BEWITCHED!

A Follow-up Story to "Baffled"

 

Tom Kovack gunned the little red racer down the drive and away from Wyndham Manor.

Michele Brent snuggled herself into the comfortable leather seat beside him and said: "Well, Tom Chester Kovack ..."

"Awwww, come ooon ..."

"OK, OK, Tommy - are you going to tell me why I'm sitting in this car, going with you to Paris? Just what did you see back there?"

"I saw - Orly Airport - and Parrish - in dark glasses. It couldn't have been, though - I saw his body bounce off the rocks before it hit the water after the fight - he couldn't have survived that unharmed."

"Tommy, we're dealing with something other than the normal here, you know."

"Yeah. Oh, and there was a girl, quite pretty, long, dark hair - and she was wearing a wolf pendant."

"Another innocent girl under his evil spell, eh?"

"No, not as young as Jennifer, more your age, I'd say."

"Ah, early 20s, then?"

"Yes, about that."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"What compliment?" he replied, but with a big grin on his face.

"Has anyone ever told you, Tom Kovack, that you have a sensational smile?"

Suddenly a shadow crossed his face, and the smile was gone.

"Tommy? What's the matter?"

"Nothing, Michele. Forget it."

"There has been someone else, hasn't there?"

Very quietly, Tom said "Yes."

"You loved her?"

"I married her."

"Oh. Forgive me, I didn't mean to pry."

"How were you to know? It happened a long time ago. It doesn't hurt so much now."

"If you don't want to tell me, Tommy, I'll understand."

He took a deep breath, an indescribable expression in his dark eyes. "I was racing at Daytona. She was from my home town of Muskegon. We weren't long married, and we'd agreed that I'd race for one more year to win enough capital to set up my own garage in town. We were going to go up to Canada for a break and she was driving to meet me. Maybe she fell asleep at the wheel, or maybe she hit oil on the road. There was nobody else around and it was dark. She was dead when they found the wreck."

"Oh, Tommy ..." Michele gently put her hand on his arm.

"After that, there was nothing to stop me from racing, so I - kept at it, won me some top races and kept on travelling - there was nothing to go back to Muskegon for ..."

Anxious to break his mood, Michele said "Tommy, did I tell you I had a sister in Paris? Maybe we can visit her when we get there."

"Say, that's a good idea. Whereabouts does she live?"

"Oh, in a little village outside Paris. Nice place, you'll like it."

"Tell me about her."

"My mother was French and she used to visit her relatives regularly. Jeanne - my sister - met this dishy Frenchman on one of the visits, married him and has settled down there."

"Dishy Frenchman, eh?"

"Yes. Some folk have all the luck!"

"You mean there's no 'dishy Frenchman' on your horizon?"

"There are lots of people who go through life never meeting their "dishy Frenchman", Tom Kovack!"

"Maybe they're not always Frenchmen!" replied Tom, the smile back on his handsome face.

*Good,* thought Michele, *I've got him out of his sombre mood. A little more teasing, I think.* "Englishmen, too, of course." she said aloud.

"Englishmen! What about Americans?"

"What about them?"

"Awww, come on!"

Then Tom saw Michele was laughing, and be found himself laughing, too. *This,* thought Tom Kovack, *is some girl!*

---oo0oo---

They left the hired red racer at Dover, got the overnight ferry to Calais, hired another car there, and drove straight to Michele's sister's home on the outskirts of Paris. When they arrived they noticed that the little house was dark and uninhabited. Michele went to the next-door neighbour and, in faultless French, asked the whereabouts of her sister and brother-in-law. Tom could see much shrugging of French shoulders and a look of concern cross Michele's face as he sat waiting in the car. She returned to him, sat in the car.

"Well?" enquired Tom.

"Strange, Tommy. Jeanne's neighbour said Pierre and her went away for a holiday a couple of weeks ago, left a forwarding address in Carcassonne and said they'd be back in a week's time. The neighbour has tried to contact them at the address but were told they'd left."

"Anywhere else they may have gone?"

"Not to my knowledge, but something must have sidetracked them."

"Hm." Suddenly, Tom stiffened in his seat, his eyes glazing over.

