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Chapter 29. You Only Live Twice. Once When You're Born, and Once When You Look Death in the Face
by Dirano
To Dirano, the fuss seemed rather overdone. All of these beasts, cramped in a basement, it just wasn't natural. Why were they here again? Supposedly it was for the Brandy, that spirit that Sarkleyet had needed for some reason. At least that was the impression he had gleaned from the sound of his companions' idiotic chatter.
"Have you found it yet?" the cat called. It had better have been found after all this time.
The stoat shot him a dirty look. "If by 'it' you are asking if I have in fact found a cat who can keep his mouth shut whilst I am trying to concentrate, then no, I have not." Another glare indicated that Antonio considered it in Dirano's best interest to keep his mouth shut.
Anybeast who said that to Dirano so casually had no idea who they were talking to. Just because a beast has certain 'tastes' does not mean that they should be written off as being just another member of the lower orders of society! And Dirano had just about enough.
It was bad enough that beasts like Pearl had no appreciation for the value he brought to their wares. It was damaging also to Dirano to know that most of the group had already discounted him, thinking that he would be a weak link.
Antonio must have noticed the expression on the cat's face, as he placed a paw on Dirano's shoulder. The grip of the stoat was actually greater than it appeared to be.
"Look," Antonio began, "It is just…you have not contributed very much. If you want to matter, you'll have to start pulling your own weight around here. Each one of us has a purpose here, a plan. Except for you, oh Mr. Handsome, what is your role? Is it to comment? To criticize every move we make? One can only afford such a luxury of taking a back seat when he has contributed something."
Quite the opposite of what Antonio had been intending; his words only had the effect of making Dirano even more upset. Maybe they had struck a little close to home? Could it be possible that the stoat was speaking the truth? Frustration and rage welled up inside the cat as he mulled upon that topic he had been earnestly trying to avoid. Was he a burden? Even if they went all the way to the Brandy, and recovered it, where would he fit in? The answer was nowhere. Dirano had been born without a purpose, a beast of the spring; his life had been carefree until now.
Shaking, Dirano clenched his paws, and opened them. He repeated this, until he was almost calmed down. His doubts, however were not. "I just…want to be remembered. That's all I really ask for. I want to show that I can do something- that I am not just another useless pretty face."
The stoat seemed to recognize the calm that had overtaken Dirano. Subsequently, he released the pressure on the shoulder and removed his paw entirely. Looking Dirano in the eye, he gave a small shake of his head.
"Dirano, if you want to be known after you are gone, all you have to do is-"
Two things happened then, not simultaneously but still too close together for comfort... The first event was a small commotion near the front of the crowded space. Evidently somebeast had noticed something unusual. Then, everyone inside the room noticed too. It was unmistakable in tone and quality. It was the sound of a flute. Dirano briefly wondered where it had come from, but he had not long to wait to discover the source.
A voice began to speak, from somewhere up in the rafters. The message the voice imparted sounded sinister, even menacing. The message it contained was even less pleasant than the voice. It sounded like the voice of a crazy beast, one who was not right in the head. The rest of the group were trying to figure out how to deal with the speaker, and also trying to figure out from whence he was talking. They challenged this 'Castille', and in return they only got petty insults and threats.
Eventually, it was decided that the best course of action would be to leave, and fast. Dirano heartily agreed with this course of action. The very timbre of Castille's voice seemed to exude danger. And not to be even afraid of a wolverine? What foolhardy creature would insinuate such a thing?
To give everyone fair credit, nobeast could have ever predicted the second event. A bloodcurdling scream sounded from somewhere outside. Even from in the basement, the plaintive cry could be heard. It was not a scream of a dying beast, but of a live one. Check that, two screams could be heard. The second was that of sheer terror.
That might not have been so bad, if it had just stopped there. Normally it would have just been fine to assume it was the Felldoh's Heirs, up to their usual fanatical deeds.
If only that voice- calm, soft spoken- voice had not intoned again from that inaccessible place.
"Six? Six? One half of a dozen maybe, six of one in another. Very interesting of course. I hardly get visitors. But then, Visitors rarely 'get' me. I'm a rare sort of creature, or do you prefer medium? Those beasties outside, they did not much prefer my company, so I sent them away. Nasty blighters aren't they? Who would think a beast would complain so much that his blood really ought not to be taken from him. He's got plenty, I told him, enough to share."
