The Prison of Deviants

Chapter 33: The Warden's Weakness

"I don't fancy repeating myself."

The warden's tone grows sterner. It is hopeless - he knows I'm here. The only thing left for me to do is to fulfill his order before he gets angry. I pull the curtains off and step out of the bed. The warden isn't even looking at me, while Knut watches me in a clear stupor:

"Theo? I've told you to wait for me in my room!"

Just as I suspected, he's upset. Maybe he even thinks I've started a romance with his brother too, the way I was in his bed? But no, that's unlikely. He's too trustful of his brother to think that, and the warden shows zero interest in me. I guess he only sees me as a child, or a bird, or even both.

"I'm sorr_"

"When your body already reeks of a raven, there's no way you can ever hide from a feline predator, hun."

The warden sips his tea. He's right - it was foolish of me to think I'd ever get away from him now when I'm close to being completely turned, and he's got the strong sense of smell like a true snow leopard.

"Please, take a seat with us."

I obey his order and sit in the third armchair at the dining table. Knut stares at me with a questioning gaze, so I begin to justify myself:

"I... I was just interested in the warden's room and_"

"Stop it!" Knut cuts my speech with a glare. His eyes glow yellow. He's in the fire mode only when he's too emotional, and now, it is exactly the case. "Just stop it, Theo! You're only adding to the problems! Clive Jonas has just spewed nonsense, and now you're breaking another strict law! One can't leave you alone for a single minute!"

He places his hand to his face. Just as I expected, he's on his nerves. He clenches his other hand in a fist. I guess he craves for some yarn to play with, to calm his mind. My heart sinks with guilt - all is my fault. He's only worried about me and wants to protect me, yet I've lowered his chances by my stupid action. How could I think I'd ever go unnoticed in the warden's chamber? I'm such a fool!

"Big brother, please, forgive her this once. I promise such a thing won't happen again."

Tiny tears twinkle in Knut's eyes as he watches the warden sip his tea. Damn... I guess Knut truly sees a parent in him, rather than a brother. There's no other way one would call their sibling "big brother" if they're not of Asian descent, and Knut definitely is not. Furthermore, I've never seen Knut shed tears, in all these months. Apparently, taking care of the conflict in the rodent district has irritated him enough, and now my falling in danger has only added to it. I feel terribly guilty.

"Knut, I told you I could handle the conflict in the rodent district. Why did you volunteer? I knew this was to happen... I shouldn't have let you go." The warden poses the cup on the table and leans back into his armchair. "As for Theo Sinclaire, I suppose we can keep Bob out of this, so I'll act more freely. You don't have to worry."

"I don't want you to get hurt." Knut has cast his eyes down. He stares at his cup on the table. "Every time you use fire, it injures you. I'm fitter to take care of conflicts."

"You get irritated every time you have to execute prisoners. Is that how you're going to take care of things? You'll only injure your nerves like that. I don't want that. I only want you to be happy."

The warden stands up and walks over to Knut's side. He hops onto the armrest of Knut's armchair and wraps his hand around him.

"If it takes ignoring some prisoners' rampage to make you happy, then I'd gladly do it."

"No, that's not what I_"

"That's what you meant," the warden cuts his speech. "You want to leave someone alive? - Alright. You want a prisoner chick by your side? - Alright. I'm not going to deny your wishes even if it takes betraying my role and beating Bob up. But seeing tears in your eyes, for whatever reason, is something I can't handle. Especially now when you're a grown-ass man. You've got that?"