by Lily Luchesi
Make-shift kitty carrier. It would do.
The night was cool now, a stark contrast to when I'd entered the building. The sky was clear so none of the heat was trapped in, but here in the city there was so much light pollution that I couldn't see a single star; even the moon was a blurred orb in the sky, no brighter than the streetlights. I pulled my cardigan tighter around me, doing the zip up to keep my chest warm, and then scurried down the alley and out onto the street.
There were still a few people walking the streets at this hour. I waved to the regular street vendors and wished them good clientele, and then headed out of the business district towards the apartment, cutting through one of the alleys between the bigger streets to get home quicker. I had done this every night since I'd started at the bar and kept my magic close to the surface in case anyone tried to jump me – no one had just yet.
I turned into the street that would take me to the front of the apartment when I heard a wail down the alley between my building and the next. It sounded like someone kicked a tin can, the sound bouncing off the walls, and then there was a thud. I froze, every instinct told me that this was definitely not my problem, but I couldn't help myself. I had to check it out.
Stupid, stupid woman.
I put my cardboard box down at the corner of the alley and conjured some light into my hand as I stepped cautiously down the small alley. There was no lighting here – of course – but I knew this space and not much occupied it aside from a few trash cans.
"Hello? Anyone there?" I called, keeping my voice steady though there was a tremor running through me, light and feathery, just waiting for someone to leap out from the end of the alley and scare me.
A shadow flicked across the end of the alley and I froze, but when there was no further movement I carried on. I didn't want to call out again. I'd been clear enough and it was so quiet now that I could have sworn I heard my own heart thumping. As I reached the end of the alley, I took a deep breath and looked out, first one way, then the other. No one was there.
No, there was something. A short haired, grey cat. It lay on the ground, so still that I had to watch it for half a minute before I could determine it was still breathing. I stepped towards it, dropping to my knee. In the light from the apartments above I could see that its chest was only rising a little, though it was so skinny I could see the frantic beat of its heart. There was blood on its body, coming from two punctures.
"You poor thing," I said softly, stroking its fur. I could see terror in its eyes but it didn't have the strength to move. I ignored the itch in my nose; it would be worse in my home and this creature needed my help right now. I just didn't know which was kinder – attempting to nurse it back to health, or helping it cross over.
Dropping the magical light from my hand I tried to gently feel whether there was anything broken in the cat's body. It seemed okay, but then I wasn't exactly an expert. I tried to get a better look at the puncture wounds but the cat hissed at me, barring its fangs and showing me startlingly pale gums.
This cat was anemic. Not enough blood or water left in its body to cope. I got out my small pocket knife and flicked it open, making a cut in my left palm before I could think about it too hard. I closed my eyes and called my magic up, bringing the light and the healing powers I'd inherited from my mother to the forefront, all the while squeezing my hand to make the blood flow.
"My blood to yours, heal this beast of fang and claws," I muttered, with not necessarily the nicest of intentions behind it. I didn't want to add yet another cat to my clowder, but I could hardly let the creature die here in the street, alone. In the next moment a rough tongue was upon me, lapping up the blood that had pooled in my palm. I tried not to scrunch my nose up, but I couldn't help but imagine getting infected from the critter.
It started to purr, loud and rumbling through its tongue as it licked. When I finally looked, I could see that it was recovering already; its eyes were no longer dull but glistened again, along with a healthily damp black nose.
I blew out a breath and stood, wiping my palm against my leg. Whatever germs were in the cat’s mouth had stopped the bleeding on my palm, but I was half sure it would be horribly infected by tomorrow and I'd be paying for this act of kindness.
"Meow," the cat said. It was struggling to get to its feet, legs wobbly as it finally made it, and then tottered two steps and collapsed on top of my shoes.
"Fine. One night and then I'm taking you to the vet or something. I'm not equipped for this." Steeling myself, I bent back down and gently scooped it into my arms, trudging back down the alley to the box, where I placed it inside. I wrinkled up my nose and then glanced at the apartment building door, then I took off my jacket and put it on top of the cat. "Stay quiet, or you're going to get us both in trouble."
