by Gayle Keo
It had all started with the pretty pink envelop Janet had delivered, soon followed by that charmingly sinister woman, Mistress Vanessa. Marla’s once peaceful life with Laird and Jason was turned inside out. Vanessa wanted Jason. She wanted him as a stud to breed with her slave-girls and to produce a small brood of werewolves to start her army. And so there in Marla’s parlor the woman had taunted Jason until his anger possessed him and he attacked her in his animalistic form. The battle that followed was awful. Jason and Laird had ultimately prevailed over the woman and her android, and for the rest of that summer they had believed that they had seen the last of the witch.
But that autumn Janet was forced to engineer Marla’s abduction. Along with Janet’s love Rachael, Marla was a prisoner in the witch’s dungeon, tortured and tormented by her sadistic minion Dana. There she watched helplessly as Laird and Jason failed in their attempts to rescue her. Triumphant, Vanessa had all that she wanted. Using her powers, she spirited away taking not only Dana, Jason and her little harem of slaves, but Rachael too. Marla and Janet were left behind to die.
“She promised,” Janet said over and over as she wept bitterly.
Marla’s heart broke for the pathetic girl who had betrayed her, and had herself been betrayed. But she quickly realized that she had no time to wallow in her misery. Once the helpless victim, she saw that the roles had suddenly reversed and she knew that she had to find that bitch of a witch, and so become the rescuer. And to do that she desperately needed Janet.
Marla’s fingers had long ago gone numb, and despite her frantic attempts, she couldn’t even find the knots that bound her, let alone release them. Laird was beyond her call or reach and Janet was the only one.
“Janet,” she said softly. “Janet help me.”
The girl lay in a huddled mass, her head buried in her arms and her shoulder heaving with her sobs.
“Janet please.”
Marla begged softly. Janet ignored her. Marla’s arms were beginning to tingle and her brain was beginning to panic.
“Janet,” she said urgently. “Janet you’ve got to help me! Janet I don’t want to die here. You’ve got to— “
“Then die!” Janet shouted.
She leapt from her vigil, and drawing her knife grabbed Marla by the hair holding the blade to her throat.
“You,” she snarled. “It’s all because of you and your fucking perverted ménage. We were happy. We were normal. I even liked you. And look what you got us into. I should slit your throat.”
“I almost wish you would,” Marla said. “Because that witch has my Jason, and she put my Laird into that – that thing, and if I can’t help them somehow then I want to die.”
Janet glared. Her eyes, swollen with tears narrowed to slits. Marla felt the steel on her flesh.
“But I have to try,” Marla said. “I have to do anything that I can. The witch has Jason and Rachael. We have to work together. So kill me or help me, but choose fast.”
“Bitch.”
“Traitor.”
Janet shrieked. She drew her knife back. Marla shut her eyes and a moment later she collapsed to the floor, her hands free. Her heart flipped, stilled a moment and then began to beat again. Her arms and hands would hardly move. Forcing her shoulders to work was painful. She flexed her hands and felt nothing. It took almost an hour for feeling and agility to return. Janet was nowhere to be seen.
Marla went to Laird, but there was nothing that she could do. He was curled in a fetal position, and that weird silver light enveloped him. Even his belts and ammo were encased by the glow. Marla embraced him and didn’t know what to do. The silvery light was warm, and so she dared to hope.
“We’re trapped,” Janet said standing on the stair landing. “The door upstairs is sealed, and there’s no other way out of here. And the candles are starting to burn out.”
“Your shotgun,” Marla said. “Can’t you— “
“Your alien friend bent the barrel, and Vanessa took the others.”
“There has to be something we can do.”
“I bet not,” Janet said. “I bet the witch had it all figured out. She leaves us here with no way out. No muss, no fuss, and no witnesses.”
“Well we have to think of something.”
“Is your alien friend any good?”
“I – no,” Marla said. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Then he’s about as useful as this dead android.” Janet said.
