Turbulence
by
Julie O
Part One
I woke up to the sound of the Pacific Ocean outside my bedroom window. After I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes I got up and walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I still wasn't completely used to my new image. Until a week ago I had been Roger Lyons, formerly of the US Navy, and a highly paid defense contractor. Now, I was Iona Beddau, a very beautiful 21-year-old woman. The original Iona was a sorceress and had switched bodies with me. She switched bodies for sexual pleasure. Everything would have worked out except for the drunk driver who hit our cab while we were on our way to my apartment. Iona was killed while in my body and now I was trapped in her body.
Granted it was a very lovely body to be trapped in. Iona had kept herself in great shape. I ran my hands across my breasts and instantly felt a tingle in my nipples. Oh yes, did I mention that Iona had left me with elevated sexual feelings? She did this so I would be more into our sexual encounters. I was slowly trying to control them through the help of Kayla, Iona's aunt.
Aunt Kayla had graciously accepted me into her oceanfront home and was treating me as if I actually was her niece. She was helping me to adjust to my new life as a woman. Aunt Kayla, like all the women in her family, was also a sorceress and she was slowly teaching me about her ways.
I stripped off my nightgown and turned on the shower. The water hitting my nipples soon had me very excited. My nipples hardened as the hot water struck them. It felt very good and I was soon in a sexual frenzy. I began to finger myself with one hand and rub my nipples with the other. One of my many discoveries was that the female orgasm was superior to the male orgasm! It was more of a whole body sensation and it was much more satisfying. I had also discovered the spot in my vagina that really felt good. Between my hands and the hot spray of the water I climaxed. My orgasms were very intense and I made no attempt to hold them in or restrict my response. Aunt Kayla told me that there was no need to hold back something so natural and wonderful.
I selected a white top and a long blue skirt. My wardrobe was presently small. The original Iona dressed far more revealing than my tastes allowed. Aunt Kayla had purchased a few outfits for me that were more to my tastes. It wasn't that I wanted to hide my new body, but at the same time I didn't want to look like a hooker. Maybe that was too harsh, Iona was just young and foolish, and I didn't think she was evil.
I came downstairs and was greeted by the cats, Tully and Bran. They had both taken an instant liking to me. I didn't mind this at all, as I loved animals.
They followed me into the kitchen, where Aunt Kayla was having breakfast.
"Good morning, my dear. How do you feel this morning?" asked Aunt Kayla
"I feel really good, thank you," I said. "How are you?"
"Wonderful," she replied with a smile.
I fixed myself a mug of tea and sat down next to her.
Aunt Kayla was a psychotherapist and worked out of the house.
"When is your first appointment?" I asked.
"Not until 10:00. I only have two patients today, so why don't we go out for lunch and some shopping this afternoon?" she suggested.
"That sounds good," I answered. "How long have you been a therapist?"
"I have been licensed for over twelve years," she replied.
I took a long sip of my tea and then I looked over at Aunt Kayla, "Do you use your powers with your patients?" I asked
"Only to find out their problems. I use this knowledge to help them find their way," she explained.
"Could you use your powers to cure them?" I asked.
"Yes, I could, but I don't. When it comes to solving personal problems it is better to take the time and let the people help themselves," she commented.
"Like what you are doing with me?" I answered, with a sly smile.
She smiled back, "Exactly," she replied, "So what is your first question of the day?"
I thought about it as I had so many questions, "Does the tattoo on my back have any significance or was it just another one of Iona's acts of rebellion?" I asked.
"Tattoo? Let me see it, please," she asked. I noticed a slight not of concern in her voice.
I stood up and turned around and pulled up my top. It was just visible above the top of my skirt.
Aunt Kayla leaned over and examined it carefully. When she touched it I felt a tingle through my body that caused me to jump slightly.
"That was an interesting response," she said. She told me to stay there while she retrieved her digital camera and took several pictures of it.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked.
"No, I don't think so. Obviously, it isn't a normal tattoo. I will have to show it to a friend to find out its exact purpose," she explained.
"What do you mean," I asked. I followed her to her office.
"It's some sort of protection symbol. I'm sending the pictures to a colleague who studies such things," she explained.
I watched her download the picture and attached it in an e-mail.
