Within the Light
Stormwolf
 
 
 

 
Detective Jim Ellison stood looking down at the body
of the second victim of a possible serial killer. The
woman, perhaps seventeen years old, was laid out upon
a black altar with gutted candles encircling it. The
woman's body was nude. Her throat had been slit from
ear to ear...the cause of death. Like the eighteen
year old girl before her, this one had also been a
virgin...at least until her killer had raped her
spilling her virgin blood upon the black altar. 
 
"Oh man this guy is sick." Blair said from behind Jim.
 
 
Jim nodded. Definitly sick. 
 
Twitching his nose, Jim caught the scent of blood, and
the faint odor of semen, but they had yet to find the
semen. The man had worn a condom.
 
"Did anybody at the university recognize the ritual
used?" Jim asked Blair. 
 
"No, but a friend of mine suggested I talk to a Wiccan
Priestess. She said that they might recognize it. I
think there's a Wiccan community outside Cascade."
 
Jim nodded, "I'll talk to them then. Do you want to
go?" 
 
"Sorry Jim. I have finals. I was just barely able to
get away to come here. As it is I have to get back. I
wish I could go." 
 
"Its alright, Chief. I'll be on my best
behavior..promise."
 
Blair laughed, and shook his head, "Why does that not
reassure me."
 
Jim shrugged, "I don't know."
 
The body was bagged, and all evidence was tagged. Jim
decided he could get nothing more from the crime
scene. Everything was the same as the first one.
Perhaps if he knew what the ritual was for, he could
find the killer. 
 
Blair took his Volvo back to the University to take
his finals. Jim called around and found out where the
Wiccan community was. He called Simon and told him
what he was doing. Simon agreed that the Wiccans might
be of some help, but hoped the press didn't get of
wind of it. 
 
Jim drove North out of Cascade to the Wiccan
community. The community, called Bear Paw, looked like
a typical suburbian community with houses, and picket
fences with children playing in the yards. He had been
told that his best bet would be to talk to Dianne
Metzger, a Wiccan Priestess who was also a PHD in
Archeology. 
 
He parked out on the street in front of the two story
white house with light country blue trimming. Rose
bushes surrounded the house, and the backyard was
fenced in. Jim walked up the sidewalk toward the front
door. 
 
From her window, Dianne Metzger watched as the large
black jaguar stalked up to her front porch. Tamping
down on her Mage Sight, Dianne watched as the jaguar
became a handsome, tall man with icy blue eyes. Dianne
shivered. She had never seen a Guardian Cat in human
form, and felt a sense of forboding. She smiled a bit,
though weak and not fully formed, Dianne saw the Bond
Collar glowing around the jaguar's neck. Someone had
already begun a Bonding, but had yet to complete it.
From the color, Dianne knew it to be a Shaman. 
 
The man knocked on her door, and Dianne answered it.
She smiled at the man. 
 
"Hello, can I help you?" She asked. 
 
The man showed his badge, "My name is Detective
Ellison, are you Dianne Metzger?"
 
"Yes, I am, Detective. How can I help you."
 
"A friend of mine said that you might be the person to
help us out on a murder investigation."
 
"I am not sure how, but please come in." She opened
the door inviting the Detective inside. 
 
He came inside, and Dianne asked, "Can I get you some
tea, Detective. Its a fresh pot."
 
"No thank you, Ms. Metzger."
 
"Please call me Dianne. Now how is it I can help you."
 
"The murder appeared to be part of ritual. I was
hoping that you might be able to tell me what ritual."
 
"Contrary to some belief, we do not practice
sacrifice." 
 
"I apologize, Dianne, but I believe I didn't explain
clearly. My friend said that you would be able to help
because as a Wiccan youfight against such evil. I am
sure that you understand the neccisity of knowing your
enemy."
 
Dianne smiled, "I see. I suppose you have photos."
 
"Yes." He handed her the folder he had been carrying. 
 
She opened it up, stealing herself for what she knew
she would see. "Your friend is correct, Detective. I
do recogize this. It is a ritual to gain power. A
sorceror is your culprit. He is shedding the blood of
virgins to enhance his own power. He is collecting the
power to probably use in a powerful spell." She looked
at his expression. Dianne smiled, "I see you don't
believe."
 
