chapter 4 - continued

“Cheeseburgers, fried chicken, I really like potatoes and gravy.” Jezebel watched as the obese woman’s mouth started to water. Indicating she had accidentally made her hungry.

“Where do your sexual preferences lie? What do you like to do with a sexual partner?” Jezebel asked.

“Mmm. I like women. Especially nice thin women like her.” Wanda motioned her head in Melanie’s direction. Jezebel laughed when she said this. “I like it when an itty-bitty girl tries to feed me dinner.” Wanda’s mouth had started to mimic the movements of chewing, indicating Jezebel had caused her to relive a memory. While still training her gaze on Wanda, Jezebel motioned to Melanie.

“Get some scissors and cut her hair.” Melanie was horrified at what was going on, watching the mesmerized obese woman looking up at Jezebel completely powerless to resist. She ran around her and made her way to Theo’s desk where she found a pair of scissors. She returned and walked over to her.

“How much should I cut off?” Melanie asked, not wanting to look directly at her boss’s eyes just in-case the magic somehow started to affect her. She also didn’t feel comfortable standing next to this smelly pig of a woman for longer than she needed to.

“Just a lock of her hair please.” Melanie cut away a long strand of Wanda’s curly hair. She walked back to the corner of the room she was in making sure to still avoid Jezebel’s gaze. Jezebel walked closer to Wanda, almost within kissing distance.

“Repeat after me. You will forget why you came here. You will take a bus waiting for you outside the hotel, and never return.” Her voice had a deep echo to it, like she was talking in a wind tunnel. Blood had started to run from Jezebel’s nose.

“I will forget why I came here. I will take a bus waiting for me outside the hotel, and never return.” Wanda responded in a monotone voice. Jezebel smirked and immediately let go of the amulet. The light went out in the gemstone and she felt a sudden headache overtake her. Jezebel slumped to the ground; the wind having been knocked out of her.

“Ugh, what happened?” Wanda asked, completely dumbfounded. She was weary and yawned. “Why did I come here?”

“There’s a bus waiting for you outside… it’s the last one you should go catch it. The elevator’s that way.” Melanie said pointing to the elevator across from the room they were in. Wanda nodded.

“Yeah that’s a good idea. Thanks dearie.” Wanda started laughing again, her loud obnoxious neighing laugh. She turned around and waddled out of the room. Melanie walked over to Jezebel and helped her to a standing position.

“Boss, what the hell was that?” Melanie asked. She was still horrified by what she saw. Jezebel grabbed the lock of hair from her palm. She wiped the blood from her nose using her free hand.

“That was the ‘push. And now I have what I need. We must start immediately.” She walked noticeably slower holding her temples with her free hand.

“Start what? What are you talking about?” Melanie didn’t get an answer. Jezebel walked out of the room without her.