Mystic - EN version

Chapter 25 : Last night

Clave was pacing up and down in her room. Her cheeks were wet with tears. All her anger was gone. She was just confused, disappointed and sad. But she had to tell Griselda about Catherine's betrayal.

She stopped and remembered the kitten, who looked at her without understanding. Clave turned to him, her face desolate.

– Sorry, little cat. You don't have to put up with my problems. Come, I'll introduce you to my friends...

"And tell them about what happened with Catherine..." mused the young girl.

She took the kitten in her arms and left her room. Around this time, Griselda was reading in the sitting room on the ground floor, next to her study, where she spent most of her time. Clave never dared to disturb her when she was working. Sometimes the young girl wondered what her host was doing all day like this.

Clave went down a staircase and counted about twenty steps before reaching the ground floor. She knocked on the living room door, full of apprehension. Not about the cat, obviously, but about Catherine.

– Come in! exclaimed Griselda.

Clave pushed open the door, taking a deep breath.

– Griselda, I've got something to tell you... Two things, in fact, explained the young girl.

Griselda put down the book she was reading on the ebony side table in the living room.

– You're just in time, I wanted to tell you something too.

Clave knew what Griselda was going to say, but she wanted to put it off as long as possible.

The silver-haired young woman patted the seat next to her on the cyan sofa. Clave sat down gently and settled the kitten on her lap, praying that it wouldn't run away. Griselda noticed him quite quickly. It stood out, white and red, against the young girl's purple dress.

– He's cute, said Noah's aunt with a gentle smile. Do you like cats?

– Yes... That's the first thing I wanted to tell you. I found this kitten outside by the Eternal Tree. I wanted to ask you if I could keep it here, at the mansion... And if you could look after it when I'm gone.

– Of course I would. I love cats! And, hopefully, Noah will go with you.

– Why fortunately? asked Clave, who was nevertheless delighted that Noah was going with her.

– He's scared of cats, laughed Griselda. He runs away from them every time he can.

Clave couldn't relax. She was trying to think of how to phrase her next sentence.

– Griselda... I... I caught Cath in a storeroom... She was talking to Arthur, I don't know how... but she was giving him a report on me and my magic.

Griselda's face looked terribly sad. She put her hand on Clave's.

– I'm sorry, Clave. I knew my brother wouldn't send her here on a whim. There's a purpose behind everything he does...

Clave's throat was so tight she couldn't say anything.

Griselda sighed.

– That brings us to what I wanted to tell you.

Clave turned her gaze to the beige wall to avoid Arthur's sister's desolate look.

– You'll be leaving tomorrow. Tomorrow morning. Noah and I have already prepared everything, okay? I'll look after your kitten.

– What about Cath? What's going to happen to her? Clave finally whispered.

– She's going to stay here. I'll take her collar off and protect her from Arthur, I promise. Your friend will be safe here.

Clave nodded, grateful but worried. Duke Arthur was going to be furious, that was for sure.

Griselda stood up and Clave followed.

– You'd better get some rest. Your journey will be long and hard, but I have faith in your abilities.

Clave managed to smile at her host.

– Thank you, Clave.

She left the living room and returned to her room. She sat down on the edge of the bed, tired. She looked around her room, knowing that this would be her last night here.