One of my more prosperous weeks, three hundred seventy-five thousand up front from Tobias, plus I raided three houses on Kensington, the spoils of which were nothing to sneeze at. I was on my way back to my apartment from my favourite London Pawn shop when someone smashed into my shoulder and shoved a note in my hand. It read:

Brilliant, how the hell am I going to get to Westenhanger Castle in an hour? I thought as I reread the note. Not to mention I didn’t know what they wanted me for either. I hadn’t robbed any of them recently so I was beyond clueless. As if in answer to my first question, a motorcycle revved its engine from somewhere to my left and the driver beckoned me over. On the driver’s right arm were the Olympic rings topped with a paw print embroidered into the leather, the Council’s symbol for their personal minions.

Judging by the enlarged red ring on the end, this minion was Maximus Bright’s, as you probably guessed, there are five Council members in the UK’s Branch of the Council of Felines, the main governing assembly concerning Werecats. Werewolves are more of a Monarchy. Werecats, we’re supposed to be a Democracy, but we don’t vote the Council members in or out of office. It’s kind of a complicated political mess to explain, so I’ll leave it at that.

When I drew level with the driver he looked me over, “You Aleca Moonchild?”

“Depends, are you to take her to the council as fast as you can so she isn’t late for her unexpected three o’ clock appointment with them? Because if you are, then I am.” He nodded and I climbed onto the back of the bike. Normally it takes about an hour and a half to get to Westenhanger, in excellent traffic conditions; it can take up to three hours if traffic is really nasty. Luckily for me though, my driver had no regard for traffic laws or our safety; we got to the castle in record time, forty-five minutes. “Thanks for the ride.” I said with a smirk and a wink, and then hurried up the castle steps. The Council made me wait the full fifteen minutes before they would see me to prove a point I suppose, never show up early to an assembly appearance you were clearly supposed to be late for.

As I said before, our council consists of five members, Felix Lionhart, represented by the center black Olympic ring; Maximus Bright, the red one to the right; Joseph Kent, the blue to the left; Mira Von Grey, the yellow center left; and Samuel Bithtree, the green center right. They listen to issues and take a vote on how to best deal with the problem. The vote is decided by a majority, and no one member is higher ranked then another. Each member has their own work force, from bodyguards to stable hands, and each employee wears the Council’s symbol but to tell which works for whom you need to locate the biggest of the rings.

Anyway, finally they called me into their inner sanctum. This wasn’t the part of the castle that tourists see, the castle was expanded downward in the late 1780’s about fifty some odd floors, Mages were used to cover up the construction and prevent the structure from collapsing. It doesn’t even look the same on the inside, in the lower levels that is, fake windows reflect torchlight in dancing multi-coloured flickers. The Council Sanctum is about eighteen levels down, and was mainly, a large room with a long table on a raised dais at one end, and a single metal chair, I call it the chair of doom personally, where the accused sits to listen and speak to the council. Behind the Table on the back wall was a very large wall clock with beautifully welded hands pointing to the time written in Roman Numerals. Cozy room, no?

When I was shown in, the Councilmen were debating an issue quite heavily, until Sam noticed my presence and the discussion abruptly stopped. I approached the table, bowed deeply to them, and then dragged the Chair of Doom across the room so I could join in too. I perched my self on the top of the chair back so I could be at level with them. “Good Evening gentlemen…and lady. To what do I owe this immense honour?”

They were seated in their usual manner, Felix at the center dressed in black, Mira and Joe on his left in their respective colours, and Sam and Max on his right in their colours. It was Felix who answered me. “Aleca Moonchild, ye have been summoned before us to explain why ye were seen on two separate occasions in deep discussion with known Werewolves, the first incident only a short time after leaving our Laboratory here in town?”

“Oh… is that what this is about? Well the first incident I was chased down into the London Sewers for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, as for the second… you’ll have to refresh my memory. When and where was the second ‘incident’?” I countered smiling sweetly up at the man.

“Last week in the park a few blocks from your home.” Maximus replied thoughtfully.

“Ah, yes now I remember, I ran into an old friend and we were reminiscing about the past,” Which wasn’t a complete lie either. “Is it now a crime to bump into friends from yesteryear?”

“It is if he happens to be the Alpha of a Werewolf clan, yes. More importantly why were you at the Laboratory?” Sam answered.

“As you well know I was there because Maximus asked me to pick up a few things for him. As one of his personal Assistants it’s my job to do so on a regular basis or as instructed, or did you forget why you all summoned me back to London? Or was there another reason you’re not telling me about?” I asked hoping they would confirm what Maximus and I assumed the reason was.

