Page 9 of A Skirl of Sorcery
Keres glanced nervously towards the ginger cat. ‘As soon as I said I didn’t get close to cats I knew it was the wrong thing to say. I don’t dislike them, I just haven’t met many of them. That’s all.’
‘Well, that’s great because you’re about to meet loads,’ I promised.
She didn’t look thrilled at the prospect but neither did she look horrified. I stretched out my hand. ‘Hi,’ I said brightly. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Kit McCafferty.’
She managed a smile and carefully shook my hand. ‘Hi. I’m Keres Johnson.’
‘There, that’s better.’ I beamed at her and pointed down the street. ‘My house is only a few minutes’ walk away. We can get the kettle on and I’ll show you the spare flat. It’s small but I think you’ll be comfortable.’
I’d barely finished speaking when a group of young children barrelled out from a house in front of us followed by their mother. The woman glanced at the children then at us, stiffened and raised her voice. ‘Sam, Kate, Lewis! Inside!’
All three of them turned towards their mother, their disappointment and confusion palpable. ‘But, Mum…’
‘Now!’ Her voice was high-pitched and tight with anxiety; she was clearly expecting an imminent attack.
As with Arthur Dinsbury, there was no visible reaction from Keres but I felt irritated on her behalf. She was only walking down the street.
‘Don’t,’ she said in a low voice. ‘You’ll only make things worse.’
I twisted on my heel and headed straight for the woman. I recognised her, although I didn’t know her name; she was a shop assistant in one of the larger witchery stores in the centre of Coldstream. I’d watched her deliver shopping to Mrs Miller when the elderly lady had broken her ankle and couldn’t get out. All the neighbourhood kids came round to her house to play. Herhusband wasn’t there much, but I knew him as an affable druid who always had a kind word for my cats when he passed by. None of that mattered right now.
‘Hello!’ I said with a brash cheeriness that demanded her attention.
Her mouth tightened, making her red lipstick look less like a perfect pout and more like a slash of thin colour across her face. I silently christened her Slasher; it seemed to suit her.
She flicked her eyes at me then at her children, who were still in her front garden. ‘I told you to get inside.’ She raised her voice another notch. ‘I’ll not tell you a third time!’
The two boys, Sam and Lewis, dropped their heads and trudged indoors looking defeated, but Kate was less compliant. She turned away from her mother and approached me. ‘Hi.’
I smiled at her. ‘Hi.’
She grinned shyly. ‘Your cat is very pretty.’
Tiddles relaxed for the first time since we’d left Mallory’s flat. She preened herself and blinked wide-eyed at Kate before emitting a chirruping miaow. Bless her white-tipped tail: every action was designed to show herself off at her best, as if she were a kitten straight out of an old Disney film rather than a demon from the netherworld.
‘Can I pet her?’ Tiddles leapt off my shoulder before she’d finished the question.
‘Catherine Alison McGrath!’ Slasher shouted. ‘Get inside now!’
‘You should do what your mum says,’ I told her.
Kate sniffed and reached out a hand to Tiddles. ‘I will. In a minute.’ She angled her head up towards Keres. ‘You’re a ban sith.’
Keres nodded reluctantly. ‘I am.’
‘Are you going to shriek outside our house? Are we all going to die?’ There wasn’t a trace of fear in her voice; she was simply curious.
‘No,’ Keres said. ‘And no. Not yet, anyway.’
Slasher sucked in a sharp breath. ‘Get away from my child!’
I continued to smile, though it was through gritted teeth. ‘I’m Kit,’ I called. ‘This is my friend Keres. We’re out enjoying the sunshine. It’s a beautiful day.’
Slasher responded by yelling at her daughter again. ‘Kate, either get inside now or you’ll go to bed early tonight!’
That was the magical threat that finally worked. Kate sighed heavily and stroked Tiddles for a final time. ‘I have to go now,’ she said to the cat. ‘But it was wonderful to meet you.’ She straightened up and skipped into her house.
As soon as she’d gone, I addressed Slasher. ‘You shouldn’t be afraid of a ban sith. They’re not bad people, they’re just people. Keres won’t hurt anyone. She predicts certain events but?—’
