The next morning turned out to be cloudy, as a storm front came in from the Pacific.
There was also a storm brewing inside Synthea's office as well. Two women were sitting on the other side of her desk; two more hopeful authors who were finding out they did not write to Synthea's standards.
"How dare you write trash like this Miss Hamal?" Synthea yelled at the woman on the left, "How dare you write a story about the Beatles?"
"It's...it's just a fantasy." The woman tried to protest.
"Yes, a stupid fantasy. One of them receives a magic guitar and suddenly, they're magical!" Synthea shouted over her. "How can they do that and still be musicians? Don't you think someone would notice this?"
"But Miss Longaberger..." Miss Hamal tried to say, but Synthea had turned her attention to the other woman.
"And your story, Miss Freer, you seem to like to write about people getting hurt and your Doctor Manfred saves them in time." Synthea snapped. "You must be sick in the head!"
"It's a hospital drama!" Miss Freer protested, "People have to get hurt."
Synthea's further tongue-lashing was stopped by Sophia coming into the office.
"Miss Longaberger?" Sophia said timidly, knowing her boss's wrath could find her next. "Your sister is on line one, it's very important."
"It better be." Synthea replied, then picked up two manuscripts and threw them at the ladies.
"Get out of here, you hacks!" She shouted, "Do the world a favor and get rid of your typewriters!"
The two women hastily picked up their manuscripts and ran out of Synthea's office. The witch picked up her phone and hit a button.
"Yes Alice?" Synthea asked, "I was in the middle of an important meeting."
"The police are at the house." Alice said quietly, "They think someone named Keith Locksley is hiding here."
"They won't find anybody." Synthea replied, her eyes growing red.
Alice looked over to look at the police officers searching the area.
"No, I keep telling them nobody by that name has been here, but they don't believe me."
Unnoticed in all the confusion, a little black kitten ran into the house. It was Margaret, who had agreed to let Elizabeth turn her back into a kitten so she could spy for the angel. This time however, the pentacle charm would protect her from any harm and she also had the ability to speak.
Elizabeth stood invisible across the street from Synthea's house. She was the one who told a friend on the police force that Keith was hiding there. The angel realized Keith would probably just disappear like he did at the Potion Club, but the raid was an excellent cover to put Margaret back into the house.
In the house, a police officer came over and took the phone out of Alice's hand.
"Ma'am we need for you to come down to the station with us and answer a few questions." He hung up the phone.
"Alice? Alice?" Synthea shouted at the phone, but there was no response on the other end.
The witch slammed the phone down on its base, keeping her hand on the handset.
"That angel had something to do with this, I just know it!" She shouted, her eyes growing red. "Oh, I'll get back at you, angel. This I swear!"
Ignoring the molten plastic lump that used to be the phone, Synthea disappeared in an acrid puff of black smoke.
++++
A little while later, the sky finally cleared and the sun came out from behind the clouds. The Monkees had just finished a quick run-through of their songs.
"Sounding good, fellas." Mike approved, taking his guitar off of his neck.
"I'm going to the store." Micky said, coming down off the bandstand. "We're out of orange juice."
"Someone better go with you." Peter said.
"You're someone." Micky smiled.
"Okay, I'll tag along." Peter replied, chuckling. "As long as you come with me to get some new guitar strings and then go check up on Darlene."
"Sure thing, Peter." Micky replied, then looked over at Mike. "What are you two going to do?"
"I'm gonna clean up in here." Mike said, looking pointedly at Davy.
"I think I'll go read my bible." Davy said quickly, heading off to his room.
Micky and Peter laughed as Mike just shook his head.
After making sure they had their holy water with them, Micky and Peter left the pad. Mike went over to a closet and grabbed a rag. He then proceeded to dust the living room shelves.
It was then he noticed the red rays of light shining around him. Mike looked over at the bay windows behind the bandstand and saw that the rays were coming from the so-called witches' ball Darlene had given Peter. The sun was shining onto the ball and the red glass was reflecting the sun's rays into the pad.
"That is a nice sun catcher." Mike thought to himself as he started to dust once more.
Just then, a ray of reflected red light hit Mike in the face. The Texan immediately and suddenly felt compelled to walk over to the ball. Not really sure why he was doing this, Mike walked over to the ball and raised his hand toward it.
Suddenly, before Mike knew what was happening, his body stiffened then he was sucked into the ball! Mike found himself trapped inside! He tried to move around, but his movements were greatly hampered by the glass tendrils snaking from one side of the ball to the other. Mike tried to grab the holy water in his pocket, but couldn't reach it. He tried to call Elizabeth.
"Eliza...AHHH!" Mike screamed as a powerful jolt of power ripped through him, almost making him lose consciousness.
Mike then remembered what Darlene had said about the ball...that witches would be sucked into the ball where they would shrivel up and die. He wondered if that would be his fate as he unsuccessfully tried to move inside his glass prison.
++++
Meanwhile, a little ways down the beach, Keith and Julia were sitting under an umbrella watching the scene at Synthea's house unfold on Keith's magic watch. Julia was wearing a green and white checkered sundress and Keith was wearing purple bathing shorts.
"Poor Alice." Julia said, shaking her head, "I know she wanted to be here as we capture Nesmith."
"So did Synthea." Keith replied, "But now it'll be up to us." He angrily snapped the watch shut. "That angel does not give up. That's twice she's sent those pathetic mortals after me."
"Can't you do anything about her?" Julia asked.
"Oh yes." Keith smiled wickedly, "After I bring back Jynger from the dead, I'll cook up another little spell the Black Dragon has in his book."
"What's that?" Julia asked.
"One that will make an angel's wings fall off." Keith replied.
Both Julia and Keith laughed at that. Then Julia noticed the red light rays reflecting in the air.
"Ah, your little witches' ball is starting its job." She said. "You sure it will bring Nesmith and only him over to us?"
"Yes of course." Keith replied, "I used the saliva and hair you gave me when I conjured that ball so it'll only work on him."
A second later, Mike appeared out of thin air and collapsed onto the sand in front of them. Julia and Keith got up and walked over to him.
"Hi Mike!" Julia said, "Nice of you to drop in!"
Mike climbed to his feet. "Julia? What's going on..." His voice trailed off as he saw Keith. "You..." Mike snarled, taking a step toward the wizard.
"Now, now Mike." Julia chided, pulling Mike's face toward hers. "Let's not fight." She gave Mike a kiss on the lips and then she, Mike and Keith disappeared in a flash of amber light.
Chapter 15
Chapter 17
More stories by Lisa
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