Page 30 of Sweetwater and the Witch

“Frozen,” Ravenna repeated, numbed at the realization that she might be responsible. “Oh, shit. I just don’t know.”

“What about drugs?” Ethan said. He looked at Ravenna. “You said you thought he was on something when he arrived at your house tonight.”

Ravenna brightened. “That’s right.” She looked at Zora. “Willis was definitely not acting like himself, at least not the version my matchmaker and I both saw. I’m almost positive he was on drugs. Would that cause the frozen effect?”

“Definitely.” Zora nodded, satisfied. “All right, let me see what I can do.”

The energy in the chamber grew stronger.

“Garrett Willis, can you hear me?” Zora asked.

“I can hear you,” he said.

Ravenna was shocked. Willis appeared to be unconscious, and yet he had responded to the question as if he was in a trance. She looked at Ethan.

“I told you, she’s good,” he said quietly.

“You will listen to me,” Zora said to Willis, “and you will do exactly as I instruct.”

“Yes,” Willis said.

Ravenna dared to hope the outrageous plan might work.

“Your intuition and your talent tell you that Ravenna Chastain is not a threat to you or the family business. She is a very nice person. You had a pleasant date with her but the two of you agreed that you are not a good match for a Covenant Marriage. You are not interested in her. You have no desire to see her again. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Willis said.

“You will not leave any more packages on her doorstep. You will not contact her in any way. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Tonight you took a cab to the Shadow Zone,” Zora continued. “You went to several bars and got very drunk. When you wake up you will remember only that you spent the night getting stoned in the Shadow Zone. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Willis said.

“You will now go back into a deep sleep,” Zora said. “You will not wake up until dawn.”

Willis seemed to go even more limp than he had been earlier.

“That should do it, at least for now,” Zora said. She looked at Ravenna. “I could tell from his aura that the hypnotic suggestions took hold, but memory is a tricky thing. I’m good, but there are limits to what I can do.”

“I realize that,” Ravenna said. “I really appreciate this.”

“You’re quite welcome, my dear. Any friend of Ethan’s, et cetera, et cetera.”

Ravenna looked at Willis. “Now what?”

“Now I take out the trash,” Ethan said. He hauled Willis up off the floor and slung him over his shoulder. “Do me a favor. If you acquire another stalker, try to make sure he’s a few pounds lighter.”

Ravenna groped for a response. Words failed her, so she looked at Zora.

“Thank you,” she said.

“No trouble at all,” Zora said. “Would love to stay and chat but I’m afraid I must be on my way. The late-night show starts soon. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Ravenna.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Ravenna said.

She scooped up Harriet, checked to make sure no pens had been purloined, and led the way back to the jagged hole-in-the-wall. It had been a very bizarre evening, but it was the way in which Ethan and his aunt were handling the situation that was the most disconcerting thing. The two Sweetwaters acted as if it were perfectly routine to help a fire witch tidy up after she had flamed one of the most powerful men in the city.

---