Live and Let Drood

amount of magical energies, and it has been very busy.…You see, a monkey’s paw isn’t supposed to be a Hand of Glory. And vice versa. The two contrasting natures are always fighting it out, which is why it can never hang on to its various powers for long. See for yourself.”
    I looked at him for a long moment and then fished the ugly thing out of my pocket dimension. The monkey’s paw was always a dried, withered thing, but now it was actually rotting and falling apart. I let it drop to the floor, and it just fell to pieces as it hit. Crow Lee tutted sadly.
    “They really are such fragile things.…So, now you’re going to have to make a deal with me, Eddie. If you ever want to see your family again.”
    And then we both stopped and looked around sharply, as we heard the sound of something approaching. A great roaring, rushing sound that seemed to come from every direction at once, and then concentrated directly under my feet, under the floor. A sudden wild surmise gripped hold of my heart, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe, for hope. I stepped quickly backwards…as the great hole before Crow Lee’s chair reopened, and Molly and Isabella and Louisa came flying up out of the hole together and back into the room. The hole in the world disappeared and the three Metcalf sisters stood there together. They all looked radiantly healthy and entirely uninjured. Molly didn’t have a bruise or a drop of blood on her. She smiled brightly at me.
    “Hello, sweetie. Miss me?”
    I dropped my armour and stepped forward to take her in my arms, holding her tight, so tight that no one would ever be able to take her away from me again. Molly held me just as tight, murmuring comforting, reassuring words in my ear. Eventually I let her go. Isabella was looking down her nose at me. Louisa was beaming widely. Molly looked haughtily at Crow Lee.
    “I have been to Heaven and Hell and everywhere in between. Did you really think you could send me anywhere that I couldn’t get back from? And once you’d broken the chains holding my sisters, theirmagics returned and they could heal me. You really didn’t think it through, did you? Had to go for the big dramatic gesture.” She looked at me and broke off. “I’m sorry, love. You still look terrible. Let me.”
    She took my head in both hands, gently, gently, murmuring Words under her breath, and all my injuries healed in a moment. I hadn’t realised how much fighting the pain had weighed down on me till it was gone. She stepped back, looked me over briskly and nodded, and then frowned.
    “Eddie, you’re looking at my sisters again while they’re naked!”
    “They’re standing right in front of me! I am so glad to see you again, Molly. I was so worried…”
    “Well, that was sweet of you,” said Molly. “But you really are going to have to learn to trust me to be able to look after myself.” She looked around her. “Where’s Mr. Stab?”
    “You’re standing in what’s left of him,” I said.
    “Oh, ick,” said Molly. “And what is the car doing in this room?”
    “Saving the day!” the car said cheerfully. “I helped!”
    “It’s true,” I said. “She did. Apparently the Scarlet Lady is one of the Regent’s Special Agents.”
    “Will wonders never cease?” said Molly. “Hold everything—where’s Crow Lee?”
    “He went into the next room,” the Plymouth Fury said helpfully. “While you were all distracted. He’s still in there. Up to no good, I’m sure.”
    “Can you please get these collars off us?” said Isabella. “They’re suppressing our magic, now that we’re back in the world.”
    “Oh, sure,” I said.
    I armoured up my right hand and gave two of the fingers sharp edges to form simple scissors. I snipped through Isabella’s collar easily enough, and then Louisa’s, and she giggled happily as I did so. Molly stood close beside me as I worked.
    “Whatever you do,” she said, “Don’t look down.”
    “You don’t want me closing my eyes as I’m doing this,” I said. “Could be a very unfortunate incident.”
    “I like you,” said Louisa. “You’re cute.”
    “And you’re a very scary and destructive person, by all accounts.”
    “That’s right!”
    I cut through her collar. Immediately Louisa and Isabella covered themselves with clothes. Isabella was back in her crimson biker leathers, while Louisa wore a long daisy-yellow dress and white stilettos. Isabella nodded to me brusquely.
    “Good to see you again,