Chapter Seven: Felicia's Tasty Treat

"ACCURSED BE THE DAY SHE RUINED MY LIFE!"

I shudder as the boss removes his gloves. I know all too well what will happen next.

"I admire you, sir." My voice is barely above a whisper as I look up at him with fake deference.

Ratigan frowns. "You admire me?"

"The way you keep your temper is commendable," I lie. "If Felicia were my kitten and she had upset me so much, I would give her a worse punishment than what you have in mind. I'd be so angry that I'd force her to spend the rest of the evening with one of my lowly henchmen."

He grins. "What an excellent idea, Bartholomew! Why don't you let her stay with you? It will be for extra wages, of course!"

I bow to the scum of the earth. "I am pleased to serve you in any way I can, sir. I need no extra wages."

"I knew I was wise to hire you! You're one of my favorites, you know. You're my best henchman."

"I don't deserve to be."

Sweet providence, please don't let him know what I really meant when I said that!

I walk outside. "Felicia, your master has decided to exile you instead of beating you. You're to spend the night at my home."

She trembles with relief. Poor kitten! She's got to be the only creature in Mousedom more mistreated than Ratigan's men.

"You're an idiot!" Fidget informs me.

Bill nods. "Bartholomew, we know you miss your parents and sisters, and we know that today probably brought some childhood memories to your mind, but Felicia is a kitten."

"Yes," I agree. "She is an innocent child under a criminal's power."

"She's a young cat!" Bill persists. "We all know the way the boss treats her is wrong, but you can't keep being nice to her."

"I don't care what she is," I reply. "She is my little sister now, and I'm not going to let her suffer when I can prevent it."

"You're an idiot," Fidget repeats.

"I've known I was an idiot ever since I agreed to be one of Ratigan's men. Murderous r…!" I stop myself just in time.

Felicia stares at me.

"It's alright," I coax. "Come with me, and I'll get you some nice trout for supper."

She follows me to my home. I wish she were small enough to fit inside my flat, but since she isn't, I build a shelter for her outside. It's rather crude, but it's the best I can do, and it will work to keep rain from soaking her if it storms this evening. I bring her a large cushion and some blankets.

"If I were rich again, I could get you something more proper, but do you think this will be comfortable enough for you?" I ask.

Felicia mews and rubs her head against my shoulder. Poor dear! Compared to where she usually sleeps, this is luxury for her.

I bring her some fried trout, placing a bow in her hair while she eats. Fresh fish of any kind is a rarity for her.

"Once upon a time," I begin, "there was a cruel tyrant who took a beautiful princess as his hostage. One day, the princess grew up big enough and strong enough that she didn't have to listen to the heartless tyrant anymore, so she went to live with her own humans, who adopted her and took good care of her for as long as she lived. Do you understand the moral of this story, Felicia?"

The kitten purrs. She understands.

"This is cream." I hold the dish up to her lips, watching as she tastes it. "I know you've never had it before, but I think you'll like it."

Her tongue darts across her lips after the first taste.

"I have plenty," I assure her. "You may have all you wish, little sister."

She purrs and rubs against me as I refill her bowl for the third time. It's so hard not to laugh when I think I am the only mouse in the empire who can feed a cat from my paw, but I know Felicia would never bite me. When she has finished her cream, I smile.

"Was that a good treat?" I ask. "Tasty, wasn't it?"

I stroke her paws and sing her the lullaby that Mother used to sing for me when I was a very young child. Felicia pulls me close to her, just as a young mouse child will try to get close to a parent or guardian. It seems her heart is set on falling asleep with her paw around me.

I allow it, of course. Through no fault of her own, Felicia has no other friends in the world. Ratigan loves the power he hopes she will one day give him, but he's cruel to her. The other henchmen avoid her at all costs.

They'd really think I was an idiot if they knew I allowed myself to sleep next to her, but I know Felicia would never harm me.

Pleasant dreams to all.