The two-hour train ride was intensely dull and I dozed for a good part of it, working on recovering some of the energies I had spent on magic recently. As diets went, an all magic one, couldn’t be beat. In the short time that I had been in her body, Jen had lost a couple of pounds that she didn’t need to lose, and I had to be a little more careful or the damage would start to show.

“Are you ever going to tell me what the plan is?”

Becca sipped at a bottle of water as she watched me from behind her shades. There were only the two of us at the table in the first-class carriage, an expense that had annoyed her but allowed us the chance to talk in relative privacy.

“What does it matter?” My smirk told her that I knew it annoyed her but found it funnier to not tell her anyway.

She wasn’t amused.

“Look,” she said, setting down her water. “No offence but you haven’t been the most reliable when it comes to amazing plans, yeah? So, share something with me or I could just command you to.”

Well, that wiped the smile off my face. “Fine,” I said a little sourly. “We’re going to a party tonight where, if we are lucky, I will find a grimoire or two and possibly even the location of my body.”

“What! How?”

I tapped my nose with one slim finger and flashed her another annoying grin. She scowled and tapped her fingers against the bottle.

“Okay, a party. That’s why you had us buy those dresses?”

“Yes.”

“So, what type of party is it?”

I wrinkled my brow as I looked at her. “Huh? What does it matter?”

Becca rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “If it’s a dinner party, then it will be different to a house party, which would also be bloody different to a birthday party when it comes to outfits for example. Then there’s the question of are we even invited?”

“If you know where the party is, you’re invited.” I shrugged nonchalantly as if it were so obvious anyone could realise that. “We turn up and they’ll let us in.”

“How can you know that?”

“They just… do…”

She stared at me blankly and then dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “Please tell me this is not the entirety of the plan.”

“I work best in the moment.” I sounded a little defensive so cleared my throat and tried again. “Look, no plan lasts past the start of the battle. So a basic outline is all we need.”

“No, it isn’t!” She hissed. “Okay, look, tell me what type of party it is.”

Her tone implied this was a trap and I answered carefully. “A sex party.”

Becca’s eyes widened and flashed with something very close to real anger.

“A. Sex. Party.” She cut each word off as she said it and I shivered at the controlled fury in her voice. “Why didn’t you say that earlier?”

“Because it doesn’t matter, it’s just a party!”

She threw her hands up and rolled her eyes heavenward as she scowled. “You are such a bloody, man!”

Okay, the way she said that was definitely not a compliment and I shifted awkwardly in the seat. I wasn’t used to being on the back foot and she was certainly putting me there. I had the distinct feeling that I was about to be scolded like a child who hadn’t done his chores.

“Leaving aside the fact that you were going to take me to a fucking sex party without even warning me,” she said, voice low and barely controlled. “The dresses you had us buy, yes? They are wildly unsuitable for that sort of party.”

“They are?”

“Yes. Add to that, if we are to blend in, without having any actual sex because if you think I am doing that you can bloody well think again, we will need to have some preparation.”

I was reluctant to ask but felt that I needed to. “Like what?”

She answered my question with one of her own. “Where is this party?”

“Hale.”

“Hale! As in the place where professional footballers live. One of the richer, if not the richest, parts of the city. That Hale?”

“Yes.”

“And you think they will just let two random girls get out of a taxi and rock up to their bloody door and let them in because we are wearing a nice dress?”

“I’ve seen it happen!” Okay, I was very much on the defensive and not liking it. “They want plenty of young attractive people. Guys and girls, before you start on about it being sexist.”

Becca pinched the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger and shook her head. She pulled off the shades and set them down before giving me a long, hard, look.

“You are going to walk me through this idiotic idea of yours and then you are going to listen to what I have to say, and more importantly, do what I am going to tell you to do. Okay?”

Even I knew that was a trap, so I agreed and began to talk.

We were still talking when the train pulled into the station and I looked up, surprised at how swiftly the journey had flown. I’d found myself enjoying the back-and-forth of the discussion as we went over the plan and what would be required.

It was a strange feeling that was unfamiliar to me. Ever since I was a kid and first introduced to the coven, our leader had spoken for us. Orders were given and obeyed. There was no discussion, no arguing. It was obey or be punished.

