" Magnolia tells her daughter "We don't even know what they are. All the stories just say that they pursued the all-mother for thousands of years"
"We don't have to fight them." Harriet adds "They can't come into the light right? Can't we use that?"
"Something's wrong" Theresa says suddenly.
"What is it?" Magnolia turns
"I can't smell anything"

The group hurriedly exits the house and sure enough, the streets are dark. Not a candle still lit.
The only source of light the faint rays of dawn. In the distance a hill, there are horses carrying people at the top of it. They are hard to make out at first but as the world slowly brightens with the rising sun, they are clear. They are four people seeming to look straight at the group.
"No" Delia says "We were too late"
"They're here" Magnolia adds finally.

"Quick, everyone inside" Theresa says "We can use protection spells to ward them off while we prepare"
"No wait" Delia says "Look"
They are just standing there, not moving. Their gaze fixed on the group.
"Why are they not attacking?" Emma asks.
They stand in the shade of the trees as the rising sun slowly illuminates the world around them.
They sun's rays reach and pass the house illuminating the women.
"They can't" Delia says.
The stare lasts only a few seconds longer before the 'darkness' turns and leaves.
"They will be back. Tonight." Hilda says weakly "And they will destroy us all"
"What do we do about her?" Theresa asks referring to Hilda.
The other older women looked at each other.
"There hasn't been a trial since the time of our mothers" Magnolia says "There is nothing we can do without the elders"
"We can't just let her go?" Delia says.
"She killed my mother!" Emma shouts.
"Silence, child." Magnolia replies sharply.
"I will answer for my crimes against our family. For now, I want to protect my daughter... and our future"
"Hilda is right" Magnolia adds "We need to prepare for a fight"
"How?" Theresa asks "Now that the ritual is complete, they control the elements. Spells aren't strong enough and they are untrained"
"Harriet is powerful. She just needs to apply what I taught her" Hilda says.
"So is Jenna." Magnolia adds.
"I've taught my daughter well" Delia says.
Everyone turned to Emma.
"I can't fight the darkness or whatever they are" He says.
Theresa walks up to him. "I don't think you have a choice." she puts a hand on his shoulder "We can train you. I watched your grandmother teach Mady everyday after school. We can teach you what you need to know"
"In 12 hours?" He asks
In the distance, the boys from yesterday are running to catch up to the women.
Theresa nods at Emma then turns to face the boys.
They're breathing very hard when they finally stop.
"Did.. did you see them?" Will asks.
"Yes, Wilmer. We did" Magnolia replies.
"What happened?"
Nobody says anything. They are quiet.
"There is no time for this" Magnolia says "Everyone needs to be ready to train in two hours. We'll meet back here."
There are nods all around.
"Hilda" Magnolia turns to the defeated woman "we'll use your backyard if you don't mind. It has the most space"
Hilda just nods weakly before turning to return into her home.
Harriet hugs Emma and the girls before running to catch up with her mother.
"Right" Delia says "This is not how this ends"

=^..^=

Emma stands in front of the mirror wearing nothing but his cousin's panties. He was supposed to sort through the bags of clothes Theresa had dropped for him but after trying on and taking off a few bras, it turned into an inspection.
He is gently lifting the small mounds of flesh on his chest. He knows there is something wrong but he is not worried. It feels like a dream.
He uses a finger to pull the panties inspecting his junk. It is less than half its former size. He uses both hands to squeeze his face and then lets it settle. He is very good looking. But not handsome like he once considered himself. He is pretty. Everything is so different but nothing feels out of place.
'Why am I okay with this?'
He knows he needs some answers.
He slips on a small tank top and runs into the living room to find Perry sitting there. He is standing there wearing on the tiniest underwear and his nipples are visible through the tank top. He is frozen. Perry is frozen looking back at him.
"Get back into your room, young lady!" Theresa shouts.
He snaps out of it and turns around. He realizes that his butt is in full view now but he is too ashamed to do anything.
"Can we talk, auntie?" He says as he walks out of sight.

=^..^=

"What is happening to me?" He asks as soon as Theresa walks into the room.
"Oh honey" she says as she takes a seat beside him on the bed "What do you mean?"
"Stop pretending!" He quickly raises the tank revealing the petite breasts hanging from his chest "I have boobs!"
She starts to talk but he cuts her off.
"And I've seen the pictures around the house, Trisha wouldn't have fit in these" He says raising the tiny bra.
She smiles "Okay"
"Okay, what?"
"You're turning into a woman and I've known all along that this would happen"
"How long?" He asks shocked.
She takes a breath "When I first started sensing you again, I sensed a woman. I couldn't understand that at first but it didn't take long for me to find a gender change spell in your grandmother's books. I thought for some reason, your mother had used that on you before you were born. Everything became clear last night."
"How did you know that I would change?" He asks.
"The closer we get to the ceremony, the former vessel's power gets weaker and the new vessel's gets stronger. I knew it was only a matter of time before your powers start counteracting the spell turning you back to normal. A beautiful woman"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Are you kidding? My story was crazy enough as it is. I didn't want you to freak out and run away. That's also why I had Harriet find you at the cemetery and put another spell on you. A calming one"
"That's why I've been so--"
"Yeah" She puts both hands on his shoulder "This is not something to be afraid of. It is a wonderful thing"
"I'm turning into a woman" He gave her a look
"You are a woman, Emma. It doesn't matter what a stupid birth certificate says. All that matters is what's in here" she presses her finger on his chest.
'I should be mad at this'
"You have to get Harriet to remove the spell"
"If you think you're ready, you can remove it yourself"
"How?"
"Say these words"
She says a phrase in a different language which he repeats.
"How do you feel?" She asks concerned
He doesn't reply. He is trying to process everything that's happened over the last few days.
"I'm really a woman? I'm a chick, Oh my God, I'm really a chick" he says very quickly, panicking.
"Emma, try to stay calm"
"Oh God, I even have a girl's name. I'm a witch"
"Well, witch is one word for it"
"You're talking about spells and shit!" he shouts.
"Okay, I need you to stay calm" She places a hand on his.
He inhales and exhales multiple times.
"What am I going to tell Su?" He is crying.
She hugs him. Eventually the tears turn to sniffles.
He breaks the hug "Am I going to be okay?"
She uses her thumb to wipe the tears from his face.
"You will" She says. His crying stops "I promise"

