The Earl's Kitten

Chapter XVIII

July 12th 1887, 19:30 PM

I knew I needed to act scared, so I began thinking of my father and it certainly frightened me. By the time that Christian screaming came down the hallway, two things had happened. Firstly: I was suitably frightened, even shaking slightly in Timber's grip. He pulled me closer, one arm resting across the back of my shoulders to slightly shield my view. I didn't know why he was acting as such, but it was appreciated nonetheless. Secondly: Jackson reappeared at the edge of the ballroom, making his way over to stand with Sebastian and watch the scene unfold.

Christian Gater soon came running down the stairs, screaming for his life and making his way through the crowd of party guests. He was more bloodied than when I left him, and I noticed that his fine suit was shredded across his chest. Once again I felt Timber's grip tighten, but the demon allowed me to turn and face the man.

If the thought of my father hadn't already petrified me, then this man was going to be the new source of my nightmares. His left cheek had a gaping hole, his right still scratched from my claws. His neck had begun to swell slightly, also from the wounds I had inflicted upon him.

My gaze continued down and I noted the torn jacket, shirt, and almost torn-off tie. He reached towards me, grabbing at the front of my dress. His fingers were bent, and quite clearly broken and crushed. I gasped, horrified. Is this how Jackson had made the man scream? I had not wanted to ruin his life, only to warn him of his course. Perhaps, had he gone on to continue threatening my Master, then I would have ruined his life. I am sure that if Gater had taken action, Sebastian would have dealt with him personally.

Horrified gazes of the men and women at the party watched us, waiting for my reaction to the blood, to the touch, to the situation. I could not bring myself to do much more than try and regulate my breathing again. But that did not happen. The sight of a mangled hand reaching towards me only made me panic further, pressing back against Timber. The demon, obligingly, stepped back to put more space between myself and Gater.

"She was-! It was her-!" For a moment, my heart almost stopped. Had he seen my face? My dress? Would now identify me to everyone here? His hands gripped my shoulders tightly, shaking me back and forth. My vision began to swim.

"Sir, if you will step back! You are treating the Lady most inappropriately!" Sebastian had stepped forth, Jackson only watching silently from the sidelines.

"The Kitten- she was here! She locked me in the library as... as I was looking around. She came through the window. She was so dark, so heartless!"

The way Gater described my actions chilled me to the bone. Was that how I appeared when I undertook a mission from the master? Was that how I had looked to Harold Faber? I took a breath as Sebastian moved Gater's hands from my shoulders.

"She was young, so young! So ruthless! I have been warned!" Christian's voice was bordering on hysteria now, and he turned to me once more. "She is loose. She has entered your household! She will find you next if you threaten her master!" He turned now, pointing at everyone with his mangled fingers. Everyone took a step back.

"Sebastian." My head turned to the side suddenly at the new voice, it having startled me from my fear. "Perhaps it would be best for you to escort Mr Gater to the Hospital and get him seen to."

There was a pause in Sebastian and he went to argue, knowing that it was correct social to do by staying with his master. However, he also knew that it would be the correct moral thing, in the eyes of all the men and women in the room, to take Christian Gater to the hospital.

"Beware!" Christian called again as Sebastian began to lead him out, "She lands on her feet and doesn't make a sound!"

For a small while after, there was silence in the ball room. Soon enough, James and Thomas jumped into action to bring drinks around to ease everyone again. Timber didn't leave my side until a glass of water was pressed into my hands by my own demon butler. The two watched each other for a moment before Timber released me and backed away to his brothers. I stayed frozen, looking down at my glass of water. I spotted blood on my gown from where Christian had shaken me with his deformed hands. I went pale, and Jackson lifted my chin and gazed into my eyes. He spoke quietly, but still pushed charm into his words to calm me considerably.