| |
Stanley and I watched silently as Luca and Kitty approached a butterfly tree at the other side of the town square. Luca held his hand out and summoned a butterfly. He gave it a message and then held it near Kitty. I saw her adding her own message and wondered what she was saying.
The butterfly flew away at an amazing speed. I’ve never seen one move that fast before. Luca began to walk slowly around the square, talking to Kitty in his arms as he did so.
“Why isn’t Luca coming back here?” I asked Gran.
“He’s keeping Kitty away from you. He knows her powers are increasing.”
I blinked rapidly. “Won’t I be able to cuddle her again? Not even once?”
“No.”
“What about stroking her little head? Can’t I do that?”
“No.”
Stanley sniffed and looked away.
I continued with my pleas, “Can I say goodbye to her?”
“It would be better if you didn’t.” Gran looked at Stanley and said to him, “You can get closer to Kitty. She’s not affecting you.”
Stanley lifted his furry chin. “If Cassia can’t go near her, then I won’t either. It wouldn’t be fair.”
I smiled at him. “You are a good friend, Stanley.”
He gave me a bashful look.
“Gran, what will Kitty’s mother look like? Will she be in her dragon form?” I gulped. “Will she be mad at me?”
“I imagine she’ll be furious, but not at you. I’ve no doubt Kitty was placed in your broomstick on purpose. I’m sure Gepru will understand.” Gran looked towards the skies. “I can feel she’s on her way.”
I looked to where Gran had her attention. I could see a tiny speck in the distance moving towards us. The speck soon got bigger, and I made out the shape of a dragon. A very big dragon.
I looked over to where Luca and Kitty were. They were standing outside a sweet shop and Luca was pointing to things in the window. They hadn’t noticed Gepru’s imminent arrival. Perhaps they should stay where they were. If Gepru was going to shout at me, I didn’t want Kitty to witness it.
Gepru landed a short distance away and folded her wings up. She gave herself a shake and turned into a black cat with white paws. She moved wearily towards us. She was a large cat, about twice the size of Stanley. Her fur was matted and dirty, and she looked as if she hadn’t slept for days. There was a terrible sadness about her, but I detected the slightest flicker of hope in her too.
Gepru dragged herself over to us and collapsed on the ground. Stanley and I rushed to her side. Gepru’s eyes were closed and her mouth hung limply open.
I whispered to Stanley, “Is she dead?”
He sniffed her. “No, but she’s barely alive. Can you do something for her?”
My hands shook as I raised them over the prone creature. “I’m not sure what I should be doing.”
Gran called out, “Just a minute, let me help.” She picked something up and walked over to us. She knelt at Gepru’s side and placed a bowl of water in front of her. Gran waved her hand over the water and mumbled something. She said, “I’ve added strength and energy to this water, along with some healing powers. This poor thing looks as if she needs it.”
Gran put her finger in the water and then ran her finger over Gepru’s lips. Gepru groaned and opened her eyes. Gran lifted the bowl and gently tipped it so that a trickle of water ran into Gepru’s mouth. Gepru swallowed it and some of the tiredness left her face. She sat up straighter and Gran put the bowl in front of her. It was emptied by Gepru within seconds.
Gran said, “Is that better? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need anything else?”
“My baby,” Gepru said. “I need my baby. Is she here? I got a message saying she was.”
“There she is.” I pointed to the opposite side of the square where Luca and Kitty were now looking in the toyshop window. They were oblivious to what was going on over here.
Gepru let out an anguished cry and closed her eyes. “Thank the mountains for that!” She opened her eyes. “Is she okay? Is she well?”
Stanley said, “She’s fine. Cassia and I have been looking after her. We fed her and played games. I sang her some songs.”
“I sang to her too,” I said. “We’re so sorry. We didn’t take Kitty on purpose. She got stuck in my broomstick.”
“Kitty? Who’s Kitty?” Gepru asked.