With Becca it was collaborative and I found myself excited by her ideas and for how they could improve our chances of getting into the party and getting me what I needed.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

I silently congratulated myself for being perceptive enough to bring her along with me.

We got a taxi straight to the hotel, where we checked into our room and dumped our bags before heading straight back out again.

Becca took the lead, moving from one shop to another as she searched for more appropriate attire than I had purchased previously. It was a warm day and despite being the middle of the week, was still busy.

I had an intense dislike of crowds and couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that dogged me as I was dragged across the plaza and into yet another shop. I didn’t argue, or complain, though I did sulk a little as the money I had stolen from Abigail rapidly vanished as Becca made good use of it.

Once she was happy with the clothes and, for some ungodly reason, new shoes for each of us. We stopped at a nail salon where I had the rather dubious pleasure of receiving my first manicure. Once again, I had no control as Becca instructed the technicians on what to do and what colours to use.

I just sighed and went along with it.

Part of me was actually amused at the whole process. In my previous life, I showered, shaved and dressed. A bit of aftershave and deodorant and I was good to go. For Becca, and I guessed many other girls, getting ready was an entire laborious process.

I really couldn’t wait to get back into my own body and felt a twinge of excitement at how close I was to possibly finding out where it was located.

“Hey,” Becca snapped, looking annoyed. “I’m talking to you.”

“Sorry, miles away. What?”

“We just need to pick up a few more items and then we can head to the hotel, okay?”

“Sure.” I paused. “What things?”

“Hair product, straighteners, some makeup-“

“You brought makeup. I saw it, a whole bag full of the stuff.”

“Not the right sort of makeup for the dresses we’ll be wearing tonight.”

It made little sense, but in truth, I was past the point of arguing. I needed to save my energies for later so I just sighed again and nodded.

Back at the hotel, I opened the door to our room and dropped the bags onto the floor before slumping facedown on the double bed. Becca, not bothering to hide her amusement, settled daintily on the other bed and crossed her legs.

“So,” she said. “We’ve got the goods, and a plan on getting inside. You’ve got an hour and then it’s time to shower and start getting ready.”

“It’s only four!”

“Yes, and by five I want you in the shower. Don’t blame me for this. I have to get myself ready and you! So it will take longer.”

“Oh, for god's sake!” I groaned and turned over to lie flat on my back on the bed. “I’m starting to regret thinking of this plan.”

“Imagine how I feel,” she said. “The first sex party I’m invited to and it’s so you can rob the place.”

At least the shower was steaming hot with an incredible water pressure that felt like heaven after the piddly amount at Jen’s house. I lingered longer than I would normally have, just enjoying the heat as it released tension in my muscles I’d not known I had.

When finished, I wrapped myself in a fluffy white towel and headed back into the bedroom. Becca looked up and nodded to the bags she had placed on my bed.

“Your stuff’s in there.”

“Great.”

“Did you shave your armpits?”

“What, no?”

“Go do it. Legs too.”

I gaped at her then threw up my hands and gave a huff of air to the room before stomping back to the bathroom with a pink safety razor.

In truth, it didn’t take long to shave both underarms and legs and certainly only a little longer than it had taken me to shave when in my body. It still felt a little… weird… to say the least. Standing there, holding a pink razor with one arm held up as I ran the blade over my armpit.

I really missed being in a male body.

Back in the room, I emptied out the bags and sorted through the items that Becca had bought for me. My eyebrows rose in alarm as I hooked a finger beneath a strip of black lace barely wider than my finger.

“The hell is this?”

“That’s your underwear.”

“I know it’s underwear, but why the hell am I having to wear a thong?”

Becca smiled pityingly. “Welcome to womanhood, babe.” Her laughter showed no pity and I shook my head. “Look, you don’t want visible lines under your dress, so you either wear the thong or you go commando.”

“Okay, but why so… frilly?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s a sex club, dude. We need to fit in and if that means you lose the dress at some point, you don’t want to be standing there in granny knickers. Would kind’a give the game away a bit, yeah?”

