Chapter Three

~ One Days Earlier ~


~ Here's the update. I finished it late today, so sorry for any grammatical issues. I didn't have time to Proof-read before posting it, so please forgive that aspect. ~


Kate studied her surroundings.

Only one restaurant, oddly, west of Werhli. Definitely odd.

Kate first studied the floor – limestone tiles – then examined the rest of the place in general. The benches were the same wood and stain as the table, oak, with a red table cloth covering. Old fashion lanterns rested in the middle of each table.

Smooth Jazz music highlighted the background; a low hanging ceiling, and white walls completed its description. It definitely set off that mom and pops store vibe. Even the lighting was enough to reapply your make-up, if you so chose.

Kate had no idea who she was waiting for. She looked left. She looked right . . . Nothing. Was he even there?

It was positively a male voice on the other end of the phone.

Kate sighed tentatively. Just then, a waitress hurried over to Kate. She showcased a poster-case smile, broad ridged nose, and thin blonde hair.

"Hey there, Ma'am; you're name wouldn't happen to be Kate Daniels, would it?" she spoke with a southern accent, and Kate had to keep herself from looking around for a camera; she was in an alternate dimension.

Low-key and homey, the establishment definitely seemed right out of a Western TV show.

"It would," Kate replied, mentally kicking herself for using the fake accent she had that moment adapted.

"Good, good; cuz' there's this real freaky dude in a corner booth – he requested you. Should I tell him anything?" The waitress shifted her weight to the other side as she waited to be answered.

"No, I'll tell him personally."

"Suit yourself, deary, but if I were you I'd not mess with his type, if you catch my drift."

Of course, a nosey waitress. Just her luck.

"Cousins, actually. Thanks for the advice, though," Kate smiled, then went where the waitress directed her.

She didn't know what she had expected, but it definitely wasn't this.

The man who watching Kate with keen eyes was on the pudgy side, with short-cropped greasy blonde-hair. Kate first thought he was eating, but his cheeks were naturally that puffed out. A double chin hung low, and his thick lips creeped Kate the hell out. Emerald eyes, large, abnormally so, ears – and a nose which looked to small for the man.

He wore a plaid shirt over a plain T-shirt, with jeans around his waist. They looked like they were cutting off his circulation.

"Kate Daniels, a pleasure," recited this irregular character. He spoke with a Now Yorker accent, though from the look of him, Kate would've thought slightly German.

"Something like that." Kate sat down opposite him, her head resting in her hands, sluggishly waiting for him to start.

"You must be wondering why I've been so mysterious?"

"Not really, no. This happens quite often, believe it or not"

"Oh . . ." The poor man looked hurt. Kate didn't care, she just wanted to know what was going on.

"Do you have a name?" Kate asked.

"Laverne, by all accounts. My parents decided to name me after the pastor of our church. I must say I quite enjoy the name."

This gave Kate two facts. One – Laverne told terrible, long, and unexciting stories which could've been told out-right. Second – this man was named Laverne. Coincidence? She didn't believe in them.

"Why am I here?"

"In order for me to see you, to hear you, to know you. You, my dear Kate, are an interesting specimen. You've caught the Beast Lords eye, you've slain countless evils; you live a life I want to know about. Who raised you? Where did you get your skill? How old were you? Do you have an ultimate quest? These are all questions I have to have answered," huffed Laverne, "I want to know what makes you tick."

"Why?"

"You are still doubtful, my dear Kate. Well, no matter. I only hope you will trust me enough eventually to tell me your story. But, to why you are here. That, is the golden question, is it not?"

Kate tired of his dramatics almost as fast as jeggings flew out the window.

"I suppose . . ." she replied.

"Well, dearest Kate," he started, slicking back his hair with the swipe of some spittle, "I brought you here, because I do not want you hurt. If you are hurt – well, I hardly think I could come to grasps with myself. Someone so unique and intriguing. It would shame me to harm something as futuristic as yourself."

"Futuristic? Care to elaborate?"

"There's something that's going to happen, very, very soon. I want to change the hierarchy of the Pack." Kate really couldn't believe here ears. She never dreamt, thought, day-dreamed any Pack member demanding a change in Law. They took what was handed them, because it was sanity. Without the Pack, they had no support, and eventually would give into Lyc-V, the drug which let them change.

"I want you to be our Queen, Kate . . ."

Kate, stunned, feebly drunk from the glass in front of her. She didn't care if it was drugged. She needed something – something to help her process of realization.

A Queen. Kate? A queen?

"No. I don't accept. You'll have to find someone else. I- I don-"

"Kate, please! Just listen. A Queen. That's all we ask you. To help us, to lead us as we erect a new government."

"You're not very smart, are you? As you said, I've caught Currens eye. What makes you feel like I'd give my services to you?"

