Chapter 16
Sandra
The soft fabric of the outfit slides across my feline skin as Mark gently unzips it, his deep voice echoing in the air between us.
"Now, let's see if the potion really works.
Since I'm collared, the least this potion can do is cure me, right?
I won't accept anything less.
A low meow, an almost imperceptible sound. My fur bristles under the warm touch of his fingers as he exposes the wound. The bandage is removed with meticulous care.
"That damn monster," he murmurs, his voice laden with a weight that hits me unexpectedly. "From today on, don't worry, I'll protect you from everything and everyone."
The promise hangs between us, intense, an electric current that makes my small body tense for a moment. He puts a layer of cream on his fingertip and spreads it over the cuts with gentle movements.
The burning hits me like live embers, a sharp pain that makes me yelp loudly. My spine curls, my claws scratching the polished wood of the table.
"I'm sorry, Kitten. If I could, I would take your pain away," Mark says in a soothing tone, his fingers sliding lightly over my head in a reassuring caress. "It will pass soon."
And he's right.
Seconds later, the burning pain dissipates, giving way to a feeling of relief so intense that I let out a long sigh. It's as if a cool breeze is running over my skin, spreading through every fibre of my body.
The potion is working! But it's not just that.
I feel something deeper, something awakening inside me.
A tingling sensation stirs in my chest, a spark of energy reverberating in my gut.
My own essence, once dry and stagnant, begins to bubble, one drop, then another.
Tiny, but present, mixing with the essence imbued by the wizard.
It's weak, but it's here, I can finally feel it.
The healing begins, and with it comes an irresistible numbness. The weight of days without rest, of constant fear, fades in an instant. My muscles relax, my body surrenders, and I collapse, limp, against the surface of the table.
"It worked," Mark murmurs, catching me with those huge hands and nestling me against his warm chest. "Everything will be alright."
The loud, steady sound of his heart echoes in my ears, and for a moment I feel so safe that a purr escapes before I can contain it.
He walks over to the fluffy bed he has placed next to his desk. I notice that this one is blue and the one at home is pink, which means he bought another one to leave in his office.
"One more application and no one will guess you were injured just seconds ago," he says, placing me with absurd care among the soft pillows. "Even the stitches came out on their own."
His fingers lightly brush my head in a final caress before I lose myself completely in sudden drowsiness.
"Rest, little one."
Sleep pulls me away, and I don't resist.
***
A voice wakes me up.
"I'm on my way."
I wake up disoriented, my vision blurred and my head feeling heavy. My small body slowly adjusts to the space around me, and as artificial lights fill my field of vision, I realise where I am.
Mark's office.
I stretch a little, lengthening my spine and delighting in the fact that I no longer feel any pain in my skin.
The sound of firm but controlled footsteps approaches. I slowly raise my head and see Mark crouching next to me. His face is visibly tense, his features rigid and contracted. He sighs before speaking, his voice deep but low:
"I need to go to the training centre to supervise and train the new recruits."
I blink, trying to process what he's saying.
"Ted teaches the techniques, but who is better at strength and combat than me? The Beast? He exhales heavily. "So I have to go there.
Mark reaches out and, with a delicate gesture, begins to stroke behind my ears.
A purr escapes me unintentionally, and I close my eyes.
I'm still not used to the feeling of being caressed so gently by someone so strong and rough.
And he's rubbing a spot I didn't even know was itchy until he touched it.
I meow softly, wanting to ask him to scratch a little further to the left, but obviously he doesn't understand.
He picks me up carefully, this time holding me on my back, the back of my head resting on his strong biceps, my paws up in the air. His heart beats fast against my small body, his muscles hardened, tense.
"But I don't want to leave you... alone," he murmurs.
I blink, surprised by the genuine concern that shows on his face. And for a moment, I allow myself to see the situation from his perspective. He's not imprisoning me out of cruelty. To him, I'm just a stray cat he rescued and adopted — a pet he's trying to care for as best he can.
He's not cruel... He's careful.
Kind, even.
Hesitantly, I raise a paw and touch his handsome face, as if somehow I could wipe the heavy expression from his features.
