Chapter 2
TWO
Unlike an early bird, morning didn't usually fill me with joy but I still bounced out of bed with excitement. Today was my first day of having a familiar!
Sort of. We still had to sign the actual familiar contract and plan the ceremony but now that Balthazar had said yes, nobody would question if I referred to him as my familiar.
"Good morning!" I sang as I threw the covers off of me but Balthazar's cat bed was empty. Judging from the cracked open window, he was out enjoying his vibrant nightlife. I still didn't know what that meant and maybe it was better that way.
A twinge of disappointment shot through me but I pushed it away. I shouldn't get ahead of myself. We might've established the first building blocks of trust between us but it would take time to grow affection and intimacy, just like any relationship.
I stretched the sleep out of my body and got ready for the morning.
That meant putting on some clothes so I would be presentable for breakfast, opening the window more to let fresh air into the room, and picking up my wand from my altar, glad to find there was some magical charge in it thanks to the Wild Spirit.
It would be enough for small feats of daily magic but nothing impressive.
Then again... I had nobody I needed to impress. I could become a celebrated Witch Mother and my mother would still find ways to criticise me.
I left my bedroom and made my way to the kitchen, hearing the clattering of plates and cups before I stepped inside. Gran was setting the table while Betty was lounging in her raised bed, not lifting a single paw.
"Morning," I said, going over to scratch the grey cat's head. She was always here and rarely left the coffee house for solo adventures. Maybe this had skewed my view on how cat familiars usually behaved. Maybe it was normal for them to be quite independent from their guardians.
Cats were cats, after all.
Betty closed her eyes slowly and stretched out, inviting belly scratches. "Morrrrrrning."
"You don't have a vibrant nightlife, do you?" I said, knowing that Betty had likely been snoring all night.
She gave me a confused look. "Huh?"
I tickled her belly. "Never mind."
"Toast?" Gran called from over by the bread bin.
"Yes, please," I said, moving away from the cat bed.
Betty gave me a grumpy frown, clearly displeased that I'd stopped fussing her until she realised I was opening the cabinet where the cat food was stored. She jumped off the bed with one smooth motion and raced across the tiled floor, the most exercise she would likely do all day.
She pressed herself against my legs, rubbing past them back and forth while I measured out the kibble into two bowls. One for her, one for my familiar.
A smile spread across my lips as I reached in the fridge for the plastic container with tuna. I closed the fridge door, jumping at the sudden appearance of the royal orange cat standing on the counter. He'd come out of nowhere and was now glaring at me with his big yellow eyes.
"You scared me!" I exclaimed, taking a deep breath to compose myself. "Where did you come from?"
"Outside," he said, licking his lips. "Do I get extra tuna today?"
"Sure," I said, deciding I would treat him today. After all, it was a day to celebrate.
Betty pressed herself harder into my leg. "Do I get extra tuna too?"
I leaned down to scratch her head. Those two cats really had me wrapped around their little tails. "Yes, you can."
Since it was a special day, I divided all the leftover tuna between their two bowls. It was more than their usual portion but hey-ho. I was in a good mood, especially now that Balthazar was here.
"Breakfast," I announced, setting down the bowls in the usual spots on the floor.
The two cats lunged themselves at the food, devouring it as if they'd been starving for days when I knew that wasn't true at all.
It was a pleasing sight to have them sitting next to each other.
One grey cat, one royal orange. Their tails were so close, they were almost touching but never actually did.
I remembered the one time Balthazar accidentally stood on Betty's tail and she showed her fierce feisty side. He had been more careful from then on.
I leaned against the counter, watching them eat with a pleased smile.
Balthazar was already part of our routine and now that he had agreed to become my familiar, I could stop worrying about him leaving.
I was going to be feeding two needy cats for a long, long time and I couldn't be happier about it.
Balthazar finished his food first and hopped up on the counter, bringing him much closer to eye height.
"No paws on the counter," I reminded him. "I won't bend the rules just because you've agreed to be my familiar."
He gave me a grumpy look. "I thought there would be perks."
"There are. You just ate one of your perks."
"Hmm." He shook his head, spraying micro bits of tuna across the kitchen.
That was going to be fun to clean up...
"Can you do that outside next time?" I asked, grabbing a cloth so I could try to wipe his face.
Balthazar gave me the dirtiest look and catapulted himself towards the window so he was out of reach. I should've seen that coming but it had been worth a try.
"I didn't realise gentlemen walked around with tuna in their snouts," I said, holding back a grin.
The cat glared at me a little more but his pride made him sit down so I could wipe his snout clean. He pulled funny faces the whole time and I took the opportunity to give him a scratch behind his ears and smooth down some of his chest fluff.
I noticed that he wasn't wearing his new bow tie but decided not to say anything about it.
Bow ties were the mark of a familiar and I hadn't thought about it when I bought him a new one but the one he was wearing right now had likely been given to him by Viktor.
Maybe he wasn't ready to part ways with it.
Maybe he never would be.
I should've asked before giving him a new one or thought of a different gift. After all, I didn't want to erase his previous guardian from his life.
"Okay, that's enough wiping," Balthazar said, moving back with a longing look at the window. "You're going to make me regret saying yes."
"No, I won't," I said, knowing that we'd just gotten a little bit closer.
With a flick of his orange tail, Balthazar jumped out onto the windowsill and disappeared up on the roof, leaving me wondering what adventures he might be getting up to. It remained a mystery and I was curious if he would keep going out like that with the colder months around the corner.
I supposed I would find out soon enough.
I joined Gran at the breakfast table and slid into my seat where some fresh toast and a cup of coffee were already waiting for me. She was looking at me with a soft smile that looked like there was more to it even if I couldn't tell why.
"What?" I asked while I reached for the jar of jam.
"It's just nice to see you happy," she said with a satisfied sigh. "Balthazar is a good cat and I'm glad he'll be here to keep you company when Betty and I are away on our cruise. You won't be alone."
I felt my own smile breaking through while I layered the jam on my toast. "You don't have to worry about me, Gran. I'd be fine, even if I were on my own."
"I'll always worry about you, Cassie," she responded, reaching across the table to give my hand a squeeze. "I know it wasn't easy for you to return to the Cobblestones but I'm glad you did. I'm glad that I could be here for you. To help you back on your feet."
My throat got tighter. "Thank you." It came out as a whisper but it also came from the heart. If it hadn't been for Gran, my life would be looking a whole lot different than it did. She saved me, in many ways, and I was so lucky to have her as my grandmother.
Gran gave me a warm smile. "I love you, Cassie. Never forget that I'm always on your side and that you have a home here."
"I know. I didn't expect it but I'm glad to be back in the Cobblestones."
"Because of Faye Li?" Gran asked with a teasing glint in her eyes.
I took a big bite from my toast, just to give myself a bit more time while I thought up an answer.
I wasn't trying to hide that something was going on between me and Faye, I just didn't know what stage we were currently in.
We'd kissed but we hadn't talked about it yet so until we had defined the relationship, it would be better not to give Gran fodder for her gossip mill.
“This is good,” I said, pointing at the jam. “What flavour is it?”
“Blackberry. And I know you’re changing the subject.”
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said, deciding to feign ignorance. For now, at least. Once there was something to tell about Faye and me, Gran would be one of the first to know.