Transformative Nights

Charmed Shaman

Leaving Jonathan’s room, I felt a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension settle in my chest. The way he had fought against my commands—it was rare, intriguing. What would our journey together be like if he could resist me so effectively? I shook my head, clearing the thought. There was no time to linger on uncertainties. I needed to move quickly. Striding through the hallway, I made my way to my quarters and changed into a tailored black suit, sharp and deliberate. It was time to summon Rose.

From the drawer of my mahogany desk, I retrieved a device—a unique piece designed by my late Ariane. Unlike the widespread magical communication tools now common, this was the original blueprint, a true masterpiece that remained solely in my possession. The runes engraved along its sides hummed with energy, interwoven with ancient fairy gems, relics from a race so elusive they had become the stuff of legend. This device operated outside of the magical communications hub, untraceable and secure.

“Hello,” came a soft, lyrical voice from the device. I didn’t waste time with pleasantries.

“Rose, is the pill ready?” I asked.

“Ah, Chai-Hao! I just pulled it from the cauldron and was about to pop over,” she trilled. Moments later, the room shimmered as Rose materialized, her blue-green ombre hair drifting behind her, perfumed with the scent of wildflowers. I always marveled at the ease with which she did that, a skill Ariane would have been endlessly fascinated by. The memory stung for a heartbeat before I pushed it aside. If Ariane were here, I wouldn’t need to spend a fortune on these transport spells. But Rose’s skills were unmatched, and for that, she was invaluable.

She held out the small pill, the culmination of countless hours and rare ingredients. “You’re very lucky, Chai-Hao,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I recently found the rare herbs that make this ritual pill palatable. Sweet, even. And thanks to my travels, my powers have increased, so I’m quite eager to see how Jonathan’s soul journey turns out.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Well, I would thank you, but for the price you charged, I think that’s gratitude enough.”

Rose laughed, brushing off the comment as she examined the trinkets and artifacts scattered around my office with childlike curiosity. “Jonathan…” I started, pausing as my thoughts aligned. “He and I have strayed a bit from my original plans. He may act aggressively, trying to assert himself.”

Rose’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Chai-Hao, I’ve seen and heard it all. Men of every kind have tried their words and wiles on me. I’m not worried about someone like him,” she said, waving away the concern.

“Good.” I nodded, reassured, as I turned to the door. “Then we proceed.” Without another word, I left the room, the sound of Rose’s quiet laughter trailing behind me as I made my way down the hall to Jonathan’s room.

The air grew heavier with each step, anticipation thrumming in my veins.

With a soft knock, I pushed open the door and stepped into Jonathan’s room. My eyes landed on him, seated on the edge of the bed with a half-eaten meal in front of him. He hadn’t finished; which caused a frown to etch across my brow. The tension in the room was palpable, a current humming just beneath the surface.

“You should finish your lunch, Jonathan,” I said, my voice a low, measured purr. “You’ll need your strength for what's to come.”

He stiffened, a shiver rippling across his shoulders. For a moment, defiance sparked in his eyes as he forced himself to look up at me. “I’m not hungry,” he replied, his tone flat but brave.

A smile, sharp and predatory, curved my lips as I closed the distance between us in a heartbeat. The air between us crackled as I leaned in, close enough for him to feel my breath. “Oh, but you will be,” I whispered, tracing a line down his neck with my fingertips, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Finish your meal. Now.”

My command was absolute. I watched as his will wavered and broke; his hand lifted almost involuntarily, and he began eating the rest of his meal with mechanical precision. I stood back, satisfied, as he chewed, his eyes dark with resentment and confusion.

“Good boy,” I said, letting my fingers trail through his hair. The praise sent an unexpected flush through him, and I didn’t miss the way he swallowed hard, fighting against whatever unwelcome emotions my touch elicited.

“Now then,” I said, stepping back and extending my hand. “It’s time for your journey of self-discovery to begin. Come with me, Jonathan.”

His eyes darted to my outstretched hand, wary and reluctant. I saw the conflict playing out in his gaze—every instinct urging him to fight, to resist. But he knew better. Slowly, he placed his hand in mine, the contact electric and charged. My fingers closed around his, firm but not cruel, and I pulled him up with ease.

Blood rushed to his head, making him sway slightly. I steadied him with a hand on his lower back, feeling the tension coil in his muscles. “Easy now,” I murmured, voice low, close enough for him to hear the unspoken challenge. “We can’t have you fainting before we even begin.”

Jonathan’s jaw clenched, a small act of rebellion that only fueled my amusement. I guided him out of the room, my arm around his waist as we moved through the dimly lit corridors. The polished wooden floors creaked beneath our feet, and the flickering light from the wall-mounted lamps cast shadows that seemed to dance along the rich tapestries.

