"Scram, shoo, shoo. You devil cat."
I could hear Ms. Wartol, my bitter old gorgon-like neighbor yelling at Stella again. Her screeching hiss was unmistakable from three houses away. She only hated my cat for the color of her fur. I pulled open my window shutters only to see the trot swiping a broom at Stella.
"You superstitious old hag if you hurt my cat, I'll curse you in the name of Satan," I yelled pulling my scarf over my mouth to hide my laughter. I left my unnatural lavender eyes visible and I knew she could see the crinkle at the corners. In fear that I was casting an evil spell on her, she quickly hobbled back into her home glaring daggers at me through messy unkempt dirty blond hair mixed with the age of gray.
I heard a burst of laughter while Stella hopped onto the windowsill nudging me with thanks. The laughter continued coming closer and I knew that sweet sound anywhere. My skin prickled with excitement and anticipation. I scooted Stella into the house hiking up my dress. I brought my foot up to the window when a hand landed on my shoulder.
"Tell Sorran you're grounded for threatening Ms. Wartol with black magic." I slowly moved my leg back into the house without looking at my mother. Sorran approached the window, his face falling from foolish mirth into despair as soon as he saw my mother eyeing him over my shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow Sorran. I'm grounded," her grip tightened on me, "for threatening Ms. Wartol." Silently I apologized to him with my eyes hoping he understood.
"And you will go over and apologize to her. She could have The Guard investigate us and even without proof, they would hang us as witches." She scorned me lowly so no one else would overhear. "They could drown us in a river." I could feel her eyes drift to the second floor likey to the exact spot where Merrygold slept.
"But, she was trying to hurt Stella," I whined. Not fully believing The Guard or Ms. Wartol to be a threat.
Sorran slowly began creeping back sensing the nearing fight between mother and me. He gave a brief wave before running back the way he came. "Bye, Sable," he hollered.
"That's enough, young lady. I warned you about keeping a black cat in our family's profession. No good would come to us. No matter how nice Stella is, everyone will see her as a symbol of black magic. A servant of the Devil."
"Please don't make me get rid of her."
Her gasp of shock was unexpected. "I would never; She has become part of our family. We cannot allow people to think we are Witches though. What's the first lesson I taught you?"
"Magic isn't real, only science is," I said bitterly.
"Lesson two?"
"Those who believe in magic are fools and will die for it."