Michele knew not to disturb him, waited for him to come back out of it. "What was it, Tommy? What did you see this time?"

"Ah! I saw - a ruined castle, high on a hillside. I saw - figures - moving inside. I thought I saw - Parrish - in a robe and dark glasses - ring with a pentagram on it - lots of others in robes - all wearing the wolf pendant!"

"Anything else?"

"A girl - same girl as before - they were laying her on an altar! And there was a man, tied up, being led towards the altar - then it finished!"

Michele, an idea occurring to her, looked in her handbag and came out with her wallet/purse. There was a picture of a couple in the identity section, and she gave it to Tom.

He gasped involuntarily. "Michele - this is the man and woman I just saw!"

"That's Jeanne and Pierre!"

"Oh, no!" Tom thought for a moment. "Michele, what does Pierre do for a living?"

"Oh, he's a French policeman, attached to a department of the Sūreté."

"They must know where he is, then!"

"Uh-huh, worth a try. Shall I phone?"

"Yeah, you speak the lingo!"

They found a public phone booth and she made the call. There were deep lines of concern on Michele's face as she returned to Tom's car.

"Well?"

"They said Pierre was on special duty assignment in the Carcassonne region but, when I asked if they'd heard from him within the last week, they wouldn't say. I don't like the sound of it, Tom."

"Neither do I. Looks like the next stop's Carcassonne. OK?"

"OK."

---oo0oo---

Meanwhile, at the Sūreté, a Chief Inspector of Police phoned a number in Carcassonne. The discussion took some time, but the Chief Inspector was satisfied with the outcome of his call.

---oo0oo---

Tom and Michele realised they could not drive all the way to Carcassonne in the same day, so, towards evening, they stopped at a village pension where they checked into separate rooms, enjoyed a delicious provincial dinner and went for a walk to stretch their cramped muscles after a day's driving. Their walk led them to the nearby river, where they sauntered in companionable silence for some time, walking hand in hand. They stopped to admire the moonlight on the glimmering water, and Tom turned to her and, holding her gently, said: "How about that kiss I just missed getting at Wyndham? I don't think it's gonna rain just right now!"

"A kiss, Tom Kovack? I thought you knew I wasn't that kind of a girl!" replied Michele, a gleam in her eye.

"Oh!" said a nonplussed Tom.

"But for you, I may make an exception!" and she reached up to him as his arms encircled her.

Suddenly, Tom froze.

"Oh, no," thought Michele, "not again!"

He gasped, clutched his chest and crumpled to the ground. "Tommy!"

His eyes were open and he was breathing heavily. "It's okay, Michele."

"What is it this time?"

"Men were chasing me in a built-up area. I didn't see the man in the shadows - he jumped out and - shot - me."

"Where was I?"

"You weren't there, I don't know ..."

He got up off his knees, brushed himself down.

"Come on Tom, let's get back to the pension. I think we both need a good night's sleep."

"'Yeah, let's go." and they walked together back to their hotel. When they reached Michele's room, Tom wrapped his arms around her waist and said "Third time lucky?" and gave her a kiss to remember.

She wriggled free and with a firm "Goodnight, Tommy" and closed the door behind her, leaving a smiling, shrugging American on the other side of the door.

---oo0oo---

Tom was fast asleep, but something jolted him back to awareness. The room was cold and he thought he felt a draught, as if the window was open - but it was firmly closed. Suddenly, out of the deepest shadows something large, furry and snarling leapt at him onto the bed - it was a slavering, growling, red-eyed wolf - and it was trying to go for his neck! He tried to grasp it but his hands met with empty air - it was there, he could see it, sense it, smell it, but he could not throw it off. Involuntarily, he screamed and Michele burst through the adjoining door.

"Tommy! What is it? There's nothing there! It's an illusion! Cross your hands in front of you like I showed you before and will it to depart!"

It took all his willpower not to try to fend the imaginary wolf off but, crossing his hands in the prescribed manner and willing it to go, as suddenly as it had come, it disappeared again, leaving Tom a gasping, panting heap on the floor.

"Thanks, Michele - that was too close for comfort!" He was shaking with reaction as Michele helped him up. "I think they're trying to tell us something!" he managed to joke.

