Angel Wings for Demon Hearts

Kristen Cudd

7-9-03 

Note: Age of Pix’s daughter has been changed to work better with the storyline. Pix’s daughter was three when kidnapped. 

Chapter 2

            “How can you be so sure that she’s sincere?” a frustrated voice drifted into Kyna’s mind.

            “I can take the risk, Levi. She saved me once; she can’t be against us...”

            “Oh Pix, you’re far too trusting. She’s from the Blak Kat Klan! You know they’re all backstabbing demons. I can’t believe he suggested for her to go with you. Do you have any idea how much danger you’re putting yourself in?”

            Kyna felt all the buzzing in her brain evaporate in that instant.

            “She didn’t attack me during the night...”

            “She’d be stupid if she tried; my brother was on guard. Besides, I put a spell on her blanket to keep her from getting out of the hammock.”

            “Like the magic you used to gain her affections, Levi? You’re wicked to do such a thing to the poor girl’s heart. Did you ever think of how it would make her feel to know?”

            “So what if I’m using her? We got information, and those creatures don’t feel. You should know that, Pix.”

            Kyna jerked her eyes open in horror. Levi was pacing the room angrily as Pix sat on her bed and watched him. Kyna couldn’t think. Pain, betrayal... Levi had been using her. Kyna had opened herself up to the enemy; she had let her people down. No, not her people. Then who? Her sister. She had wasted time with these backstabbing demons that she could’ve used in searching for Koren.

            A surge of hatred flowed through Kyna, opening up her senses. Levi had said she was trapped by a spell on the blanket. Kyna concentrated on her own special power, wind. A sharp breeze swept the room and caught both Pix’s and Levi’s attention. Kyna focused harder and willed the breeze to form into a small tornado. The blanket was whipped off Kyna’s form by the surrounding winds. Kyna let the storm die down as her anger turned into ice within her heart.

            “How much did you hear?” Levi inquired, not quite sure how to handle himself.

            Kyna sat upright and hopped out of the hammock. After stretching her limbs and popping a couple of joints, she coldly replied, “Enough. Could you excuse Pix and me for a moment? I’d like to assassinate her, and I don’t want any witnesses.”

            “I don’t think I’ll be in any danger. Quit worrying about me and go help your brother prepare our packs,” Pix coaxed gently.

            “That girl just brewed up a tornado at will, and you say you’re not in danger!”

            “Get out, Levi.”

            Levi took a moment to glare at Kyna and Pix before stomping out.

            “Sorry about Levi. He never learned to trust anyone new after his old sweetheart was murdered. How much did you hear?”

            “Enough to know that my stay here was a waste of time,” Kyna growled.

            “Do you consider even my acquaintance a waste of your time?” Pix asked, concerned.

            Kyna faltered. “No. I heard enough to know that you believe me trustworthy, which brings me some hope... but Levi?”

            “It was the Blak Kat Klan that stole his girlfriend and used her in one of their sacrifices. He hates your people, as does Sevati. Don’t trust her attention either. She has a great heart, but Levi’s girlfriend was her best friend from early childhood. She felt the loss equally, if not more so. But we can make her see in time, right?”

            “I really need to go find my sister... I’d like to help you, for no other reason than you were willing to trust me, but I’m afraid something bad will happen to her if I wait too long.”

            “Well if you don’t know how to start looking for your sister, you may as well come with me. I’m going to beseech Queen Dianthe for news of my family. She may have tidings of your sister as well. And after all, the only other way you’re going to find news of any sort will be in pubs. With the Queen’s approval you’ll have a chance of entering them without being arrested or fought. Sound good?”

            “I suppose so. It’s better than any ideas I’ve had... But will Levi and Sevati let me go with you?”

            “Don’t worry about them. They won’t have much of a choice, and I think the oldest sibling trusts you. Has he told you his name yet?”

            “He said he would if I told him mine...”

            “And did you?”

            “Yes, but he never told me his real name.”

