By Oboroten
Early on Saturday, Harvey prepared to go to work, determined to make up time he'd lost over the past week. He looked at the amulet, wondering where he should keep it. Felicia purred at his feet, oblivious of the events of the past few days. Did Susan remember anything?
When he saw her after sunrise, his wife was happy to see him, especially when he told her the magic bracelet would help with her amnesia. Harvey didn't bother to mention his other concerns at the time, hoping everything would end soon. However, looking at the giant feline claw mark on the windowsill, he couldn't help worrying about where Susan might have wandered.
As wheels screeched to a halt outside, Harvey's meditation on his wife's condition stopped. Jane jumped out of her car, looking irate and apprehensive at the same time. As he opened the door, she screamed: "Where's Susan! I need to know!"
"She went out to do some shopping. What's going on?"
"A likely story! When I arrived home, Roger was gone!"
"So . . . you've been looking for your bunny? Maybe he hopped away somewhere?"
"No!" she yelled. "I found tufts of white hair next to his cage. Then, a trail of drops of blood. It was ghastly! Specks of red dotted the windowsill . . ."
"Someone broke into your apartment? Did they steal anything?"
"Not someone! Something! It opened the latch on the window by turning the knob. Then, the monster climbed down a nearby hickory tree. I found its claw marks there!"
"So, why are you here? I don't know anything about it."
"Your wife does! She stole Roger!"
"I'm sure she wouldn't do anything like that," he said, as Felicia languidly strolled at his feet. Privately, Harvey wondered how much Jane knew about his recent trouble with magic.
"AAAGGH!" shouted Jane, looking in terror at the tawny-brown cat. "Is that thing her familiar? Get it away from me!"
Felicia roamed off into the yard, looking for mice, as Jane cowered by her car, shaking with fear. She sobbed, "Poor Roger! I wish I'd come home earlier. I could have stopped her!"
Unsure what to do, Harvey tried to console Jane, "But we found the Dubrovnik amulet. Together. That means nothing more will happen."
Stopping her tears, Jane angrily retorted, "That's because nothing happened to you . . . She's out to get me! She killed Roger, so I'm next!"
"Susan's nowhere near here. I'm sure she stayed in last night," Harvey said, hoping that he sounded persuasive.
"Of course she isn't here," declared Jane, staring angrily at a piece of white fur in her hand. "She's gone off to see the other cats . . . up at that sanctuary!"
Jane promptly got in her car and drove off. Harvey decided to follow, fretting about whether his wife might have done something. Perhaps feline instincts had taken over, making her do something horrible.
A half hour later, Harvey arrived at the park, just minutes after Jane. He was dismayed to see Susan already standing near the mountain lion cages, talking with the keeper. How long had she been there? Could Jane possibly be right?
"Hello. I'm Mr. Jones, from wildlife management. We've just been talking about the new puma. We're not sure where it came from . . ."
"Let me see it!" shouted Jane. "Did it eat a rabbit recently? One with white fur?"
"Have you seen him before?" asked Mr. Jones. "We found a large male puma chewing on a few bones just after sunrise. We identified his prey as a rabbit from the small pieces of white fur nearby. He must have caught the rabbit in the nearby woods. Do you live near here?"
"No!" answered Jane, adamantly. "But I'm sure it's my rabbit." Glaring at Susan, Jane added, "She killed poor Roger, and then dragged his carcass here to feed to that thing!"
Susan snapped back, "I had nothing to do with this!"
The keeper, shocked at Jane's accusation, said quietly, "We have strict rules against feeding animals here. I can assure your that no one has been . . ."
Jane had suddenly backed against the mountain lion's cage, distracted by her quarrel with Susan. The big cat approached its visitor, rapidly drawing closer. As her hands touched the bar, the lion's tongue reached out, and slid across her wrist.
"Watch out!" shouted Mr. Jones, as Jane suddenly ran forward, feeling the pressure of the rough tongue against her hand. Seeing her move to a safe distance, the keeper added, "What did you think you were doing? The tongue of a mountain lion is studded with spikes that can rip the hair from a hide! I thought you had enough sense to stay away from him."
