4Chapter 2
Borabore' Manor, the most magnificent place on the continent; Owned by one of the richest men in the world, Peter D'on… A man of expensive tastes. The place was extremely extravagant filled with priceless arts and collections. This of coarse made it a primary target for thieves, and was therefore heavily guarded by the Benton police force.
They kept a flawless record and had successfully thwarted any attempts at thievery… that is until now. So confident were they of their efficiency that non noticed the "hidden" front line of guards passed out from sleep tonic… or the rope hanging from the barb wire toped fence,… or the dogs lying about as if paralyzed,… or the knife marks in the forty foot wall leading up to the ledge, …or the dead snipers on the roof…0o…lets just say the entire police force was completely oblivious to the going-ons of one sneaky thief.
Therefore the two men guarding the inner front door were surprised to see a tiny black kitten making its way across the floor with a wad of bills clutched in its mouth.
"Hey Benny, look at this". Wink was quite a sight as she stumbled and fumbled out into the middle of the foyer with here over sized burden. The moment the guards noticed her she stopped, turned, and retraced here steps back in to the dining room. The guard's could only blink in confused astonishment.
"What's it doing?"
"I…I'm not sure but I think its robin us" as the guards stared at each other in utter confusion little wink turned and gave an impatient meow as if to say "follow me".
Still slightly confused the guards shrugged and followed. Entering the dining room they didn't realize their mistake till Shadow Cat leapt upon them from above. Their cries of surprise were cut shirt as he quickly rendered them unconscious.
"Easy enough" Shadow Cat whispered as he tied up the guards pausing only to slip wink back into his pocket. After making sure the two men were secure shadow cat left the dining room and crossed the foyer to the study.
Just as he was about to enter wink gave a warning meow and hopped out of his pocket.
"Get back here!" Shadow Cat hissed. Wink's only response was a stubborn meow. Shadow cat cursed "of all the times you pick now to be rebellious". Another meow. Shadow Cat growled in response "fine then. Stay! See if I care" he sad turning his back on the kitten's reproachful look "No more meow chow for you". With that Shadow Cat yanked open the door and stepped through. He was assaulted with the sent of roses just before he realized he wasn't alone.
"Finely, I've got you exactly where I want you" Shadow Cat stiffened at the cold voice coming from the corner of the room. Turning slowly he peered into an un familiar face. It wasn't the cloaked killer from the night before, of that he was sure.
"And who might you be" he asked warily. An ugly suspicion suddenly came to him. It was confirmed a moment later when the lights came on and the door opened to admit Doon and a dozen guards.
"Aah Rephael" Doon greeted "I'm so glad you could make it. I must say I'm curious as to how you got in. I was certain we had all the entrances covered. This room should have been completely sealed off" he said this last part with an annoyed glance at the guards. Looking back at Shadow Cat he put on a smile and held out his arms.
"Come now Rephael, don't look so angry at lest you finely get to meet my employer…even if it is the last thing you do. Ha ha! Rephael, meet Grem Moleardi".
Shadow Cat looked over at the stranger. This man called Grem had apparently been waiting for him. He was a short man expensively dressed though obviously not of the upper class.
"So you're the one they call Shadow Cat" Grem said coming forward "I must say I'm disappointed. The all famous thief that couldn't be caught and you fell right into my hands." Grem smiled with mock sorrow "o well I guess that's what I get for expecting perfection". Shadow Cat nodded knowingly
"Well I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations, now if you don't mind ill be going" Shadow Cat made as if to leave and immediately two guards stepped up to block his escape.
"I don't think so" Grem said laughing at this pathetic attempt at escape. "You've been caught robbing Borabore' manor. That in its self is worth ten years in prison, along with you other misdeeds I'd say you're facing the death penalty… on two continents.
Shadow Cat opened his mouth as if to speak then shut it and turned to Doon. "You weren't really curios to see if I could do this job, you just wanted to see if I would fail for your trap" Doon just smiled and bowed eloquently.
