(Author's Note: Hello my readers, and welcome to our next installment.
Hope you guys enjoy:)
Chapter Ten: Territory
Concept: Finally having the ability to relax, Felix and Pepa decide to take their children out for some "family time". Unfortunately, one villager doesn't seem willing to allow the small family to spend time together in peace.
It was a bright and joyous day within the Encanto. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze in the air, and there was a smile on just about everyone's face.
Felix and Pepa had decided to take advantage of their day off to have an "outing" with all three of their children (something that wouldn't have been possible mere months ago, but the collapse and reconstruction of Casita helped changed the Madrigals for the better).
Pepa had run off to a nearby store, having promised Mirabel that she would pick up some fabric for her sobrina's newest project. Mirabel had tried to tell her tia that she didn't need to once she found out that her side of the family was going out (Felix having only made his decision for their "family outing" this very morning). But Pepa had already agreed to help her sobrina out when she was asked the day before, and wouldn't hear anything else about it.
Felix stood off to the side, arms crossed with a smile as he watched his children. Camilo and Antonio had engaged in a game of tag (the youngest riding on Parce, who Felix and Pepa had agreed should come due to how often he was around Antonio), while Dolores looked on at her brothers with a warm smile.
This was a perfect day (in Felix's humble opinion). He had always made sure to spend quality time with his wife and children whenever he could, but he can't remember the last time they could all go out together as a family.
I should pick up some food for later, Felix thought to himself, A picnic would be nice. While Felix was considering the details of a picnic with his wife and children (as well as debating as to whether he'd have to get something for Parce too, or if the jaguar would prefer to just hunt for his own food), he suddenly felt someone's hands shove into his shoulder.
"Oh, my God! I am SO sorry!" Felix looked to his left (an eyebrow raised), seeing that it was a woman who had rammed into him. "I'm such a klutz! I swear, I'd trip over the air if it were possible," the woman laughed. She wasn't someone that Felix knew at first glance. She looked younger than Felix himself, the triplets, and Agustin, but quite a bit older than Isabela and Dolores. Probably…between her mid-30s to early 40s, if Felix had to guess.
But, of course, Felix wasn't going to talk about a woman's age to her face like that (he hasn't stayed in a happy marriage for decades by being stupid, after all).
"It's alright, no harm done," Felix waved her off with a chuckle, "Being married to a woman who can summon a hurricane makes one pretty sturdy."
The woman giggled, running a hand through her long black hair, "I suppose that's a good point. Even though I know all of the "Famous Madrigals", I don't believe I've had the…pleasure of your acquaintance," she smiled brightly as she held out a hand, "I'm Catalina."
Although he was a little confused by her tone, Felix shook her hand, "Nice to meet you, Catalina. Felix, though you already know that," he joked, but he still felt that it was good to give his name. His mama raised a polite and respectful boy, after all.
"My, my, MY," Catalina placed her other hand on top of Felix's, "You must work out, don't you? I can just FEEL the strength in your hand."
Felix raised an eyebrow, "Really? You can tell how strong someone is from their hand?" He joked as he gently (but firmly) pulled his hand from Catalina's grip.
"You notice a lot of things in life when you pay attention~," Catalina ended her sentence with a giggle which…didn't sound quite right (in Felix's opinion), "~So…what's a handsome man like you doing out and about all by yourself, if you don't mind my asking?" Catalina giggled, twirling a strand of her black hair over her finger. Felix raised an eyebrow, his suspicion clicked and his guard now up.
"I convinced Pepa that we should take our kids out for a family day. Been FAR too long since we've been able to take our whole family out," Felix spoke smoothly, scratching his cheek.
He almost missed it, but (out of the corner of his eye) Felix noticed how a small glare formed on Catalina's face before it was soon concealed.
"Really? That sounds…OKAY, I guess," Catalina muttered, before she gave another big smile, "Seems a little boring though, don't you think? What, you're just watching your kids run around like chickens with their heads cut off? Is there REALLY a point in that?"
"There IS a point to it, actually," Felix shot back confidently (but still concealing his growing "concern"), "I get to spend the day with my lovely wife and our fantastic children. What more could a man want?"
