Craig, the skinny college student, clutched the amulet in both hands. He could feel the thing throbbing with power embedded in it by Madame Illusia. "This is powerful magic, my friend," her gorgeous son had told him when her ritual was done. "Use it wisely."
He intended to.
Craig had left Madame Illusia's tent with the rest of the crowd, most of whom were getting used to new shapes, sizes, ages, and (in one memorable transformation) species. He did not follow the others to the parking lot, however. Instead, he waited in the shadows, fumbling with the charm, practicing in his head what he would say and do if the opportunity presented himself.
Which, after an hour, it did.
*
Stephan emerged from the tent and walked toward the trailer he shared with his mother. He was bone weary and, with no one else around, he finally allowed himself to show it. Madame Illusia had left quite some time before, expecting her son to clean up the remains of the profitable evening. Now, Stephan had only one thing on his mind: getting to bed. Tomorrow, they'd strike the tent and drive to the next state to honor a contract with yet another traveling carnival. If he could talk his mother into driving for a while, maybe he'd even be able to get more rest.
He hadn't taken ten steps before a shadow disengaged itself from a nearby food booth and a figure stood before him. Stephan straightened up when he saw who it was. "Sorry, kid, no refunds or exchanges."
"Huh? Oh. I don't want my money back," said Craig, which was sort of a lie because he'd exchanged his life savings for the amulet in his hand, but he'd much rather have the power to do what he was about to do.
"I see. Then how can I help you?" asked the handsome witch's assistant.
"Don't worry about helping ME," said the boy, emphasizing the last word. He then closed his eyes and Stephan felt a strange vibration rippling across his skin.
"Oh NO!" Unfortunately, he was too tired to protect himself or even run. Less than a minute later, he passed out, allowing the merciful blackness to bring him rest.
*
Craig knelt down by the tiny, prone figure. It looked like a detailed doll, the size of a GI Joe or Barbie but shaped exactly like the handsome son of Madame Illusia. He prodded the small form but elicited only a small groan. Satisfied that the gorgeous showman was alive, Craig gingerly picked up the reduced body in one hand.
Sticking to the shadows, he made his way to his car, anxious to get his new pet to more comfortable surroundings.
(What will Craig do next? How will Stephan react to his new living situation? Will he ever see his mother again?)