23

" I am really fine My Queen, don't you worry." He replied and kissed her on her lips.

" Where is my little princess?." He asked, diving off the real subject.

" She is up in her room, asleep." She replied. His change in subject meant he didn't want to talk about it, that was how well she knew her husband.

That was the man power turned him into.

She thought.

" And Alama?." He asked, worried his son would have heard the news. Alama was known to be more furious and vile than his Father could ever be. To Alama, the spread of the news meant death to all whom heard it and spoke of it.

" He went hunting with his friends." She replied.

" Is it on the Outskirts of the city?." He asked worried.

" No, I don't think so." She replied.

" Good then. I will be up in my chamber, tell no one to disturb me." He said patted her back then placed a kiss on her forehead.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Malburt had received words from his secret lover to meet at their usual spot few hours ago. He waited till the moon was out and walked out of the Mansion. Luckily he didn't wait for too long before she showed up, dressed in sack cloth. He understood she was afraid of being seen and he was too.

Being together would mean war.

" My Love, I got your message." He said and kissed her softly.

" I know you did and I won't stay too long." She replied and his face broke into a sad one.

" I thought you wanted us to have some fun time.' He said and held her hands in his. ' I haven't seen you in a long time, spend tonight with me."

" I'm afraid that I can't. The old nag is still wide awake, I had to tell him I had something to sort out."

" And that is?." He asked.

" The people are angry, Malburt. You need to get the marriage done earlier and sooner." She replied.

" I know My Love but trust me that I have plan." He said assuring her. He had a massive plan in mind, one that would throw them all of their feets

" Plan or not Malburt, you need to act on it now. I know it's just two months to it but we need to be careful." She said scared.

" I have heard you but I still stand on my words and that is in two moon's time." He replied.

" I knew you would never listen, if anything goes wrong Malburt, the blood will be on your neck." She said annoyingly and walked away.

Malburt knew she meant no harm but he couldn't bear to ruin his plan.

Just wait and see My Lady, I will make it work.

He muttered and made his way towards the Mansion.

Number 2 had gotten up to get some air as the night seemed hotter than usual and was bewildered to see her Master out talking to someone. She couldn't clearly make the face out as it was dark and she wondered why he would chose the store instead of the Mansion.

Something fishy was definitely on. Was he planning something or maybe an affair?.

She gasped and ran back into the pet's room.

Anything that happened in the Omigo's house was none of her concern and it would always stay like that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Number 2." Master Malburt called out which made her crawling towards him. She dreaded what he would do to her. If he made her call out twice, ever since the incident, she vowed to not get on his bad side.

" Yes Master." She replied, head bowed.

" Get the pets ready and the place tidy, we have an important guest coming over." He commanded and waved her off.

" Why did Master call you?." Number 3 asked, curious.

" You curious Little child, Master has ordered that we all dress nice and clean as an very important guest would be coming."

" Do you have any idea on who it could be?" She asked.

" Of course not. I don't ask questions, i act them out and I have passed it across. Now get working and have the house clean." Number 2 replied and crawled off to attend to her own chores.

Annabel watched from the window view as a black tinted car drove in, stopping right in front of the Mansion.

A visitor? Why wasn't she informed?.

She thought.

She could see him as he got down, all dressed in black. Black hat, black coat, black car and even a black cat.

He carried it in his arms as he strolled in and got out of her view.

A cat?.

Seeing it reminded her of her cat, Freedom, she felt a little bit of happiness seeing something that looked like hers.

Should she go down? Can she see him? Would Master Malburt get angry? What if pets weren't allowed to?.

She really badly wanted to see the cat, cats were her favorite.

There was a soft tap on the door before it was pushed on.

" Master wants you down in few seconds, dressed and clean." Number 4 said and shut the door behind her.

Where was Master? Did he sell her off again? Was that her new Master? Was that why her Master went out early? Did he abandon her? Was she about to face a new fate? Would the new fate be a better now?.

She was going nuts from all the questions she needed answers to.

You don't wanna keep him waiting.

The tiny voice told her.

Of course.

She replied and stepped into the shower allowing it flow right through her hair to her body. Its' coldness calmed her tension. In few seconds, she was all dressed in pink, her favorite colour.

Staring at the reflection in the mirror and seeing how good the gown looked on her made her remember her dream.

Was it real?.

