Poor Little Witch Girl

by Robin Roseau

  "Why, Raelyn," Cybele said. "She doesn't seem to be as innocent as you suggested. She seems to have predicted this and somehow squirreled her friends away from me."

  I actually didn't have a clue what was going on, but I wasn't going to tell her that.

  "This is between you and me, Cybele. If you want me to kneel, make me."

  "Fine. I didn't want to do it this way, but you leave me little choice." She unfolded her arms, lifted her hand up, and in moments, she had a spell waiting. I looked at it with my second sight, and it was dark and black, ugly. "Kneel," she ordered.

  "No."

  She threw the spell at me. I lifted my hands to ward it off, but there was a bright flash of light, and her spell never hit me.

  But something did. I felt a spell, already wrapped deeply around me, flare to life. And I didn't just feel it. I could see it. It was a purple-white glow surrounding me, as if I could see my own aura, but it was all one color.

  "What-" Cybele said shortly. She spun around to Raelyn. "You said she was unclaimed and completely untrained!" She screamed those words. "How do you explain that?" She pointed at me.

  "She was!" Raelyn said. She stood up herself and moved closer. "She didn't know a thing, not a thing."

  Cybele pointed at me. "Is that your doing? Are you the one protecting her?"

  "No! She wasn't under anyone's protection. I've been casting spells on her from the beginning. They all stuck."

  "What spells?" Cybele spat.

  "You know what spells."

  "Spells she accepted!" Cybele said. "Spells she allowed you to cast on her."

  "This is not my fault," Raelyn said. "You rushed me. I told you that you were going to scare her. I told you I hadn't learned everything yet. I told you to let me do this my way. But you were in an all-fired hurry. If you'd let me do this my way, she'd have come to you, soft and willing, by the winter solstice, or the spring equinox at the latest. But now, you wanted her tonight. She was terrified to be here! And do you blame her?"

  That was when the doors opened again. I'd say the blew open, but that might be hyperbole. But there was no knock, and when they opened, it was not gently. We all spun to face the doorway to see Verity framed within them.

  "What are you doing with my apprentice?"

  Verity

  There was a pregnant pause, but then Cybele screamed, "She is not yours! She is unclaimed. I would have known if you had already claimed her."

  Verity strode forward, moving smoothly and coming to a stop in front of Cybele. But she looked over the death witch's shoulder at me. "Are you all right?"

  I nodded. I was sure my expression told her that "all right" was a relative term.

  "She's not yours," Cybele said. "If she's anyone's, she's Raelyn's."

  "She is not Raelyn's," Verity said, "Although I'm sure she was well on that path. I don't believe we need to worry about that anymore."

  "Damned straight we don't," I muttered.

  "Well, she's not yours. Whose is she?"

  "She is undecided," Verity said.

  "You have an outstanding claim?" Cybele said. She pointed at me. "That's just an outstanding claim? She hasn't even accepted it, and it does that?"

  Verity buffed her fingernails. "I'm that good, Cybele. You know that."

  Cybele spun around to face me. She studied me. I tried to look anywhere else, but I found my eyes locked on hers. Then she smiled. Her next words were spoken calmly. "Well. Now she must decide."

  "Decide what?"

  "I told you this would happen," Verity said. "You must decide to accept or reject my offer. If you accept, I will protect you. If you reject my offer, then I will bid you all good night, and you're on your own." She looked at Cybele. "Although probably not for very long."

  Raelyn spoke next. "Lyra, don't say a word."

  "You don't get to tell me what to do, Raelyn," I said. "You mean nothing to me."

  But the woman stepped around Cybele and up to me. I held my ground as she stepped very close to me. "You know you're not making a choice of Verity or freedom. You're making a choice between Verity and Cybele. There are no other options. And now, you are in a position to negotiate."

  "Negotiate."

  "Yes." She smiled. She leaned close and whispered, "Think about what you want. Almost anything is on the table. Even, if you wanted, me."