            “Well perhaps he forgot... but don’t worry. I’ll make sure you can come with me.” Pix started going through a small closet Kyna hadn’t noticed earlier and pulling out clothes onto her bed. “Find one you like. You look close enough to my size,” Pix commented.

            “I’m not naked!” Kyna exclaimed.

            “You’d be better off naked than wearing your current attire with where we’re heading.”

            Kyna looked down and noticed that Pix had a point. Kyna was still wearing the typical garb for eligible young women from her home. Between the vivid diagonal purple and yellow stripes and the very open midriff, Kyna wasn’t sure she could’ve found an outfit more likely to stand out and make her hated among the townspeople. Moving to the mattress, Kyna immediately rejected half of them. She understood that she would have to blend in as much as possible in town, but that didn’t require to look like a servant for lack of style and color. Kyna finally changed into a golden-brown jumper, a faded white off-shoulder undershirt, and a cream apron.

            “Perfect,” Pix complemented as she smiled at Kyna. “Now all you need is this.” A beige veil was in Pix’s hand. “To cover your tattoo and hair,” Pix explained.

            Kyna tied the veil around her head so that the golden whiskers on her forehead were covered and the hair tucked neatly in. “How do I look?” Kyna asked, rotating so that Pix could see her complete outfit.

            “Like a black cat in plain clothes, but it will do for now. Come with me.”

            “By the way, my name is Kyna. I thought you might want to know.”

            “Thank you, Kyna,” Pix replied with a warm smile.

            Kyna followed Pix back to the adjoining room to see that the furniture had changed again. A desk and chair rested in one corner while a small picnic table and two benches were the new centerpiece. The only piece that hadn’t changed was the bookshelf.

            “Sit down; I’ll go find some breakfast,” Pix directed before leaving Kyna.

            Remembering last night, Kyna examined the benches and table. No screws or nails were to be found anywhere in their construction, yet when Kyna tried to move the wood, it held firm as if the pieces had been melded together.

            “Admiring my handiwork?” a voice came from the entrance to the hut. Kyna jumped up and whipped her head around to see Shadow leaning in the doorway with a grin on his face. A small boy was hiding behind Shadow’s leg and peering up at Kyna. “Jumpy in the mornings, or are you always like this?”

            Kyna followed Shadow’s progress into the room coldly. Shadow had collected some of his papers and sat down across from Kyna before noticing that she was still glaring at him.

            “Hey, chill down a bit. I thought that a member of the Blak Kat Klan would have known I was there. Had I known you startled so easily I would’ve knocked,” Shadow earnestly pressed.

            “You didn’t tell me your name,” Kyna replied frostily.

            “What?”

            “You promised that you would tell me your name if I told you mine. You didn’t. I guess Pix is the only one that trusts me in this place.”

            “Hey... no, I’m sorry. I forgot last night because of your crush...” at this Shadow faltered, seeing the bitter hatred that flashed in Kyna’s eyes at those words. “So when did you find out?”

            “This morning. I woke up to hear him tell Pix exactly how much of a murderous, back-stabbing traitor I’ll become the second she lets her guard down.” Kyna could see the sympathy and embarrassment in his eyes, but she couldn’t stop. “And so do you always find it funny to watch bewitched young women share their secrets with someone who hates them and only wants to use them? Or is it just a ‘me’ thing?”

            Shadow looked shocked. He seemed to want to speak, but stopped. His eyes searched for anything in the room to look upon over Kyna. When his eyes fell on the doorway though, he gave a start. “Laban! What are you doing still hiding over there?”

            The little boy that had been hiding behind Shadow’s leg earlier was still on the hut’s porch, clinging the doorframe and shaking his head violently in protest to coming in. When Kyna followed Shadow’s eyes to see Laban, the boy shrunk back further out of sight.

            “What’s wrong? Surely you want some breakfast, don’t you?” Shadow persisted. 

            “He’s afraid of me. He doesn’t trust me anymore than anyone else here. After all, I have every appearance of the Blak Kat Klan. You have so many sadistic hopes for me that I’m beginning to believe that I’ll sorely disappoint you all if I don’t kill or bewitch one of you soon.”

