Chapter 6
They all fell through darkness, for what seemed like an eternity. Each landed with a bump on their asses.
"Ow!" groaned Jane, rubbing her sore caboose.
"Aunt Jane!" Dinah sighed exasperated, "I told you to stay behind." Dinah put her face in her hands and shook her head. It was a moot point now, she couldn't just send her aunt back home, and she had to keep her close.
"I don't mind," Edaniel smiled, waggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
"I doubt Miss Jane will fall to the sweet talk of a cat, brother," Edrear said, fixing his cape, as it had gotten tangled in the fall.
"Okay… stopping this conversation," Dinah said, grabbing her aunt's hand and leading her through the forest materializing in front of her eyes. Jane shivered slightly in the cold, her thin blouse could hardly be considered warm. Edaniel waved his magic wand, a thick, blue cloak instantly covered Jane's shoulders. She stared at it in surprise as Edaniel gave her a flirtatious wink.
"Blasphemy!!" A man cried, his fist colliding with a tall oak tree.
"Brother," the woman with him pleaded, "We must."
"She left us," he growled, "she's probably dead by now anyway."
The woman gasped, tears welling up in her dark chocolate eyes. "She's still our sister, besides… you know if she's not with us the rights cannot be preformed. And without those rights…" the woman shivered with an image of fear flashing through her mind.
"If we perform them without her, we still have a chance," the man grimaced, finding the fault in his words.
"No we don't. He'll… you know what he'll do!" the woman's voice rose in panic.
Edaniel cleared his throat, loudly and rudely. The fighting duo looked the way of the company, fear of discovery plastered across their faces.
"Who are you?" the man asked, taking a defensive stance, his hands held out in front of him as if to catch a football.
"Um… I'm Dinah and this is my aunt Jane, my… uh… cat Edaniel, and… Edrear," Dinah stammered.
"Do you mean us harm?" the woman asked innocently, though her hand was clasped tightly around the handle of a dagger.
"No, we just want to help." Dinah breathed, hoping neither person would attack. The woman nodded and lowered her weapon.
"What are you doing?" the man hissed, his eyes glowing slightly around his dark green irises.
"There is truth in her words," the woman said calmly. She slowly pushed the man's hands down to his sides.
"You are too trusting Marcia," he glowered, but shifted to a less intimidating stance. Jane let out a sigh of relief, and the man glowered at her. She stiffened once again.
"Pardon my brother," Marcia sighed, giving a low curtsy. "Why do you seek us?"
"How do you know we seek you?" Edaniel retorted.
"Do not deny my sister's power over people's hearts." The man glared at Edaniel but did not question as to why the little green cat was speaking.
"We just want to help you." Dinah repeated, "The rhyme said something about their being three of you…" she trailed off seeing the man's glare deepen and Marcia's features fall into sadness.
"Our little sister," Marcia whispered, "She left us about a week ago and we have not been able to find her. I worry for her safety, surly she'll be found out and harmed without us."
"Found out?" Jane questioned, finally finding the courage to speak.
"We, that is, me and my two sisters, are what some may call demon spawn." The man eyed Jane warily, silently praying she was not like the puritans of his town.
"Witches," Marcia clarified, her fear of the group completely dissipated.
"So if we find your sister…?" Dinah started.
"They pass on," Edrear finished.
"Ok, so you're Marcia," Edaniel pointed to her, "And you're Paul," he pointed to the gruff man.
"No, I'm Tobias," He corrected rather rudely.
"Ok whatever Chuck." Edaniel shrugged, "Now who's your sister?"
"Marisa," Marcia interjected, before her brother could open his mouth again.
"To find Marisa!" Edaniel exclaimed, a small cape appearing on his back.
"I see you are a little witch yourself," Marcia laughed; it was a rather un-lady-like sound.
"Sure…" Dinah sighed, pushing past Tobias and Marcia to get to the path. Knowing how these worlds were usually set up, the answer was never far from where they landed. They all made their way to the town; the square was bustling with midday activities. Why always the town square? And why always in this freaking time period? Dinah thought dolefully. When Marcia and Tobias entered the square behind the group a hush fell over the square.
"I'm guessing they already know…" Edrear said, his hand grasping the sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
"Come to get revenge?" A man stepped forward. He had a definite air of authority. Marci and Tobias shrunk back, cowering slightly.
"We've only come to find Marisa." Dinah said her voice stronger than she felt. The man took another step forward.
"Leave, Now!" He growled, his hand reaching back into his coat.
"Who are you to tell us to leave?" Edrear defended, stepping in front of Dinah, his sword glinting menacingly in the sunlight.
"The Mayor." The man replied. Edrear glared at him, but made no move to strike. The mayor's hand never left its place in his coat. Dinah took a tentative step around Edrear. The mayor pulled his hand from his coat, pointing his pistol straight at her chest. Edrear held up his own weapon defensively.
"We mean no harm to anyone." Dinah said her hands held above her head. No one backed down.
"Why do you associate yourselves with evil witches such as these?" the mayor asked, cocking the gun. Marcia hissed slightly and grasped her brother's hand.
"We only want to pass them on." Dinah said, thankful she didn't trip over her words.
"So tell us where you're hiding the third and we'll leave. Good with you, bub?" Edaniel growled. The town's folk gasped at the speaking cat. The mayor was visibly shaking with fear.
"You dare bring such evil beings here?!" he cried. He pulled the trigger, sending a bullet towards Dinah, Edrear was faster though. The bullet bounced innocently off his armor. A grunt of discomfort fell from his lips.
An all out brawl broke out. Guns were firing; spells were rushing here and there from the siblings and Edaniel. Jane cried out and cowered behind a large stack of beer barrels. Dinah dodged this way and that, barley evading the fists of angry villagers.
"STOP!" cried a female voice. A young woman, identical to Marcia, stood a top of the town hall.
"Marisa!" Marcia and Tobias gasped simultaneously. While the mayor was in a distracted furry about the arrival of the third witch, Edrear plucked the gun from his hands. With a growl he smashed it to smithereens. The ghost world flashed white, the riddle fulfilled.