Chapter Twenty Four: La Morte De Morgana

The next morning, Constance awoke to start her routine with Star and check on Mildred. She heard the sound of yowling coming from Selene and wondered what was wrong with the kitten. She hurriedly went to Selene to shush her and found the limp form of Morgana.

"MORGANA!" Constance cried out, distressed. The elderly cat's eyes were open but her body was very still. Samantha and Constantine had heard their daughter and rushed to her room with little Star. Amelia was close behind.

Selene was huddled by Morgana. Her distressed cries seemed to say that even though it had been a short time in which she and Morgana had been acquainted, she appeared to have lost her best friend.

Amelia knelt to check and see if Morgana was still breathing. Constance picked up Selene and held the distraught kitten close. After a moment, Amelia closed Morgana's eyes.

"Constance...She's gone. I'm so very sorry." She said.

Constance gulped, tears streaming down her face.

"Can I...Can I have a moment to say goodbye, Amelia?" She asked.

"Of course..." Amelia said, placing a comforting hand on her Deputy's shoulder. Constance placed Selene in Amelia's arms. She fondled Morgana's ears.

"I will never forget you, Morgana. I love you." She told her, hoping that the spirit of Morgana could hear her , and if there were such things as spirits.

Constance placed a kiss on Morgana's head, holding the still form close for a moment. Taking a breath, she rose carefully from the floor. Samantha took the lifeless form of Morgana in her arms.

"We will have her cremated, Constance. She was your closest friend. She was family." She said. Constance nodded silently as she took Selene in her arms, scratching behind the little kitten's ears.

"I know you did not know Morgana long, but I hope that you will be just as well trained as her. I know you will be...I will make Morgana proud, that is if a cat can be proud of her Mistress." She told her. Selene mewed rather forlornly.

Constance placed her on the bed and took Star in her Arms. Amelia and the others left the room. Constance had been sitting on her bed for a half hour when Mildred came in, wobbling a bit on her feet as she was still very sick.

"Mildred, you should be in bed. You're ill." Constance told her.

"Miss Cackle told me about Morgana, Aunt Constance. I'm sorry." Mildred touched her Aunt's shoulder.

"She was my best friend..." Constance gulped. "She was even there for me when I was tortured."

"I know...She was a very loyal cat. I know you will never forget her." Mildred said.

"No, I won't..." Constance agreed.

"Star seems to be wondering what is going on. She just went silent." She said.

"Then tell her...tell her about your best friend." Mildred urged.

Constance looked down at Star.

"Mummy lost her best friend today, Princess. Morgana died, Star. Morgana was a very special cat. She was loyal to Mummy and did everything exactly as taught." She told the baby. "When you are older, I will help you find a cat of your own to train and love."

Constance proceeded to tell Star all about Morgana. Star seemed to be listening intently to the story. Constance told her how she had been given Morgana as a kitten when she was just graduating witch academy. Morgana had helped shape the woman she'd become by being there for her to talk to whenever Hecketty Broomhead had hurt her. She'd felt that Morgana had listened to her whenever she vented about her Grandmother.

Star looked as though she were about to cry because of the change of emotions. She sensed when Mummy was sad and she didn't like it. Constance took Star into the nursery for a change of scenery. Selene followed behind.

"Mummy needs you, Star, to help her get through this. Holding you makes Mummy feel like she will be able to deal with the loss of Morgana. You make things better for Mummy." She told her."Your cousin Mildred is an Alchemist. She will help to protect you against Mistress Broomhead. That vile woman will not set one foot near my Star, ever."

Constance spent the day grieving silently for her beloved companion. But as she had said, Star's presence made her feel a lot better than if she did not have a child and this had happened. She wiped at her eyes, trying to will herself to be or at least appear happy for Star.