Ricky glanced to the broken window, and the stone at the ground. "Damn it Julian," he said to himself as he threw the stone out through the letterbox carefully. There was still a little sunlight out there, but it was cast away from the window now. It gave him time to border it up with what he had, mostly cardboard. He would have to explain that some vandals did it to his mom and dad...
... Julian would have really forced him into the sunlight...
He shivered a little and sighed. He went up to his room, and was inundated by E-mails of people demanding their money back. The angel wasn't kidding, all the pictures had been deleted- which would mean all of 'theirs' too. Ricky quickly reversed all the transactions. It was a little heart breaking to do. The tall teenager had never made so much money in his life in such a short amount of time. Yet there was also something about all this that made him feel a little... happy? That in some way, people did like to look at the transformed as a kind of morbid curiosity- even if his own interests were a little... stranger then that.
He looked at the ripped up pictures. Julian's claws had done a real number on them. Ricky felt tears well in his eyes. They were such wondrous, glorious, exotic pictures. But now they were illegible. The supple curves of the multiple breasts destroyed by a jagged claw mark. With the digital copies destroyed and the originals gone, they really were completely and totally gone.
Ricky closed his eyes and tried to commit the images to memory. He just longed to see that cat-girl's expression, that naked devil's tail... and all those wondrous breasts that he just craved to touch.
His mother knocked on his door. "Ricky?" She asked. "I heard a sound earlier on. Are you aright?"
"Yes mom, come in," he said.
His mother entered his room. She was a somewhat ordinary figure really, though she was actually smaller then her teenage son. She had red hair, and sharp though curious green eyes. She was dressed in a simple pink nightie, having slept most of the day. "What happened?"
"Vandals," he quickly lied. "Probably trying to push us into the light," he said rolling his eyes. It was not far from the truth. Julian probably got a twisted pleasure out of forcing someone's life to change like that.
"I guess we'll call someone to repair it. Maybe we can get one of those tinted windows to keep the light out. Turn a bad thing into a good thing, eh?" She said smiling.
Ricky smiled a bit at that. That was his mother, always turning lemons into lemonade. It was her positive attitude that kept him going to school at night, even if it made him tired as anything. She used to work as a secretary. Now all she did was keep an eye on the phone during the night. Most of the work was done in the day. Still she kept her pay and only works half the night- which gives her more time to catch up on reading and her son.
She stared a little at her son knowing something was wrong. "You seem a little upset Ricky, are you okay?"
"I-" he glanced at his computer. "I lost some special files," He said looking quite forlorn of it.
His mother turned sympathetic. "Oh- school work? Oh honey I'm so sorry. Is there nothing we can do to bring it back?"
"No- I- I don't think so. It's gone for g-good." Ricky at this point broke down. The objects of his affections were just destroyed... and it upset him. He only got to enjoy them for a brief hour, all so brief... and now it was gone.
...Forever.
His mother was surprised and touched his shoulder. "Come on honey, it can't be that bad." His mother continued to look supportive. "You can always make it again? Maybe even better?"
"N-No.. I can't..." Ricky looked down even sadder. There will never be anything as real or exciting as what he saw in those pictures.
Ricky's mother looked all the more confused. She had no idea her son was this dedicated to a school project. Whatever it was, it must have been something he put his heart into for it to make him react like this. She gave him a little hug.
The tall teen pulled away a little. "Mum! It- you wouldn't understand okay?"
Ricky's mother blinked. "You're still my baby you know. I'm sorry, I can't help it" She said lovingly. "Are you going to school tonight?"
"Yeah. I need some books in the library for homework. I might stay there a little longer to catch up on things..." It would be a good place to hide for now. "Mom? you're not staying at home today are you?"
"Well- I might go do some shopping. Are you worried about the vandals?"
"Y-yes! I am." Ricky gasped as the weave of deceit just seemed to be building itself. He didn't want to tell his mother anything about what he had done, or Julian... and this was the perfect cover. "Please- just make sure you stay safe. Maybe you should go somewhere else. Maybe stay at work a while longer?"
"I don't have work today dear," she said.
"Then- Go to a friends? Please mom... I just... want to make sure nothing happens."
His mother glanced around. "Well... I guess me and your father could go see a few friends today," she mused. "But maybe you should come with us too?"
"I- I'll make sure the place is safe. Someone has to stick around," he said quickly.
His mother gave a kiss on his cheek. "You're so brave honey, but I honestly think you are over reacting. It was probably some kids... but Well, okay... if it makes you happy," She said in the end. "Call me on my mobile if you have any problems."
"Thanks mom..."
