Am I really a child of the Devil?
Hardly. No, cub. Do not believe such lies.
How do you know? You said you don't know who my mommy and daddy are.
I may not know who, but I do know what. You can never hide your true nature from me, little one. You were born to a human father and mother, just as any of your accusers.
But is there something really wrong with me? Was I born bad?
Never. No one is born good or bad, they just are. Do not listen to the superstitious fools. They are just afraid of what they don't understand.
And they don't understand me?
Not at all.
Because you're here. With me. And other people don't have someone like you?
They don't know I am here. Those dogs and snakes might sense something, and perhaps small humans, younger even than you. But they do not know I am here.
Then why do they hate me? Why are they afraid?
Because of what happened to put me inside of you.
I don't understand. You've always been with me.
Always, so far as you can remember. But not always, in truth.
What?
There was a ritual, when you were 13 days old. It was used to call me.
To me?
No cub. It was nothing to do with you. You and 12 others, also 13 days old, were meant to be the sacrifice.
You mean…to die?
…
But I didn't. What about the others? What happened?
The ritual was interrupted, but not soon enough. You were the only one whose will might have been strong enough to hold me, or else I would have been trapped and enslaved by other forces.
…the other babies…?
Too late, as I said. You were the only one to live.
Because you were with me. You said the people here are afraid. They heard what happened?
Yes. You were not yet aware at the time, but I had limited awareness when your newborn self was awake. The circumstances were spread through rumor, and this town believed you were evil rather than a victim and began to fear.
Is that why you don't know who my parents were? 'Cuz you weren't with me yet when they…?
Correct.
But, but maybe they're still out there looking for me. M-maybe they just don't know how to find me, you said you don't –
Hush, cub…
Why're you – why – don't purr like that, you said you didn't kn –
Be calm and still, little one. I heard your rescuers speak, back then.
My mommy and daddy…they didn't…
None did. The warlock was cruelly thorough.
…I'm glad you're here. I'm happy I'm not alone.
It is good that you were strong in will, cub.
Can I ever see you?
You feel me. You know me.
But I don't know what you look like.
I have told you what I am, how I appear to corporeals.
I still don't know. How can you look like the black cat, and the white one, and the gray, and the orange, and that tiger, and lion, and panther we saw on TV? And the mountain lion on the cover of the paper?
I am. All of that and more.
How? What does it look like? Is it one at a time or all at once?
Yes.
I don't understand.
You are still very young for a human, and even the elderly rarely do. However, I suppose there is a way you might be able to see me. I cannot come out, but you may be able to come to me.
Yes, I want to. Teach me, please.
It will require focus, stillness, and above all, patience.
I can do it. I can be patient.
Sleep now. I will begin teaching you meditation in the morning.
…love you…
I do not know if I am capable of that, cub. But you are mine and I am yours. That is as it should be.