"I believe that there is a killer out there, and that
he believes he is a sorceror. And if it will help me
stop him, I will listen to whatever information you
have."
 
She sighed. Guardian Cats were so damn stubborn! He
would never believe her. The sorceror was trying to
augment his own powers. Dianne knew that if the
sorceror was looking for power then the Detective was
also in danger. A Guardian Cat, especially one born in
human form, made powerful familiars. The Bond placed
upon the detective was incomplete, and that made him
vulnerable to the sorceror. She wondered if he would
believe her if she told him. Looking into the icy blue
eyes, she realised that he wouldn't. 
 
"It is a ritual to gain power, Detective. And he will
continue. Your victims will all be young
girls...virgin girls, Detective. And he will continue
until he is stopped."
 
"Thank you for your help, Dianne. If you have any more
information, please contact me." The detective handed
over a card. 
 
"Of course." She said. 
 
Jim Ellison stood up and was shown to the door. As he
walked down the sidewalk he watched as a little girl,
perhaps seven, walked up to him smiling. Jim smiled
back. The girl had been in the backyard playing but
had come through the gate. 
 
"Hello." Jim said. 
 
The little girl smiled and said, "Nice kitty." 
 
Confused, Jim looked around for a cat. Finding noen he
turned back to the little girl who pointed a finger at
him and said, "Nice kitty." 
 
Suddenly Jim felt strange, and dizzy. He closed his
eyes. 
 
When Jim reopened his eyes, the first thing he saw was
a pair of white shoes with little white bows on the
tops. Jim looked up and up until he saw the little
girl towering over him. She smiled down at him. "Nice
kitty. You are safe now, kitty." 
 
She reached down, and Jim felt hands, large hands,
encircle his torso, and felt himself being lifted up.
The little girl turned to look at the window, and Jim
looked and saw their reflection. The little girl had
not suddenly grown, instead jim looked in horror at
the reflection. 
 
In the reflection the little girl stood holding a
small black jaguar cub. 
 
Jim struggled in the arms that held him, shocked at

the idea that he had been transformed. The little girl

held him tighter, but not too tight, "Its alright,

kitty. Sssshhh..its alright." The little girl said.

She walked to the gate of the fence, and opened it

going into the backyard. 



Jim hissed, and meowed as he struggled...feline

curses. 



"Shelbi, what are doing." 



Dianne Metzger's voice said, and the little girl

turned to look at her mother, the little jaguar in her

arms. Dianne's eyes widened. "Shelbi! What have you

done!"



"He's safe, Mommy. Bad man can't hurt him." Shelbi

said. 



Dianne looked at her daughter. Shelbi had been born a

Seer, which was an old soul reborn into a body with

all the knowledge of the soul intact. Seers were

respected within the community. 



"Oh, Shelbi, I don't think he feels very safe." Dianne

said. She held out her arms and Shelbi placed Jim

within them. 



"I'm so sorry Detective." Dianne said as she cradled

the jaguar cub. 



Jim tried to talk but the only sound was that of a

soft mewling. 



"Just think what you want to say, I'll be able to hear

it." Dainne said as she walked back into the house

with Shelbi beside her. 



*What's happening?* Jim thought. 



"My daughter is a powerful witch. She transformed you

to protect you." Dianne answered. 



*Protect me!*



"Yes. You may not believe it, though with you in that

body I would seriously consider believing me, but you

are what we call a Guardian Cat."



*Guardian Cat??*



"Yes. Cats are one of the few creatures besides humans

who posses souls. Dolphins and whales are others.

These soul are soemtimes reborn, usually in the same

type of body, but every now and then the Goddess

punishes a soul, or tries to teach that soul a lesson

by having it reborn in a different body...usually a

human. Sort of like karma."



*But how am I in danger.*



"Guardian Cats have their own powers. I have a feeling

you know something about them. Heightened senses

perhaps?"



The little black cub nodded. 



"As I thought. People of power, witches, warlocks,

shamans, and sorcerors to name a few can bond Guardian

Cats to them as Familiars. If this sorceror knew you

existed, then he could bond you to him and gain more

power. Power he is looking for. Killing for."



