It's actually a bit of a blessing that Alptraum didn't have to transform Igorina again after doing Twig. After the big bath, the two women were happy to entertain themselves as such during the night, and it was only later that Alptraum's hand began to tingle a bit. It felt a bit like fatigue, and he didn't get a sense of alarm from it – it wasn't like when it was hungry, and there was no sign of withering on the underside. The sensation went away after Snow massaged the flesh with her thumbs, which in itself was odd: Alptraum could feel the pressure, but the subtler sense of touch was replaced by taste.

By morning, the bat was feeling better (and again, sleeping with Snow helped in that regard) and smells a big breakfast being prepared. Twig is really getting into being able to actually swallow food, it seems, which leaves Alptraum the only active vampire in the castle.

"Wakey, wakey, fur-less one," Alptraum murmurs and prods Snow's side lightly with his currently bandaged-for-safety right hand. "Smells like everyone else is up and we should be social. Plus, today may be the day you give up being human for a while… "

One eye opens to reveal a pale pink iris, and Snow mutters, "I've never been all that human." Still, the young woman stretches and starts to wake up. Because the bedsheets are also white, it's difficult to tell where she ends and they begin.

"You're perfectly human, just very pale," Alptraum remarks as he sits upright and stretches out as well, yawning wide. It's then he goes about unwrapping his hand now that he's not likely to stab anyone with the sharp bits while sleeping.

"So do I taste like other human girls then?" Snow asks, as she slips into her cloak and slippers. "And who are you going to have for breakfast this morning?"

Alptraum gets up and runs his right hand along Snow's stomach before dressing as well. "You're the only human I've ever bitten. I can't really compare," he admits. "As for who I'll bite, I'll see who volunteers."

"It should be Twigette," Snow suggests. "He… she's… probably never been bitten by a vampire before."

"I won't force the bite, but I do agree it ought to be her," Alptraum says and grins impishly. "She might even enjoy it. You certainly do."

"And … have you decided on if you'll spend time with Rina once I impress Twig's imprint on her?" Alptraum actually asks as he cinches his belt.

The Shrine Maiden pauses at the door, and asks, "You mean… Ah… I don't think I will. It would seem strange. Besides, I already have you."

"I'm your best vampire lover?" Alptraum teases as he now follows Snow out the door. "I bet it's the hand. I think women love the hand… "

The kitchen is full of scents, and the table is covered in food – it looks like a bit of everything from the larder has been prepared. There are even different kinds of bread and preserves, along with the various meats. Igorina stands proudly next to the cooking area door, wearing just an apron. Twigette isn't bothering with clothing at all, aside from a bib, and is stuffing her face with a bit of everything. Apparently last night's big meal has been burned off already.

"So, did you two, ah … " Alptraum whispers to Igorina as he walks up to observe the gorging. "Did I get the transformation right everywhere?"

"Oh yes, it worked out just perfect," Igorina replies, whispering as only an Eeee can. "How soon can you change me again?"

Alptraum thinks about that. "Any time, I think. And I should probably re-enforce Twig's body to make sure she remains completely, well, female for a while. I think you'll like that," he whispers and nudges her. "I can probably change you again after breakfast if you want."

"I'm glad we got all those hogs!" Rina notes, licking her lips.

"I could leave both you changed while I go visit Azrael, giving you some time to enjoy the reversal," Alptraum whispers deviously, "Then swing back by and return things to normal before heading home."

Snow fixes a plate for herself, and keeps her distance from Twigette lest something get nibbled on by mistake.

"Oh, you should sneak up and bite her too," Rina suggests. "Make her enjoy it," she adds with a wink.

"And Twigette, you will be my breakfast this morning. So don't eat too much because you're going to lose a bit of blood and that may make you feel strange," Alptraum says out loud just after Rina whispers it. The look he gives to Rina suggests he fully intends to make sure Twigette enjoys it.

"Mrrrp?" Twigette goes, wiping her mouth and looking over her shoulder. "I didn't hear you arrive!" Or apparently notice Snow sitting a few seats down. Talk about focus!

Alptraum actually saunters over to a chair near Twigette and slides down into it, giving the transformed Skreek a sly look as he goes. "Why don't you sit in my lap, hmm? It will make being bitten so much easier," the Eeee practically coos at Twigette as he pats his lap. "And I promise you will enjoy every minute of it."

The rat blushes and actually tries to curl up a little. "This body has some surprising reactions," Twigette admits, but does transfer over to Alptraum's lap. Snow watches with interest while she spreads honey on a piece of dark bread.

