Abe Sapien and the Witch

Chapter 29

Chapter twenty-nine

The good thing about attacking a horde of witches is that they are predictable. Creatures of habit. She explained to the group that most of the witches in the coven were weak and only capable of low-level magic - most likely flames, as fire was the easiest type of elemental magic to cast. This was to their advantage, as two of them were fire-proof and she could cast much more powerful level spells to oppose theirs, like wind or water.

A second plus was that, if nothing had changed from her time there, only a few witches would be protecting the outside of the old mansion at the edge of the city, as it was uncommon for anyone to want to attack a full coven of witches.

This proved true. Even if they might have been expected, the outer defences had not been reinforced and it wasn't long before the four of them were not only within the garden walls of the property but making their way in through the constructions back door which Red kicked open.

The building was immense in size, not counting the extra outhouses and external structures, though she knew her way around the compound well enough. It didn't take long for them to fight their way down towards the basement level, leaving injured witches fleeing in panic in their wake.

"Where is he, Laufey?" she demanded after Red burst open the two heavy doors of the inner sanctum, standing at the front of the group with the assurance of knowing that they had her back. "Well, well, well..." he drawled, raising his head from quiet contemplation at the top of what appeared to be some sort of black-mass room with two rows of robed witches kneeling in prayer, their faces obscured. "The wanderer returns and brings her friends. I'm delighted as ever to see you, love."

"Don't say that word, Laufey. Coming from you, it means less than nothing." He laughed at her defiance, nodding his head towards her hands "They healed well for you, I take it?"

"Where IS he, Laufey?" "Why, my dear, I haven't the slightest clue what you mean?"

"Just answer the damn question!" Red roared, as the group took a step closer to stand beside her. "Oh, fine, fine! You're no fun at all! Tell me, my darling, do you remember where our chambers are?"

Her face paled a little at the mention of his bedroom, and Liz stepped closer to whisper into her ear "Chambers, like bed chambers?" She nodded and Liz looked to Red, worried.

"Oh, relax! You know I don't swing that way, sweetie-pie." he said with a wink, and she sighed, disgusted. "So, he is in your bedroom?" "He might be...you'll only know if you go and take a look, dearest."

She turned back to the group, her voice quiet as she enlightened them on the situation. "I can't enter that room. That is his most sacred space, his private domicile. He has a witch's trap set up in that room, and innumerable spells set to bind and to paralyse. Trust me, I've been...caught in his traps before. If I go into that room, he will never let me leave."

"But we can go in, right?" Liz asked, already turning towards the doorway. "I think so, you don't practise witchcraft. Just make sure that you are all wearing those anti-curse baubles I made for you, always. His room is on the top floor, and it takes over the whole storey- you can't miss it."

"Vat are you going to do?" Johann asked, worry evident in his tone and she smiled a grim smile, her lips a straight line across her face. "I have some things I need to...discuss...with him." "Vill you be alright?"

"I have to be."

She ushered them forward and added, "If I don't make it...tell Abe I love him." before shutting the door, knowing that getting them out of this room as soon as possible was the only way she could think of to save them from what she knew Laufey must have planned next.