Chapter Kieran O'Connal
I watched the door for a moment. Just watching. Wondering if he was there. Wondering what he could be thinking since then. Wondering why he was curious enough to look at me. I wanted to know why he had changed. I wanted to know why he said I should rest. I wanted to know a lot of things but I also knew that I would never understand. I sighed and faced my wardrobe. I pulled out some jeans and a tank top. I placed them on the bed and after I got some underclothes I faced the bed. I let the towel fall to the floor. I looked in the mirror and I saw the slashes on my stomach.
There goes my looks again, I thought to myself. More scars to tend to. I shook my head and just as I went to pick up some boxers the door opened. I froze. I dare not turn around. I didn’t know who it was. I was hoping Zev hadn’t just stormed in to say something that he wanted to.
There was silence. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t pick the towel up, I couldn’t put on my clothes. What was I going to do? With in a few minutes I was hoping that who ever it was would turn and move out of my room but some how who ever it was, was frozen as much as I was. With embarrassment, or with curiousness, or even with infatuation. What was I supposed to do?
“Put some clothes on Katsi, please” Please? Um, okay, Zev was being extremely polite. I knew it was Zev because of the distinct accent in his voice. It was unique. I pulled on my boxers and my sports bra. I then pulled on my jeans. I felt okay and non violated. I didn’t look at him. I didn’t dare turn to look at him.
“It is OK now” I whispered. How embarrassing, I thought. A few minutes later I heard footsteps. I whirled around and I saw Zev. He was still topless. His muscles were well formed to say the least. I never knew how wide his shoulders were until now, it looked like it was mostly muscle but it shaped him well. His toned stomach shaped his hips well. He didn’t have a 6 pack or anything but it was toned enough to make you think about him in other places. I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I realised I was staring at him. He was walking towards me. His eyes were on my stomach and I automatically hid the scratches there. When he stood in front of me, he moved my hand out the way and stroked a finger along the the longest scratch. It send tingles through my body. My stomach flipped, in a good way. When he reached the end he stopped and looked at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had older scars on your stomach?” he questioned me. I couldn’t answer him. In my first fight with Lilith, I was around 7, she was much older than me and more experienced. Even though I was able to beat her I did not come unscathed. “Tell me, was this your fathers fault as well?” he asked me. I shook my head,
“No, it wasn’t. Lilith did this to me.” He stumbled back from me. Though the scar was unnoticeable at a glance, when you felt my skin you couldn’t miss it. “It was during out first fight and yes, I could fight, but she was much better than me. I had pinned her the floor, we were in our demon forms so the scratches were not too far apart. One hind leg started scratching at my side just about my hips and this is the result today.”
“But, I thought you beat her in your first fight, that is what you were saying.” he said. I bobbed my head.
“Yes, I won, by the skin of my teeth as it were. I was just about to collapse with pain when I bit her shoulder. That is why she has a scar there. She stopped scratching and she fainted.” he nodded understanding. “Why did you barge in any way?” I questioned him with conviction. It then dawned on him as to what I was on about.
“Oh, it doesn’t matter now. um...” He let his eyes fall over my body. “I need to go.” He turned to leave. I wanted to know why he was acting so strange. He opened my door and left but just as he was about to close it fully he said something. Something I never though would come out of his mouth.
“Sorry, for everything I said to you in your lesson” Then the door shut. I was so stunned I fell on to the bed and I sat there. What was that all about? I smiled and laid back. Everything I ever thought of him had changed. He was kind, he had saved my life, he had apologised and he cared about everything that happened. I wondered if it was just hormones or was I falling for Zev?
I had known him for a total of two weeks and here I was saying I might be falling for him. All he has ever done is treat me wrongly, so I decided that it was hormones. It was getting so close to when all demons started breeding for the year that hormones ran high. Is that why he was acting like he was acting, was it down to hormones?
I leaned over and picked up the top that lay on my bed. I pull it on and then I just sat there. What was going to happen? I fell back to lay on my bed. I was tired. I hadn’t done much but Zev tired me out. I soon fell in too a deep sleep.
A few hours later I awoke hungry and thirsty. I got up off the bed, played with my hair in the mirror but decided to just leave it down in it matted state. I opened my door I checked the corridor to see if anyone was there and then I left. I wanted to avoid Zev as much as possible and if that meant skipping training with him then that is what I was going to do Us in the same room would end up a disaster. His sex drive goes up ten fold and I wouldn’t have any problem complying which could lead to problems after mating season.
