The Auction, Part IV
By Ordos Tsceri

Lynette returned to her podium. It had taken a little while to come to terms with what she'd just been told. 'Three more volunteers…' she thought, 'and I thought we'd be lucky to find one person crazy enough to do this. Well, the night is still young…'

The two remaining original volunteers had already returned to the stage. Elizabeth and Julia, both fellow students, stood up from their seats once Lynette returned.

"Sorry about that delay, ladies and gentlemen," Lynette said once she returned to the microphone, "it is my pleasure to inform you that tonight's auction shall be expanded. It seems we have three more ladies who have generously offered themselves as material for further lots. Our lawyers are handling their waivers back-stage now, and asked me to let the audience know that we are accepting additional volunteers until such a time as the auction is finished. Additionally, they asked me to tell you that we're not just accepting women; if any guys in the audience would like to offer themselves for a good cause and cheerful future, just talk to the men by the stage-exits.

"Now that that's out of the way, let's move on to our long-awaited fifth lot, Julia and Elizabeth. These two have stipulated that they be auctioned together, so anyone interested in placing a bid must have an object suitable for two in mind. That said, let's have our lovely two girl lot introduce themselves to their eager public!"

Lynette stepped to the side of the podium as the two young women approached. Elizabeth was the taller of the two, her pretty face crowned by a long mane of red curls which fell well past her shoulders. Despite her height, she seemed the more feminine of the two. She smiled at the crowed with soft, inviting features emphasized by two large, deep green eyes.

Julia was half a head shorter, and wore her golden blond hair in a pony-tail. Her full breasts were barely constrained by her tight gown. She was notably more muscular than Elizabeth, but it was difficult to think of her as a tomboy for the generous curves of her hips and chest. Julia was fit and gorgeous, and her hand never left Elizabeth's.

They both wore simple gowns adorned with simple, stylized floral patterns, Julia's red and Elizabeth's green. The gowns strained tight against their bodies. Both were bare-foot, which seemed to suggest that these gowns were all that the two wore.

The tall redhead approached the podium.

"Well, Julia and I are lovers. We aren't ashamed of that. Our love is a beautiful thing," Elizabeth said.

"But our families refuse to accept that," Julia added, shaking her head. There was a distinct sadness on the edge of her voice. "Not just giving us the cold-shoulder, or even just cutting us off from money and inheritance. My father actually sent me an enchanted ring that… that would have turned Lizzy into a penis the next time we made love. He… he actually would have preferred his daughter spend the rest of her life as a shemale and Liz being trapped as… my organ rather than just accept our love!"

Elizabeth put her hands on her Julia's shoulders, gently squeezing her lover against herself, reassuring the girl as bitter tears crept from her eyes.

"We couldn't actually prove anything," Elizabeth said, "her father owns one of the best legal firms in the Empire, but… they've tried to destroy our relationship from the start, and they have the resources to succeed one of these days. We got lucky finding out about the ring before it was too late, but we probably won't be able to avoid every trap they set for us. Not forever," Elizabeth said, hugging her lover as she spoke.

Julia smiled up at Elizabeth before turning back towards the podium. "We've always liked to role-play, and a favorite of ours has been being turned into some object to be adored and treasured. It's always been a wonderful fantasy for me, and bit by bit I got Lizzy interested in it too. Jenny told us about this fundraiser, and well… it's perfect. We can stay together forever, and there'll be nothing anyone can do to tear us apart. If we could get to be together, forever …"

"There a lot of worse ways a relationship can mature," Elizabeth said, gently patting her lover's hair, "if I can stay with Julia, I'll be happy. And, well… I hated hiding this from people. I've always had just… well, I've been enchanted by the idea of showing off my love. Maybe it's an exhibitionist streak, but I've never had the opportunity or the courage to actually do it. If I could be with Julia, forever, showing off our love to any who cared to look… I can't imagine a better life," she was blushing a bit.

