Hilda - Cats (24 page)

Authors: Paul Kater

Tags: #hilda the wicked witch

BOOK: Hilda - Cats

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"But-" Magda tried, her hand following the
parcel for a moment until she understood that her playing witch had
come to an end.

"No buts," said Hilda. "I do think we should
go back to the castle and see what's happening there. Babs is fine,
but the flower child... I still have my doubts about her."

"And what are we doing with these two? I
suggest we take them along," William pointed at Magda and Simi.
Hilda agreed. That way they'd have everyone in the same place,
which would make for an interesting bout of explanations.

Magda and Simi were taken down the stairs.
Grim and Obsi were there, guarding the brooms. The two woman stared
at the cats; the cats were not impressed at all. They did allow
their humans to carry them on their shoulder while they flew back
to the castle.

-=-=-

"Fine bunch you are," Babs welcomed them as
they landed with their passengers. "Leaving all the fighting to us
while you go out on the town."

"Village," William commented as he looked
around the yard.

Esmee and Santera were sitting on a bench,
talking and gesturing. Jock kept Lindolf under control. A group of
three guards kept a safe distance to everyone else. Snow White,
Jordan, King Louie and Queen Daphne had all assembled outside as
well, as the activities there had not gone unnoticed. Jordan looked
less hindered by his privates as he walked over to the guards.

As soon as everyone was allowed to speak
their truth, Lindolf was the first one to proclaim loudly that he
was innocent of everything and that he just happened to be
here.

"Who asked you to shout?" Baba Yaga said as
she looked the man over.

"No one, madam, I just thought..."

"Leave the thinking to us. Jock told me all
about you, Lindolf."

The merchant stared at the old witch. "Jock
is an idiot who can't think. Anyone knows that!" Unfortunately
Lindolf had forgotten that Jock's hand was on his shoulder. The big
hand moved to his neck and the shouting merchant was lifted off his
feet for a few moments, until his suffocating sounds became
perilous.

"Good man Jock." Baba Yaga patted the small
giant on the arm.

In bits and pieced the whole story came to
light. Magda told about the book, which William reproduced. Baba
Yaga was impressed with it. Simi added her things, and Santera
filled in more missing bits.

Lindolf denied everything, of course, but the
fact that Hilda and William had found Magda, Simi and also the book
in his house was strongly working against him. King Louie ordered a
few guards to arrest Lindolf and stick him in one of the dungeons
under the castle, where Lindolf would have to wait until there was
a trial.

"What are you going to do with that book?"
Queen Daphne asked. "It seems to be a very dangerous book, I would
rather see it destroyed."

Hilda shook her head. "Sorry, but that's not
going to happen, queen. A book is not dangerous. It's just a danger
in the wrong hands. Like a sword is not responsible for the person
who uses it to hurt someone. We're going to take that away with us.
Babs, would you like to keep it safe for everyone?"

"Of course. Would be my pleasure."

"And what about us?" Simi asked. "Do we have
to go to the dungeon also?"

King Louie looked at the two women. "I don't
think that's necessary. That man Lindolf tricked you. What work do
you normally do?" Magda and Simi told the king, who then nodded. "I
think that for Simi it would be best to go back to the village.
Pick up your life. Don't meddle with strange things again. If you
come across something like that again, come to the castle and let
us know."

Simi promised that she'd do that.

"As for Magda... you've been cleaning at
Lindolf's house, and he's not going to need a cleaning person for a
while. I am sure we can find a position for you here at the castle.
If you like."

Magda stared at the royal man and slowly
nodded. "I'd be very honoured."

"Very good. You'll be supervised by our
castle witch, as you have some magic inside you. Esmee will be able
to ensure that you are not playing with that again."

"Her?" Hilda wondered. "Now there's something
to be scared of."

Baba Yaga tugged Hilda's sleeve. "Don't say
that too loudly. I have a surprise for you concerning that
kid."

Hilda and William both looked at the old
witch in wonder and had problems concealing their curiosity.

King Louie ordered for a carriage that would
take Simi back to the village. Magda would ride along, to collect
some of her things. The carriage would then take her back to the
castle, where a room would be prepared for her. "And no running
off," he warned Magda, "or the combined witches will come after
you."

