Segment Chapter XIII | The Cat Being Framed

The morning sun beams inside Azenith's house. Jason sits on the couch, drinking his coffee and going through his phone. Azenith walks over and sits next to him with her morning tea.

"Good morning, Az." Jason said.

"Morning."

"Any plans for us today?"

"Who's 'us'."

"Well... me, you, and Dylan. But Dylan is at his doctor's appointment, it's just us two."

Azenith chuckles.

"What part of 'I'm married' don't you understand?"

"I hate to break it to you but your husband is dead." Jason said.

"I know, did you have to remind me?"

"Yes, because we're journalists and we break the news to people that might want or not want to hear."

"Damnit..." Azenith said, slouching on the couch, drinking her tea. Jason hugs Azenith. She hugs him back. Jason gets a text message from Alyssa.

<i>You don't mind if I come over to your house? </i>

Alyssa texts.

<i>Sure, let me give you the address because I moved. </i>

<i>Cool.</i>

Jason sends Alyssa the address to Azenith's house. He puts down his phone.

"Alyssa is coming to the house."

"Who?" Azenith asks.

"Alyssa. We talked about her last night."

"Oh her... When is she coming over?"

"Soon."

"Okay cool." Azenith said.

Dylan unlocks and opens the front door. Azenith and Jason look at him.

"Hey Dylan." They both said.

"Hey."

"How did your appointment go?" Azenith asks.

"It went well. The doctor told me to lay off fighting for today. My powers need to regenerate in order to not have any mishaps and cramps in my body."

"Basically, your body needs to heal itself before using your powers."

"Pretty much. Anything that disrupts your power system in your body, like the gunshot wounds in my back, head trauma, anything that harms you. It can destroy you and your powers. Anything elemental letal powers can make you really sick, injured, or worse. Death."

Azenith and Jason's eyes widen.

"Shit man." Jason said. "But are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm okay."

The doorbell rings, Dylan walks towards the front door and looks through the peephole. Alyssa stands out of the door. He opens the door.

"Alyssa!"

"Dylan! How are you?!"

Alyssa and Dylan hug each other.

"I'm doing alright." He said, "Come in."

Alyssa walks inside the house. Dylan closes the door behind her. Alyssa walks in the living room. Jason and Azenith stand up from the couch.

"Alyssa! How are you?!"

"Jason! I'm doing alright." She gasps. "Are those Cat ears?!"

"Yeah."

"Can I touch them?"

"Sure!"

Alyssa touches Jason's ears. His tail puffs up happily.

"Aww. That is so cute!"

Jason chuckles.

"Oh! Alyssa, I want you to meet Azenith."

Alyssa looks at Azenith. Her smile dropped. Azenith smiles and waves hello.

"Hello, Alyssa. I apologize for telling you to calm down yesterday." Azenith said, smiling.

Alyssa walks past her. Heading to the dining table, "sure you are..."

Azenith turns around and looks at her.

"Okay?"

Jason looks at her.

"That's something..."

"Yeah..." She said, "Oh well." Azenith walks over to the dining room table. Dylan and Jason follow her to the table.

"Soo... Alyssa. What brings you here?" Dylan asks.

"I came here to talk to you guys, Carolyn is at it again. This time she brought company."

"Wait hold up, who did she bring?"

"Michele..."

"MICHELE?!" The three exclaimed.

"Wait a minute... Michele is in prison. How did she get out?"

"She didn't get out. She can manipulate and interrupt anyone's dreams."

"Wait, You can do that?!" Jason asks.

"Yeah, depending on the power level. She's a demon in four categories, one of them can manipulate a dream into a nightmare." Dylan said.

"What categories can you fall in if you are a demon?" Azenith asks.

"It falls under the Seven Deadly sins. Vegas demons fall into that category depending on personality or life in general. You can find at least 5 out of the 7 sins here. Wrath, Greed, Lust, Pride, and Envy. Wrath, Lust, and Greed are the highest demons you can be far towards power."

"What happened to the other two?"

"They are not commonly rare in Vegas but you can see them in Reno since there are Vegas locals that live in Washoe or in the outskirts of Nevada."

"Oh that's cool." Azenith said. "So how many forms can you get when you are a demon?"

"You can only have up to three depending on local status. New locals can have up to two while born locals can have three or more. Three is the recommended limit. Only the governor can have all of the demon forms. As long as whoever is elected as governor of Nevada doesn't use it for evil."

"Are there other forms than being a demon in Vegas?"

"Well there's an Angel, witches, dragons, and more."

Alyssa clears her throat. Azenith, Jason, and Dylan look at her.

"Oh sorry Alyssa."

"It's okay."

"So.. about Michele?"

"Right, She appeared with Carolyn in a dream that I had."

"What did she do?" Jason asks.

"She said that a snow leopard girl killed my fiance, I have never been angrier than I am."

"A snow leopard girl?" Dylan asks.

"Was it Azenith?" Jason said. Dylan and Azenith look at him.

"No you didn't just sold her out like that-"

"What? The only person that I can think of is her."

"Thanks Jason. You could've got Azenith in trouble!"

"Oh shit."

"So... You're the snow leopard girl that killed my fiance?" Alyssa said, standing up from the table.

"I don't even know what your fiance looks like, How can I kill someone that I don't even know?"

"You could've known, Michele probably told you to kill him!"

"I didn't even touch him last night. How would you know anyways, I don't even know where you live?!"

"Oh sure you don't."

"Alyssa stop!" Dylan yelled. Alyssa breathes.

"Why would you think that I would sneak into your house and kill your fiance in his sleep? That would be crazy for me to do!"

"Azenith, enough."

"Why don't you admit that you killed him... I saw you!" Alyssa yelled.

"Alyssa, I said stop!"

Silence roams around the room. Dylan breathes.

"Alyssa... Azenith didn't do anything to hurt Brian last night. You would never accuse anyone without hearing the full story first."

"I didn't need to know the full story when I saw the whole thing."

"But still, did you see who did it? Did it look like her?"

"Yes, she had the same hairstyle as her, same height, I know I'm not crazy."

"Same height, hairstyle." Jason thoughts to himself.

"Did she look like Azenith?"

"I couldn't see the face, it was a silhouette."

"A silhouette, AHA!" Dylan exclaimed. "Alyssa, Michele and Carolyn are manipulating you!"

"No.. I don't think they are."

"No they are. They're making you believe that you aren't, but you are."

"Im still don't believe that they're manipulating me."

"Okay just saying."

Silence roams around the house again. Jason walks to the couch, grabs the remote and changes it to Channel 13. He sits down, Peyton walks to the couch, sitting next to Jason. The news announced the Bellagio are opening up the conservatory for the winter wonderland garden attraction. Jason squinted his eyes.

"Is it already winter?" Jason asks.

"It doesn't feel like it. It's almost november." Alyssa said.

"Huh... that's weird."

"Want to go check it out next week?" Azenith asks.

"Oh yeah, let's do it!"

"Anyone else want to go?"

"I'll go." Alyssa said.

"Me too!" Dylan said.

"Alrighty, Sounds like a plan!"

Everyone cheered except for Alyssa. She walks out of the house, Dylan looks at her walking out. He walks out to see her leave but she left already.