=^..^=

They sit there for a few minutes before Theresa breaks the silence.
"Do you know what we have to do now?"
"We uh.. we have to go train for the--" He pauses "Oh my God, we're getting attacked"
"I'll be okay" She hugs him again "Don't you worry"
They sit there for another minute before Theresa tells him he needs to get dressed.
"Do you want to wear your old clothes?" She asks concerned.
He thinks for a bit "No it's fine. I already picked something out"

=^..^=

Emma walks into the living room wearing cargo short and a loose white tee and almost panics when he sees Perry sitting there.
Perry stands "I'm so sorry, I should have told you I was coming over"
He freezes again remembering the incident.
"It's fine." Emma replies.
He smiles. "I thought I'd accompany you to the training"
"That's sweet, but you don't have to"
"I want to"
He doesn't reply.
"I thought those were fake" Perry is looking directly at Emma's chest.
"Stop"
He looks up at Emma "Stop what?"
"Stop staring at them" He replies shyly.
Perry blushes.
"And stop being so nice. And while you're at it, stop treating me like a girl"
"Well, aren't you a girl?"
Emma doesn't say anything.
"Will heard from Stacy" Perry continues.
Emma stays silent.
"Well I think you're really beautiful"
"Stop it!" Emma yells "Just stop. I have a girlfriend!"
"Yeah, does she know about this?" He retorts almost immediately.
Emma stays silent for a bit before turning around. "I don't need anyone accompanying me anywhere. I'll see you there"
Perry shocked. He takes a breath. "Sure thing" And just like that he's out the door.

=^..^=

Emma sits in the passenger seat of his Audi as they make their way to the Creighton residence. They thought it better that he not drive to avoid any complications with his driver's license.
"This is such a mess. Su is never going to recognize me. My parents are never going to recognize me" He says looking into the passenger mirror. "How am I going to explain why I suddenly have tits"
"I don't mean to add to your problems but you're not done changing"
"I'm not?" He asks turning sharply.
"Not even close. It's going to take at least a week" She says with her eyes on the road
"So" he grabs his breasts "these are going to get bigger?"
"Definitely."
"I am so screwed" He adds hopelessly.
"Look, we'll figure something out. Let's just focus on stopping the darkness now"

=^..^=

Before long, Theresa is parking the car next to two others. They walk through the wooden fence and are eventually in a large open space behind the huge house.
The three older women are drinking something out of a tea cup on the veranda. Harriet is sitting in front of a small fire near Jenna and Stacy who all have their eyes closed.
They look like they're meditating. Or praying
"Finally" Magnolia says walking up to them "Sit down"
"Here?" He asks.
She gives him a look after which he drops to the floor crossing his legs.
She carries a bucket of water and drops it in front of him and instantly, he can feel it. He can feel the motions of the waves in the bucket and he can feel himself getting stronger.
He takes a deep breath and then opens his eyes.
"What was that?" He asks.
"You just channeled a source." Magnolia replies smiling "How do you feel?"
"Amazing. I've never felt anything like it" He is smiling broadly.
"There is no other feeling like it" She tells him "I want you to keep channeling while I tell you a story." She takes a plastic chair, siting near him before continuing. "The all-mother made us vessels but we are not the only ones she gave power. It was always her intention to share her power with this world. There are others in the world with this gift. Most of them, have left this path and forgotten what they can do if they speak her language. Maybe it's for the best"
"More like us?" He asks still feeling power surging into him.
"Yes, witches the world calls them. Among those witches, there was a group. The all-mother blessed them with her gift which they used for all sorts of horrible things. They transformed her gift and even found a way to make themselves live forever like she did but that wasn't enough. They wanted more power. They asked for that but the only power greater than the one she had already granted them was the power of the source of life. When she refused, they attacked her and she fled. They pursued her for years until they finally caught her and injured her badly. She managed to escape again and that is where our story begins. When they found her, they discovered that she had already passed on the great gift. They killed her but before they did, she cursed them that the light will forever be their undoing. They called themselves the order or the final circle but over the years, they started being known as--"
"The darkness" Emma interrupts.
She nods.
"But they are still mere humans and you have what they seek. We're not going to let them take you, any of you" Magnolia says smiling "Now I think you have channeled enough. I want you to will for the branches of that tree to shake"
"Will for it?" Emma asks confused
"Witches have to chant to make things happen. As a vessel, you can will a thing to happen. Try it"
He looks at the tree in the corner of the yard. He takes a finger and moves a tress of hair away from his face resting it behind his ear. He is temporarily distracted by his hair that is almost at his shoulders but he quickly regains his focus.
He looks at the tree intently imagining that it's blowing in the wind and suddenly it explodes, sending bits of wood everywhere.
"What the fuck?!" Stacy screams as wind and wood fly past her.
"Language, young lady!" Delia yells.
Jenna is picking bits of wood out of her hair. Before long everyone is laughing. Even Hilda for the first time that day.
Magnolia smiles "Next lesson, restraint"

