Alternate Beginning: The Coven

It had all begun so normally. Helen had just bought the allegedly magic spellbook. But there was not a single readable word in its contents. It most definitely wasn't English. Nor was it Latin. Even with the aid of the internet, Helen couldn't even discover what language the tome was in. Friends and family were no help. Even Adam made a few jokes at his girlfriend's expense. Eventually, reluctantly, after weeks of attempts, Helen gave up. Although she was still far to stubborn to simply throw it out or demand a refund from the obvious fraud.

Instead, at Jess's suggestion, Helen used the tome for a prop for a tabletop game. At least then, she figured, she'd get some use out of it. Thus, at a game night that Adam was noticeably absent from, Helen brought the supposedly useless book.

It began with a simple joke on Susannah's part. She suggested that the group all place their hands on the book's cover and all take an oath. "To really get into the role-playing", she claimed. Chloe was the first to accept, giggling like a schoolgirl at her future sister-in-law's hesitation. Kaz and Jess were next, urging on their friend. "It was just a game" they insisted, unaware that the book was starting to awaken. Even after a joking threat from Susannah, Helen refused. Donna, who like Helen was without her man, finally placed her hand down, was the tipping point. She made a simple comment, urging on the last three members by using their resentment for each other. Aga, who only attended for Adam, slapped her hand down as Helen did, scowling at her "rival" for Adam's time as Donna shot Susannah a sly wink. Natalie did so last, slowly, hesitantly, as if confirming that the friendship group that so eagerly allowed her to join after a chance meeting with Helen at the store was actually sane.

As the assembled group opened their mouths to say the oath, it happened. A blinding purple light, their hands seemingly glued to the book as their vision started to fade and blur. Their heads, in searing pain as memories flowed in. Memories of centuries past. Memories of a foreign, unreadable language. Knowledge that those assembled had so little mana that it necessitated a group effort to even awaken the knowledge sealed within the tome. Emotions from their predecessors, blossoming feelings that those assembled had never felt before. With a lift of their hands, the coven was reborn.

Helen was the first to speak up. She went on and on about their new knowledge, and about how they shouldn't **** it. All the while trying her best to avoid locking eyes with Aga. She hated how her heart danced and fluttered from a simple glance with Aga. But, unfortunately, that was to be expected. Aga's equivalent was the lover of Helen's predecessor. And based on how quiet Aga was, combined with her red cheeks, Helen assumed her rival shared the new, disgustingly pleasant feelings.

The others spoke up soon after. Most were in agreement. Somewhat. Something like **** or theft was inherently wrong, even if getting away with such things was trivial with their new magic abilities. But others, like rigging a lottery or "convincing" a landlord to lower rent? Completely fair, in the majority's opinion.

There was a pressing issue though. Immensely pressing. The knowledge the book blessed the group with also came with a curse. Namely, confirmed by the flushed faces of those present, was their new biological change. "Magical circuits", not unlike a nervous system, ran through their bodies. And at the core of their bodies was a "magical furnace", needed to efficiently convert calories into mana and such. Unfortunately this new magical organ came with a price. It was comparable to being in estrus. Constantly. Unrelentingly.

The group, giving each other more and more lustful glances, had a concern. Were their fingers enough? Were toys enough? From their new memories, they knew this wasn't the case. Such methods could stave it off, hold it at bay, but nothing would come close to the genuine, manly article. The option of using magic on some random man was... complicated. It raised concerns, whether it was akin to drugging someone for the sake of sex. Whether it was ethical.

Donna spoke up first. She knew that they all knew of a variety, a glorified smorgasbord, of different spells. More ethical solutions to their issue. Namely possession, body swapping, merging spells. She offered her own body, to use with her husband Clive in an attempt to relieve their bodily needs. Natalie blurted out another option, earning a glare from her former boyfriend's girlfriend. But she had an argument. A convincing one. There were eight of them, and only one Clive. And that he was getting on in years, and probably couldn't perform as needed. Donna, albeit quietly, confirmed the latter. Helen lost the subsequent vote, shouting a flurry of profanities as those around her vanished, obviously turning ghostly to borrow her man.

A little while later, "Helen" was walking into "her" house, a sly grin on her face. Unfortunately for Adam, he wasn't going to get a moment of rest that night. The person in control of Helen's body would ensure that, the idea of Adam's manhood slamming into her stolen body leaving a stain on Helen's knickers...