WereCAT

Chapter-30- A New Start

..Epilogue..

I lay on my bed and stared at the white ceiling. A week had passed by since that night. We had tried searching for him in the ruins. But Dario's body was never found. We had no clue to what could have happened to him. The police announced to the neighborhood that it was just a fire accident. We were the only ones who knew the real truth.

Two days later, Leo told me about his past. The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle finally fell into place to reveal the bigger picture. I couldn't remember how long we had talked in the park. Time had passed by so swiftly during our conversation.

Five centuries ago, Leo's family had given speeches in the city council, asking people not to believe in superstitions and witchcraft. A debate ensued which led to the rather gruesome killing of the witches of the medieval period. By the time his family realized their mistake, the damage had already been done. Hundreds of women associated with magic were executed one by one. Many months later, a witch came to their mansion and demanded to see his family. It was later found that she was Remrain Torenzo, one of the witches who had been burnt alive. Her soul had lived on as she was hell bent on revenge. When she found his family, she cursed them to live their life as werecats. In the mornings, they transformed into felines and when the sun set, they could change into humans. She made a deal with them. If Leo and his family found the gems of Azurena, she would set them free of the curse. That was the promise she had made.

I sighed and tried to remember the rest of Leo's account about his past.

With the help of psychics, they had managed to detect the first four gems. They embedded the blue stones into a bracelet which was their heirloom. This was the connection between the seers and the werecat family. Soon after that, on a dark fateful day, Leo and Dario found their parents dead. When Leo confronted Remrain, she claimed to be guilty. She told him, she had done it because she was in love with him. He began hating her ever since then.

Leo and Dario remained as the only descendents of their family's legacy. As years flew by, Leo began getting tired of living like an immortal. He told the witch to lift the curse but she refused. She wanted all the five gems of Azurena and their souls so that she could regain her previous powers. That's when Leo made a personal deal with her. He agreed to give up his life willingly if she spared his brother. With a smile, she had agreed.

And that's how it all started.

I turned on my side and glanced at the window. My fluffy white pillow was uncomfortably protuberant and I couldn't sleep all night. Today was a special day but yet, I didn't feel the energy to celebrate the occasion. If only Dario had been still alive, I would have genuinely felt happy. Even though I hadn't spent much time with him.. even though he was only a friend.. I missed him. The Burmese cat look-alike had a silly way of lightening everyone's moods.

Strangely, he was so similar to Leo.

A sigh escaped my lips again. I shouldn't think about Dario. Everytime his name was brought up in a conversation, Leo's face went blank. Though he rarely opened up to me, I knew he felt guilty. He didn't deserve to carry the burden of guilt in his heart. I should be the one to blame.

Sunlight crept into my room, uninvited. I tossed in my bed again and buried my head under the pillow. If that wasn't torturous enough, my alarm clock began to ring in its dull, monotonous tone.

I reached out with my hand and searched around for the mechanical object. When my hand caught hold of it, I swung it away. It hit the hard wall of my bedroom and became badly bruised. Yet it was still stubborn and didn't stop ringing.

What the hell-

I threw my legs to the side and hopped out of bed. Stumbling to the maniacal alarm clock that lay on the floor, I cursed it under my breath. I hit the off button and it stopped ringing immediately.

My shoulders drooped and my eyes caught sight of the floral calendar hanging on the wall.

Today is my eighteenth birthday.

I rubbed my eyes and went to the door. Pulling it open in a flash, I emerged out of my room. The corridor was empty and the door to Tory's room was still closed. Was he asleep at this hour? It was seven o'clock. My brother was an early bird who got up when the first streak of sunlight approached the earth.

I admit I was exaggerating on that one.

A huge yawn escaped my lips as I hopped down the stairs. I could hear voices from the kitchen. Curiosity overwhelmed me. I crossed the living room and ended up, right in front of the kitchen. Tory was in there and he wasn't alone. When his voice was followed by a giggle, my suspicions were confirmed.

