"Ah, the sweet taste of victory." Faust smiled down at the frog that had once been Gwen Silveroak. "Do you see, Claudette? The mistake that you made, in betraying me!"
One chance, Claudette thought. One desperate, impossible chance. The poppet was a simple one, and she had nothing physical to bind it to him... nothing but her raging emotions, her desperate will and a plea to the Goddess of the Moon. The incantation rolled swiftly off her tongue.
"What is this?" Faust laughed. "Aren't you a little old for dolls, Claudette?"
"This is old magic, Father," Claudette said, surprised her voice didn't tremble with the terror she felt.
"Hedge magic," Faust scoffed with contempt. "Do you really believe that a magicless witch like you can stand again me... with a poppet? What do you hope to achieve?"
"Pain, Father," Claudette snarled, channeling all her rage and pain as she stabbed the poppet.
She was gratified when he flinched, as the blow landed. It was a small victory.
"What are you doing?" Faust shook his head, dismissing it. "The great Guardian of Glimmerbrook is defeated. Moonwood Mill is mine. You're powerless against me. You have nothing. I've won."
"No," Etta replied. "I'm not letting you win."
"You don't have a choice in the matter," Faust chuckled.
"I always have a choice," Etta said, feeling suddenly calm.
"What are you doing?" Faust repeated.
Etta smiled. "I'm distracting you, you big turd blossom," she quoted.
The russet werewolf, running swift and silent, hit Faust in a storm of claws and fangs. Fighting to even raise his wand, the dark wizard struggled against the fury of the wolf.
A Word of Power, one that would end this fight decisively, rose to his lips, only to be choaked off with a whimpering cry as the werewolf's clawed hind-paw slammed violently into his testicles.
Whimpering in pain, Faust collapsed as the wolf crouched before him, snarling.
Demarco howled in victory.
Etta almost laughed out loud. She had almost felt that last blow.
"You bitch!" Faust grunted, painfully pulling himself up. "I will make you pay for that! You will both suffer in ways you can scarcely..."
"I'm sorry, John," Cassie put in. "Are we interrupting your cliched villain moment?"
Etta smiled at the sight of them. The Wildfangs and the Collective, battered and scared, but together standing against Faust.
"Did you want to finish your threats?" Lily asked mildly. "Or should we just skip to the part where you pay for what you've done?"
As Mephistopheles vanished in a sulfurous cloud, John Faust seemed for a moment to consider his situation.
"Don't let him..." Etta said suddenly.
Faust spoke a Word and vanished.
"Damn it!" Etta cursed.
"I ate a bug!" Gwen gasped, standing on her own two legs again. "Ohhh... you were right, Jake. That was gross."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the mighty White Witch of Glimmerbrook," Cassie laughed, breathing a sigh a of relief. "She'll be here all week, folks."
"Are you OK?" Demarco, shifted, rushed to Etta.
"I'm fine," Etta smiled. "I knew you'd be there for me. I knew it. Are you...?"
"Fine," Demarco said, dismissing her many deep and bleeding bites and scratches. "I'm fine. Just one thing..."
"'I'm distracting you, you big turd blossom'?" She continued. "Where the hell did that come from!?"
"Guardians of the Galaxy. Summer movie nights at the library," Etta smiled. "I love that movie."
"Oh my God," Demarco laughed, pulling her best friend into a hug. "You're a nerd!"
-------------------------
Author's Note: Bad Moon Rising will conclude tomorrow (Friday, 12/15)
No comments:
Post a Comment