Among the Stars by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Author:Jodi Lynn Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

* * *

The Letter in the Leaf

SITTING NEAR THE EDGE OF the Pass, bored, Commander Berzerko was just about to clean her ears for the third time that evening when she noticed something curious to her left. Her tongue paused on the pad of her paw, and she stared a moment longer. Then she stood up and padded over to what had caught her eye, quickly recognizing it for what it was: a drawing in the dirt.

The commander sniffed the drawing for a second, then pulled back, licking her lips. It smelled like the living cat. But then, Commander Berzerko had always made it a point of pride that she was the only cat in the universe—with the exception of one or two artist cats she had heard of in Manhattan—who knew how to draw.

As she studied the mouse more intently, a long thread of saliva dripped from her mouth. Her gaze followed the line of the arrow. Could there really be a mouse that way? Commander Berzerko had not chased a mouse in years.

She glanced back at the Petrified Pass. The travelers would never come out, anyway. And if they did, she would be able to smell them from miles away (had the mouse ventured to scurry that far) and hurry right back. In any case, the pass was covered by South Place’s most fearsome slew of goblins and zombies.

Why waste the opportunity?

The demon cat floated off into the distance.

* * *

When May climbed out of her flower in the morning, she was greeted not by the Lady but by a letter pinned to a leaf.

May,

I am a busy woman, and I didn’t want to wake you, as you’ll need all of your rest for what lies ahead. I have decided that, yes, I will grant your request. Unfortunately I cannot “send” you home. But I can tell you how to get there.

You know about the four portals that lead from this world to Earth. There is a fifth almost no one knows about. You’ll need to steel your courage to get there.

You’ll see a bag at your feet.

May looked down. There was a black velvety sack resting on the limb.

It contains gifts. Some that you’ll need and some that I want you to have.

You’ll find new death shrouds—one for you and one for Somber Kitty. Yours may be a touch too large, but don’t worry, you’ll grow into it—and the nice thing is, it’ll never fall off. Both shrouds will be more convincing than that rag you are toting around now. For one thing, you won’t have the unmistakable smell of the living any longer.

There’s a new bathing suit (I noticed yours has seen better days) and a key. You’ll know when to use the key, I hope. The necklace is for your friend Beatrice. The flowers will bloom for her only if she’s willing to let them. I don’t think she realizes yet that the mind can’t control everything. Sometimes you need to go with your gut.

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