"Wait, wait, don't move!"
She takes out her phone, and without warning, takes a picture of me and Spark. I blink, but she's already jumping back to my side.
"Look! I'm not crazy, am I?"
I check the pictures she's showing me. I had forgotten that thing about Spark's black and gold fur, actually. However, as Kelsi shows me the picture, I can't help but frown. That's... really strange. His fur has definitely changed. There are more gold and way fewer black spots than in the picture she had taken before.
"What the..."
"Called it!"
Now, that's super weird. The thing about him catching birds out of nowhere was already disturbing, but... Even Ben comes to check, making a frown before opening his eyes wide.
"Wow... That's..."
"See? He is definitely a magic cat!" exclaims Kelsi, ecstatic. "That explains why I'm not allergic to him!"
I look down at Spark. It's true his fur definitely changed colors, but other than that, isn't he a rather... normal cat? All he does is sleep, purr, and bring us dead animals. I caress him, and he just looks like any house cat, purring in my arms.
"Are you sure you're a magic cat?" I say. "You don't have any other tricks to show us while you're at it? Hm, Spark?"
For a second, he looks at me, but then, he jumps out of my arms. All three of us look at each other, a bit intrigued, and follow him as he walks into my bedroom. Wait, is he really going to do something? Or show us a clue? Spark arrives on my bedroom's carpet and suddenly stretches his front paws, scratching the rug. Then, he lies down and looks at us, the three idiots.
"...That was..." says Ben.
"Damn it," pouts Kelsi. "I really thought he was going to breathe fire or something. He's a boring magic cat!"
I'm alright with my boring magic cat, though... I go to sit next to him and caress his fur. It's strange, I feel a lot calmer whenever I pet Spark. He doesn't seem to mind either, closing his eyes and purring.
"Oh, I'm done with this cat," sighs Kelsi. "I'm going to go back to reading my book. Ben, just order pizza, but you better get some beer too!"
"Roger that!"
"...And take a shower!"
They leave the room, and I'm left with Spark.
"They are so cute, don't you think?" I chuckle.
Seeing Ben and Kelsi flirt playfully somehow reminds me of Liam Black. The truth is, I've been strangely thinking about that guy a lot... I can't help but wonder if I should seek him out again. I haven't heard from Selena since she called to say Liam confirmed I was with him at the time of the fire. She didn't tell me when I could go out or see her again, though. It annoys me. I have been diligently training, staying indoors like a good girl, and letting Ben and Kelsi stick to me like glue, but still...
Next to me, Spark gets up and starts scratching that poor carpet again.
"Hey, easy Spark, you're going to rip it..."
I frown. The cat is pulling on one corner of the carpet, and for a second, I thought I saw something... I change positions and go over to where Spark is, meowing again. I lift up the corner of the carpet. Holy shit!
"Mara?"
I suddenly drop it, and one second later, Ben's head comes in.
"Lager or ale?"
"I'll have what you're having," I mumble.
"Lager it is, then!" he says while getting back on the phone.
I feel a drop of cold sweat run down my temple. I listen for a second, making sure he's gone for good, and raise the carpet again. What the heck...
