NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: [9] Kitty kat
I sat awkwardly on a stool in Viviana's chaotic workshop, watching as she rifled through her piles of glowing crystals, rune-inscribed trinkets, and strange magical apparatuses. My nerves were already on edge. Agreeing to let her run tests on me felt like a terrible idea, but the allure of that magic barrier amulet was too strong to ignore.
"Alright," she said, spinning around with a crystal that shimmered like liquid gold in her hand. Her auburn hair gleamed in the warm light, and her golden eyes sparkled with excitement. "This is going to be fun."
"Define 'fun,'" I said warily, eyeing the crystal as she approached.
"Oh, stop being such a baby," she teased, placing the crystal on a small pedestal and beginning to chant softly. The air around her crackled with energy, and I felt a tingle run down my spine. "It's just a little transformation magic. Totally harmless."
"Transformation?" I repeated, my voice rising. "Hold on, I didn't agree to—"
Before I could finish, the crystal flared with light, and I felt a strange, pulling sensation deep in my chest. My vision swirled, the world around me growing impossibly large. My body felt like it was folding in on itself, shrinking and reshaping in ways that defied logic. Then everything went dark.
When the light faded, I blinked, trying to orient myself. Something felt...off. I tried to speak, but the only sound that came out was a sharp, high-pitched meow.
"What the fuck?" I thought, panic rising.
"Aw, look at you!" Viviana's voice cooed above me, her tone filled with pure delight. I felt myself being lifted, her warm hands cradling me gently. "You're adorable!"
She held me up to her face, and I saw my reflection in a nearby mirror. Staring back at me wasn't my face—it was a cat. A fluffy, black-furred cat with wide green eyes and twitching ears.
I let out a series of frantic meows, wriggling in her hands in protest.
"Oh, relax," she said, laughing. "It's just a temporary spell. And you have to admit, you're ridiculously cute like this."
Ridiculously cute? I tried to glare at her, but in cat form, it probably just looked like a sulky pout. I meowed again, this time with as much indignation as I could muster.
"Don't be like that," she teased, pressing me against her chest. Her robe slipped slightly, and I suddenly found myself squished between the soft, warm curves of her breasts. The sensation was...distracting, to say the least.
This is not how I imagined today going, I thought, my protests dwindling as my brain short-circuited.
"There, see?" she said, stroking my fur. "Isn't this nice? You're so soft. I could keep you like this forever."
Hell no, I thought, struggling again. My tiny claws scraped against her robe, but it was no use. A few seconds later, I felt the magic shift again. My body stretched, my senses dulled, and the world seemed to snap back into focus.
When the transformation ended, I was back in my human form—but completely naked. My clothes lay in a heap on the ground where I'd been sitting earlier. And to make matters worse, I was...well, let's just say my body had reacted very enthusiastically to being pressed between Viviana's considerable assets.
She burst out laughing, her golden eyes gleaming with mirth. "Oh my gods, Alec! You're blushing so hard, it's adorable."
I scrambled backward, grabbing at my discarded clothes and trying to cover myself. "What the fuck, Viviana? You couldn't warn me?"
I glared at her, my face burning. "That was not intentional!"
"Sure it wasn't," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She tilted her head, her smirk turning playful. "Come on, admit it. You enjoyed it."
"Not the point," I muttered, hastily pulling on my pants. "You can't just turn people into cats without telling them!"
"Relax," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "It's all part of the experiment. And look at the bright side—you know now that you're compatible with transformation magic. That's useful information."
"For who?" I snapped, still trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. "Not me!"
"For both of us," she said, picking up the golden crystal and examining it with a satisfied expression. "Transformation spells can be tricky. You handled it beautifully."
"Beautifully?" I repeated, incredulous. "You turned me into a fucking cat, Viviana. And then I turned back naked."
She shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Details."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You're impossible."
"And you're lucky I like you," she said with a wink. "Otherwise, I wouldn't bother sharing this little gem with you." She held up the amulet—the artifact that had started this whole mess.
I stared at it, still feeling more than a little annoyed, but I couldn't deny how useful it could be. "You're giving it to me now?"
