Kat found there was a blush in her cheeks more and more often. Her Mistress clearly wanted to use her, but it seemed more and more that she wasn't just going to use Kat. Kat shook her head. The feeling was back. She thought about it all, the way she was being well fed, well kept, treated... well, to be honest, she thought, rather fairly. It just didn't make sense. It was wrong. There had to be more going on, beneath the surface. There always was.

She looked skyward, to the fat gray clouds that hung low overhead. They threatened with thunder to release their burdens upon her at any moment. A cool breeze rolled over her, and the smell of petrichor hit her. Somewhere far off, the rains had already started. According to Cobb, the weather channel had said that it would rain all this week, and into the next.

So it baffled her as to why they were gardening right now.

She glanced at Cobb, who was hunched over a rose bush, snipping away. She herself was hands deep in soil, trying to plant a tomato plant correctly. She was starting to see why Cobb liked it so much. It could be serene, peaceful, to give life to something, to nurture it and to care for it. There were a few carrots she planted a few days ago in some pots behind her, and she couldn't wait for them to start sprouting, strangely enough.

There was something there, she thought, but she couldn't tell what.

Words sat on the tip of her tongue, waiting to come out. She paused and stood, shaking her hands free of the dirt. Then, turning to Cobb, she said, "Um, Sir?" No, that wasn't right. "Er, uh, Cobb?"

Cobb stood up and wiped his brow, turning to face her. "Yes? Problems?"

She paused. What was she going to say? "Um, it's going to rain soon."

Cobb laughed. "Thank you for the report, weatherman. I hadn't a clue."

Squinting, she felt her cheeks turn red. "No, no, that's not what I mean. I mean, why are we out here gardening before it rains?"

Cobb stared at her for a second - no, not at her, but into her - and then sighed. There was a table to his left, and he set his clippers down and sat in one of the chairs facing her. "Because the rain will water the plants. But that's not why you're speaking right now, now is it? And, might I add, this is the first time I've heard you speak more than three times in a row. Congratulations."

Licking her lips, Kat scowled. "I... "

Cobb waved a hand. "No harm meant by it. I'm glad you're coming out of your shell, even if just a tiny bit. What's on your mind?"

Kat cleared her throat and thought for a moment. What was on her mind? Something was bothering her, surely. She could feel it niggling in the back of her mind. "Mistress," she said. "She has another slave, right? Sarah?"

Cobb's smirk fell, and a serious look befell upon his face. "Yes," he said, leaning forward. "Yes, she does. Why do you ask?"

"I saw her picture," Kat replied, looking away. "She seemed... happy."

Cobb nodded. "She... is very happy with the Madam. They are quite close. Very lovingly, if I do say so myself. Quite sweet to watch."

Kat swallowed. "Why?"

"Pardon?"

"Why are they so close?"

Cobb raised an eyebrow as another breeze rolled over them, rustling their hair. "I'm not sure I understand."

Kat scuffed at the ground. "I mean... why are they so close? How did that happen?"

Cobb shook his head. "Because it did? Madam Kilovich quite adores her. You should see the way she dotes on her little slave. It's rather cute."

She turned back to Cobb to find him smiling softly. Kat turned away again. "Where is she? I'd like to talk to her."

Cobb cleared his throat and stood. "She is away. Come, let us get inside. You're correct, it will rain soon," he said, looking skyward. "I'd rather not be out here when it happens."

Kat glared at him, feeling her confidence returning once more, if only slightly, and moved to stand in his way. "Where is she?"

Cobb looked down at her, a hint of sad disdain in the corners of his eyes. "Away. Now move, child. You have chores to get to, and Madam Kilovich does not take kindly to tardiness. Go."

The tone in his voice was more a command than a suggestion, and it made Kat wince. She stared at him for a moment, before lowering her gaze. "Okay."

Turning, she slowly made her way into the house to resume her chores. Above her, the thunder rolled.

