It's a kind of magic!

Part two

The girl removed her coat and shook out her blonde curls. Nikki sagged with relief. A laugh behind her startled her.

"What were you expecting?" asked another girl. She had chestnut brown hair with the brightest blue eyes Nikki had ever seen including his. She shook her head to clear her thoughts of him. The girl smiled at her, a twinkling smile with more than a hint of mischief behind it. Nikki couldn't resist smiling back. Another small girl with long straight blonde hair entered the room carrying towels. She coughed meaningfully.

"Guess I'm on tea duty," laughed the brown haired girl uncurling herself from the sofa. The blonde handed Nikki and her rescuer a towel.

"I'm Rae," introduced the girl with the blonde curls, "And this is Katya."

"I'm Nikki." She replied. The other girl returned with a tray.

"That's Linzi." Said Rae. Linzi smiled at Nikki as she poured the tea. Nikki relaxed as she sipped the brew feeling herself warm up. She looked around her, the firelight casting flickering shadows on the walls and age darkened oak beams.

"I didn't think that this house was inhabited." Said Nikki breaking the silence.

"I suppose you've heard all sorts of stories about it." Said Rae with a smile.

"About witches ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night." Intoned Linzi in a deep mournful voice before giggling. Rae shot her a glare.

"Well yes." Admitted Nikki slightly embarrassed.

"Up the airy mountain,

 Down the misty glen.

 We dare not go a-hunting

 For fear of little men." Chanted Linzi. Rae glared at her again.

"Shut up Linzi," Said Katya, "Have you taken your medicine yet?" Linzi giggled happily.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." Said Rae still glaring darkly at Linzi.

"I'll go and take it now." Said Linzi standing up and stretching.

"So do just you three live here?" Asked Nikki, feeling like a load of dialogue had just passed her by.

"No there's two others," replied Rae looking relieved for some strange reason, "Catherine Semerjian, who's gone to bed, and Witka, who's visiting relatives at the moment."

"She's our leader." Remarked Katya. Nikki frowned in puzzlement.

"She owns the house," said Rae hastily, "She's sort of the landlady." Nikki yawned. There was something here she was missing but she was too tired to think about it.

"I'll show you to the guest room," Said Rae solicitously, "You must be tired." Rae showed Nikki to the neatly decorated bedroom. A nightgown had been laid out for her. Changing quickly she snuggled down into the snug eiderdown and fell asleep.

 

Part three