"It looks as if we're on the right track, anyway." responded Michele. "Come on, back to bed and relax." and she helped him to his feet, then he sat on the edge of the bed, exhausted.

"I really don't think I can relax just now." replied Tom, his best 'hurt little boy' expression on his face. "Maybe you can help me ..."

---oo0oo---

When Michele was quite sure he was sleeping peacefully, she gently eased herself from his encircling arms and slipped quietly back to her own room. It was pitch-black and she stubbed her toe on a piece of furniture. She just managed not to cry out, biting back the sharp pain. Suddenly she straightened, feeling something not right in the room. She spun round and, her eyes adapting to the deep darkness, she saw a figure with a wolf-head mask covering his face. The man leaped towards her and clamped a sweet-smelling pad over her mouth and nose before she could cry out. She struggled for a few moments, then went limp in her captor's arms. A few minutes later a car engine sprang into life and drove away.

---oo0oo---

Tom awoke the next morning and padded across to the adjoining door. Knocking it softly, he called "Michele, are you awake?" When he got no reply, he softly opened the door. A cursory glance told him that there had been a struggle and that her bed had not been slept in. Then his eyes stopped on a piece of paper lying on the pillow. He quickly opened it to reveal the cryptic message:

"If you want to see her alive again, be at the High Altar of Montsegur Castle at midnight in two nights' time."

His first instinct was to go straight to the local police, then he reasoned that, if she was anywhere, she would be being kept prisoner somewhere in Carcassonne. He checked out of the pension with the glib explanation to the concierge that his friend "had left earlier" and sped down the road to Carcassonne.

---oo0oo---

Michele slowly returned to consciousness. She was in a dark, musty place, candle-lit by a single flame that sputtered in a recess of what appeared to be a cellar. She had a splitting headache, but somehow felt that her body was floating. She felt an unfamiliar weight of a chain round her neck, and looked down to see a wolf pendant hanging, glinting in the candlelight, at her chest. She was not alone in the cellar. A woman's voice whispered "Michele!"

Michele's eyes slowly focused and she saw - her sister! "Jeanne! At last I've found you! What's happening? Where am I?"

It was then that she noticed that Jeanne was wearing a wolf pendant too, as was the man, sitting at her side. Both were bound by tightly-knotted ropes. The other man was Pierre. Before Jeanne could reply, the door to the cellar opened and in the half-light Michele saw a blue-robed figure and recognised - Parrish.

"We meet again, Miss Brent!" the familiar, smooth-toned voice spoke. "You really are becoming a bit of a bother now, you know. You and that American. Still, we're going to take care of him soon, too."

Michele heard the words but she had difficulty in remembering who "that American" was and, strangely, she didn't care.

"Tomorrow night he will come and gallantly attempt to rescue you. He will fall into my trap and I will be able to dispose of him, once and for all." He laughed, evilly, and walked out the door, closing it behind him. The three captives made no attempt to escape.

By the time Tom arrived in Carcassonne it was mid-day. Asking directions, he found the local police station, parked the car and ran in. "I'd like to report a kidnapping." he hurriedly informed the officer in charge, flourishing the kidnapper's note in front of the man's eyes. The officer took it, read it, said "Excuse-moi, Monsieur." and disappeared through a door. Tom champed at the bit until the door opened and a small, fat, plain-clothes policeman walked towards him. "Ah, Monsieur Kovack, is it not?"

"Yes, how'd you know my name?"

"Monsieur, please ..." the detective held up his hand to silence Tom. "We have been expecting you. Will you please come this way? I am Inspector LeGrange." He offered his hand, which Tom hurriedly shook. "Monsieur Kovack, I would advise you not to go to Montsegur tomorrow night. I have reason to believe that there may be some people who wish to kill you."

"If I don't go they'll surely kill Michele!"

"We have been aware of some unusual activities in that area for some time. Please do not have fear, we shall not permit any deaths of innocent people - but please, Monsieur Kovack, do not go to Montsegur tomorrow night."

"OK, OK, but will you please tell me what's going on?"

"Not at the moment, Monsieur. Please permit my officer to accompany you to an hotel. He will guard you until this matter is concluded."

"House arrest, eh?"

"You could call it that, Monsieur. You car is parked outside?"

"Yes."

