“Oh, stop screaming at me,” Giselle said, bending down to shoo him away from a bolt of periwinkle chiffon. He hissed. “Just trust that I didn’t mean any harm. The person who askedme to do it will reveal themselves soon enough. After you two figure out how to turn back, of course.”
“What? You’re not going to help us?” I asked. My voice heightened in pitch once again. It was increasingly difficult to remain calm amongst this madness.
“Of course I’m going to help! We’re friends after all.”
I’m starting to question that fact, Bennett hissed.
So was I.
“See here. I’ll take you two down to Witch Village and Narcissa can whip up the antidote in no time,” Giselle said. “I’ll provide the recipe and ingredients and everything.”
I gaped. “You wantmeto make the antidote?”
Giselle slung her pouch over her shoulder. “Seeing as you’re the only herbwitch around here, yes. Now. Put on a dressing gown before you scandalize everyone. Let’s go!”
BENNETT SAT STIFFLYas our carriage rolled down the street, his face turned away from Giselle. She didn’t seem to mind his icy demeanor in the least.
The dressing gown I had borrowed was a plain pink affair with three-quarter sleeves and simple trimming. Although the silk was light and breathable, it was still uncomfortably warm within the confines of the carriage.
Giselle had called a groomsman to take us to Delibera’s witch market, claiming I had a wardrobe emergency that could only be solved there. I doubted the groom was convinced, but a coin from me guaranteed his silence. I was growing frustrated with her when she refused to answer my questions. I eventually gave up trying. If she was intent on being tight-lipped, so be it.
I threw Bennett another glance. He showed no signs of discomfort, though I had never seen a cat look quite so stiff ina carriage. Usually they preferred lounging rather than sitting upright.
Unable to help myself, I ran a hand down his back and tail. His ear twitched, but otherwise he did not react. I pet him again. After a few repetitions, he relaxed beneath me. I moved to scratch his ears.
My usual regimen for petting cats came as naturally as breathing. When he rested his head on my lap and purred deeply, I had nearly forgotten the little calico cat was a crown prince. I stroked his whiskered cheek.
Cissa...
That moment, the carriage rattled to a stop. A look out the window showed a secluded alley where the backs of two brick buildings met. The market was about a block away, still bright and noisy despite the late hours.
Giselle hopped off. “Here we are. The closest way to Witch Village.”
Curious, I lifted Bennett out of the carriage and let him to the ground. I had heard about the magic passageways to Witch Village, though I had yet to go through one myself.
We stood in front of an unremarkable wooden door, small with a tarnished brass knob. Giselle opened it, revealing nothing but darkness.
“We had to create more passageways since more witches are coming aboveground,” Giselle explained. “I can’t attest to the talent of the charmwitch who conjured this one, but it’s my favorite. It smells like bread.”
I looked down at Bennett. His ears were turned back.
“Do you want me to carry you?” I asked.
He meowed his affirmation.
Giselle grinned as I took him into my arms.
“What?” I said.
“I’m imagining this scene if His Highness were human,” she said with a snicker.
A blush tinged my cheeks as I let Bennett onto my shoulders. “Just show us the way, Giselle.”
And so she did. Despite the glaring streetlamps behind us, there was no path to be discerned within. The passageway was a tunnel of impenetrable darkness and would have been terrifying if there weren’t the faintest smell of baking bread in the air. The aroma provided some comfort as I held onto Giselle’s hand so I didn’t get lost, though the charmwitch told me there were no real directions. One simply had to walk forward long enough until the passageway opened for us.
It finally did. A doorway of light appeared ahead. As we walked through it, the darkness melted away with a soft whoosh of wind. Before us was a spiral of quaint buildings on a massive hill surrounded by what looked like farmland. I blinked rapidly at the bright afternoon sun on the cloudless sky.
So this was Witch Village.
