Herrick was more serious than Mitchell had ever seen him.
"We've got a major problem."
Mitchell sighed and rolled his eyes.
"No, Herrick, you've got a serious problem. Whatever threat to your vision of a vampire armageddon you currently face is your problem. I want no part of it."
Herrick stood up and faced Mitchell squarely.
"There are witches in Bristol. An old and powerful coven. They make a habit of transforming anyone that crosses them into animals, plants, fish and whatnot. Three of my men are now currently small bats up in the rafters. Attacks on vampires will not be tolerated!"
"Apparently, neither will attacks on witches." Said Mitchell, smirking. It was amazing how predatory Herrick could be, but got upset when anything else hunted them.
"You just said they do it to anyone that crosses them. So don't cross them! You'd be surprised how easy it is to live your own life when you let others do the same."
Herrick shook his head.
"They are dangerous, and a threat to my power. You, Mitchell, will find some way of breaking that power. Then they will be dealt with for their crimes."
"I'm not your bloody enforcer. Take care of it yourself! Big bad Herrick doesn't want to get his hands dirty? Or are you afraid of joining your mates on nighttime mosquito hunts?"
Herrick smiled, and Mitchell groaned inwardly. This conversation would never be happening unless Herrick had something to make Mitchell cooperate.
"Your dog has been dating the youngest of the three."
The penny dropped.
"The witches are the pizza women?"
Herrick nodded.
"What do you think might happen to George if he cancels a date? Forgets a birthday or anniversary? Looks at another young woman?"
"You don't know George. He would never do any of those things." Mitchell pointed out.
"What if she finds out what he truly is? He might get turned into something far less interesting than a wolf. A cockroach, perhaps." Herrick patted Mitchell on the shoulder. "I know you'll take care of this. You are always so dependable to your friends."
Penny and George arrived to work together the next morning, having spent the evening in a sleeping bag on top of Mitchell's car parked at Lover's Point. They had gotten an early breakfast, and were both sipping from huge coffee cups.
Amanda and Kate stood there with their arms folded, looking thunderous.
"Where were you last night, young lady?" said Kate.
"We were worried sick! We had no idea what happened!" shouted Amanda.
"You should have checked the crystal ball." Said Penny.
George wondered if that was a joke.
"And for another thing, I'm three hundred years old and can take care of myself!"
George sprayed coffee everywhere.
Despite the tension, all three women burst into laughter at George's shock and the mood was broken. Excusing himself, he went into the back to clean up.
"He took that well." Smirked Amanda.
"Girls, don't be mad or angry with me. I know I've said this before, but I really think he might be The One. We spent the whole night looking up at the stars, just talking. Well, mostly talking." Penny blushed. "He told me everything, on his own, and he knows about us. He's okay with it! This is absolutely the furthest I've ever gotten with a guy, and it's only been a few days!"
The two older women hugged their younger sister, and murmured congratulations. All three got teary eyed.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think you have yourself a keeper. I never thought I'd see the day when I approved of someone you were dating!" sniffled Kate.
"You owe me ten quid." Said Amanda.
Kate nodded and dug in her purse for the money.
"You guys BET on whether it would work out with George!" said Penny indignantly.
"Oh, stop it. You get a great boyfriend. Let us have what little fun we can get on the sides." Amanda pocketed her winnings.
"Why don't the two of you ever date? You can't be that jaded. And it's not like you haven't had offers."
Kate rolled her eyes. "I'm way too old to fall for the crap guys lay on you when they want to get you in bed. I didn't fall for those lines when they were actually original. I just can't help but see through them, and I lose interest. This guy is the most sincere chap I've seen in quite a few decades, however."
"Men. Who needs them? With the exception of your new love, I never met one who was of any use. Too bad George doesn't have a twin brother." Said Amanda. "It is sexy that he knows his way around the kitchen. Think we can get him to clean it wearing just the apron?"
Penny shrieked and threw some napkins at Amanda.
George peeked out through the pick-up window and smiled uncertainly at the three cackling witches.
Mitchell came in that afternoon after the lunch rush had petered out. George was scrubbing out the enormous crock pot the pizza sauce cooked in, whistling as he directed a high power water spray all around the inside.
