Sweet Tooth and Claw

by K A Miltimore

  "Not well. We have to hurry. We are taking measures to restrain him but he seems to be worse." Hedy said, hoping Ana had found something in the basement.

  "I'll hurry, I promise." Diedre said, grabbing her coat and notepad. She shuffled out the door without another word.

  "While she is gone, we should do a spell, to find what is hidden. It might help us to counteract the poison, or even find the creature that you mentioned. It certainly can't hurt." Helen stood and started pulling candles from her bag with the silver stars and moons. The other women murmured their agreement before a voice called out.

  "Helen, this is not a good idea. Let Diedre mix her herbs to help but casting a spell in haste is dangerous. You taught us that." Thana said, standing up from her seat.

  "Thana, I appreciate the concern but this is a safe spell and the need is dire. We will take all precautions." Helen replied, not even pausing to look at the novice. The other witches were standing up, preparing to move the table for their circle.

  "Helen, I think..." Thana started but Mel grabbed her hand to get her attention.

  "Thana, what is with you? Don't be like this."

  "I'm just worried," Thana replied, pulling her hand free. She gave Mel a small smile but Mel's face was still. Hedy felt the tension between them. Something must have happened while she was upstairs.

  "Come on, ladies. Let's light the candles and bless the circle. We don't have much time before Diedre comes back."

  ✽✽✽

  Hedy took her cue to exit the bakery, going back to the seat in the entry. Maurice had made his way back to the parlor with the fire, with Zelda close at hand. She hadn't had hardly a moment to process everything that had happened. Michael's betrayal, the danger of the Lich, the death of Alice, the body in her front yard. She had her dark times in the past, Lord knew, but this might be the worst twenty-four hours she had ever experienced. The calm harbor of Enumclaw was an illusion; danger could come to the smallest town in the most surprising of ways.

  "What are you going to do?" Zelda asked. She had ventured out of the parlor and hopped up lightly next to Hedy on the seat.

  "I honestly don't know. I am praying the potion helps Louis and that the Director finds a way to stop the Lich. If that doesn't solve things, I don't have any other ideas." Hedy could hear the soft chanting of the witches in the other room; the flicker of candlelight danced in the dark hallway.

  "Maurice says that if someone were to flee with Louis, the Lich would follow them. They could flee to somewhere far and use the time to find a way to stop the creature."

  "I suppose that can be our backup plan if things don't go as we hope. I wouldn't want to send Delphine out with just Louis and let them face the danger alone. Their best bet is if we face it down, here and now, when there is help." Hedy knew as she spoke that running wouldn't solve things for Louis or for any of them. The only chance Louis had was with his friends around him.

  "There might be another way," Zelda said, pausing as if she had second thoughts about speaking.

  "What would that be?" Hedy asked, watching her eyes blink slowly in the candlelight.

  "Bren could...immolate." Zelda said, pausing again and staring at Hedy's face.

  "Immolate? You mean set himself on fire? How would that help?" Zelda had a flash of impatience on her face.

  "Hedy, if he held the Lich and immolated, the Lich would be consumed."

  The chanting in the bakery was louder and Hedy caught the sound of a sharp voice. It drew her attention away from Zelda's suggestion.

  "Are you listening? The fire could cleanse the Lich. At least, that's what Maurice says. He probably knows. But then again, maybe he doesn't" Zelda said, as Hedy rose from the chair. There was a sharp cry from the bakery and the voices stopped.

  "Zelda, hold on," Hedy said. "Something is happening." Hedy hurried into the room, catching sight of a dark figure where Thana had been standing.

  "Great Goddess, what is that?" Helen shrieked, still clasping the hands of the witches on either side of her.

  "It's Lyssa!" Hedy shouted, staring at the withered face that peered out from a swirl of hair that moved with no breeze.

  "Lyssa?" Mel started to pull back, but Helen shouted for silence.

  "Don't break the circle! She is contained in the circle. Don't break your hands."

  The women clutched at each other's hands as the figure writhed, seemingly floating from pair to pair, looking for a weak spot among them.

  "Hedy, how nice to see you again," Lyssa hissed, her voice still as raspy and harsh as in December. "Things seem to be a bit difficult right now for you. That's a pity."

