The Babet & Prosper Collection I: One Less Warlock, Magrat's Dagger, A Different Undead, and Bad Juju

by Judith Post

  “Thanks for saving my ass.”

  His gaze shifted, and she felt herself blush. “The world would be less without a fanny like that.”

  Someone cleared his throat. They both looked up to see Gazaar studying them.

  Babet squirmed. Her father wasn’t beaming a welcome. His dark brows furrowed into a scowl. “Your mother said that you have no training. You took a risk using succubus magic when you don’t understand it.”

  He kept in touch with her mother? And her mother never mentioned it? Babet’s chin rose. She’d just tried to save lives, and all he could do was criticize her?

  “Then why didn’t you teach her?” Everyone turned to stare at Evangeline. Her clipped words caught all of them off guard. The young voodoo/witch held her arms over her chest, clearly upset. Her expression shifted from anger to distress and back again. She looked like she was about to cry.

  “Are you all right?” Babet asked.

  “No! How could I be?” Evangeline gulped and hugged herself more tightly. “People died, and it’s all my fault. Because I’m so stupid.”

  “Not stupid.” Babet rushed to defend her. “Just naïve. Because you didn’t ask for any of this. You’d rather garden. You were trying to learn. It backfired, that’s all.”

  “And people died.” Evangeline turned in a slow circle, looking at the charred bodies lying on burned lawns.

  Gazaar tried to comfort her. “Jaleel took advantage of your inexperience. He’s been waiting to return here since he learned I have a daughter.”

  Evangeline’s hands went to her hips. “A daughter you weren’t nice to! I tried to impress my father too, and all he did was drain me. You’re not much better.”

  Gazaar glared at her. “And you’re….?”

  “Emile and Nadine’s daughter.” When her mother spoke, Gazaar looked in her direction. His expression turned tender, almost hungry.

  “I’ve missed you, Rowan. I’ve endangered you and our daughter. Jaleel got past me. I don’t know how. I’m sorry.”

  Her mom went to him, leaned against him. “He’s learned something new. He’s never been able to shift forms before. We’ll have to trap him with magic before we can defeat him.”

  “I didn’t want you involved in another demon battle.”

  “And I didn’t like seeing you hurt.” She put a hand to the burn on his abdomen where Jaleel’s energy bore into his flesh.

  Gazaar shrugged it away. “We have to find him before he regains his strength. I can deal with him as a demon. It will take longer in his other form. The less time he’s here, the better.”

  “Then quit picking on Babet and her friend, Evangeline. You just met them, and without their magics, things would be worse.”

  Gazaar’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “Babet could have been killed.”

  “If she hadn’t drained Jaleel, she would have been. He came here to look for her.”

  The other witches in the coven came forward.

  Hennie held out a hand to greet him. “Welcome, Gazaar.”

  His gaze swept the cul de sac as people cowered away from them. Every fire was extinguished. “Your witch power saved these mortals. Your magic is still strong.”

  “We’re honored to work with you.” Hennie bowed her head in respect, and the other witches followed.

  Babet shook her head, confused. Who knew an incubus could be honorable? She stepped back closer to Prosper and jerked in surprise. The Were had completely returned to his human form, and whatever she was touching was naked. She took a quick step forward and heard his low chuckle.

  “No worries, witch. You’ve seen it all before.”

  She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. Honestly! How could the man knock her off balance so often when few other things did?

  Gazaar didn’t fret about niceties, though. He got straight to the point. “We need to go someplace to talk. We need a plan to capture Jaleel.”

  Her mother nodded. “Come with us. We’ll meet at my school. There’ll be enough space for all of us.”

  An expression of yearning passed over Gazaar’s face. “Your school for young witches? You’re a wonderful teacher.”

  Mom smiled. “Shrink down to mortal size, and I’ll give you a ride in my car.” She motioned to Prosper. “He’s a detective. He can take care of this mess, and then he and Babet can join us.”

  The frown returned as Gazaar studied Prosper. His tone uncertain, he said, “He did risk his life to save our daughter.”

