Truth or Dare

Upon waking, Ethan looked over the ship’s itinerary for the day. “Pool party, Rock climbing, Truth or Dare, Fishing, Skeet shooting, Rave in the Boiler Room,” he mumbled wondering where Brit was as she usually was waiting for him when he woke from his slumber. He was about to cast it aside when he saw “Maritime astronomy.” He read the description as Brit bounced in the door announcing that her swimsuit looked most different from everyone else. He grinned as he admired her bare ankles. “Indeed. You look charming and the others look…” His voice trailed off as he struggled for a word other than ‘cheap.’ “Ready for sunshine,” he said finishing the sentence.

Brit twirled while shrugging and flopped next to him playing with the frills on her swimming suit. She handed him a large bag that she had obtained on her earlier shopping trip. Looking within, he found flip flops, Bermuda swimwear, and a few summertime shirts with a white jacket all - in his size. “Thank you, Brit.” He freshened up and dressed wearing the casual white jacket and one of the shirts with a pair of gabardine pants. The flip flops and shorts would be discretely returned. After cuddling for a short time, Ethan marveled that he no longer found the ship’s insipid itinerary unbearable.

Omega watched with amusement as Ethan patiently coaxed Brit up the climbing wall. She also noticed that he clearly enjoyed watching Brit from below. Both were pleased to see that Brit seemed not to find the task overly difficult, although she fell several times only to be caught by the safety harness. The two kindred reminisced about the cruises of yesteryear and both conceded that Brit might have found the kind of cruises they missed less amusing. The fishing looked like so much fun that Omega joined Brit as she reeled in a fish with huge eyes and seemed so delighted that the purser ensured she was served it with fresh cut chips and malt vinegar. Omega and Brit watched as Ethan kept fingering his thigh where his pistols usually were found during the skeet shooting competition and consoled him later when he found that Ray was fine shot even though he very drunk. Tracy excitedly posed for the picture and Ethan silently noticed that not a hair on Tracy’s head moved in the breeze.

Brit and Ethan sat on the fringe of the group as the ship’s officer pointed out constellations of stars and told myths about each one. Ethan cuddled Brit to him and told him all about Hercules and his life-long nemesis Hera, and the trials Hercules endured because of it. He pointed out the constellation for the crab which was granted a place in the sky for trying to distract Hercules while he fought the hydra. In a low, sweet voice, Ethan whispered the story between kisses on her neck as her head was angled perfectly for such due to the position of the stars.

They watched people play truth or dare. Knowing Brit’s inability to be less than honest, Ethan steered her away from the game by promising a private game in their room. Brit fell asleep before the sun rose. She smelled of cocoa-butter, sea breeze, and mint tea mingled with the light scent of vanilla. It was not the ship of days gone by but, truthfully, Ethan had to admit that he was having fun. And he marveled with a hint of a smile that the simple ship’s game had let him learn things about his baby beloved that he had not known before.

Fine Dining

Miserable. There was no other word to describe it. Gone was the fine-cut crystal and white-gloved waiters serving refined diners gourmet delights of the day. To be sure, the meals were fine enough in setting, but few diners really understood proper dress or behavior. The rancher from Texas could not button his polyester jacket and his wife looked like she had been melted and poured into her dress that looked like ruffled meringue. “Ethan-boy!” Ethan’s hand tightened on the glass of cognac he had been holding and, though he had just met the man, Ethan suddenly understood the desire to drink. The man continued to bellow, “What d’ ya say we take these pretty gals to the casino and let them blow on dice for luck!”

Setting the glass aside, Ethan replied, “Quite impossible, I’m afraid.” The Texan couple stared. Obviously they felt entitled to an excuse. Ethan did not offer one.

After a long silence, Brit chimed in, “Our evenings are so limited.”

Ethan nodded quickly interjecting, “And we are honeymooners.” His words caused Brit to beam brightly and to remember to keep silent regarding his nature.

The woman patted Brit’s hand with her large, heavily-ringed hand as she exclaimed to her husband, “Aw, Ray. Ain’t that sweet! Doncha remember our honeymoon?” Ray gave a brief tip of his head and looked immediately disinterested. The lady sat back causing the chair to squeak. “It wus just the most romantic thang! Ray had come to Vegas and I wus working as a cocktail waitress in the Bellagio and he wus winning big! And I blew on his dice and he won more! And then we went out later. And then…we knew it was just the most perfect thang and got married in Elvis’s Blue Suede Shoes Wedding Chapel.” Brit sat with Ethan who was blinking in time with her as they listened. “Yup, I said to myself, ‘Tracy…this here is a right fine man’.” Ethan raised his drink moistening his lips before setting it back down on the table as Tracy continued to loudly reminisce. Tracy yammered every uncensored detail of the wedding and wedding night to an attentive Brit while Ethan’s expression informed the cruise director that she would be making yet another table change for the following night.

Midway through dinner, Ray had taken to hard drinking. Ethan was still clutching his glass, and Brit continued to nibble her dinner while listening with wide-eyes as Tracy detailed her difficulties finding hair spray that left her hair both touchable and big. Ethan swirled his cognac while Brit chewed a piece of prime rib as Tracy described her mother’s polyp surgery. When music started, Ethan looked as relieved as if he were a prisoner who had just received his pardon moments before the warden pulled the switch. Holding out his hand to Brit, Ethan said, “Pardon us, but I should dance with my princess.” Without waiting for a response, they moved to the dance floor where Ethan swirled Brit around twice and then danced her through the door saying, “We shall talk soon” as he passed the cruise director.

