"I'm pleased very much that you are here." Stefan, glanced at Ca.s.sie, his eyes luminous in the night.

"Thank you for inviting me."

Stefan lay down on a soft rug, while gazing through the railing. He invited her to join him with a flick of his tail.

With her full tummy and the pleasing music, Ca.s.sie could not help herself. She lay down beside Stefan and breathed in air that smelled of the rich earth and sweet leaves in the park. She could definitely get used to this.

The next day, around noon, Ca.s.sie excused herself, and Stefan showed her out.

"It was most pleasing to see you, Ca.s.sie. I hope to see you again soon."

"I'd like that too." Ca.s.sie blinked at him, then sauntered away, giving him a good look at her hind end. After all, it was her best feature.

When she returned home, an anchovy that had been recently packed in extra virgin olive oil lay on the welcome mat. Her tail stiffened. It had to be from Big-Paws. He was the only one who knew of her strange weakness for oil-packed anchovies rather than the mundane salt-packed variety.

She sniffed around for the musky scent of Mr. Big-Paws, but a fresh layer of the reeking flowery perfume from the lawyer lady down the hall masked the area well enough that she couldn't pick him out.

Ca.s.sie picked up the fish, tasting the bold and rich flavor enhanced by the toasted hazelnuts and caviar that it had been packed with. She made her way out the hall window, along the ledge, and onto her balcony. She wished she had her own custom cat door as she avoided the pigeon droppings on the stone parapet. She went into her apartment with its view of the street, and hid the fish under the bed, wondering if it really had come from Big-Paws.

The next three days were a flurry of activity in between long luxurious naps at Stefan's apartment. The Russian was excellent company, always putting her first and making her laugh. She loved showing him around the building and spending time with him. Late one night they strolled through the rooftop garden. He stopped her by the pond.

"See anything different?" Stefan's whiskers twitched.

Ca.s.sie glanced into the water. Orange and white shapes swam back and forth. "Fish? You had koi put in here?"

"It was my pleasure," Stefan said, "especially since you so are happy now."

"They're beautiful." Ca.s.sie was enthralled, and couldn't take her eyes away.

"Not as beautiful as you." Stefan brushed against her cheek. Their whiskers met, sending jolts of sensation through all the way down Ca.s.sie's tail. Stefan said, "I have traveled very far in this world, but I have never met a feline as wonderful as you."

Their noses met, and his scent overwhelmed her. She was suddenly smelling his rump as he pressed his nose toward her own tail.

Is this the moment? Will we make love beside the koi pond?

Suddenly Ca.s.sie backed away, her tail rigid in the air. "I'm sorry, Stefan. It's too soon."

He lay down, his patient eyes fixed on her. "I understand."

She knew that he did. He was so genuine. And yet so mysterious.

Stefan stared into her face. "There will be a right time, and we have so much time to spend together. Especially if you come away with me."

"Where?" Ca.s.sie lowered her head in surprise.

"The Orient. Together we can see many koi ponds in beautiful gardens. We'll dine on the freshest sashimi, sleep in the most luxurious places. It will be wonderful."

"When will we go? How long will we be gone?" Ca.s.sie worried about leaving her home, but she was excited about the invitation.

"We leave in three days, and we'll be away for at least a month. Perhaps more."

"It sounds wonderful." Ca.s.sie glanced at the pond, noticed the ripples in the water. It was all so perfect.

The next day she had lunch with the queens. Abigail, Maureen, and Cam barely touched their food as they peppered her with questions.

"Who is this tom Stefan?" Abigail demanded.

"He's very kind and has the most striking eyes. He's Russian Blue, from Archangel, Siberia. A very good breed. His lineage stretches back before the court of the last czar."

"Is he a good lover?" Cameron raised her ears.

"We haven't done that. Not yet." Ca.s.sie twitched her whiskers.

"When are you going to see him again?" Maureen asked.

"Maybe tonight," Ca.s.sie said, "I'm going to tell him my answer."

"Answer to what?" Abigail asked, looking a bit worried.

"He asked me to go on a trip with him. To the Orient."

"You just met him!" Maureen exclaimed, skepticism causing her teeth to show.

"I know!" Ca.s.sie shook with excitement. "Isn't it great?"

Maureen hissed. "No, it's not, and don't you want to be here when I have my kittens?"

"Of course I do." Ca.s.sie glanced at Maureen's tummy, which wasn't showing a bit.

"She's right, honey, especially since you haven't done the deed. You don't want to get stuck on the Orient Express if it's going to be a b.u.mpy ride." Cam paused as a wicked look came over her face. "Come to think of it, maybe you do."

" Cam!" Abigail nudged Cameron out of the way. "Listen, Ca.s.sie. You don't know this tom well enough to leave the country with him. Won't you miss the city... and us?"

"Of course I will." Ca.s.sie sat down. "But I've always wanted to travel, and this is my chance."

"I better check him out," Maureen said. "I'll get in touch with my friend downtown."

"Don't go snooping around." Ca.s.sie's ears lay back as she tensed. "I don't need you queens getting in his business and causing trouble. One of the reasons Mr. Big-Paws left is because of how you all meddled in our affairs."

"We barely did anything!" Maureen lowered her tail.

Ca.s.sie snorted, remembering how Big-Paws thought her snorts were cute.

"What are you going to tell him?" Abigail asked.

"I don't know yet." Ca.s.sie looked at her paws. "I just want to get away from here for a while."

Abigail b.u.mped Maureen with her head.

"What?" Ca.s.sie glanced at her friends.

Maureen looked guilty. "Mr. Big-Paws came by two nights ago looking for you. You must have been with Stefan. I'm sorry for not telling you before."

"What did he say?" Ca.s.sie asked with raised ears.

