The Changeling Princess (5 page)

CHAPTER 8

I took the car out for a drive that evening. I wasn’t used to driving on the freeways, so I told myself that there was no time like the present. I pulled onto the nearest freeway and blended in with the traffic.

After an hour of driving around, I decided freeway driving was a piece of cake. There were times when I had trouble switching lanes, but I got the hang of it pretty quick. I was heading for home when I began thinking about a Payday, my favorite candy bar. I saw a drugstore ahead of me and pulled into the parking lot.

I was rummaging through the candy section when a man in a ski mask walked through the door holding a gun in his hand. “Everyone up against the counter,” he shouted.

Out of instinct, I made myself invisible. I thought of several ways to disarm the robber, but I knew there were cameras posted in the store. The last thing I wanted was the evening news showing a robber being manhandled by an invisible force.

I decided to use telekinesis, so I focused on freezing the robber in his tracks. Then I forced him to get down and toss the gun in the direction of the customers lined up against the wall. The customers didn’t have the slightest idea what was going on, but the woman who had been working behind the counter stooped down and pickup up the gun.

“
I pressed the silent alarm when he walked in,” she said to the customers. “The police should be here any minute.”

I decided that the simplest thing to do was to keep the robber frozen in place and wait for the police. The thought didn
’t last very long because the store was suddenly surrounded by police cars. When they walked into the store, I broke my concentration and freed the robber. I was still invisible, so I slipped out the front door and walked to my car. I was feeling pretty good because I had stopped a robbery. As I headed for home, it suddenly dawned on me I had forgotten one important thing. I didn’t get my Payday candy bar.

* * *

When school started, I offered to pick up Wade in the morning, but he declined. “I don’t think it’d look good,” he said. “Some of the kids might take it as more than a token of friendship.”

I found myself searching for Wade in each of my classes. I was thrilled when he eventually showed up in the band room. The tenth graders were graduates of the Junior High Band and we were at the bottom of the totem pole. If my instincts were correct, Wade could play circles around the rest of the drummers in the band.

“Did you catch Wade in the drum section?” Sherri asked after class. ‘I tried to talk to him, but he was out of the room in a flash when the bell rang.”

“
So I noticed. He was probably in a hurry for his next class.”

“
Maybe so, but I noticed he rarely took his eyes off you. Do you guys have something going on between you?”

Sherri interrupted before I could answer.
“I don’t have a right to ask that question.”

“
Why not? You’re my best friend and we don’t have any secrets between us.”

“
Yeah, you’re right about that.” Sherri’s eyes sparkled. “So, do you guys have the hots for each other?”

I looked Sherri squarely in the eye.
“Not yet, but I may have breaking news, so stay tuned to this station for any new updates.”

Sherri giggled.
“That was really cute. And don’t forget to keep me posted.”

History class was my last class of the day. I had just sat down at a desk in the front row when I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see a guy walking in the room who was definitely a Changeling. He was about to sit down when he picked up my scent. He stared in my direction and then took his seat.

When the bell rang to end the class, the guy was waiting for me in the hallway. “Changeling?” he asked.

“
Yes, I belong to the Vascadon Clan. My name is Janis French.”

“
My name’s Bruce Dalton and I belong to the Aston Clan. My father was transferred to Charlotte to work for a local law firm.”

Bruce was a really good-looking guy. I sensed that he was extremely mature as well as being friendly. I was impressed with his manners and I had the impression his family had money. Most important of all, my senses told me that Bruce was someone I could trust. I knew instantly that we would become friends.

Sherri came rushing down the hall with her usual big smile. “Hi Janis, who’s your friend?”

Bruce interrupted.
“My name’s Bruce Dalton. My family just moved here from Chicago. I assume you’re not sixteen yet because you didn’t sense I was a Changeling.”

Sherrie
’s eyes lit up like she’d just seen a movie star. “I’ll be sixteen next month on the sixth of March. I belong to the Dustan Clan. What Clan do you belong to?”

“
The Aston Clan.”

I didn
’t need a sixth sense to see that Sherri and Bruce were attracted to each other. Was it possible we had a budding relationship in the works?