The rains came soon after. Heavy, loud, the downpour pounded on the roof and the windows, filling the house with the sounds of deep thuds. She actually found it rather soothing. Kat swept out the foyer, and had moved on to the stairs, brushing off each step meticulously, and thinking about the conversation - or, rather, the lack thereof - that she'd had with Cobb. Something had to have happened to Sara, this much she knew. Cobb was avoiding talking about it, and the Mistress hadn't even brought her up yet. She wasn't just "away", Kat knew that much.

She was unsure. So she swept instead, trying to take her mind off of it. It unsettled her, made her frown, filled her with unease. She gripped the broom handle tighter and went up a step. Footsteps came from above, but she ignored them for now. She was too lost in thought, like a poor little girl lost in the rain.

"Kat," her Mistress said.

She snapped up, heart pounding, and looked up at her Mistress while trying to keep the surprise off of her face. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Once you finish sweeping, come meet me in my study, understand?"

"Yes, Mistress."

And with that, Mistress Alexa turned on her heel, heading upstairs to her study. Kat watched as she went, admiring the confidence and strength in her stride for a moment, lost in her Mistress's aura, before she blinked and shook her head. What was she doing? Staring, is what. She huffed and went back to sweeping. She was almost done. She should hurry, she thought. It was best not to keep her Mistress waiting.

She did so, finishing the stairs and setting her broom against the wall. Then, she made her way up the stairs, and down the hall to the door to her Mistress's study. Mentally, she steeled herself, before raising a fist to knock, once, twice, then a third time, before she slowly knelt.

"Come in," her Mistress's voice rang out from behind the door. Kat stood, took the doorknob in hand, took one last deep breath to calm her heart, and silently slipped into the study.

A small fire roared in the fireplace, and her Mistress was in her chair beside it. It was the same chair that Kat had fallen asleep in. She closed the door behind her, knelt before her Mistress, and wordlessly waited. Mistress Alexa didn't speak for a moment, simply staring into the flickering fire. For a moment, Kat thought she might be ignored.

But then, she felt long, gentle fingers idly stroke her hair. "Sweetie," Mistress Alexa said, her gaze lost in the flames, "Tell me. Why do you fear me?"

Kat blinked, pausing. She had to be careful here. "I don't, Mistress," she said, softly.

Mistress Alexa shook her head and tsked. "You should know better than to lie, Kat."

Kat felt her face pale, the blood in her cheeks freezing over, but she kept silent. With bated breath, Kat waited for the hair pulling to begin. The kicking. The verbal abuse. But it never did. Rather, Mistress Alexa simply continued to pet her, softly humming to herself.

"What can I do to change that?" she asked.

"M-Mistress?"

Mistress Alexa sighed. "I noticed how uncomfortable you were in my bed yesterday. I saw you flinch during our BDSM talk. You fear me. And I know why. But I want to hear it from you."

Kat forced a smile. "No, Mistress."

Again, Mistress Alexa sighed, her fingers curling and gripping Kat's hair, gently pulling her head back and forcing them to lock eyes. Kat shivered, feeling suddenly incredibly small before her Mistress, wilting under her gaze.

"Do. Not. Lie. Do you understand?"

Kat audibly gulped. "Yes Mistress," she whispered.

"Good," Mistress Alexa said, letting go of her hair and resuming her soft scratching. "Now, what can I do to make you feel more welcome here?"

She looked down to Kat, who avoided direct eye contact with her.

"Kat, answer me. I just want to make sure you're happy and comfortable here."

Mistress Alexa seemed to be genuinely asking. Kat reeled, a frown appearing on her lips. What kind of mind games was she playing at? This was almost worse than toying with her physically. This was toying with her heart. Her need for peace. She wanted to flee, to hide, to think, but she couldn't. She could only kneel before Mistress Alexa and cower.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

After a time, Mistress Alexa looked away. "You don't have to tell me right now. But I want you to tell me what happened, some day."

