by Donna Raider
“You would dare call me a liar?” Jezebel held out her hand as if to choke Leah. Nothing happened.
“Is this what you are trying to do to me, Mother?” Leah slightly moved her head, and Jezebel began to make a gagging, choking sound as her daughter slowly closed her airways.
Just as the older witch fainted from lack of oxygen, her daughter released her and let her fall to the floor in a heap.
Jezebel stayed on the floor for a long time, trying to figure out what was happening. She had heard that her daughter’s magic had increased and that she was now considered the most powerful witch in the world. Jezebel had assumed that was because everyone thought she was dead. Leah was infinitely stronger than she had ever been in the past. She decided to attack the priest.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t see the photo that was in every newspaper and on every possible website?” Jezebel snarled at Mika as she frowned. “You know the one of her with that singer in New York? Obviously, he had just finished with her when the paparazzi took their picture.”
She scowled as both Leah and Mika laughed. “Yes, that was rather embarrassing,” the priest said, her eyes twinkling. “But that was me with her in the dressing room after the performance, and actually, she had just finished with me.”
Leah nodded her head at Mika and her hair turned black, as the sideburns appeared. Jezebel gasped. “It was you, in disguise.” Slyly Jezebel flicked her hand, intending to freeze the priest, but nothing happened. She couldn’t figure out what had happened to all her powers. Her magic wasn’t responding at all.
Jezebel rose and straightened her back, bringing herself to her full height. She turned her most intimidating glare on her daughter. “What have you done to me?” she screamed.
“I have made you safe, Mother,” Leah smiled that all-knowing smile that drove her opponents mad. “Stripped you of your magic.”
“No,” Jezebel howled like an injured animal. “You can’t do that. You’re not strong enough.”
“I am Mother, and I have,” Leah smiled a sad little smile at the shell of a woman before her. “I would rather have you powerless than dead.”
“You ungrateful little…,” Leah flicked her wrist, cutting off her mother’s rant.
“I must apologize for my mother’s behavior,” Leah turned to Mika. “Perhaps she needs to relearn her manners. I think every time she opens her mouth to be cruel or say something bad, a toad should pop out.”
“Or butterflies,” Mika laughed. “They won’t pile up like toads. They’ll just fly away.”
Leah clapped her hands. “Excellent idea. You know I truly did marry you for your brain,” she grinned. Mika leaned down and kissed her. “And all this time I thought you married me because I could…” she whispered the end of the sentence in Leah’s ear. Leah blushed and smiled. “That, too,” she laughed.
Jezebel rolled her eyes. What was wrong with them? They spoke of her as if she weren’t even in the room. They should be terrified, but they weren’t.
“This is what’s going to happen, Mother,” Leah explained. “Every time you speak badly of anyone or to anyone, butterflies will fly out of your mouth. That way we can train you to speak nicely to everyone you meet.”
“You are out of your mind,” Jezebel gasped as a stream of butterflies escaped her mouth. “Leah, I’ll make you pay for this.” Many more colorful monarch butterflies filled the air.
Jezebel clasped a hand over her mouth. “You wretched little…” Butterflies were everywhere, circling the older witch.
“What are we going to do with her?” Mika asked her wife as she pulled Leah into her arms and kissed her briefly.
Leaning back in her wife’s arms, Leah studied her mother for a long time. “Let’s arrange for her to stay at the bed and breakfast,” she smiled.
“We have many guestrooms,” the priest noted. “She could stay with us.”
“Yes, darling, but if she stays with us, it will greatly curtail our, um, activities.” Leah smiled salaciously at her.
“The B&B it is,” Mika kissed her wife as if they were alone. “Can you just transport her there so we can return to what we were doing before she so rudely interrupted us?”
“Sadly, I cannot,” Leah bowed her head. “I’m afraid it will take all the diplomacy you and I possess to convince Ruth and Naomi to allow her to stay in their establishment.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot, the whole evil personified thing.” The priest smiled at her mother-in-law. “Thank God you did not follow in her footsteps.”
“Why don’t you pull the car around and we’ll drive her to the B&B?” Leah stepped back from her wife’s arms and faced her mother.
