by Phil Stern
“Eventually,” Barbara sighed, bleakly eyeing the neophyte witch. “After raping you for a while. That whole process generally takes a few weeks to play out.”
“That’s why he marked you that way,” one of the other women helpfully added, emotionlessly nodding down at Tiffany’s mangled, bleeding hip. “To tell all the other wolves that you’re his property.”
Feeling quite ill, the Coven’s newest sorceress then burst into tears, desperately wrapping her arms around Barbara’s unyielding neck.
*****
Bursting from the nightmare once more, 27-year-old Tiffany Smith bolted up in the Pryon bed. Tears streaming down her face, the sorceress slammed a hand down onto her grievously wounded hip, desperately trying to staunch the blood. But all she encountered was the light cloth of her nightgown and the scarred skin underneath. The physical injury itself had healed long ago, though the mental anguish of that night still resonated throughout her being, simmering just beneath the surface.
It had been a long time since she’d dreamed of that horrific experience. If nothing else, her victory at Gensrow’s castle in Jain had buried those particular memories, smoothing them over with far more satisfying experiences.
But Tiffany had suffered through an almost perfect emotional storm the day before. Working closely with Barbara again, in Peth itself, no less. Marissa’s guilt over April’s death two years ago had reminded Tiffany just how calm and steady her fellow rookie had been that night. And of course the werewolf encounter, and seeing Grund again...
At the mere thought of the werewolf leader, Tiffany’s stomach twisted into an agonized knot. Throwing the light sheets aside, the young woman anxiously leapt out of bed, doing a quick series of stretches to calm her nerves. Clearly, further sleep was now impossible. Magically changing into her typical boots, jeans, and white shirt, the enchantress irritably slipped from the round hut entirely, striding out into the main village.
It was still dark, the equivalent of about four a.m. in a more civilized dimension. Of course, no one really kept time in these backwards worlds. There was dawn, and then dusk, and everything else in between. Refreshing for a few days, maybe, then it got a bit annoying.
Not to mention all the circles. Within the Pyron lands there weren’t any straight lines. Everything was round or wavy. It seemed that aquatic creatures couldn’t think in terms of straight, even when in human form. The more she thought about it, the Pyron mind might not take to Earth very well.
Idly strolling around a bend, the sorceress passed a “teenage” Pyron couple giggling and holding hands. Immersed within each other, the male barely even looked at the sorceress before turning back to his date. Tiffany merely smiled and continued on her way. Even among the frisky Pyrons, apparently, there was such a thing as young love. Somehow that made her feel a little better.
But Tiffany’s gratification was short-lived. For upon passing into a main village circle, she was surprised to see Barbara and Keri standing across the way, deep in conversation.
Their heads bent unusually close to one another, Barbara seemed to be speaking very intently to the strawberry blonde witch. There was a distinctly clandestine air about the meeting, the Deputy Coven Leader’s hand lightly on Keri’s shoulder. For her part the younger operative just nodded and listened, as if receiving orders.
Yet the moment soon passed. Sensing Tiffany’s approach, both women looked over and quickly stepped apart. Forcing herself to smile, Tiffany smoothly crossed over to her Coven-mates, stopping a few feet away.
“Ladies,” she began. “I see you couldn’t sleep either.”
“I haven’t gone to bed,” Barbara replied, wearily sweeping long, dark hair back from her face. “I just finished up with the Pyron leaders.”
Frowning, Tiffany studied the older woman. Back in the day a few girls had mentioned how they’d looked alike, with similar figures and hair styles. That had always irritated her. “And what did they say?”
“They aren’t willing to leave Peth.” Shrugging, Barbara glanced up at the dark sky, her face still showing bruises from the day’s combat. “Oh, they’ll still support us here, in this dimension. They might even join in with some limited offensive against the werewolves. But only if absolutely necessary.”
This was not good news. Clearly, Eleanor’s plan to present a united universal front against the ruby coven wasn’t panning out.
“And there’s more,” Keri added. “There have already been a few brushups on Earth. Danni was badly hurt.”
