SC Episode 4: Alarm

Synopsis: She prays to not Kill anybody.She prays for the Diadem to cross her path. She prays for a new better sanctum.Usual ritual to summon entropy spirits (rusty can wrapped in aging rope?) and ask that they cause her enemies’ weapons to break and their luck to fail. SC is trolling for muggers again when she senses a magical alarm calling for witches in the area to help the coven being burglarized.She thinks them very trusting, maybe naive to not fear other witches, or maybe desperate. Or it could be a trap. She explores the place, much like Dr.Strange’s place in New York.Front Door has subtle witch marks.Downstairs is a new age shop. Fire escape requires retrofit by law allows her to enter a previously jimmied window since all doors on ground level are locked. And warded. Out of breath from the climb up the fire escape. I need to do more cardio. (Barstock has done luck rituals that reduce the fitness of opponents, they just are not on their game that day. )Searches large upper attic ceremonial room with large window up high.They have a couple ceremonial items she doesn’t.  A broomstick and a spear crossed as opposing female and male symbols, almost in harmony, but not quite.It appears the place is a Garderian Wicca establishment with a growing Dianic Wiccan influence.  Must be an all female coven.An adult coloring page (plugging my Wiccan coloring book) comes loose from the wall and drifts down the stairs. It alerts her to a moving shadow. Barstock, a youngish male thug in leather and denim, silently climbs the stairs with two large gold-bound books and the drawer to a cash register, full of cash.SC is still in crone garb. They lock eyes.“I’m gonna say You don’t work here.”Barstock heft’s the loot to one arm and launches forward with a punch to the face. The mask cracks.  She recoils. I should have expected that. I really need to up my game to fight these boys ten years younger than I.She discards the cracked mask.He carefully sets down the loot, and springs into a front kick to the sternum that sends her flying backward to the wall.She does a side roll away and rises into #1 stance bumping into wall display.Where are those entropy spirits when I need them?The broomstick and spear fall from their wall mounts.The spear tip is right in his face as he advances. Oh, there they are.He catches the spear and pulls it to him. A flourish, and he brandishes the spear. Scram!She holds the base of the broom like a fencing sword.Touché He pokes, she deflects, she pokes his chest. No mark. Not as good as a rapier. He swishes, she slides, she pokes his sternum.Not as good as an epe either. When skill is failing me, I’ll have to rely......on luck. His spear cracks.She spins the broomstick and one piece of the spear.  He withdraws after taking a couple hits.When they have some space, she makes a magic gesture, “Be bound to the floor!”He is inquisitive. Without a pause, she step-mule-kicks him.His shoes tear up the pergola as he falls back down the stairway.He lands with a thud, unconscious. Not my problem anymore.  She inspects the loot.To her gasp, she realizes that one book is exactly what she prayed for. To hunt the Minotaur.  She leaves the money and other spell book. It looks very interesting, but it is not hers, so he will leave it. It will be in police custody for a while.  She takes it and leaves, thanking the goddess of the future. Back in her sanctum again. Reading the book.