How dare he two time my best friend!

I slammed the door open and walked in with my fingers clenched tightly into a fist. What awaited me was a kitchen in complete ruins. The counter was covered with flour. The table had a dozen books lined across it haphazardly and various syrup bottles lay scattered near the mixer. Two amateur cooks stood next to the microwave, one trying to read the cooking manual while the other had a look of disapproval inscribed to her face.

A sigh escaped my lips and drew their attention towards me.

Tory became unusually hyperactive. On second thoughts, perhaps it wasn't that unusual. My brother hopped over to me and gave me a giant bear hug while patting my back.

"Happy birthday, Eva. You are all grown up, now."

By hugging me, he had managed to dirty my pajamas with white flour.

I scowled at him, " Well, this house does need atleast one adult.. "

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

I ignored his question and turned to the person standing behind him. Shubhra looked better than my brother though her apron had many stains of chocolate on them.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" I asked her in surprise.

Shubhra's blue-green eyes shone at me and she raised a hand to wipe off the smudge on her face. She shook her head apologetically. "Tory asked me to help him with the cake. And so, here I am, at your service."

I couldn't help but smile at her response.

Tory pulled away from me and walked back to my best friend. They exchanged a quick glance and went back to work. I pulled a chair from the table and sat down. If this relationship endured the cooking project, then I would know it's true love between the two of them. I decided to watch them for my own amusement. I knew I was in for a few laughs. And as expected, they didn't fail.

Shubhra talked to him, "I bought the groceries yesterday. So, do we have all the ingredients?"

Tory was so engrossed in the cooking manual such that his nose was almost touching the page. He shook his head slowly and turned to Shubhra with a troubled expression.

"The list contains six egg yolks and six whites. But Shu, you bought only eight eggs."

Shubhra looked at me in exasperation. I couldn't help but grin at her. "Hey, you are the one who likes him," I reminded her with a wink. Laughter began to loom in my stomach when my friend blushed to the color of deep crimson. But my brother remained ignorant and was still musing over the recipe.

I sighed and decided to leave the two alone. With Shubhra's help, the cake would atleast be edible this year.. hopefully. Sometimes, I got the strange feeling as if my brother had been cursed to stay away from the kitchen. Many innocent lives could be saved if only he would listen to my suggestion.

I stretched my arms to get rid of the morning lag. Pushing the door open, I glanced at the grandfather clock in the living room. It was already seven thirty and I had many plans for the day.

..--..

I walked to the café nervously. It had been a long time since I had met Angie. When I talked to her over the phone, she seemed very chipper and enthusiastic. Somehow, it seemed like a false facade. Maybe she was trying to hide the fact that she was in mourning over Dario's disappearance.

None of us could accept that he might have died in the fire. We chose to assume, he just disappeared from this world and from our lives..

I kicked a stray tin can, lying on the pavement. Everytime I lost someone dear to me, my heart always felt guilty. Why did I always blame myself?

My parents.. Leo.. Dario..

I bit my lip in remorse. Atleast I had managed to bring back the green eyed werecat of mine. But didn't that prove how selfish I am?

I bent my head and clasped my hands over my face. I had to stop thinking about the past. It was over and I needed to move on. But how?

Being the clumsy idiot I am known to be, I didn't see what I was walking into. Bumping into someone hard, I stumbled. In order to regain my balance I caught her elbow and managed to steady myself.

"Oh, hold on there, buttercup. You need to watch where you are going, " she told me with trace of good humor.

I looked up at my tall friend and was relieved to find Sandra grinning at me. Dressed in the usual white Khaki pants and a t-shirt that proclaimed her love for the sea, she looked very dashing. My blond friend pulled an arm over my shoulder and began leading me to the café.

"You don't want to die at the age of eighteen, do you, my funny little friend?"

I shook my head while trying to hold back a chuckle. My blond friend's eyebrows were knit in amusement. She sighed and stopped midway in the path.