In her frustrated rage, she kicked the robot’s head across the room. The thing bumped and bounced and twirled to a stop, its lifeless eyes staring at Marla.
“Janet,” she said, “give me your knife.”
Janet handed her the blade. A candle sputtered out. Marla cradled the head in her lap and sliced open the underpart of the jaw. She smiled when she saw the back-up battery.
“What the hell are you doing?” Janet asked.
“Performing brain surgery with a machete. I need more light”.
Janet gathered the last of the candles. Marla worked with the crude tool, and soon the head twitched. Its eyes opened and it felt alive. It looked about.
“You will cease your intrusion,” it said, “or else I will be forced to eliminate.”
“How?” Marla asked. “Your body is on the other side of the room.”
The head blinked twice.
“Understood.”
“Cool. Now I need you to help us.”
“I serve Mistress Vanessa Kitteredge only.”
*****
“Your Mistress is gone!” Janet yelled. “She ran away and left us here to die, and unless you want to die too, you gotta help us!”
“Janet,” Marla said softly.
“You get it android? If you don’t help us you’re going to die here too.”
“Janet he is an android,” Marla said. “He doesn’t understand the concept.”
“Then we’ll make him understand.”
Janet grabbed the head. She went to a candle stand and planted it in the cooling wax. She pointed him to the darkness.
“Have a look,” she said. “Have a good look, because as long as your battery lasts that’s all you’re gonna see. Look at it. Study it. Make friends with it, because when we die that’s all you’ll be left with. Have a nice day.”
Janet strolled out of the head’s sight and sat with Marla. It took the head less than five minutes to work things out.
“Mistress is gone,” it said.
“She’s lit out,” Janet said. “She is gone and she’s not coming back.”
“She has left me.”
“Yep.”
The head was silent a while.
“You asked for my service,” it said.
“We did.”
“I agree on conditions.”
“Unconditionally,” Janet said.
The head was silent a while longer. To more candles went out.
“What do you require of me?”
“We want,” Marla began.
“We need the door opened,” Janet said. “Can you do that?”
“I can,” it said. “On condition.”
“Open the fucking door,” Janet cried.
“What condition,” Marla asked.
“Take me with you.”
Marla looked at Janet. Janet looked at Marla.
“Three heads,” Janet began.
“Don’t,” Marla said. “Just – just don’t.”
On the android’s instruction, they carried him upstairs to the door. He sang a series of notes until they heard a slight shift of metal. He sang again and again until he hit the correct combination that charmed and worked the locks. One by one the rollers and bars shifted and slid until the metal barrier opened. Marla’s heart flooded with relief.
Upstairs they entered a large kitchen. Marla was hesitant, but Janet assured her that the other androids had been dispatched. They found a bowl of fruit and devoured it. They explore the rest of the house. It was a rambling old elegant place that l
ooked to be all tucked up for a long absence. Sheets covered everything. The only sign of habitation were the android bodies that lay sprawled about the parlor and foyer. Most of them had their heads blown off. Shotgun blasts were scattered about the walls.
Janet went about collecting their various weapons. Marla explored the upstairs. There she found the master bedroom. It looked like it had just been vacated. The bed was unmade and there were clothes strewn about. Then she found the bathroom. She called to Janet. In no time the two women lay naked, wallowing in the hot-tub, letting the soft rippling currents ease away their tension.
“This is nice,” Marla said. “If not a little creepy.”
“No one is going to bother us,” Janet said. “It was over a mile along a private road to get here. I doubt the Avon Lady is going to stop by. Besides, there’s a wall and a gate. This place is like a fortress.”
“The kitchen is full,” Marla said. “We could hole up here a while.”
“You said”
“I know what I said,” Marla sighed. “I need to think.”
She stretched her arms, and holding the tub wall let her legs float, buoyed by the water flow. It was so relaxing. Her eyes drooped. She could feel Janet’s gaze. The two were silent a while.
