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Title: Of Cats and Magic
Chapter: 12
Author: Riko Gonzalez
"They won the fight. That plant thing is dead."
Flash Fire sat atop a ruined building, overlooking the battlefield, cracks
riddling the building''s surface. Pressed to the redhead''s ear was her phone.
"Another message? Fine... I''ll deliver it. Just make sure the payment goes
through."
With a sigh, the red-haired magical girl hung up her phone. What a strange
client this was? She was fairly certain the woman knew she was an assassin, yet
the tasks she was being given were odd considering her profession. What did this
woman actually need an assassin for? Regardless, as long as she paid, it wasn''t
a problem, and this client paid quite well. In any case, it looked like she was
now being paid to extend an invitation.
***
"Well, that thing had quite a bit of fight in it," Riko spoke in reference to
the monstrosity they had defeated just moments ago. Its remains still continued
to burn, the horrendous smell of the creature finally starting to dissipate.
"Any idea where this thing came from?" she queried her blonde friend.
Ruko merely glanced up for a moment, and then shook her head, indicating that
she did not. Turning her attention back to the creature''s remains, she proceeded
to prod them a few times. Though the creature appeared to be quite dead, she
wanted to verify that it actually was. After all, it would be quite troublesome
if it suddenly started moving again. As expected, though, it stayed looking
quite dead.
Satisfied, the blonde catgirl looked to her cyan-haired friend.
"We should head back," she spoke.
"A moment please," a voice drew their attention, halting their withdrawal before
it even began. It was the same redhead who had previously caused them to rush to
town to fight that plant-like thing.
"Just a moment! Who exactly are you? What''s your connection to that thing?"
Riko was pointing her staff at the red-headed woman, demanding answers.
"My name is Flash Fire," the woman responded, a dangerous look in her eyes. "I''m
a magical girl and an assassin. Don''t worry, though. I''m not here to kill you...
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.this time."
Riko continued to gaze at Flash Fire suspiciously, looking ready to fight if it
came to that. Flash Fire really wasn''t surprised by this. There really wasn''t
much reason for them to actually trust her after all. In short, Riko''s behavior
was expected. Ruko''s, though, threw her for a loop.
Unlike Riko, Ruko was not glaring at her suspiciously. It wasn''t that the blonde
wasn''t watching her. No, she was clearly observing her. It was just that she
couldn''t detect a hint of emotion in the woman''s face. It was a perfect poker
face. In truth, the taciturn expression on the blonde was quite unnerving to
Flash Fire. She could tell that the amethyst-eyed magical girl would be a
dangerous opponent. Perhaps it was a good thing the client only wanted her to
deliver a message this time.
Trying to hide her unease, Flash Fire continued, "I''m just a middlewoman for
this incident. Plant a seed. Deliver a message. I''ve been given another task
now, though. Another message. An invitation."
As the redhead spoke, she withdrew a folded paper.
"On this you will find a time and place. Seems the client wants to meet you."
Riko relaxed a bit --- just a bit --- as she was handed the folded paper. While
she didn''t quite trust the assassin, she didn''t think the redhead meant them
harm at this time.
"With that, I''ll take my leave," Flash Fire said once Riko had possession of the
paper.
***
"The one behind that thing the two of you fought claims to want to meet you?"
A paper lay on the floor in front of Timothy. As the blue cat spoke, he looked
over the contents of the paper, a time and place. Across from Timothy, on the
other side of the paper, was Riko and Ruko. The three of them were in their
apartment.
"That''s what that assassin said. Seems suspicious, doesn''t it?" Riko commented,
answering the winged cat''s question.
"I concur. I wouldn''t be surprised if this turned out to be a trap."
Riko watched Timothy expectantly as he spoke. Ruko watched him with her usual
taciturn expression.
"However, I don''t think we can ignore this. Whoever or whatever is behind this
already put the town in danger once. Ladies, it looks like we have a date to
keep."
Timothy turned his golden eyes back to the foreboding paper, stretching his
feathery wings restlessly. He didn''t like this --- not one bit. He didn''t want
to risk the town''s safety, though.
The paper laying before him specified the place of Veil Lake and the time of
midnight.
***
Elsewhere, a figure sat cloaked in shadow. Although obscured by the shade, she
sported a joyful grin as she sipped a cup of tea.
"Will they come? Will they come? Will they come?" she sang happily.
"Of course they''ll come."
Her red eyes took on a mischievous look as the last statement flowed from her
shapely lips. Casually, she took another sip from her teacup.
She wasn''t used to being denied. No, to her humans, catgirls, and catboys were
just playthings for her enjoyment --- toys if you will. As such, they would
dance to her tune as she saw fit.
"Just a matter of time," she continued in a beautiful singsong voice.
***
Riko shivered. For some reason, a rather foreboding sensation had suddenly
descended upon her.
"You alright?" Timothy asked. "You''re looking rather pale."
"I''m good. Just suddenly got a rather bad feeling about this."
"I know what you mean. Seems way to risky to ignore this, though."
Ruko watched her two friends converse for a moment. This meeting did have the
potential to be a trap, but Timothy was right. They were being called out, and
ignoring it was too dangerous.
"I''m going to shower," the blonde interjected into the conversation, turning to
leave the living room afterwards.
Riko and Timothy momentarily glanced to the blonde magical girl upon hearing her
voice.
"Should I make dinner?" Riko said, turning back to Timothy.
"Don''t worry about it. I''ll make dinner today."