Magic and Mayhem: To Yaga Or Not To Yaga (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Baba Yaga Saga Book 3)

by Donna McDonald

  “But I… I… I…”

  When she stopped trying to speak, she looked even more strained and on the verge of another kind of meltdown.

  Damien did the only thing he could think to do in that moment. He told her what she needed to hear—maybe what they both needed to hear. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

  Then he pulled the Jezibaba into his arms and hugged as tightly as he could.

  Chapter 4

  Hildy walked from stone to stone, running a hand over them. She felt energy, but it was muted by all the people who’d visited the site that day. “I can’t believe trolls moved all these stones from Africa to England. You know that had to be tons of work—pun intended.”

  Carol snorted over Hildy’s bad joke and shrugged. “They weren’t the little trolls we’ve seen. The ones who did this were a race of giants over twenty-five feet tall. The more interesting thing to me is pondering what kind of favor those giant trolls owed Merlin. He was the man behind this plan. They said he used it for an astral observatory and for healing people.”

  “I don’t know about the watching the sky stuff, but the blue stones are very healing.” Hildy touched one and it was still warm from the day’s sun. “Water poured over these stones is supposed to be able to cure nearly everything. Do you care if I make a specimen of it while I guard you?”

  “Fine with me if you want to wash the rocks,” Carol teased back, settling herself down in the grass near the center of the stones. “Watch the time, please. I’m going to try to be faster.”

  Hildy raised her thumb in agreement. Carol focused her attention on finding demons as she closed her eyes, chanting the spell. She was amazed at how quickly the first image came to her, but it wasn’t at all what she’d been expecting. Not unless demons had long blonde hair.

  ***

  Isobelle smiled as she studied the cages and her prisoners. They were the first of many she intended to take. “The demons did not let us down in collecting our prisoners. Excellent work keeping them imprisoned, dragon.”

  “Yes. I know,” Thane said dryly, unimpressed by the praise. “Keeping the bear knocked out is easy. Your Elvin prince though is more of a challenge. His female keeps conjuring up new and different connections to him. Disrupting those energy strings feels like a full time job right now. Too bad your demon squad can’t stick around this plane long enough to pull some guard duty. I could use a break.”

  “Until my dark magic rules and grows stronger than my lighter side, my power can only keep them here for short periods of time. You were supposed to recruit some dragons to help you with our prisoners.”

  Thane snorted. “I did recruit them, but I had to kill a couple of them for threatening to reveal us when they found out I was working with you. No one trusts a witch with a reputation for murdering those who help her. Your extreme evil is apparently an acquired taste. Luckily the evil in my own nature keeps me from caring.”

  “That whole soliloquy sounded nearly like an insult, my darling flame thrower. What happened to the charming dragon I met all those years ago?”

  “He failed to meet his goals and got put into the Foreign Dragon Legion. If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be wearing the Dragon Council’s magical restraints.”

  “Oh, I was more than happy to help remove those pesky marks,” Isobelle cooed. “Now you’re helping me in return. And when I kill the Chosen Ones, the Jezibaba will be overcome with grief. It will be the perfect time for you to make your move. Really, we have a win-win situation here.”

  “You’re forgetting I failed to keep her last time I captured her.”

  “And you’re forgetting you almost succeeded. If it hadn’t been for the Elvin Prince, I wouldn’t be in my current predicament of having to kill the Chosen Ones. I read the report given to the Council of Witches. Many came to their aide that day. That will not happen this time. The Jezibaba is forbidden to intervene.”

  Thane rolled his eyes. “The Council of Witches is the most ineffective group in the magical world.”

  “Only for now. I plan to make many changes. Have some faith in me,” Isobel ordered. “Now let’s focus on the positives of our situation. In between helping each other, we get to be lovers. I think we have a nearly perfect relationship.”

  “For one of us, at least,” Thane declared.

  “For both of us,” Isobelle said firmly. She walked over until she could run a hand over Thane’s chest. “When all witch power is mine to control, I will rule the Council of Witches as well as the rest of the magical community. And you will be the man—sorry—the dragon at my side. Isn’t that more than you dreamed of accomplishing on your own?”