"I don't know . . ." Jane said slowly. "I felt drawn there . . ."
"You're crazy!" said Susan. "Stay away from me and my husband!"
Jane walked up the hill, holding her head as if she was dizzy. She passed Harvey, and whispered to him, "I understand now. She brought Roger here as a gift for her lover! It all makes sense. That lion's so powerful. Full of raw, animal energy. I felt the magic flowing through him when he touched me with his tongue . . ."
Harvey moved away, feeling sick. Had Jane gone completely insane? He thought she hated cats, but she now seemed to have some sort of weird attraction to a cougar. He felt very relieved when she drove off to work.
"Susan, I've decided not to go to work today."
"I'm glad," she replied. "How can you stay at the place, if people like Jane work there?"
Glad that he had not mentioned his adventure with Jane in search of the amulet, Harvey said, "Jane's been acting strange lately. But then everything's been a bit odd."
"That's certainly true," said Susan, with a sigh. "I can't remember what I've done for the past few nights. It must be some sort of spell. "
"I'm afraid so," said Harvey. "Maybe it's hit Jane as well. But don't worry. Everything will be back to normal tonight."
"Did you see a theomancy mage? I've heard their services are quite expensive."
Noticing his wife's skeptical expression, Harvey replied, "No, I can't afford it. But I found a cheaper solution. It'll all work out."
"I hope you're right," sighed Susan, suspicious of what her husband had done. Did he deal with the black market? Many corrupt mages lurked there, performing all sorts of unregulated enchantment. She shuddered, worrying about who Harvey could have seen.
Late in the afternoon, Jane worked feverishly at her desk. Her skin felt itchy and dry and her throat was clogged. Were her allergies acting up again?
Turning the radio on, she heard Mr. Jones' voice: "Someone stole a puma from our sanctuary! I don't understand how this could happen. The cage is still locked, but the cat's gone, without a trace."
"Did someone take the key," asked a news reporter.
"Susan!" muttered Jane. Then, she thought about why a cat might be so appealing. She remembered looking back at the mountain lion, staring deep into his golden eyes. Every detail seemed to flow back: the stripes on his muzzle, the gleaming white fangs above his tongue.
With a thud, the office door swung open. Jane turned to see a strangely attired man approaching her. He wore a Viking style helmet, decorated with large horns. She immediately suspected he was a magic user, based on the glowing crystal sitting on top of his staff.
"Good afternoon, I'm Thomas the Enchanter," said the wizard.
"You're here to see me!" said Jane. "I've always wanted to meet a powerful sorcerer like you, Thomas."
"You can call me Tom. I'm looking for a new assistant. Someone like you, Jane."
"Really? What do you know about me? Am I qualified?"
"I know many things about you. You like to have your wrist licked."
Surprised at this comment, Jane said, "I've dreamed of learning real magic, but I've never done much more than rabbit-in-the-hat tricks. I'm overjoyed that you'd consider me, Tom."
Looking deeply into her eyes, Tom continued, "I've seen your work. You were willing to retrieve the Dubrovnik amulet even though you thought it was closely guarded. That stone can be very powerful, if used by one who has real skill at magic. Especially a theomancer."
Remembering events from the previous night, she replied, "I wish I could give you the amulet, but Harvey has it. He's an incompetent amateur, who seems afraid to use magic. Even worse, I'm afraid of his wife, Susan. She's an evil witch!"
"You shouldn't be afraid," said Tom. "Neither of them know how to use it. They aren't like us, lacking true faith in its power. Harvey doesn't appreciate the divine nature of spells."
"I don't know about him, but his wife has weird abilities. They must be linked to her cat. It's her familiar! I'm not sure how she does it, but they somehow merge during the night, transforming into a giant monster, a huge bipedal cat. It's been stalking me!"
"Don't worry about her," replied the enchanter, in a reassuring tone. "Are you concerned that she has more ability at magic than you do? Perhaps you would like to take her power?"
"Yes!" shouted Jane, rubbing her pointed ears. "I'd do anything to get back at Susan! But how can I do that? Doesn't borrowed power just go back to its original owner?"
