Chapter 3: Heat THATWARD HO: Baka the Bakeneko chapter 3 by JollyJoe

Later in the afternoon, JJ was scavenging his ruined kitchen for something to eat. Baka still appeared as a simple cat, trilling to be fed herself.

 

Finger was locked in Bettie’s glove compartment, rolling cigarettes. She would remain there until JJ needed one. Addicted as he was, that wouldn't be too long a wait. Long enough for her to be more than uncomfortable in the Brewster Green Trans Am. Heat had too small a meaning.

 

But in the kitchen, next to a fridge powered by magic, JJ decided to extend the cooling enchantment. 

 

Typically, he was taught that he should grind a chunk of rock salt and mint leaves together; cite a chant; mix a pinch of the paste with water; flick the mix in each corner of the room; line the fridge with the rest of the paste; light a white candle, then burn a prayer.

 

However, as was before when he used his najava in place of his tecpatl, all the supplies were kept in his altar. In Bettie’s trunk. 

 

So instead, JJ reached for the mojo bag tied under the collar of his pollo. He couldn't remember what he'd wrapped it for. It was probably dead anyways. He poured its contents out on the table. 

 

Spark plug inlet tip. Crumpled receipt from a gas station in Oklahoma, Psalm 23 written on the back with a small Sharpie. Altoids. Dirt. Lucky Hand Root. Couple whiskers. He weren't sure what the whiskers were from. He had no memory of making the charm. 

 

“Eh, equis.”

 

JJ grabbed the Altoids, some of the dirt by proxy. He threw them in the molcajete with some table salt. Then practiced the rest of the ritual as normal. For whatever reason, Baka stopped her trilling and bolted out the front door. There were plenty of candles around the old house, though the white wax was more yellow and embroidered with dust.

 

Apparently, low effort works too well. A furious flurry of wind and winter swept through the whole house, until it was covered in snow.

 

The brujo adjusted his jacket. He rubbed his hands then blew into them. He hated the heat, but he hated the cold even more.

 

“Ay, equis!” he exclaimed with annoyance. He kicked up snow, then put his hands in his pockets. “Chiganda madre.” 

 

JJ grabbed a bag of chips and trudged back outside. He sat down on the doorstep. 

 

Baka ran from the side of the house to JJ’s side. She stuck her head in the bag while his hand reached. She licked the chip in his hand before biting into it.

 

JJ grabbed the cat by the scruff of her neck and pulled her out, flicking her nose.

 

“Ah-ah. Bad Baka. Mine.”

 

The car flattened her ears and gave the brujo an offended look before immediately trying again.

 

****

 

They were still on the doorstep when a deputy's charger pulled in front of their yellow lawn. An older man stepped out. Not old. Just older. Probably early forties. Most people would probably wager late forties. But JJ could tell the difference between stress and age.

 

“Evening, amigo.” said the deputy, his tone unkind. One hand rested on his belt. One hand rested behind his holster. Where he kept his cuffs. “How long you been squattin’ here?”

 

JJ looked at the officer. He bit a chip. “Espanol?” he asked.

 

“English. When yer down in Mexico, you can speak Mexicanese. But when yer in here in our great country of America, yer gonna speak ‘Merkanese.”

 

Huh. That was actually kind of funny. But the officer wasn't being funny. JJ bit a chip. “No hablo Inglés.”

 

“Bull-shit. You does habla Eengless, and if you doesn't Imma deport your ass.”

 

JJ bit a chip.

 

The officer asked again. “How long have you been squatting here?”

 

The brujo chewed slowly. “Month. Jus’ till I fix Bettie.” He looked at his car. 

 

To that, the deputy nodded. “You uh, you see any children wandering around here?” 

 

“Can't say I has. There ain't really any neighbors around here. Kinda why I picked it.

 

“Yeah. There's a reason for that. Local legend. You know, this property has been abandoned since ‘for I was born. I probably drove by it a thousand times. I don't remember ever seeing a house.”

 

“Hm.”

 

The deputy sighed. “Look, I really doesn't care if you're squatting. I'm looking for some kids. They've been missing a few days now. Their parents are tearing up the county. I'm just making rounds. You mind if I take a look around?”

 

JJ bit a chip. “Eh. Equis. You do you.”

 

The deputy adjusted his belt and started toward the house.

 

Baka's ears flattened. JJ noticed. "Behave." 

 

The cat immediately sat upright beside him.

 

“Nice car you got there.” Said the deputy. 

 

“I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean.”

 

“Not at all. Always did like the old firebird. In piss poor condition though. What's that you got painted on the hood, that some sort of gang sign?”

 

JJ raised an eyebrow. As much as he pretended to, the brujo really didn't know cars. He looked at the sigil of Leraje the deputy was referring to, in place of the iconic screaming chicken. Gang sign. “Tch. Something like that.”

 

He looked down at the cat. She was gone.

 

****

 

The deputy stepped in the front door and immediately regretted his decision. He knew before stepping in the house that it was wrong. There should have been nothing here except an empty lot full of dry weeds. And inside, the house was completely covered in snow. Like a chest freezer doing too much work. His boots crunched with every step. Cold air nipped at his skin. It was June in southern California. Over a hundred degrees outside.

 

“What the hell?” he muttered to himself, hand to his holster proper. He shouldn’t have come here. But now that he was already here, investigation started and known, what else was he to do? 

