Magical Mate Chapter 1: The Curse

,,We´re going to get an interesting one this afternoon.", Fiona said as Senel walked by her desk in the storeroom.
,,One for Mithos?" He smiled as he found the box he needed. ,,He gets a lot of the interesting ones."
,,Nope." His boss grinned at him and tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. ,,You´re the only one who will be able to help this poor customer."
,,When you say it like that, I start to worry. I remember the last one only I was able to help. The haunted toaster?" He rolled his eyes. ,,If it´s like that, I am not doing it."
,,It´s not like that.", Fiona reassured him, and then she smiled. ,,In fact - I can promise you that you'll really enjoy at least part of it."
Senel wasn´t sure if he liked her smile. Still, it wasn't smart to argue with a psychic. So he just took his box and went back out. Mithos was lounging behind the counter, a magazine spread out in front of him.
,,Fiona says we have an interesting one coming in this afternoon."
,,Good." Mithos puffed out a bit of smoke and flipped a page. ,,One more lady looking for a book on how to read tea leaves and I think I might just scream. Is this customer for you or me?"
,,Me.", Senel said and Mithos sat up.
,,Really? Your interesting customers are always very interesting."
,,That's what worries me." Senel put the box down and started restocking the jars that stood behind the cash register. ,,Why are we having so much worm dung in stock for the last few weeks? You haven't been telling customers it's an aphrodisiac again, have you?"
,,It is if they use it right."
,,According to you anything is an aphrodisiac if you use it right."
,,Exactly."
Senel didn´t have time to resort: The bell over the front door jingled and a young woman stepped into the shop. She looked apprehensive but also determined. It was a combination Senel had seen many times before.
,,Can I help you?", he asked as the woman approached the counter.
,,Um - I hope so.", the womand replied softly with a smile that made Senel´s heart do a strange skip. ,,I have a... very serious problem and one of my friends told me that maybe there were some people here who could help me."
Senel glanced at Mithos who frowned and tugged at his ponytail. Ask Fiona, he meant, but before either one of them could stir a step, her voice echoed from the back room:
,,Shirley send her! She´s fine!"
The young woman blinked in surprise. ,,It´s our boss.", Senel explained. ,,Fiona."
,,The psychic?"
,,Ah, so Shirley told you that?" Mithos smiled and Senel saw their customer blink at the sight of Mithos´ sharp teeth. ,,Then she does trust you. I´m Mithos Yggdrasil and this is Senel Coolidge. How can we help you?"
,,I´m Nel." The woman bowed her head a little and Senel noticed the braid swinging down her back. It was unusual these days, but not mora usual than her amethyst eye color - Senel wondered if they were contact lenses of some kind. ,,I - have a curse."
,,What kind of curse?", Mithos asked and Nel pushed up her sleve. Silk, Senel noticed, and then his eyes widened as the mark on Nel´s upper arm became visible.
Curse marks were usually small, easy to get rid of. This one was huge, encircling the whole of Nel´s upper arm the pattern seeming to twist and shift even as Senel looked at it. If it was that big, then-
,,That's a serious curse," he said. ,,Those sorts usually require that you pass them on to someone else- someone who accepts the curse."
Nel turned pale. ,,So I can't get rid of it without cursing someone else? Where would I find someone who would want to be cursed?"
,,Depends what the curse does," Mithos said, blowing out another whiff of smoke. ,,You'd be surprised what people are willing to put up with for money. What does yours do?"
Senel looked around the shop. ,,Are we allone here?"
Heero moved around the counter to flip the lock closed and pull the shade. ,,Now we are."
,,It does this.", Nel said and closed her eyes.
A moment later, a large black wolf, in a silk shirt and what were more than likely designer pants, sat on the floor looking up at them.
,,A were curse!", Mithos breathed. ,,Damn, those are rare!"
,,Well, that gives us someplace to look." Senel headed for the bookshelfs. ,,Can you turn back right away?" He asked and ran his fingers along the shelves, looking for the book he needed.
,,Yes.", Nel answered, aparrently already having done so. ,,I can change at will."
,,And you want to get rid of this curse?" Mithos asked incredulously as Senel found the book he needed and yanked it off the shelf. "Most people would kill for one of those."
"I have to get rid of it."
"Why? Do you have a fiancé who's allergic to dogs?"
Nel shook his head and reached into the top of her shirt, pulling out a necklace with an intricate-looking pendant. "Because of this."
