Pussy Cat Pussy Cat - 17. Chapter 17

“Glory, Glory are you alright? Oh hell, Glory I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to throw you so hard. I just had to get you away from him. Please Glory, please.”

“Sar?” Why isn’t my voice working properly? Why is everything so fuzzy? Why do I hurt? Oh.

“Ow.” That hurts. I rub my head where it banged into Sar’s. And then I’m in his arms. “Aw, Sar. Too hard. Too hard. It hurts.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Oh God Glory I…”

“Shut up and let me sit up properly. What happened?”

Blinking over Sar’s shoulder I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing. Valentine is flat on his back, pinned down by an enormous tiger who is growling softly and continuously in the back of its throat. Both of the other vampires are lying motionless on the ground with a huge wolf slavering over them, baring its teeth.

“Rover? Felix?” The wolf looks up, giving the wolfy expression I know is its version of a grin. “What the hell happened?”

“There’ll be time for explanations later. I need to take of you first.”

“I’m okay.”

“Hardly okay, Glory.”

“What? Oh… right.” Unbelievably I’d forgotten about the wound in my side. It’s burning like crazy but bearable. “Let me get up. Wow.” Before I can move Sar’s swept my up in his arms and has me lying flat on the bed.

“Oh God, Glory I’m sorry. I’m so sorry; I should have taken better care of you.”

“What on earth are you talking about? You have been taking care of me and besides…”

“I let him get to you Glory. I’ve let him get to you three times.”

“Bollocks. You’ve done no such thing. The first time you had no idea you needed to protect me from him in the first place, the second time I walked straight into his hands and there’s nothing you could have done about it, and this time we both thought he was safely taken care of.” Sar looks uncomfortable. “Sar?”

“I knew, Glory, I knew he was on the run and I knew he would come for you. I should have protected you.”

Shock thrills through me at the thought that Valentine has been on the run all this time and that Sar knew. I want to be angry but I really can’t be. There has been so much going to that Valentine really was the least of the worries for all of us. I let the anger sink and the smile rise.

“It’s okay. It’s done now. He’s not going to get away this time.”

“I swear I will never let you down again. I will always protect you; always be there for you.”

“Oh please…” Sar disappears from my side instantly at the sound of the drawling voice that still holds arrogance, even now. There is something somewhere inside that has to have a begrudging respect for Valentine. He never seems to let anything put him down for long.

Aw, it hurts to move, but I’m not missing this. Sar is standing over Valentine who is still flattened under the weight of the tiger who has his paws firmly pressing on his shoulders while the deadly teeth hover inches above his face, which is turned to the side. Slobber from the curling lips runs down his cheek. At his words the growling changes to a snarl.

“Easy, Felix. If you hurt him you’ll be no better than he is: besides he’ll leave a bad taste in your mouth. Let the Council take care of him.”

As I watch the snarling tiger melts and Felix shudders a little. I always do that when I change too. It feels like my whole body itches, just under the skin where I can’t scratch it. Felix is snarling just like the tiger was. For the first time it hits me… what is Felix doing out of bed and fighting with Valentine? He’s supposed to be sick.

“Open your mouth again, Valentine,” Felix growls, “and, Sar be damned, I’ll rip out your throat.”

Oooh, Felix can be so… dominant. He said Valentine’s name as if he was already chewing it and spitting out.

“Do it, pussy cat. Do it.”

Sar puts his hand on Felix’s shoulder. “Don’t let him goad you.” Felix looks up at him. I can’t see his face but I can see Sar’s and the smile is one that no one can fail to respond to. It’s the sweet gentle one that he always uses with me. I can see the tension go out of Felix’s shoulders, although when Valentine tries to move they bunch again and he’s left in no doubt that he’s going nowhere.

“Glory, can you walk?”

“Of course I can.” And I can. It hurts… Oooh it hurts a lot, but I can walk, kind of. “Um… maybe I need just a little bit of help.” I’m such a bloody baby. It doesn’t really hurt that much… except that it does. Instantly Sar is at my side, pushing me back onto the bed. I close my eyes and clench my teeth as his fingers probe the wound.

“It’s not too bad. The knife didn’t go in far, but it must hurt like hell.”

“Well, duh. Especially after you’ve been poking around in it.” I sound like a petulant child and I don’t care, especially when I see the smile he gives me. It’s not at all patronizing, not in the least. It makes me feel warm.

“I’ll get Fougue.”

“It’s alright, Sar,” Felix says in a tight voice, “Rover and I will keep an eye on the vermin and if they’re not very good boys we’ll call in the exterminators.”

“Just stay easy, Felix. I don’t want Valentine hurt. I want him to answer for what he’s done and not have any reason to raise a complaint about the way he’s been treated here.”

“What about the way he’s behaved?”

“We’re better than him.”

Valentine gives a short laugh which stops when Felix growls. “Down boy,” he says and I think that if it hadn’t been for the deep rumbling voice that says softly. “Don’t.” I really think Felix would have bitten his head off.

