Title: Love Potion
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Ch. 3: The Love Doctor
Summary: Daniel and Vala find the old woman who started this deliciously funny mess and get some answers.
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Vala and Daniel burst into the old woman's home. Strange smells were emanating from another room, supposedly the kitchen. Daniel could almost see the odor as a green gas flowing through the house. Vala heard humming and followed the sound to the homeowner.
"Ahhh, you have returned, dear child," she observed without turning. She hovered over a large black cauldron situated over a fire pit. She stirred the thick concoction inside with a large wooden spoon.
"I demand to know what you have done to me!" Vala yelled at the old lady's back.
"Dear child, there is no need for such a tone. You may simply ask me and I will answer."
Daniel gave Vala a scolding look for offending the old lady. "What, Daniel?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "May we ask, then, what exactly is happening to Vala? The men in our world are acting very strangely toward her."
The old woman set her ridiculously large wooden spoon down next to the pot. She turned slowly, her aching bones preventing her from doing anything with a fast pace. She smiled, revealing a serious lack of dental care in recent years. "And how are you feeling, my dear?" she asked, gesturing toward Daniel.
"Me? I feel fine."
"You have not felt the urge to love this dear child in the same manner as others?"
Daniel stole a look at Vala. She squinted at him. "Well, uhh, no," he admitted.
"Hmm."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vala demanded.
The old woman bared her few remaining teeth again. "You were accidentally sprayed with a very special mixture of mine," she confessed. "I am quite proud of it. And to hear that it has been so effective only proves my work to be worthy." Vala circled her hands as a sign for the old lady to hurry it up. "Many come to me through the Great Circle seeking kinship and love. It is my specialty to provide potions that reveal such things."
Both of them were visibly confused. Vala leaned into Daniel's ear. "She's definitely wonko." He shushed her.
The old woman went on, not hearing this exchange. Hell, she may not have even seen it. "The potion I gave you causes men to desire you. Only those who already desire you will remain in control of their minds."
Daniel ignored her last comment, hoping Vala didn't notice it. "Is there a way to reverse this 'potion'?"
"Of course, child. I need only concoct the antidote."
Vala clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! We'll just sit over there and wait then. Let us know when you have enough to cure at least twenty-five people."
"Twenty-five?" Daniel clamored.
"Yes, darling. Obviously I am irresistible, and clearly more men will fall to my charms." She cocked her head and flashed him a mischievous grin. Daniel rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Dear child, so youthful and naïve. Such an order will take several days to create!"
"What," they said in unison.
"Yes," she replied simply.
Vala buried her face in her hands. "Oh Daniel, what am I going to do?" He looked at her sympathetically.
The old woman's eyes twinkled. "There is a way to slow the effects of the potion until a more permanent antidote is prepared," she offered. But what she had in mind hardly amused Daniel at all. As they walked back to the gate, Vala was nearly skipping with glee. Daniel trodded slowly behind, weary of her.
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TBC… Next time: Daniel and Vala make use of the "temporary solution" that the old woman suggests. But how temporary is temporary?