  "Excuse me?"

  "Cybele would give me to you, if you want me and vow yourself to her."

  "Why would you tell me that?"

  "Because I never lied to you. I didn't tell you everything, but I never lied to you, not even with my body."

  When she caressed my cheek, I let her. Why were all these witches so intent on touching me all the time? But then she stepped away and spoke loudly enough for all of us to hear. "If the three of you like, I could negotiate on Lyra's behalf."

  "That is an offer you should consider," Verity said. "Or at least listen to any counsel she provides you."

  "Why would I want the woman who betrayed me to negotiate for me?"

  "Because she would do a better job than you'll do on your own," Cybele said. She turned to face me fully. "I do not wish a war with Verity, certainly not over one untrained witch of unknown ability. However, you are not leaving this house without pledging yourself to one or the other of us. That I can ensure, and Verity will not stop me."

  But she smiled, and it was not a friendly smile. "But I will find your friends, and you know what will happen to them when I do, if you have not already pledged yourself to me."

  "About that," Verity said. She withdrew her phone, played with it for a moment, then held it out, facing me. "Felicity, say hello to Lyra."

  "Lyra!" came Felicity's voice from Verity's phone. "Are you all right?"

  I stared at the phone then lifted my eyes to Verity. I'd been holding it together, but tears began to well into my eyes. Verity already had them.

  "They're safe," she said. She moved to me and gave me the phone. I cancelled the speaker and lifted the phone to my ear.

  "Felicity?"

  "Lyra," she said. "Thank god. Verity said you were in trouble. Are you all right?"

  "I don't know," I said. "Did she hurt you?"

  "No. We're fine. She sent people for us, though."

  "Us?"

  "Dyson and me, and Jaime's here now, too. They won't let us go."

  Cybele was muttering and shooting angry looks at Raelyn. "This is your fault."

  "I told you I needed more time, but you wouldn't listen. This is your fault."

  "We'll discuss it later, then. You better hope she takes my offer, but you'll be paying the difference in what she should have cost."

  "What's going on, Lyra. I'm scared."

  "I'm sorry, Flick. Raelyn betrayed us."

  "To Verity?"

  "No. Someone else. Look, I'm between a rock and a hard place. They're calling you and Jaime pets. They say you're my pets."

  Felicity didn't say anything. I started crying again. "I need to know-"

  "Lyra, whatever is going on, we're in this together. You do what you have to do."

  "Together?"

  "We're a package deal. Where you go, we go. Isn't that the offer Verity made? Isn the other woman making the same offer?"

  "Yeah, she is."

  "Together."

  "You don't know what you're getting into."

  "We'll get into it together. And Jaime is nodding."

  "What about Dyson? Dyson isn't part of this, Felicity. He has another life. Maybe you could keep him, but I don't know."

  She paused. "Together, Lyra. I don't know if I consider myself your pet. But we're together. I couldn't stand anything else, and I know Jaime feels the same way."

  "All right. I think I have to go. I'll keep you safe."

  "You'll keep us together and safe, Lyra. Promise me."

  "I'll do my best."

  "No. Promise me. Together and safe."

  "Together and safe," I said. "I promise."

  "I love you, L
yra. Be smart now."

  "I will." I pulled the phone away and hung up then held it back out to Verity. Without a word, she took it and slipped it into a pocket.

  "Well," said Cybele. "We've heard a portion of her terms. Lyra, I will double whatever offer Verity makes to you. I have the ability to do so, and she knows it."

  "She could use that to bankrupt you."

  "She can't offer more than she's willing to pay, because you might accept," Cybele said. "She might offer a lot for you, but she's looking out for her own interests at the same time."

  I stepped past Verity to come to a stop in front of Cybele. "You will never threaten my friends again."

  "I am not agreeing to that," she said. "You will accept one or the other of us, here tonight. You will do so willingly and completely. Then, as long as they do not act against me in any fashion, I will never threaten or hurt them."

