Chapter 16

Willow

"Gimmee," Hilda demanded, arms outstretched, as soon as we entered the castle. I handed her Calvin, and he snuggled right in with a contented little "brraaap."

"Well now, isn't he just the sweetest? Archie's put a basket of things outside your door, Willow. I've got tea on if you're feeling peckish?"

"They call dinner ‘tea' here," Sophie translated quickly, and I raised my chin in understanding.

"I'd like to change out of these damp clothes real quick."

"Please do. I'll just take this little man with me while you do."

"Will he be okay with the dogs? What about having to go to the bathroom?" I realized that I hadn't even put him down or outside and knew next to nothing about cats.

"Cats are surprisingly resilient, and quite smart. Once you get the box set up, put him in it and nature will take its course. The wee lad will get on just fine."

"Great, I'll go do that and be right down."

True to her words, there was a box brimming with goods at my apartment door, and I unpacked everything, setting up the litter box in the bathroom that connected to my bedroom. I figured I could keep Calvin in there while I was in the castle and bring him with me when I went to the shop. I'd have to make a note to ask Archie if he had any more supplies to take with me to the shop. Ramsay would have my head if Calvin peed on something.

I changed into fleece-lined leggings, Shearling lined Ugg boots, and a hot pink Barbie sweatshirt. Instantly feeling better now that I was no longer in my sodden clothes, I carefully hung my skirt in the bath to dry, and then I made my way downstairs to find Archie on the floor with Calvin, trailing a feather on a fishing line while Sir Buster trembled at Hilda's feet. Lady Lola licked a paw, entirely unbothered by the kitten's presence, lolling in the warmth from the fire.

"Oh, look at him go." I laughed as Calvin pounced on the feather, only to have it whisked from his paws. He gave chase, his little body springing everywhere, and happiness flashed through me. "This is great. I was worried he'd get pneumonia or hypothermia or something from falling in that cold water."

"He must not have been in there all that long. Lucky little lad." Hilda looked down at where Sir Buster whined and pawed at her feet. "Oh, for goodness' sake, Sir Buster. You'd think the kitten was a dinosaur the way you're acting."

"Is he scared?" I raised an eyebrow at the shaking dog.

"Appears so. They had a brief moment."

"No, what happened?" I gasped.

"Sir Buster barked at him. One bark, mind you. A warning, I'd say. Got a wee snipe right across the snout, didn't you?" Hilda kissed Sir Buster's nose, who looked decidedly rattled at the intruder. "We learned our lesson about kittens today, didn't we?"

"Aww, I'm sorry, buddy." I patted Sir Buster's head, and he curled his lips at me, but his growl was a touch less threatening than usual. "Got the wind taken out of your sails a bit, eh?"

"It'll happen. He's had it a time or two with a hedgehog as well. Go on, sit, sit. Food is ready."

Hilda nodded to the table, and I turned to see Sophie and Lachlan ladling soup into bowls, steam escaping from baskets of warm crusty bread. My stomach growled, and I realized that I hadn"t eaten lunch.

"Are you okay with Calvin for a moment, Archie?"

"Och, nae bother, lass. The lad's enjoying himself."

At his name, Calvin turned to look at me, and a feeling of love flashed through me. He was happy to see me. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the little kitten, his fur now dry, and wondered if I had subscribed that emotion to him, or if he had managed to transmit that idea into my head.

Okay, now that was getting to be a bit much. Shaking my head at my thoughts, I joined Sophie at the table.

"Potato leek soup. I like it with a dash of pepper myself."

"Thank you. This looks great." And it was. Simple food, made from locally sourced ingredients, I was told, and soon enough I was patting my stomach and refusing another bowl.

"Just wait until you meet Lia and Shona. They are a match made in heaven. Lia is the incredible chef at our restaurant here, and Shona is a local gardener who grew those leeks you just enjoyed in the soup."

"Oh, that's right. You have a pretty fancy restaurant on site, don't you?"

"It's world class, in my opinion, but Lia will tell you she likes to make comfort food with a touch of class," Sophie said, motioning with a piece of bread in her hand.

"I can't wait to meet them."

"I'm hoping for a girls' night this week."

Lachlan snorted. "Just a usual girls' night?"

"You know, talking magick, saving the world, that kind of thing." Sophie grinned at him.

"The usual." Lachlan mimed painting his nails, fluttering his lashes at Sophie. She leaned over to give him a lingering kiss.

"I love you so much," Sophie whispered, and he murmured something indecipherable against her lips. My cheeks heated, and at the same time, my heart sighed. It was hard not to want something like that even though I was meant to be on my independent "didn't need no man" journey at the moment.

"Enough fornicating at the dinner table," Archie barked from the floor, causing Calvin to spring into the air.

"This is hardly fornicating. Old age must be taking your sight."

"Yet I kicked your sorry arse at darts the other night, didn't I?" Archie said, and I laughed.

"That's an aim problem, not a sight problem," Lachlan protested.

