by CJ Brightley
“Can He?” She ran her hand through her hair again. “I’m not normally a violent person. I’m not. But my brother…” her voice trailed away and she seemed like she wanted to cry.
“I’ll pray with you if you want.” He didn’t know what else to say.
She glanced up at him and then back at the floor. “Maybe some other time. I need to go. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Where will you go?”
“Home first, to get clothes. And then…” she hesitated. “I think it’s time for the king to know about us. I talked to Geismalo and he said they trusted me.”
“Geismalo? The peddler?”
“He’s one of the leaders. He knows the most about us, how it works. It’s hard, you know? Not being normal. I thought I was bewitched at first.” She sighed heavily. “He says it’s natural, different but nothing to be afraid of. You just have to learn how to control it. That’s why I was so tired that first day; it’s exhausting to change, and when I’ve been a cat too long I don’t eat enough, and then when I change back, I’m so weak. You learn. Geismalo said… well, I didn’t expect to find you that first night, but I’m glad I did. He mentioned you, said you’d be a good friend. And he said you’re not crazy.” She grinned suddenly, impishly, and he smiled back in surprise. “But I really do need to go. They’ll be looking for me, and I can’t stay forever. I’ll go to the king. It’s time he knows about us. Maybe he can use us.”
He frowned a little. “You’ll leave this place without finding peace? Without praying?”
She raised one eyebrow. “Have you found peace here?”
He swallowed. “The beginnings of it. And kindness, and time to think about things.”
“I don’t want to think about things.” She looked down at herself, at his blanket that was the only thing preserving her modesty. “But thank you. For being a friend.” She smiled. “I’ll see you again sometime.”
“May I pray for you?” he asked. Someone needs to. The child is so lost, and so afraid. She seems younger now than before.
“You can do whatever you want. But do it fast.”
He knelt stiffly, his knees protesting, and pressed his face to the floor. His lips moved almost silently, and he heard her walking back and forth impatiently. May God guide her steps. May God give her peace. May God touch her heart and show her the depth of her sin and the glory of his grace. The relentless mercy and forgiveness that chases a man, or woman, into the darkest sin and still offers a way out. May God grant her a heart that seeks him, because now… now she is so very lost and so afraid.After a while, he heard her kneel quietly beside him and he smiled to himself. He prayed a moment longer and then sat up. Still kneeling, he placed one hand gently on her head and blessed her, the soft words filling the cold stone cell with a warmth and comfort that brought unexpected tears to the girl’s eyes.
She looked up at him one last time. “Thank you. I’ll be back.” And then she was a small calico, and Basileus blinked, wishing he could see how she changed. He opened the door to the hallway and she trotted out, and he led her down the long corridor and through to the front door.
He bent to pet her, and she pressed her furry head into his hand, purring. Then he opened the door, and she ran out into the cool night and was gone.
THE END
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If you enjoyed this story, please check out the rest of C. J. Brightley’s writing on her website.