Chapter Seven- Feline Impulses
"Mozenrath, I have a confession to make," Jasmine stated later that day.
"And what is that, Jasmine?"
"I like being a leopard and would rather spend more time as a leopard than just the full moon."
"How interesting. I've been feeling the same way myself. I suggest we study the scroll the spell is on and see how we might accomplish this as well as what kind of abilities we may possess."
"I like that idea."
The two were-leopards retired to the lab where they proceeded to pore over the scroll. Jasmine was delighted with what she read. "It says that after the first night as a leopard, one can change whenever they want. This is great. You've already gone through six nights and I just went through two nights. We could change right now if we wanted."
"Yes and since we choose to, new abilities are available to us. One of them is the ability to concentrate on how we want our bite or scratch to affect a victim."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, an example is how I infected you. I already liked being a leopard and wanted you as a mate when I scratched you and thus, you became a leopard who wanted to be my mate."
"Oh. So, if we wanted a slave, we just have to concentrate on that desire when we bite or scratch."
"A slave? What are you thinking?"
"Well, I know that Aladdin won't rest until I am fully human and safe at home. So, what if I scratch him and make him into an obedient leopard servant?"
"I love it!" Mozenrath exclaimed. "My longtime enemy becoming our slave! How soon should we do it?"
"I say we wait for a couple of weeks. We need to perfect our transformations and perhaps practice some of our abilities before we act."
"Oh, it probably won't take long for us to successfully change outside the full moon. Let us go outside right now and start practicing."
Jasmine, slightly startled by the thought of transforming in daylight, nevertheless agreed and followed her mate outside. The pair stood a few feet apart to allow room before closing their eyes and picturing their leopard forms in their minds. She very much desired to be a leopard; she wanted to feel that power and strength again and was willing to give up being human to keep the power and strength she craved. She felt a tingling run down from her head down to her toes. She opened her eyes and looked down.
She saw her body was covered in leopard fur; her clothes had also melted into fur. She grinned at the sight and her tongue ran across her teeth and found that they had all turned sharp. She sensed movement on her face and narrowed her eyes to see a set of whiskers had sprouted on both sides of her nose which was pushing away from her face as were her jaws. Her muzzle was soon fully formed and looked a little strange on her still human head.
She looked down and saw her fingernails grow long and hooking into sharp claws while her fingers were shrinking to form paws. She sensed that her knees were going to change directions and she quickly crouched so that she was soon standing on four paws. She felt her tail growing out behind her and her head completing its changes. She gave a loud roar as she completed her transformation into a leopard. She heard another roar and looked over to see that Mozenrath had become a leopard too.
The sorcerer smiled at her as he padded over to her. "I knew it wouldn't take long. Our desire was strong enough to invoke the change on the first try."
Jasmine pawed the sand beneath her and delighted in the feeling of it moving aside. "You were right, my love. I feel totally comfortable in this form. Is it possible to give up our human forms?"
"No. We will have to be human at some point. You will need to be human if you plan to infect Aladdin."
Jasmine sighed softly. "Right again."
"But for now, let's explore our leopard forms in daylight." Mozenrath lead the way into the desert and smiled to himself. He was thrilled that both of them had succeeded in transforming right away. He also had to admit that he too felt comfortable in leopard form. He felt the same way that Jasmine felt: He would rather stay in leopard form all the time even though he knew that he would eventually return to human form whether he wanted to or not. His thoughts turned to the protective screen again and realized that he would have to lower and raise it every day now, but considering that they could change whenever they wanted, it was a price he was willing to pay.
Jasmine padded along behind her mate and teacher. She reveled in the strength and sleek movements of her muscles and legs. Her eyes could see a great distance thanks to her being a cat and the sun shining overhead, which was warming her coat and made her think that a nap in the sun would be pleasant. Her nose took in the myriad of scents that was carried to her on the wind that ruffled her fur. Her stomach started to growl slightly and she realized that she hadn't eaten since breakfast and she likely had burned a lot of fuel transforming and now she needed to replenish that fuel.
She tilted her head back and inhaled deeply to pick up the scent of prey. Hmm. I smell a hare and some mice nearby. I think I'll go after the mice. Yes, that'll do. She turned in the direction she smelled the mice and took off, causing Mozenrath to slide to halt.
Where is she going? he wondered before sprinting after her. I hope she's not resisting the evil tendencies I implanted into her. He continued to race after her, but Jasmine did get a decent head start by her abrupt change in direction. However, he had her scent and had no trouble following her. His ears soon heard the terrified squeaks of mice and a satisfied purr that he immediately recognized. He rounded a dune to see Jasmine lying on the sand with her forepaws cupped together. She craned her neck to look at him with a smile that looked almost savage.
"Jasmine, why did you take off like that? You surprised me when you did that."
"Oh, Mozenrath," Jasmine purred. "I was feeling hungry and decided to get a little snack." She nodded at her paws. "I've got some tasty mice right here. I'm willing to share since you probably burned up a lot energy from transforming and chasing me."