I picked the box up and tried to hold it casually under my arm, as though I wasn't hefting a decrepit cat up three flights of stairs. Thankfully I made it into my apartment without bumping into anyone. One of the kittens almost dashed into the hallway as I opened the door, but I caught it with my foot and ushered it back inside.
"Knock it off! Bad enough I only have a week to get rid of you all, but if Mr. Abraham finds out sooner you can bet your fluffy butt we'll be on the street."
I put the box down on the couch and scooped the cat out, placing it gently between two cushions, and then I turned to the kitchen. I needed some antihistamines before I tried to wrangle the ginger tom back into that box and dropped him home. At least he wouldn't be getting into my bathroom again.
I opened the fridge door and dumped the rest of the tin of cat meat into several bowls, the clatter and rush of movement telling me that everyone who was able to move was coming for some food. Then I grabbed a bottle of water and retreated to the bathroom, knocking back some antihistamines and taking a look at myself in the mirror. My eyelids were already a little puffy, my eyes bloodshot and itchy. Thankfully my nose hadn't started running yet, and hopefully the pills would stave that off. I washed my face in the sink and then patted it dry, taking in a few deep breaths before deciding my next move.
Either I could return the tom to its owner tonight, or... I should shower and get a decent sleep.
Shower. Sleep.
Yes.
***
The little black cat was on my bed again the next morning. Curled into a wee ball, one leg sticking out at the strangest angle. Cats were so odd. And so cute. I had to stop myself from reaching out and stroking its shiny black fur.
For some reason I wasn't sneezing. There was something about this cat that didn't trigger me the same as the other ones, but I couldn't figure out what it might be. Nor could I figure out how the heck it was getting into my room.
I snatched my phone from the charger and made a quick call to animal control, who said they'd leave a trap in the alley and check on it in the morning. After devouring a snack bar and getting dressed, I picked up the small cat and returned to the battleground.
It was time.
I dished out some more food and watched as the cats converged like a swarm of gnats.
I put my jacket back on, despite the cat hair, and then grabbed one of the towels the cats had all but chewed up since arriving. Using it like a net I snuck up on the feasting felines and grabbed the ginger tom. He let out and all-mighty yowl and tried to twist around in my hands to claw me, but I wrapped him in the towel and, carrying him at arm’s length, deposited him in the box. He scrabbled around a bit more, but when I closed the lid he seemed to settle down.
"I'm returning you to your owner, Mr. Quit whining." He kept making weird noises though and I knew there was no way I could risk getting caught, so I locked the apartment door and headed for the window.
Three floors and four rat traps later, we were on the street and I was wondering whether this was worth it. I checked the address on my phone though and got moving; the sooner I was rid of one cat the better.
Though, it hit me, I'd added an extra cat the night before. Dammit. I was going soft, and
after this was all over, I was going to need to do some more powerful magic to keep them at bay.
No, I'd go and see Greer myself and make her lift whatever curse she'd laid on me. I needed to get past this whole cat phase and onto better things. Onto life, free from hair and sneezes and swollen eyes and itching, all the itching.
After three attempts to get a taxi, but failing due to a lack of proper cat carrier – one guy had even kicked me out when he heard the meow – I ended up having to walk the three blocks to the ginger tom's home. He was bigger than the rest of the clowder and my arms ached from the effort. By the time we got there he'd finally given up fighting against the cardboard, but I had to kick the door instead of knocking to ensure a steady grip on the box.
It took about thirty seconds before the door swung open, a man with a blank face looked down at me. "Can I help you?"
"Nope, but I can help you!" I said with a chipper smile. "I saw your notice in the shelter, and then saw this guy hanging around my apartment block. Scooped him up for you." I opened the lid of the box and the ginger tom peeped out.