Kat listened, but said nothing. Her Mistress's hand rested atop her head, not scratching or petting. She heard Mistress Alexa breathing, sighing, as if she were on the verge of saying something that was caught in her throat. Kat wanted to look, but kept herself frozen, eyes averted. There was something deep within Mistress Alexa's voice, something sad and lonely. Something hurting. Something dark.

"Someday," She continued, "We'll heal together. I promise."

The next few hours were a frenzy, with Cobb ensuring that her makeup was done, her hair perfectly styled. Her nails were painted a deep blue, and her toes were painted blue with a thin white horizontal stripe. Her outfit, a long sleeved brown v-neck that showed off her prominent collar bones, and a pair of white jeans - nothing too fancy, but still on the nice side all the same.

Cobb dusted her off, checked her twice, and then, after nearly an hour, smiled to himself and gave a satisfied sigh.

"You look nice," he said.

Kat, staring at herself in the mirror, and, reluctantly, agreed with the sentiment. It was strange, looking so nice after almost five years of torment. There were no dust marks on her face, no bruises on her body, she was actually putting on some lost weight, and finally, she had a set of nice, pleasantly soft clothes to wear. She looked almost like a stranger that she'd known before the courts got her.

"I'm sure the Madam has informed you of where you will be going," he said, stepping back and giving her a final once over.

Kat turned to him, and looked him in the eye. It was becoming easier for her to do. "No," she said, shaking her head. "She just said that we were going shopping."

"Then that's where you will be going," Cobb quipped, grinning.

She gave him a look, before turning away. "Cobb... can I talk to you when we get back?"

Cobb's eyebrow crept up, but he smiled at her, and said, "Of course. Though, I believe the Madam has plans for you tonight."

Kat sharply turned to look at him. "She does?"

Cobb merely nodded. "Apparently, you owe me dinner for all you've put me through. I eagerly await to see what you and she will prepare."

She squinted at him. "You."

"Me."

Sighing and shaking her head, she turned away and headed toward the door. "Where is Mistress?"

"Down in the foyer, last I saw her. Though that was an hour ago, thanks to your poor makeup skills." Kat blushed. "Might I suggest checking her study?"

She nodded. "Thank you Cobb."

"My pleasure."

She stepped out of her room, and Cobb stepped out behind her, closing the door behind him. She made her way down the hallway, taking a left, and heading to her Mistress's study, where she knocked on the door - three times exactly - and knelt. After a moment, it opened, revealing her Mistress, dressed in brown pants and a black felt coat, eyeliner that winged, and a grin on her face. She looked down at Kat and licked her red lips.

"Cobb did a good job on you," she said, almost hungrily. "I just want to eat you up."

Kat forced a wavering smile, feeling her heart skip a beat. "T-Thank you, Mistress."

Mistress Alexa chuckled. "Come, let's go. We have shopping to do today."

"Mistress?" Kat asked, looking up.

"Yes sweetie?"

Kat paused for a moment, and then said, "Where are we going?"

"Oh, I haven't told you," she said, tapping her chin with a finger. "Hmm. Must've forgotten to mention it. I'll tell you on the way, sweetheart. Let's go now, stand up. Cobb should be bringing the car around."

She stood and stepped out of the way, her Mistress stepping out of her study and closing the door behind her. Kat bowed and fell in line behind her as they made their way down the stairs, through the foyer, and out onto the porch, beneath the overhang. Rain came down in sheets, like watery curtains, and a cold wind blew harshly over them, making Kat shudder. She looked to her Mistress, who was weathering it like a champion. She seemed unfazed by the cold, the rain. Unmoved.

She looked down at Kat and smiled. "Cold?"

Kat shivered and nodded. "Yes Mistress."

Mistress Alexa chuckled and threw an arm around Kat's shoulder, pulling her in close. Despite herself, Kat found the warmth welcome, and leaned into the embrace. Just then, the sound of crunching gravel came from the left, and Cobb pulled up in the same black car that Kat had been brought to the house in. He inched as close to the porch as he could manage, before opening the door and puffing out an umbrella. With haste he stepped out of the car, hurrying over to them and ushering Mistress Alexa beneath the umbrella, walking her to her car. Then he returned and did the same for Kat, taking her to the passenger seat while the rain swept down on him, wetting his uniform.

