Faline

Wait, I've been changing things? My brain rewinds to what Lady had been saying earlier. Change and danger going hand in hand, prophecy babble, and factions. My life has turned into some kind of freaky television program. Only question there is, is it on the Reality T.V. or Sci-Fi channel? Will it have a happy ending or be a cut off one that everyone bitches about? I gulp and look to her eyes.

"And the ones not liking it? They're the ones who keep setting me up into one confrontation or another, aren't they?"

Patrice looks surprised, but nods. Since I don't know and therefore do not trust this woman, I don't mention Nicolaus or Lady. I refuse to be burned by another blood-sucking life-reject.

I sigh and lean against the fridge, giving a reaction that's reasonable. Leaning my head back and closing my eyes.

"I just want to go home. I wish I never talked to Nicolaus and led him straight to my family. Why can't I just be stuck in a dream? Some of you people are great an all, but others I could really do without. There's only so many lives you get in dreams and video games before it's lights out, game over."

Opening my eyes, my head turns just enough so I can see my sister's painting. My voice coming out super low that I'm pretty sure only Patrice can hear it.

"I don't have any more lives left. This is my last one. I've been flying by the seat of my pants, getting lucky left and right, but that will run out. Probably soon the way things are going."

Snorting and smirking, my head lowers as I look at the pale wolf back to back with the shadow cat full on. Aren't cats supposed to have nine lives? Shouldn't I have at least three more? Guess we'll find out one way or another.

"Only thing I got going for me, is that when my sister finds out I'm dead, she'll hunt down every single sorry motherfucker that's ever touched me and make them bleed for a very long time. She's kinda demented that way. You see, even before we became part of this world, she always had plans of how to kill someone, planned it out in so many different ways. How to make it the most painful, the most bloody, and how to keep them alive just long enough to know they're going to die and eventually beg for it."

Thinking about it, I start laughing.

"You know, I think she's a lot like your King of the Castle here, just without some of the kinks, don't think she's into the whole BDSM thing. Could go either way on the furry thing."

My eyes tear up. Seriously hope it doesn't come to that, I don't know how to feel about those here that have the reins over my life, but I know how I feel for my family, and I want them back. And to think that I had thought Kierra had too tight a hold on me, least she let me see the sun.

Probably wouldn't now, but that's beside the point. Sort of. Looking back to Patrice, having sort of forgotten her there for a second, my smirk is still in place. She's watching me look at the painting, her eyes narrowing. Interesting reaction.

Least till a glint in her eye sparks that she can't hide. A glint of excitement. She fairly vibrates with her giddiness. I scowl at her.

"Let me guess, you believe all that prophecy babble to, don't you?"

Her hand flies to my mouth, laying her fingers over it as she looks over the room. Posture moving as if she were trying to hit me up for a date. Her face gets way closer to mine than it ever needs to be while I frown at her shushing me.

"That's not something you want to talk about out loud yet. Not till we get word to the Lenken Kater that you're here."

"The what now?"

What the hell is a 'Lenken Kater'? I'm so confused. She must see it, for she sighs.

"Put simply; our Master."

Oh. Well, why didn't she just say that to begin with? Don't have to go all formal complicated, use simple English, please. Why would I want the big honcho to know where I am anyway? Pulling out from under her, I scowl and walk away.

"No offense, but I don't believe in what you all do. Frankly, I think you're all on crack or something. I don't want anything to do with it."

She shrugs, hands steepling in front of her as she looks me over again. Starting to get real tired of Patrice right now.

"Too late. There are too many that think you are what you refuse to admit. Even if you aren't, you'd be killed anyway as a 'just in case'."

Great, so no matter what, I'm fucked. Lovely. Throwing my hands in the air, I let out a rude noise and turn my back on her. Maii is nearby and looking at me with sad eyes. Not helpful.

I head for the cellar just to get away from everyone. Not like it's a very big area, the back of it's right up against the freezer, I think, just underground instead of on top.

The walls are stone, but it still smells like dirt. It's actually really peaceful, calming. Don't know why, just is. The smell, not the room. Room is too, I guess. The door leading down here reminds me of a trap door, just a really big one.

Has to be in order to get that cauldron in and out. Since it's getting used quite a bit, I don't see it coming back down here anytime soon. The stairs lead down only about seven or eight feet, from there it veers to the right where shelves line the walls. The cast-iron pot was at the far end, set on the ground. No way it was going on a shelf.

More and more I get the feeling this 'house' is a castle that's been modernized. Really, really hope that doesn't mean I'm overseas or anything. Don't recall hearing about any giant castles in Illinois, let alone around the area I live in.

Then again, don't think I ever looked it up either, so I could be wrong. Doesn't seem right though. Central North America having an ancient castle like those over in Europe? Hmm. Sounds fishy.

Speaking of fish, should probably get some cooked. Was putting it off as long as I could because it's going to make the place stink. The shrimp was bad enough, and I like shrimp. Did rather, not like I do now. Not even sure what all kinds are in there.

Done with my mini pity party, I head back up and start looking through what we have, just to find none of them are labeled. Awkward. All are fillets though, that makes things a little easier. Guess that means oven-fried feesh sammiches.

I get it written out really quick, having a little trouble remembering all the ingredients for the tartar sauce. Screw it, I tell Salem and Scarlett to just wing it on measurements. Taste till it's right, basically.

Of course, that would be easier if either of them had already had it before, but oh well. Joey and Marie get triple duty, but they're more than willing. Marie gets the fish breaded and potatoes cut for fries while Joey fries it all up.

Put them together because he can read the recipe and she works fast. Putting Werewolf strength against chopping up taters and they won't know what hit 'em. Same reason for Salem and Scarlett, Salem can read it and the fox is fast.

Got Maii cutting up all the veggies and handing them out to who needs them as well as getting the salad bar filled with actual salad stuffs. Lex and Ty get bird and pork duty, which also means that after that, they get to start cleaning. Kerry is making cinnamon rolls.

Not sure how well that's going to mix with the fish, but maybe it'll cancel out the smell? Here's to hoping it goes that way and doesn't mix into some horrible concoction in the nostrils. I work on making coleslaw and getting the dough ready for dinner rolls. The slaw is really fast since it's just a classic recipe and nothing fancy.

Whole fruits and vegetables are always put out on the island counters. They don't get taken often, but they do by those that are usually in a hurry. When I saw that, I tried to make them the ones that are easy to grab and go without too much mess.

Feeling creative, I make up several fruit pizzas, all nice and colorful. Always had issues making them at home with my sister and her OCD, so it goes a lot faster when doing it here. Also get the chili dished out to those who ask for it specifically. Seen one of the Shifters dip their fish into it. Everyone to their own I guess.

We go at this for a few hours before I give them another break. Poor Joey, his nose has to hurt from all that fish. Taking pity, I tell him he can go shower quickly if he'd like, same with Marie. They look relieved and take off.

Laughing, I tell the others that whenever a break is taken after fryer duty, they're welcome to go and get off any grease. Technically they all need showers, but some more than others. I feel more comfortable when I have more than just Kerry and Maii with me, more witnesses, as it were.

Just as they're coming back and all squeaky clean and happy from the right side doorway, a male comes stumbling in from the other. A Shifter from the smell, I hurry over to him to help, then get dragged towards the other doorway as he starts babbling.

"You have to run... Anthony...gave your Maker...news he didn't like. He went on a rampage, beating him and two others...who were nearby. Madaline was close by... She came in and started whispering to him. He's hunting you, in cat form. You have to...run. I don't know what she told him, but he's very angry..."