cats

  Kal didn’t respond, leading her away from the bathroom and towards the kitchen. His lips were pursed thoughtfully as he eased her into one of the chairs, the servants scattering when they saw him start rummaging through a pantry. He came out with a bottle of water, a box of saltines, and a throat drop, “Crackers and water first.”

Kacela sat, arms folded, and scowled at the table. She picked up a cracker and took delicate little mouse nibbles around the edges, then a small sip of water. "I don't it," she said, setting down the remaining half of the cracker. "I'm not hungry. I feel sick." 

  Kacela folded her arms. “Oh, wow. You’re following me?” She scowled at his hand, not moving. “Remind me why you care again.” The resentment was returning. He was the reason she’d gotten so fucked up.

"Do not question me, Flower," Kal’s voice was low and firm. He kept his hand out, face expressionless, "At least now I understand why you look so unhealthy. Come with me now."

Kacela wilted, reluctantly taking his hand. "Sorry," she said softly, still not meeting his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was mad at her it what.

Kacela found the bathroom easily and locked herself inside, turning the sink on. She stared at her reflection for a moment, past being alarmed at what she saw. It didn’t take long to get what seemed like most of it back up. After she was done, she sat on the floor...

Kacela folded her arms. "Oh, wow. You're following me?" She scowled at his hand, not moving. "Remind me why you care again." The resentment was returning. He was the reason she'd gotten so fucked up.

  Kal watched her, frowning, “I’ll be back,” he murmured, following after her at a safe distance. He listened, careful not to alert her to his presence.

Kacela found the bathroom easily and locked herself inside, turning the sink on. She stared at her reflection for a moment, past being alarmed at what she saw. It didn't take long to get what seemed like most of it back up. After she was done, she sat on the floor for a few minutes, trying hard not to cry. She didn't want to make her eyes more than they already were. She forced herself to her feet and walked out, breathing deeply.

  Kal sighed, “I’ve created a dilemma for her,” he shook his head, something akin to regret in his eyes, “She thinks she is a slut for sleeping with me. I’m going to get her healthy.” He smiled at Kacela, keeping his hands to himself despite the urge to stroke her hair. She was one of his. Instead, he rested his hand lightly on top of Lindiwe’s shoulders. She was his too, despite what she might argue. It wasn’t that he saw them as possessions..more as precious people.

Kacela hesitated before taking his arm, blinking away the stars that came when she stood up. “Okay,” she said, heart fluttering slightly. She wondered how she could navigate around a meal with dragons..she’d probably have to purge.

Kal had no idea where her...

Kacela nodded, her lower lip wobbled. It made sense, but that tiny portion of her brain kept screaming no, no, no. She wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, forcing herself to take deep breaths. “Thank you,” she hiccuped once she’d calmed down. “I want to go inside....

Kacela hesitated before taking his arm, blinking away the stars that came when she stood up. "Okay," she said, heart fluttering slightly. She wondered how she could navigate around a meal with dragons..she'd probably have to purge.

Kacela’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “Then why did I let you?” she said, leaning into his touch. “I have a..boyfriend. Collin. I love him.” Her head was beginning to hurt. This was so confusing. She didn’t know what was right and what was wrong. What it black...

Kacela nodded, her lower lip wobbled. It made sense, but that tiny portion of her brain kept screaming no, no, no. She wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, forcing herself to take deep breaths. "Thank you," she hiccuped once she'd calmed down. "I want to go inside. I'm okay."

Kacela hugged herself, looking down at the ground. “I’m a slut,” she said softly, unable to keep the words inside. She was mortified that he, the source of her woes, was the first she voiced them too. “I’m a slut.”

Kal gaped at her, reaching out to tilt her chin...

Kacela's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "Then why did I let you?" she said, leaning into his touch. "I have a..boyfriend. Collin. I love him." Her head was beginning to hurt. This was so confusing. She didn't know what was right and what was wrong. What it black and white?

  Kacela’s stomach clenched. That proved her worst fears. She’d let him. She wanted him. She closed her eyes, shaking slightly. The voices in her head were stronger than the fog. Slutwhoreslut. “Congratulations,” she mumbled halfheartedly.

Kal felt her energy strain, sighing, “What are you thinking right now, little flower?” He asked, pausing on the grand porch and sitting her down on the swing, folding his hands and gazing at her, expression unreadable.

Kacela hugged herself, looking down at the ground. "I'm a slut," she said softly, unable to keep the words inside. She was mortified that he, the source of her woes, was the first she voiced them too. "I'm a slut."

Kacela's stomach clenched. That proved her worst fears. She'd let him. She wanted him. She closed her eyes, shaking slightly. The voices in her head were stronger than the fog. Slutwhoreslut. "Congratulations," she mumbled halfheartedly.

Kacela just shook her head. Her tongue felt numb and useless in her mouth. “Are you going to touch me again?” she said, head lolling against his chest. “Like you did before?” She wanted it..no, she didn’t. Did she? She frowned slightly. “I don’t care.” She couldn’t...

Kacela's eyebrows knit together. "Chemicals aren't consent," she mumbled under her breath. They weren't her words- they were Blade's. Maybe that was why she remembered them. And then the answer the bigger, manipulated part of her wanted, "I do." Why did that make her feel so queasy? She loved Kal. She wanted him to be happy. "Due with what?"