Leah didn’t want to admit she still feared and distrusted her mother. She hoped Jezebel wouldn’t find out she was pregnant. Deep inside, she suspected that was why the old witch was here.
“Do you need anything, Mother?” she smiled coolly at Jezebel as they waited for Mika to get the car.
“I need you to stop this foolishness,” Jezebel walked slowly toward her daughter. “Give your mother a hug, darling. I’ve missed you so much.”
Leah stood rigidly as her mother wrapped her arms around her. She could feel her mother trying to squeeze the breath from her. She thought of all the times her mother had tortured her, squeezing her until she fainted, or choking her until she couldn’t speak for days. She thought of how much she loved Richie and wondered how anyone could hurt a child as her mother had hurt her.
Leah disengaged herself from her mother’s embrace and started toward the door. “I believe Mika has the car out front for us,” she smirked.
“I am not going anywhere with you,” Jezebel cried. “You are destroying me.”
Leah tilted her head to the side and instantly she and Jezebel were in the car with Mika.
“Oh,” Mika jumped. “I thought you would walk out, but this is fine, too.”
“Mother can be so uncooperative at times,” Leah placed her hand on her wife’s leg, sending electricity tingling through her.
“Umm,” Mika nodded.
Everyone smiled greetings to the mayor when she entered the diner. Then jumped for cover when they saw Jezebel. The appearance of the priest behind her mother-in-law eased their fears enough for them to come out from under the tables and from behind the counter.
“Jezebel,” the sheriff approached the woman hesitantly. “We thought you were dead.”
“I am so sorry to disappoint you, Sheriff,” Jezebel chose her words carefully, not wanting to spew butterflies all over the diner. She wanted to disintegrate the blonde imbecile that had encouraged her daughter to kill her.
“Mother wants to make amends and do better,” Leah smiled her best political smile.
Jezebel shot her daughter a look of hatred, then smiled at those around them. “Yes, I want to be with my daughter and her family, so I am turning over a new leaf. I hope you will accept me.”
“No chance in hell,” Emily huffed. “We don’t want you here. Just because Leah has changed, doesn’t mean you have.”
Seated with Emily, Richie and Amber watched in fascination as the adults traded insults.
“What would an idiot like you know…?” Out came the butterflies. Jezebel clasped her hand over her mouth.
“What the hell is going on?” the sheriff glared at the mayor.
“Mother can be a bit contentious,” Leah nodded, “So I have stripped her of her magic, and she is learning to treat others nicely.”
If looks could have killed, Jezebel would have ripped her daughter’s heart out right in front of everyone and laughed as she crushed it to dust. Unfortunately, for Jezebel, evil looks were all she had left, and they didn’t intimidate anyone.
“The butterflies?” Ruth raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Every time Mother speaks ill of anyone or to anyone, butterflies come out of her mouth.” Leah shrugged her shoulders. “It is a training method used to reinforce good behavior and punish bad behavior.”
“If it is okay with all of you,” the priest smiled to the diner’s patrons, “my mother-in-law is starving so we would like to have dinner.”
“Sure, Mika,” Levi nodded. “Whatever the mayor says. If you two say it’s okay, we’re okay,” the diners quickly nodded and agreed it was fine with them if the Cross family wanted to eat dinner there.
“Well, it’s not okay with me!” Emily cast a fierce look at Leah.
“Please, darling,” Jezebel whined to her daughter, “just melt her.” More butterflies fluttered from her lips.
The sheriff’s eyes narrowed as she studied Jezebel. “So, if I antagonize the old bat, the worst she can do to me is spit out butterflies.”
“You worthless guttersnipe…,” Jezebel railed at the sheriff as butterflies filled the room. Mika opened the door and let the beautiful insects outside.
“I don’t believe your job description includes antagonizing elderly women,” the priest shamed the sheriff.
“Elderly women!” Jezebel screamed. “You impertinent…” More butterflies.
