The black cat stared up at me as if it owned the place.Golden eyes, sleek fur, tail curling like a question mark. It meowed once, then tilted its head, watching me with unnerving intelligence.
I crouched down and extended my hand. "Well, aren't you a cute little thing," I murmured, brushing my fingers over its soft head. Its fur was like liquid shadow, warm and silky beneath my palm.
Somewhere in the back of my brain — the part now filled with all my stolen magical knowledge — a thought bloomed: Familiars. Binding a creature to yourself. Sharing magic, will, and life. Done properly, it wasn't just a pet; it was a partner.
I smiled. "You'd make a perfect familiar."
The cat blinked slowly.
I extended my other hand, letting raw magic pool in my palm. It shimmered like starlight mixed with midnight. Runes appeared in the air between us, old and sharp, drawn from a hundred different worlds. The ritual formed itself from instinct, from my new knowledge, as easily as breathing.
"First," I whispered, "intelligence. Second, a voice. Third, a bond."
The magic flowed from my fingers into the cat like a ribbon of light. Its fur bristled, tail flicking once, then it arched and hissed — not in pain, but in sudden awareness. Its eyes glowed gold, then violet, then gold again, swirling like liquid sun.
When it opened its mouth, the meow that came out was not a meow.
"Oh," it said, voice soft, feminine, and threaded with amusement. "That was unexpected."
I blinked. "You… can talk?"
"You made me talk," it replied, curling its tail neatly around its paws. "And think. And feel. I was just a cat a moment ago. Now I'm… more." It cocked its head at me. "Why?"
"Because," I said, still crouching and smiling at it, "if I'm going to take over this universe, I don't want to do it alone. And you're cute. Every witch needs a familiar."
The cat's eyes narrowed slightly, then glimmered with something like a smirk. "Cute? Dangerous, maybe. But cute?"
"Very cute."
It purred, a low, pleased sound. "Then I'll accept. What will you call me, Witch?"
I tapped my chin, thinking. "Mystica. That suits you."
"Mystica," she repeated, rolling the name like she was tasting it. "I like it." Her eyes met mine, sharp and aware now. "We're bound, then?"
I nodded. "We're bound. Telepathy, shared magic, maybe a few extra perks when I get around to it. I'll give you more powers as we go."
"Good." Mystica hopped up onto my shoulder like she'd always belonged there, light as a whisper. Her claws didn't even scratch my skin. "Then let's see what kind of trouble we can cause together."
I grinned, feeling her thoughts brush mine — warm, sly, curious. A mind now linked with mine.
"Oh, Mystica," I murmured, standing up and looking around the vault of magical treasures. "We're going to have so much fun."
Her tail flicked, and in my mind I heard her voice, smooth and wicked.Lead the way, Mistress.