=^..^=

The group is taking a break. Jenna and Stacy are resting in the shade, Harriet is reading a spell book and Emma is sitting with Theresa.
"Why are you even reading that thing?" Emma asks Harriet "We don't need it"
"You won't always be a vessel, young lady. One day you will perform a ceremony and you will need spells to use your powers" Magnolia says.
"And besides" Delia adds "Not all things can be achieved by willing it. For example, anything that changes nature can only be done with a spell"
"Oh my God, you sound like grandma" Stacy rolls her eyes.
"You grandmother was a wonderful teacher" Delia says turning to her daughter.
"Really? Cause dad said you hated learning from her"
"You father said a lot of things Stacy. Wasn't always true"
"We should continue. We still have a lot of ground to cover" Magnolia says as she stands.

=^..^=

Over the next few hours, Emma learns to manipulate the energy around an object to affect it even when you're not near it. Hilda is especially down during this lesson because she had used this technique on her two best friends a few hours earlier. But she is by far the best at it so she gives the lesson.
When Emma grabs a bird out of the sky, they know he's gotten it.
"You're very good at this stuff" Harriet tells him the next time they're resting
"Yeah" Jenna and Stacy say in unison.
He's come to like these girls. Facing destruction has a way of bringing people together.
"I'm sorry my mum did that to you" Harriet says saddened.
"Yeah, I would have loved to have grown up with you as a girl" Jenna says smiling.
"Yeah, me too" Emma replies which catches him by surprise.
"Maybe you'd have wanted to be a cheerleader unlike these two" Stacy says.
They all laugh and for the first time, Emma feels like he belongs. He has a place in this town, with these girls.
The moment is short-lived because the training continues.
Delia teaches them about sigils. Symbols with the power to do different things. When they talk about the sigil of restraint, the group goes silent.

=^..^=

It is almost dark when she is done teaching them how to draw the easier sigils and showing them how it can be drawn on anything, even a palm and activated after contact using it's activation command. Unlike spells, activation commands can be said in any language.
"It's almost time" Hilda says.
No one says anything.
"Whatever happens, you stay together" Magnolia tells them "The circle is stronger when together. When you will together, those are the strongest you will ever be. Harriet, Emma, you are at a disadvantage because of your limited source. You must keep your torch and flask with you at all times"
Everyone stays quiet for a while and you can sense the nerves as they all sit on the veranda.
"What now?" Emma asks.
"We wait"

=^..^=

Soon the sun is gone and Emma's heart is beating. It is dark and the moon and stars are missing in the sky. After a while, they notice that the heavenly bodies are blocked by clouds in the sky.
The house loses power and the lights are gone.
It is pitch dark and very quiet, the only sound the crickets in the bushes. Harriet flicks her lighter open and her torch is lit. Emma places a hand on the cover of the flask ready to shatter anything that appears.
But nothing happens.
One hour later, nothing.
A while later, the group hears sirens on the main road. They run up to the road. Police cars are speeding past them. Ambulances and Firetrucks follow.
Magnolia walks up to the neighbor who is standing outside his house.
"What's going on?" She asks
"It's a mess" He replies "The community center just caught on fire, there are three people dead already and many more injured. And to make things worse, the lights are out in half the city. No idea why"
She steps away from the man. She turns to leave. Suddenly Emma is in pain, a horrible headache and it seems like he's not the only one.
"Bring the vessels to the old temple" He hears a voice say. He is in excruciating "Do it, or everyone in this town dies"
And just as quickly as it began, it is over.
"What the hell--" Stacy begins to say
"Did everyone hear that?" Delia asks.
There are nods around the group.
"It is just like it was last night and all those years ago" Hilda says with a scared look on her face.
"How did they do that?" Magnolia asks.
"There are stories" Theresa starts "of seers that can see into a person's mind and even put thoughts in there"
"How is that possible?" Magnolia asks
"It doesn't end there. They can even make the brain think it's going through something. Eventually the body starts reacting to those attacks"
"How do we beat that?" Delia asks.
Everyone is silent again and the hopelessness sets in.
"I don't know" Theresa says finally

=^..^=

I just want to thank everyone for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. I hope you still enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoy writing them. As always, let me know what you think

Apologies for the time away. Classes have been stupid. You could say this short update serves as a 'I haven't forgotten this story' chapter and I look forward to writing the rest of it as soon as I come into some free time. Thanks for taking the time to read these. As always, any and all feedback is welcome. Enjoy