Once she was in and the door was closed, Cobb hurried back under the porch and shook off the umbrella, folding it up and bowing to the car, before heading inside. Mistress Alexa started the car wordlessly, and as she did so, Kat watched as a rain soaked, shivering cat dashed across the porch, looking panicked and confused. It paused for a moment, locking eyes with Kat, before it darted away again, as if it was fleeing the storm. For some reason, Kat felt an ominous feeling well within her, but she wasn't sure why.

"We," her Mistress started as they rolled out of the driveway and onto a small private street, "Or more specifically, I am hosting a party at the end of the month. It's a little business thing, so it won't be too crowded. I know you might not feel so comfortable around crowds yet."

Kat turned and looked at her Mistress. Being in such a close space with her was strange. The only other time she'd been out of the house was before she'd even gotten there, when she rode in this car for the first time to come to her Mistress's home. Now, back in it once more, it felt... uncomfortable. Tight. Enclosed.

"So," she continued, "we need to go pick up some party favors. Things such as masks, alcohol, maybe a game or two. I like to keep my parties fun, you know? Not boring, like Tyler's parties. What a chore."

Kat, unsure of what to say, simply looked away and gazed into the rainy countryside as they sped toward the city. If she wanted to, if she really wanted to, she could kick the door open right now and tumble out. She'd be gone before her Mistress even knew what was happening, and there was nobody around to tackle her. No police, no people, just woods and fields. She could hide in them, lay low, before darting away. She'd done it before. She could do it again.

But something inside of her knew she wouldn't. Something strange, a force almost, kept her glued to her seat. Fear? Maybe. Anxiety? For sure, there was some, but she wasn't sure that that was what was keeping her there. It certainly wasn't trust. Right?

As they drove along, the countryside rolled into the city, and urban structures began to take the place of the trees around them. The rain began to pool on sidewalks and storm drains rather in the mud. Kat watched as they all passed, wishing for the trip to be over. When she was doing her chores, at least she didn't have to think about anything else. But here, her mind wandered. And that was dangerous.

A few minutes passed as more of the concrete jungle arose around them, before they rolled up to a tan building. "Booksn'Goods," the sign read. As her Mistress parked, Kat looked through the large windows on the front of the building, peering inside. There were only a few people here or there, and in general, it seemed cozy, especially on such a rainy day. Kat furrowed her eyebrows.

Her Mistress took notice from the corner of her eye, placing the car in first and yanking up on the parking brake, the sound of the rain thudding on the car's roof filling the empty silence. "Well," she eventually said, "Here's our first stop. The bookstore."

Kat glanced at her carefully, but said nothing.

Mistress Alexa smiled at her. "Kat, I want you to have a hobby. Something you can do when you've finished working, doing your chores, and appeasing me. Something for you. Ans since I want my slave to be literate, I thought, well, let's hit the bookstore. They also have craft supplies in here, so feel free to grab some crafts too. The Auctioneer said you were artistically talented, I'd like to see it for myself."

Kat blinked and, oddly, felt something tug at her heartstrings. Softly, she said, "Thank you, Mistress."

Mistress Alexa reached over and tousled her hair. "Gladly. Now, let's get inside while the rain is light."

Kat lightly thumbed the beautiful ring on her finger, and nodded absentmindedly, and the two of them stepped out of the car. Mistress Alexa unfurled an umbrella, and hurried over to Kat's door, helping her out. Then, the two of them headed toward the overhang of the bookstore. Kat took a nervous look around, eyeing anyone who passed with a good dose of suspicion. There were no police here, at least. Good.

Being out in the open offered her one last chance to flee, but... where would she go? She pondered it for a moment, pausing, blankly staring, before blinking and rushing back up to her Mistress's side. She reached out and grabbed the chilly handle of the door, pulling it open for her Mistress and allowing her into the store. Then, after Mistress Alexa curled the umbrella back up, Kat followed her in, the warm air washing over her in a wave. She felt her skin prickle at the welcome heat. The door slowly creaked shut behind them.