Elizabeth looked down to her lover, who nodded. At that cue they reached behind themselves and undid a clasp on their gowns, sending the garments collapsing at their feet. The two stood in front of the auditorium completely naked. Lynette was close enough to their nipples rise in excitement, and a subtle glisten from Julia's shaved pussy suggested that she was very much enjoying the attention.

"There you have it, ladies and gentlemen; two star-crossed lovers desperate to be united together. A heart-touching tale that will go along flawlessly with Lot Five. Now, since this is our only lot of multiple volunteers, we're going to start the bidding a bit high. Opening bid is ten thousand lorins," Lynette announced. For just an instant, she feared she might have over-judged the crowd's enthusiasm.

"Twenty-five thousand!"

"Thirty thousand!"

"One hundred thousand."

Lynette was speechless. A hundred thousand lorins was far more than the entire auction was expected to nab. Easily enough to fund all the research planned. Indeed, it seemed like more than any one person, even a noble, would have just laying around to spend…

The audience was silent too. After a second, Lynette continued, "going once, twice, sold to our high bidder at one hundred thousand lorins. Would you please come up to the stage?"

The figure that approached was intimidating, and recognizable. Lynette knew the woman in a tight black dress that hugged her gentle curves, weaving tight over her breasts without showing any of her considerable cleavage, and walking in black stiletto heels. Pretty much everyone in the audience knew Lady Isolde by reputation, mistress of the Imperial Museum of Artistic Ventures, and chief contributor to the institution's collection. She single-handedly revived the institution from obscurity with her contributions, and had grown it considerably once she was assigned administrative authority by the Emperor himself. She needed no introduction among a crowd like this.

Lynette made a small bow out of reflex as Lady Isolde approached the stage. In the back of her mind she knew it wasn't technically necessary, but Isolde carried herself with more command and power than most highborn nobles could ever manage.

"Lady Isolde, what a surprise to have you in attendance," Lynette stammered. From the corner of her eye she saw Elizabeth and Julia staring in rapt attention at their buyer. "Might I ask what brings you this to event? I must say your presence, while greatly appreciated, is unexpected…"

"I make it a point to surprise potential buyers," she stated. It was strange, how she talked. She didn't need to speak like normal people, rather, she stated facts, and what she spoke was simply true. You couldn't question it. You wouldn't dream of it. "It keeps the art world on its toes, which is always good for the creative process."

She stepped up to the podium. On instinct, Lynette handed her the microphone. "I am here seeking an acquisition for the Imperial Gallery," she announced to both the two lovers and the audience in general. "I have been asked to find some more recent works for our gallery, but for the most part modern artists tend to be frankly dismal. Then I heard about this little event, and I thought I might find the opportunity to obtain something truly novel. It seems your mages here are not without talent, so if you two will accept, and I trust you shall, I would like to see you made into a painting. Commemorating your affair. It's been a long time since I've found a suitable romantic piece for the Imperial Gallery… and certain groups have been pestering me to find something displaying less conventional relationships.

"So, you accept?" Lady Isolde said, staring straight at the couple. Lynette wasn't certain whether or not it was a question.

"Together forever," Elizabeth whispered to her lover.

"And in the Imperial Gallery, no less," Julia replied in awe.

"I'll take that as a yes." Isolde pronounced. She turned to the three mages, "I hate to inhibit the creative process, wise ones. I shall require a painting, and it must be about these two. The rest I leave in your capable hands. I trust I shall not be disappointed."

One of the mages cackled. "I've had a spell prepared for something like this. Don't you worry, missy, we'll make 'em something exceptional." Lynette winced at such openness before the Lady, but Isolde just leveled a slight smile at the mages.

The three magicers congregated together as the outspoken one explained his plan. Julia squeezed Elizabeth's hand. Liz blushed, moving closer to her lover for what she thought might be the last time.

"Worried?" Julia whispered, too quietly for anyone else to hear.

"A bit," Elizabeth replied. "But, really more excited… what do you think being a painting will be like?"

"As long as I'm with you, I think it will be wonderful."

