The Magic of a Touch Ch. 02

"Messy spell, that. Why choose it over somethng more dangerous?" She didn't really care he had gotten this revenge; their prank could have killed him. It was long overdue anyway.

"I don't want to kill them, just teach them I won't be their target." Then he grinned as he sat. "And Hagath hasn't taught me anything worse yet. She's my only source for nasty spells." His mother laughed at that. She would like to meet this Hagath.

Jeremy spent the rest of his vacation sick in bed. At first he thought it was his siblings getting back at him for his little spell, but they had left him alone entirely, even running from him if they encountered him in the halls. It first started as a bit of chills and tingles along his limbs. Then he got the shakes that came with a Spring fever only without the temperature change. Then it was mild pain along every part of his body, and then excruciating. There was no end to this torture as he laid in bed and writhed. No one paid him any mind, not even his mother. She did say it would pass in a week or two but said nothing more on the subject. Meals were not sent in but he was not hungry anyway.

It was the fifth day when he door opened and Jeremy looked up to see a familiar face. "Hey there handsome. Hope you're feeling like shit."

He managed a weak smile. "Hey Fred. You look like I feel." They smiled as Fred came over to give him a soft kiss on the forehead. "You found me, huh?"

"Not hard when your mom sends an invitation to dinner. I didn't realize I would be coming to a breeding farm for insane spellcasters. Within ten seconds each of your sisters wanted to get into my pants and the twins tried." Jeremy felt a sudden flash of anger. "They won't be sitting or thinking about sex for a few weeks. But thanks for getting angry. Not angry at me for our little fun?" while he spoke flippantly, Fred was hoping Jeremy wasn't upset.

"Nope. I'm tantric like my mum. You knew that, didn't you?"

"I had an idea...and the fae told me as much."

"Huh. But no, I'm not mad. It was something that needed to be done and well, I liked it a lot. So how is your mum?" They talked for a bit until Jeremy started to shiver again.

"Ah. Since your family won't tell you, I will. You're entering you Change. You'll be a new man when you get better, the man I could see when I first met you." He leaned forward and whispered, "the man I want to fuck again when he's well. Rest up, handsome, you'll need it."

The actual change took another three days, Fred stopping in at least twice a day to talk and teach him a few nastier spells to use on his siblings and Jeremy taught Fred a few things to take back to his mom for her potion brewing. It was on that that thrid day that he woke with no pain or sweats or chills. He woke feeling great and sat up. First thing he noticed he was taller...much taller. His hands were larger with long slender fingers tipped in perfect pearl white nails. When he pulled back the covers he could see his shapeless body was replaced with a tightly muscled frame. Not big and beefy like all of his other brothers, but leaner, more elegant. He had a dusting of slivery blond hair on his chest and stomach and around his penis which was huge compared to the last time he reall cared about it. Standing, Jeremy looked in the full length mirror and wondered who stared back at him. Now standing at six feet tall and weighing in at about one hundred eighty pounds with no fat, Jeremy was far better built, but it was his face and head that caught his eye.

His eyes were a natural shade of emerald green so enticing even he was finding himself aroused by his mere glance. Finely arched brows of silver hair, a sensuous mouth begging to be kissed, handsome features and waist length silver hair that was full and fine with a soft wave. He had changed a lot in his Change. No longer the ugly duckling at all. With a wave of his hand a simple robe appeared and he put it on, it coming only to mid thigh. Then he left his room for a bite to eat. His eldest brother saw him as he walked down the hall. "Who are...Jeremy?" He was stuck stupid in the middle of the hall and thus in Jeremy's path.

"Yes. Now please move so I can get something to eat." His tone was neutral but his brother took it like a slap in the face and he leaped aside. There was something in his voice that demanded he be obeyed. Perhaps it was the new depth and richness that rolled out like the softest caress of a lover. "Thank you." Jeremy walked on by like his brother meant little to him, which was true.

The kitchen held a very nice surprise. Fred and Billy were in there, no shirts on, and cooking a breakfast that smelled great. He almost backed out of the room completely because Billy should not see him like this now, not after so short a time. His mother was also sitting at the table with Ginnie but the girl was faced away from him. One flick of an eye brow and Jeremy felt his body shiver as a polymorph spell hit him, changing him to his former self. "There you are honey. How do you feel?"