“Really?” Idly, Tiffany wondered what that meant for Blake and Valensa, and whether any ruby girls had dropped by the upstate New York cabin. If so, her surprise there might have already evened things out. “We should be getting back then.”
“First thing in the morning, after I catch a little shuteye.” Now Barbara nodded peremptorily at Keri. “Give us a minute, will you? Tiffany and I have some things to discuss.”
“Of course.” Avoiding eye contact, Keri quickly made her way across the circle. Thoughtfully, Tiffany watched her retreating form.
“You screwed up back there, big time,” Barbara announced. Drawing herself up, she angrily batted away some local insects. “You failed to clear that crone off the bridge immediately.”
“I know,” she evenly replied. “I messed up.”
“Your dereliction of duty not only put the rest of us in immediate danger, but also threatened the overall mission,” Barbara intoned. Clearly, she’d been practicing this speech for a while. “I will formally report and recommend to the Coven Council that you be suspended, pending a formal investigation.”
“I see.” Unintimidated, Tiffany waited a moment. “Well, in that report, make sure you mention the incognito hoverbike salesman. Obviously you knew him, yet led us to believe otherwise.”
“Tiffany, if you think...”
“Is he even from this dimension, or did you bring an alien into Peth to pose as a native?” As if genuinely puzzled, Tiffany brought a slender finger to her chin. “Isn’t that a big no no? Maybe I should ask a Coven Elder.”
Barbara’s eyes narrowed, her jaw becoming tense. “The hoverbike facility is none of your concern.”
“And just why did those crones attack with such vehemence?” Tiffany pressed, her voice now hard and biting. “That’s never happened before. Sure, they’ve been a nuisance on occasion. But a full-blown assault? Never.”
Barbara petulantly crossed her arms. “What’s your point?”
“Something’s obviously changed in that dynamic.” Relaxing slightly, Tiffany knew she’d guessed correctly. “You spend a lot of time here. I bet you did something to royally piss those hags off, and when they saw you again, they wanted payback!”
“I am a Coven Elder. I do not explain myself...”
“But you said nothing to us, your own protection detail! That’s why we were waylaid, and you know it!” Tiffany’s eyes never left her superior. “So you want to make some kind of stink about what happened on the bridge? Fine. Bring it on.”
Smiling bitterly, Barbara once more looked up at the exotic Peth sky. “You’re playing a very dangerous game here.”
“No. You’re the one playing games!” she shot back. “Just like you did with my sister, whom you knew about long before she was snatched by the Zarth coven!”
The merest flicker of green crossed Barbara’s eyes. “You need to remember who you’re talking to.”
“Who I’m talking to?” Tiffany breathed, her own eyes now taking on the merest hint of green whirl. “I’m talking to the woman who knew a magical girl was rotting away in some juvenile detention facility in Dytha, and did nothing to save her! My sister...”
“Was too old!” Barbara snarled, her voice low and menacing. “Valensa was sixteen when I found her! She was as wild as a Larian snow cat!”
“So you just left her?”
“Yes!” Slowly, Barbara nodded. “She was as unstable as they come. Why do you think Valensa attacked you? By the stone, Tiffany, why do
you think Claire wants her dead?”
“Because she’s been forced to adapt to unnatural magic, that’s why!” Turning about, Tiffany strode off a few paces, bitterly staring down into the main lagoon at the bottom of the hillside. “No one ever gave her a chance to become one of us.”
“There was no chance.” Barbara spoke simply, as if stating an undeniable fact. “She was too old to become a sorceress. A real one, anyway. There was no way she could successfully interface with an earth stone at that point.”
“You don’t know that!” Once more, Tiffany hoped the experiment Blake might now be running with Valensa would prove her wrong. “By the stone, she’s my sister!”
“She’s nothing.” Sighing, the Coven Elder walked up to stand beside her. “Valensa is a rogue to both covens. Soon, the ruby girls will find and take care of her, and that will be the end of it.”
“‘Take care of her?’” Tiffany slowly repeated. “You know, sometimes you sound like a real monster.”
“And sometimes you sound like a scared little girl who doesn’t know how to make hard choices.”