"I am surprised that you are so computer savvy. Everything around here is so natural and non-technical," I quipped.
"Computers are a wonderful tool. I love the instant exchange of information. Besides did you ever think that it might have been someone in our community that invented the Internet?" she laughed
I was learning that she had a very sly sense of humor and I had a hard time telling when she was kidding me. I decided that a shrug of the shoulders was the safest response.
"Speaking of the Internet, I got an e-mail from Fiona this morning," said Aunt Kayla. Fiona was Iona's mother. "She will be flying out here in a week to meet you."
"By plane?" I asked, with a smile.
"Of course, by plane!" answered Aunt Kayla "Brooms are sooo 17th Century!" She then laughed.
"On a more serious note, how does she feel about me?" I asked. I was a bit worried about Fiona's reaction.
"She is just interested in meeting you. She believes your story and doesn't blame you for what happened," explained Aunt Kayla. "I can understand your concern but you have nothing to worry about."
"Thanks," I answered in a relieved tone.
We went out back to her garden and sat down. Aunt Kayla's garden was a very special place. I suspected that it was more than just a garden. It seemed to have energy of its own.
"My turn to ask you something. How are handling your grief with respect to your birth family?" asked Aunt Kayla.
"I am getting by. Every now and then something will remind me of them," I answered softly.
"How often is 'every now and then'?" asked Aunt Kayla. Her voice was very soothing.
I felt a swelling of emotions, "I think about them all the time. Even though I lived far away from them we were still very close. It really hurts to think that I will never see them again," I said. I felt my eyes watering up with tears.
"That's not true, there is a way you could see them," she replied.
"How?" I asked.
"Write them and tell them how 'Roger" saved your life and how you would like to meet them some day. They know that he was with someone during the accident. It might heal wounds for all of you," explained Aunt Kayla.
I thought about what she said. It was a good idea. I just hoped that I could get through the letter. I was also beginning to see how Aunt Kayla worked as a therapist!
"You're really good," I replied with a smile.
"Thank you very much for the compliment," she answered with a smile. "Now, I need to get ready for my 10 o'clock. I'll see you afterwards and we'll head downtown."
I got up and hugged her, "Thanks again."
Part Two
I went up stairs and turned on the computer in my room. Tully the large gray cat followed me upstairs. It took me several attempts to even get started on the letter. How do you write to the family that thinks you are dead? Tully jumped up and sat in my lap. She really was an affectionate cat!
After 30 minutes I had scratched out a rough draft. I read it to a half-awake Tully.
"Well?" I asked Tully when I finished.
Tully looked at me and let out a small "mrrrr".
I wasn't sure if that was a positive or negative response. I looked at the letter again. It wasn't too bad. I hesitated about getting too emotional. As Roger, I hadn't been dating anyone steady and I didn't want to come off in the letter as appearing to be my love interest.
I wrote that we had met on the flight and had really hit it off. After we landed we decided to grab some breakfast before he showed me the city. There was some truth in this, so I didn't feel like I was totally lying to my family. I then described how "Roger" had shielded me with his body, thus saving my life. This was true. I went on stating that I would like to meet his family someday. Again this was true.
After a few more edits I felt it was ready but I wanted to show it to Aunt Kayla before I mailed it.
I checked my watch and saw that I still had some time to kill before Aunt Kayla was finished with her patients. This gave me free time to think about my situation. I decided to check out Iona's, rather MY e-mail.
It took me a few minutes to call up her e-mail account and password. I discovered that she had a huge backlog of e-mail. I started sorting through each message. This was actually a good exercise for me. It forced me to dig deeper into her memories.
Many of the messages were from her past lovers. I sort of cringed when I realized how many sexual partners she had been with. Most of the messages were asking her when she would be in their respective town. I was relived that none of them were from San Diego. The closest one was a guy named Brett who lived in Colorado.
There were also some hate filled messages. Some were from women whose husbands or boyfriends had slept with Iona. Others were from people that she had pissed off some how. A few had even heard of the accident and had written to send her "worse wishes" and hoped that she was in severe pain. It was a bit overwhelming to see that I had inherited so many enemies.
I was unsure what to do about this trail of baggage that Iona had left behind. I decided not to respond to any of the mail and to talk to Aunt Kayla about it.