  Thane snorted. “Not really—no. And don’t physically tease me unless you plan to follow through, witch. I detest the games you females play.”

  “But I play them so well,” Isobelle insisted, pretending to pout.

  “My goal is revenge and it’s not a game. Once I have the Jezibaba under my control again and doing my bidding, the Council of Dragons will have to acknowledge my skills as a mage. I will be the youngest dragon ever to receive his own horde. That will be real power.”

  Isobel laughed, charmed by his fierceness and his silly political goals. “Evil is supposed to be fun as well as satisfying, Thane. You’re being too serious today. We’re more than half-way to our goals.”

  “One of us has to be alert to the dangers,” Thane declared.

  Isobel slipped her arms around him and let her sharp nails scrape over his back, inflicting the mildest form of pain. She felt him shiver with nearly instant arousal. Men—no matter the species—were so easy to manipulate if they lusted for you. Of course, not all of them were as much fun as the dragon.

  “Kiss me, oh great and scary dragon. Practice your innate evil on me,” she ordered.

  Thane growled and then his mouth was on hers. She gave herself over to their lust, reveling in his muscular body pressed against hers. His human side was intoxicating. His dragon side was useful. Sex with Thane was something pleasant to pass the time and keep her impatience from growing.

  Soon, though she’d have time for a proper celebration. Soon she’d have any male she wanted. The dragon in her arms would just have to deal with her mass appeal when it happened.

  Power such as hers would require the perfect heir. For that, she would need a fellow witch or at least a warlock.

  ***

  Carol screamed as she came out of her meditation, startling Hildy’s cats and Ahmed from their naps. “Ahhh… my eyes. Zenos didn’t warn me I’d end up seeing such horrible things. Gag a maggot, I can never have sex with a dragon again now. It looks so crude when you’re watching.”

  Hildy tucked the last of her water vials into her bra. Her mature cleavage was deep enough to store more, but she’d only had time to make three. “What in the world did you see, Carol? You were only gone five minutes.”

  Carol climbed to her feet and dusted off her butt. “Trust me… that was five minutes too long.”

  Hildy waited—and then waited some more. “Well? Are you going to tell me or do you expect me to guess?”

  “I didn’t find the demons. I don’t think they’re here to be found. But I think I found the source of them. I heard some blonde woman say her magic could only keep the demons here for short periods of time. That’s probably why no one can track them down.”

  “What blonde woman?”

  “I don’t know, but I think she’s a young witch like us. Her power was strong enough to hide the rest of her space from me. If I heard correctly, she’s planning to take over the Council of Witches. Right after she kills us, of course. I wanted to laugh at her, but that would have taken me out of the spell.”

  “Are you sure that’s what you heard?”

  “Mostly. That type of remote viewing is like listening to people speaking in a tunnel, but the gist was there.”

  Hildy nodded as anxiety churned in her gut. “The demons not being here all the time would explain
why no one can feel them. Why do you think the witch wants us dead?”

  Carol shrugged. “I don’t know. Goddess, I still can’t believe what I saw, but she was kissing Thane. Professor Smoke never should have let him go.”

  “Thane? The dragon who betrayed us?” Hildy exclaimed.

  Carol nodded. “Yes. I unfortunately watched him getting busy with her while I was listening and now I can’t freaking un-see that crap. He was being an animal and not in a good way. Worse… I think there were people in the cages behind them, but I couldn’t see that far into the space because of the witch. Damn it. I thought Thane was supposed to be on the other side of the world.”

  Hildy frowned. “We better warn Professor Smoke in case he’s a target.”

  Carol shook her head. “Thane isn’t after Professor Smoke. He wants to capture the Jezibaba. I heard him say so and that was very clear. He’s doing it to prove something to the Council of Dragons.”

  “Never going to happen,” Hildy declared.

  “Damn right, it’s not,” Carol echoed. “Let’s go.”

