Legend of the Seven Lights

B-21. Azkaban

Last chapter of the Original Worlds Arc.

Chapter B-21: Azkaban

Cleveland, Virginia

A baby was crying, wrapped comfily in a blue blanket. She had beautiful brown eyes and hair as deep blue as the ocean. A man in a dark cloak took her away. She reached for her baby, but despaired as she drew farther away from her grasp.

Carla moaned as she woke up in the alley. A pair of black high-heeled boots stood before her. Carla's hazy vision moved up to see the glaring, boney face of Madame Rouge, smoking a cigarette. "Ma...Madame Rouge." The kitten spoke weakly. "Where's... Wendy..."

"She and Dr. Facilier have been taken by Magic Aurors." The French woman replied. "I saw it from ze crowd."

"You...You saw?" Carla got to her feet and angrily yelled, "Why didn't you DO anything?! You let Wendy and your own husband be captured!"

"It vould not do to blow my own cover. I am on ze vanted lists, too. My husband is in enough trouble for harboring Vendy."

"He's still the man you married! Why would you dare to marry him if you would not fight to protect him? He might not be an honest man, but you're a terrible-"

"I vill not be lectured by you, Cat!" Rouge stretched her neck down and glared at the animal. "I do love Dr. Facilier, and ze reason I do not show myself around here often is to avoid getting him in trouble." She pulled her neck back upright and turned away. "Wendy vas not the only person running away from people who tried to arrest her. Vhen Hannibal Bean unfroze me six years ago, I could not go anywhere vithout hiding my true face. That bratty Nolan York told the G.U.N. about us and marked me in their criminal banks. Vhen my escape was noted, wanted posters have gone up. Vone day, vhen I was on a stroll through this town on a rainy night... I went into Harvey's emporium. He saw through my disguise, but had no intention of capturing me. Instead... he read my fortune."

Carla said nothing for a moment. Rouge was speaking reflectively, thinking of warm memories, the kitten could tell. "...Madame Rouge, if Dr. Facilier means to you as much as Wendy means to me... we must save them."

The slender woman turned to her. "You mean as much as a pet loves her master? Zat is not how I feel."

"You know very well what I mean."

"Regardless, zey are going to Azkaban. It is the most secure prison in the vizard community. Ve could not hope to infiltrate it."

Carla rubbed her chin with the "knuckle" of her paw-finger, thinking. "...That Mr. Floop person said that the World Government uses Azkaban as their main prison. He suspected that Chelia would have been taken there."

"Your point?"

"Well, seeing as Floop served a World Leader, he may have information we can use. Honestly, it's the only hope we have. Where did those twin hooligans take him, anyhow?"

"I know vhere they're hiding. Come with me." Rouge transformed into Rachel Uno and began to walk off.

Carla stretched her wings to fly- "Aaaah!" She sank to the ground.

"Vhat now?" Rouge asked.

"My wing still hurts. I'm afraid... I'll have to walk."

"A kitty has to walk, how dreadful." Rouge kept walking.

"Not like you ever went a mile in your own shoes." Carla retorted as she hurried after.

Azkaban