chapter 15 - continued

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While Wanda was in the shower, Melanie scoured her carpet, looking for more hair. She eventually accumulated a sizeable collection and loaded her pockets with it. “I hope this satisfies that old bitch.” She said, getting up.

“Old bitch?” Wanda asked, walking in. Melanie felt red from embarrassment.

“Sorry, not you. My boss.” Wanda looked relieved at this.

“Heh, I was hoping you weren’t talking about me. I’m not that old, you know.” Melanie didn’t know why she was acting so nicely to Wanda. Something about how kind and relatively harmless she was appealed to her. She didn’t have to feel suspicious of Wanda or act defensively around her. “Do you want to get something to eat?” Wanda asked.

“No… I need to head back. I’m supposed to be at work now.” Melanie was a little suspicious Jezebel hadn’t texted her to return back. Supposing it was another test she was giving her. The amulet around her neck felt suddenly a little heavy, remembering she was supposed to return it to her. The instrument of her oppression.

“Aw… well, if you’re ever in the neighborhood. You know where to find me.” Melanie gave Wanda a hug around her waist. Feeling genuine affection for the large woman.

“Thanks, Wanda. I really appreciated our time together.” Melanie knew that Jezebel was going to break the spell at some point. But part of her didn’t want to have it broken. Wanda was such a nice woman, and it felt so lovely spending time with her. She knew realistically it would be better to have it broken, I mean what kind of relationship could she have with a woman three times her size? But… there was no rush was there?

Melanie put her hood up as she left Wanda’s apartment. It rained cats and dogs like she had never seen before. The wind was causing the traffic lights to shake as they stood in place. She walked down to the bus stop and waited. Before long, a crowded bus arrived bearing the words “Faris Lake” came. The bus driver opened the door and spoke to her.

“Hope you got everything you need. This is the last bus for today.” Melanie frowned and checked her watch. It was still noon.

“Why?” She asked. Melanie stepped onto the bus and grasped a railing tightly. The coach shook from the wind.

“This freak storm is causing chaos. The government is thinking of closing the roads up ahead.” Melanie started to worry, wondering if Jezebel made it back or not. Not for her safety mind you. More that, if she failed in getting back. She would probably find some reason to blame her for it. Melanie opened her phone and tried calling Theo. After a few short rings, he picked up.

“Hey, it’s me. What’s happening up there?” Melanie asked. Theo’s voice came in muffled, presumably due to the storm.

“Boss is freaking out. Something went wrong. Nobody knows where her spellbook is. She’s threatening to kill everyone.” Theo said. There was an evident panic in his voice. “You better get back up here. Something’s going on with her.” Melanie instantly felt worried.

“Alright, I’m on my way.” The call ended, and Melanie put her phone away. Wondering what he meant by “nobody knows where her spellbook is.” She thought back to seeing Heather and Anya in the restaurant.

Did Anya have something to do with this? Did she summon this storm? She wondered. The bus eventually pulled in front of the Lodge, and Melanie got out.

“Thanks for the lift,” she said to the driver. Watching the bus leave back down the hill. "I hope it makes it back safe." She thought to herself. Before shifting her gaze back up to the hotel. She strode up to the lobby and entered the Lodge. Melanie was soaked to the skin and felt relief as she pulled her hood off, the amulet shaking free of her wet hair in the process. It lay visibly on her breast as she walked toward the front desk.

“What’s going on?” Melanie asked the front desk girl. She looked visibly rattled and was taking a phone call.

“Shit’s falling apart,” she mouthed to her. “They want you upstairs,” she continued. Before returning to her phone call. Melanie frowned and waited. She had no intention of going upstairs, at least not yet. Not without seeing Anya first. Melanie waited for the front desk girl to finish her phone call before asking.

“I need a room number. Anya Volkov. Boss’s orders.” Melanie crossed her arms and waited as the front desk girl searched the directory.

“Yes. Here it is.” She pointed to the room number Anya was staying at. “Make sure you head upstairs Theo and Lance have been looking all over for you.” The front desk girl picked up her phone and started dialing. Melanie made herself scarce and walked in the direction of Anya’s room. She gripped the amulet in her hand and immediately felt a little nervous. If Anya did summon the storm that was now ravaging the Lodge, that made her potentially dangerous.

“Imagine myself entering her. Imagine myself entering her.” She repeated these words as she walked. Hoping that it wouldn’t come to that. When she arrived, Melanie crept up to Anya’s room and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” She heard Anya’s Russian accent clearly. Melanie gulped and waited to one side of the door.

“I-I’m here to draw you. It’s Melanie” She hoped this would lower Anya’s guard. Melanie heard the door unlock, and it swung open. She backed away startled a little.

“What did you do to Heather?” Anya demanded. She grabbed Melanie by the collar. “You people did something to her.” Melanie struggled to grab onto the amulet. She felt Anya’s long fingers tighten around her throat.

“I-I-I did-didn’t do anything,” Melanie choked out. Anya immediately let go and pushed her into the room.

“Who did? What is going on?” She demanded. Melanie clutched her throat and coughed, trying to get her breath.

“J-Jezebel. Wanted revenge on Heather…” She started. “Cast a spell on her.”

“A gift of traits. Requires sugar, flour, aloe vera…” Anya started. Repeating some of the ingredients from the spellbook.

“H-how did you know that?” Melanie asked. She was a little shocked at how much Anya knew.

“I stole that from her office.” Anya pointed to the book on her bed. She noticed Melanie’s amulet clasped around the girl's neck. “What is that? Where did you get that?” She demanded, grabbing hold of it. Melanie recoiled back and grasped it in her hands.

“Don’t make me use this against you.” Anya immediately backed away a few feet. She had a suspicion as to what it did. “She gave me this to use on Wanda.”

“Who?” Anya asked, confused.

“The woman I was with, at the restaurant. She’s the host, the one Heather is transforming into.” Anya’s eyes widened; she remembered the enormous obese woman from the previous day.

“Why her? Why, Heather?” Anya asked.

“Heather was a journalist who was going to publish some article talking shit about Jezebel. She wanted revenge, so she got me to grab Wanda’s hair. Only something screwed up, and I had to go back.” The sound of the rain grew harsher, and Melanie heard another thunderclap in the distance. “Did you do that?” She asked, pointing to the window.

“I think your boss did,” Anya said. “The book says something about a storm.” She walked over to the book and opened it back up to chapter 34. “I did not understand.” Anya allowed Melanie to look over Jezebel’s spellbook, still suspiciously eying her amulet. “What does that do?” She asked, pointing to it.

“It takes control of someone’s mind, allows you to invade their thoughts. Jezebel uses it on the guests, like you.” Anya remembered the bright light from Jezebel’s office, wondering if that had something to do with it. “This Temporal Reality storm might explain some things. We have to find a way to get rid of it.”

“We?” Anya asked curiously.

“Yes, we. I need your help.” Melanie said, looking up at the Russian woman.

“My help? With what?” Anya asked. Melanie reached up and grabbed her amulet. Anya recoiled and stepped back, only to have Melanie take it off and thrust it into her hands.

“We are going up to the 6th floor. And we’re going to stop Jezebel and turn off this spell. The one affecting Heather.” Anya was stunned, she looked at the amulet in her hands. “I need you to use this on her.”