“
What’s new?” Wade asked as he joined us in the hallway. Suddenly Wade and Bruce were standing toe to toe. “Are you a Changeling?” Wade asked.

“
Yes,” Bruce replied. “Are you a Witch?”

“
In the flesh…is that a problem?”

Bruce broke into a smile.
“Certainly not. My grandmother Elsie is a Witch and I’m extreme fond of her. The Aston Clan has been integrated since the turn of the century.”

Now I was really impressed with Bruce. His family had integrated with Witches and he was completely open-minded. I couldn
’t wait to tell my parents that a new Changeling family had moved into the Charlotte area.

“
This calls for a celebration,” said Sherri. “Let all go down to Bakers and pig out.”

“
I take it that Baker’s is the place the locals go to after school?” asked Bruce.

“
It sure is,” said Sherri, “and you’re going to love it there. Excuse me, Janis, but can you give me a lift home afterwards?”

I winked at Sherri.
“No problem.”

Wade and Bruce were both driving, so Wade had Bruce follow him down to the dairy bar. They were both waiting outside of Bakers when Sherri and I arrived. I could tell that Bruce was impressed when we walked through the front door.

“This place is really something,” Bruce said as he looked the place over. “I love the atmosphere.”

We found an empty table and seated ourselves. Everyone
’s eyes turned toward the next table when the waitress served a huge banana split to a student. “What’s that?” asked Bruce.

“
That’s a Godzilla,” said Sherri. “It has five scoops of ice cream.”

“
And if you eat two of them, the third one’s free,” said Wade.

Bruce was amused.
“I think I’ll just have a cherry coke. I’m watching my weight.”

“
Not me,” said Wade. “I’m having another one of those strawberry milkshakes. They’re to die for.”

I was pleased that everything was going so well. Bruce asked Sherri to dance and they headed off to the crowded dance floor.

I turned to Wade. “I think Sherri’s stuck on Bruce.”

“
I think it’s called a match made in heaven.”

“
That’s cute. So what have you been doing with yourself?”

“
Nothing much. I’m building a receiver that can pick up police calls.”

“
You can do that?”

“
Sure, but it’s not a strong receiver. It’ll only have a range of about four or five miles.”

“
Can I listen to it with you when you get the receiver built?”

“
Sure. If we hear anything, we can rush to the scene and defend the innocent, just like Batman and Robin.”

I grinned.
“I get to be Batman.”

We were both laughing when we heard a commotion on the dance floor. Bobby Sims had said something nasty to Sherri and Bruce had Bobby
’s arm twisted behind his shoulder. “Apologize right now or I’ll break your arm,” Bruce said.

“
I’m sorry, I apologize,” Bobby yelled out. Bruce let go of Bobby’s arm and shoved him to the floor.

“
No fighting, no fighting,” the manager shouted as he rushed to the dance floor.

“
We weren’t fighting, sir. Bobby just slipped and fell on the floor. Isn’t that right, Bobby?”

Bobby shook his head.
“Yeah, that’s what happened.”

Sherri was all smiles when she returned to the table with Bruce.
“Bobby called me a stupid klutz when he bumped into me, so Bruce taught him a lesson.” Sherri looked at Bruce. “You were wonderful.”

“
Does that mean you’ll give me your phone number so I can call you tonight?”

Sherri was speechless as she wrote her number down on a paper napkin.
“Call me any time after seven.”

*
* *

Sherri was talking a mile a minute on the drive home.
“I can’t believe how wonderful Bruce is. He’s good-looking, smart, and he’s a great dancer. Did you see the way he manhandled Bobby Sims? And he’s going to call me tonight. I don’t know what he sees in me…I must be dreaming.”

I stared at Sherri, looking as serious as I could.
“Don’t sell yourself short, girl. You’re pretty, you’ve got a great figure, and you have a fantastic personality. I bet Bruce is thanking his lucky stars because he’s met such a wonderful girl.”

“
Well, when you put it that way, I guess Bruce was pretty lucky to have met someone like me.”

Sherri giggled and it wasn
’t long before we were both laughing. Today was just another reminder of why Sherri is my best friend.

