“I’m fine,” I answered, looking around. “Now then….where………are we……”
I looked around the area. It seemed like a reasonable enough place. Almost to my liking. There were automobiles parked along the streets...old style automobiles. We stood at the entrance to a large house.I stared at it wondering what was to be done......
Suddenly it began to drizzle. I pulled my hood up to keep the rain off, but it seemed to be the start of a downpour. I was in a full scale panic. This was worse than Atlantica because at least there I had a choice of getting on land....away from the water, but now it was falling straight out of the sky! And hard at that! I started crouching down trying to get as little of me wet as possible, and I was sure I had the appearance of a person having a mental break down.
I kept my eyes on the ground as I got soaked. I didn't even think to run anywhere. I just hoped it would stop soon. Suddenly the lights of the house came on, and I heard the splashing as feet ran towards us.
"My dears, what in the world are you doing in this rain?!" a woman's voice exclaimed. The woman bent down and seized my arm. I let he force me up."Come inside this instant...before you're soaked through...Hurry now!"
The house was warm....that was all I cared about. It was warm and dry....the woman rushed and brought back a towel to try and dry us off with, but RaXi's and my coats were already too wet to be saved.
"Now this won't do, not at all." the woman said with her hand on her chin. "Come on then. We'll have to get the both of you out of those wet clothes...before you catch your death."
I felt the beginnings of a rather rude comment about death, but the wetness of the coats was keeping me silent. I wanted out of them and into a hot bath if anything.
A butler rushed me into a nearby room. He handed me a suit, and I felt my face nearly explode into a twitch of unevenness if that as a word....I changed clothes and found they were warmer though and hugged my skin just enough to get a decent amount of heat. The suit would work...for now....Suddenly I looked in the mirror and saw a kitten reflected in it looking at it with some form of awe. I looked at the kitten and he looked at me.
"Hello," I started. I had always liked cats....there was something about them that screamed order. It was a wonders gift for a creature to have. But for reasons I was still not sure of, cats hated me and usually bit at my fingers...
The kitten just looked back at me, so I bent down to his level.
"So are you just going to stare at me the entire time?" I asked reaching out my hand to pet it. The cat bit down hard on my fingers. I hadn't expected anything less due to prior experiences, but the shock of it again was enough.
I made a slight scream more out of shock then pain, and the sound or RaXi yanking open the door turned my eyes away from the tiny creature trying to eat my hand.....RaXi was in...frills……and a dress….I felt my face change to red as I tried to kill the laughter that was starting up in me.
"Look at you..." RaXi started. She was laughing at me…..
"Hey RaXi, look in a mirror before you..." I started.
"The kitten!" RaXi laughed. "What? He doesn't like you?"
I sighed and moved my fingers inside the kitten’s mouth. He continued to chomp down on it.
"Berlioz!" The Madame exclaimed. I moved my arm up and the kitten fell into her arms. Madame seemed to be laughing more than scolding, but she continued…."You should be kind to our guests!" She scorned shaking her finger at him.
The cat looked back at me and stuck his tongue at me. I rolled my eyes, and as they made their way around, I saw two adult cats walk into the room. Two other kittens peeked out from behind the curtains and then came out fully. They ran over to Berlioz and began nudging him. Even though he had nearly tried to sever my fingers off, I still had a fondness for the kitten as well as the other cats….
"These are my precious kitties." Madame smiled. "Duchess and her children, Marie, and Toulouse, you've met Berlioz. And here is Thomas O'Malley."
I stared at the cats and watched the three kittens play. They made me extremely happy for some reason……Before the introductions could get any further, there was a loud clanging on the front door.
"My...who could that be at this time of night?" Madame asked curiously. Her butler walked out the door and we all waited patiently for it to open. As the door opened, lightning struck in the background...darkening the silhouette for a moment.
“Edger!” Madame said her voice rising, “Where have you been? It’s been nearly seven months since you disappeared!”
The visitor, Edger I presume, just glared at the cats and then turned his attention on Madame. He tried a smile, but it failed him miserably. The cats gave a hateful look back to Edger, and Tomas O’Malley even hissed a bit. From the sheer reaction from the cats, I knew I didn’t trust this man…. The look in his eye made me want to smack him over the head for such rude behavior.
“Madame….I am sorry I’ve been gone,” Edger started, “But I was accidentally shipped to Timbuktu…..And just who are you?” Edger was eyeing the new butler now who seemed to be folding under his glare. I stepped forwards quickly before this nut could harm the timid looking butler…..
“Please this is not the time nor the place to be having this conversation,” I started. “Order states that you need time and rest before telling us of this adventure.”
Edger gave me a glare, but I just let it pass. I refused to have a fight in front of the kind Madame and the cats.
“And would you mind stating your name,” Edger asked in a most hateful but relaxed manner. I had the feeling that he was trying to keep as calm as possible. I kept my face as emotionless as possible and responded.
