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Kate appeared in Bev�s chamber with the black cat in her arms. Bev casually laid on the bed and the old spell book lie open in front of her. She saw Kate and quickly jumped off of the bed.
�Kate, where have you been?� Bev asked.
�It�s not important,� Kate remarked.
Bev looked to the cat in Kate held. �Who�s the cat?�
�Brennan,� Kate replied. �Quinn�s coming after you. I only have one chance to save you. You have to stay in this room. Promise me you won�t leave this room--no matter what.�
Bev stared at Kate with a concerned look and nodded. �I promise. What are you going to do?�
�I can�t place a spell around you, since Quinn already has one. But I can place a spell around the room and keep Quinn out. If you leave this room, you�ll be unprotected. Nothing can harm you--not even if the castle is burning. Do you understand?�
Bev nodded.
Kate waved her free hand around the room then looked back to Bev. �Stay here. I�m going for help.�
�Help from where?� Bev asked. Kate and the cat suddenly vanished. �Yeah, okay, see you later.�
The old witches stand around their caldron in the bright woods. They appear hung over and remain silent. Rachael unenthusiastically stirs the caldron. Emerald peered into the caldron.
�How�s it coming?� Emerald asked.
Rachael continues to stir. �It�s almost done,� she replied then lifted the stirrer to reveal a pair of bloomers. �We�ll do dark clothing next.�
Kate suddenly appeared near the caldron with the black cat in her arms. The old witches looked to her and smiled.
�Kate�s back,� Emerald announced.
�I�m in trouble,� Kate announced. �I need this cat changed back into his mortal form. If Quinn gets his hands on him, he�s as good as dead. My friend is protected by a spell, but I don�t know for how long. She can�t survive in that small room forever.�
�What you need is a way to destroy Quinn,� Emerald informed her.
�I�ve never killed anyone,� Kate said firmly. �It�s not our way--at least not in my century.�
�Maybe you won�t have to,� Emerald informed her. �We discussed your situation last night after you�d gone. We collected all the ingredients to make a batch of special brew.�
�What sort of special brew?� Kate asked.
�It�ll stunt the powers of all witches and warlocks for miles. The effects will be short term, but it�ll break Quinn�s spell on both of your friends. Unfortunately, it won�t prevent him from physically harming you if he gets close enough. Once his spell is broken, you�ll have to find a safe place to hide until the effects of the brew wear off. When your powers return, you�ll have to place a protective spell around you and your friends. Once your powers return, so will his. Only your protective spell can save you. You�ll then be able to transport you and your friends back home.�
Kate nods. �Okay, let�s do it. How long do you think it will take to make the special brew?�
�It�ll take awhile to mix and boil the batch,� Emerald replied.
�And add ten minutes to finish our bloomers,� Rachael announced.
Kate paced the bedroom chamber while Bev remained sitting on the bed, chewing her fingernails. Both watched the black cat pace the window ledge.
�You can�t stay in there forever,� Quinn announced through the closed door. �This is wrong, Kate. We can work this out. No one needs to get hurt. I can forgive you for throwing yourself at Brennan.�
Bev glared at Kate and appeared surprised. �You threw yourself at Brennan?�
�Too much witch�s brew,� Kate muttered.
The black cat looked back at Kate and growled.
�Listen, Quinn,� Kate remarked loudly to the door. �As long as you have Bev prisoner here, there could never be any peace between us. You�ll always use her as a weapon against me.�
�I was angry,� he said. �I wasn�t actually going to harm her. We need each other. Can�t you see that?�
�What�s taking them so long?� Bev asked softly.
�It takes awhile to boil brew--and it�s laundry day,� Kate remarked.
Bev eyed Kate with a puzzled look. She then indicated the black cat. �What about him?�
�I suspect Quinn will take him back,� Kate remarked. �Quinn needs someone to do his dirty work.�
�But isn�t having him in here with us dangerous? Once the spell�s broken, he�s liable to take us prisoner again,� Bev stated.
�I couldn�t just leave him on his own like that,� Kate said. �Quinn might kill him.�
The black cat stared out the window and growled lowly. Bev and Kate hurried to the window and looked outside. A strange fog rolled toward the castle.
�Okay, I�m scared,� Bev announced. �Once the spell�s broken, how do we get past Quinn?�
Kate turned away from the window and pointed to the bedroom door. �Out that door and straight through Quinn.�
�Are you insane?� Bev gasped.
Kate removed two swords from the corner of the room. �He�ll be just another mortal man once the spell is broken. It�ll be the two of us against him.�
The black cat pushed against the bedroom window. The window suddenly opened and the cat jumped onto the ledge. Kate and Bev looked toward the window and hurried for it. Kate looked outside. The cat ran along the ledge and jumped down two stories to the next ledge. Kate slammed her palm to the window frame.
�Damn it,� she snapped and looked at Bev. �If he�s as loyal to Quinn as I fear he is, he�ll be outside that door fighting alongside Quinn.�
Bev grabbed on of the swords. �Then we�d better move quick, because I�m not going up against Brennan in a fair fight.�
The fog rolled into the chamber. Both women coughed and waved their hands before their faces.
�What an aroma,� Bev gasped.
Kate attempted to cast a spell then looked to Bev. �My powers are gone. We have to hurry.�
Both women ran across the room thick with fog to the chamber door and coughed. Kate threw open the door and both raised their swords in defense. Quinn could be seen running down the corridor coughing and gagging.
�If he realizes his powers are gone, he knows he�ll have to arm himself,� Kate announced.