Mozenrath's stomach gave a grumble and he chuckled slightly as he lay down as well. "You're right. Let's take a snack break. By the way, how was the hunting in daytime?"
"A little harder because of the sun. I think I prefer hunting at night because it makes it harder for our prey to see us." Jasmine carefully slide some of the mice over to her mate, seeing as they were still alive.
Mozenrath accepted his share and proceeded to use his claws to kill them before eating them. He had to admit, he had never hunted or eaten mice, yet they were pretty good to his cat side. He felt his energy returning from this small food source and said, "Perhaps mice can serve as snack food for times like this. It's true that transforming can burn a lot of energy and we should try to refuel as soon as possible."
"Agreed," Jasmine replied. She thought about her stealing and lying from this morning as she ate and knew that she could move on to her own kingdom now that she had succeeded in changing to a leopard anytime she wanted. Hmm, I think I'll do that tonight. But, I won't strike the royal treasure room. I need to start small and robbing from houses or businesses sounds like a good place to start.
Jasmine stalked through the darkened streets, her eyes darting around in search of something to steal. Anything will do, she thought. It also doesn't matter if I steal from the rich or the poor; all are worthy of being robbed.
A glimmer caught her eye and she looked to see that the glimmer came from a jewel peeking out from under a tarp. She crept closer to inspect it: It was a ring that had a large and beautiful stone set into it. She unconsciously licked her lips. This ring was beautiful and her thought was to present it to Mozenrath as a thank-you for turning her into a leopard and making her his mate. As she lifted the edge of the tarp with her head, a beam of light hit her from behind and a voice exclaiming, "What the-,"
Jasmine whirled around and growled at the merchant who visibly trembled at her reaction. She slowly stalked toward him, still growling. The merchant screamed and started running away. Jasmine took off after him; she didn't want him to get away and possibly finding guards to protect him. As if some mere human guards could stop a leopard like me, she scoffed. She sped up and soon closed the gap between her victim and her. She leaped forward and tackled the man who had turned to see if he had escaped. She growled in his face and he screamed again before the she-cat's claws slashed across his throat. She grabbed at the jugular with her teeth and pulled it away from the body. She felt an urge to scream in triumph but resisted the impulse; instead she left the body behind, returned to the booth, hooked the ring onto a claw, and took off for the desert and her new home.
Mozenrath looked up as the throne room doors opened and Jasmine padded inside. He looked at her, slightly concerned. There was blood on her mouth and her right claws. His sense of smell told him that the blood wasn't hers, so what had happened?
"Jasmine, where have you been? I was worried and what's with the blood?"
"I wanted to steal from my kingdom and I found a gift for you. I had to kill the merchant when he came by to investigate."
"You-you killed?"
"I did. I didn't want him to get away and get help."
She successfully murdered someone and doesn't feel one bit guilty about doing so. I think she has completely turned evil. Excellent.
"Now," he said. "You said you found a gift?"
"Right. It's a thank-you for turning me and choosing me as your mate." Jasmine held out her left paw and unsheathed her claws to reveal the ring.
Mozenrath slipped it off her claw and held it up for a moment before his mouth fell open in shock, which concerned Jasmine. "Mozenrath? Is there something wrong with it?"
The sorcerer laughed. "Wrong? Absolutely not. This stone is a Philosopher's Stone!"
"I take it that's good?" Jasmine asked as she shifted back to human and used a bowl of water nearby to wash off the blood.
"It's not good, it's great! With this stone, I can be an even more powerful sorcerer than I am now." He slipped the ring onto his left ring finger and admired it.
Jasmine spun to face him and a big smile came to her face. "That's wonderful. I can hardly believe I found such a rare item. That merchant probably didn't know what he had."
"It's likely he didn't. Most people wouldn't know a Philosopher Stone when they see one. Only those trained in magic would be able to recognize it.
"And now, I would like to give you a little…treat," Mozenrath continued.
Jasmine tilted her head slightly. "Oh?'
Mozenrath stood, walked over to Jasmine, and then quickly swept her up and carried her off to his chambers where he closed the door with his foot before putting Jasmine on the bed and started to remove his clothes and the ring. Jasmine's eyes lit up with excitement as her mate climbed on top of her and slowly started to undress her. Once she was naked, Mozenrath gave a soft growl and started to change into a leopard. Jasmine's excitement grew; Mozenrath wanted to have sex with her as a leopard! She also gave a soft growl before shifting forms as well.
"I've always wondered what sex as a leopard was like ever since I turned you," Mozenrath said softly as he licked her cheeks.
"I find myself wondering the same thing right now," Jasmine said, planting her forelegs on the back of his neck. "So, let's not wonder any longer."
I know the Philosopher Stone in the series was bigger, but who's to say that a smaller one can't exist? The sex scene at the end will not be extended in the next chapter.