I run home and take a quick cat nap before going back to the Photo store, and giving Jimmy another run for it. Poor guy, he really is kind of baby faced, his face looking way more innocent than he really was. No one was innocent on the East end. It was a commodity that couldn’t be allowed if you wanted to live. His face was kind…If I was into the tubby type. But who had time for that.
I sat on the floor of my room and looked over all the pictures. Holly was out again, who knew where that girl went. But it was clear to me I’d need to figure out what to do with her. She needed to be somewhere safe and if Skeevers found us….well, this wouldn’t be it.
I take another look at the pictures before slipping on something black and slinky. A dress this time, though I glance at my purple slinky outfit, the whip by its side.
“Not to long now.” I say to it.
I needed more than my own abilities to break into Wayne Manor, but if I made it out unscathed, I’d have proved myself. I’d already heard whispers around the East end about a ‘cat burglar’ who dressed like a cat. I smile self indulgently, yes; this was going to be a fun night.
I arrived at the Bar around the time when it was just starting to swing. It was a surprisingly clean joint and really would have been titled as a club. However, while it was clean, the things that went on in the back room were far from. I knew I’d be able to get any information or even the equipment I wanted from someone here.
I walk in, noticing the heads turning in my direction. I walk past them straight to the bar, where I see Rob behind it. A towel in hand he’s whipping off the shiny counter.
“Hello Rob.”
He looks up and raises his eyebrow.
“Hello Selina, to what do we owe the honor?”
I smile and lean against the bar.
“I’ll have the usual.” He gives me a sideways smile as he goes off to make it.
I wait a while before he comes back into talking distance.
“I’d like to see a man about a lock.” He hands me my drink and raises his eyebrow again.
He was one of the few men who actually looked past my looks and feminine wiles, maybe not looked past it, I mean who could, but he paid attention to me as a human, not some sexy kitten.
I take a sip of my drink.
“You’re walking a fine line. One of these day’s you’re going to get caught. What about Holly?”
I turn and lean against the bar, my arms draped on either side of me. I survey the bar.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”
“Well, glad you’ve got something covered.”
I turn around and place my hands on the bar, both off to my side. Leaning against them I lean over.
“It makes it less fun if it is.” I gave him a clear view of my cleavage.
He smiles.
“Well, that I can’t argue with.”
“That fellow there.” He nods his head in the direction of the corner. “I think he can help you with what you want.”
I nod and take another sip, noting that the man’s staring at me.
“You know there’s that new burglar around town. You might have some competition.”
I raise my eyebrow and give him a sideways look.
“I have nothing to fear from a woman who hides her looks with a mask. Only ugly people wear masks.”
“Or kinky people.”
I laugh, and set my empty glass on the counter. I walk away a little from the bar before turning.
“I guess you’d know more about that than I would.” I call as a parting shot. He makes a fake grimace and smiles as I turn and walk over to the man in the corner.
Two large men are seated casually at the tables next to him; I walk up, shift the weight to my left leg and place my hands on my hips.
“See anything you need?” He looks up at me casually, the rest of his head following his eyes movement.
“Maybe..maybe not.”
I smile and slip into the seat next to him, crossing my legs I lean against the back of the booth.
“I heard that you’re the one to see for all sorts of fun toys.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’m having trouble with locks…” I place my hand on his leg.
Hours later I strip out of my dress and crawl into bed.
I’d managed to talk him down in price even after I refused to give him ‘some pleasure’ as he put it ever so gently. I was trying to be an honest woman, and sleeping around to get what I wanted just wasn’t going to cut it. However I did allow him to run his hands over me as we talked the price down. That should tide him over until he finds a girl unfortunate enough to fall into his bed.
I close my eyes and smile; tomorrow is a brand new day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
“heheheheh”
I open one eye at Holly’s giggle. Her voice filters in through the walls and I can tell she’s in the living room.
I yawn and stretch before getting out of bed and walking into the living room. I stop when I see what’s going on.
Holly’s on the floor with a litter of kittens around her. She looks up as I walk in.
“Look! While I was out yesterday I found them in a box on the corner.” She held up a dirty and torn cardboard box with the writing “Free CaTS” on the side.
I stare down at her, making my face look stern.
“Holly…”
Her eyes grow wide.
“I thought you liked cat’s…”
I make my face stay stern for a second longer before I scoop up a kitten and smile broadly. Holly smiles and giggles again.
I let the kitten rub against my face, the soft fur feeling like velvet against my cheek and neck, I turn my face to the ceiling and let the kitten run across my neck.
“Who could leave you out in the cold?” I whisper.
I pull the kitten away from me and notice for the first time that it’s got black fur.
“Mhhh, have you given them names yet Holly?”
She paused before answering and pointing to each one as she went.
“Frodo, Merry, Rose and Ariel.”
I raise my eyebrow at the names.
“Frodo?”
She nods. “It’s from a book I got at the library.”
I try had to keep from laughing.
“What about this one?” I hold out the kitten in my arms.
“Oh, I haven’t named her yet, though I was thinking about Samantha…”
I shook my head.
“No, Isis.”
Holly tilted her head as the kittens crawled all over her lap, tumbling about with one another.
“Huh?”
I turn and walk into the kitchen placing the black kitten on my shoulder as I go.
“Isis, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and motherhood, she was also a great worker of magic.”
Holly followed with the other kittens following her.
“How do you know so much?”
“I read, though I’ve never read a book about a Frodo.”
“He was a little man.” She said as she pulled some food out of the refrigerator.
“Little? Harboring some fantasies my dear?” I teased as I began to prepare some eggs and bacon.
She shook her head.
“Nope, it was like a fairy tale…a long..boring fairy tale. I only read the beginning.”
“Huh.” I give her a thoughtful look and then shrug.
“Well at least you tried. That’s the most important thing..trying..” I bend over and flick the range on.
“Selina…have you..”
She pauses and even though my back is to her I can feel something’s wrong. I place the bacon in the pan.
“Yes?”
“Do you..I mean…have you..do you sometimes like..”
I crack the eggs in the pan the kitten on my shoulder balances by digging her claws painlessly into my shoulder.
“…girls?”
I pause for a second the egg shell in my hand before I continue.
“What do you mean.”
“Have you ever liked a girl?”
I think I understand now what she’s talking about, but still the concept illudes me.
“I like lots of girls. Or are you talking about something else?” I move to turn around and I see her move alone, keeping her behind my back, I stop.
“I think...I think I like girls.”
I smile.
“There is nothing wrong with that.”
Silence.
I can almost hear her thinking.
“No?”
“No.” I turn around and smile at her, walking over I place my hands on her shoulders.
“After living the life you have I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Men aren’t for everyone, and you’ve had more than your fair share forced upon you.”
She smiles.
“I was just so worried something was wrong with me…”
I back and give her a quick hug before turning and flipping the eggs and bacon.
“Nothing’s wrong with you. But you have to promise me….”
“What?”
“Don’t act on it till you’re older.”
I place the egg’s and bacon on plates and hand her, her’s.
“You need to take a break from stuff Holly. You need to go back to school.”
She looked at me in semi-shock.
“Why?” she asked, a slight whine in her voice.
“Because, you’re going to be better than this.” I smile at her fondly.
“Eat your breakfast.”
