White Shadows

Chapter 15: Black Butterflies

They were irritating me. I usually tried not to care. But from the way Ladybug was staring at me. "Explain, now." She demanded, her finger pointing at me. My eye twitched.

"Since My cursed luck is unbalanced. It prevents me from healing all the time with your light. When I do, it does a partial job." I held my arm out for example, scratching off the dry blood. I hadn't cleaned off the blood near the original wound. "I have healed and the suit has been repaired but the blood from the wound has not vanished."

Ladybug gave me a blank stare. I sighed. "I've been around longer than Adrien without a Ladybug."

"He has been without good luck for six years and the current Ladybug can't balance him." Plagg snorted, sounding bored. I huffed, glaring at him. My skin crawled. I didn't like this much attention. I didn't care for it. I was just grateful to be still alive. Adrien's biggest worry is me dying young. I didn't want to leave him in the clutches of his father. At least not yet.

"What about Tikki?"

"She is pure good luck." Plagg said softly, his gaze dropping to Cat as a hiss escaped him. "There is a chance in causing him harm if she tries balancing him. You already are prevent his luck from worsening. I say that's enough."

I turned my attention to Cat Blanc in time to see his fist fly into Plagg's jaw. The presence surrounding him grew temporarily stronger. Cat hissed. "You wanted me to get free. I am getting free." He bucked as he reached for the compartments of my belt. I growled softly and tired backing away from him as his fingers looped through my belt.

A hiss escaped me when he jerked me closer. My long tail snapped around his wrist before wrapping around his arm. He flipped out of Plagg's arms. His other hand flew for the compartments as I grasped his wrist.

He glared at me while a scowl titled his mouth. A growl bubbled up from my chest. He didn't look away as his ivory ears folded flat against his head, a hiss escaping him. The golden tip of his ivory tail smacked Plagg in the nose when he reached for him. Plagg withdrew, holding his nose as blood trickled through his fingers.

Cat jerked back, trying to break free from my grasp. A black butterfly drifted between the two of us. Dread filled me as I watched it, my grip going slack. The White Cat finally yanked free, holding a few lead colored bells the size of marbles.

He stood before me, his tail tip jabbing into the side of Ladybug's neck, hitting her pressure point and causing her to fall. He grasped his staff and blocked Bleu Royale's parry. I hissed and jumped back while he held his gloved hand high above his head, throwing the bells onto the ground.

Massive amounts of smoke erupted from the small bells as I waved it away, coughs sounding around me from the mace like smoke. I groaned. Just what I needed. Horror iced my blood when the smoke cleared, revealing a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

Cat Blanc had already disappeared. I released an irritated sigh. Honestly. You would think I would be used everything happening to me by now. I felt Bleu Royale's eyes burning into me.

"That is a sigh I know of. What is going on?" I turned my gaze to my uncle. He returned my hardened glare. I could feel a headache coming on. I didn't need any more problems. And Paris covered in demon butterflies weren't going to help.

"The akuma butterflies in my basement." I growled softly, glaring at butterfly as it floated towards me. Bleu Royale's gaze left me. He stared hard at the floating insects as screams erupted. He whirled around and sprang off the building.

I stiffened when the black butterfly landed on my nose. I waited for it to absorb into my skin like it did with Stoneheart's minions. "How many butterflies were in your basement exactly?" Ladybug asked as I huffed, blowing at the butterfly.