  "Lyssa, we banish you from this house. By the power of three, by the power of we, the daughters of earth and moon and sea, we banish you, so mote it be." Helen's voice shouted out and soon the other women joined her, chanting over and over, their voices growing in power. Hedy saw the candle flames sputter and flare, angry and swirling in the still air.

  "No!" Lyssa shouted, started to swirl frantically, looking for an escape. The women held fast and Lyssa stood in front of Mel, gasping and spitting.

  "Let me pass or I'll destroy your Undine. She'll die at my hands, I swear it." Lyssa's words were barely audible above the chanting. Her form seemed to be paler and flickering in light, like an image on film being consumed by heat.

  "No, you won't. I'll do everything in my power to protect her!" Mel yelled at the form, which Hedy could now see through. The banishing spell must be working.

  "By the power of three, by the power of we, the daughters of earth and moon and sea, we banish you, so mote it be!" Helen sang out and Lyssa was gone, leaving not a wisp of vapor or a blonde hair to show she had ever been there, even as Thana.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  What was that?" A witch that Hedy didn't know asked the silent room. Even though Lyssa was gone, the women were still clutching hands.

  "That was Lyssa, the goddess of rage and madness. She's been in Enumclaw since last fall. We thought she had finally gone." Hedy replied, leaning against the doorway for support. Today was definitely the worst day of her life now.

  "Ladies, let's close the circle properly and by then Diedre should be back." Helen's voice was shaky but still had her trademark intensity. Hedy took the chance to slip from the room and go upstairs. She had to tell the others what had just happened.

  "How's Louis?" She asked, as she entered the door way. She saw him on his back on the bed, hands bound with a bungee cord. Delphine, Ana and Bren were standing against the wall, watching him.

  "So far, he seems calm. Whatever Adelaide is doing is working." Bren said, glancing at Hedy. "Hedy, what's wrong?"

  "You aren't going to believe this. I saw it and I don't believe it. Thana was really Lyssa. The coven just exposed her with some kind of spell they were working. She's gone, they banished her." Hedy placed a reassuring hand on Ana's shoulder as her panic was clear on her face.

  "Mel, is she alright?" Ana asked, heading for the doorway.

  "Yes, she's fine. Shook up like the rest of us. But fine." Hedy answered as Ana bolted from the room.

  "This whole time Lyssa has been among us, watching, just waiting for something?" Bren remarked, shaking his head. "How did we not know?"

  "Who is Lyssa?" Delphine asked, looking bewildered. "That blonde witch, Thana, wasn't real?"

  Hedy gave Delphine the short version of their lives since last October. Recounting it all, she couldn't believe it had only been five months.

  "Remind me never to piss off an ancient goddess. Mon Dieu, that is too much to believe. Of course, I say that with my cousin currently poisoned and then possessed by some dead girl." Delphine sounded almost like her old self and it cut the tension out of the air.

  "So what is happening now?" Bren asked, bringing them back to the moment at hand.

  "As soon as Diedre gets back with the ingredients, they will brew up the remedy for Louis. Then we hope that it works.

  "And what of the Lich?" He asked. />
  "Let's hope Haugrsson has some ideas.”

  ✽✽✽

  The circle had just disbanded when Ana came flying in the entry and launched herself at Mel. The Undine hugged her as fiercely as she ever had. Apparently, Hedy had told her about Lyssa.

  "Oh, Mel, thank goodness you are alright. I can't believe that Thana was Lyssa this whole time. She was right here, in our midst." Ana finally said, pulling back after giving Mel a kiss. Mel heard the door open and Diedre bustle in but she didn't care. Right now, the only thing that mattered was Ana.

  "Yes, it's amazing. She was here, she was in the coven, she drove me home that night...and I never knew." Mel couldn't believe the danger that had been right at her side for weeks. Danger that brought her flowers. The guilt flushed her face hotly. Thana had almost kissed her. She shuddered at the memory.

  "Are you alright? What's wrong?" Ana asked, staring intently at her. She too was ignoring the bustle around them of the mortars and pestles and a large copper pot.

