The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
As you probably figured out by now, not every character gets a fortunate life. Angel is no exception to that rule.
MisaRae, I could not do this without your help.
Callista and Michael appeared in the dimly lit pub and looked around for Angel.
As they searched for the she-cat they were supposed to meet, the bartender looked at the pair and recognized Callista almost instantly. He said, "Your majesty, as much as I appreciate someone of your caliber coming into my establishment, this is not a place you should be in."
Callista turned her body to the right and faced the bartender. She saw a chunky tom wearing a black T-Shirt, a pair of distressed blue jeans, and had several tattoos adorning his arms. Callista went over to him, leaned her forearms on the dark colored wood bar, and said, "I appreciate your concern. However, my friend and I are here to see a she-cat in a red dress." As her tail moved back and forth like a metronome.
"There are a few she-cats in here that meet that description, care to elaborate a little further your majesty?" He asked as he leaned forward against the bar and watched her tail.
Michael was at her side almost instantly when he noticed the bartender starting to try and pick Callista up. He said, "She apparently works for The Society and by the way, the queen in engaged to a tom that is rather possessive of her."
The bartender lifted his upper body from the bar and asked, "Really? Can this tom protect her and will make the queen the top priority in his life?"
Michael was about to answer him but Callista stopped Michael and said, "My fiancée does make me his top priority and can protect me as well as my guards did."
"Oh, who is this mysterious knight then your majesty?" The bartender asked.
Callista leaned further across the bar and whispered into the bartender's ear, "Ulysses Feral."
"That is one tom I would not want to cross," the bartender replied. He looked around the bar and noticed a she-cat off in the corner that was not one of the regulars that frequented his bar. "I think the she-cat you are looking for is right over there." The bartender said as he pointed to a darker corner of his bar.
Both Michael and Callista turned their heads towards the direction the bartender was pointing and noticed a light brown haired she-cat wearing a semi-revealing red dress with her long legs crossed sitting at a table with a glass of red wine sitting on the table.
As they started walking towards Angel, the bartender could not help but to take a good long look at Callista's tail. He whistled in appreciation then went back to work.
Michael heard the whistle and was about to turn around and show the bartender that was no way to treat the queen, much less any she-cat. But Callista stopped him and said, "Don't. This is his bar and I don't want any trouble."
"I understand Callista," Michael said. "However, he needs to be taught how to respect a female."
"Don't worry Michael, he will get what's coming to him, eventually," Callista said.
They continued walking towards Angel and when Angel noticed Michael as well as the queen, she instantly felt nervous and was getting ready to bolt out of the bar.
Michael went over to Angel and said, "I know you told me to come alone, but the queen wanted to meet you. Please relax, she is a friend."
Angel relaxed her posture and crossed her legs again and took a sip of her wine. After she put the glass back down on the table, she looked into Michael's eyes and said, "I guess you want to know why I killed your friend."
Michael felt his anger building once again and it was directed at Angel. He reached across the table, took her paws in his much stronger ones, and while he gave her paws a not-so-gentle squeeze, he said, "That would be a good start miss."
Angel winced in pain as Michael squeezed tighter. Then Callista noticed Angel in visible pain. She turned to Michael and said, "Let her go, and I mean now! Getting revenge will not bring Rodney back so stop acting like a fool and think with your head!"
"She needs to feel the pain and hurt she caused my family Callista!" Michael said. "You saw how Evelyn reacted when I told her that her beloved uncle was dead! This she-cat must pay for his death!"
"And she will have her day in court Michael!" Callista said. "But you are not the one to be the judge and jury! Is your desire for revenge blinding you so much that you are looking sight of why we are here? Think about Evelyn and your un-born kittens! Do you want to see them for the first time from behind prison bars? I don't think you do and that is where you are heading if you don't stop now!"
Michael let her paws go and sat down at the opposite side of the table. However, his eyes never left hers.
Angel rubbed some feeling back into her paws, then said, "I know this is not going to bring Rodney back from the grave but I am truly sorry for murdering him. If he and I met under different circumstances, I might have grown to like him. He seemed very sweet and kind for the short time I knew him."
"So why did you murder him then you heartless bitch?" Michael asked.
"Michael! Watch your mouth!" Callista snapped.
Michael turned to her and said, "My apologies your majesty. I let my rage take over for a minute."
