PET SHOP OF HORRORS - FRIEND

Chapter One - Destiny Changes Its Tide

Although Chinatown was busy since morning, Count D and his pet shop enjoyed the uneventful hours. During these times, the gentle pet shop proprietor would give individual attention to his pets - each one waiting for a master and a place to call home.

When the Count was about to sit down and enjoy his mid-afternoon tea, the shop's doorbell rang. Postponing his treat, he walked towards the store's receiving area and met his customer halfway. As soon as he recognized the handsome new arrival, he charmingly smiled and said, "Good afternoon, Esquire. It is so good to see you. Please come in."

"Likewise, Count," responded the tall and impeccably dressed Miles Horryce as he shook hands with the pet shop proprietor.

Count D's gaze settled on his customer. "I am sorry to hear about your wife, Abigail."

"Thanks," the client sighed as he removed his designer eyeglasses and revealed his deep honey eyes. "I'm here to get a pet."

A tight-lipped Count D asked, "Are you sure that you are up to the challenge, Esquire?"

Knowing that the proprietor referred to the pets that died shortly after being purchased from the store, the attorney replied, "I was busy with my cases, so Abigail was left home with them. Unfortunately, she had been unstable these last few years. If I had known that she'd kill our pets, I wouldn't have bought them for her. Since she died, I've reduced my caseload so I now have more time at home."

Count D's eyes lit up, as he felt somewhat assured from his customer's words. Forgetting his mid-afternoon tea, he rose from his seat and said, "Please come with me."

The two men walked through long hallways, and then followed by a staircase heading down to the basement. Noises from some of the exotic creatures greeted them.

While following the proprietor, the attorney gaped and held his breath. "I've never seen this part of the store before. It just looks so small from the outside."

"Looks can be deceiving, Esquire," Count D replied, as he gave his client a sideways glance and a furtive half-smirk.

After passing through that section, they went through a dimly lit hallway. The pathway had oriental wallpaper and plush red carpeting – giving the area an ambience of mystique.

"This isn't what I think it is, is it Count? You're not running a high-price brothel, are you?" the attorney inquired with lustful anticipation, as he pointed at the ornately-designed doors.

Seconds later, the porcelain-skinned proprietor responded, "No, Esquire. It is not what you hope it to be."

"An opium den, perhaps? I've smelled something peculiar since we've been down here."

A non-responsive Count D gazed at his client.

"I won't say anything to get you in trouble. You have my word," the customer soothingly reassured the proprietor.

A coy smile crept over the pet shop owner's face. "I know that discretion is one of your virtues, Esquire. I am, however, telling you the absolute truth. The sweet odor you have been enjoying is from incense, not opium."

In silence, the men walked towards a darker section of the store. Eventually, their stroll stopped in front of a room with heavy double doors.

Count D turned around, faced his client, and asked, "Why do you want to have a pet?"

Miles Horryce frowned. "What does this have to do with the pet I'm getting from you?"

"Every pet in this store carries love, hope, and dreams. With the right master, the pet will become the fulfillment of its master's desires. I want to make sure that this pet will be suited for you." Count D then kept his silence, as he saw the attorney's eyes mist.

Slightly choking on his reply, the widower looked sideways and said, "Empty - just empty..."

Tight-lipped and empathetic, Count D bowed and stated, "Then this pet is meant for you, Esquire."

As the proprietor pushed to open the heavy oak double doors, a hand rested on his shoulder. A mesmerized Miles Horryce then requested, "Instead of the pet you're about to show me, I'd like to see what's behind that door."

"Another pet," the daintily handsome Count replied.

Miles Horryce kept his gaze at the door behind them.

The Count shook his head. "I am not so sure that the creature would be good for you."

The frustrated customer asked, "I don't appreciate you second-guessing me, Count. Give me one good reason why you wouldn't show me what's behind that door?"

Count D apologetically bowed, saying, "I mean no disrespect, Esquire." He then gazed at the door his client wanted him to open. "The pet in that room is considered as an omen of bad luck. I do not wish any ill will to fall upon my clients. The creature I want to show you, however, will be a more suitable companion."

A pacified Miles Horryce quietly insisted, "I don't believe in superstition. Didn't you say that every pet in your store carries love, hope, and dreams for its potential master?"

The proprietor blinked once, and then said, "Yes, I did. However, there must be harmony between the pet and its master to manifest that."

The attorney's face softened and his eyes remained glued to the door behind them. "Please, Count. I want to see what's behind that door. If I don't like what I see there, then I'll take whatever pet you recommend for me."

