Jenni exited Mr. Sweets's office. She made her way down to the stairs. She reached the 3rd floor, where she heard drumbeats and chickens. She followed the noises to room 346. "The Savoies's room?" She pressed her ear to the door and heard classy, French, music playing. "Sounds like fun. I guess I can check in." Jenni knocked on the door, and almost immediately, Nico answered, "Jenni! My dear! You found us!" "Yes, well you are hardly...inconspicuous."

Jenni slipped inside a beautiful golden room filled with lights, pictures, and wildlife. Lots of people were talking and laughing. "Mios Dios! This is extravagant!" Jenni said, awestruck. "Look who showed up for the ball Serafine!" Nico called out. Jenni smiled at her friend who was sitting on a couch with her hair down and wavy. "Ah, Jenni! Sweetheart! Come sit with me." Serafine cooed. Jenni looked uncomfortably at her friend, "Thanks but I'll take this chair instead." Jenni sat in a luxurious seat.

"So, where have you been baby girl?" Nico asked, swinging an arm over the back of the chair. "I've just had my first performance review with Mr. Sweet. He thinks I'm progressing with style." Jenni replied, uncomfortable on being called "baby girl". "Hmm, boss man thinks you're all that?" Serafine asked. "I'm not trying to upstage anyone. I just..." Jenni explained, a hint of worry stained her voice. Serafine chuckled, "Oh sweetheart, you ain't upstaging us. Maybe Peekon but not us."

"What is it with you guys and Heller?" Jenni asked. "He's just so easy to get." Nico replied. "He's always so serious even in times that never call for it." Serafine added. Jenni examined the room more carefully and suddenly remembered something important, "He was right, wasn't he?" "Bout what?" Serafine asked. Jenni hardened her gaze,

"You scarred him."

"Scarred who?

"Heller. You gave him that mark on his chest."

"Peekon showed you his chest? Mmmmm..."

"He showed me the mark you gave him. Not his whole chest! What's wrong with you?"

"That mark is a protection sign. Kind of like your necklace. It protects you from evil spirits."

"A protection glyph with a satanic appearance. How ironic."

"Satanic!? Sweetie we're not much into God but we ain't Satan worshippers neither!"

"Then what are you exactly? A cult?"

"We're Pagans like you."

"Pagans don't forcibly carve glyphs into the skin of people who don't want to switch their religions."

"You catch on fast."

"It's a trait."

Jenni stiffened up, "Pagans respect other people's religions. No matter how much they don't respect us." Everyone laughed except Jenni. "That's just what we tell ourselves baby!" Serafine giggled. "Say, you heard of Maitre Carrefour?" "The alligator spirit? Yes, my uncle loved that character." Jenni said. "He comes to us in our darkest hour and gives us a light to guide us. Nico and I were saved by im when we were bebes. You see, our parents left us to be raised by nuns. They wouldn't let us be together so we ran away.

Maitre Carrefour found us half-starved and lost and sent us a glowing alligator to guide us to safety. And I bet he saved you too after your papa died." Serafine suggested. Jenni closed her eyes and growled, "He didn't, my mother did. But perhaps, he sent her to save me." "From what?" Nico asked. Jenni sighed, "Never mind. It's over." Serafine looked concerned, "Has Maitre Carrefour ever gotten you to save someone?" Jenni thought hard on the question, "In a way I guess. It's a long story." "We have time." Nico said.

"Very well." Jenni cleared her throat, "It was 9 years ago in the middle of October. I was in Ely, Nevada on...business. One night, I had a strange feeling that I should go down to the train tracks so I did. There I found a young serval, named Sierra sitting on the tracks, waiting to catch a ride to the next life. Apparently, her uncle, name Larry was killed on those tracks. He was working on the back of a stable train caboose when a coal car, suddenly came loose.

The coupler link of the coal car rammed into Larry's gut and pushed him into the link of the train. Sierra was traumatized by the event, leading to depression. She lived with that for 10 years. Finally, she had enough. I talked her out of her suicide attempt and we both made a new friend." "Poor Bebe." Serafine said, sadly. The other patrons were wiping their eyes. "I also helped a young lady, named Dolly, at Fort Worth, Texas. Apparently, she lived on the streets with her parents. However, her father was caught by police for trying to steal bread for his family. Dolly's mother tried helping but she was shot.

