Chapter Four finally up. Sorry for the wait folks. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed!

Disclaimer: Sadly as much as I wish it did, Cat Royal doesn't belong to be!

I don't know when I came to my senses but the smell of musty air wafting up my nostrils made me sit upright retching. The dim lighting made it hard to see anything except one small window that didn't let in much light.

I was on a camp bed with basic sheets, not like the ones I was used to at the Avon's. There was only that one window with a view of what I supposed was an alleyway. Pressing my face to the glass and looking between the bars built into the frame, I could make out the outline of rubbish bins in a corner.

Looking around the small room I was in, I crossed to the door and attempted to turn the handle. It was locked. What had I expected? To be able to get out? No. I went and sat down on the bed since it was the only piece of furniture in the room.

My thoughts now turned to Billy, it wasn't the person or the thoughts I would have liked. Had he seen me being kidnapped? Or had he presumed that I'd be fine and went about his daily business he needed to do? Either way there was nothing to be done at this current time but wait and see how this plays out. Who was my captor or captors? I'd been kidnapped more than once in my previous adventures and had come out rather unscathed but with a few cuts and bruises, one time I had even caught malaria. But last time I was in Paris-

There was a scrape at the door, something heavy being moved. My eyes instantly snapped up. I was poised to attack when the door swung open. I didn't expect what I saw…

"Well it looks like the cat has woken from her long nap" I looked into the eyes of J-F. My mouth literally hung open.

"Surprised to see me?" He grinned.

I ran up to him wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders. I had caught him off guard clearly as he took a step back to stop us toppling over. I tried to step back slightly embarrassed, but his arms returned the hug. Finally he let go and I took in his appearance…

He looked dashing in a chunky knit vest that matched the same shade of his dark hair. I also noticed that with his crisp white shirt he wore emerald cufflinks and his raven black pants were hemmed to where his boots finished above his ankles. He'd definitely changed from the street worn thief I had experienced on my last visit.

"J-F, what on earth is happening?"

He talked quickly in reply as we left my cell room, our footsteps echoed off the floor and walls.

"I was aware when your boat came in this morning and arranged for one of my men from the empire to come and pick you up but he was running late. When he arrived and couldn't find you he scouted the area with no luck. He rang me and I had a pretty good idea of where you were. So here I am."

It was a rather vague explanation and he knew it. I was going to question him but we turned sharply around another corner to the right and found ourselves in a wide corridor which I suspected led into the main part of the building. I'd ask him later. We slowed down to a walk and caught our breath. We looked at all the rooms leading off in different directions.

"This is exactly like a maze. Which way did I come?" J-F muttered to himself.

"The question is, which way should we go now?" I replied.

"Back to your cell!" said a voice behind us.

We spun around and stared into the eyes of an unfamiliar man. His bushy eyebrows were knotted together. His body language suggested he was trying hard not to pummel us to pulp. I tried to run but my legs were fixed to the ground as if they knew not to mess with him. In one swift movement his arm wrapped me around the neck and cut off my air. I struggled to no luck.

"Go ahead of us back to the cell. Any funny business and I snap her delicate neck" He growled at J-F.

He looked at me knowing he couldn't risk anything. He started walking in the direction we had just come. The pressure on my windpipe lessened and fresh air rushed down into my lungs. I coughed violently gasping. He didn't fully let go of my neck but prodded me in the back with his knee making us both walk following J-F a good few metres ahead of us.

When we arrived back at the cell J-F had been pacing for only a minute no doubt thinking. I was thrown onto the hard floor, my right hip taking most of the impact. Pain shot through me and I grimaced. I could tell it wasn't broken but if we needed a speedy escape this would slow me down. The word was 'if'. The door slammed behind us and locks clicked followed by a slump of a wooden barricade across the door.

J-F helped me sit up. Being careful not to make my hip too painful but it would hurt regardless.

"Did you tell anyone where you were going?" I asked.

I knew from the look in his eyes he hadn't. I only now realised we were locked in a cell together and no one knew where we were…