“I know many things,” the black cat replied a little smugly.
Naturally, because I hated self-righteousness like that, I threw some pixie dust at him. “An actual reply, please.”
He took a step closer, and this time, I held my ground. Well, my air, since I was still flying, my wings quickly beating behind me and holding me aloft. Oddly enough, as I gazed into those big, hypnotizing eyes once more, I didn’t feel frightened anymore.
“Well? I’m waiting.”
The feline seemed to sigh. “To tell you the truth, this place is very boring. Most everyone sticks to their own domains, and we don’t really have much contact with each other. So I suppose you could say I keep a close eye on new arrivals.”
“So let me get this straight. You separated me from my friends because you were bored?”
“Yes and no,” the cat said, its ears drooping almost pathetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
“Indeed, you didn’t.” I hated to say it, but even knowing my kidnapper was actually a shifter, I couldn’t be angry at a feline. Besides, the vague reply told me that there was another reason behind the cat’s actions. “You’d better be telling me the whole truth.”
The feline fidgeted, an oddly humanlike gesture that somehow looked endearing. I shook myself, forcing myself to remember that he was a cruel kidnapper. “Actually, I needed another assistant. Igor is great, but well…he simply doesn’t have enough magic for my current project. But it’s really a long story, and I don’t want to bore you.”
He was still hiding something, but I let it slide. “Fine then,” I told him. “How about you introduce yourself and show me your real form?”
“My name is Doctor Victor Frankenstein, lovely Larue. And I’d very much like to be able to shift for you, but alas, I can’t, at least not until daybreak.”
I blinked, now well and completely confused. Before I could get the chance to ask, the dark elf reappeared. “Your friends are quite all right. In fact, the dragon and his human are on their way here.”
Was it my impression or did the feline look disgruntled? “What of the others?” he asked.
“The rabbit is with Count Vlad and the horse with Lord Stiltskin.”
“Oh!” Victor perked up, not even allowing me to ask who in the world these people were. “Come with me. You can speak with your bunny friend.”
He leapt off the table and landed on the floor with the same elegance that he’d displayed earlier. I followed him with my gaze as he padded out of the room. When I didn’t immediately come after him, he peeked back inside and pinned me with his gold-green gaze. “Well? I’m waiting.”
It was my turn to be amused. Against all odds, there seemed to be something about this cat that called out to me. Suppressing a chuckle, I flew off the table and, on an impulse, lowered myself onto his back. “Lead the way.”
If he was surprised, he didn’t show it. Instead, he said, “Hold on tightly. I’m afraid I’m not made with reins.”
As I sank my fingers into the silky fur, I could swear I heard him purr. Nevertheless, he didn’t dwell on it, instead choosing to go through with what he’d originally planned. As he started to walk through the darkened building, with me still on his back, I realized for the first time that I’d somehow ended up in what must have been a castle. The dining room we’d left behind opened into a huge foyer. Lights burst around us as we passed, as if they could feel Victor’s approach. They were so bright they rivaled my own glow, and by the time we reached the end of the hallway, they almost felt intimidating. Of course, that thought faded when I saw the sprawling staircase which we would undoubtedly be using. Perhaps I’d be better off flying than riding Victor, not to mention that I was enjoying caressing his fur a little too much.
In spite of my doubts, though, I held onto his fur, and this proved to be a good idea. His gait was smooth as we went up the stairs, as if he didn’t want to jostle me in the slightest. Behind us, I spotted Igor following us, an ever-present but no longer threatening shadow.
Was it crazy of me to have dismissed my fears so quickly? Perhaps. But pixies were beings of instinct, and right now, mine reassured me, telling me I was safe. But there was more to it than that. A strange feeling gripped me, as if a fist squeezed my heart, cutting off my breath. I didn’t recognize it, so I tried to bury it deeply within me and not let it show.