"I'm sure that there are some things that a man could want," Catalina replied, "Or, rather…ONE thing in particular." Catalina then turned back to look at Felix, her smirk now having grown an…"edge" to it, "Wouldn't you agree, Señor?" Okay, now he was beginning to grow quite uncomfortable.
"No, Señorita…I'm afraid that I DON'T know what you mean," Felix shot back, eyebrow raised and arms crossed.
"Oh…come ON! I don't buy that! I can tell that you're just as smart as you are handsome," Catalina ran a hand along Felix's arm, but the older man quickly grabbed her by her wrist.
"Okay-," Felix's kind smile was now replaced by an annoyed frown, his patience now officially having worn thin, "-you need to stop now. I am not only a married man, but a HAPPILY married man!"
"Oh come on," Catalina giggled, "I'm not trying to break up your marriage or anything. I know that you'd never do ANYTHING to ruin your relationship with Pepa Madrigal. Giving up the good life as a member of the Encanto's top family? That'd be just idiotic," as Catalina laughed, she didn't know how Felix's expression took on one of thunder at the way this woman described his loving relationship with his amazing wife, "BUUUUUT…that doesn't mean that you and I can't still have a little fun together. No one has to know~," that seductive smirk was back on Catalina's face, almost as if she was certain that she had him.
Now Felix's patience was bone dry. Taking a step back, Felix opened his mouth to respond (and NOT in a pleasant way)…
"HEY!" Both adults flinched at the sudden yell, which occurred a split second before Felix's children raced in between him and Catalina. Camilo (the one who had yelled) all but stomped forward, looking up to glare into Catalina's eyes, "Back. Off! In case you SOMEHOW couldn't put it together, our papa is HAPPILY married and doesn't want ANYTHING to do with you!" Dolores had a hand on her brother's shoulder with a firm frown, while Antonio had an upset look that MAY have been adorable…if he weren't sitting on top of a snarling jaguar.
While playing with her brothers, Dolores had eavesdropped a little on her father's conversation with Catalina. She heard the woman's sudden shout and focused in to see what was happening. She was ABOUT to stop listening in…until she heard that woman flirting with HER father.
Now…in her personal opinion, Dolores thinks of herself as a pretty intelligent young woman. She also has enough common sense to understand how "desirable" her father comes off to others. She understands that he has traits that most would want in a partner (funny, nice, loyal, etc.), but she also figured that more than two decades of marriage to her mother would have been enough to push away any "suitors". Virtually every member of the family old enough to be in the "dating range" have had to deal with a suitor here and there, but enough rejections over enough years usually stopped these "complications". With the oldest members of the family especially, everyone thought that this was no longer a problem.
Evidently…they were wrong.
Catalina looked at Camilo like he had two heads before her eyes narrowed, "You know, it's pretty rude to speak to your elders like that." Then, her annoyed gaze flickered to Dolores, "Just like how it's rude to spy in on people's conversations." To the older woman's surprise, Dolores simply returned her glare with one of her own.
"When I hear someone harassing mi papi, I tend to grow a little…frustrated. And, because they're both such great boys, mi hermanos asked what was wrong when they saw how upset I was getting. I saw no reason not to tell the truth," Dolores coolly responded without breaking eye contact (a FAR cry from the meek little mouse who was always terrified of listening to and spilling other people's secrets). "Now…as Camilo and Papi said, he is happily married to our mama. So, I think it'll be best for everyone involved if you just leave. Hmph!"
Catalina simply rolled her eyes at the younger woman's statement, "Since you love listening in with those giant ears of yours, you should know that I'm not trying to break up your parents' marriage. I could NEVER bear to break apart a family like that," Catalina pouted out her bottom lip and placed a hand on her chest, all in a way that was so…fake, "I'm rather insulted that you would even think such a horrid thing about me."
"Yeah, sure. My heart goes out, you poor thing," Camilo replied sarcastically, shifting into Catalina to mimic her body language and expression (though, quite exaggeratedly).