“They are way nice,” said Brit. Her words caused him to grin, which gave way to a chuckle as she expressed sincere concern regarding Tracy’s mother’s recovery. Ethan directed her toward the deck where he removed his jacket to slide around her shoulders. While the cruise held little of the elegance of eras long gone, he had to admit that Brit was having a fun time and the ship’s controlled environment allowed her more independence. For the first time, she had shopped and explored on her own. True that he would not have selected the burgundy-colored mini-dress she intended to wear to the nightclub, but he was not so blind that he could not admit that she looked pleasing in it. It was interesting to him to see what she selected on her own. Bright colors, he noted as they neared a poolside snack stand where he ordered a large sundae.

He lured her to a secluded area on the deck with the promise of ice cream and playfully negotiated triads of kisses for bites of the creamy dessert. Brit never quite understood that the purpose of the game was to not give kisses until ice cream was delivered. To her, even playful kisses should always given to him freely. The quiet water and pretty moon created a charming environment. Again, her hair fluttered slightly as it did the night on the top of the rooftop where he first kissed her. Just as he did that night, he pulled her to him and kissed her softly. And just as he did that night, more kisses quickly followed each one more passionate than the one before though the playfulness remained. The ice cream melted within arms reach as he brushed her hair back. Feeling his fangs lengthen, he heard someone greet them by name. As Brit rushed to give Omega a warm hug, Ethan crossed his arms in amusement at Omega’s mischievous smirk that told him that Omega knew exactly what she had interrupted; and his returning smirk told Omega that he had all night.

An Ocean Cruise

Binx’s ears were flattened and the tip of her tail whipped with rapid attentiveness as she watched the pale man escort his lady into the waiting boat. Kylean was given an envelope and the skiff slipped silently into the water and, within moments, both Kylean and the boat were gone. Klaws’ paw reached for Binx and found only her tail. Grabbing it, he whisked her into his cardboard castle quickly hushing any protest.

Once out of sight of the city, Ethan relaxed comfortably on the skiff gazing at his wife who was leaning over the side trailing her fingers through the clean ocean water. He sometimes wondered about her thoughts as she moved to the other side to again dip her fingers into the water. He was tempted to peek within her mind in times such as this: Her random repetition of simple actions. What held her attention so? To him, both sides were the same, and so he watched with amusement as she moved from side to side as though she were making multiple new discoveries.

The waning gibbous moon caused the night to seem quite bright. Brit looked over her shoulder catching his gaze. The gentle breeze ruffled her hair a bit and her mossy green eyes glowed from the moonlight. She looked much as she did the night on the rooftop, where she first invited him to view within her mind. At first, he thought she was teasing, but he quickly realized that she had no idea what she was offering. The invitation was too enticing to refuse and, once inside, he noted that there were no barriers or filters on the chaos of her thoughts regarding the constant flow of information. And though he wondered how she functioned within the rapid stream of consciousness, he marveled at her lack of guile and stark honesty. To him, she was like no other he had encountered and, unlike his encounters with any other, he was compelled to kiss her.

Since that night, she never closed her mind to him, however he felt her thoughts were private and hers. Brit continued to watch him and Ethan wondered whether she sometimes could see within his thoughts which caused him to shift uncomfortably. Would she think him horrid if she saw the thoughts in his head? The sounds of her heartbeat and the air moving in her lungs beckoned him. Would she turn away if she understood the beast within all that were like him? He could easily find out. The temptation grew - to peek just for a moment - just to see her thoughts. Her body shifted and she slipped next to him impulsively pressing her blood-warmed lips against his. He froze for a moment before slipping his arm around her and returned a deeper kiss before simply holding her close. He closed his eyes to regroup and opened them to see the glow from the mainland city, which gave him a new focus.

“A cruise?” said an incredulous Ethan to the gentleman who greeted them on a dock. “Cruises were quite nice once upon a time,” continued Ethan who rummaged through the information given to him, “but I fear that time is long past.”

The nosferatu dressed in the dark cloak replied, “Once upon a time, you were quite fond of cruises as I recall. It was not until…1947?” Noticing Ethan’s glare, the cloaked man continued, “As if anyone knew the ship would run aground, Ethan. Come now, and tell me that you do not miss the grace and elegance of an ocean cruise.” With a gesture toward Brit, the nosferatu added, “And it will be an opportunity to share a gentler time with your lovely wife.”

All valid points, Ethan conceded. Besides, he wanted a world that was suitable and controllable until the city grew calmer. Tapping the envelope in his palm, Ethan shrugged remembering the Queen Elizabeth’s mishap, which was not a huge problem at the time. The problem was the talk of off-loading passengers during the daytime. The envelope shifted hands as Ethan continued to consider. It would be hard for harm to come to either of them while on a ship. Nodding, he said, “Many thanks. Brit shall enjoy it, I believe.”

The nosferatu clasped his hands together and opened them again. “I am pleased that you have determined the selection of your get-away to be satisfactory. You did not give us much time.” Ethan shrugged before forcing a smile and handing over payment. Though unspoken, Ethan felt the amount was more than sufficient for the inconvenience of limited planning.

