Page 69 of Summer L.A.W.

They all turned their heads painfully slowly toward the connecting door. “Is anyone else here?” Magda asked.

“Anyone other than Chad,” Sebastian said. “He saw what was happening and ran off.”

“Nope,” Joell said. “Brianna just left for the train station to visit her relatives in Massachusetts; Crystal is off cavorting with her ex-Navy SEAL; Victoria is returning her familiar to Montreal via helicopter; Lioness is in her art studio; Rayna is in Brooklyn with her hot major…”

Sahara sighed and then said what they were all thinking. “And we’re screwed.”

Magda groaned. “We are absolutely not getting through that doorway without taking half the greenhouse with us.”

The front door creaked. Someone called out, “Anybody home?”

“Yes! We’re in the conservatory!” Magda yelled.

“Help!” everyone else called out.

Wally hopped toward Rayna’s voice, and the two witches who were still partially upright lurched forward in unison.

“Wally!” Magda screeched. “Stop hopping⁠—!”

But he hopped, dragging everyone with him.

The greenhouse door slammed open, and Rayna rushed in. She took in the scene and froze in place. Then she burst out laughing.

18

Magda told Rayna where to find the solvent in the kitchen. As she was leaving, Joell called out, “Don’t forget that has to be diluted with water, otherwise it’ll eat right through anything it touches.”

“What?” yelled Sahara and Sebastian.

“Don’t worry,” Magda said, looking at Sebastian. “Rayna is good at following directions.”

“Have you met Rayna?” Joell asked.

Sebastian groaned.

Wally gave one more heroic pull and broke free. He hopped around the greenhouse, avoiding the tendrils of Velcro.

“I think it’s loosening,” Sahara said. “Maybe it’s one of those spells that fades quickly.”

“Thank the Goddess,” Joell said.

Everyone tried to pull apart, and indeed, the strong bonds seemed to give a little. Joell managed to pry her grip from Magda’s elbow, and now that she had both hands, she was able to push herself to her knees. Sahara used Joell’s ribs to push herself to a standing position and then assisted Joell to rise.

Just then, Rayna rushed in with a bucket and threw the chemical-smelling liquid over all four of them.

“My blouse!” Joell cried. “We were just making progress. The spell was dissipating.”

Rayna jammed her hand on her hip. “You’re welcome.”

Magda and Sebastian lay on the floor, breathing hard and looking into each other’s eyes. “What do you think, Mazda? Ready to throw in the towel?”

“Mazda? Are you telling me I weigh as much as a car?”

“Not at all. I just thought it would be fun to give you a nickname, now that we’ve become so close, and everything.”

She laughed. “Well, think of something other than Mazda. How about your supreme supernaturalness?”

“Uh-uh. Too long. I’m just relieved my assistant Derek isn’t here to see this!”