"Too bad, you are not having a party to celebrate. But I got you a gift anyway."

Huh?

Sandra pointed to a box that she held in her hand. It had many holes in it and I could hear soft mewing from inside. I looked up at my friend in confusion. She nodded to confirm my doubts. She opened the small flap on the top of the box and pointed inside. I took a cautious peek to find a black Burmese cat. The cat was lounging with a content smile on its face. Its tail swayed gracefully but it seemed to be asleep.

"It's a cat?!" I muttered in apprehension.

Sandra nodded enthusiastically. "I met up with your brother a week ago. He told me you lost your cat. So, I, being your benevolent, kind and generous friend, decided to get you a new cat for your birthday. I bought him from Jacob's pet shop, a week ago. Isn't he cool?"

I nodded uneasily.

A new cat? After all my adventures with the last one, I wasn't really keen on getting myself into more trouble.

I took the box from her hands and smiled in gratitude. "Thanks, Sandra. You are too good to me."

"No problem, sugarcup. Well, I am off to meet Rally. She is doing well on court, you know." My friend smiled contently. She gave me a small pat on my back and turned to walk away. I watched her as her figure disappeared in the crowd. I was truly fortunate to have caring friends like her.

Turning to the box in my hand, I nuzzled the cat's ears. It mewed in comfort. A smile flitted across my lips. Heading to the glass door of the café on Greame's road, I took a quick peek at its inside. At one far corner of the restaurant, Leo and Angie sat quietly. Taking in a long breath, I pushed the door open and walked in.

The owner greeted me with a small nod and I acknowledged it with a smile. While walking upto my table, a familiar feeling of dread overcame me. What should I say to Angie? How did she feel?

But she saved me the trouble. The auburn haired beautician hugged me when I approached her. She placed a wrapped package in my free hand and pulled me to sit next to her.

"Hey, Angie. What's this?" I asked her while pointing to the gift.

"Hair conditioner. You need it, hun."

I narrowed my eyes in disbelief. How typical of her.

"Thanks for your concern, " I told her in an irritated tone. My attention shifted to the tall, lanky boy who sat opposite to us. He was looking at the view outside, obviously trying to avoid eye contact with me. I shook my head in despair.

We ordered our lunches and devoured the meal in silence. The feeling of gloom hadn't lifted yet. The last time I had seen Angie was when she had been possessed by Remrain's spirits. Perhaps that's why, there was a sense of awkwardness among us. We weren't ordinary.. atleast not in the normal sense. We all had a dark past and here we were, sharing a meal in peace.

I cleared my throat to ease the tension between us.

"So, how are your injuries, Angie?"

"They have healed. I feel a lot better now," she told me with a cheerful smile.

I nodded and resumed dining in silence. It was then when I felt something soft rubbing against my ankle. I dropped my head under the table and found the cat scratching my feet with its furry paws.

Amused, I picked it up and pulled it into my lap. It began cuddling on my stomach. Both Leo and Angie gaped at the cat, completely dumbstruck.

Leo managed to catch hold of his tongue. "Eva, what's that?"

I grinned at him. "Sandra got me a new cat. Nice of her, eh?"

He took a long time to digest the information and nodded hesitantly. Angie was having a tougher time to regain her composure. She picked the cat from my lap and held it by the nook of its fur. The cat seemed unhappy to be pulled away from its comfortable spot. It hissed at her angrily.

A gentle smile made its way across the beautician's lips. "You know.. He seems just like Dario."

I knew what she meant. Unable to refrain from the subject, I agreed openly. "Yeah.. I know. I really miss that perverted boy."

Angie added, " It's not the same without him. That idiot always knew how to get into trouble."

To our astonishment, the cat hanging from Angie's hands hissed at her in complete annoyance. It opened its mouth and scowled, "Who are you calling an 'idiot'? I worked my butt off to get back to you and you guys call me names. Did you forget my heroic deeds? I was the one who broke the mirror and saved you, pretty ladies."

