Food, Cats, and Being Lazy

My feet tapped against the floor. My heart was racing in my chest. I tried to keep my breathing even, but my need for revenge was far too strong. I knew what he had done to my family, and I had no choice but to avenge them. I paused before the beast. Our eyes locked. His were pale green in color. Almost like the color of mint. But there was a deadliness in his gaze. He recognized me. He knew who I was. I could see his plan on his features. I knew exactly what he was thinking as he recalled what he had done to earn my vendetta. His look said it very clearly, kill. He took a step back. My hand twitched for the weapon at my side, but he was too fast. He sprang into action. I underestimated him. He was too quick for me to take on my own. I should have brought back up. I shouldn’t have hunted him down without a partner. His lethal body darted forward. He latched onto my leg. I felt his claws extend as they sliced through my bare skin. I let out a sharp cry, unprepared for such a pain. His teeth were next. They were long and sharp like the fangs of a vampire. I should have known he wasn’t human. It was so obvious to me now as he brought his hind legs forward and used his most deadly ninja move against me. Thousand kicks. I yelped as I stumbled backward and tried to free myself from the brute’s grasp. He held fast, and I fell to the floor with a crash that rattled the windows. We rolled around on the floor, struggling to defeat one another. Then she walked into the room. My worst nightmare. A beast so foul that even the most terrifying of ninjas feared to utter her name. Her name was Patrice Finnegan. She was the leader of the most notorious gang of super-villains the world had ever known. Every villain I'd ever seen on the news reported directly to her. I was so stupid. I should have known he was working for her. She stepped into the room. Her heels clacked against the floor. I felt my lungs contract as I stared up at her. This was it. This was how I was going to die. At the hands of the evil Patrice Finnegan and her savage vampire beast. She crossed her arms over her chest. Her blue eyes shot daggers down at mine. “What are you doing?” she hissed through straight and even white teeth. Her blonde curls hung in perfect gold ringlets around her face. She never did her own dirty work. She had sent her most heinous vampire ninja assassin to meet with me instead. “What do you think I’m doing, Patrice?” I snapped back. “I came for vengeance. But the beast—he’s just too strong. Make it quick, Patrice. That’s my only request. Make it quick.” Her eyes rolled to the back of her head in a near perfect circle. “Get up off the floor. Our guests will be here in an hour. And it’s MOM, not Patrice. You’re not allowed to call me that.” “Please?” I begged. “Don’t make me face your henchmen! I’m not strong enough!” “Up. Now.” I groaned and leaned against my palms to sit up straight. My cat Reginald released my calf and rushed off out of the room with his gray tail twitching. He was probably off to hide somewhere else. He liked this game. My mother didn’t. “I’m up,” I said to my mom, who was still standing above me. “I need you to go get ready. Put on the nice dress I laid out for you.” “Yes, Mother.” I clamored to my feet and headed toward the hallway. “And wear the socks!” she called out after me. I groaned again and hurried up the stairs to escape her. I should have known better than to go after Reggie so close to the villain’s lair.