"Well, the elevator's out of the question." Micky said dryly.
"Now will you listen to me, Darlene?" Elizabeth asked her friend sharply.
"Yes, I'll stay here." Darlene nodded, her eyes wide.
"Better yet, why don't you three do-gooders just leave?" Another voice asked.
The trio turned to see Maggie standing in front of the elevator doors, her hands on her hips.
"Maggie!" Micky shouted, "You're a witch too?"
"And proud of it, mortal!" Maggie answered back.
The angel put herself between Maggie and Micky and Darlene.
"Let us pass, Maggie." Elizabeth said, "I don't wish to fight you."
"Oh, that's just too bad, sweetie," Maggie sneered. "Because I certainly want to fight you!"
With that, Maggie raised her hands and the carpet flew up from the floor, knocking the three down.
"I don't know how you defeated Estella, but you won't find it so easy with me!" She shouted.
Elizabeth waved her hand and several objects in the lobby; the plants, pictures, ashtrays and chairs rose into the air and swirled around the witch. Then one by one they began to hurl toward Maggie. The witch easily deflected them, but she was so distracted, she didn't see the carpet come up behind her. Before Maggie realized what was going on, the wide carpet wrapped itself around her, pinning her arms to her sides and her legs together.
"What the??" Maggie sputtered, trying unsuccessfully to break free.
Elizabeth put her hands together and the rug glowed then tightened itself further around the witch. Maggie squirmed around, but couldn't get loose.
"That should hold you for awhile." Elizabeth smiled. "The holy power I put in that rug will neutralize any evil spell of yours."
"This isn't fair! Let me go!" Maggie shouted at Elizabeth.
"I thought you said it wouldn't be so easy with you." The angel said, "Looks like you've overestimated your powers."
"You may have me, but by now my Master has the souls of your three friends." Maggie snarled at them.
Micky took off his tie and jammed it into Maggie's mouth, then tied it in place.
"I've heard enough of your silver-tongued lies." Micky said angrily.
"Darlene stay here." The angel said firmly.
"What if she gets free?" Darlene asked.
"She won't as long as I send power to the rug." Elizabeth replied and took Micky's hand. "Ready?" She asked him.
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Micky replied. "We have to rely on the Lord."
The angel nodded and the two disappeared, leaving just Darlene and Maggie in the lobby. Darlene turned to the witch and casually pushed her over. The witch fell hard to the floor, a string of muffled curses coming from her mouth. Righting a chair and pushing it over to Maggie, Darlene sat down and put her feet up on the bound witch.
"Are you comfy, Maggie?" She asked.
The witch could only glare up at Darlene.
++++
While this was going on downstairs, Mike went to take the quill from Jynger, but Davy reached out and stayed his hand.
"Wait, Mike. Let's wait until Micky arrives." He said.
"He might be awhile." Jynger said. "You don't all need to be here to sign the contract. After you sign, I can send the master tape downstairs to start the processing." She pointed to the tape machine near the wall, which had the Monkees' recordings on the reel.
"Well, we've always done things together." Peter replied. "It wouldn't seem right to do this without him."
"And I have enough experience in show biz to know to read something before I sign it." Davy added, glancing at Mike. He stood up to get a better look at the contract. Mike glared at his two band mates, while Jynger stood up.
"Would you three like some tea?" She asked. The witch realized the influence potions she had given them over the last several days were wearing off of Peter and Davy. Mike was coming out from under the influence too, but his stubbornness was now coming to the fore.
"No thank you, Miss Ritz." Peter replied.
"Why does it say `The undersigned must obey D. Scratch in all matters?'" Davy asked, looking up suspiciously. "A bit harsh, don't you think?" Peter stood up to look at the contract too.
"Rather odd to be signing with an old-fashioned quill pen too." He remarked.
Jynger used a different tack. "Well, if you three want money and fame, you'll sign." She said, pointing to the contract. "I doubt another record company will offer such generous terms."
At that, Mike stood up and pushed Davy and Peter aside. "That's enough, both of you!" He said angrily, "If you two won't sign, I will! May I have the quill, please?"
Jynger smiled as she dipped the quill tip in the ink once more and handed it to Mike. At least the soul of the descendent of St. Thomas will belong to Satan. Mike took the quill and bent over the desk to sign his name.
"STOP!!"
Everyone turned to see Micky and Elizabeth standing inside the doors of Jynger's office. The three Monkees were rather startled to see the state the two of them were in. Their hair and clothes were disheveled, and Micky's tie was missing.
"Don't sign that contract!" Micky shouted at Mike. "You'll be signing a deal with the devil!"
Mike could only stare open-mouthed at him.
"Ritzy Records is selling music with backwards lyrics, telling kids to commit suicide and other terrible things!" Elizabeth added.
"Our music will be altered to spread evil too!" Micky said.
"What sheer nonsense!" Jynger laughed. "Just look at them!" She mocked, "Looks like they've been at a bar all morning!"
Elizabeth pointed a finger at the tape machine. It started up and began to play:
"Take the last train to Clarksville and I'll meet you at the station, you can be here by four thirty, `cuz I've made your reservation, don't be slow. Oh no, no, no."
Then, it began to play backwards and the hidden lyrics were a little slurred, but still intelligible.
"Kill, kill, I'll go to war and kill for you master, oh I must go."
Mike slowly straightened up, the quill falling to the floor from his limp fingers.
"That's just a trick!" Jynger shouted, waving her hand at the tape machine. "The lyrics sounds like that, but it's not!" The tape machine stopped playing.
"How did you do that?" Peter asked.
"She's a witch." Elizabeth said calmly, "That's how. Didn't you notice she wasn't startled when Micky and I simply appeared here out of nowhere?"
Peter and Davy began to back away from Jynger's desk.
"Don't listen to these lies!" Jynger begged, "Don't walk away from fame and fortune!"
"Better a poor man who walks in integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich." Davy replied, he took Mike's arm and pulled him back as well.
"I don't believe this." Mike whispered, unable to believe what was going on.
"Let's go, my friends, we're leaving." Elizabeth said, staring at Jynger.
"I don't think so!" Jynger screamed. She raised her arms and the windows behind her blew in as a huge gust of wind rushed into the office. The force of the wind blew took Elizabeth and Micky off guard. They were blown off their feet and slammed against the door, then they slumped to the floor. The breath was knocked out of Micky, but Elizabeth's head hit the door frame and she was knocked unconscious.
"Micky! Elizabeth!" The other three Monkees shouted, trying to run over to them.
"Stop!" Jynger shouted and the other three Monkees found themselves rooted to the spot.
"They're still alive." The witch said as the wind suddenly died down. "We still have this little matter of a contract to discuss."
++++
Down below, Maggie suddenly found herself able to move inside the carpet. It was no longer tightly wrapped around her. Jynger must've taken care of that angel, Maggie thought to herself with an evil smile. With one quick movement, she made her gag disappear and then burst out of the carpet, knocking Darlene backwards out of her chair. Before a startled Darlene could get up, Maggie rose and pulled Darlene to her feet by her hair.
"OW! Let me go!" Darlene cried.
The witch forced Darlene to look at her. "Not so brave now are you? Looks like your friend is in trouble upstairs." Maggie sneered, "Just like you are now."
"Please don't kill me." Darlene begged.
"No, I think I'll let you live a little longer, mortal." Maggie replied, "You may still be of use."