The Designer Pt. 02 Ch. 09

"Of course there is a God," Betsy said, "but you'll come to your own understanding in time. My mother was sure that God hated her, hated beings like her. With her father, and the cultic teachings of the Priesthood, it would be a surprise if she didn't feel that way."

Kelly blinked, listening attentively to her mother, but confusion rolling through her eyes as she listened to her mother speak.

"Kelly you've obviously been using your power," she said, trying to help her understand "I have the same power, though I have only used a few times. My mother protected me from the evil of the Priesthood and the dark spirits that had corrupted their leaders. It cost her deeply, maybe even her soul."

Becky quieted and lifted her eyes up for a brief moment before lowering to look back to me, "My mother trained me not to use it for selfish reasons, and I have found no reason to use my powers. Bob loves me for who I am, not because of the power I possess."

Kelly and I nodded to indicate we'd heard her, and understood her. Then Kelly flushed as a blush of shame and guilt crossed her features and she leaned in and hugged her mother tightly.

"Kelly," Betsy said with a smile, "Do not be ashamed. Please dear, it is who you are, it is part of you. I only want you to understand it, and use it well."

Kelly nodded but leaned into her mother, crying quietly. I could sense her emotions as she started to understand how her power had bloomed. She thought of Jeremiah, and their first time, how she had felt. How his power had triggered her own, and in turned had influenced Lexi and Carmen. She couldn't express her feelings, but I was able to sense her turmoil, and pushed some calming thoughts in her direction.

"Alyssa, how do you understand your power?" Betsy asked, shifting her attention to me, as she consoled her daughter.

"I can read thoughts, I can push suggestions." I said confidently, "The better my connection the easier it is to suggest and the stronger the suggestion. I'm afraid Kelly has been one of my test subjects. Well all of us, Jeremiah and I communicate through thoughts regularly. I can also read and influence Lexi and Carmen."

"Only sexually?" Betsy asked, and I quickly drew back, feeling like it was an accusation.

"Oh stop, dear," Betsy said squeezing my hand, "We're all adults here. I love sex, and after Jeremiah's adjustments, I've been able to use my powers a tiny bit to draw Bob closer to me. I only asked, to see if you'd expanded testing into other areas."

"Well, I haven't had a lot of opportunity for controlled testing," I said, thinking the best way to test was scientifically, and her including Jeremiah suddenly was confusing to me. I kept chewing on that thought as she continued her questioning.

"Do you know your line?" Betsy asked, " I saw your face flash in recognition of Baraqiel."

"Penemue," I said, "and Jeremiah is a Yeqon."

"Of course," Betsy said, "I knew that of Jeremiah, he has his grandfather's power, but not his corrupt thoughts."

"You knew his grandfather?" I asked taken aback by her familiarity.

"Me? no... My mother knew his wickedness well, it's documented in her diaries." Betsy explained, "Be careful what you share with Jeremiah, there are some very dark tales there. He needs to know them, but with care. His father, it seems broke the corrupt cycle his grandfather embraced."

"Wait," I said, finally collecting my thoughts about Jeremiah's first meeting of Betsy and Bob, "This amulet you're wearing, it protects you?"

Betsy nodded, "Yes, but it also limits my own power. No power, angelic, spirit, or halfling, can affect me, or what I am touching. However, I can't project or use my powers while I wear it. So it is helpful. I often wear it when I want to be sure I won't be tempted by the dark spirits. Often, I need to wear it to read my mother's books."

"Why didn't you wear it when you met us the first time?" I asked, "I'm sure, with your knowledge of ... this ... you suspected that Kelly had changed, her life shifted so abruptly."

"I had it with me, in my purse." Betsy said, then sighed, "I wanted to trust my daughter, I didn't want her to be corrupted. But I had a feeling from her calls, that whomever had influenced her wasn't like the Priesthood. She kept talking about this Jeremiah, after she'd regained contact with me. I didn't know what Jeremiah was, but I felt that he was the only person that could change me, I wanted him to fix me."

"Fix you how?" I asked, honestly, I was missing something.

"My mother's hatred of everything that came with being a halfling. Her rejection of her powers. She used them to escape the darkness, but ... " Betsy stalled, as if unwilling to explain more about her mother.

Finally after a long pause, she explained, "She was bitter, angry and spiteful, especially when she was younger. She taught me how to hate, how to fight and how to always be on guard. It was tiring, and I didn't want to fight my own daughter. Surrender was the only way through... and I surrendered to Jeremiah."