  "Nothing. I am just wishing I had never let her get close to me. That's all. God, you must have known something because you never liked her. I should have listened to you."

  "I didn't know, Mel. The only thing I knew was that I was jealous that she was taking you away from me. Her and all of this." Ana waved a hand at the women.

  "Ana, I know I have been focused on other things and I am sorry for that. But believe me when I say that I am not going anywhere." She leaned over and kissed Ana again, wiping away a tear as she did so.

  "But I want to continue to train to be a witch. Now more than ever. Lyssa might be back or there might be other things that come and try to hurt someone, try to hurt you. I won't allow that."

  Mel heard the steel in her own voice and it surprised her. She knew now that being safe and being able to protect the ones she loved was her mission. She only hoped Ana could understand that and it wouldn't drive a wedge between them.

  "Mel, I understand and I know now how important this is to you. I won't stand in your way. I want to be with you, no matter what. If this is part of your life, it is part of mine now too." They hugged again as Helen came up to them, gently pulling on Mel's sleeve.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we need to get the potion finished."

  ✽✽✽

  Hedy heard the door to Haugrsson's room open and in a moment he had joined them. He had changed from his impeccable suit into what must be casual wear for the Draugr - dark gray slacks and a matching sweater. She wondered at the wardrobe change..

  "It took some doing and waiting for a call back from Hong Kong, but I finally was able to get some information on our situation." Just hearing Haugrsson say 'our' gave Hedy hope.

  "Why is he bound with that strange cord?" The Director asked, clearly distracted by the orange cord around Louis' hands.

  "Long story, but he is being subdued right now by my resident ghost. Please continue with what you learned."

  Haugrsson shook his head slightly but continued. "As we assumed, the only way to stop the Lich is to get the vessel that contains the fragment of Constant's soul. It will be around the Lich's neck most likely. Unless the container is removed, the Lich will be invulnerable."

  "How do we get the container then?" Delphine asked. She was clearly imagining the challenge in that task.

  "Given the change in temperature and the stench, we expect the Lich to strike tonight, once it is nightfall. We will need to distract it so that I can get close enough to get the vial without harm."

  "What distracts a Lich? I thought they would never stray from hunting Louis?" Hedy asked, seeing Louis twitch out of the corner of her eye.

  "It is impervious to pain, to fright, to any human emotion. But it might be slowed down by fire. Slowed down, mind you, not stopped." The Director turned to Bren, who nodded solemnly.

  "Mr. Aldebrand, I need you to put your fire to good use so I can kill this thing once and for all."

  Before Hedy could object to the risk to Bren, Mel and Ana bolted into the room. Mel was clutching a small glass beaker with a dark green liquid.

  "The potion is ready," she huffed, "you have to get him to drink it."

  Hedy reached for the beaker but Delphine stopped her, taking the beaker into her own hand. With a nod, Hedy followed her to Louis' bedside.

  "Adelaide, can you hear us? We are going to give Louis a potion now. Be ready." Hedy had no idea if the brew would impact the ghost but she had to warn her, just in case Louis reacted violently.

  As gently as she could, Delphine gave Louis' mouth a slight squeeze, making a small opening. She brought the beaker close to his lips, wanting to be sure the liquid wouldn't miss its target.

  "Cousin, I do this with love. Come back to us." She murmured, pouring the liquid carefully into his mouth. The last drops were barely off his lips when he started to shake, tremors racing down his arms and legs.

  "Must release him. Can't hold on." The voice from his mouth said, and Hedy felt a brisk cold wind whirl passed her. Adelaide was gone.

  Louis twitched and shook, still saying nothing and then his eyes closed and he fell still.

  "Mon Dieu, Louis." Delphine whispered, leaning down to see if his chest was moving. She placed her fingers under his nose, checking for breath.

  "He's breathing," she said, still keeping her head to his chest. "And I hear his heartbeat. Thank God for that."

  "I'm not dead yet," Louis croaked, his eyes fluttering open. "Despite any rumors to the contrary."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Mel and Ana went down to let the Coven know that the potion had worked. Hedy heard the sound of cheering coming from the bakery and she smiled. Something had gone right tonight. They were a long way from finished, but at least Louis was looking on the mend.