*
* *

I was in a really good mood when I got home from school. Mom was cooking dinner and Dad was due home around six. I didn
’t see the kitties, so I figured they were upstairs in my bedroom.

How are my favorite kitties, today
, I said when I walked into the bedroom. Missy and Izzy gave me their full attention because they knew they were going to get their ears scratched. After I scratched their ears, I thought I’d surprise them and give them a treat.
How would you two like to go for a ride?

Missy
’s reaction was exactly what I expected
. Yeaaaaaaaah!!!

Izzy looked up at me.
That’ll be fun.

I stretched out on the bed with my hands behind my head. Then I elevated both of them into the air and began circling them around the room. It took so little to make my little kitties happy and I got a lot in return. Their laughter filled my heart with joy and that was the greatest gift of all.

* * *

I brought up the subject of Bruce at the dinner table.
“We have a new Changeling family in town. I met the son, Bruce Dalton, at school today. He and Sherri Brown are practically going steady already.”

My father laughed.
“That sounds like Sherri. I think we should invite the Daltons over for dinner some evening. It isn’t every day a Changeling family moves into Charlotte.”

“
I agree,” said my mother. “Do you like the Dalton boy, Janis?”

“
I sure do. He got a lot of class and he’s open-minded. His grandmother is a Witch and his Clan has been integrated for years.”

My father
’s interest was piqued. “You don’t say? I guess that means that Bruce doesn’t hold any ill feeling toward our neighbor, Wade Wilson.”

“
None at all, Dad, and I think it’s wonderful. Wade is a really nice guy.”

My mother chimed in.
“Times are changing and I think it’s for the best. We’re losing more and more of our powers, but I still think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

I was really lucky to have such understanding parents. I was dying to tell them about my new powers, but I knew that I had to keep them a secret until Pauline gave me the go ahead. My life was definitely getting more interesting.

CHAPTER 9

Sherri was thrilled when she finally turned sixteen. I paid her a visit because she said she had something to show me. When we were alone in her bedroom, Sherri was so excited she was breathless.

“You won’t believe what a huge success my midnight birthday ceremony was. My powers have been expanded and I can’t believe what a turn on it is.”

“
That’s fantastic, Sherri. Show me what you can do.”

“
Okay, watch this.”

Sherri took a deep breath and then grew her blonde hair a good nine inches.
“That’s amazing!” I said. Can you do anything else?”

Sherri grinned and then increased the size of her bust.
“Oh boy, Bruce will really like that,” I said. And so will all the rest of guys in school.”

“
I don’t plan to do that in public. I just wanted to show you I could do it.”

Sherri then matured her facial features until she could pass for twenty-one.
“I could use this appearance for the older woman look. I bet I could get served in the bars.”

“
You probably could, Sherri, but you’ll still need an I.D.”

“
Yeah, but getting a fake I.D. isn’t a problem. All kidding aside, I’m planning on making some serious changes when summer rolls around.”

“
What kind of changes?”

“
Nothing really dramatic. I’m going to make my legs a little shapelier and streamline my entire figure. I can’t do it now because the sudden change will look suspicious. I’m going to use the excuse that I worked out all summer to get my figure in shape.”

“
Sounds like a smart thing to do. Just don’t come to school with a with a forty-two inch bust.”

Sherri smirked.
“I’m not that dumb. Maybe I’ll just go with a thirty-eight “D” cup,” she said with a sly smile.

We both got a case of the giggles, which happened every time we were together. I was really happy Sherri had acquired her new powers. I wanted nothing but the best for her.

* * *

I had developed a strange itching sensation in my eyes. I assumed it had something to do with my developing powers, but I didn
’t want to do any testing at home because I might damage something. I decided to drive to my family’s mountain retreat because I’d have complete privacy.

It was nine o
’clock in the morning when I pulled off the main road and parked my car at a mountain campsite. It was a two mile hike to the mountain retreat, a large clearing about the size of a football field and very private. I really love it up here. I could never get enough of the fresh, brisk air.

I thought about morphing into a fast running animal, but I knew I
’d enjoy the walk. This area of the woods is off limits to hunting, so I was especially pleased when I saw several squirrels and rabbits. I sensed a deer close by, but it kept its distance. I’ve never had any interest in hunting. I didn’t like the idea of killing for sport.

