The Baroness

Chapter 9

Layla woke in the morning, hearing the sounds of airplanes overhead and the house was shaking. Jumping up and wrapping the jacket tighter around her, she stood and went to the door. Outside, one could see explosions far off in the distance and planes overhead.

"Layla, quickly this way!" Toto cawed and hopped towards the exit.

"What about Baron?!" She screeched over the sound of bombs and planes.

"He is waiting for us at our safe area with Muta! Let's go." Toto motioned for her to jump on, but she hesitated.

"Hold on, I forgot something." she ran back to her home, nearly tripping and got inside.

Once inside Layla made a mad dash to her room. She reached under her bed and grabbed a box, then ran outside. The explosions were nearly upon them and smoke was everywhere. She ran to Toto and jumped on, clutching the box to her chest as the bird took off.

"Toto, what'll happen to the Bureau?" Layla spoke quietly, now that they were further from the planes.

"Well, if we get lucky there will only be a bit of damage. If the bombs keep on the same path, the Bureau will be destroyed." Toto went to the lakes and started circling.

He dove down and they disappeared through something. Layla covered her eyes with one arm as light flooded the scenery. Toto landed and she jumped off, looking around.

"Where are we?" she saw a large palace in the distance and little huts all around them.

"We are in the kingdom of cats." Toto ruffled his feathers and flew towards the palace.

"Oh..." Layla walked after him, taking her time to enjoy the scenery.

There were cats everywhere, walking on two legs. Some cats were speaking to another, others were out in the sun relaxing. The palace was right in front of her and she looked up.

"It's big." she muttered, turning back to the door.

"Almost as big as my love for you." a dark, husky voice came from the shadows of the palace.

Layla screamed and started running away, dropping her box of things. The cat chased her past the huts and fields. Layla yelped in shock as she tripped on her dress and fell into a river.

Strong hands grabbed her as she started to fade from consciousness, the last thing Layla saw was the dull eyes of Duke.

Back at the palace was chaos. Baron was pacing about, having abandoned his cane and hat at a seat, Toto was flying in and out of the palace, reporting what he saw, as Muta even refused to eat for the time being.

"I saw your brother Baron. He was carrying something, but I couldn't see because he vanished into thin air." Toto reported.

"Where was he?" Baron snapped his head towards the bird.

"Just beyond the huts and fields. By a river." Toto cawed.

"King Lune, is there any portals in that area?" Baron questioned the young king who was sitting at the head of the table.

"I can only think of one. I was never allowed to go through it though, so I haven't the slightest idea what's over there." Lune held his head in his hands, distraught that more trouble was in the kingdom.

"Take me there." Baron grabbed his hat and cane, heading to the door.

"Baron, you can't just disappear. What if your girlfriend shows up and is looking for you?" Muta protested.

Baron tensed up and glared at the ground. "She isn't my girlfriend. She probably isn't the slightest bit into me."

Toto and Muta began laughing. "You both are so blind! She adores you Baron, whenever we left, she had your jacket and was clinging to it like her life depended on it." Toto said, after regaining his composure.

Baron sighed and gripped his cane tightly. "I'm such an idiot. I should have seen the signs. When I ran out on her.... Lune, we need to go, now."

"Alright, but we don't know if she's with him." Lune stood, kissing Yuki's head before rushing out the door, Baron close behind.