Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)

'Zena, can I get breakfast?’ Natalia said.

Zena stepped in with a plate of bacon and eggs.

Natalia looked at the plate, then looked at Zena. She knew this was a special occasion breakfast. “What gives?’

She was thinking that maybe Zena was going to ask for more time off because of Victoria and her misbehaving

'I really didn't think that the kitten was a good idea,’ Zena said. “However, now that I see how much she is occupying Victoria's time, I've changed my mind. Thank you."

'So, there were no problems last night?’

“None. And she didn't even fuss about drinking her sanguine tea. I did let her eat two cookies, which I know you don’t mind.’

'Grubbie cookies aren't full of sugar like what I ate as a child. She can eat as much as she wants.’ “She had two and two cups of tea.’

'Is that more tea than what she needs?’

“No, that is just enough. Girls need just a little more than a boy.’

“Good to hear. I'm just as amazed as you are about the kitten. Oh, I have a Council meeting at two. I'll drive if you come with to watch Victoria.’

“Ill be around for that. Enjoy your breakfast.”

Natalia smiled.

Twill!

Victoria's head popped up across the table from her. She was staring at the plate.

“Bacon?’ she said.

Natalia laughed at her.

“My breakfast. Did you have breakfast?’

Victoria shook her head.

“I see. And you didn't have any cookies or tea last night?"

Victoria shook her head again.

“One piece of bacon.’

Natalia handed her one small piece. She ate her breakfast with Victoria staring at her the whole time.

“How is Tail doing?’ she said once she finished.

Victoria just nodded.

“Is she eating?’

Victoria nodded again.

“Let's go upstairs and make sure there is plenty of food.’

Natalia rose. Victoria raced ahead of her. Tail appeared out of nowhere and raced up the stairs. When they reached the guest bathroom, Natalia saw that all the cat food was gone.

"You're not eating this are you?’ she said to Victoria while she filled the bowl.

Victoria shook her head and grimaced.

Natalia understood that to mean Victoria had tried a piece.

“I've never seen a kitty eat so much, but I guess she does run around a lot."

She looked at the litter box. There didn’t seem to be any waste in it.

“Are you using that, Tail?"

The kitten jumped into the tub. She chirped and dashed around as if trying to catch her tail, then jumped out of the tub and out of the room. Victoria chased after, giggling as usual.

“At least I have a happy girl,’ Natalia said.

She followed them to see that they were now in Victoria's room. Natalia stepped into the master bedroom. She decided the clothes she had on, jeans and a t-shirt, were good enough for a Council meeting. Her hair just needed a good brushing. She rummaged through her jewelry box for earrings and a necklace. The earrings were where she last put them. She couldn't find the necklace she wanted, so she selected another.

“Downstairs you two."

Victoria giggled the whole way down, going backwards. Natalia didn't care how she went down as long as she didn't trip and fall.

Zena?’

Natalia stopped by the kitchen door which was propped open.

Yes?

Zena was sweeping the floor.

“Has anyone cleaned the litter box? Or is the kitten going somewhere else?’

“I scooped it this morning. I remembered what they said to do when the tayra was here.’

“Oh, good. I was hoping we didn’t have a problem. It does seem to eat a lot, too. I refilled the food bowl."

“It's young. Young things..."

Victoria ran by.

"Young things eat a lot. I'm amazed at how much she can put away,’ Zena said.

“What time is Kate taking over?’

Ill go with you to the meeting, then Kate will take over once I'm home.

“Good. Thanks. We have a little wait."

Natalia followed the giggles of Victoria.

“Are you chasing Tail or is she chasing you?’

The pair were running around the sofa.

I'm chasing. I'm it," Victoria said with a giggle.

"You are a giggler.’

Natalia sat and watched them. She was pleased to hear that the lamp hadn't been knocked over. That was a good sign. She remembered when she first had mentioned getting the kitten. Everyone thought it was a bad idea.

'A warm furry animal is a snack to a Viperian,’ she muttered to herself.

Every time any sort of animal was mentioned, it was in regards to how it tasted or how it was caught and cooked.