I’m ashamed. I had just about forgotten Rover. He’s back in his human form too. Both the vampires underneath him are unconscious. I don’t spare a thought to wonder why. He is very pale and there is blood on his shirt.

“Rover, are you alright?”

“Never better.” He grins at me and I feel good. Rover scrambles to his feet and tenderly strokes Felix’s hair. “Let him up and I’ll take care of him.”

“He’s not going anywhere.”

“Babe, you’re weak and sick. I know you’re strong but you don’t have to be anymore. I’m here now and I can take care of you.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me.” Felix sounds strained and I know he doesn’t really mean to snap at Rover, but Rover’s not the brightest. Maybe he…

“I know, love. Most of the time you are going to have to be the one looking after me. I’m just a stupid dog, after all. You’re the beautiful tiger. But right now you’re sick; please give me my chance to look after you.”

Not such a stupid dog after all. Love must be good for him. The way Felix is looking up at him I think he must be thinking the same thing.

Rover puts his foot on Valentine’s throat and presses down, as Felix climbs stiffly to his feet. Blood is trickling down his chest but he looks better than he did before.

“I’m okay, Rover. I feel better now, and I’ll be better again when that scum is out of my room.”

What’s that? Someone is coming, running down the corridor. Pixie skids to a halt in the doorway. “Fuck. What the hell…?”

“Get the weres, Pixie; we need some help in here.”

“Is that Valentine?”

“Just get help. Give Fougue a shout too.”

Pixie’s eyes rake the room and he nods.

Shit! Fucking shit! It happens so fast I’m not even sure what the hell’s going on. One minute everyone is looking at Pixie and the next… Everything is a blur and then… and then… Rover is lying on the floor, getting up: I guess Valentine must have thrown him off, and Valentine… Valentine…

He must have made a run for the door. I don’t know how he could possibly have thought he was going to make it; not with Sar and Pixie in the way, but Valentine was always so arrogant he thought he could do anything. And it wasn’t either Sar or Pixie who stopped him. I have never, ever seen anything like it before… well, I did kind of… when Valentine caught us outside. Before I passed out I saw… I thought I saw… and now I see it properly. As Felix leaps, he changes and, in the instant between launching and landing the man becomes a tiger. The tiger hits Valentine in the back and brings him down hard. Throwing back his head Felix roars then lowers his head, his jaws wide, and…

I knew Sar is strong, but I didn’t realise he had enough strength to wrestle a tiger… but then Felix is weak. Rover is already on his feet and Pixie is braced too, as Sar and Felix roll to the side. Felix fights back at first but Sar has him in a headlock and his strength runs out quickly. Panting he changes back and lies, limp in Sar’s arms. Rover quickly takes over and pulls his lover close as Felix sobs.

Pixie is bending over Valentine and he lifts shocked eyes to Sar and shakes his head.

“He…he’s dead. I think he broke his neck.”

Shit… dead. Just like that; in a second: he’s gone from young, strong, dangerous and very much alive to an empty shell… to nothing. God that makes me shiver. I know that life is fragile but to have it reinforced that violently… Fuck.

Rover looks up but I don’t think that Felix even realises.

“What the hell is going on in here?”

Fougue. I have never been so glad to see anyone in my life. He’s bossy and frustrating but he’s safe and calm and he always knows what to do.

“See to Felix and Glory,” Sar says.

“What about Valentine.”

“Not even your skills can help Valentine. Get the weres, Pixie, they can take the rubbish out.”

I am totally shocked. I have never seen anyone die like this… so quick; so sudden; so shockingly. I have seen people shot as they run. I have seen people beaten to death… but this… there is something about this that just… shocks me.

“Glory, are you alright?”

I blink myself out of my shock… at least I try to. The dull ache in my side is beginning to make its presence felt again. I blink up at Fougue and think that I have never heard his voice sound so sympathetic and caring.

“Yes. I’m….”

It’s warm. I’m so comfortable. “Mmmm.” Oh… oh wow; wow. The hand idly scratching my ear is… is… is… Cat’s purrs rumble through me and I snuggle in to the warm body curled around me.

“How are you feeling?” a voice asks softly into my ear, making Cat shudder and the purr deepen.

“Good.”

“Is your side hurting?”

“My side?” Why should my side be hurting? Mmmm Sar should know better. There is next to no chance of me answering any question sensibly while he’s doing that to me. I roll over on my back and smile, my eyes half closed. And then… “Aw. Shit. Ow, it hurts. What…? Oh.”

“Catching up?” He sounds lazy and amused. How dare he. I hurt.

“Don’t be shitty to me, I’m hurting.”

“I’m not being shitty; I just love Cat when he’s waking up, clinging on to the warmth and comfort and being confused by life.”

Car purrs, traitorous little beast. But, of course I have to give in to him and smile at Sar. “Cat loves you too.” Mmmm. Sar is drawing little circles on my chest, occasionally teasing me with a stroke across the belly and, yes, my side hurts but… well it’s a hurt that doesn’t matter.