"Are you enjoying it?" Alptraum asks the Skreek that now sits in his laps. His wings drape lightly around Twigette to afford her some privacy, especially since his hands start to explore certain places know to be sensitive. He has a real reason as to why, though, as he is extending his shadow-cloak over the areas that most resisted his changing so that he can re-enforce their current form while he drinks her blood. "No regrets?" he asks as his fangs now playfully slide along the place where her neck meets her shoulders.

The rat shivers, being a lot more demure than Rina ever was. "It's… You'd be very popular at University with this trick," she finally says.

It's also a lot easier to reinforce the changes – probably because the changes have already been made in the first place, or else there's just less resistance (or more acceptance) on Twig's part.

"Now, all you need to do is relax. Don't resist, embrace. I promise I won't hurt you and you can continue enjoying your new outlook," Alptraum premises the Skreek. The bite that follows is slow and careful. He knows Twigette will feel the initial sharp pain from the punctures, and he also knows that fades quickly into a usually rather enjoyable sensation. Once he feels the Skreek's body lose its tension, that's when he starts to gently drink her blood. It is also when the shadow-cloak extends completely over, and in some cases, into, the transformed Skreek's body. Both feeding and shaping are slow and careful … and the Eeee doesn't mention the part that he tries to guesstimate how much re-enforcement to do to make sure it holds for about a week.

The rat girl seems to melt as her muscles let go. She even moans a bit. "So thissss issss… what… mmmmmmm… " she mutters. There isn't any resistance at all at this point, but Twigette tastes very much like an Eeee, despite the changes.

It's actually a good fifteen to twenty minutes of Alptraum both feeding and working over her transformed flesh before his jaws finally release and he licks over the two small punctures. His eyes flick to Rina and he flashes a brief grin and nod as if to confirm Twigette is well and truly shifted for a while. "Felt good, didn't it?" Alptraum purrs in the Skreek's ear.

Twigette blows saliva bubbles and just sighs.

"You would like it if Rina could do this to you now and then, wouldn't you?" Alptraum now purrs to the Skreek, knowing full well, Twigette will probably agree to just about anything right now.

"Oh yesh," the Skreek says, lisping just a little bit.

Alptraum takes a few minutes to heal the neck punctures before he pats Twigette's backside. "Okay, why don't you finish eating and then I'll see to changing Rina a bit so that she can give you a more complete experience… " Alptraum says.

"It had better be worth giving up bacon for," Rina notes, grinning.

"You can turn her into a puddle on a whim," Alptraum points out and grins, "And it's only temporary."

"Amused?" Alptraum turns and now asks Snow. "You've been quiet."

"When you bite men, does it have that same effect?" Snow asks. "And have you been holding back when you bite me?"

"I haven't bitten a man. I have no idea," Alptraum points out. "And no, I was just, ah, re-enforcing Twigette's body to make sure she won't revert for quite a while… "

"Well, are you going to do that to Rina after you change her into Twig?" Snow asks, trying to hide a grin behind some bread.

"I haven't decided!" Alptraum claims and crosses his arms.

Rina snickers a bit, and Twigette… well, she doesn't seem inclined to move out of Alptraum's lap. Or move much at all.

Alptraum now sits back and relaxes, leaving Twigette in his lap while the others tend to their breakfast. Every now and then he does allow his right hand to devour some of the prepared food, even though it offers him no real nourishment, just small moments of a pleasurable sensation.

Once everyone has had their fill and the leftovers are cleared away, Rina offers to take Twigette off of Alptraum's lap. "It might be comfortable now, but I know that body, and in the next few minutes she'll need to be somewhere else… "

"She's all yours. If she sits here any longer, I'll be tempted to do things," Alptraum jokes as he spreads his wings so Rina can collect her Skreek.

"I'll see to Twig," Rina notes, lifting the rat up with a little difficulty. Of the two, the Skreek is probably the stronger normally. "You go get charged up for my wish! Bwahahaha!" Rina has the laugh down at least.

Alptraum laughs and shakes his head. "Coming with me to go charge up again?" Alptraum asks Snow as he stands and stretches a bit. "I may be able to change you today as well, since I won't be changing gender, just form a bit. May be easier. I do expect I'll need some rest in between, though."

"Oh, I suppose I can let you rest," Snow says, and gets up to go to the hog pens with Alptraum.

"Is that so? You sound excited about the possibility of being changed now," Alptraum teases Snow as the pair head back down to the hog pens. "I'm envious of all of you, really. You get to experience things I don't."

"You can't have Melusine change you?" Snow asks.

"She has been reluctant to do so," Alptraum says, "And she doesn't have many templates she can use anyway."