All three of us gaped at the talking feline. My hands trembled and I had to latch onto the table for support. I nudged Leo and whispered, "Am I dreaming.. Or is that Dario?"

"OF COURSE, IT'S ME!"

Leo bent over the table and pulled the Burmese cat away from Angie's shaking hands. Dario blinked at him and suddenly found himself staring at a pair of furious green eyes.

"You idiot! Do you know how worried we have been?"

Dario gulped when he found Leo's tall frame, towering over his small body. "Um- hello brother. Long time no see."

But Leo ignored his less articulate response. He glared at his younger brother and spat out angrily. "After so many years of trying to get rid of the curse, you managed to fall into Remrain's trap again."

A sigh escaped from the cat's lips. He shook his head and tweaked his ears. "I know. I was able to destroy the Oblivion. Apparently, before fading away, Remrain had managed to throw a permanent spell towards me. The green light that emerged from the mirror hit me while I was wrecking it apart. It's a price I had to pay.. "

Leo shook his head in exasperation. "You could have come with us. But you had to be stubborn."

"What can I say? Stubbornness runs in our blood. Though you find it difficult to accept, I don't mind spending the rest of my life as a feline. Somebody has to atone for the sins of our ancestors."

Leo stared at his brother for a long time, contemplating over his words. Even though he was upset, he knew Dario's words held some trace of truth. After many seconds had passed by, he loosened his grip on the cat and dropped him in my lap.

He smiled and said softly, "Alright. But Angie will take care of you.. "

The black Burmese cat let out a soft purr in agreement and began cuddling on its spot. He looked up at me as if waiting for me to say something.

I chuckled and told him, "I am so glad to see you, Dario."

A smirk made its way across his whiskers and he smirked at me with gleaming eyes. "I feel the same way, sexy."

The other two occupants of the secluded table, let out a groan along with me. Dario would never change.

..--..

Leo and I left the café after some hours, leaving behind two bickering individuals. We strolled along the busy streets and watched as the sky grew from crimson to purple. The awkward silence between us ensued. I tried to find subjects to talk about but came up with nothing.

He hadn't changed. He was still the same. Whenever he smiled, there was always that strange sparkle in his eyes. They were the same mesmerizing emerald orbs that drew me to him, on the first day we met. In the beginning, they had held so many secrets like the deep oceans. But now, I knew so much about him and his past.

We walked over a small bridge that ran over a thin brook. Many couples thronged the bridge and I began to feel self-conscious. Leo sensed my uneasiness. "What's wrong?" he asked.

I shook my head quickly. "No-nothing," my voice stuttered at his intense gaze.

He stopped midway and turned to look at the waters. Resting his elbows on the railing, he leaned across it and stared as the light reflected from the blue water. For the first time, he was dressed in casuals. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled to his elbows and his washed out black jeans added charm to his looks.

I gulped and began blushing. Leo noticed my reactions. He let out a snort, "You should stop staring at me, Eva."

"I am NOT staring at you, airhead!" I retorted forcibly.

"I don't need my powers to read your mind." he told me.

My words only managed to amuse him. He snickered silently and went back to gazing at the stream of water that ran below us. I fiddled with the hem of my shirt and shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another. And since when did I begin to feel so awkward around him? I really needed to see a shrink and get my brain checked over.

I went close to him and imitated his posture by leaning across the white railing. A long moment passed by in silence.

"Leo?"

"What is it?" he asked without looking at me.

"I still don't know your real name. Don't you think I deserve to know it?"

A smile flitted across his lips and he turned to me. "Why do you want to know?"

I glowered at him and pouted. "Because I need to know your true name. It would be unfair to our friendship if you still kept secrets from me. Am I right?"

He continued to beam at me. With a chuckle, he lifted his hand and placed it on my head. Dragging the unbearable silence, he took a long time to reply.

"My true name is Leonardo.. "

I gasped and asked quirkily, ".. Di Caprio??"

His eyebrows drew in a crease and he shook his head. "No. Who is that?"