Mitchell nodded at the women who were conferring together about something. He motioned his intention to enter the kitchen, and they gave him a long look before waving him through.
Mitchell recognized that look. They knew what he was, which meant they knew about George and Annie as well.
After Mitchell had entered, Kate made a complicated gesture in the air. This minor bit of magic allowed them to hear everything being said as though on an intercom. The three witches listened intently.
"George. Put down that pot. We have big trouble." Mitchell tried not to look irritated at how happy George seemed to be.
"All right, what's up."
"You do realize that these birds are witches?" Mitchell waited to see what this bombshell would do to George.
"I don't care what her religion is. She knows that I'm Jewish."
Outside, Amanda put her hands to her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"Not Wiccan, George. Witches! As in turning people into frogs!"
"And I turn myself into a wolf. What's your point? I'm done with self-loathing Mitchell. I'll never be human again, and I've found someone who cares for me just the same. As for Penny being a witch, who am I to judge anyone? I seem to remember getting beaten near to death by Seth and his cronies, but that didn't make me hate all vampires. You're my best mate. Vampires have hated werewolves for centuries, and it's just that sort of prejudice I'd like to avoid."
Outside, Penny turned white with rage. How dare they lay a hand on George?
"You don't understand. Herrick and the other vampires feel threatened. They sent me to find out where their power comes from and destroy it so they can kill them. I came here to warn you. Herrick also mentioned that you were in danger; when these birds get crossed, the fellow doesn't get a second opportunity if you know what I mean. They turned three vamps into bats the other night."
Now George was angry.
"Serves them right. You tell Herrick to stay away from Penny and the girls or he'll have me to deal with."
All three women, even the jaded Kate, blushed at this protective oath from their dishwasher.
"And another thing. Penny and I like each other a great deal. She'd never do anything to hurt me. I can tell that every time she looks at me. I trust her completely. And I think I'm falling in love with her. At this rate, I'll ask her to marry me before too long, if she'd have me."
Penny thought she might faint. Tears shimmered in her eyes. Kate and Amanda gasped and covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes wide. This was completely unexpected.
"George, I'm only worried about you. The vampires are going to do something, and I don't want to see you get hurt. I would love to know how in blazes you keep getting into these fixes. Some immensely powerful being has it in for you, that's for sure."
"I can take care of myself, Mitchell. I'm not the scared and weedy little runt you found in that alleyway. Thank you for warning me; I'll set my own course from here. I'm assuming you won't be following through on Herrick's request?"
Mitchell looked shocked.
"Of course not! How can you say such a thing!"
"Sorry, just checking. I think I ought to go see him myself."
"George, that would be stupid. Herrick would kill you as soon as look at you! Let me take care of it!" begged Mitchell.
The witches closed off the connection and looked at each other.
"Actually, I think we had better take care of it." Said Penny. Her sisters nodded grimly.
George walked quickly away from the pizza parlor toward the funeral home on his break; he would have a word with Herrick, and then if he had time, he wanted to pick out some new clothes now that his cash flow was stabilized once more. There was this lovely purple and pink polka-dot shirt on sale just down the street. He'd wanted it for weeks, but couldn't afford it. Luckily, no one else had snatched it up yet. Now, he was making three times what he was making at the hospital…and then there were the fringe benefits.
Thinking about Penny made him smile involuntarily. She was such a sweet girl, and she really seemed to like him as well. Hmmmm. George and Penny Sands. Then again, she might want to keep her maiden name, Warren. Penny Warren-Sands. Penny Sands-Warren. George Sands-Warren. George shook his head. They would have to work on the name thing. George fingered the necklace Penny had given him as he left, making him promise never to take it off. It was a silver chain, with a polished silver medallion representing the moon in both it's full and crescent phases. She said it was sacred to Hecate, Goddess of Witchcraft and the Moon; a symbol of their relationship.
He tucked it back into his shirt where it lay cold on his chest, next to his Star of David.
Arriving at the funeral parlor, he let himself in and faced down Seth who was busy polishing the mahogany desk in the front.
"It's you, Digby. What the hell do you want? Mitchell's not here, so get lost before I house-break you."
"I want to see Herrick. Is he in?" George asked sternly.
Seth's eyes widened, then he grinned.
