Inescapable Pt. 01 of 02

He grinned. "Collette got a little proactive, I admit. Her background showing." Gerry was in his fifties. He'd been running to seed in the old pictures I'd found; nowadays he was in better shape. Overweight, but he'd dropped a few pounds, firmed up some. Still not a handsome guy.

"This isn't the best way to get repeat business," I cracked. For now, I was trying not to leak anything. The questions he asked would hopefully give me information.

But he didn't ask any questions. He just got straight to business. "I offer triple what they are paying you. Just give them a useless report.'

I couldn't do that. Private investigators have to stay bought. If they get a rep for double-dealing they're through. But I didn't have to tell him that. "You got it. Best offer I've had all day." I paused. "Well, okay, second best. Until the drink, Collette was a lot of fun." I could be charming when I needed to be.

It didn't help. He frowned. "That's disappointing. I had hoped you'd be reasonable."

What was wrong with my lying today? "Uh, maybe you misheard. I accept."

Gerry shook his head. "No, you don't, Mr. Bordreaux. And I see I won't be able to persuade you."

Shit. "How can I convince you I'm telling the truth?"

"You can't. You see, I'm reading your mind, right now."

That... wasn't among the responses I'd planned for. After blinking a couple times, I said, neutrally, "Well, that's a neat trick."

"I have others." He waved his hand at me, and I shrank. My clothes, the whole room got bigger. In about a second, I was three and a half feet tall and swimming in a crumpled suit.

I yelped in shock - sounding like I'd inhaled helium - and tried to move. As I fell to the floor, I grew again. I got to my feet, the suit now uncomfortably arranged on my body - the belt was down by my thighs, and one arm was stuck inside my shirt, having missed the sleeve as I grew.

Whatever the fuck was going on, it was dangerous beyond my worst imaginings. I had to take Gerry down immediately, and hope to find a way out past the guards.

He shook his head. "Sorry, no." All of a sudden I was frozen in position. I could move my head, but my body wouldn't respond - it just stood there. This time I noted something about his hand - it had been shrouded in darkness or something for a moment. Like it put out anti-light.

By sheer force of will, I pushed panic away. Information, understanding was my only hope. "How the fuck are you doing this?"

"It's simple: this is a magic ring." He held up his right hand. A thick men's ring on the third finger - dull metal, with a black stone, maybe onyx.

I wasn't sure what to think. I mean, magic rings, right? Under the circumstances, though... I knew I shouldn't show fear. "Where do you get those?" I asked, as if I were in the market for one.

He grinned despite himself. "I don't know, in general. This one came from my old job." He spread his hands apologetically. "Sometimes customers stop paying for safe deposit boxes. We make every effort to contact them, but often it's not possible. One of my duties was to open them and go through the contents."

He held up his hand and looked at the ring. "I found this in one. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I felt compelled to try it on. Once I did, I knew what it could do. Its abilities, and limitations." He looked me in the eye. "I still have no idea where it came from, or who stored it away. But obviously, it works."

Not useful, except maybe the 'limitations' bit.

He nodded. "You're a smart one, interesting. Yes, it is far from all-powerful." A resigned shrug. "I don't know how much magic there is in the world, but I suspect it's all limited like that. Otherwise the world would be quite different." Another glance at the ring. "For example, this only affects human beings. Not objects, or animals. Just people. Although, within that domain...."

I tried to move again. Yeah, it was powerful all right.

He chuckled. "Obviously I can alter bodies. They have to stay human, but beyond that there's not much I can't manage." His lips quirked. "Except my own. I can't even remove a sliver or heal a bruise with it."

Glancing down at my paralyzed body, I said, "You have all my sympathies."

Gerry nodded, granting the point. "Fortunately for you, I can't kill with magic, even indirectly. If I pulled a gun on you right now, you'd find yourself able to duck for cover."

I'd never wanted so much for anyone to try to kill me before.

He didn't oblige me. "Obviously, I can read minds. I can influence them as well. But note: influence, not control. Your soul, such as it is, is inviolate. I can't change your memories. Nor can I actually compel you to do anything. I can make you want to do something, or not, but you still have free will. You still choose for yourself."

