*Creak*
The door was slow upon opening however the figure behind it was a plausible explanation. "Jarren! Polly cheered as she beamed an innocent smile at her guest. "Hello Polly, is your mother here?" His tone light as he eyed the little girl. He didn't need to ask to know the answer.
"No, she went out shopping but if you want me to tell her anything I'll make sure that I'll do it l. I promise." Her face turning strict however what it did was puffing her cheeks. Ruffling her hair, he chose to head back. "Never mind, I'll simply come back some other time."
His back faced Polly, clearly ready to leave. "I'm not that young. You can tell me what you wanted to tell her." Her persistent voice cute to hear which elicited a chuckle out of him. "Let's say that it's rather sensitive and it would be way too much for you." Clenching her fists, it we clear that she wasn't going down without a fight.
"I'm not that young Jarren! I'm ten years old about to be eleven in a couple of days so don't think so little of me." Jarren glanced over his shoulder, Polly's pouted face greeted him. "I wouldn't dare look down on you but I really have to talk to your mother. It's about her payment is all."
Her face portrayed her shock. "Payment? What debt does mother have of yours Jarren?" She couldn't help but ask. "Polly, you'll see when the time comes." His words vague as he took his leave.
...
"This remind me how you're different from Clomere again? You're both sadists, cruel and callous to those around you. A pear in a pod." His words making Callista fume with rage as her presence fell to the third plane. Her ethereal existence failing to faze Jarren as she walked up to Jarren.
She bore her folded eyes into his being in skepticism as she began her rant. "Firstly I'm far more composed than her. Not to mention I'm not that much of a shut in like her. I like walking around though rare and the reason for my apathy is because of you!" Jarren didn't bother refuting some of her words.
"It would seem I may have had a hand in this but you have the power to change me and yet you didn't." Her cheeks bloated as she clenched her fists no different from Polly. "You! You have to be intentionally making me mad. What do you want from me?!" She was met with a playful grin that confirmed her words followed with a punch to her cheeks.
"Nothing more than your company darling." His tone low as he landed a kiss on her lips. "You don't have to struggle for that. But you have to make sure that you play safe or I'll leave and find someone far better than you. I'm sure that there's an ocean of men that are begging to be given a chance by me."
Her tone haughty and laced with hubris. "Of course. And should that be your wish it would be an absolute tragedy should I dare stop you from pursuing your wishes given how sour cats usually tend to be." It was clear that he lover taking pokes at her. "Would you really just watch me leave and remain indifferent? You wouldn't at the very least bother?"
His smirk explained it all. "It would be terrible of me to impose upon you so rudely so should you wish to leave then the door is wide open for your departure. With your keen foresight I'm sure that the being you would leave me for would be far more competent than me." His tone laced with sarcasm that made her eyes roll.
"You're absolutely right. Why bother with such a scrawny owner when I can have someone who will actually take good care of me?" Her tone reflecting his sarcasm that he brushed off. His gaze sharpened and she could feel the change in the air. "Huh? I thought that the collar was getting too big for you but I'm sure that it's too tight for any oxygen to circulate to your brain. It would be best for you to take it off and breathe."
Her motions halted, reaching for the collar but not taking it off. "I'd rather keep it. After all you're the first to claim my body and being." She went on with her antics of playfulness. He roped her in for a kiss, far deeper than before however before they could take it any further, they heard a set of knocks echoing in the halls.
"We could wait for Clomere should you wish. She's rather creative with her works." A scoff escaped her lips. "Don't think so little of me dear." She stole a quick kiss before leaving his embrace and taking her leave. He watched her departure before taking a seat.
...
"Hello Jarren, Callista." Harriet posed, her body tensed as she constantly shifted her gaze between the two who didn't bother masking their relationship. "Harriet, I'm quite glad that you could join us for a quick chat. I'm sure you've heard what Polly told you, right?"
At the time of hearing it she thought that the two were insane given that they had mused with the pretense of doing it out of the bottom of their hearts and now here they were talking about a debt. 'It would seem that there is no free lunch in this world.' She sighed inwardly waiting for the absurd demand the two would make.
'Given their status, materials such as money wouldn't be able to move them thus it has to be something far more personal. "I'm quite sorry for bringing this up however I'm sure that this quick and small debt is something that you can easily satisfy. It might even be beneficial for you as well." Still she remained unfazed waiting for the actual words.
"The debt that you owe us involves something extremely dear to you. I'm sure that you can figure it out." Callista chimed in as she remained perched on his thigh akin to an empress towering over her with her emperor. She leaned in, her presence entrancing Harriet should she look at her for far too long.
"I'm sorry should you want Polly but I'm sure that I can give whatever else that you would want from me. Provided that I can satisfy it for you I'm sure that I could do it." A bad premonition brewed in her heart with what was to come out of Callista's lips. "I want you Harriet. And everything that you hold dear. I'm sure that you could give that to me."
