The Assassin's Way
part 4 Sacremento Landing
"The only man to never make a mistake, is the man that does nothing"
-Mark Wolfe
3 June 2055
Sacremento Hoverbus Network Hub
0709 hours
The group had arrived, It was strange to see, the style of garb however briefly deterred but a few scant folk before it was ignored. They had gotten similar looks in Oslo when they boarded the hoverplane flight. At least nobody got airsick. Shade slept like a rock, Auji and Xeibo mostly passed the time with chatting or reading, Prince Talon was simply facinated by seeing the Mortal Realm from the air, like a bird.
But now they were in the terminal, looking for either a rental van or even Fang, who was to wait for them there. This was going to be interesting. "I'll try and find my sister, you guys get the car... thing" Technology was still too new to the Eagle Prince
"I'll go with him, I'll send to you when we find Princess Fang" Shade said softly to Xeibo, who nodded, she and Auji then went for the rental counter. Auji of course was keeping an eye on everything around them. Just like they were trained for, but they had to be alert, and also attentive to those around them as well
The guy behind the counter was reading a magazine that must have left circulation over fifty years ago, but he didn't seem to care, nor even notice. As he noticed the two young people coming up to his stand, he folded the thing backwards and leaned forward. "Hello hello! How can I help you two?" he asked them.
"We need a..." looking around Auji quickly found the word he was looking for by the papers around the stand. "... we need a van for about five or six people."
"Sure, got plenty. Any particular place you're goin'? Or any time frame that you'll have for me?" he said as he began to look for a key for the hovervan that would hold all of them.
"St Diamonds Cathderal" Xeibo said simply, the guy stared at her, was she nuts ? Nope, perfectly sane. "Thirty days" She then said to answer his time frame question. The man nodded and held up a hand going through the keyring. Two kids it looked like... nope, they were adults...
As he searched for the key the man spoke. "Let me get this straight, you fly here from... whereveryou're from... China apparently by the look of ou, to spend thirty days... at a cathedral ?"
Xeibo nodded "Mhm" was all she said
"Name ?" The man then asked, the two rental seekers traded looks "Name on the reservation" he said with a nod, Xeibo knew what he meant then.
"Azukar" She said. Hopefully Fang had gone through as she promised.
"Ah... yes. a Hovervan was picked up a few hours ago by a young lady of the name Azukar, requested a monthlong rental." He got a map and showed the route to the place Fang had indicated they'd meet.
Auji took a moment to examine the map. "And where are we on the map?" He asked. After a moment of searching, the man showed them, and Auji proceeded to memorise the entirety of the map. "Thank you." he said with a nod.
"Don't you want the map?"
"No need. I've got it memorized."
The man blinked, confused. "Okay then..." he handed over the keys. "Enjoy your time here. See you in thirty days." the an leaned back in his chair then, and as they walked off, ran his hand through his thinning hair. "Getting to old for this..." As soon as the two were gone he went to the phone at his desk and typed a random number "Looks like one of them birds we were warned about has landed... yes thats right... a guy by the look of him... Yeah, headed for the rental lot... they dont have a map" The man hung up and went back to his old magazine
Xeibo smirked as the man was struck dumb by the fact that just one good look at a map and they had it already down. Dragons were good for that, Eagles were better at it. How else could they go north and south every year ?
Once they were far enough away they came upon Talon and Shade waiting nearby. Most people gave Shade confused looks at how she was so dang tall. Xeibo let out a breath she held in, the man gave her the creeps. Nobody that old worked a car rental counter did they ?
Yes they did. If they had nothing else to do and no money in retirement left
Talon looked worried "Cant find Fang anywhere, she said she'd meet us here or we go to her" He said, the brown haired green eyed Prince had a astrong protective feel for his older sister who had far more experience than he did
"Relax, we know where Fang is, and we got the keys to the hovervan." Xeibo said, which made Shade smile. Though at her look towards Xeibo the younger dragon simply said "its nothing, just an old guy working the counter"
"Well then I suggest we start looking for the van...take a left." Auji said as they continued walking down the street. His mind was lost and yet focused at the same time. Did the rest of the Mortal Realm look like this? Did all of its people look this way? What did his real father ireally/i look like in person? Would he know it's him? Does he even know about him? Why did he not enter his life? Did the Mortal Realm always smell so depressing and sad? Did that man across the street really just directly ram into a pole? Multiple times? So many questions in the young man's head, not many would be answered.