"And last night..." I asked, leading her to continue.

"Jeremiah is a special boy," she stated with confidence and a quiet respect, "He treated both Bob and I so well. I had so much hatred in me, that Bob... Without Kelly near us, Bob was pulling away from me. Jeremiah recognized my struggle, and smoothed it out. He let me feel love and to love again. For that I trusted him a second time."

"So you knew all along," I said quietly.

"No," Betsy said, "Not the details, not about the pregnancy, not about the union of you five. That I understood better last night. I wouldn't have wished it for my baby girl," she struggled for a moment, then hugged Kelly tightly, rubbing her back, "But I know my girl is powerful, and I know she'll be a great wife, sister and mother."

"I want you to know," I said, feeling like I needed to confirm her feelings, "Jeremiah is the most caring man I've ever met. He made a mistake, out of ignorance, he didn't know his powers existed, he never knew his father. Once he realized what he'd done, he was tortured by guilt. He was determined to make things right."

"How did you come to know Jeremiah?" she asked, wanting to know more.

"We'd been friends since freshmen year," I answered," He knew I was a lesbian, and it didn't scare him away. He was always a loyal friend. I hated to see him feel so guilty about what he had done to Kelly and Lexi."

"What did he do exactly?" Betsy asked, curiously. I stiffened, unsure if I should tell her the whole story, and she saw my feelings, "It's done Alyssa, I accept that Kelly, as much as she is still the daughter I raised. She is not the same girl that left for college last fall. I'm sure college changed you too."

I nodded and looked at Kelly, checking to see if she was okay with me telling her story. She nodded and rested against her mother's side. I looked back at Betsy and took in a deep breath.

"When they first met, he lowered her morality curve, and limited her self-control. Basically making her seek satisfaction in anything pleasurable." I said, trying to coach my terms in clinical terms, not wanting to say...

"He made them into sluts." Betsy said.

"Yeah," I replied, "well, I don't this that was his intention. I think he was drunk, a bit horny, and Kelly was available. He wanted to console her, she was sad."

"I didn't like him at first," Kelly said quietly, "He seemed like any other college jerk, and I had just broken up with my boyfriend... funny, I can't even remember his name... " she shook her head as if casting off a bad thought, "But after we kissed, I felt an instant attachment to Jeremiah. Then this glow erupted out of me, and ... well.. we had sex."

"You awakened," Betsy said softly, rubbing her daughter's shoulder. "I should have told you, so at least you'd know what it was. I was hoping that you wouldn't be like me. I hoped you could be just normal."

We ended up tell the whole tale, Kelly unabashedly telling her mother of her first time with Jeremiah. How they both seduced Lexi and Carmen. How she felt hungry for sex, and more sex. I explained what Jeremiah had told me, about how he understood their morality curves, and how he changed them. I explained about our test to discover how his power worked, and how Jeremiah fixed me, enabling me to fully love him. We switched back and forth telling about our meeting at the hotel to fix Kelly and Lexi. How Carmen helped care for them. How Jeremiah healed Carmen's heart. How we found our connection. Everything. To Betsy's credit she took it all in stride.

"It could have been much, much, worse," Betsy said, "Jeremiah was reckless but his heart was in the right place."

"Mom," Kelly said, "I'm worried about my friend Jenn."

"Oh, why?" Betsy asked.

Kelly carefully told the story, "Well, one day while Carmen was in class, Jenn stopped by for a visit. Lexi and I seduced her, and ... "

"She had too much?" Betsy asked.

'Yes," Kelly nodded, "Carmen came back and had to drag us away from her. She was limp, unconscious. I didn't know about my powers, then, ... did I? Well this morning, Oh Mommy, I'm scared."

While Betsy quieted and comforted her daughter. I explained what happened this morning, and what I knew of Jenn's situation.

"It sounds like it might have been your influence." Betsy said, "It's mostly harmless in short doses, overwhelms the nervous system with serotonin. Mostly people find it incredibly pleasurable, mostly no long term effects. How has she been since then."

"That's the thing," Kelly said wiping a tear, "In the excitement of moving, I didn't see her again before we left. Her emails sound different. She talks about sex all the time. Found a boyfriend, and talks about moving with him to Nevada. It just doesn't sound like her."

"Oh dear, sounds like she's addicted." Betsy paled, "This talk of a new boyfriend and northern Nevada... that sounds like old school Priesthood influence. Does she have family close?"

"No, she's an orphan, like Lexi." Kelly said, suddenly more concerned for her friend.

