I left the dramatic kitten in my room, as I couldn't really leave her in some guest room as she would definitely try to escape. Not that she would really succeed in escaping, but she would definitely get injured in doing so, and I need her in one piece to accomplish my plan.

I sighed and opened the drawing-room door. Max raised his eyebrows at me and patted the space between the sofa next to him, and I made my way towards him and settled myself next to him.

Some retro classical music was playing in the background and he opened the wine bottle resting on the table in front of us and poured it equally into two glasses, offered one glass to me, which I accepted with mumbling a little thank you.

I sipped the bitterly sweet liquid and leaned back in the sofa seat and took a long breath. Closing my eyes, I focused my mind on the melody playing in the background. The music was so soothing and satisfying that I felt all my worries leave my body for a few moments.

After staying like that for some minutes, I reluctantly opened my eyes to look at Max, who was already watching me with soft eyes.

"So, Explain-" he whispered in a soft fatherly voice and I sighed.

"She hacked my private anonymous bank account and stole five million dollars from me." I said and he nodded but gave me a questioning look.

"As much as I know you, if it's for money, you should have just charged them thrice the amount, and perhaps shown them their place by doing something which does not include fucking kidnapping the leader herself."

"You know me very well Maxxy," I patted his head, smiling at him.

*Smack*

"Owww.... why always so grumpy old man?"

"Don't change the topic, Pumpkin.... What the fuck is the leader doing in your room?"

"Sleeping duh-"

*Smack*

"Owwww..., the fuck is wrong with you old man?"

"Do you want me to smack the shit out of you, then you will tell me?"

"Okay, okay - she cracked five firewalls herself-"

"What? Why-"

"She is a good hacker," I gulped the last drops of wine from my glass, and his eyes went wide with realisation.

"Don't you tell me you are going to do that-" he pleaded while holding my hand and looking at me with an expectant look in his eyes.

"I certainly am," I said, smirking, and he rolled his eyes and huffed.

"I can't really stop you, can I?" I chuckled as he asked, most likely to himself.

"Okay, Maxy...Now- now I'm going to try to sleep. " I announced, and he gave me a worried look, but he just nodded, and I stood up from the sofa and made my way to the door, where I entered the hallway, and, after a few turns, I arrived at my room, where the door was slightly ajar, so I peeked through it.

There the curly brown-haired kitten was sleeping peacefully cuddling with Kartos, covering the whole fucking bed as if it was her own, Sighing... I entered the room and Kartos opened his eyes but didn't move from his position, and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Why the fuck are you so nice to this thief?" I said, and he fucking ignored me.

"Looks like I have to take the couch-" I mumbled and took steps towards the couch.

I made my way towards the couch and settled myself on it. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, remembering all the events that had happened today.

I was not getting sleepy, so I sat up and leaned towards my sofa table, took the I-pods out, and connected them with my phone, playing instrumental flute music.

My close aunt was from India, and she used to love Indian classical music, and she introduced me to the world of instrumental music, especially the Krishna's flute instrumental tone.

For years, music and art have always been my escape from reality. Besides meds and err... blades, they also provide me with a mild sensation of soothing, a temporary sensation of happiness as they trigger the release of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin in minute amounts in the bloodstream.

I put on the buds and let myself get lost in the melody, I don't remember when my senses dozed off-

"W-Wait - D-Don't leave me-"

"You are pathetic-"

"No- I-I- A-Am S-Sorry for w-whatever I did, but please don't leave me-"

"I hate you-"

My body started to shake and breathing was starting to become difficult and difficult, but eventually, I opened my eyes on time, but I found Kartos in front of my face, sitting beside the couch.

I took some deep breaths and patted him on the back, smiling a little at him, and he jumped on the couch next to me, too exhausted to do anything. I just cuddled with the giant teddy bear on my lap, looking at the clock, and sighed.

"7:30," I sighed, and kissed my baby's forehead.

"Not that I was expecting any sleep without the pills anyway," I mumbled, cuddling deeper into his fur, and he snuggled into my arms...

"Yes- ....Yes baby- I'm angry at you-....why are you being so nice to that damn hooman?-" I slowly smacked him a little on his back, to which he gritted and growled a little at me.

"Now... Now growling at mama - Who are you... ...where is my baby?" I huffed in a little voice dramatically into his ear and he started licking my face and I freed myself from the cuddle.