=^..^=

The sirens continue well into the night. The stars are shining in the sky and the electricity is back on but the atmosphere around the group is still as gloomy as it was hours ago when it began.
They sit on the veranda along with the three boys who showed up later. Stacy is cuddled up against her boyfriend, Will. Jenna is asleep and the three mothers sit in silence other than the occasional chat. Emma sits with Harriet, Cyrus and Perry who he'd already apologized to for 'being a bitch earlier'.
Theresa sits on the floor away from them with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. A position which she'd remained in for well over an hour.
They had decided that they weren't going to turn the vessels in almost immediately but the promise of death to the town still weighed everyone down.
"I can't even imagine what this is like for you" Cyrus speaks breaking the minute old silence.
"Huh?" Emma asks looking up pulling himself away from his thoughts of 'home'.
"I don't know what I'd do if someone told me I'm actually a woman... and a witch" He explained.
Emma doesn't reply.
"Is your dick going to disappear?" He added,
"Can you not?" Harriet says sharply.
"What? I'm just curious"
"Well go be curious somewhere else"
Emma is still quiet. Perry looks at him with a mixture of pity and worry.
Emma glances at Perry before his head drops again desperate to find solace in his memories.

The conversations is broken up by Theresa finally moving again. She's brushing sand off the back of her floral print skirt.
Jenna groggily opens her eyes as Theresa begins speaking "I can't find the seer or the darkness or even any thing remotely supernatural." The usually calm woman sounds frustrated "They must be hidden."
"Is there nothing else we can do?" Magnolia asks
Theresa shakes her head "I'm afraid not. I would need something to latch on to. If they use their magic, maybe. They must know that I'm looking"
"What about the old temple?" asks Stacy peeling herself off Will's chest.
"If they want us to come there, it's the last place we need to be" Delia says.
"Delia's right" Magnolia adds.
"Well, we all can't just stay up forever. We need to sleep. I'll keep looking" Theresa says.
"You need to sleep too" Magnolia says.
Theresa sighs then nods. "We can meet back here in the morning"
"The circle should be kept together" Hilda says "There is enough room here"
Everybody looks around at each other's faces.
"She's right. We should not be separated" Magnolia smiles at Hilda.

After deciding that it would be best if everyone stayed at the Creighton residence for now, there was a brief issue of which room Emma would be staying in - the boys or the girls. But it seemed like a no brainer that he stay with the girls who seemed eager to have him.
Emma exits the bathroom with a clean towel wrapped around his chest. His wet hair is already down to his upper back showing no signs of stopping its descent. The towel rests comfortable on his perky breasts and the very little guy offering no resistance in the panties he'd slipped on in the bathroom to prevent a scene.
Jenna who is the last one in the shower walks past him giving him a look before she closes the door behind her.
Harriet's choice of nightwear - an oversized t-shirt and panties leaves nothing below her waist to the imagination as she lays sprawled on the bed.
Stacy who is totally naked makes Emma feel even more awkward.
If she noticed Emma's discomfort, she doesn't care because she turns and walks over to him.
"Can I see them?" She asks.
Emma tightens the towel.
Stacy laughs "It's fine, we're all girls here" she says as she grabs the towel and slowly tugs it loose.
Emma offers little resistance as the piece of cloth leaves his body.
Harriet sits up in the bed as his breasts are now in full view.
Stacy turns sharply to face the bed. "Who is bigger? she asks Harriet.
"Stop embarrassing him" Harriet laughs.
"Her" Stacy says "And just sat it"
Harriet sighs "Oh come on Stacy, you know you are"

