Be my doll, won't you? (Donna Beneviento X Oc)

Kitten

"October 21, 20xx

I started the day by sweeping the house for Maria, I couldn't go to Luizas because she is sick. I felt bad for her but she said to stay home. I feel bored, more bored than usual. At least Felicia and Adelina aren't here, I don't like them. 

Maria seemed… uneasy today, like something had happened, but she wouldn't tell me what it was. I tried to help her by talking but I didn't know what to say, I'm not very good with words. I love Maria but sometimes I still want to leave. I don't belong here. One if the hunters found a Lycan in the nearby woods, Miranda said that they couldn't hurt us but I don't buy it. I know she's behind it… I need some fresh air, I think I'll go to the Beneviento garden today.

Salem set down their quill and leaned into their hands, gently tapping their face with one finger as they scanned over their entry checking for any mistakes. They sigh in content and close the book, standing up from their chair and leaning on the desk, using both hands to hold them up. They close their eyes and take a deep breath, turning from the desk and grabbing their green coat off the door and heading out into the living room. Maria was sitting on the couch reading a book, wearing a small pair of glasses that belonged to Felicia. "Hello, Salem, going somewhere?" She asks, looking up from her book. Salem nods "The Beneviento garden, I need some air" Maria nods "okay, dear. Please be careful" Salem smiles a bit "I will". Maria waves goodbye as Salem makes their way out of the door, shutting it behind them. The down was a bit quieter than usual, most likely due to the fear of a Lycan attack. 

     Salem didn't care much though, if they were going to die it was inevitable, so why worry yourself over it. At least that's how their thought process worked. Maria of course did try to change it, but Salem was the most stubborn person she had ever met, so eventually she gave up. Salem walked down the path in the middle of the town, up past the old church and through the bright red gate. No one for sure knew why it was painted so brightly but it was rumored that lycans and other beasts were scared of the color but that most likely wasn't true. The gate squeaked loudly as Salem pushed it open, the hinges were definitely in desperate need of oil. There was no telling how old it was. Salem stuck their hands in the pockets of their jacket, a bit of hair falling down over their face and covering their eyes. It was a nice day, not snowing like it usually did but it was still cold, which Salem never minded, they always preferred the cold anyways. 

     As they walked up to the plaza center, a small scratching sound caught their attention. Salem tilted their head and followed the sound into a small room off of the center of the plaza. They carefully peeked around the corner, getting a chill in their stomach. Fearing the worst, Salem slowly creeped forwards. A small crashing sound filled Salem's ears, it sounded like a can or bucket that had been pushed over. Salem jumped and turned to face the noise, taking a deep breath through their nose. They inched forwards, peering around the brick wall. Sitting in the corner was a small, overturned tin bucket, most likely to be the cause of the sudden noise. Taking a few more cautious steps towards the bucket, another scratching sound was heard. Salem took another deep breath and kneeled onto the ground. Peering inside the bucket, Salem was astonished to see a small, white and black spotted kitten was soundly sleeping in the bucket. Salem sat down with their legs crossed, slowly reaching out to pet the cat with one finger. The cat slowly woke up and opened its eyes, letting out a small mew and stretching it's paws. Salem smiled and leaned down more "Hello kitty.. you just be cold.." Salem reached out and scooped the kitten up from the bucket, wrapping it gingerly in their jacket "There you go, now you won't be cold" The cat seemed to visibly relax in Salem's arms, snuggling into their chest and purring. Same stood up, making sure to securely hold the kitten. They started back on their way to the Beneviento garden, using their thumb to pet the kitten's head. After a bit of walking the pair reached the entrance of the garden, a long tunnel overgrown by plants and various types of flowers. 

     This was one of Salem's favorite places to go, it was safe, quiet, and rarely visited by anyone else. No one ever kept the garden so it had the chance to overgrow in the most beautiful way possible. Salem looked up at the sun shining through the leaves and branches covering the wire tunnel, smiling a bit again. Nearing the end of the tunnel they came to the central part of the garden, a large mural full of headstones around a single larger one in the middle. Many little.yellow flowers that produced a sweet smell were around the gravestones, however they weren't planted anywhere else. Salem sat down on the small empty platform at the end of the grave, looking back to face the larger headstone. "I wonder who it belongs to.." they said softly, looking down at the kitten who had let out a small meow. "I wonder what your name should be, I'll have to think about it.." Salem smiled again and ran their fingers over the kitten. The small flowers seemed to be in full bloom and almost had a glow to them, they were prettier than Salem had ever seen them before. Reaching out to pick one, Salem held it to their face to examine the flower. It was a very sweet smell, almost intoxicating like an expensive perfume. Salem picked a couple more, they were sure that Maria would love them. After sitting for a while and softly humming to themself, Salem decided it was time to go back to the house. They stood up, tucking the small flowers into their pocket so they could hold the kitten. Salem walked silently all the way back to the village, pushing through the red gate and shutting it being them. The loud squeak of the hinges slightly scared the kitten in Salem's arms, but they were easily able to calm the kitten's nerves with a few soft coos. 

      As Salem walked, out of the corner of their eye they saw a tall figure dressed in all black, yet when they turned to look the figure was gone. Salem cocked their head to the side in confusion, they weren't one to see things but they just shrugged it off. Smoke was puffing from the chimney of Maria's house when Salem entered, walking to the couch where Maria was still sitting. "That was fast" Maria said, closing her book, Salem nodded, gently opening their jacket to reveal the kitten "I found this kitten by the plaza sleeping in a bucket" they said, sitting down next to Maria. She let out a very small coo at the kitten, taking it from Salem's arms "oh my.. such a tiny thing. She must have been freezing out in the cold" 

      Salem smiled as they watched maria interact with the kitten, pulling the flowers from their pocket "I got you some flowers" they said, holding them out. However, something was different, they didn't look as vibrant and glowy as before, but they were still beautiful. "Oh Salem, you shouldn't have" maria said happily, taking the flowers and smelling them "my goodness, they smell amazing" maria said, handing them back to Salem "put them in a glass of water by the sink please" Salem nodded and stood up, walking to the kitchen and filling a small glass half full and placing the flowers inside. "So, can we keep her?" Salem asked, waking back to Maria and pulling off their jacket. Maria thought for a moment and looked down at the kitten which had now fallen asleep in her lap. "Well.. just until she's old enough to take care of herself. She will have to be an outside cat" Salem nodded "that's fine with me, I'll leave her with you." Salem started to turn and leave but Maria grabbed their arm gently "Hold on, Salem. You will eat dinner with us tonight, won't you?" Salem looked at Maria and tilted their head a bit "Of course".