Strange Behavior

By Bekka Mouri

Sudan stopped in front of Michelle without warning, almost tripping her again. She glared down at him, ~Would you please tell me when you are going to do that?~

~I think those two suspicious guards are following us,~ Sudan sniffed the air carefully. ~Yes. It’s them.~

~Oh? Maybe that one with the scars has decided to talk to me.~

Sudan looked up at his mistress, ~It would be advisable that you not associate with them.~

Michelle rolled her eyes. ~Silly liger, they are wearing the uniforms of Zarkon’s personal guard corps. They have probably been relieved from their shift and wandering the palace to check it out. It is possible that they are still relatively new here.~

Sudan looked towards the end of the hall just as the two new guards came around it. ~I still don’t trust them.~

Michelle rolled her eyes again and waited for the two men to approach her. The unmarked one bowed, “ I was so rude back there, ma’am. I should have introduced myself as should have my brother. I am called Malacath. “

The scarred one bowed now, “ And I am Peryite. “

“ That’s quite alright. I am Michelle, “ She curtsied and patted Sudan, “ And this is Sudan. “

Peryite looked down at the creature, “ What a magnificent beast! What is he? I mean, I can see he is a large cat of some type but I am not sure of what exactly he is. “

“ He’s a liger. His father was a lion and his mother was a tiger, “ Michelle scratched Sudan behind the ear to soften the hard look he was giving the men. It didn’t work.

Peryite reached out to pat Sudan on the head but stopped when he growled low in his throat, flicking his huge tail back and forth. ~You touch me and I will take that hand off.~

~Sudan! That’s not nice!~ Michelle scolded.

~I don’t trust him, Michelle!~

Peryite took a step back, “ He doesn’t seem to like me. “

“ It’s okay. Maybe you have a bad scent on you from something you did earlier and it’s sending him the wrong messages. “

“ I hope that is all that it is, “ Peryite chuckled nervously.

Michelle smiled, “ I am to assume that your duty is over for today and I was wondering if both of you would like to join me for a drink. It’s the least I can do since you have to look at that ugly old fish faced king all day. “

“ Really? “ Peryite’s eyes grew wide.

“ And maybe we can find your brother a woman to keep him entertained as well, “ Michelle glance over at Malacath, knowing exactly who would be perfect for him.

“ That’s sounds wonderful! “ Malacath smiled. He didn’t believe that it would be this easy.

“ Okay then, follow me, “ Michelle turned to walk towards the harem just as Captain Dragon came around another corner. His eyes focused immediately upon Malacath and Peryite. “ Ah! There you are! Do you know how long I have been looking for you? “ He said once he had gotten close enough.

“ Captain! “ Malacath saluted as did Peryite, “ Is there a problem? “

“ There is something I need to discuss with you two and the other new recruits right away, “ Captain Dragon looked over at Michelle, “ I am sorry but this is important business, ma’am. “

Michelle sighed then realized Sudan was growling louder than ever. The hair at the ruff of his neck was beginning to stand up as his eyes narrowed at the captain. He really wasn’t too fond of him because he always smelled like Zarkon but he was reacting much worse than usual. ~What’s wrong now?~

~I REALLY don’t trust that guy. He doesn’t smell anything like the Captain Dragon I know.~

Michelle pulled on the liger’s leash, ~I think we need to pay a visit to the vet right away. You’ve been acting very strange today and I don’t like it.~

Captain Dragon looked down at the liger, “ What’s wrong? Your kitty acts like there is something not right. “

“ He’ll be okay, “ Michelle tugged at the leash, “ I am going to take him to the vet right now if you don’t mind. Good day, gentlemen. “

Malacath, Peryite and The Captain watched as Michelle led the liger down the hall. Once she was gone, they proceeded back towards the guard corps barracks silently. When they were inside and sure no one would hear them, Malacath let loose with a long string of Drule curses, all of them aimed at his master. “ I can't believe this! We were this close! “

Mehrunes arched an eyebrow, “ How dare you use such a tone with me! I don’t know what you are talking about, Malacath. Would you care to indulge me before I decide how I am going to kill you? “

“ That woman was going to take us to the harem! “ Malacath shouted, his inferno like temper raging like wildfire. “ But you went and messed it all up! You are such an idiot! “

“ Brother! Control yourself! “ Peryite begged. “ I will explain to the master what is wrong before you make him any madder. “

“ He messed up our plan! “ Malacath hissed, not seeing Mehrunes produce his huge two-handed ebony sword from thin air. Peryite did and flushed.

“ Please, brother! “ Peryite stammered as Mehrunes approached him from behind. He raised the blade as high as he could, waiting for a reason to attack.

“ No way! I am the leader of this group! He is just paying us! He had no right to… “ Malacath gasped as Mehrunes plunged the sword through his back, it emerging from the other side. He grasped the tip of the blade in his hands as Mehrunes continued to thrust it through him.

“ Brother! “ Peryite gasped as Malacath’s hands fell away. He looked up at Mehrunes, who did not stop pushing the sword until the tip touched the floor. With a hard push, he embedded it into the polished wood. Peryite felt a tear form as he watched his only brother’s blood flowing down the brilliant black blade, pooling on the floor.

“ Don’t cry. It is unbecoming of a bounty hunter, “ Mehrunes walked around to Peryite’s side to admire his own handiwork. “ It is also unbecoming of a man. Although you are only seventeen, you are a man. “

“ But he was the only family I had, Master! “ Peryite tried to push back the tears that were choking him.

Mehrunes shook his head, “ Get over it. He was holding you back. He protected you too much. I bet he is the one who let you cry like a woman when he should have been beating it out of you. “

“ Malacath never laid a hand on me! “ Peryite sobbed. “ He loved me! “

Mehrunes looked over at the young man, “ Stop that infernal crying or you will be joining your brother. “

Peryite took in a sharp breath, “ But I could still be useful, Master! I have caught the fancy of that woman! “ He stammered.

Mehrunes’ eyes lit up, “ Oh, that’s right! Malacath did say something about a woman, didn’t he? “

“ Yes, “ Peryite nodded, “ I think she was from Lotor’s harem and isn’t that where we think the slave girl is? “

“ It is very possible. Molag said he hasn’t seen her in the slave quarters so that would be the only logical place for her. “

“ Maybe that woman will show me how to get there, “ Peryite reasoned.

Mehrunes looked over at Malacath’s limp body. “ I am not sorry I killed your brother even though it seems he was right. I never did like him anyway. “

Just then, Hircine and Clavicus came in. They stopped and stared at the gory scene that greeted them. “ What happened? “ Clavicus looked at Mehrunes.

“ We had a little disagreement, “ Mehrunes stepped towards Clavicus. “ He was getting too… cocky. “

Clavicus gulped hard at the emphasis Mehrunes put on the word ‘Cocky’. He knew he was warning him without actually saying the words. “ Yes, master. I understand. “

Hircine stepped up, “ What are we going to do with his body though? We just can’t leave it here. “

“ I want you to make it disappear, “ Mehrunes looked towards the magician.

Hircine took a deep breath and approached the corpse. He carefully removed the sword and handed it to Mehrunes who made it vanish. He then mumbled some magic words and Malacath’s body faded away, the only trace left being the mark on the floor where the sword had penetrated it.

" Now, " Mehrunes sighed, " I think we all need to get some rest. We have a busy day waiting for us tomorrow. "

The four remaining bounty hunters looked at each other once Mehrunes retreated to his cousin's quarters, fear evident in their features. They had all been suspicious that Mehrunes was not a sane man and could be very dangerous. After what they had seen, they knew it was true. More than ever, they wanted to get the job done and get away from the madman.