Unable to resist herself, Elizabeth turned towards the nude Julia and embraced her, wrapping her arms around the girl's back, rubbing her breasts with Julia's, and joining their soft lips in a delicate kiss. "Gods, I love you," she said when she pulled away.

"Ah, good attitude, ladies. We'll need that. Now, if you'll just step over here we can begin." Elizabeth blushed scarlet from the mage's interruption, but she dutifully followed her lover to where the three robed figures were standing.

Julia was too excited to take notice and quickly followed the mage's command, but Elizabeth noticed a couple things. First, their discarded clothes were gone. Jenny's were still in the pile where she threw them off earlier that night, but the two loose gowns the couple had arrived in were nowhere to be seen. As she followed her lover she realized that the mages had directed them to stand on something. Looking down, she saw an ornately but simply framed rectangle of blank vellum, some two feet tall by three feet wide. The copper framing seemed to have the same floral patterns as their gowns did. A small, nervous smile curved her lips up as she realized she was standing on what would become her new home.

"We'll begin soon ladies, but if you could resume that helpful attitude you displayed just a moment ago, it would be worlds of help," one of the mages kindly asked.

Julia didn't need a reason. Standing atop the framed vellum that would be the base of their portrait, she wrapped her arms around her lover and brought her even closer. Their lips met, their nipples rubbed against each other, the long slender stretches of their fair thighs brushed delicately as each girl sought to drink in her partner, one last time.

They didn't notice the change at first. Awash in the sensation of delicate flesh against supple curve, the tingling of their feet went unnoticed. Elizabeth realized the change had begun first, when she caught a glimpse of the three magi rising above the pair between embraces. Except they weren't rising, she knew, she and Julia were falling. She risked a quick glance downward, and saw her feet melting, loosing their form bit by bit and just spreading across the vellum.

Elizabeth's heart raced. They were finally doing it. There could be no turning back. She'd be a painting, ink and pigment stretched on a thin piece of parchment, forever. Perhaps sensing her lover's worry Julia gently stroked her face and looked the melting Elizabeth in the eye. "I love you, Lizzy. Please, be happy."

Elizabeth couldn't resist the look in Julia's deep autumn eyes. "I love you," she whispered before Julia's mouth connected with hers. The melting had already claimed their calves, the long smooth legs simply dissolving away into a liquid color that quickly spread across the blank vellum.

The sensations became more intense as the change reached their thighs. Their passion, their longing for each other burned more fervently as the thighs that they had stroked and dreamed of for so long spread into hues on a painting. The tingling, the flowing sensation, the strange feelings emanating from where their legs once been, all served to push the two further.

Just as they were nearing peak their womanhoods sank into the ooze they were becoming. Both girls gasped as the sexual center of their beings liquidized, spreading the burning passion across their entire fluid beings. As they melted away, their pussies ignited a swirling in their newly fluid portion. Julia and Elizabeth could feel themselves spiraling, mixing and merging with their lover. All molecules of their lower beings flowed in and out until they couldn't tell what was who anymore. All the fire, the energy, the longing, it all intensified.

They stroked each other as the changes accelerated, almost in a frenzy now. The taller redhead bent over by the fiery brunette, their torsos sticking out of the entirely flat frame on the floor. Julia's left hand was running over Elizabeth's breasts as they liquefied, both being dragged into the frame, curling around each other and dispersing into the rest of their fluid bodies. The frame was filling up with colors, all the hues of their skin and bright reds and violets that could only have come from their passion.

Elizabeth and Julia were quickly loosing their ability to tell each other apart. They found that they could get the colors they were becoming to move, but they couldn't tell where they ended and their lover began. Not that it particularly mattered. It all felt divine, intense, amazing…

Finally their heads alone remained, Elizabeth's with her back to the painting and Julia mounted just above on what remained of her neck. They didn't break their embrace as they sank, inch by inch, into their fate. Somehow, curls of Elizabeth's red hair mingled with Julia's short strands of brown hair as the last things to melt into the picture.

