Chapter Twenty-Four
Kip
Catch and Release
It takes a few more days, but after several successful runs, I’m able to keep my fangs on lockdown and my bloodlust under wraps when Tyson tries to get me to react to blood.
“Fuck yes, dude!” I whoop, fist pumping. “I fucking did it, five times in a row! Did you fucking see that, Tys?”
Even in the midst of my excitement, I can tell that Tyson isn’t as excited as he should be. “Bro, why are you not stoked right now? This means we’re both free. No more guard duty for you, and no more sad, dark, cold and lonely cell for me!”
Tyson plasters a smile on his face, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, this is great.”
“Well done.” A voice booms from the far corner of the room, a wisp of smoke swirling around a figure.
Tyson and I both jump, and I definitely do not let out a high-pitched squeal of fear. Must’ve been the door…or a mouse…
“What the fuck!” Tyson yells, stumbling back.
“I’m glad to see you’ve succeeded. Lisette will be most pleased.” The person steps closer, allowing the light to illuminate his features.
“Uhhh…and you are?” I stammer, still freaked the fuck out by this dude’s sudden appearance.
“Oh, I’m from the council.” He says like it no big fucking deal. “I was assigned guard duty for your case. I’ve been here the whole time. Although, you probably didn’t notice me in my bat form. I’ll report to Lisette immediately, so she can release you.”
“Wait, wait, wait…did you uhhh, did you say the whole time?” My voice comes out higher pitched than normal.
“Well, yes. We couldn’t very well leave you alone down here.” He chortles.
“Uhh…and you err…fuck, the whole time, huh?” How did I not notice this dude? Even if he was a bat… “Wait, also, go back to the bat part?”
The councilman waves his hand at me, like my question is not important.
“Yes, yes. Everyone knows that witches can shape-shift with the right spell. Anyway, the sooner I can report to Lisette, the sooner we can release you. Tyson, you are free to go. Thank you for your work here. And Christopher, I will be back shortly with Lisette to release you.” In a puff of smoke, the dude literally turns back into a bat, and flies through the open basement door.
“What the fuck…” Tyson whispers.
“Dude, I fucking jerked off in front of that guy! Like…a lot! Several times. Many loads. Do you…do you think he watched? Why didn’t he say something sooner!” I cry.
“Bro, what the fuck? Why did you jerk off so much?” Tyson scoffs. “Whatever. You’re free, hooray. I’m going home. I’m assuming I’ll see you there soon?”
“I bet the little freak liked watching me. Why else would he keep quiet while I ravaged myself? I’m talking over and over…” I hiss.
“Yeah, okay. Good talk. See you later.” Tyson struts out of the basement, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
“The whole fucking time…”
It’s only about a five minute wait before bat-boy comes back, with some else I’m assuming is Lisette.
“Mr. Kohl, I had faith you would pull through.” The woman says. Her face is hidden behind the hood of a deep purple cloak. Tendrils of pure white hair curl down to her waist from inside the hood. “I’m very pleased at the speed of your progress.”
“Uhh, thanks?”
“Although you’re being released, I urge you to remain vigilant going forward.
” Her voice is deep and melodic, almost entrancing.
“The problems within the council have not been dealt with, and therefore they could still bring you trouble in the future. You’ll need to rely on your friend Tyson, and your boyfriend Charlie until this issue is resolved. ”
“Slow down, I’m not following. How do you know Charlie? And I guess, Tyson. And well, me?”
“We’ve met before. I’m the warden of this prison. And it is my duty to know all of the council’s prisoners. By extension, that means knowing who they spend time with outside of here.”
I snort. “Sorry, but I think I’d remember meeting you. You’re kinda creepy as fuck. You and bat-boy over there.”
“Rude.” Bat-boy hisses.
Lisette moves past this, although I think I hear a slight smirk in her voice.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t safe for you to remember the details of our meeting, therefore I wiped your memory.
And all you need to know as of now is to be careful with who you trust. The current supernatural council is unstable, and filled with those who would do you and your friends harm.
Lay low, until you get word from me that the threat is under control. Don’t trust anyone you do not know.”
“Okay well, doesn’t that mean I shouldn’t trust you? Just because you say we’ve met before, doesn’t make it true.” I point out.
“Oh, he’s not as stupid as he looks!” Bat-boy simpers.
“Hey, fuck you!” Indignation is evident in my tone.
Bat-boy simply sticks his tongue out at me, tauntingly. I knew this dude was a fucking weirdo.
“Boys.” Lisette snaps, her voice ringing with authority. “Robbie. You are on thin ice. Behave, or I will dismiss you. And Christopher, don’t mind Robbie, he likes to be a brat.”
“Hmmm…a bratty bat-boy. Interesting…” I stick my tongue back out at Robbie.
Robbie scoffs, jutting out his hip and crossing his arms.
Lisette sighs, as if we’re giving her a headache. Please, I could never. I’m straight-up sunshine. Well, not straight, but sunshine none-the-less.
She strides forward, a key appearing in her hand. “As I was saying, you are free to go. But please, do be careful. You’ll be hearing from me again, soon, I’m sure.”
The door swings open, and I almost think this might be a trick. I mean… “You’re really letting me go? Just like that?”
Lisette steps out of the way, gesturing for me to exit the cage. “Just like that. You’ve earned it, have you not?”
“Well, I hope to fuck I have. This shit sucked, just saying. Maybe as the warden you could find a different way to do this. The cattle prod, really?”
“It worked.” Lisette says simply.
“Still fucking sucked though.” I sulk, slowly stepping outside of the cage for the first time in almost two weeks. My toes edge the outside of the cell, and I wince, expecting to be electrocuted or some shit. This whole thing has felt like a sick game by some dude named Jigsaw.
“What a baby.” Robbie murmurs.
Lisette snaps her fingers, and Robbie is promptly turned into a bat. He squeaks and I swear I see his little bat mouth turn down in a pout.
“Ha!” I can’t help but let out a loud guffaw at the sight of the stupid little bat-boy flapping around angrily. “What an idiot!”
I’m too busy wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes to notice, until it’s too late, that Robbie is flying towards me. He whips around my head, biting my cheeks and ears as he flaps around hissing and squeaking. My arms flail wildly as I try to hit him away.
Lisette is now exasperated. With another flick of her fingers, Robbie’s bat body is immobilized.
“Alright. Time for you to leave, Mr. Kohl.” She sighs.
“You don’t have to ask me again.” Taking my chance, I don’t even look back as I leave the basement and walk up the steps, back into the real world at last.