by Diane Taylor
Somehow, someone had convinced Sean to choose a woman to play the role of the goddess Bast. The same someone pointed out she would be the perfect setup. Thanks Isis. I detect your manipulative hand in all this.
As if in response, a familiar voice whispered across her mind, “You’re quite welcome, Carmen. By the way, we’re all out front. Ahmed, Bast, his father, and backup.”
“Let me guess. Otherworldly backup, right? A pair of people politely asked my boss where I was?”
A moment of startlement. “How did you guess?”
Carmen allowed a smile to cross her face. Oh, just a few things. My boss, Daria, mentioned a couple of people asking for my whereabouts. Not being demanding and from the tone of my boss’s voice, they were pretty polite about the whole thing. Not like those damned government people. So tell me, who else is pulling the mundane `I’m pretending to be a human so I can rescue a goddess’ routine?’
A soft chuckle echoed in her head. “Would you believe Ma’at and Anubis?”
“We’re fucked.” Carmen muttered to herself. “Gods, you’ve got the entire gang here tonight. Oh, wait, Osiris hasn’t put in a showing yet, has he? Please tell me the Sun god is sleeping and won’t burn down the house if he’s disturbed?”
“Relax, Carmen, you’ll do fine. Your father’s friends are closing in on him as we speak. We have helpers to keep all of them from harm. Trust me. Now quit worrying like a mother hen and concentrate on your end of the job.” Isis’s mind voice took on the stern tone of a confident mother keeping her child in line.
Carmen stretched a bit more then moved back into the shadows to sit in the cool darkness and pressed a tab on her robes, “Give me a check in please, by the numbers. And no smart ass remarks about the costume. You can razz me later about it.”
Suppressed snickers reached her, but they began to check in.
“Michelle here. Catwalk’s clear except for the crew keeping the electrical stuff intact.”
“Carla here, Louis is prowling the front entrance and keeping an eye on the side doors. I’m in the back, keeping an eye on the emergency exits and working my way back and forth to check on the dressing rooms.”
Logan on next, “Nothing on the monitors...whoa! Hold the phone. Contact on monitor five. Khan’s quiet room. Getting a close up. Shit, it’s Lodina carrying a plastic baggie.”
Blinking, Carmen looked around to orient herself with the back stage. “Get security over there... now. Take him down and put him in a holding pen.” A sick dread began to form in her stomach as she moved away from the curtains on the one side of the stage. She had a while before she needed to put in her appearance. Right now The Rogue was oooing and ahhing the audience with some special effects and pyrotechnic creations. Slowly, she formed the thoughts in her head as she moved. “Sean, keep going, you’re doing fine. We just nailed Sam. However, he was just caught coming out of Khan’s room with a baggie. Not sure what it contained, but I’m about to find out.”
His mental voice caressed her mind as he waited for the rest of the troupe to finish with the illusion by dancing and gyrating around the `sacrifice’. Be careful.
Moving as fast as she could in her costume without ripping it off her body, she managed to get to the door a couple minutes after the security team did. Sam had been summarily handcuffed and held against the wall. No one was yelling, no one spoke a word except to talk on the radios and clear the hallway. The head of security, a big burly man named Max Morris, looked confused as he sniffed the baggie, then arched an eyebrow at Carmen. “You wanted us to take down a guy for feeding the tiger catnip?”
Reigning in what she really wanted to say, Carmen looked the guy in the eyes. “Mr. Morris, let me ask you something. What would be the odds of someone knowing where Khan is being housed, let alone being trusted enough to bring him something like this?”
He shook his head. “Almost zero.”
“Right. Now, what do you think will happen if this person were carrying catnip soaked with antifreeze or some other poison? How do you think The Rogue will feel if he has to put his pet to sleep?”
“Uh?”
Carmen leaned down nd pulled off the wig and the mask and got into his face, fortunately everyone had been told she was wearing cat eye contacts. “Here’s the kicker. Tigers react to catnip the same way a regular cat does. Now get him into a holding room and I’ll deal with him in a few. Right now I want this corridor cleared of everyone except for me and my associate.”
