All Better

Layla #40

“Now, Davy,” Layla said, escorting Kensington over to the door. “When your buddy gets here, you know what to do, right?”

Kensington nodded nervously. “I tell him I’m having some fun. I get him to come into the living room to see how bad you and your friend are. When…”

“You better be a hell of a lot more convincing than that you little turd,” Jill interrupted. “I want an academy award performance or you’ll be missing pieces later.”

“Easy, Barbie,” Layla said soothingly, as she put her arm around the visibly shaken Kensington. “Davy’s going to do real well when the mean old Warlock gets here. He doesn’t want me to send him to that special place again, do you, Davy?”

“No! God no!” Kensington cringed away from Layla, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture. “I won’t screw up… just don’t send me back there… please!”

“Make me happy, Davy, and I won’t have to,” Layla shrugged innocently. “Jill and I… uh oh… get in the living room, Barbie, our guest just popped in from hell.”

“No, Evil, you popped in from hell,” Jill kidded her. “Gather…”

“No time,” Layla cut her off, grabbing Jill’s arm and pulling her toward the living room. “Let him wait, Davy. Don’t answer the knock until he gets agitated.”

Gather rang the doorbell after knocking, irritation turning to anger. Kensington opened the door, smiling confidently, knowing without doubt who he feared more.

“Sorry, Sir,” Kensington stepped aside, “I was trying to convince Layla giving up the jewel would be her only hope. She’s been rather obstinate. Even torturing her friend makes very little impression. I…”

“She’s a Djinn,” Gather chuckled, drawn in by Kensington’s act, and hearing the muffled moans coming from the next room. “Layla doesn’t care about anything but herself. I told you to simply state my terms and have your way with them for a few minutes. You should have been at your house an hour ago. In a couple days, Layla will do anything to stop the pain.”

“Sorry… I lost track of time.”

“I’ll bet you did. Let’s go have a look,” Gather said, following the sounds of pain into the living room where Layla and Jill lay slumped on the couch.

Gather grinned as he peered into Layla’s contorted face.

“Oh Layla… Layla…” Gather crooned, his voice a raspy inviting whisper, both cutting and self congratulatory.

Layla sat up, smiling back. Gather lurched backwards, stunned and terrified. He desperately tried to disappear, but could not.

“Hello Evan, long time, no see,” Layla stood up, walking around the immobile Gather appraisingly. “Looks like you’ve put on a little weight, pumpkin.”

“This is the same Warlock, who nearly killed us?” Jill asked, joining Layla next to Gather. “I…I expected something… I don’t know… more impressive. He looks like Frodo from the Rings.”

“Warlocks are cowards, Barbie,” Layla laughed. “They’re only good for sneaking around making people miserable. This one would have been very dangerous with his precious jewel. Well, Evan, what shall we do with you?”

“Lay…Layla… we can make a deal,” Gather pleaded, his eyes and mouth the only parts of his body he found movable.

Kensington watched the being he had thought to be invincible trapped easily. With furtive glances back at the door, and at Layla, a longing to be out of Layla’s house rivaled his fear of crossing the Djinn. Sensing Kensington’s every thought, Layla giggled, locking eyes with him.

“Don’t do anything foolish, Davy.”

“I…I won’t!” Kensington froze.

“You won’t what?” Layla prompted.

“I won’t move… Mistress of the Dark.”

“That’s better,” Layla replied, as Jill laughed at the result of the Djinn’s earlier instructive torture session with Kensington. “Now then, Evan, remember my former abode.”

Layla gestured, and her lamp became visible on the coffee table in front of the couch. Gather’s lips trembled and tears began to form at the corners of his eyes, a premonition of his fate robbing him of the final vestiges of his composure. Layla nodded.

“Yea, I see you recognize it. I bet you’ve always been curious about it, haven’t you?”

“Noooooo…” Gather protested. “Please… I…I’ll do anything… anything…”

“Too late for that,” Layla spoke in a tone so menacing, Jill backed away from her friend unconsciously. “You should have stayed far away from me, Evan.”

Layla flicked her finger at Gather, and then toward her lamp. With a blood curdling scream, Gather’s form melted like candle wax left inadvertently on a hot stove. The sickening mix of flowing color hovered over and was sucked inexorably through the lamp’s spout. Kensington ran into the kitchen and threw up violently.

“Layla… that was… I mean…” Jill stammered for words, and then shrugged. “Like Jenny said, ‘sucks to be him’.”

“Yes,” Layla agreed, staring at the lamp. “Well, shall we get Davy on his way. I think he’s learned his lesson, don’t you? I kind of like the petty, self absorbed creep. He…”

“Reminds you of you,” Jill injected.

“Barbie, it’s a good thing I like you,” Layla sighed. “Say, your pretty blonde hair’s getting a little long. How about a hair cut?”

“No!” Jill reached for her Angelica Root first; and not finding it, she reached for her hair. All the while, Layla laughed.

“C’mon, quit preening, and let’s go say goodbye to Davy,” Layla walked toward the kitchen with Jill following but keeping her distance.

__

“You about done yet, my little mechanic buddy?” Jenny said, leaning in under the hood of an Oldsmobile Cutlass Cole was finishing. “It’s nearly six-thirty. If you stay here any longer, the traveling Djinn show will make an appearance to find out whether you’re being a good boy.”

“And have I been a good boy?” Cole glanced up from adding coolant to the radiator he’d replaced on the Olds.

“Too good, if you ask me,” Jenny pretended to pout.

Cole stripped off his gloves. “I’m as far as I can go on this one. You sure were something today. I didn’t know you could still thwart a Warlock.”

“I just countered his spell,” Jenny shrugged; “but it does take faith, and concentration.”

“You still have some of your power,” Cole continued, putting his arm around Jenny’s shoulders, guiding her toward the exit. He had already locked up and checked all the doors. “Are you getting tired of bailing us all out yet?

“I love it here,” Jenny replied.

“I’m glad. If…”

Layla and Jill appeared right in front of them. Jenny put her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. Cole shook his head.

“Damn!” Layla griped.

“I told you fifteen more minutes,” Jill complained, grinning at Cole and Jenny.