“Is Felix okay?” Bit mean of me not to think of him until now but Sar’s been… been… “Oooh… Oooh do that again.”

“He’s fine,” he says as he does it again. I practically lift off the bed and yelp as the movement causes my side to feel like someone is stabbing me again. “Take it easy, Glory. The wound’s not a serious one but it could still cause you problems if you’re not careful. Fougue says you’ll be back to your annoying self, his words not mine, in a day or two.”

“I’m myself right now. Come and find out.” I roll over and stretch up to kiss him… then yelp again. “Bugger.”

Sar puts his hand over the dressing on my side and the gentle pressure, although sore to begin with seems to help, especially when the warmth starts to seep through. Cat purrs.

“Hey, what happened anyway? I forgot to ask. What…?”

“You mean after you passed out? Well, for a while I panicked until Fougue slapped me around the head and told me to stop acting like a silly girl and that you were perfectly alright.”

“He said that?”

“Well, not exactly, but he did slap me. When he was sure that you weren’t going to bleed out he sorted Felix out and gave him hell about ‘jumping about’ in his condition. Poor kid was shell shocked enough as it was.” Sar frowns. “He took it hard; what happened to Valentine. He was protecting his friends and acting pretty much on instinct but it’s still hard… the first time you kill.”

“The first time?” There’s something in Sar’s voice that indicates that his first time was a lot of times back.

“I’ve lived a long time, Glory,” he says simply and he really doesn’t have to say any more. I figure maybe it’s my time to share.

“I’ve had my first time too,” I say softly and watch his eyes widen. “I was on the run. I’ve spent my whole life on the run. There were times when I had to fight for my life and… sometimes it was my life or theirs. The first time I was sick; I threw up the whole contents of my stomach and it was precious little. It was a lone hunter, thank God. There were more times, not many, but… yeah… you know. In one way it gets easier; in others… not.”

I watch him carefully and I am surprised by the look that comes into his eyes. Is that pride?

“I shall have to stop that, Glory.”

“Stop what?” Uh oh. Have I made a mistake? Will he see me differently now he knows I’m a killer? I mean, it does get easier once you’ve done it once.

“I keep thinking of you as something fragile and precious, to be protected and cared for. I know… I know that isn’t how you want to be seen and I know that isn’t how you are but… you bring out something in me that is so fiercely protective… I’m helpless to resist it. And yet… every day you surprise me. You fight me; you fuck me; you screw with my head; and now… I would never have imagined you as having killed anyone. You have this purity about you, an innocence that I have never seen in anyone who has made their first kill. I have always thought that the act of taking someone’s life changes you; puts out a light somewhere deep inside that never comes back on again. But…”

I close my eyes as Sar lays his hand against the side of my face and strokes my cheek with his thumb. Cat purrs contentedly. “I don’t think that anything bad has ever touched you, Glory. You feel fresh and new and… perfect. I don’t think I have ever loved you more than I love you right now.”

Cat’s purr deepens and I open my eyes half way, licking my lips as I smile, letting Cat’s elongated canines and claws slip out. “Aren’t you scared of me now you know that I am capable of tearing out your heart?”

“I’ve always known that, my little cat. That’s what you did to me the first moment I saw you; and you’ve had it ever since.”

“God, you’re poetic tonight.”

“You bring out the best in me.”

“Ditto.”

“Ditto? I’m being all sweet and romantic and sincere and all you can say is ‘ditto’?”

“Well, you say it all so much better than I do. I’m just some crazy cat that happened to walk into the right vampire at the right time and ended up here with the most beautiful man in creation who, for some strange reason, seems to like me.”

“Like you? Oh, Glory, you are so sweet and funny. My funny little pussy cat.”

“You are going to have to stop talking just to Cat; you’re making the rest of me jealous.”

“Freak.”

“Hey!”

“I meant it in the nicest possible way.” He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose, sending Cat off into a fit of giggles.

“Well, as you said it so nicely, I won’t rip out your throat… just for tonight mind. You are going to have to say nice things to me every day or next time you might not be so lucky.”

“That’s no chore to me. I have plenty of nice things to say… to all of you. In fact…” He kisses my nose again and slides down my body to gently lick my belly button. “I think I have something quite nice to say to a few parts of you right now… if you promise to lie back and not get too excited.”

I lift my head to look at him. “Are you SERIOUS?”

“Hmm… this is somewhat of a dilemma. How can I say nice things to you and now have Fougue slapping me again if you bleed all over the bed?”

“Don’t do it on the bed?”

Sar raises his head and grins at me. “You make me laugh.”

“You make me cum so I guess I have the better part of the deal.”

Sar laughs again. “Alright then, moderately excited will have to do.”

“There is absolutely nothing moderate about me.”

“I’ve noticed. Alright… to hell with moderation; just tell me if you’re hurting and try not to bleed too much.”

I didn’t… and I did… but it was so, so worth it.