  “He’s a good man,” Mom said.

  “But a naked one. Does anyone have a blanket?”

  One of the witches from the coven ran to her car and returned with a sweater. Prosper tied the arms around his waist, but the material only stretched across the front of him. He didn’t seem to mind.

  Mom shook her head. “Come on. We have plans to make.”

  Gazaar shrank to his mortal size—nearly seven feet. His leather pants shrank with him. Must be a demon thing. He followed her mother to her car. When he opened the passenger door, Morgana bolted out of it and slithered toward Babet, giving her an accusing stare the entire way.

  “Sorry,” Babet said, bending to stroke the snake’s chin, “but there was too much magic and fire bouncing around. I didn’t want you to be hurt.”

  Morgana hissed, still unhappy, and wrapped herself around Babet’s ankle.

  They remained with Prosper while he called in backup and explained what had happened. It wasn’t until their drive to her mother’s school that he asked, “You doing okay? It had to come as a shock to meet your father the way you did.”

  She gave a quick nod. “Maybe it was for the best. Dad didn’t stay away because he didn’t care. Mom and Dad were trying to protect me. I might not agree with their decisions, but I understand them. And he seems pretty neat…for an incubus.”

  Prosper barked a laugh. “That’s what I like about you, Babs. Always practical. Most girls would be shedding angst all over my car.”

  She shrugged. “It is what it is. We’re not like mortals. Magic messes with things sometimes.”

  “But it hasn’t messed with your head. You’re a good one. What my dad would call a keeper.”

  She gave him a quick, nervous glance.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not rushing things, but you are working your way to the top of my list, so don’t do something stupid and get yourself killed.”

  “I’ll try to keep that in mind. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”

  He reached over to lay his massive hand over hers. “I hate first dates. Always awkward. You and I have known each other long enough, I don’t have to aim to impress. So stick around. It makes my life easier.”

  She was relieved when he pulled to the curb in front of Hennie’s shop, next to her mother’s school.

  He chuckled. “Saved by the end of the ride. You can relax now, Babs.”

  She shot a dirty look his way as she climbed out of the car. He’d caught her off guard, but a tiny part of her stashed his words away to enjoy later. The Were had just made her day.

  Chapter 6

  Mom’s classroom consisted of a large, rectangular room, lined with bookshelves stacked with tomes of magic and jars of potions. Hennie’s shop, next door, provided any herbs and ingredients they might need. Nearly twenty desks formed a circle in its center. Babet remembered the procedure well. Mom paced in the middle of the grouping, going from one student to another, making sure they copied information correctly into their spellbooks.

  The old pine boards creaked as Babet and Prosper crossed to join the others. A painted hexagram covered the floor, stretching from one corner of the room to another. Gazaar’s legs were too long. He’d pushed his desk aside and straddled a chair. Prosper followed his example. Babet took a place between Mom and Hennie, and Morgana slithered up to curl on the wooden desktop.

  Hennie sighed. “What now? White magic can’t summon a demon. We can’t make Jaleel come to us. How do we find him?”

  Mom thumbe
d through an ancient book with a worn, leather cover. “There’s a spell somewhere that will help us track his magic energy.”

  “Like we do a fellow witch’s?” Babet asked.

  “No, it’s never that easy with a demon, but similar. The spell’s in this book, I’m sure.” She turned a page, and her face lit up. “Right here.”

  Hennie read over her shoulder and looked hopeful. “Yes, I remember. I’ve never used it. Have you?” She glanced around the circle at the others.

  They all shook their heads. Every witch in the coven had read every book on these shelves. Babet still borrowed them to pore through, but knowing spells and using them were two different things.

  “I don’t know any spells.” Evangeline sounded nervous. “I have no training.”

  “I’ll teach you this one on the way,” one of the witches told her. “From what I’ve seen of you, you’re a fast learner.”

  Evangeline nodded, and her mother handed the book to Gazaar. He studied the words and gestures carefully.

  “Do you know magic?” Babet asked him.