"Can't you transfer yours to her somehow?" Snow suggests as they reach the coach house.

"No idea. She already has my entire body template," Alptraum says and shrugs a bit, "I'm new to being a shadow creature." He then unlatches the door and heads into the coach house.

The hogs grunt and jostle and raise a stink, expecting to be fed. Snow's Dromodon keeps its distance from them, chewing its hay in silence.

Alptraum actually goes about getting some feed for the hogs to get them to calm down so he can devour one in relative peace. "If you could remain a sphynx permanently, would you want to, Snow?" he asks as he works on feeding the hogs.

"I could hardly answer that now," Snow notes. "Never having been one."

"I ask because I know you haven't been so happy being human," Alptraum says, "From what you've told me. If you really like the form, I might be able to get Melusine to make it permanent. She might do it out of gratitude. But … the gratitude of a shadow dragon scares me. I'm not sure what a happy one would do to someone that made her happy."

"I don't know if a permanent change is that easy," Snow notes. "Unless Melusine's abilities go beyond what Life Magic can do."

The hogs begin to settle down, once they've all jostled their way to the feeding trough.

"She can do it, it is possible for their kind," Alptraum remarks. Now the Eeee is looking over the collection of hogs and tries to decide on the largest one to consume this time for enough power to alter Rina's shape to be more … Twiglike.

The biggest one is a hairy brute, with impressive tusks that actually look weathered from age… or else from trying to gore castles with.

Alptraum ends up deciding to save that one for Snow, since the change is more extensive than shifting Eeee attributes. So, he selects the next largest and lays his hand upon its back. His eyes close and shadow flows from his right hand to engulf, and then consume, the beast.

The other hogs raise a ruckus… and then immediately move to fill the gap left when the big one disappears. It tasted a bit odd to Alptraum – sort of 'double hog' flavored, as if it had eaten another hog itself before.

Alptraum's wings rustle as a shiver rolls down his spine. "I should be scared how good it feels to do that," he admits and then turns around to face Snow. "But I don't. I'm used to it. I kind of like it."

"Yes, things that feel good tend to be liked," Snow agrees with a grin, and stands aside so she can usher Alptraum towards the door. "Just don't try to combine all of the stuff that feels good at the same time, or someone isn't going to be enjoying it!"

"I know, I know! I know when to do what," Alptraum mock-complains as he's ushered back out. "And Snow? Thank you for liking me even though I'm … freakish."

"My last boyfriend was a glowing worm," Snow points out. "You've got a skeleton and everything! So you're pretty far from freakish by my standards."

"Wait, what, you've actually consummated with a worm?" Alptraum pauses mid-step and looks at Snow.

"The worm did, I didn't," Snow points out. "I'm not that freaky!"

"Oh, right. You just consummate with shadow hybrids," Alptraum teases and playfully pokes her side. "We had best get to Rina before she explodes from anticipation. Her body changed, but her personality remains the same."

"Well, Twig's seems to have changed a bit," Snow points out as they return to the kitchen. Sure enough, Rina is there, practically bouncing in her seat. "There you are!"

"Where is Twigette?" Alptraum asks as he looks around the kitchen. "You didn't chain her up somewhere, did you?"

Rina blinks, and looks shocked at the question. "What sort of thing is that to ask?" the Skreek-Eeee says. "Of course I have her chained up to my bed! She needed the rest."

Alptraum laughs and holds his head. "Of course, of course," he says. The Eeee's arms spread and he asks, "So, you're absolutely certain you want to be a male vampire like me?"

"Like you?" Rina asks, looking Alptraum up and down. "I thought I could only be like Twig?"

"Well, yes, Twig is the imprint. But I was thinking on trying to mix the imprint you were now with the male aspects of Twig's imprint to create a unique vampire look for yourself. I can just go for a complete Twig shape if you would prefer," Alptraum explains.

"I thought you couldn't do just bits?" Rina asks, and looks at herself. "The more Twiggy you can make me, the better. Then I won't feel awkward."

"Well, I can't mix species, but I might be able to combine aspects of the same species. But … completely Twig is fine too. Unless you rather I not and just leave things as they are… " Alptraum offers innocently.

"I want to know if Twig is enjoying things more than I am," Rina claims. "And if so, be able to teach him… her… how to do it better."

"And more, I imagine, but I won't pressure. I need you to relax in that chair," Alptraum says as he circles around to stand behind the Skreek-Eeee. Both of his hands come to rest on her shoulders and he adds, "Tell me when you are ready."

"Relaxing is hard," Rina complains, but tries taking deep breaths. It may be some Igor secret technique, but Rina is soon just barely awake it seems. Almost like she could hypnotize herself.