Brit and Ethan arrived to the ship at 2 AM, which Ethan felt was time enough to settle into the room and take a romantic walk along the topside deck to acclimate prior to sunrise. The perky director happily informed both that their room had been upgraded to a balcony suite. “I require an inside room,” Ethan told her. “I’m quite allergic to sunlight.” The director’s smile fell as she informed him that no inside rooms were remained. The compromise was to swap the sleeping space with the living room so that sun could not aggravate Ethan’s condition. The director’s smile reappeared as a solution was found, and she happily informed them that both had time to make the limbo contest at the poolside bar.

A Change of Pace

Ethan watched the small group of vampires on the corner. Gone were the days when they were boisterous and gaming like a group of second sons from earlier times. Somber and hungry, he thought with a grimace thinking their demeanor was reflected in the night. The blood fountain remained broken, and he was seeing more of the younger ones starting to prowl the streets with each passing day. When the fountain was first destroyed, many citizens offered donations to the vampiric populace. Ethan knew the cycle of disasters: Lots of giving in the beginning, but the public quickly forgets. Now, the suffering was truly beginning for many. Ethan watched the once-charming playboys start to take on characteristics of starving predators.

Earlier, Ethan had discovered, one of the older ones asked Brit to write a letter asking Omega’s assistance in rebuilding the fountain. The vampire’s hunger was so great that Ethan’s daydreaming wife could sense his pain even though the vampire had remained restrained and courteous. Ethan knew how difficult it was to control the beast when starving. His grip tightened knowing that the other likely heard Brit’s innocent heart beating loudly in her body as if it were a dinner bell. At least, thought Ethan, most vampires had to rest during the day when he did, and he silently cursed those who did not as he felt they made the world more treacherous for his mortal wife in such trying times. “Will Omega assist with the re-building of the blood fountain, Brit?” he asked as he stroked a small piece of her hair.

“Of course, she will,” responded Brit who had not yet spoken to Omega, but Brit was positive that the lady would assist anyone in need. Ethan hinted a smile at her absolute belief in the goodness of all people. He doubted that Brit would be proven wrong in the case. It was in Omega’s best interest to have the fountain operational. Sensing someone observing them, Ethan glanced over his shoulder at the female vampire. The bewildered expression told him that this was another young one who was likely lured by the sound of a human heart. Ethan’s eyes flashed red warning the kindred, who wisely left. Watching her go, Ethan knew that, without changes, soon a warning glance would not be enough.

“The night grows late, princess,” whispered Ethan. In fact, the night had several hours left within it, but Ethan disliked the climate of the city tonight. He guided Brit to the door turning left. As they reached the corner, the sirens started to howl breaking the quiet of the night. Ethan turned expecting to see yet another beast having clawed its way from the sewers. Citizens were battling a creature that had crawled from the sea, and another came from the dead woods just south of where they stood. Tightening his arm around Brit, Ethan reached with his free hand and pulled out his pistol before practically dragging her toward their resting place. He kept their backs toward the acid-crumbled bricks when Brit gasped seeing a reaper rise from the street before them. People were pouring into the streets and shots were being fired recklessly. Feeling his arm take a hit from someone’s gun, he grimaced and turned so that his body protected Brit. As the reaper turned to attack a group that was shooting, Ethan took the moment to relocate the two of them a few meters away.

Something was closing in on them fast. Ethan turned quickly raising his pistol again while keeping Brit turned away from the street and ended up pressing it against a male neko’s chest. Both of the kitties squeaked as they were simply scampering for higher ground and were clearly not expecting to face down a pistol with the mayhem on the street. The male neko said nothing, but the female said, “There are at least five of them. Tree-like…froglike…that guy over there.” She gestured at the reaper.

The male recovered from the surprise enough to toss a bit of bravado. “Yeah, man. You might want to save your ammo. Streets are crawling with them.”

Ethan looked from one to the other. They looked pretty thin. Just young nekos with more guts than wisdom, he thought. Sparks flew off of the bricks behind him and he said to both kits, “Follow me.” He picked up Brit and went quickly through an alley. The neko couple struggled to keep up and they both seemed dedicated to getting away from where they had been.

The street nearest to the resting place was quiet but Ethan knew it was only a short matter of time before chaos would find it. He set Brit down in the entry way of a building. The nekos were nervous. Neither had any idea why they followed the odd man who was carrying a human girl. Ethan quickly wrote on the back of a card and handed it to the nekos. “Near the voodoo shop, you can find a man named Kylean. Give him this card.” The neko couple looked at each other and back to Ethan. Rising an eyebrow, Ethan said, “Do so, and return here just before sunrise and I will reward you.”

The girl neko peeked up at the boy neko after giving Brit another look. The male glanced from the girl to Brit as well. “What’s up with her?” he asked Ethan.

“She is not of your concern. Do as I ask,” Ethan replied. Gunfire and screams were getting closer. “Do so now…we have not much time,” Ethan added. The couple took the card and dashed down the street each thinking they had just left a human girl, who seemed dazed to them, to her demise. Ethan directed Brit upstairs and entered their resting place. He secured it with some arcane words before turning to Brit. “Pack, baby. We are leaving town at sundown tomorrow night.”

Brit heard the screams and shouts from outside along with guns and the sound of steel. “Where are we going, Ethan?” Suddenly, she felt fearful as the battle was obviously just outside. “Are we safe?”

Cocking a brow, Ethan said, “Indeed.” He looked toward the street before turning to her smiling comforting. “You are always safe with me, Brit.” She had turned on the small radio he had purchased for her. The DJ at the local station sounded frantic. It seemed the entire city was dying tonight. Ethan switched the device from radio to MP3 player. He brushed Brit’s hair and told her stories to keep her mind off of what was happening outside. His pistols were within reach while he spoke.