  “I have to worry about witches and warlocks summoning my prisoners. I’ve learned many a counterspell, and Jaleel’s learned from a sorcerer or two. So yes, I’ve studied magic a long time.”

  There apparently was no end to what her father could do.

  Hennie rubbed her hands together, trying to summon courage. “If we have a spell and a plan, let’s go find Jaleel. He’s drained right now. Our chances of success are better.”

  Gazaar looked toward her mother. His wife? Had they married? Bonded? Now wasn’t the time to ask. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Mom looked around the group. “Does everyone remember the binding spell? We need to bind Jaleel to his demon form, so that he can’t change. Then we can attack him.”

  They shifted in their chairs nervously. Evangeline sighed, and the witch who’d befriended her said, “I’ll go over that one for you too.”

  “A binding spell will work for now,” Gazaar said, “but it won’t hold Jaleel once I take him back to his pit.”

  “We can magick bars over his pit that he can’t pass,” Mom added. “Actually, you’ll have to. We can’t visit your world and leave again. I’ll teach you the spell.”

  Gazaar nodded, satisfied. “Then let’s find our demon before he makes his next move.”

  Shoulders squared, the witches rose as one and started for the cars they’d parked at the curb. Babet hastily ran upstairs and carried down a blanket for Prosper. No use worrying about it now. He’d probably shift to his Were form again soon, but when their battle was finished, he might want more than a sweater that left his ass uncovered. A great ass, but she’d rather not share.

  Morgana started for the door, but Babet shook her head. “It isn’t safe for you. I want you to stay here.”

  The snake curled around Prosper’s leg, ignoring her. Prosper grinned. “No one likes sitting and waiting. She’s your familiar. She wants to be with you.”

  This time, Babet didn’t argue. She’d hurt the snake’s feelings when she locked her in the car.

  Tourists jammed the sidewalks on Magic Street, wandering in and out of shops, so the witches gathered in the small lot behind the store. They formed a circle and started to chant. A vapor formed for them to follow. Once in their cars, they set off after it. Mom and Gazaar took the lead with Prosper and Babet—along with Morgana—at the rear of the caravan. This time, they drove toward the river, and it didn’t take long before Babet recognized where they were going. To Settlers Park. Probably Magrat’s grave.

  Babet could swear the trees leaned toward them, reaching to encourage them, as they followed the river to the park. Leaves shivered, as though afraid for them. Babet wished Jaleel had fled to a different spot, but why would he? Old blood soaked the soil on the banks by the cypress. This was probably the first spot that welcomed Jaleel when the voodoo priest called energy to him. This was probably where the demon made his first kill, destroying one of the people who brought him here. He’d try to destroy Evangeline too. They’d have to take care to keep her safe.

  Prosper parked beside her mother’s car in the small, asphalt lot for visitors. The other witches were all gathered, waiting. Morgana shoved through the door the minute Babet opened it. She wrapped herself around Babet’s leg, tightening her grip so that Babet couldn’t pry her off.

  “We could die here, you know.” Babet tried to reason with her familiar.

  Morgana turned her head, unswayed.

  When they reached the coven, Babet frowned at Evangeline. “Did you learn both spells?”

  “Yes.”

  Her voice sounded harsher than she meant it to. “Don’t leave the others,” she warned. “You’re on Jaleel’s list, too, so be careful.”

  Evangeline gave a grim smile. “As careful as you are?”

  “That’s different.”

  “I drain energy too.” Evangeline turned her head as more cars filled empty parking places. Her mother and most of the women from the settlement came to join them.

  For once, Gazaar was caught off guard. His face showed it. Nadine tilted her head, studying him. “You’re the gatekeeper?”

  Her father nodded.

  “You don’t mind it when we claim energy from the newly departed, do you?”

  “It has to go somewhere. You use it wisely. That’s all that matters.”

  “Good, then we can be allies.” Nadine went to join the witches. Her friends held back. When Nadine started down the path toward the river banks, they trailed along.Jaleel rested, his spine pressed against the tall cypress. When he heard them, his head snapped up, but before he could switch forms, the witches began their chant with Evangeline joining in. Jaleel’s arms had turned to speckles of energy, but the witches’ words made them solid again. His body jerked, his cells wanting to change, but unable to.