Mark takes a deep breath, his chest expanding, his eyes shining with surprise. But then something in his expression softens, the hard lines gradually fading away. He stares at me silently for several long seconds before letting out a long sigh and his shoulders finally relax.
His lips curve subtly, a smile almost imperceptible, but real.
By the stars, he looks so beautiful when he smiles...
He stands up and walks out of the office, holding me close to his chest. His steps are determined until we reach a kind of reception area on the floor.
There are two people there, one of whom is the woman from earlier who announced the arrival of the wizard Balthazar.
As soon as she sees us, she straightens up.
"Mr. Tharros, how can I help you?"
"I need you to stay with Kitten until I get back. There's food in the bowl, water and litter in the office bathroom, in case she needs it. I don't want to leave her alone for too long."
"Oh, o-of course... I, um, will stay with her until you return," she hesitates, obviously not part of her job description to be a pet sitter.
She comes out from behind the counter and hesitantly stretches her arms towards me.
Mark hesitates too. His arms tighten around me for a moment, as if he doesn't want to let me go. But finally, he hands me over to the assistant . I cringe, hating the stranger's touch, and watch as he walks away.
Before disappearing down the corridor, he looks back one last time.
And I stand there, in the arms of a stranger, unable to escape. Not now. Not with this magical collar around my neck. Not surrounded by supernatural beings who answer only to my 'owner'.
If there is still a chance — however small — it is in the cabin.
I have to try to escape. At least once. Before it's too late.
***
After what seems like hours, Mark returns covered in sweat. His grey T-shirt is clinging to his body, highlighting every line of his muscles, and his damp hair looks more brown than dark blond. He exudes an intense, masculine scent... warm and invasive. My body reacts with an involuntary shudder.
Damn pheromones.
The assistant, on the other hand, shows no such reaction. She even avoids looking him in the eye and practically flees the office as soon as he enters. Respect and fear seem to go hand in hand when it comes to him.
By this point, I had eaten and prowled around the entire office, trying to dissipate my pent-up energy.
I tried to remove the collar by rubbing my paws against it, but it didn't budge.
I also considered jumping out of the third-floor window onto the concrete floor below, but that would be certain death.
I can barely feel my essence within me, let alone enough to resort to one of my extra lives.
Mark takes me home after work. I am confined to the back seat of the car, inside the pet carrier. My claws dig into the padding at the bottom, frustrated. The engine purrs softly as the road stretches ahead, surrounded by dense forest.
I spy the gate as we approach and sit up straight. I stand on my hind legs, my muzzle pressed against the window glass. From my angle, I can see the cold glow of the keypad and the access code being typed in.
25112.
Yes!
I cheer involuntarily, repeating the five-digit sequence in my head in case I need to use it one day.
He glances at me in the rear-view mirror.
"Only two other people besides me can open this gate. You're safe here, no monsters will get you."
Safe, he says. But safety is a cage if you don't have freedom.
"There's a protective barrier around it. No one crosses my territory without being invited."
His voice sounds casual, but there's a hint of concern there.
"I should have asked Balthazar to reinforce it along with the rest of the things..."
But he quickly shakes his head, muttering that the barriers will remain strong for another six months before needing reinforcement.
When we arrive, he carries me inside. The woody scent of the cabin envelops me as he locks the door behind us.
I watch his movements, each gesture calculated.
He leaves the keys on the kitchen counter, stretches his neck and runs a hand through his damp hair.
Then he heads upstairs with me still in his arms, carefully sets me down on the floor before grabbing a change of clothes from the wardrobe and heading to the bathroom.
I wait. I wait until I hear the shower running.
My gaze falls on the bedroom window. He left it ajar, just enough space for me to slip through.
The night wind blows through the room, carrying the scent of the forest. An opening for my escape.
My heart starts to pound in my chest. My muscles tense as I prepare myself.
I jump onto the dresser, then onto the window sill.
The cold night air caresses my feline skin as I sneak outside.
From the second floor, I assess the drop. I take a deep breath and jump.