“I am Triskix. Tris if you please. Over there is RaXi.” I answered pointing in a general direction at RaXi who gave Edger a glare. “And I believe you should be dried and in better clothes before we talk,” I answered.
“Yes that is what we need,” Madame said smiling, “Come let’s get everything fixed up.”
Edger was led by the timid butler to a room to change while RaXi and I walked Madame into another room. The cats followed at their own leisure. Thomas O’Malley still had his fur on end by the time they entered the room. Madame sat down on a regal looking chair and sat Duchess in her lap. I sat on one couch next to RaXi. She gave me a sharp look and started a whisper.
“That Edger….I don’t trust him Triskix,” RaXi started.
“You felt it too hu?” I asked.
“Ya…he reeks of nobody and heartless…..not just that he had a nastily look in his eyes….did you see how he was eyeing the cats?” RaXi asked.
“I have a feeling we need to keep an eye on this matter until the time we can deal with it….” I answered, “And if he so much as touches a hair on one of those cats, I’ll skin him the old fashioned style….”
“Oh speaking of which how’s your hand Triskix?” RaXi more or less laughed.
I moved my hand up and wiggled four bloody fingers. Two teeth marks could be pointed out on my hand that were scabbing over. RaXi just laughed. Madame gave us both a light look and then smiled.
“So how long have you two been married then?” Madame asked.
I didn’t wait for an awkward pause but just burst out laughing. RaXi went red and was looking about the room. The kittens looked up from their game on the floor and O’Malley and Duchess turned their heads. Madame gave us both a questioning look until I could catch my breath and explain.
“We’re not married,” I answered.
“You’re not!” Madame asked looking at us both, “But you two were wearing traveler’s cloaks and were traveling together correct? Are you siblings then? Come now there must be a reason a lad and lady of your age would be traveling alone.”
“We are on a mission,” RaXi explained, “A large amount of heartless and nobodies has come into being, and we are trying to destroy them all and then seal up the world so that it will stay safe…Do you know of any heartless and nobody in the vicinity?”
“Heartless? Nobodies? No I haven’t seen any of those sad creatures in years. They all disappeared which I am thankful for,” Madame answered stroking Duchess.
“I see,” I said calmly. Just then Edger walked in followed by the unnerved butler. Edger sat down on another sofa. I stared at him and waited patiently for him to begin. As we listened to his story about how he accidentally locked himself in a box and got shipped to Africa, I felt that there was something he wasn’t telling us. I moved over a bit and dangled my arm over the arm of the chair. Toulouse took this opportunity to chomp down on my hand.
“Ow,” I said aloud, and everyone looked at me. I moved my fingers up and dangled the kitten who continued to try and eat my fingers.
“Cats just don’t like you hu Tris,” RaXi laughed.
Edger gave me a look that caused me to wonder. He was glaring at the kitten but seemed to be smiling at me. I had the sudden urge to burn something. RaXi reached over and took Toulouse from my hand. The kitten purred happily in RaXi’s arms. I sighed at the kitten.
“Well it is late, and everyone needs to get to bed,” Madame said calmly, “Each of you can have a guest room.”
We walked upstairs, but just as I was about to go to my designated room, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around sharply. Edger was smiling at me.
“Hm?” I asked.
“Triskix right?” Edger asked.
I nodded my head once.
“I knew I recognized that name somewhere. You’re the nobody that…..” Edger got really close. “Is running Organization Oblivion. Am I right?”
I felt my face move away from the glare to a questioning look. How did he know about me? Was information leaking so quickly through all the worlds? If so I would have to see to it that it be stopped.
“Sorry I have no idea what you are talking about,” I answered, “My friend and I are just traveling.”
“No….I’m sure of it. You’re part of Organization Oblivion the hidden group that has started running around in the worlds…. Anyways whether you are willing to admit it or not it doesn’t matter to me. I just have a request.”
“And what would that be?” I asked glaring.
“That you help me,” Edger answered.
“And just why would I do that?” I smirked.
“Hear me out,” Edger said quickly, “The Madame is rich! And if we take care of her and her cats I can assure you a handsome deal. What do you say?”
“But the Madame was your employer,” I started. I was going to ring everything out of him before I beat him into hell.
“Well you see,” Edger started. He told me everything about the cats and what he had done to them. I felt the need to burn him at a stake. Then he told me what he planned to do. Kill Madame and her cats and take the money for himself. He promised with my cooperation I would get a handsome share of the deal. It made me sick just thickening of destroying that order…….
“So what do you say?” Edger asked. His face was full of malice, but I just stared back.
“I’ll think about it,” I answered, “I need to discuss it with my partner.”
“Oh yes…quite right yes feel free,” Edger said quickly, “Tell me tomorrow yes.”
Instead of going to my room, I walked straight to RaXi’s and banged on the door.
“Hold on!” RaXi’s voice yelled.
I waited until she opened the door.
“What?” she asked.
“We have a problem.” I answered
