Prompt from here.
It had been hours since Thea had seen Byron; the tiny tri-colour kitten she'd rescued only that week. Worry uncoiled in her belly, deep and unsatisfying. Other people noticed. At school, many people enquired why the 'sweet, new girl' was sitting on the edge of her seat, fidgeting and generally looking as though something was horribly wrong. She couldn't help the feeling, glancing over at Blaise in class, only to see her return a dazzling smile.
Thea loved her cousin, but she knew well how cold she could be. Animal parts were highly potent ingredients for spells, you could do without but Blaise always wanted the best. Hours. That's how long it seemed, until the bell finally rang and her classmates ran from the school; eager to be free and happy in the sunshine.
Thea didn't follow, she grasped one ruby swathed wrist and pulled Blaise to face her. They were close as sisters, she wouldn't lie. Or would she? Each time Thea looked into those eyes, like endless depths she was less sure. Blaise had a power all of her own, one Thea wouldn't even want to emulate. The fear of what Blaise might do to them, kept people in line, younger witches flocked to her. She wasn't a bad seed, but a beautiful flower and that was always more tempting. But gran stood up to her, she could too.
"Where is he?"
The barely older girl whipped her arm out of Thea's hand, annoyed that she had come close to ruining an expensive piece of jewellery. It had taken her weeks to make that one. Rubies the color of fire, the color of passion; not that the boys needed any persuasion to approach her, but it always helped to have that certain je ne sais quoi. Perfectly plucked smokey eyebrows rose in extreme surprise. Almost a little too well acted.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about?"
Thea worried her lower lip against her teeth, keeping her voice low. Could she have been mistaken? She neglected to tell Blaise about the kitten because she didn't want to take the chance.
"You really don't know?"
Her cousin shook her head, tilting it slightly. She never failed to make Thea feel inadequate and not just because of her exotic looks that made men flock to her. However, she knew that in a crisis she would stand in her defence every single time.
"Dear heart, whatever is the matter? Is it love?" She grinned, peeling her lips back from her teeth in an almost grotesque smile. Thea could see her eyes were alight, with the prospect of a new toy.
"No." She said resolutely. She would never pretend love with one of them or play the game's her adopted sister did. "I have to go."
"Gran, have you seen my --" As Thea ran into the shop, throwing her bag in a corner, her words were cut off. Tears spilled over her eyes before she could blink them away and her expression was guilty. In her withered old hands, Egdith Harman held the blood-stained body of a barely grown kitten. Egdith was a tough old bird, yet aware of how soft her granddaughter was.
"He must have escaped through your window, a dog got him. It is the way, child, life and death join hands to make a loop."
Thea nodded, sniffing and let her grandmother tip the body into her open hands. She stroked the fur softly, wishing she had been more careful.
"That's disgusting, get rid of it." A lazy voice drolled behind her.
Hours. It would be many hours of grieving before she was even able to bury the body properly. But right then, regardless of time; Thea hated Blaise.