Lucan's pet - part two

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lucky star

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Kat stepped inside, the gate creaking slightly behind her but left ajar. The maids stepped aside, their eyes wide with apprehension. She approached the black cat cautiously, still calling out to it, but it remained motionless.

When she reached it, she bent down and scooped it up, only to discover it was unexpectedly light. "Hey, kitty," she cooed, but the "cat" felt oddly stiff. She turned it around and realized it was a stuffed toy, its eyes staring lifelessly back at her.

"Oh," she said, puzzled. Kat looked around, wondering why Lucian would keep a toy in such an elaborate setup. "Where is the cat?" she muttered to herself.

Kat took a deep breath, cradling the stuffed toy and glancing around the enclosure. The luxurious space seemed almost too extravagant for just a cat. Her eyes were drawn back to the enormous, fluffy white bed in the center. It was far too large for a regular cat, but she brushed off the thought, thinking maybe Lucian liked to spoil his pets. She decided to call out to King, hoping he would come out of hiding.

"Here kitty, kitty, come on, boy, where are you?"

Suddenly, a deep, rumbling growl echoed through the space, making Kat freeze. Her eyes widened as the bed began to move. She watched in horror as what she thought was a bed stood up. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. "Here kitty... kit..." Her words stuck in her throat, the last words gibberish.

Standing before her was an enormous white lion, its fur as pure as snow and its size almost twice as tall as her. It let out a massive yawn, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and stretched its colossal frame. Kat's voice caught in her throat as she tried to process what she was seeing.

For a moment, the lion stared at her, its golden eyes calm but intensely focused. The world seemed to stand still as they locked eyes. Then, panic surged through Kat. She dropped the stuffed toy and spun on her heel, sprinting toward the open gate. Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran, her mind a blur of fear and adrenaline.

Just as she reached the entrance, she collided with someone, clashing against the strong frame of Lucian's chest. She looked up, her eyes wide with terror, and saw Lucian standing there, his expression a mix of surprise and irritation.

"A lion!" Kat screamed, jumping onto Lucian and wrapping her arms and legs around him, clinging desperately to his back like a koala. Her breath came in rapid gasps as she buried her face against his shoulders.

Lucian's brows furrowed, and he sighed heavily. "Get off me, Katherine," he commanded, trying to peel her off, but Kat held on tighter, her grip tight and unyielding. Lucian, increasingly irritated, tried to pry her off once again, but like the first time, she only tightened her hold. "Close the gate! Close the gate!" she shouted frantically at the maids, her voice rising in pitch.

The maids, startled by her urgency, quickly moved to shut the gate, their hands shaking as they slid the heavy bars into place. Once the gate clanged shut, Kat finally released Lucian, stumbling backward, her eyes still wide with shock.

"There's a lion in there!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the enclosure. "A lion! You call that a cat?"

Lucian sighed, brushing off his sleeves with an air of impatience. "Katherine, that's King," he said, as if explaining something obvious to a child.

Kat's eyes darted between Lucian and the lion, which was now lazily stretching out on the floor of its enclosure. "Wait, what? That's King? That's your cat?"

Sebastian stepped in, trying to calm the situation. "Miss Kat, yes, King is His Majesty's pet."

Kat's jaw dropped further, and she shook her head in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?" She turned to Lucian, her voice rising with each word. "Were you trying to feed me to that lion? If you wanted me dead, you could've just let that creature finish me off!"

Lucian's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Stop overreacting, Katherine. King wouldn't harm you unless provoked."

Kat threw her hands up in exasperation, pacing back and forth. "Overreacting? You think I'm overreacting? You bring me to a giant white lion and tell me it's a cat, and you think I'm overreacting?"

She stopped, her breath coming in rapid gasps as she turned to face Lucian. "First, I get lured into this world by a pure black dog. Then, I nearly get killed by the hooves of a white horse. And now, you expect me to feed a white lion? How many red flags do you think it takes before I get the hint?"