That had being the first and last time she had it.

It's probably just a mind play.

She told herself.

" There are six of them and I believe the last one will be down soon.' Master Malburt said the moment she got into the room. ' And here it is." He pointed in her direction and she noticed the strange strong gaze on her then he looked away.

" I got them all from the finest of all pet slavers and believe me when I see they are worth a fortune.' Malburt said and stopped. He felt uneasy having a great man of such status visiting him and that made him talk endlessly. He had to say something else and stop bragging about himself, he didn't want to bore him. ' Oh pardon me! Where did you get this beautiful pet of yours from?." He said and stretched his hand to touch it. The black cat snarled loud and ran back to his Master's arms.

" I found her when she was injured and now we are inseperable." He said in a thick voice, showing no emotions.

" Oh okay." Malburt didn't know what else to talk about. The silence lasted for a while as each stared at one another. During their conversation Annabel had joined the others where they laid.

" Does it have a name?." The stranger asked, finally breaking the akward silence.

" What? Pardon me but my mind was far off." Malburt replied.

This was the first time Master Malburt was acting nice to anyone and Annabel wondered why.

He could probably be one of the Werewolves, maybe a much older one or maybe his Dad.

She marvelled at the thought.

Such a akward conversation from a Father to a Son.

She thought.

" Your pet." He replied,his hand stroking the cat's fur.

" Which of them?." Malburt asked.

" The last one." He replied, still focused on his cat.

" I don't know, great one. Number 6." He called out making Annabel kneel up out of fear.

Was she in trouble? Did he say something or had she said her thoughts out.

" What's your name?." The stranger asked, facing her.

Her? Why her? Why her name? Why was he....?

" Annn.... Annabel." She stammered.

His eyes ran through her for a while then back to his cat. His eyes on her had sent chills through her body, bad chills. The cat turned to look at her and their eyes collided, she saw something spark in its' eyes. She could swear it felt like she knew it from somewhere, like they used to share a bond.

How could she know a pet she had never met before? How could a stranger she had never seen up until now be interested in her?.

She was sure it was cause she missed her cat and nothing more.

" I got Number 6 personally at a very high price from the finest of all Slave Masters. I know it is a very fine and healthy one." Malburt said and laughed. It was akward talking to a man whose hard stoned face wouldn't show any emotions.

" Do you have any pet?." Malburt said again and looked directly at his face. His eyes so dark and empty.

" I don't have any." He replied coldly.

" Oh that makes just the cat here,your only pet."

" Frebby isn't my pet but my best friend." He said harshly and gave him a hard look.

" I'm sorry. Hummm would you like anything?." He said.

" Not at all, I would take my leave now." He said and stepped out with Malburt walking behind him.

Annabel watched him as he leaped forward, unable to walk well. She guessed he had an injury in his left feet. She could see the cat staring at her and meowing continuously. Its' gaze still fixed on her till they walked out of sight.

What a weird cat that was!.

" Do you know him?." Number 3 curiously crawled over to ask her.

" No, I have never met him." She replied.

" Then why did he ask for your name?." She asked curiously. Number 3 had noticed him staring at Annabel and thought she had done something grievous.

" I don't know." She replied innocently.

" Number 6." Number 3 screamed silently.

Was she keeping something from the others? Was there something she didn't want them to know of?.

" Maybe Master Alac wants to sell her off." Number 4 said in a child like tone.

" That could be true but I doubt Master Alac would let them." Number 3 replied.

" He might, that explains why he hasn't being home."

" Enough!!.' Number 2 said, ' You little wenches over here." She ordered and Number 3 and 4 crawled back to their positions.

" But all we asked was a polite question." Number 3 said sadly.

" That wasn't polite. It's you trying to rub salt on her wound." Number 1 scorned.

Were they also thinking she was sold off to this stranger? Did they believe Alac could really do it? Did she think Alac would? Maybe he was heartless but she doubted he would be willing to let go of her after being so nice to her. What if that was why he was being nice to her? What if he wanted to grace get last moment with him well?.

Her eyes were starting to dim from having to think about it. She had so many questions she needed answers to. She would ask him when he comes home and hopes he sincerely tells the truth but was she ready to hear what that truth was.
Well she had to find out.

She thought and crawled back into her Master's room, ignoring the stares others gave her for breaking the queue.