Grem, irked at being ignored, lost his tough exterior and "humphed" in annoyance. "excuse me" Grem asked in a sarcastically pleasant voice" if it's not too much trouble Doon, I'd like to borrow our thief's attention for a moment. I after all, am the one who caught him".
Both Shadow Cat and Doon turned to Grem with raised eyebrows. Grem smiled
"Thank you. Now! As I was saying, Shadow Cat, you are obviously facing the death penalty however I have made a deal with the constable and he is willing to let me deal with you provided I catch you… and here you are!". Grem's smile broadened until he was positively beaming "How about we make a deal. I let you off scot-free in exchange for a little something. "Shadow Cat would have laughed outright in the man's face had he not seen wink at that moment making her way along the book shelves. As it was he decided to keep the man talking until he could figure out a way to get out if this predicament.
"Hu…what do you want?" Grem went on to tell him that he knew about the last job heed done because the unfortunate Damon had been working foe him.
"You see Shadow Cat I want that knife and you have it"…. 0o … safe to say Shadow Cat was stunned. He was just about to deny his involvement when wink suddenly gave a yowl. All heads turned her way. Then wink looked up and every one else did the same. There high above them perched on the chandler like some kind of demon was none other than the mysterious killer from before. Again Shadow Cat noticed the sent of roses he'd smelt upon first entering the room and realized he should have paid more attention to it.
The cloaked figure uncurled its self from its crouched position and stood to its full height. Because of the large cloak and his threatening presence the mysterious stranger seemed bigger than he really was. Again Shadow Cat got the impression that it wasn't a man at all. Perhaps it's a lad pretending to be a man, he though. It didn't explain the smell but the only other option was to far fetched for Shadow Cat to consider. At that moment the cloaked "lad" as Shadow Cat ha dubbed him, realized heed been discovered and jumped down from the lamp landing in a crouched position squarely between Shadow Cat and Grem.
Standing up he looked at the men on ether side of him as if daring them to make a move. Nether did but Shadow Cat did tri to get a better look at his face. It was no use the hood cast an impenetrable shadow even in the fully lit room.
Shadow Cat caught a flicker of red just before the "lad" leapt back wards into a back flip then another and another until, in a dizzying motion, he had crossed the room and cam to a halt, balanced on the edge of the desk, where he dropped down once more into a crouched position.
He perched there for a moment head tilted as if to gage the reactions of Shadow Cat and the others. Then reaching down he flicked open a panel on the back of the desk witch had been invisible up until now. The guards remained in their frozen position as the intruder reached down once more and spun the dial then looking up he slammed his hand down and stopped the spinning numbers.
Every one seemed to be holding their breath. Then there was a click and the safe door swung open allowing the thief to snatch up the papers inside.
"That's impossible!" Grem's shout seemed to shake every one from their trance and in a sudden surge of movement the guards rushed forward.
Shadow Cat saw his chance and darted to the side. Pausing to scoop up wink he made a break for the door. Whoever the cloaked lad was he could fend for him self at that moment Shadow Cat was only worried about getting out with out a confrontation and this stranger had just provided the perfect distraction.
Shadow Cat had almost made it to the door when Doon stepped into his path.
"Going somewhere Rephael?" He smirked. Shadow Cat knew he was going to have to fight he just wished it had been with somebody else. Suddenly there was a crash and both men looked toward the desk. The cloaked intruder was gone, leaving behind a shattered window and a pile of unconscious guards. Grem stood a little ways away wide eyed and trembling. Shadow Cat could only imagine what the man had just seen. The strange "lad" had already proved him self supernatural and in the few moments Shadow Cat had been turned away he had managed to escape. Now it was Shadow Cats turn.