"Absolutely not, nuh-uh, not gonna happen, I'm out of here, byee," Kat said, about to walk away, but paused when she heard Lucian's bone-chilling voice speak. "Where do you think you are going?" Kat turned her gaze to Lucian, his cold stare causing goosebumps to raise on her skin. His eyes looked bloodthirsty, and she almost instinctively wanted to bolt from her spot. "Back to my room," Kat said, her voice more subdued than a moment ago.

Lucian stepped closer, his towering presence intimidating. His voice dropped to a cold, threatening tone. His gaze narrowed. "Did you forget what you owe?" he reminded her. Kat cleared her throat, composing herself. "Yes, but how do you expect me to feed that when I could end up being its meal?" Kat scoffed, her cheeks puffed up as she folded her arms under her chest.

"If I wanted you dead, I would have let you die yesterday, so stop with your drama."

Kat froze, his words sinking in. As much as she wanted to argue, she knew he was right. If he truly intended to kill her, he could have left her to die. But a new wave of paranoia hit her. Kat opened her mouth to retort, but Sebastian stepped in, his demeanor as calm as always. He positioned himself between Kat and Lucian. "Miss Kat," he said gently, "I assure you, King is well-mannered and wouldn't cause you any harm."

Kat looked at Sebastian, her expression skeptical. But Sebastian had never lied to her. In the midst of all the madness, he was one of the few who had always seemed sane and trustworthy. She took a deep breath, her resolve wavering.

"Fine," she muttered reluctantly. "I'll do it. But if anything happens…"

"Get on with it," Lucian interjected, his patience growing thin.

Kat's eyes narrowed, but she nodded slowly. She turned back to the gate, her steps hesitant. The maids, seeing her decision, opened the gate again, their movements cautious. Kat took a deep breath and stepped into the enclosure. She muttered under her breath, "Okay, Kat, you're walking towards a big white lion. A big, terrifying white lion. Oh my god, how did I get here? Please don't let me die. Please don't let me die."

As she moved closer, the lion's gaze followed her every step, its golden eyes filled with curiosity. Kat's heart pounded in her chest as she got within a few feet of the massive creature. She stopped and stared at it, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.

The lion shifted slightly, and Kat's eyes widened. "Hey, hey, hey! Stay there! Please don't move. Please don't move," she pleaded, her voice trembling. But the lion stood up, its huge frame towering over her as it took a step closer.

Kat froze, her mind blank with terror. She stood as still as a statue, her eyes locked on the lion as it approached her. She could hear the soft, almost amused voices of Sebastian behind her, but she was too scared to turn around or speak.

Lucian watched her with a rarely amused expression on his usually stoic face. A faint, almost imperceptible chuckle escaped his lips, catching Sebastian by surprise. It was a sound so unfamiliar from Lucian that Sebastian found himself momentarily taken aback. The fleeting smile quickly vanished, replaced by Lucian's usual impassive demeanor.

Kat, oblivious to Lucian's brief moment of mirth, focused entirely on the lion, which had now stopped just inches away from her. The lion lowered its massive head and sniffed her face, its warm breath tickling her skin. Kat held her breath, unable to move or react.

Then, with surprising gentleness, the lion licked her face with its rough tongue. The sensation was startling, and Kat let out a high-pitched squeal. "Oh gross!" she exclaimed, wiping her face furiously with her hands. The lion seemed unbothered, sitting back on its haunches with a thud that made the ground vibrate under its weight.

Kat stood there, stunned and still slightly trembling, her mind racing. The lion looked at her with what she could almost describe as a satisfied expression, its eyes calm and almost playful. She glanced back at Sebastian, who was watching her with a mix of amusement and approval.

Sebastian stepped forward, his face filled with reassurance. "See, Miss Kat. He likes you."

Kat shot him a skeptical look, still trying to process what had just happened. "Likes me? He just slobbered all over my face!"