I didn’t reply as I shimmied the lace up my legs. It was less comfortable than it looked and I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I had something stuck between my ass cheeks. Next came the bra. I’d managed to avoid wearing one, more on general principle than anything else. There was just something about it that screamed feminine to me, and while I was well aware of how ludicrous I was being, considering I was in about as female a body as I could get, it still seemed a step too far.

“Here,” Becca said, shaking her head as she crossed to where I stood. “Let me help you.”

As if it hadn’t been embarrassing enough. I closed my eyes and silently wondered if it was worth it all.

“Fuck,” I said, shifting my shoulders. “Is it supposed to be this tight?”

“Lifts and supports, babe,” she said, chuckling. “Being beautiful isn’t for the faint of heart.”

I padded across the room to the minibar and pulled open the door. There were a number of small bottles of alcohol and I gladly took them all out, dumping them on the bed and opening the whiskey before swallowing it in a single go.

“Oh, I think I needed that,” I said. Becca just looked amused and finished dressing herself.

Becca had opted for a set of black lingerie that she wore exquisitely. She stood before the full-length mirror, turning this way and that as she checked the fit. I felt that sudden heat again and had to swallow hard and look away.

I lifted the dress she had set aside for me and stepped into it, pulling it up over my hips and slipping my arms through. It was full-backed burgundy lace, with the front of the dress barely reaching midthigh, while the back touched the backs of my knees.

“Thought you would be a little more comfortable in that,” Becca said, and I turned, startled. I’d not heard her approach. “Fits perfectly, by the way.”

She was right. The material hugged every slight curve and line of my body, and when I walked, the skirt was loose enough to leave my legs free. If I needed to run, then I would have full movement. It was a good choice.

“Thank you, that was thoughtful.”

Her smile was like the sun emerging from behind the clouds on a rainy day. She practically beamed as she turned to her bed and the bag with her dress in it.

Becca’s dress was gold that shimmered like liquid when she moved. It ended barely below her ass and the plunging top barely provided any cover for her voluptuous form. She’d bought a few pieces of jewellery that had wiped out the remainder of Jen’s account, and she started adorning herself.

I could only watch, dumbfounded. She was an absolute vision and she had understood the assignment perfectly. There would not be an eye in the room that was not fixed on her as soon as she walked through the doors and that would allow me all the time I needed to do what had to be done.

“Okay,” she said, giving a self-satisfied smile. “If you think we look hot now, wait till I do your hair and makeup.”

“Great.”

Her smile widened. “Think of it like warpaint, babe. You’re adorning yourself for battle and it will help protect you.”

Not a bad analogy, I had to admit. I settled onto the bed while she gathered her makeup purchases.

“Right,” said as she sat opposite me on the edge of her bed. “So, we’re clear. We go in, I distract the host and you find their books of magic.”

“Yes.”

“Sounds a bit too easy. Is this a witch?”

“Succubus,” I said. “She feeds on sexual energy so hosts a lot of these parties.”

“You’ve been before?”

“A few times. Kind of business, you know?”

“Okay.” Her look was sceptical and I smiled.

“It was.”

“Sure.” She paused. “Does that mean you’ll know some of the people there?”

“Possibly.” That had occurred to me. “But, most will be human. The supernatural events tend to be a bit too wild to allow a bunch of humans in.”

At least ones that were allowed out again.

“Well, that’s something at least.” She twisted her lips as she sorted through the options, debating on colour choice. “So, what business did you do with this succubus?”

“Usual. We would cast spells for her and she would do favours for us.”

“Favours?” She waggled her eyebrows. “I bet.”

“Not like that.” I laughed. “She was useful and she indulged my sister, so we worked with her for a while is all.”

“Indulged your sister, what does that mean?”

“Delilah likes to inflict pain, when she has sex. It’s how she gets off. From what I understand, the taste of the energy from those sessions was a bit sour, but the succubus facilitated them anyway because she liked my sister.”

“So, they were together?”

“Kind of, in a way, I guess.” Becca stopped and leaned back, giving me a hard stare. “What?”

“Are you saying there’s a chance your sister could be here tonight?”

“Well… no, I mean…”

Oh, fuck.