The neko couple kept to the rooftops and alleys dodging trouble as best they could. The male, Klaws, took a hard tumble as he tackled something that seemed to be going after the female, Binx, however, it was just someone else trying to run from trouble. “Yeah, sure,” meowed Binx. “Some dude name Kylean is just gonna appear near the VooDoo shop. We are so dead. And why didn’t he go himself? HUH? And you know he is gonna drink that girl until she ain’t nothing but a human husk.” Klaws decided he would worry about it another day. For now, this task took the two of them further from trouble.

Both kitties were surprised to see Kylean sitting near the fortune teller almost as if he was part of a script. Kylean read the card and told them, “Tell Ethan sundown tomorrow is satisfactory.” Binx turned to ask Kylean something, but he was not there causing her to ask Klaws where the man had gone.

Klaws grumbled, “The real question, Binx, why are we heading back to meet this Ethan? We don’t know this guy. And there is nothing but trouble over there.” Both kitties stood watching each other for a long time. Finally, both mouthed hopefully, “Money.” Nodding they dashed back to meet Ethan.

Ethan was waiting when they arrived. They gave him the message. Binx’s nose twitched seeing no sign of the human girl. Ethan gave Klaws an envelope which Klaws opened right then. As Klaws thumbed through the contents, Binx said, “Your name is Ethan right? That is what Kylean said.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Where’s your lady?” she demanded.

The corners of Ethan’s mouth tipped up in amusement at the boldness of female neko. Klaws put away the envelope and gave Binx a glare, which she ignored. Ethan replied coolly, “My wife is of no concern to you. Good day to you both.”

As Ethan turned away, he heard Klaws chide Binx while showing her the contents of the envelope. The sassy kit hushed for a moment, but then blurted out, “I didn’t know it was his WIFE, so SHUT UP. Besides….he might have just EATEN her up anyway.” Ethan glared in their direction but noticed the lightening of day break. More gunfire was heard and Ethan was very sure that getting out of town for a short while was a prudent plan.

Cookies & Claws

((Taken from RP))

Flicking her tail-tip, Binx pressed her nose against the dirty glass of the diner and watched the dark-haired waitress with huge eyes. Platters of pancakes, sandwiches, pastries, and other goodies were served up and consumed by those trying to ignore the kitty girl looking pitiful through the window. The waitress’s occasional glance and lip-pursing caused Binx’s ears to droop. Klaws yawned behind Binx and she told him, “I’m hungry. And the lady remembers last time when we didn’t pay.”

Klaws could hear her tummy rumble and shifted uncomfortably knowing his pockets only contained lint. With another peek into the diner, he tugged the back of Binx’s jeans pulling her from the window. “Don’t be so obvious, you impatient minx.” Her look of hopeful adoration encouraged him to scrounge up a plan. With a grin, he waved her to the side of the diner behind the bricks where the waitress could not see. Looking both ways, he acted as if he was planning a conspiracy of epic proportions. Binx walked backward following him. He caressed her ears and said “We shall outwit the evil powers of capitalism and other evils demanded of that diner. And redistribute its wares to rightful owners.” His stance changed. “That would be us, by the way.”

“Can that happen before I lose a life to hunger?” she asked before being distracted by the intoxicating smell of food coming from the diner. Suddenly, the plan to simply rush in and grab the platters of food from some diners seemed like a fantastic idea. Seeing her tail twitch and her muscles tense, he slipped the tip of his paws in to the back of her jeans and tightened his hold telling her that they would outwit the waitress in the diner which meant that they would steal with a plan! Binx’s tummy didn’t care about any plan, but she trusted him enough to listen. Her nose twitched at the scent of food, so he knew he only had her in a rational mindset for a short moment or so. He outlined the plan: She would distract and he would grab food. With that, she bolted inside.

With a plan in mind, Klaws watched Binx walk up to the counter and eye the tip-jar. “Do not even think of it, kitty-girl,” said the waitress in a thick accent. “Get out of this diner! I know you from before,” she continued. Binx reached for an individual creamer and then for another. The waitress focused on her. “You! Get out now! Right now!” Klaws grinned. It was just as they planned. Binx held her ground and the waitress, Annika, walked nearer to her. Just as Klaws had told her, Binx reached and pulled Annika’s dark hair before jumping back to flip her off. First, the waitress stared, so Binx did it again. As the waitress screamed at Binx, Klaws hid behind the column waiting for the moment when the waitress would chase Binx.

The waitress stayed behind the counter so Binx popped open a creamer and drank it, but the waitress changed to a language Binx did not know when Binx flicked the container hitting Annika in the forehead and slowly extended a second middle finger toward her. Shouts were heard by other diners. As Binx gestured with both hands, the waitress reached under the counter and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun causing Binx to freeze with an audible gulp. Klaws mouthed “What the fuck?” He never dreamed the waitress would have such a thing, much less know what to do with it. As Annika fumbled looking for shells, he jumped from behind the column and grabbed a small pitcher of syrup from a nearby customer and threw it at Annika soaking her in stickiness.

Annika screamed at both kitties and slammed a handful of shells on the diner counter. She fumbled chambering two as Binx grabbed tips out of the tip jar and screamed to Klaws, “Kitty! Kitty!” Annika swung the shotgun up and fired it directly into the ceiling. Plaster fell like snow and both Binx and Klaws sputtered while being almost frozen in place.

