4
I awoke to a meow and something furry prodding my cheek.
“Misty?” I murmured. It was dark now, but there was just enough moonlight from my balcony to see that a little calico cat was on my bed, its white paws dipping into the mattress.
I didn’t know any calico cats. Perhaps a stray had wandered in?
I sat up. “Now who are you?” I asked gently.
The cat meowed again, louder this time. It was clearly distressed, its tail swinging from side to side. I focused my mind on it until I could pick out what it was saying.
Cissa!
Bennett’s voice rang clearly through my head. I blinked hard, lifting the cat to eye level. It was rather small, barely out of kittenhood.
“Bennett?” I said incredulously.
The cat squirmed until I let him onto my lap. Cissa. You have to help me turn back immediately.
“You...you’re a cat!” I exclaimed.
As you can see , Bennett the cat said. I could make out a small face with large coppery eyes.
I blinked hard. This was a dream. Surely it was.
Shifting the three feet across my mattress, I hurriedly struck a match and lit the candles at my bedside table. Perhaps light would chase away this bizarre vision.
It didn’t. As my eyes adjusted, the cat’s form solidified. Around his neck was a loosely tied cravat, the lilac satin Bennett had worn that morning.
I pressed a hand to my mouth. “Heavens! What happened?”
I don’t know. When I went to retire I felt fine, but then there was this burning sensation and ... Bennett shivered, his whiskers twitching. Well, here I am.
This wasn’t a dream. This was magic, either a charm or potion.
I loosened the cravat around Bennett’s neck and tossed it aside. “Who did this? Did someone attack you? Are you hurt?”
I’m not hurt. Bennett began to pace, his little paws sinking into the pillows. I don’t know who did it—but it must’ve been something I ingested. We do not have time to speculate. The Ambassadors Ball is tomorrow and it is crucial I be there.
“Bennett, you’re a cat . I think this is more of a priority than the Ambassadors Ball,” I said, my voice a pitch higher than usual. Did the man have no limits? Even when his body had morphed into another, he still thought about royal duty.
Nothing is more of a priority than the ball! It’s a celebration of peace between our kingdoms. What would it look like if I didn’t show up?
I took a few deep breaths. A crown princess must keep her head in the most dire of situations. “What if...what if it was one of the ambassadors who did this to you?”
Bennett was quiet. He sat on a pillow. Then so be it. They mean to incite conflict but I will avoid it as long as it’s within my power.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Should we alert the witch committee?”
No! We must keep this quiet. Bennett stood and paced again, this time climbing onto the headboard. He walked along the curved rim, stopping to paw at a tassel dangling from the bedcurtains. He began to chew the silken rope.
“Bennett?” I prompted.
He released the tassel and shook his head abruptly. Apologies. This form wants strange things. He hopped onto the pillows again. I need an antidote. Let us contact Giselle and go from there.
I nodded. If anyone would know what to do, it was Giselle. She was no longer on the witch committee, but she was still a formidable charmwitch.
Luckily, she was in the palace, scheduled to fit me for a ball gown. I didn’t get a chance to see her that morning, but perhaps she was back now. I prayed it would be a quick fix and that this was not the start of another rebellion against the royal family.
I threw off my blankets and stood.
Bennett followed suit, but his leap from the mattress was clumsy. He tumbled unceremoniously onto the carpet. I gave a startled laugh, wholly unused to the sight of a less than graceful feline.
Unable to help myself, I gathered Bennett into my arms. I calmed instantly. There was nothing as comforting as a cat—and I had gone far too long without one.
“At least you make a cute cat,” I cooed, petting his ears. He was soft and downy, mostly white with ginger and black patches over his back. And he did have a sweet, kittenish face.
Bennett purred for a moment before squirming out of my embrace. Cissa! Are you not ill?
I set him down, suddenly embarrassed. “I-It was just a headache. Will you be alright walking on your own?”
Of course! Bennett said. I climbed the balustrades to get to you. He threw his head back. Misty did the same when she was annoyed. How I missed her.
We made a quick escape from my suite, though not without some baffled stares from passing maids. It was then I realized my state of undress. Rumors about the crown princess wandering the halls in nothing but a nightgown would have consequences. No doubt another Sister Scarlett article. I winced. Careless!
I scooped Bennett from the floor, much to his chagrin. This time, however, he didn't squirm. I could’ve sworn he hissed at a gawping guard who quickly averted his eyes.
Giselle’s reserved room was only a few halls down. I found her door and knocked thrice.
It swung open immediately. Giselle poked her head out.
“Good! You’re here,” she said.
“Giselle, we have a problem,” I began, following her across her chamber. “Bennett—”
Giselle whistled. She didn’t seem to notice the new feline presence. “I do admire your pluck but I don’t think transparent nightgowns are coming into fashion this summer. Most prefer to leave something to the imagination.”
“It’s not transpa—there’s no time!” My cheeks heated, and I grew very aware of the calico cat in my arms. I let him to the ground. “Something happened to Bennett. He...he got turned into a cat.”
Giselle glanced down at Bennett. “Oh, is that him?”
“Yes.” I furrowed my brow. “You sound awfully nonchalant.”
“Well,” Giselle said slowly. “That’s because I’m the one who did it.”