"Turnabout is fair play." Eva grinned.
"Youth magic is normally difficult, but one, you have talent...and victims of youth magic
have an affinity for similar spells. So here's what you do..."
----
The next day, a pretty young schoolgirl arrived at the coffeeshop. No sign of Scylla or
Alecto, but to her surprise, Tabitha was there.
Tabitha had been the first member of the Coven to warm up to Eva. She was about
average height, with mousy brown hair she wore in a simple ponytail. She would be
average looking, but behind her glasses shone a pair of brilliant emerald eyes. She was a
kind-hearted girl, and Eva liked her.
But today, Tabitha looked a bit down. What's more, she wasn't wearing the gothic-style
outfits the rest of the Coven favored, just a shapeless grey sweater and blue jeans. She'd
removed most of her piercings, save for a pair of simple studs in her earlobes. She was
reading a book, and there was no sign of her other jewelry.
Eva desperately wanted to know what had happened, but there wasn't anything she could
do. She walked past Tabitha, heading inside to get a coffee.
She'd gotten a strange look when she'd ordered the espresso, but she didn't pay it any
mind. Not like it was going to stunt her growth, after all.
Heading back outside, she noticed Tabitha was staring at her in awe.
She walked up to Tabitha. "Can I help you, Miss?"
The older girl blinked. "Ah...I'm so sorry it's just...you reminded me of someone, and your
aura..." She coughed.
"My..aura?" I decided to play dumb. I didn't want to embarass Tabitha, but what could I
do? A ten-year-old girl shouldn't really know this stuff, right?
"Um...nevermind."
"No, please, it sounds interesting. Can I sit with you?"
Tabitha looked at me oddly again, then nodded. "Yes, of course."
"I'm Michelle." Since Merlin insisted on calling me Michelle, I figured I might as well go
back to using my middle name. And to be honest, I felt more like a Michelle anymore.
Plus, it was a name I'd never used around the Coven. Scylla knew it, of course, but I wasn't
worried about that.
She smiled at me. Probably thinking 'cute kid' or something like that. "I'm Tabitha.
Tabitha Rose."
"That's a pretty name." I beamed at her. I've practiced smiling in the mirror, this one
could melt a glacier.
It had the desired effect. "Oh well, it's actually short for Rosenthal."
"I'd shorten it too. By the way, I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you have beautiful
eyes."
She actually blushed. Apparently I wasn't wrong...my little bod has a lot of sex appeal!
None of the Coven members were straight, I knew for a fact Tabby was bi. Not that I was
bothered by that, obviously. And to be honest, I'm convinced I'm actually sexier (despite
having no breasts to speak of) now than I ever was as an adult.
"Th..thank you. Um, your eyes are pretty too. They remind me of my friend, Eva."
"Really, what's she like?"
"Well, actually, you look a lot like her. Um...could I braid your hair?"
It was a forward thing to say, but to be honest, I missed my French braid. Tabby has a
secret fetish...she loves to play with girl's hair.
"Could you? That would be wonderful!"
I sat patiently in my chair, with her seated behind me, for quite awhile, as she did my hair
in the elegant braid. Tabby's fingers were very nimble; I'd long thought she should do this
for a living. As I sat there, she explained auras to me.
"Yours is highly charged, I couldn't help but notice. I was actually going to ask if you'd
been enchanted or transformed, somehow."
If only she knew! I didn't reply, because, to be honest, having her play with my hair was
quite pleasant. I'd always thought so before, but right, now, I felt like a cat being stroked
just the right way. It was all I could do not to purr!
"Sorry, I know, it's all very silly."
"Why would you say that? You believe in magic, right?"
"Um...yes...well..." she sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"Well....I used to have some friends who I hung out with. We were all interested in this
stuff, magic, spells, you know...but...oh I don't know why I'm telling you this...but there
was a big fight and I left."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. It's just you sounded so sad."
She hugged me impulsively, and kissed my hair. I leaned into her touch, it felt good to be
held. "Thank you so much. You're a wonderful person."
I couldn't help but blush. "Thank you. I'm sorry about your friends."
"Well, I don't know if they're friends anymore." And she told me the story I already knew,
about myself, Scylla, and Alecto....with some editing. And added a chapter that made my
blood boil.
Alecto had basically taken over the Coven, with Scylla's help. Tabitha had been totally
against it, but when she was outvoted, she left. I was amazed that the others had put up
no resistance...but I'm guessing they'd all had some feelings for Alecto in the past.
The spell she'd used on Scylla would subvert their thoughts; they wouldn't love her, but
they would obey. The bitch was so going to pay.
"Wow. They sound like they were drugged."
"Yeah, it was weird. Like a spell, but not the good kind." She sighed and my heart went
out to her. She'd been hurt too.
"Sounds like someone needs to punish that Alecto girl."
"Oh I wish I could...but really, I'm more worried about Eva. She was a good friend, and I
know she must be hurting bad. I called her, and tried going to her apartment, but nobody
has seen her. I hope she's ok..."
"You don't think she'd hurt herself?"
She stroked my hair, the braid finished at last. "Ah, you're still young yet, Michelle. You'll
understand when you're older."
"Well...ok. I don't get it, you just said they were good friends."
I could feel the warmth of Tabby's blush behind me. "Well...um..."
I turned in my chair to face her. And just looked at her for a long moment.
The clues were right in front of her. Tabby was pretty smart, and had a strong sense of
empathy.
Those pretty emerald eyes got big and wide, which actually had the effect of making her
look very cute. I resolved then and there to try and provoke that look of total surprise out
of her more often.
"....Eva?"
I grinned. "I'm sorry for deceiving you, Tabby. But I'm sure you can understand how I
couldn't come out and tell you the truth."
"But...but...it's impossible..."
"Yes, but you know it's me."
She just nodded in shock.
"I'm sorry about the Coven, Tabby, I know how much it meant to you."
Somehow she pulled me right out of my chair and into her lap so fast my head spun. She
hugged me very tightly, and started to cry.
"Dummy! That's nothing..compared to...oh Eva, I'm so sorry...so sorry..."
It was awhile before she could talk in a normal tone again. I have to admit, red eyes and a
runny nose don't do Tabby any justice, but I wouldn't trade her kind heart for a dozen
runway models. Her heart is bigger than she is, and that makes her beautiful.
I only wished I'd appreciated that more.
I told her the whole story. She had no choice but to believe it, and there were more tears,
from both of us, before it was finished.
"I'm sorry, honey...but if it's any consolation, you're so cute I want to take you home with
me."
I smiled up at her. "Thank you, Tabby. It's good to know I have someone else I can trust."
She nodded. "I'll never hurt you, I promise."
"I know, Tabby. But now I have to get some payback...will you help me?"
"Are you going to hurt Scylla?"
I shook my head. "No...there's no way I could do that. I do think she needs to be
punished, though."
"Hm...you're probably right there. Spell or no, she should have realized you were so much
more than Alecto ever could be. And still are."
I blushed. "I doubt that, I mean, c'mon, I'm a kid."
"Hm...you think so?" Tabby just smiled.
Since Alecto and Scylla weren't here yet, we'd have to go someplace else to look for them.
Luckily, Tabby has a car, so I won't have to walk.
But where to check first?