*So how am I safe from this sorceror as a cub! I am

completely helpless!*



"No, actually you are not helpless. Cubs and children

have their own special protection. As a cub you could

not be bonded as a Familiar."



*Okay, so why a jaguar cub, why not a human baby or

child.* Not that he wanted to be a baby, but...



"Because she saw your true form, that of a black

jaguar, as I did when I first laid eyes on you. You

also have a rudimentary bond with a shaman."



*How do you know this?* 



Dianne sat down on her recliner, placing Jim in her

lap. Shelbi climbed up onto the sofa. 



"I saw a golden colored Bond Collar on the jaguar, and

the golden collar says Shaman. If it had been green it

would have been a witch, blue a warlock and black

would have been a sorceror. There are others, but that

is the usual colors."



*What do you mean by rudimentary?* 



"The bond was not complete. If it had been, then you

would be safe from the sorceror. Once a bond is

established, it is established for life. Even the

death of the Shaman would not have destroyed the

bond."



*Okay, I understand. So change me back, and I'll talk

to Bl..I mean the shaman and ...*



Dianne shook her head, "I'm sorry, Detective, but

Shelbi was the one who did this, and I cannot undo it.

It takes a circle of thirteen witches to undo another

witch's spell."



*Then have Shelbi...* 



Dianne looked at her daughter, the green eyes of the

seer looked back at her with extreme intelligence

beyond the child's years, perhaps beyond anyone's.

Shelbi shook her head. 



Dianne sighed, "Shelbi is a Seer, detective. She is

one born with an old soul. The Seer within her told

her to transform you, and tells her now not to undo

the spell." 



Jim lowered his head on his paws. *Great.* 



His stomach rumbled in hunger. 



Dianne smiled at the sound, and picked up the cub

setting Jim on the ground. "I will go and fix you

something to eat, Detective." She said.



*Please, call me Jim.* Ellison said as he moved to

stand on his stubby legs. Dianne smiled and looked at

the cub who appeared to be a few weeks old. 



"Alright, Jim." 



She went into the kitchen. 



Shelbi sat down on the floor next to Jim. "I'm sorry,

but I cannot undo the spell. It is too dangerous. For

both youa nd your shaman." The girl said in a voice

that sounded nothing like a little girl's voice. 



Jim looked at her, green gold eyes wide with shock. 



Then suddenly the little girl smiled, and reached out

petting Jim's furry head and in a child's voice said,

"Nice kitty."



In the kitchen, Dianne mixed up some canned milk,

sugar and water in a saucepan, heating it up while in

another pan water boiled around a small baby bottle,

lid and nipple. 



Dianne removed the bottle, and set it out to cool.

When it was cooled down enough, she poured the warm

milk mixture into the bottle, then screwed on the lid

with the nipple. Smiling, she walked out of the

kitchen, baby bottle in hand. 



In the livingroom, Jim was laying in Shelbi's lap,

purring contently while the little girl ran her hand

through the black baby fur. 



Dianne smiled at the image before her. Then she walked

over. Shelbi looked up at her mom with a smile, "Nice

kitty, pretty kitty, mommy."



"yes, he is, but he's hungry." Dianne said as she

reached down and scooped up Jim. She carried him over

to the recliner and sat down. 



Jim eyed the bottle, *A bottle!* 



"Jim, you may not like this, but you are in a cub's

body. That body won't be able to handle solid food.

This should work just fine." Understanding his

reluctance. 



*Your right. I'm sorry.* 



"No need to be, Jim. I know this is hard on ou. I wish

I can change the Seer's mind, but I can't. However,

after you are done eating, the Coucil is having a

meeting tonight. I will take you with me when I go. It

would take a majority vote, but perhaps I can persuade

the Coucil to undo the spell." She said as she placed

the nipple against Jim's mouth. The little jaguar cub

took the nipple into his mouth and sucked greedily

drinking the sweet milk within the bottle down

hungrily. Instinctively, Jim placed his front paws on

the bottle and kneeded as he sucked unaware of what he

was doing. 



When the bottle was finished, Jim, his little tummy

full of warm milk, curled on Dianne's lap and dozed to

the feel of Dianne's hand stroking his furry head and

body. 