“No, Moonchild there is no other reason. Would you care to explain how you know this Werewolf?” Mira asked with a frown.

“Well about … twenty-three years ago he frequented my bed and I, his. I guess you could say we were lovers, most importantly, before I became one of your… subjects.”

“And the Nature of your conversation?”

“As I already said, we were reminiscing about yesteryear. He wasn’t employing me for any of my talents if that’s what you’re worried about. Strictly casual conversation.” I said with a shrug.

“And the large sum of money that was deposited into yer bank account recently?” Felix asked with a sneer.

“Profit surrendered from several houses in the Kensington district.” My smile was radiant. “So unless there is anything else Gentlemen…and Mira, I don’t see why I’m still here.”

“Because we aren’t through talking to ye yet!” Felix has a very short fuse on his temper; it doesn’t take much to piss him off, especially where I’m involved.

“So there is other business to discuss?” I asked raising an eyebrow, “I thought I was only here to discuss talking to my ex-boyfriend?”

“That is all we wish to discuss with you, Moonchild, my fellow councilmen oversteps his boundaries at times. You may leave us now.” Joe told me, inclining his head toward the back door; apparently there was something else that had to be said to me, off record.

I nodded and headed out of that door. The moment it closed behind me, shouting erupted. Clearly the argument was centered on me, but I wasn’t summoned back into the hall, in fact I was left waiting in the hall for quite some time before Maximus emerged and motioned for me to follow him to a lift. Maximus was getting on in years and so it was more difficult for him to climb the thousand and five sets of stairs up to his Chambers. Chambers which just so happened to be at the top of the Northwest tower, although you’d never guess it, the entire site is enchanted to resemble a crumbling ruin being renovated. Safer that way I suppose.

“You wished to speak further with me, Max?”

“Yes, my fears have been confirmed my dear. They summoned you back to keep a closer eye on you. They’re afraid that I’ll name you my heir.” He said with a sigh as we stepped off of the lift.

“I figured as much. A friend might have mentioned that I was being followed on Council orders, as for your heir, well you already said I was your Heir. Did they think you would change your mind?” I asked hoping he had.

“Aye, I think they hoped I would. You, my dear are the closest thing I have to a daughter and my heir you shall be, when the time comes that is.” He answered as he led the way down the hall to his chamber.

“Speaking of which, Max, when were you going to tell me?” I asked as I pulled a pill bottle out of my pocket and handed it to him.

“Ah, you put two and two together did you? The other reason they called you back. I believe I still have a year or two left before age wins out, a pity really, I would have loved to have seen a millennium.”
I laughed. “Oh you did remember? The Dawn of two thousand.”

“You know perfectly well what I meant Aleca; I am nine hundred and eighty-nine years old. And even a Werecat’s body wears out eventually. The record is nine hundred ninety-two; I rather hoped to break that record. But alas, nature has deemed my path a shorter route. After you my dear.” He said as he held his chamber door open.

“Still Max, you should have told me before I figured out that you’re dying for myself. Of all the people who should know I think I happen to be one of the more important people. Although, I’m not so sure I want to be on the council, they don’t seem to like me much.”

“That they don’t.” He said with a chuckle, “All the more reason to have you there. Joseph and I weren’t exactly thrilled when Felix, Sam or Mira were announced as heirs either, but we respected each of their predecessors’ choices as we respected they themselves. A respect that seems to be lacking more and more these days in our Council meetings.” He sighed again. “I am more then certain that you will be fully capable of handling both the council and the responsibility that goes with it. You might even straighten your life out and lose interest in theft.” His grin was contagious.

“Not likely.” I replied with a wink. “Theft is the most fun a girl can have with her clothes on and still make a decent profit. Besides it helps local Pawn shops stay open, and I’m all about the community.” I really didn’t want to be Maximus’ heir, I mean yes it was an honour to be on the Council, but not my thing. I hate politics more then I hate Tobias’ Father Fabien. And that’s saying something, but so far I haven’t been able to convince Max that his brother would make a far better heir then I ever could. He remains as stubborn as ever, even after I spent the better part of seventeen years exploring Europe trying to find myself.

“Some parts of it at least my dear,” he laughed. He lead me over to his sitting room, which was just before his bedroom and waited for me to be seated in one of his very comfortable armchairs. “I am fully aware of your thoughts and feelings towards being my heir, and find them completely irrelevant. My mind is made up and not even you can change it.