Mad Woman Rambles

“There. Done. Now what, cat? I mean Minerva.” Misty asked. She had just finished drawing a circle with magnetic chalk round the circular table in the ‘reading’ room.  

“The relic goes in the middle of circle, there.” I directed. Krystal carefully placed the ball in the center as instructed.  

“Okay. What’s next?” she asked backing away from the relic as if it were going to bite her. Even though it didn’t have literal teeth it still was dangerous in its own right. Skeleton keys to other dimensions should be treated with much care.  

I narrowed my eyes taking in the Waters sisters. “Don’t look at me like that. I am more of the acquisition type. I have no idea how it works,” Misty responded to my scrutiny.  

“I’m with her. I have no idea how it works. Korbin left it and I just hid it. My job was done.” Krystal retorted.  

These girls were definitely out of their depth dealing with this relic. I don’t know what Korbin was thinking when he entrusted Krystal with it. Powerful she may be, but she isn’t fully realized and is nowhere near ready to handle this level of power. I tsked and sighed leaping to the table careful not to enter the circle. I turned back to them.  

“Fortunately, for the both of you I know enough magic to get us started,” I replied. “Whatever happens, do not cross the circle, especially you,” I directed my last comment at Misty as I stepped within the circle with the relic. “I need quiet and stillness.”  

My feline form began to stalk around the circle counterclockwise. After my first pass of the circle a low hum began to fill the room as the shadows began to creep up the walls. By my second pass a faint blue glow rose from the circle enhanced by mists of shadows that crept across the invisible line coiling in the center around the relic coating it in darkness. A hum from the relic began and grew accompanied by the low beat of distant drums. Incantations from the shadows were whispered to me as I repeated them in a foreign tongue long forgotten.  

At the top of my third and final pass I sat on my haunches chanting along with the beat of the drums. Faster and faster, I chanted. The shadows dancing along a mystical wind that started seemingly out of nowhere. It swirled around me, engulfing me, ruffling the fur of my cat body. The Waters sisters moved closer together clasping each other’s hands while I worked the magic of my people.   

My voice rose, slightly lisped because this mouth didn’t have all the correct parts to form the words. However, I pressed on the magic understanding my intent. The winds and shadows crescendo into a self-contained hurricane appearing devouring everything within the circle obscuring my view of the girls. The light of the circle surrounding the chaos partially blocked from view except through small gaps in the shadows as they spun, grew blindingly bright. With each passing of the tempest my body was hit taking little bits of me with it. Each hit hard and unnerving causing me to halt my chanting.  

With the next pass of wind, I was knocked flat to the table as I felt a change come over me. My body stretched. My fur ripped away and my bones lengthened. A piercing screech filled the space before I realized it was coming from me. A yowl of pain caused Krystal to move closer to the circle.  

“Wait,” my slurred words called in alarm as another yowl of pain burst free from my raw throat. Misty stopped her sister, grabbing her arm to keep her from crossing into the tempest.  

“If you cross it now, there is no telling what it will do,” Misty said to Krystal pulling her back to a safe distance. “We don’t know what the blow back could do. Let her finish.”  

Krystal looked at her sister in disbelief. “How would you know that?” she asked, not taking her gaze from the show within the circle.  

With a shrug Misty replied, “I told you, I’m in acquisitions. Spells are a premium. I have seen them do all kinds of things. Not all good things. And whatever spell that is my ‘employers’ would pay out the nose for it.” She wrapped her arms around her body and wetted her lips.  

The sisters clasped hands again jumping as another yowl escaped me this one ending with a scream. A scream ripped from my human throat. Then it stopped. Everything stopped. Silence fell around me as the flashes of lightening dissipated, and the winds slowed and the shadows receded. I laid there in the middle of the circle, my feet dangling over the edge of the table. I blinked adjusting to my new vision. Precariously stretching my limbs and taking in my olive skin. My silken raven hair cascaded around my naked body covering most of me. I touched my face feeling a smile break across my cracked lips.  

“Mirror,” I demanded.  Reaching my hand out towards the sisters as Misty darted out of the room. Krystal looked at me slack jawed when Misty returned thrusting the mirror into my awaiting hand.  

I gasped seeing my old reflection staring back at me. I had expected a change, possibly a new body but not this. The fates have smiled upon me. They returned me whole and human. Not vampire. I laughed as I stared watching tears roll down my cheeks. I haven’t seen her in centuries.  

“You are a sight for sore eyes,” the melodious voice called out from the door, starling us. I hissed, a little left over from Max, dropping the mirror and moving in front of the relic. Ready to defend it and myself from an attack. I just got my body back. I will not let it go so easily.  

Mallec entered the room wiping ashes from his coat. “You have been naughty girls,” he said towards Krystal and Misty. “I came here to kill you, but I see you may be able to make things up to me.” He smirked not taking his eyes off of me. “Give me back my relic.” 

“Not today, warlock,” I hissed moving the relic further away from him. The Waters sisters inched closer to me. “You hold no power here. Mine has returned to me,” I said feeling electric energy flow through me. A tiny stream of it danced between my fingers. My smile grew brighter as my magic enveloped me like an old friend. It purred along my arm over my body creeping up my neck until my eyes glowed and sparked with it.  

“Come find me, if you can.” I cackled, winking at the Waters sisters before stepping back into a portal.  

“Curse, that infernal djinn. If she wants to play, we will play,” Mallec shouted before running towards my portal determined to follow me through.  

I flipped him off as my portal closed and I caught Krystal whispering to Misty, “What have we done?”  

“Hells if I know,” her sister squeaked in response.