Disenchanted by C L Raven Page B

of those
faces."
    "Ah bollocks."
Mephistopheles slapped me on the back. "I knew you'd be my downfall."
    " Your downfall? I wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for
you."
    "Oh I'm sorry, let me remove
my gun from your head, it's left a terrible dent in your hairline." He
moved his paw back then smacked me on the head with his claws out.
    " Ow !
Stop doing that!"
    "Is there a problem, Mr. Trent?" Rochester asked.
    "My cat just slapped me.
It's nothing."
    Again, they shared a glance.
    "We're reopening the
investigation into your father's death."
    "The coroner ruled it as
accidental."
    "He fell down the stairs.
You were the only one in the house."
    "If I'd wanted to kill him,
why would I phone for an ambulance? Like you said, I got nothing in the will.
Rob benefited the most."
    "We'll clear this up at the
station."
    I rubbed my head as I got dressed
and followed the officers out. Mephistopheles jumped in the back of the car
before they shut the doors. He sat up tall and proud, insisting they put the
siren on but they ignored him. Dread rose to choke me when we neared the police
station. I knew the moment I stepped through those doors, my life was over.

 
    ***

 
    I sat on the hard bed in the
small grey room in Castle View. There was a bedside cabinet but the rest of the
room was barren.
    "Medicine time." The
nurse smiled, entering the room and handing me a plastic cup with tablets in
and a cup of water. I downed both then poked my tongue out. She checked my
mouth and left.
    I waited until I heard her
trolley stop at the next room then I hurried to the ensuite ,
scooped the tablets out from under my tongue and flushed them down the toilet.
Two porters entered, one to change my bed, the other to make sure I didn't kill
the first one.
    As they were leaving, I heard
them whispering to each other.
    "He's the guy that claimed a
talking cat coerced him into killing people."
    "Jesus didn't get the blame
for this one then?" The other one answered.
    "Apparently the cat's a
criminal genius. He had a whole pickpocket scam going which escalated into
murder. CCTV caught Trent stealing a pirate hat and boots from a pet shop for
him."
    I glared at their departing
backs. They locked the door, their footsteps clumping down the corridor.
    "See what happens when you
insist on talking for yourself, dude?" Mephistopheles grunted, wriggling
out from under the bed. He scanned the room, his tail flicking. "What a
come down. I'm not staying here."
    "Thanks to you, I'm locked
in the nuthouse for the next god knows how many years." I flopped onto the
bed.
    "I warned you not to implicate me." He jumped onto my stomach and
started kneading it. "Better here than prison. This place is easier to
escape from. Wow, your organs are dangerously close to the surface."
    "Last time I listened to
you, I went on a crime and killing spree and wound up in this wonderful
establishment for the criminally insane."
    "If you'd listened properly,
you wouldn't have been caught. You can't blame me for your failings, sunshine.
Don't worry, I've got a plan. First, we escape. Then, I'm going to make you
rich. All I need are my pirate hat and boots…"

 

 
    Disenchanted

 
    In the mountain's cavernous
heart, goblins swarmed. Flames flickered in the claustrophobic corridors, eerie
shadows writhing with pleasure along the rough walls. Inga, the Goblin Master
watched the final touches being added to the magic mirror. He rubbed his scaly
hands and cackled. It sounded like he was choking on marbles.
    "Take it to the
angels," he called down. "Once they see their hideous reflections,
they'll fall to their knees in despair and we can reclaim the kingdom they
stole from us."
    The goblins cheered and stamped
their warty webbed feet, their overgrown talons clicking on the stone floor.
    "Once the angels have
fallen, we'll put the mirror in the town centre and tell the people it's
magical. They'll be so desperate to gaze into it, they'll also fall prey to its
evil power. Let them see