It took me an hour to reach the clearing. I took a deep breath and savored the scenery and the fresh air. The splendor of nature with all its beauty never ceased to amaze me. This was God
’s country and I hoped it would never change.

The first thing I did was test my strength as an Ivarr. I picked out a large boulder near the edge of the clearing. I estimated it weighed between six and seven hundred pounds.

I placed both arms around the boulder and lifted it off the ground. I was thrilled to find out that the boulder didn’t feel heavy at all. I now knew that I had super strength.

The next thing I wanted to test was how tall I could grow. I didn
’t have anything to measure myself with, so it would only be an estimate.

I focused on my height and began growing taller and taller. Judging by the height of the surrounding trees, I estimated my height was around forty feet. Wow! I had no idea I could grow this tall. If Hollywood decided to do a
“David and Goliathette” movie, I’d be perfect for the part.

I wanted to test my strength at my new height, so I picked up the same large boulder I
’d picked up before. It felt as light as a pebble and that told me that my strength was in direct proportion to my height. The taller I grew, the stronger I was. I placed the boulder back on the ground and morphed back to my normal height. I was overwhelmed with the scope of my new powers.

Another experiment I wanted to try was morphing into a bird. I had an intense curiosity to know what it was like to fly. I chose to be an eagle because it wouldn
’t be prone to attacks from predators in this area. I had no idea the transformation could be so quick. I found myself soaring into the sky with a new sense of freedom I’d never experienced before. I was elated as I circled the clearing about a hundred feet in the air. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

I landed on top of a boulder at the edge of the clearing. I figured this would be a good place to test my telekinesis to see if it was still intact when I was a bird. I concentrated on a small rock, but nothing happened. That told me that my power of telekinesis was only available in human form.

I decided that this was a good time to test the limits of my morphing skills. I morphed into a triceratops, an extinct dinosaur that lived millions of years ago. As with the eagle, it didn’t take very long for the transformation to take place.

My new form was bigger than an elephant and I was much more powerful. I felt like I could run over a tank if it got in my way.

I walked slowly around the clearing to see if I could control my legs. Everything seemed to be working fine. I spent ten minutes as a triceratops before I morphed back to my human form. I suddenly got the urge to morph into a T Rex, but that was a scary thought. Maybe another day.

I figured this was a good time to test the itching sensation I felt in the back of my eyes. I couldn
’t explain it, but my instinct told me to look up. When I blinked, I got the surprise of my life. A stream of energy shot out of my eyes and disappeared into the clouds.
What was that?
I asked myself.

I knew I had acquired some kind of an energy beam, but I didn
’t know how powerful it was. I needed to do some testing, so I picked out a dead tree stump at the edge of the woods. I discovered I could adjust the power of the beam to room temperature or turn it up to super-hot. I could channel the energy into a wide beam, a narrow beam, or I could fire it like a projectile. It was like having a choice between an adjustable flame thrower and a high-powered rifle. The energy beam was extremely versatile, but it was going to take a lot of practice to control the power. In the meantime, I was going to have another visit with Pauline. She always seemed to know what was going on with me.

*
* *

I went straight to my room after supper. I was constantly testing my powers and I had some new things I wanted to try. It was like a never-ending game and I was constantly making new discoveries. My life as an Ivarr was a lot of things, but it was never boring.

Missy and Izzy were lying near the foot of the bed. Missy moved closer to the edge.
The show is about to start.

Izzy inched up next to Missy
. It sure is. I think Janis should have her own television show. She’s a lot more entertaining than those guys who pull rabbits out of their hats.

Let
’s get serious, girls. I’m not here to entertain you.

Missy spoke first
. We were only kidding. Please don’t be mad at us.

Izzy looked down.
Missy’s right. We’re smart-mouth kitties and we apologize
.

I sat on the edge of the bed.
I wasn’t mad and I’m sorry if it sounded that way. I think I’m lucky to have two of the most brilliant kitties in the world for a rooting section.

Missy sat up.
We’re still sorry and we’ll be real quiet so you can concentrate.

