Alright, first story. Hope you like it. No, this is not Billy/Machiavelli. Please Review!
Machiavelli avoided eye contact with the huge beast that loomed above him. Instead he scanned the room and his gaze rested on Billy who lay unconscious on the stone ground by the opposite wall. Machiavelli sighed, he wondered why it was that this always happened to them, but the answer was clear. He stood slowly and brushed the dirt off his silky black suit. He cleared his throat,
"To what do we owe the honor of meeting you face-to-face?" he said politely to the large feline creature, which was glaring at him menacingly. It paused for a moment, snarled, and then retracted its claws and began to circle Machiavelli who continued to stare straight ahead of him, every muscle in his body tense.
"A gentleman," the cat hissed. "How nice to see that one of you has manners." Machiavelli groaned inwardly, for it had been Billy's big mouth that had gotten them in trouble, again. He remained silent not wishing to displease his already angered host.
"Maybe . . . I will cut out his tongue, and then force it down his throat as a reminder of his imprudence," the cat's laugh was chilling and it echoed eerily off the walls. The smell of snake filled the chamber as Machiavelli's anger rose, but he remained still because he knew better.
"Intelligent and disciplined too," he flinched at the hissing in his ear, but it went unnoticed. On the other side of the room Billy began to stir. Machiavelli felt trapped, which was true, but he didn't mean literally. If Billy woke up their chances of getting out on wit alone would lessen dramatically. He wasn't sure what he should do for his next move. He decided that his best bet would be to keep the cat occupied while Billy formulated a plan to get them out. Sadly this would only work if Billy could kept quiet, for Machiavelli would need all eyes on him.
Billy groaned and tried to sit up, his head aching. He blinked, and took in his surroundings. He was in a dimly lit stone cavern, and it seemed as though there were no exit. He peered across the room to what he thought was Machiavelli, and a large cat with 6-inch claws and fangs to match. The cat had matted black fur and clumps of it stuck up on her back. A flame red tail flicked back and forth anxiously. He blinked again, and rubbed his eyes, but they were still there. He remembered talking with Machiavelli about a way to avoid Aten and Quetzalcoatl. After their recent choices they had doubted they would get another second chance. They had found a cloaking spell, but the ingredients had been far from common.
The name of the creature pacing before Machiavelli suddenly popped into Billy's mind. Mawpatusc, of course. Mawpatusc was a Wampus cat, some mythological creature that was actually real. Machiavelli had told him the story, but Billy would have to have him repeat it later. He had scoffed when Machiavelli told him the name, but supposedly they required one of her fangs for the spell. The memories were flowing faster now, and Billy could recall entering the cave and then coming face-to-face with the huge beast. Her face was flat and scarred, and her jaw hung slightly open revealing the jagged fangs that could help get Machiavelli and Billy off the grid, at least for the time being. Her eyes bored into them, glowing red with black slits for pupils. Machiavelli had tried to warn him but the words had come out anyway.
"Boy . . . it's no wonder you live in a cave." He'd had no time to react before the huge paw struck out and connected with the side of his skull. Until now he wasn't sure how Machiavelli had fared.