8 What is Forbidden 2 (1/2)

James slept until the sun was just visible on the horizon. He got up and walked, half awake, to the window. Lilly stood out on the lawn. She was wearing different clothes, or was she? Her pants were still the light blue, but her top looked darker in the shadows. He watched with fascination as she grabbed something out of the air and looked at it. She dropped it and turned back to watch the sun come up. When the sun was completely up, Lilly wrapped her arms around herself and bowed her head. For just a moment, she rocked back on her, still, bare feet before moving out of James' line of sight.

Turning from the window, James hurried out to find her and nearly ran into her, but she was quick to flatten herself against the wall.

”Lil...”

Her quick reaction to stop the noise became more of a slap.

'Hey!' he protested in thought.

'Sorry,' she replied. 'I didn't mean for it to be that hard.'

'It's all right,' he said. 'How are you feeling today?'

'Better, though still a little weak.' She made an attempt to smile, but failed.

'Something else is wrong. What is it?'

'When you have finished your reading, I'll tell you.'

'Lilly, I want to know so I can help you.'

'This is something you can't help me with.' Lilly entered the sitting room and lay back down on the couch.

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James sighed then returned to his reading. He read until the young maid came in, terrified.

”Sire, the woman, she...”

Her words gave way to tears and James ran out.

Lilly writhing on the floor of the sitting room.

He picked her up and held her close. 'Lilly?'

Her fingers dug into his shirt and her muscles continued to jerk. Slowly he watched the Jaguar coloration spread down her arms and around her neck. Her face was left untouched though the bottom of her chin was colored. The jerking continued and after a moment, he noticed her feet and hands now had the same coloring.

'Lilly.'

He heard a soft growl and he wasn't sure if it was Lilly or something else. There was a louder growl and a loud sound at the door. The young maid opened the door and let out a small cry as a big cat came running in. Lilly rolled out of his arms and back to the floor, leaving her shoulders exposed. The cat stood on her—all four paws fitting onto her back. Lilly's fingers curled as if trying to find a hold in the floor. Every few seconds James heard a pop or a crack, yet he couldn't move. The suddenness of all this held him frozen—unable to speak, unable to move—forcing him to watch. One more crack and her fingers relaxed. The cat coloration had retreated back to Lilly's shoulders.

The big cat stepped off of Lilly. She purred and brushed her nose through Lilly's hair. She pressed her nose against Lilly's cheek before leaving the summer home once more.

Lilly rolled to her side. Her expression scrunched in pain as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She shivered. They sat in silence for several minutes until a soft step made both of them turn. The young maid who had brought food to them stood shyly at the end of the hall. Lilly opened her arms to her. The young girl sunk to her knees beside Lilly and fell into her embrace. Her whole body shook, but she made no sound that James could hear, which was good. Finally the maid pulled away and disappeared. James got to his feet. He reached out to help Lilly off the floor as well, but she shifted away from him. There was something different about her reaction to his offered help.