Inside Out

The chime of a bell range as the old wooden door slowly swung opened, creaking slightly as it opened enough for a customer to walk in. The shop was elegant and well lit, rows and shelves of displays offering specials on the latest and oldest mystical items standing out for anyone interested to see, A myriad of candles and statues, books and costumes that made the young man a little uncomfortable as he looked in the girl's section of the store. Bill Graham had stepped into the store labelled Glamour-US to find a gift for his sweet heart. Tall but a bit on the scrawny side, Bill had all the symptoms of the typical college nerd. Brown khaki pants with a buttoned up striped shirt and glasses, the only thing he didn't have was a pocket protector full of pens and a fanny pack for a belt. Thumbing through shelves to find something appropriate he nearly dropped a small glass bottle of pink glitter just as the clicking of heels drew towards his presence.

“Sonny? You DO know that's hardly a colour for you?” Snapping around in a panic as he desperately juggled the bottle in his hands and catching it at the last second, Bill yelped as he made eye contact with the shop keeper glaring back at him. “Umm... I'm just... Trying to find something for my girlfriend, its our anniversary, she has a... Thing for magic and stuff.” Stuttered the poor boy as the woman stood unflinching with her arms crossed, eyes narrowed so sharp she could have drilled holes in the boy's head with her glare. Getting a good look at her she seemed straight out of the Victorian era; her grey hair tied back in a bun with a frilly dark green dress that hid everything but her gaunt face, her accent made him believe she was English as sharp green eyes continued to scrutinized the young man. Raising her chin as she looked down at him the woman tapped her foot before gesturing to the boy to follow her to the customer desk. “The best way to know what to get a woman is to know what she's like, so tell me son, what is this girlfriend of yours like? And before we continue on you may call me Iris.” Calming down a bit Bill stood in front of the glass checkout counter, the woman still looking down at him unamused. “Well her name is Angel, and we met in college...”

Just starting out in college Bill had signed up for an electronics course, already set up at a dorm with a parking spot for his Toyota he seemed ready for college life. That is until he met Angel Plinth in his advanced maths course. The two shared a table together when they had an assignment on polynomials, seeing her having difficulty she had leaned in asking for his help and became totally smitten by her. Then again how could he not? If Sara could be described in one word it would have been HOT-DAMN! Long shapely legs folded over a chair as a pink flip flop hung on for dear life from a strap deliberately caught on her toe. A red sundress with a low back and string straps at the shoulders offered little to the imagination as it hugged the contours of her wide hips, narrow waist, full bust and smooth skin. Her golden blonde hair flowed down her right shoulder and back like silk while her left shoulder bore a tattoo of a baby cupid, her sky blue eyes fluttered back at the blushing lad at the table with a winning smile of perfect white teeth. What started simply as help on assignments became a weekly tutoring session... At HER place. But as time passed he saw a much darker side to his golden haired Angel.

She may have been an Angel on the outside but deep down she was a wicked little Devil. At times she was pretty bossy, only agreeing to dates so long as they were places that were classy, and classy usually meant out of HIS pocket, and after he brought her back to her place she claimed she was too tired to let him in. Granted he put up with it because money was never an issue to him, so long as she was happy. She was most of the time, especially when she'd be on her phone calling up her girlfriends. He still hadn't met Chris, Sam, Alex or Jay but was told that she hung out with her friends after the college football and basketball games, bragging sometimes all at once. He never had time to watch those games really he was pretty busy at nights doing double the homework. And then there was the drinking, the late nights he had to pick her up from the clubs, the tantrums she threw when she didn't get her way, the heavy breathing in the background whenever he called her...

