Stanley's initial excitement at the woman's acceptance of his idea faded as her subsequent argument sounded entirely too logical and reasonable.
"Let's set that aside for now. The question is, how do we help Stanley get his disguise- or alternate reality, back in place?" Camila said to calm the young man.
"Are you wearing an item the spell is anchored to? An enchanted ring, bracelet, or pendant? Even an earring would do," the big Security Chief suggested but Stanley just shook his head.
Sigrid sat forward. "There was a strange ticking just before the conversion. The ticking sped up then... you changed."
"Where was the ticking coming from?" Camila asked.
The blond shook her head. "We couldn't tell. It seemed to be coming from somewhere on his body but I wasn't close enough. Paloma was closer. I barely had time to pull her away before it happened."
"Paloma won't be in any condition to answer questions for a while," Camila said with a frown.
"I- I didn't hurt her, did I?" Stanley said hesitantly.
"No, our Mr. Duncan got to you just in time. You should know something about Succubi. We feed by draining energy from the men we have sex with. That can be energy directly from their life force which is the most filling but is dangerous to the man or it can be from his bodily fluids, preferably his sperm. Satyr's are beings of intense sexual appetites and your," she saw Stanley was getting embarrassed so she toned it down, "ejaculate contains a tremendous quantity of purest energy. I've never felt anything like it. A palmful is likely enough to sustain an adult Succubus for two to three days, maybe longer." She glanced back at the door. "She received more than a small amount, didn't she?"
He couldn't speak so he just nodded.
"She's having trouble containing the energy. It will eventually dissipate and she'll have to burn the excess off but she won't need to feed for some time. Her color change is concerning. We'll have to wait and see. It shouldn't affect her ability to activate her glamor enchantment."
"What is magic? Is it energy?" Stanley asked, trying to get his science based belief system to accept this new reality.
"Yes, exactly. Some of the Hidden Races can tap into this energy and directly manipulate it. Make it do things that affect the tangible world around us. They're wielders. For others, like Satyrs, Succubi, and Valkyries, our abilities are fed by this energy. We're more of a... conduit for the energy."
"But where does the energy come from?" Stanley asked.
Camila looked at Sigrid as this was quickly going beyond her knowledge.
Sigrid picked up the conversation. "Think of here and now as a single layer. Everything we see and feel is our reality. There are overlaying layers, alternate realities which are as real as ours but are vastly different in their energy levels. Some of these layers interact and bleed their energy into our layer. Some beings adapted to use this energy and were shaped by it."
Stanley nodded as his brain got a handle on the information. He suddenly jolted. "What time is it?"
Camila checked her watch. "It's almost midnight."
"SHIT! I have to get home!" Stanley leapt up then stopped to look down at his feet... hooves. His face fell. "How am I going to be able to go home when I look like this! How can I face my Baba looking like... like a goat man! She'll have a heart attack!"
"Your Baba?" Sigrid asked.
"I live in a room in my Grandmother's attic." He frowned once more at his cloven hooves. "I was so looking forward to having a job where I could afford my own place! Now that's all messed up!"
"Stanley, this isn't going to affect your job. We'll get your disguise back." Camila insisted and she saw he took a little comfort in her assurance.
"Can't you just call her?" Sigrid asked.
"She doesn't have a telephone. She... doesn't like technology. She's very old school," he admitted. "While I'm living under her roof I have to be home by no later than 10PM every night. I'm in so much trouble!"
The others smiled at him and he realized how silly that must have sounded. He grinned self-deprecatingly. "She's really sweet but she's also really strict."
"Are you related by blood?"
Stanley blinked at the odd question. "Of course, I am. She's my Baba!"
"Then it shouldn't be a problem bringing you home in this condition. Call it woman's intuition but I believe it's highly likely that she knows. If you like I can approach her and test the waters before you face her."
The more Stanley thought about going home, the more he felt like he had to. There was almost a compulsion to get there. He nodded.
They all stood and Camila helped him raise the hood and he was pretty much covered. If it hadn't been for the hooves that showed with each step he might have been able to pass for completely human with an oddly wide hood. He loaded the robe's one cavernous pocket with his stuff from the coffee table.
"I'm going to check on Paloma one more time then we'll go." Camila said and Sigrid followed her into the bedroom leaving Stanley alone with Mr. Duncan.
He looked over at the big man. "Are you human?"
The Security man stared at him expressionless for an uncomfortable period of time then shook his head with a wide smile. "Lycanthrope."
Stanley shook his head to indicate he didn't know what that meant.
"Werewolf."
Stanley's eyes widened. He knew that word. The man's smile just got wider. He did have a lot of sharp looking teeth.
"You're a newbie so I'll let it go but a word to the wise. Never ask anyone questions like that," the big man growled quietly. A chill ran down Stanley's back.
Camila and Sigrid rejoined them and they let themselves out of the condo and locked it up. Stanley walked closely behind the two women with Mr. Duncan directly behind him. He kept his head down and his hood hiding as much as it could. They took the elevator down to the lobby and walked out the front door. They moved out of the range of the building's cameras where Camila's limo picked them up.
Sigrid pressed the intercom and gave Stanley's address. The limo got underway as Stanley stared at the big blond nervously.
"What?" she asked.
"Did- did you read my mind for my address?" he said, his mouth going dry.
"Stanley. I work in Human Resources. You gave me your address when you gave us your resume," she said gently.
He sagged back in the chair. "I'm sorry. Everything is upside down and I- I don't know which end is up anymore. It's like... It's like I've discovered that all the stuff I thought was a frivolous waste of time is now on the final exam and I didn't study any of the material!"
That drew chuckles from the ladies and a smile from Mr. Duncan. They rode on in silence until they finally reached the outskirts of the city.
"That's a long commute!" Camila said looking at her new employee.
"Another reason to get an apartment closer to the office. That and avoiding the 10PM curfew," he said with a small smile.
They pulled onto a side road which dipped downwards and found themselves driving into a dense fog. Camila shared a look with Sigrid then her Security Chief. Stanley caught her nervousness.
"There's a bog on either side of the road here so it often gets foggy," he assured them.
"Any other houses on this road?" Mr. Duncan asked.
"Uh, no. Just Baba's."
They reached a gate so the limo stopped.
"Maybe I'd better come with you. She can hear my voice..." He paused. "Well, it's deeper but I think she'll know it's me. She's not fond of strangers." Camila nodded and they got out.
Stanley in the lead, they went through the gate and got three steps in when Camila, Sigrid and Mr. Duncan just stopped. Stanley made it two more steps before he realized he was alone. He turned around and saw them looking past him with fear in their eyes. He turned and saw Baba standing on the front steps.
The woman was old, deeply wrinkled, her body bent and weathered with age but she had a strength in her eyes that was fearful to look upon. Her peasants dress was worn and faded. She slowly stepped down the stairs as she kept her eyes on the group.
"I'm sorry I'm late Baba but I've had... quite a difficult night." Stanley confessed.
"Lift the hood. Let me see you boy," the old woman said slowly.
Sighing, he lifted the hood and pushed it back. He watched the old woman's face but she showed no fright or surprise, just regret and annoyance.
"You knew, Baba?" he whispered.
"Yes, boy. I knew. You... you weren't supposed to know. Not for a long time yet." She looked in annoyance at the three standing behind him. "What to do with these meddlesome creatures. Show yourselves!" she barked sharply.
Their disguises ripped away.