Shadow flows from Alptraum's right hand, covering the Skreek-Eeee in its slick, warm, embrace. The first flavor Alptraum brings up is the one of Mave, and he familiarizes his shadow-flesh with its feel so that he knows the basis from which things will be changed. The next imprint then comes, that of Doctor Twig, the male vampire. His mind now focuses on that and his shadow-flesh squirms and contorts around Rina's body. It's like shaping firm clay, the effort of reshaping her body to be more masculine and more and more like Twig. The focus at first is on the shape, making it match. That part should hopefully have less resistance. The harder part, and he now knows it, is when the focus shifts to changing Rina's external gender to that of a male; specifically one modeled after Doctor Twig. Careful extrusion and shaping of flesh; mindful of nerves and their placement in the imprint. All of it is complex and hard and more often than not Alptraum finds himself trying to bring Shadow-Dragon instinct forward to help him…

Whether it's instinct, extra willingness on Rina's part or just because the subject is already in a transformed state, things are much smoother and easier this time. There seems to be almost no resistance, and it feels nice, so that his whole forearm is tingly. When it's time to pulls back the shadow, what is left in the chair is a nearly perfect replica of Dr. Twig – including his color.

"Snow, can you massage my arm a bit?" Alptraum asks in a distracted voice and holds his right arm out for her. "That was easier than I expected it to be," he says down to the Twig replica before him. "How do you feel? Nothing hurts, I hope?"

While Snow tends to Alptraum's arm, Igorina stretches his arms and legs, and feels between his legs. "I feel… normal," he says, his voice slightly off still. "Things feel allwaagl… blag… alWIGHT," he gets out, tongue squirming all over the place. The main difference between this Twig and the real one is that Rina's eyes don't glow, revealing a pair of muddy green irises.

Alptraum grins a bit. "Talking with fangs of those size will be a bit of a problem, but I think you can manage," he jokes. "Everything external looks okay, but your eyes don't glow. Not entirely unexpected as the glowing eyes are from spirit possession, not something physical. So … you look good. I hope it is what you thought it would be like?"

"I thought it would be hawdah to stand up," Rina admits. Then Alptraum notices Snow giving an odd look of concentration towards Rina, and even feels a tiny bit of spillover – Snow is trying to arouse Rina with her power… but it doesn't seem to be having an effect.

"So… how do you… make it woo… woo-awk… wake up?" Rina asks Alptraum.

Alptraum looks over his right hand since it tingles. "I guess it doesn't change them fundamentally, so your power doesn't work," he remarks to Snow. Rina's question also gets answered, "Remember the first night when I was here and what we did? Think about that for a bit. And then think about the poor Skreek chained to your bed… "

"Oh!" Rina says, excited at how quick the response was. "Does it weally think fowa itself? And the biting… that comes natuwally wight?"

"Biting is instinctual. Just be careful when you bite down. Slow, but firm. Right where the shoulder and neck meet is the safest place," Alptraum says with a laugh and actually lightly grabs the transformed Rina for a second now that its awake. "Thinking about the act triggers the reaction, is all," he explains and lets go.

"Hey, do that… nevahmind!" Rina says, and laughs. "I wememebah weha to bite! Gonna go pwactice now! Don't wait up!" The transformed Skreek heads for the hallway – and the bedroom where Twig waits.

Alptraum laughs and shakes his head. "What I have done is so wrong. Yet … so, so funny," Alptraum admits and sags against the back of the chair near him. The Eeee can't help but laugh for a bit, too.

"You sound drunk," Snow notes, and sniffs the Eeee's breath to make sure he isn't. "Is all of this affecting you somehow?"

The bat feels… pretty good, actually. Not tired, since that went much smoother and faster than the original transformation. And yes, even a little 'buzzed' perhaps.

"Hm? How do I sound drunk?" Alptraum asks and looks up. He walks around the chair and then sits down into it to get a small rest, even though he doesn't feel bad. "I enjoyed doing it. The shaping felt good. Part of me feels like it was wrong to indulge her fantasy like that but … it was great practice. I think the more I'm using the shadow, the more integrated it is becoming with me. Well, at least my hand. It's getting easier."

Snow rubs on the underside some more, and Alptraum feels a little more sensitivity in the palm – something closer to touch than taste.

The touch causes Alptraum to blink. As an experiment, he tries to prick the palm of his right hand with a claw tip to check the color of the blood there and following that, its taste.

He feels the prick, and the blood… looks and tastes the same as before. Dark, with shadow swirls mixed in.