Not even an hour after the lights go off, Stacy's left arm has found it's way over his stomach. They had convinced themselves and the older women that they could all fit in Harriet's bed. While true, Emma felt like a sardine squished between Stacy and Harriet with Jenna on the far side.
Next, she begins using his left boob as a pillow, readjusting for comfort. Finally the tiny girl moves her lap over his. He squirms a lot when he feels her crotch on his wide hip.
When her hand, formerly over his stomach moves over his other boob, he wonders if she's actually asleep.
This, along with the danger looming, it's no wonder he can't sleep. He slowly peels her off him careful not to wake anyone up as he quietly leaves the bed and eventually the room.
The old house works against him as he tries to be quiet with every floorboard threatening to give way.
He tiptoes searching for the balcony he knows exists but not it's location.
The rest of the house is dark which only makes the light emanating from one room stick out more. He walks silently and peeps through the slightly ajar door to find the boys sleeping on the bed -- well two of them.
He wonders where the last one is for a second before he is scared half to death by a voice behind him.
"Looking for something?"
He laughs as he finally catches his breath placing a hand on his chest.
"God, you scared me"
"I didn't mean to" He replies but Emma can tell that he's waiting for a answer.
"I couldn't sleep" He adds in a hushed voice. Emma knows the answer is not much of one and he knows Perry thinks so too so he is glad when the conversation moves on.
"Me neither" Perry says as he silently closes the door.
"You know where the balcony is? This house is confusing"
Perry doesn't reply but does a this-way gesture with his head.
They walk as quietly as they could through the dark corridors into what looks like a living room but smaller and more packed up. There are books everywhere and there is a sowing machine in the corner and fabrics on the chairs.
Past that room is the evasive balcony. Perry slides the glass door open and makes way for Emma to walk through.
"Thanks" Emma says as he takes a deep influx of the night air.
The howling wind blows past frequently not giving his short gown a moment's rest. He is suddenly aware of the small thin fabric that Harriet had chosen as nightwear.
"Maybe we should go back in?" Perry asks watching Emma as he tries to settle the light fabric of the gown.
"No, it's fine"
"You sure? you look cold"
He glances down at his erect nipples and blushes. He considers covering his support free breasts but doesn't. There is something erotic about all of it.
"It's not" He pauses "It's not that"
They both stand there quietly for a while before Perry says he should go in. He turns to face the glass door.
"Don't" Emma says sharply surprising himself. Perry doesn't move "Stay"
He stops and turns and nothing is said for a while.
Perry looks down at the small frame of the new witch. The depths of his cleavage illuminated by the moonlight. He finds it hard to believe that he'd even been a boy.
Emma notices the looks and begins to feel weird. Sexy. The silent world seems so far away and all he can think about is the boy that towers over him. It's not his imagination. He knows the boy is slowly walking slowly but he can't move. Or he doesn't want to"
Emma's left leg takes a step by itself and now he can feel Perry's uneven breaths on him.
It feels like a dream as he feels the boy's hand circle his waist. He has opened his mouth even before Perry advances and kisses him.
The thought of Susie reignites his inhibitions but that feels like a lifetime ago. He returns that kiss and another and another before he wraps both arms around Perry's neck pulling himself into the taller boy until he feels they might merge.
Perry pulls him even closer leaning forward and all Emma's worries fade away. He just wants to give himself away. He feels Perry's tongue on his.
When Perry's lips move over to his neck, he lets out a loud moan and he is thankful for the wind. He can't help but moan even more as his body electrifies.
His worries return when he feels Perry's searching hands raise the short dress, parting his panties. That worry is replaced by confusion when he feels the alien sensation of Perry's fingers parting a slit.
'What the fuck' Emma thinks.
Emma steps back sharply raising the dress with one hand and tugging at the panties with another. The prior hand searches between his legs for the appendage that he had gotten so used to feeling. Even with how small it had become, it still held a sense of familiarity. In it's place a hole. A vagina. He gasps.
He doesn't say anything as he looks up at Perry but his expression must have told the whole story. Perry doesn't reply but that's because he doesn't know what to say. In his mind, the girl before him has always been just that, a girl.
Emma's fingers continue their search and eventually find their way into the new hole. The alien pleasure, while different, not unwelcome. The sudden jolt of electricity up and down his body followed by the short uncontrollable jerk serves as confirmation. He's a woman.
Emma feels he might cry after the onslaught of a hundred feelings he can't process hits him at once. Confusion, disbelief, worry, anger. Pride.
He turns from Perry ashamed of what had just happened. Of what he was willing to let happen. He slides open the glass doors and with hurried steps, he runs out of sight.

Emma didn't get much sleep that night. The girls are very animated that morning talking about something or the other. Stacy is paying more attention to him than normal and he wonders if she knows. He wonders if her prying hands strayed too far in the night and discovered his newest darkest secret.
Part of him knows it's not much of a secret. Everyone knew it would happen. He knew it would happen.
The girls are looking at him expecting an answer but he's been in his head too long.
"Uhh" He begins but doesn't know where to go from there.
"What were you thinking of" Harriet asks
"Nothing" An obvious lie.
"So?" Harriet asks hurriedly "What do you think?"
"About?" His face is pleading.
They all smile. "We think we should go see the community center. Maybe help out"
"Oh, yeah sure" He replies without really thinking.

"The four of you shouldn't be on your own" Magnolia says.
"Now, now, Maggie. It's day time. And I think they might be able to help around" Delia replies.
"We should be thinking of ways to track down the order" Magnolia says from her spot on the dining table
"It's not like they can do anything about that. Besides, the center far at all if we need them"
Magnolia thinks for a second "Will you go with them?" She says to the boys who are outside the conversation listening in.
"Sure thing, Mrs. M"
Except short glances, Emma hadn't been able to look at Perry. Neither of them had said anything about what happened last night. Not about the kiss. Not about Emma's sudden realization that he had lost his one anchor to boyhood.

When they finally arrive at the community center, the sun is high in the sky. But the discomfort of its heat is easily overshadowed by the black walls of the former multi-purpose building.
It must have been half a day since the fire but the people are still panicking. The ground, black with soot.
“Oh my God” Harriet says wide eyed.
Stacy buried herself in her boyfriend and Jenna took Harriet’s hand in hers.
Emma didn’t know this place. It didn’t hold memories like it did for all these people in various states of unrest but he feels a knot tighten in his stomach.
The stone exterior of the center still stands for the most part but the rest of it is gone.
“How could they?” Jenna asks rhetorically.
“A show of force probably” Will replies anyway. He has a hand placed gently on Stacy’s head which rests on his chest.
The group's discussion is suddenly indistinct when Emma sees him. A man covered head to toe in a black cloak.
“Guys?” Emma begins to call but when the man turns to leave, “Hey!” He yells as he starts chasing the mysterious man.
The man seems to phase through the crowd and isn’t going through the same uphill battle of maneuvering the groups of people that Emma is.
“Hey!” Emma yells again this time aware of unique mezzo sound that escapes his mouth. His attention is quickly diverted to the jumble of voices behind him urging him back but he can see the man at the edge of the crowd.
He is out of the crowd just in time to see the cloaked man duck into an alleyway.
There is no time to think as he is hot on the trail of the odd fellow.
"Stop!" He shouts as he follows and notices the alley bends left not too far off, he hurries so as to not lose the man.
As he turns the corner, he feels the wind knocked out of him as he is pushed hard against the wall of the other building.

