"Not so fast there, sugar," the imp said, raising her hand. "You've got an appointment with a display case, after all." And she snapped her fingers.
In a flash, Rick saw Jennifer disappear out of her clothes, which dropped to the floor a second later. Another flash came from over by the cases that held his transformed friends. He turned to see the museum director standing naked with her arms at her side. The only thing the woman seemed to be able to move was her eyes, which darted around in panic.
"There you go, Ricky-boy," the imp said, floating over to his side. "What should we do with her?"
Rick walked over to the frightened older woman, her eyes watching his every move. "Let me get this straight," he said, as he slowly circled her. "She's sold other people to this Collector guy?"
"Yes, she has."
"People that had been transformed into statues, or other objects?"
"That's correct."
"How did she do that?" he asked, stopping to look directly at the floating imp. "Transform them, I mean."
"Various ways, of course," the imp explained. "This place is full of lots of old stuff. Among them are lots of things that have magical powers. Amulets, spellbooks, a magic wand or two. Yes, sir. Ms. Parks here has been making a pretty good living for herself trading in transformed individuals for quite a while now."
Rick turned back to consider the nude woman before him. Her eyes pleaded with him for mercy. But he was seeing her in a new light. Sure, she had never really shown any signs of caring about his art. As least, not until it could turn her a profit. And the fact that the three statues she was trying to sale just happened to be his friends didn't seem to bother her at all. The way Rick saw it, being turned into some kind of artwork herself was just what she deserved.
Though, he had to admit, it was a shame. Seeing her naked -- in reality, this time...not his fantasies like so many times before -- he couldn't help but admired her figure. Those long shapely legs. That tight sexy ass. The deep tone of her skin, without a single tanning line. Her supermodel good looks. That really impressive... chest.
A wicked smile slowly came to Rick's face. With a nod, he turned back to the imp. "Okay, here's what I want you to do." He bent forward and whispered in her ear.
As she listened, the imp's own smile grew. "You know, that's not bad." She floated over in front of the immoblized woman. "Okay, Jenn darling," she said, placing her fingers in position. "Get ready to join the rest of your exhibits."
Snap!
And just like that, Rick saw Jennifer Parks transformed. Her eyes joined the rest of her body in stillness. Her deep tan vanished, replaced with the washed look of freshly sanded wood. Rick walked over and rapped his knuckles onto the woman's hardened cheek, listening to solid sound it produced.
With a nod, he stepped back, letting his eyes drop to Jennifer's chest. At the peak of each breast, where normally the nipples would have been, there was a round knob. Reaching up and taking one in each hand, Rick pulled. With a click, Jennifer's torso split down the middle. On hidden hinges, the two sides swung open to reveal an open cabinet where the woman's insides should have been. Rick reached inside and knocked on the inside of her back, enjoying the echo it produced.
"Not bad," the imp said, as Rick closed up the cabinet that had been Jennifer Parks. "Not bad at all. I have to admit that that was very creative there, Ricko."
"Really?" Rick said, turning to face her. "Creative enough for you to free my friends?"
Wed, 12-Sep-2001 18:15:52