Izzy placed her paw in front of her mouth.
Quiet as church kitties.

I started off by morphing into the comic book heroine, Wonder Woman. I looked the part, but I felt as weak as a kitten. It was a struggle just to raise my arms over my head. Maybe I was weak because Wonder Woman was nothing more than a made up comic book person who didn
’t have any real strength. I didn’t know the answer, but what a shame. I could just see myself as Wonder Woman, flying through the air and breaking down steel doors. On the bright side, my Ivarr powers were probably as strong as Wonder Woman’s.

The next thing I tried was morphing into a Mist. I smiled as I looked into the mirror and watched my body dissolve right in front of me.
“Wow!” I said enthusiastically. I began floating around the room just to see if I could control my direction. I felt like a kite, except I was in complete control of my movements. I tried to pick my hairbrush up from my dresser, but I couldn’t grab on to it. I realized I couldn’t touch any solid objects.

I morphed back into my human fo
rm and approached the kitties
. I need a volunteer to test my new Mist form.

Izzy looked nervous.
Missy will do it, she’s not afraid of anything.

Missy looked at Izzy.
I think I’ve heard that before. If you’re not afraid, then why is your tail shaking?

I picked up Missy and morphed into a Mist. I was surprised to see that Missy also turned into mist. It was really strange. Missy and I were in a Mist form, but I could still feel her in my arms.

I pulled Missy close to my chest and we floated around the room. I turned us both invisible and then we drifted under the bedroom door into the hallway. We floated down the stairs and made our way to the living room. My parents were watching television and I knew immediately that they didn’t pick up my scent. This was a definite plus. I was now capable of traveling anywhere undetected.

We floated back to my bedroom and I placed Missy on the bed. When I let go of Missy, she instantly became visible. This told me that Missy could only retain her Mist form as long as I was holding onto her.

Izzy walked over to Missy.
Missy, you were really brave.

Of course, Izzy, it runs in the family. If you work really hard at it, you can be a brave kitty too.

I had no intention of telling Izzy that Missy was terrified when she turned into mist. It would be our little secret.

I decided to test another idea and opened the case containing my flute. I wanted to see if my skills as a musician had improved. The Ivarrs were ancient warriors and the origin of the flute dated back tens of thousands of years. If the Ivarrs knew anything about music, they would certainly be familiar with the flute.

I breathed in deeply several times to calm my nerves. When I began playing, my tone quality and ability to play difficult passages was phenomenal. I raced to my closet and found some sheet music I’d purchased a long time ago. The flute composition was written by Marin Marais, an eighteenth century composer. The skills required to play his composition were far beyond my limited capabilities.

I put the flute to my lips and began playing. I was pleased that the difficult passages in the composition were sudden easy to play. The new richness of tone was so pleasing that I felt a tear running down my cheek. I was no longer a sixteen year-old flutist who was last chair in the high school band. I was now an accomplished artist who could fill the seats of any concert hall in the world.

I placed my flute back in my closet and sat on the bed with the kitties. Did you kitties like what you heard?

It was beautiful, really, really beautiful
, said Missy.

You blow a mean horn
, said Izzy.

A mean horn
, said Missy.
What kind of talk is that?

The last family I stayed with w
as musical and that’s the way they talked.

Actually, the flute is a woodwind instrument
, I said.

I didn
’t mean to sound rude
, said Izzy.
The music was really pretty
.

I picked up both of the kitties and hugged them
.
You girls are too precious for words.

I put on some warm clothes and morphed back into a Mist. I drifted under the bedroom door and headed for the hallway. I drifted under the front door and then headed down the street to Wade
’s house. I was surprised to learn that the night air didn’t have any effect on me. I probably could have worn my pajamas and stayed warm and toasty.

I noticed Miss Wilson
’s car was gone when I drifted up to the front window. Wade was home alone, propped up in an easy chair watching television. I floated to the back of the house and drifted under the back door. Wade was still glued to the television screen as I floated into the living room. This was a good time to play a joke, so I pretended to be a ghost. “Ohhhh,” I moaned.

Wade sat up in his chair.
“Who’s there?”