Companion

Companion
By skypirate10
(girl into crow)

One day before Halloween.

“And here’s your gift.” Emma’s grandmother said in her shaky voice. She handed Emma a package in blue wrapping paper. “Thank you, Grandma.” She said. She tore off the paper and opened the box. In it was a knitted white sweater with a picture of a crow on it.

Emma was a girl still in her youth, 16 years old with short curly black hair and very deep blue eyes. She was pretty, but not like those super-models on the covers of magazines. She liked normal things, and enjoyed sports like soccer.

Presently, her grandmother was visiting. It was her grandma’s tradition to bring gifts to her and her sisters every time she visited. Emma rather liked that custom and had no objections. Her grandma was here for Halloween.

“I love it!” she said, a grin of pleasure on both her and her grandma’s faces.
She slipped it on over her shirt. It fit her snugly. She was pleased with the fit. “Oh, honey? I need you to run to the store and get some more candy. Meg ate the rest.” Her mother called.

“Sure thing Mom.” She replied. She walked out the door and headed for the store. On her way, a boy with white spiked hair and one green eye stopped her. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” She asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, you do. We attend the same school. I’m Chris.” He said. His voice was slightly ominous, and a chill ran down her spine, even though it wasn’t cold. “So what are you doing?” she asked.

“Oh. Just looking for someone to be my companion. You’d be perfect.” Chris said in that wary voice. In a flash, Chris was something totally different. Deep purple all over, with dagger teeth, sharp claws, and spewing darkness where his legs should have been. He wore a cloak with silk connecting the arms to the rest of it. They had moth eyes depicted on them. Two large hands floated in front of him, and they mimicked his own.

Emma suddenly realized how alone she was with this, creature. The streets were devoid of people, and all the windows were dark. “Now to make you a proper companion.” He said with a renewed voice like razors, dark and evil and ominous all at the same time. The big hands created a ball of energy and flew forward, shoving it into her instead of launching it.

“What the…” She cried in shock. “What the hell are you and what did you do to me!?” She demanded. “I am The Illusionist, defender of earth and adversary of humans! I am making you become my pet and partner.”

“Pet??? You’re making me a pet??!!” She spat, “What do you mean, pet?”

“You’ll see in about five seconds.” He said, slightly amused. When the given time had transpired, her lips suddenly felt very chapped. “This was your whole stupid plan? Make my lips chapped?” she questioned disbelievingly. “No, just wait.” He said, rather annoyed.

Slowly, her nose and mouth merged, forming out into what she realized was a beak, black and hard as fingernails. “Squawk?” she cried, attempting to ask ‘is that a beak?’ “The answer to your question is yes, it is a beak.” He said, amused by her confusion.

Rapidly, a coat of black feathers covered her. A hard material like scales formed on her legs, and her feet totally re-shaped into a bird’s feet. Her arm bones turned hollow and shifted, making her arms wings. Each of her fingers flattened and narrowed, becoming long feathers.

Her ears vanished, but she could still hear. Her eyes turned black and beady. And a tail of feathers grew from her back. Her body re-shaped, losing human form. Then the shrinking kicked in and she watched The Illusionist go from eye level to towering over her like a mountain. Then she shrank so much that her clothes fell off, covering her in a heap.

When she crawled out, she was a crow, and a tear dropped from her eye. “Oh, don’t be sad, I got my inspiration from your sweater. Besides, you are pretty now, and there is no way you can harm the environment.”

She started like she was going to fly away, but The Illusionist blew some yellow powder on her. “That will powder will keep you happy and by my side.” He said, amused as she coughed some of the powder. It tasted sweet, like honey. And then her sadness evaporated, and she had an urge to perch on his shoulder.

“That’s a good girl.” He said as she flew to rest there, “You’re just in time for Halloween, I’ve got something special planned.” He said. She smiled inwardly at the thought of more people being changed like her while she was with her new master.

THE END?