Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom

at the boardwalk to do on Fluff and Puff’s behalf along with heavy-duty cleansing in her suite of rooms. She knew that part of the job was going to take a lot more than Pine-Sol and Clorox.
    ***
    After using cedar oil and charged water along with her favorite broom for sweeping out the negativity, Jazz was ready for a quick shower and change of clothes for her trip to the boardwalk.
    She bypassed stopping for cotton candy or funnel cake and headed straight for the carousel. The enclosure was edged with gold curlicues and vividly painted scenes of mermaids, dolphins, sea serpents, and other sea creatures humans thought were mythical and Jazz knew to be all too real.
    â€œHey Hector,” she greeted the Hispanic operator who she knew had Wereblood. The yellow vertical slit in his eyes meant that his Werenature had something to do with reptiles but since anything with scales totally put her off, she didn’t pursue it. She’d just hope he wouldn’t decide to turn during their conversation.
    His scowl was an echo of Rex’s. “Whaddya want?”
    â€œHow about some news about Willie? Have you talked to him lately?”
    His hiss and snarl was worthy of his boss and his species. “We all know what happened to him. Those damn bunnies of yours ate him and you’re protecting them when they should be destroyed. They broke the law. What’d you do to Rex to get him to back off? Give him a blowjob out behind the roller coaster?” he sneered.
    Major euww moment there! “Yeah, like the slippers would eat a Were. They don’t like Weres anymore than you like them,” she argued.
    He grinned, showing off yellowish-fangs that were definitely of the reptile family. Clear viscous liquid dripped off the fangs and sizzled when it hit the ground. Ugh!
    â€œGive me a break, Jazz. Everyone knows those creatures eat anything and everything. What are you trying to say? That someone framed them? Give me a break, Tremaine. Willie’s gone and one of those furry beasts coughed up his shirt button as proof where he went.”
    Jazz was tempted to say “Ms. Tremaine to you, bub,” but she didn’t want to see what would happen to a pissed-off snake that drips acidic venom.
    â€œWhich can come from anyone.” She stared pointedly at his shirt that gaped a bit even if he had a concave belly. “In fact, it looks like you lost one somewhere.”
    Hector glided toward her. His breath was a little too rancid for her olfactory senses. Didn’t anyone use mouthwash nowadays?
    â€œJust hand over the bunnies and no one will get hurt,” he told her. “Keeping them in that fancy magickal cage won’t keep them safe forever.”
    While she wanted to wave her hand in front of her face, she settled for standing her ground.
    â€œAs I told you before, Fluff and Puff are protected by very old and very dangerous magick,” she said in a low voice. “When Dyfynnog created them he made sure no one could ever harm them.” Other than the harm he cooked up to torture them since he was more than a little insane for close to three thousand years.
    â€œYou think that scares us?” he sneered. “The laws are clear, Jazz. You harm one of us you die for it. No amount of magick can protect them and if you get in the way you won’t find any protection for yourself either.”
    Jazz knew a threat when it was issued. Not that it bothered her. There was no way she was giving up the slippers because she knew they were innocent. And even if she didn’t like reptiles, Were or not, she would still battle for their rights. Gloria Allred had nothing on a witch fighting for her bunny slippers’ rights!
    â€œDo us both a favor and get the hell out of here before I do something you won’t like.” Hector turned back to the machinery that ran the carousel.
    â€œI intend to find out the truth,” she declared to his back.
    â€œWe know the truth. They