Silently wishing the stranger luck shadow cat stuffed wink in his pocket and turned to Doon. "I really wish I could have avoided this but I see no other way". He gave Doon no chance to reply but abruptly charged. Doon was ready for a head on attack and swiftly drew his gun and fired. The bullet wized beneath Shadow Cat's feet as he lept Into the air and drew forth his rope. Doon never saw it coming as the rope reached out like a long arm and wrapped around his neck. With a yank from Shadow Cat Doon was thrown across the room where he crashed into the wall then slumped to the ground unconscious. Shadow Cat landed gracefully in the spot Doon had previously occupied. Turning he saw Grem staring at him with the same horrified look he had given the intruder.
"Just remember Grem Moleardi. I could have escaped any tine I'd waned to but I'm not a murderer and I do not wish to harm any one" wink wriggled anxiously in Shadow Cats pocket and he reached down to calm her never taking his eyes off the trembling man "I guess I wont be getting paid since it looks like somebody else got to the deed be for me, o well". The next moment there was the sound of a gun being cocked and Shadow Cat reacted instinctively. Spinning around he struck out with his foot; trapping the gun between his boot and the wall. An astonished guard blinked up at him just before Shadow Cat's fist rammed into his face sending him hurling backwards.
Turning back to the white faced Grem, who now looked as if he was about to die, Shadow Cat shrugged. "Sometimes it can't be helped" with that he turned and left.
Grem was frozen with so many emotions fear, shock, dread, confusion, he dint know what to do so he just stood there….and stood there…and stood there…oo… lets just say it would be a while before he moved again.
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Meanwhile Shadow Cat had just stepped out the front door when he came face to face with five very familiar and very angry canines … o.0
Flash back
Shadow Cat sat in a tree tying a bone to the end of his rope. It was a stupid idea but then again it was day light and he couldn't think of anything better. After making sure the bone was secure he hurled it out onto the lawn as fare as it could go. The dog's caught the sent and came to investigate. They were pleased at what they fond and began to fight over the bone. Suddenly it hopped through the grass. The doges stopped and stared; heads tilted to the side. The bone hopped again then suddenly it darted away. The dogs took after it desperate to get a bite of the juice bone. Finely the bone flew through the air and disappeared up a tree. By this time the dogs were very hungry and very annoyed, though they weren't quite sure how to deal with this latest development. Then inch by inch something was lowered from the tree. Not a bone but an entire steak. The dogs wagged their tails eagerly and the minute it hit the ground they were upon it chewing and gulping as fast as they could. What they didn't know and couldn't have known was that the steak was laden with a drug called Kyzon. It slowed the heart and took over the body until the animal became incapable of any voluntary function. It left them panelized but conscious. It was very fast acting and one by one the dogs fell victim to its effects. Once Shadow Cat was sure it was safe he lept down to check on them. The pore dogs could only watch as Shadow Cat patted their heads and took off.
End flash back
Shadow Cat fond himself running full sped down the corridor leading to the ball room; five ferocious dogs chasing him, all likely to tear his throat out.
After opening the front door and seeing the dogs he'd turned and immediately fled in the opposite direction. Cursing him self all the while for not giving them more of the drug. Now they were determined to eat him alive.
Their were doors on ether side of him but he was too afraid of losing time to stop and see if any of them were unlocked.
He'd reached the end of the hall and was about to flee in to the ball room when he saw an open door to his left. By the day light shining through it he guessed it was an exit. With a quick change in direction he darted through it. The moment he flung the door open BAM! It hit something on the other side. Shadow cat didn't check and see what it was, but swung around and slammed the door shut. The dogs, which were right behind him, couldn't stop in time and rammed in to the door, shaking the very frame.
Shadow cat stepped back; breathing hard. They'd almost had him. Luckily he'd found this door. He was standing in some sort of exotic garden on the west side of the house. It was surrounded by an over grown gate and tall trees making a kind of secluded place. it was the privet garden. Suddenly remembering shadow cat turned to see what he hit with the door. Whatever it was he nearly tripped over it. Cursing he stumbled forward.
