Happily Ever After? - part 2
The continuing story of my sequel to the old French Fairytale, the White Cat
Almost Home
Kyle and Adrian had been riding for several days, stopping to rest each evening, and they were almost home....
"It's not much farther now..."
Déjà Vu
Adrian went with Kyle to help deliver the horses safely to his stable, then headed back to his own castle....
But something didn't seem quite right. Adrian didn't know if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed way too quiet. Normally there would be birds singing, but there was nothing ....only silence....
Then he spotted one of the castle guards.....and he was shocked! The guard was a cat!
His pulse quickened.... all of the guards were cats!
"Welcome home, Your Highness!"
Was he having a déjà vu moment, or was he seeing things?
This was exactly what it had been like when he had first come across Kassia's palace for the very first time years ago.
This was exactly what it had been like when he had first come across Kassia's palace for the very first time years ago.
But all the guards knew who he was....
It just seemed so disturbingly familiar....
"It's good to have you back Your Highness."
"What is going on here? What happened?"
"We don't know Sir...."
"When we woke up this morning, we were all changed into cats.... again..."
A Shocking Homecoming
Adrian anxiously hurried into the palace to find Kassia...
...and found her reclined on the sofa....dangling a squirming rat....
She was lost in a deep, internal struggle....her new feline instincts were enjoying watching the rat struggle, and just wanted to bite the rat's head off.......but her human side was completely disgusted.....
"Kassia!! I'm back!!"
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But it was like she was in a trance....
....and didn't even notice he was there...
"Kassia!! Stop!! Put that rat down!!"
Then she suddenly snapped out of it.....
.... and realized that Adrian was back....
Kassia dropped the rat, and she rushed to embrace her husband...as the rat scampered away....
"I'm so glad you're back!"
" I don't know what happened...This morning when we woke up, we all found ourselves transformed back into cats again..."
She was visibly upset, so Adrian sat down with her, and held her tight...
"I really don't want to be a cat again..."
...and she started to cry...
Facing Reality
After a little while Kassia managed to compose herself....
"Try not to get too upset just yet...."
'We managed to break the enchantment once before, so there has to be a way to undo it again..."
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Lucy, the maid interupted, "Shall I take your cloak Sir?"
"Yes...thank you..."
"Dinner is almost ready, and will be served shortly...."
It was suddenly all a bit much for Adrian, and he needed to sit down...
"Don't worry....I realize you don't know what happened....but we'll figure it out."
"I sure hope so..."
Dinner is Served
The maid came back in....
"Dinner is ready Ma'am..."
"The cook will be serving it on the terrace in the garden..."
"Thank you, Lucy."
So Adrian and Kassia went out to the terrace...
They were both happy to see that the cook had prepared a dinner pleasing to human tastes. They were definitely not ready for 'cat delicacies' just yet.
"Please sit down, Your Highness."
"We have a roast pheasant - your favourite - to welcome you back Sir."
"...and I cooled a bottle of your favourite champagne..."
Dinner on the Terrace
The cook poured some champagne....
"I haven't had a meal like this in weeks. It's so nice to be back home again...."
"...well... except for the fact that everyone is a cat again," he quickly added.
"But...it all feels so oddly familiar..."
Kassia glared at him....
"...ummm......just like it used to be.......like when we first met....and everyone was a cat..."
It suddenly felt very awkward....
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But his mind kept drifting back to those first three years with his 'Little White Cat', and how they were among the happiest of his life
Kassia sensed that Adrian wasn't all that disappointed about the situation.
"I'm not hungry. I'm going for a walk."
"I'm not hungry. I'm going for a walk."
"Wait...I'll come with you..."
He picked her some flowers....
...and tried to appear supportive....
But he kept thinking how this was just like the 'good old days'....
"I know this has been a huge shock for you....for everyone..... but I'm rather tired from the long ride today, so I'd rather wait to deal with all this until tomorrow..."
* Continued in Part 3
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