Creation's Lament Chapter Eight: The Cat Bureau
Inside the Creation Refuge, a certain cat figurine was sitting behind a desk trying to organize all the paperwork. He was wearing a simple white button-down shirt with red vest and blue bow tie. A gray suit jacket matching his pants hung on the coat rack behind him, along with a gray top hat and cane. On the couch in the middle of the room, a huge white cat lay comatose.
"Let's see; two rescued pets last week, a lost child found two days ago, and that should finish it for today."
All the papers now lay in a behaved manner as the doll shifted the piles into the file cabinet behind him. When he had first conceived the idea for the Cat Bureau, he had only hoped that it would be this successful. So many people needed just a little help, just a little encouragement-
"Baron!"
A familiar shape burst through the balcony window, startling the white cat from his slumber.
"Can't you be quiet, you-"
"Can we fight later? There's an emergency brewing."
Baron's head shot up. The crow had never missed an opportunity to fight with Muta before.
"What's wrong, Toto?"
The crow shifted uncomfortably.
"Good news and bad news. Good news is that I found another Creation, and she happens to be a half cat like you, Baron."
If the orange cat had eyebrows, they surely would have jumped off his face from astonishment. The chances of something like this happening were close to none. Muta was grinning at him mischievously.
"You don't say. And the bad news?"
"The Cat King's blackmailing her into marrying him, and he doesn't seem like the type to go for a long leisurely engagement."
Baron leapt out of his chair.
"Surely he knows that a union between a mortal and immortal is forbidden!"
"If he does, he doesn't care. Haru clearly despises him, and the only reason she's saying yes is because she likes me, the cat prince, and his fiancée more than she hates the king."
The orange cat looked up at his friend.
"The Cat King used his own son as a bargaining chip?"
"No, but he made it clear that he intended to punish the prince for helping Haru, and she voiced his clemency in her consent or no deal."
The cat doll started pacing the Bureau madly.
"This cannot happen. Muta, do you remember where the entrance to the Cat Kingdom is?"
The white cat nodded, still smiling.
"So, we're off to rescue the damsel in distress?"
Baron nodded as he grabbed his things from the coat rack.
'Her name's Haru then. I wonder…"
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The heir to the Cat Kingdom was holding paws with his fiancée near the portal tower, each lost in their own thoughts. Lune's neck still hurt from the abuse from his father, and Yuki felt guilty for her friend's misfortune. She shook her head, trying to hold back her tears.
"After everything she's done for us, and finding out that there's a Creation like her, she's still forced into this atrocity."
Lune nodded glumly. He may like Haru plenty, but for her to become his step-mother? Just what was his father thinking? He tightened his grip on Yuki's paw to give and gain comfort.
"It's so like Haru to still think of others in her moment of peril. Father's fairly old, so she might not have to be his wife for too long."
But that wouldn't erase the time that she would spend with his father. He had seen all too clearly how she shuddered when the Cat King claimed his first kiss from her, on the cheek for propriety's sake. But how would she react when he wanted to move to the next level? Or the next?
Suddenly, he heard flapping sounds descending down the portal stairs at a fast pace. He and Yuki looked up, wondering who the new arrivals were. Within seconds, a familiar crow sailed out of the portal opening at the top and started spiraling around the tower, a large white ball of fur between his claws and a gray figure on his back. Yuki cried with relief.
"The Cat Bureau!" She came closer to the base, her fiancée close on her heels as the crow landed next to them, recognizing the royal couple from before. "Are you here to help Haru?"
The orange cat tipped his hat politely and nodded. Lune quickly shook hands with the famous Baron and Muta while Yuki hugged the crow in gratitude.
"She's being closely guarded, and even we can't get close to her. Father's still irritated that I tried to help Haru to escape with Toto."
Baron's expression was grim.
"When will the wedding take place?"
"Not for a few more hours, and the engagement ball will be starting in about half an hour. But I can't think of a way for you to get close enough to make a difference in her fate."
Yuki suddenly lit up.
"You can't, but I can. There are a few advantages to being a servant for years. Okay, Lune and I will need to disappear inside the palace soon, so here's what you need to do…"
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"I think she would look wonderful in pink."
"No, no; she needs to wear the yellow one."
"Blue's her color, obviously."
The three maid servants argued happily over ball gowns, waving this one and that in front of Haru's face. But the Creation never voiced her opinion. She hadn't said a thing since speaking the terrible words that sealed her fate.
What did it matter? No one cared about what she thought, and no one noticed that she was being quiet anyway. Her cheek still felt slimy from the Cat King's token of supposed affection. She had already rubbed the fur until it felt like she had gotten some of the brown coloring off, but she still felt violated.
The three maids eventually settled on a light fairy pink gown that seemed to glitter softly, and short flowing sleeves to coordinate with her long white gloves, specially made for the Creation. A golden fish necklace and matching crown completed the outfit, and the maids brought over a mirror so she could view herself.
She looked lovely, as was to be expected from a doll. A new definition of 'trophy wife'. The king billowed through the red curtain to look at her, still gloating disgustingly.
"Wwow, looking good Babe. Let's not keep our guests waiting." He held out his scrawny arm to her, and she numbly placed her gloved hand on it, feeling emptier than ever.
'What I would give for someone to come to my rescue this time.'