“Young man could you spin around for me for just a second?” Asked Iris, motioning with her finger in a circle. Doing a slow twirl on the spot he looked up to the old English woman as she shook her head back at him. “Whats wrong?” Asked the young man as Iris moved over to a shelf behind her looking through a series of bottles with hand written labels. “Oh nothing, for a second I thought I saw the tail to a horse's ass.” Sifting through the bottles the shopkeeper turned back to Bill with a small green bottle in her frail hands. “I've collected some interesting things in my years boy, I've travelled abroad and studied far for some of the most interesting and unique items this world has to offer.” Placing the bottle on the glass counter Iris continued. “From what you've told me my poor cuckold your little darling is a bit of a succubus, but this little tonic should switch that around.” Taking the small green bottle from her thin fingers Bill examined the old thing and looked up in confusion. “Inside Out potion?!” Leaning forward to look the young man in the eye again, Iris explained. “Its a rough translation but this little elixir stems back from the ancient times of China, one drop flips the very nature of a person for an entire day.” Putting the bottle back down Bill looked up at the shopkeeper in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Picking the small bottle back up and unclasping the top, Iris dipped her fingernail into the liquid and raised it over her tongue. Closing her eyes to swallow she looked back down at the boy with the same cold dead stare, her frown ever present on her narrow face. Looking back confused Bill scratched his head. “Nothing happened.” Scoffing as she re-corked the bottle Iris set the green elixir back on the counter. “Sometimes boy what you see is what you get, so then what have you? Are you interested in the bottle?”

“I don't know... How much?” Turning back to look at the old list of prices from the shelf Iris called out the number. “Fifty dollars.”

“FIFTY DOLLARS?! Can't I just get a scented candle or a fairy statuette?” Curing her thin lip into the slightest of smirks Iris leaned in waving the bottle dangling from her fingers. “You mean the scented candles that are solid wax and hurt like the dickens when thrown? Or the ceramic fairy statuettes with the pointy edges and glass wings?” Gulping at the prospect of buying such gifts and having Angel NOT like them Bill took the chance and bought the bottle. “Thank you for your purchase young man I do hope she likes the results.”

Watching the young man leave her store Iris stepped away from the cashier desk and took a deep breath, pulling the bun in her hair undone the frizzled grey strands began to change in colour, flowing red hair cascading down her shoulders as her face smoothed and filled out with life, her lips becoming lush and pert as they curved into a true smile. With popped buttons her dress filled out, her frail hands becoming smooth and healthy as she lifted them to unbutton her frilled dress, her bust filling out as unbuttoned enough to breath again. Looking at herself in the mirror Iris looked up at her reflection fondly.

“Guess I really am young at heart...”

Cutting through the park Bill looked at the small bottle he purchased in the little bag he carried around in his hand, curious if the stuff actually worked or whether he just bought a bottle of soda water from a crazy lady. “Fifty dollars is quite a bit for such a little thing, Angel would be pretty pissed if I got her useless junk.” Making his way down the cobblestone walkway he came across a basketball court where some kids were shooting hoops with each other, except one. Sitting at the bench and looking exhausted a chubby looking boy wiped his brow as the others played one without him. Seeing him reach for a bottle of water at his feet Bill got an idea. As soon as the kid put his bottle back down he moved up behind him and uncorked the elixir, allowing a drop or two to fall into the open water bottle before running off and hiding behind a tree. Taking a gulp of his water the chubby kid stood up and waddled his way back onto the court. “Hey guys I think I can play again.” The others laughed as he came up to play. “Come on man, you can't dribble for your life, bet you can't even make a shot.” Catching the ball in his hands the overweight boy suddenly grew focused as he dribbled the ball like an expert before throwing it high into the air and letting it fall straight into the hoop with a swish. Smiling from his hiding spot Bill turned to walk on. Unseen as he left, the chubby boy began to dribble the ball again, this time with greater skill as his gut began to sink into his body. Slowly he was getting taller, the fat in his limbs being replaced with lean muscle while his hands moved faster, showing off as he dribbled the ball at either side of his feet, then between his legs and back again. Now looking like a boy who exercised every day of his life the trim athletic kid looked back at the shocked and confused children and smirked. “Alright you lightweights, who thinks they can knock me off the court now?”

