Becoming Kitty Riley

Chapter 4: Ghost from the Past

Present Day Kitty - One Month After Her Resurrection

They say you can’t run from fate. You can’t change it, either. I should have known this the moment I plotted with the devil and sold my soul for vengeance.

And yet, there it was—that familiar ache in my heart, as if no time had passed between us. Ethan. My love. My soul. He stood just a few feet away from me, and I couldn’t control the chaotic thudding in my chest. He had a different face now, different features—a sharper jawline, the kind of face sculpted by the gods themselves. He was 6'2, ripped with muscles, and his presence commanded attention. Those chiseled features, that strong yet gentle aura… He might have been reborn, but I would recognize that soul anywhere.

He was beautiful—breathtaking, even. A part of me wanted to get lost in those memories of him. But then, no—Kitty, snap out of it. He can’t be trusted. Not now, not ever. I had to remind myself as I watched him from afar, fighting the relentless pull of the past. I needed to craft the perfect plan, something that would have him falling for me and rejecting her. But could I? Was it even possible anymore? I argued with myself, my fingers absently tracing the golden tube vial hanging from the necklace around my neck. My secret weapon. My curse.

The clock struck one in the afternoon, and the familiar pull of time hit me. My pulse quickened as I glanced down at my hands, watching them wrinkle and age before my eyes. Panic surged. Not here. Not now. I looked around frantically, scanning for any sign that someone had noticed my sudden change. No one had, not yet.

I turned quickly, avoiding Ethan’s line of sight. My heart was racing as I fled in the opposite direction, desperate to make it home before the illusion shattered completely.

When I came to, I found myself submerged in a bathtub filled with the shimmering green water from the fountain. The liquid's warmth clung to my skin, and I could feel its youthful properties seeping into my bones, revitalizing every inch of me. My body began to glow, the years slowly peeling away as the magic did its work. I let out a soft breath, sinking deeper into the waters, feeling the age slip away like a distant memory.

Reaching for the gold Victorian vial around my neck, I carefully filled it with the enchanted water, feeling the power pulse between my fingers. With the vial full, I began chanting, my voice low but filled with intent.

"Vivifica me et da mihi Vitam æternam," In the absence of light darkness prevails. I whispered, my words carrying power, "times three."

The ancient spell took hold, my magic surging through me. The wrinkles on my face and hands smoothed out with each syllable, faster than before. My skin tightened, grew youthful once again, and as I stared at my reflection in the rippling water, I smiled. I was not only restored but more youthful than ever. My power hummed in my veins, renewed and ready for what was to come.

As soon as my transformation was complete, Lucinda entered the bathroom, right on cue, like clockwork. "Your Grace," she began, her tone sharp with reprimand, "you need to be more careful." She stood by the doorway with her eyes cast to the ground, holding my plush bathrobe in her hands.

I sighed, sinking deeper into the warm, glowing water. I allowed my mind to take my back...

"I will always choose you in this life and the next!"

Ethan's smile, warm and unwavering, echoed in my mind like a haunting melody, pulling me back to that day as if no time had passed at all. Suddenly, I was there again, standing on the edge of the riverbed next to his uncle's garden, where the air was thick with the scent of lavender and lilies. The memory was so vivid that I could almost feel the cool breeze brushing against my skin as we laughed and chased each other along the winding path.

We were sixteen, reckless and in love, caught up in a world that felt like it was ours alone. I would often find excuses to visit the werewolf kingdom, pretending it was for business with the king. But the truth was, I didn’t care about the king’s affairs. I endured his coldness, his cruelty, all for those stolen moments with Ethan. He was my sanctuary, my light in the darkness that surrounded us.

As we played by the river that day, the sun filtering through the trees and casting dappled shadows on the water, it felt like nothing could ever come between us. Ethan would look at me with those deep, soulful eyes, and I knew, without a doubt, that he meant every word. He would choose me, no matter the cost.

But fate, as cruel as it is inevitable, had other plans, so this time I will make my own and make sure that I came out the victor.

"I have a plan, Lulu," I said, shaking myself out of the past yet not bothering to look up from the rippling surface of the bath. My mind was already miles ahead, calculating every move. "And I need your help to make it happen."

Lucinda shifted slightly, waiting for my orders.

"First," I continued, my voice as cool as the water was warm, "I need to know everything there is about cheerleading. I heard it’s a team that females join to support the guys while they play some game called football." I waved my hand dismissively, not caring about the details of the sport itself. "Second, I need to become popular enough to throw a party—a grand event that everyone will want to attend."

Lucinda’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded without hesitation.

"And when they’re both there—Sabrine and Ethan—I’ll crush them." A smile crept onto my lips, sinister and filled with dark satisfaction. "They won’t know what hit them."

Lucinda kept her eyes downcast as she carefully draped the bathrobe over a nearby chair. Her movements were deliberate, though I could sense a trace of unease in her hesitation. After a brief moment of silence, she straightened herself and spoke softly.

"Your Grace," she began, her voice steady but tinged with caution, "if I may speak freely." She waited for a nod from me before continuing. "Cheerleading and popularity—they are... trivial games in the grand scheme of your power. You are the Fae Queen, and they are mere children. But if this is the path you choose, I will ensure you excel in these roles, just as I always have. Yet, I must ask—" she paused, her gaze daring to rise slightly, "are you certain this is the best way to achieve your goals? Deception and manipulation are your forte, but playing human games might be beneath you."

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, intrigued by her boldness. She quickly lowered her gaze again.

"I will help you, of course," Lucinda continued quickly. "But let us not forget that Sabrine is no ordinary girl, and Ethan, well... he’s always been drawn to something deeper. Popularity may not sway them as easily as others." She tilted her head ever so slightly, her voice lowering. "Perhaps we need to strike more subtly. A party could be the stage for their downfall, but we may need something far more sinister lurking behind the curtains."

Her words lingered in the air like a warning.