Impressive entrance by our favourite hulk of muscle. Cassie foolishly walked into a trap.
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Moultrie/Black does note yet know who this masked woman is. If Cassie can effect an immediate getaway, her cover is still intact. Of course, escaping from the superhuman strength of Exeter is a whole lot easier said than done... Things are not looking good for Cassie. Which, by extension, means things are not looking good for Preston.
I'm looking forward to see how this will be resolved, hopefully in Cassie's favor, but you never know with your story, CatKnight.
Maybe this is a good time for angelic, troubled Tom to wander in and start throwing lightning from his fingertips?
I'm looking forward to see how this will be resolved, hopefully in Cassie's favor, but you never know with your story, CatKnight.
Maybe this is a good time for angelic, troubled Tom to wander in and start throwing lightning from his fingertips? 
CatKnight: ..."I'm going to end this tonight."
against Black ? ? ya, right ! ! how many ways can you spell trouble ? ?
CatKnight: ..."I've been waiting for you."
better make that at least a double ! !
good writing CatKnight ! ! i missed the trap until the last line. (even though the 'The inner door burst open, torn from its hinges' announced the presence of Jason ! ! )
magnificent update ! !
against Black ? ? ya, right ! !
how many ways can you spell trouble ? ? CatKnight: ..."I've been waiting for you."
better make that at least a double ! !
good writing CatKnight ! !
i missed the trap until the last line. (even though the 'The inner door burst open, torn from its hinges' announced the presence of Jason ! ! )magnificent update ! !
My, my, things are coming to a head right quick now, eh?
I'm impressed with Cassie, and since only we readAARs truly know the truth about Black/Moultrie, it was completely logicaly for her to make her attempt on Moultrie. Of course, with the truth being just what it is, I'm not surprised at the outcome, however, I was pleasently/unpleasently surprised by dear Exeter's return.
So, we have Cassie in the clutches of Mr. Black (and his crony Exeter), Preston hurrying home to no doubt find his wife in said clutches, and Heyward approaching for his confrontation with Mr. Black. I dare say that when this all comes about, there will be some serious scarring to go all the way around.
While I would normally say that there's good odds that things will go well for our heroes, like Stuyvesant said, we're dealing with a CatKnight story, so things are far from certain.... well, other than that this is all far from over.
I'm impressed with Cassie, and since only we readAARs truly know the truth about Black/Moultrie, it was completely logicaly for her to make her attempt on Moultrie. Of course, with the truth being just what it is, I'm not surprised at the outcome, however, I was pleasently/unpleasently surprised by dear Exeter's return.
So, we have Cassie in the clutches of Mr. Black (and his crony Exeter), Preston hurrying home to no doubt find his wife in said clutches, and Heyward approaching for his confrontation with Mr. Black. I dare say that when this all comes about, there will be some serious scarring to go all the way around.
While I would normally say that there's good odds that things will go well for our heroes, like Stuyvesant said, we're dealing with a CatKnight story, so things are far from certain.... well, other than that this is all far from over.
Chief Ragusa: Bast? Foster? John? Quite a party you're envisioning.
TheExecuter: Yep, unfortunately it was a trap.
Fulcrumvale: We've been approaching the final battle all along! It's just been...taking awhile
Mettermrck: Mmm...well, Tom's out of position. Actually just about everyone's out of position. Showdown coming soon though
J. Passepartout: Well...if she was foolish it was only in not recognizing the warning signs or choosing her time better (or waiting for John!) She couldn't have known about Exeter.
Stuyvesant: Unfortunately Cassie's on her own for this one. Normally that would be enough. With Exeter AND Black? Eh...
Ghostwriter: Two doses of trouble coming up.
Draco Rexus: Given what Cassie knew, the run on Moultrie made sense. Unfortunately she's now in way over her head - and probably feeling similar to John when he ran into Chesmu and Tom.
TheExecuter: Yep, unfortunately it was a trap.
Fulcrumvale: We've been approaching the final battle all along! It's just been...taking awhile
Mettermrck: Mmm...well, Tom's out of position. Actually just about everyone's out of position. Showdown coming soon though
J. Passepartout: Well...if she was foolish it was only in not recognizing the warning signs or choosing her time better (or waiting for John!) She couldn't have known about Exeter.
Stuyvesant: Unfortunately Cassie's on her own for this one. Normally that would be enough. With Exeter AND Black? Eh...
Ghostwriter: Two doses of trouble coming up.
Draco Rexus: Given what Cassie knew, the run on Moultrie made sense. Unfortunately she's now in way over her head - and probably feeling similar to John when he ran into Chesmu and Tom.
WARNING: CONTENT WARNING FOR GENERAL UNPLEASANTNESS.
READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
-= 202 =-
South Carolina
October 1784
Cassie thrashed in the huge man's iron grip, anger and panic overriding the shrill, stabbing pain from her shoulder. His animal grunts and heavy, harsh breathing panicked her. On the other hand, her temperamental father may not have given her much, but she knew how to treat unruly customers.
She stomped on his foot. He howled, and his grip loosened just enough for her to twist and pivot away. Free! Moultrie's grin faded into something much less friendly. He approached, raising his hand to strike, so she kicked him. Hard. Moultrie cried out and went down.
Still free, so she ran for the balcony doors. The curtain fluttered in a gentle breeze, the scent of autumn promising safety. Yet the brute pursued her across the study. Something hard slammed into her good shoulder from behind, twisting her about in mid-flight. She fell into the door, glass shattering and only her mask saved Cassie from terrible scars as shards showered the room. Instinctively she shielded her face. Was she injured? No? Run!
Then she felt his fist close about her collar from behind and throw her to the ground. Cassie managed one grateful gulp of air before he fell on her. Christ! He had to weigh twenty stone! Fortunately he rose up enough so she could breathe - and backhanded her. She screamed through bloodied lips as he clenched his fist.
"Enough!" Moultrie cried.
Cassie used the man's momentary confusion to scramble away blindly. She had to get out. She had to flee. Weapon. John's pistol was around here somewhere. Yes! Cassie lunged for it.
Moultrie stomped on her hand. "No, Spider," he said grimly through clenched teeth. He ran two fingers along the flat of her knife "No, I don't think so. I've been waiting for you all night. Hold her, Jasen."
Then the brute was back, pinning her arms. She twisted violently, but this only encouraged him to squeeze her wrists harder. Exeter snarled.
"How?" Cassie demanded, still struggling. "How did you know?"
"I knew after you heard about the soldiers taking prisoners to Branchville it would only be a matter of time before you came after them - then after me. One of the privates made it back home today, so I thought you'd try to come tonight."
"You sacrificed soldiers just to get to me!?" Callahan's pain-stricken face flashed through her mind. "Bastard!"
"What are soldiers for but to be killed?" Moultrie asked. "Now, let's see who you are." Moultrie knelt and reached for her mask.
She bit him.
He grinned through the pain, gripped her jaw and cut away the mask. His eyes widened and he ripped the skullcap away, exposing her brown tresses. "Cassandra isn't it?" He shook his head. "Now that is a surprise. Jasen, you remember Colonel Preston? This is his beloved."
"RRRRRRRRRR!?!?"
She spat in his face. He grinned tightly and thrust, the blade missing her neck by inches. She flinched, realized she wasn't hurt, and glared.
"All this time John's been looking for the Spider, not knowing it was in his bed." He retrieved the knife and stood. "How marvelous."
"He doesn't know anything about this!" she shouted.
Moultrie turned away. "Oh, I believe you. He isn't nearly smart enough for this kind of subterfuge. That leaves the question of what to do with you?" He regarded the blade. "It would be a pity to kill you."
"RRRRRRRR!"
"What did you say, Jasen?" Moultrie whirled.
"RRRRRRRR!"
"I didn't think you still had thoughts like that, Jasen! Tonight is just full of surprises!"
Cassie tried to bring her leg up, but primitive instinct served Exeter well. He deflected the attack and ground his knee into her thigh. She writhed.
"RRRRRRRR!"
"Yes, I suppose that would be worse than killing her." Moultrie regarded his captive. "I'm impressed, Jasen. You must promise to keep her alive, but otherwise of course you may have her."
"Johnny will kill you!" Cassie screamed.
"'Johnny' will never know," Moultrie replied. "If you tell him, I will kill you for being the Spider ... and then him for being an accomplice. Where would that leave little orphaned Christiana? With me, I suppose." He nodded at Exeter and turned away.
A last, superhuman effort let her twist onto her side, but that only convinced Jasen to land on her again. Then the screams began in earnest.
Moultrie regarded the knife and thrust it through his belt, uninterested in the cries and growls behind him. "Along came a spider," he said. "And was squashed."
Black is right. Tonight is full of surprises.
Joihnny really should have killed Exeter. Can anyone save Cassie from a fate worses than death? Yes, I am hoping for quite a party. Johnny actually a lot smarter than Black gives him credit. I am surprised that Black exhibited surprise that Exeter still had thoughts. He'd made him truly bestial or hasn't Black read up on the birds and the bees?
I'm expecting the next post to begin 'And meanwhile, down in the sitting room, Chesmu pointed his special rifle at Preston. Black entered and said, conversationally, "Just dealing with a Spider. This is a night full of surprises."