“Yes Ma’am.” Max blanched at the thought of a rampaging cat around the backstage, then got everyone out of the way.
Carla chuckled. “You do have a way with words, don’t you?”
Carmen leaned against the wall. “I hate imbeciles who don’t understand what’s going on. Trust me, I would have just loved to be the first one here when he stepped out the door. I wanted to castrate the little fucker after what he’s done. On second thought, I’m glad they were here first. Getting the boss lady to bail me out of jail for cruel and unusual circumstances isn’t my idea of a good time.”
Something heavy hit the door of Khan’s room, making them both jump. Carla laughed shakily. “I hate it when things like this happen. I’ve got enough adrenaline running through my system this time around, I don’t need any more.” She glanced uneasily at the barrier between the tiger and herself. “What happens now?”
“I’ve got to go in there and see what’s going on.” Duncan! Talk to me. Are you all right?
Carmen? Help me! I can’t seem to control myself. The little bastard got me with catnip before I could shred his sorry ass. We’re scheduled to go on in fifteen minutes and if I can’t get this whole shit under control, thing’s going to be bad.” The exhausted mind voice was tinged with worry and fear.
“Carla, put everyone on notice. I’ll have my earphone in, but don’t talk to me unless it’s news of Dad getting somewhere safe, Okay? Any interruptions might set off Khan and I don’t need any more scars thanks.”
Before she left, the Carla turned and gave her boss a big hug. “You’ve been a great lady to work for, Carmen. Even if the rest of the team doesn’t show it, we all appreciate you and are honored to work for you. So you be careful and stay in one piece.” Then disappeared down the hallway, leaving Carmen looking like a stunned ox.
Opening the door, Carmen swallowed the niggling thread of fear which wormed its way up her spine, and waved a hand slightly, “Khan. It’s just me. I’m coming in.” When nothing happened, she eased more of herself into the room, glancing at the wreckage. At first she didn’t see him, but when she shut the door, a faint huffing growl came from the far corner. On closer inspection, four paws waved lazily in the air as they batted at something only he could see.“Isis? I’m going to need a bit of help here. Duncan got a big dose of catnip. If he can’t go on stage in fifteen minutes, something is going to tip off Ahmed and Yasmeen. Unless they’re the ones who ordered this. I don’t know.” She ground her teeth in frustration. “Damn. I’m letting my emotions rule me again.”
Soft laughter invaded her thoughts. “Keep calm. Both of those two are seeing only what we want them to see at the moment.”
“Thanks a lot, Isis!” she muttered. Slowly, she approached the stoned cat. Carefully, Carmen stepped around an overturned table to crouch near him. “Duncan, come on mi amigo. We don’t have time to slowly flush the shit out of your system. The only way I can do it is to jump start your body with one of two ways. One is pleasure. Which I know you’d enjoy, but we’d have to work at keeping you in at least partially human form.”
“And the other?”
“Pain.” Carmen winced. “The only way to do it right is to cause you pain. I don’t think I can do it. You and Sean have had enough pain in your lives already.”
He rolled to his feet and wobbled his way over to her. As he walked, his figure began to blur as he went from four feet to collapsing onto his hands and knees, panting heavily. “Carmen, you have to make a hard choice, love. Whatever happens, we’
d best do it fast. The clock is ticking and I can’t hold this form too much longer. While I would love to pleasure you, we’d best do pain.” With no warning, he sucker punched her in the jaw, sending her flat on the floor.
Falling back, shocked at the sudden attack, she held up her hands as her back took the brunt of the hard floor slamming into her back. Grunting, she watched his eyes as he made the leap forward, intent on following through with his attack. Fortunately for her, he gave her all the openings she could ever hope for. Her fists connected with his nose and ribs. She’d pull her punches just enough to not break anything, just cause a lot of pain.
Duncan’s fists were doing the same amount of damage, leaving bruises and a few red marks along the hard line of her jaw. Nothing a little ice and some downtime wouldn’t cure. In the meantime, she watched as his eyes slowly lost their glazed look and returned to normal. Finally, he backed off and held up his hands in surrender, grinning like a fool.