The change hadn't finished. The two, now nothing but colors on parchment, swirled and danced around each other. They flowed, the soft hue of Elizabeth's thigh mixing with the bright scarlet of Julia's lips, colors flicked in and out of the painting pulled from some wild emotion or depth unseen.

The girls couldn't tell each other apart anymore. They just flowed. They caressed with fingers spread across their beings, they suckled with lips that filled the frame of their creation, tongues danced and clits rubbed across all their bodies had become.

Slowly, bit by bit, things came into focus. Elizabeth could possibly tell what belonged to Julia, and could lavish it accordingly, and her shape… something like, but unlike what she was. Julia was everywhere, and yet there was the lithe body she'd fallen in love with, and now Elizabeth ran her tongue across her quivering chest, only she could feel the lick with the parts of her within her lover's breast, and the tongue was Julia as well… but even drawing a line there was silly, as the world was Julia and Elizabeth and so was everything inside it…

To the mages, images formed on the panting. Brush-strokes painted two lovely women out of the swirling color, capturing the likeness they held just moments before as beings of flesh and blood. The pale skinned, tall redhead and the robust, fiery brunette were lounged on their sides, wrapped in each other's embrace. It wasn't photo-realistic; rather, one could see brushstrokes and pigments and all the tricks painters use to breathe life into a piece… but there was more.

The first mage smirked. He'd wanted to test this spell out for decades. He saw with smug satisfaction that it worked perfectly; the redhead was stroking the body of the brunette, who wrapped her leg around her lover even as their background formed.

He reached down and picked up the painting, its back to the audience and Isolde as he handed it to Lynette. "Would you do the honor of unveiling my, ah… master piece? I've made many an enchanted item, but I never dreamed one would make it into the Imperial Gallery."

"With pleasure," Lynette said, as she flipped the painting over and showed it to the audience and purchaser. She realized that she hadn't actually touched any of the other transformed girls. It was so strange to think of this piece of copper-frame and vellum parchment used to be the two full grown women who were standing right next to her. It added a certain weight to piece, nothing physical, but real none the less. It also made Lynette uncomfortably aroused as she showed off Elizabeth and Julia.

Lynette held the painting up for all in the ballroom to see. She could hear the collective gasp of the audience as they witnessed just what Julia and Elizabeth had become. In brilliant oil colors, the nude women embraced each other, flowing in caresses, strokes, long kisses, and sensual movements. The picture moved, with the figures of the two girls flowing with their movements. It seemed as if some invisible brush was perpetually repainting the portrait, as each movement followed the lines and texture of a brush-stroke, making their continued movements all the more surreal. The background was a lavish harem scene, all dark reds and deep purples, with soft cushions and curtains offering a suitable stage for the girls' eternal performance. Occasionally they'd interact with their background, brushing against a curtain that would ripple at their touch, or shifting their weight on cushions that would squish beneath them. They paid it no mind, however, as they were quite obviously entirely focused on each other.

Lady Isolde rushed to her painting, examining the pair forever locked in the throes of their passion. Her eyes were wide in excitement. With experienced earned from decades of training she examined her new acquisition from every angle she could conceive of, and they all found it flawless.

"They're… a masterpiece!" she breathed quietly, to which Lynette smiled with relief. She really didn't want someone like Isolde to pick a grudge with her, or the college.

Elizabeth and Julia didn't care. They were vaguely aware of the world looming above them, just as they might have been aware that the sky still existed. It was there, but it didn't matter. Nothing else mattered but each other, flowing into and out their loves, the pigments of their being caressing and stroking each other, forever entwined in love-making purer than they could have dreamed.

Lynette was all too happy to hand the painting over to the eager gallery administrator. Being so close to them… she shrugged it off. Or tried to, at least. "Our financial people will arrange how payment will work, my Lady. And in a few minutes, or next auction will begin. I remind you, we're still accepting volunteers, and all proceeds go towards our medical funding. I would like to thank you all for holding with us for what has, hopefully, been an entertaining night."

As she watched the elegant mistress carry the painting of two lesbians forever in the throes of passionate love, she couldn't help but wonder how this night might end for her.