Cat Eyes
Chapter 1: Many Eyes
(Word from Author: This story takes place in Ireland. All names are traditional Irish names which I had to look up. Please forgive any language discrepancies. Thank you and please leave a review1)
The girl staggered through the blinding wind and rain, one hand clutching her swollen belly, the other clawing at the thick twisted branches of the trees that knit closely together in this dense forest she had wandered into. How tired she was. She just wanted to lie down for a while, someplace warm and safe, but there was nowhere like that here, in this dark maze of trees. That is, that was what she had believed. Suddenly, without warning or reason the relentless rain and wind, stopped. The girl's eyes popped open in her shock, and gazed around what appeared to be a clearing. She found herself standing at the base of a hill, at the top of the hill loomed a black stone castle, it's gate wide open. The girl looked back at the forest, she'd just come out of. Her mind reeled from the site that met her icy blue eyes. As soon as the trees began, so did the storm, but here near the mysterious castle, the skies were clear. It was as if, this place existed in a world all it's own.
"How strange." The girl, whispered to herself. Regardless of her fears, she had little choice but to approach the strange fortress. It was either that or the unforgiving forest and she had her unborn child to think about. She passed through the gate and entered the courtyard. She marveled as the copper stones that paved the ground and the beautiful fountain that spewed crystal water from an angel's lips. The courtyard was scattered with exquisite statues, around them all, spiraled blood red roses, their petals opening into hand sized tea cup shapes. She wandered around the courtyard in complete awe, for this simple red haired farm girl, had never seen such grandeur
Little did she know, a pair of large green eyes watched her from the castle tower. "Abban, show her the way in." Boomed a deep, gravely voice. "Yes, My Lord." The boy answered and ran straight away to the courtyard.
"Meerow!"
The girl jumped at the sharp cry. She spun around and discovered a little silver tabby cat sitting at her feet. "Where in the world did you come from?" She asked small tom cat. He blinked up at her with round yellow eyes, cocking his head curiously to the side. "Can you show me the way inside?", she asked, carefully crouching down to scratch the cat's head.
"Meer! Meerow!" The cat grumbled and bounded towards the far end of the courtyard.
"Wait for me!" The girl cried, walking quickly after the tabby. The cat waited patiently for her to catch up, before leading her to the massive door, hidden beneath a nest of spiraling vines. Feeling around on the door, she was able to locate a heavy iron ring. She tugged as hard as she could, and to her astonishment, the door opened easily.
She and the tabby walked inside the castle. The room was pitch black, except for the fire that blazed from the hearth. The cat rubbed against her legs, purring happily. "Do you think your master will mind if I stay here until the storm passes?" She asked him.
He looked up at her with a wide cat grin, "Reow," he said, then scurried away into the shadows.
"Hello!" she called, moving slowly towards a staircase. "Anyone home?!" As if in answer, a chorus of meows echoed through the room. From the shadows that surrounded her, beamed many cat eyes, perhaps hundreds. They glowed in the firelight like little mirrors. The girl stared at them, with wide eyes. Never in her life, had she seen, and yet not seen, so many cats. She could see nothing but their eyes in the darkness, their voices echoing like ghostly wails in the great castle. Gripping, her belly in fear, she began to back away from the hoard of cats, until she bumped into something very large, hard and breathing.
"Do not fear them. They will not harm you." Growled a ground shaking voice. The girl gasped and staggered away from the being that had suddenly appeared at the base of the stair case. He was very large. Over seven feet tall and broad shouldered. He wore all black, a black cape hung down to the floor and a hood was pulled over his head, hiding his face in darkness, which not even the fire light could piece. He was like a living shadow, a wall of black. The only feature she could clearly make out was the wide, green eyes with slit pupils, cat's eyes, that stabbed at her like daggers from beneath the hood. "Do not look at my face!" The shadow hissed.
His voice sent a shiver down the young girl's spine. "I-I'm sorry." She stuttered, jerking her face away, so she would not anger him further.
She flinched with each heavy footstep as he drew closer. She attempted to back further away from him, but realized at the screaming of one cat after she'd stepped on his paws, that all of the cats had swarmed around them, creating a wall around she and the impossibly large man with the cat-like eyes. She had nowhere to run.