Mithos blew a smoke ring in surprise and Senel nodded as the pieces fell into place. "You're a Pride."
"Exactly. I can already shift forms. And the wolf isn't mine." Nel dropped the necklace back into her shirt and shivered. "It feels- wrong- and the rest of the clan won't accept me unless I'm in my true form."
"Do they know about this?" Senel asked.
"Yes. I have time until the next full moon to get rid of the curse or they'll outcast me." Her desperation was obvious and Senel nearly reached out a hand to comfort her.
Squashing the impulse, he turned back to the book. "Two weeks then. Who cursed you? Do you know?"
Nel shook her head. "I'm related to some of the higher ranking members of the pride. My grandmother says she thinks that's why I was cursed."
"To cause shame to your family?" Mithos snorted. "How dishonorable of this unknown enemy."
"Well, it shouldn't be hard to find someone who wants this sort of curse," Senel continued flipping pages. "The were curses are highly valued. You could possibly even sell it off."
"No-" Nel protested. "To do that I'd have to advertise and I can't do that to the Pride. My grandmother was very specific- I have to keep this quiet. That's why Shirley sent me to you. I'm willing to pay to have someone take it from me - I just need it gone."
"Do you know anyone who would want one?" Senel asked.
"I only know Pride. No one wants a different shape than their own."
"Among your people- but there are humans who would value it," Mithos assured him, "silly things that they are."
"Keep a civil tongue in your head, lizard." Senel frowned. Mithos only blew a smoke ring at him.
"How- how are you doing that?" Nel asked.
"He's a dragon," Senel said before Mithos could reply. "He just likes messing with people."
Nel blinked. "But- you look human. Well, except for the teeth..."
"My dragon form is a bit large to fit in a place like this." Mithos told him. "It's always better to know how to camouflage oneself."
Senel snorted and stopped on a page. "Let me see the mark again." Nel obediently rolled up her sleeve. "What do you think, Yggdrasil?" He turned the book towards Mithos.
"Hmmm. It looks like the diagram. Amazing- we actually have a curse that's listed in that damn book. Does it say how to get rid of it?"
Senel scanned the page quickly and felt his face turn a flaming red. No wonder Fiona had said it was 'his' customer. He was tempted to go back there and strangle her.
"Just do it, Senel!" She hollered from the back.
"Just do what?" Mithos snatched the book and scanned the page. "Oh my..."
"This is usually your area," Senel told him and Mithos shook his head.
"I can't take this curse- I have an alternative form already, remember?" He gestured at himself. "This one. So it has to be you."
"What is it?" Nel leaned over the counter and Mithos helpfully pushed the book her way. Senel was glad that at least the client looked as embarrassed as he felt.
"This- this means what I think it means right? All this stuff about 'becoming one' and fooling the curse into switching bodies?"
"Yes," Senel said and took the book back, not willing to meet Nel´s eyes. "That's why it would be really helpful if you knew someone...?"
Nel shook her head. "Like I said, I only know Pride- and none of us are magicians. The book says it needs to be a magician who takes the curse."
"Senel's one of the best in the city," Mithos smiled. "I usually do the sex magic jobs, but he's really good at curse removals. I'm sure he can handle it- and the were form would be really helpful for him with some of the work we end up doing."
"Mithos!"
"I would be very grateful if you could help me," Nel turned the force of her gaze on Heero pleadingly. "I'll pay you- whatever sum you ask-"
Oh bloody hell. Senel shook his head. "I couldn't take money for this-" Not without feeling like he was taking huge advantage of Nel. Bad enough he was attracted to her...
"The curse itself is valuable," Mithos came to his rescue. "That will be enough payment."
"Is that okay?" Nel asked, her eyes still fixed upon Senel.
"The curse would be very valuable to me," Senel admitted. "But- maybe you'd like us to find someone else? I know other nice male magicians-"
"Senel, just agree!" Fiona called. "You are messing up the timeline!"
"Messing up the timeline?" Nel repeated, confused.
"She always says that," Senel rolled his eyes. "It just means by presenting alternatives, we're giving her a headache."
"You three were recommended to me- I'd prefer one of you. The dragon says he cannot. Can the lady?"
"She's not a magician," Senel frowned. "Which is a good thing, because then she'd rule the world."
"So it has to be you. Unless-" Nel paused. "Unless you are not free? Do you have someone who would feel uncomfortable about you doing this with me?"
"He's very free," Mithos smiled toothily. "Senel's too prickly for most of his fellow humans."
