Chapter 3

Paws usually prided himself on knowing his mark, but this human was throwing him through a loop. Twice now she’d managed to fool him into opening the cage, only to attack him immediately after. How did that old saying go? Fool me once… well, it was definitely shame on him. He should have known better.

This was a side of her he’d never seen before; and he thought he had gotten to know her so well after tailing her all these years.

Paws sighed heavily as he watched the human throw herself against the bars once more. The violent act was immediately followed by a hysterical apology. She had been doing that allot this past hour. Such a strange human.

At least she was somewhat lucid. It proved, if nothing else, she was not entirely gone.

Melody collapsed against the bars to her cell in a fit of hysterical tears.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s happening?” she inquired gruffly, barely above a whisper. It seemed all that screeching was finally getting to her.

Paws looked up to her in shock. Those had been the first questions she had asked all night.

“Do you remember what happened?” he asked, inching closer to the cage warily. Whether it was out of curiosity or a poor attempt at comfort, he couldn’t say. Either way it seemed to help her. Knowing she wasn’t alone bought her some relief.

Melody thought back. It was all hazy. Faces, voices, music? It all came in titbits. No two thoughts linking together. Like a jigsaw with all the wrong pieces. She shook her head in defeat. Thinking back only made her feel sick.

“You were attacked by the Hoard master. After I found you, I brought you here. Lucky for you that creature doesn’t seem to have any interest in you, or you’d be one of its puppets already.”

“It hurts” Melody sobbed.

“That’s the infection making its way through your body. That combined with all the wounds you’ve sustained; it’s going to hurt like hell. The virus will heal you up eventually and it won’t hurt so bad. One of the perks of being undead I suppose.”

“Undead?”

“That what the humans like to call it anyway,” paws replied with a sigh, taking a seat in front of the cage within grabbing distance. He knew it was probably another dumb decision on his part, but the hope that was building in him was too much to ignore. “Don’t worry. You’ll get no judgement from me. I know most don’t like the undead, think there lesser or something, but you’re safe here. I promise.”

Melody smiled up at him wearily. She didn’t know this cat, though she was sure she should. He was so kind; she must be causing him so much trouble. “Thank you” She whispered, grabbing up the coat beside her and covering herself with it as she lay back down on the cold stone.

“It’s no problem” paws replied sadly.

It had been weighing on him for hours. He should have been there. Instead, he left her to her fate like she was nothing. Why? Anger? Annoyance? If he were being honest, he was beginning to think it was jealousy; That wouldn’t bode well. No matter the case, he would swear to whichever god would listen, to never do it again if she pulled through.

More groans sounded from beside him, he inched further away, forcing his gaze to anything but her. He wasn’t sure how much more of her sorrow filled stare he could take. It was heart breaking.

More sobbing echoed through the small room ringing in his ears and pulling at him.

“Sir?”

“Yes dove?” Paws replied in a gentle tone.

 “Could you please go check on my sister? She’s probably been alone for so long now. I don’t want her to worry.”

And with that one request all of Paws hope shattered. She was losing her mind. Her sister had been dead going on three years now. Poor dove, she hadn’t even been left with a body to bury after the fire.

“Sir?” Paws shook himself from his thoughts. Perhaps a distraction would be good right now. Anything to stop him from thinking on what he would have to do when her sanity was fully gone.

“Sure thing dove.” He replied gaining his feet. brushing the dust from his trousers he headed for the stairs. He paused at the base and turned to her. “Try to rest and if possible, try not to keep flinging yourself into the bars. Broken bones will just make the pain last longer. I won’t be long.” He turned once more and ascended the stairs.

*

Don Caporosa stormed out of his office. He was furious. Had he not specifically told them nothing too extreme? To summon the Hoard master, a being that required copious amounts of payment and then to lose track of his girl entirely. Someone was going to pay.

One look at their don and half the men scarpered from the warehouse immediately. Making one excuse or another or pretending to suddenly have enthusiasm for the job he had tasked them with. He would have found it amusing on any other day.

Currently the Hoard master sat atop one of the don’s many shipments. Guarded buy several members of its hoard. The foul creatures gnashed and swiped at the men who passed them by. The don could see one or two of his men had already fallen victim to the creatures in the short time they had been here. Caporosa stopped a safe distance away, drawing a hellish chuckle from the Hoard master.

“What’s the matter Don Caporosa? Is my entourage too intimidating? I thought a man such as yourself could handle them.” The Hoard master’s antagonizing words cut through the don. If the creature were anyone else, he would not have stood for it; But then, this creature knew that.

“You and I both know I have nothing to fear from your creatures. No one can die twice after all.” The don replied, a smirk on his face.

The Hoard master jumped down to tower over the crime lord.

“Your lady friend would beg to differ” it replied in a mocking gravel like tone, a knowing smile stretched unnaturally wide across its face.

“Is that a threat? Or another one of your hokum predictions?”

The Hoard master shrugged. “Take it as you will, I am merely here for payment.”

“Payment? For what? I have seen no evidence to prove you have kept up your side of any bargain. I was also not the one who summoned you. I owe you nothing.”

An angry growl escaped the Hoard master. The men that had gathered to watch the confrontation took a cautious step back, but the don did not faulter. He would not show weakness to a foul creature such as this; But perhaps… The don raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Though I had no part in making it nor was I aware of such a thing until moments ago, I will honour this bargain; However, I will only do so if you tell me where the girl is… Take those who made the bargain originally as payment, that should suffice.” Gasps and pleading sounded from three of the men behind him, but he paid no mind. As far as he was concerned, they had bought this on themselves.

The Hoard master seemed to consider this for a moment. It seemed displeased but agreed non the less. Rasing a single hand it urged its minions forward. The don’s men scattered, bounding over crates, climbing ladders, stairways, anything to get out of the creature’s grasps. Not that it would be any use for those that had been marked. Several screams echoes through the warehouse. Don Caporosa was sure they were from more than the men he had offered, but if it would allow him to find his girl he’d allow it, just this once.

The Hoard master took another step closer and leaned over to stare the don in the face.

“Your lady friend is with the one with fur as black as night. You know him well, though he only knows of you.”

And with that the creature and its minions disappeared into nothingness, taking their payment with them.

Don Caporosa considered the creatures words for a moment then sighed.

Of course she was.