9 The Festival of Stars

Evie's face lit up as she wispered something in Bella's ear. Bella's questioned expression turned into an excited one. They looked at eachother and nodded in agreement. I tried to ask what was going on, but all they did was frantically run around the tent. They looked as though they lost something and were looking for it. Evie came in the main area and placed down two silk dresses that looked worn but preserved as best as possible. Both dresses had floral designs on them. One was a light purple, and the other was teal. The purple dress had a long, pink, thick peice if cloth rapped around the waist. And the other had the same except it was a deep blue. They were both gorgeous, but just as I was thinking that, I heard soldiers marching this way.

Evie rushed in, grabbed the dresses, and heavily whispered, "Hide!"

I scrabled around looking for places to hide. I then came to the picknic basket. I liften the top with my nosle and hopped in.

A man's voice stood out in the sound of marching, "Do you have the tax money?"

Bella's familiar voice sounded fearful, "I'm sorry sir. We don't have enough money for the taxes. I just." I heard a loud smack. In the sudden moment, I gasped in disbelief. After that, I heard faint sniffling. She was crying. I wanted desperately to go to her, but I couldn't. It would only get her in more trouble, death. In a moment, I heard a small bag of change slowly shake with every step. Evie must have been saving up for taxes. She sounded so sad and reluctant to give it away, but with every step she took, she came closer to the man who came for taxes. Every breath and second that goes by is just one more step toward your fate.

"Now I'll take that!" he snatched the bag of coins from her and I heard two knees hit the floor. Afterward, sobbing. The man marched right out and joined his fellow men.

I waited until the marching stopped and I leaped out of the basket and to the girls. I rubbed my head against Bella's leg and she picked me up, placed me on her lap as always, and started to pet me.

"It'll be alright," I meowed. "Once I turn back to normal, I'll try and talk to the prince."

"About that," she sniffled, "the only way to break the spell is a confession of love with shed of a tear from the other."

I layed my head down and stayed quiet while she pet me. How would I find someone to love me in this state? No one but Bella and other witches could understand me in my cat form, and how would I find someone to see only during the night?

The night came quickly and I transformed again. I was sitting in the couch when Bella came out of her dressing area with the dress that Evie placed onthe floor earlier today. The dress flowed behind her like a clear river. Calming and beautiful.

"How do I look?" Bella asked as she smiled with a questioned expression.

I didn't know what to say. I was so awe struck. the dress flowed down her like it was made for her. She made the dress look worth a thousand ritches. "Y-yes. I mean, you look," I gestured to her beauty, "amazing." Her hair was up in a folded bun with little curls comming from the bottom. The rest of her hair was silk. She had see-through bangs with little curls on each side of her head. Thin little curls. Beautiful, she was. Evie came out, and she looked graceful aswell.

"Are you ready?" Evie asked.

"I know I am!" Bella replied with excitement.

"Ready for what?" I asked the both of them.

"Why, The Festival of Stars, of course!" they both exclaimed in unison.

"What's that?"

"You'll see!"