An uncomfortable silence fell over the group when the voice stopped talking. Some of the other beasts were making quiet steps toward the stairs. Dirano was in front, for once. If he could not make himself known, he could at least lead the charge out of this place.
The silky voice spoke again, and this time, Dirano was pushed over the edge with what it said.
"I mean, I had enough to share. But what about you? Do you mind sharing it amongst yourselves? What about a free sample? I've been dying to see what you all taste like."
An undignified scramble up the stairs followed, with Dirano in front of the pack. Unfortunately, through the cruel twist of fate, such an eventuality had been prepared for. The minute Dirano stepped on that top step, and saw the light from the doorway it happened. His footpaw caught in the perfectly devised loop snare that had been set sometime after they had arrived. With a yell, the cat shot upward, barely having time to call out.
"Help me!"
Hanging upside down above the height of even the tallest of the group, it was a hopeless situation. It might not have been so, if any beast had pole or a spear, but here it was not feasible. Dirano knew from the horrified looks of group that they were powerless to help him.
For he was being pulled upward.
The speed of the wire was such that Dirano could not even reach inside his garments for something to cut it with. With despair in his voice, he called out to Antonio. At the very least, he could say a farewell. It was not a loud call, but something akin to a whisper, which he could only hope the stoat could hear.
"Remember me. Whatever happens, remember that I was here, that I traveled with you!"
Then Dirano's head must have hit a beam, for he remembered none of what happened after.
When he came to, the first sensation he experienced was a horrendous smell. It was all around him, the stench of death.
Almost afraid as to what he might see, he opened his eyes. Immediately he wished he had not done so.
Two hare corpses were tied down to two chairs in front of him. Their heads had been cut off, and placed upon their laps. Their frozen expressions were full of the utmost misery and pain.
Panicked, Dirano tried to leave but found that he could not. Each of his four paws was tied to a separate beam, leaving his entire body suspended in midair. He tugged and tugged,but to no avail. Whosoever had tied these bonds had known exactly what he was doing. A cry of despair escaped from the cat's mouth.
He was still in the warehouse, but it had long been vacated by his group. To make matters even worse, the sadistic beast that had done this had placed him in full view of the exit. Even now, Dirano could see the rays of the sun coming from the half open doorway.
If the cat had any thoughts about calling for help, they were instantly dispelled. From somewhere near his ear emanated that now all too recognizable flute music.
The shrill dirge circled around the empty space, until the player came to face him. Dirano looked up at the beast, and was intrigued despite himself of the strangeness of his captor.
The beast was about Sybil's height, though obviously a male. His fur was a reddish brown mixture, although slightly discolored in places. His eyes were black as night, and they were unsettling to look at. They were the eyes of a beast that was either the smartest beast in the land, or the most insane Marty that ever lived. His clothing was compromised of a long sleeve white tunic, over which he wore a vest. Those articles however, could not disguise the obvious muscular strength of his upper torso. Adjoining his waist were slacks, around which was a belt. Dirano recognized this article as the belt he had used to store his 'cocktails', and realized that this beast now had his weapons.
"Before you ask what I am, or who I am, let me introduce myself." The creature spoke smoothly and calmly. That, combined with Dirano's current situation was very unnerving. "My name is Castille," the creature informed him, "and I am a sable. Not a very common sight, us sables. We don't get visitors very often."
Dirano kept his mouth shut tight. This beast was, besides being his captor, clearly insane. This little 'introduction' could go nowhere pleasant. That he was sure of.
Castille put his flute on top of one of the deceased hare's snouts. Striding over to where Dirano was bound, he placed a paw on top of the cat's head. "Oh dear, looks like we have something of a fever, tsk, tsk what shall we do about that?"
The sable reached behind the chairs to a place the cat could not see. Dirano briefly considered struggling against his bonds, but thought better of it. It might only make the sable angry.
Castille took what looked like a beaker out from behind the chairs and held it up to eye level. Facing Dirano again, he pried open the cat's jaw with one paw. By now, Dirano was too tired and weak from the ropes to resist. The warm liquid sloshed inside his mouth for a few seconds before Castille closed his mouth for him. Tilting Dirano's head back, he made him swallow it.
"That's better. Dear auld mum's recipe for fever. Rest her soul." the sable muttered. Then without any explanation, he took the beaker himself and finished the rest of its contents. After a brief pause, he threw the breaker over his shoulder to the ground where it shattered into many pieces.