“Hard choices?” Leaning her forearms on the rail, Tiffany now looked up at the Deputy Coven Leader. “You mean, like running scared during this whole thing? Or maybe arresting Marissa when she wanted to come rescue Hazel and me in Zarth? Are those the hard choices you mean?”
“How dare you! I’ve never run scared of any...”
“Bullshit. I’ve seen it.”
“By the stone!” Suddenly, the older woman dangerously dropped her voice. “Tiffany, you’re a selfish, ungrateful girl. Don’t you ever think of anybody but yourself?”
About to fire back an angry retort, she hesitated. Arguing with Barbara was useless, as she well knew. And what point was there in letting the older woman push her buttons, anyway? Forcing herself to relax, the two women simply looked out over the stunning vista together.
In the immediate foreground, the Pyron village stretched down to the lagoon below. Beyond the nearly joining headlands was an island-strewn, meandering channel running parallel to the mainland. Bordered on the far side by a thin strip of land, the vast Peth ocean then extended to the foggy, moonlit horizon. It was a stunning sight, even for an experienced dimension traveler.
“Listen,” Tiffany finally sighed. “Let’s just call it a night...”
“No!” Barbara harshly interrupted, now fully looking at her younger companion. “You’re not getting off so easily here! Let’s get this out of the way. Once and for all.”
The cool night breezes gently caressed Tiffany’s body. “All right,” she warily replied. “Let’s do that.”
“Do you know why everyone disapproves of Blake?” the older woman began. “Because no one actually gives a shit who you fuck. So why do you think everyone’s so shocked?”
“Because the Coven is dominated by old, meddlesome bitches?” Even to Tiffany’s own ear, there was an overly aggressive tone to her voice.
“No, dear, it isn’t that,” she sweetly replied. “The fact is, you can’t be both a loving girlfriend and a top Coven operative, and you know it.”
Somehow, the comment hit home. “I don’t know what you mean,” Tiffany stiffly said, again looking out at the ocean.
“Oh Tiffany. You think yourself so calm, so above it all.” Barbara’s voice was outwardly kind, yet tinged with a soft derision. “You’re our magical philosopher, the modern girl for a modern world! You just want it all. Power, love, stability, comfort. Everything there is to have!”
“Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Yes, there is! Because of that mundane fool, you’re losing your edge.” In their bucolic surroundings, Barbara’s laugh sounded almost obscene. “And if others follow your lead, then the entire Coven will turn into a bunch of lovesick girls. It’s like a cancer, waiting to infect everything.”
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Suddenly turning on her, Tiffany studied the older woman for a long moment. “Losing my edge? Who was it that defeated Gensrow?”
“Tiffany, how long must we all hear...”
“Where was your edge back on Orly’s Bridge?” she demanded. “Or Solia’s edge? Who are you two fucking, huh? Whoever it is, it ain’t working!”
“Ah, there she is!” With a knowing nod, Barbara smiled. “Miss Bitchy-Know-It-All. The conceited, junior witch who looks down on all of her sisters!”
Tiffany took a deep breath. “I don’t look down on anybody.”
“Yes you do. Especially me!” Barbara’s eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Stop being such a fucking wimp. You’ve had a stick up your ass about me ever since what happened here!”
“Barbara, please.” This was treading on very dangerous ground. “We’re on a mission...”
“I guess it was my fault you were nearly eaten alive?” Harsh and taunting, she was suddenly Barbara of the Rasten woods once again. “Of course, I was the one who saved your life! But that’s just an inconvenient little detail, right?”
“You were mission leader, and I was a rookie!” Over Barbara’s shoulder, a shooting star seemed to rocket down into the ocean itself. “Of course I needed help!”
“You needed a lot of help! After Grund, your confidence was shot! That’s why I took you to Rasten right afterwards.”
“Gee, thanks!” Tiffany snapped. “How wonderful of you, getting me to beat up on a helpless creature!”
“That Mepard? A helpless creature? Those fuckers deserve everything they get!” Her hands coming down firmly on the rail, Barbara arched backwards, clearly enlivened from the memory. “You must have thought so too. After all, you really beat the piss out of him!”
“I didn’t want to!” Disgusted, she took a step away. “Actually, I’ve felt guilty ever since.”