His head is ringing as he begins to come to. He feels the ground below him and the wall that abruptly stopped his motion behind him.
He notices the dead end after the left turn he made and he notices the cloaked man standing there. He is not moving. Emma feels he has the man trapped but it doesn’t feel that way.
He turns to his left and sees the exit to the alley. He takes a breath before walking forward, towards the mysterious man. The two buildings that Emma assumes are apartment buildings are tall enough to block the sun’s rays keeping the space cool and dark.
“Who are you?” Emma asks trying to get a view of his well shaded face. His head still buzzing slightly. The closer he got, the more easily he could pick up the man’s labored breathing.
“Why-“ Emma begins but he is cut off.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, princess” The man speaks with an aching voice. It sounds tortured but young. But also cold somehow.
“Princess?” Emma asks as he stops a few feet from the man.
“But of course. You are princess Emmanuella Crowe” The man replies. He hasn’t moved a muscle since Emma recovered.
“I am not-“
“That is who you would have been although not much has changed from the timeline we destroyed. You are still here, the water vessel, defying me”
Something in the way he spoke intimidated him but he needed answers.
“I don’t understand”
“There are many things you don’t understand. You know nothing about your power. Of what you are capable of”
Emma takes a step forward “You said something about a destroyed timeline”
“Oh yes. You were happy” The mysterious man pauses “You were powerful. More than any other vessel has ever been. Your mother taught you well but you were always gifted. But it is better this way, you will be easier to kill this time”
“I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“It doesn’t matter now” The man turns away from a confused Emma.
Emma wonders if it was always this dark. The sky seems greyer and the world dimmer.
“Stop!” He shouts “Don’t move!”
The man turns sharply and his hood drops leaving his face visible. A scorched mess on the entire left side, his hair (or what was left of it) seared on that side. A disfigured lip curled into a smile.
“What’s wrong?” The man’s smile widens “Cat got your tongue?”
Emma feels his throat closing and eventually his vision is failing as he can’t breathe. His body wants to fall but it’s not granted that comfort. It is held upright as the life leaves his body.
“Nicholas will not be pleased that I engaged you but perhaps he will forgive if I bring him a gift” The man suddenly begins laughing between coughs. A horrid sound that rivaled the feeling of being suffocated. “Don’t be afraid, princess. It is your destiny to die”
Those are the last words Emma hears as he loses the ability to keep his eyes open.

I'd been seeking the perfect moment to change pronouns but today I was like "Fuck it". I hope you enjoy this chapter. Lets talk down below
=^..^=

Emma wakes up sharply, panicking as she remembers the events of the last time she was awake. She takes a long deep breath as if trying to hoard all the air she can. She coughs and her body responds with a sharp pain in her chest.
The first thing she notices is the familiar room, Harriet’s. When she realizes she is safe, she lets herself relax. The room is empty and the windows and blinds are closed leaving the room very stuffy and dull. She moves her legs off the bed and the next thing she notices is the weight on her chest. Not unfamiliar, but more. She takes off the loose white t-shirt to examine the difference.
Looking down at her body, Emma notices that the breasts that she had slowly gotten used to seemed gone. In it’s place, a larger, heavier pair. She feels like screaming but thinks better of it.
She wonders how this was possible since they’d never grown so much in such a short time. The new weight also delays the realization that her light brown hair is now longer than it had ever been.
She walks up to the mirror to get a better look. She doesn’t think her face has changed. She turns to examine her larger butt when she notices she’s wearing Harriet’s pajama pants.
“Emma?” Theresa calls out.
Emma turns around just in time to see the woman enter the room.
When the woman sees Emma, she ups her pace as she closes the distance to hug the confused girl.
“I didn’t know if you were going to wake up” Theresa says during the hug.
“What happened?” Emma asks as she breaks the hug “What happened to me?” She gestures to herself.
“When the girls brought you back, I didn’t know what to think” Theresa is only just losing her distressed state.
“I’m fine, aunty” Emma manages a smile “But I don’t understand what happened to me”
“Get dressed. We'll talk downstairs” Theresa replies finally before she guides Emma out the door.
=^..^=

