"From now on I shall have you all to myself" the old crone hissed at James with a wicked sense of pleasure "at least, in your true form"
"What do you mean?" James gulped. This didn't sound good.
"If any of my friends, enemies, associates - or anyone else for that matter - were to find me consorting with a naked young man who posesses no magical ability it would raise all sorts of awkward questions. So quite simply they won't. You will be suitably disguised in their presence."
"Disguised how?" James wanted to know urgently.
"Once you are within eyesight of another human, either here or elsewhere, you will be instantly transformed into an inanimate object." The witch explained "Though don't worry, you will remain fully conscious of the experience. This arrangement might be a little boring for you at times but, although I have plenty of visitors here, very few of them stay for long."
"But what kind of object?" James asked as if there could be a reassuring answer to this.
Elspeth met his latest question with a shrug.
"I think it is more fun to let your curse surprise us. The only rule I have set is that you must never look out of place wherever it is you transform. The better you blend into the background, the less questions asked"
"But Mistress..." James began, but the witch put a finger to his lips.
"Enough questions" she smiled "You'll soon have all the answers you need."