Treasure of the Malkin, page 9
part #4 of War of the Malkin Series
“Hey!”
“You again,” snarled Meg.
“Yeah, I know. Bad penny and all that. Let’s cut to the chase,” Liz said. “I’m here to put an end to your reign of terror before it begins.”
“Really? How... intriguing. I always thought you had spunk. However,” Meg said taking a step closer to Liz “I did assume you had more brains than this. Exactly how do you plan to accomplish this lofty goal...” Meg made a show of looking around. Henry breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t look up at the statue. “...alone.”
“I have God on my side.”
Meg’s laugh echoed around the room. “I’ll grant that somehow you’ve recovered. Quite the miracle, but do you honestly believe your God is willing to step in when you purposely put yourself in danger’s way?”
“He did it before.”
“And you think He’ll do it again,” Meg said, waving Liz’s answer off as she took another step toward her. “Are you really that naive?”
Liz shrugged. “Perhaps, but those in the know would say playing with demons is the foolish thing to do.”
Meg’s back stiffened. Henry could hardly believe his eyes. For the hundredth time he wished he had the Huntress’s gifts so he could see into the young woman’s spirit or even speak into her mind to find out just what she thought she was doing. Antagonizing the leader of these demon worshipers would certainly draw their attention, but it would also lead to terrifying consequences. He watched with bated breath as Meg relaxed and put a hand on her hip.
“Where’s your little friend?”
“He’s gone. Took off as soon as your goons dumped us in the furnace room.”
“Just like a cat,” Meg said. “You’re better off without him.”
Henry suddenly remembered why he was perched on the back of a stone demon and peered over the beast’s shoulder. The closest medallion was a full leg length away. He’d have to stretch as far as he could and hope everyone was watching Liz and Meg. He took a quick glance around the room, then reached as far as he could with claws extended. The replica shifted a whisker width.
Henry held back a growl and checked the gathered humans again. Everyone’s attention was still on the women who were standing closer together. Meg was pacing around Liz now. The fur along his back rose as he watched the subtle shift of the woman’s red robe. Her perfect manicure and lily white hands slid from the sleeves. Metal glinted, thin and deadly in her hand.
“Look out!” he yowled.
Liz spun, grabbing Meg’s arm and pulling her past. The dagger flew from her hand, toppling dark handle over gleaming silver tip. Henry’s vision narrowed to the blade’s path, watching in horror as it found a victim.
The statue shifted below him. A crack resounded through the room. Pins and needles flooded his body as realization washed over him. The ceremony had been completed through sacrifice. The Horde was rising.
Henry threw himself over the demon’s shoulder, clinging to the fracturing stone and casting the need to stay hidden aside. He dug at the medallion, scrabbling at it with hind claws and ignoring the pain as blood flowed into his fur from torn sheaths. Screams assaulted his ears. Debris pelted him from every direction. The monster beneath his paws rose to its full height, stretching its wings and dislodging large pieces of pumice to shatter on the tiled floor.
Suddenly the disk replica broke loose under his claws. There was a moment of mingled elation and horror as he felt suspended in air, staring into the face of hatred, and then it was gone. Wind whooshed by his ears in his descent. White comets burst into the room, a cat’s paw between them and the red streaks they chased. Henry wondered at their beauty as darkness claimed him.
***
Henry woke up wrapped in blankets. He opened his eyes a crack and looked around at the familiar setting of Liz’s apartment. A woman’s voice pulled his attention to the TV on the wall. He shifted to get a better view and regretted the movement as sharp pain lanced through his side.
“Meg Luther, CEO of Luther Inc. and alleged leader of an underground cult calling themselves the Gathering, was placed under arrest today on multiple charges of fraud,” said the blonde female news anchor. Images of Meg being led, handcuffed, through a crowd of eager journalists flashed across the screen, making Henry’s stomach sour. He closed his eyes and laid his head on his front paws.
“I see you’re finally awake. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep forever,” Liz said, plopping down beside him on the couch. Henry groaned and opened his eyes a slit. He stretched his back leg and winced. Liz reached a hand out and gently stroked his head. “That was quite a nasty fall you took. I’m surprised you’re still alive.”
“That makes two of us.”
Liz nodded toward the television. “What do you make of that?”
“The hazards of having a spell go wrong.”
“Seriously?”
“What did you think would happen?”
