Elspeth tried to curse the impudent mortal woman, but instead of the curse taking hold she felt her powers being drained, until she was devoid of it, becoming a simple mortal herself. "Ho-How?!?" Exclaimed the panicked former sorceress.
"Do you really have no idea, Ms. Elspeth? What a disappointment… Did you think you were the only witch around? Or is your feeble mind unable to accept that not every witch are as cliché as you? Poor hold hag, it must be senility catching up to you."
"Reassure me, Elspeth. You do realize that, since you lost your boy-toy in a supermarket, and I bought it there, it made him mine, right? How it means in regard of our laws?" Insisted the seemingly younger witch.
"Bu-bu-" Tried to respond Elspeth.
"So in accordance to the witches' laws, since you tried to steel my own propriety, everything that was yours is now mine. As you are, Elspeth. Alas, I don't have use of an old hag, let alone a powerless one. …Nor do I have use of you ugly decor, for that matter. But I'm sure once I redecorate your house it will turn out even nicer than my current one." On those words, the bric-a-brac that was Elspeth turned in what James found to be a tastefully furnished home, while Elspeth herself became a dried-up mummy.
Somehow, James felt relived. That new witch will certainly hear his plea and release him!