Lucian's lips twitched as if he was fighting another smile. "Consider it a greeting," he said, his voice surprisingly soft. "King is very particular about who he accepts. You should feel honored."

Kat wiped her face again, trying to regain her composure. "Honored? I'm just glad he didn't eat me."

The tension slowly drained from her body as she realized she was safe, at least for now. She took a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of relief and disbelief. "Okay, King," she said, her voice still shaky but steadier now. "Nice to meet you too, I guess."

The lion blinked at her slowly, as if acknowledging her words, then settled down on the floor, its massive form relaxing into a comfortable position. Kat looked at it, then back at Lucian and Sebastian, shaking her head in wonder. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

She stood in front of king, her breath shallow but steadying as she absorbed the surreal moment. The lion's eyes, large and golden, watched her with calm curiosity. Tentatively, she reached out her hand, her fingers trembling slightly as they moved closer to the lion's fur.

"Okay, King," she whispered, almost to herself. "You're just a big house cat, right?" She took a deep breath and gently touched the lion's mane. The fur was surprisingly soft under her fingers, and she couldn't help but marvel at how well-groomed it felt.

To her amazement, King leaned into her touch, his massive head nuzzling against her hand. Encouraged by his reaction, Kat let out a nervous laugh and began to stroke his mane more confidently. "You really are just a big kitty, aren't you?" she murmured, her voice filled with awe.

King responded by rolling onto his side, presenting his belly. Kat's eyes widened in disbelief as the giant lion exposed his vulnerable underside, a clear invitation for more petting. She hesitated for a moment, then knelt down beside him and began to scratch his belly. The lion made a low, rumbling sound, almost like a purr, as he stretched out luxuriously under her touch.

"Wow, you're so fluffy and cute," Kat said, running her fingers through his fur. She chuckled softly. "I can see Lucian really keeps you in good shape. He must really take care of you."

As she continued to pet King, the lion responded with gentle, contented rumbles, his eyes half-closed in enjoyment. Kat lost herself in the moment, amazed at how gentle and friendly the enormous creature was. It was as if she were playing with a giant, affectionate cat.

Meanwhile, Lucian, Sebastian, and the maids watched from the sidelines. The maids who were typicaly terrified of King, stared in astonishment. They had always known the lion to be aggressive, roaring at them whenever they got too close, which is why they were worried when Sabastain had assured Kat that he was friendly. They exchanged bewildered glances, unable to reconcile the sight of the usually fierce lion acting so docile with Kat.

Sebastian stood calmly beside Lucian, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he observed the scene. "It seems they're getting along well," he remarked softly, noting the unusual bond forming between Kat and King.

Lucian's eyes shifted to Kat and his pet, observing them with a hint of satisfaction. "Keep an eye on the little birdie," he said, his tone flat. "She might find a way to get into trouble again." Without looking back at Sebastian, Lucian turned to leave. "I have other matters to attend to."

As Lucian walked away, his gaze briefly chilled as he glanced at Kat and King one last time. King, sensing Lucian's departure, shifted his eyes towards him, almost as if he wanted Lucian to come closer. But the lion quickly returned his focus to Kat, who continued to marvel at him, oblivious to what was happening outside at the moment.

Kat cuddled closer to king, talking to herself about how incredibly soft his fur was. "You're just like a big, fluffy pillow," she murmured, lost in the warmth of the lion's presence. Then it clicked. She had completely forgotten the actual reason she was there: to feed King.

Gesturing to the maids, Kat called out, "Could you bring the tray of food over here?" The maids, startled, exchanged worried glances. Despite kings calmness at the moment , they remained fearful of approaching him.

"Do as she says," Sebastian instructed calmly. Reluctantly, the maids, trembling with fear, carried the tray inside the enclosure. They moved slowly, eyes wide with apprehension, and carefully placed the tray behind Kat and King, maintaining a safe distance...