“I don’t know,” Liz said with a shrug. “She’d disappear or something? Get swept away to the underworld.”
Henry snorted. “You watch too many stories on your story box.”
“You could be right,” Liz said and chuckled. She continued to stroke his head. “So what are you going to do now?”
“I honestly don’t know.” His chest tightened as he thought about everyone he’d left in the past. Liz patted his shoulder and stood.
“You can stay here, if you want. I know it’s probably not as exciting as your library, but I’m sure you’d be welcomed at the library here.”
“Thanks,” Henry said half-heartedly.
“Just think about it, okay? I have to go to work.”
She picked up their over-large handbag and headed to the door.
“Liz,” he said. She turned, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you have a cup that reminds you what a frog is?”
The young woman frowned and cocked her head to the side. Then she smiled and chuckled.
“You mean my F.R.O.G. cup?”
Henry nodded, trying to understand what was so funny.
“My Mom gave that to me. It means Fully Rely On God.” Her smile softened as she stared out the window across the room. “I wonder if she knew just how much I’d need that message.”
Her gaze returned to him and her smile widened as she waggled her fingers at him. A moment later, she’d closed the door and Henry was left alone with the quiet drone of the television in the background. He closed his eyes and let his mind roam over what had happened, what he’d be doing if he hadn’t been thrown into the future, what he was supposed to do with his life now.
A knock made him jump, then hiss as muscles screamed in protest. The room was dark. He blinked at the clock next to the television. Liz had left nearly six hours ago. Henry stared at the dark rectangle that was the door. Why would Liz knock at her own door?
Gingerly, he slid to the floor and limped to the door, pressing his nose to the crack at the bottom. It wasn’t Liz, from the smell, but the scent was somehow familiar. Henry waited. There was a quiet shoosh of carpet as something was shoved under the door, then footsteps retreated.
Curious, Henry pawed the little envelop farther inside, twitching his tail to turn on a light. With a deft flip of his paw, he turned the envelop over. His ears swiveled back in surprise.
Henry
Ignoring protesting muscles, he tore it open. Inside lay the Angels medallion and a brief note.
May the Light of the One lead you home to those you left behind, my friend.
He stared at the door. Who had left this package for him? What did it mean? More questions tumbled through his mind faster and faster until he was ready to claw his ears off in frustration. He stared down at the note and medallion. A moment later he heard Liz’s keys in the lock. His whiskers widened as she stepped inside. She paused with her hand still on her keys.
“You’re grinning. What’s up?”
“Look’s like I’m staying a bit longer.”
The war has just begun…
For a limited time, you can get a FREE copy of Journeyman Cat direct from my web site. Just go to www.virginiaripple.com to get started.
Copyright © 2016 by Virginia Ripple. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Virginia Ripple
Photo image courtesy of magone/123RF Stock Photo and melis/123RF Stock Photo
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the fantastic readers of the King’s Elite Force who have made the extra effort to help spread the word about the world of the Malkins:
cat0pia, 2fortoys, penelope223, leezastetson, ldmccabe, istherelife, jobanna1974, celtic.viking287, whitneyaugur, teribeariblue, nancygrif, grwight, tedandgrace, natwadge, sfstabler, catwriter2011, fallenangel66737, gsstrickland, lhayashi6, card_in_all, kay.m.purcell, pkrobello, booski24, kmccandle, mdb4343, leah.leeee, kehala14, bookwormslh62, runa.herd, sellsshirleya, mybuddypup, darcyluvslizzy, tgeste, caharvey, maramotormouth, ssh.tx, catbhave
About the Author
Throughout Virginia’s school years she concentrated on her English courses, going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English. She was hired as a part-time Christian Education Director after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University and went on to become a seminary student at Brite Divinity, an Associate Minister and a church elder. Virginia re-discovered her passion for writing while in graduate school and with it a new direction for her life. Since then she has balanced her time between her career as an independent author and being a loving wife and mother.
For more information, visit Virginia’s web site at virginiaripple.com to sign up for sneak peeks and special offers.
One Last Thing…
If you enjoyed the book, would you take a few seconds to let your friends know about it on Facebook or Twitter? If they find this story as entertaining as you have, they’ll thank you. And if you have a few minutes, be sure to leave an honest review.