            “Kyna, wait!” Shadow cried, but to no avail. Kyna had already stomped past Laban and out of the hut. The white kitten burst into tears just as Pix ran into the room.

            “What’s going on?” she cried. “Where’s Kyna?”

            “I’m not sure... she went off at me and stormed out,” Shadow answered with a shrug.

            “I’ll go get her... She’s not used to trusting people; you really ought to watch what you say around her. She’ll likely take things the wrong way if she can.”

            “Why doesn’t the black lady like me?” Laban asked Shadow once Pix left the room.

            Shadow looked with surprise at the young boy. “Maybe she was hurt because you wouldn’t say ‘hello’ to her,” he replied after some thought.

            “Oh...” a disconcerted Laban replied.

            “But you know what might help?”

            “What?”

            “If you went up to her, gave her a big hug, and apologized for not speaking to her earlier,” Shadow suggested with a mischievous grin.

            “Really?”

            “Well it couldn’t hurt to try.”

            Kyna hadn’t been able to walk more than fifteen feet before she heard Pix calling after her. “Yes, Pix?” Kyna reluctantly replied, knowing there was no way out.

            “What happened in there?” Pix asked, panting from having literally ran after her.

            “It doesn’t matter. How long before we can leave?”

            “Kyna, tell me what happened in there.”

            “Look, it doesn’t matter.”

            “Yes, it does, Kyna.”

            “Shadow made some crack about how much Levi had fooled me last night without any remorse. I had hoped he was on my side. He still didn’t tell me his real name,” Kyna sighed as she met Pix’s eye.

            “I’m sorry. I thought he would have told you by now. Was that all?”

            “That and the little boy wouldn’t...” but at that Kyna faltered, for Laban was running full-speed towards her and Pix.

            “I’m sorry, Ms. Black lady! I didn’t mean to not speak to you!” he cried over and over until he slammed into Kyna’s legs and wrapped his arms around them.

            Kyna was too shocked for words. She had never received a hug from anyone in her life outside of her family, and certainly was not used to wailing little boys.

            “Laban,” at Pix’s voice the boy started and stared up at the mouse with bright, wet eyes, “that was very nice of you to apologize to her, but why didn’t you speak to her earlier?”

            Laban immediately let go of Kyna’s legs and started squirming and blushing. “It was... well... because...” he mumbled.

            “Because of what?” Pix asked sweetly.

            “Because I thought she was pretty,” he whispered to Pix.

            Pix had trouble not laughing at the boy’s innocence and the irony of the situation. Kyna was still shocked, but a blush had crept onto her cheeks that quite matched Laban’s own.

            “Now, Kyna, aren’t you glad that Laban apologized?” Pix coaxed the dumbfounded girl.

            “Yes, thank you,” Kyna answered rigidly before awkwardly patting Laban’s head a couple times and snapping her arm back as if he were contagious.

            “Your welcome, Ms. Kyna!” the boy excitedly replied while beaming up at her.

            “I think we all need to go back and eat breakfast. Kyna and I have a long day ahead of us, and growing boys don’t need to skip meals,” Pix pointed out.

            The trio headed back to Pix’s hut where Shadow was anxiously waiting for them. He kept his eyes on Kyna the whole time, but she crossed her arms and walked past him in a huff with her eyes straight ahead. Crestfallen with his tail between his legs, Shadow returned to his seat at the table. Kyna took the opposite corner while Laban eagerly scooted in next to her. Pix returned to the kitchen.

            Time seemed to gel as Kyna waited for breakfast. Shadow was furiously examining the notes he had gathered earlier as Laban repeatedly petitioned for Kyna’s attention just to beam at her until she smiled back. A fly had landed across the table from Kyna and remained so still that she wondered whether it were alive or not. The leaves on the branches outside seemed as dead as the fly. Laban eventually tired of harassing Kyna and took to carving pictures into the wood with a claw. The only sounds were that of Shadow’s papers and Laban’s dull scratches.

            “Laban, you shouldn’t be doing that,” Shadow finally replied after noticing his brother’s progress with the wood. Laban sullenly retracted his claw and pouted in silence.

