Baba Yaga’s magic hit Marilyn with the force of a sizzling electric shock, and for a moment, all she could hear was the distant echo of REO Speedwagon playing over and over in her head. Then she opened her eyes.
Marilyn was standing in the middle of the Shifter models, Zelda and Sassy and Baba Yaga staring at her, mouths open.
“What just happened?” Zelda said.
“Zelda didn’t get zapped to the pokey,” Sassy said. “Why didn’t she get zapped to the pokey?”
Baba Yaga just frowned. “I would like to be proud of you, Marilyn. Finding your magic is a very important step in a young witch’s life, especially for The Seven Year Witch.”
Marilyn had no idea what she was talking about, still lost in keep on looovvvvinnng you… it’s the only thing I wanna dooooo…
“But?” Sassy supplied.
Baba Yaga held out her hand, palm up. “Give it back, Marilyn.”
Everyone, witch and Shifter alike, looked back and forth between Baba Yaga and Marilyn.
Marilyn winced. “You were going to zap Zelda.”
“Give it back.”
“I didn’t mean to take it. Really, I didn’t. I didn’t even know I could.”
“Give it back now!”
“Give what back?” Zelda asked.
Baba Yaga let out a heavy breath. “My magic.”
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
“You’re an empath?” Zelda said, eyes wide.
Marilyn could feel the fear from Zelda, Sassy, and the Shifter models over what she’d done, the power she had. And the most fear of all was emanating from Baba Yaga herself.
Marilyn felt dizzy, as if the foundation of her world was crumbling under her feet. She didn’t want to be able to steal other witch’s powers. She didn’t want her leader to fear her. She didn’t want any of this.
“I’m so sorry, your Baba Yaganess. I never meant to do it. I was just protecting Zelda. And I’m hoping you can find it in your heart to give her another chance. Please?”
“If I do, you’ll return what you have taken?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll never steal a witch’s powers again?”
“Never. Never. I promise. I don’t want your magic, oh Baba Yagafabulous. I have enough trouble dealing with my own.”
So Marilyn concentrated on returning Baba Yaga’s power, and Baba Yaga took it, and all was back to the way it should be. All but one thing.
Everyone was staring at her.
Time clicked by, very slowly.
Everyone still stared.
Marilyn looked around the room at the strange expressions on everyone’s face. It took her a good ten minutes to figure out what that was about, because while Marilyn had a very special gift to read and manipulate the emotions of others, she was not very good at accepting good things coming her way.
But finally what witches, warlocks, and Shifters were feeling came to her. Respect. Respect for her. And when she finally recognized it, she was so humbled, she didn’t know what to say.
More silence. More staring. The awkwardness stretched on and on.
Marilyn started to tear up.
Finally Baba Yaga broke the silence. “I’m impressed, Marilyn. And very proud. I thought your best shot at happiness was for Zelda to make you thin like the rest of us. But not only did you discover your awesome power, you’ve gained the wisdom to know how to use it as well.”
“What power?” Sassy asked. “Someone explain to me what is going on!”
“I don't know what's happening!” someone else yelled.
“She's a witch! Burn her!”
“Marilyn is an empath,” Baba Yaga said to the group. “All Seven Year Witches are. It’s just that only a few ever discover what they can do. Self-esteem problems tend to hold them back.”
“And that would have been the case for me, too, if Zelda hadn’t sent me off to New York so that she could do a little yoga with Mac.”
Roger the rabbit Shifter made a face. “You and Mac do yoga? That's disgusting.”
“No, what I meant is--”
“Marilyn, come with me,” Zelda ordered and led her to one of the bedrooms. She closed the door behind them. “Listen, I’m really grateful to you for saving my ass. And your mojo is obviously at full power. So let’s get to healing, and I’ll find something for you to wear in the fashion show!”
Now Marilyn’s tears were really starting to flow. It was everything she’d wished for, everything she’d wanted. Acceptance in the witch community. A thin, slender, skinny body. Off the rack designer clothing that would actually fit. And the praise of the mighty Baba Yaga. There was only one problem.
“Thanks, Zelda. I really appreciate the offer. But all of that just isn’t important to me anymore.”
Zelda narrowed her eyes. “All of what?”
“Being thin. The opinion of others. Wearing clothes that are going to go out of style next week.”