  "That is too open-ended. You could argue that outbidding you on eBay is acting against you."

  She laughed. "Let us exclude honest business dealings from my statement, then."

  I didn't trust her, and we all knew it.

  "Perhaps now is when you ask Raelyn's advice," she suggested.

  I turned to the woman in question. She considered for a moment and then said, "Cybele will not threaten your friends nor act against them so long as they do not act against her in malice. However, she is allowed to compete against them if they choose to compete against her."

  "So she could open a bookstore across the street-"

  "Oh for heaven's sake," Cybele said. "If they leave me alone, I'll leave them alone. If you join my house, then they will obey me the same way you will."

  "So now Felicity can expect to find herself in your bed?"

  She shook her head. "I didn't know you were a lawyer. I told you: they would be your pets, not mine. I won't touch them in any fashion, so long as they maintain the harmony of the house and engage in the reasonable duties they may be assigned."

  "What if they want jobs elsewhere?"

  "Then they are your pets and it would be your choice."

  "Fine." I said.

  "I will restate then," Cybele said. "You will accept one or the other of us here tonight. If you do so, then your friends are safe from me, as long as they leave me alone. I will do nothing to harm them and, if they do not join this household, I will actually go out of my way to avoid them. But you will accept one of our offers."

  I nodded agreement then turned to Verity. "You have my friends. I want them back."

  "When we are done here, and I am assured they are safe, I will deliver them wherever you desire. I mean them no harm. I am only protecting them. I am sorry if they are frightened, but frightened is better than in danger. I believe you will agree."

  "If I accept Cybele's offer?"

  "I will deliver them wherever you desire. Here, the shop, the nearest street corner... Whatever you ask."

  I took a breath. "I guess we're all agreed then." I looked back and forth between Verity and Cybele. Both frightened me a great deal, and I didn't want to be tied to either of them. I finished with my gaze on Raelyn. No one else was looking at her, and she was smiling. But as soon as Cybele turned towards her, she schooled her features.

  It was Cybele that spoke first. "Verity has first claim. And so, Lyra, you must now either accept or reject her offer. I will give you a few minutes to discuss it with her." She collected Raelyn, and the two retreated to the area near the fireplace. Verity stepped to me, took my arm, and pulled me towards the windows.

  "Be careful with your words until you are sure you have decided what you want," she said quickly.

  "Do I have any way out of this?"

  "Your choice right now is to accept or reject my offer. You are no longer negotiating from a position of strength. If you reject me, Cybele will certainly keep you, and you will have no choice at all. The only way you keep your friends safe at that point is to accept whatever offer she gives you." She paused. "Or you could ask her for her best offer before rejecting mine. If you do so, you will annoy me, and that will damage your negotiations with me, but not irrevocably."

  "Would she keep her promises?"

  "Yes. She would be bound."

  "Would she bind herself to the promises she might make before I reject your offer?"

  Verity paused before answering. "I believe so, but I can't be sure."

  "And you? Will you keep your promises?"

  "Yes."

  "Are my friends safe, Verity? Tell me no matter what happens, my friends are safe."

  "Your friends are safe if you accept one of us tonight. They are safe from me regardless. I do not hurt people unless they are trying to hurt me or someone I protect."

  "Are you and Cybele enemies? Would she use our position in your household as excuse to hurt us?"

  "We aren't friends. We compete, but its within rules. Unless open warfare developed between us, you would all be safe."

  "You can assure this?"

  "I am not as powerful as Cybele, but I am powerful enough she would be hurt by war with me. That would weaken her, and even if I can't beat her, someone else would come after her."

  "Mutually-assured destruction."

  "More or less, yes. She could beat me, but she would lose as well and quite likely be destroyed in the process. This is the way it is with most of the more powerful witches, Lyra."

  "Fine. What are you offering?"

  "Nothing."

  "What?"