I had no clue if Victor noticed anyway. Either way, he made no comment on it, instead choosing to explain, “I’m a scientist, and I’ve invented a way to communicate at great distances. Count Vlad Dracula was quite thrilled with the concept and had me build a device for him, so you’ll be able to speak with your friend through it. Keep your head down.”
“Pardon?” The non-sequitur shocked me, and I really didn’t understand what he meant until I realized we’d reached our destination. A seemingly impassable wooden door lay in front of us, barring the entrance to the room beyond. However, my host—and when had he become a host and not a kidnapper?—was obviously quite well-versed in solving problems, as I spotted a tiny cat-sized opening at the very bottom of it. We could both fit through it with ease, but obviously, if I didn’t pay attention, I’d hit my head.
I had two options. The first was to leave Victor’s back and slide through the door myself, or even wait for Igor who’d undoubtedly come after us. Still, for some reason that struck me as rude. My second option implied having to bury my face in his fur, and honestly, it wasn’t much of a hardship. I might not appreciate inhaling cat hair, but I very much liked its texture under my fingertips.
Hiding a grin, I did just that, closing my eyes as we safely passed through the door. “We’re here,” the cat said, sounding a little shaken.
I finally leapt off him, flying around and taking a good look around my new surroundings. “Where is here?”
“My laboratory.” His voice was steadier now. “Come now. It’s this way.”
I followed him to something that looked like a large screen with a slab of glowing symbols in front of it. “This is it,” he said proudly. “I call it m-mail, short for magical mail. Go ahead. You can use it to contact your friend.”
In spite of the fact that I no longer felt fearful of Victor, I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe that strange slab would help me communicate with Vesper. Nevertheless, for some reason I didn’t think Victor would lie. I might not know him well enough to judge his honesty, but it was clear enough that he had invented this thing and was proud of it. He wouldn’t stain an accomplishment with deception.
As such, I decided to give Victor the benefit of the doubt. “How do I use it?” I asked.
“Just think about your friend and what you wish to convey to him. Your magic should help you master it with ease.”
I followed his instructions, and much to my surprise, the device responded to my touch. Still a little reluctant to believe, I thought about my friend and asked Vesper if he was all right. In spite of him being a bunny—and therefore naturally fast—he took his time. I’d disappointingly decided the device was a bust, when a message bloomed to life on the screen. “Larry! Oh, thank the Goddess…I’ve been taken by some strange creatures…There are women, so many women, Larry. Help me!”
I released a soft laugh and did a little happy dance in the air. Yup, Vesper was all right. If nothing else, my mate had been right about that. Wait…What in the world? Mate?
Chapter Three:
You’ve got M-Mail and a M-Mate
Larue was simply beautiful, his joy at learning about Vesper’s safety infectious. I smiled, insofar as I could in this form, at least. Fortunately, my vocal chords had been altered to allow speech, but that didn’t mean I had lips. In any case, he was nothing like I’d expected him to be when Igor had told me the gargoyles would find me a cure for my loneliness.
Certainly, I had been seeking a mate. My condition didn’t exactly allow me to seek out my other half, and I’d been reduced to waiting in this gloomy castle. Now that it had actually happened, I truly
wished I could have met him as a man, not a cat. First impressions counted a lot, after all. Sadly, it couldn’t be helped.
Of course, I had to admit he wasn’t exactly what I had imagined when I’d dreamed of someone to break the spell on me. Given Larue’s size, I honestly couldn’t imagine how in the world we’d possibly make something like this work. But crazier things had happened, as evidenced by me turning into a cat in the first place. I didn’t know the meaning of the word impossible. Now that I had him here, I’d figure it out somehow.
I leapt onto the table to be closer to him. Out of the blue, he froze in midair, his posture nearly comical due to the suddenness of it all. As he turned toward me, his eyes were wide like saucers. I waited for him to say something, anything, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he flew to my side and poked me in the side with his small finger.
“What was that for?” I asked, puzzled.
“This is really strange,” he murmured, still poking me. “Why are you a cat?”
