The cat twisted around back at her. “Listen, dearest, I know you have had a traumatic night. That dreadful bloody scene you left in that powder room makes that abundantly clear. But this is not the time to stop and reflect, this is the time to run. We may be in a largely abandoned neighborhood, but there are still people here and there were gunshots in that scuffle and that attracts the local authorities. And that is not what you want to deal with. Not when you have more important work to do.”
“More important work to do? What are you talking about?” she started. “Also, you’re a goddamned talking cat!”
“Oh my heavens. What is it with you humans and your fascination with talking animals? Yes. I can communicate. What a surprise that the human hubris would never consider that other species are capable of such a novelty!” he groaned. “Now can we move on?”
“Humans?”
“Damsel, please,” the cat protested. “Come with me and I will explain everything. But for now, we must run.”
He hurried off deeper into the alley as Veronica followed closely behind him, her bloodied shoes in her hands. The rest of her didn’t fare much better – she was drenched in blood, from her hair to her toes, and she still wore the handcuffs on one wrist. If anyone would spot her, they wouldn’t forget it. Perhaps getting out of sight was the best idea.
She followed the cat to a remote empty parking lot several blocks away where it finally slowed down.
“Now, you are due some explanation,” he started. “While I cannot begin to explain what had happened to you this evening…”
Her face crinkled in confusion and disappointment – what was he trying to explain then?
“What I can explain is the bigger picture – your future,” the cat continued. “My name is Wentworth and I am a Mauvian, a Guardian Cat loyal to the Senshi of the White Moon.”
“Senshi? Like those terrorists?” she rose a brow. She was an avid viewer of Tag Swagger’s The Swagger Report and thought she knew everything about the situation that plagued the city. It didn’t hurt that Tag was hot.
“For the love of – no, not terrorists,” the cat rolled his eyes. “The Senshi are a title bestowed upon magical interstellar guardians of the planets who, after the destruction of their home planets, have emerged with a presence on this planet to protect it from those same evils and threats – the Negaverse, an evil empire fueled by chaotic energy.”
“What? What does this even have to do with me?” she shot back.
“You, my dear, are one of them.”
Veronica’s mouth gaped as she tried to understand – this night has all been too much for her. Kidnapping, murder, and now whatever the ******** this is.
“Oh my god, I’m hallucinating,” she started. “That’s what this is. It’s some kind of stress response. This can’t be happening. This is all too unreal.”
“I assure you that this is all very real,” Wentworth insisted. “I do apologize for dropping this all on you during what is obviously a heavy and trying time. I sense that an unawakened Senshi was in danger and I was hoping to rescue you before any violence needed to occur. I would have been able to deal with it without any bloodshed.”
Veronica sighed in disbelief. “Without any bloodshed? Oh great. Perfect. Just what I needed to hear.”
“I’m sorry.”
Veronica sat down on the cement, her head between her knees as she contemplated everything. Once all the information was downloaded, she rose her head up.
“May I ask what brought you into those circumstances to begin with?” the cat asked, approaching her gently. He looked up to her with kind eyes as she began her story: how she discovered her stepmother’s conspiracy to take control of her family wealth, first by successfully offing her father, then by kidnapping her for ransom, and how her mother would be next. How she was kidnapped and brought to that bathroom, how the captors treated her, and how she murdered them in defense to escape.
“My understanding of your laws would state that you were acting in a form of self-defense,” the cat informed. “If that makes it any easier on your conscience. You had little choice. And as a Senshi, I’m afraid to say, you will be fighting in a war. This hardship may give the strength you need to fight it.”
“Oh my god,” she groaned, her attitude returning. “I don’t want to fight in some war. I just want to return to being a normal girl - a normal girl with all the money in the world and unlimited possibilities. Is that really too much to ask for?” She shook her head.
“I understand,” the cat nodded. “This path is not one that the Senshi chooses. The Senshi is chosen. You, dear, are chosen for this path. This a path even greater than yourself.”
The words of encouragement landed on the blonde’s ears. “How do you even know I am one of these Senshi?”
“It’s time to show you – and get you out of this bloody bloodied clothes.” Wentworth then summoned a small henshin pen before him and pushed it towards the blonde with his nose. “Take this pen and the rest – well, it should come natural.”
This was ridiculous. What was this pen going to do? Veronica picked it up and waved it in his face with annoyance, finding this whole concept of some magical pen to be beyond stupid. She rose to her feet and stared at it, wondering what was supposed to come so natural.
“What? Am I supposed to wave it around in the air like a little twirling baton?” she asked, mocking the whole process as she waved it around above her head. And then – the words came to her lips: “Cupid Power, Make Up!”
Her body began to glow to a soft white, then illuminated the area as it lifted inches into the air, her form shifting – transforming into a new woman: Sailor Cupid, Senshi of Weddings.
“And now,” the cat took a step forward. “Your real story begins. Welcome to the fray, Sailor Cupid.”