We moved faster as we neared our destination, my steps lengthening into a near-glide. The hall blurred, the walls melting into a seamless rush of dark wood and woven scenes. I felt Jonathan tense, his breath hitching as I swept him forward at an inhuman speed. When we finally stopped, we stood in the training room—a cavernous space lined with mirrors and an impressive array of weapons, from ancient swords to sleek, modern firearms. The polished floor gleamed under the muted lighting.

I released his hand and stepped to the center of the room, turning back to meet his gaze. “This is where you’ll begin to unlock your potential,” I said, the anticipation tightening in my chest.

Jonathan’s brow furrowed, confusion and wariness etched into every line of his face. “What potential? I’m just a regular guy.”

I laughed, the sound rich and low. “Oh, Jonathan. That’s what we’re here to find out.” I circled him, my eyes tracing his form as he shifted uneasily under my scrutiny. “Regular, you say? I think not. There's something special about you, Jonathan. I sensed it the moment I caught your scent”

“What are you talking about?” he said, frustration lacing his words. “I’m just a debt collector. There’s nothing special about me.”

I stepped closer, leaning in until my voice was a whisper against his ear. “Your blood tells a different story,” I said, the dark note in my tone daring him to challenge it. “It calls to me too strongly for you to be just average. There’s power in you, and I intend to draw it out”

Before the meaning of my words could fully register, I moved, pinning him against the mirrored wall. His eyes widened as I pressed into him, a heat building between us that neither could ignore. My thumb brushed his lips, tracing them slowly before parting them to slip a small, sweet-tasting pill into his mouth.

“These are usually bitter, Jonathan” I said, my voice laced with playful menace. “But I had the shaman make this special for you. It cost quite a fortune, so do try to appreciate it.”

Jonathan’s eyes sparked with a challenge. “I’d appreciate it more if you backed off,” he managed, his voice steadier than I expected. I chuckled, stepping away just as Rose entered the room. Her presence was as commanding as always, wrapped in a cream-colored dress accentuating her quiet grace.

Jonathan’s eyes lit up as he saw her, a smirk forming on his lips. “Oh my?” he said, stepping forward and pushing past me. “A woman as stunning as you crossing my path? I’d allow myself to be kidnapped a thousand times over for that honor.” He cast a glance back at me, his bravado clear. The room crackled with tension as if it were daring me to react.

Rose giggled, a sound that managed to be both youthful and knowing. “Oh my, you certainly are magnetic,” she said, eyes twinkling with amusement.

Jonathan seized the moment, running a hand through his wavy red hair as he met her gaze. The smile he flashed her before he took her hand, could melt the coldest hearts. He spun her gently, cause the fabric of her dress to flare out in a graceful arc. “I meant every word,” he whispered, pulling her close enough to feel the heat between them.

Rose’s cheeks flushed, though she composed herself quickly. “I’m only here to work,” she said, though the flush of her cheeks and the slight tremble in her voice hinted at more.

Jonathan leaned in, positioning himself so their reflection stared back at them from the mirrored wall. “And I’m here to be worked,” he murmured, his eyes locking onto hers in the glass. The room seemed to hold its breath.

I crossed my arms, watching the exchange with a smirk that held both amusement and a hint of challenge. He was playing a dangerous game, one I was more than ready to win.

I watched as he twirled the end of Rose's hair between his fingers, his touch slow as he traced the curve of her face. “Your eyes are striking,” he murmured. “I can’t decide which is more captivating—the blue or the green.”

Her breath caught, but she recovered quickly, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. “I have lived too long for such antics to work on me.”

Yet here we are I thought to myself, it doesn't even look like you are trying to resist. Then again, I think even I would have been swept up too, there is something different about him when he has his eyes set on you it seems.

Raising an eyebrow,he leaned in so their faces were entirely to close for my liking. “Too long? Impossible. A beauty like you could have only graced this world for twenty years at most.” Her pale skin flushed a deeper red, and a soft giggle escaped her lips.

“Twenty years?” she repeated, a note of disbelief mingling with amusement. “I haven’t been swept away like this in at least twenty decades.”

Their gazes locked, and the charged silence between them snapped like a tether. Their lips met in a kiss that started tender but promised something far too deep for my comfort. Just as the moment threatened to spiral into something that would truly anger me he became unsteady.

“Jonathan,” I said softly, my voice slicing through the room like a blade.

I was beside him in an instant as his knees buckled, catching him before he could crumple to the floor. My gaze met Rose’s, an emotion I quickly masked flashing through my eyes. She straightened, touching her lips absently as she looked at Jonathan, now limp in my arms. The ritual had begun, and the journey would soon unfold, whether he was ready for it or not.