Hey guys! I just want to say thank you for the reviews and the follows! They really make my day!
Guest: I am so glad you liked it! :)
DoubleDimension: Haha yeah chopsticks aren't too bad once you get used to them. It took me a while to learn, and I'm full Chinese too!
M. Marvin N. Nancy: Thank you! Here it is! :)
Connie rose: Haha yeah now I can imagine him finding out that it is duck, then shoveling it all into his mouth, yelling, "I ate you, you bloodsucking beast! How's that for revenge?!" And thank you!
Guest: Me too! He's so adorable!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters. I don't even own the entire plot. Some of it was mentioned in the actual book.
A Church Cat: Church is a very smart cat. And very observant, too. However. For some reason, he doesn't like Will too much. This is the story of his first day in the Institute, after being saved from the Dark Sisters.
This story was requested by mezzogal. Thank you for all your ideas!
A Church Cat
"Please, Charlotte?" Jem urged, "They were going to sacrifice him. Can we please keep him?"
Charlotte looked up at the tall, slender, asian seeming boy in front of her. Though he still got sick sometimes, right now he acted as if he were a little boy, begging for a snack, or a toy, or something.
A snack or a toy, she easily would have given. A cat, not so much. Jem didn't ask for anything often, and when he did, no matter what it was, she never had the willpower to say no.
This was different. He wasn't asking for a new blade, or permission for something. He wanted to keep a cat that had belonged to the women who had kidnapped Tessa. Was this really a good idea?
"Jem," she started to say, unsure of what would come out of her mouth next, "How do we know that the cat isn't dangerous? It could be a spy for Mortmain."
Jem looked puzzled, "He was locked in a cage in a dark room and there were books on how to sacrifice a cat.
Charlotte was about to say something, but them Will bust into the room, "Jem! Do you want to-Oh. You're still trying to convince Charlotte to keep the cat, are you?"
"Yes. She thinks the cat may be dangerous," Jem replied, holding the cat to his chest. The cat meowed, and rubbed his head against Jem's collarbone.
"He may very well be," Will remarked, "He tried to scratch me when I petted him. I don't know why he likes you so much."
"I don't know. Charlotte, may we, please, keep him? He reminds me of myself. We were both tortured, in a way." Jem pleaded.
Charlotte, who had been trying to keep a straight face, and not give in, visibly softened a little after Jem said that, "Well, Jem. Since he means that much to you, I guess you may keep him. But rememeber, you are responsible for him."
Jem grinned widely, "Thank you Charlotte! What should we name him?"
Charlotte thought for a moment, "I have heard that it is good luck to keep a cat in a church. We should name him Church."
"Yes, that is a great idea," Jem beamed, as he and Will exited the room, "Thank you again, Charlotte, for letting me keep Church!"
Charlotte smiled softly, as the boys went down the hall. She supposed she should check on Tessa, and she began walking to the infirmary. Jem was such a sweet boy, she thought. We are so lucky he is with us. Will is more humane around him.
She entered the infirmary and went over to the sleeping girl on the bed. She took her pulse, then just sat down on the bed, pressing a cool compress to the girl's head.
Jem and Will entered the training room, Jem still carrying Church.
"Well, you got your cat. Are you happy?" Will said, picking up a dagger from the table. He stood in position and took aim. He missed horribly, missing the entire target. He grumbled as he walked to pull it out of the wall.
"Do you need a demonstration?" Jem asked kindly, though already guessing what the answer would be. Will was always stubborn.
"Well. Sure," Will replied, and Jem just stood there, extremely surprised that Will had accepted help. Will glanced back behind him at Jem, "Are you going to show me?"
"Oh. Yes, or course. Here, hold Church," Jem placed Church in Will's arms, and took the dagger.
He turned around, let his mind relax, ignored Will's muttering to himself, and let the dagger fly. It struck the middle of the target, and he looked back at Will in triumph.
What he saw when he turned around was nothing like he had expected. Will was holding the cat in his hands as far away from him as possible. Upon closer inspection, Jem realized that Will's chest was scratched up and bleeding, as were his arms.
"By the Angel, Will. What happened?" Jem asked, taking out his stele and drawing an iratze on Will's collarbone.
"It's your devil cat. He attacked me. I was just holding him, and suddenly he starts scratching at me.
It's your fault, Church thought, I only like the silver boy, Jem. The brown haired girl is okay too. But you, Will, I do not like you.
"Maybe he's not used to you yet," Jem said, watching the scratches heal on Will's neck, "Though he never did that to me."
Jem took Church from Will and Church immediately curled up into Jem's arms.
You are my friend. You saved me. Will did not. I do not like Will.
Suddenly, Charlotte burst through the doors, and announced, "Tessa has woken up. She is conscious and talking."
Will's eyes lit up as he followed Charlotte to the infirmary, eager to see the girl who had hit him with a water jug. She was special, he knew. Jem, on the other hand, began to feel tired, and took to his room to rest, knowing that he would eventually meet the girl.
Later at night, Church was back with Jem in his room, listening to the sweet melodious tunes coming from the violin.
I like this place, Jem. The people, not as much, but this place is my new home. I explored all day. They have good food for supper.
Jem's bedroom door opened slightly, and a figure peered inside. Church recognized the brown haired girl from his last home as she walked into the dim room.
"Will, Will is that you?" Jem asked, not turning around.
Silly boy. That is a girl. And a pretty one at that. Turn around.
"You're not Will," Jem said, turning around, taking in the sight of Tessa standing in the doorway. He took in her beauty, and stood up to introduce himself, his eyes shining with a healthy glow, and a smile on his face, though he had been feeling poorly just a little while ago.
Is it not obvious, thought Church, watching Jem, for he had also watched Will at supper, that you and Will are in love with the same girl?
I hope you liked it! Please review! And if you'd like to see anything specific on future stories, please let me know. I'm open for anything.