Part Three
We headed into town for lunch and for a little shopping. I told Aunt Kayla about the e-mail.
"I think it is best that you ignore them for now. I also think you should set up a new account for yourself as well," she suggested
"Sounds like a good idea," I answered.
"You sound a bit worried," she asked
"I guess I am. Some of the mail was pretty nasty. Iona really pissed off these people and I am just worried that I might run into them some day," I explained. "This transition is hard enough without dealing with people seeking revenge."
"I wish I could tell you that everything will be OK," she commented.
"Thanks," I answered. "So, where are we going?"
"How do you feel about Horton Plaza?" she asked.
Horton Plaza was a downtown shopping mall. It was open to the elements and had multiple levels, rambling paths and was very colorful. There were many stores, restaurants and a movie theater. It seemed like a good place to start my shopping experience as a woman.
"Sounds good," I answered
We put aside my problems and treated the afternoon as a "normal" girl's afternoon out shopping. I have discovered that normal is a relative term.
I felt a bit uneasy, as we started shopping and relied heavily on Aunt Kayla's advice and recommendations. Fortunately she had a great fashion sense and I liked most of what she recommended. After I got over my initial nervousness, I started to relax and actually have fun.
We concentrated on everyday type clothes for the most part. When it comes to dressing, guys have it so easy! The biggest accessory I had to worry about, as a guy was to make sure my tie matched my shirt and pants. I now had to learn what my colors were and how to pick out the proper accessories. Iona's memories were pretty useless as she wasn't into mainstream dressing.
I showed a blouse to Aunt Kayla and mentioned how it would go with the skirt we bought in the previous shop.
"Well you are a quick learner!" she said with a laugh.
I smiled. I really liked Aunt Kayla. At first, it was because she had accepted and taken me in after the accident but now my affection towards her was deeper. I felt as close to her as I did my own mother. The thought of my mom made me shiver for a second.
"You OK?" asked Aunt Kayla.
I nodded, "Yes, I just thought about my family."
"It will take time to get over this. What you are experiencing is normal. Why don't we get something to eat?" she asked
"That sounds good," I answered.
Aunt Kayla didn't feel like eating in the fast food court. We dropped our stuff off in the car and walked to the Gas Lamp District. This area had once been really seedy and rundown, but now it was filled with great restaurants and shops. As we walked down 5th Avenue I was awash in memories. When I was Roger I'd spent a lot of time here.
We agreed on a place and sat down for a relaxing lunch. The lunch rush as over so we could eat at our leisure.
"I think you did pretty well for your first time out," commented Aunt Kayla.
"It's strange, I never cared for shopping in my previous life, but today was fun," I answered.
Aunt Kayla kept the conversation light. I knew we would get into more serious topics once we got home. It was funny how I now saw her house as my home.
As we talked I was suddenly hit by a very strange sensation. I had the strange feeling that someone I knew was about to enter the restaurant. A few seconds later I saw a coworker from my old life walk into the restaurant with several other men. His name was Tom and while we were never friends I did get along with him. He was in his 50's, married, two kids and seemed like a nice normal guy. Naturally, he didn't know it was me. What was strange was that I knew to look for him before I could see him.
I knew that it couldn't be a coincidence and I mentioned it to Aunt Kayla.
"That is very interesting. Let me know if you feel it again. Maybe you have some powers after all!" she stated.
We had to walk right by Tom's table as we left the restaurant. As we approached his table I could see his eyes check me out and then he winked and smiled at me, and not in a nice social way! I was the same age as his daughter Kim and he was checking me out! UGH!
I stopped at his table and smiled, "Mr. Harris?" I asked.
He nodded. My recognizing him caused him to be slightly confused.
"I thought it was you. We met once when you were visiting Kim at college," I said sweetly.
He was now in a slight panic mode. Had he had a pass at one of his daughter's friends? "It is nice to see you again," he stammered.
I wanted to get away before he started to ask me any questions, "Well, we have to go, take care!" I said with a smile. We then walked out of the restaurant and back to our car.
"I'm sorry for that, but it creeped me out that he was checking me out," I apologized
Aunt Kayla laughed, "Don't apologize. I think you handled that perfectly!"
As we drove home, she asked me more about the recognition feeling that I got in the restaurant.
