Richard yawned and massaged his tired neck.

  " I think it's enough story time for tonight. "

  " WHAT?! No! I want to know the rest! Did you and Malik stay in the same unit? Did he survive the war? Did anyone find out about you? And why did you leave the army? I need to know! "

  Richard couldn't stop laughing, she was like a little girl asking for more stories before bed. He never saw her this way. Isabella was infuriated by him just hoarding the information she so badly wanted to know.

  " Stop laughing at me or I'll roast you like that Liéchi! "

  " Ok ok fire witch don't hurt me I'm scared! "

  " You better be! "

  " It's getting late, I should get going before I can't find my way out there. "

  It was indeed late at night. Isabella looked outside and could not even make out the shape of the trees surrounding her house.

  " You can't leave now! It's way too dark outside. "

  " I'll be fine. I can see pretty well in the dark."

  " I don't feel at ease if you just go outside now ... can't you just go in the morning? "

  Richard noticed she was heavily blushing, she was indeed worried for him.

  " Alright I'll stay but I'm tired so I'm planning on sleeping, your chairs are actually comfortable. And I said sleeping alright? Don't try anything weird on me witch! "

  " I should be the one scared for my safety, I have one of the top assassins in the world that can move without making a sound right here in my living room."

  She got into her bed after putting out all the lights.

  " Goodnight Richard. "

  " Goodnight Isabella. "

  " You can call me Bella. "

  He had a little chuckle.

  " Oh can I now? Am I not still a 'stranger you happen to bump into very often'? ".

  " No, you are now a stranger I bump into VERY VERY often! "

  " Well that's progress, now shush and sleep young lady! "

  " Oh come on you aint old enough to call me young lady! "

  " I'm almost 32! "

  " I'm 27, see? you ain't that much older!"

  " Still shush and sleep, this old man needs his rest! "

  " Yeah sleep well grandpa!"

  He had a little laugh and flipped his hood on his head. Isabella turned around in her bed, praying to god she wouldn't get one of those dreams where she said his name.

  The first lights of the morning pierced through the cracks of the wooden door. Richard woke up before Isabella and as he was itching his eyes he heard a scratching noise against the door. Nothing was indicating any danger so he simply got closer to the door. It smelled like an animal, a small one. He opened the door and discovered a black cat, the cat ran between his legs and into the house. It was wearing a small bag, was it a messenger? The cat jumped on Bella's bed and started to rub itself on her face causing her to wake up.

  " Hmm, what? What is th- "

  She stopped as she noticed the cat. She looked at the cat and didn't seem very happy with it being here.

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  " Move, I told you already to not get on the bed in this form, you leave fur everywhere! Plus you are early! "

  The cat jumped on the floor as Bella sat on her bed. She stretched and greeted Richard. Her hair was a mess and she had a strand of saliva on her cheek. Richard couldn't help but laugh at her morning face.

  " The mighty Bella, rising from her slumber! "

  " How do you have so much energy in the morning? You are a freak of nature.. "

  She painfully got up and opened her windows, she then pointed at the cat.

  " Let me have breakfast, wash myself and then I'll be ready to do business, just don't touch anything."

  The cat meowed and jumped on a chair. Richard was puzzled by her reaction.

  " Are you speaking to a cat now? You really are a weird one in the morning. "

  " Shush you! "

  Isabella went into her bathroom and quickly washed herself with water she created. After brushing her hair she went down and took an apple. Richard was still there, waiting to see what was up with this cat.

  " So is this cat your pet messenger or something? "

  " No she is a friend, she gets me marchandises that I need. She is a famous traveling merchant actually. "

  The cat jumped on the ground and it started to twist itself and gain in size. It's bones were cracking and changing shape. Where mere seconds ago stood a small black cat, was now a young woman smiling at his surprised face. She had an androgynous face with her short brown hair and her traits were rough. She was still quite the beauty. She was wearing a cropped shirt that left her abdominal muscles uncovered and a pair of leather shorts that were skin tight. She slowly approached Richard, sniffing at him and running her fingers along his chest.

  " Damn Bel', you scored a nice specimen, can I try him after we are done? "

  Richard couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked over at Bella and she clearly wasn't happy.

  " No you cannot 'try' him Talia! "

  " Oh come on, I'm sure it would be fun, you could watch, or even join ... "

  She then stood next to the herborist and slapped her ass.

  " Wouldn't be the first time I saw all of you lil' Ruby eheh. "

  Richard was completely lost.

  " Ruby? "

  " Yes, I used to call her Ruby because she is like a little red gem to me, we traveled for so long together, we lived through so much."

  Bella wished to bury herself into the ground after she had put the shapeshifter 6 feet under. She wanted to get down to business fast.

  " Do you have what I asked or you just came here to annoy me? "

  " As much as I love doing that, I do have your spirit water and some other weird stuff. "

  She took her bag off and planted it in the middle of the living room, she backed away from it and spoke some foreign language. The bag then changed shape and transformed into a huge cupboard. She opened it and picked a few items that she then placed on the table behind her. She then handed over a piece of paper to Bella.

  " I got everything on there except the whale grease and zinc. "

  " Not a problem, I'll just let them on the list."

  She then grabbed another list and gave it to Talia.

  " Here is next month list, you can go now. "

  " Oh come on don't be so cold Bel'! We have some catching up to do. "

  Richard felt it was his time to leave.

  " I'll see you around Bella and we can continue what we started yesterday. "

  " Wait, when will I see you again? "

  Richard paused as he opened the door.

  " I have a room in the town tavern, if I'm not hunting I'm there. The owner knows me so if I'm absent you can always wait for me there or just tell him you visited and I'll come by when I'm done with work. Is it ok with you? "

  " Yes perfect! "

  " Perfect then. "

  He used his usual charming smile and closed the door. She was feeling warm inside her chest but then her daydreaming got interrupted by Talia hugging her from behind.

  " Your man looks fine Bel', I'm so jealous, I miss touching you this way you know .."

  She bit her ear lobe with her sharp canines and passed her hands under Bella's shirt.

  " He is not .. my man .. " moaned the herborist.

  " Then you are free to have some fun with me before I depart for another trip, right? "

  She turned around and roped her hands behind the young witch neck, pulling her in for a long passionate kiss. The herborist tried pushing her away but she was the one that got pushed on the bed, the shapeshifter then mounted her and resumed her kisses.

  " Talia, stop, I'm just not feeling it.. "

  " I can make you feel plenty trust me, I know what buttons to push! "

  She had this smile on her face, Isabella knew this face too well, she had to stop her now or she would not be able to resist her touch. Talia started undoing the laces on the young woman's pants, sliding a hand between her legs.

  " Enough! Back off now or I will kick you! "

  The shapeshifter took a step back.

  " Ok, I see how it is. "

  She then started twisting herself and grew in size.

  " Is it better? Is that what would get you started? "

  She had now adopted Richard's appearance which only managed to anger Isabelle even further.

  " No it doesn't work! Just stop, I like you a lot Talia but please go away I have a busy day ahead of me.

  Talia started pouting like a kid, she then changed back to her natural appearance.

  " You really are no fun! Fine I'm packing but that's your loss. "

  A few minutes later she was ready to leave.

  " I will be back in around 34 days, I have a lot more orders than before. "

  Isabella was just getting her clothes back in order and brushing her hair.

  " Fine by me and please for the love of god, could you not come and see when you are in heat? "

  The shapeshifter smirked.

  " I'm always in heat if it's you lil Ruby ahah! "

  She then jumped through the window and transformed into a cat in mid air. Isabella watched her go away and disappear into the forest.

  " Ok, now, time to do the duchess potion. "