Cat-Call 2 (Mari-Chat sequel to Cat-call)

Ch.8 Promise (MarinettePV)

I landed with a light thud on the rooftop of the Agreste mansion. Swiftly and stealthily, I made my way down the fireplace chimney. It was midnight and all of Paris was asleep, including Adrien's bodyguard and his assistant Natalie. After slipping inside the mansion, I made my way up the stairs quietly. I stared up at the large portrait of Adrien with his dad that hung eerily in the middle of the landing. Adrien's downtrodden expression made my heart ache.

I continued up the stairs and into the study where a picture of his mom guarded the entrance to Hawkmoth's lair. Without hesitating, I pressed the four buttons activating the trap door. "Hawkmoth?" I called out once I had reached the dimly lit loft. My footsteps echoed loudly through the acoustically sound room. I glanced around and noticed that all the butterflies that had previously inhabited his lair were gone.

The moon lit up the vacant room in an ominous fashion as I strode beneath the dusty, moth shaped window with haste and made my way into the adjacent door. Seeing Hawkmoth's elaborate lair had stunned me when I first took Adrien to Master fu after he had lost his memories. It still amazed me now that I hadn't realized it was him sooner.

I peaked into the dimly lit room and noticed a figure standing motionless at the far end. "Can I help you, Ladybug...?" his stoic voice reached me as I walked down the bridge to where he stood.

"Why are you sending out akumas? Aren't you satisfied with what you did to your son!?" I hissed as I reached him. He didn't turn around. Instead he kept his gaze on the ivory coffin in front of him.

Emily Agreste laid dormant with a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Her complexion was pallid, but not enough to be touched by death. She looked frozen rather than deceased.

"Believe me, I haven't sent any akumas out since..." he trailed off, his shoulders slouching.

"Then what the hell was going on with that monster this afternoon!?" I asked angrily.

"Over the past year, I've sent out akumas and ordered them to stand by in case a negative emotion were to surface..." he muttered.

"So there may still be akumas out there!?" I asked incredulously.

"Not many, but yes there may be a few more..." he trailed off.

"Great..." I muttered as I glanced at the floor. A tense silence settled in the atmosphere around us.

"I'm leaving to Tibet in the morning..." he broke the silence. "Please keep an eye on my son..." I nodded awkwardly as he turned around and made his way out of the chamber. I took a moment and studied Mrs. Agreste's still form. With her golden locks and porcelain skin, she was truly a sight to behold, even in her current state.

"Don't worry ma'am...I promise I'll help Adrien get back to his old self..." I whispered as I placed my hand on the cold glass of her casket.

"Tikki spots off..." I called as I jumped through my trap door and landed on the bed. "What can I do Tikki...?" I asked as I hugged the nearest pillow.

"I wish I could tell you Marinette, the only thing we know for sure is that we have to find and purify the rest of those akumas..." I nodded. "I'm sure you'll find a solution, you always do..." tikki patted my cheek with her tiny nubs. I nodded, a hopeful grin spreading across my face as she hovered over to my pillow and curled up for the night.