"Not if you take over the target. Then it's tied to both. Arrive at Harvey's house at sunset tonight. There you will see me confront Susan. Just take the bracelet with the Dubrovnik amulet and Susan will be unable to shapeshift anymore without your presence."
That evening, as the sun dropped behind red clouds near the horizon, Harvey anxiously waited for nightfall. Would this evening really be the end of his problems? He wished he had never gotten involved in magic.
Susan walked outside as well, carrying the magic bracelet on her right arm. Felicia purred next to her, but suddenly stopped, upset by a dark shape approaching from a nearby alley. As the stranger approached, the cat cringed next to Susan, displaying much fear.
"Harvey, I can't imagine what got into her. She hasn't acted this way since a pitbull was running loose in the neighborhood. I'm nervous too."
"Don't fret," Harvey said. "I think it's Thomas the Enchanter. He's the one who told about the Dubrovnik amulet. He's probably just coming to see if I'm using it correctly."
"I wish you'd never gotten that spell book," Susan spied. "Felicia's usually right about these things. You know, some folks think animals are psychic. Especially cats. They know who's not right. You might be able to fool everyone else, but you can't fool a cat."
As Susan's cat hissed, the wizard drew closer. The last rays of the setting sun glinted off the metal on his helmet. Harvey noticed a grim expression on the enchanter's face, and wondered if he had done something wrong. Was more money needed?
"Good evening, Thomas," he said, in a nervous voice.
"Tell Susan to take the amulet off her arm, and hold it in her hand."
"What!" she yelled. "I thought this was supposed to cure my amnesia. Are you trying to curse me with this rock! My husband should never have gotten involved with you."
Ignoring Susan's outburst, the enchanter continued, "She won't remember anything from your pitiful spell, but will recall this night for a long time. Jane will be here soon."
Harvey groaned, as Susan backed away, saying "Does she want to steal the bracelet again? I thought I'd never get it away from her last night."
"Let her take it this time. She must voluntarily seek the power of the cat amulet."
Not far away, Jane prepared to run. She had seen Susan scowl after seeing Tom, and was overjoyed once her nemesis retreated. Tom must have defeated the witch's spell!
It was time to act! Images of the forest filled her mind. She wouldn't run away from squirrels next time! Instead, she would kill them! The image of the mountain lion appeared in her brain, and she seemed to hear the tread of his feet, a whisper over soft leaves.
Crouching on her feet, she didn't notice that her toes were elongating into claws. She recalled how she had once feared the sound of a lion roaring at the zoo. But now this memory seemed natural and soothing.
Just like the night. She hadn't realized how dark it was getting. Soon the sun would dip below the horizon. Darkness was her friend. For it would allow her to hunt without being seen.
As a green flash of light lit the western sky, Jane sprinted forward. Susan screamed, seeing the crazed, barefoot woman running towards her. Even worse, her husband seemed oblivious, busy arguing with the old sorcerer.
"But wouldn't it be dangerous for someone like her to get the stone?" asked Harvey.
"Magic is dangerous," said Thomas. "You should never have gotten involved."
Noticing Jane's rapid approach, Harvey begged Thomas, "Do something! Jane's coming now! I think she's going to attack Susan!"
"Drop the bracelet," ordered Thomas, glaring at Harvey's wife.
Susan had already unfastened the latch on the bracelet, upset that it was glowing orange. Now, she dropped it into her right hand, clutching one end with her fingers. Felicia sat near Susan's foot, baring her fangs and puffing her fur out to scare attackers.
A flash of light blasted the yard as Jane wrenched the bracelet from Susan's arm, grabbing it with her sharp claws. "It's mine!" she celebrated, holding the object above her whiskers. She didn't even notice dense fur sprouting on her legs and arms.
Susan fled back to the door, fearful of Jane's metamorphosis. For every second that passed, Jane became more feline. Before long, she dropped to all fours, as her face started to contort, stretching out into the muzzle of a mountain lion.
