Drew's Trouble with Cats and Roaches Pt. 11

He found a place at the center of her psyche that seemed to have more personal shielding. This was different for him though. This was not conscious shielding but something much deeper and darker. He pushed through and it took him a moment to understand what he was looking at. He was looking at the old Tiffany, imperious with all her affectations hiding behind a mask she showed others.

He realized his mind was trying to make sense of all the inputs, so it was showing it to him like he was watching some old Vid show. When the hidden Tiffany realized she had been found, she ran to him with claws and teeth ready to eviscerate him.

Drew broke the connection and stumbled back into the strong arms of One and Two. He straightened himself out, his heart broken and walked to face her.

"All these years, all we have shared, it was all an act?" Drew quietly questioned. The crowd in the room was deathly silent.

"yes and no," she smiled. "When you acted male, like a warrior I would have done anything for you. But negotiating with animals and lesser beings made me hate you. You were so easy to manipulate, not a true warrior."

Drew walked away and he found Goldie and Kitten trying to please him. He reached and ruffled both sets of ears.

Drew looked up and over the crowd. It was time for final reckoning.

"I ask you my pride, do I stay as the Lord protector, or do you wish to follow Tiffany and her plan?" There was a calliope of voices and Drew was forced to silence everyone.

"I need you to vote with your heart and mind, just say a name to vote. There is no shame and there will be no harm, no matter how you vote. We will start in the front row, just broadcast or say a name out loud." Then Drew pointed at the first seat on the left.

"Lord Drew" and so votes were mentally tallied...all for Lord Drew.

Drew nodded when the Votes were cast. Tiffany burst into tears and slumped forward in her chair.

"I will lead the exploration of the Other space. I am now the commander of the new fleet." Drew stated without any happiness. He heard and felt the audience erupt with a verbal or mental cheer.

"I made a promise once, on the bridge of a star ship. I am not sure that I can now carry out the promise." Drew paused.

"What shall we do with Tiffany? Banishment? Enslave her again and see if she can earn her way back into our good graces, or fulfill my promise made so long ago?" Drew asked out loud so all could hear.

There was again silence, then in the same order, votes were cast with mental comments. The votes were tallied, two for banishment, two for slavery and the rest...fulfill his promise.

Thing Two turned and reached for the Claymore. Thing One re-manacled Tiffany and drug her from the hall into the grass of the Glen. She was shoved on her knees crying. She kept repeating the same mantra, "but I am a Queen."

Drew was about to lose his nerve when he felt a presence at the tree line. It was the alpha and he felt a simple statement come his way.

"being Alpha is hard."

Drew looked into his eyes and knew it was much deeper than that simple phrase.

The blade arched over his head and buried itself in the soft ground below the grass. He did not remove it but turned and walked away with both Goldie and Kitten rubbing against his legs.

End of Chapter 11