After getting settled in thier private rooms, Derrick's parents and sister chose to go check out the immaculate white beaches. He had been looking around, though, and was starting to make some guesses about their hostess. Once the rest of his family had gone, he sought out Ms. Hawk, and found her reading a book on the patio, one hand rubbing the ears of a lioness. The huge cat looked at him, but only rumbled a purr. Remembering the receptionist's claims that the anmials ehre were completely safe, he cleared his throat. "Um, Ms. Hawk?"
The woman put down her book and turns to look at him curiously. "Derrick, isn't it? What can I do for you?"
He flushed, suddenly feeling silly. After all, his suspicions were just based on dimly remembered Greek legends and a few old movies. Still, he had to ask. "Um, this probably sounds dumb, but I was wondering if, well, you are supposed to be Circe?" He added quickly "I mean, I know she was an ancient sorceress and that it's all legend, but this whole island and the animals and all. I figured with the Greek legend themes I saw all over the resort, you must be playing Circe."
The woman chuckled. "I don't know if I should give you full credit or not. Yes, I am 'supposed' to be Circe. However, I am not playing a part. I am the real thing, Circe of legend."
Derrick grinned back. "Oh, right. Well, you sure look good for someone who has been around for two thousand years."
"Then I am really holding up well to be nearly three thousand." Her smile widened as Derrick's expression hanged from amusement to confusion as he saw she was being serious. "I imagine you feel like a real ass."
A wave of disorientation and dizziness made Derrick stagger, and then he blinked and brayed as scents and sounds were suddenly more intense, and his vision got distorted and almost colorless. Brayed? His hands shot up to feel the huge gray-brown muzzle that was now his face, and then felt the long, flexible ears springing up from the sides of his head. Ms. Hawk gestured towards the wall behind her, where a polished plate of silver reflected the sunlight. He stumbled over and gaped - reflected back was a teenage boy with the full head of a donkey! He brayed again, unable to speak, and turned back to the woman in time to see her gesture again.
There was another sense of disorientation, and then everything was normal gain. He turned to see his human head back in place. "Oh, wow!"
Hawk/Circe just grinned. "I have found that a quick demonstration saves so much time. And yes, I can make you all or part any animal you can think of. Walk around with a lion's tail, or spend your vacation with the body, mind, and soul of an anteater." She gestured towards the trees that marked the wilder part of the island. Depending on what you choose, there are places where you can even live among others of your kind."
Derrick looked at the woods, then back at Circe. "You can even make me think like an animal?"
Nodding, she patted the lioness's head. "You need to be mostly physically changed, but I could make you her mate or her cub with no memory of being anything else. Or fully controlled by animal instincts and nature, but aware of your human past. Like the form, thought can be partial or total."
Derrick licked his lips nervously. "Well, if you really mean it, I would really like to be..."