The Apeshii Secret

There weren’t always dragons in the valley, the blasphemous words of the old man rang in Lyra’s head. It wasn’t that the words upset her, in fact, quite the opposite. Her family had a secret that had been passed down to her. A story.

A story of betrayal by the dragons they had worshipped as gods.

The city of Ryilone was cool and calm this time of the morning with only a few business owners and tradesmen venturing outside to set up shop. It was Lyra’s favourite time to wander the city's streets of concentric circles which were linked by four wide avenues, each with a canal down its middle, flowing out from the circular temple at the centre. Although this morning Lyra was finding it hard to enjoy the beauty the city offered out of the slums, even the gentle pink glow of the light stones reflecting off the architecture could not distract her mind from the task ahead of her.

Trotting along the cobbles in the form of a cream-coloured cat with blue eyes and a dusky face, she made her silent progress to a grand townhouse, one of many that sat proudly in a ring opposite the temple. Finding the stairs to the basement kitchen she began her descent, planning to sit among the pot plants at the foot of the stairs and go over things in her head. But before finding the perfect pondering position the basement door opened revealing a tall man with dirty blonde hair and a self-confident aura.

“Well, aren’t you a pretty kitty!” exclaimed Finn, as he stepped aside allowing her to pass by into the house. Keeping up the pretence of being a cat, Lyra purred and rubbed her body against his leg as she assessed if the space was occupied by any others. Talking animals can cause quite a stir and she didn’t want to attract any attention that might reveal her having been here.

“And so much affection, I am honoured.” Said Finn as he scooped her up off the floor.

“Put...me...down you big oaf! You know I don’t like to be manhandled” Lyra mewled, scrambling to free herself with little success.

“Shh...kitty, no need for your fussing. Your safe with me.” And then Finn murmured out the side of his mouth “There are servants in the next room, so less chat. I’ll take you to a quiet room where it's safe for us to talk.”

An amused grin spread across his face. He’s enjoying this! Lyra thought to herself grumpily as she allowed him to carry her through the kitchens, busy with a small array of servants.

“What are you doing with that cat in here?!” Exploded a red-faced woman. Finn adopted one of his most charming smiles.

“I’m getting her something to eat, she’s such a pretty cat.” And he proceeded to stroke the cat's beautifully soft fur. Lyra stiffened under his touch.

“Always a sucker for pretty things hey Finn”, said the woman “And what is it you actually do here for Leon I wonder? Always skulking about my kitchen making a nuisance of yourself”.

“I’m here for the pleasure of your company Bertha...” He winked at her and then in the next breath with all humour gone from his tone “...and I’m placed here to make sure you keep your mouth shut about any of our dealings through this fine house.”

Taken aback by the abrupt change of Finn’s demeanour Bertha pushed her way past, arms full of vegetables to be washed and prepped, announcing loudly over her shoulder, “Tell Leon if you are to bring any more cats in here, I’ll up my price.”

“My pleasure, as always Bertha.” Said Finn with as much charm as he could muster. If Lyra could, she would have rolled her eyes. Honestly...he could charm his way out of almost anything.

“Berthas in a fine mood this morning”, Finn said with a hint of sarcasm “and your fur is silky smooth”. Lyra could contain her rage no longer. On entering a storeroom, safe from the ears of industrious servants, she gave him a swipe and leapt to an empty shelf.

“You can keep your hands to yourself, thank you very much.”

“You are rude today!” retorted Finn a little hurt note in his voice, which soon vanished behind a smile and a naughty twinkle in his eyes. “I think you may have secretly enjoyed your pet.” Lyra found herself gaping not knowing what to say. Which must have looked amusing on a cat.

“Ha!” Laughed Finn, “Soo...are you just here for a cuddle? Or did Leon send you?”

“Neither. I’m on a venture of my own Finn.” Finn’s face turned serious at her statement and he began to run his fingers through his hair. A gesture he often did when nerves got the better of him.

Leon was a gang leader from the slums. He set up various crews throughout the city, all for his benefit of course. He liked to think of himself as an underground merchant and saviour to those in need, recruiting individuals like herself, that had some useful skill for him to use. His promise to Lyra was to keep her safe from the Druids at the temple, who hunt down shapeshifters known as Apeshii, even though the ability is one of the blessings from the dragons they named gods. She did not doubt that Leon would hand her over to the temple in a heartbeat if she ever crossed him.

“You know that’s not a good idea Lyra. And you're intending to drag me into this venture. Am I to know any of the details?”

Lyra sighed, he sounded as though he was beginning to dig his heels in. “Do you have a blanket or something?” She asked, “I don’t feel like I can ask for your help as a cat.” Finn laughed and began to remove his long coat.

“You know, it would be easier to persuade me without the coat” He protested as he draped it over the cat’s back.

“Thank you,” Lyra simpered as she morphed back into human form, shrugging herself into the coat she wrapped it around herself and found a step stool to sit upon.

Finn was watching with an appreciative smile, “You look in good shape for someone who's in their seventies.”

Lyra had been spirit blessed in her early twenties and her body had not aged since, she still possessed a youthful round face, soft dark bouncy curls and the same striking blue eyes as the cat had had. “Yes, one of the many perks of being blessed is that I get to keep my figure.” Lyra joked, standing herself into a pose that best showed her silhouette. “And I’ll never have to suffer a bad back!” She added happily.

“Hmm...while the rest of us suffer” Finn replied in mock outrage. “Now that I’ve been suitably distracted you can stop your teasing and ask this dashing hero for help.” He said, gesturing to himself with a playful smirk. Lyra smiled, Finn had always been a good friend and ally during her time in the slums with Leon's gang.

“I need your help getting into the temple's archives, I've heard you have a way in.” Finn once again began to drag his hands through his thick locks.

“That's insane Lyra! Why put yourself at such risk?” With a mix of anxiety and concern etched on his face Lyra almost felt sorry to ask this of him. But she had to know more about what she had overheard last night.

“I overheard some travellers talking last night at the Inn Leon had posted me at.” Lyra took a deep breath and continued, lowering her voice. “They mentioned the gods were creatures from another place and that they were not always worshipped here.”

Finn instinctively checked behind himself, they were still alone in the storeroom with only foodstuffs to hear the incriminating conversation. “And you want to stick that pretty nose of yours into the archives for what? Proof?”

Finn’s hair would probably fall out soon, Lyra mused to herself, momentarily distracted. “I have to Finn. I think...no, feel like it's important. Like it’s linked to the stories I was told as a child.” She stood and started pacing. “I’m quite determined!”

Finn gave in with a sigh. “Well, in that case, I’ll help. As knowing you, if I don’t, you’ll go off on your own and land in heaps load of trouble.”

Lyra gave Finn an enthusiastic hug, promptly remembering she only had a coat on, turned bright red and morphed herself back into a cat with haste just before Bertha burst into the store, an angry scowl on her sweaty face.

“You’ve been in here far too long boy!” she raged, “That cat can have no more of my food.” Taking in the flushed and startled appearance of Finn, Bertha deepened her frown at him, “Off you go now, get out!”

Pulling himself together he put his coat back on and picked the cat up, allowing himself to be shooed from the storeroom. “I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day” Bertha announced to his back.

“It’s a fine morning, so I’ll go for a walk.” Said Finn. Confidence reinstated he strolled through the kitchens to the basement door. And there, in the doorway stood Leon in a smart hat with a wide brim, which hid most of his features as he glanced down idly twisting a signet ring on his finger. A sinister smile stretched his thin lips as he said, “I see you have my cat, Finn.”