  “Where?” Hildy asked.

  “Amazon Island,” Carol said. “We’ll spend the night there because we need our rest. Whatever this is about, my gut says it’s bigger than a few demons running loose now and again. The island is the safest place I can think of for us at the moment. If Thane shows up at Witchery U, I don’t want to be there. That’s the safest thing we can do for the school.”

  Hildy sighed. “So we really are on our own.”

  Carol shrugged. “Yes… and no. We just have to be careful about who we trust to help.”

  “Should we call Zenos?”

  Carol shook her head. “Only as a last resort. If we get him involved, everything will be a shit show. I’m fond of the old coot, but I don’t trust him to help us free whoever is in those cages. My gut says they need rescuing too.”

  “Professor Smoke?”

  “He needs to guard Witchery U.”

  Hildy nodded. “All right then. The only idea I have left tonight is for us to go to bed.”

  Carol snickered. “Do you even think before you say things like that?”

  “Shut up, Carol. We’re spending the night in lesbian central. Don’t harass me. You know I didn’t mean it that way.”

  Carol giggled and tried her best to wiggle her eyebrows. “Well, I don’t know anymore. You keep turning down all the guys I suggest. Even a best friend has to wonder after a while.”

  “Says the commitment phobe who collects men the way she used to collect weapons. Don’t look now, but you’re becoming more like my slutty brother every day.”

  “That actually feels like a compliment. And he may be manwhorish, but Fabio grew up to be very good looking. His slutty ways are sort of understandable in his case, not that I’d ever touch him, but I’m just saying…” Carol declared. A snort escaped her. “And he’s not any looser than those tomcat familiars of yours. I saw Fat Bastard trying to hit on a skunk. Dude, that’s getting desperate.”

  “Speaking of my sad responsibilities…” Hildy said, looking around. “Where are our familiars?”

  “Ahmed took them to the island already. I gave him a note to give to Queen Lilith explaining what’s going on and that we needed their help in hiding out for a night.”

  Hildy sighed. “It must be nice having a djinn for a familiar. The cats keep me company, but so far that’s all they seem capable of doing. They’re so lazy, I’ve never even seen them try to kill a mouse.”

  Carol tilted her head and smiled. “The Jezibaba gave them to you. Maybe they have a superpower we haven’t seen yet.”

  Hildy rolled her eyes. “My lazy cats with superpowers? That’s way funnier than your lesbian jokes. Are we ready to go?”

  “Yes. Am I driving again?”

  Hildy snorted and looped her arm through Carol’s. They were friends… close friends… more like sisters really. She hoped nothing ever changed that. “If I say yes, are you going to make more snide remarks about my depressing sex life?”

  “Of course not. Snide is something I could never pull off well,” Carol answered, starting to grin. “My remarks will be openly insulting which will earn me the famous Hildy glare.”

  Hildy snickered. “Fine. So long as we understand each other.”

  They were both giggling as Carol chanted the transporting spell.

  Chapter 5

  Her female ancestors didn’t know she was their descendant, but she still always dressed nicely when she saw them. Because of her promise to Morgana, her grandmother and great-grandmother knew her only as the Jezibaba. She’d learned to accept their estrangement was for the best, at least for them. They were both the reason her mother hadn’t managed to kill her outright as a child, so looking her best for tea seemed a small show of gratitude.

  Jezibaba sighed at her vanity and smoothed the front of her favorite red dress which was starting to look a bit frayed around the edges. She hated shopping in the mortal world, but their fascination with everything magical led to the production of her favorite fashions. What mortals called medieval style, she called witchy chic.

  Oh, she had denim and leather and magically enhanced fabrics that shielded a witch from all manner of spells. The elves were quite brilliant with building protection into clothing, but Elvin robes were not very stylish. Nor were the elves concerned with textures of textiles. The truth was nothing felt as good on her body as plain cotton dyed in an array of pleasing colors.