Everyone in the diner began to laugh and talk at the same time. The Cross family seated themselves in their booth in the back Richie quickly moved to his mother. “May we join you,” he hugged her.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Leah smiled her wonderful smile. “Mother this is Amber Stone, a friend of ours. Amber, this is my mother, Jezebel.” Leah moved closer to Mika making room for Amber in their booth.
Richie slid in beside Jezebel. “So, you’re not dead now, right?” the boy asked innocently.
“I am very much alive,” Jezebel answered him haughtily.
“So, you can love my mom?” Richie’s eyes were big and round. “She truly is the most wonderful person in the entire world,” he grinned his biggest grin and reached to squeeze his mother’s hand.
“It appears many people share your opinion of your mother,” Jezebel grimaced.
“Yes,” Richie agreed. “She is the best mayor a town could ever have. Mika says she is the best wife a woman could ever dream of, and I know she’s the best mother in the entire universe.”
Jezebel turned to study the boy to see if he was aggravating her, too. She saw only honest love for her daughter in his eyes.
“Your mother is a very fortunate woman,” Jezebel mumbled
Ruth placed menus on their table and eyed Jezebel warily. “What can I get you to drink?” she asked cautiously.
“Tea for us, hot chocolate for Richie. What would you like, Mother?” Leah asked.
“Tea is fine,” Jezebel snapped.
“I saw you and your band on YouTube,” Jezebel spoke guardedly to Richie.
“Yes,” the boy beamed. “We won the Maine’s Got Talent contest. It was very exciting. We performed in Radio City Music Hall in New York. I wish you could have been there.”
“Actually,” Jezebel said softly. “I was. You were very impressive. Especially your lead singer.”
Richie leaned in close to his grandmother and whispered into her ear. “Don’t tell anyone, but that was Mika. She saved our lives.”
Jezebel glared at the priest, surprised to hear the boy reaffirm her story.
“Mom and Mika are fun,” Richie laughed. “They sometimes get themselves into trouble trying to help us.”
“How so, dear?” Jezebel questioned the boy.
“Asher, you know Crazy Asher?” Jezebel nodded. “He was supposed to be our lead singer, but he fainted just as we were about to go on the stage. We were frantic and about to be disqualified when Mika agreed to do the Elvis impersonation. Everyone says she was hot,” the boy grinned. “I thought she was great.”
“Yes, she was,” Jezebel said hoarsely, recalling the pure, raw animal magnetism the singer had exuded on stage. “Great, I mean.” She couldn’t help noticing her daughter’s smirk when she glanced at her.
“We were going to the VIP reception. Mom was helping Mika change clothes for the reception when some paparazzi sneaked a picture of them,” Richie frowned. “Emily said it was typical of Mom and Mika to end up in a sex shoot. Emily isn’t always very nice to my parents. Just between you and me, Grandmother Jezebel, it did look like an ad for an “X” rated movie.”
“Sounds like that fool Emily isn’t a very nice person,” Jezebel huffed. Damn butterflies.
“Oh,” Richie watched in awe as the butterflies circled the room and flew out the door. “That is so cool.”
“I’m glad someone thinks so,” Jezebel glared at her daughter.
Ruth stopped to take their order. “The hamburgers are great here, Grandmother,” Richie offered his recommendation to Jezebel.
Grandmother, Jezebel gasped at the boy’s second use of that title, “I’ve never had a hamburger,” Jezebel smiled slightly at Richie. “A hamburger it is.”
Richie continued with his tale of his parents’ antics. “And then Mom and Mika were having dinner and sang a song at the supper club where they were dining, and someone put that on YouTube.” He leaned in again whispering in Jezebel’s ear. “It was great, but Emily said there were several long seconds of Mika drooling down the front of my mom’s dress.”
“Richie,” Leah gasped, “you have shared quite enough of Emily’s version of the Escapades of Mika and Leah.”
Richie grinned mischievously at his grandmother. “It is cool,” he continued. “You know everyone in town calls my mom and Mika the town’s power couple.”
“Is that so?” Jezebel raised a finely arched eyebrow.
“So, you did see the performance of Richie’s band in New York,” Mika leveled a questioning gaze at her mother-in-law. “How did that come about?”
