YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING - ch 2

YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING – chapter two

What are sisters for?

=^^=^^=^^=

“Are you ready, Claire?”

“Almost, just adding the finishing touches you recommended.”

A few minutes later, Claire stood before her sister. “So, Chloe? What do you think?”

Chloe almost choked on the coffee she was drinking. "Oh may the Goddess be praised! Claire, if I didn’t know you were my twin, I’d never suspect it. Elvira was spot on with this.”

Elvira was their closest friend and when Claire and Chloe confided in her that a stranger put a spell on Claire that caused her to lose her powers, she jumped at the chance to help her friend. She said, “Let’s make it right.”

Before the twins began to ready themselves for their night out, Miranda, the twins’ mother retired to her bed early claiming a headache. “Mam,” said Claire, “you worked all day in the yard, then came in and wouldn’t allow us to help with supper, then sat by the lamp and read until you were almost full asleep. No wonder your head aches. You need to take it easy. Chloe and I can take care of things.”

Miranda smiled at her daughters. “Thank you, my darlings. I’m just going to bed and sleep until the sun wakes me in the morning. Well, providing that silly cat of mine will sleep soundly.”

She called her cat, her familiar, “Cassy, come, let’s go to bed.” The gray and black cat pounced on every step as it charged its way to Miranda’s bedroom.

“You girls go out and have fun. Stay safe and stay together.”

“Mam, trust us. Elvira won’t take her eyes off either of us. She’s worse than you were when we were no more than babes.” The girls laughed and Miranda smiled. “Then, I guess I won’t have to worry.”

As they drove to the nearby town, Claire recited the encounter with the traveler. “His name is Marcus. He said he was from America, but I had the feeling he wasn’t but didn’t push the issue. He’s tall, with light hair, gray eyes, and a very attractive face. I never mentioned or demonstrated anything about my, well the powers I had. I thought he was just being flirty when he kept touching my hand.”

Elvira stopped the car and turned. “He touched your hand? How many times? What hand did he use? How did that make you feel?”

Chloe’s intuition spiked and Claire’s face paled.

He patted my hand three times three. I mean, three times, then a few minutes later, three times again, and a while later repeated the pats. Since I was sitting at his right side, he used his right hand. I never thought about it but I started feeling tired. Not exactly drowsy but just tired as if I’d been awake and hard at work for too many hours.”

“Okay, then, we’re good.”

Chloe snapped, “What do you mean ‘we’re good’? He zapped her!”

“Yes, but he didn’t drain her. He used his right hand, not his left. That’s a point for us. We can and will turn the tables!”

Elvira, the oldest of the three and the more experienced witch, explained. “If he’d have used his left hand, he would have uttered, no matter how quietly, a spell that would drain you completely and render you unfixable. The fact that he didn’t say anything and used his right hand, tells me he wanted to place you under his control for a few hours. Now, Claire, tell me, did you leave with him?”

“No. When I felt like I wanted to sleep, I saw Sean and Meg and asked them to drive me home. I felt too tired to drive. Marcus said he’d drive me, but I insisted that Sean take me since he could get to our house blindfolded. Marcus didn’t look happy but when Sean and his wife stood, the decision was made, and Marcus backed away.”

“I owe Sean and Meg a few pints,” Chloe said breathlessly. “Claire, they saved, if not your life, then at least your honor.”

Claire said, “Elvira, don’t start the car just yet. I feel the need to vomit.”

After Claire purged her stomach and rinsed her mouth with the water Elvira kept in her car, Claire said adamantly, “Now that I’m no longer sick, I’m furious! Does this, this, whatever the hell he is think the only way to get a girl’s attention is to spell her? It’s just as bad as if he spiked her drink with, oh, whatever it’s called. Let’s get that bastard!”

The girls walked into the pub and Claire saw Marcus immediately standing with three other young men. The girls didn’t not approach them and Elvira gave their drink orders to the bartender.

Marcus immediately saw them sit at a table in a corner. He wandered over, placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder and was jolted by the slight spark he didn't expect. He forced himself to ignore it.

“Wel, hello there, Claire. Nice to see you again. And who are your friends?”

Chloe spoke, “Oh, Marcus. Nice to see you, too.” She made the introduction. My neighbor, Elvira,” and then pointed to Claire and said, “this is my cousin, Chloe.”

“Nice to meet you ladies. Is it alright if I bring my friends over to meet you?”

Elvira spoke first, “Of course, it is. We’ like to meet them.”

Once he walked away, she said quietly, “Now remember girls, you’re spelled so there is nothing they can do to you; in fact, whatever they try, will come back at them three-fold. And, Claire? That will restore your powers to their full capacity.” She smiled as she saw the four young men begin to walk towards them.