Bill continued to stare at the green elixir in his hands, that last bit had to have been a fluke he reasoned, kids go from tired to energetic at the drop of a hat. Walking out of the park and down the street he walked by a picket fence where a black doberman barked menacingly at him from the other side, snarling and growing as Bill stopped to look at the animal and back at the elixir. “Best two out of three...” Opening the bottle again he dipped his finger into the bottle and dangled it carefully over the snarling animal, just as the droplet fell into its mouth. Suddenly the dog paused, shaking its head as if to sneeze just it raised its nose up and began to whine happily back at Bill, wagging its stub of a tail madly as it lapped between the spaces of the fencing. “Ha! Good boy, who's a good boy? You are, yes you are.” Barking happily the dog darted back and forth over the lawn as Bill walked away, turning the corner to his dorm at the college campus. Out of sight the dog looked over the fence, a small cat jumping on the picket boards as it 'cat-walked' down the fencing, making eye contact briefly the cat hissed. Had anyone been there to see it they would have been mute with confusion, the dog yelped in terror as it ran into its kennel, the impact knocking the dog house back a foot as it hid in the corner from the fluffy feline. Now striding proudly with its tail up it strutted over the fence and crossed the yard to the backdoor while the mini doberman peaked out of its dog house in fear, yapping at the thing as it entered the house. Thankful that the nasty animal was out of sight the small shivering lap dog stepped out of its massive dog house wander the huge backyard and roll in the tall grass.

Stepping over to Angel's door Bill knocked on the dorm room and waited, the sound of rock and roll music booming in the background just as the door finally swung opened. The blonde bombshell looked up at the smiling young man with his baggy in hand as she stood at her door wearing a tank top and daisy dukes, her pink phone still at her ear as the muffled sound of a man's voice called her name. “I'm gonna have to call you back Jay.” Hanging up the phone Angel turned back to Bill and beamed a fake smile. “Hey Bill... What are you here for?” She asked in a bubbly yet condescending tone. Once again Bill was mesmerized by her as she stood patiently for a response. “Um... It's our anniversary remember Angel? I got you a gift.” Smiling genuinely now Angel looked to the baggy Bill lifted to show her. “Well then come in babe, you know I love gifts.” Turning around she walked back inside, giving her hips a little wiggle as she sat at her dorm room bed, the walls had posters of various fairy and unicorn style pictures while stereo blared heavy rock which she turned down after snatching the bag out of her boyfriend's hand. “What the hell is this? Inside Out potion?!” Nodding as he read the label Bill chimed in. “Yeah I got it at a spiritualist shop across the park... The clerk said-”

“This stuff cost you fifty bucks? What the hell Bill?! I thought you were a genius not a damn moron!” Crumpling the receipt in her hands and tossing it back at Bill's head the fiery beauty continued. “If you had fifty bucks to spend why didn't you get me a new pair of shoes? Or new ear rings? Better yet why didn't you just give me the damn cash?” Cringing a bit from her temper Bill pointed back to the bottle in Angel's hand. “The shop keeper said it was magic, really strong too.” Snorting down at the young man Angel looked back at the bottle and pried the top off. “Yeah I bet its potent, probably just food colouring and rubbing alcohol.” Tossing the bottle back Angel chugged its entire contents down to the last drop before smashing the bottle into a trash bin by her bed. “Pff... Not even enough to give me a buzz, so that's all you got to show for an anniversary Bill? A bottle of snake water from a cheap novelty store?” Gawking in dismay Bill worried as he stood by the door, closing it behind him as he tried to explain himself.