"Camilo," Felix spoke to his oldest son in a warning tone, which got the young boy to shift back to normal with a slump. Although Felix didn't necessarily mind, he knew that he had to be careful with what he allowed Camilo to do.
Give that boy an inch and he'll take a mile every single time.
"I'm just looking to…spend a little time with your father. That's all. I don't understand why that has had everyone so on edge," Catalina ended her sentence with a whisper, any point her words MIGHT have had been nullified by the cocky smirk on her face. Felix was about to set her straight, but his son beat him to it.
"It's probably because he's MARRIED! You know, as in NOT available for you or anyone else?! How complicated is that for you to get?!" Camilo snarled back, his hermana having to pull him slightly by his shoulder to calm him down. Although it may not always be visible underneath his cocky smirks and pranks, Camilo is VERY protective of his family in-between seeing any of them being mistreated or harassed and would ensure that anyone who tried was going to regret it.
As for HOW? Well…let's just say that you don't want a shapeshifter for an enemy (especially a pretty competent prankster at that).
"Alright, that's enough," Felix stepped in between his children and Catalina, before turning to said woman, "Catalina, it's time for you to go. As I and mi niños have made perfectly clear, I am a HAPPILY married man who would NEVER cheat on my wife. Now, as I said before, I'm spending time with my lovely family and you're interfering with that. Now, goodbye," Felix's usual welcoming and laid-back demeanor was gone, his expression quickly being overtaken by a frown and it taking ALL of his willpower to still keep himself…relatively calm (which wasn't easy to do but, with his children present, he had to be the adult in this situation).
Catalina either didn't understand Felix's annoyance or (more likely) blatantly ignored it, as she started giggling again (which caused Dolores to flinch at the sound), "Come on Felix, you don't have to be so serious! You know, you look MUCH better with a smile on that handsome face." Catalina moved a hand to caress Felix's cheek, but then-
SMACK!
"DOLORES!" Eyes as wide as dinner plates, Felix was left stunned by the fact that Dolores (his precious little girl) had just smacked Catalina's hand away.
The black-haired woman let out a small cry of pain and surprise before she turned towards Dolores with fire in her eyes, "How DARE you?! Who do you think you are, you disrespectful little BRAT?!"
Surprisingly, Dolores didn't flinch at the older woman's yelling (although she did close her eyes, which twitched in annoyance). She simply stared into Catalina's eyes with a cold expression on her face, "Papi has made perfectly clear that he has absolutely NO interest in you, OR in cheating on mama in the first place. And then you try to put your hand on him when that's clearly not what he wants? Tell me, Catalina…how do you think I should have reacted?" Dolores tilted her head, looking at Catalina with an innocent expression on her face (that looked so fake to the older woman).
Catalina's eyes narrowed, "You know…I don't like your tone."
"And I don't like your face," Dolores shot back immediately, which caused Camilo to laugh out loud (and Felix to smirk, although he quickly tried to hide it).
Now, Catalina's expression took on one of fire, "Now you listen here," the older woman harshly poked her finger into Dolores, which caused the men to get ready to charge (until Dolores held out a hand, signaling for them to stop), "You need to learn to stop pushing your way into conversations that don't concern YOU!" Despite Catalina's (annoying) poking, Dolores still stood tall.
"It involves my father, who you were harassing. As a worried child, I think that it concerns me. I think that it concerns me a great deal. Hmph!" Catalina's eye twitched and it looked like she had to fight to keep her hands off of Dolores' throat.
"You know what I think? I think that YOU need to learn how to mind your own BUSINESS! And you can stop with this little "show" of yours. In case there's any confusion, let me make myself clear: I'm not scared of-," she looked Dolores up and down, in a way that was CLEARLY meant to be disrespectful, "-you, or the little shifter over there." Narrowing her eyes, Dolores opened her mouth to reply…but stopped, the right side of her head raising about two inches.
Just then…Dolores smirked.
"Oh, trust me Catalina…neither of us is who you should be afraid of." Catalina's anger quickly bleed away and was replaced by confusion, especially when Dolores covered both of her ears. Before she could make any type of response, however…
The remaining three present flinched (Camilo outright jumping in place) at the sudden roar of thunder that shook the heavens. As they turned toward the sound of the noise (only NOW realizing that the wind had picked up), the first thing they saw was Antonio sitting on Parce. And it was only after a few moments (mostly spent wondering when he had moved) that they noticed the central "attraction".