“No, caught and eaten raw.’

She shuddered at what she had been told would happen. How all Viperian children caught and ate raw squirrels and rabbits. However, she couldn't see it happening just yet. Victoria couldn't even keep up with a young kitten. There was no way she was fast enough to catch squirrels and rabbits. But to actually buy an animal to keep in the house...was like keeping a stocked fridge, so she was told.

“No Viperian household has a pet. It's not in their vocabulary.’

She had been surprised that the word for pet in the Viperian language referred to touch and only touch. There was no word for an animal that you kept around the house.

“We're the first Viperian household with a pet.’

She just hoped over time that the influence from the other Viperian children didn't result in Tail becoming a snack.

Victoria seemed to be tiring out. Natalia was glad for that. She checked the time. It was almost time to leave for the Council meeting.

“Victoria. Let's put Tail in her room. We have to go to Viperia.’

“Grace visit?’

“No, sorry. Just a short visit."

Victoria pouted.

Natalia scooped up Tail and carried her upstairs to shut her in the bathroom.

Meerup.

“Take a nap. You probably need it."

Victoria was at the foot of the stairs staring up at her.

“Bonnie?’ Victoria said.

“No, I'm driving. Zena is coming along. She'll sit in back with you.’

“Car.’

Victoria spun and ran. Natalia followed her while she headed toward the garage. Victoria loved riding in the car.

Zena was waiting in the garage for them.

I'm going to look like the chauffeured person,’ she said.

“M’lady,” Natalia said, opening the back door for her.

Zena laughed while she helped Victoria get in. She strapped her into her car seat.

Natalia settled into the drivers seat.

Traffic was heavy for a Monday. There were gatekeepers at the gates of Viperia. Her car was immediately recognized, and the gates were opened as soon as she approached.

“Thanks,’ she said without even opening her window.

She knew the gatekeepers would hear her.

Once in Viperia, the traffic was almost non-existent. However, she wasn't the only car to pull into the lot. She recognized the cars of other Council members.

“Afternoon, Nattie."

“Afternoon, Ingus. How are all your beetles?’

He laughed.

"Hungry."

Natalia saw Tia’s car already there.

“We're going for a walk,’ Zena said

Natalia watched her and Victoria head out of the parking lot. She knew there was a park not too far away.

“Afternoon, Rubert.’

“Nattie.’

She thought she was a little early, but once in the building she saw the other women Council members: Kareen, Jada Lee, Friesa, and Pearl. Mirren, the last male Council member, was just coming in through the back way.

“Afternoon, everyone,’ Kareen said.

Everyone headed for their seats. Natalia knew they were expecting some else. If only the Council members met, then they would sit at the oval table in the middle of the room. If a member of the public was to address them, then they sat up in the official seats that overlooked the table.

“We only have one order of business. He should be here shortly.

Natalia heard the doors in the outer area.

A man entered the room. Clinging to him was a woman with curly brown hair. She was Undent. Natalia stiffened. She already knew something was wrong.

“Gregg, what is this?" Kareen said, showing she too sensed something wrong.

The other members of the Council quieted around her. Natalia knew they were all focused on the couple.

This is Amy.’

He looked ecstatically happy.

“What is the meaning of this?’ Kareen said.

I want to make Amy my wife."

Amy giggled and gazed lovingly up at him.

'You have attended the teddy bear training, haven't you?’ Kareen said.

Yes. Yes. Of course. She's not a teddy bear.’

“How many times have you bit her?’

“Hardly at all. I-l want to have her go through the same thing that Uri did with Nattie.’

He nodded toward her with a big smile.

“It's too late,’ Natalia said.

“No. No," he said. “I've hardly bit her.’

"You have bitten her,’ Kareen said. “Hardly isn't the right word. She looks like you've bit her numerous times.’

“No. I love her.’

“I think you need to go through the training again, Gregg,’ Mirren said.