"Oliver!" the man cried out. He reached into the box and dragged the tom free. "We've been worried sick. Jessica!" he yelled over his shoulder. "Someone found Oliver!"
A clatter of high heeled steps came down the wooden hallway and then a woman appeared, tears already running down her face as she reached for the cat.
"My baby! I can't thank you enough. We've been so worried. Oh my god. Look at him! He's alive. He's okay." Her words tumbled out of her mouth, one on top of the other, the swell of her emotion too much for me.
"Ah, it's fine. Happy to help." I shoved the box into the man's hands and stepped back.
"Wait! We don't even know your name," the man said.
"It's, ah, Tori." I was confused why I'd responded with my actual name, let alone at all. It didn't matter. We weren't going to be suddenly friends and I hoped never to set eyes on that particular cat again. I tossed them a wave and dashed away, ignoring their next words.
I was glad they had been reunited with their cat, but I didn't want to get further drawn in. It was kind of my fault he'd wandered up to my window in the first place; well, Greer's, but I was the one who had pissed her off.
One cat down, too many to go.
But I was going to need another box, because I'd completely forgotten to take that one back with me.
***
An hour later I was standing outside Greer's door. She lived in a basement unit and I made sure to press the buzzer hard and then turn so that she couldn't see my face. The door latch clicked and then it was pulled open, though the chain kept me from ramming straight in.
"Hello?"
I turned to see her rubbing her eyes as though she'd just woken up. She was wearing... A man's shirt, and her hair was tousled.
"Tori!" she backed up a step, and then slammed the door shut.
"Greer!!! Let me in. We need to talk."
I heard her groan, but then the chain jangled and the door opened again. She was already walking away from me, heading for the couch.
"I'm not going to trip some other hex you've attuned to me if I step inside, am I?" I called.
"No," she said with a yawn.
I kicked the door closed and toed off my shoes, because in my arms was a box with the two little kittens. If she was going to curse me with cats, she could take some of the responsibility. I pushed out with my magic, trying to use it a little like a trap detector, but there didn't seem to be anything beyond her normal wards and protections.
"What on earth is in that box?" she asked me. Her legs were tucked under herself, bare skin showing beneath the shirt that definitely wasn't hers. If she'd moved on so quickly from Lucas why was she still punishing me?
"It's a present. For you."
"We're not friends anymore, Tori." She gave me a dead eyed stare. "I thought you knew that."
I walked across the room and put the box carefully on the coffee table in front of her. Moments later one fluffy head popped out, followed by a second.
"Kittens?" she asked, her voice shooting up an octave. She'd already picked one up and was smushing her face against it. "You know I love kittens..." She immediately stopped what she was doing and held it at arm’s length. "What's the catch?"
"The catch is that you know I'm allergic to them." I flung my arms in the air. "I didn't even know that you liked Lucas! How was I meant to? Why the hell did you curse me with cats? Are you trying to give me the slowest, most annoying death?"
Greer's face twisted up in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Lucas!" I huffed out a breath.
"Yeah, I know all about Lucas. He's asleep in my bedroom, so keep your voice down or it's going to get awkward."
"Wait, what?" I stepped towards the bedroom because surely, she was lying, and she launched herself off the couch, kitten in hand, and rushed to bar the door, holding the kitten out to me like a weapon. I froze and held my hands up. "Don't shoot. I'm unarmed."
Greer's face looked like it wasn't sure how to react, and then it wrinkled in laughter, her soft chuckle punching me in the chest and making me realize just how much I'd missed her.
"Look. I'm sorry I slept with him. If I'd known—"
"No. I know. Okay?" She draped the kitten over her shoulder like it was a tea towel and the thing just lay there, purring. "I was pissed off, and I overreacted, and now... Well." She grinned. "He's a good lay, right?"
"Greer!" I hissed, checking to make sure the door was still closed.
"Oh, come on, Tori. Look, I'm sorry I was a bitch, but I'm over it now and if you must know, I've been avoiding you because I felt like such a cow for what I did. I'm sorry."