            Time passed for a few more moments in this way until two things happened. First, Pix entered the room with a large bowl full of steaming porridge. Second, Levi and Sevati appeared in the doorway.

            “What’s Laban doing in here?” Levi asked seriously.

            “Same as you I’d presume. I took him with me to get breakfast,” Shadow answered. “Why?”

            “He shouldn’t be here. Come on, Laban; I’ll take you somewhere safe,” Sevati replied, glancing coldly at Kyna before bending down and opening her arms for Laban’s entrance. Laban looked from Sevati to Kyna and back.

            “Can Ms. Kyna come too?” he asked, wrapping his arm around Kyna’s.

            Levi was shocked and disturbed, but his reaction was nothing compared to his sister’s. Sevati screamed, grabbed Laban, slapped Kyna with her spare hand, and ran out while scolding Laban for being friendly with the stranger. Kyna just got over being slapped to see the tears streaming down Laban’s face as he was carried out of view.

            A thud sounded behind Kyna. She turned around to see Pix bent over weeping and trying to scrape the porridge back into its bowl. “I’m sorry. I just can’t believe she could be so hateful. Kyna hasn’t done anything to deserve the treatment they’ve given her!” Pix cried.

            “I’ll clean it up,” Shadow calmly replied. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. Kyna didn’t notice the porridge pick itself up from the rough wooden floor and return to the bowl. “Not everyone has your good heart, Pix. I’m sure Levi and Sevati will learn to trust Kyna in time,” he added as he got up to comfort the distraught mouse.

            Neither Pix nor Shadow noticed that a gust of wind had been born and was rampaging the room like a blinded serpent. It wasn’t until Shadow broke his embrace with Pix and saw his papers swirling overhead that he realized something was wrong.

            “It’s not me!” he cried, bewildered. “What’s going on?”

            “Kyna, are you okay?” Pix asked, remembering the episode from earlier that morning.

            Kyna’s eyes had glazed over to a solid gold. A light pierced its way through the veil from the area of Kyna’s tattoo. Random objects in the room were being picked up in the funnel that was forming. Pix tried to approach Kyna, but she was forced to kneel down or risk being blown away. Shadow managed to reach Kyna and grab her arm, but Kyna remained stiff as a board underneath his touch. There was no reaction as he shook her until the veil flew off Kyna’s face. Things seemed to explode once the tattoo was exposed. Kyna rose out of her chair and slowly pointed at Pix. Shadow felt his feet leave the ground as Kyna levitated herself into the air. Pix was also floating several feet above the ground in a curled-up ball.

            “Kyna, what are you doing?” Shadow exclaimed, his eyes widening in horror as he saw a malicious grin cover the girl’s face. “Stop!” Objects were hurling across the room towards Pix. Shadow desperately climbed up and covered Kyna’s tattoo with one hand and her eyes with the other. Intense hatred and malignity surged through Shadow at the contact, and it was over.

            As the wind stopped, Kyna and Shadow dropped together into a heap on the floor. Pix landed a few feet away, bruised and bleeding. Nothing in the room was in its right place.

            “Pix, are you hurt?” Shadow called from his position underneath Kyna.

            “I’ll be okay. How is Kyna?” Pix asked.

            Shadow gently sat up and cradled Kyna’s limp body. “She’ll be fine. She’s just knocked out,” he answered after making sure Kyna’s heart and lungs were still functioning.

            “What do you think just happened?”

            “I don’t know... Maybe the others were right. She was trying to attack you, Pix.”

            “It wasn’t her though. She was possessed.”

            “What good is it to know that she’s not the one behind the action if the action can still be committed through her? I felt it too. When I touched her tattoo and covered her eyes... I’m not sure which contact, maybe both, but I felt it. There was definitely someone else acting through her. Can we still trust her?”

            “Have you no faith? Of course we can. The Lord will protect me from the spirits that took hold of her,” Pix bluntly stated. She got up and moved over to sit next to Shadow and Kyna.

            “Pix, I didn’t see any divine intervention protecting you just now. Just me,” Shadow emphasized.

