Chapter 24: Witches, Darjeeling, and Wings...Oh My!

Josie and I made our way towards our dorm, Chatting and laughing.

"Okay, so why was Marshal flirting with me?"

"He's a perv" She laughed, "He'll flirt with any girl with a pretty face. But he never acts that way... It must be the uniqueness of your blood..." He looked to her, "He's got a thing for rare creatures."

"Oh." I said bitterly.

"Don't let it get you down though." She said, "It still means he likes you. If he didn't, he wouldn't even bother."

Josie arrived at the door and pulled the brass key from her pocket. She insert it into the lock and turned it, opening the door with a soft click. I roamed into the dorm room-

Only to be accosted by a mass of black fur!

"Sissy!" I heard my kitten sister cry out.

"D-darjee!" I said, startled by her sudden appearance, "How did you get here?"

She purred, nuzzling me, "Ciel brought me! Along with a bunch of uniforms!"

Josie looked at her, confused "uhh..."

"Oh!" I said, picking Darjee off my shoulder, "Josie, this is my sister, Darjee! Darjee, this is my friend, Josie!"

"Hi!" She said, her small ebony ears pricked with happiness

"Hey..." Josie said, a bit freaked out, she turned to me, "Sister...?"

"She was the daughter of my protector... When my she and my parents were killed, she chose to be reincarnated, and she was reborn as a cat."

"Oh..." She said, turning to Darjee, "Ya know... there is a way to turn you into a human..."

"There is?"

"Well... not exactly human... You would be a Neko."

"What's a Neko?" Darjje asked.

"A Neko is basically a human with cat ears and a cat tail. You get the power to turn in and out of cat form."

"How can I turn into a Neko?"

" I know a witch who can do it."

Darjee's eyes widened, "A witch?!" She put her ears down.

She chuckled, "She's not evil. I've known her most of my life. She's actually saved my life once."

"Where is she?"

Josie shrugged, "I dunno, I can summon her though!"

"un dos schenze, un dos chrache, un dos mertena," Josie opened her eye's and her irises turned a dark orange, "ascentas!" *

Suddenly, we were engulfed in a bright, orange light. I closed my eyes and put a hand in front of my eyes, hoping to shield my eyes from the harsh light.

I blinked a couple times and saw a woman before me. She had nutmeg hair that came to her waist and dark blue eyes. Her tall body was covered in oriental clothing. She looked like a gypsy, to say it plainly.

"mo maitheas!" She turned to Josie, "Little Jocelyn!" She hugged her, "Oh! It's been so long! How have you been?"

Josie smiled, "I've been good, Imogene!"

"Why have you summoned me so suddenly?"

"We need you to do something for us."

"We..?" Imogene began to look around and she made eye contact with me her eyes widened and she ran to me, "The Angel human!" She said in surprise, "I had heard about you but I didn't know it was true!" She bowed, "How may I serve you?"

I chuckled awkwardly, " I was wondering if you could change my Darjee into a Neko..." I picked up Darjee.

Imogene smiled, "Certainly, my lady!"

"please call me Megan..." I said, handing my sister to the witch.

"Yes Megan!" She said enthusiastically, she looked to Darjee, "Are you ready?"

"Will it hurt?"

She shook her head, "Not one bit!"

"Then yes."

Imogene went to her knees and closed her eyes. She began to chant a language I didn't understand. The outline of her body began to glow a light purple. She continued to chant. Bright light filled the room, the same as before. I shielded my eyes again until the brightness faded. I blinked a couple times to adjust my eyes. I gasped at what I saw.

Imogene was holding a small, naked, unconscious girl. She was about seven or eight and had long, auburn hair and small, black cat ears.

"Is..." I began, "Is that her?"

Imogene nodded, "Yes."

"That's amazing!"

She smiled, "thank you..."

Darjee groaned and opened her eyes. they were emerald green. She immediately looked to me.

"...sissy?"

I nodded, smiling.

"did...did it work?"

I picked up a mirror, "Why don't you see for yourself?"

I placed the mirror in front of her, her ears pricked and she squealed with delight.

"It worked! I'm a neko!" She smiled ecstatically.

"Now... next on the agenda..." Josie said, going into her closet, "Clothes." she dug through an old box and pulled out a red and black checkered sweater and black leggings, "Ah! Here y'are!"

She brought them to darjee, "Here. Try this on."

She put them on and looked at herself in the mirror. The leggings fit fine, but the sweater's sleeves drooped loosely past her frail fingertips and the bottom came halfway down to her knees.

"It's a little big... but it'll do until I can get you some uniforms." I said.

She smiled, flopping her sleeves, "I have arms again!" she jumps, "And legs and feet!" Darjee turned to Imogene, "Thank you so much!"

Imogene smiled, "Oh, it was nothing..." she turned to me, examining my wings, "You know... I could do something about those..."

"Hm?" I tilted my head.

"Your wings...I can conceal them...you would be able to take them out at will, of course... It's just so they don't get in the way."

I thought about it, then nodded, "alright..."

She smiled, then turned to Josie and Darjee, "I will need some privacy for this... "

Josie nodded and took Darjee for a walk.

Imogene turned to me, "Alright... I will need you to take off your shirt..."

I nodded obediently and took off my purple shirt, revealing my pale skin and white bra. I looked to her, blushing slightly.

"now what?"

Imogene glided behind me and stroked my wings, "Alright...this will hurt..." she places a hand on my upper back.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my spine. I yelped and my hands balled into fists, wanting the pain to stop. It didn't cease, though. Instead, it got worse. It spread to my shoulders, lower back, and stomach. I struggled to keep down the contents of my stomach and fought back the tears that stung in my eyes. The pain intensified. I couldn't stand it anymore. I threw back my head and let out a cry of agony before letting my knees buckle and I fell to the floor. I lay there, shaking uncontrollably, almost as if having a seizure. Imogene walked around me and kneeled down and rubbed my back. Her hands were cool and soothing.

"You did very good, Megan."she cooed, "You lasted much longer than expected."

I sucked in a breath, "Are they gone?"

She nodded, "yes..." she traced two lines on my back, "They're gone..."

I got up and looked at myself. She was right, my wings were nowhere to be seen. I turned to see my back and saw two parallel scars going up my back.

"You can take them out and retract them whenever you like." She said.

"Will it hurt?"

"No. I forced them back in you, that's why it hurt..." She stood back "Why don't you try now?"

I nodded, "How do I do that?"

"Think really hard about it, then they will appear..."She explained, "But must only think about your wings, nothing else. If any other thought pricks in the back of your mind, it will not work."

I nodded, closing my eyes.

"I will give you some privacy..." She said as she left the room.

When the door closed, I began to concentrate, Wings... wings... come on... come out wings. I thought.

I thought harder, "Come on, wings. come on!"

I opened my eyes and in my reflection I saw a silver outline of wings behind me. I blinked and saw my wings were there. I closed my eyes and tried again. When I opened my eyes again, they were gone.

Standing up, I put back on my shirt. Imogene came in at that moment.

"I take it that you were successful."

I nodded, "Let's go get Josie and Darjee."

"Wish I could, but I must go. I'm a bit busy."

I smiled, "Alright, it was nice meeting you!"

"likewise, Megan." She smiled, turning her back to me, "Oh, by the way... If, at any moment, you need to summon me, here's my card." She flicked a card to my direction, "It's better than that silly chant."

I nodded, "Alright, I'll see you later!"

She disappeared. Before though, I heard her say something.

"please take care of yourself..."