The Leopard's Witchy Mate - Elle Boon Page 0,3

I’m not stable right now.”

“Your eyes are glowing. You’re not normal.” Merry backed away, fear replacing the worry on her sister’s beautiful features. “You killed him, didn’t you?”

After she finished filtering through the computer, she sent an electrical current through it, deleting all evidence of her and the doctor’s work. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was in there with them.” Her strength was waning.

“Merry, she got us out of there only moments ago. Do you remember how to get out of here?” Allison whipped her head around as the lights began to flash.

“What’s that?” one of the other women gasped.

Noelle inhaled. “It’s his fail-safe. We need to go.” She lifted her hand, looking over her shoulder at her sister and the others, sparing a glance for the deceased doctor who’d held her prisoner for the last ten years. She had thought her entire life would be spent with only him for company. Shaking her head, she allowed her powers to pulse, and a glowing purple ball formed.

“What’s that?” Merry asked.

“Turn your heads. I don’t know how far underground we are, and I don’t have the strength to protect us all.”

“Then do something else,” Merry cried.

“Like what, Mer?” Noelle held the purple fireball aloft, waiting.

“Just do it, but if you get us killed, I’ll haunt you.”

Noelle smiled, her first real smile in forever.

When the debris cleared, she found herself and the others standing in the middle of a field. She heard the others coughing, but she ignored them, unable to do anything but stare up at the moon overhead. She hadn’t seen the outside in ten years. Hadn’t smelled fresh air in as long. She took a few steps before her legs collapsed under her. Behind her, the women were sobbing and crying. The sound of sirens could be heard, but nobody came near her. She sat there on her knees wearing the plain gray T-shirt and pants she’d worn for as long as she could remember. That was all she was ever given to wear. Dull lifeless gray. All around her, the night lit up with bright lights and sirens. She lifted her arms, trying to protect her eyes.

“You there, what’s your name?”

She jerked away from the male who reached for her, falling onto her side. A sharp rock bit into her hip, making her cry out. She curled into a ball, trying to protect herself.

“Back off. Everyone back off. I got this. Hello, child, my name is Baba Yaga. Tsk tsk, you are in desperate need of feeding and cleaning.” She snapped her fingers.

Noelle blinked, thinking the woman expected something to appear. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Baba Yaga shook her head. “You will. Come on, let’s get you out of here before this becomes a circus show. Zelda,” she yelled.

“I’m right here. You do not have to yell like a banshee.”

The woman who was clearly Zelda appeared. Her blonde hair was a little mussed, but she was dressed in an outfit that’s way too nice to be in the middle of the rubble where Noelle lay. “I think I’m going to be sick,” Noelle warned, turning to the side, her sides heaved but nothing came up.

She heard the two women sigh, and then she was swept into a windstorm that actually was soothing.

“I’m glad you like. Now, open your eyes. We’ve deposited your sister and her friends back home. They’re a little worse for wear, but they’ll recover. You...you’ll recover as well, my dear. I’m sorry we didn’t know about you before. I saw you took care of that despicable cretin. Good for you. Now, you begin your training under the tutelage of Zelda and Sassy. Try to be better than these two.” Baba pointed her finger at the trio and was gone.

Zelda tossed her hands in the air. “I am an amazing witch.”

“Yes. Yes, you are, as am I. I mean, I only blow things up on occasion.” Sassy shrugged.

Noelle sniffed, her eyes watering. “I killed a man.”

“Good girl. That’s how all good witches begin.”

Sassy slapped Zelda on the arm. “Do you really want to start her training that way?”

“Oh, for goodness sake, are we really her trainers?” Zelda spun in a circle around the garden.

“I say she needs about a dozen cheeseburgers first. Dear Goddess, what is your favorite food?” Sassy began walking toward Zelda’s home, hooking her arm through Noelle’s.

It took her two years before she felt balanced. Two years before she no longer jumped at every slamming door. Seven hundred and