"I got it at least 30 seconds before Tom came in the door. There was no way I could have seen him first," I explained
"It could be a very useful skill," commented Aunt Kayla.
"How?" I asked.
"It could be used as protection. You will have a heads up before running into someone you know. I wonder if it works for people from Iona's past?" she asked.
I thought about it. It could be a very useful talent to have. I was too stunned by the feeling the first time to try to see if I could sense who they were before I see them. I would do that the next time. It was also cool knowing that I might have some of Iona's powers.
"Changing the subject slightly, how do you feel about being seen as a lovely young woman?" asked Aunt Kayla.
I smiled, "It will take some getting used to. I tried to ignore most of the looks I got when we were walking around," I replied.
"What about your sexual urges?" she asked.
"I had them under control, but they were active I have to concentrate at times to keep them from getting out of control. They get very active when I am not concentrating on something. I could feel my nipples hardening at times. I am worried about what will happen when someone comes on to me," I said in a concerned tone.
"Well, until you learn to control your feelings, you need to be careful where you go," she explained
"I know," I said softly. My sexual feelings scared me in many ways, and at the same time they intrigued me.
Part Four
Later that afternoon I showed Aunt Kayla the letter that I had written to my family. We were sitting out in her garden. Aunt Kayla's home was filled with natural energy but it seemed strongest in the garden. I was beginning to notice that I was becoming more aware of the power that seemed focused here. I always felt better when I was in the garden.
As she read the letter I petted Tully, who had become very close to me. I looked around for the black cat Bran. I didn't see Bran around, which wasn't uncommon. Bran was friendly but aloof. On the other hand Tully seemed to crave affection.
"This is very good. So, do you think that they'll take you up on your offer to meet them face to face?" asked Aunt Kayla.
"Most likely they will. I know my sister Jenny will want to meet me," I answered. Tully had adjusted herself so I could get behind her left ear.
"I would like to hear about your family," asked Aunt Kayla.
"They live in Columbus Ohio. Dad is a mechanic at the airport and my mom works part-time as a substitute teacher. Jenny is my older sister. She is an art teacher at a small college in Columbus. I also have a younger brother named Pete who is in the Navy. He is stationed in Virginia," I answered
"I take it you are close to your sister," asked Aunt Kayla.
I felt a rush of emotions thinking about her, "Yes, we're really close, or rather we were really close. We were only 13 months apart. Pete came around 4 years later. I imagine my death hit her really hard," I replied, brushing away a tear.
"Don't hold in your emotions, dear," explained Aunt Kayla. "It is perfectly normal to feel grief."
"Losing my family is the worst part of this," I said. Tears were streaming down my face.
Aunt Kayla didn't say a word. She did reach over and took my hand in hers. She let me cry, letting out my grief and emotions.
"I hate the fact that I have brought so much pain into their lives," I cried.
"You are not responsible. It isn't your fault," said Aunt Kayla firmly.
"I know, but it still hurts," I explained. "This is the only thing I can't forgive Iona for."
"Try to let it go. It may take time but it is never healthy to carry around negative feelings about someone," commented Aunt Kayla.
"Easier said than done," I answered. I had stopped crying and was wiping my eyes. I did like the fact that my emotions were less controlled than when I was a man. I had hated the idea that a man couldn't show all his emotions.
"Try to let it go. Hate is a very powerful emotion and it does more harm than most people think. It is like smoking, even a little bit is harmful," she explained
"I'll try," I said softly
"Why don't we take a walk along the waterfront and watch the sunset. I think it will be good for both of us," suggested Aunt Kayla.
"OK, but I don't think Tully will appreciate losing her nap area," I said with a laugh.
"She'll get over it," quipped Aunt Kayla with a smile.
Part Five
We walked out of the house and down the street. The sun would be going down in a half-hour and it looked like it would be a spectacular sunset. There were just enough clouds to make it interesting.
"I've always loved watching sunsets, especially when I was at sea," I sighed.
"Yes there is something very special about them," she answered
I watched as an old man walked towards us. He looked around 70, but he might have been older. He still had a full head of gray hair and a thin neat moustache. He walked with a bounce in his step. He carried a walking stick, but he didn't seem to need it. Obviously he knew Aunt Kayla, as he smiled and waved when he looked up at us.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise! I was hoping I would see you this evening Kayla," he exclaimed.
