“Plum, is that you? I haven’t seen you since you told me you were going on that business trip with your family. Everyone here says they’ve seen you shopping early morning with your son when the old folks get up. I hope everything is ok. I know your husband’s last-minute schedules changes are annoying. Hopefully, he won’t be able to hang out with us tonight. A man is visiting from across the country, he plays for an illegal substance.” 

Upon seeing his human talking and everyone minded their own business in the market, Blackie hopped onto some empty crates towards the edge of the wall, leaping onto Plum’s shoulders. The man behind the metal stall was at aww the moment he laid eyes on the cat. He looked at plum and mentioned what he saw on the news and her son’s drawing.

The man slowly reached out his arm towards blackie. He, who was ready to attack him with his claw, but the man ended up getting swatted away by Plum, who started to speed run away from all the stalls. Panting and trying to catch her breath, she grabbed Blackie from her shoulders and place him onto the floor.

Without looking around, he knew they ended up hiding in an alleyway. Blackie is stunned at the bravery of slapping a man and running away. Humans are weak creatures compared to him. They need to work extra hard just to survive, and the majority of them end up dying in a war caused by themselves or demons. He was able to tell she was a warrior in her past life/old world and an amassing cook. If she went to a tavern to look for dungeon work, she would be quite popular among the groups.

Sitting down on the cold wet pavement, Blackie knew she wouldn’t do him any harm, but he would still need to look out, making sure he doesn’t cause her to get angry with him while his powers are nonexistent at the moment.

Plum started to apologize to blackie for how it was a bad idea to come out after all, since the news is still bringing up the accident with Damion. Standing up with the help of one of the walls, Plum picked up Blackie and walked further into the ally, avoiding everyone in the market, only to exit near the ending of the busy marketplace.

It’s still the same area, but the air smells different. The raw and cooked meat was making the corners of this demon mouth water. He didn’t know how hungry he was, or how he was so accustomed to eating at this time by now. Usually, in his old life, he recalled, he would eat the life force of a lower demon or human whenever he wanted and went about his day.

Still sniffing the air, he noticed a small store that people were walking out from the strong aroma was coming from within that building. Trying to tug on the leash to run inside, he noticed he was running in place, Blackie look behind him and noticed Plum has tied him onto a metal pole. Upset, he started meowing and hissing, demanding to be cut loose. Jumping at every possible angle, his tiny toe pads can touch. He wasn’t in any possible way to be tied down forever, unlike the last time. He has his freedom and he wasn’t going to easily lose it.

Protesting for his freedom, Plum grabbed Blackie from the scruff of his neck, making Blackie immobilized. Shocked from the humiliation, of being tied down and then hanged in the air like a piece of trash, he had no choice. Holding back his tears, he needed to listen to what she has to say.

Petting him until he was calm enough, she promised to buy the freshest meat they had on sale, but she needed to hurry before the others beat her to it. Laying down to another stall, he watched her disperse into a crowed of other elderly ladies and with in seconds the door of the building swung open and all the humans charged in all at once, a few men that were with them incessantly got trampled.

He couldn’t believe it. They still cause a stampede. The humans hasn’t changed one bit from centuries ago. Last time he saw them act like this, it was over spare change. Given there’s no blood in this fight, and it's food that they have to still buy. Freaked out how humans are still annoying vermin that hasn’t shown any natural development. He was thankful Plum tied him up.

Looking around, he overheard a man near the stall he was tied up to talking to some more humans. Wanting to get a better understanding, he jumped up onto the edge of the stall. Startling the customers and the stall attendee. There he saw a big ball rolling on its own throwing out smaller colored balls with numbers, pamphlets, brochures. It was a whole catalog of what the man was offering for you to win. Looking up, he saw the man pointing up at a flashing sign.

“You can pay to play. There's no loser here. Even if you don’t win the item you wanted, you’ll still win this beautiful branded hat and this popular brand backpack. Just show proof of your identity and if you win a sizable number and color you can choose where you want to go for your nest vacation, all will be paid for. 

If you get the golden star you’ll win all of today's prize cash, pay double to win triple golden star ball and that prize money will triple. Heck, if you don’t believe me, I let this poor black cat play first and show you how easy it is to win.”

I can play as well. That’s what we need to leave that small box right. If I win, we can get a bigger place and have more privacy to take his blood, and I'll be free to roam freely.

Endlessly meowing at the attendee to be let free, to try out the game. Plum arrived just in time to stop him. She looked a little worn out but was happily smiling with the amount of meat she was able to obtain. Blackie meowing and hissing at Plum was devastated for she again grabbed him from his scruff.

The man behind the stall explained the situation about letting the cat try out a free round, since blackie looked like he really wanted to play, and whatever he won will go to the owner. Plum, pleased to here it was free, allowed the game to go on.

Blackie knew he was going to win that triple golden star since he was a demon that knew how to gamble to win it all. He didn’t need to use any power to play this basic human game. All that money that man just shown up on the sign will be tripled really soon.

Walking closer to the rotating ball, Blackie placed his paw on top of the button as the human instructed and summoned all his luck to reveal the moment the triple golden star will be at its weakest. Taking a deep breath, everyone around the stall started counting down. That's when Blackie knew the humans will forever worship him for his great luck. 

Pressing the big blue button, he saw the rotating ball halt on his command, out came a smaller ball covering the hidden number color or star. Blackie stood on his high knees, placing his paw on the big ball and with the other tried his best to grab the smaller ball from the human's hand, so he can see his winnings. Not able to handle the suspense, he began to fiercely wag his tail, as the man peeled off the sticky paper.

“Mama I’m home! Have you seen Blackie? I missed him so much.”

“Damion, look what Blackie bought me. Isn’t it such a beautiful hat, look he even bought you a new backpack. Let's make sure we give him so much love, alright. He’s such a lucky cat to have.”

The day ended with blackie losing his appetite and crying in the bathtub that evening.