56)

The little fire balls vanished as the witch rolled her eyes and signed in exasperation as she took the phone. “What? I know you have insurance and you always claimed you weren't materialistic.”

I crept up a little to hear better, getting a dirty look from the witch in return.

“You burned up everything! Clothes. Pictures. Our computers. Paperwork. Keepsakes!”

The witch’s voice, already shrill, became distinctively whiny. “It’s wasn’t my fault, your wife’s uncle threatened me.”

“After you used used the voice of Mesmer on him, and he was warning you not to used magic on him. You’re the one that turned it into something violence by throwing a fireball at him. In. My. House!”

She lowered the phone for a moment as she looked up at the sky while shaking her head. Sara relaxed a little but kept a readied stance, as I shook my hand around trying to get it to go back to normal.

“I wasn’t trying to hit him with the first one, and I didn’t think it was going to do more then scorch something in your kitchen a little. It was your wife’s fault for having a bunch of weed everywere.”

“That doesn't make it better. And those were herbs! And her name is Yuki. Maybe you should remember to start using it since you’re going to have to apologize to her.”

She glared at the phone. “As if. You know I can just buy you a new house, and it’s not like you’re strip mall development house was anything special.”

There was some sputtering from the phone. “It was my home, not just a house. We had memories there.”

She began rocking her head side to side. “Whatever. Besides, your daughter just slammed me into my car and totally crushed it. So we’re even.”

“You only drive rentals, it’s not the same… Which one?”

The witch looked over at a now nervous Sara. “Sara. Ami surprised me, I didn’t have to suppress her at all. Oh, and your sperm donor is a werewolf. Thanks for warning me, and why didn’t the Mesmer work on him? They’re supposed to all vulnerable to mind control?”

My son hesitated. “No clue… how far did she launch you.”

The witch again glared at the phone, “Like a few dozen feet, what difference does it make.”

There was a murmur of voices on the other side. “Well Dave says she’s must have been sandbagging with him when she’s been training so he doesn't push her that hard.”

Sara flinched, and her aunt smirked at her. “Well it’s not unusual for young girls to flare up in power when they get emotional, as you well know.“ She got a wide grin on her face.“That’s why mom needs to be training Ami herself right now. As far as Sara is concerned.” She gave my granddaughter a gloating look. “I was threatening her dear grand daddy and she must love him sooooo much the little girl got all upset and all flustered. She just just. Lost. Control.”

Sara began stomping toward her aunt, and got three steps toward her before she stopped with her fists clenched at her side and began whispering to herself. “Round and round, over and under...”

The aunt looked disappointed as her nephew berated her on the phone. “What are you, twelve? This is your niece Rosario. Be the adult.”

She went back to talking on the phone. “Look, “Junior”, this is women’s business. I promise I won’t burn anything down, but you aren't here, and I am, as you said, the aunt. I get to decide what happens with Ami right now, and you can talk to my mom about it later.

She gave the phone a dirty look as my son yelled on the other end and his voice was cut off as the phone shot out some sparks before she threw it to the ground and ground it under her heel.

Ami looked outraged. “My phone!”

The witch flinched and held her hand out in a stop motion at Ami. “Whoops. Sorry Ami, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Ami looked sad, to the point even I could tell it was mostly faked. “It was a gift… and I just got it.”

She began sniffling up. Her aunt now, and only now, looked guilty. “I… I said I was sorry...”

Ami looked at her. “Then promise me no fighting” She sniffed again, and threw in a lip tremble.

A look of realization dawned on face of the witch. “You little brat, you playing me? Me? Alright, no promises, but I’ll at least try talking.” She glared at me. “As long as Baron Harkonnen there doesn’t start anything.”

She crossed her arms and mutter to herself. “They weren't even really witches, they were like nuns or something...”

Well… if I had to deal with a flame throwing rabid feminist witch, at least it was a well read one.

Looking around at the children, then the witch. “So if the spells and property damage is all done with, maybe we can sit down inside and talk about it.”

But before we could get started, my phone started blowing up with multiple calls.