4. Jaded nanny
The car ride home was tense and silent, save for the occasional murmurs of concern from Laoise’s parents and the soft hum of the car engine. The landscape outside whisked by in a blur, the rural scenery of Colmar transitioning into the more familiar surroundings of their neighborhood. The urgency was unspoken but understood; they had to be safely within their home before the sun began to set.
Upon arriving, Agan, the father hurriedly parked the car in the driveway, barely waiting for the engine to shut off before rushing to assist her daughter out.
Once inside the house, the atmosphere was one of controlled chaos. Edwige, the mother, fussed over her daughter, checking her over for any signs of the impending transformation, while the father quickly secured the doors and windows, ensuring their privacy and safety.
“Until we figure out what to do about this situation, you must stay confined to your room” he explained.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.” Plead Laoise in a fragile whisper. The words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of her bewildered state.
Stood on the threshold of Laoise's room, a sanctuary now turned prison, room, her parents silently watched her enter the chamber. Then, with a slight hesitation, Agan was about to lock the door when his wife interrupted him. Edwidge entered the room with a resolute stride and settled into the armchair next to her daughter's bed.
“What are you doing Edwige !?” Agan asked, surprise tinting his tone.
“I can’t leave her. This trip was my idea. I'm staying with her,” Edwidge declared, her voice firm yet laden with guilt.
Agan attempts to persuade his wife were cut short as Edwidge swiftly locked the door, trapping the key in its lock to bar entry.
Laoise, feeling a strange sensation creeping over her, murmured, “I...I don’t feel very well,” her voice barely audible. As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the room, Kae spell's effect took hold. Laoise’s body started to convulse gently, her form beginning to change under the spell's powerful magic.
Edwidge, panic-stricken, rushed to her daughter's side. With maternal strength, she caught her before she hit the ground, her movements fueled by adrenaline and love. Gently, she placed Laoise’s weakening body on the bed, the sheets rustling softly under the shifting weight. Edwidge then retreated to her armchair, her hands clasped tightly as she began to pray, her eyes never leaving Laoise.
The transformation was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Laoise’s body contorted, her limbs reshaping, as her human form gave way to the sleek and powerful body of Aja. The transformation, a bizarre dance of nature’s magic, unfolded before Edwidge’s disbelieving eyes. Within minutes, where once lay Laoise, now rested the impressive figure of a big cat cloaked in a tapestry of golden hues and ebony rosettes.
Aja, feeling a newfound vitality coursing through her, rose to her feet. Her feline instincts, unaccustomed to the confines of a human room, sensed Edwidge’s presence as a threat. She growled, a low and menacing sound that filled the room.
Just as the situation teetered on the edge of danger, the window burst open, and Nosso, the man from the hospital, leaped into the room with agile grace. Edwidge, caught off guard, screamed in terror, both at the aggressive stance of the leopard and the sudden appearance of the stranger.
From outside, the sound of Agan desperately trying to break down the door resonated, adding to the chaos. Nosso, his eyes fixed on Aja, admonished her, “Even here, you must abide by the rules.”
“Who are you? What is Wh…what is happening??” Edwidge asked, her voice trembling with fear.
“Forgive my intrusion, madam. I am Nosso, and I'm here for the leopard,” he replied, his tone a blend of calm and authority.
“You're responsible for this?” Edwidge's voice rose in accusation.
“I am not here for your daughter. My responsibility lies with the leopard, Aja. She harbors a strong dislike for humans and is a hair's breadth away from attacking you. That is why you can't be here at night.” Nosso explained, his words carrying the weight of truth and urgency.
As he spoke, Nosso unlocked the door. Laoise’s father finally entered, his face a mask of confusion and fear. “What’s going on here?”
“Consider me a guardian for the leopard. We must leave now but we will return by sunrise” Nosso stated, his gaze never leaving Aja.
“You can’t let a wild animal loose in the city!” Agan protested, his voice laden with disbelief.
Before further arguments could be made, Aja leaped out of the window into the twilight. Nosso, following suit, reassured them, “She won’t harm anyone, and we’ll remain unseen,” before disappearing into the night after Aja.
Aja, now free in the open air, reveled in her original form, her every sense heightened. The incessant crying of Laoise’s consciousness in her mind was a minor annoyance compared to the exhilaration of her freedom.
“If you're so fond of being human, take my place,” Aja taunted Nosso as they stealthily navigated through the shadowed streets of Quartier des Maraichers, making their way to the nearby forest. Nosso, transforming into his panther form, responded, “I do not enjoy the human envelope, but I have no choice to endure it because of you. Unlike you, I follow Kae’s orders…always.”
As they breached the boundary of the forest, Aja, felt a surge of liberation. She darted into the dense thicket, her movements fluid and unrestrained amid the lush expanse of greenery. The forest was a stark contrast to the confinements she had faced, a vast sanctuary where she could stretch her legs and run free, her muscles rippling with each powerful stride.
“Tell Kae I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll behave from now on. She listens to you, Nosso,” Aja called out, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and desperation. She glanced back at Nosso, noticing his slower pace, the years weighing on him more visibly in the wild expanse of the forest.
Nosso, panting from the effort of keeping up, replied with a tone of weary exasperation, “I have been warning you for moons, Aja. Everyone is tired of your antics. Right now, Kae is grieving the trees lost in the fire. She has no patience for your empty promises or excuses.”
“Don’t be unnecessarily dramatic! All you have to do is just apologize on my behalf like you always do. That should fix everything as usual…right?” Aja suggested, her tone laced with a hope that felt more like a child’s wishful thinking than a true solution.
Nosso sighed deeply, his breath heavy with the burden of their conversation. “This is serious. If you want to return to Sadori…to the life you knew, you must find a way to prove to Kae that you can be trusted.”
“But I am trustworthy! She just needs to see that. You know me, Nosso; you raised me!”
“Every day since you were a cub, Kae has had to overlook your transgressions. Even the hyenas speak of your difficult nature…” Nosso countered.
Aja’s expression turned dark at the mention of the hyenas. “Those stupid hyenas...”
Nosso cut her off, “It's not about plotting against others. It's about realizing that your behavior is the issue. Rather than obsessing over what others do or don't do, you must focus on your inner strengths to find a way out of this situation.”
Aja paused in her tracks, her breath steady, a stark contrast to Nosso’s labored breathing. She pondered inwardly, “I still don’t understand what Kae expects from me.”
Nosso continued, “You’ve always despised humans. Now that you’re bound to one, and you understand their language, take the opportunity to see if they are truly as terrible as you believe. Inform Kae if they plot harm against us.”
“They’re all bad. We don’t need a tragedy to prove that” Aja retorted; her conviction unwavering.
“Since you woke up from the spell, you have done nothing but complain about Laoise. How weak and naive she is. She does not seem dangerous to me,” Nosso pointed out, his voice a blend of reason and admonishment.
“Maybe it's time for you to put aside your arrogance. Be patient and find the real threats. Stop them, and you might be seen as a hero in Kae’s eyes,” Nosso advised.
“One good deed and you could regain your freedom. Until then, endure this and learn to behave,” he concluded.
In the heart of the forest, Aja stood, her body at ease but her mind racing. Nosso’s words resonated with her, a mix of challenge and opportunity. It was a moment of introspection, a rare pause in the wild rush of her emotions. For the first time, Aja considered the possibility of change, of a different path that could lead her back to the life she yearned for. The forest around them stood silent, a witness to this pivotal moment in Aja's journey.