"Still tastes horrible," Alptraum says and makes a face, "But something is changing. The feeling is … better." The Eeee then checks the orb on the back to see if he has enough energy left to shape Snow now.

It's still glowing silver, indicating about two-thirds of a full charge left.

"So … I'm feeling pretty good. Not tired at all!" Alptraum says and smiles up to Snow. "So … do you still want to be a sphynx? I can go absorb another hog and work on your body now if you like. I do understand if you've changed your mind, though… "

"If you feel up to it," Snow says, smiling. "I've seen enough now to not be too nervous about it."

"I think I'm up for it. Let's head back to the carriage house. I can shape you there," Alptraum offers. He stands and holds out his right hand to Snow. "And I promise I will be very careful."

The hogs are quiet now, having eaten and down whatever else hogs do when they aren't eating. The big old one that Alptraum had singled out earlier still looks surly. It grunts and farts when it spots the Eeee and human.

And just for that, Alptraum marches right over to that hog and trues to put his hand upon its back and consume it with shadow.

The old gassy monster has an extra flavor to it, like the previous one. Maybe it's to do with the beast's age and strength or spirit, but it seems to taste just better than the last ones.

Alptraum still can't stop the shiver that ripples through him after consuming a meal that tastes good. Even though it is a very strange sort of good. "Right," Alptraum says and claw-brushes his hair back. "Lay your cloak on the floor and then lie down on it, face down. I need your back up because I have to shape wings."

Snow seems to hesitate a moment, but then spreads her cloak over a pile of straw and lies down on her stomach, although she still twists her head around to watch Alptraum as much as possible.

Alptraum kneels down beside her and gently places his hands on the small of her back. "Last chance to back out," he offers and smiles.

"My back is out," Snow jokes. "Go ahead."

Alptraum leans down and kisses her forehead lightly. "Then just relax and enjoy," he tells her. The shadow flows outward. Soon enough Snow's world goes to inky darkness. A warm place where she feels as if she floats. Gentle 'hands' pull and massage at her form as if it were clay. At points she can feel the shadow within her, pushing and nudging ad folicles to extrude fur to cover her body. Her nose then feels pressure, as well as her jaw, as the pressure of the shadow works to shape it to match the imprint of a sphynx friend, Tulani. Then there's the odd pulling sensation at the base of her spine as the shadow tries to extrude a tail for her. The hardest is saved for last, her wings. So much muscle and bone must be redone to support them and all of it must be done exactly…

There isn't as much resistance to the muscular and skeletal changes needed for the wings and tail, surprisingly. It's the skin that resists, but it's such a small part of the whole that it's easy to discount. It takes time and concentration, but Alptraum feels an odd clarity to his thoughts as we reshapes Snow into Tulani. Time passes in fits and starts, as the Eeee is barely aware of the room around him, operating in the darkness of the shadow as he is. But eventually a point comes when the last element seems to click into place.

When the shadow if finally withdrawn, a winged feline form rests on the dark cloak. Long hair and feathers are snow white, as is the rest of the Sphynx, but some things are more human. Her fur is very short, and nonexistent on her underside, with only her tail seeming to be fully and thickly furred. Fingers and toes lack claws, while still having the proper feline shape with sharp nails instead. And when Snow opens her eyes, they are pink but vertically slit. Alptraum's forearm tingles even stronger than it did earlier.

Alptraum absently reaches over to rub his tingling forearm as he stares at Snow. "Wow," the Eeee murmurs, wide-eyed. "You're beautiful. How do you feel? Sit up slowly, your balance will be different now."

The Sphynx gets sits up slowly, taking her time to see how her wings fold in. She eventually ends up sitting cross-legged on the cloak, and feeling her face and ears. "I… wonder how I'll keep my sunglasses on now," she finally says, with a slight purr.

"We'll travel at night," Alptraum offers and even looks at his right arm to see if the tingle is just a feeling or more. "And maybe the doctor has something he can loan you that will fit your face. Tell me, how did it feel when I was working? Are you … happy?"

"Happy?" the girl asks with a grin. "A little. We'll see once I figure out fly… " she starts to say, then seems to stare at Alptraum's forearm, which is really throbbing now.

"I'll teach you how to fly, don't worry," Alptraum promises and grins. The grin quickly becomes a wince as the throbbing becomes more and more distracting. His eyes and ears now flick over and look directly at it as he remarks with a hint of worry, "Maybe I'm overdoing it. I feel a lot of throbbing."

The throbbing intensifies, and Alptraum can hear it now… along with sounds of strain coming from the chitin. The armored plates begin to crack and fall away, trailing sticky strands of gooey ichor!