The first really good news since I'd awakened. I clung to it like a lifeline.

He nodded once more, but his voice finally betrayed a flicker of annoyance. "And the ring can't just keep making changes forever. It gathers a... a 'charge', so to speak, over time. Rather too much time, in fact." He shrugged. "So I have to manage my usage. I always keep some in reserve to deal with unexpected needs - like, say, someone investigating too closely." His hand opened my way, in sardonic acknowledgment. "But because of that, I try not to do more changes than strictly necessary. Economy, efficiency - perhaps even elegance - that's what I strive for." He looked proud almost, to my great annoyance... and even greater fear.

"Contrary to what you might expect, changing bodies isn't terribly costly. Mental changes are much more expensive, energy-wise."

I wondered for a moment why he was sharing so completely with me.

He let out a sigh. "You may well wonder." I still wasn't used to that. It was creepy, having no privacy in my own head.

He rolled his eyes. "Sorry, it's necessary for now. But to answer your unasked question - you are intelligent, and this is a rare opportunity. I can't speak to most people about this."

I spoke up. No point in silence. "Which implies I'm not going to be in a position to do anything about what you tell me."

"Don't worry, I haven't even gotten to the most irritating restriction. I can't make permanent changes without your permission."

Wow...

"Exactly. I can force changes on you for only a month. Well, technically, twenty-eight days - a lunar cycle. After that, they're all undone unless you choose - freely - to accept them." He shrugged, though his smile didn't waver. "After that point, I need your permission to make any changes at all."

I felt real confidence for moment - then it occurred to me that his establishment had been open for over two years now...

He grinned at my expression. "Indeed, I've gotten pretty good at this. But as I said, you're intelligent, and I'm curious. How would you profit from this thing, given its constraints?"

Actually, that was a pretty good question.

Reading minds by itself was power. It'd sure make my job easier. Stock trading might be a fast way to make money, a few other fields. But you couldn't be spectacularly successful. If it got out that you could do that, you'd be a big fat target. Any intelligence agency, anywhere, would slaughter your entire family tree to get hold of you.

You could be a damn good doctor, assuming the ring could heal - Gerry nodded along - but again, a rep for miraculous cures would attract dangerous attention. And the ring wouldn't let you keep people from blabbing.

The more I thought about it, the harder it became to make good use of. You could get away with using it once in a while, and not too dramatically - that's all. And then I recalled what kind of establishment I was in. Collette... Clarissa... Jessie.

Gerry looked self-satisfied. "Precisely. I thought very, very carefully, for months, about how to best apply this little bauble." He brushed some imaginary lint off his jacket. "I've come up with quite a clever little set of changes. Works like a charm, and requires surprisingly little 'energy'. One or two body modifications, and a single psychological quirk. Inspired, if I say so myself."

Given that he obviously didn't expect me to spill the beans, that came across as highly ominous. I gathered my determination. He noticed. "Yes, yes, I know. One month, and then you can take your revenge." He spread his hands wide as he stood. "Who knows, you might even make it. It's possible. Indeed, it has to be, by the rules of magic." His smile shifted again, smug and confident. "But I should tell you, if you do manage to refuse... you'll be the first."

He raised his hand. The ring flashed darkly. Something happened, and I felt myself blacking out...

-----

I shifted, mostly asleep. But I couldn't turn my head, something was pulling my hair. A lot of hair - I realized something was really wrong, and sat bolt upright. I looked down and only felt a fraction of a moment's surprise, which dissolved almost as soon as it appeared. The dismay just kept going.

"Oh, goddammit," I said. In a sweet alto. I had to shift my weight to get hair out from under my ass.

Feeling resigned but determined, I looked around the room. I was on a plain bed, under a throw blanket, in a small, neutrally-decorated suite - much like a hotel room. Light leaked in from behind curtains - morning, most likely. I got up and walked over to the door. Outside, a hall with a door on the other side, half-open on a bathroom. I realized the floorplan was the same as Collette's, I was just in the back rooms.

I stepped across the hall to look in the mirror. I needed to assess the damage, see what I'd be living with for the next month.