Without thinking it Talon stepped to Shades right, closest to the street as something hit another thing and another thing hit something else entirely and car parts went flighting, Shade ducked out of reflex at the sudden shriek of brakes
Seeing the damage, a two car pileup and a bent to hell lightpole Xeibo raised an eyebrow "I think we should go inside ?"
"Or wear something less revealing ?" Talon said seeing the looks of some rather distracted drivers looking towards them, and hitting stuff. Though Xeibo did sock him on the arm she did know what he meant, they were drawing unwanted attention, like they were on a parade ground.
They took another left and headed up a flight of stairs. Then a right. And spotted a parking lot packed with rental cars. Most, if not all, of them sports cars. Nothing that Shade could fit in, muchless Xeibo or even Talon with all their gear.
Stepping into the massive parking garage Xeibo's senses were on full alert. Looking around and taking in everything she saw first the sports cars, then by force of habit, the fastest way out, over the rail to their right. Then she saw the hovervans the parking lot a half level up a good few hundred meters away. And between them, a parking lot of sprts cars and small sedans
Talon pointed, "There's the vans, which one does the key unlock ?" When Auji tried the key, the lights on one van, the farthest away from them, winked on twice.
Shade halted, a low growl in her throat... Oh dear. It was the growl that made them hurry. Thankfully thhrough Aujis mother, only he knew how to drive... somewhat
An hour later
Crecent City boundary
twenty minutes from Ruth Big's boarding house
Even with only a day worth of living in the Mortal Realm, Auji proved to be an able driver, at least, he hadnt hit anything yet, and nothing hit them, and nobody was sick. However when they saw Fang waiting outside a well kept home; that left much to be desired. When Auji pulled to a halt and Shade all but fell out the back, Fang snickered and went to the driverside window as Auji lowered it "Any troubles ?" She asked
"Nothing we couldnt handle, Sis" Talon said with a smile at his sister, who nodded, her brother got some fighting experience judging by the condition of Shade flat on her back on the pavement, either the ambush took a lot out of the much older Dragon, or it was Auji's driving.
"What are you reading ?" Came the question as Shade came to, only it was Talon that spoke, Fang was using one of those newfangled dataslate screen things, looked a lot like one of their datacrystals back home that they used to keep the histories and also practice certain magics.
"Oh, just a news story of someone blowing up a hoverbus" Fang replied, she showed a picture of what clearly was a Raven by the look of the feathers on Sazhori's shoulders, those had to be fleathers, only thing they were blacker than the blackest black. Talon though recognised Sazhori. "Recognise her little brother ?"
He nodded.
At Fangs pointed look, Talon got into the backseat as Auji moved to the passenger seat allowing Fang to take over the driving. "Alright from what I know of the mission, what we want is ssouth of here, but we need a base of operations where we can fall back to. I know just the place" It was going to be a long drive so once Shade was back in the van and the doors sealed they started off.
"I hope it ain't far, I'm getting Hungry." Auji said with a side-long glance to those in the van behind him through the mirror. "How is Mortal Food? Anyone know?" he asked, having only experienced the food in the Mythic Realm, he'd be assaulted by brand new smells and flavors here that he may not have been aware existed.
"That is a good question" Fang replied as pretty much everyone in the van but her had not tasted Mortal food before; only she was used to it by that point, spending tyhree years in the mortal realm will do that to a person. She felt all eyes on her. "You werent able to eat when you were in Arendelle were you ?... didnt think so"
After a moment iof looking about while driving Fang asked off the bat "Whats your favrotite meats ? This area doesnt have a lot of them so deer and fox, also horse, moose, wolf, rabbit and lamb isnt exasctly available here. though it is in Arendelle" She said as she pulled into a parking lot. There was a bunch of resturants around them. But the one they were parked in front of was a pizza place with a huge sign in English which nobody could read aside from Fang that said DOMINOS PIZZA. Of course when Shade tried to speak what she was reading it sounded more like a cow getting strangled through a weat thresher
"Y'know...my Mother often spoke highly of Pizza." Auji said as they were turning into the small Domino's parking lot. "Wonder what the fuss is about...um...anyone got any money?"
"Your mother has good taste. Wezaki got hooked on the stuff, dont get her started on pasta." Fang said, it was bad enough Kuru broke Wezaki of the habit of scarfing down the first dish of pasta she saw. Fang smiled when Auji mentioned money, it was the one thing Gbeorgina had made sure about. to her brother, Talon seated next to Xeibo she said "look under yioue seat, should be a blackscale box there" Georgina had stocked them well. At this point the Equator City used anything short of cement mix for currencey, so Chinese currencey was perfectly fine.
