James and Nicola stood silently for a few moments, looking at each other with nervous anticipation at what fate might befall them.
"Hmm that's strange. Still no reaction" Meredith sighed after a while "perhaps some of this batch are duds"
"Well, I suppose that's what the testing is for" James offered with a hint of relief.
"That one still counts towards my quota though" Nicola quickly chimed in "apart from anything else it tasted revolting. What kind of crap do you put into these.."
Suddenly she froze mid sentence, eyes widening in confusion. She grabbed hold of her throat with some urgency.
"Nicola, are you ok?" James asked with genuine concern.
"She's fine. That potion must have a delayed effect" Meredith responded matter of factly "I'd best make a note of that"
But Nicola didn't look fine, the beautiful brunette fell down to her haunches and began making a series of very unlady like belching sounds. Her long, dark hair was falling out in clumps, her eyes bulging, her skin starting to turn a very unhealthy looking green.
"Are you sure she's ok?" James asked with increasing alarm.
"I can assure you your friend will be fine" the sorceress smiled reassuringly.
Nicola looked up at James desperately as she started shrinking down towards the ground, as if there were anything he could have done to help her. He could only watch in shock as his companion completed her transformation from a beautiful, ambitious young woman to a lowly little frog.
As if nothing of note had just occurrd Meredith reached down and picked up the helpless amphibian, which was croaking something untranslatable, and placed it delicately into a tank with a couple of other creatures of the same species.
"Um, does she still have her human mind" James looked up at Nicola who was perfectly sitting still at the side of the tank and seemed to be eyeing the other frogs across from her.
"Oh, yes completely" Meredith grinned wickedly.
"So how long will she stay like that?" James asked.
"She won't be able to transform back until she has the space to do so." Meredith answered "I'll let her out of that tank eventually, I expect. But she'll be perfectly safe in there and I could do with a break from her attitude to be quite honest with you"
James wasn't about to argue.
"So what about my potion?" James asked.
"It would seem that one was a dud" Meredith shrugged.
"So what now?" James asked nervously.