Cats Triumphant Read Free Page A

did she sensed a withdrawal of energy around her. She’d fulfilled her purpose for being here. She looked around. The features of the ghostly landscape seemed further away. She wanted to pull it back to her.
    Violet sensed it, too. “Go on back, girl. It’s not your time yet.”
    Mira hugged her. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when … ”
    “When I passed? But it’s all better now, do you see? I’m well and happy. Tell them that.”
    “I will.” Mira was comforted. “Do you like it here?”
    “Of course!”
    “Aren’t you ever afraid?” Mira said, thinking of the aggressive shadows that had swooped over her.
    “No, there’s nothing here that can harm me. Ah, but you , we can’t defend you if you’re attacked. Only the living can save the living.:”
    “I’ll be all right as long as I’m in the circle,” Mira said.
    The old woman’s face twitched in a smile. “You were always a smart girl. I’ve got to go now. So have you. It’s time.”
    Mira’s heart sank. “Don’t go, Aunty Violet. Please.”
    The bright form receded from her. “Don’t forget me.”
    “I won’t! I never will.”
    The voice came from farther away now. “I’ll remember you, too, Mira. You were always an interesting girl. Give them all my love. No,” Violet stopped, finger in the air in an old, familiar gesture, “don’t. They don’t deserve it. You do.” She smiled the conspiratorial grin that Mira remembered so well. Death hadn’t changed her. She turned away. Mira just had to hug her one more time. She started after the fast-receding light. Her hands touched only air.
    Bang! Her foot struck something solid. She saw the candle on the floor, which she had forgotten about, just as it went out. Mira stooped to pick it up. She must relight it immediately. Her hands fumbled for the electronic match, hidden somewhere beneath the gray mist.
    But the enemy didn’t hesitate to attack. Blackness took her like a shroud, surrounding her, paralyzing her, sucking life out of her. She scrambled toward the nearby gate, but it tripped her to the ground. With eyesight enhanced by contact from her familiar she saw features in the inky folds, grinning mouths, hollow, hungry eyes. It was an entity of many evil minds, and it wanted to devour her. The lips drew back, baring teeth filed to points. Mira fought, but she didn’t know any defenses against otherworldly demons. She never counted on making a mistake like that!
    Years of playing D&D didn’t help. She had no magic missiles to throw. Instead, she summoned up the memory of her women’s self-defense class, clawing, thrashing and generally refusing to go quietly. Her feet flailed wildly, but failed to connect with a solid mass. Unfortunately you couldn’t kick a ghost in the balls. She started yelling for help, but there was no one to help. There wasn’t another living being within earshot.
    The blackness shoved at her, dragging her over the rough floor. A black hole opened up ahead of her, just like what happened to the bad guy in Ghost . She would be dragged down to the pit.
    “Help!” she cried. “Lewis!” He wouldn’t be home for a couple of hours. “God and goddess!” But the gods weren’t listening. She glanced back at the bright shape watching her with its head tilted. “Zoomer! Do something!”
    She felt a surge of power well up within her. Light burst from inside her, driving the darkness back. With the gift of her familiar, she was able to defend herself and ward off its advance. The enemy recoiled slightly, but it wasn’t enough. It thinned out, then surged forward again, surrounding her completely. “Help!”
    The cat-giant jumped over the wall of blackness, in between her and the smothering enemy, pummeling, clawing, tearing rents in black shadow that bled brilliant white light. Mira pulled herself away on her elbows, crawled to her feet, yelling encouragement at Zoomer.
    “That’s it! Kick him! Tear him apart!” she yelled. The cat-shape fought