Hearing Annika fumble to reload caused both Binx and Klaws to move fast. Klaws put both paws on the counter and leaped over it. He shouted, “DEATH TO THE DINER OPPRESSORS!” as he ran toward Annika hurling creamers, chocolate milk and syrup. Binx hissed as a large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling and shattered on the floor. Only Binx's fast reflexes kept it from hitting her. Annika swung blindly at Klaws with her shotgun. He hissed and shouted while grabbing up pastries, cookies, and sandwiches out of the pie safe at the edge of the counter.

Binx turned to two diners who had yet to touch their food. “I’ll be your waitress today,” she mewed quickly grabbing up steaming pancake platters dumping one on top of the other. She grabbed up a container of syrups and ran out of the door at the sound of two shells being chambered. “RUN!” she shouted at Klaws who was eyeing an entire pie. He put all in his shirt and held it grabbing a quarter of a cake instead and bound for the door.

Both ran as fast as they could trying not to lose any of their treasures. Covered in plaster powder and carrying food, neither attracted as many stares as they would in any other city. Reaching the room in the abandoned building where they had drug a cardboard box, Klaws started to unload his shirt of the food. “Damn. That shotgun wasn’t planned,” he mumbled while he inspected his loot.

Binx put her platter of pancakes down inspecting them. “I dropped a pancake,” she whined. Klaws dipped a soiled cloth in water and wiped the plaster from her. “That went well,” she smiled meaning every word. It was difficult to clean the plaster from her as she divvied up the money from the tip jar and gave him half.

Forcing a smile, he finished dusting her off before she returned the favor while he picked a piece of busted debris from his paw. She inspected it while he stood obediently for her to tend to him. “Yes, baby,” he said nuzzling her. “We got lots to eat now. This should keep us fed for at least two days.” He was unsure where they would obtain food after two days since they just robbed the main eatery in town.

Binx helped him clean up after soaking the pancakes in syrup and butter. Both snuggled on the stained, patchwork blanket and hungrily devoured the pancakes sharing the platter together, each taking one bite and giving the second to the other. As Binx fed him bites of cookies, he counted how much money each had received from the tip jar. It was not much, but would buy them each a couple of drinks at the Haven between bull rides. With the cookie, they each had a few shots of creamer.

Caressing her, he asked, “How is your belly feeling now?” She pulled his paws against her tummy while licking his lips with her rough tongue. He pawed playfully at her tummy that was now slightly rounded with food before settling her behind him. Binx reassured him that all was good and returned the light scratches along his belly and sides while whispering that she was his kitty. At her words, he growled low and softly, “You are damn sure as muthafucking hell right….my kitty.” His eyes narrows and he raked his claws over her jeans. The sound of the denim almost ripping fills the room.

Continuing to scratch his skin lightly, she licked his neck very slowly. Her claws extended slowly. “Miiiiiiine,” she said possessively. He responded in kind. She repeated, “MIIINE.” Her nails clawed harder at his back as she repeated herself slowly over and over. Klaws arched his back as he felt her claws sink into his skin. His own claws dug slightly into her thigh as he held his breath enduring the unexpected pain. Her paws scratched his skin drawing blood along his back and he moved from side to side resting his head against her shoulder when she stopped.

Giving him the sweetest of mews, she pulled him tightly against her feeling the wetness of the seeping scratches on her belly. He lay against her wondering what she scratched before pressing her against the pillows and rubbing his claws gently over her thighs. Turning, he cupped her face kissing her lips and rubbing the corners of his mouth over her face and hair.

Later Binx stared transfixed at her reflection in the window. Baring her tummy, she traced the word “Mine” that was printed there in blood from her scratches in his skin. He said sleepily, “Why did you write that?”

She replied, “Writing my name would be too possessive.” He grinned wickedly as he settled back on the rolled-up newspapers. She traced the letters while watching herself. Soft purring could be heard behind her from where Klaws now slept curled up in the broken-down cardboard box amidst the rolled-up newspapers. Klaws’ face was covered by his paws and a small pillow that he clutched protectively. She curled up next to him usurping the pillow’s placement.

Cat Tails

Klaws said to Binx, “Stay here.” He made an X in the ground. “Don’t move.” She nodded. He eyed her suspiciously, “Do not get into trouble.” Binx crossed her heart and everything. The street was calm. No trouble anywhere to be seen, so he left Binx watching an odd kitty boy with goggles on his nose who muttered curiously while petting a cold metal tank with a soft “oo” on his lips.

The kitty boy obtained a tool from his belt pouch and started to cut into the metal. “AWWWW,” he whined before exclaiming, “Doctor no let Mr. Pinkles use the sparkly to cut ANY thing!” The kitty boy looked off toward the Fish Company and saw Binx. “Hi-lo, pretty kitty,” he said. She wondered if he was trying to open the tank to live in it. He struggled to explain that he simply wished to see inside. His words were disjointed but, during the conversation, Binx discovered that the kitty boy’s name was Mr. Pinkles and that Mr. Pinkles had nice toys. Nice as in they looked expensive, which was always interesting to Binx who owned very little of value.

While talking with Mr. Pinkles, Binx felt her tail yanked by a woman who was passing by. Binx turned quickly and grabbed her tail protectively. Another woman said teasingly to Binx, “Kitty Kitty…meooww.” Looking from one to the other, Binx’s ears flattened and she tried to look menacing while telling the first lady that she could lose a bra doing such things to kitties. Binx thought she sounded all sorts of bad-assed, but both women laughed at her words until Binx swiped at the first woman’s top catching the bra and cutting one of the straps. The woman stopped dead in her tracks and turned slowly. She glanced at the goggled Mr. Pinkles almost as if assessing him and then focused again on Binx. “I don’t like kittens,” she said dryly. “The only good kitty is a drown one.”