"Shut up, lizard." Senel sighed and grabbed a card from the small stack in the front. He knew when he was beat. Flipping the card over and he wrote quickly on the back. "This is my home address. I should have everything we need there by-" he paused a moment to consider- "Friday. If you still want to do this on Friday, come by at seven."
Nel took the card and tucked it into a pocket. "Friday at seven," she repeated and smiled, making Senel's heart do that skip again. "Thank you. I know this makes you uncomfortable, but you can't imagine how much you are helping me."
Senel nodded and moved around the counter to unlock the front door. "I'll see you on Friday, then," he said and opened the door. Nel stepped out to the sidewalk and then turned to give Senel a shy smile. She was slightly pink, Senel noted, which made him feel a little better about the whole thing.
"Look- I know you only have our word that this is how we can get rid of your curse. If I were you I'd check in with some of the other guys. Combatir is right down the street- he can give you a ..." Senel searched for the right word, "...second opinion."
Nel shook his head. "I trust you Mr. Coolidge. I'll see you on Friday." She headed down the street towards an expensive looking black sports car.
Senel sighed and headed back into the shop. Fiona had joined Mithos at the counter. She looked up and grinned at him.
"You could've given me a slightly better warning," he told her.
"And wreck all the fun?" She smiled at him. "Besides, why are you complaining? You're finally getting a were form! Do you know how many other jobs we'll get because of that?"
"But think of what I have to do to get it-"
Mithos rolled his eyes. "Sleep with a drop dead gorgeous shifter. You've seen some of the ones I've gotten stuck with- I have no pity for you."
Senel sighed and went to pick up the book on curses. Maybe he'd be able to find an alternative spell by Friday.
"You won't," said Fiona.
~*~
Senel triple checked the drawings, one little mistake and who knew what would happen. He couldn't afford to make a mistake. Bad enough he was already nervous about this whole thing. His attraction to Nel worried him- it felt all too much like he was taking advantage of a person in need- and he didn't like that feeling...
"Relax," said Mithos, leaning over his shoulder. "They're right."
"I know," Senel gave him a faint smile. "Don't want to mess up and have to do it twice is all."
Mithos chuckled, but didn't make the obvious reply, for which Senel was somewhat grateful. He gathered up the drawings, a small bag of supplies and headed for the door.
"Good night, Fiona!" He called.
"Everything's going to go fine!" Was her reassuring reply.
Stepping out on the sidewalk, he blinked. Nel was standing there, hands in her pockets, obviously waiting.
"I'm sorry," she said with a smile. "I know you said seven, but-" She lifted a shoulder. "Well, it's been a hard couple of days. I wanted to make sure everything was still going okay."
A hard couple of days? Senel wondered what that meant. "Just fine. I was about to go home and get set up- you can come help if you like."
Senel´s face lit up. "I'd love to."
They walked down the street and Senel noticed that Nel kept scanning their surroundings. Was she worried about an attack? If someone had set a curse on her it was possible that they'd attack as well. Or was it just Pride behavior? Senel hadn't spent a lot of time around shifters, other than Mithos. Were they all so jumpy?
"I'm very grateful that you're willing to do this for me, Mr. Coolidge."
"Senel," he corrected quickly. "Any changes in the curse since you came to us?"
Nel shook her head. "No- does that happen sometimes?"
"Sometimes- especially if the person who did the cursing knows that their victim is taking steps to get it removed."
"Nothing's changed that I can tell." Nel rubbed the back of her neck. "I'll just be happy to have it gone." She cast a wary look around again. "I know you don't know our ways, but I am low in the Pride ranks. Having this curse has made this time very difficult for me- even though it is not my fault, it is seen as a weakness."
That did make sense, given what Senel knew about animal behavior. No wonder Nel was jumpy- and maybe that was what she meant about having a hard time.
"I can understand that. Here we are." Senel led Nel into his building and up to his apartment. Nel looked around the room and then smiled at Senel.
"It wasn't what I was expecting," she said and Senel nodded.
"I know. No black walls or skulls on the mantelpiece- believe me, several of my friends have given me a bad time about that. A magician's apartment should look the part, or so they tell me."
"But if it's not what you're comfortable with, then you shouldn't."
"That's what I keep telling them- if you'll follow me we can get the workroom set up."
His workroom was the reason he'd rented the apartment- it was a small empty room with concrete floors and walls. He wasn't sure what it had been used for originally, but it was perfect for his work.
