Gerald, Jasmine's nearly homicidal husband, enters the ringmaster's chamber of gold. From his perch atop the gold pile, Percy watches as the cautious man steps closer to the enormous tower of money and looks up. In this form, Gerald will be unable to see him. Percy grins evilly.

  Were it not for the beautiful Jasmine, he would crush this fool beneath his powerful talons. He might still. How wonderful it had felt, kissing Jasmine. While their energy exchange had been lackluster at best, Jasmine's flawless beauty had overrode the knowledge of her slow and impending death. To be so marvelous and beautiful, while life is fleeing her, she must have been even more splendid in the prime of her life.

  "How the freak am I supposed to find my wife...When she's been turned into a freaking gold coin?" Gerald laments from down below. "And how am I supposed to find her...In this?"

  Gerald sucks on his lower teeth and places a hand on his hip. Percy stares at the loathesome man for another brief second before taking flight. Pushing off against the tower of gold, Percy causes the pile to vibrate and teeter. Gerald notices the vibration and glances up in time to see a gold coin fall from the mountain of gold and roll away. Then, another. And another.

  Gerald's face becomes a mask of horror as the tower of coins begins to sway. He backs toward the entrance of the chamber, looking as if he wishes to bolt. Percy grins wryly. Time to have a little fun.

  Gliding over Gerald's head, Percy releases twin columns of condensed air from his oversized nostrils. Trying to be so many things at once is difficult, but he is learning. The reptilian creature had been his own creation, and it had served him well. This body is even better. More powerful and swift.

  Lashing out with his thick tail, Percy knocks Gerald into the far wall. Gerald's back slams against the wall and he slides down. The terrified man scans his surroundings, hoping to sus out whatever attacked him. Percy lashes out with his tail a second time, purposely becoming visible for only a brief moment.

  The shock on Gerald's face is enough to stir pleasant thoughts in Percy's mind. What is more formidable than a dragon? A creature of grandeur and myth, feared throughout all of human history. Percy blinks his large purple eyes once, before melting back into thin air.

  The mountain of coins chooses this moment to collapse, coins flying in all directions and flowing toward Gerald like a golden avalanche. Gerald drops down on his face and curls up into a fetal ball, covering his head. The coins flow around Percy's assumed dragon body. He takes flight, out of agitation, and then dives at Gerald.

  Unfurling, Gerald rolls toward the avalanche of gold. Percy laughs in his own dragonite way, which more closely resembles a low rumble, like that of a train approaching. The tide of coins hits Gerald with tremendous force, halting his roll and sending him sailing back in the other direction.

  Before Gerald can recover from his hard landing, Percy thwacks him with his tail, knocking the man several feet. Gerald groans and struggles to get to his feet. He clenches both tiny human fists and takes on a fighter's stance. Percy drops his invisibility spell, allowing Gerald to see him in greater detail.

  Percy shakes his ridged dragon's head and glares at Gerald with purple slitted eyes. Opening a mental bridge between himself and Gerald, Percy allows Gerald to see the small stream of teal, violet, red, and orange tendrils flowing from his heart to the coin which now holds Jasmine's beautiful essence. A expression of realization explodes onto Gerald's face. The Percy dragon smirks. So the man isn't a brutal idiot afterall.

  Percy blinks twice, in quick succession, and then bellows. Back to business. Swiping at Gerald with a taloned claw, Percy goes in for another attack.

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  Once the Jasmine coin is safely in Gerald's hand, Percy recognizes that the game is over. He bellows one last time and launches himself toward the chamber's high ceiling, disappearing into thin air.

  Reestablishing their mental bridge, Percy grins slyly at Jasmine, his eyes narrowing to match his crafty mood. Jasmine backs slowly away from him.

  "I think...That's enough. The test is over, Percy. I appreciate what you did for me, but I don't want to stay. I can't stay. I want to be with my family. I want a chance to say goodbye. There may even be something the doctors can do. I can't join you. I'm sorry, Percy. I hope you find Alice. I truly do."

  Percy advances on Jasmine and places a finger under her chin. Lifting Jasmine's head, Percy kisses her ever so gently. He draws apart, long enough to rip the silly red nose from his face. Resuming their kiss immediately after. He desperately recites every love spell his addled brain can remember. It is not too late. Not yet.

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  "You are not my Alice, but I will miss you all the same. That is...If the master does not scramble my thoughts again. She does not like for me to remember."

  "Why don't you leave, Percy?"

  "I cannot. I am bound to her by spells more powerful than I know how to break. And with...I cannot."

  "You should try, Percy."

  "I have...Before. Now, I must go. Enjoy the rest of your life, Jasmine. Live."