"What are you doing here? What brings you to my castle?" The man asked, his strange vibrating voice, softening.
She rubbed her rounded stomach in thought, "I…was on my way to the nunnery in the next town east of my village, but I got lost in the storm and wandered into that horrible forest. Somehow I was able to find this place. I am very sorry for intruding. I just…wanted a place to rest."
"You should not be traveling at all in your condition." The beastly man grumbled.
"I had no choice, sir." she said, her eyes beginning to shimmer.
"Why? What gave you no choice?" He asked, his hooded head, tilting slightly.
"I have brought shame to my family. I love them and I don't want to bring them unhappiness." She said, a tear streaked down her cheek. She wiped her tears away on her sleeve and turned towards the door. "If you will call off your cats, I will leave. I don't wish to bother you, sir." She sniffled.
"No." The man grumbled. "You may stay here, if you wish, if you don't mind my servants." He said, motioning to the sea of mirror eyes.
She looked around at all the cats, then up at the towering figure before her. Even though she dared not look into his bright eyes again, she could feel his gaze on her, watching her in anticipation. "I don't mind them at all. Thank you sir. You're too kind." She smiled at his chest.
"What is your name?" He asked, turning slightly towards the staircase.
"Aeveen, sir" She answered, still smiling brightly.
"Roisin, take Aeveen to her room in the eastern wing." He ordered.
Immediately, a lovely calico feline approached from the crowd of gleaming eyes.
"Meerph!" The calico huffed, flicking her tail from side to side in the air.
"Fallow her, she knows where to take you. If you need anything, just tell Roisin and she will take care of it for you. She will be your personal servant while you are here." The man said, then began to climb the stairs, his feet falling like bricks on the wooden stairs.
Just as the master of the castle had said, Roisin knew exactly where to go. She led Aeveen to a beautiful room in the eastern wing of the castle. It was a room fit for royalty. A beautiful bed carved from the best wood, rich silk and satin tapestries and fabrics, and pillows stuffed with swan feathers. It was all perfect. Aeveen gasped at the shier beauty of her new room.
"Meowreow!" Roisin said, as if to ask her what she thought of it.
"It's gorgeous!" Aeveen gasped, admiring the painting of chubby cherub angles flying through heaven that hung over her bed.
Roisin yawned, her mouth opening wide to show off her pointed teeth and her pretty golden eyes squinting into slits. She stretched out her front legs, then pranced towards the door.
"Oh, please, tell your master, that I said thank you for this magnificent room." Aeveen giggled, waving goodbye to her little servant.
As soon as she left Aeveen, Roisin reported back to her master.
"How does she like the room?" He asked as he stood before his bedroom window, gazing out at the wall of thick forest that surrounded his castle.
"She loves it, Master. She said it was magnificent!" Roisin giggled in a teenaged girl's enthusiastic voice. "She is very grateful to you, My Lord." She added with a little teasing laugh. "We'll soon be rid of our curse! I can feel it! She'll be the one!" She said, her tail thrashing around excitedly.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, Roisin. She has not seen, the Lord enshrouded yet, remember? Besides, she is with child. She may already be married or have a lover. The child must have a father somewhere."
"Oh, poo." Roisin sighed, "Why must you always ruin everything, Abban? You're no fun at all!" She grumbled.
"Silence!" The master snarled, his green eyes flaring like an unnatural fire. "I've had enough of the both of you, get out!"
"Yes, My Lord!" They cried, as they fled from the room. Outside, the calico and the tabby glared at each other.
"This is all your fault!" Abban hissed.
"Is not! It's your fault! You depress him!" Roisin hissed back.
"Do not!" Abban growled
"Do too!" Roisin retorted.
It went on like that for a while.
It turns out that Roisin was right. What Abban had said did send their master into a deep pit of depression. He sat before his mirror at his vanity, his face clutched in his sharp clawed hands. Sighing heavily, he straitened himself and bravely looked into the mirror. For a hundred years, I have been this way, neither man nor beast. How tired I've grown. Will you be the one to set me free, Aeveen? I hope for yes, but I fear not. The master thought to himself as he glared at his changed reflection in the mirror, his cat's eyes burning bright through the unending dark.