"As you wish," the pet shop owner relented, turned around, and opened the other set of heavy oak doors.

Dim lights greeted the two men, as they stepped inside the dark room - with Count D leading the way. The lights became brighter upon reaching the end of the room. Eventually, the men stopped and gaped at the shrine-like structure at the left-hand corner.

Miles Horryce's eyes widened and held his breath upon seeing the creature comfortably sitting on plush red cushions. The pet, along with the ornately designed red-and-gold shrine, was a spectacle to behold.

"Here she is, Esquire," the pet shop owner quietly said to his customer.

"Is this some kind of a joke?" he incredulously asked while he intently looked at the creature.

The pet before them resembled a familiar, young, and beautiful Asian woman in the attorney's life. The shrine highlighted her beauty, straight jet-black hair, smooth porcelain-like skin, shapely nose, thin lips, and dark brown eyes. She was dressed in a long black silk cheongsam designed with tasteful red-and-gold embroidery.

Unfazed with his client's semi-controlled outburst, Count D responded, "It is not a joke, Esquire. Please take a closer look." He then lifted the cheongsam and revealed a lustrous tail of white and gold mane.

"Unbelievable," was all that Miles Horryce could mutter under his breath.

Breaking the moments of silence between them, the proprietor said, "She is a pretty specimen, is she not?"

The teary-eyed and awe-stricken litigator said, "If I didn't know any better, I would think that I'm looking at Abigail right now."

A tight-lipped Count D explained, "She is a Chinese fox. As beautiful as she is, legend has it that she is an omen of bad luck."

Still mesmerized and breath-taken by the sight before him, the client responded, "Each man is capable of making, or breaking, their luck - nothing else. You can call her a fox, or whatever animal you wish, but I see what I see. I would like to take her home with me, and I promise to be discreet."

After closing his eyes, the proprietor meaningfully gazed at his customer. "Then so be it, Esquire. You may take her home with you, once you sign the agreement between us. However, I warn you that the Chinese fox is not an easy pet. Aside from intelligence, she is gifted with powers that can either reward or punish her master."

The client readily nodded.

Count D, once again, led the way through the labyrinth of carpeted hallways.

Miles Horryce followed the pet shop owner, this time with more hope within him. As he walked, he held hands with the Chinese fox - the latter remaining silent.

Once they reached the receiving area, Count D pulled out the parchment contract especially made for the Chinese fox's purchaser. "Aside from payment which I would collect next week, the pet shop requires your agreement to these three terms. Once one of the agreements is broken, the pet shop will not be responsible for any consequences that may arise."

Looking sideways, the attorney's honey-colored eyes met the pet's dark brown eyes.

The Chinese fox's gentle face brightened, as she alluringly smiled. Her mesmerizing eyes sparkled, as she gazed back at her new master.

The attorney then glanced back at the proprietor and nodded. "I understand, Count. If I break one of the agreements, I'm on my own."

"There are three terms to this agreement. First, never show the Chinese fox to anyone. Second, keep this incense lit in the room she will be sleeping in at all times. Third, never show any form of aggression towards it."

After shuddering from hearing the last term of the agreement, the customer nodded once more. He then placed his initials beside every term, and signed the contract. He also did the same for the copy. After reviewing the documents once more, he handed the parchment back to Count D.

Confirming that everything is in its place, Count D handed Miles Horryce the other parchment for the latter's records. "The Chinese fox is now yours, Esquire. I will be dropping by once a week to provide you with incense. Handle her with care, and may luck be with you."

"I don't believe in luck, Count, but thanks anyway." The attorney then began walking out of the store with the antique incense container and the Chinese fox in tow.

The proprietor then sat down on his favorite chair to resume his teatime, as Q-chan flapped its bat-like wings inside its cage.

As the oriental chime rang once more, now marking the client's departure, Count D mused while sipping his tea, "The Chinese fox is not an easy pet, Esquire. It seems that you have caught her fancy. May luck fall upon you, for your sake..."

End Chapter One

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Pet Shop of Horrors does not belong to me, but this fanfic does.

Many thanks to my good friend and fellow Pet Shop of Horrors and Yu-Gi-Oh fangirl, Bonasi-chan, for beta-reading this story and for everything else.

I am also dedicating this story to another set of good friends - Fuzzy Angel, SetoKaiba419, Umi Megami or Sweet Hikari, SerenaArythusa, Ary's OC - Chance, Wes Sennin, FuzzyFanficFreak, as well as everyone who I have amiably crossed paths with in the fanfic or LJ world.

You guys rock!

Luv lots, my dear friends ;-D