"What the…" he stopped. There on the ground before him was the little cloaked killer, and he was out cold. For a moment shadow cat was unsure of what to do. Before he could think about it he hard the dogs began to bark and voices drawing near. Without thinking twice he stepped over the prone figure and began to climb the fence. He had to get away before it was too late.
He was almost to the top when he stopped and looked back. There was the young lad lying on the ground. Shadow cat was sure the boy could take care of himself, he'd already proven that but shadow cat couldn't bring himself to leave the boy lying there looking so vulnerable. After all it was his fault the lad was unconscious. With another curse shadow cat climbed down and picked the boy up. As shadow cat expected he was as light as he looked, still it took a few tries and a lot of bumping and jostling about until he was finely over the fence with the lad draped awkwardly over one shoulder.
"You're going to owe me big time for this" he grumbled as he started off across the lawn. All shadow cat had to do was get over the property wall and he was home free, not that it would rely be that easy with the boy and all. Still shadow cat liked to look at things positively… accept when it came to Doon, but that's a whole other thing. Again shadow cat cursed. So much for thinking about things positively; he should have left the boy behind.
GRRRRRRRR! The menacing growl stopped shadow cat in his tracks. Oo "oh no" slowly he turned. This time it wasn't five dogs but one, one of the biggest, meanest, most ferocious dogs shadow cat had ever seen.
The dog took a step forward Bering its teeth and growling deep in its throat. There was only one thing to do. Setting the boy down he faced the dog. So far every thing in shadow cat's day had gone wrong and frankly he was tired of it. As much as he liked animals right now it was ether him or the beast of a dog staring him down.
All shadow cat had to do was take a fighting stance and the doge leaped. It was a powerful beast and it had a powerful lunge. Shadow cat would have never made it if he'd ran; instead he waited until the last possible moment, then pulled back his fist and rammed it into the side of the beasts head. It was sopped mid flight and thrown to the side with the force of shadow cat's blow. The dog landed a little ways away, twitched then lay still. Shadow cat paid no attention to this as he was too busy shaking his had and wiling the pain to go away. That dog had a head like a rock.
His had still throbbing but not wanting to delay any longer, shadow cat stooped to pick up his burden than headed for the outer wall once again.
He made it the rest of the way without being seen and found the place where he had climbed over; the rope was still there.
DINGL LING LING LING!
Shadow cat herd the sirens and bells all go off at once.
It was a miracle they hadn't found out what was going on sooner.
Not waiting any longer shadow cat grabbed the rope and heaved himself and the boy up.
It is difficult climbing over a fence with an unconscious boy, no mater how light. It is near impossible climbing over a barb wire toped wall with nothing but a rope and a ten foot drop on the other side… as shadow cat soon found out.
Half cursing half falling he finely made it over. His shirt was torn and his arm was scraped and bloody. That barb wire had really gotten him good. So fare as he could tell tough the boy was just fine. Aside from a few bumps and bruises he was going to have one mother of a head ache when he woke up.
Shadow cat was surprised he hadn't woken up already. Could I have really hit him that hard? Shadow cat wondered.
He didn't have time to further inspect the boy for at that moment the police arrived. Sirens walling they screeched around the corner barely giving shadow cat enough time to dart behind a bush with the boy in his arms. He was a master at hiding and the police didn't see them as they hurried by but shadow cat knew it wouldn't last for long. Once the police found they weren't inside they would come looking out there. He had to move and fast!
Finely the police were all in side and the cost was clear. Seeing his chance shadow cat gathered the lad up close and prepared to make a break for it.
In that instant he realized tow things: one, the small form he held was female and two, she was finely awake.
Shadow cat blinked and looked down. He hadn't paid any attention to it before but the hood had slipped bake and even though the light was obscured by branches and leaves; shadow cat, with his perfect cat like vision, got his first good look at the mysterious cloaked stranger.
He should have known that it wasn't a boy at all but a girl…no not a girl, a woman. That was perfectly evident as shadow cat stared down into tow blazing red eyes framed by the most unearthly beautiful face he had ever seen. Oo