A Familiar Touch - Open

[TheNiteSiren]

‘A witch’s true power can be unleashed by a familiar; a creature of unbridled sensuality usually in the form of a large cat.’…..The Book of Shadows​

It had been a huge blow for Carrie when she found out that her Aunt Margarita had died. The woman had been the town eye sore to most but to her, she had been someone precious. The Olsen family was well known in the town of Salem. They owned the clothing manufacturing factory in town that employed a good portion of the town’s middle class. Their family made good money but liked to put on airs like they were royalty or something. That had never been Carrie’s way of doing things. She never craved the fancy dresses or parties that her mother and sisters would giggle over. She preferred academics to the mania of the social circuit, not that it discouraged her mother from trying to fix her up with the high-classed idiots that wanted her only for her family’s money.
Margarita Hutchinson was a name that was only spoken in hushed whispers.

The town had been under the impression that her great-aunt was some kind of a witch. Being another oddball in the family, they gravitated toward one another and Carrie spent a lot of time at her home. The older woman had always been so energetic and full of life, not afraid to say exactly what was on her mind. She also frequently took in these younger lovers that made people turn their heads. There was just something about her that attracted the most unique of people. When Carrie turn 18 years old, Margarita gave her a jade amulet that shined in a way that was hypnotizing. ‘You have the light, my dear. You will be the one to carry on after I am gone.’

Her elderly aunt advised that she keep the gift hidden since her parents would hit the roof. Carrie sat on the red velvet couch, looking through one of her aunt’s old photo albums, smiling at the image of a young Margarita smiling in the sunshine. A lone tear fell down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you so much. Aunt Margie, no one understood me but you.” The wind blew through the old house, giving weight to the haunting rumors that kept even the town troublemakers away. She always felt safe here, like she was truly home in these walls. By the fireplace stood her aunt’s cat. The animal was poised and staring at her in a way that was almost human. The green of the cat’s eyes was the same shade of the amulet that lay against the skin of her chest underneath her blouse. Carrie had joked that the cat must be part leopard because of his size. Her aunt just laughed that off.

“Gonna keep me company?” She smiled sadly at the animal. Carrie had been there all day, cleaning and organizing her aunt’s things, weeping for her loss. It was getting late and she needed to rest. Putting the album to the side, she made her way up to the small simple room that she had always used when she stayed here. The door creaked as the cat followed her through the door, hopping onto the bed and preceded to lick his paws. Carrie turned on the bath water, sprinkling some scented bath salts into the water before slowly disrobing where she stood. The cat’s loud meow startled her as she slipped into the water. That animal was so odd. The only thing she wore was the amulet against her skin. Carrie closed her eyes letting herself go, the amulet beginning to glow.

The sensation was so foreign to her that she gasped and sat up suddenly, a hand to her chest. “Get a hold of yourself.” Carrie drained the water, dried off and slipped into the gold satin gown she loved so much, her long brown curls lying about her shoulders. She lay on the bed near the cat, her hand softly petting the dark fur and her eyes started to drift downward until she quietly fell asleep, not noticing when the cat beside her changed his shape.

 

[KytttheKyttenn]

Shadow as his owner and Carrie's Aunt Margarita would call him could not believe the beautiful young lady Carrie had become as he recalled back to the days he was first or was it her that was brought home, really that mattered none. He had always known had a since a familiar...
He wasn't sure and could not find the words at that point and really even if he could not like a cat could speak well no not directly, however when the question was asked from Carrie about staying a tilt of the head was given and the way the light for a split second then caught Shadow's eyes it was an odd sadness in them but this quickly faded as he strode into the wash area and laid down by the tub at least for a few moments until sensing something more then just loose coming from Carrie.
Shadow would then sit up and look to Carrie as if asking, what was wrong. As he did this he saw the stone upon her neck glowing and knew then that soon things would change for both of them.
As they then laid in bed Shadow up close and enjoying the petting trying to comfort Carrie as she knowingly or not comforted him Shadow could feel his form shifting every so slowly so slowly in fact Carrie was not even noticing the change as she drifted off to sleep.
Now Shadow knew had known from day one how special Carrie was and had known the necklace the stone at least had come from his first collar,the jade oddly matching his eyes even then and now even more so now.
Beside Carrie he laid all night unmoving even through some of the harder parts of the change and in the morning before Carrie could wake a tall lean nicely not over muscled man standing around 6 feet 3 inches with raven black hair, yes the same color as what he was when he was a cat hence the name Shadow lightly touched the stone which no longer was glowing upon Carrie's neck but not before first wrapping himself in a blanket for he did not wish her die completely of fright when first he spoke softly into her ear.
Carrie my sweet one it is time to wake and greet the new day. I know the pain with in your heart does not wish you to waken but Aunty would not wish you to stay so sad.