  She’d have to pop up to Salem when the test was done. Many generations after the witch hunts, families there were still doing penance for their ancestor’s crimes. This meant she could get high quality for low cost, especially if she was willing to prove she was a bonafide witch. Making a book fly off a nearby shelf was a parlor trick, but one that easily earned her a discount on whatever outfit caught her eye.

  Her mind was so focused on updating her wardrobe that she nearly stumbled over the fairy’s prone body. She blinked for a moment to make sure her vision was showing her something real. The fairy was lying beneath a tree and moaning. Staring down at her, she saw it was the one Morgana had made her set free. Leelu… yes, that was her name… Leelu, daughter of the fairy queen who avoided contact with all the other magicals living on earth.

  She stooped down and felt for a pulse. There was one, but it was faint. She looked up at the tree. Ash and it was warded with something Morgana had put in place. Jezibaba scooped arms under the fairy and lifted her slight body up. The dragon within her had greatly increased her physical strength, but carrying Leelu required little to none. The fairy was as light as her gossamer wings looked to the average eye.

  She carried the painfully moaning creature deeper into the grove until she found what she was looking for—a young pin oak. Placing the fairy at its base, she pondered how the girl was accessing the energy she needed. Finally taking a guess, she lifted the girl’s palms and placed them on the tree holding them in place there with her own. With a full body shudder of relief, the fairy moaned loudly and drew in the necessary essence to fuel her own life. Before her eyes, Jezibaba watched the tree dry up to a stick and the fairy revive to full, blooming health. She hadn’t doubted Morgana at the time, but seeing the curse for herself was rather alarming.

  The moment alertness returned, the fairy opened her eyes, stared in disbelief, and jerked violently away. Jezibaba stood slowly and raised her hands.

  “Peace, sister magical. I mean you no harm. You picked one of the Goddess’s warded trees for your midday meal and I think it made you sick.”

  Leelu looked at her hands and then at the young pin oak now turned into a gnarled dead stick. Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. She knelt and put her face on the ground near the tree. Wherever her tears fell, little pin oak seedlings sprouted through the soil. It was an interesting trade-off. At least the fairy queen had given her daughter a way to make amends to the earth she was forced to abuse.

  “You should have let me die, witch,” Leelu s
aid bitterly as she stood.

  Jezibaba felt an eyebrow raise in surprise. The fairy possessed one of the worst attitudes she’d seen in her entire career, not to mention just being an ungrateful hussy. “Since I didn’t find a suicide note attached to your moaning body, I assumed you wanted to live. Guess the seven hells will burn out before I get a thank you.”

  “You know nothing and act from arrogance,” Leelu declared.

  Jezibaba shrugged at the fairy’s meanness. She was too worried about Carol and Hildy to waste the rest of her energy on a thousand year old fairy with a death wish.

  “I know nothing about your situation, but I know life itself is a gift that should not be wasted, no matter how long you live. Call it arrogance if you want, but you owe me your life now and you know it. Don’t worry though… now that you’ve set me straight about your intentions… I promise I won’t be helping you again.”

  She turned to walk away, but felt the fairy’s magic tugging on her. Rolling her eyes, she glanced back at the fairy who was standing with arms crossed. “I don’t care who your mother is, fairy. Keep that shit up and I’ll blast your glittery ass through the grove. Now pull back your magic before I get pissed. Two of my dead grandmothers are expecting me for tea. I don’t want to be late.”

  Leelu swung her arms out and around. She was floating mere inches off the ground. The wing-flapping keeping her in the air made her sound like a buzzing bee. Jezibaba snickered. “You owe me, fairy. Be grateful I’m not in the mood to collect on that karmic debt.”

  “How can you be so calm, witch? Everyone knows the Baba Yaga test is in progress. Your charges are in great danger and you do nothing to help,” Leelu said, immediately looking like she regretted her speech.

  Jezibaba frowned as she nodded. “I’m forbidden to assist in the test. The Goddess has banished me here to her sacred grove until their trial is done. Don’t you think I want to help them? I’d rather be helping them than saving your ungrateful ass. Stumbling over you is just a moment of unfortunate fate.”