He had a very pleasant demeanor and I liked him almost immediately.
"It is good to see you, Jacob. I want to introduce you to my niece Iona. She'll be staying with me while she attends college," answered Aunt Kayla.
"I'm pleased to meet you," I said with a smile.
"Ahhh, so this is the young lady who was in that awful accident, I am very pleased to meet you, Iona," said Jacob as he shook my hand.
"Jacob lives up the street and we've been friends for years," explained Aunt Kayla.
"So, how do you like living here with your aunt?" he asked.
"I love it," I answered truthfully.
He looked at Aunt Kayla with a surprised look on his face, "Seems she has a different attitude than what you expected Kayla."
"It's a long story Jacob," answered Aunt Kayla. She winked at me.
I wondered if he knew Aunt Kayla's secret.
"Well, it is a pleasure to have you grace our neighborhood my dear," said Jacob to me with a smile. "I hope that you two lovely ladies will join me for dinner this weekend."
Aunt Kayla smiled, "I would never turn down an invitation from you."
"That's splendid. I'll expect you Sunday evening at 6. Well, I must be going. I promised Marny that I would meet her this evening," he explained.
"Oh? I didn't know she was back in town," said Kayla with surprise.
"Yes she just got back yesterday. She had been down in Mexico with the gray whales," explained Jacob
"I would love to see her again, please tell her that," asked Aunt Kayla.
"I will. I am sure she will want to get together with you," answered Jacob. With that he headed down the road towards the ocean.
"Is Marny a marine biologist?" I asked.
"Something like that," answered Aunt Kayla with a sly smile.
We stood there watching the sunset. It was magnificent
"If I ever reach a day that I cannot enjoy something so beautiful then, I'll know there is no use in living any longer," commented Aunt Kayla.
"I agree!" I exclaimed.
The sky was awash in colors, ranging from red near the horizon to purples and blues.
"So, tell me about Jacob. Does he know about you?" I asked.
"Yes. He knows that I have powers. He was a sea captain and spent most of his life at sea. He is also blessed with an open mind and a willingness to accept that there is magic in the world," answered Aunt Kayla, "How old do you think he is?"
"70?" I answered.
She smiled, "He will be 103 this September."
I was stunned, "103? That's incredible!" I exclaimed.
"I told you that there is a whole world out there that most people have no idea even exists," she answered.
"I am looking forward to talking to him," I stated.
"He will love that. He always craves a new person to tell his sea stories to!" said Aunt Kayla with a laugh.
We walked back to the house for dinner. Aunt Kayla was also teaching me how to cook. That was almost as difficult as putting on makeup! My previous cooking skills revolved mainly around using the microwave.
"You had to do more than just use the microwave?" asked Aunt Kayla
"I was also well known by all the local food delivery services. I wonder if they sent flowers to my funeral," I said and I broke out laughing, "That's first time I've been able to crack a joke about that."
"Well, I can see another big difference between you and Iona, you have a sense of humor!" said Aunt Kayla with a laugh.
After dinner, Aunt Kayla received a phone call from the friend whom she had asked about my tattoo.
While they talked I cleaned up the dishes and slipped a few scraps to the cats. I was trying very hard not to eavesdrop. I was really curious about the tattoo. I put the kettle on for tea and waited for Aunt Kayla to get off the phone.
A few minutes later she walked into the kitchen, "Well, I have some interesting news for you," she said, "Why don't we fix our tea and head out to the garden to talk.
"OK," I responded. At least she didn't say bad news!
A few minutes later we were sitting out in the garden. It seemed even more mystical at night. The only lights came from the candles that were all over the place. If you didn't know better you'd swear that you were in the middle of a forest!
"First off, the tattoo is magical. It is the reason why you were able to detect your old co-worker this afternoon. It will let you know whenever there is someone you know within approximately 200 yards. Eventually it will feel like any other of your senses and it won't feel as dramatic as it did this afternoon," explained Aunt Kayla. "It should work for both your memories and those of Iona."
It was nice to know the purpose of the tattoo but at the same time I was a bit disappointed. I was kind of hoping that I had some powers.
