<span style="font-family:Amaranth"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">Amelia admired her refreshed face in the bathroom mirror, brushing the long silky green locks and grinning like a spoiled brat. She'd never<i> had</i> a bathroom in the hut. Just a huge metal tin she filled with river water. <br/>
Finally, it seemed the universe was answering her many demands. Luxury at last! Soon enough, she'd upgrade from her twisted little shack to something more befitting! A castle maybe, or the tallest tower in the dimension. <br/>
The Witch exhausted her power just making it to the hotel. A good salt bath later, and she was fully charged. Everything was almost perfect...<i>Almost</i>. <br/>
<br/>
Her most treasured item was missing. While the Witch herself wouldn't float to the surface of the river she'd been dumped in, unfortunately her grand hat <i>had</i>. Wondering what fate it'd come to, the Witch decided a little scrying was in order...So she filled a glass with water, lit a candle before the mirror, and splashed its contents upon the surface. Gazing into the warped image, the layers soon melted away. She focused, searching as the flame flickered against the bending drops of water...<br/>
The image melted, showing her hat buoyant over the filthy river, while peasants took turns to shoot arrows into it. Cheers erupted for every direct hit... Each one sinking into the fabric like the stab of a needle into a poppet of herself. <br/>
<br/>
Her lip pursed to conceal its tremble...Her eyes, gleaming with the sting she hid. <i>'Forget it! It was too small anyway!'</i>  She turned from the mirror and stormed out for the main room, passing by the illusion outside the window. The flames were still raging out there...But it wasn't real. In reality, those people were likely going about their normal lives. Celebrating the death of another wicked witch. Her eyes sank...<br/>
</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"Hello, you."</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> Said a deep voice behind her. She span, startled. Who the heck had gotten into her room!? When she saw, her eyes widened...<br/>
A Cat with a huge head, an enormous fanged grin and large purple eyes, sat in the groove of her bed. Its fluffy fur was clad in black and white stripes, and beneath it's claws...Was her trusty hat! </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"It's easier to smile than frown, you know?"</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"><i>'This must be the familiar the Maya mentioned!'</i> She realised, as it floated toward her, placing the hat like a crown upon her head. </span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"Now...I did a good job, didn't I?"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> It declared with a rumbling purr. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"So, if you'd be so kind...FEEED MEEE..."</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"><br/>
She remembered the rules...Not that she ever followed rules, but this <i>thing</i> was a little <i>too nice</i>. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00b3b3">"We're not supposed to feed you!"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> Spat Amelia, barging past the mangy feline. <br/>
Sharp claws clamped to her shoulder as the familiar arched itself there. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00b3b3">"Ouch!'</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> She hissed trying to bat it off. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00b3b3">"What in the three faces of Hecate are you DOING!?"</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"Feed me! Then I can come home with you!"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> It answered, beaming its smirk wider. </span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"You Witches love to take in strays, don't you? And they don't <i>want me</i> here! They're always complaining that I shred the furniture!"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> </span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00b3b3">"You'd shred MY furniture!"</span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"<i>What </i>furniture? It's all ashes now, isn't it? Besides, looking at your tastes, you don't seem to mind things having a little...<i>Character</i> to them." </span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">Now she was getting angry...She grasped the cat by the ear, peeled him off her shoulder, and dumped him back on the bed. Then stormed out the door, slamming it behind. <br/>
It'd be a good time to head downstairs for the lobby and mingle...Not that she was the friendly sort, but it was either that or the CAT. </span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff00ff">"I'll be here if you change your mind! I like Fish! <i>Lot's</i> of fish!"</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300"> it called from inside, muffled by the door between them.<br/>
</span></span><br/><i><span style="font-family:Amaranth"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">'Yeah. Let's mingle for once.' <br/>
</span></span></i><br/><span style="font-family:Amaranth"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#59b300">She made her way, settling down in the lobby seating...sulking in silence...   </span></span>