Chapter 41 - Captivity

 "Boss, I brought the blonde like you wanted," Wolfgang grunted.

"Max," Jenny cried, "what's going on? I don't understand. One minute we're having a good time, then you're talking about plans and Miranda collapses and Wolfgang rushes us all into the van... but we come here? Where are we? What are you doing?"

"It's simple, babe," Max laughed, "you were cover, so I could get close enough to grab the kid without Mommy White pickin' us up on her psychic voodoo radar. Plus, added bonus, you lured her out to the club... so the cops are probably be lookin' at you instead of me."

"Oh God," Jenny sobbed, "I... I thought you cared about me?"

Chapter 40 - Mystical Avenues

 Cassie couldn't get past the shock that this was happening. For the second time in two years, her daughter was lost. No, not lost this time. Taken! 

 Gwen, she knew, was searching for her even now... but that meant she didn't know. She hadn't seen this. How could that be? Gwen's Sight had never failed her before.

 Think, Cassie told herself. I'm always saying Gwen isn't the only witch in this family. So, she isn't the only one with mystical avenues to explore!

 She was Cassandra Goth, the Raven Witch. The secrets of the Netherworld were open to her. 

"I don't understand it," Gwen cried. "There 've always been things I couldn't see. Places I couldn't look into... but I've never... never... not been able to see you or Miranda. It hasn't always been clear. Lately things have been clouded - Miranda's confusion about this new girl. Your conflict with Judith. - but now it's as if someone's drawn a curtain over my Sight."

"My sweet Gwen," Cassie sighed, "You're not used to being as helpless as the rest of us. Someone is blocking us. Throwing up barriers we can't see past. While you were meditating, I reached out to the spirits. They couldn't find her either... where ever she is, it's shielded from our magic."

"... but she's alive Gwen. They could tell me that, at least. She's alive and we will find her!"

Chapter 39 - Starlight and Tragedy

That same night...

"Oh my God," Morgan squealed, "we're at the Starlight Accolades! I can't believe it!"

"Thanks for the invitation, Cassie," Xander said.

"It's Londyn!" Morgan whispered excitedly. "The entertainment news said she was a long shot for an award this year."

"You should never believes those guys," Cassie confided. "I knew she'd win."


"Holly Alto!" Xander sighed. "She totally deserves to win... for her work... I'm told."

"Right," Morgan muttered, "nothing to do with her daddy's... influence."


"Best Actress in a motion picture goes to - Cassandra Goth, Curse of the Pirate Queen."

"Cassie! Cassie won!" Morgan cheered.


Enjoy your little victory, Judith fumed.

After the awards, Cassie emerged to the blinding flashes of cameras.


"I hate this part," Detective Williams muttered.

"Mrs Goth... Goths," he said as Cassie and Gwen broke away from the ring of reporters, "I'm Detective Williams. This is Detective Grant. We need a moment of your time."

"Yes," Cassie replied, puzzled, "what can I do for you."


"I'm afraid it concerned your daughter, Miranda," Detective Williams continued. "Have you heard from her this evening. Do you know where she might be?"

"Miranda?" Cassie said with growing concern, "No, I haven't. She's at school... she attends a private boarding school, Brookside Academy."


"Earlier this evening, we got a call from the Discotheque PanEuropa," the detective said. "A girl matching your daughter's description was seen being carried into an unmarked van by persons unknown. Seen by two girls from Brookside Academy - Shannon Charm and Elena Brujas."

"Miranda? Oh my God, Miranda!" Cassie cried. "What? How? She's supposed to be in school!"


"It seems the girls had decided to go into the city," the detective proceeded to explain what they knew, concluding by saying, "It appears that another student, Claudette Blackwood, is also missing. We've been unable to locate her family. Any information you might have on them would be helpful. We are also looking into the whereabouts of Jennifer Poole."

"Claudette? No, I'm afraid we don't know the Blackwoods, do we Gwen?" Cassie stammered, shocked.


"No," Gwen said, "Please is there anything more you can tell us? Who did this?"

"The investigation is ongoing," Detective Williams said.


"At this time, we are not certain who might be responsible," he continued. "We expect you will be contacted... with demands.


"We'd like to monitor you phone lines," Detective Grant added, "Our office will be in touch about setting that up."

"Oh... of course," Cassie said, "If you would excuse us... I don't know... I just..."

"Of course," the detectives nodded, understanding.

Xander led the stunned women away, all of them keeping tight control in the face of the curious press.

Control which vanished as soon as they were safely apart from the lingering crowd.


"They know more than they're saying," Xander snarled. "I can feel it."


"How?" Cassie gasped. "How could this happen?"

"I... I should have seen it," Gwen stammered. "I've known something was happening, in the shadows, for months now but nothing... all I could see around Miranda was desire and confusion... her attraction to this new girl, Claudette. I didn't see a threat."


"I should have seen this!" Gwen sobbed.


"There's more going on here than the police can handle," Xander declared. "Let me get Morgan home, then I'll help... I'll help however I can."

"Thank you, little brother," Cassie said. "You know we're going to have to talk about those fangs, right?"

"Alright, Raven Witch," Xander snorted. "I'll get Morgan home, then it's cards on the table and then, together, we'll get Miranda back."

Chapter 38 - Betrayed

The music pounded, drowning out everything else, stirring blood and shaking bone.

In the heart of it, Max moved with calm certainty. A wolf among sheep, he thought looking around him with contempt.

"Hey babe," he had to shout to be heard, "let go somewhere quieter and do a little dancing of our own."


Jenny shivered with excitement, enjoying the wicked thrill of him...


... feeling the beat of the music and with it the passion that obliterated any thought of consequences.

"Looks like Jenny's sneaking off for some fun," Claudette grinned, "what do you say?"

"You're wicked," Miranda laughed over the music.

Miranda couldn't believe she was doing this...


It was so wild, so passionate...


... so irresistible.

"All clear," Miranda laughed. "That was crazy."


"I can't believe we just did that," she continued desperately straightening her clothes. "I've never... I mean..."


"Well, for someone who's 'never' you sure seem to get the hang of it," Claudette purred. "I think there's some bad girl in this good girl."

"It's all you," Miranda grinned.

"Oh! Hi guys," Jenny giggled as she emerged from the other closet.

"I guess everyone's having a good night," Jenny smiled.

"Are you?" Claudette asked, "Having a good night?"

"Yes," Miranda laughed.

"Time to get to work, kid," Max said sternly.


"Work?" Miranda laughed, puzzled "What work?"

"Perfect plan," Max laughed, "Thanks Jenny-babe, couldn't have done it without you."

"Done what?" Jenny asked, confused.

"Claudette?!?" Miranda gasped, panicked, "What... what are you doing?"

"Without your invitation, babe," Max continued, "We never could have lured her out of Glimmerbrook... unprotected."


"I... I have too..." Miranda stammered, staggering away as the spell closed around her. "I don't... Claud... why?"

"What?" Jenny gasped. "Miranda? Are you OK?"


"MIRANDA!"

"What do we do with the other one?" Claudette asked coldly.

"Bring her," Max replied harshly. "She could be useful. If nothing else, the vamps might want a snack."