Talon found the blackscaled box and lifted it to the seat between him and Xeibo as Shade sat in the back seat pretty much lounging on the suitcases of their clothing, They had to blend in and the elder dragon already hated the clothing. It just didnt feel like what she was used to. Too damned itchy
As her brother handed over a few silver and gold pieces to Fang she took the keys and handed them to Auji. "Wait here, try not to attract attention. its bad enough you got shot at"
"Yea yea...just get us something good...enough for all of us." Auji said, leaning his seat back a bit and putting his feet up on the dash to relax while they waited.
Fang smiled and stepped from the van after opening her door. "One extra large... two extra large triple pepperoni it is.." She said figuring that Xeibo or Shade alone would scarf down one of the things befoer the others could get even so much as a slice. made her smile while going inside, What did dragons like to eat ? Most days it was easy, meat.
As Fang entered the pizza place and disappeared from view to those in the van Xeibo leaned on Auji's seat. "So that's Princess Fang... taller than what Mother said" She mused
"Fang is fun... at times... Though I dont remember her having feathers in her hair like that" Shade mused aloud from where she sat in the back. the last time Fang had feathers in her hair was after she had tangled with another Bird...
And that other bird was close at hand, the thing not quite landing, but more like smashing into the hood of the van, the talons being the only thing the now screaming people in the car saw before the large water-melon sized head stooped down to peer into the tinted windows of the van. Ulnaus's Bronze eyes stared into the vehicle and his head tilted as he tried to see better. He was eerily still everywhere but his head, and as Auji stared back at the bird, he felt a sense of familiarity, even if he'd never seen the dumb oaf before.
Ulnaus screeched loudly, and spread his massive wings before taking off without so much as another sound.
"What the fuck was that?" Auji blinked.
"Looked like a bird to me."
"No shit, who, then, was it?"
"No one we know."
"Must be young, if he's that small."
"You think?"
"I try not to, actually. Hurts sometimes."
"Good."
Shade stuck her head out the window after the van shook madly and made the mistake of looking up, "I dont See... AH! Gross!" She pulled her herad back into the van, a trail of birdshit in her silver hair and trailing over the right side of her face, Xeibo struggled not to laugh. Shade pointed at her "Not one word"
"I wasnt going to say anything"
Shade cleaned out her hair, "he's up there still" She grumbled flicking shit off her fingers before using a bit of magic to celan her hair. If only she had a spit to roast some eagle on.
Xeibo then saw that Auji was thoughtful about something. "What is it ?" She asked him. She had no idea that he had sensed a bit of familal bond with the sudden arrival of a massive Eagle that kinda dented their vans hood
"Dunno... feels like I've seen that Eagle before." Auji said, cupping his chin in thought. "Feels...like family, almost. Is that weird?" he looked back to the others in the van, most of them shrugging.
"It could be, I mean, I feel the same way about Shade, and Grandmother, and you and Mother and Talon and Emperor Tilr..." Xeibo mused with something of a giggle towards Shade who was grumbling of birdshit in her hair
"Next chance I get Im gonna roast that bird for nailing me in the face" Shade grumbled, which made all in the van snicker at her anger. Apparently she wasnt exactly happy. If that.
Fang stepped out of the pizza place with two boxes of pizza, and a pair of Mt Dews. Also napkins, bread and some other things. Sure it wasnt Silver Palace fare that Light had on her table every day, but it was just as good. She briefly stared at the hood of the van, then the dented roof. Stepping to the driverside door, which the window was open, she said simply "I thought I said not to draw attention to yourselves ?"
"You did, but something nailed us anyhow... well. one of us" Talon snickered, Shade growled. If Talon and Fang werent brother and sister, and royalty at that, she'd have lit him up like a christmas tree.
Fang looked at her brother, then to Shade, then to Auji "What ?" written all over her otherwise asian face. Like Auji and her brother Fang was a gorgeous young almost asian like woman, most Eagles were for that matter when one thought on it hard enough. She focused on Shades face "The hell happened to you ?" She asked seeing the birdshit leaving a bit of a stain on her otherwise scaleless face. White and soft silver scales formed under the birdshit as if like a tatoo of a sort on the side of her face
Shade held up three fingers as if to say three words "Dont look up".
