Chapter 24
Sandra
As soon as Mark leaves for work, I begin to train myself to control my essence, forcing the barrier that still persists. In a few hours, less than the time it took me the day before, I finally manage to transform myself back into a human.
I take a deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs, and when my legs stop shaking, I walk to the home office.
I lean over the computer and, without wasting any time, type in the password. With a few clicks, I open an anonymous window. I need to make sure that no trace of what I'm about to do is recorded, no history.
I can't leave any traces.
I open my email and start writing a message to Lucy. Each word weighs heavily as I ponder what I should say.
I bite my lip, hesitant.
If I tell her everything now... I don't know how she will react.
I can't risk it, not while everything is so uncertain.
Besides, I'm safe for now, in Mark's care.
If I tell her the truth, she'll either think I've gone mad or come running to rescue me. And in this chaos, with danger ravaging the city, the last thing I need is to drag her into it. I don't want to put her at risk.
For now, it's better to keep her out of it.
With that in mind, I begin to write the message.
Hi, Lucy!
I hope you're well. I'm so sorry for not letting you know sooner, but I ended up losing my mobile phone and life has been crazy. It wasn't my intention to disappear for so long and worry you.
As soon as I get a new mobile phone, I'll send you the updated number. In the meantime, the best way for us to communicate is by email.
I miss you so much!
Kisses.
I won't be long, I'm turning off the computer.
I need to test something.
I close my eyes and concentrate, transforming myself back into a cat.
It's as if a weight has been lifted from my body, my muscles relax, and feline agility takes over. When I transform at will, I don't feel like I'm being torn apart from the inside out, it's natural.
But now I need to test something more important.
I try to transform back into a human, and to my surprise, I succeed. The control is in my hands. I feel the essence is weaker, but it's still strong enough to keep me this way for a while longer.
Yesterday, I had this control for fifteen minutes, but today, I might be able to stay longer. I feel that I still have precious time of freedom before the transformation traps me again.
So I will enjoy every second.
With the windows screened, all I can do is go out through one of the doors. I check the living room door. It's locked, of course. The back door, which leads straight to the forest, is also locked.
I huff in frustration, but I don't give up.
I go to the kitchen. Mark usually throws his keys on the counter, but there's nothing there. I look around and smile when my eyes find a key ring hanging on the wall.
There's only one key there.
Please, let it be a spare key for one of the doors!
I take it and insert it into the lock on the living room door, saying a little prayer to the stars.
It doesn't even fit; it seems too big.
Damn!
I run back to the kitchen, to the back door, and test it with trembling hands.
It fits perfectly, and with a satisfied smile, I move on.
I leave the door ajar, without locking it. If I lose my human form on the way back, I won't end up trapped outside. The protective barrier will prevent any intruder from entering anyway.
I head straight for the forest, but I don't make the same mistake as before. Instead, I circle around the house towards the back garden.
I hold the key absent-mindedly, only realising I still have it in my hand when I'm halfway there. I can't waste time going back to put it away, so I hide it under a rock near the gate.
I glance briefly at the access panel and shake my head.
I know the password, but walking naked down the street is not an option!
I'll climb the wall like a cat.
The transformation happens in an instant. With feline agility, I climb the wall and leap to the other side, landing lightly. The nearest house, Ethan's, doesn't interest me. I pass straight by, speeding along the silent asphalt of the long street. My senses sharpen as I advance.
Large houses appear around me, one after another. I keep on the lookout, analysing each one, looking for signs that they are empty, preferably some with feminine touches.
When I see a house with flowers in the yard and an open window, my instinct tells me I'm in the right place. I'm sensible, checking the smell around me, and I don't detect anyone.
I sneak in and, right at the entrance on the sideboard, I see a photo of a young couple. I am excited to notice that the woman has a very similar physique to mine.
Luck seems to be on my side today!
I transform into a human, feeling the scent grow weaker, but I know I still have a few minutes left. I hurry up to the bedrooms, leaving what appears to be the guest room and entering another.
I open the cupboard and a scream escapes before I can control myself.
"Ah!"
