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Willow cast around. The other witches were trained on her, ready to strike.
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice?” Nadine said. “How very typical of you, tending bar in the same fashion over a century after your death. What I want to know is how.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Willow said. “We know your secret.”
“And I’m happy you do because you could be so much more with us. Be one with us… your sisters.”
“I have sisters.”
“Or did you forget about us?” Ivy zoomed her broomstick through the clearing as if it was a hot rod. She threw down a red smoke, momentarily distracting the coven. Meanwhile, Bliss made her own magic lightning lasso. It was pink, of course. She weaved in and out of the clearing, threading like a ribbon. Meanwhile, Esme hovered above them all, twirled her finger once or twice, then seconds later, the bicycle came zipping through the wood until it found its place under Montgomery’s derriere. Nadine lost her hold on him, and like a tidal wave carrying a daredevil surfer in a tropical storm, lifted Montgomery and the bike off the ground.
“Just hold on,” Esme hollered. “The bike will do the driving.”
“I certainly hope so,” said Montgomery, gripping for dear life—even if that is a ridiculous turn of phrase for a dead guy.
But Nadine wasn’t to be defeated that easily. With her eyes on Montgomery, she drew energy from the Hobby Lobby ball and formed it in her hands. Her intention was clear—to send it in Montgomery’s direction. Willow cried out to warn him, hoping he was good at dodgeball.
And Montgomery, quick with reflexes and strong with his pitching arm, picked up the only thing within reach (which wasIce Planet Barbarians, naturally), and threw the book straight down on Nadine’s face.
It hit her between the brows with athwunk, and as she was momentarily stunned, Bliss tied off her magical rope thing, trapping the Daughters of the Twilight Veil in pink sparkles and glitter.
Their twisted faces could be seen from where Willow and company flew up into the sky until they were hidden behind the trees of the thick, Cinnamon Woods.
The flight back to the Moonstone carried the party on a triumphant wind, and all the Ravensong witches felt a victorious lightness in their hearts. They flew side by side in a line of five across. Montgomery seemed to take flying on the bicycle as naturally as riding it on the street, pedaling as if that was helping to keep him in the air—E.T. style. Willow smiled with her whole soul and decided she loved flying next to Montgomery on the bike, as long as he didn’t have it in his head to phone home to catch a ride on a spaceship.
The moon rose higher in the sky, and as they flew into the town, a heavy fog was rolling in behind them. They did a quick sweep of the town square and were pleased to find the families having a good time at the Harvest Festival. Little ghouls and witches running amok with sticky faces and bucket loads of candy, while princesses and superheroes played carnival games and ate caramel apples.
Willow was proud of their efforts in protecting the town. Even Zephyr seemed proud of them by the way he meowed when they walked in the bookshop. But before they could break out the champagne, Esme gathered everyone around her.
“The trapping spell was incomplete but will buy us some time. How long before they find a way out of your… what exactly do you call that thing you did, Bliss?”
“I call it a Barbie Bind,” Bliss said proudly.
“Interesting,” Esme said. “How long will the Barbie Bind last?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never used it on horrible witches before. Maybe an hour?”
“And Montgomery? How far did you get with the silver wire?”
Montgomery shook his head. “I would say I made it roughly three quarters of the way around the trees surrounding them. But I placed it low, so maybe they won’t see it in the dark and then trip on it.”
“We can hope,” said Esme. “They’re clever and cunning. Do you have enough left over to surround the Moonstone? It might keep them out for a while.”
“I… dropped it in the woods,” Montgomery admitted. “When Nadine picked me up with that force.”
“It’s okay,” said Willow. We have other protections.”
“We can’t just wait here like sitting ducks,” Montgomery said. “Could we find more silver? We can go back and—”
“No,” Esme said. “We’re stronger here. On the Nexus.”
“Yes,” said Ivy. “But so are they.”
“But you’re forgetting one thing. Montgomery is the original owner. As long as he lives, Willow’s claim to the property is null and void.”
“Do you think that will work?” Bliss questioned.
“If it’s one thing Astrid loves,” said Willow, “It’s bureaucratic loopholes. As long as she believes it, we have the upper hand.”
