Fortune Favors the Bold

33

Part Two: The Insurrection

*Two Years Later*

Kalani's eyes slipped open to peer at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair remained the same length as it had always been because she never cared enough to let it grow. Then it would fall and take much more work to keep healthy and the girl couldn't be bothered. Now, however, its solid black color made her look even paler.

A loud knock came from the door, hurrying her out. "Hurry up, Miss Cass!" The little boy jumped up and down, holding his pants as she quickly stepped past him. "It's coming out!"

"Okay! Okay," she watched the boy quickly try to pull his pants down, not bothering to close the door after himself. "Make sure to untie your pants first, Bruno. That's how they get knotted."

"Close the door!" He screamed.

Kalani chuckled, swinging the bathroom door to a close and stepping back into the short hall. She glanced around to make sure she was alone before beginning down the stairs to return to the courtyard.

As she pushed the wooden doors open, she stepped out into the cloudy afternoon. Kalani glanced toward all the clouds hovering in the sky, dimming the autumn afternoon. In front of her, children shouted and screamed excitedly, racing around the wooden playground that stood in the center of an area of pooled pebbles. She smiled at the sight of the two boys racing down the small hill, falling victim to their speed and rolling down the rest of the way before arguing about who'd won.

"Incoming!" Bruno shouted, blowing past Kalani and hurrying toward the group on the slide to claim his turn. His white undershirt stuck out from beneath his shirt.

"Cassie," the only other adult called from across the playground, already making her way over to Kalani. Riley's auburn hair flew in the light wind as she hurried over. "I was wondering where you went."

Kalani nodded, offering her a small smile. "I had to use the bathroom, but Bruno was already knocking the moment I locked the door." They both chuckled together.

"I keep telling them to get that boy some medication for his stomach. I swear, anything he eats runs right through him like his digestive system is a racetrack," she grinned, watching the freckled boy bounce happily toward the swing. "Do you want to sit?"

They sat down onto the steps behind them, keeping all the children in their view. "Hey, Riley?" Kalani mumbled, her attention focusing on the two girls occupied with braiding each other's hair at the corner of the play area. "Do you think their parents are out there looking for them?"

The rosy-cheeked girl shrugged. "I'm not sure. You know most of these kids have been here since one... two years ago? We haven't had any new ones so I doubt their parents are still looking for them. I mean, if you were looking for your kid, wouldn't you check orphanages like this one first? That'd be the smart thing to do anyway."

Kalani pouted at the thought. "Maybe, but-."

"Oh, Cassie!" Riley leaned her head back, shaking her body in complaint. "I came over here to hear more of the story you told me last week. I've been waiting for my shift since then just so I could hear what happened next. At one point, I even considered coming over and waking you up, seeing how I know where you live and all, but I didn't want to risk waking the kids-."

"Where did I stop?"

The girl clapped her hands together at her victory. "Castiel had just kissed Kalani but tell me that part again."

Kalani chuckled. "You barely let me tell it last-."

"I'm just so obsessed with it! I was totally expecting him to be a rough dom who'd kiss her all aggressive and hot, but he was so gentle with her and it was so much hotter! Is it possible to be in love with a fictional character? Because he's been all I can think about."