Twisted Fates

Chapter 13

He couldn't ignore the pulsating feeling in his blood.

The way his bones groaned, the way his heart skipped a beat.

Coraline had caused this. If she hadn't led them here-

"Kubo, what's going on?" Norman asked, a small boy curled up in the corner.

Kubo frowned, "Coraline caused all of this."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Although Norman had no clue of what was truly going on, he trusted his companions.

He trusted the girl named Coraline.

From the brief moments that Norman had interacted with Kubo, he'd known the boy was a good kid. He wouldn't blame someone else for something magical happening.

The change was so sudden . . . it was unnatural.

He just had a feeling that it would happen to those with magic in their veins soon . . .

And that included him.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Eggs had seen the sudden swing of Kubo's emotions.

Was he sick?

Coraline had told them that she would try to protect them. Save them from this dimension.

His thoughts were interrupted by a low man's voice. "Ahem."

As if on cue, everyone looked to the right. A small, frail black cat stood there.

"Hey, it's the Cat." Wybie bent down to pat the Cat.

"Hello, Wybourne."

Wybie jumped back in fear. "It talks!"

"Yes, I can. Now, why are you all here?"

Kubo stared out into the open, still unwilling to speak. Norman piped up, "We . . . kinda followed Coraline . . . in here . . . "

"And why did you do that?"

"I'm not sure."

The Cat looked at him. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's been rambling . . . he says it's Coraline's fault that we're down here."

A soft purr, "Does he have magic?"

"I think so . . . "

"Did he use any?"

Eggs thought about it, "He did play his instrument . . . and some paper began flying out of his bag and folded themselves into . . . that!"

The Cat arched his head. "That would explain his behaviour."

They looked frightened, "What?"

"Any magic-user can and will be corrupted. That's how the Beldam was formed. Or a human can absorb magic from this place and get corrupted as well . . . and it could also be another possibility of how the Beldam was created."

"The more you use your magic, the faster it will be tainted."

"Correct."

Kubo was under the influence of the otherworldly magic. Even Eggs could feel something bubbling in his body . . .

"What about you, Cat?"

"Hmm?" The Cat inclined his head to stare at the boy who had asked the question.

"Won't you be corrupted?"

The Cat shook his head. "Let's just say . . . animals gain other forms of magic. Usually they will ally themselves with the witch. But I was somehow . . . different. My ability is to talk. To think like a human."

He rubbed himself against Wybie's legs, laying down to rest. It wasn't for a few moments when he got up. "Where are you going, kid?"

Kubo looked at him. "Going to stop Coraline. I assume you are her friend?"

"Old pals."

"Then I won't tell you anything else. Don't try to stop me."

Magic was so easily tainted, and Eggs began fearing for his friends . . .

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

To say Winnie was scared was an understatement.

She was absolutely terrified.

There had to be a way to delay the magical effects. It wouldn't take long before someone else in the group turns.

Kubo had changed from a kind boy to someone filled with hatred.

She looked at the Cat. "Is there anything we can do?"

The Cat shook his head. "No. Not that I know of."

She just held her boyfriend's gaze, her eyes looking downcast.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Coraline looked up at the Other Mother.

A malicious grin spread across her face. She was definitely up to something.

"So, 'Mother', do you have something to tell me?"