“It’s a long story.” And one which I somewhat hesitated to share with Larue. If he found out about it, he might head for the hills. But I owed it to him to be honest, and anyway, I was a terrible liar. “Basically, it’s a curse that’s been in my family for a long, long time. You should see my brother.”
Larue tilted his head in surprise. “A curse,” he repeated. “And exactly what is this curse?”
“Well, it’s like this. My father was once a prince loved by all. Handsome and rich, he had everything. Alas, this made him arrogant, and one day, he had a very unpleasant fallout with a witch. I don’t know the specifics, but the end result was that he transformed into this huge beast.”
The pixie was now listening breathlessly to the story. “Oh, I think I know the next part. Only true love could break the spell, right?”
I nodded. “In any case, he met my mother, and eventually, they fell in love, and he changed back into the handsome prince. Sadly, for some reason, the curse on him didn’t fully disappear and instead got transmitted onto my brother and me. I only change at night, while he only changes during the day.”
“That’s really unfair.” Larue sounded outraged. “You shouldn’t have to pay for what your father did Goddess knows how many years back.”
If I’d had shoulders, I would have shrugged. “As shape-shifting curses go, it’s not so bad.” I paused and amended my statement, “Granted, choking on hairballs isn’t really pleasant, but I do have a normal form. It’s better than what my father was stuck with.”
Larue hummed thoughtfully. He leaned against me, his long hair brushing against my fur. “You’re my mate, you know,” he commented idly. “I’m not going to lie, it’s very odd. I mean…you’re a cat.”
To a certain extent, his words surprised me, not because I expected him to view me in a romantic light, but exactly the opposite. I might have been a shifter, but for the moment, he only knew me as a cat. It was mind-boggling that he’d so openly state that I was his mate.
It seemed, however, that Larue didn’t do things like other people. He didn’t hide or pretend, and neither did he pull his punches. Honestly, I found it refreshing. Even the few people and creatures I recognized as my friends had the tendency to deviate from the facts when they spoke to me. It drove me crazy, because as a scientist, I wanted the absolute truth. Hiding, vacillating, and uselessly angsting over a problem wouldn’t help you solve it faster. The best thing to do was to have it in the open and go over it with the other people involved.
“Look at it on the bright side,” I replied. “I’m not always a cat.”
“Well, no, but I don’t know that.” He sighed. “I apologize. I guess I expected something different.”
I refused to let his words hurt me, but I couldn’t help but feel a small pang of distress. “What exactly do pixies believe about their mates?”
Larue shrugged. “Oh, you know, the usual. Like the shifter races, we think each of us has a special person out there, waiting for us.” He blushed prettily. “Personally, I’ve always imagined meeting my fated one and falling in love with him at first sight.”
Well, that phrase eliminated one potential problem, him not being inclined toward the same sex. “I’m sorry to disappoint,” I answered, “but maybe it’s better this way.” When he threw a glower my way, I quickly amended, “I mean, don’t you think it’s irrational for someone to expect people can love each other without knowing anything about their partner?”
Larue huffed, sounding disgruntled. “Love isn’t rational. It’s an emotion.”
“Yes, my lovely Larue,” I answered, “but the way both shifters and other magical races identify our mates is purely hormonal. Fact of the matter, even if I’m only a cat to you, and you’re not attracted to me in the slightest, you still know I’m your mate.”
“I’m confused,” Larue admitted, “but I suppose you do have a point. So where does that leave us?”
“I have a proposition for you,” I answered. When he arched a brow, I chuckled. “No, nothing like that, at least not just yet. How about we try to get to know each other a little at first? I admit I’ve always wanted my mate to be my friend as well.”