"Your aim's never … you know what? Never mind," Sophie trilled, and I laughed harder. For some reason, I felt at home with these people, even though I was still reeling over the fact that the Kelpies were really freaking scary and that I could see the future.

"Sophie tells me you think you found your magick?" Hilda neatly changed the subject, and I nodded, pushing away from the table.

"Should I take my plates into the kitchen?"

"Och, just leave them. Would you like a glass of wine?" Hilda asked, and I nodded my thanks as she held up a bottle of red. I moved to stand with my back to the fire, enjoying the heat, as I watched Archie trail the feather across the carpet for Calvin. The kitten licked its paws, apparently uninterested in playing anymore.

Until at the last moment, he sprang straight into the air and landed on the feather.

"Aha! You can't fool me," Archie said, whipping the feather away, and Calvin gave chase again.

"I thought he'd given up on it."

"Cats will do that. You'll find they're finnicky. Mercurial moods. Play hard to get one moment. Cuddly the next. They can be all over the place."

"Yes, dogs are never moody," Sophie said, side-eying Sir Buster.

"Here you go, dear." Hilda passed me a glass of wine, and I took a seat in one of the tartan lounge chairs and sipped it, a smile at my lips while Calvin pranced around.

"He really seems to be okay, doesn't he? Bounced right back." Seeing him so bedraggled and tiny had been horrifying. Which, of course, reminded me of the Kelpies. "Um, so, yeah, the Kelpies were pretty freaking terrifying. Guys, I could've used a heads-up on how to stop them or whatever. Since I'm part of the Order and all. I felt pretty useless, standing there gawking on the sidelines while they almost creamed Ramsay and Calvin."

"It's my job, Willow." Sophie tugged at her hair that was woven in a braid over one shoulder. "I've got the power to command them back. We didn't know your magick, and it doesn't seem like what has manifested for you will actually help in the moment of an attack. Likely you'll be able to predict an attack. But in the moment? Not much you can do. I'd say, at the very least, try? Order them back. Let them know you're a part of the Order of Caledonia, that you're one of theirs, and try telling them to get back."

"Seriously, just scream for them to back off?"

"Pretty much what I do. Except I can feel it." Sophie brought a hand to her chest. "In here. I can feel the power to compel them back. It's, I don't know, like I've got this electrical current of energy that lights up inside me. And I push them back with it."

"That's … wild. Why do you think they were there today? Why was Ramsay a threat?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest. It feels like they're becoming increasingly more active," Sophie said.

"The longer we take to fulfill the Order, the more often they'll appear," Hilda said.

"I thought that my being here was helping them calm down." Sophie stuck out a lower lip.

"It does, for a while. But keep in mind this stone has weathered centuries. It likely looks at time very differently than we do."

"I guess. Wouldn't mind a solid night's sleep though." Sophie shrugged.

"Is it the future you see then?" Archie asked from the floor. "Sophie filled us in while you were upstairs."

"I … I guess? I mean, it's never happened in quite the way it did last night, but I'm sure the more I think on it I'll be able to remember more times that it's happened. I just … it's not like I could tell you what your future holds. I don't think at least."

"Want to try?" Sophie asked, and I jolted.

"Like how?"

"Like give me a reading?"

"I wouldn't even know where to start?"

"So, no pressure then." Sophie jumped up and grabbing her own glass of wine, settled at my feet. I looked down at her, confused on what to do. Reaching over I patted her on the head, and she snorted.

"Not sure that's how it goes."

"I literally have no idea what to do."

"Want a notebook? You said you were sketching. By the way, you have some serious skills. That drawing of Ramsay, whoo, boy." Sophie fanned herself.

"Is that right? I'll have to take a look." Hilda brought a small notepad and pen and I put my wineglass on the side table.

"I guess, just see if you can focus on me? If anything pops in your head? Or maybe I should ask a question?"

"Oh jeez, I don't know. Right." I picked up my wine and took a long sip, then put it down, jostling it a bit and sloshing the wine at the rim. "Ope, sorry. Jeez, I'm nervous."

"Don't be. You can't screw anything up. This is just for fun."

"Um, so I'll just do what I was doing I guess?" Silence fell in the room as I began to sketch on the paper, idly doodling, drawing Sophie's face, because that was what was in front of me. As a designer, sketching outfit ideas kind of went together with the design process, but as a creative, I'd taken many art classes growing up and considered myself a fairly proficient artist. Rarely did I take out my pencils and sketch for fun, but every once in a while, I'd pull out paints and have at it. In fact, designing prints was something new that I'd recently gotten into, and I could already tell that I would love to do that in some capacity for the store. Maybe a cute thistle scarf? I sketched one around Sophie's face when the room faded around me.

For a moment, I was carried away to a beautiful forest, standing beside a lovely river that burbled over smooth stones. Sunlight dappled the leaves, and I gasped as Lachlan crouched in front of Sophie, a ring in his hand.

