Stepping Into The Light (Hidden Under Darkness Sequel)

Chapter 4

**Fairlights’s POV**

I set the kittens down and check my pockets. Luckily, my wand is in my pocket, so I scoop the kittens up and disapparate.

“Fairlight, where-”

“Move,” I order George, pushing past him to head to the kitchen.

“So, you break up with me, kiss me, yell at me and leave,” he says, following me down, “and now you’re just going to ignore me?”

“Right now I have more pressing matters at hand,” I say. I set the kittens on the table.

“Make sure they don’t fall,” I tell him, walking into the kitchen and finding some towels and warm water. I put some milk on to warm up and walk back into the dining room. George is sitting, stroking one of the kittens.

“Did you steal these?” he asks.

“No,” I snap, “they belonged to my old cat. She’s dead and my mother was going to kill them.”

I take the kitten off him and clean it as gently as I can. When the three of them are clean I tip some of the milk into a saucer and nudge it towards them.

“Go on, drink up,” I say.

“Have you ever seen a cat before?” George asks, “they are clearly too young to feed themselves.”

“Well if you know so much, show me how it’s done,” I snap.

“Wait here,” he says.

I sit and look at the tiny kittens. They’re quite cute, really. Zesty was a tortoise-shell cat and one of the kittens takes after her. The other two are both solid colours, one black, one white.

“I’ll call you Zesty the second,” I tell the tortoise-shell kitten.

“Here,” George says, setting some drippers on the table, “watch.”

He fills one of the drippers with milk and picks up Zesty II. He softly drips milk into her mouth. I copy him, picking up the black kitten.

“Trust you to go straight for the black one,” George teases.

“Trust you to go straight for the mangy one.”

“That hurts,” he laughs, swapping to the white kitten, “thought of names for them yet?”

“That one is Zesty II after its mother,” I tell him.

“This one is Princess,” George says.

“Princess? You’re kidding,” I scoff, “I’m not calling it Princess.”

“Too late, she’s named,” George says.

“How do you know it’s a girl?” I challenge, “what if it’s a boy?”

“It would have something extra if it were a boy,” George says. I lift the black kitten up and look.

“They’re all girls,” I say.

“Zesty II, Princess and,” George looks at the black kitten thoughtfully, “Shimmer.”

“Never have children,” I tell him, “and if you do, don’t name them.”

He grins at me, but shrugs.

“How do you know so much about cats?” I ask him, setting Shimmer on the table. George scratches her chin.

“I like cats,” he shrugs, “they’re smart.”

“Opposites attract.”

He rolls his eyes.

“You don’t have to be such a cow all the time, okay?” he sighs, “we can be friends.”

“I don’t have friends,” I tell him, “I don’t want them.”

“Well you sure need them,” he says, “I’ll tell your Dad you’re back.”

I watch him walk away with a pang. I sit back in my seat and watch the kittens mewing at each other. They look much brighter now that they’re being taken care of. I close my eyes and feel myself falling asleep.

I wake with a start and shake my head, trying to rid myself of the dream I just had. I can still feel where George had his arms around me.

The kittens have fallen asleep on the table. I pick them up and carry them upstairs. They stir and blink around sleepily. I put them on my bed and curl up around them, letting them keep me warm. Shimmer curls up on my feet, purring. I close my eyes and fall instantly back into my dream.

George has his arms around my waist. He feels hot. I want to get closer to him, even though we’re tightly entwined. I tangle my fingers in his hair and kiss him hard, wrapping my legs around him…

“Whoa,” I jerk awake again. My heart is thumping in my chest and I feel funny. I have goose bumps, but I feel hot. I move Shimmer and jump of the bed. I sneak down to George’s room, hoping Fred isn’t in there. I knock softly on the door and push it open. George is sitting on his bed, talking to Fred.

“Fred, can we have a minute?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm and level. Fred glances at George who shrugs. Fred walks out and I close the door behind him. George sighs.

“Fairlight-”

I push him back onto the bed and kiss him. He kisses me back, pulling me tightly against him.

***

“Wow, that was out of the blue,” George gasps as I roll off him. I close my eyes for a moment until my breathing is back to normal. He rolls over and kisses me on the cheek. I push him away and start to get dressed.

“So you’re just going to go?” he asks, “that’s great. Good form, Fairlight. Really good form.”

I ignore him and pull my shirt on.

“Really? Now you’re ignoring me?”

“This wasn’t anything,” I tell him without turning around.

“Excuse me?”

I flinch at the venom in his voice, but shrug.

“It didn’t mean anything,” I say, “it was a… Release.”

I hear his footsteps moving behind me and then he spins me around and pins me to the wall.

**George’s POV**

“A release?” I snarl, “it was a release?”

Fear flickers through Fairlight’s eyes, but she sets her jaw and nods. She tries to push me away, but I pin her hand up near her shoulder. I’m so angry that my vision is tinted with red and I’m shaking.

“So, there was no emotion in that for you?” I ask, my teeth gritted together. She shakes her head, trying to pull her hand away. I hold it more firmly and she grimaces. I’ve never wanted to hit someone so badly in my life.

“Well, obviously it means nothing to you,” I growl, “but for me, sex is about love. Especially the first time. I can never get that back!”

“Ow, George, you’re hurting me,” she cries, trying to pull her hand away.

“I’m hurting you?” I laugh, “oh, wow, what a weird situation. I wonder what it’s like to be hurt.”

“George,” she whimpers, trying to pull her hand out of my grip. I push it hard against the wall and then let her go.

“Get out,” I spit, “and don’t talk to me anymore.”

She moves away from me, holding her wrist. I turn away from her and hear her walk out. I sink down onto the bed and start to cry.