"I deserve that your majesty," Angel said. "My father was indebted deeply to David after he borrowed a large sum of money that he had no way of repaying. When David's associates came to collect, my father ran for the hills and I never saw him again. Being my father's only living relative, they expected me to repay his debts one way or another. They brought me to David and he gave me a choice, I could either become one of his murderers for hire or be killed myself."
"Why would he make you such an offer?" Callista asked.
"I always had a knack with a blade and since my father was a butcher, David assumed I knew how not only to use my talents to render meat, but I also knew very efficient ways to kill another and he was right," Angel said and took a sip of her wine. "I hated working for him and every time he made me kill, my gut wretched. Killing Rodney was the last straw and now I want out. I want to live without having David meddling in my life. I want to live out my dream of opening a restaurant, and I want to find someone to live my dreams with. I know I have done many despicable things while working for David and I fully expect to pay for them. He gave me the name Angel after the Angel of death, I don't want to be known by that name anymore. Please call me Artemis which is my birth name."
"Do you really expect me to swallow that load of crap Artemis?" Michael asked. "Why should I or the queen believe such a bowl of lies? There is no way to verify anything you are saying so why should we believe you?"
Artemis turned to Callista and asked, "Surely you can sense I am telling the truth your majesty?"
"I don't know Artemis," Callista responded. "Your tale seems plausible but unless I reach into your soul and see for myself, I have no way of knowing if you are telling the truth or not."
Artemis lowered her glass to the table harder than she expected, causing the wine to slosh in the glass and spill over the top. She then said, "Do it!"
"You don't know what you are asking me to do Artemis," Callista said. "I have only done this once before and it didn't turn out so well. I don't want to harm you."
"I need for both of you to know, I truly want out of The Society. And if the only way I can get you both to trust me is to have you look into my soul, then that is what I want you to do!" Artemis said.
"Alright, this should not hurt at all. Please relax and let me in," Callista said before she closed her eyes and let her mind drift towards Artemis'
Artemis took a few deep breaths, let herself go, and opened her mind to Callista.
Callista entered her mind and saw a young Artemis playing happily in her yard with a tom who she assumed was her father watching his daughter. Then the scene changed and she watched as Artemis' father threw a bunch of clothes in a bag and ran out of the front door of their home, leaving his daughter behind to fend for herself. The scene changed again and this time Callista saw Artemis tied to a bed with a tom on top of her, sexually assaulting the young girl. Callista's body filled with anger as she watched Artemis being assaulted by the tom. Finally, Callista saw Artemis meeting with David. She was obviously broken and mentally exhausted that Artemis was agreeing to anything David said to make her abuse stop. Callista didn't need to see anymore and pulled back from Artemis.
Michael watched Callista's facial expressions change with every minute she probed Artemis' mind and when Callista retreated, she held her head in her paws and slumped forward. He reached for her and asked, "Are you alright Callista?"
"No, I'm not alright Michael," she responded. "This poor girl has gone through so much torment at the hands of David that I am surprised she hasn't hurt herself!"
"What did you see Callista?" Michael asked.
Callista was about to answer him but instead, Artemis answered, "After my father left me and I had no way of repaying his debt. I was taken to The Society and imprisoned. Some of the male guards took notice of my body and made rude suggestions in exchange for an easier time. I refused each and every time. That is until one night when most of the other prisoners were taken out for their evening meal and I was left alone. Two of the guards that had made the offers rushed into my cell, tied me to my bed, and ripped my clothes off. I don't think I have to tell you what happened next but luckily for me, I was not fertile at that time or I would have had their kittens. After days of that torture, I was led to David's office where he made a proposal I could not refuse. He told me the daily abuse will stop as long as I did exactly what he wanted."
"I'm sorry you went through that Artemis but it does not excuse you for what you have done," Michael said.
"Michael, I'll answer to any court and serve my penance willingly. Just as long as I am out from under David's foot."
Someone switched o the jukebox in the corner of the bar and some old swing tune started playing.
Artemis listened to the music for a minute and her foot started tapping on the floor in time with the music. She turned to Michael and asked, "Do you dance?"
"I do indeed, why?" Michael responded.
"This is one of my favorite pieces of music. My grandfather used to play this and I danced around the his living room with him. He used to tell me I was quite talented and I should join a dance troupe," Artemis answered before she stood up, grabbed Michael's paw in hers and led him to the center of the room where she let the music take over and started dancing.