  "You will accept the offer I presented last spring. If you have something specific you wish to discuss, we may discuss it. I'm not bribing you any further, Lyra."

  "You must not want me very much, or else you think I am that afraid of Cybele."

  "I want you a great deal. And while I believe you are deeply afraid of Cybele, I believe I also caused you to be nearly as afraid of me."

  "Raelyn told me Cybele would let me have her, if I asked. Would you do the same?"

  "Raelyn is not mine to give to you, but even if she were, I would not."

  "Why not?"

  "Because I don't do things like that, and if that's what you want, then I withdraw my offer."

  I turned to face her fully. She had surprised me with that. I looked her up and down. I found her every bit as stunning and attractive as I had the first day we met. I looked over my shoulder at Raelyn and Cybele. I found both of them deeply attractive as well.

  "Why are all of you so beautiful?"

  "Every woman is capable of beauty, Lyra," she replied. "But you respond to us because we're all witches. Perhaps you have noticed they both respond to you just as much."

  "And you? Do you respond to me?"

  Her next word was said throatily. "Yes."

  "And so, you expect me in your bed."

  "No."

  "No?"

  "My offer is this. You will offer allegiance and obedience. I will protect you and your friends, and I will train you. You will live in my house. You may invite Jaime and Felicity as well."

  "What about Dyson?"

  "Ah, Felicity's gentleman. Have you claimed him?"

  "No."

  "If you claim him, then I would offer them their own suite."

  "Their own suite?"

  "Yes. But only if you claim him and Felicity desires him. Otherwise I would prefer he not spend nights."

  "They could continue to see each other?"

  "As Cybele said, they are your pets, not mine."

  "They're not pets."

  "I was using her word, that is all. I will be vexed if you abuse them. I will be vexed if you act against their will. But if it is not egregious, I will not overrule you."

  I stared for a moment. "Money."

  "You're asking for money? I didn't think you cared about money."

  "The shop..."

  "You won't have time to run it," she said. "And it's a long drive from my home. I believe you should divest yourself."

  "You're making me give up my dream."

  "Cyb
ele is making you decide tonight. If not her, then someone else next month. I would have let you stay there forever. I am not the one forcing this decision. But yes, if you accept my offer, you are giving up the shop. I am sorry about that."

  I turned away from her. After a moment, she set her hands on my shoulders. "You asked about my bed. I do not expect you in my bed. I would never force you to my bed. But I would certainly invite you."

  "Who else shares your bed?"

  "Currently, no one. And if you were to begin sharing it, then it would remain no one else, until such time that you stopped sharing it with me."

  I didn't say anything right away. Instead, I stared out the window.

  "You need to decide, Lyra."

  "The shop."

  "We discussed that."

  "Are you in a position to help divest me of it?"

  She paused for a moment. "Yes. Do you wish me to negotiate that with you or Felicity?"

  "It's been our life for ten years."

  "No. The three of you have been each other's lives for more than that. The shop was good while it lasted, but now you begin a new adventure."

  I brushed a tear away. "It was my dream," I whispered. "You're taking my dream away."

  "I'm sorry."

  I turned to her. "It was never Felicity's dream, or Jaime's."

  "Probably not," she replied.

  "You will help me figure out what their dreams are, and you will help me fill them."

  "It is very likely their dreams are to be with you, Lyra. They may have no other dreams. They may have, once upon a time, but probably not anymore."

  "Did I do that to them?"

  "I don't know them that well. We barely met, as you recall. And so I only say 'probably'. But they have been happy, and they will continue to be happy."

  "Will you help?"

  She inclined her head. "Yes. Of course."

  "Are you rich?"

  "Not quite this rich, but yes."

  "You have businesses? You can give them jobs? Or do they become hired help? Felicity can be a maid, and Jaime becomes the pool boy?"

  "I do not directly manage businesses. I owe significant but minority portions of a number, and I have others vowed to me who run businesses."