| |
I’d been crying for a about a minute when I felt a nudge on my leg. I looked down and saw Stanley there.
He said, “No more tears, Cassia. You’ve shed enough today.”
I wiped my eyes. “You’re right about that. I feel like a leaky pipe today.” I sighed heavily. “We’ve only known Kitty a little while, but she became part of our family so quickly. I’m going to miss her.”
“I know. Me too. It’s for the best; you know that. Kitty’s back with her mum where she belongs. And Gepru has her baby back. That’s the most important thing.” He shook his head sadly. “I can’t believe someone would do this to you.”
“We’re dealing with a murderer, don’t forget.” My attention went to Kitty’s bowl. My eyes filled up with tears again. What was wrong with me today? Hadn’t I cried enough?
I pointed to the bowl and said, “I’ll take that back to Gilda later on.”
“No, I think we should keep it to remind us what the murderer did to you. Or tried to do.” There was anger in his voice which I hadn’t heard before. He continued, “We’ll keep the bowl to spur us on. We’ll find out who the despicable creature is who stole Kitty from her mum.” His back arched and his eyes narrowed. “Just wait till I get my paws on them!”
I reached out and stroked his curved back. “Stanley, calm down. I’ve never seen you like this before. What’s wrong with you? Is it the air in Brimstone? Are you picking up on the black magic that’s going around?”
Stanley relaxed his back. “I don’t know. I do feel angry, though. I don’t like it, I feel out of control. Cassia, when we’ve solved Selo’s murder, can we go home? Back to Gran’s house? I think we’ve been spending too much time in Brimstone.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” I pulled him close and gave him a hug. I didn’t let him go until he started to purr.
“Right,” I said. “Let’s get this murder sorted out. I’ve got a few things going through my head that I need to sort out. Writing them down always helps.” I stood up and added, “A cup of tea would help me too. Would you like something to drink?”
Stanley didn’t answer. He was gazing at the bowl as if hypnotized by it.
“Stanley? Did you hear me?”
“What?” He looked my way.
“What’s going through your mind? Is it something to do with Kitty?”
“It is.” He took a moment before continuing. “What if it wasn’t the murderer who planted Kitty in your broomstick?”
I shrugged. “Who else could it be?”
“Astrid.”
“Astrid? Why do you say that?”
Stanley explained, “Luca said that only guardians know where other shapeshifters live. Astrid’s a guardian, so she would know about Gepru and where she lives.”
I nodded. “That is possible. But does Astrid hate me enough to do something like that?”
As soon as the question was out, I knew the answer.
Stanley said, “She does hate you. I can sense it on her every time I’m near her. She doesn’t want you anywhere near Luca. Ruining your reputation as a witch would cause you to leave Brimstone. That would get you out of Luca’s life permanently.”
“I’m not sure she’d do something like that. Would she?”
Stanley gave me a solemn look. “You know the answer to that. You can feel the evil on her too. Admit it.”
“I don’t want to. It’s too awful to think about.” I was about to walk towards the table when there was a thudding at the door. I yelped and jumped backwards.
Stanley hissed, “It’s Astrid! She’s here to finish you off.”
A voice called through the door, “Cassia! Are you in there?”
Stanley said, “It’s Luca. Don’t open the door. Astrid might be with him.”
I made a move towards the door. “You’re being silly now.”
Stanley held up a paw to stop me. “Don’t open the door. It’s my duty to keep you safe. I’ll see who’s out there.”
He popped his head through the cat flap. I tried not to imagine his body being whipped through the opening by a vengeful Astrid.
Stanley pulled his head back and declared, “Luca’s out there on his own. You can open the door now.”
“Thank you, my brave protector.”
I opened the door to find Luca there with a bemused expression on his face. He looked down at Stanley and said, “Now that you’ve looked me over, am I allowed to enter?”
Stanley gave him a gracious nod and moved to one side. Luca grinned at me as he came in. I glanced behind him to make sure Astrid wasn’t lurking anywhere. Stanley’s words had made me nervous about her.