"So I don't have any powers; it is all from the tattoo, right?" I asked,
She smiled, "No, that's not true. The tattoo won't work without the person having some powers. Otherwise, everyone could slap on a tattoo and gain new senses," she said, "As to what powers you have and how they will develop, only time will answer that question."
I perked up, "Really? That's cool!" I said.
"I do need to ask you to do something for me," said Aunt Kayla in serious tone. "I'll need you to strip so I can examine your body. My friend says that if Iona got one of these, she may have gotten more."
"I haven't seen any others," I answered
"Not all tattoos are visible to the naked eye. Some can only be seen by candlelight or ultraviolet light. I can check for both right here, if you don't mind," she explained.
I thought about it. I felt very safe in the garden and figured why not. I stood up and began to undress. I removed my clothes and carefully folded and placed them on my chair.
I had to admit that I did have a beautiful body. I stood there and watched the light and shadows caused by the candles flicker on my nude body. Aunt Kayla walked around and carefully examined my body. I felt totally at ease and relaxed.
First she looked me over using a candle, and then she shifted to a special flashlight that that used UV light. She started at my head and moved down. Everything seemed OK until she reached my vagina. Just above my pubic hair some sort of strange pattern was visible.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It is some sort of blessing. It has been a while since I have seen this language. It is Celtic but a very old version," she stated. "I have a book that will help me translate it."
She handed me the light and then she copied down the blessing. When she finished she checked the rest of my body. There were no other tattoos.
I got dressed while she retrieved the book she'd referred to
"Here it is!" she exclaimed.
I eagerly walked over and joined her. I was still buttoning up my top.
"It is a blessing. It is there to protect you from all sexual diseases and from unwanted pregnancy," stated Aunt Kayla.
"So did Iona got this to protect her during her sexual exploits?" I asked.
"Apparently so. And it's quite irregular, this is a controlled spell and she shouldn't have been able to get it," said Aunt Kayla, in a concerned tone.
"What do you mean controlled spell?" I asked.
"There are rules regarding use of certain types of magic. This blessing spell falls into a category that is strictly controlled. It is also part of the reason why you have a heightened sexuality," she explained.
"I take it that it can't be removed." I said.
"That is true. I want you to try to remember who gave Iona this tattoo," she asked. I noticed a serious tone in her voice.
"I'll try, but it is very hard to dig into her memories. I get a headache when I try to go too deep," I explained.
"It's very important that you try dear," stated Aunt Kayla.
I sat down and started to access Iona's memories. It took a lot of concentration to do so. As I struggled to recall who she got the tattoos from I felt my head start to throb. The headache started light but quickly became very intense. I soon could picture the house and was about to see the person answering the door when I was overcome by the pain and screamed.
I must have blacked out for a minute or so, because when I opened my eyes I was looking up at Aunt Kayla. It took me a second to realize that I was on my back.
"How do you feel?" she asked in soft voice.
"Better. The pain is almost gone," I moaned.
"Stay there for a moment. I want you to ease back up," she stated
"What happened? I was just about to see the person answering the door when I blacked out," I explained. "The pain was the most intense that I've ever had."
"Apparently whoever did the work on Iona left a spell to protect their privacy. Don't try to access those memories again," she said firmly.
"No problem there. But I can describe the house she was about to enter, if that will help," I answered. I then began to sit up.
"That would be very helpful," replied Aunt Kayla. "Here let me help you get up."
Aunt Kayla helped me up and over to a chair. After I sat down I began to describe the house Iona was about to enter. It was an old Victorian house. It was painted green, but the paint was very faded and there was ivy on the walls. The front door had a dragon's head for a doorknocker. The trees around it looked like hardwoods and were changing color from green to red and orange.
"That will help some," she stated.
"So what's the big deal? Why would the tattoo artist be so concerned that Iona would remember about him?" I asked.
"The person that tattooed Iona did so illegally. The one on your back isn't the problem, it's the other one that is an issue," stated Aunt Kayla.
"Why?" I asked.
"Unlike your first, tattoo this one will work with everyone. Because it is invisible to the naked eye it has been used in the past on people without their knowledge. It has been used to turn a woman into the perfect prostitute. She will be highly sexed and safe from disease and unwanted pregnancy," she explained. "It's for this reason that it was placed on the banned list of spells."
"Apparently Iona got it willingly. I didn't sense that she was forced to get it," I said.