Pepa Madrigal stood there with narrowed eyes and hands clenched into fists as the cloud above her flashed with lightning.
(Five Minutes Ago)
Antonio Madrigal wasn't happy.
Granted, he didn't FULLY understand the situation that was before him. All he knew was that this woman ("Catalina", he heard) was yelling at and being mean to his siblings.
"Are you alright, cub?" Parce spoke in a language understandable to no human but him.
"I don't like her," Antonio muttered, rubbing Parce's ear like he ALWAYS did when he was upset and/or nervous.
"I could eat her if you want."
"No," Antonio responded almost like clockwork. Parce always offered to eat someone whenever they upset him; no matter how many times he told his jaguar friend that he COULDN'T just eat anyone who was being mean.
At least, that's what Mirabel told him.
"Fine. I'm not hungry, anyway," Parce muttered, pawing at the ground.
"Why is she being mean to my family?" The jaguar and his other friends had told Antonio that animals CAN understand what humans are saying. While there might be some "ideas" that they can't comprehend, they DO understand the individual words being spoken.
"She seems to be trying to take your mother's placd," Parce replied with narrowed eyes, "I can tell just by looking at her."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your mother and father are mates because they had you and your siblings. Do you understand?" At Antonio's nod, Parce continued, "Well, that woman wants to steal your mother's position as your father's mate." That made Antonio frown deeper. What? No. She…s-she can't do that. No one can take his mama's place!
"We have to find mama," Antonio spoke up (after a few moments of silence), his voice starting to break. Parce looked back to his "speaker", growing concerned by the expression on his face. However, he simply nodded his head and ran off while the others were distracted.
Locating Pepa Madrigal wasn't a challenge thanks to Parce's senses…as well as the fact that she wasn't very far away to begin with.
Antonio found his mother at the store where she bought all of their clothes. She had a bright smile on her face as she spoke with the owner with her bag of fabric in hand. As Pepa turned to walk away, she was met with the sight of her youngest child and his jaguar standing there. Antonio didn't say a word as he quickly jumped to the ground and THREW himself into his mother, wrapping his arms as tightly around her legs as he could.
"Tonito?" Pepa kneeled but only grew more confused (and concerned) when Antonio just threw his arms around her neck tightly. The orange-haired woman picked her son up and began running her fingers through his hair (trying to keep a cloud from forming overhead). "Sweetheart…what's wrong? Why aren't you with your papa and siblings?"
"There's a woman who keeps bothering papa," Antonio spoke against his mother's neck, "Parce said that she's trying to take your place as papa's mate. But she can't! YOU'RE mine and Camilo and Dolores' mama! No one can take your place!" Antonio's grip tightened around his mother, his voice getting louder and his eyes growing wetter.
Pepa's eyes had widened at her son's words, a cloud firmly forming above her head. It hadn't taken her long at all to understand what Antonio was saying. Some…woman was coming onto HER husband. She had thought that she and Felix were past annoyances like this, seeing as how they had been married for DECADES by this point and had three children.
Well…it seems like there was one moron who didn't learn to NOT try to mess with Pepa's man.
"Tonito," the orange-haired woman spoke up after a few moments of silence. When Antonio looked up at her, Pepa wiped away his tears with a warm smile, "Let me tell you right now that you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about. No woman can take MY place as your mama, just like how no man could take your father's place. WE'RE your parents and NOTHING in this whole wide WORLD will ever change that. Okay?"
Antonio went silent as he stared at his mother before he held out his pinkie finger, "You promise?" Pepa couldn't help but smile even bigger. Ever since Antonio understood what a "promise" was, he took them EXTREMELY seriously. It had started with him and Mirabel before the rest of the family found out during dinner one night. She had explained that promises (sealed with a pinkie shake) were one of the quickest ways to put Antonio at ease, but also that he fully believed promises by his loved ones and that he'd be absolutely CRUSHED if someone broke a promise they made to him.