"You need to get to her, as quickly as you can," Betsy said, "Jeremiah can fix her, and Alyssa can help."

"Well, Jeremiah is buying the RV today," I said, "We should be able to leave soon, we can stop by the school on the way to Montana."

"She can't leave until after summer semester," Kelly said, "but she's sounds like she's mostly blowing off the classes she's taking." Kelly started biting the tips of her fingers, under the nails, and I pushed a thought for her to stop. She did and just leaned into her mother.

"It will be alright, sweetie," Betsy crooned. We all sat in silence allowing Kelly to work through her feelings, and sadness. Betsy finally shifted and rose walking out of the room.

"Kelly," she said coming back in, "Would you do me the honor of wearing my wedding dress when you marry Jeremiah?"

She held a Bohemian style dress from the early seventies with embroidered detail on the lace. The top was liked a halter, shoulderless, and was heavily embroidered, the bodice was stunning as the beading drew the eyes to the narrow waist. There were layers of tulle & a net underskirt which made it look fuller. Kelly marveled, standing up and putting it to her chest, modeling it.

"Oh mother, of course," she cried, "It's perfect! Thank you!"

Kelly started to go in the backroom and try on the dress, when Betsy took her arm, "Dear, let Alyssa try on the dress."

"What, why me?" I asked standing tentatively, confused because my thin frame was so different from Kelly's curvaceous body.

"So she can see what it looks like on her, of course," Betsy said, holding the dress out to me.

"This is weird," I thought to myself, as Kelly looked on wide-eyed. I decided to go along with what Betsy wanted, and plastered a smile on my face, and said, "Okay..."

I grabbed the dress and went into the study where I was reading the diaries, shutting the door behind me. I looked at the dress, it was great condition for it's age. The beading was precise and I carefully laid it on top of the box of books. I pulled my skirt off my shoulders and stood in just my bra and panties, and then lifted the dress up and pulled it down. It didn't fit, I was too slim compared to Kelly's more generous curves. My smaller breasts left the bodice gaping, almost falling down if I didn't hold it up with my hands.

I sighed, frustrated, the whole thing made me feel undesirable. My coltish frame was better suited behind a library desk, or in a lab somewhere. Me, in a wedding dress? Well that was one reason I gave Jeremiah his ring back. I never liked being the center of attention, and was self-conscious of my body. I could never pull off such a role as blushing bride. It was better that Kelly would be marrying Jeremiah, she would make the better looking bride.

Feeling self-conscious and defeated, I walked back into the room. Betsy saw me and lifted the brown stone pendant from her neck, and placed it on the coffee table. I looked at her curiously, not sure what to expect any more.

"Oh, that is perfect," Betsy said as I pulled at the gaping bodice, confusion welled up at me at her words. Perfect was not a word I was expecting from anyone.

"Now, Alyssa, I want you to look at Kelly," Betsy said taking my hand.

Kelly stood up, with the same quizzical look that I'm sure my face was showing. She faced me, and looked at me. Her eyes betraying what I already knew, the dress looked horrible on me. I sighed and looked over at Betsy.

"Wouldn't it be better if Kelly wore this and looked in a mirror?" I asked as I felt Betsy's hand start to glow.

"Just a little bit of power, just to jump start you," Betsy said ominously, then continued in a low even tone, "I want you to look at Kelly, and like you pushed your thoughts earlier towards her, pull her appearance into you."

I did a double-take from looking at Kelly to Betsy.

"What?" I asked shifting my eyes between the pair.

"You are Penemue, beyond what you've discovered your line has other abilities," Betsy explained, "At least I think it does, you're the first halfling I've known besides mother. Try to pull Kelly's appearance into you."

I looked back at Kelly and took a moment to admire her lovely figure, full breasts, slim waist, trim abdomen, long legs... I tugged at them, using a bit of the glow of power that Betsy fed me, then feeling my own power pulse, I inhaled deeply.

Suddenly my view shifted, Kelly and Betsy grew taller, and grew fuzzy. I noticed the dress tightening around my small breasts as Kelly's eyes widened. She stared and I didn't know what was the matter. I whipped my head to look behind me, and noticed a halo of blonde hair flowing blurrily past my eyes. I dropped my gaze, and my arms were blurry, the dress was blurry. I looked up and squinted as I looked at blurry Betsy and back to blurry Kelly.

"Oh," Betsy said, "this might help." She reached up and took off my glasses.