"It is, isn't it?" said Heyward.'
Joihnny really should have killed Exeter. Can anyone save Cassie from a fate worses than death? Yes, I am hoping for quite a party. Johnny actually a lot smarter than Black gives him credit. I am surprised that Black exhibited surprise that Exeter still had thoughts. He'd made him truly bestial or hasn't Black read up on the birds and the bees?
I'm expecting the next post to begin 'And meanwhile, down in the sitting room, Chesmu pointed his special rifle at Preston. Black entered and said, conversationally, "Just dealing with a Spider. This is a night full of surprises."
"It is, isn't it?" said Heyward.'
Black should have had Exeter fixed a long time ago. Not that he would do what we want.
Indeed, I may not have made myself clear.
Indeed, I may not have made myself clear.
Ugh...that scene left a distasteful film in my mouth...trying to rinse it out now. Sortof like the feeling you get in The Shawshank Redemption when the warden is taunting the hero in solitary about killing his friend, walling up the library, burning the books and dancing around them like 'wild injuns.' 'Or I am being obtuse? Give him another month to think about it...'
I hope it makes the denoument of this story that much sweeter.
*hint**hint*
TheExecuter
I hope it makes the denoument of this story that much sweeter.
*hint**hint*
TheExecuter
CatKnight: ..Cassie thrashed in the huge man's iron grip...Then the screams began in earnest.
Yikes ! ! better make that a triple ! ! . . .
awesome update ! !
Yikes ! ! better make that a triple ! ! .
. . awesome update ! !
I'm suspecting she'll be safe enough in the long run, though I wonder if CatKnight will go against the heroic-story grain here.
Not pleasant. We can only hope that Cassie will be resilient enough to overcome the trauma. Thankfully, you didn't get graphic in your descriptions. Not that you would have needed to: the oblique references were nasty enough.
Here's hoping for a grand finale where Preston kills Exeter, while Heyward rips Black apart, sending him into oblivion.
Here's hoping for a grand finale where Preston kills Exeter, while Heyward rips Black apart, sending him into oblivion.
Well then... I must admit I was completely surprised by that turn of events, I mean there is always that possibility when a female character gets in to trouble and is caught by bad guys, but I was surprised that you actually used that possibility, Cat, and used it in such a way that it fit the story and was done in such a way that the less described the worse it was. My commendations to you sir!
My thinking is, however, that Black made a great mistake. I am of a mind that Cassie is not going to be the sort that will take this... disgusting act without striking back in a decidely nasty and vengeful way. Add her up with Preston's own outrage, Heyward's fury, and the all around knowledge that good always eventually triumph, and Black is goin' down and he's gonna go down HARD!
My thinking is, however, that Black made a great mistake. I am of a mind that Cassie is not going to be the sort that will take this... disgusting act without striking back in a decidely nasty and vengeful way. Add her up with Preston's own outrage, Heyward's fury, and the all around knowledge that good always eventually triumph, and Black is goin' down and he's gonna go down HARD!
There is enough wiggle room in the text to let us hope Cassie hasn't been dishonored 'yet'. It is hard to subdue and assault awoman who is really fighting hard, and Exeter has only two hands regardless of his bulk.
If our heroes don't arrive quickly, however, I've no doubt Exeter will get the job done even if he has to club her senseless first.
May God damn Black.
If our heroes don't arrive quickly, however, I've no doubt Exeter will get the job done even if he has to club her senseless first.
May God damn Black.
Nay, nay, my good Chief. There's a slight yet subtle difference between being sent away (showing that God is not happy with you) and being damned (showing that you've gone ahead and ticked the Almighty off). From my understanding, Black at this time has merely been sent away from God, for I surely don't see Black doing anything if God is truly angry with him.
Draco Rexus said:
The human with the power to kill Black is a sure sign to me that Black has really ticked the Almighty off. Black has been evil from the get go. He's caused the slaughter of thousands of innocents and, so far, the death of decent enough governor and twisted two humans into something less than human. He's ticked, marked and about to cease to be.
I seem to remember a little exposition by Cat way back regarding the theology of the world he has created. God, in this particular story, is not exactly like the JudeoChristian God that I think most of us think of in the back of our minds when we think of the spiritual reality in the story. No, my impression in this story is that God is not quite like what deists believe, but more in that direction. In other words, God interferes less in direct ways, but is more like one who sets things up and lets things go. Not that I think he would allow anyone to come even close to usurping his position but there is probably more wiggle room for wayward lesser beings than we would like.
Haven't read up on this one yet, only been at it since monday. No doubt as excellent as always. I will post something cogent after I have read it.
Ducks down. DW
Ducks down. DW