Episode One Hundred and Eighty-Four: The Cat’s troubles

“There are other stones like me, but I was the first.” The stone paused for a moment, then continued. “Our magic is not connected to one another. We do not share knowledge, except when we meet.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

The Cat nudged me. “How about you move it somewhere else?”

“I don’t want it to be lonely.”

Indigo flew out of nowhere and landed on the counter, almost tumbling forward. “Can I borrow the Lorestone?”

I nodded. “What are you going to do with it?”

“Books. I have books it can listen–”

Before she finished her sentence, I started laughing. Great minds think alike after all.

“Go ahead. I need to send you a few new books from Adam’s list, anyway.” I still needed to respond to him, and go through what he sent.

Indigo leaped up and circled the Lorestone, before diving at it and snagging it with her claws. She flew lower than normal with it, and she flapped her wings more frequently before she disappeared into the hole.

“That takes care of that,” added the Cat and he rubbed his face against the back of my arm.

I pulled my mug closer, and somehow found it almost empty yet again. Though, this time I didn’t know if it had been me or the Cat.

“So, we saved a bunch of people from a snowstorm, and two of them are now going to get married.” My lips parted, but I snapped them shut. There wasn’t any cat hair in my mug, so I finished it. 

“Simple days that just work are nice.” The Cat rolled onto his belly and pawed at me. 

I scratched his tummy, then jerked away. He never acted like this.

“Are you doing okay?”My voice hitched as I continued, “You seem, well, more like a cat…”

His paws froze in the air, and he flopped to his side. “I feel more like a cat each day.” 

The words hung in the air, making a shiver run down my spine. Without thinking, I sent a burst of my magic directly at the Cat. The golden energy washed over him, highlighting nothing.

“That doesn’t sound good,” I added, pulling him close. “You are more than a cat. You are The Cat.”

“It’s getting harder and harder to feel like it.” This time he barely spoke.

“We’ll figure it out.” We would. No matter what, I’d find a way to save the Cat. “So, what’s next for today?”

The Cat twisted out of my cuddles and landed on the counter. “We have another customer this afternoon, but it’s on a mundane world.”

“It’s Molly and her Dad, isn’t it?” I asked in a joking manner.

The Car’s hair all stood on end as he glanced at me. His eyes narrowed. “How did you know?”

“Hey, relax. Just a guess.” I ran my hand along his back, and his fur flattened. “They are the only regular customers we have, well, regularly.” 

“Are you sure it's only the cat stuff bothering you?” I asked. Part of me was waiting for Indigo to interrupt us, since that happened each time we started speaking of the more important stuff.

“I’m tired,” he finally answered, as he padded away from me. He jumped off the counter and headed to the chair in the window. 

A bright beam of sunlight formed just before he landed on it. Then he curled up in a ball.

I studied him for a moment before turning away. I needed more information. Something, somewhere, had to mention what needed to happen to free him. Lorestone had given me more info on the Fates themselves, but that didn’t help. The Cat’s curse had to have a way to break it.

The book.

Now, I had to find a way to actually read the book.

I pressed my lips together. 

Sunlight drifted down from the skylights, and the wall that led to the Cat’s workshop remained bare. The book stayed in there for the most part.

Even thinking about the golden glow coming from its open pages made my fingers tingle. Moving closer to Betty, I went on autopilot, grinding the beans as my mind wandered.

If I asked, maybe the Cat would let me read it.

I shook my head, instantly knowing that wasn’t the case. He didn’t want me anywhere near the book, and I still didn’t understand why.

I had fate magic, shouldn’t I be able to reach something from the Fates?

Before I knew it, the hot aroma of another latte pushed the thoughts away. I sipped on the warm beverage and headed to the rooftop deck. It was way too early to start lunch, and if the dragons were stopping by I needed to write a list of questions to ask.

Maybe they had more information for me on the Cat’s curse.

At the very least, I couldn’t wait to see what Lady Twilight thought of the Lorestone. That put a kick in my step as I continued on my way up.

Yet, I couldn’t help but glance once more at the Cat below. A pool of darkness curled up in the sun.

Something tickled at me, from up here. Like someone calling my name from a long distance. Again, I pulled at my magic and let it fall below, covering the shop. Monitoring every inch below.

Space.

There was a space between where my magic touched and the Cat. Up close, I didn’t spot it, but from here a bubble covered him, close to his fur but not touching.

My golden magic bounced off it and continued on.

“Hmmm…” I narrowed my eyes and my fingers tightened around my mug. Something blocked my magic from touching the Cat.

It gave me something to work with. 

###

Sable’s probing questions weren’t subtle, and weighed on me.

Family was everything, and she needed to be reminded of that. Soon, my reminder, well, gift, would arrive, and she’d drop this current line of questions.

The chair called to me, along with the warm sunlight. It soaked into my bones, even the ones I didn’t have anymore. Bit by bit each of my muscles relaxed, and for a second I was reminded of the before-times. When all I was involved energy, and forming my domain for the first time.

It ranked right up there with creating the First.

I clutched those memories, letting myself drift in the current. Yet, I didn’t dare let go of myself, and the connection to the chair beneath me, or the warm light overhead. 

Letting go would be the last of me, just gone.