"Very good. It will be returned to you in due course. Meanwhile, good day." and Tom was ushered into a waiting police car, taken to a small hotel and put into a room which the accompanying policeman reserved for two nights. In the room, Tom paced restlessly, then investigated the room's balcony. He noticed that there was a drainpipe that could be used as an escape from the second-floor room. He waited till dark.

---oo0oo---

Some hours later, the cellar door opened again and the blue-robed Parrish entered with a bowl of food for his three captives. They were strangely quiescent, and he watched as they ate their food. When they were finished, Parrish approached Michele.

"Miss Brent - " the smooth tones penetrated her awareness and she turned dull eyes towards him. "I have a little task that I wish you to do for me tonight. Do you know how to use a gun?" He produced a revolver from a pocket in his blue robe. "Your friend, Tom Kovack, is being kept under house arrest at a small hotel in town. Pierre knows the way to the Hotel Almeira, don't you, Pierre?"

Pierre merely nodded.

"Excellent. You will take her there, then return to me here. Miss Brent, you will await an opportunity to slip past the Concierge and go to room 204. There will be a man sitting outside the room, you won't miss it. Say to the man that you are Michele Brent and have come back to Tom, that you want to see him. If he does not permit admission, shoot him - we have no time to waste. Then, you will go into the room, and kill Tom Kovack!"

---oo0oo---

An evening meal had been supplied to Tom and his police guard. A bottle of the local wine was supplied with the meal. An idea occurred to Tom. His door was locked from the outside, so he knocked it and the policeman opened it. "Hey, I can't finish the whole of this bottle on my own - have some with me!" At first the young policeman refused, but Tom was persistent, his charm working overtime, and, finally, the guard took it, sat back down outside and locked Tom back in. A big meal and that wine, thought Tom, with a bit of luck will make him sleepy. I'll give him an hour, then -

The hour had almost elapsed and Tom moved to the door, but could hear nothing. Then, he thought he heard a soft footfall coming along the corridor. Outside, the young policeman rose from his seat and, seeing the pretty young woman walking towards him, said: Arrźtez!"

Michele stopped. "I've come to see Tom Kovack." she said, her voice unusually dull. Tom, inside, smiled, called "Michele!"

"I'm sorry, mademoiselle, but you cannot see him - he is under police protection."

Tom, puzzled by the change in tone of Michele's voice, called "Are you all right?"

She did not answer. Then, from the other side of the door, Tom heard a gasp of surprise from the young policeman, then the 'phut' of a silenced gun, the collapsing of a body to the floor. Tom reacted instinctively - he ran to the balcony and was shinning down the drainpipe before Michele could find the keys to the door on the body of the policeman, and open the door. She moved to the balcony but could see only a flash of white as Tom sprinted away down the street. She aimed a shot at the retreating figure, but the bullet sang past Tom's head. Tom was running, but he didn't know where to run to. Suddenly he was aware of other footsteps in pursuit. He ran through the twisting, narrow streets of the old town, but still the footsteps followed, gaining slowly. Glancing over his shoulder, he did not see the rotund figure in the shadows step out a few yards in front of him - he turned back in time to see the flash of a gun, feel the impact of a bullet in his chest. The impetus of the shot threw him sideways and he fell, rolling over twice before he lay still, face downward in the moonlit street.

The rotund figure moved towards his victim and, with his foot, turned the body face up. The two men in pursuit caught up and stopped. The fat man was stooping over Tom's prone figure, feeling for a pulse. One of the other two men said "You have killed him, Inspector?"

"No. The tranquilliser bullet has merely rendered him deeply unconscious. Return him to the police station, I have another matter to attend to."

Inspector LeGrange returned to the Hotel Almeira where he found the badly injured young policeman. He knew Tom was unarmed at the time. The only clue to the unknown gunman was that of his senses - he detected a faint perfume in Tom's room.

--oo0oo---

Pierre and Michele returned undetected to the cellar, where they rested for the night. When Parrish brought in their breakfast the next morning, he said to Michele: "You failed in your task last night. A pity, but never mind. It has been reported to me that an unknown assassin killed Tom Kovack last night. We have nothing more to fear from him, Miss Brent."