Inside the bookstore, the rain could still be heard overhead. The warm orange lights of the store gave it a soft glow, and with the rain, Kat thought she could take a nap in here, easily. If it weren't populated with other people, of course. It was almost completely silent, like a library. A young man with a beard worked the register, where an elderly lady was purchasing a thick tome. Customers weaved through the aisles occasionally, and there was a small café on the far wall embedded into the bookstore, with a few tables in front of it which hosted some patrons sipping steaming coffees. Her Mistress watched her for a moment, then patted her on the head and nodded.

"Go find something nice for yourself. I'm going to let you run around on your own here, so be safe, and come find me if you need anything, okay Kat? I'll be over at the cafe over there."

"Yes Mistress," Kat replied.

"Good girl. Go find something nice," she said, turning and walking away.

She was being left on her own. The thought scared her, made her squeamish. A slave, trusted to be left alone? Unthinkable. And allowed to purchase items for themselves? Unfathomable. But... if her Mistress was going to buy it for her, she'd be a fool to run. Right?

She turned and examined the interior of the store. There were shelves upon shelves, creating a labyrinth of books, but in the corner of the store, there was a crafts corner. She could only see the sign for it, so she made her way over to get a better look, and found shelves filled with paints and colored pencils and drawing paper and canvases and so much more. Her heart fluttered.

Here, there, all over were art supplies.

She almost skipped into the section, but held herself still, and took a deep breath. Then, more even tempered, she stepped between the shelves, finding herself standing before a large selection of pastels and paints. She looked at them, one, then the other, and stepped in front of the pastels.

There were multiple single oil pastels, but what caught her eye was on the bottom shelf, in a black case. A set of fifty pastels, with a smudger and an eraser included. She knelt down and examined the case. It was a little pricey, but... Mistress Alexa had told her to find something nice, after all. She stood, taking the case with her, and snagged a pastel sketchbook from the upper shelves, before clutching them to her chest and heading back out into the bookstore proper.

On her way out, she accidentally bumped into a larger, clearly built man. Her shoulder collided with his, and she nearly dropped the pastels. She backed up hastily, clutching her things close to her breast, and glanced up at him with fear in her eyes. She swallowed, and began to shake lightly. He looked down at her for a moment, as if considering her, before laughing gently and stepping aside.

"Go on, get," he said with an amiable smile.

"Excuse me, Sir," she whispered, hunching down and hurrying past him. He didn't seem angry. He didn't hit her. She pushed the thought down and rushed over to the cafe, to her Mistress's side, kneeling before the table at which she sat.

Mistress Alexa sipped on her coffee for a moment, looking down at her. "Accidentally run into someone?"

"Yes Mistress," she said, voice cracking. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Yes, Mistress."

"Be more careful next time."

Kat bowed. "Yes, Mistress."

"Find something?"

Kat nodded silently, and carefully placed her items on the café table. Mistress Alexa took the items from her, and inspected them curiously. "Ah, pastels. You know how to work with pastels?"

"Yes, I do Mistress," Kat said.

"And this is all you want?"

Kat nodded.

Mistress Alexa hummed in thought. "Well that's alright, we have plenty of books at home. I'm glad you found something you want, Kat. When we get home, I want you to finish your chores, and get to work with these pastels. I want to see what you create."

Smiling, she continued, "It must have been a long while, since you've gotten to practice your art, hmm Kat?"

Kat, solemnly, let her gaze fall and said, "Yes, Mistress. It's been years."

"Well," Mistress Alexa said, "Chores, then pastels. Okay?"

"Yes Mistress," Kat said.

"God, you're so well mannered," Alexa said with a smile. "Come on sweetie, let's go, we still have more shopping to do for tonight, and the rain isn't too bad right now. So come."

"Yes, Mistress."