Chapter XI

I quieted my child's sobs and put her to bed. For once she did not object to an early bedtime. With shaking hands I set to put things to right as much as I could. Chairs and table were overturned. Our sole couch had been slashed through the cushions. The lamps and knickknacks lay scattered about. The place looked liked a war zone.

God, I was tired and something else. In my Victorian years it would have been "disconsolate" but now it was frustrated … and pissed. How dare they?

They had come through the small window. It would have been too much of a tight fit for a human so it had to have been a demon. Probably someone from the bar in which I'd won the loot.

Bloody f***ing hell. I had twenty-two dollars in my pocket and nothing else. There were also bills to be paid. Rent was due in ten days and I hadn't purchased any of the things in my girl's list. The situation was grim.

After cleaning up, I considered my options. I could try to get my money back but what where the chances really? The demon world can be very tough to maneuver through. Getting answers would be next to impossible. But I wasn't one to avoid a challenge specially when so much was at stake.

I spent the next two nights skulking around the local bars trying to catch a clue as to who would have dared to mess with me in such a way. Even with my self-imposed restrictions I still had a pretty impressive reputation. Whoever had done this had to be very brave or very stupid.

Summer had taken it hard. She was afraid and uncertain about everything. I ended up having to pull my mattress to her room just so that my presence would calm her down enough for sleep. Just for that I wanted to break the wanker's neck.

On my third night out I learned that the thieves were a gang of Ladronn demons that were establishing their dominance in these parts. They were gathering funds for this purpose. Never one for subtlety, I chose to confront them in the seedy bar that they favored.

Ladronn demons are rather small in size. This gives them the dexterity and speed that few others can match. Their skin in lizard-like in texture and this makes the buggers slippery and hard to catch. They were the perfect thieves and escape artists. Needless to say I was in for an interesting time.

I decided to play the Big Bad for all its worth and strutted to the Ladronn's territory like I owned the place. The demons were in the process of bartering their most recent loot for cash with a Marl demon. There was a good chance that this very gang had taken my money so I headed towards them. The Ladronn's leader apparent gave me a cold, reptilian look but I stood my ground. One of the smaller Ladronn turned towards the leader and whispered something in what passed for an ear among their kind. The chief responded with a loud warning hiss that I summarily ignored.

"Say mates, you wouldn't happen to know whatever happened to the seven grand I had under my mattress. Would'ya?"

They all lunged at me at the same time. I was lashed by a couple of heavy, scaly tails. I managed to dodge another. My game face emerged and I used my fist and fangs to take two down. The leader stood apart from the action. It was almost as if he was sizing me up. The slippery little wankers were proving hard to kill and I was growing weary but did not let my guard down.

I break a lizard's tail. He yelps in pain and what must have been a relative take a swipe at me. Its claws slash at my chest and my T-shirt is in threads. I roar and punch at his face. There is a loud hiss and the Ladronns pull back. I come face to face with the leader.

The lizard-in-charge is larger than his drones. He's got a mean face and is wearing a large silver charm around his neck. His blue tongue slides out in a menacing gesture. I take the offensive stance and punch the reptilian face. The Ladronn staggers back but manages to catch himself before falling. Using the momentum, he hurls his weight at me and we both tumble to the floor. The lizard is now fighting on all fours and his tail swipes at me continuously. I avoid it until another Ladronn distracts me and my opponent swings at my torso and breaks my ribs. The pain is intense and I can feel bone splinters rupturing my lung. It hurts to breathe so I stop but I am weakened. The Ladronn intensifies his attack until my legs can no longer hold me and I lose consciousness.

When I finally come to, I am grateful for two things. First of all for not being staked. God only knows what would happen to Summer if I were. Secondly, it was still dark otherwise I would have burned in the alley that they'd thrown me in. I used my remaining strength to get to my feet. My ribs were really painful and I had to move carefully and use the wall for leverage.

