41 Familiar

Arianna/Thea

"Artemis?" How dare she?

I thought she said she won't help me, why did she send this cat tailing after me?

"Go away, I don't need you or anyone following me, I can handle myself," i told the cat dropping it on the floor. It landed nimbly, taking a few steps away from me, watching me carefully.

"I can see how well you are handling yourself. Mistress told you not to use your magic, and yet look at you." it scoffed, its voice gruff in my head, its narrowed eyes judging me as it sat on the floor, clearly unimpressed by me. "You clearly needed my supervision."

I looked at the black ball of fur in disbelief. "You are a cat. What can you do?" I asked rolling my eyes at its arrogance.

It gasped offended; it was the most dramatic gasp I have ever heard. It echoed in my head, as it took a threatening step towards me, the narrowed golden eyes locked on me. "How dare..."

Before he finished his sentence, he stooped his small ears arched listening to something I could not; it stood tall alert, staring at the end of the street.

"What is it?" I asked but then, I heard several footsteps.

Walking towards us.

"Get behind me." I said to the cat. I might not like it, but I don't want it to get hurt.

It was actually so cute and fluffy that I want to cuddle with it.

Like the arrogant little brat, it was it stood there, without moving.

Then four men entered the alley, their faces were not visible but I can clearly feel that they are not here to chat.

"She is the one." the man in the middle said, pointing at me. I blinked in confusion as to who he was?

That is when his face came into light and I knew who he was.

He was the big man I had kicked and looted in the alley yesterday.

Unlike the other day, he was not with the skinny twins today, but three buff men flank him on the either side and all of their eyes narrowed on me.

"Are you sure? She looks tiny." a guy on his right asked scratching his beard.

"She is." he said, "you will not be able to get away from me this time." he said walking towards me.

"How did you manage to anger him in the three days you have been in this kingdom?" The cats' exasperated voice rang in my head, as it turned to me its eyes accusing.

I averted my gaze away from him, making sure that I was not looking guilty.

"What is that ugly thing with you?" the same man asked, pointing at the cat.

My hands were already in my pockets taking out the small dagger. Ready to show them what I could do.

"Did he just call me ugly?" the cat growled at the man, as it said in my head "tiny human watch carefully, you might not be able to see anything like this again."

"Behold, Cosmo, the most powerful and handsome familiar on earth."

I cocked my head to the side. He is Artemis's familiar?

That somehow makes sense.

"where?" I asked, with a smirk knowing it would make him angry.

He growled in my head, giving me a side eye. "I was talking about me, you dumb human."

I was on the verge of laughing uncontrollably.

When shock stilled me in my place.

One second, he was before me and the next he vanished, the men stopped blinking in confusion, looking for the vanished cat.

As we all stood amazed by him, he appeared in air above the men.

Before I could blink the four men coming towards us were unconscious. And Cosmo landed between them with a soft thud.

My mouth was hanging open, my eyes wide.

"You should close your mouth" he said, casually walking to the man who had just called him ugly, he raised his back leg... as I was watching he urinated on the unconscious man.

-----------

"Are you the girl Alek was ranting about?" a figure approached us. I became alert once again.

"don't worry I am not here to hurt you." he said. "in fact I am very impressed by your powers."

"Let me introduce myself. I am Rocco Marino."