Chapter 3:

The Cat Lair

The streets were foggy as Isis entered the city of Gotham. Was this possibly a path to a better life, or just another rocky trail? Isis didn't know it at the time, but the moment she entered Gotham City, her whole life would be changed.

The eeriness of the misty streets was making Isis quite frightened and she was even getting a little paranoid. She had heard a lot about the things that often happened in Gotham City in the news. Lots of freaks lived there. And knowing that some mysterious man was out to get her didn't make her anymore comfortable. Isis held Felix tight, hoping that it might make her feel more protected.

Isis was beginning to feel less paranoid at this point, not jumping at every little sound. She began to feel comfortable knowing that she was almost to her Grandma Kyles' old place.

When she arrived, she saw in front of her and older, kind of worn out building. Isis checked the address in a little book she was carrying in her huge bag. Yep, guess this is it. She let out a slight unsatisfied sigh. This place wasn't exactly like the building she saw in old pictures, but she figured it wouldn't after so many years.

Isis couldn't decide if she should knock or just walk on in. She bent down to let Felix jump down and to give her shoulder a rest from the incredibly heavy bag she had been carrying so long. She massaged her shoulder for a second. When she went to stand up, she noticed that there was already someone in the doorway, which gave Isis a little shock.

It was an older lady; almost as old as her Grandma had been. She had a slight red tint to her grayed-out hair and glasses covering her glassy eyes. She looked familiar to Isis but she couldn't quite figure out who it was yet.

The lady hugged her right away. Now Isis was very confused at this point, "I heard about what happened in the paper. I figured that you would be sent here."

Isis stuttered, "Ummm…uhhh…"

"I doubt that you could remember me. I only saw you once as a baby. They only way I could tell it was you now, was because…well…you look so much like Selina."

The only thing Isis could do at this point was stare intently at the old woman. She had so many questions at this point and didn't know exactly what to say.

"By the way, I'm Maven," the older woman informed, "I was your grandmother's assistant and best friend—aside from Isis--back in the day. Until she had to leave…"

"Ah yes, Isis. Grandma Kyles' favorite cat. The one I was named after?"

"Of course. Isis was a loyal cat," Maven sighed in remembrance, "I see you've found a little loyal one of your own. What is its name?"

"His name is Felix," Isis looked at Felix and smile, "He's a good cat."

"Well dear, come on inside and have a seat. You're soaked and I know you've been through a lot lately. I'll make you something warm to eat and we'll talk," said Maven as she led Isis inside.

"Thank you. That would be much appreciated."

The apartment was pretty small in size. Not like any regular apartment. It was about 3 stories high and looked pretty abandoned for the exception of a few rooms that were occupied. By this time, the place was more like a hotel that didn't get much business though, do to its location. This part of Gotham wasn't exactly the safest.

Maven walked Isis and Felix into a room on the second floor. This room was much bigger than all of the other rooms they had past on the way. It was obviously Maven's residence. Isis sat at the table and Felix jumped up onto her lap as Maven cooked up something on the stove, "You really don't have to do this for me. I'm really not that hungry."

"Oh don't be silly dear," the older lady protested, "I'm sure at least your cat must be," she pulled a carton of milk out of the refrigerator and pour some into a bowl. She laid the bowl on the floor and Felix jumped down from Isis' lap to retrieve the milk.

Isis licked her lips as she watched the cat lap the milk. Then she looked longingly at the carton Maven was still holding, "Do you think…I could have some milk?"

Maven giggled, "Well of course you can Isis," she poured Isis a glass and handed to her.

Isis practically drank the whole glass in one gulp. When finished, she sighed in satisfaction and wiped off her milk mustache, "Just like Selina," Maven mumbled to herself.

The three of them finished their dinner and Maven began to talk, "You know? Your Grandmother was a very powerful woman back in her day."

"Oh?" Isis sat at attention.

"Yes. She actually bought this place. Made the whole top floor her own and became the landlord of this apartment. At least until she left and gave the ownership papers to me."

"Hmmm…why did Grandma Kyles have to leave this place?" Isis questioned.

Maven scratched her head a little uneasy, as if she was trying to hide something, "Well…umm…you know… things happened and it was time to move on."

Isis could sense that Maven was trying to cover up something, "Yes, but what kind of 'things'?"

Maven tried to answer more calmly this time, "Well, Selina wasn't as powerful as she use to be and there was a shortage of money."

Isis gave the old woman a questioning stare but then accepted what she had just heard, "Okay."

Isis stood up to put her dishes in the sink but before she could Maven took the dishes from her, "Don't worry about that now. I'll take care of it. You've had a long night. It's time for you to get some rest. Follow me to your new home."

Isis picked up Felix and follow Maven to her 'new home'. In a way, that word gave her a little tingle inside.

They had reached the third floor. This is the room that had formerly been her grandmother's old home. It was very dark and dusty. All the furniture was covered with blankets and there was one section of the giant room with many boxes filled with who know what. Or at least Isis didn't know.

Maven pulled a sheet off what just happen to be a queen sized bed as dust flew everywhere, "Sorry that this place is such a mess. I haven't been up here in forever. But anyway, this is your bed. Once you're settled in I want you to get some shut eye. Okay?"

With that Isis replied, "Okay. I believe that's something I could use."

"See ya in the morning."

Isis watched as Maven left the room. When Mavis shut the door, Isis noticed a sign on the back of the door. It said 'The Cat Lair'. Isis liked the ring of how that sounded, "Well Felix, I guess this our new home… 'The Cat Lair'."

Felix meowed with a little yawn there in the end. He jumped up on the uncovered bed, curled up in a ball and went right to sleep.

Isis pick up her bag that Maven had taken into the room earlier and she put it next to the bed. She unzipped the bag and pulled out a picture. The picture was one of her as a younger little girl and the rest of her family (Grandma, Mom, and Dad) sitting merrily around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts.

Isis sat up on the bed and slowly lay back holding the picture high above her head. Isis began to cry. Would she ever see merriment like that again? Practically everything that made her happy was gone…everything. Isis knew that these next few years were going to be some of the hardest a woman her age should never have to see.

To tired to put on her pajamas, she rolled on to her side dropping the picture next to her and cried herself to sleep. I'm all alone. No one here to hold me as I cry…anymore.