Alley Cat
Prologue

So, you’re probably wondering as to who I am. How can I blame you? I really am quite the charmer. And by that? I mean that everyone in New York’s got a target on my back. But it’s not all my fault. It’s all part of my curse, my blood. Trouble seems to follow me wherever I go, like an annoying ancient flea latching onto my tail throughout all of my nine lives.

You’re wondering as to how it’s all possible. You’ve heard of werewolves, vampires, witches...they’ve all had their legacies etched down in history at some point or another. Pfft, a bunch of showoffs they are. No, the reason why you haven’t heard of us is because we’re simply better at concealing our inner beasts.

Genghis Khan, remember him? We knew him as The Tiger of the East. Alexander the Great was a ferocious lion. And empress Theodora? She was known for disposing of any disloyal subject discretely...as any panther should. It was even rumored that Queen Elizabeth had lynx blood flowing through her veins.

The big cats have always been there, living alongside humans. We fought by your side. Sometimes we ruled you, conquered you, slain you. At some point in our miserable nine lives on earth, we were you.

My name is Helene Singh, and I am a werecat. I am on my ninth and final life. My humble dream is to live out the rest of my life in solitude until my miserable existence disappears from the earth.

Ha! Who am I kidding? Considering my history, I should warn you to buckle up. You’re in for a wild ride.