Sandra landed with a thud in front of Abby. Aside from their color, they looked almost identical. They were about the same size with the same wings and spikes. But Sandra had more heads, and they looked more vicious.
"Sandra, what did you do?" asked Abby in shock.
"Oh, you mean my little babies?" said Sandra, as she kissed a feral head. "Well, I couldn't have anyone challenging my authority. You know, challenging my control of this body. There can only be one Queen. So I did a little trimming and removed the ones I didn't like. You really should have done it yourself dear. It makes things so much easier."
"My God... Your evil head must have killed the good Sandra, " said Abby.
Sandra roared angrily. "I am Sandra! There is no other! Only me! Now where is my mate!"
Abby glared at her. "He's our mate, remember?"
"Of course, of course. Just let me have him first, and I promise to return him. After I am through with him, " said Sandra.
"I don't think so, " said Abby.
Sandra backed up and puffed out her chest. "You dare to challenge me!" Sandra heads roared angrily and wagged aroun her head with excitement.
"I have a little surpise for you. Actaully several suprises, " said Abby.
Abby reared back, and her heads used their new powers to attack. Sandra backed away, a little injured but not seriously hurt. "How cute. You learned a few new tricks. Well, little whelp, I may have a few new tricks up my sleeve, too."
Sandra rushed forward to attack with the powers of her new heads.
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Jim huddled inside the cave wth fear, gripping the box of vials tightly to his chest. Outside he could hear the ground shake as the tremendous battle between the titans raged on. Occasion blasts of flame or cold or acid touched the distal end of the cave. He knew he should go outside and help, but he just couldn't force himself to drink the vial. He didn;t want to become a monster like them. He had seen how it had changed his sweet and innocent gilfriend. And he definatly didn;t want to end up as some kind of love slave for the two mosters.
The cave shook, as one of the monsters hit the ground hard.
"Can use a little help here, Jim? Are you changing yet?" asked Abby from outside the cave.
"Yes, Jim. Come outside and join use. I am so eager to see your luscious new body, and put it to good use," said Sandra,
Jim heard a load roar, and soon the sounds of battle resumed. He sighed and was about to drink it when he heard a voice.
"Don't do it, human."
Jim turned and saw a large Gryphon standing behind him. "You will regret it, " said the Gryphon.
Jim backed away from the Gryphon, and bumped into a mass of feathers. He turned and saw the puffy white feathered chest of another Gryphon.
"The entrance is clear, but not for long. I am not sure but I think she saw me enter. At least one of her new heads did," said the Gryphon. It's voice was different, a little higher. Could it be female? She looked at the vial in his hand. "Are we too late? Has he tried it?"
The female Gryphon bgan to back away.
"Easy, " said Junn, trying to calm his mate and the human. "Not yet. Human, we mean you no harm. But the fairies warned us about that box. We tried to stop the Beast from using it, but we were too late. But we cannot allow her to breed and multiply. She is dangerous enough by herself."
"Fairies, Gryphons ...what the hell is going on? " said Jim.
"We have little time to explain. Just give us the box so that we can destroy it, " said Bechana.
"NO! One of those monsters is my girlfriend, my true love. I can't leave her like that!" said Jim.
The Gryphons looked at each other and sighed. "We, too, know the importance of true love and how important it is. But that box threatens our family. It must be destroyed, " said Junn.
"Then let me at least join her. So she won't be alone," said Jim.
"You don't understand what you are doing. You will not just be damning yourself, but the entire world, including our family. Do you want your love to live with that guilt for the rest of her unnatural life. We can take the box from you by force, but we do not wish to harm you. Please don't force ......" began Junn.
"Wait. The fairies are saying something. There is another way, " said Bechana.
"What? There are fairies here?" asked Jim.
"Yes, but only children and mythological creatures can see them," said Junn.
Jim put his hands against his head. "This is just getting more crazy by the minute."
Bechana put a talon on his shoulder. "Easy, human. There is a way to help us both. You can save your love without becoming a beast. Each of the fairies can grant one wish to a child. You just have to use the vials to become a child again."
"What? You want me to use these to become a child again? Even smaller and more vulnerable? And didn't you guys already eat a kid?" asked Jim.
Bechana bristled. "Eat a child? Why I have never been so insulted! I would never do such a thing!"
"It is just a misunderstanding by Sandra. The fairies can explain everything. But we must hurry. Please use the vial to become a child," said Junn.
The Gryphons looked at him expectantly. He looked back at the box. Sandra had claimed the Gryphons were evil, but she seemed pretty evil herself. Maybe the enemy of my enemy was my friend. Bu invisible fairies? That seemed a little far fetched. Maybe they were just trying to shrink him so he would be easier to eat. And then they could destroy the box on their own. Outside the battle raged. He wondered just how long Abby could keep up. Maybe it would be better to just to become a monster and help her. Together they could control their urges. They wouldn't become the harbingers of doom the Gryphons feared.
Jim looked at the box and made his decision.