Subject: [XMenfanfic] Chapter Four of A Kitten Becomes a Cat (finally!) *grin* Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 14:47:00 -0000 From: "Shadowcat " Chapter 4 Partners? Her eyes fluttered open, exposing bright colours of green, blue and gold. Propping herself up she found that she was in a bed of navy blue silk sheets with fluffy pillows filled with down. Somehow this room seemed familiar. Looking around she noticed a table set with silver plates and gold-rimmed wine glasses. Sitting on an oak chair, carved carefully by hand, was a handsome man with dark hair and an inviting smile. "Morning, sunshine. Care to join me for breakfast?" His voice soothed her, drawing her toward him. Her steps were light and floating, carrying her to him like a dream. A soft silk nightgown in a pale blue fell over her shoulders and draped along her curves. She walked to him in a trance, mesmerized by his gaze. His ruby coloured eyes sparkled in the candlelight. When she reached him he held out his hand to take hers. She placed her hand in his and he brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. A shiver ran up her back, sending goosebumps across her body. "Sit, Rebecca. Sit." She sat down obediently, laying her hands folded neatly in her lap. He smiled pleasantly at her and poured a glass of orange juice for her. "Thank you, Nathaniel." She picked up the glass and drank the sweet juice. There was something about the atmosphere that wasn't quite right to her, but she ignored it and finished her breakfast. "I have a special surprise for you, my dear. Something that I think you might enjoy." "Oh? What is it, honey?" "Just wait. Get dressed, then I shall show you what I have planned." Nathaniel pointed to a black lace dress laid out on an armchair. It had a red silk underskirt and undershirt. She slipped on a set of black satin undergarments and raised the dress over her head. It fit perfectly. Pulling on black ballet-type slippers, she wrapped the ribbon around her leg and tied it. Nathaniel stepped up behind her and zipped her up. He pulled her hair up and placed a few barrettes to hold it. Turning her around he brushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. "You are my most beautiful possession, Rebecca. Nothing is going to take you away from me." Nathaniel put her arm through his and led her out of the room, down a long hallway. They walked into a room that had a darkened viewing window which looked out into a simulated jungle. "Since you have such a love and fascination for nature, I thought that you may delight in seeing some of my creations." With a wave of his hand a man flipped a switch and doors opened in the jungle room. Out crawled a rather timid looking lamb-woman and a skittish deer-man. Her eyebrows raised with interest. Suddenly a commotion came from where the two creatures had emerged. "What is going on down there?!" Nathan demanded. "We don't know, sire!" Her eyes ran from Nathan to the frightened man controlling the switches. "Everything is alright, dear." He tried to calm her. A growl sounded from the doorway and a beast with golden fur pounced at the creatures, tearing them to bits with silvered claws. Her heart stopped for a moment, a flash of images ran through her mind when she saw the beast kill the creatures mercilessly. She hadn't realized it, but she had been screaming. Nathan was trying to comfort her, but she couldn't stop. She didn't stop until the beast had finished and looked in her direction. It could hear her screaming. She covered her mouth and began to cry. "Get rid of that-that THING, this instant!" Nathan ordered the man. "Nooo!" She blurted out to him, "Let me see him, first." "What? But Rebecca, it's a wild animal. It's dangerous." "There has to be some humanity in him." Her eyes were pleading with Nathan desperately. "Why would you want to see him?" "Because all creatures deserve a chance to live freely... and to be understood. He doesn't know better than to kill and be free... that's all he knows..." Her voice drifted off as she watched the beast snarl at the men trying to capture him. "You speak as if you know it personally, my dear." Nathan's voice faltered slightly. "I just have a feeling, is all." "Very well. Once it is caught and secured, only then will I allow you to see it." Nathan took her out of the room and strolled with her to the holding cages. She stopped and pushed him away from her. "Alone, darling. Alone." She didn't allow him a chance to respond as the door locked behind her. She padded quietly across the hard floor toward the beast. It was growling and covered in blood. A few men were poking it with stun-guns and rapping it on the head with sticks. "Enough! Stop that NOW!" She ran up to them and ripped a stick from one of their hands, threatening to hit them with it. They cowed away, realizing it was the master's bride. Dropping the stick she stared at the beast with concern. "What do you want? Payback?" His voice startled her, awakening lost memories. "You?!" She looked at him in confusion, not sure what to believe. There were conflicting truths fighting for power in her brain. A smirk crossed his face as he saw the confusion in her eyes. "Miss-iss... Miss Rebecca... the Master wishes to see you." "Tell him to wait!" Her voice grew loud and angry at the interruption. "Y-yes." "Rebecca? Doesn't suit yah, Pretty Kitty. What's he done now to yah?" She wrinkled her forehead and stepped closer to the bars. "Wh-why do you call me that? How do you know me? Wh-who are you?" "I've known yah fer some time, little Kitty-Cat. Name's Victor Creed, though you've been fond of callin' me Sabertooth. And he's been messin' with yer head. Brain-washin' yah ta think he's some prince charmin'. I'm hard ta ferget, darlin'." Victor reached out and grabbed the back of her head, pulling it to his face. Her eyes widened and she struggled as he kissed her roughly. All she thought of was to escape his grip. Suddenly she fell backward, through his hand which was still in place. She had passed through it, like a ghost. "Huh, I see yah haven't completely fergotten yer powers, eh?" "Powers?" "Yer a mutant, Cat. Just like me." "A...a... MUTANT?" She fainted, falling to the floor with an echoing thud.