"Just that he wanted to see you," Maureen said, "and say goodbye properly."

"Oh, is that it?" Ca.s.sie let the faint hope die-as she should have done before. "Where is he now?"

"Gone," Cam said, "like you'll be pretty soon. He's moved on, and so should you. But you better come back and visit."

"You can't leave us for too long," Maureen said, and all her friend's eyes got really big. Ca.s.sie knew how much they all cared about her. How could she ever leave and not come back? They were her family. She might even miss her human a little too, and not just because of all the shoes.

That night Ca.s.sie stayed home and slept instead of seeing Stefan as she'd planned. She thought about what to do and ignored Stefan's pawing at her door. She wanted one night alone to think. The anchovy under the bed still had most of its scent, but dust bunnies had gotten all over it, dampening some of its appeal.

The next night she made her way to the rooftop garden, knowing that Stefan would probably be waiting for her. He sat beside the koi pond, his tail lazily moving back and forth.

"Ca.s.sie." Stefan leaped up. "It's so good to see you."

"You too." Ca.s.sie approached and they touched noses.

"Have you made decision?" Stefan pulled back, his eyes catching the moonlight.

"I have." Ca.s.sie said, as the lights of the city beckoned her. She pranced away and jumped onto the wall that surrounded the rooftop to stare at the beautiful buildings with their twinkling lights. Stefan followed, and they both stared over the edge, looking at the precipitous drop over fifty stories down.

This was her home, but it was a big world out there. "I'll go, Stefan. Take me away with you."

"I'll show you so much more than you've ever imagined."

"Not so fast." Mr. Big-Paws jumped onto the wall, his large frame towering over the Russian.

"Y-you're back." Ca.s.sie couldn't believe it.

"Go away from here, this does not concern you," Stefan said, showing his teeth in irritation.

"Oh, it does." Big-Paws' ears were flat against his head and he bared his own teeth.

"What's going on?" Ca.s.sie asked.

"Maureen got in touch with me." Big-Paws inched closer to Stefan. "Her friend downtown looked up this cat's human. He's Russian mob, on the run from the authorities. And who do you think is the brains behind the operation? Certainly not that human." Big-Paws kept his ears flat. Ca.s.sie thought that made his face look strangely savage.

"Is it true?" Ca.s.sie asked Stefan, remembering the smell of money and gunpowder under the couch cushion.

"True, yes." Stefan didn't back down. "And knowing this is true should make your friend here worry for his life. I am not a cat to be trifled with."

"Did he tell you he was on the run, Ca.s.sie?" Big-Paws asked. "His human will never be able to get back into this country once he leaves. They're after him right now. That's why he's got to leave, and fast."

Stefan's eyes told her that it was the truth.

Big-Paws stalked forward, allowing his claws to click on the stone. "Is that the kind of life you want, Ca.s.sie, being on the run all the time?"

"Humans are easy to replace," Stefan said. "Don't listen to this mixed-breed oaf. He is just jealous that I have you now and he does not. Don't worry, I will find another human to serve us as we travel the world. I always do."

"I've heard enough," Ca.s.sie said. She glared at Stefan. "You should have told me the truth." Then she fixed her stare on Big-Paws. "And you came back only after Maureen told you I was seeing another tom. Both of you make me sick."

"You will not come with me?" Stefan asked.

"No." Ca.s.sie wrinkled her pink little nose in disgust. "I'm done with tomcats. You're all trouble." She hopped off the wall and sped for the stairs.

A vicious catfight ensued as she reached the steps. They yowled, hissed, clawed at the air, then slammed together. Stefan used his lightning speed to wrap his front legs around Big-Paws' neck, then scratched at the larger cat's vulnerable belly with his rear claws. Big-Paws bit Stefan's ear and grappled ferociously with the gangster cat, trying for a mortal strike.

Ca.s.sie couldn't watch anymore. The sounds of the battle faded as she entered the building. A sudden stab went through her heart.

I've given up on love. What am I doing? I just let two toms get away, and one of them I actually loved. Ca.s.sie switched directions, running back toward the roof.

Tufts of fur floated in the air and blood stained the stone. Big-Paws and Stefan were locked in a ball of fury atop the precipice.

"Stop!" Ca.s.sie sprinted forward.

Big-Paws didn't react to her appeal. His head shot forward as the Russian hesitated, and he locked his jaws around Stefan's throat. Howling, the gangster threw his weight to one side. Both toppled over the edge in front of Ca.s.sie's horror-filled eyes.

The sudden quiet was a shock. Ca.s.sie stood there, quivering in every muscle. When she could move again, she slowly approached the ledge. Jumping up, she peered down into the darkness.

They were both gone. She was alone. Their deaths were on her paws. A wail ripped from her throat.

"Don't jump, whatever you do."

Ca.s.sie stopped yowling. She looked closer. b.l.o.o.d.y and tattered, Mr. Big-Paws stood on the balcony one floor below the roof. There was no sign of Stefan. She knew that from this height, landing on one's feet wouldn't help much.

Ca.s.sie met Big-Paws by the stairs a few moments later. They limped into the garden together in silence.

"I came back for you, Kitty." He nuzzled her. Ca.s.sie inhaled his musky scent and felt herself getting warm all over.

"I'm so glad you did. I missed you a lot." Ca.s.sie buried her nose in his b.l.o.o.d.y, matted chest fur.

"You're the only queen for me." He licked her face, and she knew he loved her. They would have kittens together, and life in the city would be purrfect.

She was sure. He was the one. Their eyes met and Ca.s.sie said, "I think it's time."

"Time for what?" he asked.

Ca.s.sie purred, felt the primal heat building into a fire. She licked her lips provocatively and smiled. "It's time to find out if it's true what they say about cats with big paws."

FOR THE BIRDS.