The tranquility here was serene, at least for now. Jason had moved out of the inn. He didn't have much, just himself. He barely had any luggage. In this villa, he'd already occupied a room, right across from Royce and Cathy.
Accompanying Jason was a black cat. A quiet and spirited cat, very intelligent. At times, it behaved like a playful young girl, other times, it was like a gentle woman. Sometimes it crouched at Jason's feet, quietly accompanying him as he read. Other times, it darted around the couch, playing games with Jason.
Cathy and Royce were still going to school. They carried amulets gifted by Jason, which would be activated by their blood, shielding them from harm and assaults.
Reviving a person was not challenging for Jason, but relocating a cursed soul without being affected was a complicated matter. The key was the witch's curse.
Jason sat on the couch, pondering a solution.
The black cat curled up on his lap, dozing off. It seemed to enjoy the peace. A man and a cat in perfect harmony.
On the outskirts of Los Angeles, it was always quieter than in the city. Far northeast of Los Angeles, in the Angeles National Forest Park, there was a dense forest. The population here was sparse. Even farther in the dense forest, there were no humans, perhaps just hunters.
In the middle of the forest, a log cabin was hidden. A large cup was placed on the wooden table inside, filled with a dark red liquid emitting an awful stench.
A figure in a black robe, with a hollow face and emaciated hands, was accompanied by two trembling and seductive women. Their flashy dresses did not enhance their allure but intensified their fear. They were shivering non-stop.
"This is far from enough — I need blood!" The metallic voice of the black-robed figure was nauseating. She picked up a whip from the table and advanced towards the women, extending a bony finger.
The women immediately stripped without hesitation, their pale skin eerily captivating under the dim lamp.
With a sharp crack, a deep lash mark was left on the pale skin, followed by the women's eerie screams, which made the dim cabin feel even more ominous.
The screams dissipated in the forest like a gust of wind, causing all nearby creatures to retreat silently. All was quiet apart from the screams, a silence so oppressive it was suffocating.
"Go do your jobs, don't disappoint me again!" The black-robed figure pointed towards the door.
The two women scrambled to their feet, not bothering to get dressed, and vanished out the door. Their deep lash marks were horrific, but their fear of the black-robed figure was even greater. They could not fight back and had to obey.
Once the women left, the black-robed figure dropped to the ground and began to undress. As the robe slid off...
It revealed not a body, but a skeleton - a human skeleton. The transparent skin revealed the slowly forming muscle beneath. It seemed like the muscles were regenerating from the skeleton itself.
The agony was unbearable, causing the figure to emit a low, metallic screech. The figure's body contorted as her full body formed.
It was clearly a woman's body that was filling out. As her body thickened, a layer of pale membrane formed on the muscles. This membrane thickened over time, until her entire body was revealed under the lamp. With a final, high-pitched scream, her voice arced through the air—
Ultimately it became sharp and resonant, filled with charm and purity.
Yes, it was the voice of a woman. A beautiful, young woman's clear voice, like a waterfall cascading from the sky, echoing through the forest, startling birds far away.
A flawless youthful female body, so smooth that even a strand of hair would fall straight off. This was certainly God's masterpiece, no, a witch's masterpiece.
This perfect body slowly moved into another room in the cabin. She pushed open the door to reveal a delicate bed and a giant mirror. The mirror reflected a perfectly beautiful female body. Royce and Cathy appeared in the school once again, a pair that naturally drew attention. They found themselves back on the bench in the school garden, their hands entwined.
"Cathy, I don't know what the ultimate outcome will be, but I think... I want to marry you," Royce confessed to Cathy with deep emotion. "We've been through so much, and now nothing can stop us."
Cathy was moved. She tightened her grip on his hand, unwilling to let go, and sighed. "I'm sorry, Royce. I don't know what the future holds, but there's something... something I haven't been honest with you about. Don't blame me. It's just... it's because I love you."
"I'm listening, Cathy." Royce extended his other hand, taking Cathy's other hand into his.
As if she'd made the most significant decision of her life, Cathy began to explain. "Okay, here's the thing, I... I might undergo some changes, in my body... You know why my body is like this. If I can't get the witch to regularly repair me, I might age rapidly..."
"No, Cathy..." Royce's mouth tightened.
"Yes, that's the way it is. I may only be able to maintain this for ten days..." Cathy's eyes began to show despair. "If she doesn't bring me the potion, I can only maintain my skin for ten days..."
"Don't worry; we'll face this together!" Royce still held her hand tightly, his voice firm.
Cathy's tears finally fell. She nodded and said, "I know, I know. From now on, these ten days will be enough for me to reminisce for a lifetime."
Just as they were speaking, they were interrupted by a woman's voice, "Hey, Cathy, is that you?" Cathy turned around to see a tall girl with average looks, rough skin, and a lot of freckles.
"Hey, Sofia, would you like to join us?" Cathy asked the girl with a smile, standing up and pulling her down to sit next to them. "You seem to be in good spirits."
"Yes, but... I won't interrupt you two. And... remember to come to my birthday party tomorrow," Sofia told Cathy. "I'm turning twenty, I can drink now, and I plan on getting thoroughly drunk." Having said that, the girl stood up, greeted Royce, and left cheerfully. She was a lively girl.
"Should we go?" Cathy looked at Royce.
"Of course. Since we're facing all this, we should live as Mr. Jason said, a normal life, normal interactions. There's nothing wrong with that!" Royce affirmed confidently.
As they were talking, in a dark little cabin at the other end of the Angeles National Forest Park, a woman stretched her perfect body in front of the mirror, gently touching her skin.
"Hey, my dear old friend, am I the most beautiful woman now?"
She smiled at her reflection, revealing a charming smile that was full of allure.