CHAPTER 5: Extortion

Plato glanced around for what seemed to him to be the millionth time. There still was no sign of her.

At that moment, a voice reached his ears.

"You came." It was a flat statement, betraying no emotion and devoid of even a hint of surprise.

Plato whirled around to face the dark queen. "I can always go again, if you like," he retorted.

"No need to be so touchy," Cassandra replied calmly. "If you were to leave now, it might not be to your best advantage."

Plato walked up to the queen and extracted the note from a fold in his fur. "I got your letter."

"I assumed you did, seeing as you're here."

"What do you want from me?"

"Whatever it says in there." Cassandra nodded towards the note.

"It doesn't."

"Then I want nothing from you…for now."

"Then why did you ask me to meet you here?"

"Isn't it clear enough in my letter?"

Plato read the note through once more.

Dearest Plato,

I know, and you know I know. If you want to keep me silent, you'll meet me where we met yesterday, two hours after sundown. I have a little business proposal for you.

Cassandra.

Plato looked up. "It could have been clearer."

Cassandra shook her head as if she were saddened by what she heard. "Oh, Plato, you disappoint me. I thought you were more intelligent than you're currently displaying."

The tom glared at her without reply, waiting for her to continue.

"As I said in my note, I have a proposal for you."

Plato narrowed his eyes. "What sort of a proposal?"

Cassandra began to circle Plato like he was her prey. "You and Demeter don't want anyone to know about your little…rendezvous'…correct?"

"Well, considering we're both mated, and not to each other…"

"And, so far, no-one does know…except for me. So, I'm your only possible threat to your little secret at the moment, but a big one."

"Go on."

"But if you want me to keep quiet, I will."

"I just have to do something for you," Plato finished. "What is it?"

Cassandra stepped closer to him and let her tail curl around his waist. "Well, I love Alonzo – I really do – but the nights can get so lonely when he's on guard, which is quite often, since he's the Jellicle Protector…" Cassandra trailed of suggestively.

"You mean…you want me to…sleep with you? In return for you keeping quiet?"

Cassandra let out an exaggerated sigh. "Do I have to spell it out? Yes, that's what I want."

Plato felt his entire body heat up with anger. "You can't –"

"I suggest you think carefully about the consequences of a negative answer."

Plato was silent for a few minutes. Finally, he spoke. "I'll need time to consider."

"No. It's a 'yes' now…or I tell."

"That's extortion."

"Catchy name for it," the queen said thoughtfully. "Though I do like plain 'blackmail'. What will the answer be?"

Plato took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "When do you want to see me next?"

Cassandra smirked victoriously.