"What are the marks on the floor?" Nel asked.
"Protections. I'll activate them before we start. First though I have to draw these diagrams on the walls." Senel found his box of chalk. "How are you at copying?"
Nel took the paper he offered and a piece of chalk. "I can do this. Where does it go?"
"Back wall- it doesn't need to be big. Just put it in the middle."
Nel nodded and got to work. Senel picked up another diagram and got started on the side wall. This was odd, he told himself. He'd never had a client actually help with the set up before. Then again, Nel seemed to be really worried about getting rid of the curse. If helping Senel set up eased her fears, then it was a good thing.
"How long have you worked with Miss Fiona?"
"For a very long time. When I was about thirteen my guardian dumped me off in the middle of town. Fiona's mother found me and took me in."
"Dumped you off?" Nel repeated.
Senel frowned at his diagram; one of the lines was too thick. He thinned it down with a fingertip. "He was scared of me," he said bluntly. "Once I was old enough that the social services back home would believe I ran away, he dropped me off here."
"Was he related to you?"
"Stepfather. My mother died before I could remember her. Never knew my father."
Nel was silent for a moment, as if unsure how to take this information. Senel mentally cursed himself. It wasn't like him to talk about his background- but then he was nervous too.
"I didn't know my parents either." Nel's voice was soft. "But I had the Pride to take care of me. That was horrible of your stepfather."
"It was- but I can't blame him. Magicians aren't easy to raise. I'm sure you've heard the stories." He caught Nel's nod out of the corner of his eye.
"So- Miss Fiona's mother took you in- and trained you?"
Senel shook his head. "Fiona's mother was psychic- just like Fiona. Mithos did the training. He's a lot older than he looks."
"It must have been a little intimidating- having a dragon for a teacher."
"No kidding." Senel laughed. "I think he threatened to eat me once or twice if I messed up a spell."
"I'll bet that made you learn fast."
"You have no idea."
"I think I'm finished." Nel stepped back from the wall and compared her drawing to the diagram. "What do you think?"
Senel joined her and did the same. "Perfect. Here's the one for that wall."
The work went quickly with another pair of hands to help him. Senel stood by the door and surveyed the finished room. "I think we can get started."
"Where-" Nel cleared his throat. "Where are we going to...?"
"Oh-" Senel tried not to turn red. "In the middle."
"Can we..." Nel paused again and Senel noted the pink on her face. "Can we get some blankets or something? The floor looks hard."
Senel mentally smacked himself. "Of course. I'll go get some. I'm sorry- like I said in the store- I don't do these types of jobs- I didn't even think-" Well, it was more like he'd been trying not to think, but it was close enough.
Nel smiled, her relief evident. "That's okay- I've never done this before either. We'll be new together. How does it- I mean, what do we do next?"
"Well, I'll get the blankets and then we'll put a few things on your mark to encourage it to feel like moving. In fact-" Senel turned to his bag of supplies and pulled out two tiny jars. "If you could put these on your mark- cover it completely--while I go get the blankets?"
"Of course- does it matter what order they go on in?"
"No. I'll be right back."
Senel's mouth went dry when he came back into the room. Nel stood in the center of the floor, her clothes gone, her hair loose. She looked up from smoothing the balm over her mark and smiled impishly at Senel.
"I thought it would be easier to just get it over with." She said and stepped aside so Senel could put the blankets down.
"Ah," Senel managed and told himself to focus as he arranged the blankets in the center of the room. Then he carefully checked the mark to make sure Nel had covered it completely, keeping his eyes fixed on Nel's arm. When he looked elsewhere, he got distracted.
"I think we can get started." Nel nodded and dropped gracefully down onto the blankets. Senel took a deep breath, focused and called his protections into place. Nel's eyes widened and Senel wondered if she could see the energies swirling around the room.
He sat down on the blankets next to Nel. "Ready for the next part?"
"I think so." Nel was that light pink color again. "Like I said- I've never done this before."
Of course she hadn't-- how many people sleep with strangers to get a curse removed? Still, it was nice of her to say it, Senel thought and relaxed a little. "Like I said, it's the same for me," Senel assured her. "Mithos usually does these. But I promise you that I will do my best to rid you of the curse."
Nel's smile reappeared and she leaned over to kiss Senel lightly on the lips. "I know you will." She leaned back onto the blankets and Senel had to remind himself to breathe. "Come here."