Harvey was also shocked by the transformation, but relieved to see that his troubles were over. Felicia had fled to his side, cowering in fright at the horrible creature Jane had become. Harvey stroked the cat, trying to calm her, but realized that he was even more afraid.
Glancing at Harvey, Thomas removed his helmet, revealing a pair of furry, yellow ears. "Your spell is broken, but mine is just starting!" An orange glow enveloped Felicia and Jane, pulling them toward the feline Jane like iron filings to a powerful magnet.
"No!" screamed Harvey. "I didn't want this!" He tried to think of a ward, but realized he was no match for the enchanter's spell. Rushing forward, he saw the outline of his wife and the cat dissolve, as an amorphous cloud filled the air above Jane's hideous muzzle.
Electric flashes filled the air, while Harvey stumbled over a brick. The enchanter gave an evil laugh, glad that his spell was almost done. It was so easy! Susan had few wards, and her husband have even removed them for his third-rate experiments with magic.
Harvey shuddered as the smoke cleared, revealing a pair of golden eyes which stared back at him hungrily. The big cat's tail waved back and forth, as she struggled to free herself from the folds of a confining dress. As the fabric shredded, the beast stood nearly seven feet tall, displaying bulky muscles like a bodybuilder. Then, she lunged ahead uneasily on two feet, stopping only when she sat reached Thomas the Enchanter. As the cat-monster dropped to all fours next to her master, Harvey could see thick sinews protrude all over her body, which appeared twice as large as any normal cougar. The thick muscles on her neck throbbed against the bracelet. It had turned into a choke collar, with the cat's eye gem in its center shimmering tawny-brown, just like the glow in irises of the giant feline.
"What did you do! Where's Susan!"
"Just watch. I've always wanted a more powerful servant. Squirrels just don't impress."
In horror, Harvey saw two bulges erupt from the animal's neck. Before long he realized they were becoming additional heads! It was a feline version of Cerberus, the dog of Hades.
Stroking the fur on the monster's middle head, Thomas said, "I think I'll call her ‘Fluffy'. Or maybe something else, as that's not too original. How about Sunicia?"
"You merged them together! How could you trick me like this!"
"You didn't ask me how I intended to end the spell."
"But I followed all of your instructions. What about the amulet?"
Claws erupted from the enchanter's right hand as he reached down, ripping the collar off his pet's neck. The three-headed feline purred, happy to be finally free of the choking bracelet. Meanwhile, the gem dropped on the ground and shattered.
"It's just glass. I put a charm on it to make it look valuable."
Deeply shaken, Harvey tried to be brave. "The other magic users won't be happy. I'm sure it's a felony to forcibly merge beings."
"Forcibly? You removed the wards on your wife, thinking only of your own pleasure. As for Jane, she wanted to serve me."
"Not like that, I'm sure!"
"I regard cats as divine creatures. A being like this is very unique; she might even be worshipped as a goddess. I plan to be the high priest of her cult."
"People will find out. I'll inform the authorities!"
"Don't tell anyone about this, unless you want us to come back and hunt you. If you dabble in magic again, I'll turn you into something that my apprentice will enjoy chasing."
Thomas glanced at Harvey for a last time, twitching his ears. In an instant, a puff of smoke appeared and the wizard vanished into the mist. As it cleared, no trace of Jane's clothes were visible. All that remained were two mountain lions, eager to hunt. The male raced down the street, fading quickly into the darkness. The female cried, making a terrifying sound with her three heads, and then darted off, becoming part of an endless night.
Later that night, Harvey sat alone by the fireplace, hurling in pages of notes he had taken during his recent study of magic. Never again! Each time he hesitated in throwing something on the pyre, he suddenly got a mental image of Harvey the Rabbit. If he dared to use magic again, Thomas would turn him into a bunny and hunt him for sport. No! It must all be destroyed!
Would Susan return to him in the morning? He hoped the spell was only effective during the night, not permanent. Something so evil and unnatural must be temporary. Then, Harvey clutched his ears, as if to block the memory of an awful sound. It still echoed in his mind, just like the sound of a woman screaming: the awful cry of the enchanter's three-headed monster.