Harriet let out a deep long sigh, her fists clenched before relaxing. "Are you certain with this demand? After all I'm sure that there should be far more interesting ladies that you could spoil yourself with. I don't have any alluring contours for you to enjoy." Her mind hoping to persuade the two into something else.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that you'll do just fine. And make sure that you don't forget Polly when you come here three days from now. If not then I'll have to take matters into my own hands." It was clear that she wasn't up for negotiation. Gritting her teeth, she rose to her feet.
"I'm sorry but I can't fulfill such a request of yours. However with the exclusion of Polly I should be yours to use." She tried one last time but Callista remained unchanging. "There's no need to be so unwilling dear. I can do this the easy way or the hard way. Oh and make sure that the two of you are dressed in something cute."
Callista posed as she rose to her feet closing the distance between her and Harriet. Now inches away from Callista, Harriet felt something soft brush on her lips only to realize that Callista had taken a kiss. Her hands began to wrap around Harriet's figure bringing her closer to her as she grew more dominant.
Harriet once resistant felt Callista's intrusion in her mouth, rough and dominant before the two broke apart. A string of saliva snapped. "You're not that bad but I'm sure I could work with this." Callista said casually as if she wasn't implying what Harriet dreaded. "You're not going to do anything to her. She's just a child."
Jarren let out a chuckle, amused with her words. "Naturally I wouldn't be on board with such a plan, sure I would have you but my cat is extremely selective with what she eats and it's hard to tell the next time she'll eat so consider yourself lucky." A malicious grin curling on his lips as he sank deeper into his chair.
"There's no need to fight it dearie. After all it's not like you can leave should you want." Her words coming off as a threat she could only endure as she mustered up the courage and take her leave. "I'm sure that the two of you would be a fitting appetizer and a full course meal. Maybe I might have to worry about dessert."
*Click*
The door closed leaving the two alone once more. "You don't have to lie. I've seen your gaze with her." Callista spoke making Jarren's smile falter. "Only because you were the one who brought it up. As for your said desert, I can already assume who that will be right?" She gave a short nod, her gaze fixated on the capital.
"It would seem that those cowards finally dared to make move. And here I thought that they would bore me to death." Her gaze narrowed on a specific individual on their way to the shabby town they resided. "Or course they would have to make a move. Not everyone can casually end the world with a thought."
She masked her lips giving a mischievous laugh. "Then it's most certainly a shame.Luckily they have to make their screams palatable for my interest." Long gone was the lady that was girl who remained indifferent to the world around her and now in her place was something that even he had a hard time describing she was becoming.
"I do have to ask how far has the collar been on you. Is it to your liking or do you detest it?" She froze, her hands playing with the glimmering obsidian bells around her neck as she finally gave gee verdict. "It's serviceable." Her voice flat however he could see beneath her theatrics. "That's one way of saying that it's fine."
Her face portrayed her distaste. "I never once said that it was good. It fits the bars minimum and I do have to give credit for effort. If not then it wouldn't be worth a gaze from me." She went on with her theatrics that brought a grin to his face. "It would seem that I treat you too well. It would be best that you have some rain on your coat to realize the harshness of it all."
Her acts quickly dissolved into pleas. "Wait! I take it back. It's not that bad and it just might be good dare I say." She remained committed to her act. "Good? How about I gift such a power to Seryn and gauge her reactions. Will it be that of gratitude or sarcasm like yours."
She already knew what he wanted. "We both know that she's nothing more than a goblin gifted consciousness. I know that I'm a cat in your eyes but at the very least my worth us far more than hers." He tilted his head in confusion. "Who told you that you had more worth than her? After all I don't recall saying such words."
Gritting her teeth, she finally caved in. "Okay fine I'll admit that I'm extremely grateful of what you've given to me however my worth us far more than you think. I'm not just some lazy cat you get to comb every once in a while. I'm far more than that." Jarren adored her rants as she lost her composure of her supposed title.
"Then what are you then? An annoying cat that will drive me to insanity or what?" Offended with his words, she folded her hands on her chest slamming her foot into the floor boards. "I'm the first sub par human you'll ever get the grace of seeing so take it all in."
Her hands gesturing at her magnificence of a presence that he didn't bother too much with. "Sub par? Then looks like I have to open a zoo then." His figure vanishing from the room before she could retort. "Jarren!" She cried however there was no one to hear her rage.
.............................
This narrative contains sustained depictions of psychological and physical distress, escalating in severity throughout. It does not provide catharsis, resolution, or moments of reprieve. Readers should not expect relief or redemption. The material may be disturbing to many; proceed with awareness and at your own discretion. But I'm sure you already knew this.