I sat up and poured some water into a glass and gulped the neutral liquid, wetting my throat, as I looked at the Zodiac girl sleeping soundly in my bed, without any worries, without any fear.

Her round baby-like face looked so innocent, her freckles were glowing in the little rays of sunlight coming through the windows, her curls were now distorted, giving her hair a bushy appearance, just like the tail of a brown Prussian cat, her tattoo was also reflecting in the sunlight, my shirt was way too big for her as her cervical bone was prominent and her nipples were erect and prominent through the thin cotton fabric of grey -Wait, what the fuck are you thinking, Krystal?

I shook my head vigorously to get these thoughts out of my head and took my phone, which was resting below Kartos's body, and messaged Linda to bring some clothes for the girl.

I sighed and threw the phone on the couch and kissed Kartos one last time before getting into the bathroom.

I brushed my teeth, took a shower, and pulled on a off-white plain T-shirt with grey ripped jeans, and opened the bathroom door.

The kitten was still sleeping. Rolling my eyes, I opened the bedroom door and gestured for Kartos to follow me. He jumped from the sofa and flew out the door, then his caretaker leashed him and took him out for a walk.

I made my way towards the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket.

While munching on the apple, I scrolled through some company's emails.

Soon the kitchen door opened, revealing a sighing Max.

"How many hours?" He asked in a worrying tone and I took a deep breath, closing my eyes.

"Two and half-"

"Pumpkin-" he couldn't say anything, so he just came closer and patted my head, and I leaned into his touch.

"Thanks, old man." I mumbled and he sighed.

"For what Pumpkin?"

"For just being you." I said and he smiled and he took my hand and kissed my palm.

"Do you have a death wish? That's why you being all emotional with me ay?" He asked teasingly and I huffed playfully.

"What's that?" I pointed towards a red envelope resting on the tabletop that I just noticed.

"The invitation to the annual joint corporation ball." He answered and I groaned.

"What, this shit again? "

"As the name says, it is held annually pumpkin-" he chuckled at my dramatic ass.

"But-but.... What is the point of it anyway when all the members just act friendly inside the venue and shoot each other outside?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Well, It's a ritual, honey, and you have to go whether you like it or not because you are the-"

"Yes - Yes- I know I'm the leader, blah- blah-.......when is the party anyway?"

"A day after tomorrow-"

"WHAT!........ I'm not going -" I groaned at the thought of facing all the leaders of the country in two fucking days.

"You have to-"

"And why is that?" I asked, raising my brows.

"By some resources, I got the information that Cobras are attending the ball too-"

"WHAT! You are telling me this now - okay, okay, I'm going." I was looking forward to seeing that bitch after so many years.

"And may I ask you about the girl in our captivity?" He asked more likely stated, and I gave him a confused look-

"What about her?"

*Smack*

"Owwww.... what was that for?"

"You are forgetting that she is a leader too-"

"So?" I asked, still confused, and he sighed.

"Not attending the ball is considered as a direct challenge to the upper ranked groups since we are at the top, your arrival doesn't really matter, but it's different for her as The Zodiacs are at the fifth rank..... Krystal, You need her for her skills. What if she won't corporate? Or worse, she does something to her if her group got endangered due to your foolishness." He stated, and I nodded in understanding.

"Okay, I see - so she must attend the ball." I said and he nodded.

"So, I have a plan-"

"What pumpkin?"

"You will see, old man... you will see..." I said and smirked, and he sighed, mumbling something like, 'kids these days"-'-

"You should just go and lie down a little-"

"But-"

"No butts, or no lunch." He said this in a serious tone, making my eyes widen.

"W-What?"

"Yes - Now go shooooooo-" he yelled, practically dragging me out of the kitchen despite my protests.

"I can't even sit in peace, can I?" I groaned and he chuckled.

Pouting at the old man, I made my way again towards my room and was greeted by the sleeping cat again.

'Ugh... how the fuck she is even sleeping so peacefully after being kidnapped. 'I thought any normal human must have tried to escape or something... But I sighed, remembering that she is not a normal human.

I entered my room and again took the couch. I decided to follow Max's orders, so I just closed my eyes.

The birds were chirping, Kartos was barking at someone, and the wind was blowing, making the leaves of the trees move and making a rhythmic sound.

They say too much darkness can make you crazy,

But too much light can turn you blind...

