Their eyes stared daggers into my back as I walked down the street. There seemed to be an increased intensity to them today. Maybe they knew what was to come, or why I was summoned. Any who whispered as I passed by rumored, though none were right. At least that's what I hoped.
"Finally, we'll be rid of her kind,"
"Why doesn't she cover those hideous things!"
"This will be an execution I'll enjoy,"
Times like these made me wish I were human. I am a cat-human half-breed as were my parents and friends long gone. My species was created to act as spies during the war about a hundred years ago. After it had ended, we were suddenly a nuisance to the humans. I never understood why. Other than our appearance and hidden attributes, we were the same as them, yet we were persecuted and taunted relentlessly. Adults mocked and ridiculed us. They taught their children to hate and torment us. Though they treated us this way I couldn't find it in me to hate them.
"Ah!" I cried out as a sharp pain came from my tail. I heard laughing and saw a boy no older than ten run away with a handful of fur. Tears wet my eyelashes as I ran through the market tail in hand. Other than the short whiskers on my face, my tail was the most sensitive part of my body. The tip of it was especially sensitive. The boy seemed to know this as he had ripped the fur from that area. I continued toward the palace courtyard nursing my tail.
"You're late!" a guard growled, startling me. My hand covered my mouth, barely muffling a yelp.
He walked away swiftly, and I had to run to catch up. It was my first time to the palace, but I had no time to look around. The most I could see were vast hallways and enormous doorways as we rushed through them.
'How can people possibly live here?' I thought, 'these walls and corridors are so cold, so… isolating.'
We finally reached the throne room where the King and Queen were waiting. I let go of my tail and its tip curled, resembling a candy cane. The room was smaller than I had thought, though still larger than I was used to. A deep red carpet stretched from the doorway to about ten feet from where they were seated. The entire room was made of stone except for the four large windows. Their thrones were made from very fine wood. They smelled of mahogany and maple.
I looked up at the King and Queen. Their daughter on their left beside the Queen. The King looked to be six feet and the Queen a few inches shorter; five-nine if I had to guess. The King's servant boy stood to his right. He looked to be around six feet.
"This is the one you were telling me about, Alexandria?" the King's voice pulled me from my analysis. His voice sounded like thunder to me and I involuntarily took a step back.
"Yes father," she replied simply, "the last half-breed female in the kingdom." her voice sounded cold and distant, as though she could care less of the event taking place before her. The King stood and I looked down at my feet. He came up to me and I could feel his gaze piercing through me. I felt his dominance over me and fought to remain still. He began to walk around me, examining me like I was livestock. His hands pulled roughly at my ears, hair, and tail. When he came back to the front, he lifted my head and force my mouth to open. I let out a small whine as pain pierced my jaw, his fingers digging into my skin.
"She looks healthy enough," his rough fingers left my cheeks and he returned to his throne, "Servant. Take her to the room prepared. I'll decide what to do with her later," and with a wave of his hand we were dismissed. The boy firmly took me by the arm and led me out. He was covered in black clothing from the top of his head to soles of his feet. All I could see were his eyes and hands as he pulled me along.
Once the throne room doors were shut, he let go. I couldn't stop myself from touching where he had held my arm. It was sore along with my jaw, where the King had gripped my face. Bruises were sure to form. I could still feel the King's calloused hands on me and shuddered. The servant boy led me through the hallways to a much smaller room, though it looked more like a dungeon. Only a bed, window, and closet sized bathroom could be seen. He stood at the door as I walked in, stopping beside the window.
"The King will come by shortly, and if you're lucky you might get food," he explained with what seemed like an angry emphasis on lucky. There was something about his voice that seemed familiar, but the recognition left me as soon as I had it. He walked to the middle of the room, his eyes on me. They reminded me of emeralds as they stood against the pitch fabrics, hardened yet fragile. I couldn't look away.
"Do you understand?" I nodded, still mesmerized by his eyes.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, almost whispering. I shook my head, pulling my eyes away from his.
"If there is anything, ask for me," he spoke gently, moving towards the door.
"Why?"
He paused, "Your kind is wanted for dead or as slaves. Anyone except the royal family and me will just as soon kill you as they would an enemy to the King. If they don't kill you, you will most likely be sold into slavery or to a… pleasure center," his voice became as cold as ice, "Understand?"
"Y-yeah", I whispered, and he left the room. The door shut with an echo and I remained still. His words raced through my mind alongside the people's rumors. Slowly, I took a deep breath. Now is not the time to let anxiety take over. I closed my eyes and took a few breaths before looking around the room once more. Just as the throne room it was made of stone. Looking closer at the bed I saw a small pillow and blanket, barely big enough for a person. Strangely, it reminded me of home. The only thing it needed was a warm fireplace. With this thought I sat on the lonely bed and listened to the silence. Yet, the silence didn't feel so silent. Every noise in the courtyard and hallways echoed in my ears.
My hearing, sense of smell, sight, touch, and taste have always been above average due to my species' DNA. I could smell hidden scents, hear the softest snowfall, taste the odors in the air, see in the darkest night, and feel individual grains of sand. Each of these senses were perfect for what they were created for, but since there is no longer a need for them, I was considered a freak. Mom and dad told me otherwise, though, the taunts from my childhood and in the market proved it. I sat on the bed and pulled my knees up to my chin.
If I really wanted to, I could escape. One of the positives of being a mix between a cat and a human was the abilities outside of heightened senses. Each "half-breed" showed different traits, but for those in the spy forces they had to have extraordinary speed and strength. I was born with both, as were my parents. Any other world or any other time in this vast universe I would be looked at as a superhero.
'Yeah right! You know you wouldn't want the attention though,' I thought.
Time passed slowly. I could hear the bartering and haggling in the market, a child crying for sweets and their mother finally giving in, music played, people laughed. This was the world I wasn't allowed to see. This was the world I had been dreaming of for so long. This was the world that was taken from me before my childhood. I laid my cheek on my knees and closed my eyes, letting myself be embraced by the noise. Drowsiness gradually blanketed my limbs. My eyes began to flutter shut and my breathing slowed. For a short moment, the world was peaceful and quiet.
CRACK