witch!” the sorcerer snarled. “But I have use for you yet.” Applying a finger to Keyla’s head wound, he cast a rough spell forcing her blood to staunch, immune to his victim’s sharp cries of pain. Irritated at her weakness, he gave the witch a rough slap across the face, the young woman dropping into an unnatural sleep.
Releasing Ben Jacobs, the wizard dropped the besotted young man on the ground to find his wits the following day. Then, after casting an obedience spell on the unwilling horse, he threw the witch across the mare’s rump in much the same manner as the Jacobs boy. Before setting off for his castle, the wizard dropped a carefully prepared letter on the ground.
It was easier every time. With this third victory the witches would know they had met their match. Soon, they would have no choice but to accept his dominance, curbing their wanton ways in his exclusive service.
***
With a final shudder, the old Saturn’s engine ground to a halt. Patting the dashboard in silent appreciation, Tiffany Smith leapt from the car, striding quickly into the two-story building.
It was near ten o’clock at night, prime-time for the Rockland County Women’s Shelter. The flash point of any suburban marriage was the weekday evening, when tired husbands returning from long, pointless days in New York City came into contact with their equally frustrated, disillusioned wives. As a RCWS crisis counselor, Tiffany had long since become inured to the dark underbelly of suburban life. However, she was still amazed how many people blithely assumed living in an expensive house, within a “good” school district was, in and of itself, a surefire recipe for happiness.
Dark hair pulled back in a careless ponytail, the 25-year-old brunette walked through the shelter lobby. As expected, Leanna Colby sat off in a corner, an ugly bruise already forming on her cheek. Bree, her 12-year-old daughter, perched miserably nearby.
“Leanna.” Sitting before the petite blonde mother on a folding chair, Tiffany took her hand. “Tell me what happened.”
“I overdid the steak.” Sighing, Leanna looked away. “Mike hates it when I overdo his steak.”
“Mom,” protested Bree. “Stop it! It’s not your fault!”
“But Mike’s right. He likes his steak medium rare. He can’t eat it medium well...”
“Leanna, look at me.” Tiffany waited until the battered woman turned a tear-stained face to her. “Enough. This isn’t going to get any better.”
“But Mike feels...”
“What Mike feels isn’t important,” the younger woman continued. “We need to get you away. For your sake, and Bree’s sake.”
A long pause ensued, Leanna once more staring off into space. “He wasn’t like this when we were dating. We met when he was in law school, you know. Mike was so handsome and kind...”
“Leanna, please.” Abused women, Tiffany well knew, felt a need to justify their original choice of partner, to try to make sense of the drastic change married life had wrought in their husband. “We’re past that now. Remember that place I told you about? That safe place? I can still take you there. Mike will never be able to hurt you again.”
“Mike’s a lawyer, Tiffany,” Leanna sniffed. “He’s a powerful man. We can’t get away from him.”
“He seems powerful to you because you’re in his power,” Tiffany gently insisted, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “We can change that, together.”
For nearly five minutes Leanna Colby sat quietly, patting her daughter’s knee. “And you’re sure it’s safe there?” she finally asked.
“Absolutely.”
“And we won’t be any bother?”
“None at all.”
“But what of Bree? Will there be other children for her to play with? Girls her own age?”
Tiffany couldn’t help smiling. “Leanna, your daughter will be among her peers. That I assure you. She will be loved and cared for completely.”
“All right, then.” Another deep sigh, followed by a
Releasing Ben Jacobs, the wizard dropped the besotted young man on the ground to find his wits the following day. Then, after casting an obedience spell on the unwilling horse, he threw the witch across the mare’s rump in much the same manner as the Jacobs boy. Before setting off for his castle, the wizard dropped a carefully prepared letter on the ground.
It was easier every time. With this third victory the witches would know they had met their match. Soon, they would have no choice but to accept his dominance, curbing their wanton ways in his exclusive service.
***
With a final shudder, the old Saturn’s engine ground to a halt. Patting the dashboard in silent appreciation, Tiffany Smith leapt from the car, striding quickly into the two-story building.
It was near ten o’clock at night, prime-time for the Rockland County Women’s Shelter. The flash point of any suburban marriage was the weekday evening, when tired husbands returning from long, pointless days in New York City came into contact with their equally frustrated, disillusioned wives. As a RCWS crisis counselor, Tiffany had long since become inured to the dark underbelly of suburban life. However, she was still amazed how many people blithely assumed living in an expensive house, within a “good” school district was, in and of itself, a surefire recipe for happiness.
Dark hair pulled back in a careless ponytail, the 25-year-old brunette walked through the shelter lobby. As expected, Leanna Colby sat off in a corner, an ugly bruise already forming on her cheek. Bree, her 12-year-old daughter, perched miserably nearby.
“Leanna.” Sitting before the petite blonde mother on a folding chair, Tiffany took her hand. “Tell me what happened.”
“I overdid the steak.” Sighing, Leanna looked away. “Mike hates it when I overdo his steak.”
“Mom,” protested Bree. “Stop it! It’s not your fault!”
“But Mike’s right. He likes his steak medium rare. He can’t eat it medium well...”
“Leanna, look at me.” Tiffany waited until the battered woman turned a tear-stained face to her. “Enough. This isn’t going to get any better.”
“But Mike feels...”
“What Mike feels isn’t important,” the younger woman continued. “We need to get you away. For your sake, and Bree’s sake.”
A long pause ensued, Leanna once more staring off into space. “He wasn’t like this when we were dating. We met when he was in law school, you know. Mike was so handsome and kind...”
“Leanna, please.” Abused women, Tiffany well knew, felt a need to justify their original choice of partner, to try to make sense of the drastic change married life had wrought in their husband. “We’re past that now. Remember that place I told you about? That safe place? I can still take you there. Mike will never be able to hurt you again.”
“Mike’s a lawyer, Tiffany,” Leanna sniffed. “He’s a powerful man. We can’t get away from him.”
“He seems powerful to you because you’re in his power,” Tiffany gently insisted, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “We can change that, together.”
For nearly five minutes Leanna Colby sat quietly, patting her daughter’s knee. “And you’re sure it’s safe there?” she finally asked.
“Absolutely.”
“And we won’t be any bother?”
“None at all.”
“But what of Bree? Will there be other children for her to play with? Girls her own age?”
Tiffany couldn’t help smiling. “Leanna, your daughter will be among her peers. That I assure you. She will be loved and cared for completely.”
“All right, then.” Another deep sigh, followed by a
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