Natalia nodded. Since she had become a Council woman, a directive had been issued to every single Viperian man and woman aged sixteen or older. Everyone was required to attend a class on teddy bears to learn that it was illegal and how easily it could be done with a few bites. She knew even Uri had been required to attend even though he knew better than anyone since he had been successful at keeping her from becoming a teddy bear. Now she was immune from it, but Uri still kept his bites to a minimum.

“I didn't bite her that many times,” he said.

Amy stumbled and leaned against him. Natalia could see he construed that as a sign of affection However, she was seeing dangerous signs of a teddy bear nearing the end.

“She's foaming,’ Natalia said.

“Get her downstairs,’ Kareen said.

“Gregg, this is a blatant violation of the teddy bear law. And you brought her here for all to see,’ Mirren said.

“No. No. I love her. She isn't a teddy bear. Please, I want her to be like Nattie."

“It's too late,’ Natalia said again, rising.

Amy was starting to get jittery.

“Downstairs,’ Kareen said. “l don't want blood or any damage to furniture up here.’

“Take her next door and put her in a cell,’ Pearl said.

“Gregg, grab hold of her and bring her along,” Mirren said. “You'll now see what you have done." “But I didn't bite her that many times.’

“In passion, you can bite more than you think,’ Mirren said.

Everyone was now moving with the urgency of the situation. Because Gregg wasn't moving, Mirren grabbed him and pulled him along. Gregg was still firmly holding onto Amy. She was hardly able to stay on her feet.

Pearl ran ahead to open doors so there was no delay.

Natalia was appalled when Gregg turned and bit Amy.

“What are you doing?’ she said,

“She's nervous. I'm just calming her."

“How many times have you calmed her?’ Mirren said, continued to pull Gregg along.

The buildings were connected and they were all now in the jail.

“Oh, my word," Corean said, coming in from the back. “Down the stairs before she goes berserk." “But I calmed her,’ Gregg said, starting to resist Mirren.

Mirren gave him a violent push toward the stairs.

“A bite is a bite. It doesn’t matter what venom you used on her. Too many bites of any kind can create a teddy bear.’

“But... but it only calms her.’

Gregg had to carry Amy down the stairs. She wasn't coordinated enough. Mirren was close behind them. He pushed Gregg toward a cell that Natalia knew as the death penalty cell.

“Breaking the teddy bear law doesn’t get a death penalty,’ she said.

Mirren pushed both Gregg and Amy into the cell

“Door,’ he said over his shoulder.

The clear door activated sealing them in the cell.

“No, he's not getting a death penalty, but he is going to see what happens when you create a teddy bear,” Mirren said. “This is the one cell where nothing can get broken and it's easily hosed down. There will be blood.’

“But it was only the calming venom,” Gregg said.

He seemed to be pleading his case.

"Too many bites of any type will create a teddy bear,” Mirren said. “Is that in the class?"

“Oh, definitely,” Corean said.

Natalia knew she was one of a dozen people who taught the course.

'We cover that multiple times,” Corean said with a look of disgust while she watched through the door.

“Please,’ Gregg pleaded.

White foam was now coming out of Amy's mouth. Gregg had to let go of her since she was beginning to claw at him.

“Can't we do something for her? Do what Uri did to Nattie?"

Too late,” Natalia said.

"You need to get permission before you try something like this. Only a few people have the capability,” Mirren said.

“Is she pregnant?’ Kareen said.

All the Council members were gathered around as if watching a show. Corean and two officers on duty were watching as well.

Yes,’ Gregg said.

"You just murdered two people,” Mirren said. “Instead of one.’

'We don't have to have a trial,’ Corean said. “We have enough witnesses.’

“I saw him bite her,” Natalia said.

Just to calm her,’ Gregg said

He was how having to hold up his arms to protect himself from Amy's flaying arms and hands. Natalia could see that this was going to get messy.

“Can she kill him?’

“Not likely, but he’s not coming out unscathed,” Mirren said. “Are we filming? Corean?’

“Oh, yes. New educational tape.”

There was a pause of conversation while Amy became more and more agitated. Gregg was doing all he could to fend her off him. She seemed totally focused on him. However, he was being too gentle. “The humane thing to do, Gregg, is to bite with fast kill,” Mirren said.

