Page 65 of Disenchanted
“Listen,” she hissed. “I thought I might be of use if I could get past Mercato, but obviously I can’t. You are on your own, girlie. Mal is counting on you, so don’t fail him. Or else!”
“Or else what?” I asked, wrenching away from her.
I watched in alarm as her hair darkened to an ominous shade of black. Her face darkened as well, gradually becoming… furry? My jaw dropped as Delphine sprouted whiskers, her head getting smaller and smaller. She appeared to dwindle and disappear before my astonished eyes.
As the thick white cloud began to dissipate, I gaped at the witch’s discarded gown pooling at my feet. The scarlet rufflesstirred, and Ebony emerged. The cat glared at me for a second before streaking off with a flit of her tail.
My mind reeled, unable to accept what I had just witnessed. I bent down to pick up the gown, shaking it as though I still expected to find some trace of Delphine. Besides the scarlet gown, nothing remained but a heap of petticoats and a pair of red dancing slippers. Not even a pair of drawers, a chemise or stays, I was scandalized to discover and— What was wrong with me? I had just watched a woman transform herself into a cat and I was shocked to realize she did not wear undergarments?
I gave my befuddled head a shake to clear it. As the last of the mist disappeared, Mercato bore down upon me and snatched the gown from my hands.
“Where is she? Where did she go?” he demanded.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered because I truly did not. It would sound completely mad to say Delphine had turned into a cat. Perhaps the strange mist had wreaked havoc with my mind.
“I just found her gown discarded there,” I said. “As though she just vanished.”
Mercato glowered at me as though he suspected I was lying. “No one can simply disappear, young woman. Not even the most powerful—”
“Sir!”
Mercato whipped around to glare at the burly sentry who had dared interrupt him. As the guard struggled to keep his aura beast under control, he blurted out, “Sir, the cat has picked up the trace of the witch’s aura. I think she escaped out the gates.”
“Get after her then,” Mercato growled.
The aura cat snarled its agreement, so eager to take up the pursuit, it nearly yanked the guard’s arm from his socket. Still the guard hung back, casting a dubious look at the gown clutched in Mercato’s hands.
“How will we find her, sir, even with the aid of the aura beasts? Has she turned invisible?”
“No! Don’t be a frapping idiot! No one can do that!”
I thought someone should have informed Mal of that before he wasted his time fashioning useless glass shoes.
The guard gulped. “Then the witch is running through the Heights… er… unclad?”
Mercato scowled at the discarded red gown. “It would seem so. The creature must be completely demented, but that is of no consequence. Track down her mad, bare arse and arrest her.”
The sentry looked less than enthusiastic about hunting for a naked witch, but he had no choice but to obey. He summoned another aura cat handler and several more guards to accompany him. Newly arriving guests shoved each other to get out of the way as the search party raced out of the gates.
I experienced a moment of alarm for Delphine, but upon reflection, I figured that any woman who could produce a blinding mist and transform herself into a cat would have no trouble eluding a handful of sentries and a couple of aura beasts.
Backing away from Mercato, I went in search of my family. The drive leading to the castle was still in a state of chaos, ladies weeping or fanning themselves, gentlemen retrieving hats that had been lost in the panic, alarmed guards milling about. One young girl had fainted (although thankfully not in the presence of royalty) and was being revived by her anxious mama.
I spotted Imelda and Amy trying to soothe Netta who was sobbing. “This is all horrid and f-frightening, n-nothing like you said it would be, Mama. Where is Ella? I just w-want to go home.”
As I hastened toward them, I was in complete agreement with Netta’s sentiments. Stealing the orb struck me as a hopeless proposition. Mal would surely understand if I could not do it.
Perhaps Mal would, but what about Delphine?
Mal is counting on you, so don’t fail him. Or else!
I shivered as I recalled Delphine’s fierce threat, wondering exactly what she meant by that. I had this horrible vision of her turning me into a mouse and gleefully pursuing me in her guise as Ebony. I could almost feel the stab of her claws and her sharp teeth chomping down on my poor little tail.
Mal would not allow her to harm me, but I wondered if he had any idea of the full range of Delphine’s abilities. Considering the number of times he had allowed Ebony to curl up on his lap, I suspected he had been unaware it was Delphine he was petting. I could not wait to see the expression on Mal’s face when I told him.
By the time I reached Netta, she had stopped crying. She was being comforted by the fresh-faced young guard who had taken our tickets.
“I am so sorry, miss. I know that witch was terribly unsettling, but she is gone now, so there is nothing to be frightened of. Everything will be better once you have entered the palace, and the ball begins. Truly, you are going to have a wonderful time.”
