The Catapolts

Chapter Three

I stayed up all night that I overslept the next day. Kaitlin took over my shift because of the deal we made. Madam Ticky was okay with us taking each other’s shifts as long as we are not compromising her business. I got up, changed my clothes and washed. It was just before noon and my stomach was rumbling in hunger.  I was groggy from lack of sleep and my head was reeling with all the discoveries I made.

The Catapolts appearance was at the same time of the discovery of oil and creation of machines and the building of factories. At first, they were known to be an activist group, lead by a rich man called Mac Colby who owned half the farmlands in the Far East. He sought to put an end to workers’ cruelty and abolish slavery but then things spiraled out of control. He liked the idea of having power, of intimidating powerful figures and so he took it to his full advantage. He got rid of whoever he thought was bad and corrupted. He changed the government and soon he took over. He was so blood thirsty for power he was blinded by his own greed. After a while he stumbled upon an appalling discovery, a clan of people who can perform magic. Mac Colby was a man of science and facts and he did not like the idea of sorcery and illusion. Therefore he started the first raid, which he called The Witches’ Annihilation, as if magic was only dark and bad and had no good side whatsoever.

I stopped by the part were Gerard explained how the Catapolts got their names.  A catapult was a warfare machine used during ancient times. It was said that the catapult was a device used to launch objects at a great distance without the help of an explosive device and usually their attacks were surprising and caught soldiers off guard. Gerard argued that they might have got their name because they usually launch attacks at great speed and with an element of surprise.

My head was churning with these ideas and thoughts when I got to the kitchen. Madam Ticky closed the shop for brunch and was cooking the most delicious bread, pancakes and waffles.

“Well, good morning sleepy head,” she smiled.

“Good morning,” I replied.

“We have a guest over,” she said. “Kaitlin went to see her mother because she fell sick, oh that poor girl.”

“Oh, poor Kaitlin,” I whispered. “Who’s the guest?”

“Meet Mr. Samuel Morrisett,” she ushered me into the dining room. “Mr. Morrisett, this is Lyra Starr.”

He was a brisk young fellow, with squared shoulders, thick mane of brown hair, clean-shaved face, sea-green eyes, a polite smile and a figure of a sailor. I was baffled by how Madam Ticky ushered me to meet this complete stranger and I didn’t even look my best. My light brown hair was in a wavy mess, I wore my plain green dress and I didn’t have some cosmetics on my face to complement my olive skin and brown eyes. I fidgeted with my hands nervously and stared at the floor. I didn’t know what to say or do in such situation.

“Have a seat Miss Starr,” he urged me to sit. He politely pulled out a chair for me and I sat. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you.”

 “Likewise,” I said softly.

His voice was deep like the ocean yet velvety. It had a sort of calmness in it that soothed you whenever you heard it.

“Well well,” Madam Ticky came in serving brunch “Bon apatite!”

 She distributed the plates; I poured myself some orange juice and put a bun, three pancakes and a waffle on my plate.

“I see you have a large appetite, my lady,” he joked.

“I like eating and I do not deprive myself from such pleasure,” I said.

“She’s quite the young girl,” Madam Ticky said. “Always fired up and spirited.”