by Paul Kater
Hilda, with the lock raging in her hand like a berserker, dashed up the stairs two steps at the time. Another door. "Would you be so kind?" she asked William.
He would be. A kick later the door flew open. William did not want to waste magic on something like a door, so he had put it into his foot. He followed his witch into the room and saw a woman sitting in a chair. Another woman was kneeling on the wooden floor in front of the chair and held hands with the sitting woman.
"Stand back, William," Hilda warned him, "they are generating the weird magic I sensed around that shed." Hilda was not certain if she could or should stop what the two women were doing. Then she noticed the book on the knees of the sitting woman and peeked on the page. "Crappedy crap," she said when she understood what it was. "That's very serious magic..."
Esmee darted after the cat woman who had slipped past her and now was about to enter the castle. She could not allow that, but in her cat-shape she had no idea how to cast a spell. Just as the cat woman reached the door, a dark shape shot down.
Baba Yaga had almost thrown herself down to the ground on her broom and assessed the situation as she did so. The large cat that was not Esmee was trying to reach the castle, but Babs prevented that with a swift spell that threw the cat woman to the side. Instead of going into the castle, the creature flew through the air and went into a rose bush. A howl came from the creature as it tried to fight itself free from the stinging stems.
Lindolf had joined Jock and saw the events in the court yard unfold. He uttered a word that was not very nice; things were not going the way he had planned. Frantically he searched his mind for a way to get out of this situation without looking a guilty party. Then he knew it. He pulled his dagger and screaming wildly he ran towards where Santera was almost coming free from the roses. If he could kill her, there would be at least one person less to incriminate him.
Santera rolled over the pebbles and jumped to her feet, still slightly dizzy from the sudden jolt. She saw a witch in black flying on a broom. She also saw the other cat woman who was standing still in the yard. Then a loud noise attracted her attention. Santera looked where it came from and gasped for air. There was Lindolf, coming towards her waving a dagger. Was he coming to her rescue, she wondered. At that moment a nauseating feeling washed through her and she collapsed.
"There we are," Hilda said with a smug expression. William had pulled the kneeling woman to the side, and the one with the book on her knees had slumped forward. "They are not doing anymore tricks. Let's see if we can bring both of them around again, William." A little magic later, Simi and Magda were staring at the two visitors.
"What have you done!" Magda yelled. "We were trying to protect Santera, and now Lindolf is probably killing her!"
"Lindolf? Isn't that the nice guy from the tavern?" Hilda wondered. "And who is Santera?"
Magda wanted to throw the book at Hilda, but she felt to weak to do that. This woman was clearly a real witch, and not a match for someone of her own disposition. She explained that Santera was the cat woman, and that Simi and she had been guiding Santera towards the castle. "Things are going wrong there, I saw it through Santera's eyes," she said as tears rolled over her cheeks, "Lindolf was charging at her with a knife."
"What the crappedy crap are you talking about! Are you two responsible for that cat woman and the attack on the king?"
Magda and Simi started to tell Hilda and William the way how everything was pieced together.
Esmee saw how the other cat woman fell to the ground. As the creature fell, she changed into a young woman. She also noticed how the man (where had she seen him before?) kept running towards the woman, a big knife in hand. Esmee didn't know who the woman was, but somehow she considered her kin, and she could not allow someone to hurt her kin. With a growl she took a few big leaps and landed on top of the man with the knife. He fell, the knife went flying and Esmee was satisfied to find that the man had knocked his head against a block of stone. He lay still. Then she turned and ran towards the young woman.
Baba Yaga in that time had noticed the big man near the gate and directed her broom towards him. "So what are you doing here, big guy?" she asked Jock. The big guy looked at her. His face told Babs that he wasn't exactly sure. "Did you knock these people down?" the witch asked as she pointed at the peaceful guards.
"Yes. I hit them. Lindolf said to hit them," Jock confirmed. He raised an impressive hand. "I did not hit hard."
"Lucky them," Baba Yaga said. If Jock had lashed out with all his force, there would have been funerals. "Come on, big guy, let's go and see what all this is about." Jock just smiled and walked along as Babs flew her broom to the unconscious man.
32. It's over
Esmee sat on the ground with Santera. She had changed herself back into her human shape and magicked some clothes on herself and the young woman. Esmee held Santera in her arms and gently rocked the woman. "It's okay, it's fine," the witch whispered. "It's all over, whatever 'it' is."
Santera heard the voice and moaned. The transition to her normal shape had been so abrupt and unprepared that it had shaken her up badly. "Who are you?" she asked.
Esmee told Santera that she was the castle witch. "I've seen you in the village. You saved my life there. Who are you? What's your name, and how do you know to change into a cat?"