“You know, a good kick in the nuts would have done just as well.”
Carmen laughed and spit some blood on the floor from a split lip. “Yeah, but I prefer not to use the oh so obvious woman’s weapon if at all possible. To me, it seems like cheating. We don’t have anything dangling which could be grabbed, twisted, or kicked to cause excruciating pain.” Waving a hand in the air to prove her point she sighed. “Besides, I’d feel really guilty if you walked funny during the performance. It’d ruin your chances of finding a cute female tiger to nibble and mmmph!”
Duncan grabbed her and slammed her back against the hard door while lowering his mouth to hers in a savage kiss. His hands roamed up her legs to pause at the straps holding a small, two shot Derringer in a thigh holster. Slowly he moved upwards as he deepened his kiss, brushing his fingers along the line of her thong.
Carmen was lost in a sea of molten passion. Her entire body felt like even the smallest caress in the right spot would make her explode. Time seemed to stand still as she wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her legs to him. All she could think of was getting him inside her right then. Moaning into his mouth, she wriggled her hips, aching for relief as she slowly bit down onto his lower lip, intent on tasting his blood.
“You’re clear to go, Carmen.” Her dad’s pain ravaged voice through her ear phone. “I’m out and safe, now get those assholes. I don’t care how.”
Seconds later, Carla pounded on the door. “You’ve got one minute to get your butts out of there and into place on the stage.”
It took two seconds for Carmen to gasp for air, then grin. “Ten seconds, Michelle, and have the mask ready. Dad’s safe so we can kick ass and take names.”
Duncan trembled against her. “Damn,” he growled. “Murphy’s Law strikes again”
Carmen began to laugh. “Okay big boy, its tiger time. Be nice and we can have this done in time for a nice lobster dinner and tons of wild sex in the penthouse.”
Duncan backed off while his body made the transformation back to tiger. The moment he did, Carmen muttered into the mike, “Okay children, show time. We’re coming out, clear the hallway.”
Opening the door, she took a glanced left and right to make sure things were all okay with the world. The only person standing there was Carla, holding out the mask and wig combo. “You’ve got thirty seconds. Mid stage, both of you. The Rogue’s almost done with the latest illusions involving golden eagles and doves so you’d best be in place when he gets to worship Bast and her guardian.” She grinned impishly.
Carmen snagged Bast mask on the run and slipped it over her head. Pacing alongside of her like a tame house cat, was Khan. People got out of their way as the two of them hurried to take their places. Carla appeared at her off side as they managed to get into place. Quickly, the woman made adjustments and added the finishing touches to the costume with seconds to spare. Thankfully, she had just enough time to add Carmen's claw necklace before the curtains slid back, allowing Carla move into the shadows and disappear.
“And Lo, from the lands of paradise, does the goddess stride forth amongst the mortal realm. She seeks one to join her and her bodyguard. Perhaps one of you of the audience will be blessed with a chance to face Bast, to be blessed with the feel of fur and claw, fang and muscle. Feel it brush against you now, in your mind as she walks among you, seeking.”
Without pause, Carmen strode regally out onto the stage, staring out into the audience with what she hoped would be the poise of a goddess. “Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t we Sean?” Her thoughts arrowed out towards The Rogue’s visage.
His lips twitched slightly as he made obeisance to her. “Part of the mystique of being an illusionist is being able to entrance the audience with a load of bullshit before pulling off whatever it is they want to see. Now be nice and let me have my fun. Duncan told me what happened in his room. I hope Sam’s going over everything painful I could do to him.”
“Let’s keep our mind on business, you two. I got dibs on hat little faggot the moment the show is over. In the meantime, lovebirds, we have a real goddess to rescue.” Duncan’s growling voice invaded both their minds.
“Right. Isis? We’re good to go, give the Sheik a bit of a nudge to suggest his daughter be the one to get up here on stage. And pray to whatever powers that be this works. Otherwise we’re all in deep shit.”
