Page 99 of Sweetwater and the Witch

“Your big plan is falling apart,” Ravenna said quietly. “Those two are witnesses, and they’ll talk. They’ll sell you out in a heartbeat. By now Ethan Sweetwater will be searching for me. You probably don’t want to be in the vicinity when he shows up.”

Louise hesitated for a few seconds, but in another beat, the heat returned to her eyes.

“I’m leaving, but you’re coming with me,” she said. “If Sweetwater or the Guild gets in the way, you’re my ticket out of here. There’s a sled in the hall.”

“You’ll be better off if you escape on your own,” Ravenna said. “A hostage will slow you down.”

“Shut up.” Louise unlocked the cage, stepped back, and aimed the flamer at Ravenna. “It’s set on max rez. At this distance I can’t miss.Move.”

Ravenna walked slowly out of the cage and started toward the door. Louise followed close behind, the barrel of the flamer pressed against the back of Ravenna’s head.

They were halfway across the room when Harriet raced through the doorway, sleeked out, all four eyes open and a lot of teeth on display. A rush of joy and relief slammed through Ravenna.

“Harriet,”she said.

“Stop it,” Louise yelped. “Make the rat stop or I swear I’ll kill you first and then flame it.”

“Not now, Harriet,” Ravenna quickly. “Please. Stop.”

“You can stand down, Harriet.” Ethan appeared in the doorway, a flamer in his hand. “I’ve got this.”

Harriet scrambled to a halt but remained in attack mode.

“It ends here,” Ethan said from the doorway. “Drop the flamer, Lace.”

“Die, Sweetwater,” Louise screamed.

Energy shuddered in the space, but it was chaotic, unfocused.

“She used to be a pretty good hypno talent,” Ravenna said. “But she’s losing control. Can’t hold a focus.”

“Explains why I can’t reverse her wavelengths,” Ethan said.

“Stop talking,” Louise shrieked, “both of you.”

Ethan looked at Ravenna, a question in his eyes.

“She knocked out my talent with some really bad aftershave,” Ravenna said.

She opened her right hand just enough to show him the pen. She had managed to slip off the cap, revealing the sharp metal point.

“Got it.” Ethan raised his brows. “So, no special effects this time?”

“Not from me,” Ravenna said.

“No problem, sometimes the old-fashioned ways are the best,” Ethan said. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“I swear I’ll burn her if you don’t drop the flamer, Sweetwater,” Louise shouted. “Get rid of it. Now.”

“Sure,” Ethan said.

He started to lower the weapon, moving slowly and deliberately.

“I said drop it,” Louise screamed.

She was shaking with rage and panic. Her attention was focused on Ethan.

Ravenna clenched the pen in her fist and drove it back, straight into Louise’s upper thigh. She felt the point bite through fabric and into soft flesh. It was too small to do much damage, but it got Louise’s attention.

---