Page 36 of Catalyst


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The dome light turned to a darker red, and inside, Savida went still, his mouth open in a silent scream and his back arched. And then he collapsed; his head and body dropped to the grass and bounced as he lost consciousness.

The light in the dome dimmed and then ran out from the salt lines to crawl up Savida’s limp body, converging on the center of his chest. It shimmered and became flame-like, floating in mid-air like a lantern on water. The dome remained solid until the witches took their hands off it, and it faded out.

Mary quickly grabbed the glass box, which had been next to her, and plopped the open side over the flame still dancing above Savida’s body. Turning it over slowly, she got the lid on it before it could escape.

With the lid snapped shut, Mary gasped and then cheered, waving the box around and twirling. “We did it, Win! We really did it! The fire of a demon is ours!” She skipped to my owner and smacked a kiss on her lips. “That was so amazing. Well done. We couldn’t have done it without your extra boost.”

She squealed and twirled again. “I can’t believe it! I’m going to call them right now and let them know we’ll be leaving soon.” She danced past me into the kitchen, still holding the glowing box.

I glared at Winnie, who stared at Savida’s limp form. Her body seemed frozen, as though if someone touched her, she’d shatter. A thin pink line was in place of her usual full lips and happy smile as her jaw clenched and she swallowed.

Her actions had taken a toll on her, but she was trying not to show it. I didn’t have any sympathy.

After a few long moments, she turned to look at me, and with her dead eyes, she blinked and said, “I’ll set you free when we leave. We’ll be gone for a while. I’ll make sure someone comes round to feed you.”

No apology. No compassion. But also no elation. She knew it was wrong but found herself too deep and too committed to stop. She had crossed a line that had no return. Our relationship would never be the same, and I wouldn’t forgive her.

She cast a wind spell, making the salt disperse across the grass, and then cast a levitation spell to move Savida’s body into the shed. I saw red. How dare she. After all that she had done and how she had made him suffer, she disrespected his body by hiding it with the garden tools. I hissed soundlessly and clawed and pushed against my invisible cage, fury making me blind.

“Clawdia, stop it. You’re going to hurt yourself. Stop.”

Oh, now you care.

She heard me. “I’ve always cared. I know you hate me right now, but I promise, when this is over, I’ll explain everything and you’ll understand.” She had turned off the silent spell, so I hissed again. Winnie continued calmly, which only further riled me. “You need to calm down. I told you, I’ll set you free when we are gone.”

I didn’t reply. I stopped hissing and clawing at the walls. Suddenly exhausted, I lay down but refused to shut my eyes. I didn’t want to let my guard down like I did before and end up even more helpless.

As though she could read my mind, Winnie sighed, stood up, and walked indoors.

A little while later, the front door slammed shut, and I turned toward the sound automatically before realizing I was no longer trapped in the invisible cage. I raced toward the shed, and after fighting with the door, I dragged myself in. Savida lay motionless, tossed carelessly into the corner by the lawnmower.

Cursing witches in my mind, I jumped over tools and crawled through cobwebs to stand on his lap and peer into his face. I was hoping for some sign to tell me whether he was unconscious or dead. His face remained still, but from his nostrils, a slight exhale of air brushed across my face.

It was all the hope I needed and immediately dashed to Charlie’s house, praying Daithi would be there, understand me, and help.

Jumping into Charlie’s bedroom, I heard silence around the house. And running down the stairs, I found out why. Daithi was asleep on the sofa.

Of all the times to be asleep,I thought angrily.Your lover is dying, Daithi. Wake up.

I leaped up onto his prone body and pressed my paw into his face. I jumped. I jumped again. I meowed and meowed and jumped and he still wouldn’t wake. Desperately, I aimed my claws at a place I knew would get any male’s attention and every other male’s sympathy when the door slammed open and Charlie and Zaide ran in.

CHAPTER9

ZAIDE

“Clawdicat, what the fuck are you doing? Were you about to claw Daithi’s balls?” Charlie stepped back as though to take the scene in. Then shook his head in what I believed to be the human brain reshuffle motion. “Get off him. We need him.”

Clawdia meowed, dodging the shooing hands of Charlie.

I looked at Daithi’s still body and knew. Panic left my body in a sigh. “He is in another vision, Charlie. He cannot help us look for Savida until he wakes,” I informed him, shutting the door behind us.

Now standing on the back of the sofa as Charlie leaned over to peer at Daithi’s face, Clawdia tried to paw at him, but he ignored her. “What? How can you tell? He looks like he’s asleep.”

“Daithi is usually a light sleeper. He would certainly wake if a creature jumped on him.” I approached them as Charlie stood and sat on the arm of the chair.

With Charlie ignoring her, Clawdia walked, balancing precariously, over to me. She meowed, her violet eyes begging for something, but I didn’t know what. “You are very vocal today, Little Cat. What are you trying to say?”

She meowed once more.

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