Chapter 7

Broken promise

Sun was high in the sky. Jaken was sitting on a fountain with Esme. He was teaching her about life.

-"And you don't have a home?" - She asked.

-"No Esme, I don't. I had once but it's lost."

-"I don't have family either. I..."

-"You really think so?" - Esme was surprised with that question. - "Everyone in San Lorenzo is your family. Remember, home is a place in your heart. Until there is one person who cares about you, you can call it home." - Esme smiled.

-"It's good to see a smile on your face again" - They heard a voice behind them. They turned around to see Puss with Dulcinea coming their way.

-"I must admit that you kept your word." - Said Puss as they approached them.

-"I always do. I never make promise that I cannot keep."

-"I must say thank you. For saving Dulcinea. I do not know what I would do without her."

-"Well, Dulcinea also saved my life." - Jaken turned to her. - "Did I say thank you?"

-"No." - She smiled. - "But..."

-"I will. But I can promise you, I will protect your child."

-"Nero, what would you say for a little sparring? It would be a nice training." - Asked Puss.

-"I don't know..." - Jaken hesitated. He looked at Esme then on Dulcinea.

-"It's ok." - Said grey feline. - "It's just a practise." - Puss reached a hand with a blade towards Jaken. He looked at it as he saw it for the first time.

-"You never used a sword before?" - Asked Puss.

-"I did. A long time ago. Now I prefer not to."

-"Just try. I will make sure nothing will go wrong." - Puss assure him with a smile. Jaken took a deep breath and grabbed a sword. They stood in the middle. Puss took his stance but Jaken was still looking at a weapon in his paw. His hand was shaking.

-"Ready?" - Puss asked not sure what's happening. He saw in Jaken's eyes deep pain and... fear? Jaken closed his eyes and shook his head. A sword fell on a ground.

-"I can't." - He left with a fast march.

-"Nero!" - Dulcinea called after him. - "What happened?" - She asked Puss.

-"I do not know."

Jaken was sitting on a cliff trying to calm his heart beat. His past again let him know about itself. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

-"I never thought it will be you to come after me." - He said after a while. Puss was surprised that he knew about his presence without looking back.

-"I..." - He started

-"Don't. I just need some alone time." - Jaken opend his eyes and look on the horizon. Puss was going to leave him but then Jaken jumped on his feet.

-"What happened?"

-"An army is going this way." - Jaken was looking at the landscape. Puss was trying to see anything but he couldn't. - "They will be here before night. We need to evacuate the city." - He rushed to the town. Puss was following him to the cantina. Jaken get to a bar table.

-"Evacute the city. Now." - He said to Pajuna. She looked at him as it was a joke.

-"Are you insane? What's happening that we need to run?"

-"A big army is going this way. Everyone needs to leave this place before evening." - With this he left as fast as he came.

-"Puss in the Boots. What is a meaning of this?" - Puss heard senora Zapata's voice. He left in the canteen to discuss the situation.

Jaken was in his room. He informed almost everyone about evacuation. He was in a rush to pack his things and leave when he heard a knocking.

-"May I come in?" - Dulcinea was standing by a door.

-"Dulcinea. You are ready to go?"

-"No Jaken. I came here to tell you that we are staying."

-"What?!"

-"We want to protect our home. We won't allow to destroy it."

-"Listen, they don't come here to destroy this town but to kill everybody in it. And I won't let myself die in a stupid way."

-"You want to leave? But you promised to protect this city."

-"I promised to protect YOU. Staying here is a suicide. Garo will make sure that no one is alive."

-"Then fight with us. Stop running and face him."

-"With who? Puss and buch of citizens with no weapons? They have over hundred armed men."

-"Well I am going to fight with my friends. If you want to leave, then leave." - She runned out the room with tears in her eyes. Jaken was standing there with angry look. He hit a wall with his fist and continued packing.

Dulcinea was running to her friends. She get rid of tears and joined them with preparations.

-"Where is Nero?" - Asked Puss.

-"He is leaving." - She replied with angry voice. Puss couldn't belive it.

-"Shit." - They continued to get ready for the attack. Primitive weapons were made, some clubs, sharp tools. Carts where used as barricades. It looked like they were ready.

-"We are here for El Diablo Blanco!" - They heard familiar voice.

-"Pablo. There is no El Diablo Blanco here. Leave." - Puss tried to convince thieves not to fight.

-"It's Raul! And we know that he is in San Lorenzo. Get them!" - Thieves rushed towards citizens. But they didn't expect such response. Everyone rushed back and soon they clashed in combat. Thieves were trying to capture everyone but they were just keep beating up. Pajuna was sending them unconsious with just a broom. Artephius throw some bottles at the crowd. It blew up with some blue smoke and caused some bandits to fall asleep. Puss was fighting arm to arm with Dulcinea and sent another one to the ground. Soon thieves were defeated. Crowd cheared for victory.

-"Something is not right. They were just regular thieves from the Thieves' Market. Where is the army?" - Puss tried to find a hook.

-"Where, indeed?" - Puss looked around. They were surrounded. Those weren't just ordinary thugs. They looked like mercenaries. Warriors for rent with no honor. Garo stepped forward.

-"Well, look who we found here." - He chuckled a little.

-"Garo. What is the meaning of this. You said you are going south. You were suppose to find El Diablo."

-"Well I just did. It took me some time but he made a mistake. And he is here. In San Lorenzo."

-"What?" - Puss looked with horror in his eyes. The one who destroyed his first home was here. And he didn't know it.

-"Don't worry Puss. He can camouflage very well. You want to know where is he?"

-"Tell me." - Puss started to fell same rage as yesterday. He knew he would kill him.

-"Well look to your left." - He pointed with his sword. Puss turned to look at Dulcinea. Everyone gasped in shock.

-"Who, me?" - She asked equally shocked.

-"No." - Puss started to talk to himself. - "No, no, no, no. It is not true. It cannot be true." - He stepped back.

-"Puss, it's a lie." - Dulcinea started. - "He want's you to fall in his trap. He want's to controll you."

-"Enough of your sweet lies." - Garo interfered. He nodded on his men. Two guys grabbed her from behind and let her up.

-"No!" - She screamed and started to struggle.

-"Tongue." - Tongue stepped forward. - "It's up to you." - He drew a hooked knife from his belt. With a smile on his face he started to walk towards Dulcinea.

Will Jaken leave? Is Dulcinea real El Diablo Blanco? And will Puss save her? Find out next week.

Hope you guys enjoyed this one. I will try to make next chapter on time but I can't promise. My exams started and I don't have much time.

Also there are 3 more chapters to go so we are almost there :)