"Yes. He'd love to see you. Right this way."
Seth led George through several rooms and hallways until they reached the large room where corpses were taken for aspiration. Six other vampires stood there, and at Seth's command, they blocked all of the exits.
"Before we let Herrick see you, we're going to do you a favor and get rid of all of that nasty werewolf blood you have. You'll be much better off with formaldehyde. And you'll be cured! No more turning into a wolf…ever. Get him on the table boys!"
George yanked his necklace out of his shirt.
Seth laughed as his eyes turned black.
"Way too many of us here for that to work-aaaaaggghhhhh!" he screamed.
George looked down. He pulled out Penny's necklace by accident, and it seemed to be glowing with a pale blue fire. The vampires recoiled as the light intensified, and George went with it; holding it out in front of him and pushing the vampires back with it.
"Now that will teach you manners. Where's Herrick?" George demanded of Seth who was backed into a wall.
Instead of answering, Seth screamed loud enough to wake the dead before breaking apart into a cloud of fine white ash that drifted to the floor.
"Bollocks, that was unexpected." Said George, peering at the bright talisman.
He turned to the other vamps. They looked at him fearfully.
"Guess my girlfriend didn't want me to get hurt. Isn't she thoughtful?" George began to walk towards them, a stern look on his face.
"Take me to Herrick, please." He said.
"R-r-right this way, Sir." Babbled the largest vamp.
George never let go of the necklace, which continued to emit its high intensity glow. George passed a room from which the sounds of humans screaming could be heard through the closed door.
Waving at the vamp to open it up, he saw six or seven people in bloody clothing with bandages covering their necks and arms. They were moaning in pain and wall-eyed with fear.
George was disgusted and horrified.
"You – you monsters!" he shouted at the vampires.
The necklace grew bright enough to blind him momentarily.
When the glow faded, there were six more piles of ash drifting to the floor. George went into the vampire's larder and began to help the victims to their feet. To his horror, the door slammed shut as he tried to lead them out, and Herrick's voice came from the other side.
"Nice of you to drop in, George. I'm rather upset with you for the loss of my men, but it's worth it to finally have you under lock and key. That necklace of yours won't be a lot of use to you stuck in there. Now I'm off to see what I can do to kill those three birds who have caused me so much trouble. Good day!"
George pounded on the door, and screamed until he was hoarse.
"Why isn't George back yet?" asked Penny. "You don't think he actually went to face off with those vampires, do you?"
Amanda clucked her tongue. "He certainly seems the type. Very brave, and very – "
"Don't say it. To the kitchen, girls." Said Penny.
They threw together a quick recipe, adding into the mix a few of George's hairs from his hairnet. The vision that appeared in the soupy mix showed him going to the funeral home, killing some vamps and being locked into the prison cell by Herrick.
"I knew it. The hero type. This is what always happens to them. He should have left well enough alone, but now we need to go rescue him. The lost profits are coming out of his pay!" Kate said severely.
The three women closed their eyes and said a silent prayer to their Goddess. They drew on reserves of power they had not needed for hundreds of years. A cloud of smoke enveloped them, and when it cleared, they were dressed in the traditional robes of the priestesses of their order. Penny wore white, Amanda red, and Kate in black. Maiden, Mother and Crone. The walls shook with the force of the chanting spell they began together.
"We call on the Furies. We call on the Graeae. We call on the Gorgons. We call on the Graces. We call on the Fates. We call on the Norns. We call on Gorgo, we call on Mormo, we call on Ereshkigal! We call on Lakshmi, we call on Isis, we call on Hecate! Three-face Woman. Hear us! Grant us the power to destroy our enemies! Let us cleanse the Earth of their foul presence! Hear us! HEAR US! HEAR US!"
Outside, clouds boiled up in the previously clear sky. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. The temperature, already chill, took a nose dive by about thirty degrees. A wind began to blow, howling as it built up in strength, seeming to wail at its own discomfort.
Inside the restaurant, the three looked at the small closet that contained the cleaning supplies. The door smacked itself open, and three incredibly ancient broomsticks swept themselves across the floor and into the outstretched hands of the witches. They stepped outside, their hair whipping wildly in the tempest, and their cackling laughter was lost to the wind as they mounted their brooms and soared into the sky.