"I'd be upstairs now...". He stood up with a pause in his speech. "Forget about leaving this fortress. Henceforth you're living here and here alone...I strongly demand you stay here for the rest of your life as a matter of fact".

I didn't answer but stared at him really stunned. Maybe he had knocked his head on some trees on the way here.

He just shrugged and started wrapping some strands of curly hair around his finger like what he just said was no big deal.

"Before you bombard me with orders, Alexis put a hex around this forest, including that of your family's house. So you'll be purrfectly safe as long as you never leave...".

I couldn't believe my very ears, and the only thing that he was right about was my order thingy. I couldn't even look at him properly anymore, rather than give him death glares.

"What?". He innocently asked.

As I continued to stand there as still as a statue but as fucked up as a bitch, a hint of uncertainty hit his voice.

"Look, umm...it's not that bad in here". He paused a bit in his words.

"I'm in the library if you need me-". He continued, walking out of the room.

"Are you threatening me-". I cut in, stalking him from behind and not listening to whatever he was going to say thereafter. "-Is that it?! Capturing me?!".

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, and more worse, something about him changed. I caught a glimpse of something icy and cold flash across his face.

But like in a second, the thing vanished like it was never even there. It was just like a brief twinkling of the stars in the skylight.

"I'm in the library...". He rumbled and vanished from my sight. Believe me, I was already starting to hate this attitude of his.

I tried opening the doors to leave, but something kept pushing me back, like some sort of a resistant pull. The hell!

"Minuet!". I hissed and stomped upstairs in search of the heartless dude. "Come out!".

"Leave now if you want to...". His voice snapped from the room by the right corner. "I'm DONE".

Though the last words came out in a harsh way, it also came out a little more than a whisper.

Without thinking twice, I frowned. "Do you think I'm stupid?! I can't leave!".

"Not my problem". He sneered and flipped through a book coldly. "Use what you've got".

I walked past his curled body that was leaning against the shelf, knocking the book from his grasp. Fair enough that got his attention.

"I'm already beginning to dislike you". He glared deeply at me. "Remember I told you that I'd do anything against your will if you bother me...don't tempt me Isabelle".

Okay, he sounded serious and scary, but knowing that it was the same cat I had fed and taken care of, pfft...as if.

I watched as he flickered his hands and mumbled some jumbled words briefly before pointing behind me angrily at the door. "Now let me be!".

"Hmph!". But just as I reached the doorstep and placed my hand on the door's knob, I glanced back at the room, feeling a very strong pull to rush back inside to his side.

Minuet already had his face buried into his arms, and didn't even a spare a look at my direction.

For once, throughout our entire talks, I felt bad for him. Not only had he been living here alone, but was living under some rules.

"H-hey". I said almost in a whispering tone.

Minuet didn't respond but remained in his position, letting the moonlight kiss his bare feet.

"Look I'm really really sorry...for the tough times I caused you through, but...what's your name? Like what's your real-".

"You named me Minuet". He answered, without moving at all. "Get lost now...before I do anything I'd regret".

I opened my mouth to say something more, but he interrupted with a low growl. "Just leave already...!".

"I do but...I umm...". I began stuttering.

What's wrong with me?

Why won't I go already?

What's keeping me from moving?!

Minuet suddenly raised up his head and when he did, I felt a pang in my chest.

His face was shiny, no not shiny...they were gleaming, gleaming with...tears?

The realisation then hit me, I thought I was the only one who loved grandma so much, I never realised that there was someone else too. Damn, I look so selfish now.

"WHAT PART OF LEAVE DON'T YOU GET ALREADY!?". He suddenly growled, kicking some books that were in front of him.

Right now, his eyes were slit like his cat's form and tinged with the red color, which means that he'd soon transform or something---just like from the few horror movies I watched recently. Honestly, his growl terrified the shit out of me but I didn't want to leave him to play this game alone. Worse, this feeling is so strong that it feels like it's piercing through my skin.

I let go of the door knob immediately and ran back to his front, dropping on my knees in front of him.

"I-I've a suggestion too, Minuet. You...you come with me, we can stay at my place". I placed both hands on my laps with a nervous look on my face. "Me and you...".

I had no idea what I was doing.

But I did it.

"What?". His expression slowly became calm again.

"Look, you've been captu-...no I mean, you've been here all along by yourself if I'm correct, so...come with me...". I didn't want to use the word 'captured' to upset him again.

"I mean, I'm sure granny also wanted you to explore my world as well...come to think of it".

"Well, she wanted us to be safe...". He mumbled.

Something great popped into my head all of a sudden, I had no idea why I didn't think of it earlier as well.

"But you said grandma was a powerful witch, right?".

He nodded reluctantly.

"So...I've her powers, can't I be able...to erm...hide myself in myself...like hide my scent, my powers...my inner self and as well hide you from you know...the hunters?".

Minuet was silent throughout my question, but not in the bad way...in the good way.

"Teach me so I can protect you the same way you'd protecting me too". I suggested in a plea.

Minuet stared at me for a few moments, before pressing his hand against his forehead with a deep sigh.

"She did tell me that you're an introvert and a nerdy nerd". He wore a small grin that showed off his sharp fangs and I knew that grin.

"W-what?!". My eyes widened at his obvious lie, and I puffed out my cheeks slightly annoyed but more of embarrassed. "Grandma would never say that!".

"Fine fine...let me rephrase that, you spend most of your time at home either studying or I don't know...girls stuffs? ". He air quoted.

Don't go red Isabelle...don't go...r-red!

"So what's the point of going back there if you don't want to be stuck at home?". His eyes seemed a bit dull and his ears, which are real cat ears weren't twitching but were flat now.

He seems so tired...

"Risking your life like this is not worthwhile....". He looked away with a sigh. "We've always got to create two steps ahead of us before making a leap".

Now that's where your wrong....not in every situation you just create steps before leaping, you silly cat...

"There's uhm....someone too...". I blurted out.

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A/N: Can you now guess this 'someone' cupcakes? If you can...that means you've been going along with the story perfectly, but you still can't, don't worry...try reading it over again or reading the synopsis. Lately, my head has been occupied with too many fantasy, drama, paranormal and action movies. I can't even differ my life from that of reality anymore.
Who I'm I? 😂👉👈.
I am...

Your Writer,
TheMysticalQueen 👸.

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