Things snapped into focus, and I saw Kelly smiling in amazement. I looked down and my skin had a bronze tone to it, my fingers and hands were shapely. My breasts spilled out perfectly from the bodice of the gown, and it suddenly fit snugly, ... no... perfectly.

"Breathe dear," Betsy said.

I hadn't realized I was holding my breath and I exhaled, expecting everything to shift back. I realized that I was looking eye to eye with Kelly instead of being a few inches taller. I lifted my suddenly perfect hand to my hair and tugged a blonde lock in front of my eyes. I dropped it with a start then lifted both hands to cup my suddenly full breasts.

"What...?" I was speechless, why had Kelly read my thoughts, and spoken what I was thinking.

I hurried down to the bathroom, I turned on the light and leaned on the counter staring into the mirror at... Kelly.

"The fuck!?" Kelly's voice came out as I moved my lips, her lips.

I walked back out, and looked at Kelly and her mother as she watched me.

"I thought you could," Betsy said, "but seeing it is more amazing that reading about it."

"I did this?" I asked again hearing Kelly say the words but her mouth was closed.

Betsy nodded, "You can take on any shape you see, and hold that look indefinitely.

"Can I change back to me?" I said panickedly in Kelly's soprano, "I like me..."

"Push yourself back out," Betsy said, holding my hand.

I thought and pushed and exhaled and felt the dress deflate as the ground fell away. The room was blurry again, but more familiar type of blur, matching the world when I took off my glasses. I looked at Betsy and pulled inhaling, and suddenly the dress fit again, only differently.

"Oh dear," Betsy said looking at a reflection of herself in her old wedding dress, "it still fits!"

"Shiit...". I breathed looking at her response. The word sounding even more profane in her cultured tone expelling from my lips.

I pushed and exhaled, and then looked back at Kelly and pulled inhaling. Kelly started laughing as my body felt like it went through a roller coaster of elevation at the quick changes I'd made. Then Kelly leaned into me and hugged me.

"Oh Alyssa," she said, "it is amazing, you... are me."

"Well, no," I said, in her voice, "I'm still me, only looking like you. Well and talking like you."

I pushed back from her with a smile as I accepted what I'd thought was impossible. I turned around and modeled the dress. The twirl was executed better in my head, I stumbled a bit, my center of gravity had shifted, but I made it, then struck a pose.

"How do I look as a bride?" I asked with a cute Kelly sounding giggle.

"I look beautiful," Kelly said using her own mouth, "and you are beautiful too!! The real you I mean."

Suddenly I had to know. I pushed out, snapping back into Aly-form. I tugged the dress carefully off me, then pulled off my bra and pulled down my panties.

"I'm not sure that's necessary," Betsy said.

"We're all adults here," I said with a smile, looking at Kelly and pulling her into me.

I looked at Kelly as she smiled, "Perfect!"

I lifted my hands and felt my breasts, the nipples were Kelly's, I was well familiar with suckling them, and the feeling of touching them sent a jolt of arousal through my body. I lowered my hand and ducked my head down, combing my perfect fingers through my soft blonde muff. A touch sent a shiver through my nerves.

Naked and aroused, I looked at Betsy, "Do I have her powers too?"

"No dear," she said, deadpan, as I touched myself intimately, "just her nervous system."

I was suddenly a bit more jealous of Kelly, as I felt how her body responded to stimulus. Kelly's own power started to pulse as she watched me. Betsy reached and grabbed her pendant, then grabbed hold of Kelly's hand.

"We don't need to let this get out of control." Betsy said with a smile, "You two have plenty of time to experiment when I'm not present."

I expected to snap back into my normal form when Betsy put the pendant back on.

"Why am I still here?" I asked, "I thought touching the stone would stop our powers."

"It's a Baraqiel stone," Betsy said, "It only limits our powers, not yours."

I tried to assume Becky's form, forgetting that I was naked, but wanting to test. I couldn't change, her body was unavailable to me. I exhaled and pushed my own body back. I tried to shift back to Kelly, but with Betsy holding her hand, I couldn't shift back. Betsy handed me back my glasses and I slipped them back over my ears, pressing them up my nose.

"Fascinating," I said, lowering down to pick up my panties and bra and redressing, "So it is keyed to your line's powers, what about Jeremiah and I?"

"There are other stones," Betsy said, "this one my mother ripped from the high-priest's breastplate, right after she killed him."

"What?" I said stunned.

"It's all in mother's diaries," Betsy said, "She told me it was cathartic to write down all her sins. I suggest you study them closely. Learn from her mistakes, and help my daugher and Jeremiah."