“You shave,” Janet said.
“Not really,” Marla replied. “I was always like this. When the other girls started sprouting those cute little tufts I had nothing. Not even on my legs or pits.”
“I’ve never heard of that,” Janet said. “It must make life easier.”
“I suppose. You trim, I see.”
“Rachael – Rachael likes it.”
“I bet she does.”
They fell quiet again. They glanced at each other, then looked away. Janet took her long mousy brown hair out of its braid. Marla watched the woman’s lovely tresses float and sway in the water, then settle and wrap Janet’s breasts. When Marla slid her eyes back to Janet, the woman was staring at her. Marla let go of the tub and drifted. Their thighs brushed.
“That was”
“Yeah,” Janet said quickly. “It was.”
“Yeah.”
“Stress,” Janet said.
“Right.”
“Right.”
Marla kissed her once more gently on the lips. Then she swam away and stood.
“But I am beginning to prune,” she said with a chuckle. “Where are the towels?”
The two dried one another. Then rummaging through Vanessa’s drawers, Marla found some suitable underwear, but Janet was hesitant.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Aren’t they like, you know, like cursed or something? I mean maybe she put a spell on them or something.”
Marla sniffed a pair of yellow silk panties.
“Lilac,” she said with a nod. “Jeeze, doesn’t she own anything other than suits and gowns?”
Ultimately they found a pair of black satin capri pants that fit Marla well enough. In a wry moment, she settled on a pink tank-top with the word “Bitch” blazoned in glitter. The only coat that fit her was a short black leather jacket festooned with zippers and buckles. All Vanessa had for shoes were stiletto heels two sizes too big. They scavenged a pair of combat boots from one of the smaller androids, but still had to stuff it with socks.
“It’s no big deal,” Marla said. “I can pick up some proper clothes in the city.”
“New York?”
“Boston.”
“Why?”
“To find a witch,” Marla said. “It takes a witch to catch a witch.”
*****
“You would think that stupid witch would have a stinking map someplace!” Marla cried.
They had ransacked the mansion. They found cash. They found jewelry. They found a small cache of weapons. They even found a stash of illegal drugs.
“Why would a witch want drugs?” Janet asked.
“Probably to bribe people,” Marla said.
They checked the garage and there they found the limo, a Jaguar, and some sleek sporty thing that neither of them recognized. But they found no maps.
“Damn,” Marla said. “She doesn’t even have a GPS.”
“Neither do you,” Janet said. “But I don’t understand what you need a map for,” Janet said. “We’re in the backwoods of Maine. All we need to do is drive south and we’re bound to run into ninety-five.”
“It’s because we’re in Maine,” Marla said. “There are people here who might be able to help Laird. And if I can find a map . . . how do you know I don’t have GPS?”
“We came in your Blazer, no gizmo there.”
“Laird must have driven. He’s our gizmo.”
And with the same thought, the two looked at each other. They ran to the kitchen where they had left the android. “Hey head,” Marla said. “You have a navigation system in you?”
“That function is available.”
“Let’s pack.”
They gathered some food, an extra coat, the cash and some weapons. It took some doing, but they carefully loaded Laird into the back seat, protecting him with blankets and pillows. Janet drove with the head propped up on a crate in the passenger seat. Marla gave the head the name of a road in a town. She sat in the back nestled with her lover. They drove for hours in the dead of night through the deep woods. They saw no one else on the road. When the head announced that they were nearing the junction of Clemons Road, Marla took the wheel. She drove slow, scanning all around.
“What are we looking for?” Janet asked.
“There’s an enclave,” Marla said. “Like a commune of Hroth. They’ve banded together out here for safety.”
“You know any of them?”
“Yeah,” Marla said. “Sort of. Shit, I passed it.”
She stopped, backed up, spotted a small, indistinct marker, and then turned down a hidden gravel drive. The road was overgrown and rough. They bumped along for nearly a half hour. Then they saw a small wooden sign nailed to a tree saying, STOP. Marla did.
