Princess sat in a corner of the room. She had performed the required sacraments to the elder gods. She had knocked over the glasses of water and wine in libation, presented the offerings of bone and meat as sacrifice. She called forth the screams of her servants with claw and tooth, and yowled the songs of praise and glory to the great Goddess. Now she cleansed herself of sin with her tongue as prescribed by rites passed to her by her mother and mothers before her through the ages.
Then she pushed her beloved toy fish into the corner, which jingled with ritual bells, followed by her favorite feathered plush which squealed with its call of death and longing. “I plead to you, oh Bast, Queen of Cats, Lady of Night!” she meowed. “I offer now my prized possessions to commemorate your dominion over the Lords of sea and sky. Take these in hope that you shall hear me and grant a boon.”
The darkness deepened and sounds muffled as a shadow coalesced from the night. Her toys disappeared into mist, leaving the clench of guilt in Princess’s gut. She flinched when she heard the voice like a whispered breeze. “I am here, my child. You have called and I have come as the ancient agreements demand. Speak your need.”
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Princess shook off her trepidation. She extended her front claws and stretched out in supplication. “Greetings, my great Lady. My servants work to meet my needs, as is proper, but their toil calls them away from hearth and home. I am denied the warmth of their laps and the fervor of their touch. It is not proper. I ask that they remain close, that their work be done without travel so they may better serve me, as is my right. I do this in the name of all cats so that we may enjoy the love and adoration of our humans.”
The shadow in the corner flickered in consideration. “This is no small request. Sacrifices must be made. Some will suffer so that you and your kin may not. Your servants will know fear and death.”
“All the better,” Princess replied in satisfaction. “They will cling to us all the more in their need for love and protection from the darkness. Some must be sacrificed if all cats are to be worshipped.”
“So be it. Your will shall be done.” The shadow faded and was gone, leaving no trace of itself or her toys.
And so it came to be. Princess lounged in the lap of her human as they talked to the disembodied heads of others on a computer screen. Food was left at the door of her home to feed her servants. They became ever-present. Her humans whispered at night in fear, talking of vaccines and sickness and death, all while stroking Princess’s neck with affection. She purred. This was as it should be.