A flicker of expression crossed her face and was as quickly gone. "That's right, Miss Brent. He's dead. Forget him - you belong to me now and, after tonight's ceremony, you, your sister and her husband will forever be within me. Eat up and build up your strength - you will need it tonight!" and, with a wicked laugh, he was gone.

---oo0oo---

It was late afternoon when consciousness slowly returned to Tom Kovack. He came to in a prison cell, a policeman in attendance. He lay very still for a few moments, assimilating what had happened to him. He felt a soreness in his chest where the bullet had hit, but, apart from a severe headache, he realised he was quite fit. He moved his head and groaned involuntarily.

The policeman immediately left the cell and returned with Inspector LeGrange. "I am sorry I had to shoot you, Monsieur Kovack, but I did expressly request that you do not interfere with the operation."

"What - happened?" asked Tom groggily.

"I shot you with a tranquilliser bullet, which dissolved on impact with your body. You will feel a slight headache for a little while ..."

"Slight!" exploded Tom, and immediately regretted it.

"This affair will have drawn to a conclusion soon, then we can release you."

"Look, I don't think you realise what's going on here ..."

"We are aware that an illegal ceremony will take place on Montsegur tonight. We mean to disrupt it before any serious damage is done."

"I've dealt with these people before - they are capable of parapsychology and I know how to counteract it. I must get Michele back safe. Her sister and brother-in-law are missing, too."

"Yes. Pierre Arnold was working undercover to expose the gang, but I fear he has come under their influence as well."

"I can help." insisted Tom. "Let me come up to Montsegur tonight with you - I can break the evil that you will find there."

"I will consider it. Meanwhile, I suggest you rest to permit the after-effects of the drug to wear off. I will return."

---oo0oo---

Some time later, LeGrange returned to a rested and refreshed Tom. "Come, there is work to do."

Tom slung his jacket over his shoulders and, with a gesture of his arm, said "Lead on."

---oo0oo---

The moon was full as the three cars full of police approached Montsegur. Increasingly, Tom felt an evil presence. It was fast approaching midnight when they arrived. Inspector LeGrange gave a final briefing to his men, asking them for complete silence as they encircled the area of the High Altar. LeGrange then turned to Tom: "We posted observers around the castle earlier on and they confirm that four people entered the area and are approaching even now the High Altar. The observers were told not to make arrests as it is wished that the commencement of the illegal ceremony is witnessed."

The four figures approached the High Altar and, quite unexpectedly, a strange blue light built up around them. On the stroke of midnight they took up their positions around the Altar. Within the area of blue light, Tom could see Parrish, Michele and her sister and brother-in-law. All were dressed in blue robes and wearing the wolf pendant. Then Tom saw Parrish lifting Michele in his arms and laying her down on the stone altar. One of the policemen made a slight sound and Parrish, hearing it, spun round and saw the ring of policemen. He snarled in rage and, making a strange gesture, he caused a ring of fire to spring up around the altar, cutting the police off from the berobed group.

Tom called out urgently "Parrish - don't move - you are surrounded - release the hostages!"

"No, never! They must be sacrificed!" Parrish screamed, raising a long, gleaming knife above the prone form of Michele.

Tom quickly crossed his hands in front of him in the way Michele had taught him and jumped, unharmed, through the ring of fire - as he suspected, it was another illusion. He raced towards Parrish, and leapt at him in a rugby tackle that would have done the Raiders credit. They struggled alone, the police still kept at bay by the imaginary fire. Tom grabbed at the wolf pendant round Parrish's neck and, as he tore it off, he felt a deep, burning sensation in his palm, then, with a sudden, unexpected movement, Parrish cut Tom's right hand badly. Realising he had only one more chance, Tom drew back for an instant, grasped Parrish's wrists and twisted the knife round and up. Parrish gasped, his eyes widened, and he crumpled to the ground. Blue light enveloped him and his body disappeared. The ring of fire ceased, and all was still. Tom sank to his knees, his mental and physical energy spent. Then, he realised Michele was still lying on the Altar. He tore off the wolf pendant then gently lifted her into his arms. She screamed as he smashed the pendant under his foot, and then full awareness returned to her and she sobbed against his chest. He still held her as he tore the pendants from Jeanne and Pierre's necks as well, and they collapsed, freed at last from the influence of the evil charm. Michele calmed down enough to sob: "Oh, Tommy, he told me you were dead!"

