Chapter Thirty-Six

Willow heard a knock on the hotel door. He looked at his computers he had set up, then at the door. "Eh... Hello?" He called. There was only another knock. He sighed. "I guess they should be OK for a couple seconds." He muttered, getting up from the computer chair. He opened the door, expecting to see room service or something.

Instead, light blue cat with dazzling red hair stood in the doorway. She wore expensive-looking robes, delicate gloves, and a golden ringlet on her head. "Er, hello?" She greeted with a velvety voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was in this room.. Actually, I'm a little lost. Can you help me, please?"

Willow blinked. "Oh, sure. I understand, this hotel is like a jungle. Just let me... do something real quick." He rushed back in, turning towards the T.V. room. "Simon!" He snapped at the panda, who was lounging on the couch, watching T.V. "What are you doing?"

"Watching T.V?" Simon tried to peer around Willow, who was standing in front of the T.V.

"Well, stop." Willow unplugged the Television. "I need you to watch the computers and find me if something comes up. Don't touch anything."

"Where are you going?" Simon sat up.

"I'm helping someone, real quick." Willow walked back to the door.

"Who?" Simon frowned, following him to the door.

Willow opened the door and heard a slight noise from Simon that sounded like a puppy. "I'll be back." Willow stepped out.

As the door slowly closed, Willow could hear Simon still talking to him. "O-OK. You, uh... do that, Will. I'll... Hey, my name is Simo-"

Willow closed the door quickly before Simon could continue.

"Is he going to be OK?" The cat asked curiously.

"Him? Yeah, he'll be fine. He's... not quite right in the head, you know? Like a little kid. His first cousin has gone to custody numerous times for nasty things. I fear it's rubbed off on him." Willow sighed. "Enough about that moron; What is it you need?"

"Oh, I just can't seem to find my room." The girl looked embarrassed.

"What number is it?" Willow shoved his hands in his pockets.

The girl laughed a little. "It's, uh.. It's number six-six-six... How odd, hm?"

"Quite. I thought you were stuttering for a minute, there." Willow laughed. "Alright, the floor we're on has rooms five-hundred to six-hundred. We need the floor above us."

The girl laughed. "Tell me, Willow. What does my perfume smell like to you? I've haven't quite figured out the scent, yet." She held a hand out to Willow.

Willow frowned and hesitantly sniffed the silky glove on her hands. "It almost smells like... Mumzies and Marigolds."

"I thought so, too." She smiled.

Willow started to smile, but felt the muscles in his face falter.

"What's wrong?" The woman's smile widened. "Feeling.. light headed? Weak?" She watched as Willow swooned, then fell to his knees.

The girl bent over. "There's no need to kneel at my feet, Willow."

"How do you know my name...?" Willow managed to hiss before collapsing.

Willow woke, blinking a haze from his sleep. He was in a black room with a single fluorescent light shining onto him. His hands were bound behind him, tied to the plastic chair he was sitting on. He coughed. "Hello?"

"Oh! Goody. You're awake..." A familiar voice made his ears twitch.

"What did you do to me?" Willow growled, looking around for the cat.

"I feel insulted..." The girl walked out of the shadows of the room, though it seemed impossible to hide in the thin darkness. "I wouldn't harm a hair on your little head."

"Who are you?"

The girl smiled sweetly. "I'm Virgo. Virgo the Cat." She seemed to summon a feathered arrow from thin air. The arrow left a slight image of it's self as she twirled it around her fingers. It appeared as though it was made of mist. "And you're Willow the Panther. A smart little bloke, aren't you?"

Willow watched her intense, purple eyes. "What do you want from me?"

"Huh?"

"You must be new to hostage taking. The average hostage-taker uses their hostages for something. Always. No exceptions. So what do you want?" He sighed. Was he really explaining this? "Otherwise, you would have killed me."

Virgo blinked. "My, aren't you blunt?"

"Just tell me what you want, you dumb bitch." Willow spat.

Virgo narrowed her eyes. In a flash, the arrow had whistled past Willow's neck, tearing the collar of his shirt. The arrow stuck into the plastic, then began to evaporate, melting the plastic.

Willow just sat, paralyzed with fear, knowing how close to death he just was.

"You know," Virgo growled, the sweetness gone from her voice. "I think I will have a little fun. I was going to just leave you here for your friends to find you... But, you know what?" She stalked towards Willow, like a cat hunting it's mouse. "I have about twenty minutes. I think that's enough time for me to have a little time with you."

She used her index finger and thumb to lift Willow's chin. "You're just cute enough to gobble up, now, aren't you?"

"Don't touch me."

"You don't want to play a little game with me?"

"Unless it's a game of Scrabble, then no."

"Maybe it's time you've learned a new game." Her smile was captivating. "One that doesn't need a board and tiles of letters."

"Get away from me." Willow growled.

Virgo blinked. "You're really an odd little kitty, aren't you?"

"Get your hands off me."

She stared at him for a minute. "Are you gay?"

Willow's eyes widened and his ears burned. "W-What?"

"I'm usually quite good a seducing people, especially those I've just met."

"N-no! I just have the mental capacity to push past it!"

"Whatever, kitty." She glanced at her wrist. "Look, I'll just go early."

"Fine! Get away from me, you bloody harlot!"

She just waved as she walked off, out of the room, closing the metal door behind her.

[here]

Virgo entered the large building that throbbed with music. Looks as if their little guests hadn't shown up, yet. How uncannily late they are.

As soon as she entered the elevator, she felt the space she was in grow cold. "Hello, Bonnie." Virgo greeted dryly. "I assume you have news.

Bonnie, a tall rabbit with long gray and red ears and straight brown hair that covered her eyes, nodded. Shadows whipped around her, then died as the teleportation wore off. "Mortuus wants you to go to the upper floors. He believes that's were they will go to escape."

"Fine."

There was silence. Then Bonnie spoke. "Is Katherine really going to be there?"

"If all goes according to plan, yes."

"And if not?"

The elevator stopped and Virgo got ready to leave. "Then I owe you one."

Bonnie followed her out of the elevator. Virgo continued to speak. "Do me a favor, will you? When you see Mortuus, tell him one of Katherine's little idiots are flying around outside."

"Yes, Mistress." Bonnie stopped. "We'll meet you within the hour." She said before she was enveloped by the shadows.