"Better mum. I assume intros have been made." Jeremy came over and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, kissed Ginnie's hand, and firm handshake for Billy, but Fred was kissed rather soundly and the man dropped the towel he had been drying his hands on. Had the normals been mages they would have felt the splash of magic as Jeremy cast a spell. Fred could not fight this one off as he had the lust spell; this one was far more potent since it had some energy behind it. "And a special hello to you. Thanks for flying all the way out here."

At first Fred was stuck on stupid, still looking like he was kissing. Then he shook his head and grinned. "You have to get sick more often if I get kissed like that for coming out here." Fred reached for him but Jeremy skipped out of the way with a smirk.

"Not in front of my mum, Fred." Said mum laughed at the sheer dumbstruck look on Fred's face. "That is a lesson in evil for you. Your mum would love it." Billy raised a brow. "His mum is a real hag. Like swamp witch evil hag that will curse you as soon as look at you and then maybe eat you for supper." The last was a lie as Hagath was mostly a vegetarian save for eggs and dairy.

"She is and she would like that. I on the other hand," Fred said and lunges, catching Jeremy around the waist and picking him off the ground, "think it appalling. Tease," he chided and Jeremy grinned as he was set down.

"I have never known you to be so open," said Tweedle Dum as the twins came in.

Jeremy's eyes hardened as he turned his gaze on them. "Because you have the mental and emotional depth of a thimble. If you could see past the end of your stubby noses and think past the attention span of a goldfish then you could have seen I am far more than you ever knew."

Billy was trying to suppress a grin but Ginnie was not so polite. She outright laughed at the stunned looks on their faces. "Why you little..."

"And if I hear about you trying to get into Fred's pants again, I will remove..."

"Quite enough dear," said his mum and he shut his mouth with a slight bow of his head. " Your brother is right. Your treatment of him has been rather harsh as of late and I believe his time at the academy has been very good for his character. I also believe he shall be going back there to finish off his schooling." The other siblings had only gone a year as was required in the magical world. It was expensive and the kids were always told they did not have the money to put them through the full four years. They didn't know that the family was well off. Jeremy didn't know. "Since Professor Tinker has asked for Jeremy to work side by side him in chemestry as his aide, the school will be waiving tuition in lieu of a paycheck. I do expect good grades, Jeremy, it is still a lot of money," she said to him with a stern but proud smile.

"Yes mum. Did he really ask for me?"

"He even sent a letter with one from the dean of students detailing the arrangements." Jeremy's smile was huge and infectious and he laughed as he hugged and kissed Fred, hugged and kissed his mother, hugged and kissed Ginnie, hugged and kissed Billy, and gave his sisters twin middle fingers. They stormed off in a huff. "Very nicely done, dear. Oh, Fred, the bacon." Fred jumped over to the frying pan.

After breakfast, the most cheery this house had ever had in Jeremy's memory, Billy and Ginnie went to get ready for work. Fred made sure they were gone and the sorceress canceled the spell. Jeremy stood to his new height and Fred's jaw dropped. "Thanks for the save mum. I need to learn a spell for that until next time I'm home."

"My pleasure dear. But do be careful with your sisters. You are stronger than them but they are better trained right now."

Fred chuckled and looked away. "That I doubt. Maybe for the higher magics, but Jeremy...he will surprise any who try him."

"A bit of prophecy, Fred?" How much had they talked while Jeremy was in bed?

"Not so much that as I know him. Not for long, but better than anyone in this house, yourself included." She conceeded the point. Without warning Fred flung a curse at Jeremy and he reacted without thinking and sent it flying back at twice the potentcy. When it hit Fred, who expected something a bit different, he burst into laughter and could not stop until he cast his own counterspell. "See?"

"Hmm, well, still be careful. I won't be having any more children thank the gods and I want the Tantric line to go on." Her smile turned to something Jeremy had never really seen. It was primal, visceral, and sexual. "The world needs a bit more seduction." Jeremy grinned and nodded. "Now, I know you just woke up but you leave tomorrow for school again." Jeremy sagged a bit. "I know. You just got up and have to get going. Fred will be taking you until you learn a teleport spell. I would say go pack your things, but none of it would fit. So, since this is the hormal realm, you should go do as normals do and go shopping. Fred, be a dear and help him. He'll get jeans and tee shirts if left to his own devices."