“Emma!” Harriet shouts as soon as Emma and Theresa are in view. Harriet hurries and hugs her and the other girls are on their way over.
“That was very stupid, Emma” Stacy says but with compassion in her eyes.
Jenna doesn’t say anything, she just takes the girl’s hand and squeezes it, letting out a smile.
“That was stupid, young lady. What were you thinking?” Magnolia asked
“That was very dangerous” Delia chimed.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just…” Emma starts but then pauses as if wondering herself. “What happened? He had me”
Theresa turns to face her sharply, “Who? Who had you?”
“The man in the black cloak” Emma replies shivering at the memory “I tried to…” He voice trails off
The room is silent until Magnolia speaks “Please, everyone sit”. There are no replies but they acknowledges by finding a seat. “Can you describe him?”
Emma nods before beginning “He was hurt. His face burned badly but despite that, he didn’t look too old” Emma thinks again before continuing “He called me princess” Emma has a questioning look on her face.
Magnolia takes a breath, taking it upon herself to explain “There was a time when the vessels were royalty. They were queens and their husbands, joint kings and elders. Their daughters, princesses. But they didn’t rule until death. Only until the next ceremony”
“Why are we only hearing about this now?” Jenna asks her mother.
“It isn’t common knowledge. And frankly, it is a time we’d rather forget. People were only allowed to have relationships within the families to preserve the secret. Countless crimes were committed for the same reason. It was a dark time.
“Is the person Emma encountered one of them?” Harriet asked. “The darkness?”
“Probably” Magnolia replies “Did he say anything else?” She turns back to Emma.
“Yes uh” She tries to remember “He said something about a timeline was destroyed and that I was powerful. That my mother taught me well. He also said it will be easier to kill me this time”
“Does any of that make sense?” Delia asks.
Magnolia shakes her head “Frankly. there is much we don’t understand”
“What happened to me?” Emma asks gesturing to herself “Or does no one else notice—“
“That you’re now a D cup?” Stacy laughs “Trust me, we noticed. Hard not to”
Emma looks around for an explanation.
“Harriet said that when they found you, you were very warm” Magnolia adds.
“Hot” Harriet corrects “The ground was also scorched around you. And we watched your boobs grow right in front of us”
“That was freaky” Stacy adds laughing
“Yeah” Jenna chimes “But it was also kind of cool, right? Her body changing like that?”
“Why did that happen?” Emma asks again.
“You said he had you. Why did he let you go? There is a lot we don’t understand but you can’t run off like that ever” Magnolia looks directly at Emma waiting for a confirmation of understanding.
When Emma nods, Magnolia stands to her feet “It’s almost dark. We should begin”
Emma is confused “How long was I out? Begin what?”
“Come on” Harriet stretched out a hand which Emma took “We’ll fill you in”
=^..^=

Emma confirmed that it was almost dark when the group opened the back door and were greeted by the evening breeze.
“I've been meaning to ask. Where are the boys”
“Mum sent them away.” Jenna was the one to reply. “Said it was too dangerous for them to remain here. No powers and such”
Emma nods. 'It really is a beautiful evening' she thinks. The breeze blowing softly, the setting sun giving the sky a reddish hue.
“This spot will do” Emma hears Theresa say.
“What are we doing?” Emma asks.
“I may have found out how the seer can track us, and see inside our heads” Theresa replies smiling as she sits in the dirt in a meditative position “And I may have found a way to do the same”
“What? That’s amazing” Emma exclaims.
“Maybe. If it works.” Theresa says as she places a hand on each knee.
The world is increasingly getting darker and with it, the same unnerving feeling of the previous night.
“All magic is linked. I think what the seer is doing is they’re using one of their own as a link to us. If I’m right, I should be able to do the same to them” Theresa explains.
“I don’t understand, why haven’t they done this in the past to find us?” Emma asks.
“See that’s where the story comes in. I think what is meant by ‘the vessels are hidden’ is simply the vessels’ magic is not linked to the others. I think the ritual also serves to sever that link"
Emma smiles as she begins to understand “So that means—“
“Yes” Theresa interrupts “They found us because you all became the new vessels and the link wasn’t broken in time”
“So, what are you about to do?” Emma asks.
“I’m going to use one of you to find them”
“Wait, why didn’t we do this during the day?” Emma asks again.
“We tried. I think the sun not only weakens their bodies but also their magic. I couldn’t detect anything”
Emma nods “Do you think it’ll work now?”
“Well, we’re about to find out”
=^..^=

Not long after that, everywhere is dark and everyone is nervous as Theresa is about to begin.
“You ready?” She asks Harriet who had volunteered.
Harriet nods forcing a smile.
“Just try to relax” Theresa takes the hand of the girl kneeling in front of her. “Breathe”
A few seconds after both women have their eyes closed, Theresa speaks up “Nothing’s changed. I can feel everyone.. every witch in the world but no one else in Erie”
“Just keep at it, Theresa” Magnolia says trying to offer some encouragement.
“It’s only a matter of—“ Delia starts but is cut off.
Theresa laughs “I can feel them” She’s smiling “Four others in Erie”
“It worked?” Hilda asks reminding everyone of her presence.
Theresa is nodding and smiling “Yes. I can… wait.”
“What is it?” Magnolia asks.
“They’re moving but they’re separating. Two groups in different directions.”
“Where are they going?” Delia asks.
“I don’t know but they’re moving fast. They have to be in a vehicle or something”
“The ‘darkness’ drives?” Stacy asks chuckling.
“No, they don’t” Delia replies not catching her daughter’s mock tone.
“Two of them… they’re coming this way”
“Here?” Emma asks.
“I think so”
“Harriet, Emma, flask and torch now” Magnolia says with urgency.
=^..^=

