Finding Darkness

Chapter 15

I cock my head to the other side. "You have a name. I didn't know cats have names."

Bella struggles again. "Of course, fool! We're living things, aren't we?"

I let go of her paw so suddenly, she literally tumbles back away from me. I laugh hard as she makes a fool of herself trying to get up.

Once I catch my breath, I look out the window. The sun is high and the shadows are short. Tar should be getting here by now. I look back to Bella and ask, "Are all cats as clumsy as you?"

She bares her tiny feline fangs. "What's that supposed to mean?" A hiss escapes, and those small, pitiful claws come out, digging into the floor.

I study my own black claws, completely bored out of my mind. "You hissing doesn't faze me, you know. I've worse to face than a pitiful feline trying to be scared." I pick her up by the skin on her neck and study her. "You wouldn't even compare to the trouble I have to face."

Bella manages to get all four sets of claws into my arm, drawing out my black blood. I tighten my grip, unaffected by the sixteen tiny wounds when there's still a giant  wound in my chest that lasted for years.

Both our ears twitch at the knock on the door. I sense the life and find it's Tar. I sigh. "Come on in. The door's unlocked."

Tar comes in calmly. He sees Bella and says, "So you've found a cat?"

I grin. "Feisty little one. Claims her name is Bella. Stupid name if you ask me."

Bella hisses and digs her claws deeper. "Well, nobody asked you! Next time ask permission to state your opinion," she snarls.

I laugh at her futile display of danger. "I beg to differ! I don't need to ask anyone permission to do anything."

Tar looks at me then Bella then back to me. "Number 96, how are you talking to her? Cats can't talk."

I sweep my gaze back to him. "No shit, Sherlock. All living things have minds, no? I can communicate with them mentally."

He thinks about it for a while, then asks, "So do your people do the same?"

This question is what gets to me, what rips open that still bleeding wound. My claws sink into Bella's skin, making her mew pitifully, and I grit my teeth in anger. "Never refer to them as my people. I hate them! I'll never accept myself as one of them!" I seethe. Then I mutter, "Not after he made me miserable." I let Bella go without another word.

She lands on her paws and scampers away from me. When I glance at her, she seems to be smirking. I snarl and glare intensely at her, making her shrink back.

Tar gives me a confused look. "After who did what? I didn't catch that last part."

I turn my head to the window. "It's a private matter, Tar. You know I'll never tell you anything personal," I mutter almost inaudibly.

Bella struts in a circle around Tar. "Well I heard it." She stops prancing and sits neatly in front of him. "And here I thought you'd be more impressive," she chirps, repeating my very words.

"Shut your pitiful feline mouth!" I snap at her. "It's not like you're more impressive that dirt!"

Bella hisses and claws at me, actually getting my ankle. I smirk at her pitiful attempt and mimic her. She glares at me, and I return her stare.

I cross my arms and say, "Honestly, Astral's more fun than you. At least he puts up a good fight." My face clouds with resentment, and I mutter, "Or so I'm told." I regain my composure. "If you're done here, I suggest you leave."

Bella pads silently to my window and glares at me again. I hiss mockingly, and she jumps out.

I turn to Tar. "So why are you here?"

Tar clears his throat. "Well, it seems that the people driven to insanity died after having a mental meltdown, which is to say that their brains completely melted into mush. I thought you might want to know how well your trick worked."

Actually, I'm delighted to hear that my night wasn't a complete waste. My grin widens  to an insane smile. Those deaths weren't bloody, but I got to kill more people than I hoped all the same.

"Really? That's good. I'll need a different technique for my big plan, though."

Tar steps forward and grins. "What plan, Number 96?" he asks, his voice completely filled with bloodlust.

I narrow my eyes and smirk. "The one that requires you to tell me where the nearest investigator is." I laugh with delight.