Blinking back to the room I was currently in, I quickly scribbled out the drawing I had started, pressing my lips together because the last thing I needed to do was reveal a secret of that nature to Sophie.

"You saw something, didn't you?" Sophie demanded, starting to rise, and I shook my head.

"Nothing major. Just you standing on the wall with your sword." Like I'd seen her the night before.

"But no details? Nothing to indicate an immediate threat?"

"No, didn't seem that way. I'm sorry." I refused to look at Lachlan, though I wanted to squeal and do a little happy dance for Sophie. They were such a cute couple, and I could only imagine what a castle wedding would be like here.

"That's okay. It's your first real go at it. I'm sure Agnes can dig deeper in her books and maybe pull up some suggestions for how you can harness your power more."

An image of Calvin sleeping flashed into my head, and I turned to see him, his eyes drooping, staring at me.

"Oh, I think the little guy is tuckered out. I'd like to take him up and show him his litter box and food, get him used to the space. Is that okay?" Frankly, I needed some alone time just to get my head on straight after the day I'd had as well.

"Yes, go ahead. Do you need anything else? Do you want to take a bottle of wine up with you?" Hilda asked as I stood.

"No, I'm good. I'm going straight to bed. I have to admit, it's been a pretty exhausting day."

"You're back at the shop tomorrow? I didn't even get a chance to ask how you got on with Ramsay today," Sophie said, as she stood and stretched.

"He's … tricky," I finally landed on, and Lachlan barked out a laugh.

"That's one word for it. Good luck to you on that front." Lachlan saluted me with a glass of whisky.

"Oh, I just think he's a grumpy ol' bear. I bet he's all cuddly and warm beneath that tough exterior. I do like a grumpy man," Sophie said, going to wrap an arm around Lachlan's shoulders. He put an arm around her legs and leaned in, looking up at her.

"I am not like Ramsay," Lachlan protested.

"No, of course not, babe. You're a positive ray of sunshine," Sophie assured him, and I chuckled as I scooped up Calvin and Lachlan glowered.

"Goodnight, everyone. Thanks for your help today. A lot to think about."

"It doesn't all need to be resolved tonight, Willow. Take your time." This from Archie, as he stood, the feather still dangling in his hand. I appreciated the reminder, as my impulsive nature usually made me want to find an answer to a problem immediately. Calvin purred at my throat as I walked upstairs, a warm, little ball of comfort, and I placed him on the middle of my bed once we got into my apartment.

"Okay, let me just put my glass of wine down, then I want to show you your new digs." Putting the wine beside the bed, I picked the kitten back up from where he'd begun to knead the comforter and took him to the bathroom.

Placing him in the litter box, I stood there, hands on hips, while he regarded me solemnly.

"So, um, that's your toilet. You're meant to do your business there."

I sincerely doubted my ability to potty train this little cat. Surely just pointing at a box of sand wouldn't cause a cat to understand my meaning.

To my surprise, Calvin began to dig around in the sand and quickly, and neatly, might I add, took care of business. Color me impressed.

"Well done, good sir. I can't believe that worked so well. Okay, right. I bet you're going to want food and water. Here's your water dish." I picked him up out of the box and put him in front of a little tray with two dishes, one that I'd put water in. Calvin immediately lapped it up while I read the back of the food packaging that Archie had delivered.

"So there's wet food and dry food. But you seem kind of young, so I feel like you start babies on wet food. I'll go with that. Hold on." I backtracked to the little kitchenette in the apartment, dug out a spoon, and went back to the bathroom to dish out the right amount of wet food.

"There. What do you think?"

Calvin dove face-first into the food, which I took to mean he approved, and his little legs flew up in the back as he splayed out over the dish.

"Oh bud, hold on. Here, let me help." The sides of the dish were a touch too tall for him, so I ended up spoon-feeding him his meal. I made a note to get a small plate in the morning. Once we were done, I wiped his face gently with a damp towel where he'd landed in his food and then carried him to the middle of the bed.

"Mooooo!" Clyde jumped through the open door of the bedroom and skidded to a stop as Calvin arched his back and hissed. My hand shot to my heart, but it wasn't me that was scared this time.

If the coo could have screamed, I'm sure he would have.

The look on Clyde's face as he scrambled backward, his eyes wide with terror as little Calvin batted a paw in the air and hissed, had me convulsing in laughter. The ghost coo scrambled, tipping backwards in its haste, sliding across the floor, and winked out of sight right before he would have slammed into the wall.

Calvin stood, all eight inches of him, paw raised, waiting to see if the threat would return.

"I'm dying," I heaved, tears of laughter streaming down my face, as I went to stroke the fur that stood up at the back of Calvin's neck. "Well, done, my little hero. You protected me."

"Brrrrrpp." Calvin bumped his head against my fingers before settling into the comforter, kneading the material with his little paws.

"Oh man, I honestly don't know if I'll ever get used to this. What a day." Wiping tears from my eyes, I went to get ready for bed.

Who knew what the next morning would bring? At this rate, anything could happen.