At that, Larue lit up—literally. He started to glow brighter, a response I identified as something that happened during moments when he was very excited. “That’s a wonderful idea,” he told me, doing a little swirl through the air. Pixie dust flew all over the place, making my m-mail device beep alarmingly. Immediately, Larue stopped his enthusiastic fluttering. “Oh, dear,” he said. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry,” I replied, regretting his dismay. “It’s just a response to the magic. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
He nodded, scanning the device again and apparently rereading the reply from his friend. I liked seeing him react to our conversation and to the various events in his life. He had a quick temper, one that I’d have actually called volatile if I didn’t know better. I could already tell his emotions ran deep, in rapid bursts. He went from anger, to glee and excitement in the blink of an eye, and I looked forward to understanding him better.
“You can send as many messages as you like,” I told him. “Count Vlad’s domain is a good distance away, and it wouldn’t be smart to try to reach it now, but perhaps tomorrow, we can even visit.”
“How would that even work?” Larue hummed thoughtfully. “This is very complicated, Victor. I have a home. My parents are probably beside themselves with worry.”
I grimaced, which must have looked quite interesting since I was in cat form. “I understand. I’d prefer it if you stayed here with me, but perhaps we can come up with a way for you to travel between your home and here.”
“That’s a good plan.” Larue passed his small fingers over the symbols on the m-mail slab as he spoke, obviously sending another message to his friend. When he finished, he flew to my side and sat on the table next to me. “Until then, tell me more about yourself. What is this place exactly? Who is your friend? How did you come to be here? Do you have other inventions?”
A million questions burst from his lips, something which I found very promising. Not only that, but he also gripped my tail and started to toy with it, which was a sign that he felt comfortable with me. Encouraged, I started to explain, “Well, when it became clear that my brother and I had inherited my father’s curse, it was decided that we needed to go through with the whole waiting-for-love-in-a-gloomy-castle process as well. It had worked for Father, after all, so why wouldn’t it for us? That’s how I ended up here. This place is an old estate belonging to my father, and Igor was the caretaker. He has a story, too, but it’s not mine to tell. And as for other inventions, yes, I have plenty. I’ve been trying to find a way to eliminate this confounded curse ever since I moved here, because no matter what my parents say, the damn thing didn’t fully break for them, so I need to find out why.”
I took a deep breath and made a mental note not to overwhelm Larue with information. We had all the time in the world to get to kn
ow each other, since I highly doubted our numerous problems would be solved overnight. “What about you? Tell me about your friends, your family.”
We spoke of his family and friends, of my life here at the castle, both of us greedy for information. I had no idea how much time passed. It could have been hours, or only a few minutes. Either way, I was very disgruntled when Igor slipped into the lab. He had wisely granted us privacy so far, so I could easily guess what had determined him to change this attitude. “Let me guess,” I told him. “Larue’s friends are here.”
Igor nodded, and Larue released a gleeful sound. Before he could say anything, though, the m-mail device buzzed, signaling another incoming message. Since Larue seemed torn between seeing his message and greeting the new arrivals, I said, “Stay here. Igor and I will go welcome your friends.”
He nodded, his lips twisting in a small smile. “You want to give them a scare, don’t you? Don’t tease Dini too much. He’s been through a lot.”
Igor lifted me in his arms and headed out of the lab. I left Larue enjoying the m-mail device, already wondering what his friends would be like. Would they disagree to Larue being my mate? I hoped not, because I certainly didn’t want to make Larue choose. If there was one thing I’d learned during the time I’d spent with my mate, it was that Larue cared about them deeply. Because of that, I would do my best to be welcoming and help my new guests with whatever they needed. After all, I was their host.
Chapter Four:
In Which the Cat Becomes a Man
Dineiro had been, predictably, very worried about me. The moment he stepped through the door to the lab, he rushed to my side and expressed his enthusiasm regarding my well-being. Well, to be true, I was the one who jumped him first, wanting to show him Victor’s invention.
“Dini!” I shouted. “Oh, Goddess…You have to see this.”
He seemed amused at my behavior. “I see you’ve made yourself quite comfortable here,” he told me.
Pixie of Frankenstein [A Tail Like No Other: Book Two] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 2