Elizabeth was tired from the long day she had put in at the record store. She wished she could find out more about what was going on at the store, but Estella watched her like a hawk. Whether it was because she was a new employee or that the old witch suspected her true nature, the angel couldn't be sure.
Taking advantage of the early darkness, Elizabeth, wearing an orange miniskirt, simply appeared at the doorstep of the Monkees' pad. She had to let them know the company was up to no good, and maybe their account of their audition today might give her a clue as to what really was going on. She knocked on the door. A second later it was opened by Mike.
"Hi Elizabeth!" Mike exclaimed, "Come on in."
"Peace be with you, Mike." Elizabeth said as she walked inside. She noticed he was wearing a brown pair of pants and a white turtleneck sweater, a little more dressed up than usual.
"And also with you." Mike replied. "You look nice." He closed the door behind her.
"Thank you, Mike." Elizabeth said, looking at him.
She sensed something was wrong about her friend. "Going out tonight?"
"Yeah, we all are." Mike replied. "Jynger Ritz is throwing a party tonight and we're invited!"
"A party?" The angel asked, greatly dismayed.
"Yeah, after the audition, she invited us to come to her place. We're gonna meet the other acts she's signed on and get a taste of life if we sign with her." He noticed the look on her face. "There's nothing sinful about going to a party, right?" Mike asked, "Even Jesus went to the wedding feast at Cana."
"True, but..."
"Who's at the door, Mike?" Micky asked, looking over the balcony railing. Seeing Elizabeth, he let out a happy yell and slid down the stair banister. He landed next to the angel and gave her a big hug and kiss.
"Hi, baby!" He said.
"Hi, Micky." Elizabeth replied. "Going to a party I hear." She said, pulling away.
"Yeah." Micky said, and then hung his head. "I know what you're going to ask next, but Jynger only wants the four of us to come."
"I understand, Micky." Elizabeth told him. "I wouldn't want to go anyway."
"Why not?" Micky asked, puzzled.
"Like I tried to tell you this morning, there's something funny going on with Ritzy Records."
Before Micky could ask anything further, Peter and Davy came out of their bedroom. Like Micky and Mike, they too were dressed to go to a party.
"Hi Elizabeth!" Peter said happily.
"Peace be with you." Davy added.
"And also with you." The angel replied, then Micky turned her to face him.
"What's this funny stuff with Ritzy Records you're talking about?" He asked her.
The other three Monkees gathered around Elizabeth.
Instead of curiosity, she sensed suspicion and hostility towards her. Something was affecting them. Something evil. She looked at them all.
"As you know, I work for the Blazin' Hot Music store." She began. "I recently found out the store is selling albums whose covers carry subliminal messages."
"What's that?" Peter asked.
"Subliminal messages are those that your subconscious sees, which if seen or heard enough times, can cause you to act out what the message says."
"Something hidden on a record cover?" Mike asked.
"Yes, Mike." Elizabeth said. "It can be hidden under the paint or lettering. Your eyes don't see it, but your subconscious can."
"So how does that affect us?" Davy asked, crossing his arms.
"The album was from a group called `Warmonger'. It..." Elizabeth stopped when the Monkees looked at each other and moved away from her. "What's wrong?"
"That's the occasion for the party, Elizabeth." Micky replied, "The latest `Warmonger' album just went gold and Jynger is giving a party for that."
"Their latest album from Ritzy Records is telling people to kill and that war is good!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "If you boys sign with Jynger's company, your album could be altered too."
Mike just looked at his watch. "C'mon guys, let's not be late."
"You don't believe me?" Elizabeth asked, a little shaken.
"This sublime...sublimini...stuff is hard to believe, Elizabeth." Peter replied.
"You've been working too hard." Micky said, getting his coat. "You mean well, but you're grasping at straws here."
"Have I ever lied to you before?' Elizabeth asked, hurt.
"No," Davy replied, But..."
"But you should be happy for us." Mike put in, then looked her right in the eye. "Or do you want us to stay poor, living from hand to mouth?"
"Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich." Elizabeth replied.
"Oh, spare us the proverbs, Elizabeth." Mike replied, "We're big boys now."
"I can't force you not to go." The angel said, "You four have free will, but I'm trying to warn you that woman is up to no good."
"Ok, you've done your job and warned us, Elizabeth." Micky said, "Let us decide what we want to do."
The angel couldn't believe her friends were not taking her seriously. She opened her powers to the Monkees and saw that her friends were under a spell. They must have had them something to eat or drink that was causing them be so hostile to what she said.
That also meant Jynger was a witch, and a powerful one at that. A powerful witch in charge of a record company.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. After all these centuries, she was still amazed at how Satan found ways to lead souls away from the Lord.
When Elizabeth had opened her eyes, she found that the Monkees were starting for the door. She had to find a way to at least counteract a little what Jynger had done.
"Wait!" She said quickly, and the Monkees froze in their tracks. "Aren't you going to kiss me goodbye, my friends?"
She quickly walked over to each one and gave them a kiss on the lips. She kissed Mike longer than the others. When the angel kissed each one, they found they could move again.
"What did you do that for?" Mike asked mildly.
"Just wanted to say goodbye." Elizabeth said innocently.
"Goodbye Elizabeth." Micky said, slightly puzzled.
The four Monkees walked out to the car. Elizabeth closed the door of the pad and followed them. When they had left, Elizabeth spat on the ground. It wasn't saliva she spat out; it was a dark, thick liquid. The influence potion Maggie had put into the Monkees' tea. Elizabeth had sucked the poisonous fluid out of each Monkee when she had kissed them.
The angel curled her lip in distaste at the liquid. Flicking her finger, the evil potion caught fire and evaporated. Satisfied, Elizabeth disappeared. What Elizabeth didn't know was that she hadn't entirely rid her friends of evil influences.