Katrina was in her room reading into the night by the light of an ever shrinking candle, looking back at the disasterous dinner. She never knew of anything that had ever gone more horribly wrong than that dinner in the history of mankind. It had been going some what smoothly in the begining...
"I assure you they are not stories and I certainly hope that you haven't heard of ALL my exploits. Some are just too scandalous for a darling petit trésor such as yourself to hear." A smile graced Reaver's lips and he then motioned to the seat opposite of him. "Now please join us before the dinner gets cold and spoils our appetites. Though I doubt anything gets cold in this kind of weather."
She couldn't help but smile as she took a seat across from Reaver, on her father's right hand side. Reaver had a very charming and beguiling aura about him but there was something darker. Something beautiful and dangerous, like an exotic flower that lures you in with its colors tempting you to smell it and when you do it releases a toxic pollen.
"I must say Garth that I did not expect you to have such a grand estate waiting for you here," Reaver gave a toothy grin to his scowling host "And to have such a lovely young woman eagerly awaiting your return."
"Katrina what have you prepared for supper." Garth was obviously trying to move this dinner along so he didn't have to bear Reavers company any longer than he must.
"Um, well I made your favorite kelp and magnificient tuna salad and rye bread. For the main course there is mutton tenderloin and gold roasted peanut stuffed lizards with sauteed mushrooms, as well as moonfish pie and for dessert is epiphanic berry pie, chocolate parfait and spiced mulled cider." Katrina gave her adoptive father a smile. " I know you said a light meal but that didn't seem fitting after not seeing you for so many years and Savina was so kind to help me."
"Speaking of the kind Savina, I believe she is here with our meal." Garth motioned Savina and the other servants from the door way and they laid the meal out before them. When they finished the other servents left the dinning hall and Savina sat in her seat of honor at the end of the table. They all started eating the feast before them and the conversation started.
"Is it true you shot the pirate kings eyes out from half a mile away?" Katrina blurted out to Reaver, her cheeks reddening at her impromptu boldness.
"No no no, that's not at all how it happened mon cher and as a matter of secondary concern he is no longer the pirate king, I am. It would be kind of you not to fall into that little mix-up again. No no ange I faked my surrender and made way onto his ship. Then I slaughtered all but one of his men and there in a final showdown between Captain Dread and I, I shot the lamp behind him so his head caught on fire and he slowly melted. It's much funner to make your enemies death slow and dramatique." Reaver said non-chalantly causing Savina to choke on her drink a little and Garth to glare at the two of them.
"Can you tell me more of your stories?" The look Katrina earned from Garth could have torn her to shreds if looks could kill. She knew she was pushing her luck but she didn't care. Reaver just gave one of his lopsided grins.
"And which stories are the ones you'd like to hear exactly?" He asked with a look of hunger in his half lidded eyes.
Garth quickly interupted this line of conversation earning an annoyed glance from Reaver. "So Savina, how goes Katrina's studies."
Savina also wanting to change the course of the conversation replied "Very well sir, she has excelled past your teaching plan and is studying many other subjects." She continued on looking at Reaver with a hint of warning as she said it, "As for her combat training she has surpassed her teachers and is capable of holding her own against any offender." Katrina couldn't help but suspect that Savina directed that toward Reaver.
"And has she been respecting the rules?" Uh-oh.
The look on Savina's face showed that she did not want to bring this topic to light at the dinner table but one look from Garth reminded her of her oath and she finally responded, "She has for the most part... but she has been down to the docks," Garth motioned for her to go on. "And she has been socializing with the sailors there."
The glass Garth had been about to drink from shattered in his grip, Savina and Katrina couldn't help but flinch. Reaver just watched the spectacle with an amused look upon his face.
"Is. That. So. By Sailors it is safe to assume you mean pirates don't you." He looked only at Katrina as he said each word noteing Savina's head nod out of the corner of his eye. He did not yell, he did not scream, he just spoke the words with a sharp edge of fury in his voice. An edge that ignited Katrina's own fury.
"Yes that IS so! I don't see what the big deal is! They are just people with amazing stories to tell and items to trade! I should be able to go where ever I want! Not be cooped up in this prison all the time! I-"
"ENOUGH!" Garth yelled, slamming his hand on the table, Will crackling to life over his skin. "I was charged with your protection and protect you I shall-"
"And just how have you been protecting me all the way in Albion for the last eleven years?" Katrina snapped back, glaring at Garth the whole while.
"That is enough go to your room!" Garth ordered.