**************



Dianne placed Jim inside a basket lined with soft

towels. The little cub was still sleepy from a full

stomach. She closed the basket and answered the door.

The fourteen year old daughter of the High Priestess

stood outside. She was going to watch Shelbi while

Dianne was at the meeting. 



After giving Margery a few last minute instructions,

Dianne left the house and headed down the sidewalk to

Margery's mother's house carrying the basket. 



The door was opened by another of the Council

Priestesses, Linda. 



Linda smiled at Dainne, greeting her warmly. 



Dainne walked in with Linda at her side. The

livingroom had already been set up with the candles,

and incence. 



"I need to speak to Jillian." Dianne said. 



Linda nodded. Jillian was the High Priestess. Linda

led her to Jillian's room. 



Linda walked into the room where Jillian was putting

on the final touches of her costume. 



"Dianne, I am glad you could make it. Linda says you

want to speak to me?"



"Yes. My daughter spelled someone today and the Seer

within her refuses to remove the spell."



Dianne set down the basket and opening it she pulled

out Jim. The little jaguar cub mewled. 



Jillian looked at the cub with her Sight and realised

the problem. "Oh dear, " She said. 



*****************



The Council seated themselves crosslegged on the

floor. The five pointed star of power was etched into

the floor, and candles where placed in different

positions around it. Each of the priestesses held a

green candle, the wicks lighted. 



"Daughters, the Seer born among us has bespelled a cat

born among men. The Seer among us bespelled the Man

who is a Guardian Cat, transforming him into a cub of

his soul's kind." Jillian said. She nodded to Dianne

who removed Jim from the basket an placed him int he

middle of the five pointed star. 



"Daughter, a sorceror has unleashed his terror upon

Cascade. He kills young girls to steal their virgin

power. The Seer among us feared he would gain more

power should he learn of the existence of a Guardian

Cat among the human residing in Cascade. Fearing the

sorceror, she transformed the man into an innocent's

form. The cub before you is Detective James Ellison of

the Cascade Police Department. He begs of us to undo

the spell created by the Seer among us. As all of you

know, we cannot undo a spell unless the Majority has

voted to do so. Let us now here the story from our

Sister, Dianne."



Dianne told her sisters what had occurred, of the dead

girls Jim had showed him the picture of. She also

explained that she had hidden Jim's truck with a spell

so that those seeking him would not find him, yet.

Then she repeated Jim's plea to be returned to human

form. 



"Sisters, you know the rules. Those of you who vote to

not undo the spell done by the Seer among us, let her

blow out the candle before her." Jillian said. 



A few seconds passed, the only sound was that of air

expelled from lungs, and Jim looked in horror at the

three flames that were left burning among the

thirteen.
 
Blair Sandburg paced the livingroom of the Loft. Jim
had told him that he would meet the shaman back at the
Loft and that he would treat him to dinner. It was
late, and Jim had not returned. Blair had called Simon
twice, and the gruff Captain had put out an APB for
the wayward detective. Now Blair waited, hoping Jim
would just show up complaining that the truck wouldn't
start or it had a flat...something...some reasonable
excuse for his being late...for worrying the young
guide. 
 
A knock on the door had Blair whirling in that
direction, wondering if it could be Jim. No Jim would
use his keys. He went to the door and opened it
cautiously remembering the last time Jim had
dissapeared. 
 
A woman stood on the other side of the door carrying a
closed basket. She was very beautiful with long dark
hair and emerald green eyes. She wore blue jeans, and
a sweater with running horses on it. 
 
"Blair Sandburg?" She asked. 
 
"Yes. Can I help you?" Blair said wondering what a
beautiful woman was doing at his doorstep. 
 
"My name is Dianne Metzger. Detective Ellison came to
see me today about the murders."
 
"Uh, yeah, the Wiccan Priestess. Uh, sure, come in."
Blair said holding the door open wider. 
 
Dianne smiled and walked inside. 
 
Blair shut the door and turned to look at her. "Jim's
not here."
 
"Actually, I am here to talk to you, and to give you
something." She held out the basket she had. Blair
took it, and carefully opened it. 
 
Bright green gold eyes stared him surrounding by a
black furry face. *Hey Chief.*
 

On to next part