Nick glanced over at the little statue, which resemble the sort of sculpture piece you'd see in certain types of people's living rooms, about 6-inches high, carved of a polished jade, or green quartz maybe. He turned it over to see the front... it looked like some sort of woman, though faceless and a little exaggerated. She did have an elaborately carved necklace, with an eight-pointed star jewel at her throat, which was somehow fascinating . Then, while a similar design formed in bodypaint at Nick's throat, he looked up as Mr. Fisk called out:
"I think I have the right tone now... Here we go!" and struck a fork. The resonating tones filled the room, and the circle seemed to shimmer from the vibrations. The tones seemed to shudder and flow across Nick's skin, from the toes up through his head, which was in some ways strangely pleasant. Nick shuddered for a moment, briefly lost in the strange sensation, but then regained his senses. He felt different, though, no doubt an after-effect of the process: he felt flushed, and warm, with a 'glowy' feeling that he couldn't quite describe.
"Oh dear," said Mr. Fisk "there's something different about you, I can tell. Not what I expected. Why don't you try out the glove's powers?"
"Of course." Nick smiled contentedly, focusing on something simple. The robes soon dissolved into a low-cut tank top, while a flowing sarong draped down around Nick's waist. The feeling he got, he could only describe as... sensual. But the process did take more effort, and it was slower.
"Oh dear, indeed. There are some changes... and what is that?" the shopkeeper pointed at Nick's neck.
Nick looked down. He could see right away that his breasts had grown... perhaps a D-cup, but he was no expert from this angle. He could also see part of an eight-pointed star tattoo at the base of his throat. "It's just like the statue's!" He exclaimed.
"Statue?" Mr. Fisk looked over "Oh, no! You picked it up? Damn... I hadn't thought, since it's not an issue for me..." he sighed "I'm afraid you're going to have to be careful. That's a potent and very old statue of Inanna, also called Ishtar, a fertility goddess from the ancient world." He eyed her up and down again. "When an infertile woman holds that and traces Inanna's symbol on herself, she receives the goddess' gift of fertility. Your body has been enhanced and fully primed for sex and mating. This is why your breasts have grown, and I think you'll find that men will find your scent very arousing, as you also be readily affected by men's scents."
"fertility?" said Nick, "But wait, Megan wasn't infertile "“ I know, 'cause she was on the pill."
"Well I'm afraid that the goddess would consider that a form of infertility."
"So, I can get pregnant? It still can only happen if I have sex with a man though, right? So I just have to hold out until I can change back?" "“ or just be really careful, Nick thought to himself. Strangely though, the thought of pregnancy also filled him with a warm sensation, and he felt an odd tingle from deep in his belly.
"Except that there's something else "“ Inanna's gift is strong, and those who receive it have it always, remaining fertile. Women who have it have tried 'the pill' without success - Inanna is stronger than modern pharmacology. I fear that this might become a bigger problem for you: Since becoming a man would prevent you from being able o conceive, the gift may not let you ever do so."
Nick felt a new dread. "But you said the medallion of Zulo is really powerful "“ wouldn't that be stronger?"
"It may be more powerful than that statuette, but it is said that Zulo was a disciple of Inanna, or even perhaps one of her lovers, and would never go against his goddess. As you know from the rules of the medallion, it is sensitive to issues of female fertility. I'm afraid that even if you can change into someone other than Megan, you'll never be your old self again, and in fact will always be a fertile woman, for the rest of your life."
Nick's heart sank, and Mr. Fisk continued: "There's more I'm afraid - Inanna is a goddess of fertility, yes, but not marriage. The ancient stories have her taking many lovers, and never staying with any one of them for long. The fact that her symbol seems to be a part of you now may well mean that you are in a constant state of ovulation, and I expect your sex drive will become quite strong. Abstinence will not be an option for you, as your needs and desires will become overpowering."
Mr. Fisk had moved closer, and Nick realized he could smell something, stimulating about him. The man was in his late forties or early fifties, true, but there was something powerful and confident about him that Nick couldn't quite shake, and he unconsciously started biting his lower lip.