  Jasmine's jaw clenches, as she considers her next move. Standing up on tiptoe, Jasmine kisses Percy again. Percy infuses as much passion as possible into his kiss. He is surprised when Jasmine does the same, her lips drawing partially open. If only, he could make her love him. If only, he had more time.

  Percy cups Jasmine's face with his hands and removes his mouth from hers. He slides his mouth down her chin. Jasmine release a soft sigh but uses a hand to halt his progress. Percy's heart sinks. She stares into his searching eyes with a solemn expression.

  "Goodbye, Percy. I hope...You won't be punished for what you've done. For saving me and my husband."

  "That is my hope as well."

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  The ringmaster concludes her angry internal monologue and whirls on Percy.

  "You showed that crude human where to look, didn't you? You permitted him to see your essence as it flowed through that whimsical little--. How dare you thwart my plans!"

  "Yes. I did. She was not a worthy vessel for my Alice," Percy lies. "Her body could never have withstood the transfer. She was of no use."

  "Oh, Percy. Percy. Try not to be so dysfunctional. A circus must have more than a ringmaster and a silly clown. There must be other performers. Trapeze artists, pretty ballerinas in tutus, lion tamers, and unicyclists. I have more than enough familiars. I need something more. Something...Someone to draw in more of those we seek. I cannot always depend on you for everything."

  "Why can you not?" Percy says, stepping closer to his master. "Have I not always done as you asked? Have I not been everything you wanted? In everything, I have tried to please you. Even when I was sure I could not."

  Percy steps even closer, his eyes searching the ringmaster's gorgeous face. Her purple painted lips call to him. Her very essence calls to him. He is able to hear every small exhalation, and see every subtle rise and fall of her beautiful chest. Unlike Jasmine, the master is full of energy. Energy which he now craves. He is tired from his long day of spells, shapeshifting, and fighting. The ringmaster shakes her head, long black hair settling around her shoulders.

  "Look at yourself, Percy," the ringmaster says with a sigh. "Do you not see what is happening to you? The energy requirements to sustain my lover's essence are taxing your body to its limits. That is why your mind is so addled. Your hair! Just look at what has happened to your hair. It was once thick and full of shine. Now, your scalp is covered in bald spots. After a time, even the energy we exchange during moments of intense pleasure, will not be enough. I will need to find another vessel for my Percival. It may not be necessary for many more human lifetimes...But it will happen."

  Percy steps even closer, his upper lip twitching noticably. It is her spells, and his constant shapeshifting, which is taxing him. Does she not think he realizes this. But he doesn't care. He will have and know pleasure for as long as he can. He will have her. He will assume one more shape today. One which will please her greatly.

  "Then...In the meantime, I do not wish to share you."

  "What?" the ringmaster laughs bitterly. "You are in no shape or position to dictate such demands to me."

  "You always say such things," Percy replies, using a hand to stroke his master's face. "But, while we are together...Your hands caress me so gently. Gentler than any words your mouth could ever utter. And you kiss me so sweetly. Sweeter than anyone should kiss one they despise. How can both things be true?"

  Percy leans forward and passionately kisses the ringmaster on her purple lips. When she does not resist, he pulls her against him. Briefly separating, the ringmaster looks directly into Percy's questioning eyes.

  "There are times when you do not seem like yourself, Percy. Times when I am certain...It is Percival trying to reach me."

  "I believe you are grasping at straws," Percy states in a solemn voice. "It is wishful thinking."

  "How would you know, Percy?"

  "I know. It is inside of my body that your lover resides. I may be dumb, and easily confused, but one thing I know for sure. The spell you cast, in order to transfer your lover, has failed. Even you must realize this. That is why you do not simply remove him. He and I are now one. He will never be the lover you once knew. Just as I do not have my Alice...You have also lost."

  The ringmaster seriously considers spitting in Percy's face. He does not give her the chance. Kissing her firmly on the lips, Percy uses one hand to recline her head. He alternates between kissing her slender neck and her painted lips.

  "I will be whatever you wish me to be. A good servant...Or a mountain lion. A lover to you when you need it. Although, I know there will be others."

  The ringmaster also does not object when Percy's hand drops to the buttons on her suit. Once inside the ringmaster's bedchamber, Percy takes another helping of his just reward.

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  The ringmaster is seated in front of the wardrobe in her chambers. She reaches out a slender hand and removes a purple handkerchief from atop a large glass spell jar. The purple light emanating from the dagger within the jar illuminates the area surrounding it. The ringmaster strokes the side of the jar. As if sensing her touch, the light inside the jar begins to pulsate.

  "Percy."

  To be continued.............................................