Luca was carrying the basket that Gran had brought with her. He raised it slightly and said, “Esther said I had to give you this. There’s plenty of food left. She had to leave, but insisted you two go back to her house tonight.” He gave me a studied look. “Why does she want you to go back? Are you going back for good? You’re not leaving Brimstone forever, are you? I know things have been strange around here, but I don’t want you to leave and never come back.”
“I’m sure Gran only wants us to go back for a short while. She’s probably missing us.”
“And Oliver too,” Stanley added. “I haven’t seen my brother for a few days. He’ll be missing us as well.”
“Right. Good.” Luca nodded. “As long as you both come back. I’ve got used to having you around. Where shall I put this basket?”
“Over there, on the table,” I told him. “Do you want to stay for a while? You can share the picnic with us.”
Luca walked over to the table and placed the basket on it. “No, thank you. I’ve got work to do. I’m determined to find out who planted Kitty on you.”
Stanley muttered, “You might not have to look very far.”
Luckily, Luca didn’t hear him. I made a discreet shushing motion at Stanley and turned my attention back to Luca.
With only a slight wobble in my voice, I asked him, “Have Kitty and Gepru left?”
“They have. Kitty got on her mum’s back and they flew away together.” He cast me a concerned look. “Kitty said she was missing you. She wanted to know where you and Stanley were. I said you had to work, and that you’ll see her later.”
My rebellious eyes started up again, and a tear escaped and ran down my cheek. Luca hastened over and wrapped his arms around me. I relaxed into his comforting hug for two seconds and then pushed him away. I wasn’t having any of that physical nonsense.
“Don’t be kind to me,” I said. “I need to toughen up. You shouldn’t have told Kitty we’d see her later because we won’t. We can’t, can we? That’s what Gran said.”
“Ah,” Luca held up a finger, “that’s only when Kitty’s in cat form. When she’s in her dragon form, she won’t have the same powers. Gepru told me she’ll fly by now and again with Kitty so you can see how she’s getting along.”
Hope jumped up in my stomach like an eager puppy. “She did? She said that?” I looked towards the large window that looked out over the town. “Where are they now? Are they nearby? Stanley, did you hear that? We’ll get to see Kitty again!”
Stanley ran over to the window, propped his paws on the ledge and looked out. “Where is she?”
Luca laughed. “They won’t be coming back soon. Gepru said Kitty needs some flying lessons immediately. But you will see them again. She promised.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’ll get going. I’ve got lots to do. Let me know how your investigation proceeds.”
I tore my attention from the window. “I will do. I’m about to make a list of my suspects.”
He walked towards the door, opened it and paused. “One more thing,” he said. “Gepru asked me to give you a friendly warning. Because you’ve had so much good luck recently, and Kitty is no longer with you, there could be an increase in the bad luck you experience. A sort of backlash effect.”
“How much of an increase in bad luck?”
“She didn’t say. Cassia, be extra careful out there.” He gave me a soft smile before leaving.
When the door closed, I walked over to the window and said to Stanley, “Did you hear what Luca said about bad luck?”
Stanley shuffled away from me. “I did. I don’t want to be heartless, but can you keep a bit of distance between us just in case?”
I shook my head at him. “Some protector you are.”
I went over to the table and took a seat. I pulled out a large sausage roll from Gran’s basket, bit into it, and then started to make a list of my suspects:
Treto - because he was jealous of Selo and wanted to win the centaur race. Also, he’d run through the town of Dingy Skipper and could have easily met up with a Breath-Taker there.
Lifin - because he was worried about Selo ruining the family business. Treto mentioned Lifin had clients from many towns. Some of them could have known how to contact a Breath-Taker.
Nilah - because...I stopped. He was Selo’s father. Was he really a suspect? I’d have to speak to him again and see how he truly felt about Selo.
It wasn’t much of a list, but it was something. I wiped the pastry crumbs off the paper and folded it up.
I stood up and said to Stanley, “I’m going back to the Cezerus Ranch. Are you brave enough to come with me?”
Stanley had his face pressed against the window. “Erm, Cassia, I don’t think you should be leaving the apartment. It would be safer for you to stay here.”