"Yes, ma'am. C'mon, Jeremy. Lets go get you something that will show those asshats at the snooty school they messed up when they looked down on you. Well, for more than you were short." Jeremy shook his fist at him but Fred knew there was no menace behind it. "Go get dressed." Jeremy jogged away. "May I ask a question, Sorceress?"

"Yes. You may not like the answer though."

"Now many fell in love with you this quickly?"

"All of them. It's in our blood and while it hurts, it's something necessary. Without that heart break how can the young ever find the caution to find the person suited for them?" Fred looked back at her. "And, child, while I see the two of you as good friends for many years, I see nothing of romance in the way your heart thinks right now. That, I am afraid, is prophecy." Fred nodded. He knew it would not last, but he wanted it to. Especially since that last spell was so potent he could think of nothing else but taking Jeremy into his arms and kiss him for hours.

Archie popped up as Jeremy was pulling on a pair of shorts, admiring the way his legs looked now that he had actual legs and not sticks. "So, Arch, what do you think?"

Archie looked him over and stuck out his tongue.

"That good huh? You'll get use to it. We leave for school in the morning so say goodbye to all the kittens you're leaving behind." The cat said nothing of course but proceeded to shred up an old pair of boxers into ribbons, sign he was not happy. "Sour puss." Jeremy could find nothing that would fit as he was use to. His biggest tee shirt was now skin tight and he was about to change it when he chanced a look in the mirror. It clung to every muscle and if he raised his hands he could see his clearly defined abs and the soft downy hairs. "Huh. I could get use to this."

* * *

Jeremy looked at the gates of the school and the returning students. He had come here only months ago as an outcast with very little talent for spellcasting, had left an apprentice after his first year and was back as an entirely new person. Archie sat the looking around and then just vanished as blink cats tend to do. Hiking up his bag, as floating them in on the first day was tacky, Jeremy went to the registration building and waited in the slow moving lines. He saw old classmates he would not share classes with since he had jumped up a rank, but he didn't care. None were friends of his anyway.

"Jeremy Dream-Mender?" came a voice. He spun and saw the face of the lovely young lady who had told the sneering girls to lay off even as she wished him luck. "Wow, this is something."

"Hi... I don't even know you name and yet I wish I had asked. Not many ever had something nice to say in my defense." He went a bit wide eyed as she let a few students pass so she could stand next to him.

"It's Darcy, Darcy Bloodwraith." Jeremy nodded and then realized that the Bloodwraith family was notoriously into the darkest arts as their blood was mingled with all sorts of dark entities. "By the look you've heard of my family."

"I have. And I can't say there has been much nice said about them. Black sheep?"

"Totally. My mum hates me since my Father had an affair with a succubus and I popped out." Jeremy tried to cover his snicker. "Go ahead. Laugh, it's better than some of the other reactions. You got laughs from teasing, I got people moving conveniently out of may path."

"Fellow outcast?" She nodded and he gave her a full on winning smile that every young lady within ten paces just stared at.

"Do you know that your smile is mesmerising? I'm immune to the magical parts you haven't learned to control yet, but still it's a lovely smile. All those ninnies," she said gesturing to around, "don't know who you are but want to get to know you very much." Jeremy looked all around at each stunned girl and turned a bit red. "They don't even realize that they know you and treated you like slime."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I know a fellow tantric mage when I see one. I may not have the full power of my birth mu, but I can charm the pants off any man I want...and I won't eat them after." Jeremy snickered. "But you have an aura I have only seen with someone who dealt intimately with intimacy."

He had read there were sects of mages who could see an aura if the person was strongly affliated witha branch magic. It would give them an advantage when dealing with rogues to know where their strengths were. Jeremy had barely been able to scratch the surface of his powers in the tantric arts and already he could see the power it could bring him were he into gathering it. Seduce the right person and you could gain political power. Another could bring him wealth. And another could bring him magical power were he to head down the roads of the black arts and steal another's magics.

One of the ninnies came over with a sway and a show of very generous cleavage. "Darcy, who's your friend?"

Jeremy rolled his eyes. Archie chose that moment to pop up on the girl's head and urinate. She screamed to the high heavens and fled as Archie jumped to the ground and began licking himself as if pleased. "Good timing, Arch."