'W-what? Never. I love her.’

He was having to use more and more force to keep her at bay.

The foam coming from Amy's mouth was now red.

“Is this the only issue we have for the Council meeting,’ Natalia said, moving her gaze elsewhere. The only item we had,’ Kareen said. I wasn't expecting this, however.’

“Everyone going to the festival tonight?” Mirren said.

Natalia still couldn't get used to the nonchalance that Council members could exhibit. Even though she was one of them, she felt disturbed by this.

“Definitely,’ a few replied.

Most nodded.

Natalia glanced back into the cell. A moment later, Amy exploded into action. She surged against Gregg, then swerved and ran into a wall. However, she didn't knock herself out. She managed to stand and attack him again before going into convulsions and keeling over. Blood ran from her mouth and nose. Gregg was splattered with it.

“What a mess,’ Corean said.

Amy shuddered with her last breath.

“Ninety day sentence, Gregg. You will be required to go through the teddy bear course again and give us a report on what you did wrong.’

There were murmurs of agreement among most of the Council members. Natalia even nodded in agreement.

Gregg was staring at Amy. Shock showed clearly on his face.

“He's not spending it with her, is he?” Natalia said, almost expecting this

Twenty-four hours with the body, then we'll clean him up and dispose of her,’ Corean said.

“What about the Undent laws?" Natalia said.

She was trying to make them more and more aware of the Undent laws and the penalties attached. “This is considered murder,’ she said. “Ninety days is a short sentence in an Undent jail. I know it means more here.’

'I think his punishment is appropriate. He's not going to live this down anytime soon,” Mirren said. “I agree,’ Ingus said. “He knows he will be watched more closely. And I would say this is more equivalent to manslaughter since it wasn't intentional.’

“We're well aware of Undent penalties,’ Corean said. “Time in jail isn't always a penalty for a Viperian. Having to endure what he just saw is quite a severe penalty.’

“Maybe what I really meant is what about her family?” Natalia said.

“Deaths like this are explained as accidental falls,” Corean said. “We'll have a doctor verify the trauma caused by the fall.”

'Do we need to make this a Council discussion?” Mirren said.

“No, I understand about his punishment,’ Natalia said. “This was quite a punishment. Especially since he loved her.

“Having a woman go through what you went through, Nattie, is very difficult. The success rate is dismal. Uri was very lucky,” Mirren said.

“He followed the book,” Corean said.

“Not something I would willingly have gone through had I known,’ she said.

Natalia was surprised to find that Gregg was now crying. It was rare to catch a Viperian in tears. She turned away, having seen far more than she wanted to

Natalia stopped. A figure was waving frantically at her. She could see the person's mouth moving, but couldn't hear her. It was Sherri. Natalia waved back, but then turned away.

“How is Sherri doing? I haven't heard much about her. I thought prisoners went crazy and died after this long in jail?"

“She's delusional,’ Corean said. “She keeps thinking she'll be able to have her children visit after ten months.’

“She's been in jail for more than ten months.’

“Some people excel at keeping track of time, but like I said, she is delusional. Her time keeping isn't keeping up.’

“I thought she couldn't have visitors for ten years?’

Corean eyed her with a what-do-you-think look.

'I see,’ Natalia said. “She's delusional and has decided it's ten months and not ten years."

“Exactly,’ Corean said. “She wants to talk to her. You can if you want. Council members are allowed to.’

“Do I have to worry about what I say that might correct her time keeping?”

“No," Corean said. “Someone as delusional as she is just going to rationalize that you're mistaken. “I don't know why I would talk to her then. She's dead to her children. I have nothing to tell her about them. And I wouldn't pass on any messages either.’

Natalia turned back to look at Sherri. She was now pounding on the door, but because of the soundproofing, Natalia heard nothing.

“lt would keep her from pounding on the door,’ Corean said with a roll of her eye.

Natalia took the hint.

“Five minutes.’

“Thank you. I'll enable the speaker.’