~*~
Senel woke up the next morning with a sore back. Sleeping on the floor was never a good idea. He sat up, one hand clutching his head and squinted at his arm. The curse mark swirled around his bicep and he smiled. At least it had worked.
He was alone in the blankets- not a huge surprise. He remembered a soft whisper of thanks in his ear right after everything had- well, after the spell had been completed. He squashed the feeling of disappointment and got to his feet. Shower first.
As he waited for it to warm up, he leaned against the sink and studied his arm again in the mirror. He'd have to test it out sometime- but it would be better to do it in the shop under Mithos´ eye, in case anything went wrong.
The shower soothed his aches away, and after he was clean, dry and dressed, he went to go clean up his workroom.
Picking up the blankets, he caught a sudden whiff of something that smelled like musk and trees- Nel's scent.
Stretched out beneath her on the blankets, head tilted back, her hair spread out around him-
Senel shook his head, banishing the image. She was a client. One Senel would more than likely never see again. There was no use in feeling disappointed about it, he chided himself, that was how these things went.
How the hell did Mithos manage all the time? Of course the lizard would say he didn't have all the hang-ups humans did.
Once the workroom was clean, he ate breakfast and headed down to the shop. It was going to be a regular day, he told himself. Just like all the others.
Luckily, Mithos was not working today. Senel didn't think he could take the teasing Mithos would most likely give him.
He opened the door and blinked. Nel was standing beside the counter, a stern-looking female next to him. Fiona stood behind the counter, her expression guarded.
"There you are, Senel," she said calmly. "Lady Minerva and her granddaughter have been waiting to see you."
Granddaughter? She didn't look old enough to be her mother. Then again, Pride supposedly aged differently.
"You are the one who removed my granddaughter´s curse?"
Why did he have a sudden urge to cover his throat? "Yes-" Senel glanced back and forth between the two of them, puzzled. "Didn't it work?"
The Lady nodded. "It did. However, there is another issue."
Senel wondered what it was. He'd gotten rid of Nel's curse, what else was wrong?
"Nel is one of our gifts. Orphaned at an early age, she was chosen to make a match advantageous to the pack."
Senel nodded, still confused.
"That means that they may not mate with anyone other than the one chosen for them."
What?
"Since Nel had to mate with you to rid herself of the curse, she is now yours. I trust you will take good care of her." The Lady got to her feet and Senel's mouth dropped open.
"What? But- She-" Senel tried to think of where to start.
"Yes. What's wrong? Don't you like her? Nel didn't say that you complained." She shot a glance at her granddaughter.
"That's not the point! I had to do it to remove the curse. I didn't know-"
"I realize that. However, she still slept with you and the law is the law. She's yours now."
"But- she didn't tell me-"
"Of course not. I ordered her not to when I put the curse on her."
Senel's jaw dropped open. "You put the-"
"Of course- and I had to pay a lot to have it crafted for us, but it was worth it."
"Worth it?" Senel repeated, his head starting to hurt.
"You are one of the best magicians in the city. You are known to be unattached and difficult- but you are always willing to help. The Pride needs a connection with a magician. Knowing that you are my granddaughter's mate will help us." Lady Minerva turned away from him and focused on her granddaughter. "Be a credit to me, Nel."
"Yes Grandmother."
She swept out of the store and Senel glared at Fiona. "What?" She asked innocently. "The Pride connection will bring in lots of jobs. It's perfect for us. Besides, we need more help in the store- Nel will be a big help."
"You could've warned me!"
She smiled. "And have you try and get out of it? Give up, Senel- it was fated to be."
"I hate when you use that excuse."
Her smile widened and she vanished towards the back of the store. "Just get ready to open, will you?" Senel closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
A gentle hand touched his shoulder. "I'm really sorry about this-"
Senel looked up into Nel's concerned gaze. "They really did curse you just to get to me? Would they have thrown you out if I hadn't removed the curse?"
Nel nodded. "Grandmother doesn't like failure."
Senel opened his mouth to argue more, to tell Nel she really didn't have to stay, he'd help the Pride out no matter what- Nel didn't have to be stuck with him...
Fiona forestalled him.
"Senel - get to work! Nel's staying with you! Just accept it and open the damn store!"
Nel burst out laughing. "I can see that it will never be dull around here."
"That's an understatement. All right, if you are staying, why don't you be helpful and go organize the back room?"
Nel leaned over and dropped a kiss on Senel's cheek. "Thank you," she said and headed towards the back.
Senel watched her go, his heart doing that funny skip again and wondered what he'd gotten himself into...