  "We need to get you to a doctor, Louis." Delphine admonished, tucking his blankets around him tightly. He immediately began to thrash out of them.

  "'Hi Doc, I've been poisoned by an Imp but the potion the witches brewed for me seems to have fixed things. Oh, I am a Creole werewolf, if you want to add that to the chart.' Yeah, that should go over well." Louis reached for the glass of water near the bed and she wondered if Delphine would tip it out on his head.

  "Have it your way. You aren't moving from this bed until I say you are better. You'll wish you were with a doctor then." Delphine viciously tucked the blankets in again, all but encasing his body in patchwork cotton.

  "I hate to intrude on your tete-a-tete, but we must prepare. The Lich will be here soon." Haugrsson spoke from the doorway, glancing meaningful at the now-dark sky visible through the window. The smell from downstairs had made its way upstairs.

  "What must we do?" Bren asked, coming over to the doorway and following the Draugr out into the hallway. Louis made an attempt to move but Delphine pressed him firmly back, not bothering to even say a word.

  "Our plan is simple, if somewhat difficult to execute. When the Lich appears, you, Mr. Aldebrand must distract him with your abilities. While he is focused on the flame, I will get the vessel with the soul shard. Once we have that, I'll take care of the rest." Haugrsson seemed remarkably calm, as if destroying an undead and seemingly undefeatable creature were an everyday occurrence. Hedy couldn't help but wonder what Raluca would have said to all this.

  "What should I do?" Hedy asked, following them as they headed downstairs. She wasn't about to leave her house in the hands of others.

  "Miss Leckermaul, I wish there was a task for you, but really, you might cause more harm than good. Stay back and be our eyes and ears. That may be enough. Oh, and let's make sure the witches aren't here. The less people who are about the better. For their sake."

  ✽✽✽

  "Hedy, are you sure we can't stay to help?" Mel asked, as she and Ana lingered in the entry. The rest of the coven had left with Hedy's effusive thanks and an invitation to come back for a celebratory feast - once the danger was passed.

  "No, I really need you both away. Haugrsson says the less people, the
better. He doesn't want any 'collateral damage', which I guess is his way of protecting everyone. Don't worry, we will be fine. I will call you...once it is over." Hedy gave each young woman and practically shoved them out the door. The stench on the porch was overwhelming and she had to cover her nose with the sleeve of her dress. For the first time all day, she remembered it was Valentine’s Day when she noticed her sleeve covered in red hearts.

  "Hurry, now. Get home quickly and stay inside," she called after them as they ran toward the Corvair. It would be her gift to Mel, after this was all over. The tail lights lit red in the thickening fog. It had swirled up out of nowhere, rolling in from east and west at the same time, as if it were being blown in my turbulent wind. The air on the porch was as still as a grave.

  "Bren...Director Haugrsson...you better come out here," she called over her shoulder. She felt the bile rising up into her throat. The stench was palpable. She might retch if it were any worse.

  Bren and the Director came out to the porch and Bren gently tugged on Hedy's arm to put her behind him. She knew that he wanted to be between her and whatever was coming.

  "It's in the fog. It is curdling the very air around it. We should see it shortly." Haugrsson whispered, moving his head back and forth as he scanned the opaque screen filling the front yard. There was the sound of something scraping against the sidewalk, almost a scratching sound of claws on stone.

  "Aldebrand, there, do you see it?" Haugrsson said, pointing toward their left. Hedy could make out two dirty yellow spots that were the right height for a pair of eyes.

  "Yes, I think so. How close do I let it approach the house? Nothing must happen to Hedy." Bren said, his voice tight behind clenched teeth. Everything in Hedy's head screamed that she should pull the men inside and bolt the door. The thing terrified her. She forced herself to be still, easing herself back against the door.

  Out of the fog, the eyes came forward, leering out of a skull like face with no flesh. There was no nose, no ears, nothing but a gaping maw of jagged fangs, and a darkness leading down its gullet. Hedy felt the scream in her own throat and she covered her mouth to stifle it. She had never seen anything so horrible in her life.