Weirdly, I don't mind. Before all this started happening, I'd never have called myself a cat person. But now I have them, I think I am. Well, realistically, I have to be. I could give them away, I suppose. But that seems kind of sad when they've all shown so much personality. I hope that I don't end up with too many more.
A small paw bats at my leg, and I look down to find Seth trying to get my attention. I chuckle. He's one of those that wants attention on his own terms.
And yet, I pick him up and set him on my knee anyway. I really am a sucker for these small creatures. They're just too cute for their own good. I stroke down his soft black fur with one hand, and use the other one to turn the pages of the book. Each spell is different, and some of them have notes scribbled in the margins. But it's hard to work out what they say. They're in the same handwriting as the rest of the book though, which suggests they're just refinements of the spells the person created.
Yet more unanswered questions. They seem to be becoming my thing now.
A knock at my door pulls my attention away from the book.
"Come in," I call, but Daphne is already entering the room, a plate of cookies in hand. "He told you, didn't he?"
"Mmhmm. Now, where is the newest ball of fluff?" She sets the cookies down next to me. At least they're actually for humans and not for the kittens, I wouldn't put it past her to spoil them and forget about me.
"Curled up with Ginger." I wave a hand lazily in the direction of the windowsill, which has become Ginger's favourite spot. And seeing as Romeo took a liking to her the moment he set eyes on her, it's become his too.
Ryan is right about him being a lover at least.
"Oh, they are just the sweetest together." Her eyes are wide, and I can see a hint of envy in them. I'm not sure whether it's towards me for having kittens, or towards the cats themselves because they get to spend all day curled up in the sun.
My guess is the latter.
"They're so cute."
"They are," I respond, only half-heartedly.
"What was it you wanted me to see?" she asks.
"This." I tap the book, glad she got my text. She might be able to make sense of it.
"Pass it here?" She takes a seat on the bed, and holds her hands up to let Felix climb into her lap. She
's his favourite human, from what I can tell.
I hand the book over.
Daphne frowns in concentration, her tongue sticking out as she flicks through the pages.
"Do you know who wrote it?"
"No clue." I lean back in my chair, and turn myself around, being careful to make sure there are no kittens about to be startled with my sudden movement. There's so many of them around, that it's impossible to keep track of them all. But I reckon that so long as I keep an eye on them when I move, it'll be okay. I don't want to hurt any of them.
"Hmm. I wonder if there's a record of it." She pulls out her tablet before I can point out that the book doesn't have a title.
She flips to the front and puts her finger under a long number, before typing it into the search function in the library app. Daphne taps a finger against her chin, as if lost in thought.
"So?" I prompt.
"It's not showing in the library. Not even any close matches. I wonder..."
"Wonder what?"
"If I just..."
"Daphne," I snap. "You need to finish your sentence."
"Sorry, I was typing it into the academy history part. And it's found it."
"It has?" I jump up, careful to hold Seth close to my chest as I move.