Needless to say, the entire family had made the unanimous decision to NEVER make a promise to Antonio that they didn't FULLY intend on keeping.
"I promise baby," Pepa curled her finger with Antonio's before pressing a kiss onto both of his cheeks (enjoying the way he laughed). "Now…how about you tell mama where the rest of our family is?"
Pepa Madrigal was always an emotional person. Even when she had to conceal her emotions to maintain order and stability in the Encanto, this was a fundamental part of who she was.
After all, it's hard to keep your emotions under wrap when the very environment around you changed because of them.
Even though Mama has been loosening her grip over the family and Pepa has been allowed (and even encouraged) to fully feel her emotions, Pepa has still tried to limit her most intense emotions to her own room (the only place that can withstand the full weight of her emotions and magic without fail). While more people were realizing that she was a human being with the right to feel her emotions, she still didn't want to materialize a blizzard or a hurricane out of nowhere.
In this scenario, however…Pepa thinks that she's more than a LITTLE justified in being pissed off.
She was able to hear PLENTY before her anger couldn't be contained and bled into the weather. This woman was hitting on her husband? Yelling at her precious nube and camaleón? Had scared her sweet bebé to the point of tears?
This would NOT stand.
Pepa marched (translation: stomped) forward, gently moving her children out of the way as she came face-to-face with the black-haired woman.
"Who…do you THINK…you are?"
Catalina (despite the dark weather around her) simply raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"Don't you pull that crap with me!" Pepa all but snarled as the cloud above her head briefly flashed. "You think I didn't hear you?! Do you think I didn't see you disrespecting my family? Word of advice: if you're looking for a man to have in your life, go find your own! This one-," she pointed to Felix, "-is taken!"
To Pepa's growing frustration, Catalina actually rolled her eyes at her, "I don't know why your ENTIRE family is seemingly UNABLE to listen. I'm not trying to STEAL your husband; I just want to BORROW him for a little bit."
Even though Pepa was already aware of what was happening, she still couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Excuse ME?!"
"You are being so selfish, Pepa," Catalina continued speaking as if the taller woman hadn't spoken, "You're already part of the family that rules the Encanto. You get to live in that big house and even have literal magic! All of that AND a hot husband?! It's not fair! Just let me borrow your husband! It's not like you don't already have plenty going for you anyway! One night is NOTHING to your life!"
Pepa didn't think that she had ever spoken to such an absolute MORON in her life.
"You listen here," Pepa growled, pointing Catalina hard in the chest, "I don't care about this case of jealousy you have. It does NOT give you the right to try and steal what isn't yours! And what the HELL is your problem?! "Borrow" my husband?! Are you under the impression that he's just some piece of farm equipment and not a human being?!"
"Oh, you know what I mean!"
"Trust me, I'm FULLY aware of what you mean based on what I've already heard!"
"Sure, because you just know everything don't you?!" Catalina roughly poked Pepa in the chest, causing the taller woman to look down with an expression of…not necessarily confusion, but more like shock that Catalina ACTUALLY did what she just did, "Look, will you just stop being so stubborn?! It's a simple thing I'm asking for and you're just being unreasonable! I don't need to be lectured by you or that boca motora Dolores!"
At that moment, Pepa lost all patience.
Catalina was suddenly grabbed by her collar and pulled forward, coming face-to-face with a woman who was (to be blunt) tired of her shit. A mini tornado had formed around Pepa as lightning surged around the both of them.
"I don't want to hear ANY of my children's names coming from your filthy mouth!" For once, it seemed like Catalina smartened up and kept her mouth shut, "Let me make myself PERFECTLY clear: Felix is MY husband, and no one, least of all you, is going to take him from me! You will leave my husband, my children, and my family alone. I don't want you anywhere near my family again, or you and I will have a problem that will make THIS-," Pepa waved her hand out towards the storm that was around her (the residents within the area have already taken cover at the first clap of thunder), "-seem like a light BREEZE in comparison." Pepa pulled Catalina closer to where their noses were nearly touching. She then moved to whisper into the younger woman's ear, "Do I make myself clear?"