Ricky went to school, sighing. It was dark and dreary, and more then just a little cold this evening. He was surprised to see more people at school then usual. It looked like with all the rescheduling that had to be done, evening classes did occur, even if he was not actually in them himself.
He was idly listening to a conversation in one of the classes. He grimaced a little. It was that bully Jeff, also known as Razor. He always had spiky hair, gelled as if it was still the 80s. Not that anyone called him out on it because he was just so insanely strong and could snap at you. Snobby rich kid if you could also believe that so most people did what he wanted if it got him in his mansion. How was anything like that fair?
"-so yeah can you believe it? I got to now give my pool to my neighbour who got turned into a mermaid."
Ricky swallowed. How was that FAIR! He now got to look at probably the most gorgeous mermaid every time he opened the window. The tall teen could probably imagine taking pictures of-"
"Here look see?" said the Razor. There were pictures in his hand.
Ricky's curiosity got the better of him, as he tried his best to go from behind and sneak a peak at the new pictures of this mermaid. He very slowly walked, barely even breathing. He just had to go see it! Just one little peak....
He saw the picture... and it was a picture of some arm in a punch motion.
Ricky was confused a moment. Why would Razor have a picture of his own hand in a fist? But then he felt the punch as Razor turned around and winded him. "Ha! Got ya! You freak..."
The tall teen coughed. So it was just a lie? Oh god- did someone say about his secret interest in the changed?"
The Razor just grinned. "I wasn't lying. I do have a mermaid in my pool. I'm bettin' she'll lay some eggs at some point. What a freak eh?"
There were snickers of laughter as Ricky got up unsteadily. "T-They arn't all- f-reaks," he said coughing.
The Razor scoffed. "What are you? A sun lover?"
Ricky swallowed. "What? No! I- I just mean some of them are lucky."
The Razor laughed again. "Yeah, I suppose some of them might not actually walk like a duck, or crawl on their knees. Heck, if they are really lucky, they might even still be able to.... "he whispered something into ricky's ear which made the tall teen blush crimson.
"I- I wouldn't know," he said quickly.
The razor suddenly looked a little serious to Ricky. "I need some info. Seems our sun contact fled. Shortly after visiting you. You wouldn't know anything about it eh?"
"N-No..."
"Well maybe this will change your mind," said Razor. He showed a picture of a mermaid... a real mermaid.. a real picture. She was naked in a pool, the picture taken from a window looking over it. "Julian asked me to take this picture before he left. Yeah I know, the tail does spoil it. But she's got a good rack on top eh," Said Razor. "I get to see that every night though. I don't know if I should smile or put her on a plate with some chips" He laughed.
Ricky tried not to blush. "Well- yeah seems a nice picture," said Ricky trying to be cool about it. This did not make it into the original collection... "But yeah. She's a real freak." he said forcing a little laugh. He took the picture trying not to be too eager about it. This was supposed to be 'damaged goods' after all. "The- the changed got him," he said earnestly. "Some really powerful changed gang... they also took the goods he was giving me."
"Pft," Razor spat. "The changed just don't know when to quit. Julian was the only decent changed one looking out for us. Without him, we're pray in the day side."
Ricky thought about that angel girl, and nodded. The changed really do control everything these days. There just didn't seem to be any room for humans. It wasn't fair. "I- I got to go study... bye..."
He left quickly with this one picture, already feeling the eyes on the angel girl on him.
Inside the study room, various students poured over books. Not that many, only about seven or so, all human.
Ricky glanced now and then at the picture of the mermaid hidden in his book. There was no sign of anyone else seeing... and he prayed that it meant it was okay to look at this one picture. He could already feel arousal building inside, but he kept it in check. Nobody else saw.
His revere was interrupted by a strange girl who came into the classroom. "Hm, must be from drama club," he said aloud. She was dressed in some kind of roman-esque clothing, and it all looked quite authentic. She wondered from person to person, and each looked their best to try and ignore her- and were doing a good job too. She must be considered a loser or something. Ricky felt a bit sad at that. He knew what it was like to be given the silent treatment/
The girl went from each face, giving them a little look, tilting her head... then she went to Ricky. She pressed her face close to his. "Er- would you mind?" He asked very confused at this strange girl.
The girl gasped. "You- can see me?"
"Um... yes?" said Ricky confused. Why wouldn't he be able to see her?
The others in the room glanced at Ricky. "you talking to your book nerd? Said one."
"I was talking to-" He blinked as the girl was gone. "...N-Nobody," he said quietly.
Maybe the angel girl was playing a cruel trick on him... he had to be ready for anything. He quickly put away the last surviving picture.