"Of course," she said, tossing it to me. I caught it clumsily, the cool metal warm against my palm. "A deal's a deal."
"Gee, thanks," I muttered, slipping it into my pocket. "Next time, can we skip the part where you turn me into something?"
"No promises," she said, laughing as she turned back to her desk. "But you're welcome to stop by anytime. Who knows? You might even enjoy the next experiment."
I rolled my eyes, grabbing my shirt and heading for the door. As I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn't help but shake my head. Viviana was a genius, sure, but she was also completely insane.
And, against my better judgment, I kind of liked her for it.
***
The streets of Soleilspire were quiet at night, the hustle and bustle of the day giving way to the soft murmur of distant voices and the faint clinking of lanterns swaying in the cool breeze. Eris and I walked side by side, her armor clinking softly with every step. The day had been exhausting, but there was something soothing about the stillness of the city after dark.
I glanced at her, trying to gauge her mood. As usual, her expression was hard to read—focused, distant, like she was always calculating the next move. It was intimidating at first, but now I found it...comforting. She was solid, dependable. The kind of person you wanted in your corner when shit hit the fan.
Still, I felt the need to say something. "Hey," I started, my voice cutting through the quiet.
She looked over, one eyebrow raised in a silent question.
"I just wanted to say...thanks," I said, shoving my hands into my pockets. "For, you know, everything. Saving my ass back in the crater, not ditching me when it would've been easier, dealing with Viviana's...Viviana-ness."
Eris's lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite. "It's my duty," she said simply, her tone steady. "I don't need thanks for doing what's expected of me."
"Yeah, but not everyone would've done what you did," I said, stopping in the middle of the cobblestone street. She stopped too, turning to face me, her golden hair catching the faint glow of the street lanterns. "You've gone above and beyond, Eris. You didn't have to take me with you. You didn't have to fight those bandits or stand up to Viviana. But you did. And that means a lot."
For the first time, I saw her expression waver. Her blue eyes softened, and for a moment, she looked...vulnerable. "You're my responsibility," she said after a pause, her voice quieter than usual. "If I hadn't found you, who knows what would've happened?"
"Probably something horrible," I admitted with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Still, you didn't have to stick around. So...thanks."
Her gaze shifted slightly, as if she were trying to process my words. Finally, she gave a small nod. "You're welcome."
We started walking again, the silence between us less awkward now, more comfortable. The inn wasn't far, and the warm glow of its lanterns was already visible at the end of the street. But as we approached, I felt an unfamiliar tightness in my chest.
"Hey, Eris?" I said, my voice softer this time.
She glanced at me again, her expression calm but curious. "What?"
I hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know what's going to happen next," I said, looking down at the cobblestones. "This whole...adventure thing? It's insane. And terrifying. And I have no idea if we're even going to survive it."
"You'll survive," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
I smiled, glancing up at her. "You really believe that?"
"I know it," she said, meeting my gaze. "I won't let anything happen to you."
There was something in her voice—something unshakable, like she meant every word with her entire being. It was...comforting. Reassuring. And maybe it was the exhaustion talking, or the fact that she'd been the one constant in this crazy new world, but I felt my chest tighten again. I realized I was staring at her a little too long, and when I looked away, I caught the faintest blush on her cheeks.
"You're a good person, Eris," I said softly. "Better than most people I've known."
She didn't respond right away, and when I glanced back at her, I saw her shift slightly, as if my words had caught her off guard. "You're tired," she said after a moment, her tone gruff but not unkind. "We should get some rest."
"Yeah," I said, letting out a small laugh. "Good idea."
We reached the inn a few minutes later, and she pushed the door open, holding it for me as I stepped inside. The warmth of the building was a welcome change from the cool night air, and I felt my shoulders relax as we headed up the narrow staircase to our room.
As she opened the door, I hesitated in the hallway. "Eris?"
She turned, one hand still on the doorknob. "What?"
"Goodnight," I said, offering a small smile.
Her blue eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I thought I saw her lips twitch again—just a fraction, like she was holding back a smile. "Goodnight, Alec."
I stepped into the room, my heart inexplicably lighter. Maybe this world wasn't so bad after all.
Q: What would you do if you were turned into a cat?