Mark ran past the sign for the 'Bobbling Cauldron', racing up the steps to bang his fist against the door.  He could barely breathe, but he didn't know how much time he had.  The latches loudly unlocked on the inside, before the woman opened the door enough to see him.  Her voice sounded worried, but confident as she asked him in a cool voice.  "What did you do"?  Mark took a deep breath, rushing out to her in a desperate plea.  "I need your help! I think another witch has taken my... my best friend and the potion"!  The woman's eyes widened as she pushed the door open wide enough for him to enter.  Quickly entering the house, Mark told her a little breathlessly.  "I'm sorry... but I didn't know where else to go. Can you help me find him? Is there an antidote"?  The woman closed the door, then placed a hand on his shoulder to lead him toward the small dining room chair.  Her voice calm and soothing as she told him carefully.  "Mark, I'm going to need you to calm down and take a few breaths".  Dropping into a chair, he desperately told her.  "There's no time to waste! I have to find him"!  The woman raised a hand to silence him, her voice starting to relax him, when she replied calmly.  "Freaking out isn't going to help you find him any faster. Just breathe and let me think for a moment".

Mark really focused on taking deep breaths, while the woman walked around her small kitchen gathering up supplies.  When she finally took a seat across from him, she dryly asked him.  "First things first. How did this woman find out about the potion"?  Mark blinked nervously and shrugged.  The woman's eyes narrowed in on him sharply and he guiltily admitted to her.  "I might... have told my friends about it, BUT this woman wasn't close enough to hear us"!  The woman pressed her fingers to her temples, muttering in an undertone.  "I swear... No matter what I say... this always happens".  Mark tired to catch her up on everything he knew about this 'Rosemary' but left out all the parts about Jack being the one who drank the love potion.  The woman's eyes rose up from the table and she lowered her hands away from her temples as she asked him curiously.  "Rosemary? Are you sure that is what her name was"?  Mark nodded, adding in curiously himself.  "Ya. Why does that mean something to you"?  The woman leaned back in her chair, answering seriously.  "I don't give out these love potions to just anyone. Not even for money. Like I have told you... These love potions are not toys and they can be dangerous. A few years ago, a young girl came to me and wished to buy one from me... but I turned her away. She wanted to use it on someone she had met at comic-con. I wouldn't allow it".

Mark raised a curious eyebrow, asking dryly.  "Isn't that what a love potion is for? To make someone fall in love with you? Why deny her that"?  The woman leaned forward to rest her arms on the table, as she sternly shot back.  "Because that isn't what it is for. Love potions are meant to help those that have never felt any kind of love to experience a little of it. Those that have been abused, used, hurt... they help people recover. But used for ones personal gain can be like any addiction. You'll just hurt those around you. She only wished to use it to claim a man she desired. Nothing more. That's not love. That's enslaving. So, I refused her. She got mad".  Mark shook his head, asking her perplexed.  "Couldn't she make her own? She seemed capable enough. Why take yours"?  The woman grinned wickedly, giving him goosebumps.  She straightened up, proudly stating.  "Not all witches are gifted enough to make a love potion. Mine are famous for their powerful strength".  Mark shifted in his seat uneasily, asking anxiously.  "So, where is the antidote and can you find him or not"?  The woman's features relaxed and she pulled a small cauldron of water to her.  As she dipped her finger in to stir the water, she told him bluntly.  "I will be able to see him, but I may not be able to tell you where he is. However... I may know a place she might take him". 

He watched her lean over the small cauldron, staring into the spinning water.  He carefully leaned in to peek, but he saw nothing... just spinning water.  She seemed to see something though as she told him in detail.  "Looks like she's given him the potion... maybe too much of it. He seems...".  Mark leaned in again hoping to see a glimpse of Jack in the water... when the woman's eyes flashed up to meet his, asking suspiciously.  "Mark... Has Jack taken the potion before today"?  Mark blinked in stunned silence.  He didn't want to admit to anything.  He didn't want her to know that Jack and him had... been together.  Shifting his eyes away, he simply stated aloud.  "Well... When she refused the drink, Jack drank it... I took him home and watched over him until it left his system... why"?  The woman groaned loudly in disgust, before dryly snapping out.  "THAT is an important detail, damn it! I told you not to use it consistently. Otherwise, it messes with his hormonal balance"!  Mark rolled his eyes snapping back.  "First of all, I didn't give it to him today! And second, so what if he becomes a little feminine for a few hours? It will wear off".  The woman sighed loudly, telling Mark solemnly.  "Mark... Potion number eight wears off after one day of normal use.  If used consistently, it can and will remain permanent. Think of it as reprograming your friend to obsessively love her until he dies". 

Mark rose to his feet feeling the panic sink in, when he scarcely asked her.  "Antidote"?  The woman shook her head, answering softly.  "Love potions don't have antidotes, Mark. I'm afraid... your friend...".  Mark slammed his hands down on the table, yelling at her sternly.  "Are you kidding me?! All this stuff you have here and you can't make and antidote?! I'm NOT losing him like this! I don't care what I have to do! I don't care what it costs! I want him back"!  The woman slowly rose from her chair and he felt suddenly uneasy as she calmly asked him.  "You love him enough to do ANYTHING to get him back"?  Mark swallowed, before nodding seriously.  The woman looked him over closely, before telling him in a chilly voice.  "There might be a way... but It means risking all the love you posses in your heart".  Mark lifted his chin, stating boldly.  "Will it save him from her"?  The woman shrugged nervously, glancing over her shoulder to an iron safe in the corner as she answered bluntly.  "I do not know. Unlike Potion number eight... this one is unforgiving. Unpredictable. Very powerful".  Mark looked over at the iron safe trying to think it over in his head.  Was it worth the risk to save Jack?  Taking a deep shaky breath, Mark asked her simply.  "Is it powerful enough to get rid of potion number eight"?

The woman's voice answered him so seriously, he felt a chill run down his spine.  "If potion number nine is used... no other love potion on this planet could reverse it. It is the most powerful love potion in the world... and it won't just effect him, Mark. You will have to take it too for it to work".  To Be Continued...