Lucy and the Definitive... Cat?

The 14% Decision

They had one day left before the cultists began their ceremonies. Mard had already started drawing plans in secret with the other demons as to when to slaughter the humans if Belial had failed.

She did not give them a lot of details when she requested they round up ten test subjects. Mard knew enough about medicine in general to know that living test subjects were good, assuming the ten they picked off and captured were enough.

He had until tomorrow morning before he would have to explain it all to Rosebud and then he would have to hope against all hope he would not be turned back into a cat.

Even during the planning session, he worried about the curse coming back at him. How humiliating it would have been to become a small house cat in front of his own people? When they planned, Mard chose his words carefully, he had to remember that these were innocent humans.

And that humans were different from demons, but not some inferior species. All that care and caution and thinking of his mate had kept the curse from returning and that was one small miracle. Though he was certain that it would end the second the first infected human died.

Unlike his reasoning that had him turned into a cat, in the first place, this was different. This was the same decision he made all those years ago. It was the right decision for the Underworld, but he would be lying if he didn't admit how difficult of a decision it was to make. After all his options had run out and nothing else would work, he had to cleanse the infection by blood and fire.

The only bit of salvation he had was the small demon pup who lived. He slid a look over at Jackal as he ate his breakfast and nodded along with whatever story Silver was telling. Mard was lost in his thoughts as Rosebud sat beside him and carefully ate the simple stew she made over the campfire. He scrubbed a hand over his face and hoped that soon they would finally hear from Belial.

"Mard, what's wrong?" Rosebud asked as she put her metal spoon into the small iron bowl.

"Our time is running short," he said as he looked at her.

Rosebud put down the bowl and took his hand, "I know. We should decide what to do if Belial doesn't show up."

He let out a breath, "we have limited options. Those people are not in control of themselves. They will do everything in their programming to summon their masters."

She pursed her lips and leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. They said nothing, they didn't need to, Mard knew Rosebud was thinking through the worse options. It was her way, she could be frightfully pessimistic at times, but she was also beautifully analytical. There was always a small chance she might have a plan in her complex mind that he had not considered.

"If we do this wrong, you could be a cat again," she whispered.

"Perhaps permanently this time. The curse may figure there is nothing redeemable about me."

"Then it's a curse that doesn't pay attention," Rosebud said with a light bit of mirth. Mard smiled and put his arm around his mate as they watched the campfire and just enjoyed the serenity of the last few hours they had before he may have to slaughter many humans.

Strange how that option felt horrible to him, when it had not ever been a consideration a short while ago. He turned his head and kissed the top of her head, smiling a bit in her blonde hair. "I love you."

Rosebud hummed, "love you too.

"And I love you both," Belial's voice broke the moment and both Mard and Rosebud turned around to see Belial and several medical demons, all in their white lab coats and black suits, pour out of a swirling red portal. Many of them he recognized from the orange grove, including Larry who lost half his tongue.