They stand waiting another five minutes before they see two figures exit the bushes behind the Creighton residence. The tension in the group skyrockets.
No one says anything. They just stand readied.
The two figures walk until they are partially in view. Their shape illuminated by the yard lights. They don’t say anything. They just stand there.
The much smaller figure, a woman, is the first to speak “They are ready for a fight, brother”
“That they are” The other figure replies. A deep voice belonging to a man. A large man.
“Should we give it to them?” The woman asks.
“No need” He says simply before taking a few more steps forward. The woman follows. “Greetings, my name is Gregory”
That sends shivers down Emma’s back. She opens the cap of her flask
“This is my sister, Lily” The man continues. They both walk forward until they are clearly in view.
The man is imposing. Large and muscled under the full suit. His hair is combed back and his beard is clean and neat. The woman is beautiful but is dressed very differently from the man. She has her black hair in a low ponytail. She is wearing a leather jacket over a bustier, tight leather pants and ankle boots.
“We are here for the vessels.” The man speaks in the same authoritative manner he did earlier “I initially thought you would be sensible and turn them in but I was wrong. That doesn’t happen very often”
“You’re not getting them” Magnolia shouts.
The man seems to visibly get angrier. He sighs.
“By now, two of our brothers will be at the general hospital. They have been ordered to kill every single person in there if I don’t call in--“ The man checks his watch “5 minutes unless you hand us the vessels"
He paused to let that sink in. Emma felt her knees get weak.
“There are over a hundred people in that building. Are you really willing to let them die?”
“We hand them over, you’ll kill everyone at that hospital anyway“ Delia says “If you haven’t already”
“Brother never lies” Lily says.
“I give you my word” Gregory adds.
“We give you the vessels, you’ll come back and kill us anyway” Hilda says “They’re the only ones that can defeat you and you know it”
“They can’t defeat us. They are children” Gregory replies.
“Why don’t we just kill them, brother?” The woman asks.
“There isn’t a point to it. They will come to their senses”
He turns to the group “Clock is ticking”
Everyone is suddenly frustrated, not sure what to do.
The air is silent for a few seconds before the girls start looking at each other. Harriet nods. Emma blinks a few times taking deep breaths before she nods. Jenna nods next followed by Stacy.
Theresa recognizes this exchange “Girls, no”
“We’ll do it” Harriet says out loud.
“Absolutely not” Hilda replies.
“We can’t let them murder all those people” Emma says agreeing with Harriet.
“They’ll do it anyway” Magnolia says
“We can’t let it be on our conscience” Jenna tells her mother.
“What they said” Stacy adds finally.
The man smiles. “Wonderful. I told you they’d come around” The large man says to the woman.
“Harriet, don’t do this” Hilda begs
“I’m sorry mum, we have to”
The girls leave their positions by their mothers and begin walking towards the two strangers. Each step harder than the last.
Gregory removes a knife from his pocket and begins making cuts on his palm “I’m sure you understand that we’ll have to knock you out” He says calmly.
He nods to Harriet who walks over to him slowly. “Don’t worry princess. This won’t hurt a bit” He places his palm on her forehead “Bind” He adds and almost instantly, Harriet drops to the floor. Seemingly lifeless.
Hilda gasps as Lily picks the young girl and tosses her over her own shoulder like she weighed nothing.
“You” The man nods to Emma who steps forward slowly. He raises his palm and as soon as he touches her head, a bright light explodes out of her. The surroundings are lit by light so bright, it’s impossible for anyone to keep their eyes open.
This goes on for a few seconds before it stops and Gregory and Lily are on the floor screaming. Emma is lying there unconscious with the ground below her scorched. The two strangers keep screaming as their faces and hands sizzle.
“What just happened?” Stacy is the first to speak.
“Quick, get them!” Magnolia shouts.
Before anyone can make a move, two people appear out of thin air near the other two who are still screaming loudly. The man in the black cloak and another place their hands on the other two and just as quickly as they appeared, they are gone.
Theresa rushes to Emma and Hilda to Harriet who lay there unconscious.
Hilda holds her daughter’s head up “Somebody get me a knife!”
Jenna rushes through the back door into the kitchen and retrieves one. Hilda makes cuts on her palm before placing it on Harriet’s head “Unbind”
Harriet wakes up sharply looking around frantically. When she manages to calm down, she hugs her mother crying.
“She’s so hot. I can’t even touch her” Theresa says panicking as she looks at Emma's inanimate body on the floor
“Leave her. She'll be fine. Can you still track them?” Magnolia asks.
“I.. I.. Yes. I think so”
“We need to go after them. Whatever just happened has given us an opportunity. They are weakened”
“Wait, look at Emma” Jenna calls out.
“Her hair is growing” Stacy says
“We need to go after them” Magnolia says again.
“Well we can’t just leave her here!” Theresa replies with a raised voice.
The group goes silent, again no one sure what to do.
“We’re wasting—“ Magnolia begins to say but she is cut off.
“Something just happened” Theresa says wide-eyed looking at the group " I just sensed a seer. A powerful one. In Denver”
=^..^=

Do you have any ideas as to what's going on? Let me know what you think