Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own DOTM.
chapter 10: It's time you're told..
"What is she doing here?" Vanessa asked as she walked into the kitchen. Serena had called an Vanessa for an emergency meeting.
"That's what we're going to talk about." Serena said from the sink.
Vanessa sat down at the table across from Layla. She glared at her suspiciously.
"Chillax, it's nothing to get your knickers in a bunch."
Vanessa tilted her head like a confused puppy.
"Just chill."She prompted then turned in her seat "Should I start out or should you? I mean, you do know her better and all."
"I'm sure I can take whatever you have to dish." The blonde huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I know, chill." Layla snapped.
Be nice.
Layla turned around to give Serena the wide-eyed stare of doom. The raven haired goddess stuck her tongue out at the witch and smiled. Layla turned back around to face Vanessa and her expression changed to that of a calm one with a small smile.
"Well," She began "First of all, I know what you are. You're a goddess. I know everything that you know and a little more. However, I am not a goddess. In fact, I am a daughter of Hekate. A witch. Are following?"
Vanessa nodded her head.
"Witches are way different from Goddess. We're neither good nor bad. We're neutral. But most of tend to shift to the side of light and help you guys against the Atrox. But some of our sisters are followers as well-"
"Sisters. Like, there are more of you?"
"Yeah, there are a lot of us actually. A lot more of you guys, too." Vanessa seemed stunned to hear that there were more goddesses. It wasn't unusual. The goddesses were scattered all over the world and most didn't realize that they weren't the only ones. "Who do you think is going to take over when you two make your choice?"
"Do you have to make one? A choice, I mean, like ours."
"Nope, I get to keep my powers for as long as I live. Of course, that may not be for very long. I am mortal, after all." She smiled wryly.
"So, you can fight evil for a long time. Until you're old and stuff?" Vanessa stared at her intensively. She was creating a mental image of an old Layla fighting against young followers. Behind them, Serena was trying to stifle a giggle.
"Nah, most witches are mentors when they're too old to fight. They train the younger ones."
Vanessa shifted in her seat. She was taking in all the information bit by bit, which was good. She understood what was happening.
"What powers do you have?" She asked
"Telekinesis. Thats it. I mean, I can also physically harm followers too-"
Wait," Vanessa cut her off "You can physically harm followers. How does that work. Doesn't it feed their evil or something?"
Layla sighed. Really, she had never gotten it either. All she knew was that the night stick and knife she could use had a way of bypassing the old rule. It was hard to explain and only her own mentor Linda could truly explain it.
"It's quite complicated. Linda can explain it better than I can?"
"Linda is another witch, right?"
"She's my mentor."
The blonde sat there and thought for a while. She was piecing and placing things together. You could tell the wheels were turning in her head just by the expression on her face.
"So...do you know anything about Catty."
Layla sighed again, "A little. I know that Azaziel is a follower and that he's kidnapped her. The Atrox. plans to bring out Catty's inner demons and turn her. He wants to make her fall. If that happens, the scales will tip for a while. Until the new goddesses come."
Vanessa shivered. "I always found that guy creepy."
"Ditto." Serena and Layla said at once.
"We have to act quickly if we want to stop it. Do you know where they are keeping her?" Serena brought three mugs of hot chocolate with her to the table.
"Nope. But Linda might." Layla took one of the mugs and blew on her steaming beverage.
"When will you be able to talk to her?"
"Anytime, anyplace...Tomorrow, at her house. Who wants to come?" Layla asked enthusiastically
Serena raised her hand. "I will. How far away does she live?"
"Hollywood. Vanessa you comin' with?"
Vanessa shrugged, "Why not. I don't have anything else to do."
"Good," Layla got up from her seat to leave. "You're driving. See you guys after school."
Linda lived up in the hills in a large modern white house. She was a good-looking woman for her age, which was forty-one. Or so she had told Layla. No kids, no husband. Just a very nasty ex who had unfortunately signed a pre-nup. He had been a director before settling down on his own riches. Some of which Linda herself had gotten. The girls drove up the long winding paved drive way to a two car garage. Linda was on the front porch, in all pink, sipping a glass of lemonade. She waved at them.
"Wow." Vanessa shadowed her eyes with her hand and looked up at the big white house.
"Exactly." Layla said as she walked to the front steps.
"Layla, darling. How are you." The lady hugged her tightly.
"Good, Linda" She managed to get out.
"And who are these two gorgeous young ladies?"
"This is Vanessa and Catty."
Linda bright blue eyes went wide.
"You mean, these two are..." Layla nodded. "Well. Come in, girls, come in. What would you like to drink? Some vitamin water, perhaps. I just can't get enough of it. So good, so good." Linda strutted into the house and Layla followed. She motioned for the goddesses to follow her.
"Layla, the usual?"
"Yeah," She said as she pulled out the stool at the island bar. It was topped in white marble and covered in Linda's mail, magazines and a wicker bowl of fruit.
"When are you going to fix your hair. It looks atrocious." Linda handed Layla a glass of brown liquid.
"Hey, I like my hair." The rainbow haired witch huffed.
"But you'd look so beautiful with nice regular hair."
Layla glared at her mentor over her glass. The tea was sweet and still had that certain taste to it at the same time. Linda handed Vanessa and Serena their own glasses of tea.
"Sit girls. You can relax in my house."
"I know I do." Layla added. The girls sat beside Layla at the kitchen bar while Linda stood on the opposite side.
"Let's get down to business, shall we?" Linda stacked the mall and magazines into one big pile and put then on the counter behind her. "You three want to find Catty."
"Si! But we have no clue where she is."
"So that's why you came here-"
"Cause we thought you would know." Layla finished.
"She did." Serena interjected. Layla slowly turned her head and glared at the raven haired goddess.
"Honey, you know I'm no oracle." Linda pointed out.
Layla smiled nervously and shrugged, "You seemed to know everything before."
"Well, girls...Unfortunately I can't help you with this one. It's out of my knowledge."
Their hopes fell. Serena and Vanessa had lost a friend and Layla had failed her job.
"Don't get all depressed now. You still have time. Think of something else. I know you girls can do it."
Layla nodded and tapped her fingers on the glass. Azaziel took her. No doubt he would know. But that was one of the last things that she wanted to have to do.
"Okay. I think I know what we have to do." She decided.