I blushed. “Oh, I’m sorry, but we named her. We didn’t want to keep calling her ‘the kitten’. Sorry again.”
“You don’t need to apologise for anything. You’ve got a good heart, I can sense it.” Gepru nodded. “Kitty. I like that name. I haven’t given her a formal name yet. I’ve been calling her Baby. Yes, I think I’ll keep Kitty as her name. You mentioned a broomstick. How did Kitty get in there? And where was this?”
I gave Gepru the full details. She listened patiently but I could see the anger growing in her eyes. I also noticed a puff of smoke coming out of her nostrils.
Gepru said, “Someone put Kitty in your broomstick on purpose. Kitty was stolen from our home in the mountains last week when I was asleep. I’ve been searching high and low for her ever since. I never thought for a moment she’d be in Brimstone. This is a good town. No one here would ever steal one of our kind, and a kitten at that.”
Gran said, “I suspect Cassia was targeted because she’s a witch, and a justice witch at that.”
“That makes sense,” Gepru said with a small nod. “I know of a young witch who was targeted the same way, it was years ago. A rival placed one of my kind outside the young witch’s door. She let it in and soon became close to it. It wasn’t long before she came into a small fortune, but it was at the expense of three other witches dying. The people in her town turned against her and threatened to take her life. As far as I know, the young witch ran away and was never heard of again.” Gepru gave me a direct look. “That’s what the people of her town said. I think something more sinister happened to the young witch. People wanted their revenge.”
“But Kitty’s so lovely!” I burst out. “She couldn’t possibly cause that much mischief for me.”
“She could,” Gepru said. “She wouldn’t do it on purpose. And your good luck would only increase when her wings came in.”
“I think her wings are coming in,” I said. I explained to Gepru about the ridges I’d found on Kitty’s back.
Gepru shook her head. “The little scamp. I’ll have to get on with her flying lessons immediately.” She looked over to where Luca and Kitty were. “I’ll collect her now. Thank you for taking such good care of her. I apologise for what you’ve been through. Someone’s played a wicked trick on you.”
“And on you by stealing Kitty,” I pointed out.
“Do you know who did it?” Gepru asked. “I’m not one for taking revenge, but I would like to know who it was.”
“I have a few suspicions. I can let you know when I find out for sure.”
“Thank you.” Gepru started to move away from us.
I followed her.
Gran put a hand out to stop me. “Cassia, you can’t go near Kitty.”
“But I have to say goodbye.”
“You can’t. I’m sorry.” Gran kept a firm hold of me.
Gepru trotted across the square. Luca turned around. Kitty shrieked with delight when she saw her mum.
“Can’t I go a bit closer and shout a goodbye?” I asked desperately.
“No. Sorry.”
I looked at Stanley and said, “You go and say goodbye for us. Please.”
He shook his head. His voice was thick with emotion as he replied, “I don’t do goodbyes. I can’t say goodbye to Kitty. I just can’t.” He turned away. “I’m going back to the apartment. I can’t bear to watch Kitty leave.”
As Stanley ran towards the apartment, I heard sobs coming from him.
Tears rolled down my cheeks and my vision blurred. I could make out Gepru and Kitty across the square. Gepru was licking Kitty behind the ears and Kitty was squealing with joy. I was pleased that mother and daughter were reunited, but my heart was breaking at the thought of Kitty leaving.
More tears flowed from my eyes. I muttered to Gran, “I have to go. I’m falling to pieces here. I’m going to be a blubbering wreck very soon.”
Gran gave me a swift hug. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
I turned away from her, grabbed my broomstick and jogged towards the apartment. My vision was still swimming and I hoped I wouldn’t trip over anything.
Kitty called out, “Cassia! Come back! Mummy’s here! We can go flying together. Cassia!”
I felt my heart breaking at her words. I kept my head down and raced forwards. Once I was safely inside the apartment, I slammed the door behind me, threw my broomstick to one side, and sank to the floor. I put my head in my hands and let the tears flow.
