I was awoken suddenly by a familiar face. In a sleepy daze, my eyes had drifted open while shifting into a more comfortable position and who should I see in that small moment but that same brunette who seems to always be a little more than just "a bother".
"Good morn, Demmy!" TomCat greeted me while I stretched wearily. My mind was just beginning to register the world around me, but once it comprehended enough for thought, my face flushed bright red. The night before was still fresh in my mind and I couldn't look at that man without remembering the warmth of his breath and his lips...
"No... go away..." I muttered, covering my face as if to block the on-coming sunlight from my eyes when in reality, it was to hide my heavy blush. Tom scoffed through a cocky smirk and leant his head on one of the steel bars, gazing at me tiredly yet with the same air as he had last night.
"And why would I do that?" he wondered. I groaned and rolled away from him. He doesn't deserve to see my face at all with an attitude like his. How dare he ask why he should leave?
"Demmy," Tom called, his tone mirroring that of a parent pressuring their child for truth, "why should I go away?"
"Because," I answered bluntly, keeping my back turned. Tom tsk-tsked behind me.
"Whatever then... by the way, my memory of last night is quite vague but I know you were there. Care to fill me in?" Tom wondered, leaning his elbows on the inside of the cage and pressing his face between the bars of the cage. His words had me internally flustered again but I chose not to show it as I looked over my shoulder at him. He waited patiently for my response with a manner of innocence but something in his eyes told me that he already knew what had happened and wanted to hear it again simply to see me react. The sly villain.
"You know what happened," I responded truthfully. TomCat laughed and shook his head.
"Barely! Please, Demmy... I want to know what happened," he insisted, giving me that innocent smile of his; the one that he used so many times to get his way without having to use his words. I turned away from him momentarily to release a huff of frustration; he wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't tell him but if I did then I would have to face the embarrassment of speaking about our intimate encounter.
To my own dismay, I gave in and rolled into a seated position to face Tom. My face was hot already and my voice was caught in my throat. Tom continued to wait patiently, that damn look on his face making me want to smack him as much as I want... well... him.
I hugged my knees to my chest and pursed my lips, "well, um... you uh... I don't know... it was... strange..." I began, struggling over my ability to explain something I wasn't even quite sure of. Tom remained still, listening intently.
"You were... closer than usual and... kissing... my neck...?" My voice cracked and it became nothing more than a squeak. Tom's playful smirk grew into a pleasant smile again and in that moment I wanted to hide or die, perhaps even both simultaneously.
"And?" he hummed. The damn bastard knows what happened, I knew it! I thought to myself.
"Uh... well, um... we got back to the house... and you got to bed... and... erm... you kissed me..." I stammered, my voice was so quiet I wasn't even sure how Tom was able to still hear me. However, the moment I finished speaking, I hid my face in shame and embarrassment. Tom chuckled to himself.
"Wow, what a night... do you think it could be recreated?" his voice was low and seductive, a tone that he had never used before with me. I looked up in surprise and my lips moved in an effort to find my words, but none came out. His devilish grin was too much for me to bear and I could only suffer from my burning frustration with the man while he teased my very emotions.
"N-no..." I said weakly, unable to muster more than that word. I kept my eyes locked on his but I could tell he knew who was really in control.
"Why not?" he asked sweetly.
"B-because..." but I could find no reason. Tom knew he had won me over and he showed his triumph with that seductive smirk of his. My stomach fluttered and I wanted nothing more than for him to go away and never come back but at the same time I wanted him to come closer and hold me like he did the night before...
TomCat lifted a hand and signalled me to come closer with a single movement of his finger. Me, being in the state that I was, obeyed reluctantly and scooted as close as I could to him without letting him know he had won me over. I was expecting more conversation to tease me; however, to my surprise, the man reached up, gently taking my chin with his fingers and pulling me close.
