Mad Woman Rambles

I smiled victoriously as I stared at the relic. I finally had the key to getting anything I wanted in the entire universe. If that is true, why did guilt eat away at the pit of my stomach. I sat in my pocket dimension I had created so long ago but without full access to my power I couldn’t reach until now.  

Sighing, I sat in my wing back chair setting the relic on my side table. Now, that you have all this power what are you going to do with it? I thought to myself, musing over what my next steps were actually. I had what I had desired most in my long-lived life. My body, my power and my freedom. All restored. Yet, something tugged at my conscious mind.  

Reaching over to the coffee table I grabbed the obsidian mirror and set it on my lap. My beautiful reflection stared back at me. I smiled briefly, blowing power over the still surface causing ripples to appear. The ripples slowed and settled on the Krystal Ball and the scene unfolded before me.  

Mallec stormed out of the store, irate and screaming over his phone as he went. ‘Good. I’m glad he is frustrated. I think this will be my new goal. Piss off the self-proclaimed all powerful warlock. Heh! Fat chance in finding me now’. I smirked. Commotion from the room where we performed the ritual caught my attention.  

“Shit, shit, shit, Krystal! Do you know how powerful that relic is?” Misty asked, pacing in front of her sister alternating between biting her nails and running her hands through her hair. Krystal seemed unphased by her sister’s frantic outbursts. She knelt next to the still body of her cat, Max. The poor kitty cat whose body I shared and begrudgingly grown to love. She gingerly picked up his limp form and cradled him in her lap, as the first tears rolled down her cheeks, landing on his fur. I cringed. I didn’t think the transformation would impact him. Okay, I didn’t expect it to kill him. Or at least I had hoped it wouldn’t. Truth be told I didn’t really care but seeing her now that gnawing feeling in my stomach grew.   

“Damn it, Krystal! Did you hear me?! What are we going to do?” Misty shouted at her sister, causing Krystal to flinch as she hung her head. Misty paused with a sigh kneeling in front of her little sister. With a hand on Krystal’s shoulder she said, “Look, I know how much Max meant to you. But he was just a cat. A long-lived cat, but just a cat. “ Misty reasoned thinking she that would snap Krystal out of her grief. Hells even I knew how to read the room. That was not the right thing to say. How crass.  

“Get out,” Krystal mumbled under her breath. I gasped leaning closer to the mirror to see if I heard her correctly.  

“What?” Misty asked, rocking back onto her heels. The heat radiating off of her sister was palpable. “Kry- “ 

“I said, ‘Get. Out’. I didn’t stutter. Get the fuck out of my shop,” she replied, her voice calm with no hint of the tears she has been silently crying. Misty stood quickly and took a few steps away from her usually meek and mild-mannered sister. 

“Krystal, I didn’t mean anything by what I said. I know –“ Misty started to explain.  

“You don’t know shit, Misty” Krystal uttered tightened her grip on her beloved cat. “Max was the last gift from mom and dad. I will cry over him because he has been here for me more than you ever have.” Krystal adjusted her legs to sit cross legged on the floor pulling Max unto her lap to hold him tighter. My heart tightened at the gesture.  

‘Had anyone ever grieved me so vehemently? Had anyone cared for me like she did this animal? No. Never.’ And a part of me cracked open at that thought. I turned back to the scene in my mirror as a single tear fell onto it. I wasn’t sure if that tear was for Max, me or Krystal. Maybe all three of us.  

Krystal looked up at her sister, “If you are so gung-ho about finding that damn thing, go look for it yourself. I am done with that crazy djinn and all the issues she has brought to my doorstep. Fuck you and fuck her!” Krystal finished and leaned over Max as her own body quivered with the force of her sobs.  

‘Enough.’ I thought as I angrily wiped at my tears. I set the mirror down on the floor and stepped on it. From one breath to the next shadows enveloped me as I stepped from my pocket dimension into the magic shop.  

“That is just rude. I didn’t think I caused that many problems,” I quipped, stepping out of the shadows, followed by a four-legged friend.  

The short, plump shadow meowed and purred as it came up to Krystal, rubbing against her knee. She looked up at me eyes narrowing before turning her attention to the small shadow pawing at her arm.  

“Max?” Krystal asked the pulsing black mass. The shadow responded with a meow as she loosened her grip on the lifeless cat body on her lap. The small shadow took the opportunity to hop onto her lap, kneading a couple of times before settling into the motionless body of his former self. The fur began to move, his side moving up and down with each breath.  

“Oh, gods! Max!” Krystal exclaimed as she rubbed her hand against his soft warm fur. He chirped in response and settled back in her lap either tired from his trip or just comforted by her familiar presence. Either way it drew a smile on my lips.  

“How did you?” Misty asked me as I took in the touching scene. That small part of me mending slightly. I threw an object to Misty, who caught it with one hand.  

“The relic,” I replied moving closer to the sisters.  

“I don’t understand. We saw you leave with it. Mallec tried to follow you but couldn’t get through your portal. What the frack is going on?” Misty asked perplexed, turning the relic, which now resembled a key, in her hand. “It’s changed shape.” 

“Of course it did,” I retorted as I knelt in front of Krystal. 

“Rude,” Misty muttered, folding her arms, tucking the key in her inner pocket. 

“You brought him back,” Krystal said in a trembling voice, as she stared at me. I stroked the top of the furball’s head. His purrs warming my soul. Stupid cat making me feel feelings.   

“He earned it,” I replied looking back at her bloodshot violet eyes. “He helped me stay in this realm long enough to help myself.” I stroked him a few more times before standing. “Besides I had to pay you back for the insanity I caused you. Though I feel I was helping fix the problems you caused.”  

“I caused?!” Krystal huffed as she clumsily stood up not letting go of Max in the process causing him to squeak. I grinned wickedly at Krystal as she cooed at Max cradling him like a baby.  

“Okay fine. I may have had a hand in things, but this is me making things right,” I replied with a sigh. 

“What do you mean?” Misty asked as I headed towards the door. “What are you making right?” 

I reached the front door and pulled a bright green scarf over my hair and pulled out a pair of large sunglasses. The contrast striking enhancing the flecks of green in my eyes as I caught my reflection in the window. I looked back at the sisters as they stood together. I smiled at them.  

“Don’t worry ladies. With this in my protection, I will right my wrongs.” I replied, holding the key that Misty had tucked into her jacket.  

“Hey,” Misty grumbled, as she searched her pocket for the missing key. I chuckled and placed the key around my neck dangling from a gold chain. 

“This is where I leave you. Live your lives. Mallec won’t come back to harm you,” I assured them as I reached for the door handle. 

“Will we ever see you again?” Krystal asked as Max purred in her arms. 

“I’m a djinn. All you have to do is make a wish,” I replied as I slipped out the door and disappeared into the midday crowd.