“What are you saying? You’re not going all retro 80s on me, are you? Becoming a Baba Yagasskisser?”
“No. I just want to stay the way I am.”
“You’re choosing to accept yourself?”
Marilyn shrugged. “I like me. Maybe for the first time ever. And I found a guy who likes me, too.”
“Hmm… He must be a boob man.”
Marilyn smiled. Maybe. But it hadn’t made his top five list. Could horse Shifters be boob men? She would think a horse might be more about the legs, since they had four of them. A neck man, perhaps? A man who loved a great tail? She giggled to herself.
“You seem happy,” Zelda said.
“I guess I am.”
“I’m proud of you, Marilyn. I always thought I would learn to accept myself as I am before you would, but you proved me wrong.”
“You mean accepting that you’re a good, caring witch?”
“What makes you think that? I’m shallow and selfish.”
“And a good friend,” Marilyn said.
Before Zelda could protest, the door flew open and Mac leaned his sexy frame on the door jamb. “Zelda, I need to see you.”
“Time for yoga?” Marilyn quipped.
“Yoga? I just wanted to fuck.”
“That works.” Then Marilyn poofed off, without two spells or a seat belt extender or anything but her own power.
Chapter Seven – The Horse You Rode In On
Marilyn found Charley in Central Park, posing for wedding pictures with a bride and groom. He raised his head and sniffed the air, as if he sensed her approach. Then his big, brown horse eyes met hers.
You’re you.
She smiled and stretched out her arms. Even after all of this, she hadn’t been sure what Charley’s reaction to her still-plump body would be. But she didn’t have to guess now. He glowed with happiness to see her, just as she was.
And while the photographer was busy with close-ups of the bridal couple, Charley shifted into his human form--his very naked human form--slipped out of the harness and into bushes flanking the path.
Boy, those wedding pictures were going to contain quite the photo bomb.
Marilyn followed in the direction Charley went, but by the time she caught up with him, he was pulling on a pair of jeans. “What, do you keep clothing hidden behind all the bushes in Central Park?”
“These belonged to some homeless guy. And I have to warn you, they don’t smell very good.” He wrinkled up his nose. “But you do.”
“Alfalfa and honeycrisp apples?”
“Yeah.”
Marilyn stepped close. “And you smell like horse… and something awful.”
A snap of her fingers, and he was wearing clean denim.
“Nice!” Charley said. “You’ve been practicing.”
“I’ll say. And I just discovered a new talent. Laundry will never be a problem again.” Marilyn filled him in on the drama in Assjacket, and how in the end, she’d chosen to stay just the way she was.
“I’m glad. I love you just the way
you are,” he told her.
“So do I,” she said, still somewhat amazed that it was true. “As it turns out, being The Seven Year Witch isn’t a bad thing after all.”
“I’m also glad you came back. I’ve missed you. And I want to show you my city.”
“Our city.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her long and warm and deep. And when he looked into her eyes with those chocolate brown orbs of his, she knew she had found everything she’d always wanted.
“Are you happy, Marilyn?” Charley asked.
“Yes,” Marilyn answered on a sigh. “Very, very happy.”
And when Marilyn and Charley announced their wedding, a package poofed in to Charley’s place in New York. The most beautiful, plus size wedding dress Marilyn had ever seen, along with a snarky but sweet note of congratulations from Zelda herself.
# # The End # #
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~ Melinda DuChamp
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Other Books By Melinda DuChamp
Visit my Amazon Author page for a complete list.
FIFTY SHADES OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND
FIFTY SHADES OF ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FIFTY SHADES OF ALICE AT THE HELLFIRE CLUB
WANT IT BAD
FIFTY SHADES OF JEZEBEL AND THE BEANSTALK
FIFTY SHADES OF PUSS IN BOOTS
FIFTY SHADES OF GOLDILOCKS
THE SEXPERTS – FIFTY GRADES OF SHAY
THE SEXPERTS – THE GIRL WITH THE PEARL NECKLACE
THE SEXPERTS – LOVING THE ALIEN
About Melinda DuChamp
Melinda DuChamp writes erotica and erotic romance for smart people who like to laugh... just like you.
DuChamp is the pen name of two bestselling authors. A woman and a man. Combined, they've sold over six million books. Their identities are secret, but you could probably figure it out with a Google search.
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