"Never mind," I told him, sulking deep inside.

Oh well, you can't have everything in life.

So, that was his real name. Leonardo. In a way, my guess about his name had turned out to be right. Was it due to my inner psychic strength? Perhaps.

I let out a chuckle at my own silly thoughts. The sky grew darker and the sun had began to set across the horizon. Its last rays tried to hold on to the earth and illuminated the brook in golden glitter. I tapped my fingers restlessly against the railing.

Turning back to him, I asked with hesitation. "So, what now?"

"I don't have a clue, Eva. It's a new start. I have so many issues to think over."

I raised my eyebrows in puzzlement. "Like what?"

He turned to me and shook his head exasperatedly. Placing his hand on my head, he tapped it in a mocking gesture. "Always clueless. Did you ever think about where I should live from now on?"

I chirped in enthusiasm, " You can live in my house. There is a spare room. I can convince Tory that you are a homeless student who requires housing. He is too gullible. He will believe anything."

Leo's black bangs scattered when he shook his head in disagreement . "Your brother isn't fond of me. Everytime he sees me, he wants to pick up a blunt knife and skin me alive."

"Oh come on! I will make him change his mind."

"Fine. But what will I do? This is the new age. I need to get a job, Eva."

"Tory and I can help you get into college. You are intelligent, Leo. Use your skills for vocational training."

He seemed surprised that I had an answer to all his questions. He smirked and asked me with a wink, "And who will bear my children?"

"I can-" I stopped myself. But the words had already slipped from my mouth.

Open mouth. Insert foot. You are such an idiot, Eva Armano.

I took a step backwards in embarrassment. Leo's smile broadened and he caught my hands before I could escape. Pulling me closer to him, he tightened his hold on me.

"Care to repeat that?" he asked me mischievously.

I shook my head frantically. "I didn't say anything. It was all in your twisted imagination."

He decided to torture me by prolonging the awkwardness in our posture. Without any remarks, he leaned his head closer to mine. His green eyes twinkled in the evening darkness. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he trailed down. He lowered his lips to mine and kissed me gently.

An overwhelming feeling of warmth enveloped us. I was lost in his soothing touch. This was the effect, he had on me. Why did he have to be so darn irresistible?

To my utter disappointment, he pulled away abruptly, leaving me gasping for more. Giving me a wink, he placed one hand under my knees and hoisted me up in his arms.

"What are you doing? There are people watching us, Leo! Put me down, this instant!" I yelled while elbowing him in his ribs.

He winced and shook his head. "No. I am taking you home like this. Get used to it."

I muttered curses at him but they aroused another chuckle from him. He took me down the bridge while many onlookers stared at us, murmuring among themselves.

"This is embarrassing," I remarked while trying to hide my face in his shirt.

"Hmm. Eva?"

"What?"

"Many happy returns of the day."

His hand reached into his back pocket and he placed something in my hand. I stared at the wet rose that stuck out between my fingers. No, it wasn't black. It was a red rose.. a flower that symbolized love. His silent gesture finally told me, how he truly felt.

I clutched it tightly and snuggled in his warmth.

"Don't get too comfortable," he told me with a smirk.

But I didn't care. He was there with me and that's all that mattered. He was right. It was a new start.. for both of us, towards a life everlasting. What more could I say?

Oh yes, I love cats.

..--..

-fin-

A/N:

No animals were hurt in the making of this story.. well, except for Dario who suffered countless bruises from women.

To answer Artymas's question, I pronounce Eva as 'Ee-vuh'. But it's your choice.

To everyone: You thought I died, didn't you? Well, apparently not. Hope you enjoyed the story. If you didn't understand something, let me know. I tried to tie all the loose threads but I may have missed something. The epilogue was easy to write. It has been a nice experiment with writing in first person. I learned a lot. Uhhhh.. I will be working on Labyrinth and Guardian Stars from now on.

So, thanks for being my faithful dark followers. ;)