"What ?" Fang asked, wondering what she meant when something MASSIVE landed on the hood of their van a second time. Once again the massive bird pioked at the window,. Fang saw him clearly. Her eyes wide, "You!" She said pointing at Ulnaus through the windshield Wait, she knew this bird ?
"You know this bird ?" Auji asked
"Know him ? I tangled with him and got him to nail a fountain when I first arrived in this realm" Fang replied
"Well, he may or may not be interested in a rematch" Auji said
"How can you tell ?" Talon asked
"He's staring at Fang" Auji said
Indeed the massive eagle, Ulnaus was staring at the Princess. and Fang was staring right back. She made to get out of the van to tackle the bird off the rig so they could get going when Auji grabbed her arm and shook his head. A few moments of screeching and rocking the van Ulnaus took off. Soon as Ulnaus was gone and Shade was sure of it enough to look out of the van and not see any birdshit falling like rain. Fang got the rig into gear and they were off
45 minutes later
Just within Crescent City Limits
"Ok, the place we're heading for should be around here somewhere." Fang said simply pulling out a map from her dress sleeve
"Where're we going, Sis ?" Talon asked taking the map from his sister
"Place called Big Town House Bed and Breakfast" Fang said as she slowed the hovervan down to the speed limit. "Should be on I Street or J Street"
"Take a left" Auji said absently, having already memorised the map before getting the van to begin with
"What ?" Fang asked confused as they waited at a light
"Take a left at the next light, then a right two lights after. That's I Street" Auji explained Talon was nodding when Fang looked at her brother, OK fine, two map readers
Fang made trhe turns as instructed but whe nthey coasted to a halt at yet another light was when the trouble happened. The road was closed yet no apparent reason of why. Which meant they needed to find another way. But something felt off
"Is it just me, or are we being watched ?" Xeibo mused aloud
"We're being watched" Fang replied as a black Dodge Challenger left the destination and roared right past them. The windows were tinited and werent allowing those in the van to see who was in the car. But they had bigger problems with the road closed ahead.
It was because the road was also closed behind...
Inside the Challenger
Mark looked to the van, the young, eastern-looking people inside looked on edge and confused. "Tourists? Out this far?" He raised an eyebrow, the engine of his car rumbling as they moved past. "Any of them look familiar?" he asked Sazhori.
Sazhori shook her head, "Nope, never seen them before" she lied, yep, she recognised the woman driving the hovervan. After all she was that womans brothers original bodyguard for a dozen years before getting assigned to Diamond. They drove on, taking the Dodge for a test drive was a good thing
In the hovervan...
As the Dodge left their sight around a cover Fang noticed out of the corner of her eye no road work equpment was being set up or moved into place, just, road closed signs being put up. Focusing her eyes she saw the red outlines of ... at least a few dozen men. Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel she asked to Auji simply "How is your combat skills ?" She knew her brothers skill was pretty good. But she had no idea of Auji's skill, or Xeibos. not to mention Shade's skill, then again training under Kanwar she knew shades abilities
"I can spar Xeibo to a stand still most days, I think I can manage." Auji said confidently. Xeibo nodded in agreement.
Fang grunted, once more tapping on the steering wheel, "Good because we got two dozen men coming up behind us" She said
"Make that three dozen" Shade confirmed as she sat looking out the back of the van
Talon pointed out the front from between Auji and Fang "Whats that symbol ?" he was pointing at a group of men, their truck... a antiarmor type truck with a light machinegun mounted on top sat there in the road. It had the Templar Cross emblazoned on it
Fang saw it. "Parrotshit" was all she said seeing the gun, and the man behind it with a sadistic grin on his face. "Ah goodbye!' Fang screeched shifting the van into reverse and flooring the gas straight at the three dozen men coming up at their rear.
At the last second Xeibo shrieked "SHADE!" and Fang spun the wheel, spinning the van around as Shade came to bear. A canopy of energy, like glass formed and caught most of the bullets sprayed in their direction as Fang shifted into drive and floored the gas at the oncoming men
"Get ready to bail out!" Fang said as Talon nodded, his hands for the door as Xeibo went for the sunroof of the van and easily getting to the vans rooftop as the door slid open as Fang slammed on the brakes. As well as slammed into two other cars parked on the road.
Auji did just that, jumping from the van with a flying side-kick to the first person's face he saw, one leg tucked in and acting as a landing leg for the boy as he landed on the man's chest. The man hit the ground in a heap as a dozen men briefly halted for all of two seconds before surgeing forwards. Onw man took aim with a pistol. But with his comrades in the way his aim was wide and the shot hit a lamppost, shattering the light and showering them all with glass.
