The Baron

2

I have been walking for hours. It hasn't felt like anything because I talked to Baron the whole time. I found out he was the reason my nights were bearable. He would put the blanket higher to my face, and when the lowest things happened, he'd check for my pulse.

That actually made me feel really bad that he had to do that. And since he fell under the dresser he was unable to come to life, so it's been a couple weeks since he's been to the bureau.

I was starting to pant as I walked, I'm hungry. Thankfully we reached the crosswalk and there is a deli nearby. I grabbed a quick bite and met Baron at a table. "You want a piece of croissant?" I asked Baron and he politely declined. The way that he's so gentle and calm mannered never make not smile. "We should be there very soon, I know where we are."

I smile and continue to eat. All while he stood there with his arms behind his back. That white three piece tux, complete with a top hat and cane is too adorable. "You're cool to look at."

"Thank you," he said. "Baron, why must you protect me, is it because you saw the horrors I went though?" I asked him gently and slowly takes a seat. "Your mother took me from my window stand. I don't know how she found the Bureau, but she did and saw me then took me with her."

He takes off his hat to fan himself but continues to talk. "She didn't know that I could come to life, since I'm just an artist's creation. I was introduced to you while you were just a little one. And before she lost her battle she spoke to me and said, 'protect her for me, Baron'." He finished.

My eyes sorta watered at listening that my mom is kinda watching me through Baron's eyes.  "And I will continue to protect you until you no longer want me to."

"Thanks, Baron."

He bowed then looked at the evening sky.  "Would you like to continue, we're about 5 minutes from the Bureau." I stand, having him walk up my arm and take his place on my shoulder again.  "Through here, watch your step, Harper."

I was guided through an alley, that had me walking on apartment ledges.  "Isn't there an easier way?" I asked, and Baron only shook his head. The alley progressively got tighter, so I dropped to my knees. Baron got off me and ran forward with me following closely behind. A second later I stand up to witness the completely different town.

The buildings Shorter than me by a little bit. I walked forward where a pole was, on top of it is a stone crow. Baron walks to me and takes his hat off,  "welcome to the Bureau."

"What is this place exactly?" It's perfectly sized for him.  "It is a refuge for all creations. Whenever someone creates something with all their heart, that creation is given a soul. Such as myself, and Toto."

I turned to the pole to see the stone crow, but it moved. The bird flew straight toward me and circled my head fast. I was startled and It made me tumble backwards. Baron stretched out his arms and said, "careful now, she is expecting."

"My apologies." The crow says.  "What would your name be?"

"It's okay, I'm Harper." I smiled bowing my head. "Quite fetching isn't she?" Baron smiles and Toto agrees. "Come, Harper." Baron says so I follow him into the small green house. I struggle a little getting inside of it. The place is elegant, yet simple, like him. Massive bookshelves and a kitchen. I couldn't stand up or I would tear the place apart so I sat on top of a chest. "Wow, I like this." I told Baron.

He took off his coat and hung it up. "What do you like in your tea?"

"Um, milk, and a little honey."

He started to prepare the tea in a little cup then gave it to me on a little matching plate. I chuckled smelling the great aroma of it, it tasted amazing. Baron sat down to drink his own tea, just as the crow comes in through an open window above me. "Where's Muta?"

"About that...he was taken to the cat kingdom about an hour ago with a human girl." Toto said really fast. Baron stands up, "cat kingdom? Why's that?"

"This school girl, Haru, got involved with them after saving the prince and now the cat king wants Haru to marry prince Lune. So she came here for your help but the cats came and took her with Muta."

Baron sighs, quickly putting his coat back on. "Then I must go after them. Toto, I need a lift."

"Can I stay here?" I moped, which made Baron almost laugh. "I can't leave you unprotected."

"I thought this place was safe."

"It is, but I'm not risking another mob of cats take you as well."

I wanted to argue but when I opened my mouth I gagged. I crawled back outside as fast as I could and attempted to not throw up.

"Hurry, Harper. Haru needs your help." A soft female voice said. Haru? I've heard that name before. Could it be my long lost friend Haru?

I heard a loud meow in the distance when a pair of glowing eyes appeared from the alley. "Are you Harper?" An annoying male voice says. A weird looking cat with blushy cheeks appeared. "Yes?"

"Miss Haru has asked to collect you."

Just like that huge mob of cats swarmed me. I thought I could stop them but they took me down and starting taking me away. "Baron, Toto!" I screamed.

But also I laughed as they ran under me but I was genuinely freaked out. "Harper!" I looked at the sky at Baron riding Toto. "Just hang on!" He yelled down at me. I screamed when we suddenly started falling and fell through a portal. It closed. Baron and Toto didn't make it through. This is bad.

"Miss Harper."

I woke straight upward, smashing my face with the very cat that took me. "Ouchies!...you are needed at the castle." The cat pushed me on my feet gently. There's huts everywhere with cats wandering around. STANDING ON THEIR BACK LEGS. "Uh I must be hallucinating."

"I can assure you that you are not. Come along."

More cats stood next to me and I had no choice but to follow them. The palace is up ahead and its huge. There's these creepy eyes floating around. The cats took me to a fitting room and had me change me into a dress. I feel bloated. Where's Baron?

"Can I have a drink of water?" I asked the annoying cat and he agreed to get a glass. Next to my room, I heard screaming. So I ran in there, crashing on to a big grey fluff cat that had solid gold bands. "Hey who is this?" He asked.

The girl who screamed stared at me. She's a cat, but human, more like she's turning into a cat. "Haru?" I asked her. From crying she went into shock. "Harper? No way." She squeezes me in a tight hug. I haven't seen her in so long. "Haru, you have cat ears."

"Have you seen yourself?"

I look at myself in the mirror two female servants are holding. I have cat ears, paws and a tail. "What!?" Whiskers grew suddenly at my outburst. I seem to be turning faster than Haru. The cat king and his secretary silently chuckled at us. "You got a bit of stomach there." The king points at my very noticeable pregnancy. Its not supposed to be that visible, I'm only a few weeks. "Umm," I try to cover it.

Haru turns me to face me, "you're expecting?"

"I don't feel good."

I gagged, this time threw up all over the place which cleared the room. I looked at Haru and quickly her whiskers grew, making her scream. "Muta!" She ran out and I followed her to a food lounge where a huge jar of jelly is. Inside a huge white cat was. This freaked out Haru. "No, Muta, you weren't supposed to die." She cried.

The annoying cat came in and told us that Muta just dove in. "Time for dinner."

"No I'm not leaving him."

"Then we'll just bring him with us."

I gasped at how rude that sounded. They just made us walk while wheeling the jar with Muta in it. I want Baron back.