            “And next time it will be someone else, but there will always be someone or something to protect me from dark spirits.”

            “You’re crazy, but hey, it’s your life. When your husband comes back and asks me what happened to his little sweet wife, I’ll tell him that you went mad and ran off with a demon carrier that tried to kill you before you even left home.”

            “And yet you’re the one who’s still holding her. Face it; you trust her too. I know we’re doing the right thing. I’m sure of it,” Pix affirmed with a smile.

            “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. She’s just scared, after all. She has some strong powers though... I didn’t expect that. I wonder why she didn’t mention them last night,” Shadow pondered out loud.

            “She may not have realized their significance. She did something similar this morning when she first realized Levi had used her. I think it might be triggered by strong emotions. Do you think it’s possible that she just lost control this time?”

            “Possible, yes. Shh... she’s stirring.”

            Shadow and Pix watched anxiously as Kyna moaned and sleepily opened her eyes. After a moment of confusion, she twisted around to see the two faces staring down at her, and her eyes shot open.

            “Agh! What? What happened?” Kyna cried, leaping out of Shadow’s grasp and backing away from the two figures still on the floor. She was shaking violently and hugging herself. “What happened?” she asked again before sinking to the floor.

            Pix and Shadow looked at each other, completely lost for words.

            “I came for Laban’s... the deuce, what’s going on?” Sevati exclaimed upon entering the room. Her eyes went from Pix and Shadow to Kyna, who was still huddled up against the wall like a wreck. “You,” Sevati stated with narrowed eyes.

            “I don’t...” Kyna began, but Sevati had already left.

            “I hate to say this, but you should probably go. I won’t have any trouble blocking Sevati or Levi alone, but the two of them together are nothing to laugh at,” Shadow pointed out as he helped Kyna to her feet. He found her veil and returned it to her. “Wear it. This way you’ll have a chance of getting arrested before being shot.”

            “Don’t mind him. I’ll meet you in town and clear you of your charges. The town’s due west from here. You should be able to hit it before nightfall,” Pix explained. “Now go!”

            Kyna darted out of the hut just as she saw Levi and Sevati running towards her from Shadow’s home. Kyna leapt over the rope work towards the center platform. She landed only halfway, but it was enough of a head start that she made it there easily before they did. After letting out a little of the rope ladder, Kyna lept onto it with all the force she could muster with the hope that the rest of the ladder would give to her descent.

            Her hopes were excited only for a few moments. The ladder gave for another ten feet or so, but that still left over fifty feet between her and the ground.

            “Cut the rope, Levi! We can make a new one,” Sevati’s voice reached Kyna’s ears.

            Kyna tenaciously gripped the ladder just before one side was cut. Summoning all the power she could without letting go, she searched the landing above her for Levi. Once his sapphire eyes met her amber ones, she released one hand to get ready for the blast. But before she could throw it, shock flashed in Levi’s eyes and he was shoved out of view.

            A blur of white dived through the opening in the landing as screams echoed from above. Kyna immediately recognized Shadow, but her eyes kept searching the landing above her... something was wrong.

            “Come on! I’ll bring you to the surface, Kyna,” Shadow persisted, hovering at her side.

            “Wait...”

            “There’s no time to wait... They’ll cut the other half of the ladder free any moment now!” he cried as he grabbed her around the waist and tried to pull her free. Kyna refused to let go though. Her eyes continued scanning the pyramid structure above her.

            “There!” she cried as she released the power she had been saving for Levi. “Now get me out of here, and hurry! There will be more soon!” she yelled as she put her arms around Shadow’s neck and let go of the ladder.

            “What?” Then Shadow saw it. A black figure was screaming bloody murder as it fell to its death. “I can’t, Kyna. I have to go back and protect them!”

            “Great. Can you at least drop me off on the pinnacle so I don’t get killed in your little battle?”

            “You could try being a little grateful considering I just saved your life,” Shadow groaned, but he was flying towards the top of the pyramid all the same. Once he set her down he used his powers to create a hole for him to get through.

