(Subplot) The Good Witch

"You're answering your fan mail now?" Chantelle looked over at Cassie with surprise "I'm sure Lucy will approve, but I thought we had more urgent issues to deal with?"

The pair had been scouring the website Rebecca had been posting about Sophie on to try and find clues as to where their friend was and how they might go about rescuing her. However, Cassie seemed to be constantly distracted by incoming messages from viewers.

"I've been talking to someone. I didn't want to say anything because, you know, there's maybe a 90% chance she's a crank. But she said she can tell that there is real magic in the mansion because she is a witch. She wants to help us"

"A witch?" Rebecca raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I know. But then Rebecca's a witch. She can't be the only one" Cassie shrugged "And I've had a few messages back and forth with her now. She doesn't seem like a lunatic"

"So what's your plan? Throw another witch into the mix and hope for the best?"

"I said I'd go and meet her and judge it from there. I'm going to take Maggie with me, she thinks she can turn her back, so who knows? If she is a crank it is a waste of time. If she is who she says she is, then she might be exactly what we need. It has to be worth a shot"

"Fine, this whole situation is so fucking crazy I can't even think of a good reason not to do it at this point" Chantelle admitted as she got back to searching for clues to help Sophie.

"Noelle?" Cassie enquired as she approached the young woman standing by the entrance to the mansion.

"Pleased to meet you!" the stranger smiled.

Two things immediately struck Cassie about Noelle. Firstly, whatever she imagined witches might dress like, this wasn't it. She was in a grey tracksuit and white trainers. Secondly, this had to be the most naturally beautiful woman she had ever seen. In fact, she was so impossibly pretty that Cassie was almost willing to accept she may be a supernatural being based on her looks alone. She had medium length black hair, sparkling green eyes, exquisitely refined features and a smile that almost made Cassie swoon. Besides that, she was around average height, maybe 23 years old and had a slim and perfectly proportioned build.

"So, um, shall we go somewhere a little more private to discuss our situation?" Cassie asked as she gestured for the potential witch to follow her.

"I have to admit, I'm a little star struck" Noelle talked cheerily as she was led to an annex where none of the other glitches would be aware of her presence "I'm a fan of Naked Reality, Naked Reality US, Naked Mansion. All of your naked shows!"

"Thanks, but those are Lucy's shows really. I'm just sort of there" Cassie dismissed the compliment modestly "So you have seen a bit of what we are up against in the mansion then?"

"Yeah, someone with genuine magical abilities has it in for you guys for sure. Do you have any idea who it is?"

"A witch named Rebecca. You know her?"

"Rebecca the witch? Sure. All witches know each other. We all meet up every Halloween"

"What, really?"

"No, of course not!" Noelle giggled "Sorry, I was just teasing. She doesn't sound like someone I would want to hang out with though, lets put it that way. So, your friend there needs my assistance?" Noelle gestured down at Maggie who was perched between Cassie's boobs "May I?"

Noelle cupped her hand in front of the glitches' breasts and Maggie wilfully hopped onto her palm. The purported witch examined her closely.

"Oh yes, someone has done a real number on you Maggie. This is a pretty strong frog curse. It isn't permanent but I doubt it will wear off naturally for another six months at least"

Maggie ribbited in dismay at this revelation.

"Don't worry though, it shouldn't be that hard to reverse. You happy for me to give this a go? Croak once for yes, twice for no"

"Ribbit!"

Noelle placed Maggie on the ground by her feet muttered something incomprehensible and waved her hands. The frog morphed into a ginger tabby cat.

"Shit, I thought that was the one. Sorry!" Noelle shook her head in frustration.

"That was still amazing though. I mean, you're definitely not a crank!" Cassie responded excitedly "Um, not that I ever thought you were. Could you try again?"

"Maggie? Once for yes, twice for no"

"Miaoww!"

Noelle waved her hands again. Now Maggie was a chimpanzee.

"Getting warmer I guess" Cassie encouraged.

"Oook! Ook! Eeek!" Maggie added.

"I've just realised what I was doing wrong. I have it now, I promise. Third time is the charm!"

Noelle waved her hands once more and the chimpanzee morphed into a fully human Maggie, crouched like an ape on the floor in front of them. She looked a little shell shocked initially before breaking into a relieved smile.

"I'm back!" she announced excitedly as she got to her feet and patted all over her body with her hands to confirm everything was exactly as it should be "Thank you so much! I will never take having opposable thumbs for granted again!"

"Please, please, please join the glitches!" Cassie begged Noelle "We would absolutely love to have you. You get to live in the mansion for free, you'll be a part of the show, you don't have to get naked if you don't want to.."

"Huh?" Noelle looked a little taken aback "I'm going to be in the Naked Mansion. Why would I NOT want to get naked?"