I wondered how late it was but when I went to check my watch, I found that it was no longer there. The Ladronns had decided to add insult to injury. I promised myself that I would get them in the future. Now I had to concentrate in getting back home. As I slowly made my way out of the alley I heard a very soft noise. I raise my guard and hoped that it wasn't a Ladronn or some other hostile beastie because I doubted that I could take on anyone at the moment.

The sound was coming from behind piles of old cardboard boxes. I went to investigate and found myself looking down at a more pitiful creature than me at the moment. The tiny gray feline was soaked and shivering. His mews conveyed his misery at finding himself alone in such a dark place. He was likely to be an escapee of the ever-popular kitten poker. I stood before it and tried to decide if it was worth eating for a quick pick-me-up. While I was still pondering this it moved towards me and pawed at my shoe. I bent painfully and grabbed it by the scruff of his neck. He meowed loudly in complaint and I switched to my game face intent on a much-needed snack. As I went for the creature's throat, I caught a glimpse of its eyes. They were the same hazel shade as my bit's. I found that fitting since sometimes my girl reminded me of a obstinate kitten who wanted to be independent and always get its own way.

Summer could benefit from having a pet. It would give her something to focus on and keep her out of mischief. She still hinted that she wanted a dog but those were high maintenance and required walks at all hours of the day. A cat would be more compliant. I tucked the kitty into my inner pocket and continued on my way home.

Thankfully my girl was asleep when I finally arrived. I tried paying the sitter but she said to call it a Christmas present knowing that I had been robbed. She approved of the kitty and went home to celebrate. Tonight was Christmas Eve.

I placed the kitty underneath our Christmas bush (it was too small to be called a real tree). Summer had decorated it with tinsel and popcorn strands. It wasn't much but it made her happy. I went into my chest and took out one of Dru's hair ribbons. I would tie it to the cat's neck after I gave it a much-needed bath. When I finished the task I fed the little critter a bit of break soaked in milk which he ate heartily. I was really tired by now so I placed the cat into open lidded box and went to bed.

A few hours later Christmas is here. I dragged my mending body to the kitchen to begin breakfast and check on the feline. It is still in kitty dreamland, which was ideal since my girl suddenly appeared in the room all-eager for her presents.

I gave her a Christmas hug and kiss. She was still at that stage in which she appreciated physical contact from her primary caregiver. It wasn't embarrassing yet.

"Merry Christmas luv" I said softly.

"Merry Christmas Spike. Did Santa come?" she asked.

I nodded and pointed towards the cardboard box. Summer went for it immediately. It was love at first sight since the cat started meowing loudly as soon as he saw her. She picked him up and it cuddled on her chest.

"Spike look. I got a kitten"

I did my best to act surprised. The cat caught on and acted as if he'd never seen me before in any of his nine lives. It also looked very hungry so I knew that part of my $22 would go towards cat food and litter. Sorry pal it would be the generic brand for you and for us for awhile.

Summer played with her new pet all morning. Around noon there was a knock at the door and I went to answer it. I opened the door to find a deliveryman bearing a large gift box. It was addressed to my bit. I signed for it and gave the deliveryman a couple of bucks. I placed the box on the table and motioned for my girl to stand back.

"What's that?"

"I won't know until I open it" I said as I tore at the wrapper. The red foil was stripped away to reveal a deluxe Barbie townhouse complete with a porch and a pink corvette in the garage.

Summer squealed her pleasure and surprise at such a gift. "Is that for me?"

"Well, its not for me bit. It's just that it doesn't say who sent it"

"I know who sent it" she said confidently.

"Who?"

"Santa Claus"

I watched her as she played with her kitten and her dollhouse. She'd had a pretty good Christmas after all. Still, I could not help but wonder who our good Samaritan was and what were his/her intentions. Experience had made me doubt even what seemed like a good thing. We would see.

TBC

Author's note: Santa? 'fraid not. It's something a little more mundane but that will eventually threaten the little family. Spike will be forced to make a choice that may break his undead heart forever

Please R&R Happy Holidays. Love to all and to all a good night.