I found Dolly alone at a train station and gave her some of my money. She was so thankful, she insisted on traveling with me and helping with my...business." The Savoies looked at each other with blatant shock. "Mon Dieu!" Nico cried, "You are a servant of Maitre Carrefour!" "Of course!" Serafine added. "Pardon?" Jenni asked. "Maitre Carrefour must have possessed you or lead you to those poor girls." Serafine explained. "No. I was just in the right places at the right times. I'm just a generous person. It's a part of my culture." "So, you would like to join our congregation then?" Serafine asked.

"What?" Jenni said with a slight laugh. "Would you like to join our congregation?" Serafine repeated. Jenni looked uneasily at the other patrons who were all glaring at her.

"No thank you. I wouldn't fit here."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Why don' you let me ex..."

"I said no. Thank you but I already have my own...congregation."

"It's because of what your mentor said bout' us isn't it."

"No, I can tell by the looks of these people that I'm not welcome."

"They jus' jealous cause you're the best looking' gal here."

"Flattering is not going to make me join?"

"Ah, I guess you're right. Your skills won't be too useful here anyway."

"Reverse psychology won't work either. Look, I know all the tricks. I've used them myself."

"Come on Jen. We can help you. We can even protect you."

"I can protect myself. I figured Mr. Heller told you about last night."

"Looks like he did a number on your hand."

"No, that came from my escape. I cut my hand on some glass."

"Oh, still we'd like you to reconsider..."

"No thank you."

"Sounds like you need a bit of persuading." a gray muscular male cat standing behind Jen said. He put his hand on Jenni's chair. "You will maintain your distance sir." she growled. "Why don't you make me?" the cat laughed. He groped Jenni's arm but Jen was faster. She grabbed a knife from her boot and swiftly slashed it across the cat's arm. He recoiled and let out a small yelp. Everyone's faces turned to fear and shock. Nico smirked at the male cat. "Please." Jenni growled, "The next person who tries that will be cut from east to west." She gently placed the blade to her neck and pretended to glide it across.

Everyone backed away slowly except for Serafine, "Is killing people also part of your culture?" "You don't know anything about that!" Jenni hissed, "And let's get something clear. I'll be more than happy to continue being friends, even help with financial issues for your club but I will never join...Ever!" "Oh, I see. Peekon's making you stay out of this so he can manipulate you." Nico said. "That doesn't make any sense." Jen responded, "And why do you keep calling him that?" "Because he's prickly." Serafine giggled. Jenni rolled her eyes, "It's no wonder he didn't want to join this club either. No offense,

I believe in all the same spirits you do. I'm just not interested in forcing others or being forced to do something that's both wrong and a little fatuous. Another thing, Mr. Heller was smart not to join. He's a strong soul. Classy like you guys but smart like me. As a matter of fact, he's a great mentor. I'm glad to be put with him." "Oh! You like him don' you?" Nico asked, smirking. "So, what if I do?" Jen responded, "He's stubborn and curt but I've definitely worked with worse. Oh, forgot to mention! The last guy who put his hands on me got a knife in his back!"

Serafine grabbed a long knife and pointed it at Jenni, "Well then, I appreciate you not being entirely rude, but I don't appreciate you hurting my patron. How about I explain what some of our punishments are?" Jenni glared at Serafine and reached into her coat. She grabbed the hilt of her gun but a familiar voice came through the door, "I'm sure the punishment for harming a member of Marigold is far more severe than any for harming a member of this organization." Jen turned her head, it was Heller. "Ah, the knight in shining armor has come to rescue his damsel in distress." Nico laughed, followed by everyone.

"Does it look like I need to be rescued?" Jen asked. "Uhh...yes?" Serafine said, twirling her knife. "That was a rhetorical question." Jen stated coldly. One of the female patrons wearing a rather stunning gold headpiece giggled, "He remembers me...Zulie?" Mordecai looked uneasily at the door and Jenni looked concerned at him. She then glared at the female cat, "Leave him alone." she twirled her own knife. "It's 13 against 2. What are the odds?" another male cat said. "Yes. However, we have a total of 18 bullets + 2 knives." Jenni explained,

"So if we're talking ratios, the odds would be in our favor...and I doubt that the majority of you can fight." Serafine and Nico looked concerningly at each other. "Thank you for dropping Jen, see you tomorrow night." Serafine said. Jenni and her mentor walked out and closed the door.