Santera sat up. "I'm Santera. There is a witch in the village who changes me. I don't know..." She held her head as a sharp flash of pain shot through it. "I don't know why they changed me back so suddenly. I wasn't done yet..."
Baba Yaga got off her broom and kneeled down. "How are things here?" she asked Esmee.
"We're fine," Esmee replied. "This is Santera. She's confused, talks of a witch in town that changes her."
Baba Yaga frowned. "Aha. I wouldn't be surprised if Hilly and Willy found that witch..."
Hilda and William had listened to the two women. "Suck an elf. I hope we didn't mess something up with all that," the witch said. "Luckily Babs is there."
"And Esmee," William added.
"Yeah. Not sure how much good that will have done, but let's keep it positive." Hilda then turned to Magda. "You, lady, will no longer play with that book. Much healthier for you and everyone around." Before Magda could react, Hilda had grabbed the book and shrunk it. The remaining parcel found its way into one of the pockets in William's cloak.
"But-" Magda tried, her hand following the parcel for a moment until she understood that her playing witch had come to an end.
"No buts," said Hilda. "I do think we should go back to the castle and see what's happening there. Babs is fine, but the flower child... I still have my doubts about her."
"And what are we doing with these two? I suggest we take them along," William pointed at Magda and Simi. Hilda agreed. That way they'd have everyone in the same place, which would make for an interesting bout of explanations.
Magda and Simi were taken down the stairs. Grim and Obsi were there, guarding the brooms. The two woman stared at the cats; the cats were not impressed at all. They did allow their humans to carry them on their shoulder while they flew back to the castle.
-=-=-
"Fine bunch you are," Babs welcomed them as they landed with their passengers. "Leaving all the fighting to us while you go out on the town."
"Village," William commented as he looked around the yard.
Esmee and Santera were sitting on a bench, talking and gesturing. Jock kept Lindolf under control. A group of three guards kept a safe distance to everyone else. Snow White, Jordan, King Louie and Queen Daphne had all assembled outside as well, as the activities there had not gone unnoticed. Jordan looked less hindered by his privates as he walked over to the guards.
As soon as everyone was allowed to speak their truth, Lindolf was the first one to proclaim loudly that he was innocent of everything and that he just happened to be here.
"Who asked you to shout?" Baba Yaga said as she looked the man over.
"No one, madam, I just thought..
."
"Leave the thinking to us. Jock told me all about you, Lindolf."
The merchant stared at the old witch. "Jock is an idiot who can't think. Anyone knows that!" Unfortunately Lindolf had forgotten that Jock's hand was on his shoulder. The big hand moved to his neck and the shouting merchant was lifted off his feet for a few moments, until his suffocating sounds became perilous.
"Good man Jock." Baba Yaga patted the small giant on the arm.
In bits and pieced the whole story came to light. Magda told about the book, which William reproduced. Baba Yaga was impressed with it. Simi added her things, and Santera filled in more missing bits.
Lindolf denied everything, of course, but the fact that Hilda and William had found Magda, Simi and also the book in his house was strongly working against him. King Louie ordered a few guards to arrest Lindolf and stick him in one of the dungeons under the castle, where Lindolf would have to wait until there was a trial.
"What are you going to do with that book?" Queen Daphne asked. "It seems to be a very dangerous book, I would rather see it destroyed."
Hilda shook her head. "Sorry, but that's not going to happen, queen. A book is not dangerous. It's just a danger in the wrong hands. Like a sword is not responsible for the person who uses it to hurt someone. We're going to take that away with us. Babs, would you like to keep it safe for everyone?"
"Of course. Would be my pleasure."
"And what about us?" Simi asked. "Do we have to go to the dungeon also?"
King Louie looked at the two women. "I don't think that's necessary. That man Lindolf tricked you. What work do you normally do?" Magda and Simi told the king, who then nodded. "I think that for Simi it would be best to go back to the village. Pick up your life. Don't meddle with strange things again. If you come across something like that again, come to the castle and let us know."
Simi promised that she'd do that.
"As for Magda... you've been cleaning at Lindolf's house, and he's not going to need a cleaning person for a while. I am sure we can find a position for you here at the castle. If you like."
Magda stared at the royal man and slowly nodded. "I'd be very honoured."
"Very good. You'll be supervised by our castle witch, as you have some magic inside you. Esmee will be able to ensure that you are not playing with that again."
"Her?" Hilda wondered. "Now there's something to be scared of."
Baba Yaga tugged Hilda's sleeve. "Don't say that too loudly. I have a surprise for you concerning that kid."
Hilda and William both looked at the old witch in wonder and had problems concealing their curiosity.