As the van slid to a halt Xeibo rolled off the roof, easily landing on two more men that aimed their guns at Fang in the drivers seat as Talon easily dove out the side door, his feathers making mincemeat of the two men still standing. Once on her feet Xeibo kicked out with a foot as she pulled one man to the ground, catching the other who was about to shoot Fang dead in the back, sending the man slamming into the front of the van before dropping onto the man whose leg she held onto.
Talon dove between two direlct cars as gunfire raked where he stood, easily tackling one of the gunmen Talon tossed one guy easily into the street before trading blows with the next in line. About a moment or so later and he was back to back with Auji. "Need a feather ?" Talon asked holding out a dagger, the feather was useful for both flight, and well, weaponry.
As the twelve men swarmed Auji, he stayed mobile, raising his fists up to block one hay-maker punch with his forearms before grabbing the arm, lifting her arm and stomping on the guy's knee, the crunch making one other Templar puke by itself. Pulling his leg back up, Auji flicked his hip and threw a hook-kick hard enough knock the man clean out. Pivoting on his hip Auji landed and then lunged forward to throw a solid jab-cross to the next man's jaw before grabbing him by the neck and lifting a knee into his crotch twice before tossing him to the side.
Being grabbed from behind, Auji hooked his foot around his attacker's leg as he tried to lift the young man, stopping himself from being lifted higher than a foot. A flurry of elbows came from the young man, slamming each one into his attacker's face. Once the man's guard broke, Auji grabbed the man's right arm, turning towards him, and slamming his shin into the man's crotch and then punching his spine through his neck. The man dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Turning, he slapped away two incoming punches, lifting his knee he push-kicked this attacker onto his ass before lifting his leg and dropping an axe-kick onto his sternum, breaking it. Finally hopping out of the group to catch his breath, Auji denied the Feather offered to him, instead opting for the thrill of a true hand-to-hand combat experience outside of sparring.
"Suit yourself brother" Talon said flicking the feather like a knife into his own hand as he readied into a stance with two men jumping at him at once. Grabbing the first man Talon spiked the feather dead into the mans neck before using his speed and jumping up, flipping the man onto the ground in a heap and catching the second man in the face with the dead mans arm. Seconds later and Talon was in a one on one frenzy with the Man.
Xeibo hit the deck as gunfire rang out in rapidfire shots, peppering the hood of the van as Fang dove out the window for cover. Xeibo laid on the ground for a moment or two, waiting for the gunfire to stop. Her legs arched up as her arms pushed her up. Two men ran at her, she flipped out of the impromptu handstand onto her feet, trading blows with both men.
They were so close to their intended destination, only to get ambushed right at it. Within sight of it. Why now of all times ? Briefly glancing towards Shade she saw that her friend had the defensive screen active, absorbing seemingly endless gunfire aimed at them as windows and cars broke and exploded from gunfire.
As the gunfire continued, Auji grabbed the closest Templar and held him as a human shield. The bullets riddled the poor bastard before Auji let him drop and spun his own body, flicking out his foot and his hip at the same time in a spinning hook kick. His heel connected with the jaw of the man he was kicking, and with the flick of his hip, completely shattered the jaw of the man, and then dragged the foot across another man's face, knocking out both of them with the one kick, and still having enough momentum to put his foot back where it belonged behind him while finishing his spin. Continuing the spin he pivoted on his back foot and launched a round-house kick into the ribs of the man behind him. A satisfying crack or five and he pulled his lower leg back in a recoil so that he could again continue to spin, putting his leg down, and then launching his leg back in a sort of donkey kick into the man's chest. The man flew back into the car, gasping and breathing hard as he coughed up blood.
Talon threw his feather that he'd used as a dagger to fight off attacks, nailing the closest gunman to Auji in the nose, the force of the throw wrenching the mans head back with a gut wrenching snap as the body fell to the pavement.
Xeibo ducked the wild swing of a man, as she did so she went to the pavement, grabbing his foot she pulled it, the man did the splits, her knee met his face, sending him in a heap to the ground as a feather lodged int he face of another man taking aim at her. Fang could only watch shocked at what she was seeing, she could barely follow Auji's movements. or Xeibos, or her brothers with the sheer speed they were showing in their skills at combat.
When it is them or us, she mused, they know how to fight She dodged as a fist was thrown at her, easily spinning out of reach, her fist connecting solid with the side of the man, sending him flailng at Auji. "Special delivery!" Fang called out.
