Page 104 of Autumn L.A.W

Unfortunately, Magda told him that when the Victoria-looking dry cleaner awoke, she told Crystal an unbelievable story, which could change everything.

“She says she didn’t cast the spell,” Magda said, scrubbing her hands like she could wash off the smell. “Claims some mystery sorceress handed her a talisman. One-use, body-swap special. Redeem whenever you feel like ruining someone else’s life.”

Duke snorted. “And she just picked Victoria? At random?”

Magda’s look said, obviously not. “Apparently, she thought a prettier face and a better body would fix everything.”

When they joined Victoria and Crystal in Victoria’s bedroom, Rosa confirmed this information.

Duke groaned. “I hate to tell you this, ladies… The spell might not work.”

“There's no way this woman could be telling the truth,” The short Victoria protested. “She claims she'd lost the talisman. Just like she claimed to have lost my magical dress! She has both hidden somewhere. I just know it.”

Interrogations weren’t new. Interrogating someone tied to a bed? Not standard operating procedure.

“I wish the truth chair were handy,” Sahara said. “I don’t feel like dragging it up the stairs. Instead, I can whip up a truth spell…”

Joell smirked. “We could do this the easy way.”

Lioness cracked her knuckles. “Or the fun way.”

Sahara didn’t even look up. “I’ll prep a truth spell. Try not to kill her before I’m done.”

Standing over the immobilized woman, Lioness bumped Joell with her elbow. “It might be fun to torture her a little first. Wouldn't it? I’ll bet we can break her without a spell.”

Joell shot her friend a sly grin. “Absolutely. We could save our spell for another time if she caves and tells us the truth to stop the torture.”

“Shall we hang her by her toes until the blood pours out of her ears?” Crystal asked.

“Oh, that sounds good,” Rayna added. “But it might take too long. Victoria has been waiting on this bitch to give her back her body long enough. I say we try death by a thousand cuts, but speed it up with deeper cuts, so only a hundred or so will do the trick.”

“I'll get the ritual knife,” Magda chimed in.

“No! Please don't! I'm not lying,” the woman pleaded.

“Very well. A truth spell it is.” Joell sighed dramatically.

Soon they were joined by the rest of the witches. Sahara began the spell, casting a magic circle around the bed. Then she chanted something in an ancient language. The witches watched as a glowing ball of light began to form in the center of the room, its energy radiating off the walls. The light seemed to be in search of something, and it wasn't long before it found its target. The body-snatcher was engulfed in the light, and as the witches watched, they saw her face contort with pain. She was under their spell now.

The woman started to speak, her words coming out in a rush. “I admit I had the talisman! I did, but the sorceress who gave it to me appeared a few minutes after I used it and took it back!”

“She just appeared after you left in your car?” Victoria asked.

“Before. She was sitting in my passenger seat. I gave it up readily, thinking I'd never need it again. I had planned on keeping Victoria's body forever.” She broke after that. Crying. Babbling. Promising anything if they’d just make it stop.

Between sobs, the story spilled out in pieces. Found the talisman in dry cleaning. Tried to return it. Sorceress said keep it. Use it. She’d be back for it when Rosa was done.

“Done?” Crystal echoed. “Like it’s a library book?”

The witches prodded her for more information, especially concerning this sorceress. She didn’t seem to know a lot about her, only that she had found the talisman in the woman’s dry cleaning. The sorceress told her what it was for and said she would come back for it if and when Rosa, the dry cleaner, was finished with it.

When the L.A.W. witches were satisfied with her confession, they released her from the spell. The woman blubbered gratefully for their mercy, then said she had to pee.

Keeping Rosa, the body snatcher, confined to a bed was inhumane. Rosa sagged against the restraints, wrecked but breathing.

Joell eyed the scarves. “We can’t leave her restrained like this.”

“No,” Rayna agreed. “But we’re also not handing her a juice box and a bus pass.”