“Oh, poor baby!” Nearly laughing, Barbara now leaned casually against the wood, studying her younger opponent. “I wanted to show you the rage. The rage, Tiffany! Our strength! And for one brief moment, you got it.”
“Our rage is our strength?” Tiffany’s voice dropped nearly to a whisper. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“That’s sick!”
“Oh, far from it.” Smiling, Barbara shrugged. “Or are you really going to tell me that rage didn’t take over after those filthy hags attacked us yesterday? That it wasn’t like that Mepard all over again?”
Fleetingly, Tiffany did indeed recall her own fury on Orly’s Bridge, and how good it felt killing the crones. “Look, let’s just say that I got the job done.”
“Eventually.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Sure it is.” Pausing, Barbara raised an eyebrow. “It was your initial compassion for those hideous women that put us all in danger, and you know it.”
Irritably, Tiffany swiped a bug from her face. “So what are you saying?”
“You don’t fool me, Tiffany. All the sucking up to Eleanor? The boyfriend? You’re soft, and you’re scared. Period. And everybody knows it.”
“Oh really?” Frowning, Tiffany idly inspected a nail. Every fiber of her being was screaming to turn about and go back to bed, that this argument was exactly the kind of thing a sadist like Barbara truly enjoyed. “And what about Gensrow?”
“By the stone, girl! April and Marissa softened him up! You just swept in, got lucky, and took all the credit.”
This entirely unexpected salvo ripped right through her. “You witch!” Tiffany seethed. Instantly, her entire body became very tense, hands balling into tight fists. “How dare you!”
“Oh, please.” Enormously gratified, Barbara smiled over folded arms. “Did I hit a sensitive spot, dear? Who knows? Maybe I’m even better than the boyfriend.”
“You’re a stupid, old fool.” Letting out a deep breath, Tiffany fleetingly looked up at the gorgeous night sky. “I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time on you.”
“Maybe, deep down, you know I’m right.” Taking a step closer, Barbara’s features took on an odd glow. “Or m
aybe we’re more alike than you care to admit.”
A moment went by, Tiffany very aware of the other woman’s proximity. “I’m not at all like you.”
“Bullshit!” Suddenly grabbing her arm, Barbara yanked the younger sorceress in close. “I was there, Tiffany! You enjoyed thrashing that Mepard! You felt powerful and alive!” Every syllable was hard and distinct. “Admit it!”
“No!” Pulling away, Tiffany stumbled backwards. “That’s sick!”
“By the stone, girl, that’s healthy!” Now earth fire harshly sparked from Barbara’s glowing stone into the pleasant night air. “After the werewolves, I wanted you to revel in your power, to take what’s yours by right...”
“No! You were wrong!” Rallying, Tiffany stood her ground. “All you did was encourage an inexperienced girl to wallow in her own misery! And make another creature suffer for it!”
“You’re damn right I wanted someone to suffer!” Barbara’s lips curled up in a malignant sneer. “But the Mepard was only a warm up. I wanted you to go after Grund, to kill him for what he did to you!”
Tiffany gave a rueful smile. “I thought of going after him. Often, in fact.”
“So why didn’t you?”
“Grund was only acting in his nature.” Ignoring the other woman’s pulsing stone, Tiffany now slowly advanced until their faces were inches apart. “He was just behaving like a werewolf. And we decimated and scattered his pack. That was punishment enough.”
“Really?” Not backing away, Barbara paused. “I would disagree.”
“Oh no. In fact, Grund did me a favor.” Deliberately, Tiffany dropped her voice very low. “He taught me something very important in that village. Something I’ve never forgotten.”
“Oh? And what was that?”
“Never trust your mission leader completely.” As if divulging a great secret, Tiffany now leaned over to whisper directly in Barbara’s ear. “Especially when she deliberately sends her most inexperienced girls into the greatest danger.”
“What?” As if struck, Barbara physically shoved Tiffany back. “How dare you say such a thing!”
“You fucked up that night.” Unintimidated, Tiffany held her ground. “You sent April and myself right into the path of four sweeping wolves!”
