The world was just a blur of sound.
Val couldn't pick anything out. There was a distant scream somewhere but he was too exhausted to pay it any mind, his insides felt like they had been smashed, burned and tossed right back in in the wrong order. He wanted to throw up.
It was a struggle to sit up, tying to recall what happened was an even bigger problem. When his vision finally came back Val found himself in front of a naked boy who looked a year or so younger with completely white hair.
He screamed. "Uncle Griff? Someone? Help!"
"For the love of Hecate shut up." He turned to the body in front of him, the boy was glaring with familiar gold coloured feline eyes, "I'm trying to sleep."
"S-Sy-Symon? Is that you?"
"No shit Sherlock."
"Bloody hell!" He sprang up and made for the living room, he grabbed the house phone and dialed his mum.
He was tackled to the ground just before she picked up. He looked up to see Symon straddling him. The former cat's hand was on his mouth quieting him.
"Hello? Valerian is that you?"
Symon tapped the index finger of his free hand to his temple and then made a talking movement. The Katie sign for 'think before you speak.'
There were times he felt crazy for thinking Symon was studying them, who knew.
The hand on Val's mouth came off, he took in a deep breath of air before speaking, he couldn't let her know uncle Griff wasn't there so he had to be smart. "Hello mum."
"Honey, what took you so long to reply?"
"I forgot to get Symon, we both miss you, dinner with uncle Griff wasn't as satisfying."
"He's hopeless, I honestly don't know why your father trusts him but no one else was available so, you know. Anyways I miss you too darling but isn't it a little too early to be calling?"
"I couldn't wait."
"We'll be back Monday, take care of yourself. Symon take care of him."
Symon made a very believable cat sound.
"Bye mum."
"Bye." The line went dead. The beep loud in the empty, barely lit kitchen. Val made a quick guess it was around five in the morning.
"That went well." Symon said cheerily.
It took Val a great deal of restraint to keep his eyes on the other's face, "How? You're...not a cat..."
"Brilliant observation." His former cat sounded pissed.
"This isn't meant to be possible."
"Sorry but you're a wizard Harry." Symon said finally getting off his torso and walking about in unabashed nudity. He went to the fridge and grabbed the carton of milk.
It took about a full minute for those words to sink into Val's consciousness, "I-I'm a wizard? No. Impossible." He snapped his fingers, "Of course... I passed out from the stress of homework and now I'm hallucinating."
Symon stared at him, "Do you hear yourself?"
"Its more believable than being a fucking wizard!" He shouted at Symon who seemed unimpressed. "Aren't you going to explain something? I'm having a melt down here."
"All magic wielders have special abilities, everyone can do a bit of magic but are gifted at a particular kind of magic. With the way you transformed me, using magic for the first time and you didn't die I'd say your gifted at transformation. Nice." He paused, drank some more milk then continued, "I on the other hand am a magic cat, or was a magic cat. Magic animals in general are smarter than other animals, have magic in its most natural form and can talk."
"So you could talk? Why didn't you?"
"I really love being a normal house cat." Symon smirked. "I practically didn't have to do anything."
Val leaned against the kitchen counter, he should have just let uncle Griff throw the box away. He tried thinking but his head was starting to hurt again. "Why today of all days?"
"I'm just as pissed off as you are kid, just when I was planning to show off my kitty cuteness at that party."
Party!
He ran to his room almost tripping on the steps. He got the invite out of his bag and dialed the first number he saw.
"Hello?"
"Alex, it's Val, hope I'm not interrupting anything." He said managing not to stutter.
"I was just sleeping but that's not important."
"I am so sorry."
"Don't worry, I'm actually glad you called."
Val felt his chest expand heat rush to his cheeks, "Oh r-right, thanks I mean, I wanted to bring my cat-"
"We don't mind we've heard so much about him."
"Well actually he can't, he has...cat worms, he's meowing like crazy and his tummy hurts. I have to take him to the vet."
"Aww, too bad. Hope he gets better."
"Thanks, can I bring a friend though?"
"Is it the American or the teacher's pet?"
He ignored the fact Alex sounded bitter, "Neither of them."
"Whoever you bring is very welcome. I'll see you tonight at eight."
"I'm so excited." He dropped the call with a heavy sigh.
"Cat worms? Was that your best material kid?" Symon scoffed.
"I'm stressed, and stop calling me kid I'm older than you."
"I'm forty-six."
Val nearly tripped onto the bed. "You're joking."
"Magic, kid. Crazy shit happens." Symon sighed.
"Can you please put on some clothes, your...is starting to get ...disturbing."
"I walk around naked everyday for eight years but you find it disturbing now?"
"Symon please."
"Bet you wouldn't say anything if Alex walked around naked?" Symon got a blanket flopped onto the bed and covered himself up, "Happy now?"
No, there's a naked guy in my bed, Val thought sadly.
"Before I wake up figure out how to turn me back into a cat."
"Why? Don't you like being human?" He wasn't expecting Symon to want to change back.
"Listen, I haven't used magic in several years- don't ask me why. As a cat my magic signature has become so low I can't be noticed and I liked that, but as a human my signature expands to cover my whole body, it's noticeable. I like my quiet life. Right now, for some reason this house has a cancelation force-field. Also all your clothes have a button or zipper or buckle that acts as a cancelation charm."
"Wait why?"
Symon turned over facing away from him, "Its not my place to tell, I suggest when your parents get back you ask a lot of questions."
"Symon? Sy, don't ignore me."
But he could already hear snoring, he didn't have the energy to to care whether they were real or fake.
Val fell to his knees, the world felt like it was spinning again. He watched Symon sleeping peacefully like everything was fine meanwhile it wasn't. How was he going to tell this to anyone?
"I can literally smell your confusion." Symon sat up groaning, his eyes holding more of a human softness, "I have no idea what I should say but my advice is that...you should rest up before trying to do more magic. What you did to me is no easy feat. And no worries if you can't change me back I'll wear your clothes that way we can go to your crushes' party."
Val nodded still feeling lost.
Symon lay down. "No pressure Val, don't be scared."
Val very much wanted to be comforted by those words but he just had that nasty feeling that something was wrong.
He really wasn't the only one. Symon was awake trying to figure out what it was.