The Realm and the Writer

The man looked strong, a little rough around the edges to say. Although he had shaved that morning you could see a hint of stubble along his strong jaw. He had short, military cut hair, dark with a slight receding hairline. He had dark smiling eyes and a warm welcoming way about him. He was neither thin nor fat, but very handsome.

The woman was petite, rosy brown hair held high into a pony tail and larger bright eyes. She was pale, offering no indication of life in a warmer climate but she was thin, although not too delicate. She carried the small grey striped cat in an open picnic basket slung over her right arm. It bounced only slightly against her khaki colored Capri’s as she slowly climbed the steps of the old Victorian.

Mrs. LeBeau, who lived next door to the house, watched them curiously through her lace covered windows. Her husband had gone downstairs grumbling to her about being so nosy and chastising her neglect of the iced tea she had been making. Mrs. LeBeau watched as the younger woman sat the basket down at the top of the last step. The woman and, what seemed to be, her husband, disappeared into the dark shadows of the Sutton place, leaving the small cat alone to do whatever it is it would do. She watched as the cat gingerly stepped out of the basket and took a seat on the very bottom step. He looked around questioningly, as if making a decision as to the liking of his new home. It suddenly turned and began up the steps and then just disappeared! Mrs. LeBeau couldn’t believe her eyes. One moment that cat had been scaling the third step and on the second blink it was as if it had never been there at all. She rushed out onto the landing and down the stairs as quickly as she could, almost upending a small table and vase in the process. She slid into the front seat near the phone and quickly dialed Ms. Appleby’s number.

“Eliza dear, this is Margaret. You need to come over immediately. I think we have a problem,” there was silence and the sound of garbled speech coming from the other end of the line. “Eliza. I think we may have another witch!”