Page 2 of Zoe

“You can’t say it, can you?” Heather said, throwing out the challenge.

Zoe tipped her chin down and regarded her friend under low eyebrows and perfect long lashes. “Of course, I can; Ichoosenot to.”

Heather snorted her contempt for that answer. “Fine, I won’t be nice, and you don’t have to say Christmas.” Heather strolled off.

Zoe took a calming breath and followed her. Tempted as she was to run the front of the trolley right into Heather’s backside, those swaying hips were like a red rag to a bull, but she chose not to. “Let’s just get our stuff and get out of here,” she said, passing Heather like the witch was a flag on a slalom course.

“Suits me; more time for drinking and chocolate cake,” she said, shrugging.

~

Maria bent to pull more of the chopped wood from the woodpile at the side of the cabin when she heard a familiar meow. “Kitty Claws?” she said, whirling to find that little black cat sauntering up to her like it owned the mountain. “Well, look at you. Thanks for bugging out on me without so much as a ‘goodbye, I’ll be okay’ last night. You had me worried sick.”

The cat stared at her with those big eyes until Maria smiled. “Yeah, you got a home to go to. I know,” she said. “But, we did look for you, and what did you do to the Christmas tree?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

The next moment Maria stood in stunned silence as the cat turned into a woman. “Huh?” It was the only thing that Maria could manage to get out.

“I thought your friend would have told you what happened,” Anya said.

“Huh?” Maria said again, then she shook off her surprise and stared harder. “Huh?”

Anya couldn’t help but chuckle. It was a sweet, low, melodic sound, and it felt like someone slapped Maria around the back of her head as she realised what she was looking at. “A fairy.” She folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow.

“I have to admit, that’s a better reaction than I normally get,” Anya said.

“So, it was just a game to you? Trick the witches, ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho?” Maria felt disappointed.

“Your friend really didn’t tell you, did she?”

“Which friend, Zoe?” Maria’s eyebrows reached for her hairline.

“No,” Anya said.

“Heather?” Her eyebrows came down low over her eyes.

“Three friends, three guesses,” Anya said.

“Oh, Kristen,” she said with a nod. “She’s not come back yet.” She shrugged.

“Yes, I thought she wouldn’t when I saw her last night with the tree murderer.”

“Tree murderer?” Maria said, confused.

“That was why I was here, I followed the alpha, and I was trying to figure out if you were good witches who would help me or – not,” Anya shrugged.

“We’re good witches,” Maria said. “We took you in, didn’t we?”

“And then your friend Heather tried to sit on me with her big hips,” Anya said. “But, you were nice. That’s why I’m here.”

“You need my help?” Maria asked.

“Not anymore. Your friend Kristen sorted everything out – I think – I hope,” she said frowning. “But I wanted to say goodbye and thank you for taking me in and showing me kindness.”

“Oh,” Maria said. “That’s a little…”

“Weird?” she smiled.

“Kind of, yeah,” Maria said.

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