I angled myself protectively in front of Willow. “What have you done to my daughter?”
“It’s only a spell. Not that I’d expect you to understand.” Leilah grinned.
“Release her!”
“Not until you and I have a chat,” she said, casually brushing at her short hair. “By the way, Holly, you’ve leveled up. I’m almost impressed with you getting past the spells I had on this place.”
“Go to hell, Leilah!” Holly snapped.
I reached back blindly for Holly’s hand. When I found it I gripped it hard. “Stay with Willow.”
“I think I can undo her magick, but I need some time.” Holly’s voice was low. “Try and stall her as long as you can.”
I squeezed Holly’s fingers in recognition of her words, and stood to face my adversary.
“Cousin Maggie from Louisiana,” Leilah purred. “I’ve been wanting to find a way to have a heart-to-heart with you.”
I took a few steps closer. “Well, sugar, here I am.”
“In all your glory.” Leilah rolled her eyes. “Seriously, you went out of the house wearing an old college t-shirt and those shorts?”
“I’m a simple woman,” I said. “I didn’t dress for the occasion as carefully as you obviously have.” I stood with my feet planted, and my heart was pounding as my magick began to build and roll inside of me, once again.
Leilah tapped her finger to her cheek. “You know, I can’t decide if you’re either the bravest mundane I’ve ever met, or an idiot. Most mundanes would have run screaming for the hills by now.”
“What do you want, Leilah?” I asked. “Why did you take Willow?”
“Oh my god. How stupid are you?” Leilah tossed up her hands. “You brought this all on yourself! I told you weeks ago to leave town. But did you listen? No. Instead, you stayed.” Leilah began to pace back and forth as she shouted. “You’ve been living in the cottage my father promised to me! You think you can replace me? Take my inheritance, my birthright? Thomas is my father, the Drakes are my family—not yours!”
While Leilah had been on her rant I’d been silently continuing to build energy. Feeling my power rise up within me, I fought hard to keep it under control…
Until I needed to let it go.
I crossed my arms, trying to hide that I was practically vibrating with magick. Once she wound down from her tirade, I tipped my head as if considering her. “So you’re jealous, is that it?”
“Jealous?” Leilah was shaking with rage.
Good, I thought. Lose control. It will only make it easier to turn your own magick against you… “Oh, I see,” I said, “you’re simply feeling threatened.”
“Threatened?’ Leilah threw back her head and laughed. “Of you? A mundane like you wouldn’t stand a chance against a Witch like me!”
Unfazed by her theatrics I got right up in her face. “Release my daughter. Now.”
“I’d step back if I were you,” Leilah said. “Don’t make me break out the darker magicks…because I will.”
“You wanna see darker magicks, sugar?” I asked. “You sure as hell came to the right place.” I smiled, and with a flick of my fingers; I sent Leilah flying. She bounced off the far wall of the balcony with a bang and fell in a crumble to the loft floor.
Leilah pushed herself upright, shook her head, and spat out blood. She stared at me with very large eyes. “How did you…”
“It wasn’t Holly who broke through your barrier spell,” I said, softly. “It was me.”
“You?” Leilah blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“You need another demonstration, sugar?” I pointed to the opposite side of the barn and she went screaming through the air again. This time I kept her pinned to the wall and let her think about the precariousness of her current situation.
“I trust you are starting to put it all together.” I called over to her, watching as her eyes bugged out in fear. “It sure would hurt an awful lot if I let you fall this time, Leilah.” I smiled when she glanced down and gasped. “That’s a good two story drop to the dance floor. Potentially fatal,” I added.
“I’m sorry!” she shrieked. “I made a mistake.”
“Oh well, shoot,” I said, mildly. “Ain’t that a cryin’ shame?” I pointed to the ceiling next and Leilah shot upward to be pinned to the rafters. I left her dangling there, face down.
“I didn’t realize you were a Witch!” Leilah screamed.
“And now that you know?” I asked coolly.
“Shit, I’m sorry!” Leilah began to cry. “It’s a simple spell, I can wake her up. Please don’t kill me! It was supposed to be a joke.”
“A joke?” I repeated. “I sure as hell ain’t laughing.” I was however, starting to shake from the effort of holding her in place, and against gravity. Before I lost control, I pointed to the balcony floor at my feet, and sent Leilah airborne again. She hit the floor hard in a tangle of skirts, and skidded for several feet. “Get up, Leilah,” I said, coldly.
Leilah was slower gaining her knees this time. “I can fix it,” she said, holding up her hands, pleading. “I promise. She’ll be fine!”
“Remove the spell, now!” I said stalking toward her.
Leilah scrambled over toward Willow on her knees. “It was all supposed to be a joke, ya know? I just meant to scare you. She’s only under a thrall. I promise you, the kid is—”
I focused on Leilah’s face and watched as she grabbed at her own throat. “No more excuses,” I warned. “Release her. Before I lose my temper.”
Leilah nodded and I allowed the pressure to lessen. She sucked in a huge gulp of air, knelt beside Willow, and lifted her hands.
Holly snagged Leilah by the wrist. “Don’t you physically touch her! If I sense anything I don’t like, I’ll kick your ass,” Holly warned Leilah.
Leilah nodded, and immediately passed her hands in