I rounded corners carefully hoping to not bump in to anyone. I made my way cautiously to dining hall. I was hungry. I rounded the last corner and I didn’t check so when I fell to the floor landing heavily on my ass I cursed. Now my head hurt. I looked up and I was stunned silent. I shook my head once but then the person whom I had bumped into leaned down towards me. When I focused he was crouching in front of me his face full of worry. Who was he? His broad shoulders led to a well sculpted neck which had the head of a god placed on top. Those amber eyes, that golden hair the long jaw.
“Hi” I said meekly. He smiled. Oh god I thought. That smile. I was thrown off. My speech had gone. I felt like a complete mess.
“Hi, are you okay?” he asked. I kept staring as I nodded. He laughed a little bit. He gave me his hand which I silently took. He pulled me to my feet and I realised I was being an idiot, it was my hormones which were doing this but this time I couldn’t be so sure. “I am sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going” I nodded slightly but just stared at him with complete interest.
“You are a cat demon.” I stated. This guy never stopped smiling.
“Indeed I am” he replied. “Now the question is, why would a pretty little kitty like your self be here in a dank place like the guard.” I blushed at his words. I couldn’t help it.
“Helping out a sister” I told him. I didn’t want to tell him the truth. I didn’t want him to be disappointed in me. He nodded understanding.
“How long have you been here? Not long I am guessing.” This time I smiled.
“About two weeks. I’m not too sure, I have lost track. My training is hell and then I ran away but ended up attacked by a rogue pack of wolves and then I woke up in a hospital bed. I got out this morning.” He nodded but didn’t ask why I was in hospital or why I had run. He looked over his shoulder.
“Are you about to eat?” he asked me. I nodded. “Do you want some company, I was going to eat a little later but...” He trailed off but I couldn’t help but smiled at him.
“I would love some company” I told him. He turned and held out his arm.
“Then my dear companion I shall accompany you.” He grinned and so did I. I took his arm and we walked to the last corridor together.
After we got our lunch, we sat down and started talking. It was just banter but he asked who I was training with
“Zev” I replied. He seemed shocked. He stayed silent after a little while. “He is also the person the brought me in. My trail was over seen by his mother and he is also the person who saved my life.” I told him. He looked at me then. Stunned.
“He never saves anyone’s life.”
“He saved mine.” I retaliated. “Okay sure, is squad was there but they only kept the other rogue wolves at bay, the one that attacked me, Zev fought him. And then helped me back here by him self.” I didn’t tell him about the time in which we rested. I couldn’t help but can the hall. I don’t know what I was looking for. When my eyes flicked up to those who were walking around I notice one wasn’t. They were watching me. Zev held his gaze on me, his arms crossed. He look angry, he looked upset, and rejected. I quickly looked at the guy in front of me. It then occurred to that I didn’t know his name.
“What’s your name?” I asked him. He hesitated.
“Kieran” he said shortly. I nodded and smiled.
“Well, Kieran, my name is Katsi, I am a panther and right now the lord of the guard is watching us getting very jealous.” I grinned. Kieran didn’t looked he saw it in my eyes to keep looking at me.
“Well, then Katsi I am Kieran O’Connal, I am a Leopard and I believe he has no hold over you so why don’t you and I just ignore him” I blinked and grinned. I nodded agreeing.
“Okay, that sounds good” he smiled. He had finished his dinner finally and he pushed his plate away.
“Katsi would you like to go for a run?” he asked me. I cocked my head to the side. I had never ran with another cat demon before but then a twitch of the nerves told me not too.
“I’d love to but I only just got out of hospital, I don’t know what changing will do to my wounds. I stood up and lifted my top. His eyes widened when he saw the healing scratches.
“Bloody hell” he whispered. I nodded and sat back down lowering my top.
“Now, I can’t train much, and I don’t know what I can and cannot do at the moment.” I glanced to where Zev had been but he wasn’t there. I smiled secretly and looked back at Kieran. “Zev will probably keep me in lessons a lot of the time but this has been fun. We should do it again some time.” I told him. He looked at me pleadingly.
“Your leaving?” he asked me. I am going for a stroll. You are welcome to join me but...” I trailed off. Why a but? He could join me and there would be nothing wrong with that.