It's a kind of magic!

Part five

Nikki sat in a chair in Witka's room reading while Witka and Rae conversed quietly sitting on the bed. A loud crash startled all three of them.

"Damn she's started." Cursed Witka. She glanced out of the window.

"They'll be here soon." Said Rae. There was the sound of shattering glass and Linzi's laugh rang out. Except it didn't sound quite right. There was a tapping on the door.

"Nikki," giggled Linzi from outside, "Won't you come and play." The laugh was infectious. Nikki laughed in return.

"She won't Linzi," said Witka sharply, "Go sit in your room." Linzi giggled again.

"I got out of my room." She started to sing a melody Nikki had never heard before. She listened to it entranced. It was song that echoed of summer picnics, of snowy Christmas's and joyous birthdays. Nikki felt herself rising from her chair. Rae grabbed her shoulders.

"Don't listen," she hissed urgently, "For God's sake don't listen."

"Do listen to me Nikki," came Linzi's voice persuasively, "Listen to my pretty song." A roar of motor bike engines disturbed Linzi's song and Nikki felt as though a fog had lifted from her mind.

"Hallelujah," said Witka throwing open the window, "Took your time didn't you?" she called out to the men outside. Nikki didn't catch the reply.

"I'm going to find Moggy." Said Linzi from outside of the door her voice suddenly full of cunning malice.

"Hurry up lads." Rae shouted. Suddenly a figure was swinging himself over the windowsill. Nikki gaped in surprise and recognition, her mouth dropping open further as a second taller figure followed the first.

"Hi Witka." Said Raven throwing his arm round her shoulder and kissing her on the cheek. "How bad is she?"

"She's gone searching for the cat." Replied Witka. Raven sighed and shook his head.

"Go and take care of her Billy," he said to the first man, "I'll start on the potion." Billy Kidman nodded and peeled off his shirt as he went to the door.

"Hi." He said to Nikki as he passed. She was still gaping as he unlocked and disappeared out of the door. Rae relocked the door behind him. The room was silent as Raven and Witka began working with the glassware that covered the table in her room. Nikki watched fascinated, her absorption only broken by the sound of Linzi's footsteps on the stairs. There was a giggle from Linzi, miaow from Moggy, a low growl from a dog and a sudden shriek from Linzi. Nikki frowned in puzzlement. She hadn't seen a dog around the place.

"Do you have a dog?" she asked Rae.

"Erm...no." replied Rae looking nervously at Witka. There was a yelping howl from outside.

"I'm going to bath the doggie." Giggled Linzi. Raven's head snapped round.

"What!" he exclaimed. Rae squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated.

"She's put a silver collar on him." Said Rae. Nikki stared at her and felt overwhelmingly nervous. From the bathroom came low canine whimpers and the splashing of water. There was a sudden silence and a knocking on the door.

"Let me in." Came Billy's voice urgently. Rae opened the door and he entered dripping wet.

"Damn elf." He muttered taking the proffered towel from Witka.

"We're ready now anyway." Said Raven smirking. Billy glared at him.

"It's not funny." He said.

"No of course it's not," Said Raven chuckling, "Come on." Rae opened the door and the two men stepped outside. Witka handed Nikki a vial.

"When we hold Linzi down pour that down her throat." She instructed. The three girls went outside and Nikki squealed at the sight of the two huge dogs waiting there. They padded silently in front of the girls until they found Linzi. She turned and smiled beguilingly at Nikki who suddenly realised what had been bothering her about Linzi that morning. Her ears were more pointed than most other ears. Not huge, just pointy like an elf. Nikki began quietly putting two and two together about the night's events. The dogs prowled forward guiding a terrified Linzi into the waiting arms of Rae and Witka. Linzi was making whimpers of pure terror as the smaller of the dogs nudged her. Rae and Witka grabbed her. Witka pinched Linzi's nose and nodded to Nikki who advanced and tipped the contents of the vial into Linzi's mouth. Linzi gagged, but swallowed the liquid. Witka and Rae released her.

"Look after her Billy." Said Witka. The smaller of the two dogs snapped at Linzi and she shot upstairs with the dog bounding after her. Nikki's head whirled as she took it all in and made a neat four of her assumptions.

"Time to go to sleep." Said Rae passing a hand in front of Nikki's face. The world went black and Witka caught Nikki as she fell instantly asleep.

 

Part six