Catherine stepped out of the room where she was imprisoned and walked onto the pentagram, face to face with the old hag.

"Time to meet your maker." The old hag cackled whilst the maiden's face remained indifferent until the candles were lit.

She was surrounded by mirrors, one on almost every side, the empty space that remained was occupied by the cloaked witch that held the voodoo doll. A clear reminder that with one mistake, she will destroy him.

"Now let's begin."

The old hag and the blonde maiden entered into the pentagram and stood in position to perform the spell.

"Here I stand in the hands of time, return the youth that was once mine. Time is of the essence, I claim to restore my juvenescence. I have in my presence, a young woman that is nice and fine. Between us is formed a timeline, to perform the age transference."

The old hag spoke the first verse of the spell. Then the old hag raised her left hand just as Catherine reflected her movements.

"Here I stand in the hands of time, I pass my youth to thine. Time is of the essence, I remain to lend my juvenescence. I formed a timeline for this old woman that is in my presence. I now perform the age transference."

Catherine casted the second verse of the spell when her hand started glowing.

Meanwhile in the Black Forest, the two men see a light nearby, and they assume to find the old hag's hideout.

"Where is that light coming from?" Marvin queried before the young man exclaimed.

"We found their hideout!" Edwin ran as fast as he could despite that his leg was cramping.

"I told you I knew every inch of this forest!" The merchant hollered.

All that he cared was seeing Catherine again.

The old hag casted the third verse of the spell before she directed her hand towards Catherine.

"Grains of sand that slipped through my fingers. I feel the vitality that lingers. Making me younger and stronger. I will not be held back no longer. The energy and charming beauty that I seek will be transferred to me, restore my former glory." The old hag casted the third verse of the spell before the enchantment drained Catherine of her youth. "If thou hadst the youth that I transfer to you was not enough for you to please. The juvenescence will return to me the same way thy youth was regained with ease. Then your power and vainglory shall soon cease."

Catherine casted the last verse of the spell before the sideaffects of the spell took its toll on her.

When the spell was completed, they broke the formation and Catherine fell unconscious. The light from the magic spell vanished and the candles were put out. The old hag was also drained started to feel the side effect the spellbook mentioned.

"Barbara, light the candles." The hag commanded.

*

The two men barged in looking for Catherine. Marvin used a lantern to see through the dark corners of the hovel, it was too quiet. The only thing they could see so far were long sheets covering old furniture. No movement was seen until they hear a light snore coming from one of the sheets. When Marvin removed the sheet, a loud shriek was heard.

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh! It's hideous!"

"Hold on, she is still alive, but appears to be unconscious."

Marvin inspected the poor old woman.

"You don't really belive that." The lad retorted.

"She appears to be drained, judging by how slow her breathing is."

"I came here to find my find my fiancée, not this old hag. Catherine! Catie-cat, where are you?" The young man kept calling out to her in vain.

"I encountered many witches in my day and I've never seen her around, though she looks strangely familiar." Marvin said before the woman woke up when she heard her name. "

What happened?" She asked until she saw Edwin.

"Edwin, I am so glad that you are alright." Catherine tried to touch him when he went on the defensive.

"Who are you and how do you know my name?" His words were cold and distant.

"It's me, your Catie-cat." He denied her.

"You're not my Catie-cat, creep." His words hurt her more than the pain she felt in her chest.

"Please, listen to me." She tried to explain but he didn't give her a chance, instead he pulled out his sword.

"Stand back you insolent witch! Now tell me where are you hiding my beloved or so help me I will end you."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, the love of her life was deliberately trying to kill her.

"Y-you, you wouldn't?! This can't be happening." She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "It can't be." It was worse than she feared.

Clank!

Before he had the chance to strike, Marvin stepped in just in time to protect her.

"Step aside, merchant." Edwin yelled.

"She is telling the truth." Marvin was serious, far too serious than he would expect the trickster to be. "Look at her." Marvin got out of his way and they both saw her cry.

Edwin saw the tears fall from her light blue eyes.

"Would a witch be able to look at you straight in the eyes and cry right in front of you?" It was then that he felt a great wave of guilt hit him when he realized that it was true.

"Catherine." His voice was hoarse, she wept on Marvin's chest seeking for comfort.

"Catherine, please... forgive me."

Catherine sobbed and cleaved onto the merchant.

"That's enough, boy." Marvin told him while he comforted her.

"Catherine, tell me what happened." Marvin spoke softly and kept eye contact with her before she steadily kept herself calm.

*

Elsewhere in the forest, the witches were flying in the night sky with a magic broom.

"Ha haha haha hahahahaha hah. If only I could see the look on her face." She cackled, the wind blowing her hair on Barbara's face.

"I can't see anything with your hair getting in the way."

"Oh lighten up! You should be glad we got away before those hoodlums could catch us." She was right, that was close call.

FLASHBACK

"Barbara, light the candles." After the hag gave the command. Barbara brought a candle holder to see where she was.

"Done! You sound louder than usual."

The old hag snatched the candle holder she was holding.

"Give me that!" She walked to one of the mirrors and was surprised to see that the results. "Amazing!"

The old hag felt astonished when she saw her own reflection. Barbara walked up to see what she looked like.

"Oh. My. Word." She couldn't believe her eyes, the old hag actually looked stunning.

"It worked. It actually worked! Finally! After all these years." She had never felt happier. She was so happy that she could almost cry, almost.

"Way to go you old hag, you finally pulled it off." Barbara patted the rejuvenated witch on the back to witch Haggith glared at her.

"My name is Haggith, you blubbering buffoon." The same old hag with a prettier face.

"If you say so... Haggith." Barbara teased her before returning to a serious topic.

"So now that you have your youth back, what do you think we should do with Cathy?" Barbara asked her.

"Dispose of her anyway you wish. You were the one who wanted to get back at her for all she has done to you. Or are you having second thoughts?"

Barbara looked at the elderly woman that was on the floor. "Nah, I already had my fun making her suffer. Besides, I couldn't bring myself to harm an old woman, especially in the condition that she is in." She admitted. Haggith felt a prescence approaching the hideout.

So she smirked before saying: "I have an idea." The rejuvenated witch used her magic to cover the furniture at an incredible speed. Barbara carried Catherine and put her on a chair. She put a sheet over her to cover Catherine while she was unconscious, Haggith grabbed the broom she enchanted. Barbara dashed to the back of the hideout and grabbed hold of the broom before they took off just in time when the intruders barged in.

*

"It won't be long until they catch up to us." Barbara said looking back, feeling concerned. "Would you stop being such a worry wart. We're almost close to your house." Haggith said before they descended to make a safe landing.