The cat hissed as another rumble of thunder faded away. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the guard's bright green eyes, but he didnít react, his only response a slight twitch of his tail. He had been trained well and thoroughly, just like all of the cats who were allowed on the premises. No one would even be able to come near the hideaway if they weren't already exceptionally talented. As it was, the guard was very proud to finally be at his post, after working hard to obtain it for many years. It was a hard life working for the Boss, and only the strongest cats made it. Some of the foolish, weaker cats had even been know to have died because they couldnít cope with the training.
The guard jumped as he heard a swishing sound behind him, then quickly tried to cover up his surprise. Being one of the newer cats, he didn't want the older cats to even be given a chance to make fun of him. As it was, it was only a cat his age coming to take over his post. The guard thankfully nodded at the other cat and then made his way back to his quarters to rest before his next job. Many people would have got lost if they tried to follow the guard through all the twisting tunnels and passageways, but the more complicated a hideout is, the less easy it is for an enemy to find the important rooms at the centre. As for the cats who worked here, they had to either memorise it all, or leave. However, the guard didn't stop at all, only hesitating slightly by a large, guarded, black door before disappearing into the darkness with a whip of his tail.
On closer inspection, however, the door isn't black at all, merely looking that way in the dim light. As you lean next to it, you can see its true colour: blue, but you can also hear strange noises coming from inside. Sorts of cracks and bangs, and occasionally the whistle of what sounds like a firework shooting through the air. If you strain your ears a bit more you can hear a large gruff voice shouting what sounds like instructions. The door is locked.
If you could pass through the door, for you would never be able to break through the magic-protected lock, you would be surprised at how seemingly unimportant and small it is, even though it is so closely guarded. But it is what in the room that will attract your attention.
There are three cats in the room: a grey one standing by the side and shouting in the hoarse voice you heard, and two others in the middle of the room, one black and white and the other pure white. At first glance it might appear that they are fighting, dodging around each other in a graceful way, almost like dancing, the tips of their toes only just touching the floor before lifting up again, with bolts and crackles of light issuing from their fingertips. But as you keep watching, you can see they are working together, both following the directions given by the grey cat, who appears to be some sort of teacher or commander.
You watch, entranced, as a column of bright white light towers up in front of the cats, growing every time the teacher shouts, quicker and quicker until the column touches the ceiling. There is a deafening boom as the room in front of you seems to explode. Plaster falls from the ceiling and the blast is so loud you throw yourself down on the ground in terror, hands over your ears, arms protecting your head. You open your mouth to scream, but even you can't hear it over the noise, and your mouth fills with dust. When your ears have stopped ringing and calm has settled on the room, you finally dare to open your eyes. You gasp. The room is exactly the same as before. No damage has been done at all! But in place of the column of light now stands a real life marble column, solid as the walls around you. You look at the grey cat who is calmly examining the column. Suddenly, he snaps his fingers. The column crumbles to dust and all three cats exit.
"I'm glad that's over," commented the white cat, brushing a piece of dust off her fur. Mistoffelees envied her. They'd just come out of one of the hardest magic tests ever invented and she still looked immaculate.
"Do you think we passed?"
The white cat looked annoyed. "Of course we passed! It was perfect, wasn't it?"
Mistoffelees shrugged. "Seemed ok." Then he flung himself down on the nearby bed and yawned. "That totally took it out of me, I could go to sleep right now."
"We've still got the Ceremony."
"If we passed."
The white cat turned her head away in frustration. "Of course we passed."
Mistoffelees lay down and cocked his head at her. It had been good, he admitted that much. That moment had been what he'd spent his entire life leading up towards. He wondered what his life was going to be like now that the days of training and examinations was over. In some sort of strange way he felt he was going to miss it. That and the three other anonymous cats he'd been working with. Although they knew nothing about each other, not even each others' names, they'd been his only family for a very long time. He wondered how the other two cats had done.
It was a hard life working for the Boss. Mistoffelees couldn't remember when he'd first come looking to be trained, and even then he couldn't remember why. But this was part of the only life he knew. It was work, hard work. But he enjoyed it. Why, he couldn't quite place. Maybe it was something to do with the smooth routine of each day. Or the massive sense of power and thrill every time he learned something new, every time he learned something that made him superior to other, ordinary cats.
He imagined that life would still be as hard. Or he supposed so. This much training couldn't really leave any other lifestyle possible. They'd never been told what their magic would be used for once they'd reached the top level, but it was irrelevant. They'd do what they were told to do. Obedience and loyalty had been taught just as thoroughly as anything else. Maybe it wouldn't be on the right side of the law, but that added to the thrill. Mistoffelees wouldn't have joined if he thought he was going to live a boring life.
Suddenly the door flew open, startling Mistoffelees into a sitting position. The white cat also turned her head. There in the doorway stood the grey cat who had overseen them. "You're to come with me," he said gruffly to both of them.
The white cat glanced at Mistoffelees and he could have sworn he saw excitement there before she left the room and her eyes returned to their usual, emotionless state. Shrugging, he followed.
"Oh, and you've passed," the grey cat added grudgingly over his shoulder.
Mistoffelees almost had to stop walking to suppress the urge to jump into the air with joy.