"Curren, Shurren. Sure. Suurrrrreee . . . Anyway, I just wanted a way to Curren. You have definitely detested his Lordship in the past. Have you not?"

"Idiot."

Kate reached out, grabbing a hold of Laverne's throat. His pale flesh rippled beneath Kate's grasp. Folds of flesh firmly lodged themselves into Kate's hand.

Kate slapped the man across the head, before he got a word out.

"Lue! Ke-"

Three buff people, who had been minding their own minds the moment before, came over. One lunged headfirst at Kate, as the others tailed.

Of course. Of course he would, he'd be an idiot not to- He had back-up.

Kate quickly devised her plan, she didn't have much time.

She remembered what Voron had taught her – she remembered how Navy Seals worked this situation. Four individuals. Each a threat. No guns, thankfully. These were all things Kate took into account, They were all strong. They could beat here fastly.

Navy Seals . . . That was it, small places. United, they could tag team her, all at one a huge wall of flesh to consume her. But apart . . .

Kate acted.

Reaching for her water glass, Kate broke it over Laverne's head. That along with a swift punch to follow, clocked the pudgy man out. He was good as gone, for the moment. Three/four.

Kate skirted the man who lunged her way, grabbing the fork as she went. She wrenched the fork into his eye, and swung Slayer from it s sheath. She didn't care of the unfair advantage, she needed it.

With a swing of the hissing metal, she decapited him. Leaving the two dumbfounded men alive, behind him.

Kate knew surprise was gone. Two men had passed out of the fight within twenty seconds. They needed to be cautious.

Kate directed herself to the man on the left, and quickly sent herself at him.

Hissing metal made him avoid the strokes, but before long, the pair had shifted to their Ape forms. One, an Orangutan the other, a baboon.

An Orange freak, and a red hinded freak. Nice. The baboon jumped from table to table to get around Kate.

Kate, in turn, set her sights on the orangutan.

Shit. She had let the baboon get in a hit. A water glass shattered against Kates leather jacket.

Kate let adrenalin swing her along as she tracked the orangutan, who had grabbed a broom. He lunged it at Kate, and she avoided it. In a sift move, Slayer slid through the thin metal and plastic covering. He starred at it for a brief moment before it dawned on him. He had a pointy stick.

Now he came at Kate to impale her, being less cautious. He paid for his carelessness.

Kate slid forward, Slayers point facing outward. He impaled himself.

Ironic?

Grabbing a hold of the shaft, Kate turned around. Just in time. The Baboon jumped across the tabled, head for the door . . .

Kate launched the thing, like a javelin. A very unbalanced javelin.

It lodged itself in his chest, and Kate ran forward to finish the kill, Quick and simple. A clean cut to the neck, separating the jugular. Within thirty seconds, his blood had deposited itself on the ground.

Kate sighed, troubled on what next to do. Normally, she had the Order to cover her, but now . . .

"That was certainly interesting," said the waitress from before. Along with her were three cooks, and another waitress.

Kate didn't respond. She took yet another glass of water, and went to the booth.

There he was, unconscious as ever.

A little water . . .

Laverne reacted like a fish out of water, fluttering his arms around and kicking his legs. Kate used brute strength to stop his thrashing.

"I'm bringing you in, Laverne. Any last words?"

He looked angrily back at her, his eyes pure beads of hatred.

He spat at her face, then said "Fuck Curren . . ."

And again, he was asleep.

Kate looked sheepishly at the glass in her hand, the second glass broken against his forehead. And again, the slight remaining pain from a punch. She really couldn't let her emotions take over again.

Next stop, Jim . . .


Upon arrival, Kate was received with open arms. Kinda. Doolittle briefly examined him, and then he was handed off to Jim and his Crew for a questioning.

Kate didn't really care what happened to him. She didn't want to be Queen. But then again, she was. Just Curren's Queen, not Laverne's.

Nothing eventful happened until noon. Kate had been lounging in a living room of the Pack when Jim had come to talk.

"Their Martyr," he said angrily, his eyes bloodshot and only hinting at his true nature. Kate knew if he could, Jim would personally go into the field and deal with the Ape Clans himself, killing each one. But being the head of Security, he had to look out for Curren's welfare, not just his own.

"I thought of that." The three she had killed.

And that was all he said. He was too crazed to do more. He left, giving a brief muttering of words coming to I'll call you when needed,

And so that day went. Eventually, Kate went home to Grendal. He was happy. Possibly the only one.

Kate didn't do much else that day, just lingered around the phone, waiting to be included in the goings of events . . . Until the next morning at the least . . .


Does anyone read these? I'd really like to know. Otherwise I don't see much of a point for going on. I understand it's not written to its full potential, but I'd still like a quick blurb or two saying opinions.

~ Kalen Bloodstone ~