Disclosure: I own nothing! Also, I blame YOU for reading this~ it's rated T for a reason, don't get too excited about it ;)

Author Note:

Here we are, I wrote most of this today so sorry if it seems too rushed. I tried my best to make it a bit longer to make up for Friday's chapter. Also, I'm changing the genre a bit because I have a feeling there will be a lot more little romance scenes in this one than in Forgotten Portrait... maybe horror/romance? Does that sound good?

Hmm... Maybe.

Well, that's all I've got for you guys, so without further delay, here's chapter 4!

Chapter 4:

For some reason, the sight sent a red hot fury through the cats body, and it angrily hissed and spat at Viola's form. "Ah, looks like we have company, Mary," Viola murmured, her eyes settling on the cat. "Kuroneko... how intrusive of you," she laughed, the sound was delicate and beautiful. I can barely stand seeing her body being used like this, it's so wrong... He sighed, as his fur smoothed back down against his supple, lean body.

"Ellen, so you've taken her body then? Congratulations, perhaps you'd like me to start calling you Viola now?" He said it with an obviously bitter tone, which only made her laugh.

"Why so angry? Didn't you enjoy swallowing up her soul, demon?" Viola laced her fingers through Mary's, and she swung their arms up and down n unison. "It's been a while since I've had a playmate, won't you let me enjoy my fun?" She smiled over at Mary, who was staring at her wide-eyed.

"You said something earlier... something about..." Mary started, slowly.

"Shh! That was girl talk! We can't let him in on it!" She laughed, jabbing a finger in the cat's direction. "Come on, you've spent enough time fixing your appearance, let's get going to dinner, would you like to accompany us Kuroneko?" The cat rolled his eyes, walking over and jumping up onto the table, from which he leaped onto Mary's shoulders, draping himself comfortably around her neck.

"I guess so, I am awfully hungry," the cat murmured, his whiskers brushing against Mary's slender neck.

"Ah, Mary! How lucky for you! The cook's food is amazing, I remember trying it for the first time," she paused, her face lighting up with a bright smile, "it's delicious really, quite delicious..." Mary stiffened a bit below the cat's body, he vaguely wondered why.

Mary felt much safer with the cat draped across her shoulders, his warm little body brought her an odd sense of comfort. She couldn't help but feel at least a bit worried though, about eating. She'd never eaten anything before, never in her life, paintings and gallery walk-throughs didn't have to eat, their sense of hunger was controlled somehow, and it just never really crossed their minds.

The corridor felt thousands of times shorter when walking in a group, and the house didn't seem quite as horrible, somehow. Mary's eyes slowly lowered, and she found herself looking back at the red stains on the floor, they were drying quickly. "-Speaking of which, will you clean these floors for me sometime Kuroneko? I don't want any trace of her left behind." Her? Kuroneko did mention that she had taken someone else's body... I wonder what really happened.

"Yeah, sure," his voice sounded softer than usual, sad almost. He sounded bitter, angry earlier- maybe she was important to him somehow? But then again, Viola said he had 'eaten her soul' and that he had 'enjoyed' it. Mary shook her head, and felt the cat's claws dig into her shoulders as he shifted to a better position. "Whoa, watch it Mary, you trying to kill me?" Ah, the way he says my name... that's the first time he's said it, huh.

The troupe continued on their way, until they reached the dining room. Somehow, the cook had known that there would be three guests, and three places were set at the table, their plates full of smoky, dark colored food. The glasses were filled with a different liquid than before, it was vibrant green and looked thick. Mary took her place at the table, settling herself down into the creaky old chair; just then, the candle at the middle of the table blew out. I'm scared, no- please, I'm scared of the dark- don't make me. If I stay here too long, I'll start to remember things. Mary buried her face in her hands, biting her lip. But just seconds later, the candle light came back on, and what it illuminated made Mary gasp with shock. In Kuroneko's place stood a 6' tall, handsome young man, he had a long, ragged scar encircling his neck, his eyes were the same shade of gold the cat's had been. "I don't particularly enjoy being in this form, Viola." He sighed, and Mary admired the way his beautiful lips just parted... she found herself blushing slightly. Wow, he's really gorgeous.

"Ah, it's not like you can't deal with it for a few meals each day. It's really rather awkward to dine up to the table with a cat, you know," she snickered, as Kuroneko's ears flattened slightly (they were the last remaining evidence of his previously feline form).

"At least this way you don't talk down to me as much, I guess," he mumbled, as he took a bite of his meat. His face contorted into a wide range of emotions before he settled on a blank one, and continued eating. Mary stared down at her own plate, wondering how eating was even done. She did her best to copy the cat, rolling her fork around a pile of noodles, and bringing it up towards her mouth, tentatively taking a bite. Her mouth exploded with flavor, some good, some bad, making her confused and dazed. It was like a painting, really, the soft purples and yellows of the good tastes highlighted by the blacks and blues of the sharper, more bitter ones. Mary swallowed, and put her fingers to her mouth, surprise all over her face. She noticed the cat staring at her, his ears perked up in interest.

"How does it taste?"

"Like purple, blue, yellow and black," Mary murmured, looking down. Yellow. Tears she couldn't control dripped out of her big, green eyes. Why am I sad? Why does that color fill me with a bitter depression?

"Mary... it's all okay now... don't spend too much time missing me, okay? I want you to enjoy your time on Earth as much as you can. Please, just do that much for me."

Her eyes fluttered closed, and she unwillingly slipped into the world of dreams.

"Mary!" He exclaimed, rushing to her side and catching her falling head.

"I guess we imported a rather fragile toy, didn't we?" In the absence of her proposed new body, Ellen's true personality began to show. "It's kind of a pain, dealing with someone who's still learning how to be human."

"So you knew about it too, the fact that she's so young," he picked Mary's dozing form up in his arms. "May I ask how?" Viola laughed.

"I have a friend who's into painting, let's just say. He stumbled upon her, broken and bleeding, when she emerged from the canvas, and had her shipped over to me; a real work of art, isn't she?"

"You're sick."

"Don't you think her body will suit me better than this garbage? I'll age at a much slower rate too, slow enough that we can sever this contract once you eat her soul. I'm sure it'll be tasty, with a bit of seasoning and preparation."

"Don't insult me, bitch." His fingers gripped the small girls form, and he held her closer against his chest. "We all know that you're the real monster here." She laughed, the beautiful, soft laugh that still made his heart flutter.

"You loved her. I knew it, I can see it in your eyes, even now. You're so much easier to read as a human." Screw this. With an angry sigh, he walked out of the dining room, hearing the clink of silverware as Viola began to eat her meal. Was it that obvious?

That I loved you?

Viola?