Alith swung her legs over the edge of the bed; the carpet was soft under her bare feet. The maid's loud and unannounced entrance woke her too early for comfort.

''Sleep good miss? I bring you tea to warm you'' The woman wore plain black dress with a high neckline and matching flat shoes. Her dry brown hair was tied in the usual neat bun at the top of her head, but this time Alith noticed today shed been careless and let a few strands fall here and there.

Lazily, Alith padded over to the silver tray of expensive tea to stand beside the fumbling maid. Her hands gripped the woman's head firmly only to smash her weak skull into the Wedgewood. Blood spurted everywhere like syrup. The sight made her pupils dilate.

Sipping the tea she wrinkled her nose. Arsenic…A sigh escaped her lips. Of course… Such a poison would only give hera little heart burn; maybe get her a little high.

''Stupid cunt..'' She took another slow mouthful and with a simple flick of the wrist the body was banished; only the blood pools remained. Alith always knew mundane had soft heads.

A bulky ball of grey fuzz trotted into the room and threw itself at her feet. A pale pink letter between its sharp teeth.

''Good morning my love! Do you have something for me?'' Alith mused, bundling the cat into her arms and pinching the letter from its jaws. It purred in response as she plopped onto the chair and scratched the top of his head, brown muggy eyes turning to small slits of ecstasy.

Tearing the letter open with her teeth, she read aloud:

My dear Alith

I have been so cruel not to have written to you sooner, but I've been so preoccupied these past few centuries. I trust you are well and that time has been kind to you, hopefully this letter has reached you in time. My Archer has sadly left me recently and it is difficult to get things done without him. It would please me immensely if you would come visit me in America; after all it has been so long since we last spoke and I have a few issues involving Magnus. Once you arrive in New York one of my servants shall take you to me. Arrive at dusk tomorrow. And please refrain from bringing your beloved cat Lauri, the last time he tried to devour my tableware!

Magnus…? Her gaze travelled towards her cat, who'd gotten tired of reading letters and much more interested in lapping up the blood on the floor. She giggled affectionately at his taste for blood. Wherever he got it from was a mystery to her. Did Magnus fuck up? She continued:

Je t'embrasse

Camille Belcourt

Her grin stretched from ear to ear. She'd been summoned. But what for? Camille knew very well to mention Magnus in the letter, otherwise she might have declined. It sounded like an interesting expedition, and the thought of seeing Magnus again sent chills of anxiety down her spine. And she loved it.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed what looked like the corner of a plane ticket sticking out of the envelope. Camille had actually thought this through. Snatching a nearby hat she placed it on her head. The cat looked confused. Or irritated, his distorted face always made him look between the two.

''It's my thinking hat, don't judge.''

He narrowed his eyes as if to say 'where's my hat bitch?' so she snapped her fingers and gave him one. It was a tiny top hat, and it was adorable.