The gunner on the transport truck had no idea what was coming as a black truck opened its back end. Showing apparently two people, one of which was seated on a lawn chair. The woman, it was clearly so, had a pair of binoculars in her hands as she watched the fighting. The man with her set the device next them "Range, a hundred fifty meters, weight, two tons. Track clear wind speed zero, they're off! Give!"
BLOOP
KABOOM
The explosion rocked the street and Shade stared as she let the shield drop as the transport exploded, sending the gunman flying in a heap of body parts. Fang turned her gaze as Talon made short work of the remaining men aiming to attack him before going to his sisters side. Xeibo body slammed another man against a wall before getting snatched up by a third, reacting fast she yanked the mans pants down, sliding to the ground, when he bent down to pull his pants up, her fist made contact with his face, sending him to the ground in a heap allowing her to get to her feet with the help of Auji.
Ruthie stepped from her porch then her Pit Crew guard as placed by Mark since Sazhori arrived stayed near the mortar that just blew uip a Templar transport. "You kids alright ?" Ruthie asked as Shade fell out of the van and got to her feet. What a ride
"For the moment yes" came the reply, from Fang as she glanced at Auji, he simply nodded. Ruthie stepped up to a dead Templar, "Are you Ruth Big ?" Fang asked
"That's what it says on my marriage license" Ruth replied leaning on her cane looking at the bunch, two young men, fine looking young men at that, three young ladies, one of which she recognised. Pointing her cane at Fang she said "I recognise your voice young lady, from the phone. this your party ?"
"Are there rooms available ?" Fang asked, looking to Auji said added "Preferably close together, two bathroomss, and maybe on the same floor ?"
"Sure thing, come on in kids; Major Wilde here will take care of your luggage and get you the keys. Free delousing once a week, uh... how long's your stay to be ?"
Fang looked at Auji, he simply looked at her, she turned to Ruthie "Does it rent by the month ?" She asked,
Ruthie smiled. "As long as you need the rooms, they're yours. Dont worry about the van I will have the Crew get it repaired and returned to the rental counter on time. make yourselves to home. I have some errands to run" With that the gang went back to their van, managed to somehow get it into the driveway of Ruthies bed and breakfast, and then get it unloaded and their stuff inside, which wasnt much actually.
As she left her home however to meet up with Mark and trhe other lady, whom Ruthie never got the name of the Raven, Ruthie tried to remember where she had seen that color eyes before. That young man the young woman looked to who simply looked at her; he had the brown eyes of someone she swore she knew.
Sacremento
That Evening
Talak Horde's palace
Thunder roiled across the sky below the windows, yet it still pelted with rain upon the upper levels. Equator City had gone far into ther air, and still, storms happened, and most times enshrouded the city as a whole. A lone figure stood at the massive floor to ceiling window watching the storm. a Cage in the room looked towards it as well.
A man stepped into the room, carrying a phone. "Madam, it is for you" the man said
"Thank you James" Came the heavily accented female voice, pale eyes and dark skin marked that of an Egyptian woman as she reached for the phone and answered it "Talak Horde... I see... Thank you." She hung up, but while holding the cordless phone she spoke to the butler "Find Tamara, I have a call to make. Oh, and make sure my pet is still alive" She handed over a silver and black key. The butler nodded and left
Talak went into the other room and up a flight of stairs to her office that overlooked the living room. A loft so to speak Dialing the phone. It rang twice until someone picked it up. "Ruth, its Talak... I heard about Tony, my condolances... Listen, About what happened this evening... I'll take care of it... dont worry about a thing..." Talak was answered with nothing but silence on the other end. Finally the line went dead in her hand
Talak set the phone on her desk and set both hands on the dark oak wood. She took a deep breath, then let it out. This wasnt good. Tamara was an idiot. But she was reliable. To a point. Stepping from her desk, Talak picked up a bottle of vodka and headed downstairs just as the Butler stepped into view the key in hand. "Is she alive ?"
"Yes Madam, see for yourself." Came the reply
Talak saw her prize, her pet, but saw not a massive White Tiger, no, "Human ? James, feed her, she needs the strength to stay a cat!" She gave her butler a look. "Well ?"
"Shall we feed her the scraps and leftovers then Madam ? to keep up her strength she will need some helathy food" The man said
"Fine, whatever, give her whatever it takes to keep her a cat, I wont have my pet be human!" Talak grunted before stalking away unhappy with how things were going. "And send for Tamara already I need to talk to that bitch now!"