Dial D for Dante

"Come back sshere you worfless little puss." The slur in the old man's words warned Lola Longing that he was in the middle of binge and she'd be smart to stay in her cat form, and spend a few nights in the garage. "Shoulda bagged s’you up as a kitten and dropped s’you in the flarking fountain. Damn catzz!"

Lola slunk further into the night—the darkness, a perfect backdrop for her black fur. Only her blazing green eyes could give her position away at this point, but as she intended to keep them closed for, at least, a few hours she wasn't worried. She longed to find the peace she hadn't had since Dante returned her to the belligerent drunk she was unfortunate enough to have for a father.

William Longing’s marriage to her mother made him one of the few humans in Talbot's Peak to know about the town's shape shifter population. That fact alone should have made him enemy number one, but being laid back and easy going, plus his ability to hide his inebriation made him fairly well-liked. It didn't hurt that he also ran the only liquor store in town and could get the bar owners damn good deals on wholesale liquor.

Curtains parted at the front window on the little two bedroom house and Lola knew the twin green orbs searching the yard were from the woman she loved most of all. Two steps brought the little black cat out into the light just long enough for her mother to see her and know that she was safe. For as many years she could remember, Lola's mother, Linda, had been restrained by a brutal and undignified shock collar.

Life had always kind of sucked around Longing's household, but now that good old Willie had started associating with some really nasty cats, yucky kazoos or something, it had gotten worse—almost deadly. They'd agreed that it was finally time for Lola to seek out help. Through quiet calls, coded letters and secret meetings they'd found out from her mom's second cousin, Kitty, that some time ago, Dante proved instrumental in providing for Kitty's own protection. 

When Johnny started talking about breaking into Dante's new dance club, Lola had seen it as a chance to make a connection with Dante. She hated using Johnny that way, considering feelings for him, but she was desperate. Unfortunately, as it always was with Johnny, once they’d been caught, he wouldn't shut up long enough for her to get two words out.

Dante had dropped her off at home first, and assured good old Willie, that Lola was off the hook. He knew Johnny was the ringleader, and so Johnny would pay the penalty—community service and then a low-paying job.

Lola knew that Johnny would never show up to make good with Dante, he preferred playing it fast and loose. Normally, that would be a problem, but not this time. Lola would be showing up and she would offer to do whatever Dante needed if he would only help save her mother. 

~~~

So I composed this post with my new Dragon software and my wrists are thanking me already!  What a hoot to actually speak my writing...things come out way different when I say them, plus I can go somewhat faster, I love that!  As for accuracy, it's pretty darn good...even with names.  :)

Have a great weekend!

Serena