“I wonder,” Daffi mused, cocking her head and studying Whipsnide. The older witch was almost haglike in her glee. “Would your grand master be happy with all your mistakes?”
Whipsnide paused, her eyes narrowing. “I do not make mistakes. I have brought in a La Fay—a minor one, yes, but still a La Fay. I will be rewarded.”
“You don’t make mistakes!” Daffi barked a laugh. “Oh, that’s a good one. Let’s go through them. Shall we? You killed Sybil to frame me, but you were sloppy and there was a witness. Wasn’t there? Jack.”
Whipsnide folded her arms over her skinny chest with her lips pursed. “Meddling little fae shouldn’t even have been there,” she huffed.
“But he saw you, and you knew he knew you weren’t me… so he had to be silenced. Stop me if I get warm here, okay?” Daffi kept going. “But you fucked up. You didn’t know about Oberon and didn’t count on him being able to tell you’d killed Jack with cold-iron… and you didn’t count on Jack telling me you were wearing a wig. Did you?”
Surprise flowed over Whipsnide’s face. “He didn’t tell you that. He couldn’t have. He’s dead. I slit his throat from ear to ear…” she drew a finger across her throat. “He wasn’t telling anyone anything.”
Daffi raised an eyebrow. “Who said he needed to be alive for me to talk to him?”
Whipsnide gave a nervous laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re a kitchen witch, a low level one, nothing more.”
“Really now? I thought you said I was a La Fay?” Daffi fought back her irritation. Villains these days couldn’t even get their motivations or facts straight.
Whipsnide waved a hand dismissively. “La Fay blood. I knew it as soon as I saw you. But so diluted you’re practically human now. No threat to me.” She moved her hands, long fingers practically body-popping. It was like nothing Daffi had ever seen before, but she couldn’t feel any power buildup to indicate that Whippy was casting.
She felt a buzzing in her ear, but she shook her head, ignoring it.
“And there is your final mistake, I’m no—”
Remember!
The word was roared, a storm whipping around her, pulling at her clothes and her hair. Her hat was whipped off, tumbling away, and memory slammed into her from the place in her soul that housed her forgotten memories.
Three babies in a crib, one wrapped in a purple shawl, one in a red one and one in white. They were sisters, that much was evident. Then they were lifted out by three sets of hands. Three women stood, grim faced as they held their charges.
“These are the daughters of La Fay,” an unseen voice announced. “They will be reviled and persecuted through time. Take them. Protect them. Let them live their lives without fear until they remember what we have made them forget.”
The three women nodded and turned, each disappearing through a portal that opened before them. The view changed to that of a woman. She was black-haired and beautiful.
And sad. She smiled, her gaze directed on Daffi.
“I have sent my daughters out into the world and through time. Each of you carries a part of me. Of my power. One day you will need it, and you will remember me...”
Power rolled through her as she opened her eyes and started to laugh, waving her hand to negate the spell Whipsnide was casting with her fingers. A hell-born curse by the looks of it, it was easily recognizable now she’d come into her power.
Now she remembered who she was finally.
“Huh… what?” Whipsnide looked at her fingers in confusion. “How did you do that?”
Daffi smiled as she walked forward, stalking the other witch. “Your final mistake was who I am… what I am. I’m not human, nor am I a distant descendant of Morgan La Fay.”
She called her power, her magic swarming around her in a cloud of white and sparkles. Hands either side of her, she raised them up, her voice powerful and terrible as she filled the alley with magic.
“I am the daughter of Morgan La Fay. Three of us were born, and I am the last, with the power of the crone in all her glory. I walk the barriers between the worlds, between life and death, and you dare come after me?” she demanded, focusing on her opponent.
Whipsnide’s face was white and filled with fear. With a whimper, she turned and ran. Daffi laughed, sending a lasso of magic after her. The older witch shrieked as it wrapped around her, and she was lifted off her feet and into the air.
“Now… what to do with you?” Daffi mused, the power running through her terrible and ancient. It demanded blood and vengeance… then cupcakes later.
Oberon materialized out of the darkness, his human clothing melting away so he was clothed in his kilt and boots again.
“My love… my queen,” he called out, his expression tight with concern. “Please… Once you go down this route, there is no going back.”
She looked at him, her expression not changing.
Before she could reply, she heard a sudden burst of eighties music as a disco ball appeared above their heads. Purple smoke filled the alley and glitter rained down. With a pop, another witch appeared.
Daffi’s eyes widened. Only one witch dressed in quite the same… horrendous fashion, like she’d escaped from an eighties’ movie. Her current outfit consisted of a rara skirt and a bolero jacket with shoulder pads. Her hair was a monument to hairspray and backcombing.
“Baba Yaga,” she said with a nod.
“Daffodil La Fay,” Baba Yaga smiled broadly. “Good to finally meet you. Your sisters say hi by the way.”
She transferred her attention to Whipsnide, her voice light as she asked. “Problem here?”
Daffi shrugged, as though she wasn’t facing down the most powerful witch alive. “This is Ermentrude Whipsnide, a member of the Order of the Hidden Butterknife … she’s killed two already and tried to kill me.”
“Hmmm.” Baba Yaga pursed her lips, tapping her long fingernails against her chin. “Well, I’m all for an eye for an eye, but in this instance… since she hasn’t actually killed you, I may have to suggest an alternative.”
“Oh?” Daffi raised an eyebrow.
Baba Yaga’s smile was not a nice one. “Life in Salem. For the two murders she’s committed… I think stripping her back to mortal and a stint in customer service would suit her.”
“Noooo!” Whipsnide wailed, struggling against her bonds.
Daffi grinned. Letting the power of the crone drain away, and with a flick of her wrist, she yielded custody of the murdering witch. Baba Yaga waved a hand and Whipsnide disappeared in a poof and cloud of glitter.
“Sensible choice, Miss La Fay.” Baba Yaga held out a note in her perfectly manicured fingers. “This is for you. When you’re ready, your sisters would like to meet you.” Her gaze flicked to Oberon, and she clicked the fingers of the other hand. Another enveloped appeared.
“A visa, for your… fiancé.” She grinned. “Congratulations! Let me know when the wedding is. I haven’t been to a high court wedding for…” She pursed her lips and then smiled. “Anyhoo… I must be going. Take care. Toodles!”
Oberon walked over to Daffi, sliding an arm around her waist and pulling her up against him.