  Morgana slid off Babet’s leg. She slithered into the sparse grass, out of the way.

  Jaleel leapt to his feet and belched fire. The witches raised their arms to form a protective shield, and the flames bent aside. Gazaar’s whip cracked in the air. It bit into Jaleel’s neck. Babet ran forward, Prosper beside her in his Were form. With her hand flattened against Jaleel’s thigh, Babet drained his energy into her. Then once again, she slashed his skin to vent his power. Prosper clawed his other leg.

  Nadine and her friends began their magic. Jaleel’s energy buzzed in the air, and Nadine directed it toward her daughter. As he grew weaker, Evangeline grew stronger.

  Jaleel’s hands worked to free his neck from the whip, but Gazaar yanked it harder, almost bringing Jaleel to his knees. Finally, the demon fell. On his way down, he reached for Babet. Before his hand could close around her, Morgana sank her fangs into the fleshy pad between the demon’s thumb and wrist. Jaleel tried to shake her off, but the snake tightened her jaw and didn’t let go. A deep purple stain moved up Jaleel’s veins. The demon grimaced and panted. When the poison reached his arm pit, Babet held out her arms to Morgana, so that her snake could let go without falling. Babet gently lowered her to the ground and motioned for her to hurry away.

  They all took a step back. The purple spread until Jaleel roared in pain. Babet took advantage of his suffering and plunged the dagger deep into his side. The last of his energy spilled into her. Gazaar easily wrapped his whip around Jaleel’s body and hog- tied him. Then he picked him up, raised his voice in an unknown chant, and disappeared in a puff of power.

  Babet stared at the empty spot where her father just stood. “Mom?”

  “He took Jaleel back to his pit. He knows the words to lock it with magic.”

  They’d won. A bubble of victory was quashed almost as fast as it formed. It was over. Her father was gone. “Will I see him again?”

  Her mother came to rest a comforting hand on her arm. “I’m sure you will. The word’s out by now. Everyone will know who your father is.”

  “Including me.”

  Her mother sighed. “At the time
, we thought secrecy was best. We thought you’d be safer.”

  “And now? Am I in more danger?”

  Morgana came to wrap around Babet’s ankle. As Prosper shifted back to mortal, he pulled the blanket around his waist and came to stand by her side. Evangeline and the coven moved closer. So did Nadine and her friends.

  “Now…” her mother said, “people will have every reason to fear you and Evangeline. There won’t be many who’ll oppose you.”

  “Especially if we stick together.” Babet glanced at the new witch. “We made a good team today.”

  Evangeline gave a shy smile. Now that the battle was over, she’d returned to being the girl more interested in gardening than victories.

  Nadine raised a warning eyebrow. “You can’t hide from your powers any more, daughter. It’s irresponsible.”

  Evangeline’s jaw tightened. “I’ll learn enough that no one can take advantage of me, ever again.”

  Babet’s mother took a deep breath. “Hennie and I will stay here to bury Magrat’s dagger and cleanse the energy of her grave. There’s no reason for the rest of you to remain.”

  It was an unsubtle hint. The battle was over. Gazaar had returned home. And Mom needed some time alone.

  Before they left, though, Babet turned to Nadine. “I thought Morgana was a boa. They’re not poisonous. Are they?”

  “Morgana’s a voodoo snake, full of magics. Your familiar. She has many talents, probably more than she’s shown to either of us.”

  Babet stared. Morgana rubbed her head against her leg. There was more to the snake than met the eye.

  Prosper put an arm around her waist. “Let’s go home.”

  She leaned into him and they started toward his car. The others broke into groups and followed. Soon, they were all going their separate ways. Babet smiled at the trees. Their branches waved, cheering their victory, as they passed.

  “At least I don’t have to call in backup for forensics this time,” Prosper said. He glanced in the rearview mirror to see Morgana curled contentedly on his back seat.

  “It all happened so fast, I haven’t had time to process it.”