Naked girl in the glass, of course. Hardly a shock at this point. I would've pegged her at twenty, plus or minus. Though she could probably play off as younger. She was only about 5'4”.

What was a shock was the hair. Voluminous auburn waves of it down to the tops of my thighs, falling in loose lazy curls. I wanted to find some scissors immediately, it was totally impractical. And it had a truly epic case of 'bed head'.

It was styled to frame a face with a narrow nose and high-ish cheekbones. Wide, potentially-innocent blue eyes - a little unusual for the hair, but I couldn't see any roots - fine arched eyebrows, pouting lips but not a large mouth. Just as sexy a face as graced any of the girls I'd seen here. I almost wanted to call it 'aristocratic' but it was too young to support that term.

Full but not overgenerous breasts; firm and high, of course. The nipples and areolae were a trifle large - yet they fit, they somehow seemed... appropriate. Slim arms, womanly shoulders, painted nails. An hourglass waist and well-rounded hips. Long legs coming off the hips, tapering in smooth curves. There was even a thigh-gap. That made it easy to see more auburn hair between the legs, shaved neatly into a heart shape above the mound.

I rotated to look at my - I resolved, temporary - new ass. I had to push the hair out of the way, it was almost like a cape. Pert and shapely, as expected; I would have called it enticing if it hadn't been my own.

So far, so attractive. Not a human cartoon like Jessie, I was obscurely relieved to see. But there were those few extra touches that pushed her - pushed me - into the exceptional territory of a "Gerry's Girl".

The skin was smooth; unlined and unblemished, and utterly even in tone. Almost photoshopped. Plus the face, the body lines, were highly symmetrical. Not unearthly, but definitely supermodel-ish.

I was yet another of what I realized were Gerry's works of art. If I'd been able to be more objective, I'd have admired it more; but under the circumstances it was a little hard to appreciate.

I didn't reach to explore between my legs. I wasn't ready for that. The only surprises would be unpleasant ones, anyway. I went down the hall and surveyed the front room.

The floorplan might have been the same as Collette's, but the decor was completely different. Exceedingly girly - a room for a college-age "Daddy's little princess". The bed had an embroidered bedspread, fluffy throw pillows, and a white scrollwork header and footer. There was a dresser with matching scrollwork; on top of it rested a pink jewelry chest, next to a stuffed blue cartoon Pegasus with rainbow mane and tail. A large framed mirror was attached.

What indicated 'college-age' was the couch facing the coffee table, which supported a TV and a wooden bowl holding some crystal rocks. A thick soft rug occupied the floor between table and couch. A little end table next to it with a vase. It wasn't quite as tasteful as it could have been - and certainly not expensive. Not what a mature woman would have picked, somehow.

All of it was infuriating. On the counter in the breakfast nook was a note. I unfolded it and started reading.

By now you've had a chance to get a handle on the most obvious aspects of your new situation. It may have occurred to you to check the front door and discover that it's unlocked. I can't magically force you to remain here, as I said, and guarding you is economically prohibitive. You can leave if you want. I would point out, however, that your legal position is rather dubious, and you can expect difficulties establishing any identity at all, let alone your previous one.

Additionally, if you choose to leave and make trouble for me, I may well choose to hunt up your loved ones, and see if they are more persuadable than you. I suggest you stay here a little while, and make sure you fully understand the ramifications, before you inadvertently embroil someone else in the same predicament.

P.S. When you're ready, knock on the door across the hall.

I set the note down and chewed my lip for a moment, absorbing that. Absently I walked over to the door and turned the doorknob; sure enough, I felt it unlatch, and pulled in the door about half an inch. Not even enough to see the hall - I wasn't ready for that yet either. I pushed the door closed, and after a second locked it. For all the good it might do.

The door barely registered in my thoughts. I was processing more urgent issues. His 'no-ID' threat wasn't a bluff, but I thought he might be underestimating my resourcefulness. Although, I hadn't had to handle things as a girl before. In any case...

The other threat was more persuasive. I didn't hate my ex-wife. And even if I had, I wanted her safe to take care of my daughter. As for my daughter... I didn't want Gerry in the same state as her. What he could do to a kid... she could be traumatized even if he couldn't do anything permanent.

For that matter, what exactly had he done to me?

