(San Francisco - pawn shop)

I sat behind the counter, finishing my homework as the bell on the shop door rang
"Be with you in a second" I called
"Caught up in your calculus are you? You're such an egghead Taylor" a familiar voice said
"Hey Cal, my mom and dad are out right now, so what do you need?"
"Eh, nothing much" She said "I found this in the gutter, it's really shiny, thought I could get something for it"

She set a purple gem that hung from a gold chain on the counter I closed my math book and looked at the necklace

"Jeez, you found this in the gutter? This has gotta be worth a small fortune at least"
"Really? Wow, but who'd just leave a stone worth that much just lying in the street?"
"Dunno, I think I'll put this in the safe and I'll show it to mom and dad when they get here"
"Oh hey, there's something written on the back"

I flipped over the jewel and read the writing etched into it-

'In your hooves you hold a source of great magic. beware its power'

"Magic? So what, we make wishes?"
"Don't think so, and what does it mean by 'hooves'?"
"A typo?"
"Doesn't seem likely...Oh well, I'll leave that mystery for later" I said as I pocketed the necklace

A few hours later my parents came home and after showing them the necklace they dismissed it as a prank and insisted I hold on to it, I didn't have a problem with that, I was just sort of ticked they didn't believe me

I sat at the counter for the next few hours, the usual number of customers trickling in- as the day dragged on my thoughts kept returning to the necklace in my pocket

Where did it come from?
Who left it there?
What was the deal with the inscription?

"Excuse me, miss?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I can't give you more than $50 for that pocket-watch"
"What? But it's been in my family for years"
"My daughter's right sir, this watch can't be worth more than that- in fact, I'd say that $50 is more than a fair enough price"
"Then I'll take my business elsewhere" he said, picking up the watch and exiting the shop

"Good luck, he'll probably get less somewhere else"
"Isn't it almost time for dinner?" I asked
"Would you look at that, it is isn't it? You better go get ready"

I went into the backroom and up the stairs to where we lived and entered the bathroom to wash my hands, as I did my reflection looked back at me, I couldn't put my finger on it but something just seemed...off

I shook the feeling and went into the kitchen

I really should have listened to it

X

I woke up the next day and went into the bathroom to get ready for school, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw myself in the mirror- My eyes weren't their usual brown, my pupils were red and the whites of my eyes were colored yellow
"What in the world?" I could only stare in disbelief, not even comprehending what I was looking at

"Guess I'll be wearing sunglasses for the rest of my life..." I muttered

(School)

"So tell me again why you're wearing sunglasses inside" Callie said
"I said it's complicated" I replied simply
"How?"
"It just is, I don't even know how it happened"
"What happened?"
"Nothing, I've gotta go"
I walked away from our table and threw my tray in the garbage

Heading back to class, I hoped whatever was going on with me wouldn't get any worse

"Taylor, I'd appreciate it if you'd at least try to pay attention"
"Right, sorry-"
"Now pull out your textbooks and answer the questions in the packets accordingly"

The class (including me) groaned as we started our work
'The three main groups, blah blah blah, solids, liquids, gasses, blah blah blah, atoms move faster-'

"This is going to be a long day..." I grumbled

Thankfully the rest of class went off without a hitch and I was on my way back home

"Hi sweetie, how was your day at school?"
"Fine mom, nothing unusual happened; get any new customers today?"
"Not many no, a few here and there"
"Get anything good?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary, a few books and one of these old maps of the area"
"Alright, I think I'll go upstairs and take a nap"
"I'll wake you up when it's your shift, your father and I have to meet someone in Burbank this month and we have to get packed"
"Really? Fine, who am I stuck with?"
"Your uncle Jack should be here this week"
"I could live with that..."
"Good, now go upstairs and get some sleep"

I climbed the stairs and dropped my bag next to my dresser and flopped on my bed

(Two hours later)

I yawned as I got out of bed and went into the bathroom, I splashed some water on my face and glanced into the mirror

My left arm had gotten thinner and was almost like an eagle claw, my right arm however had gotten a little thicker and was similar to a lion's paw- and if that weren't bad enough my sides below my arms and my shoulderblades were itching

"At least I've got a hoodie and a pair of gloves"

'I still don't know how I'm so accepting of this...am I? Rrrrrgggghhh'

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Dad knocked on the door
"Hey kiddo, your turn to watch the shop for a little while"
"'Kay dad, be right down"

I heard him walk away and I poked my head out the door, making sure the coast was clear; I saw that it was and I dove into my room and threw on a hoodie and a pair of gloves as I made my way downstairs

A few customers were already waiting in front of the counter
"Hi, how can I help you?" I asked
The one in the front spoke up
"Oh nothing, just doing a little window shopping"
"Alright, just call if you need anything"
He nodded and turned back to the shelves with the others

I leaned back in my chair and opened my book to the current page

After a few minutes-

"Excuse me?" he asked
"Yes?" I said
"This clock doesn't work, it runs backwards"
"So?"
"Isn't that the whole point?"
"Give it here"
He handed over the clock and I looked at it for a minute before I found the problem and fixed the component
"There, try it now"
He wound it up and the hands were spinning in the right direction
"Whoa, thanks"
"That'll be $10 for the clock"
He paid for it and I put the clock in a set of grocery bags, he picked it up and waited for his friends near the front door

The others decided that there wasn't anything of interest in the shop and left a few minutes later
The day wore on and the itching didn't go away, no matter how much scratching I did it always came back a few seconds later

I didn't realize how late it was until mom and dad came down the stairs with their suitcases
"Alright kiddo, dinner's in the fridge, we've gotta get going" Dad said
"You're leaving already?"
"Unfortunately, yes- tomorrow's Saturday and Jack should be here in the morning" Mom replied
"*Sigh* Fine, see you in a few weeks" I said
"Bye sweetie, love you"
"Love you too"
Mom and Dad both gave me a hug before leaving

'Okay, now what?'

I felt the necklace still in my pocket and wondered where all of this would end, if ever, and how- I went to my room and killed a few hours listening to the radio until I fell asleep.