Curiosity and the Were-Cat

As the saying always goes, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.1

As I sit in my chair at my new office, I can’t help but think on that saying and where it brought me today.2

My name is Alina and I’m a were-cat. We are a breed that has a cat form all of the time. We are tolerated by society after we came out to the public five years ago. Granted, it’s been a struggle to retain ourselves among all of the humans. We are seen by some as celebrities and by others as demons. It’s a way of life.3

I was turned about five years ago today by my once lover Jenson. He saved me from a hungry and crazed were-cat. I fell in love with him and one day he and I were fighting and I uttered the words to a comeback that I always said and yet held different meaning in his world “Bite Me”. 4

Well, I meant it as a comeback, but not as a come-on. However, he took it literally and turned me into a were-cat. Over the next few years, I adjusted to being a different species. Heightened senses, fur around certain places (ears, feet and hands) and I also grew out a tail. 5

I was in college at the time that I met Jenson and with my new status as a were-cat, I changed my courses to online so that I didn’t freak out my fellow classmates. When my kind came out, it was just after I left college. I had a degree in criminal sciences and I knew no better place than to become a cop. 6

However, they wouldn’t take a were-cat on their force. The captain of the local precinct, Captain Johnson,said that it would be too much publicity and that I was not suited for the job. I was offended and frustrated. Barring any other employment, I did security jobs for various places until I could find something better.7

That’s where my story starts. 8

I was walking home one night down a deserted side street when I heard a scream come from one of the abandoned warehouses. I stopped and listened. I heard a soft moan and an almost raspy voice, though I couldn’t hear the words. Walking towards the building, all of the doors were locked. Ever determined, I saw that there was a stairway on the side of the building. Looking around, I shed my bomber jacket and unfurled my tail. (People are still unnerved by it, so I usually keep it curled up on my back. Makes for a hell of a balance issue, though.) 9

Feeling my tail fully extended, I sighed, loving the feel of it moving side to side. Bracing my feet, I leaped the twenty feet up to the stairs and grasped the railing. Suppressing a meow in pleasure, I hauled my feet over the railing with ease as I slinked my way over to a window to have a look. It could be just a couple having a little fun, but curiosity got the better of me on this one.10

As I looked in, I saw a scraggly-looking man holding a child, that was no more than 7 years old and the boy looked up at him in fear and terror. There were several other boys and girls sitting down in terror and squealing in terror as the boy drew closer, though haltingly as if he was fighting his own body. The man drew him close and turned him towards the window as he bit down harshly on the boy’s throat and drank him dry. 11

“Vampire” I said to myself. Usually, they were good company, but they all had a standing age to which to hunt the humans. 16 was that age and I knew that he was doing this without the other vampires’ approval. 12

The vampire tossed the boy aside and went for the next child, this one was a girl. Feeling outrage and sickened by the horror of feeding on children, I burst through the window and dropped down to the concrete floor. 13

The building was an old theatre from the looks of it and it was long past its time. The shattering of the glass drew the attention of the vampire and he tossed the girl aside roughly as he went searching for me. I hid in the shadows behind a wall and waited for him to come to me. This guy was going down.14

As the vampire drew closer to me, I could tell that he was tracking me by scent. A vampire’s nose is almost as good as a were-cat, so I drew farther back into the room to lay in ambush. After five minutes of waiting, the vampire appeared and looked right at me. 15

“My, my, my. Look what the cat dragged in.” he said with menace and humor.16

“She’ll be dragging your carcass in a minute.” I said in reply as I lunged for his throat. 17

He was expecting that and grabbed my arms, fell back with my momentum and used his legs to pop me up into the air and past him. 18

I landed hard on a table and it cracked under the stress. The dust clouded my senses for a moment, but that was all he needed.19

He grabbed me by my throat and held me up. I kicked and scratched at him to no avail. He laughed at me and produced a knife from his back pocket. ‘Great job, Alina’ I thought to myself as I cursed myself for my damned curiosity.20

“Let’s get some fur for a trophy.” He cackled. He slashed at me again and again, drawing blood and fur from various places. I knew that it was only a matter of time. Realizing that I was giving up and not fighting I brought my legs up around his head in an acrobatic move and twisted. Pain shot through my legs, but it was enough to dislodge his grip from me. His body went flying as the knife got tossed up in the air. Being the cat that I was, I landed effortlessly on my feet and lunged for him again. 21

I held him against the wall and blood was running from his nose. I guess that he didn’t have superior reflexes to land on his feet like a cat. He laughed at me, spewing blood. 22

“You think that you can beat me?” he said, laughing.23

“No, I’m ending you.” I said without mercy. It was then that he saw that I had caught his knife in my tail with quick precision; I stabbed him in the heart, ending his undead life.24

I cried out in pain as my legs gave out from under me and I took out my phone from my pack and dialed 911. 25

The police and ambulance arrived within minutes and carted the kids as well as me off to the hospital. I was healing before their eyes and would be released the next day. The kids didn’t fare so well, as they were kept for months by that monster.26

The next day as I was getting ready to head out, Captain Johnson came to see me as well as Jenson. My heart still felt a pang for my old lover, but I kept my face neutral as I asked them why they came to see me. 27

Captain Johnson came forward and handed me a heavy envelope. Inside was about $10,000 and a listing for a building to rent.28

Clearly confused, I looked up at the captain.29

“I don’t understand why I got this.” I said, looking between the captain and my former lover.30

The captain looked at Jenson and Jenson said “It’s for services rendered. That’s the price on his head from the supernatural community. I’m surprised to find out that it was you that took him out.” He said with a bit of awe in his voice.31

The captain spoke next: “The listing is for a building that’s up for rent and we have the perfect job for you. How would you like to be a private detective and liaison between the police and the weres?”32

Jenson spoke up. “You would be perfect for the job and you always wanted to be in law enforcement. Here’s your shot.”33

I accepted the position and two months later, Curious Tails, opened its doors. It’s funny what curiosity will bring to your door.34