Binx’s ears went flatter as her whiskers twitched. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. It was obvious that neither woman viewed her as a threat. Excellent, thought Binx who noticed that their guards were clearly down. Binx hauled back and smacked the first woman as hard as she could with claws extended while Mr. Pinkles was watching from the shadows and was saying, “Aw. Dead kitties no good.”

The woman’s friend rushed to her side, “Tanika, are you okay?” Tanika angrily brushed her friend aside, and touched her face while glaring at Binx. Binx’s tail whipped sassily as she gleefully noticed that the woman’s bra strap was cut on one side. Tanika brought her hand hard across Binx’s face as quickly as any cat. Never in her life had Binx been struck so hard and, for a moment, she completely forgot where she was!

Mr. Pinkles saw Tanika grabbing for her gun. “Nuuuuuu, Leave pretty kitty ‘lone!” he wailed. Someone on the street shouted not to kill the kitty as others screamed to kill the cat. Tanika shoved Mr. Pinkles from her. “Scat cat!” As he stumbled back, Binx saw the gun and took the opportunity to swipe at Tanika again landing one more blow. Tanika returned much better than she got. Gun fire was heard and Tanika nearly ended one of Binx’s lives. The quiet street seemed animated! The shouting from others contributed enough chaos to allow Binx to back away. “Nuuuuu! No shooty,” Mr. Pinkles shouted as he wrapped his fingers around the end of Tanika’s gun. Another who had arrived told Mr. Pinkles not to touch Tanika and, for a moment, the focus shifted and Binx was left standing shaking in her boots on the street.

Conversation was heated and animated. Binx’s ears were alert as she licked her boo-boos and felt her tummy quiver with nervousness. If truth were told, Bix was terrified but, with the crowd, she was unwilling to back down. However, she was not a dumb kitty and her mind scrambled to think of what to do. She had no intentions of attacking again without provocation. Trying to look cool, Binx licked her arm in what she hoped to be a nonchalant gesture, but her knees were knocking. Mr. Pinkles continued to interfere until Tanika released her guns and drew the bat that had been slung over her shoulder. “Fine,” Tanika said, “So you want to take her place then. Hrm?”

Binx watched as Tanika became momentarily distracted by the cut strap which was slipping on her body. Mr. Pinkles noticed too. He bolted trying to grab Binx to run with her. Unfortunately, at that very moment, Binx had decided to make a run for it. The two collided just after Binx attempted to spring over one of the other friends of Tanika. Binx quickly landed on her feet and hissed at something moving. She realized with no little embarrassment that it was simply her own shadow, and she ran down the street as fast as she could go until she was well-hidden in the woods. She watched as the women talked a moment before going, and she noticed that Mr. Pinkles had also gone. Binx felt her eyes tear up as she licked the blood away with her rough tongue. It hurt.

Binx waited for Klaws to return. Her wounds were throbbing. Rather than Klaws, her friend Jou and Mr. Pinkles were there. After some discussion, it was decided that Binx needed to see a vet. Mr. Pinkles told them of his doctor friend an asked them to follow. Follow, they did, down streets and alleys until they ascended to the rooftops only to arrive on the roof near the hospital. There they found a pod that spoke. Its voice was exceptionally precise. Other kitties came and went. The pod had blinking lights and probes that examined the wounds and healing each one miraculously fast. While working, it asked Mr. Pinkles to introduce his friends. During the examination of the wound, the pod provided food to eat to Jou, and gave Binx some fresh catnip after implanting a radio-activated monitoring microchip into her ear without her knowledge. Mr. Pinkles seemed thrilled to introduce his new friends to the doctor pod.

Later, Jou left. Binx rushed back to where she was supposed to be. Klaws had been waiting and looked relieved to see her. He checked her over quickly and flattened his ears. “Where have you been?” She told him what happened. His eyes widened as his mouth opened in horror at the fact some woman pulled Binx’s tail. He stammered, “And then…and then…..of course, you kicked her ass, right?”

Looking woeful, Binx put her hands in front of her like she was carrying two huge melons. “She was LOTS bigger than me, Klaws.”

His tail flicked and he said, “I don’t care. No one is gonna pull my kitty’s tail without her giving them an ass-kicking.” Her grumbled and put his arm around her steering her toward an abandoned building that he felt would be safe for the night. “Tomorrow, I will teach you how to do more than scratch.” He nodded as he took her to their temporary home.

Klaw's Kitty

Binx had hardly woken from her string cheese and catnip stupor when she was tackle-pounced by Klaws. He rubbed his nose over hers and licked her lips. Pawing at her whiskers, he purred, “Hellooooo there, sexxxxxy” before starting to smooch on her like he was a 17-year old human boy in the back of the school yard. Binx reeked of catnip and string cheese, and she demonstrated all evidence of having partied all night. His whiskers stiffened as he pawed at her while searching suspiciously for any remaining catnip and cheese. “Brought me any of that?” he asked her.

With a non-descript sound, Binx blearily reached in her pocket and pulled out some warmed string cheese. She pulled off the pocket lint before offering it to him. Klaws inspected the cheese before tasting it while watching her stretch. She grabbed her backpack and pulled out a large bundle of fresh catnip. His eyes widened as she said, “A catnip dealer um..dropped it.” He looked directly at her curiously for a moment sniffing before his ears flattened and he glared at her.