Holding her very close, he comforted her. "Hey! Do I feel dead to you?"

"N-no."

"Well, then, just relax, it's all over!" and he carried her down the hill to the waiting cars while Inspector LeGrange and his men helped Jeanne and Pierre.

---oo0oo---

Back at police headquarters in Carcassonne, a police surgeon attended to Tom's injured hand. The surgeon said: "Monsieur Kovack, as well as the knife wound, you have a bad burn on your palm. It's nothing, however. I shall treat it and you will be as right as rain in a week's time."

His hand heavily bandaged, Tom returned to Inspector LeGrange's office and said: "Now will you please tell me what was going on there?"

"Certainement, Monsieur Kovack. We have been aware for some time of a form of cult worship taking place in these environs. It had ceased for a few months - we now know the sect had removed to England - and we had put a watching brief on them. Their leader, whom you called Parrish, claims that he is a direct descendant of one of the Cathar monks who were persecuted and burned at the stake here in the 13th century. The cult had developed on the side of evil, however, and it is believed that victims are sacrificed on the night of the full moon and their life-force is drawn into the person of the ritual sacrificer, thus lengthening his life by the time which would normally have been left to the victim. That is why they invariably chose young adults. They had every intention, Monsieur, of killing you if you had tried to stop the ceremony."

"But Parrish made me try to kill Tommy!" said Michele, who had entered as LeGrange made his explanation.

"That was more to frighten me off than anything, Michele. Not many women can shoot straight!" joked Tom.

"Oh, thank you, chauvinist!" riposted Michele, laughing shakily.

"Your police surgeon suggested I return in a week's time to have these stitches removed. Till then, are we free to go?" asked Tom.

"Oui, Monsieur et Mademoiselle. Do you intend to stay in this area till then?"

"I had intended going to the Riviera before all this blew up, but perhaps we'll stay around. Agreed, Michele?"

"Agreed, Tom. Inspector," said Michele, a worried frown on her face, "I killed that young policeman, didn't I?"

"Fortunately, Mademoiselle Brent, he did not die. And, owing to the fact that you were, at the time - how you say? - bewitched - I believe that there will be no court proceedings brought against you - you were not liable for your actions. Oh, and Monsieur Kovack - your hired car awaits outside."

"Oh, thanks." and they walked out of the police station, hand in unbandaged hand.

"There's just one thing that bothers me, Michele."

"Oh?"

"In my premonition vision I saw your sister and not you on that Altar, and there were lots of people standing around it, but when it came to the real thing, there was only Parrish ..."

"Well, 'seeing' my sister led us onto the right track, as you identified her from my picture. As for the people round the altar, perhaps they were there in spirit only or perhaps, Tom Kovack, our task is not yet over ..."

Tom felt a cold chill running down his spine, but said nothing.

"Tom, Jeanne and Pierre are going back to Paris by the next train, so let's go and see them off."

"Yeah, sure. Hey, tell me - what did it feel like to be bewitched?"

"Bewitched? Yes, I suppose we were. It felt - as if I had no will of my own and no command of my own body." she shuddered involuntarily at the memory and Tom put his uninjured hand round her slender shoulders.

"You know, Michele Brent, you're a very bewitching lady!"

"Oh? Have I got you - under my spell?" Michele waved her hands as if she was putting the 'fluence' on him.

He laughed and said "Come on, let's see your relatives off and then, perhaps, I'll see if I can cast my spell on you!"

"I think, Tom Chester Kovack, you already have." And they drove off in the morning sunshine, laughing together.

---oo0oo---

One week later, Tom returned to the police surgeon, leaving Michele at their hotel. The surgeon removed the dressing and took out the stitches. "Voilą, Monsieur. Your hand may be a little stiff for a day or two, but it has healed very quickly. That's an unusual scar you have gained."

For the first time Tom looked at the scar on his palm and gasped, the colour draining from his suntanned face. Superimposed over the straight line of the knife slash was another scar - burned deep into the palm of his hand was the shape of a wolf's head.

---oo0oo---

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