"Blek! Smell like pine-y tree," Freddie complained as Etta spread the herbal salve over him.
"Yes," Etta smiled indulgently, amused despite her fear. "Which means you don't smell like little boy, and the bad guys can't sniff you out."
"'Arco not bad guy," Freddie insisted.
"No, she's not," Etta sighed sadly, "but remember what I told you..."
"Mean witch put spell on 'Arco to make her be bad," Freddie nodded with all the sage wisdom of a toddler. "You gonna kiss 'Arco?"
"I... what? What?!" Etta stammered, shocked. "Why? Kiss her?!"
"To break spell," Freddie said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Like sleepy beauty... prince kiss girl, break spell... Frog prince... princess kiss frog, break spell. Kissing break spells!"
"OooK," Etta said, adding half to herself, "Call that a solid Plan B."
Freddie stopped to sniff the air. "'Arco coming," he said.
"OK," Etta took a deep breath. "You remember what to do?"
"Hide," Freddie said seriously. "Pretend I pine-y tree. Don't come out 'til you say."
"And if I don't call you?" Etta prompted.
"Hide and run to Mr. Lumberjacks," Freddie said.
"Good." Etta tried to give him a reassuring smile. She knew he didn't really understand. For Freddie, it must seem like a game, but as long he followed the rules... "Everything's going to be fine, cub. Go."
------------
As Demarco's russet wolf-form came into view, Etta took another steadying breath. She never thought she'd be so grateful for Father's predictably casual cruelty.
She was still taking a horrible risk, not only to herself but to little Freddie too. Her plan was in no way sure to work. In fact, she admitted as the entranced werewolf raced closer, it was almost certain to fail. She just hoped Freddie would be OK. Her herbal brew wasn't a true potion, but it should still hide his scent from the werewolves, and if he could reach the Jacksons' house, she was sure they would protect him.
Yes, a horrible risk, but she couldn't abandon Demarco. She couldn't betray another friend.
Working quickly now, she affixed the tuft of Demarco's hair to the poppet she'd prepared and began the incantation.
It wasn't real magic. There were no Words of Power, but the rhythm of the incantation felt... familiar... as if the cadence of it carried the echo of a Word. Even as the werewolf bore down on her, she felt strangely calm. She could actually feel the energies of wind and water and the Moonwood itself gathering in her hands.
At the heart of any magic is intent and will. Etta focused on hers. Lux Demarco, she thought. You are my best friend in world. Come back to me. Please, Lux... come back to me!
She felt the whisper of Power rush through her, leaving her giddy. She actually laughed out loud as she hurled her little folk charm against the might of an ancient and powerful warlock.
Even bereft of her own Power, she knew the shape and form of her Father's magic. She knew the forbidden secrets that fueled his Power and she knew its weaknesses.
"Etta?" Demarco blinked, stunned and confused as much from her sudden shift of form as from the breaking of the enchantment that had held her. "What... I was... Oh God, I was hunting you!"
"Yes!" Etta cried. "It worked! I can't believe it worked!"
"Oh God," Demarco shook her head to clear it. "Oh God, Etta what have I done? I..."
"It was my Father," Etta said firmly. "He put an enchantment on you. Whatever you did, it wasn't you. You didn't have any choice."
"It was like, I wanted to do everything... anything... he told me," Demarco said, horrified. "Like he was the smartest, wisest, most perfect..."
"OK, you can stop anytime," Etta snorted. "He's an asshole and he twisted your brain into knots to make you believe he was the center of your world. A little like love, really..."
"Etta, we attacked the Collective elders!" Demarco gasped. "He's taking over the whole town..."
"Yeah, I thought as much," Etta sighed.
"We can stop him!" Demarco said. "You can break the others free, and we can stop him!"
"I can't," Etta said.
"Etta, he's got Rory and Lou... all the Wildfangs! We have to free them," Demarco said firmly.
"I can't!" Etta insisted. "I wasn't sure the charm would work at all but I know... I know... I need to be close to the subject. Like, emotionally close. Without that bond, I don't stand a chance of breaking the enchantment. Lux, you're my best friend in the world... I couldn't leave you... but I'm not that close to Rory or Lou... and I don't even like Kiril! I'm sorry. We can't save them... not alone."
"OK, OK," Demarco nodded, taking it all in. "I guess I should be glad it worked at all."
"Yeah, me too. Here, you're kinda naked." Etta said, pulling off her shirt and handing it to her. "I'm just really glad I didn't have to kiss you."
"What? Kiss me? Why would you..." Demarco stammered as she pulled Etta's shirt on, glad that it was long enough to cover her. "Also... hey, I'm a good kisser! But why?"
"It was just something Freddie said," Etta smiled.
"Freddie!?" Demarco gasped. "Oh God, is he OK? Is he safe?"
"OK? Yes," Etta said. "Safe? No. None of us are safe. Come on."
