May patted the embers off the child’s jumper and sent him on his way before turning back to the row of azaleas. The red eyes appeared in the bush followed by a menacing rumble. Undaunted, May thrust her arms, elbow deep, into the foliage and dragged out the hissing Hell Cat. She tucked it under her arm and headed back into the workshop.

“I told you ‘No cat and mouse games with children’.”

The Hell Cat went limp in her arms, forcing her to juggle it into a more secure position.

“How did you get out of the salt circle?”

It grumbled in response.

“It was not crooked. I draw perfect circles.”

She dumped the thirty pound beast onto a worn armchair covered by an afghan, grease, and smoky-gray hair. The feline stretched and lifted its chin. May scratched behind its ears affectionately.

“You were in the circle for knocking over the sulfuric acid, and you know it. Are you going to behave?”

In answer, the Hell Cat heaved and gagged.

“Don’t you dare!”

It promptly coughed up what looked like a blazing hairball which fluttered and bounced off the chair, leaving scorch marks.

May caught the burning pixy by the leg and patted out the flames. In return, it bit her knuckle and zipped away. Shaking her wounded finger, May searched for the feline. Two red eyes peered out at her from under the chair.

“That’s it! Back in the circle.” She said, thrusting her arms under the chair.