The trouble with catnip is that, after the euphoric high wears off, one should sleep. And if they do not sleep sufficiently, the paranoia sets in. Klaws was in the process of wondering whether she had slept enough when she questioned him about who the kitty was that just happened to glance their way while walking down the street. Klaws facepalmed telling her that did not know and he was not surprised that Binx did not believe him. He started to interrogate her more about the catnip and cheese, but the only information he got from her was additional questions about every kitty girl who happened to walk by. Churlishly paranoid was simply annoying to him. Plus, she was not answering his questions! He pinched her rump and demanded, “Do not change the topic. Kitties and catnip…catnip dealers never just drop their stash. Nor does string cheese fall off trees.” Pawing at her tail, he grumbled, “So straighten out your story or at least give me one that is more believable.”

She grumbled, “So you *do* know that kitty.”

Grabbing her firmly in response, he pressed her against the chain link fence. “You are still trying to change the subject," he said. She mewed up and licked his lips before chewing on one of his whiskers. He twisted his face so she could not reach it and growled, “No getting frisky on me! I demand the complete story about how you got cheese and catnip.” He quickly shoved the chain on each side of her causing her to bounce back and against him quickly. Her tail wrapped around his waist and she purred as she licked his lips. The taste of catnip on her lips diverted him a moment. He licked her lips in return but only after she told him about the mayhem of the night before that left “Dealer Dalton” injured in the middle of the road.

Klaws grinned after the story satisfied his curiosity and then raked his claws over her tummy up to her chest. He purred, “Why not immediately give me the entire story?” She said nothing but continued to cuddle and he started to feel cuddlier as well. He glanced down the street. “As for that kitty that passed, I do not know her name, face, or family. Just random, I guess.” He shrugged making big eyes and felt her claws lengthen. Sleep, he thought. She really needed to sleep off her current high. Seeing that she was not placated with his explanation, he tickled her tummy and smooched her soundly holding her close. “Don’t be mad at me, you uber-jealous little power-bundle.” She pouted and he decided the best thing to do would be to kiss her until she slept or was happy again.

Binx’s mood did improve greatly. She crushed a few leaves of catnip from her pack and rubbed it on her lips. Another kitty girl approached only to speak and go. Binx narrowed her eyes at him again while he blinked at her with an innocent mew. She grumbled, “Kitty girls never come up to talk unless you are here.” Her tail flicked and her mood started to plunge again.

Wiping his forehead as if removing sweat, he stammered, “See? Now…Look. I had nothing to do with that person.” She twitched her whiskers with annoyance. He swished his tail as he watched her. Catnip lows, he thought sourly. “I didn’t kiss, talk, or flirt. I don’t do that with anyone!” She simply watched him. He licked her lips and pawed her playfully. She didn’t look amused so he looked left and right while thinking what he should do. More kissing, he decided before grabbing her tightly and exclaiming, “MY KITTY!”

Binx had heard that exclamation all of her life, and she smiled cuddling again and seemed thoroughly placated. Klaws barely remembered many things from when he was a small, but he remembered one thing clearly: The day Binx was delivered along with a few other kitties in a cardboard box to the Good Sister’s Foundling Center. He was but a toddler and had been waiting to show Sister Anne Marie the mouse he had caught. It squirmed miserably in his little paws while he patiently followed the good sister until he could have her undivided attention. Only this Sister had time to read bedtime stories, so she deserved to get to watch him kill the mouse.

When the box arrived, groans were heard from the sisters. Who had time to tend to another batch of homeless kits? Klaws looked in the box and saw the one red-headed kitten with its eyes still closed. Reaching in the box, he grabbed her exclaiming, “MY KITTY” and ran down the hallway to the room he shared with many others. He named her Binx and wanted her to play, but she was too little. He watched her eyes hoping they would open, but it took a few days before he saw their green color. The mouse waited for the occasion. Fed and fattened so that its demise was the first thing she witnessed immediately following his introduction and announcing that she was his.

Pulling her from the chainlinked fence, Klaws scooped up Binx after setting aside his memories for the moment. She fell asleep as he carried her to a rooftop and crawled into a cardboard box refrigerator box. She immediately slept and again Klaws smiled watching her. His thoughts returned to the foundling center and he remembered the box he kept her in when she was so very little. While waiting for her to sleep off the rest of her catnip high, he sniffed her over knowing that he had better never pick up a scent of anything or anyone he would not want to pick up. Satisfied that all was well, he ate the string cheese and chewed on a catnip leaf wondering if Dealer Dalton lived or died.

Love & Survival

With his hand characteristically covering his mouth, Ethan listened patiently as Brit told him about her day. He had come to enjoy his daily dose of city news filtered through Brit. Ethan’s annoyance of his wife being asked whether she was pregnant quickly faded as Brit described how she educated Pix and the rest of the diner via a diagramed response as to how babies were made, and then that she had reassured all that she could not be pregnant because vampires did not manufacture sperms. His hand pressed more tightly as he did not want chuckle less Brit feel that he was laughing at her. However, his amusement faded as Brit continued her report on her day. “Pix is most concerned over her beloved Tony, Ethan. He is not drinking.” With the destruction of the blood fountain, Ethan was keenly aware that many kindred were on the brink of frenzy, and each one was a concern to him.