 

The brujo trailed behind him. “Good guess. Treachery is a bit colder. Swear to Satan, I may be stupid, but I ain’t stupid enough to open that gate.”

 

Gate? The hell was he talking about? “What happened here?”

 

“Air conditioner broke.”

 

“You expect me to believe that?”

 

“Don’t care what you believe, jefe.”

 

The deputy grunted. He suspected he wouldn’t believe the truth. He’d take the lie. But how much of it would he take? How much could he?

 

Crunched snow. Creaking floorboards. Musty smell of something sweet and sour. It was not a good scent. He noticed something at the end of the eastern hall. There was a door closed. It was the only closed door. 

 

The deputy pointed. "What's in there?"

 

JJ squinted, then shrugged. "Mm. Dunno."

 

"You don't know?"

 

"Haven't opened it."

 

"You've lived here a month."

 

"Yeah."

 

"And you've never opened it?"

 

"Nah.”

 

Hand on holster. Hand off holster. Hands together. Gun in hands. The deputy looked at the brujo, who didn’t seem to mind. “You mind opening it now?”

 

JJ just looked at the deputy. He didn’t move. 

 

“That’s alright. I can do it myself.” The deputy reached for the handle. A low growl came from behind. The cold temperature dropped, and he felt it in his bones.

 

JJ also felt it. He’d a screw or two in a few of his joints. Missing fibers in the longer bones. Both ached from the lack of blood flow. He hated the cold. This was irritating.

 

For the officer, it was fear. Bone-chilling fear. 

 

Sunlight was blocked by dusty drapes. Shadows gathered from the other end of the hall. Until they formed a silhouette that blocked the way out.

 

It wasn’t quite a woman.Though, she almost had the figure of one. Heavy curves jutting from either side. A tail curled up, its end curling down. Ears like a cat on the top of her head. Glowing green eyes.

And she must have been nine or ten feet tall.

“Jesus Christ.” said the deputy, firing on instinct.

 

Baka moved like liquid. Like water draining from a bottle. Her body slammed against the deputy, his body engulfed by gelatinous skin and fur. The heat radiating from Baka’s core was obscene. At least he didn’t have to worry about the cold anymore.

 

“Baka. I said behave.” 

 

The soft cat stiffened. She turned her head with a tilt. She was purring. “Baka is behaving.”

 

“Baka.” said the brujo.

 

“Bad man tried to hurt master.”

 

“Baka.” JJ said again.

 

 “You saw gun. Bad man evil.” 

 

“Baka.”

 

“Baka protect master.”

 

There was no need to point out that the gun was pointed at her, not JJ. She could have used a better narrative. Like maybe she was defending herself. Even though she did manipulate the situation to put everyone exactly where they are. That being….

 

“Baka. That man’s head is not your dildo. And no one wants to see that. Behave.”

 

Muffled screams from the pussy’s pussy. The deputy’s head was sucked down to his shoulders. Contractions pulled at him. He tried to squirm, but all he could do was wiggle and kick as she wriggled her hips. 

 

Baka turned her nose up. She huffed and slammed her ass on the snowy floor, driving the deputy further inside her. She kept purring. There was slurping. Suction. A bulge became visible in her lower abdomen, his scream more audible. But it was weak. It had less spirit. His struggles, slowed.

 

“Tch.” JJ rolled his eyes then went to help the poor man.

 

She rubbed herself back and forth against the floor, purring. Then there was a wet crunch. The body went limp. Baka exhaled in disappointment. She stopped purring. Her face pouted. 

 

JJ kicked one of the deputy’s boots. He sighed. “Uf. Esta muerto.”  

 

So much for helping him. Baka looked at her master with big, sad, innocent eyes. Glowing green. She lifted her hips with a pop. The deputy’s head dropped. Face flushed purple, eyes frozen in shock. A thin trail of mixed liquids tied him to her before snapping. 

 

“Baka protect master. Baka want reward.”

 

JJ looked at the dead body. Then walked toward the front door, where there was still a parked police car. He needed a cigarette. Right. Finger. Glove compartment. He started to step away.

 

Baka growled. Her tail curled around JJ’s ankle, she moved on all fours to block his path, purposefully rubbing against the groin of his black denim bell bottoms. “Baka protect master. Baka good girl. Reward.” She repeated.

 

Snow was turning to slush around her. The sensation of her heat on his balls….something else. 

 

JJ scratched behind the giant woman’s ear. “In a sec. I need a smoke.”

 

She didn’t quite melt into his hand. As much as she wanted to, she fought for two desires within herself. “Reward now. Baka earned. Baka was very good.” Baka insisted. 

 

He continued to scratch. "Later." Then he stopped. "Move, Baka." he said sternly.

 

Baka lowered her head and arched her back, presenting her ridiculously large ass right in JJ’s face. Her white fluffy tail caressed the back of his head, readying to yank him forward. But before she could do so, there was a finger gun pointed at her nose. JJ pulled the trigger. Water shot out.

 

The cat’s eyes panicked and she quickly scrambled away. JJ was going to regret that later. Part of him was regretting it now. But he didn’t think with that part. He really needed that smoke.

 

****

 

Bright light. It was shocking to see. Irritating after being kept in the dark, and especially the heat, for so long. Finger was ready to yell, to give her master hell, when he opened the glove compartment. But she was also too fatigued with heat exhaustion. She collapsed in JJ’s proffered hand, which then tossed her aside so he could grab something more important. A handful of cigarettes went in a tin.