A/N: I wrote this after reading 3 Romance novels. The idea took hold and didn't let me go. I also know that a lot of romance stories are all fluff. Not that I have a problem with it. But I've decided to add a plot twist. If you can figure it out... good for you. But remember... everything is not as it seems. The twist will extend into the other1 or 2 stories I have planned for this series that all takes place in Cattail, NY. I hope you enjoy it.
-Purrs, Anglina
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Not a sound was made, not a breeze floated… and yet, there was movement. Not detectable by feline eyes, for it wasn't real; at least… not in a sense of being made of fur and blood. Her paws never touched the floor as the queen paced in front of the drawing room window. Tattered and faded once-red curtains hung shabbily at the sides. Lady Tavia was restless again. She wore a ragged white dress that could have been called elegant, a long, long time ago. Her fur was matted and dirty, and if it had been real, it would have a colorful calico. She was never meant to find happiness, and yet, somehow, she had to reverse it. But how? It was her mother's fault for being a witch. It was her mother's fault for messing things up. Oh, they'd tried to fight it, and they nearly succeeded.
She remembered it all too well.
He stood at the alter in his expensive black tux, a proud smile on his face. She was in her lovely white wedding dress with her long blonde hair cascading down her calico back as she slowly walked down the isle. She reached the front and he took her paw. They were about to say their vows, when suddenly Sahari flew into room shrieking like a banshee. In the background, barely visible, was another feline, Siara, Sahari's cousin. Tavia was the only one who noticed. The hidden queen raised her paws as if in attempt to stop Sahari.
"How could you!" the red and yellow queen screamed at the shocked couple holding each other on the alter. "You can't marry him! You don't have the right to, I do! Now… you both will be cursed! You will never find true happiness with each other as long as I have my power!" she shrieked even louder and she lifted her paws to the ceiling. Dark blue lightning shot out of her red paws and then… she disappeared with a deafening shriek. Siara collapsed, but it went unnoticed as s voice cried out,
"Tavia… help me!" came a voice.
Tavia looked at Lord Damar and gave a cry of despair. "No! No! No! She can't… I can't live without you… no, Damar…" her sobs trailed off as he raised a paw to her cheek and whispered,
"I love you, Tavia." Then his paw fell to his side and his chest stopped moving.
Tavia continued to cry as she held her love's body. She took the ring that he had in his hand and slipped it on her paw. She leaned down and gave him one final kiss. She stood up and faced the gathering of all of Cattail's residents. "From here on," she spoke with a trembling voice, "I am now Lady… Tavia, wife of Lord Damar." And with that she left the church building. Everybody else stared at her in amazement, but nobody had the heart to refute her decision.
From then on, until she died, 2 years later, she lived by herself in the house at the end of Apple Street. Her hatred for Sahari grew and pulsed within her being until she passed and then it became a dull thud.
4 years later…
She still felt the thud of hatred beat against her non-existent being. She felt a presence behind her and leaned back against the similar shadow. Lord Damar pulled her into an embrace. You see, spirits can interact like felines too, but only with each other. They can't interact with living, breathing, felines. 'What are we to do, my love?' Tavia asked softly. Spirits also can only speak mind to mind.
'I don't know, darling.' He replied and wrapped his ghostly arms around her. Lord Damar was tall and very handsome. His fur would also be a calico if he'd been real. But… like Lady Tavia, he was dead.
Tavia turned to look at her almost mate. She put her paws on his shoulders and said slowly, 'There is one final way…'
Lord Damar shook his head. 'No! You know what will happen! If we do and something goes wrong… I'll lose you forever. I couldn't bear it.'
Tavia started to wring her paws. 'But, we must at least try, right?' she pleaded.
He shook his head. 'No, we mustn't. I don't want to lose you.'
'I don't want to lose you either, but if we don't try, we'll be stuck like this for all eternity. I want to do this! I want to be able to feel your touch, your kiss, the sunlight, grass… I want to be alive again.' She stopped and looked at him. 'If you won't do it, then I will.' She started to walk away and threw over her shoulder, 'I'll be sure to leave enough for you.' and with that she disappeared.
Lord Damar looked back at the window. But then, he felt a power surge and it was as if a part of him had been ripped out of his body. If he had been normal, he would have cried out in pain, but even though he felt it, it wasn't painful.
It shouldn't be too hard, just wait until she realizes that he's not coming after her. Then, she'll realize her mistake and take care of it. Then they'll be back together. Minutes passed. But… what if she didn't realize it? What if she didn't come back? He raced out of the drawing room and made his way down to the cellar. And there, on the small table was a vial that was half empty and Tavia's gown. He picked up the gown and rubbed his cheek over it. He looked slowly at the small bottle and then at the dress. He stood up and picked up the bottle. Slowly, with paws shaking, he raised it to his lips and drank.
He began to feel dizzy and he dropped the bottle in order to grab the table for support. The last thing he remembered was holding her dress as he fainted.
Siara felt the two of them leave. She stood in the living room of her house in the neighboring town of Quarry. She raised her paws and chanted in a foreign tongue. The was a crash and then... nothing. She too, had gone to do what she could to try to break the spell...
26 years later in New York City…
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