The attendants trooped out to exotic belly dancing music, carrying a throne embossed with cats. With great care, they lowered it to the designated spot on stage and helped Carmen ascend to the cushioned seat as she struggled to contain the laughter which was fighting to escape the confines of her mouth. Khan didn’t help matters by strolling up to her and nudging her hand, demanding a caress in a very classical kittenish way.
“Master,” Called one of the attendants, “We have found whom the goddess wishes.”
“Bring them forth and allow them into the presence of the goddess.”
Into the spotlight they came. Yasmeen, resplendent in a deep emerald green dress with gold trim and the cat medallion dangling into a generous cleavage, with the attendants on either side of her lightly holding her hands as they approached the throne. Her eyes were half lidded in anger as she noticed Khan, then figured out who was behind the mask.
Carmen’s earpiece beeped. “Don’t speak to us Carmen. You’re on mike to the rest of the audience, babe. They won’t hear us, but anything you say from this time out is going to be heard by the entire audience. You go do your thing, boss. We’ll keep you updated from here.” It was Logan speaking, “By the way, you look incredibly sexy.”
Keeping the growl firmly between her teeth, she stared down at the woman before her. “Who is this supplicant you have brought before me?” Her voice unconsciously lowered to a sultry purr.
Both men knelt at her feet, gently drawing their captive down with them. “Her name is Yasmeen, goddess,” They spoke in unison.
Standing, Carmen brushed some of the fake hair over her shoulder, then looked over at Sean in his role as priest. “And does my priest vouch for this woman?”
“Someone tell me how to get her free of this. It’s not gonna be easy, I know. But I’ve got her on stage, I can get within touching distance.”
A deep bass voice echoed through her brain, “Only a god or goddess can remove the amulet which binds her to this world and hat form. To remove it, you hum a three note tune. Listen.” The three notes vibrated her body down to her toes. “And to answer the question which is bouncing around your brain, I'm Anubis.” The voice chuckled slightly.
“I am yours to command, goddess, and your priest. In your eyes I vouch for this woman. Accept her as sacrifice.” Sean winked at her from behind a black leather mask with gold swirls on it.
Khan paced forward so he was nose to nose with Yasmeen, staring her in the eyes. A soft huffing growl raised the hairs on Carmen’s arm. “Gods! If we weren’t here to free the goddess inside, I’d be taking a chunk out of her face. Audience or no audience.”
“Just keep her distracted. She’s still
mortal until this thing is off her neck. While she has her attention on you, she won’t know what I’m about to do until it’s too late.” Carmen descending the throne to walk around behind Yasmeen. “I am pleased, Rogue. Allow me to bless her with our own symbol.” She held out a hand, knowing this would be the most delicate part of the whole illusion.
The Rogue made a show of creating a glittering necklace of cat claws out of thin air and laying it in her hands. “As my goddess wishes, so shall it be.” Be careful, love. His hands caressed their way up her arms in time with the music which had been playing before dancing away, making elaborate hand motions to make the whole thing more dramatic.
Carmen began to sway and dance, moving in time to the music as well. After a few moments, she began to sing in harmony with the music, keeping her voice in the deep and hypnotic tones. “Everybody get ready. And Anubis? A goddess will remove the amulet. I’ll explain later.” Soon, her dancing took her behind the assistants and the prone woman. Khan never looked up from his stare down as she took the final step necessary to lower the glittering strand over her head. Once it was settled on her neck, and before Yasmeen realized what was going on, Carmen touched the chain holding the amulet and sounded out the three tones Anubis had given her.
The amulet fell free into her hands. Instantly, the screams and moans of a thousand or more souls assaulted her mind. The mental impact sent her to her knees in agony, moaning softly, barely aware of her mask and wig falling to the stage. Such was the disorientation, the expected pyrotechnics of the illusion did no more than cause her to flinch. Weakly, she groped with her hands to find something solid to anchor her in reality. Some otherworldly sense forced her to keep a tight grip on the amulet instead of dropping it to the floor.