The Thirteenth Witch
Chapter Five: The Seduction of Magic
by Raine Monday

"What could I do?" Lydia said. "I don't know shit about fuck!"

She couldn't bear to be seated any longer. She needed out of the room, out of this town, out of here! She got up and stumbled due to the difference in her leg lengths.

"Please, dear, sit," Agatha waved her arms, and Lydia found herself again in the chair. "It does your body no good to try to tramp around in that maladjusted position."

"Why can't we just leave!" Lydia said, feeling her temper rising. "This is insane! I can't be of any help to you!"

"At least let me give you this," Agatha said, holding out a shoe. It had at least a three-inch heel.

"You want me to wear that?" Lydia said.

"Yes, it will make up for the height difference until your left leg follows suit."

Lydia nodded and took the shoe. She hated wearing heels, but it was a little ridiculous trying to walk. Surprisingly, the heeled shoe fit like a glove. "Oh, that's much better!"

Lydia walked back and forth. There was almost no difference, and it felt so much better.

"Now, let me tell you what we face, and why you are so important," Agatha said.

Lydia nodded, sitting down, and staring at her hands.

"We fight a nearly constant battle against creatures from beyond the cosmos. Creatures that know only hunger for food, for souls, for energy. These beings wish to come into our nexus of planes and consume everything in their path. It would be anathema to our realms if any such being were to come across. Here in Sælicbrook, we've formed an alliance that requires thirteen members in order to be at full power against such an incursion as the one we are facing."

"And what, you need us to help somehow?" Thomas said.

Agatha pointed at Lydia. "We need her, to put a point on it, child. You, ah…complicate things."

"How so?" Lydia said.

Agatha took Lydia's right hand in hers. She turned it over and peered at it. Agatha's hand looked similar in age and appearance, though Lydia's new hand had even more wrinkles and age spots.

"The magic of Sælicbrook is adjusting you to fit this new reality, dear. As you can see, you are becoming like me. Sælicbrook has chosen you to join my coven, as our thirteenth member, to hold the gateway against the incoming incursion from Nyarlathotep, an eldritch horror of such power you couldn't fathom the depths of its avarice."

Agatha took Lydia's other hand, and as if on cue, wrinkles started to appear on it as well.

"We are the Witches of Wildwood, dear. And you have been chosen to become our thirteenth witch."

Lydia could only watch, horrified, as her left hand twisted and shriveled to match her right. The same gold rings appeared on her right as well, until she had a matched set.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Agatha took both her changed hands in her own. "Close your eyes, child."

Sighing, Lydia did as instructed.

She felt a tingling then, that began in her toes and swept up her body. It filled her with the most amazing feeling she'd ever experienced. Like the first time she'd eaten ice cream, or the first time she'd gone swimming. It was like that, but ten times more enjoyable, this feeling. It was raw, natural.

"Open thine eye," someone murmured in her mind.

Somehow, she knew just how to do that. She opened her Eye, and the world came into being around her. She could see Agatha, standing there with her perfect hair and dress, eyes closed and intent on their session. She could see Thomas, standing confused. A dark and angry look was on his face, and she could see his heart was filled with hate and fear at the situation they were in. Effortlessly, she found herself able to see into the hallway beyond, through the doorway, and out onto the street. She could see Marjory and realized the image of the InnKeeper was merely an illusion. Another heart beat beneath her placid exterior, one similar to David the clerk, but older, much older. Marjory was a being of great power and influence.

She continued her sensory session outward, feeling the town around them. Beings noticed her looking and smiled at her, some with pure intent, some with hunger in their eyes. They would have to be careful in this town; not everything was as it seemed.

An immense tree filled the square nearby, and Lydia could see sparkles streaming from the fronds of the tree. It was literally a tree made of magic, of power. She could see the roots that delved into the earth deep below. So deep even with this new sight she couldn't see the bottom. And beyond that, portals stood opening in different directions. In fact, she could—

"Stop!" Agatha said, in a loud voice.

Abruptly, Lydia was back in the room, and she blinked, startled. "I'm sorry?"

Agatha smiled. "You were going a bit too far, dear. We'll speak on those another time."

Lydia nodded. The portals had felt like giant vacuum cleaners. She realized she and Thomas had come through one of those portals. Into this realm between realms.

She yawned, suddenly very tired.

"You've made excellent progress, child," Agatha said, smiling. "I knew you were the one the minute you stepped foot in Sælicbrook."

Lydia smiled. "Mmmm."

"Get some rest now. Eat when you can. Your Emergence will take time, dear. We'll find you and your… ah… partner, a home tomorrow. Does that sound nice?"

Lydia nodded. She liked the sound of that very much. "Alright."

"Alright?" Thomas said. "Nothing about this is right!"

Agatha strode from the room. "Don't be impertinent, dear. You are not the one we want, but we do have ways of… bringing you into the fold, too. Don't test my patience."

Thomas frowned as Agatha strode out of the room.

"I don't trust her," Thomas said.

Lydia nodded, barely able to keep her eyes open. "Help me with my clothes, darling?" she said. "I'm so tired…"

"Of course."

As Thomas helped her out of her clothes and into the sheets, she pulled him to her.

"Mmm, something about that encounter… has left me feeling very languid and sensual."

"I feel like we should try to find a way to fight this, Lyds. None of this feels right."

"Shhh," she put a blue-taloned finger to his lips. Then she leaned in and kissed him hungrily.

Thomas responded, kissing her deeply.

As they slid together, sensually enjoying each other, Lydia could feel that amazing feeling inside her, calling her. Almost unconsciously, she allowed it to slide over them, letting the little magical tendrils heighten their passion, enabling them to move together with such rhythm and sensuality they'd never known before, bringing them both to climaxes simultaneously that had them gasping and clinging to each other.

She could get used to this, she thought as sleep finally claimed her.