"It's all my fault that all these things happened. I shouldn't have been so self centered." I placed both of my hands on my chest, shaking my head at some horrible things I imagined Minuet to have passed through. "I really care about you, you know." It might look like I was the sassy type who cared about nothing but a stupid crush - but that's so not true, I've always been having longing for mysterious and magical adventures like these, and now they've all come true.

I would do what's right...

I'd make granny proud.

I'd make Minuet proud as well.

Determination and courage surged through my body as the breeze gently caressed the strands of my hair away from my face.

"I don't know how I'd do it Minuet, but I promise...I'd end all these soon."

Of course he didn't answer - but just the twitching of his lips made me feel encouraged and very much relieved. Though he didn't answer me, he was listening to me all these while.

"Alright! I'm going to meet my mum downstairs before she brings down the entire building." A chuckle slipped out of my mouth and I quickly cleaned up my smudged face, dabbing my cheeks with warm towel. I sighed and slung the towel over my right shoulder once I was done. "God knows what she's up to now."

"In case you'd be awake soon, I left some snacks for you on the table...you'd love them, trust me." With one last gentle stroke on his fur, I gently placed him in the bedsheets, covering his little, fragile body with a warm blanket I made for him earlier.

I had forgotten about my leg suddenly that I jumped down freely from my bed, my feet dropping to the ground hard. I was expecting a sharp piercing pain to rock my body— and eventually make me wince and scream for life, but nothing happened. Not even a single cramp.

Relief washed over me, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Surprise and fear immediately took over big time. Swallowing back the invading curiosity, I raised up the sleeves of my trouser and hastily examined my legs. My eyes widened at the new discovery before me.

There was no gash, lash, thrash or slashed cuts on my skin anymore, in it's stead were scarred marks—the damaged tissues were already closing in and healing.

I was quite surprised to see that they had healed on its own, only leaving a faint scar behind. It was like my magic had healed me without me putting much efforts, or is there something more to this game?

Interesting.

Stretching a bit, I twisted the door's knob and walked out of the room, heading downstairs for whatever that'd come my way.

*****

"So— Isabelle, I heard that you got your leg fractured. Correct?" Dad asked, poking his fork into his pork pie— his eyes focused on the garnished dishes before him.

"Mum?" I gritted through my teeth when I saw her grinning to herself from the kitchen before going up the stairs. I had to force back the sudden urge to mutter curses under my breath. I knew I shouldn't have told her—even though it wasn't the truth.

"I-it's okay...it was—it is just a minor accident— that's all!" I quickly answered, ending my words with nervous laughs.

Dad raised his eyebrow, his occupied fork suspended in the mid air. The good thing here's that he looks pretty much interested in the things before him than me—as usual, but the bad thing is that...he usually does this when he either finds something amusing or suspicious.

And that could only mean one thing.

"Then let me see it." He said while placing some mouthful of food into his mouth.

Oh. No.

"Oh, look! It's already past studying time! You know what they say - never be late or you'd end up late." After rushing through the food before me, I set my plate aside with an exasperated sigh—maybe I shouldn't have done that to prove my point—oh well, I was hungry after all.

"Who says that?" Dad asked, his expression filled with surprise and amusement. He shook his head as if he was about to burst into laughter.

"Someone." I mumbled and stood up, turning my head to the direction of the garden outside. At this moment, it was like it was calling out to me.

Maybe I'd need some rest there.

"Can I...go out for a while?" I asked, tapping my leg nervously on the ground since it was my dad I was questioning and not my mum this time.

His brown eyes settled on me for a while, focused and mused. "Hmm, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't go—but only if you promise to arrive before noon." He answered while wiping his partly stained lips with the edge of his black sleeves.

"Really?! I mean, uhm, of course...thanks dad!" I clasped my hands and planted a kiss on his cheek —I still don't know why till this day— before dashing upstairs. A sudden cough from behind me forced me to freeze in my tracks. At first, I was confused but then I instantly realized that I was too fast for someone who claimed to have leg injuries. Crap. I chewed on my bottom lip and forced my shoulders to slump forward a bit and my knees to buckle down gradually—with the fake intention of reliving the pains as I looked for little excuses to quicken the pace.