I always kept all things to myself and ended up losing my mind.

No matter how far I try to go,

The darkness always follows,

The filthy touches of the past won't leave me until I'm numb and hollow.

I tried forgetting the night,

But I'm stuck in a black hole,

Light is nowhere in sight.

The voices inside my head,

Keep reminding me that I should be dead.

The voices kept getting louder,

The craving for pain,

The sensation of blades,

But now, not again,

They messed with my brain for too long,

I shooed away everyone who approached me. That was a huge mistake,

I am searching for happiness in a bottomless lake.

An empty feeling is always around me,

A soulless life just has no meaning,

My heart is only beating for revenge...

I will never forget what they did,

I will never forget that night, since when all I feel is stillness,

I just want to sleep. Perhaps some amnesia would be nice,

The day I lost my life,

The only goal left for me is to kill those lice,

The emptiness always surrounds me,

Since that day, the voices have just gotten louder and more amplified each day by thrice.

They made me addicted to the pain,

The cravings just kept getting high,

They killed the original me,

It left me questioning my own sanity,

I fight a war against each and every cell in my brain every day to keep it functioning.

I'm shaken up to the very core,

I'm not that happy girl anymore...

There was no one to tell.

All I did was hide.

Then my mind entered into a dark side,

I don't know where my sane part went...

Perhaps it died.

I know I will never find the light.

My life has just become like a torn kite.

The feeling when you are not necessarily sad,

But all you feel is empty.

But what do you expect from a soulless body with just a single aim?

I feel nothing else but more powerful than ever before,

I'm not that girl anymore.

I learned that in this world there is no one to trust,

I'm burning with bloodlust.

After some minutes I heard the sound of the mattress moving and the girl yawning, but I decided to continue closing my eyes to see whether she would try to run out of the door or not...

But to my surprise, I felt footsteps coming closer and closer in my direction... Oh, so she wants to attack me? , I mentally smirked, preparing myself to kick her in the guts if she tried to do something funny but to my surprise I sensed the footsteps stop near my face and then I felt a finger in my hair.

I opened my eyes to which she flinched and jumped back just like a scared kitten, and I held back my laughter, imagining her as Tom the cat.

"What were you doing?" I asked, raising my brows at her-

"Errrrrr-N-Nothin," she sputtered, and I rolled my eyes at her.

*Knock - Knock - Knock - Knock -*

Someone knocked on the door and I sat up from my position and looked at the kitten awkwardly standing in front of me.

" You should cover it up if you want -" I said, throwing my blanket at her, and she gave a quizzical look. Sighing, I stood up and pointed towards her hard nipples, basically popping out of the thin cotton fabric.

She immediately covered herself up with the blanket and blushed, and I made my way towards the door.

I opened the door and Linda bowed in front of me and I smiled at her.

"Here, Mistress," she handed me a couple of jute bags.

"Thanks, Lilandhara. You never disappoint me." I praised Linda, and she blushed and mumbled a small thank you, fixing her hair with one hand.

"Okay, - I will come to the office a little late today, so can you take care of my schedule?" I asked, leaning my head down a little in her right earlobe's direction.

"Y-Yes... I will." She squeaked and I smirked.

"Now that's a good girl," I said in a low, husky tone and patted her head, and she blushed even more.

"N-Now E-Excuse me-" She shuttered and flew out of the corridor and I chuckled.

"yOu nEvEr DiSsaPoInt mE-" The kitten repeated my dialogues in a mocking voice, and I smirked, closing the door.

"Yeah, she never had-" I said teasingly, to which the kitten rolled her eyes at me.

"I hate that bitch-" she casually snuggled into my blanket like a cat.

"And why is that so?" I asked, raising my brows and taking steps in her direction.

"I just don't like her-" she mumbled, a little annoyed, and I handed her the bags.

"But thanks to her you are getting clothes-" I said and she huffed-

"I'm wearing your clothes anyway," she whispered quietly, but I heard her because of my exceptional hearing abilities, but I decided not to comment.

"Now, go shooo- get fresh and ready, we are going out-" I told her and she gave me a quizzical look.

" Going where?" She asked, raising her brows, and I patted her head because she was looking like a confused, curious kitten...... ugh, Krsytal baby! You need to stop this!, I shook my head and took some steps back.

"Shopping," I said as I exited the room.

***************************

Love -K.D♡