063 His Rejection

Themis glanced at Erebus, who just came in the room. But she knew he wasn't going to intervene:

He said the decision whether Themis gets to stay in the city lies with Kitty, and only Kitty.

Kitty stared at Themis, knowing that this woman did NOT hold friendly intention towards her, and now that it was confirmed Kitty was a witch, that hostility might just took another increase.

"He was going to take my title." Themis said.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but you DID go against his will." Kitty answered, not looking at Erebus. She did not, and dared not test who mattered more to Erebus.

"I stand by my judgement," Themis said, "There was evidence against you, and you ran."

"I stand by my running away, too." Kitty said with a frowning.

"I expect so." Themis laughed bitterly, "But I AM sorry."

"What?!" Kitty was token by surprise at that sudden turn.

She turned to look at Erebus, who was just standing there and looked back without not too much of an expression.

"I went out of line, and you are right, I went against his will. That was wrong." Themis said, "There is no excuse for my wrong doing."

Kitty fell into silence, and then shook her head at Themis: "I don't like what you did, but I don't hate you for that either."

"Really?" Themis was a bit surprised. She didn't think there would be any chance for her to stay in the City. She thought Erebus gave that decision to Kitty knowing that Kitty would throw her out.

Themis didn't dare let her hope up: "You don't have to be so nice. I knew I was out of line. I was..."

"You like him." Kitty nodded at her stammer, only to cause all the people in the room turned to stare at her in shock.

"I'm sorry, was that a secret?" Kitty asked with a frowning.

"No... I guess not. But how did YOU know?" Themis exclaimed.

"Because if I was a spy, it would be wiser to keep me close instead of contradicting me. You weren't mad because you thought I was evil; you were mad because you thought I lied to him. That was emotion talking, not reason." Kitty shrugged, "I understand."

"Could you really forgive me?" Themis asked. She was trying to hide the fear in her tone, but Kitty could hear it.

If Kitty had said no, then Themis would have to leave the city and get her own apanage. It was the alternative punishment exchanged by the one hundred whips Menoetius took for her.

"Sure." It didn't take Kitty too much time to give that answer.

"Why?!" Themis gasped at that surprising answer, and her reaction gave Kitty a chuckle.

"Would you rather I say no?" Kitty tilted her head, asking Themis with a genuine look as if asking for her opinion on the decision.

"No! But... I just thought..." Themis stuttered.

"Because I like him too. And the last thing I want is to deprive him a loyal knight." Kitty looked Themis in the eye and said with the most earnest, "I won't back out of the competition though, and I hope you can hear that from me."

"I... I'm not... What?!" Themis was shocked speechless by Kitty's sudden words. She wasn't gonna "compete" with her at all!

She really shouldn't have gone hard on Kitty like that, she KNEW Kitty was marked, and there was no way to change that. She confronted Kitty only driven by a selfish jealous, unlike what Kitty thought, a "fair competition".

"What?!" Erebus exclaimed at that, too. He had been quietly watching until now. He never expected such a sweet surprise out of Kitty, just like that.

"I like you." Kitty turned to Erebus, looking into his eyes, "I couldn't deny it anymore, and I want you to know. I know you might have heard this kind of stuff like a million times, but I, I like you."

She looked brave, sure, but her red ear tips gave her away. She had never been so scared and nervous and desperate for an answer like that!

It was no news to her that Erebus was out of her league. Money and power aside, he was a werewolf of a hidden magic world that she didn't even know of.

She couldn't say anything because she was just a bartender, and even that title was somewhat given as well. She couldn't even justify him accepting her as his girlfriend herself.

But now she could. She was a witch! And a powerful witch at that with a legendary witch mom! She couldn't help but letting her heart capering for that, and expressing her feelings towards Erebus, the man who had resecured her from death, who cared for her and companied her ever since!

Be true to yourself. That had always been her motto. She leaves when she felt not wanted, and she expresses it when she realized her true feelings.

"Nooo, I have NOT heard it a million times. And even if I do, this is the only time that matters."

That was what Erebus WANTED to say, yet it was also what he could NOT say!

She was a minor! Only three months away from her birthday, yes, but a minor! She had been living on the street for the past three years, experiencing all the pain and darkness there was of the adult's world, yes, but a minor!

How could he make a move on a kid when he was NINE years older than her?!

He could not, not if he had to risk breaking the deal with the devil and give Curtis the excuse to make a move. He took her as his wife already.

"I'm flattered, I really am." Erebus started, and he could feel those words hurting her while hurting his heart even more: "But you are still a kid. It's normal that you feel a crash--"

"I'm not a kid and this is not some silly crash! I KNOW my heart." Kitty protested, and tears burst out the second she opened her mouth.

She was too naive!

How stupid was she to think that just by being a witch, she could somehow realize this silly dream of hers?!

He WAS out of her reach, and she had NO idea what his world was like!

"Kitty, you deserve to be a kid for three more months." Erebus said as soft as he could, "There will be all the time in the world for you to make a choice, you don't have to rush into anything."

Erebus could not let her know he had marked her, not now. Only three more months, and then he won't have to say no to her ever again!

But Kitty wasn't listening.

"I know I'm not good enough!" Kitty yelled, not realizing her voice was high and shrill, "I'm sorry I brought it up!"

She turned and stormed to the door, and Erebus took a step aside to stop her, explaining in a haste: "That's NOT what I'm saying! Please, Kitty--"

"Get out of the way!" Kitty yelled and was struggling out of his grab, "It was the lamest excuse by the way! Why couldn't you just say you don't like me?!"

"I-- It was NOT an excuse, Kitty. You are a minor, and I--" Pain washed through Erebus as he watched tears dropping down Kitty's face in hurt and embarrassment, but Kitty didn't get his worried expression.

"Then I don't see why three months would even matter!" Kitty stared at him "Just because I'm ninety days from a stupid line some other people draw for me, so I couldn't make my own decisions?!"

"You CAN. You absolutely can, but as an adult, I--" Erebus's voice was ever soft and calming, but it was no use.

"Don't use that word to put a line between us!" Kitty yelled, her hand up on her forehead because she was so upset, "Just man up and say you don't like me! I--"

Kitty put a sudden stop at the sentence and took a deep breath, then turned for the door without looking at him again.

Erebus took a step forward and try to grab her arm. He could not let her leave with the worst misunderstanding she could have about this unfortunate age difference, and was when--

A strike of lightening burst out of her body and left a burnt mark on the floor!

Black smoke rose from the hole on the carpet as Erebus pulled back his hand slowly in shock.

"Kitty--" He hesitated, and Metis shook her head to hint him not to pursue any further.

Kitty looked a bit shocked at what just happened, too, but she only paused for a second before she turned to leave without looking back.