Catalina, Righteous Intuition.
*** Part #2 continuation of Sybil, Premonition of the Hellion ***
Disconcerted. It was the closest word she felt fit the growing feeling that had slowly taken residence within her gut. A week had passed since its stay began, growing stronger each day. It had taken Catalina awhile to nail down the right word for the feeling, but she had plenty of time for contemplation. These days not much was asked of her. From time to time there was something or someone that needed to be dealt with, but mostly she just stood watch over the shiny gates. She had a suspicion that soon, something was about to change everything. How or why? She wasn’t sure. It was simply a deep instinctual feeling. One that had yet to lead her wrong.
Movement in the distance caught her attention as a small patch of shade slowly manifested several yards in front of Catalina. Suspicion rose within, seemingly validating her instincts. Swirling smoke emptied out of the patch of darkness as its shape shifted and solidified. From within its depths, an individual slunk out into the blinding light and crept forward.
“I wonder if I might have a word with you, guardian,” the shadowy figure spoke.
Catalina remained silent.
“Please, it is an important, grave matter of which I would ask your assistance.”
Again, Catalina didn’t reply. Words were power and she preferred to use them sparingly. Besides, something in her gut told her that there were others waiting in the shadows.
This demon though, still partially cloaked in shadow, disregarded her previously placating tone. “Silent treatment, huh? Alright, you don’t have to speak, just make sure to listen. You see, I had a vision. A vision of your demise and it wasn’t pretty… messy, one might say. Something that will happen unless you hear me out.”
Catalina again remained silent, though she lowered her shades enough so that their eyes could meet; a surprising amount can be conveyed nonverbally if you really put your mind to it. It was an invitation on what Catalina took to be an opaque threat.
“Oh, not by me. I have no such grand ambitions,” The demon backpedaled. “No, I happen to like the way things are, just fine. Anyway…uh, well though it might seem shocking, I’d rather violence not happen. At least in this case specifically. So, if you would just take a step forward and hear-”
“Your attempt at trickery is poor. You have no business being here, demon. Leave at once!” Catalina’s tone left little room for misinterpretation and yet the demon continued to take several more steps toward her.
“Not another step!” A final bark before she would bite.
“Easy, alright,” the demon replied with an arm raised. “If I could simply make a single request, for your own safety and… mine, what would it take for you to take your whole scary dog routine and just move over say several steps forward?”
Catalina answered the question by way of reaching for her weapon. The number watching from the shadows had grown.
“Unfortunate… Though I’m afraid, I can’t simply let you make that choice for the both of us.”
A strong force latched onto Catalina and pulled. It was as if the ground had opened and swiftly swallowed her up. A careful trap laid out underneath her that only succeeded because she had not moved from her post.
***
Uncloaking, Sybil sighed. Visibly disappointed at having to resort to such a dirty trick while she scratched at her horns. It would not last long. Based on her calculations, this was the only option she had that left a chance at a future absent of her own demise. Did she know it would work out? No, but the future in which she did not act, left her no chance. The ripples of possible outcomes based on this one choice were still hard to discern. But, there was a chance. Though, she had crossed a line with this choice; strolled down a path with which she could not return.
