The Unusual Guardian

Chapter 5: Missions and Confusion

I'm back! Sorry for any errors! 

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What?! She's nuts!

The hag scoffs. "I am not nuts! I am merely trying to have somebody's dreams come true. Somebody who is worthy, that is."

Somebody who is worthy? I echo. What does that-? What-? My thoughts are muddled, they're bumping into each other like ants scrambling for food. I can't keep up with them.

"Somebody who is worthy to have their dreams come true...with a price." Her voice lilts at the end, her eyes shining with diabolic joy.

My ears go back and I growl lightly in my throat. A warning. I demand answers. Stop being vague!

The hag appeases with a wave of her hand. "Alright. Calm yourself, dear. I found your compassion for those who are considered different endearing. I decided to give you a gift: the chance to help Erik find happiness, maybe even love. Same with you. Yet, being the gypsy I am, I had to add some sort of challenge to it. For my pleasure. So I made you into a cat. We gypsies are selfish, you know. And we like trickery."

My head is spinning. I crumple down on all fours. If this is real...then I am meant to meet Erik-actually meet him!-and give him a chance at love. How? I'm a cat!

The gypsy rolls her eyes. "That's the challenge. Whether or not you're able to return home and have your happily ever after-as they say-is up to you."

Wait-...

The witch waves her arms frantically. "Not now! Things will develop in time. Answers will be shown when the moment comes. I must go." She turns around with a dramatic flare of her arms, her skirt jingling pleasantly around her legs.

But, I stand up, alarmed, what if-what if he doesn't fall in love? What if I can't help him find happiness? What if? What-?

What do you mean if 'I'm not able to return home'?

Her voice booms inside my head, echoing loudly. HUSH!

I cringe, ears drawn. I take a step back.

She sighs, eyes closed. "Whatever will happen to you and to him, will be decided in the end, under my judgement." She smirks. "Am I clear, Crystal? I'll be watching you."

My vision blurs. I blink. She's gone.

To say I am confused is an understatement. This whole situation in unfathomable. Uncanny! But it feels so real.

Do I choose to believe in a realistic fantasy? Or do I refuse what I am seeing in front of my eyes, what can't be described or scientifically explained. I think any scientist would stumble over their words while trying to come to a possible conclusion.

For now I'll conclude that I've gone batty and that I truly believe I am living as a cat in Erik's world. It certainly feels real enough I can smell this world, taste this world, touch this world.

I guess I should play along.

What else do I know? Besides the little bits I got from the gypsy.

Well, I know I am at Nadir's place.

I can assume I have some sort of sixth sense. I'm able to read people's personalities. I was correct about Nadir's character and I had no clue who he was at first.

I am also an object in many mans' eyes because I look like royalty. And I have Cleopatra's necklace clasped to my neck. Let's make it a fact that I must be careful.