"So this is the infamous Archibald. Terror of the girls dorms." She knelt and held out her hand for him to sniff. He did and then consented to be pet.

"Yup, you have unholy powers. He tolerates me." Darcy grinned up and Jeremy could swear her smile was the most lovely thing out there.

"Why did we never talk before?"

"You're a journeyman and I was a novice. No chance." She nodded like that was true. "But we may see each other. Professor Tinker asked me to be his apprentice," he said with a bit of a lift to his chin.

"Novice to apprentice in one day. Who did you sleep with?" she asked under her breath.

Jeremy looked around and whispered, "A hagson." Darcy smothered a giggle and shook her head. "Truth. He's such a disappointment to his mother. Nice, charming, handsome, talented..." he trailed off so as to not offend her but she asked for the entire play by play. By the end she was wondering if it was rape or just the most interesting virgin sacrifice she had heard of.

"So you like guys?"

"Well, Fred is Fred...but there were some normals over break. A couple...Ginnie and Billy." And she had to hear about that too. It seemed she fed off the sexual energies ambient to creatures, not like his from the actual act. She did not eat, she lived off of the sexual energy.

"Tantrics are so much fun to be around. Oops, we're next."

They got their room assignments which was odd for Jeremy to be put in a room with another guy but apprentice rooms were few at the moment with the huge influx of new novices and smaller graduating class than anticipated. The thing was his window was right across the courtyard from Darcy's so he could talk to her all hours of the night if they did it quietly. When he was unpacking his things and removing his robe his room mate came in with five suitcases in tow, dragging them since he had no help. Jeremy grabbed two and then the one around his neck. "Thank you so much. God those things are heavy. I wish Pop had enough to spring for a bag of holding." The guy was taller still then Jeremy but built like he should be on an American football or British rugby team. Muscular, thick bodied and close to seven feet tall. There was something odd about the way he would not meet Jeremy's gaze.

"They are handy. You must be my room mate. I'm Jeremy." He stuck out his hand.

"Graeboe." He did not accept the hand shake. "Umm, can you tell me where the dressers are?"

Jeremy was a bit unsure what to say since they were right in front of him. Then he leaned a bit forward and looked into Graeboe's eye. They were colorless orbs of black. "Umm...I would say two strides for you straight forward. Bed to your immediate left although they may want a bigger one for you. Mine is five paces to your right. Desk at the foot of each bed with chair. Shelves above each bed for whatever."

"Thanks. I'll try not to bump into things too much. With accurate directions I get around well enough but things that move sometimes get bumped."

"Sounds like my brother when he's drunk on holiday. Did the school appoint a guide for the first few days?"

"They...uh...no. Too busy they said. You don't seem to put off by my eyes."

"Took me a second to wonder why you would ask where the dresser was. Blind curse?" Jeremy helped him put his things away, telling him where each item was being put.

"From birth. Pop was a hedge wizard and mom...well she was a hill giant." There were not many half breeds here at the school but Jeremy could see where this would lead. Hill giants were cruel creature who hunted at night and slept during the day, having developednight vision so accute they could not stand the light of a single candle. Had he been born with that vision the curse would be necessary. "Somehow I came out with magics few here in Britain know about, so they sent me here." Jeremy looked curious until Graeboe rolled up a sleeve, showing runes carved into his flesh. "Each is a vision that is given to me by Aegis and I scar it into my flesh as is required of a mystic."

"Mystic? The Herbology teacher is a mystic. Shall I introduce you?" Graeboe swayed and sat heavily on the bed which grew to suit him just fine. "Are you okay?" Jeremy rushed to his side.

"I just never had anyone care enough or be this nice."

Jeremy placed his hand on the half giant's massive shoulder. Like the hills he was descended from it was solid. "I think I know why we were roomed together. Had you seen me two weeks ago and now you would see two different people. I have agood idea what it's like to be teased. I could barely light a candle then."

"Sorcerer?" Jeremy nodded. "But you seem so nice."

"That doesn't count for much in the magical world I'm afraid. But I found out how to break down my block and not too late either. I turn twenty in a few weeks. Young for my Change for any other family other than my own. So you're unpacked. Lets go meet with Professor Brumblebark."