            “Leave that, will you? I’ll do my best to pick them off from up here,” Kyna requested before Shadow went all the way through. She wasn’t sure if he had heard her or not, but the hole remained open. Below she saw several black cats with their throats cut. Pix and Laban were huddled together in the middle of the landing, and Sevati and Levi were prowling its perimeters in search of more intruders. Shadow kept his distance from Levi and Sevati, but he was likewise watching the possible entrances for invaders.

            “Kyna!” a voice beside her hissed. Kyna nearly jumped out of her skin until she realized it was her brother.

            “Kerwin, what are you doing here? What’s going on?” she cried.

            “You need to get out of here. We’ve got three squads positioned around here to invade this place any second now. Come on.”

            “I’m not leaving. I promised Pix that I was going to help her,” Kyna firmly replied as she swiped her brother’s grip from her arm.

            “Orders were to kidnap the white kitten. That’s it. They’re not after the mouse-lady this time. Our people aren’t even allowed to use our powers since the kid has to be intact. Just come with me. You know they’ll kill you if they realize you’re here. Please, sis,” he pleaded, grabbing her hand this time and trying to pull her off.

            “Wait a moment...” she said as she stood up. She tried to focus, but things were so foggy in her mind. So much was happening. “I can’t do it,” she finally conceded with anguish. She turned to follow him, but he was looking at her intently.

            “Turn back around and try again. I’ll help you this time. You must really care about these people...”

            “Thanks,” Kyna sincerely replied before forcing herself to concentrate on moving the air again. She felt her brother’s hand clamp over hers and direct her powers.

            “Now let’s go!” he cried, breaking off the contact. Kyna opened her eyes and saw a neatly-formed funnel of water circling the landing where Shadow, his siblings, and Pix were huddled. “That should hold them off. Come on!”

            “But you used your power... He’ll know you betrayed Him,” Kyna faintly stated, suddenly realizing the sacrifice Kerwin had just made on her friends’ behalf.

            “All the more reason to move!” he cried as he dragged her away.

            Kyna followed her brother as he climbed down the rope work and hung underneath the pyramid like a monkey from vines. They could see dozens from their clan climbing over the rope work on top, either searching for holes big enough or cutting their own to get through. Every now and then one would miscalculate and get caught in the typhoon.

            “These are your friends, right?” Kerwin asked as they approached the platform.

            “Well, some are.”

            “Great, then contact the ones that are and tell them to let down the ladder, because I don’t see how else we’re going to get out of here alive.”

            Kyna gulped and moved ahead to the hole in the landing. However, before she could check to see who was above her, an arm reached down and pulled her up. Murder in his eyes, Levi lifted Kyna up to eye level.

            “Your friends?” he asked with disgust in a gesture to the cats eyeing them from outside the cyclone, Shadow, and Sevati. Shadow and Sevati were taking turns picking off the few black cats that made it through.

            “No, but that is my storm that’s protecting you,” Kyna dryly pointed out. “I thought you could appreciate it enough to let us down from your little tree house.”

            “You led them here.”

            “Then why would I be protecting you?”

            “Your element’s wind. That twister is formed with water,” he stated. “So either you didn’t make it, or you had help.”

            “My brother found me and decided to ally with me against the clan. His element is water.”

            “What brother?” Levi asked, his head darting back down to the hole.

            “Too late. I’m already up. My sis and I need a lift down, so... if you don’t mind?” Kerwin suggested, gesturing with his free arm to the apparatus that lowered the ladder. In his other arm he held a struggling Laban. Pix was prostrate, weeping and praying.

            “And I’ve got your sister,” Levi reminded them as he twisted Kyna around and put his knife to her neck.

            “Let them go, Levi. If anyone tries to climb up the ladder we can cut them off, and we need to be leaving soon ourselves anyway,” Shadow pointed out, finally noticing the scene and coming over. The black cats seemed to be dissipating, but Sevati was still keeping a sharp eye out for anyone that stayed behind. “It’s possible that she betrayed us, yes, but we have no proof; innocent until proven guilty. Hi, call me Shadow. And you are?” he asked Kerwin.

