The next day, Synthea sat in her downtown office on an overstuffed leather chair as she looked over another manuscript. In her right hand was a red pencil and she was smiling as she was ruthlessly circling and crossing out whatever she didn't like. The witch was the president and chief editor of Longaberger Book Publishing company. It was one of her jobs to read the dozens of manuscripts that came to her office every week. Right now, she was applying a red pencil to one such manuscript.
Synthea's assistant Sophia knocked on her boss's door.
"Come in, Sophia."
Sophia opened the door and walked inside. She had shoulder-length blond hair and was wearing a dark green mini-dress.
"Your twelve-thirty appointment is here, Ma'am." She said.
"I'll see her in a minute." Synthea replied, continuing to circle items with her pencil, "I'm editing this so-called writer's manuscript."
"You enjoy doing that, don't you?" Sophia asked.
"Oh yes." Synthea replied, "Take this one. Too much talk, too much angst. Not to mention the plot is stupid." She finally set down her red pencil.
"They don't call you Syn the Censor for nothing." Sophia said with a smile.
"Send her in, Sophia." Synthea told her assistant as she tossed the manuscript back onto her desk.
"With pleasure." Sophia replied.
A few seconds later, a young woman with dark hair and in her late twenties walked in. She smiled nervously at Synthea as she extended her hand.
"Good afternoon, Miss Longaberger." The woman said.
"Good afternoon to you, Miss Vaughn." Synthea replied, rising and shaking her hand. "Have a seat."
The two women sat and Synthea got down to business. She picked up another manuscript from the side of her desk and handed it to the other woman.
"Here's your manuscript back." Synthea replied, "I'm sorry, but it's going to need a lot of work before I deem it publishable."
Miss Vaughn looked shocked. "I worked for months on it." She replied, "What's wrong?"
"Do you want my opinion?" Synthea asked, her hands folded on the desk in front of her.
"Yes, of Course."
"Well, there are lots of things wrong, including a plot that doesn't work for me. Too much soul searching and not enough action."
"It's meant to be a psychological drama between two best friends. One of them had been tortured in Vietnam. The plot was believable." Miss Vaughn protested.
"Don't you preach to ME what I'm supposed to do, Miss Vaughn." Synthea snapped. "I'm the president and chief editor of this company! I know what is best!"
Miss Vaughn snatched the manuscript off of Synthea's desk and stood up. "I think this interview is over." She said, barely keeping her temper in check. "I'll take this manuscript someplace else, where another editor can appreciate it."
"How dare you!" Synthea yelled, then raised her hand. An orange bolt of light came out of it and hit the other woman. She screamed and disappeared.
Synthea calmly stood up, walked around the desk and picked up a small black kitten.
"Oh how cute." She smiled, "I haven't had a black cat in over fifty years."
Sophia came into the office. She didn't look the least bit surprised at seeing her boss holding a kitten.
"Had another fool argue with you, ma'am?" She asked.
"Yes, some people just can't take criticism. I think I'll keep this one for awhile." Synthea said, as the kitten tried to get away. She then reached for the phone on her desk and called Gwen.
"Hello?" Gwen replied on the other end.
"Have you had any luck?" Synthea asked, stroking the kitten's fur.
"The man who bought the book hasn't come back mistress," Gwen replied, "But I think I have an idea where the book might be."
"Go on." Synthea said.
"I did a finders' spell, mistress." Gwen said, "I burned some of the wrapping that might've touched the book, then I sacrificed a small goat. I put its blood in an onyx bowl and added the ashes..."
"I know how to do a finders' spell, Gwen." Synthea interrupted, "What did you see?"
"When I poured the blood out, the ashes at the bottom of the bowl told me the book was only a few miles north of the bookstore." Gwen continued.
"Where exactly, Gwen?" Synthea asked, eyes narrowing.
Gwen swallowed before answering. "I don't know exactly, mistress." Gwen said, "Something is muddying the spell, I can't see it clearly...something good or holy."
"A church, perhaps?" Synthea asked.
"Possibly, there are some churches in that area." Gwen confirmed.
Synthea was silent for several seconds and Gwen feared she had hung up, but finally the witch queen spoke.
"Very well. I'll send my demons to look around in that area. Perhaps they can lock onto it better."
"I hope so, mistress." Gwen replied, trying to keep the relief out of her voice.
"You've done well...this time." Synthea told the other witch.
"Thank you, mistress." Gwen replied, but Synthea had hung up the phone. She then looked down at her new pet.
"I think you need a collar, don't you?" She asked.
The kitten only gave a tiny yelp in reply.
Synthea drew a circle with her finger on the table in front of her. A leather collar with a pentacle charm appeared there. She picked up the collar and put it around the kitten's neck.
"There. Now you look so much better, don't you, my little fuzzy-wuzzy?" She chuckled.
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
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