God bless,
Virginia Ripple
Also Written By
Toby’s Tale
Apprentice Cat
A magical partnership between a cat and a boy. A mysterious plot years in the making. Will they uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Toby is a young tom with big dreams. He wants to be just like his father, who had a distinguished career serving the High Council until his disappearance. First things first, Toby must become an apprentice cat and study magic with other magical cats and mages.
Accepted into the King’s Master School of Mages, he’s partnered with Lorn Ribaldy, the human nephew of a notorious traitor. Before long, Toby and Lorn learn that they may soon lose their places in the school and society because of their association with Lorn’s uncle. Their only hope is to find the secret to Toby’s father’s disappearance.
When the puzzle pieces start to fit together, they learn that a much greater danger is looming. Can they catch the evil mastermind at work — and keep up with their homework — before all of humanity is destroyed?
Journeyman Cat
He’ll protect his partner’s dream--until someone he loves is murdered...
Despite the war, despite that everyone else says he’s dead, Journeyman Toby continues to search for his father with the help of his human partner. When what promised to be another dead-end lead turns into something more, Toby pounces on the possibility like only a talking magical cat can. However, his questions regarding the secret goings-on of a local temple catches the attention of a mysterious cat whose sole ambition is to enslave the human race.
His supervisor orders the young tom to leave his informal investigation alone or be dismissed from the Office of Kingdom Guardianship. Even though he yearns to find his father, Toby obeys because it would mean taking away the one thing his partner cherishes: his position in the OKG. He follows orders, that is, until someone connected with the temple kills someone he loves.
Master Cat
His father disappeared... His mother was murdered... His partner is out to kill him...
Toby, a magical talking cat, has cut ties with the Office of Kingdom Guardianship, intent on finding his long-lost father and avenging his mother’s murder. He thought he left everyone behind, but someone from his past is stalking him. Now he must avoid this strange new menace while he seeks the truth about his family’s dark history, a history that threatens to unravel his sanity and cause the rest of the world to descend into madness. Can Toby reconcile himself with the past or will his inner turmoil allow his enemy to plunge humanity into chaos once and for all?
Malkin novellas
Secrets of the Malkin
After a narrow escape from orphaned teenagers determined to use her for target practice, Nadine, a feline social worker, is left terrified and wondering if there’s a way humans and felines can live together in peace in this post-plague world. She finds the answer in a story about a magical cat called the Baruhk Sh’Toole. Unfortunately, she disappeared years ago, taking her secrets with her. With only a map of the queen’s last known location and a vague story to go on, the she-cat leaves for an adventure to the Outer Reaches, a place where the trappers will skin a cat alive and then consider killing it. There she must befriend a priest and hope he knows where to find the cat who can heal the world, but doesn’t want to be found. Can a naive young social worker uncover the secrets of the Baruhk Sh’Toole and heal the widening rift between humans and cats or is Nadine doomed to be one more victim in the war?
Huntress of the Malkin
An accomplished healer of both cats and humans, Nadine finds herself whiskers to fangs with a demon while making what should have been a routine house call. Defeated, the demon soars away, but not before warning her that the world is about to be ripped from existence. Nadine casts the idea aside as the rantings of evil until she returns to her temple home to discover it in flames and her mentor vanished. When a visiting monk named Eli says her friend was taken by a religious extremist group looking for a book that can erase existence Nadine realizes she must take the demon’s warning seriously and go after them. Despite her misgivings about Eli, she takes him with her on what promises to be a fur-raising adventure. Can Nadine keep the book from falling into the wrong hands and save her friend or will she doom all of creation to certain annihilation?
Clash of the Malkin
Her world in peril… His need to stop a killer… Which will she use her magic for?
Nadine’s powers are growing, and so is her enemy’s desire to see her dead. She thought she’d thwarted his plans to use the Book of Knowledge to end creation, but the cunning demon managed to snatch the Book from under her whiskers. Hot on his trail, Nadine meets up with an old friend who needs her help to stop a power-hungry master cat determined to enslave humanity. Now she must decide: finish her mission and save creation or help her friend defeat his enemy and stop a war.
Audio books
Apprentice Cat, narrated by Matthew Finch
Journeyman Cat, narrated by Matthew Finch
Master Cat, narrated by Matthew Finch
Secrets of the Malkin, narrated by Angel Clark
Huntress of the Malkin, narrated by Angel Clark
Virginia Ripple, Treasure of the Malkin