Michael watched her dance for a minute and was about to leave her alone but he caught a glimpse of Callista who mouthed to him, 'Go on, dance with her. She needs to feel alive again.'
He reluctantly agreed and started moving in time with Artemis.
Callista watched Artemis's very fluid movements as she danced with Michael and a plan to not only get Artemis out of The Society but also to get her into a steady position formed in her head.
Michael hated to admit that Artemis is a very good dancer and he was having trouble keeping up with her.
"What's wrong Michael? Is my dancing style too much for you?" Artemis asked as she performed a delicate move.
Michael's eyes watched as she lifted he right leg high in the air and spun on the ball of her left foot. He smirked at her and placed his paws on her waist and dipped her. Michael then said, "You really are very good. Your grandfather was right, you should have joined a professional troupe. Then you might not be in the position you are in now."
Artemis lowered her leg and righted her body before she spun out of his reach. She then said as she stopped moving, placed her feet wider than her shoulders and cocked her hips to the left, "I know I should have listened to him. However, my father needed me at the time, or at least I thought he needed me. By the way, you are not that bad of a dancer yourself. If you weren't married already, I might be tempted to saunter over to you." She started to walk over to him with a very obvious sway in her hips and tail, "wrap my arms around your neck," Artemis stopped right in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, "and do this," Artemis finally stretched her neck, tilted her head, and leaned forward to kiss him.
Michael felt hot being around her but he knew he loved his wife to no end and just before Artemis' lips touched his, he turned and backed away from Artemis. "Sorry, but I am very happily married and no other she-cat no matter how good she looks is ever going to replace my Helen in my heart."
"Can't blame a girl for trying," Artemis said. "You are quite handsome Michael. There are several she-cats in the organization that would love to get a shot with you."
"They don't stand a chance Artemis, Helen is my wife, the mother of my kittens, and the love of my life. The day she agreed to be my wife, I felt like I was the luckiest guy in the world and the day Evelyn was born, I knew I was. My family is my life and I will not betray them for you or any other she-cat." Michael said.
Callista decided it was time to break up this little party before it got any later. She went over to them and said, "If you two don't mind, I have a date with my future husband to get to."
Artemis let go of Michael and said, "Not at all your majesty. However, I don't want to return to the compound. David has eyes and ears all over the city and if he found out I was talking to you, my life as well as Michael and his family will be jeopardized."
"Trust me Artemis, I will not let that happen," Callista said before she turned and went back to the bar.
The bartender was busy washing some glasses and quickly noticed Callista coming towards him. He dried his paws and asked, "Can I get you something, your majesty?"
Callista leaned over the bar and put her face very close to the bartenders, then asked, "Are there anymore of David's associates here tonight?"
The bartender quickly scanned his establishment and did not see any of David's cats in the bar. He then turned his head back to Callista and answered, "I don't think so, your majesty."
Callista kissed his cheek and placed a spell on him that wiped out the last few hours of his memory. She then walked back to Michael and Artemis and said, "He won't remember we were here and none of David's associates are present so I think you are safe Artemis."
"That's a relief Callista," Artemis said before she said, "Now I have to find a place to stay."
"I think I have a place that you can stay in until this mess blows over Artemis," Callista said as she twisted her left paw in the air and a small piece of paper appeared in her paw. She handed it to Artemis and said, "This is the address to my old house. Technically, it now belongs to my granddaughter but she and her fiancée have not moved in yet. You can stay there as long as you need to or until you find a new home."
"My queen, she is a murderer and needs to be in jail, not in your home," Michael said.
"Michael, she was forced into this life," Callista said then looked over at Artemis for a second and felt how nervous she was about being put behind bars or worse, being sentenced to death for her crimes. She put a comforting paw on Artemis's shoulder and said, "Let me talk to Ulysses and see what he says. Even if you stand trial, I'll help you through it and even find you a good lawyer. But for now, you are my guest. Please don't make me regret my decision and try to flee, I would hate to have to find you and bring you personally to prison."
"You have a deal, Callista. I promise, I will not run away from my problems and I will accept what happens," Artemis said.
"Good, have a safe trip," Callista said before she zapped Artemis to her house. She turned to Michael and said, "Now that she is safe, I'm bringing you home then I am going to get some dinner with my handsome fiancée." Calllista raised her paw again and disappeared with Michael.
End of Chapter