"I believe you. I will send in a report of what happened along with your description of the house. There aren't many people out there who could do this spell. It must be copied exactly, even the slightest mistake in the font could render the spell useless," she said, "The spell will give the person very high sexual urges. It looks like Iona used a counter-spell to control it. When she switched bodies with you she released it to make you a more willing sexual partner."
"So when she lowered my sexual urges in the airport, she was just recasting the counter-spell?" I asked
"Exactly. There is nothing I can do about it, as I don't know the exact counter-spell she used. I might actually make your situation worse," she stated softly.
"You mean my sexual urges would be high all the time?" I asked.
"Yes. Again, that is why this sort of tattoo spell is banned," she said.
I was barely able to control them now. I shuddered at the thought of being driven by carnal lust!
"You have any other questions?" asked Aunt Kayla.
"Not that I plan on doing so in the near future, but how can I get pregnant, assuming I want to?" I asked.
"That's simple, you just give yourself permission to get pregnant," she said with a smile.
"How do I do that? Bend over and tell my ovaries 'go for it girls'?" I asked with a laugh.
Aunt Kayla laughed, "Not exactly. All you have to do is think about it and your body will do the rest."
"I have one more question. Will the person who did these tattoos be angry with me for getting them in trouble?" I asked
"Maybe, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. They'll have to go through me and I won't let them hurt you," she stated firmly.
"Thank you. I feel a bit better knowing that," I said softly.
The last thing I did before going to bed was to address the letter to my family and put it with the outgoing mail. I wondered how they would react. I pondered this until I drifted off to sleep.
Part Six
A few days later Aunt Fiona and I were walking along the ocean. I was slowly adjusting to my situation. I needed to get my life going again. Thankfully money wasn't a problem as Iona had a huge trust fund.
"Have you given any thought to what you want to do with the rest of your life?" asked Aunt Kayla.
"I would love to go back to the type of job I had before, but I now lack the documented education and experience," I answered.
"I have contacted a friend at San Diego State and she said that you can start in the fall semester if you want."
"I'd like that," I said, "However, short of joining the Navy again I don't see anyway to regain my reputation as a top troubleshooter."
"Lets take it one step at a time. You may decide to take a different path," answered Aunt Kayla.
"You're right. I am just a bit frustrated," I exclaimed, "Even if I go back to my old career I don't know if I will be taken seriously as a woman. It's not exactly a progressive environment"
"Did you ever run into any women who did the same work?" asked Aunt Kayla.
I thought about it for a moment, "No, I can't think of any," I answered
"You can be a trendsetter," she stated. "It's just something that I want you to think about."
I paused as we reached the end of the road, "I really appreciate all your help. I don't think I could get through this without it. It's a bit overwhelming at times," I said. I felt my eyes watering up with tears.
"You are strong you'll get through this," she stated, and she hugged me.
I wiped my tears away, "Thanks," I answered, "I can't believe how quickly these emotions take over."
"There is nothing to be ashamed about," explained Aunt Kayla. "Now, why don't we go home, we need to be at Jacob's house in an hour."
"How much does he know about us?" I asked as we started back to the house.
"He knows I have certain powers and knowledge. I haven't told him everything about you yet. That is up to you," she answered.
"If you trust him I don't see a problem. Besides it would be nice to have someone else whom I can talk to about this," I replied.
"I was hoping you would say that. Jacob is very understanding," she commented
Part Seven
We arrived at Jacob's house a little before six. Aunt Kayla said that he had a thing about promptness. His house was just a few blocks down the road, so we had walked there. There was a second story deck in the front with a great view of the ocean.
Jacob greeted us as we walked towards his front door. "I get so few visitors these days that I can't wait to see them in!"
We both laughed. He gave us each a big hug and welcomed us into his house. His home was decorated in "early port call", in that it was filled with a mismatch of items he had collected from all his travels. I felt immediately at home! The photographs that covered the walls also fascinated me. They were a visual history of his life and adventures.
"What do you think of my home Iona?" he asked.
"It's wonderful. Everything is so incredible I don't know what to look at first!" I exclaimed.
He turned to Aunt Kayla with a confused look on his face, "This doesn't seem to be the young woman you described to me Kayla!"
"She isn't," replied my Aunt, "You'd better sit down Jacob, even you might be shocked by her story."