Jezebel frowned, looking at the priest intently. “I rather like New York,” she answered. “I’ve been there ever since my daughter tried to kill me. It is an enchanting city, always something going on. Not like this place.” She disgustedly waved her hand to encompass the town.
“We love it here,” Leah smiled at her wife and son. “It is home.” Mika and Richie nodded in agreement.
After dinner, Leah went to speak with Ruth and Naomi about Jezebel staying at their bed and breakfast.
“No way is that crazy bitc…uh witch staying in my establishment,” Naomi howled. “Why can’t she stay with you in your mansion? You have guestrooms coming out the wazoo.”
“Yes, but we feel that she will curtail our activities,” Leah blushed, looking at Ruth for understanding. The wolf nodded her head. “I promise you; she’s harmless. I will put a containment spell around her room so she can’t get out until we come for her.”
“Come on Naomi,” Ruth came to her friend’s rescue. “Leah wouldn’t put us in danger. You know that.”
Naomi shook her head as if not agreeing. “Okay, Ruth put her in number four. If she burns my establishment to the ground, you are going to rebuild it,” she glared at the mayor.
“I will. I promise,” Leah vowed. “Thank you.”
As they escorted Jezebel to her room, Leah waved her hand slightly and filled the room with things her mother would need during her stay: pajamas, soap, nice towels, washcloths, toothpaste, and toothbrush. She materialized several stylish pantsuits and a light jacket into the closet. She also completely redecorated the room.
“I don’t want to stay here,” Jezebel whined as they led her to her room. “Why can’t I stay in the mansion? I just want to spend time with my little girl.”
As do I, Mika thought.
“Nice try, Mother,” Leah said stiltedly. “We both know you only want to stay at the mansion so you can interfere with my wife and me.”
“You are a hateful, spiteful…,” Jezebel snapped her mouth shut as a long stream of butterflies flowed from her lips.
“I believe you will find everything you need here,” Leah unlocked the door and stood aside for her mother to enter.
Jezebel was surprised at the beautiful décor of the room. It looked like something Leah would do. Of course, she would never let her daughter know how much she admired her
flair for interior decorating. Jezebel preened in the full-length mirror and glared at her daughter.
“This is hardly fitting for a queen,” Jezebel said carefully, trying to keep the butterflies at bay.
“I don’t intend to stay here, Mother,” Leah smiled impishly. “This is for you.” She turned on her heels and locked the door. As her mother began to rant and butterflies emerged from under the door, Leah cast a containment spell around the room.
##
Richie was full of questions about Jezebel, as they returned home. “What are you going to do with her?” He asked his mother. “Where will she live? Is she as evil as people say, even more evil than Mr. Legion? But you are stronger than she is because you now have good magic? You are a Christian, is that why you are now stronger than she?”
“Son, that’s a lot of questions to bombard your mother,” Mika smiled at the boy. “How about we forget about Jezebel right now and have a family movie night?”
“Great,” Richie grinned.
“Richie,” Leah spoke seriously, “don’t mention the babies to Jezebel. I don’t trust her.”
##
Ritchie ran into the TV room ahead of his parents. Leah leaned heavily against her wife. “Thank you for your patience with mother,” she tiptoed to reach Mika’s lips then relaxed as the blonde bent to kiss her lovingly. “I think I’ll take a shower. Do you and Richie mind starting without me?”
“Of course, we do,” Mika murmured, “but we’ll live. We’ll make popcorn and get our drinks ready. “I bet we find a way to entertain ourselves until our favorite girl joins us.”
Mika caught Leah’s eye as she started up the stairs, “Don’t worry, honey” she smiled reassuringly. “We can handle Jezebel.”
Leah’s eyes glistened as she nodded her head. She knew that Mika was right. She had discovered that her little family could handle anything.
##
Mika and Richie slid into their booth as Leah went upstairs to get Jezebel. Jezebel was dressed and waiting for her daughter. “It’s about time you showed up to fetch me,” the older woman barked. “A person could starve to death here.” She was relieved to see no butterflies escape her mouth. She was learning to be just antagonistic enough, but not too much, to keep the vile insects from appearing.
