Welcome back, my lovely reader!
Our lovely bunny is starting to come into her own, learning all kinds of neat skills. It seems Katrina and Elias have also settled things. Alice has more to learn though, but before that she's got to get out of bed. Sounds easy until you remember she's not enjoyed both her fox and cat at the same time.
Elias is pretty dominant, but perhaps the girls will try their hand at it. Just because you're called master, doesn't mean you get to always be in charge, or does it?
Let's jump right in!
—♥—
Episode 7:
You confess your love in a dream?
The thrum of your pulse reached my ears and I gave you a knowing smile, seeing the chill of the evening was taking its toll. I willed my own heart to work harder, letting the blood flow through me, so my body would not be cold when next you laid upon my lap. "The night has turned chilly, why don't we return to the house, my sweet?"
Your pace seemed to quicken at that notion as we made our way out of the gardens and back to the family mansion. Upon entry, I went to work preparing hot tea for you, as well as warming my own drink. It would be a simple task to set one of the servants to it, but I found it relaxing to engage in such activities myself.
I settled upon the sofa and took a sip from my teacup, feeling the energy and rush from the warmed blood fill me. You seemed happy to get the hot tea in you as well. "My apologies for keeping you in the cold for so long," I spoke the words with a gentle smile and looked upon the flames in the fireplace near us.
My ears lifted and I gave a wicked grin. "Such a one-track mind... if I reveal all my secrets to you, you will grow bored of me all the quicker and I will be alone."
I pursed my lips in amusement at your venomous rejection of my words. "So defensive of your adoration for me... Yes, yes... be at peace my sweetness. I jest and you know as much."
With a click of my tongue, I looked upon the flames once more. "Very well. Finish your tea and rest your head upon my lap. I shall tell you more..."
—♥—
Katrina lifted her black ears and blinked up at me, her head resting in my lap. "Alice? What's going on?" She spoke the words in a daze, looking around and unable to focus on the details of the room very well. I didn't blame her shock, we had fallen asleep with our master in his bed, yet here she was in my chamber.
"Nothing to concern yourself with, my cat," I whispered the words lovingly, moving my fingers through her crimson locks and brushing one of her ears. I heard a contented purr come from her throat as her tension eased.
"We are no doubt still very much clinging to our Master right now." I gave her a playful grin. "It would appear sir Val's hypothesis was correct."
Katrina furrowed her brow in confusion and rose from my lap to face me. Sitting up on her knees in the bed with me as she looked upon me. "I don't understand, Alice. Can you please explain?"
I smiled and shook my head. "We are dreaming, Kat. It seems my longing for you has sparked this."
She looked around curiously at the room, the surroundings familiar but also hazy and muddied. "It feels familiar, yet... also foreign to me?"
I frowned and nodded. "Well... yes, I'm sure it comes with time. I'm doing the best I can right now. This is my first time after all."
The black cat gave me a grin. "Ah... it seems I am destined to be your first in many ways, Alice."
"I would not have it any other way, my love," I cooed the words and embraced her. We both kissed and touched one another. I was shocked by the clarity, it felt as if I were really touching her as if we truly were embraced. Then I felt the tingling of her life force and pulled from her lips with a controlled breath.
Katrina blinked at me and looked into my eyes. "Why do you stop? I long for you, my rabbit."
I nodded and frowned, putting my hand to my cheek. "And I you, but I cannot... not like this."
She looked hurt and confused, her ears lifting to sharp peaks. "Why? Have I upset you? Are you sore with me after all over-"
I put my hand to her lips to silence her. "No, of course, I am not. Peace my sister... my love... I cannot out of fear."
"Fear?" She spoke after pulling from my fingers hesitantly.
I nodded and brought her down to lay her head upon my lap once more, gently stroking her hair and ears. "Yes, my cat. I will council with sir Val upon this first. I am but a fledgling still and what if I lost myself in our dreams? Could the frenzy take hold during our first time like this, as it did in reality? Neither of us can say. I will not jeopardize you over such folly."
"Folly am I?" The cat grinned at me playfully while looking at me with her green and copper eyes.
"You are well aware of what I mean, Katrina," I spoke the words playfully and rubbed one of her ears. "Let us enjoy one another's company like this. We can talk the day away while we slumber."
"That sounds nice... will I remember this, Alice?" She asked me before taking my hand and bringing it to her lips, kissing my fingers one at a time.
"I'm sure I will. We will see when we wake. Once again I will need to council sir Val upon the details." I grinned and moved my palm over her cheek, feeling it warm and soft to my touch. "I have something I wish to tell you, Katrina."
The cat smiled up at me and tilted her head against my lap. "Speak, my rabbit. What is on your mind?"
I didn't buy what Val said, I'm sure he was an ancient being that had seen his fair share. However, he said it himself yesterday. Age does not mean you know everything. I would rather go at my own pace, than wait and waste the time I have with her.
My blue eyes met her green and copper ones. I smiled and shook my head gently before brushing my fingertip over her lips. "Do not misconstrue my fervor for our lord. He holds a place in my heart, but you do as well. Let me say it here and now, as plainly as I can. I love you, Katrina, you have my heart, even if it doesn't always beat."
She closed her eyes and kissed my hand several times before smiling up at me and opening her eyes. "You confess your love in earnest, within a dream. How do I know it to be real, Alice?" She gave me a wistful smile. "What if I do not recall the words when I awaken? What if this is just a product of my own mind?"
"Then I will say them to you first thing upon us waking," I spoke the words proudly and blushed as she pushed my fingertip into her mouth. I winced as I felt a soft nip and she started to sup from my wound.
She took a few moments before dragging her tongue lazily across my finger, sealing it. "I will give you my answer upon waking. Amongst other things I shall do to you at that time..." The cat gave me a hungry but sleepy grin.
I smiled and nodded. "As you will, my love." I felt a tugging at my soul, as if something told me it was time we stopped this, fatigue setting in heavy upon my body. It was as if the light had dwindled and it was time to rise.
"I suppose we sho-" I choked on my words to look down and see Katrina already asleep in my lap. However, her form slowly faded from my vision, the pressure of her head upon my lap gone. I felt tears well up in my eyes to see her fade from me so plainly as if she were gone forever. It was an irrational fear I told myself, this was all a new frontier for me after all. Still, I felt unsettled as the fatigue closed in on me.
My eyes opened wide and I sat up with a gasp. Elias had already woken and was at his desk sipping on a hot mug of crimson. He looked at me out of concern. "Are you well, my Lady?"
I jerked my gaze around to see Katrina still next to me in bed, presumably dozing. I climbed atop her and put my hands on her shoulders, giving her a gentle shake. "H-hey... Kat, wake up!"
She furrowed her brow and blinked open one eye with a yawn, looking up at me. I felt my heart start to beat again and tension ease in my shoulders. "Thank the gods..."
My fox had now stood and moved to me, placing a hand gently on my head, as a parent would do for a child whom they were concerned with. "Alice... are you well?"
I looked up at my fox and nodded quickly. "Y-yes... just..." My ears lifted as I felt Katrina's hand move to my face to cup my cheek as I guided my eyes back to hers.
She blinked both eyes open and gave a lazy yawn, showing her large canines in a hungry grin, before purring quietly, "I love you too."