My stomach fluttered and my heart began to race. That yearning in my loins returned once again and unknowingly, I had let out a shaky breath and leaned into his touch. I only realised my mistake when TomCat chuckled again, holding me just close enough for a kiss but still far enough to be the unrelenting bully that he was being.
"You're lying to yourself... I know what you want," he whispered, lifting my head to meet his gaze. And with that, he let me go and sauntered off, leaving me to deal with my mixed emotions by myself. God, I hate him. I want nothing more than to wipe that cocky little smirk off his face... what the hell is he making me feel??
...
By the time the circus opened, I had put my chains back on and I had curled up in the darkest corner of my cage to sleep away the day. I couldn't stop thinking about TomCat and how he was treating me but I dared not say anything to Cheetah. Instead, I just remained quiet; sleeping as much as I could and pretending to sleep during the times when I couldn't.
As usual, the day was long and boring with only Cheetah answering the questions of guests and a child or two pointing me out to their family. It felt like an eternity before finally arrived to relay the news that call time for the big show had arrived. Cheetah and I both released a huge sigh of relief and we hastily made our way to the Big Top, eager to do something interesting in the day.
Cheetah kept me out in the backyard of the Big Top so I wasn't sure what was happening before my act. But much like our many, many other shows, performers rushed to and fro, carrying props or moving animals into the Big Top. Cheetah and I sat beside each other on a wooden bench, patiently preparing for our act. I boredly swung my feet back and forth and drew random lines in the dirt with my toe while Cheetah watched, clearly having nothing else to do as well.
But alas, BeastCat finally came out and told Cheetah my part was coming up and we both made our way into the Big Top. Cheetah tied a blindfold around my eyes and made sure my chains were secure.
"Please don't do anything extreme. You've been good for many weeks, I would hate to break that record," Cheetah pleaded quietly as he led me to the backstage curtain.
"I won't," was my answer. We waited for a bit more, listening to the whimsical sounds of the music and our performers and waiting for my cue. At last, it came; the lights dimmed to red, the music slowed, and Tom announced my entrance in his deep, monotone voice as he always does.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; I have for you, a mysterious sight. Some of you have seen her before, most of you haven't. Whichever the case, you all have passed by her today and saw the ominous black cage in the distance, perhaps you even paid it a visit on your journey through the Freakshow. Ladies and gentlemen, here today, is a wonder of nature, a spawn from Hell, a corrupted soul, a young girl-turned-beast... Guests of the circus! Give a round of applause for Demon! The Beast of the Nočne Mačke Circus!" TomCat announced, raising his hands into the air as Cheetah, backstage, guided me out into the middle of the ring, his hand on my back to help guide me to my mark.
The crowd went silent with anticipation while I took my mark and crouched down at Tom's feet. Cheetah held firmly to my chains and I knew a whip was at the ready although I knew he could not bring himself to use it. A stool was placed in front of me and I climbed on top of it, awaiting my next order like a trained tiger.
"For our next act, I will do something more dangerous than previous stunts. For which, I require a brave and daring guest from the audience," Tom announced, circling the barrier and looking for any willing participants. Several children eagerly raised their hands and a few daring teens raised their hands as well, not believing for a second what I was capable of; however, mothers were there to stop their children from making mistakes and I knew Tom was smart enough to look for someone smarter and older.
Eventually, the ringmaster chose someone and I grew excited to see who this courageous soul was.
"You sir! In the back, shrouded by the shadows! You'll be our lucky experiment for this evening!" Tom announced. The audience applauded for the guest and Tom's hand rested on the chain that attached to my neck clasp while we waited for the guest to join us in the ring. I was obedient and willing to participate, excited even, to perform this act.
The volunteer finally hopped over the barrier and approached us and the moment Tom got a good look at who the man was, his hand clenched around the chain on my neck. Something was wrong. Tom's very attitude changed and I felt it.
"Well... I never expected to see you here, Mr Vlamorae," TomCat mumbled quietly. I froze as the words sunk deep into my skin...