            “I don’t give my name out freely, but you may know that I am her brother. My loyalties to the clan have been severed out of my duty to my sister,” Kerwin stated with suspicion.

            “Then you are a man that will go to any length to protect your family.”

            “Your point?”

            “I am the same way. And that’s my little brother you’ve got prisoner there,” Shadow said as he gestured to Laban, who had stopped struggling and was now watching the scene with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

            Kerwin looked down at the boy and sighed, relaxing a little. “Give me my sibling, and I’ll return yours. But only after you lower the ladder. We’re still imprisoned as long as there’s no exit.”

            “Deal,” Shadow replied with a smile as he undid the crank, letting the ladder down. He stopped before the ladder fully unrolled. “I’m leaving fifteen feet of free fall for you as a precaution against anyone who may try to climb up it. There’s some shrubbery near the base that can cushion your fall. Good luck. Now, my brother?”

            “My sister first.”

            “Levi, let her go,” Shadow directed. Levi growled at her, but put away the knife and shoved her towards them. She stumbled a little before holding onto Kerwin for balance.

            “You can go back to your family now,” Kyna said to Laban as she took the boy from her brother’s arms. “I’m sorry for scaring you, but we had little choice,” she whispered in his ear before setting him down.

            “I understand,” the boy said, looking into her eyes for a fugacious moment before running back to his brothers. Kyna paused, wondering at the sagacity the young child had displayed, before turning away and following her brother. Neither spoke as they scrambled down the faulty ladder towards the surface.

            “Why isn’t there anyone down here?” Kyna asked before she hopped down into the shrubbery Shadow had suggested.

            “Just go. I’ll explain once we’re out of here. Come on, we don’t have much time!” Kerwin pleaded.

            Kyna wondered at his words but decided there were better times to heed the details. The imperative thing was to get down quickly and leave. After giving the ladder some horizontal momentum, Kyna flung herself outwards towards the bushes. While definitely tangled and confused, the landing itself wasn’t extremely painful, and she was soon back on her feet in the open. Her brother leapt off the second she was out.

            “Kabos, over here!” Kerwin called once he got up.

            A winged black cat drifted down from his perch above them. It was a man Kyna had seen many times before, the fifth descendent of the nameless Lord of the Blak Kat Klan. What was Kerwin doing on a name basis with him? And why was Kerwin calling Kabos over if Kerwin was against the clan with her?

            “Good work, Kerwin. Your plan went surprisingly well... though tell me, was it necessary to create the water funnel that killed so many of my good men?”

            “It was necessary to gain her trust. Furthermore, she’s grown attached to the female mouse. She was reluctant to leave until their safety was ensured. I’ll remove it now,” Kerwin complied as he dispersed the tornado with a wave of his hand.

            “Well pity you had to let her down in the end, but it’s for the best, honey,” Kabos sympathetically said to Kyna. “And after all, this way there’s less chance of your mouse friend getting harmed. We may need her later if her daughter isn’t enough.” He paused to warble a bird call. “The attack...” he simply said, gesturing above.

            Kyna watched as dozens of black cats swarmed the pyramid from its three corners, heading for the center. The tiny white specks of Shadow’s family appeared on the rope ladder, scrambling down as fast as they could. Shadow himself was flying around the platform, preventing the other cats from reaching it.

            “And soon it will be my turn. I promised your brother that I would let you leave us freely if you helped us obtain the young one without being forced to fight his protectors. What good it will do you I can’t imagine. You will be shunned by any civilization for your coat and species, and your little friends will have everyone reason to believe that you betrayed them. Well, good luck,” Kabos retorted to her angry and frustrated face before taking off.

            Kyna watched in horror as Kabos flew up to the rope ladder and snatched Laban away from his family with ease. And he had been able to do it because of her. She had helped them. Unintentionally, of course, but it was because of her blind trust in her brother that the little boy was going to be removed from the only family he had.

            Kyna didn’t know what to do, think, or say; but she knew that from now on she wasn’t going to trust anyone.