Magda said that he did not have to worry
about that. She was far too grateful for this opportunity.

Then the king turned to Santera, who still
sat with Esmee. "What to do with this woman..." he wondered out
loud. He glanced at his queen, who did not have an answer. Snow
White and Jordan pretended to be talking about something important,
escaping the king's questioning look that way.

"She's staying with me," Esmee then said, to
everyone's surprise.

"Uhm?" Baba Yaga said. "Are you sure? And why
is that?"

"Santera saved my life in the village," said
Esmee. "She's like me, in a way. We both know what the other feels
when we're cats."

Hilda and William didn't understand all of
that but waited for the flower witch to finish. Babs after all had
said that there was something about Esmee she had to tell them.

"We've been talking, and I think that Santera
and I can protect the castle in a very good and special way. We can
go around the premises as cats. That way we can get around quickly.
We can see well in the dark too then."

"As cats..." The words fell from Hilda's
surprised lips.

Before she could say more, Esmee continued:
"And we think we love each other." That had as much impact as a
witch crashing in the yard.

"Whoa. Stop." Hilda raised both hands. "I
think we are missing a few things here. Babs, please tell us what
we don't know, because I can't see a cat's tail anymore." Onyx
Grimalkin meowed, twitching her tail. "No, not like that, silly
animal," Hilda said as she picked up her cat.

Baba Yaga told Hilda and William about Esmee
changing herself into a cat and jumping from the window.

"Suck an elf," said Hilda. She stared at
Esmee. "Since when do you know how to do that?"

Esmee, holding one of Santera's hands,
shrugged. "Since the night of the lightning." She got up, pulling
Santera to her feet also. Without the use of a wand, suddenly there
were two cat women standing in front of the bench.

"Holy Bejeebus," was all that William could
muster.

King Louie stared at what happened. "I'm
afraid that we're going to lose a lot more chickens," he said.

"I doubt that," said William. "Santera only
ate them because Lindolf wanted to scare everyone. If she gets a
few proper meals a day, your feathery animals should be fine.

Esmee changed herself and Santera back to
their normal shapes, and was also very quick in getting the two of
them dressed again. "See? It's easy."

Baba Yaga scratched her chin. "Yeah. Sure. I
think it's time for me to leave now." She did not wait for any
response, made her broom jump up and mounted it. "Hilda, William,
we'll keep in touch. Good luck. King, queen, good luck too." And
then she lifted off, quickly disappearing over the castle wall.

"That's a bit harsh," Queen Daphne said,
shaking her head.

"It's not harsh," Hilda said, "it's Baba
Yaga."

Then a dark shadow fell over them and Babs
landed her broom in the yard again. "Forgot something," she said as
she walked to Esmee. To Hilda's terror the old witch hugged
Esmee.

"Good job, protegé," Babs said. "Be good and
make me proud of you. Keep your crystal ball in shape and we'll
talk." Then she was off again.

"Uhm..." Now it was William's turn to say
that. "I'm not sure if I want to remember seeing that."

"Calm down, wizard," Hilda said, hugging
him.

Later that day there was a huge party in and
around the castle. Santera was accepted as partner and assistant of
Esmee, Magda had returned to the castle with her belongings, and it
wasn't until very late that the witch and the wizard found
themselves in bed.

"This was really weird," said William as he
wrapped his arms around Hilda.

"Yes. It was. But fun too."

William nodded in the dark. "True. Life with
you is never boring, Hilda."

The witch smiled, the wizard not seeing it
but sensing it through their bond. "I intend to keep it that way.
Boring is no fun."

"Good. I'll remind you of that, if
necessary," he grinned.

"You'll be old and senile before you need to
remind me, wizard. I don't look for things to happen. They look for
me."

William silently agreed as he kissed his
witch. "Sleep well, Hilda."

"Sleep well, William. Tomorrow we'll go home.
For a few days of peace and quiet. I hope."

###

About the author:

I am an IT consultant who loves reading and
writing.

I've been an amateur-author since years,
writing SciFi, Fantasy and lately also Steampunk. My home is in the
Netherlands.