After assuring himself that Brit was caring for herself properly, Ethan sent her to the library while he ran a few errands. Upon arrival, she saw Pix’s beloved Tony sitting in a library chair near the door. His head had lulled forward just before he jolted up straight with a loud, “I’m fine!” Tony had not heard her come in, but his words prompted her to ask him if he had drunken from Pix. Shaking his head, he bid Brit a greeting watching as she sank into her chair. Brit asked him whether he had to drink. “That is part of why I came here. I wanted the Omegans to do some research for me.”

After looking all around, Brit said, “No one is near.” Both sat in silence for a moment and Brit processed. Beloveds share and Pix mentioned that she would offer blood to Tony. To Brit, there was likely just one reason he continued to suffer. Perking, she lisped, “Maybe I can help.” Brit processed more and she told him directly, “Pix would not wish for you to be weak.” She nodded again still quite certain that she was correct. Pointing to her neck, she said, “You can bite here.” Her fingers traveled to her wrist, “Or here.” Tony’s astonished look told her that she was on the right track. She wondered about continuing but this was a matter of survival, so she decided to educate him thoroughly. Her fingers pointed to the crease of her leg near to the body and she said, “Sometimes, here is very good.” Brit smiled brightly as she said “And she will feel like your redeemer, which beloveds like to be.”

Tony quirked an eyebrow when she pointed to her thigh. He grumbled, “Ethan sure has been keeping busy.”

“He’s supposed to be busy. We are honeymooning,” she exclaimed remembering Larissa’s book. “Honeymoons are discussed right after the chapter about swooning.”

Her words caused his eyes to widen about and he coughed, “Well. Good for you two.” Brit beamed happily thinking someone finally understood. In the brief silence, Tony blinked a few times and then shook his head to remove the images. “So, about that research. Think you might be able to help me with that?”

Brit’s smile faded. Rubbing her nose, she lisped, “I just did your research.” Again pointing at her neck, wrist, and thigh-crease, she said more slowly, “You can bite her here, here, and here.” Realizing to whom he was conversing, Tony rested his palm against his forehead for a moment. Brit pulled both legs into the chair and watched him after propping her chin on her knees. “Didn’t you want research about how to bite Pix?” Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. “She is your beloved. And you are hers.” Tony silently stared at her over his hand. Brit seemed hurt and jutted her chin just a bit as she almost whispered, “Beloveds share. And Pix wants to be your redeemer.” Her lower lip was almost a pout.

Taking a few extra moments, Tony replied gently, “No. Actually.” He rubbed his chin and said calmly, “I’m completely aware how to bite people.” His eyes narrowed as Brit was making a diagram on the back of a library card application and was drawing large red X’s on the stick figure just in case he needed a visual. Hearing his words, she tossed it aside. Tony watched silently as she helped a library patron and used the time to think.

Returning, she offered, “Maybe it is because you and Pix are not married. Being married is a most honorable and proper thing. So. Marry her and then you can honeymoon too.” Brit was trying hard to be helpful, but her words had him sitting speechless again. She added softly, “But. Your lips are pretty blue. I don’t know if you can wait for a wedding.”

Tony’s eyes widened further and he exclaimed exasperated, “Brit!”

Brit looked up and said, “Yah?” Putting his finger to his lips, Tony shushed her and sat silently again regrouping his thoughts. Brit perked again, “Oh….is it a surprise?”

Tony inwardly groaned. Glancing at her told him that she expected an explanation. “That kind of thing is well.” Though he needed not to breathe, he took a deep breath gesturing with his hand and said, “It’s complicated.” She didn’t respond but thought of when she had gone to the Voodoo Shop and disrupted his canoodling session with Pix long ago. Tony tapped his fingers on the chair wondering whether he would frenzy before he got to the purpose of his visit. “Marriage is a commitment,” he offered. Brit’s bright smile indicated she understood that, but also told him that she was not following the same path he was on. He tried again, “Some people just need time to make that commitment. Understand?” She beamed more brightly. Tony shifted uncomfortably and finally said, “Besides.” Feelings that were long buried started to float near the top of his thoughts. He whispered, “I was already married once.”

Brit said nothing as she struggled to understand. Almost as if reading her thoughts, he said, “I was married, Brit. I am not anymore.” Tony’s sadness nearly filled the room. It seemed as if he was alone as he gazed out of the window. “Do you know the wedding vows?” She nodded but he did not see her. He said quietly, “Until death do us part.” Even the chaos of the street had stopped. Tony said, “My wife died a long time ago.” Time passed as they both sat in silence. Finally, he shook his head. “Anyway. What was I talking about?”

Tony reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small bottle. His hands shook as he popped off the top and showed her a small capsule. “This keeps me from needing to bite people. It is the last one I have. I need to know what it is exactly and whether more can be made.” Brit promised she would tell Joah and also said she would tell Ethan as the pill reminded her of the orbs that Ethan drank when he came out of torpor.

Tony left and Ethan arrived to escort her to their resting place. Again, Ethan patiently listened to her talk about Tony. His hand covered his lips as he watched her. She told him of the pill briefly, but was detailed about Tony’s wife. As she brushed out her hair, she remembered that Ethan once said that he only wanted her to feed all of his hungers. “Ethan, when I perish, I do not wish you to suffer.” She did not see him flinch at her words. “I wish you to do what you must to endure.” Ethan reached out and stroked her hair. He said nothing at all, but pulled her to lie beside him and buried his face in her hair until the sun forced him to rest.