Treachery from Above

Athos sat in the darkness, staring into his wine glass in silence. The fire illuminated the right side of his face. It had been exactly one month since he had his wife hanged for the murder of his brother. The log fire crackled. Raymond, his servant, entered the lonely room. Athos did not shift from his enormous armchair.

'Do you require anything, my Lord?' Raymond asked. He did not get a reply, 'My Lord?'

Athos growled but, did not respond. Raymond scuttled over to tend the fire, ignoring his melancholy master. He grew increasing concerned for Athos, but there was little he could do. 'I will return with supper in a few moments,' Raymond said softly and took his leave. Athos mumbled something disapproving, yet remained static.

Catherine stood in the corridor. She grew tired of Athos 's misery. He was being selfish. He should marry her and get over himself. Anne and Thomas's death was god's way of putting right the natural order of things. Athos had to see that . He had to understand that! She sighed, fixed her dress and pushed open the heavy door leading to Athos's chamber of gloom.

She approached Athos with confidence, 'Stop sulking, you insufferable fool! Look at me! I said LOOK AT ME!' She grabbed his arm and shook it. Athos stirred a little, blinked and looked up to see Catherine's angry face glaring at him. A confused frown formed on his face.

'Catherine? Em… you… why are you still here?' Athos asked meekly.

'I am here to discuss my future title, I mean, ahem, our future together.'

'What future? Why are you here?'

'Ugh. You drunk fool! With your idiot brother out of the way, your tramp dead, we are to be married as your father intended .'

'I em…' Athos gagged a little, ' there is no future for you here… I have no future. I am not your future. Leave me be.'

Catherine scowled , ' You are beyond selfish, you…' Suddenly, Raymond returned with supper as promised. As he opened the door, a mangy looking black cat rushed passed, almost tripping Catherine up as it ran towards Athos. Catherine scolded, 'What is with you and strays?!' The cat, named Cathos, pounced on Athos's armchair, climbed up his arm, and settled upon his head. Raymond places the food tray on a small table and quietly left once more. Catherine was not impressed by the disruption, but took the time to rethink her strategy.

'Athos,' she said softly and moved her face closer to his. She stared at his lips. This was the perfect moment. Cathos growled. Catherine ignored at her own peril. Athos pulled away, but Catherine kept advancing. Sensing Athos's discomfort, Cathos lashed out with his sharp claws striking Catherine across the cheek. She grimaced and placed her hand on the site of the impact as she pulled away , 'Ugh! That thing is diseased! Why do you keep such a foul creature!' She slapped Athos across the face and stormed out. Athos blinked once more and remained silent in the darkness.

Two weeks later

Catherine's carriage pulled up outside a large manor house. It looked significantly better kept than that of Athos. Catherine had since given up on marriage to Athos. A better prospect had presented itself. As the servants opened the carriage door, she fixed her golden dress and stepped out of the carriage. She smiled as the fresh country air hit her face.

'Catherine! How lovely to see You!' a voice said from behind the carriage.

'My dear Comte de Rochefort! You startled me,' Catherine replied.

'Come, come sit with me,' Rochefort pointed to a garden seat overlooking a beautiful flawless lawn. Catherine obliged. She wasted no time getting to the point, a quality Rochefort admired.

'Rochefort…'

'Please, please call me Gabriele.'

'Umm,' Catherine smiled, ' I have come here with a marriage proposal. I believe we are perfectly suited. The union of our two families would be…'

'CATHERINE! Let me stop you right there,' Rochefort panicked, 'You are a fine woman, and I am deeply flattered, but…'

'Oh don't say but, I have desired to marry you all my life. There has never been another! I swear to You!'

'I'm sorry. You are a great woman, but not for me. I… I have promised myself to another. He, ahem, she and I will be together soon…'

'Hmmm. So the rumours are true… you and that Spanish whore!' She stood up and called her carriage men.

'it is not like that… Catherine! Please!'

'You have wasted enough of my time. I am done with you men!' Catherine stepped onto the carriage and slammed the door shut.

'Catherine, I must ask, before you leave, by chance have you seen a black cat? Marie lost it when she let it loose one day. She is very upset by it.'

'My god! That is all you can say? You dare to mention her name! I curse you Rochefort! And that damn cat!'

At Athos's manor

Raymond was at war with Cathos. The cat had taken over the pantry. The kitchen was a no go area. Cathos caused chaos and terror throughout the house and demanded fresh meat under pain of a claw in the face. A young kitchen maid who previously challenged the cat had recently gone missing. Raymond had raised the issue with Athos, though he was still too lost in misery to care. Raymond had made up his mind. Today was the day the cat would go. He took a sledgehammer, closee his eyes, prayed to God, and entered to pantry.

Three days later

Athos woke feeling fresh. He had decided to venture out into the village. He was hungry, more importantly, he wanted wine. For some reason Raymond had not brought him anything the last few days. The servant had threatened to leave several times recently, so Athos decided that his faithful old servant had finally made good on his word. Athos half heartedly washed himself, dressed himself. He was sober today for the first time in ages. He didn't like it. There was a scratching sound at the bedroom door. Athos knew that sound and came to enjoy it. He opened the door, 'Cathos! My darling! Come, today we go to the tavern.' The cat clawed its way up Athos's leg, and perched on his head once more. Athos smiled, 'Where would I be without you. You will never betray me.'