"As you wish father." Katrina sneered.
She rushed out of the dining hall not even bothering to look back. Where had that come from? She never got angry like that at her father. She never had been so bold as to speak back to her father, but she felt what she said was the truth. He was not protecting her all the way in Albion. This house did feel like a prison to her.
She came to her bedroom door without realizing it and walked in. She plopped herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow, giving it a scowl that should have scared the stuffing out of it. After a few minutes of the pillow not heeding her bad mood she took a breath and grabbed a book from her nightstand. It was one of her favorites. A book of stories about Heroes. Father hadn't wanted to buy it for her but did so after much begging and pleading.
Katrina read into the night by the light of an ever shrinking candle, looking back at the disasterous dinner in the back of her mind. She never knew of anything that had ever gone more horribly wrong than that dinner in the history of mankind. It had been going some what smoothly in the begining but then she and her father had to get into an argument. On his first day back no less. She felt torn. She felt guilty for arguing on his first day back but then again she didn't feel guilty about the reason of the argument.
She looked out the window as she sat up and saw that the moon was high in the star filled sky. Swiping away some sweat from the back of her neck she got up and went to her mirror, staring at her reflection before she checked the clock.
It was late and the humidity was even more unbearable than it was during the day. There was no breeze at all. No hint or whisper of relief and she needed to cool down. She grabbed a drying towel and popped her head out her door. No one in the hall.
Padding her way down the hall she made her way into the court yard and to the edge of the large pond. She shed all of her clothes and folded them neatly, laying them neatly on a rock so they would stay clean. Slowly she made her way into the water, enjoying the cool refreshing feeling on her skin.
Swimming lazily out to her favorite spot she stared up at the stars in the sky and started picking out constellations that she had read about in her books. She easily found the The Fury which held one of the brightest stars for this time of year. It also led her straight to the rock that she always perches on.
Finding her usual little cranny she sat crosslegged and leaned against the smooth backrest that the rock naturally made. It was quite convenient bacause she had no plans of getting out until she was nice and pruney. A few water wrinkles was way better than even the thought of a few moments in the heat.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who had thought of this.
She heard a splash off in the distance near the shore line but didn't pay any attention to it. The older fish ofter jumped out of the water to either get more air or to just show off. She just kept looking at the sky and studying the stars.
"I must say that was quite a dinner." She nearly jumped out of her skin as Reaver was swimming toward her.
"Why aren't you asleep sir, it is quite late." She replied, trying to avoid a conversation about dinner and to distract him so he would keep a distance.
"I could ask the same of you." He said coyly deflecting the question, " I thought you were supposed to be in your room."
He was getting closer and she was starting to get nervous, "I am supposed to be but it was far too hot and now I must ask you to stop where you are."
"And why is that mon chere?" He asked with a smirk, " Is it because you're clothed only in water?"
Katrina blushed so furiously that Reaver was able to see it in the moonlight, earning a laugh from him. He came closer still and she tried to back away but she hit the rock that she so loved to lounge on and cursed it.
"Didn't you stop to think might want to see you dans le nu? Oh I admit I got a sneak peak when you got in but I wanted a closer look très cher." He swam closer to her and looked into her eyes.
"Mister Reaver this is most improper. I should really go to my room."
"May I ask what does that insufferable bore Garth have against pirates?" He clearly ignored her question and stayed right in front of her. Thankfully he was far enough away that neither of them could see below the collar bone.
"I honestly do not know, now if you would kindly move so as I may get past you-"
"Why are you so nervous? Has a man never seen you unclothed before?" He asked looking straight into her eyes and,she felt,into her soul. She shook her head meekly and looked down at the water in front of her to break eye contact so she didn't see Reaver smirk before he continued, " So it is safe to assume that you have never seen a man without clothing as well."
"That is correct sir. In fact i have never even kissed a boy before, now wi-"
"Well lucky for you I am not a boy, I am a man." He closed the distance between them, like a shark going in for the kill, and before she could react he gently guided her gaze to his then placed his lips upon hers.
She gave a small gasp and Reaver took full advantage of it, deepening the kiss and pulling her off the rock and closer to him. It felt like her skin was covered with electricity and there was a warmth spreading through her lower stomach. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity and for a second at the same time. She moaned into Reavers lips and he smiled as he pulled back.
"Now that you had your first experience what do you think Ange?" Katrina couldn't help but notice that his lips were flush and red. All she could think about was melting her lips with his once more.
"I think that was very improper." She said in a breathless whisper, but she wanted more.