Page 32 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

“That when you change into someone, you take on their physical attributes and their abilities?”

“I guess so.”

“That’s…” Esme was speechless as the potential for good or evil formed a parade on the screen of her mind’s eye. “Then you…”

“I realized I didn’t have any way to transport us.”

“So, you changed into Evie,” she finished the thought for him.

“Yes.”

“Well, what are you going to do with her now?”

Jeff looked flabbergasted. “Why are you asking me that?” He started shaking his head. “Look. I agreed to try to help the magistrate, but I’m no babysitter. This is on you.”

“Hold on.” She stood. “I’ll go get Lochlan. Just stay with her until I get back.”

Jeff looked at Medusa and shifted his weight. “Make it fast. Molly can’t run the pub on her own.”

Esme could’ve walked faster, but she didn’t like the idea of taking orders from Jeff. She stopped at Rita’s first and rang the bell. She thought she heard some song lyric about ring my bell.

“What in hel, Esme? You’ll wake her up.”

Esme scoffed. “For days that’s all you wanted. Isn’t it ironic?” He opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “Jeff’s back.”

Having delivered the crucial part of the message, she left Keir standing there, crossed the lane to Lochlan’s house and began knocking in the loudest, most obnoxious way possible. Lochlan answered wearing slippers and a thick plaid robe.

“Jeff is standing in my studio right now with a young, blonde teenage Medusa.”

Lochlan blinked rapidly trying to sort what part of that should be processed first. “What?”

“You heard me.” She grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him along. “And you’re coming with me.”

He withdrew his sleeve. “Let me change my clothes.”

“Don’t be silly. There’s no time for that and it’s late. You’re covered. And no one is about.” She grabbed his sleeve again and pulled.

“Slow your knickers and let me close my door,” Lochlan protested. “At the very least.”

Esme gave him time to do that but no more.

She was right about the fact that there was little chance they’d encounter anyone on the way back to the studio, given that it was the middle of the night. As they hurried along, Lochlan pressed to hear the details of this latest crisis.

“If I was human, I would call this incredible,” Lochlan said as he looked Medusa up and down. “Great gods. I half-believed it was an ill-conceived prank.” To Jeff he said, “Excellent work that. What will you do with her?”

Jeff laughed out loud. “Nice try, Lochlan. My part in this is concluded. She’s your problem now.”

Lochlan turned to Medusa and asked, “How are you, my dear?”

Medusa’s young brow was too flawless to crease, but she still managed to convey confusion by looking at each of them for a clue.

Lochlan then said, “ π?ς ε?σαι καλ? μου; pós eísai kalí mou?”

Jeff and Esme had little time to exchange a look before the fount of Medusa’s speech was turned on full blast. Speaking in Greek, she went on at great length in response to Lochlan’s question which, Jeff and Esme assumed, had been the Greek version of inquiry into her status.

When it appeared that Medusa was satisfied that she’d said all she had to say and grew quiet, Lochlan turned to Jeff and Esme.

“I suppose there’s nothing to be done but to make her my guest for the night. Tomorrow I’ll get in touch with the Bureau and,” looking at Jeff, “as you so aptly put it, make her their problem.”

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