I sat down across from Aunt Kayla and Jacob. Aunt Kayla then went onto describe how I became Iona. I watched Jacob as she told him the whole story. He didn't show any emotions, just the occasional glance over at me.
When she finished he looked at me and smiled, "And to think that I thought I had heard it all. My dear Iona, I know that you have been through a lot and still have a long way to go until you find peace, but I want you to know that you can count on this tired old man as your friend," he said.
I broke out in a big smile while wiping tears out of my eyes and got up and hugged him, "Thanks," I replied
"So, you really used to be in the Navy?" asked Jacob.
"Yes, I did one tour and then got out," I answered.
"Splendid! Now I have someone to share sea stories with!" he exclaimed.
Dinner was wonderful. I felt so relieved that Jacob was so understanding about my transformation. After dinner we moved to his deck for desert. Jacob poured us each a brandy. He said that he liked to share the "good stuff" with friends.
"Oh Jacob, this is magnificent!" stated Aunt Kayla, after she took her first sip of the brandy.
"It should be! It's even older than I am!" he answered with a slight chuckle. "So, Iona, what are your plans for the summer?"
"We were discussing that earlier. I am enrolling at San Diego State in the fall, but I haven't made any plans yet for the next few months," I said. I sipped the brandy and it was wonderful!
"I have a friend who owns a few restaurants down in Pacific Beach and he always could use another pretty young woman to work for him," he said. "I know you can do much more, but it might be good for you."
"You know, Iona, that isn't a bad idea. You do need to learn how to interact as a woman," added Aunt Kayla. "Being a waitress or barmaid would give you lots of opportunities to interact with others."
I thought about it for a moment. They were right I did have a lot to learn about being a woman. I knew Pacific Beach, or as we locals called it, PB, pretty good, "You're both right. I just don't know about working in PB. I used to go there a lot as Roger. I'm not sure I want to subject myself to what I saw those girls go through!"
"I'm sure you were a perfect angel!" said Aunt Kayla with a sarcastic tone.
I smiled, "Not by a long shot. I guess I could look at this as my penance for my past crimes against humanity!"
"Or at least crimes against barmaids!" joked Jacob, "So, I'll call my friend tomorrow. He owes me a few favors."
"I have a question. How did the two of you meet?" I asked Jacob and Aunt Kayla.
Jacob and Aunt Kayla looked at each other; they gave the "you go first" to each other. Finally Aunt Kayla started to talk.
"We met through a mutual friend almost 15 years ago," explained Aunt Kayla.
"Closer to 16 years," added Jacob.
Aunt Kayla gave him a stern look, "Who's telling her the story?" she asked, and them broke out in a smile.
"Your aunt sure is touchy isn't she?" said Jacob as he leaned over towards me.
"Anyway, as I was saying, I was introduced to Jacob right after I moved here. I only knew one person in San Diego, that was Marny, and she didn't live here year-round," said Aunt Kayla.
"Who is Marny?" I asked.
Aunt Kayla smiled, "One story at a time dear! Let's just say that she is an old and dear family friend."
"I don't mean to interrupt but I spoke with her the other night and she would like to see you this Tuesday," stated Jacob.
"The usual place?" asked Aunt Kayla.
Jacob nodded.
"I suppose that you two are going to leave me in the dark about her!" I said.
"All in good time, my dear," smiled Jacob.
"Anyway, back to the story. Marny had met Jacob years ago when he was a ship's captain and she felt that we would become great friends," explained Aunt Kayla.
"She was right! We became great friends almost immediately!" stated Jacob.
"So, will I get to meet her this Tuesday?" I asked.
"Absolutely my dear," said Jacob, "I told her you were staying with your aunt. Now that I know your complete story I am positive that she will want to meet you!"
We talked for another hour before it was time to leave. I didn't get any more information out of either Jacob or Aunt Kayla about the mysterious Marny. They seemed to enjoy fending off my attempts to get further info out of them.
That night I did a search on the Internet. I found that Marny meant 'from the sea' in Scandinavian. I had some wild thoughts in my mind about Marny. I debated if her name had any significance. With Aunt Kayla's friends and family I have learned to not take anything for granted. I drifted off to sleep thinking how interesting life was as Iona.
End of Part II
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