King Louie ordered for a carriage that would take Simi back to the village. Magda would ride along, to collect some of her things. The carriage would then take her back to the castle, where a room would be prepared for her. "And no running off," he warned Magda, "or the combined witches will come after you."
Magda said that he did not have to worry about that. She was far too grateful for this opportunity.
Then the king turned to Santera, who still sat with Esmee. "What to do with this woman..." he wondered out loud. He glanced at his queen, who did not have an answer. Snow White and Jordan pretended to be talking about something important, escaping the king's questioning look that way.
"She's staying with me," Esmee then said, to everyone's surprise.
"Uhm?" Baba Yaga said. "Are you sure? And why is that?"
"Santera saved my life in the village," said Esmee. "She's like me, in a way. We both know what the other feels when we're cats."
Hilda and William didn't understand all of that but waited for the flower witch to finish. Babs after all had said that there was something about Esmee she had to tell them.
"We've been talking, and I think that Santera and I can protect the castle in a very good and special way. We can go around the premises as cats. That way we can get around quickly. We can see well in the dark too then."
"As cats..." The words fell from Hilda's surprised lips.
Before she could say more, Esmee continued: "And we think we love each other." That had as much impact as a witch crashing in the yard.
"Whoa. Stop." Hilda raised both hands. "I think we are missing a few things here. Babs, please tell us what we don't know, because I can't see a cat's tail anymore." Onyx Grimalkin meowed, twitching her tail. "No, not like that, silly animal," Hilda said as she picked up her cat.
Baba Yaga told Hilda and William about Esmee changing herself into a cat and jumping from the window.
"Suck an elf," said Hilda. She stared at Esmee. "Since when do you know how to do that?"
Esmee, holding one of Santera's hands, shrugged. "Since the night of the lightning." She got up, pulling Santera to her feet also. Without the use of a wand, suddenly there were two cat women standing in front of the bench.
"Holy Bejeebus," was all that William could muster.
King Louie stared at what happened. "I'm afraid that we're going to lose a lot more chickens," he said.
"I doubt that," said William. "Santera only ate them because Lindolf wanted to scare everyone. If she gets a few proper meals a day, your feathery animals should be fine.
Esmee changed herself and Santera back to their normal shapes, and was also very quick in getting the two of them dressed again. "See? It's easy."
Baba Yaga scratched her chin. "Yeah. Sure. I think it's time for me to leave now." She did not wait for any response, made her broom jump up and mounted it. "Hilda, William, we'll keep in touch. Good luck. King, queen, good luck too." And then she lifted off, quickly disappearing over the castle wall.
"That's a bit harsh," Queen Daphne said, shaking her head.
"It's not harsh," Hilda said, "it's Baba Yaga."
Then a dark shadow fell over them and Babs landed her broom in the yard again. "Forgot something," she said as she walked to Esmee. To Hilda's terror the old witch hugged Esmee.
"Good job, protegé," Babs said. "Be good and make me proud of you. Keep your crystal ball in shape and we'll talk." Then she was off again.
"Uhm..." Now it was William's turn to say that. "I'm not sure if I want to remember seeing that."
"Calm down, wizard," Hilda said, hugging him.
Later that day there was a huge party in and around the castle. Santera was accepted as partner and assistant of Esmee, Magda had returned to the castle with her belongings, and it wasn't until very late that the witch and the wizard found themselves in bed.
"This was really weird," said William as he wrapped his arms around Hilda.
"Yes. It was. But fun too."
William nodded in the dark. "True. Life with you is never boring, Hilda."
The witch smiled, the wizard not seeing it but sensing it through their bond. "I intend to keep it that way. Boring is no fun."
"Good. I'll remind you of that, if necessary," he grinned.
"You'll be old and senile before you need to remind me, wizard. I don't look for things to happen. They look for me."
William silently agreed as he kissed his witch. "Sleep well, Hilda."
"Sleep well, William. Tomorrow we'll go home. For a few days of peace and quiet. I hope."
###
About the author:
I am an IT consultant who loves reading and writing.
I've been an amateur-author since years, writing SciFi, Fantasy and lately also Steampunk. My home is in the Netherlands.
I hope you liked "Hilda - Cats".
All other books I published so far:
Hilda the wicked Witch series:
Hilda the wicked witch (Smashwords, July 2010)
Hilda - Snow White Revisited (Smashwords, September 2010)
Hilda - The Challenge (Smashwords, December 2010)
Hilda and Zelda (Smashwords, February 2011)
Steampunk:
Aeroparts Factory (Smashwords, December 2010)
Lily Marin, three steampunk short stories (Smashwords, January 2010)
If you want to
connect with me online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pagan_paul
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/paulkater