“God your useless, and to think I only warmed up to you so I could get better gra-” Her breath pitching in her throat Angel's eyes widened as if in shock. “Angel? Are you alright?” Seeing the woman moan and stagger to her feet, he tried to offer some help before she shoved him away, leaning against the wall as she clutched her stomach and head. “Angel?” Groaning more loudly Angel started breathing harder as she slumped down to her knees. As Bill stood by worrying about what to do he noticed a weird splotch of black seeping through Angel's hair. With a guttural moan Angel began to convulse as her whole body tensed, the blonde draining out of her hair to be replaced with ebony black, her skin going pale from some unknown fever as she thrashed and coughed on the floor. Gripping her nightstand Angel grimaced as her fingernails turned black, cutting grooves into the wooden stand as she fell back into vertigo. “Angel? Are you sick? I can call for help if...” Bill snapped back in fear as she looked straight into his eyes, the look of intense rage on her face as her eyes turned black with purple irises. Falling back to the floor Angel went into spasms and coughs as the rest of her skin turned light blue, then darkening until she seemed midnight blue. Opening her mouth in a gasping silent scream her teeth grew fangs, just as her tongue stretched and slithered out of her blackened lips. Scratching at her scalp the changing woman moaned in pain as a pair of horns poked out of her head, growing and curving back until they arched around like the horns of a ram. Finding the strength to stand even as her skin throbbed and crawled Angel gritted her teeth as the sound of bones creaking and breaking filled the room.

Bill for his part had huddled in the corner of his girlfriend's room as she mutated horrifically in front of him. Her hips growing wider as the button to her daisy dukes popped off, her tank top stretching as her breasts grew, making her cleavage a veritable abyss. Arching forward Angel cried out as a barbed tail shot out from above her round behind, flicking and snapping back madly as the tip knocked over pictures at the wall, even her tattoo changed from a baby cupid to a fierce looking demon. With a final blood curdling scream Angel cried out as her back exploded, a pair of leathery wings erupted from her spine as the 'fingers' stretched and grew. Flexing over six feet in either direction the new limbs folded forward just as Angel collapsed to her knees once again, panting from exhaustion as her oil black hair hid her face from the cowering young man in the room.

“Angel?... Are you OK?” Terrified to get up he slowly crawled closer to the gasping creature on the floor, her dark blue skin slick with sweat as the wings folded back behind her. Rising up suddenly and spooking the young man back the Succubus gasped a deep breath before shifting its black and purple eyes at the man cringing on the floor.

“BILLY!” Cheered the she-devil, pulling the man up into a breath stealing hug. “You remembered our anniversary, that's so thoughtful of you.” His head pressed deeply into the H cup cleavage of this strange new woman, Bill's eyes darted back and forth in total confusion as he was pulled up and drawn into a kiss, his eyes going wider as her forked tongue swirled around his teeth and tonsils before she pulled away with a “Mwaah” 

Finally looking the woman face to face, he was still shocked to silence. This... Devil woman who once was Angel beamed a warm smile back at him, her purple eyes bright and loving as her tail wagged behind her like a puppy. “What's the matter Billy? Your so quite... 'gasp' Are you upset that I couldn't get you a gift too? I'm sorry its just that...” Tearing up and bringing her clawed hands to her chest the woman looked ready to burst into tears. “Uh... No its alright Angel, how about we just split on a pizza tonight, just the two of us.” Clasping her hands together in joy the dark skinned demon woman collided with the glasses wearing nerd, kissing his lips and nose again and again just as she bolted up to get her pink phone and dial the number. “Ugh... who put this on? I hate rock!”

The rest of the college year was well... Screwed up for Billy, but certainly not in a bad way. If anything Angel was much sweeter to the man than she ever was since that day, she did have to get a new phone after that night. So many strange men she didn't recognize kept calling for her during the day. When Bill asked about her girlfriends she told him she didn't remember having any. Every time they both went out people kept commenting about her costume, but she'd always giggled out a cheerful laugh and said she bought her cloths at the Gap. Bill did wonder how long the effects would last from the elixir, but with how much she drank that day it might as well have been permanent, not that he complained anyway. On the outside she may have looked like a wicked monster but on the inside she was a total Angel!