The Cursed Paintbrush- Transformation

"Are you okay? You don't seem yourself today," said my Rainbow Wocky.

"I'm fine, for your information," I snapped at him. "I just had the worst nightmare in the history of Neopia and then you look into my room. Really!" My poor Parlrina looked scared of me for a moment… I felt guilty shouting at him, but after last night's traumatic events I didn't even want to think what would happen the next time I changed… Was it because of the bite or was it because of the Darigan paint brush? And why did I transform like that! While I was thinking those frightening thoughts, Parlrina muttered something about my attitude changes…

"I only just wanted to check on you to see whether you're alright. I didn't mean to scare you," he said softly under his breath as he turned away from my face.

"And I didn't mean to shout at you either, Parlrina… I'm sorry about what I said." I gave him a big hug, but it didn't feel the same as it used to… Before the incident of the Shadow Usul and the Paintbrush, I felt warm and secure. Now however… I didn't, instead I felt cold and distant… I drew away from his touch quickly…

"I'll just make breakfast," I said as Parlrina hopped off the bed happily, blissfully unaware about the transformation that I experienced last night. I hoped that this would be the last time I would change my appearance…

"Did you manage to get a good night's sleep?" asked my clever Kougra, Paws.

"Not really, just a couple of really bad nightmares," I lied to him. I didn't want to see his face and tell him the truth, not yet anyway. Not until I learnt the full, true story of what has been happening to me… I picked up the Neopian Times and began to read the Short Stories section of the newspaper. I was hoping that my Twist of Fate story had entered into the Neopian newspaper… No such luck.

The doorbell rang as Sabsalinaishia (Laura) and aquachickrulz (Ella) entered the living room with all their Neopets.

"Hi guys!" I said to them flippantly. "How are you two today? Long time no see… The last time I saw you were when I was writing that Neopian articles on interviews with monsters over 2 years ago!"

"Yeah- and we nearly got chased by that Were-Lupe Lira!" agreed Sabsalinaishia.

"And got chomped on by Countess Von Roo!" laughed Ella, imitating the Count.

"So, what are you doing today?" I asked Sabsalinaishia. Sabsalinaishia waved her thick brown hair and giggled. Ella rolled her eyes. JakeM, Sabsalinaishia Gelert barked.

"What do you think? We're going to the Battle-dome! Aqua's going to cheer me on while I defeat this tough guy's Grarrl." said the dark blue Gelert.

"Want to come?" Aqua said cheerfully. I considered their offer. Normally I'll go with them, but… Not today I decided. Too risky, I could transform again…

"Not today… Listen guys, do you want to hear what happened in the Hidden Tower yesterday?" I ignored their requests.

"Yeah, what happened?" asked Sabsalinaishia and Aqua eagerly.

"The Shadow Usul bit me on the finger and I toppled over and got hit by a Darigan Paintbrush! It really hurts! Then Fyora had to prise him from my fingers…" I winced to emphasize to my best friends how painful it really was.

"Oooh, Sabrina… I think you should see a doctor about that…" said Sabsalinaishia.

"Yeah, I should," I said as I covered the finger with lots of little bandages… "Anyway, not that it hurts or anything…" I rubbed my left index finger.

"We've got to go now, see you next time. But tell us what happens later!"

"I will, as soon as I see the local doctor!" I felt a bit elated, but I didn't know why.

Maybe it was the fact that after two years, I saw my best friends again. Or maybe it was the fact that I didn't transform in front of my friends… Oh yeah, that was a relief! I thought to myself… I got to keep this under control until I can tell my friends and Neopets, but even I had to admit that it was a pretty dangerous idea!

I drank some chocolate milk, while my other Neopets scoffed the rest of the Pea and Carrot omelette down. Kassiko needed help with her Neopian history assignment before Neo-school started… It had a very long title: Why the Maquarians of the Underwater Kingdom Fought the Curse of the Pirates…

As usual I tried to help her attempt some of the easy parts, but for some reason, I wasn't feeling up to the task again. Maybe it was a fever, or maybe it was the bite-wound that I've received from the Shadow Usul…
"Um, Sabrina: what do I do here?" she screeched as she pointed to a question.

"You interview the person of course." I said tiredly as she scribbled down the answer with her pencil in her beak (how a Lenny managed to write before they invented pencils still eludes me). Later on, when my four Neopets were at their Neo-School, I had a headache and had to lie down in my darkened room again…

A vampire Grarrl stood over me, his fanged teeth were gleaming with fervour as his dark cloak of red covered me… I wanted to scream, but nobody could hear me cry out for help as he laughed. Soon blood ran down his chin mixed in with salivous drool, I tried to avoid his awful flaming eyes, but I couldn't…

My screaming woke me up as my wound prickled my skin with renewed agonizing pain as it grew more persistent… NOT AGAIN! I thought as my heart started to thud loudly in my ears, each beat signalling that I needed some more oxygen… I gasped for air, as the room spun around in circles and each minor change was accented by even more twinges of torturous pain. Eventually, I was released from the torment I had endured while I changed. The changing must had stopped…

What am I this time! Please don't let me be something horrible… AAHHH! No such luck! Instead, I had no reflection this time- because it was dark in my room… Great, if I didn't know what I was, I might as well guess what I was before I changed… Was I a beast? I touched my clothes, but I didn't feel any fur on my body. I sighed with exuberance- at least I didn't look like any strange breed of Neopet! Was I human? Sort of- but I knew I wasn't anymore. Did I have any big feet? I shuffled my feet… Nope. That'll do for now. Finally, what had happened to my teeth? To a complete aberration, I realised that I had fangs! AAHH! I've turned into a vampire! This is NOT good news! I can't go out in the sun and have fun in the sun! Does that even make sense? I felt hungry, but for what? I didn't watch any vampire or horror movies (because I got so scared, so I had no idea what vampires ate…) Do they drink coffee? I thought.

For some reason, my words were all jumbled up when I thought about things… First thing: I looked into my closet and put on LOTS of sun-screen over my pale skin. Second: I found some sunglasses and a thick winter coat that I wore. Third: I found an umbrella which I could use. I didn't want to wear black because it looked stereotypical of most evil things- and if I wore black that would mean I was evil! So I chose a nice pink dress. Hopefully my friends wouldn't see me like this!

I went outside- the sun was shining brightly- to my relief I didn't fry to death because I had so much protection, it wouldn't matter anyway! People and Neopets ignored me as I walked outside- nobody seemed to have seen me. A Quiggle laughed as I waved at him in bright gloves. So good so far... Suddenly, I saw a flicker of shadow. I turned. Was it Thaerin? Maybe. Soon dusk fell…

I returned to my Neohome as darkness descended on me. But as I stood at the front door, a pretty Zafara girl talked to me naively. She didn't seem afraid of me.

"Hey, you look different today Sabrina…" Was it just me or did I want to do something to her? I shook my head quickly, avoiding her beautiful eyes.

"No, I'm not so changed." I said. Suddenly, I had the urge and I looked at her tender, juicy neck with lusting for her blood… BLOOD! Oh no! I tried to resist the awful feelings I had. Finally I managed it with: "Got to go!" I shut the door in her face as she walked away… "Arrgh, what is wrong with me today!" Finally, I discarded all my items into my closet and I felt the now familiar throbbing of the wound… Then I fell unconscious.

When I woke up, everyone had come home and I was back to normal once more.
"Never again," I muttered to myself as details of my previous nightmare caused me to shudder with horror… Paws stared at me in puzzlement. "Sabrina, what are you talking about?"

"Uh… I was talking about what lovely fur you have!" Secretly I wondered how long I could keep up this weird changing before anyone found out…