Chapter 9
Finished with our shopping, we left the mall. We made plans for everyone to come to my house around seven for dinner. On the way back home, Sarah leaned towards me and pointed out my window.
"That's the store where I bought your idol."
On a whim, I made a quick left turn and parked.
"What are we doing?" Sarah asked, climbing out of the car.
"I'd like to talk to the shopkeeper," I told her, locking the car.
Sarah followed me inside. The place was dimly lit, but what I could see was a chaotic mess. It looked like an antique store, but there was no organization to it at all. Two customers, a man and woman hand-in-hand, where talking to who I presumed to be the shopkeeper. She was about my mom's age. She had long light brown hair that fell almost to her rear end in tight braids with silver beads. She was wearing a simple cream colored dress. No, it was a toga, I realized when she turned a little and revealed a bare shoulder. Her skin was golden, almost glowing with warmth. She wore plain leather sandals, and her fingers, wrists, arms and ankles were rife with glittering silver rings and bands of various designs, no two of which appeared to be the same. She flicked her gaze past the couple to us, and her eyes were an amazing bright blue. She shifted her feet, and I couldn't help but notice the curves of her body beneath the toga. The woman was beautiful, gorgeous, stunning, everything that defined the word 'feminine'. She looked like a goddess.
I noticed Sarah blush when the woman smiled at her.
"Come on," Sarah said, taking my elbow. "Wanna show you something."
I followed Sarah further into the store. When we passed the couple with the shopkeeper, I noticed the young woman was holding an idol too. I only got a glimpse of it, but it looked like a women similar to mine, but with her belly swollen from pregnancy.
"You saw the toga Helena was wearing?" Sarah asked.
I assumed Helena was the shopkeeper and nodded.
Sarah smiled. "Look at this one."
She drew out a garment from a rack. It was a toga too, but it was very sheer. I could see Sarah right through it.
"How do you think I'd look in it?" she asked.
My lips turned up in a slow smile as I imagined her in the gauzy toga. I replied softly, "Beautiful."
Sarah smiled widely and draped the toga over her arm. "Then I'm getting it."
I noticed the rack was full of similar togas. Sarah saw me looking and pulled another one with its hangar. "Helena said these are ceremonial."
"For what kind of ceremonies?" I asked.
Sarah shrugged. "What do I care? They're gorgeous."
I chuckled.
I heard the shop door close and looked up to see the shopkeeper coming over.
"Hello again, Sarah," she greeted her.
"Hi, Helena," Sarah smiled warmly and shook her hand.
Helena gave me a gentle smile. "This must be Amy."
I nodded and shook her hand. It was very soft and warm, like a grandmother, though she looked far too young for that. "Nice to meet you," I smiled.
Helena clasped her hands behind her back, and it pushed her chest out. Her full firm breasts were clearly outlined beneath the fabric of her toga, including her nipples. Strange that I noticed those kinds of things now. "How can I help you?"
I bit my lip, unsure of how to start. I gestured at Sarah. "Um, Sarah bought an idol from you recently."
Helena grinned at both of us. "Yes, I remember. A very powerful artifact."
"She gave it to me, as a gift," I told her.
"Did she now?" Helena's eyebrows went up and she grinned wider, looking at Sarah. "Well, that certainly explains the glow of supreme satisfaction."
Sarah smiled and blushed furiously.
"I take it you know what happened?" I asked.
Helena nodded. "I do."
"So how do I make it go away?"
She looked at me for a moment. "Do you want it to go away, Amy?"
I thought about it, chewing my lip, then shook my head. "Not permanently or forever, no." Helena smiled, but I continued. "But I can't have it just...popping out every time I get, you know,
riled up
."
Helena waved for us to follow her to the store's main counter. She offered tea and we accepted. "The answer is easy, but the solution isn't, I'm afraid."
I nodded for her to go on and sipped at my tea. Sarah scooted closer to me, her hip touching mine.
Helena looked at me. "You just have to control your urges, dear."
I scoffed. "Are you serious? That's not a solution."
Helena smiled. "It
is
a solution, but as I said, it is not an
easy
solution. It's the same for men, and it isn't easy for them either."
I laughed incredulously. "I can't have this thing appearing and disappearing all the time. If anything, my damn clothes can't accommodate it."
Helena raised an eyebrow and smiled mischievously. "My, my. That large?"
Sarah held her hands out, palms facing in. "Wall to wall."
I blushed and jerked her arms down. Helena laughed loudly. When I glared at her, she smiled sheepishly and put her hand over mine on the counter. "Listen, I know this is difficult, adjusting to the change within you, but you'll get the hang of it. Give yourself time to get to know your body and your new desires."
I sighed with frustration.
Helena arched an eyebrow. "Or, you can simply end this."
"End it?" Sarah asked cautiously.
Helena nodded and looked at me. "Will it away, and it shall be."