I tried to remember his precise words. "A couple body changes and a psychological quirk." Something like that. The body changes were pretty obvious. But what had he done to my 'psychology'? My own mind was now potentially enemy territory...

Tentatively, I brought Collette to mind. To my relief, I still thought she was damn sexy. Apparently that wasn't the 'quirk'.

With real fear, I thought about Gerry. But I didn't feel love, or loyalty, or any positive emotion about him. I was still afraid of his magic, and angry with him - but I was more angry than afraid. He hadn't made me his slave or anything. That was good... except that it meant he must be doing something more subtle.

With trepidation I considered men as a category. Naturally recent examples were closest to the surface. The specific image that came to mind was that guy slapping the blonde's rump last night.

"Oh, goddammit." I found out right then what it feels like to have your nipples crinkle and your clit perk up and your pussy start lubricating.

I recalled the guy breathing hard as the blue-haired girl sucked his tool. The dazed expression on the college boy's face as Jessie led him away. All those hooting men drooling over Diana and Clarissa...

I could feel my heart rate climb. "You motherfucker..." I muttered, mentally cursing at Gerry. If magic was real, I hoped a curse would actually work. It was certainly heartfelt.

My mind kept racing. I imagined what they did with the girls here. What might be going on right now, in a room nearby. A kiss, and then maybe she'd rub him through his pants and he'd groan. Then she'd undo his belt and drop his pants and lick his cock 'til it was pointing straight up and little drops were leaking out the tip. Then she'd lay back and he'd jam his dick in her pussy and stroke it in and out, harder and faster, getting more and more worked up until he went over the edge and spurted...

I was getting too impassioned, I had to stop. I had to find a way to get back to my old body, I...

Oh, God. I had a whole new reason to want my dick back: just so I could watch it get hard. The thought made me shiver.

And because my legs were instinctively clenched together, my labia rubbed my clit some. And because of that, I came. I shuddered, I needed to grab the edges of the counter to keep from falling to my knees.

Gerry was going to die.

-----

Once I was able, I stumbled over to the couch and sat down. This wasn't going to be easy.

I needed to think... about something besides erections. The microwave in the kitchenette was blinking 12:00. I didn't want to open the window and check the time of day. I needed to gather data before I could risk seeing another human being, especially a male one. I turned on the TV.

It was set up like a hotel system. I brought up the menu; basic cable stuff, and lots of music channels in different genres. It was ten in the morning - the next morning, I hadn't been unconscious for days or anything.

Also like a hotel system, it had movies on demand. Unlike any hotel I'd stayed at, it seemed to be all adult fare. Even as I was doing it, I knew it was a mistake. But it was just one button push. Too quick to stop the impulse.

One section of the menu gave access to 'homemade' content. Gerry's Girls doing their thing on-camera. Collette's name was toward the top of the list, alphabetically. I picked a random video of hers.

She was clad in black lingerie, elaborately-filigreed with red accents.The camera explored her body in loving detail, from toes to face, as soft sensual music played. I recalled how her skin felt, what she'd smelled like; yes, she still turned me on.

But then a tall, muscled man moved into the frame. He embraced her and kissed her, and that stirred a mix of emotions that's hard to describe. "Hopeless excitement"? "Passionate despair"? "Urgent depression"? I was horrified and defeated by how intensely I enjoyed hearing his breath hitch as she fondled his dick and balls.

It was the difference between looking at a postcard, and standing next to the Grand Canyon, feeling the wind and watching the sunset. Collette was undeniably sexy, sure... but she couldn't possibly compete with the guy's rising shaft. I whimpered as it lifted and swelled. It was the most erotic thing I'd ever seen.

She slid to her knees and began nuzzling his balls, a familiar curve to her lips. Now, I had no trouble comprehending why she took such pleasure in her work. I appreciated her skill as she slowly licked up the underside of his dick.

My hand was between my legs before I consciously realized it. The clit there was good-sized, on the high end of normal, and thus easy to find by touch. I recalled a few times when I'd had trouble locating the important bits. That wasn't a good feeling for a guy, but it wouldn't be a problem for them with me.

My God, was I actually looking forward to fucking men?