You won't believe this, Minuet!

I took a deep breath alongside with an idiotic smile and slowly turned the knob of my door, only for my smile to fade away and turn into that of a fearful frown.

"W-what are you doing here mum?" I gulped and shut the door before roaming my eyes around the room for any suspicious items, but luckily there weren't—thanks to my familiar— Minuet.

"I needed to check on your cat to see if it's well-fed, but I think it's all full—cause it kept rejecting everything I gave it." She confessed with an innocent frown, her eyes wavering with confusion.

I almost burst into laughter. I'm sorry, but Minuet wasn't a fan of my parents— especially my mum. I mean, it was quite obvious from the very beginning, wasn't it? I turned my head to the black cat on the dressing table and tilted my head to the side curiously. I know there are tons of reasons to dislike her but he never mentioned them.

That's what he gets for shutting me off.

Another chuckle slipped out from my lips again— only this time there was a slight hint of mockery.

I watched as it's eyes glared at me hard, almost like in a threatening way. I could almost picture what he was going to do to me in person.

"Stop laughing and get her as far as possible away from me!"

"Why? What happened? Did something happen?..."

I waited for his response but didn't get one back. It was as if he had paused for a moment before mindlinking me back, "She's just... weird. She kept pulling on my tail in my sleep. At first, I thought it was a mistake, but it was clear that she mistook it for her garter belt. Then later, she started scaring me with some shit of hers. That's why all the cats around here never comes here!"

I finally burst out laughing. I couldn't hold the laughter anymore. Whereas my mum gave me a confused look, Minuet gave me an annoyed, offended look. Ha! She has no idea what's going on here and that's what makes it even funnier.

"And what's funny?" scolded mum.

"If I kill her, don't end up blaming me."

At first, I thought he was joking but I could see some seriousness in his eyes. He seriously isn't gonna transform back, is he? To be honest, I was shocked and terrified but I had to do something before he accidentally—more like bursts out in front of my mum. That'd be a totally bummer.

"Yeah, I fed him before I fed myself." I walked briskly to him to cover him completely from my mother's view. At least he won't get to see her. "Mum, I'd like to uhm... change, please excuse me." He shouldn't blow his cover, not here, not now!

She chuckled, "What do you have that I—"

"Mum! Leave!" My face went pale from two things; the fact that he's gonna turn on his instincts, and the fact that he's not just any cat—but one that can understand what she's saying. Ugh, why is this so embarrassing.

"Fine, fine, but I've to also get your clothes for—"

"Laundry! Yeah, got it! I'd do that myself— no worries, thank you!". I blurted out almost immediately and managed to push her out gently before slamming the door and bolting it.

I froze in my position, hands still on the door's lock and head leaning against it's frame. I... couldn't just look back to see what has become of him suddenly and why he suddenly became more and more aggressive even.

I could hear the crackling sound of bones behind me and sighed relief that mum wasn't here to witness any of this.

Suddenly, something warm touched my shoulder from behind, making me to turn 360°. I wasn't surprised to see Minuet in his human form—It wasn't something new either.

For once, we didn't talk or say anything. We just kept exchanging meaningful and funny looks at each other for a while—for some reason I can't fathom.

"Isabelle...something's coming. I can feel it. It's wicked strong and evil, we can't waste anymore time." He suddenly said with seriousness resonating from his voice, staring deeply into my blue eyes for answers.

I felt my feet go cold at the revelation and what worse, I knew that he meant Xander and his group of hunters. I just didn't understand why it'd be my own life that this kind of karma would get at. I mean, Xander, a hunter?

"I'm... not ready Minuet, please." I whispered in a low scratchy voice and walked away from him with my face buried in my palms. I couldn't cry again, not again—and especially not in front of my familiar.

"Isabelle, you can't back off from this. I understand how you feel, I understand how much you care about...him, but always know one thing. I devoted my life to protect you and as well use my lives for you—so we're both stuck in these crazy worlds, yeah?"

"I...I can't face him, Minuet. I just can't." I couldn't even say his name without stuttering. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.

"Do you trust me?"