Dirano felt somehow better after drinking the brew. It tasted strangely familiar though, as if he had known the substance all of his life. Sputtering and coughing a little, he decided it was time to break his silence.
"I know not who you are but my name is-"
Castille put a paw to the cat's lips, cutting him off. "Dirano, I already know who you are. You cannot lie to me." His eyes took on a sinister hue as he said this, and a warped smile lit his features. "Garry told me all about you. Dear old Garry, he is always dependable and truthful. Anyway, I am getting off subject. He told me all of your little 'plans' and all of your little 'schemes' and I just had to laugh. Imagine a creature acting so petty and judgmental, especially one who lives a life like you do?"
Dirano just glared at his captor when he said this. When the sable had the gall to laugh in his face, the cat mustered all of his efforts and spit into his ugly muzzle.
Suddenly the laughter stopped. Castille looked deathly serious as he wiped the spittle off of his face. He looked hurt, disappointed even. In a strange twisted way, he had taken Dirano's defiant act personally.
"And here I was thinking we could have been closer than this," Castille intoned sadly. "I even gave you your own blood to drink."
Upon hearing this, Dirano suddenly started to feel faint. The room seemed to be more blurry, and he was losing his focus. He found his voice gradually.
"My-my blood-As in I drank my own blood?" Even as he said this, he looked down to his chest. He could clearly see a cable going through it, and apparently coming out again. Surprisingly there was no blood. He could not see where the cable led, nor did he care at the moment.
"Don't worry, Dirano," Castille said. "I stitched it right back up after I was done. There was minimal blood loss, although I was able to increase my private stores. I have never tasted cat before, but there's a first time for everything."
With new hatred, Dirano put all of his energy into an outpouring of disgust and outrage. "You are a monster, oh you are! No wonder you that many talk of you the way that they do! I know what kind of character you are. I have seen your type before. You're just another nut, in an island full of nuts!"
"Hush, hush, cat, hold your tongue," Castille cooed, gently slapping Dirano's cheeks as he did so.
Coming in close to Dirano's face, he gave a final declaration. "I am going to kill you now. You must understand that. However, I heard what you were saying down there and I fully emphasize with your situation, having been there myself. Tell you what, when I'm through with you, I'll hang your decomposed carcass from the walls of Sarkleyet's mansion. He'll know my greeting, and he'll remember you for a lo-o-ng time."
He seemed to ponder for a minute. "Oh, your companions will see you too when they come back. Maybe one will even recall what you look like." He shrugged, than made a wry face. "I want you to tell me when you're ready for me to do it. Any last regrets you wish to clear up?"
Dirano did not have to think hard on this matter. He had always though that when the day came to draw his last breath, that he would have no regrets. That was regrettably made untrue by today's circumstances. What was lost could never be regained. If only he had had more time upon this world-
He recalled her sleek form, her perfect body. His mouth watered with the idea of the soft touch of her fur. After all this time, all of his lechery now meant nothing. Only one beast was right for him, he who had never believed in monogamy. Betrayals were nothing now, neither was his own callousness. He wanted her more now than ever, even though he knew that was impossible. Maybe in death, maybe in life-
"Emma." The final word ever to leave Dirano' lips and it was a fitting end. So much heartbreak was wrought, so much sorrow to culminate in this?
Castille nodded, and turned away from Dirano. Bending over, he removed the cat's crossbow from behind another chair. Dirano could see that the other half of the cable was tied to the bolt.
Picking it up, Castille moved some distance from Dirano. As tension was put upon the line, Dirano was aware of something heavy skidding across the floor behind him.
Aiming towards the doorway, Castille made sure that the crossbow was wound tight.
Then he fired the bolt.
Immediately the bolt shot out of the crossbow speeding along towards the sunlight.
Something else was speeding also, pulled along by the sheer force.
Time stopped. Dirano felt a great pain and looked down to see where it came from. A short spear was protruding through his chest. The velocity had attained such that it had ripped straight through his body. The tip was covered in blood; and through misted and rapidly hazing vision; Dirano saw that the spear had ripped the lower part of his heart straight out of his body. His entrails were pouring through the hole as well and part of his intestines was wrapped around the spear handle.
Time resumed course once again. With hardly a moan or a groan, Dirano slumped forward, dead.
Of course he never noticed the part of the cable tied around the spear haft near the spear head.