Transformed [W&W Book 1]

Chapter 11

Or rather, Theresa was appreciative until Daphne commented, "It's funny that you are so uneasy now. You used to be so excellent with horses. Far better than I."

Funny. Theresa shot a nasty glower at her sister.

Daphne was looking ahead and did not see; Theresa was displeased to note. She had wanted her sister to acknowledge the dirty look. Being ignored was the worst. She meowed her displeasure.

After a while Theresa's cat mind finally began to relax, maybe or give in enough that Theresa could stop worrying about her cat side's reaction to the horse and start worrying about all the problems that they might encounter along the way.

She wondered if the next wizard, this Lord Wildwood, would be able to help her or if he would even believe their story.

She really needed her human body so that she could petition the king to remove Francine from power over her. She doubted Daphne could manage to speak for them if, rather when the time came.

Secretly, she wondered if even the king would be able to stop their aunt.

Somewhere in fuzzy memories, she finally had her first recollection of the face of a man in fine robes. Had she once met the sovereign? She wished she could remember more.

Nothing that she had ever heard had been particularly hopeful. He was either a ruthless tyrant or a clueless buffoon who would lead their country into despair, or worse, perhaps both.

It was not a comforting picture.

Of course, Theresa had seen nothing in her nineteen years to convince her that anything ever was.

Theresa pushed aside her misgivings. Even if the king was the worst of the rumors he was still ruler of their land so if she could convince him to use his power in her favor everything would be fine.

Daphne's voice cut through Theresa's contemplations.

"Jim said that it was only a few hours by horse," Daphne commented. "I think that we must have been riding for about two hours. Of course, I don't know. This thing is still warm, so we are definitely going the right way, I think."

Theresa nodded her head slightly, barely listening. She was tired of Daphne's worried monologues. She had her own worried monologues in her own head and that was already quite enough to deal with, not even counting all the cat related problems she now had to endure.

If she looked bored enough maybe Daphne would take the hint, but it was hardly likely, Theresa thought cynically.

Daphne was hardly astute when it came to reading her now feline sister. If Theresa had known what Francine's spell was going to do, she would have let Daphne take the hit. If Theresa had been in charge, maybe Daphne would be human again already.

Then, Theresa felt bad for her nasty thoughts. She did not regret protecting Daphne, she just regretted not getting out of the way in time as well.

Because she felt guilty, she forced her attention to Daphne's words.

"We've had a lot of adventures so far but I think that we are doing pretty well," Daphne said in an obnoxiously cheerful voice.

Theresa scowled again. Her guilt was melting by the second.

Sure, Daphne had been there for some of their adventures, but it was she who had borne the brunt of the worst of the journey, Theresa thought sullenly. She sourly listed her ills in her head.

Firstly, she had been rendered nearly useless by the transformation on her because she had wanted to protect her little sister.

Secondly, it was she who had been chased up a tree and cornered and almost eaten by that horrific dog-beast.

Thirdly, it was Theresa who had been up a tree keeping watch, as opposed to Daphne who had been sitting all tight and cozy in the comfort of the wizard's house the entire day yesterday.

Theresa glared at her unwitting sister, wishing that her heated gaze could bore her thoughts into her sister's mind.

Fourthly, she was completely reliant on her timid sister.

Of course, Daphne did not seem quite so timid as she had been while under their aunt's powers. She seemed to finding some bravery inside her. She seemed to be learning how to be more decisive.

Hopefully Daphne's budding assertiveness would hold true when they finally met this Lord Wildwood.

He would undoubtedly be another strange person with his mysterious name and his shadowy wizardly profession. She hoped he would turn out to be more like the Wizard Jim than her wizardress aunt.

Daphne spoke again. Theresa assumed that Daphne was somehow comforted by making one sided conversation.

Theresa wished that listening had the same effect on her. "This is almost like a game, isn't it, Theresa? It's like when we were little and we had to say hot and cold when someone went closer and farther from something that we had hidden."

Theresa let out a heavy breath that sounded remarkably like a human sigh and failed to roll her eyes. Just when she was starting to think that there was hope for Daphne.

How she missed being completely human with completely human vocal cords. Daphne's daydreams would be a lot easier to take if she could simply let her sister dream and do what needed to be done herself.

She could only hope Lord Wildwood would be willing and able to help them.