"Wait," I said, rubbing fingers into my temple. "You mean you really didn't curse me?"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about," Greer said with a shrug.
I sagged down onto one of the couches, all the energy leaving me. "For the past few weeks, a new feline has been showing up at my window every other night, meowing to get in. They won't leave. They just stay there until I need them to shut up so I can go to sleep. There were ten of the bastards until this morning, now I'm down to eight." I indicated to the kittens.
"You mean they've been climbing up three flights of fire escape just to get to you?" Greer asked as she sat back down on the opposite couch.
"Yup." I sank my head back and closed my eyes. There was a headache coming on I could just tell.
"And you thought it was me." There was a barely stifled laugh in Greer's voice now and it made me feel warm. I didn't want it to, but it did. I'd been so frustrated and upset at the thought I'd blown our friendship with a dumb slip up. And now here she was laughing at my mistake.
Just like old times.
"Yup." I groaned. "If it wasn't you, then who?"
"Are you sure it's a curse?"
I exhaled slowly. I had been sure it was a curse, but then I'd also been sure it was Greer and I'd been wrong about that too. My inability to untangle any magic made more sense now. "No, I guess I don't know for sure."
"I suggest you find out then."
I opened my eyes and glanced over at Greer. "I missed your stupid face," I said.
"I missed your stupid face," she replied with a sad smile.
"Are we good?"
She grinned and snuggled the kitten. "Yup, we're good."
I nodded slowly, and then dragged myself up from the couch. "I better go and figure out what the hell is drawing these cats to me then."
"Let me know when you figure it out, okay?" She raised an eyebrow, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across her brown eyes.
"Yeah, I will." I nodded again, and then after a few seconds longer turned for the door. Things still weren't quite right, but they were getting there.
If I could stop these cats from harassing me, things would be a whole lot better.
***
The sound that woke me up was terrifying. A scream that cut me to my core an
d made me break out in goosebumps. I pushed off the blankets and rushed to the window, half expecting to see a woman being murdered in the back alley. I shoved the window up and stepped out onto the fire escape and peered over the railing. It was too dark down there see well, but there was a rattle of metal and I guessed that animal control had done as they'd said and left a trap for the cats.
Good.
Another screech filled the air, followed by the sound of loud footsteps and the rustle of litter.
Something else was down there too.
I shut off my heart. This was not my problem. None of this was my problem. I had enough cats in the house and I did not need to go down there to see what was happening. I stepped towards the window and threw one leg over the frame, pausing halfway through. The little black cat was looking at me from the bed, its green eyes accusing.
"It's nothing to do with me!" I told it. It widened its eyes and then gave me a long, slow blink. I'd heard somewhere that was a friendly thing for them to do, but I was definitely picking up vibes that said I needed to get my butt down those stairs and see what was going on. Another yowl from below made me groan. "Fine!"
I reached for a shirt and tugged it on over my nightie, then clomped down the stairs loud enough to scare whatever was down there away. It didn't work though as the metal of the cage clanged loudly, sounding like it had been hurled at the wall. That made me freeze for a moment. I summoned some magic – not just light this time, but fire – and steeled myself, walking down the rest of the steps until I was almost in the alley.
Another snarl shot through the air, though this time it wasn't a cat; I was sure of that. I drew my magic into a tight ball, readying it just in case, and then I stepped down onto the concrete and swung around to face where the noise was coming from.
My heart stopped beating.
There was a doglike creature with spines ridging it's back. Its fur was almost non-existent and its face was all wickedly sharp teeth and malevolent intent. A thick, forked tongue tasted the air as it turned its focus from the battered cage to me.
"Shit," I squeaked. I couldn't be a hundred percent sure, but I thought this was a Chupacabra. A beast rumored to suck the blood from goats. If it was a Chupacabra that would explain the punctures in the cat from last night, and the way it had seemed to be drained of blood.
