With the curse's reactivation looming, Minh needed help. At noon Sunday, her clothes and anything she tried to cover herself with would vanish. An animal thirst would afflict her and she would find no orgasm for release. Only Dakota's compliance in lifting the curse repeater, or (a short term solution lasting until noon the following Sunday) his allowing her to take him in her mouth and swallow, would free her. She knew all of this in great detail because it was her own curse he'd set the repeater on.
Once again, not knowing who else to ask, Minh sought out Henry. She knocked on his door Thursday evening.
At first he swung the door wide open, but when he recognized it was Minh, he swung it back in, leaving just enough room for his face. He was hiding her from whoever was inside.
"She's with you I guess," Minh said.
On the couch, in a tank top and still-wet hair from a shower, was the girl Henry left Minh for: Eva. Henry would tell the story differently, but this was the truth. He preferred her.
"What brings you?" he said.
"You eat breakfast with Dakota."
"I do."
Minh handed him a vial she'd concealed in the long sleeve of her robe. "Season his food with this."
He quickly stuffed it in his pocket, then leaned in to whisper. "This is too much for you to ask."
Minh peeked over his shoulder at Eva, who was reclined watching television with her hands clasped behind her head, a posture that exaggerated the size of her chest. "You feel guilty about her, don't you? Do this and you're forgiven."
Minh's plan was incomplete, because she had only a few days. The potion in the vial was a recipe from the red scroll, which Minh translated properly this time, by hand. It was a suggestibility potion. Its drinker (Dakota), when commanded by its preparer (Minh), would be helpless against an urge to comply.
Dakota's invitation arrived by owl Saturday evening. He invited her to meet at 11:30 AM at a cabin he'd booked in the small town down the road from the castle.
It was a spacious cabin with large glass windows overlooking the snowy streets below. "Shoes here," he said when he let her in.
Thanks to Henry dosing Dakota with the potion, Minh had a counter move to make, though she needed to spend it carefully. Once activated, the suggestibility effect only lasted ten minutes. She took a deep breath and eyed the clock. They sat down at the table at 11:38.
"I've got a couple friends joining us soon," Dakota said. "It'll be a group study session."
Others? Minh clenched. Her humiliation might have an audience. She set down her glass. "Do you possess a heart?"
He smiled softly at her. "The topic of the lesson is: pleasuring a woman. The friends I invited are freshman from the soccer team. Don't worry, you'll like them. I chose the most handsome two."
With stakes this high, she couldn't afford to delay any longer. She issued her first command. "Dakota, set me free of the curse."
He tsk'd his tongue and shook his head. "You bungled it again, Minh. On two counts. First, Henry felt guilty and confessed right before I took my first bite. Second, you forgot to lock the curse orientation. so I just flipped it and ate my potatoes."
Her face blushed red. Before she could respond, a knock came on the door.
By 11:45 Dakota had arranged the room for a seminar. The two freshman sat side by side in dining chairs they'd pulled away from the table. Dakota stood in front of them, leaning against the table, ready to lecture.