Another chapter! And yes, a BRILLIANT reviewer noticed that I, KalmeKalica, am indeed Kalika. Do you guys think I should write a back-story on Cyra, Malica, Kalika, etc.? If you do, please let me know in your reviews! Thank you all!

Enjoy this next chapter when Zidane sees a slightly sweeter side to this sadistic cat.

Zidane was too cold to sleep. Though he tried to resist it, he couldn't stop himself from shaking. The shaking made his chains rattle a bit; Zidane knew if this kept up he'd wake Kalika, and surely she wouldn't have the mercy to do anything about it, save, perhaps, throwing him down to the dungeon to be tortured by Kylima. He was fortunate to be here, despite the cold, Kalika's quarters were dry and at the very least comforting.

He was shaking to the point where he would have done anything for a blanket or something. It was so cold! The frigid air against his skin made him quiver even more so, and the cold shackles and collar didn't help much either.

Then his worst nightmare came true. He heard Kalika rouse. He watched in horror as she drew back the sheers. He closed his eyes and dropped his head, trying to take up the pretense of sleep, or at the very least, unconsciousness.

It was too late. She was standing in front of him; he looked up slowly. She bore that all too familiar cold expression. She's going to kill me now, isn't she? he thought desperately. She's going to send me down to the dungeon and let Kylima torture me to death.

It caught him by surprise when the tension on his neck was released. He fell forward. He could feel her pick up the chain and wrap it around her hand. She gave it a light tug.

That surprised Zidane. If she wanted him up, she would have yanked the chain, throwing him forward and then yelled at him because of his slowness, but as he slowly rose to his feet, the thought struck him: No, that's what Cyra would have done. She placed her hand in the small of his back to encourage him forward. He walked forward, despite the fear he was suffering.

What does she want with me? Is she taking me out to have me killed? I don't smell smoke; there aren't torches lit for my execution. Perhaps she'll just leave me outside and let the animals kill me. I sure smell like death.

Where is she taking me? he asked no one, merely watching as Kalika brought him out to a large room. It had a fireplace in the center, but the fire was dead, nothing but small embers still alive. "Lie down on the couch." Kalika ordered. Zidane did so. She blindfolded him. Terror overtook him. Oh no! he prayed, Please, don't do that to me….

Horror stories about queens taking their slaves out like this in the middle of the night swarmed around Zidane's head. Stories of rape, torture, and sadism…he closed his eyes, even though he had on a blindfold. There was no point in struggling; if he did, she'd just have him tortured and then have her way with him.

It had been a few minutes since Kalika had said anything to him, so it really made him flinch when he felt her touch his arm. Here we go…he thought, tonight is the night.

"Sit up." she commanded. Zidane sat up, too terrified to resist her. He felt her swing her leg around him, so that she was sitting behind him, in almost a comforting manner.

She ran her fingers down Zidane's lips, as if savoring their dryness. All at once, she brought something to his parched lips; it was a glass! It was filled with cold water. Zidane drank eagerly. Slowly, from exhaustion, Zidane pulled back.

Kalika didn't say anything. She merely encouraged him up and then took him back to her quarters. Once there, she set him back where he was before, but she didn't chain him to the wall this time. She pulled off the blindfold. She let him be.

Again, almost as soon as she lay down to sleep, she could hear him shivering again. A feel of anger passed over her. How dare he! After all I've done for him….she growled audibly. She felt him shrink back in fear, still quaking. He's cold. He can't help it! Why do I do this to him? From her angle, she could see every stripe on his back, she could see his still bleeding tail, and she could see his broken arms and the cruel shackles that held his arms back in a most painful manner.

And yet… she thought, softly, he says nothing. The realization was painful. He's given up hope. He's given up his life to me. He's ready to die. Still keeping her cruel demeanor, she yelled at him.

"Come!" she called. Nothing happened. Is he just afraid? Kalika grew slightly angry. "Zidane, come here, now." There was a soft rustle, the slight clanking of his chains, but he came to her. She pulled back the sheers. "Lie down on the bed." she said, and Zidane obeyed her. She sensed, however, that he was mortally terrified to do this. She knew, at the very least, that it was warmer within the sheers because of her own body heat. She also knew that Zidane was very cold, and very vulnerable. She absent-mindedly began to stroke his face, and from his face moved down to his chest where she came to rest.

"Why don't you whimper, Zidane? I know you're afraid," she whispered, harshly, though she felt simply the opposite. She felt Zidane tense upall over his body; she instantly regretted using the harsh tone of voice.

"Please, have mercy…I beg of you…" he whispered softly. Kalika touched his face again, and whispered softly, "It's alright. Hush…my love…calm down then." She felt him relax slightly. She had meant it—she wasn't patronizing him.

She gave the chain to his collar a soft pull. He sat up unquestioningly. With a tenderness she had never known she was capable of, she gentle pulled off the collar. She unshackled him, as well, letting him relax against her.

"Lie down." It was a command—it wasn't an idea for him. He lay down, quietly, obediently. Before he even knew what happened, Kalika had managed to slip him under the warm covers. Softly and gently, she ran her hand along his neck. "Sleep." Again, it was a command and not a request.

She sensed he was too terrified to sleep; after all, would a lamb fall asleep in hungry lions' den? Taking a deep breath, she laid still behind him, calmly slowing her breath down until she was asleep. I'll make it a little easier for him.

Zidane wasn't about to leave the warm sanctuary she had provided for him. As soon as he sensed she was asleep, he too fell into the dark world of unconsciousness.

AN/ I'm sorry my chapters are getting shorter, seriously, but I'm still trying to update as many chapters as I can at once. THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND REVIEWING! Remember to tell me if you want a separate back-story published here on about the "kitties" of this story.