“What are we doing?” Janet asked. She turned to Marla and let out a yelp.
“There’s one on you too,” Marla said. The little red laser dot stood motionless on Janet’s forehead. “We’re waiting.”
“For?”
“Clearance.”
It wasn’t long before the headlights showed a small drone flying slowly and silently toward them. It hovered above the windshield.
“State your business,” a tinny voice said,
“Liam,” Marla answered.
There was a long pause. Marla could feel Janet’s fear. A small burst of static came from the drone, then a clear and distinct male voice spoke.
“Marla,” he said. “You promised.”
“I know,” she said. “And if it wasn’t absolutely.”
“You Promised!”
“Leon it’s important!” Marla cried. “It’s Laird! Look, look in the back seat.”
The drone hesitated, then a light snapped on and bathed the ball that was Liam. The drone remained silent for a little while. There seemed to be an exchange going on in the background, and then a new voice burst forth.
“Ay mu Kaal!” it cried. “Marla? Marla my sweet? Is that you? Is that really you?”
“Yes Liam!” Marla sang with relief. “Yes it’s me, and oh I need your help.”
“Yes! Yes of course my darling, come. Come ahead.”
Marla drove on following the drone.
“Okay,” she said as they bumped along. “We’re in. Now Janet I need you to keep quiet. They’ll probably ignore you, maybe even make you wait in the car. Just do what you’re told.”
Janet nodded, her eyes still fixed in the beam on Marla’s forehead.
“And you, Head, keep quiet.”
The pulled up before a well-crafted and stately log house. Under the light of the porch were two Hroth men. Both were the deep coppery color of Laird and both wore their hair long. One had dark red hair. He stood stoic, arms folded, his eyes like steel slits. The other had much light
er hair, almost blond, and he seemed eager and agitated. The moment the car stopped he rushed to the door, yanked it open and a moment later Marla was in his arms.
“Oh my dear, dear girl,” the Hroth said almost weeping. “How I have missed you. How I have so missed you.”
*****
Marla sat in a plush old chair in the comfortable, rustic living room with. The blond, Liam was pacing the room, knotting and knitting his fingers. The red haired Hroth, Leon stood gazing into the fireplace, arms folded. Laird, Janet and the Head had been left in the car. As Marla finished her tale neither Hroth spoke for a long time. But when Leon stirred Liam sat on the arm of Marla’s chair and took her hand.
“Your woes are deep and grievous,” Leon said still staring into the fire. “And our hearts are moved.”
“Then,” Marla said hesitantly, “you’ll help me?”
“We can’t.”
“But”
“You say that this was done to Laird by the one named Dana?”
Marla nodded to his back.
“I know her,” Leon said. “She is a ketch.”
Marla didn’t know what the word meant, but she felt Liam’s hand clutch hers.
“She’s worse than a ketch,” Leon went on. “She is loathsome. But that is not in our discussion. Only a female can work the protector, and we have no females here. There is an enclave in Idaho. I can let them know that you are coming, but I cannot promise that they will help. Of course we will help you with anything that you might need for your journey. If you drive straight through you can be there in three days.”
“Three days?” Marla cried. “I can’t wait three days. That witch has Jason!’
“I do not know who this witch Vanessa is, but if she has fallen in with Dana she must be formidable. You should cut your losses and save Laird. Go to Idaho.”
“Leon please, there has to be something someone here can do. I am begging you. You have to help me!”
“You!” Leon said whirling to her. “Why the hell should we help you?”
“Leon!” Liam said in a hushed urgency. “Your voice. The children.”
“You,” Leon said. “You came to us as an ambassador; a position of good faith. Then you thrust yourself into our lives, break Liam’s heart and then steal away in the night with Laird leaving shambles in your wake. The sorrows that you have caused are just beginning to feel like they might fade away someday. And now you want us to help you so that you can go and rescue your other lover?”