I jump back when a lizard darts out of the wardrobe door, climbs the wall in a flash and disappears behind the chest of drawers.
"For heaven's sake, what a fright!"
I press my hand against my chest, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart — and the emerald, which vibrates at the same rhythm. In seconds, my breathing stabilises, and the stone hangs cold and inert against my neck again.
No distractions, Sandra, focus on the plan.
I turn my attention back to the wardrobe and examine the clothes. At the back, hanging on a hanger, something catches my eye — a stunning white dress.
It seems almost forgotten there, as if it had never been worn. The light, ethereal fabric falls in soft waves, with long sleeves that widen at the wrists, a deep neckline and slits that run up the legs, suggesting a forbidden elegance. A dress made to be seen... and yet hidden.
It's perfect, but the weather is colder than I expected to go out wearing just that. I rummage through the drawers, and that's when I find a black scarf. I put it around my neck, wrinkling my nose as I pass the drawer full of knickers.
That would be too much, I definitely wouldn't wear someone else's underwear.
I can't waste any more time here, but I still need shoes.
I look down and see a row of shoes and sandals neatly lined up on the closet floor. My eyes scan the options until they stop on a pair of knee-high boots.
I let out a little squeal of excitement when I see that they are my size and rush to put them on.
"Sorry, but I promise I'll return everything one day," I murmur, thinking of the owner of the clothes as I hurry.
Dressed and feeling more confident, I exit through the same window I entered, opening it just enough to slip through in human form, and close it behind me.
My plan is simple: return to the cabin and hide the clothes in the backyard.
That way, when I need to transform again, I'll have something to wear.
But as I step out onto the pavement, something strange happens. The stone against my neck begins to heat up, and my heart almost stops when I see Mark's car turning into the street and stopping on the other side of the pavement, right in front of me.
What is he doing here?!
Mark gets out of the car and starts walking towards me. My whole body collapses, shaking and heating up at the same time. My lungs seem to struggle to suck in air.
He seems to scan his gaze from side to side, at the bushes, the fences, the ground, until his eyes finally meet mine and, for a moment, everything seems to stop.
I almost faint.
I know I may be in trouble, but he... he is so beautiful and irresistible that a part of me, accustomed to being his cat, wants to throw myself into his arms, purr against his neck, absorb his scent and his warmth...
He approaches and stops right in front of me. I take a false step backwards, the world wobbles for a second, a chill in my stomach takes hold, but before I can fall, firm hands grab me by the shoulders.
His touch burns. Heat radiates through my skin like an electric shock, a sudden shiver that rises up the back of my neck and spreads to my fingertips.
My body reacts before my mind, my muscles tense, my breath caught in my chest. It's as if his presence has its own gravity, pulling me closer when I should be moving away.
My stomach contracts in a whirlwind of nervousness and something denser, more dangerous and addictive.
It's more than attraction. It's a calling, an instinct engraved in me in a way I don't understand, but feel.
"Thank you..." I say softly, breathless, his eyes still locked on mine.
"You're welcome," he murmurs, and I feel bewildered, his touch still on me, and for a moment of pure insanity, I don't want him to let me go.
We stand in silence, just looking at each other for what feels like an eternity, but I know it can't have been more than three seconds.
He clears his throat and steps back, his gaze falling to my neck and his brow furrowing.
My eyes widen as my hand automatically goes to the collar, but when I feel the texture of the knit against my skin, I relax. I'm wearing the scarf. He can't see the collar.
"By any chance... have you seen a black cat around here? My tracker says she's nearby."
I let out a nervous laugh and he tilts his head, watching me silently, as if I'm crazy. And, well, I am. Crazy to still be here, instead of running away before it's too late.
"Um... yes, she went into that yard over there," I point to the house I just left, trying to sound as calm as possible, but I'm shaking.
I don't lie, because he'll be able to smell the cat going in that direction, he just won't be able to follow her trail after I turned into a human.
He looks where I pointed, then turns back to face me with those intense, wolf-like eyes. Beautiful...
My heart skips a beat. My breathing falters. I almost faint again.
"Are you sure?"
I can only nod my head.