ANY part of Catalina that may have been tempted to argue back immediately died when she looked into Pepa's eyes (which, unless her own pair were deceiving her, almost seemed to glow gold).
"Y-Yes! I understand! Really! I do! P-Please…don't hurt me! I'm sorry!" Truth be told, Pepa began to block out most of Catalina's words after the first few sentences (basically, after she started repeating herself).
"Good," Pepa dropped Catalina to the ground as all of the "intense" weather suddenly disappeared. Pepa held her hands behind her as she gave the younger woman a smile that would frighten even Parce. "Now…get out of my sight." In mere SECONDS (not doubting the certainty of Pepa's words), Catalina had picked herself up and sprinted away as fast as her legs could carry her. Pepa couldn't help but scoff as she ran a hand through her hair, succeeding in calming down (if only slightly).
"HOLY SH-OW! DOLORES!"
"Don't swear in front of Antonio!" Pepa flinched at the sudden noise and spun to see her family still standing behind her. Dolores and Camilo were arguing (the former tugging on the latter's ear) while Antonio had a bright smile on his face and Felix was…giving her that look of amazement that would never fail to embarrass her.
That look as if she can move the stars themselves.
"You were supposed to take them somewhere else!" Pepa yelled at Felix, nervously tugging at her braid. Her husband KNEW that she didn't like losing her temper like that in front of the children.
"I know, mi vida," Felix replied with a gentle smile, "I was going to, but…then I saw you in action. You know I've always loved your storms, and that was an especially good one. And, truth be told, I thought it'd be a good thing for our niños to see just how amazing their mama really is."
"Papa's right," Camilo spoke up, taking a moment to rub his ear (and glare at Dolores) before smiling brightly as well, "Mama, that was AWESOME! I didn't know your storms could be so cool!"
Antonio jumped off of Parce and ran up to his mama, hugging her legs tightly. Despite her embarrassment, Pepa couldn't help but kneel and wrap her arms around her youngest. She smiled slightly when he giggled in her ear, "You seem happy."
"Yes, because you kept your promise. But I knew you would." This time, Pepa laughed louder before pressing a kiss against Antonio's head. Dolores moved over, kneeling and pinching Antonio's cheek (enjoying the sound of his laughter).
"Did you hear him leaving?" Pepa asked her daughter, curious as opposed to angry.
"Not initially. That…woman was particularly good at keeping my attention on her. By the time I did, I heard you coming alongside."
"Then you just let me at her, didn't you?" Pepa asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, having seen how Dolores had covered her ears just before her thunder had roared. The only response she got in return was a smirk and a vindictive shine in Dolores' eyes that she recognized ALL too well. Most people tended to think that her hija's tendency to be quiet meant that she was "meek" or "a pushover". But when she got really angry?
She was DEFINITELY her mother's daughter.
"Now then!" Felix had appeared at his wife's side and (without any effort) swept her off of her feet, "As phenomenal as we all agree your mama is, we can't let our day be ruined by such an annoyance! We're going to have a picnic and, for that, we'll need food!" Antonio looked excited by his father's declaration while Camilo perked up at the mention of "food". Dolores gave a larger smile of her own as she watched her hermanos begin chatting excitedly about their plans before pulling her into the conversation as well.
"I still wish you would have taken the kids away while I dealt with that woman," Pepa muttered to her husband, crossing her arms and pouting like a woman more than half her age.
Felix's response was to simply chuckle, "I told you, I wanted them to see what I see when you let yourself be free. Your storms were always beautiful to me, mi vida. After so many years of having to watch you hold back your emotions, I'm going to take every chance I can to see the magnificence of my wife in her entirety." The blush on Pepa's face (which was already quite visible due to her pale skin) only grew darker at her husband's words, turning to look at their children to try and hide it.
"How do you always know exactly what to say, without fail?"
With a smile, Felix turned his wife's head and pressed a firm kiss against her lips. Pepa only had a moment to react to her situation and kiss back before her husband pulled away, "Because I love you with all my heart?"
"…I love you too." Felix laughed out loud while Pepa rolled her eyes fondly.
(Author's Note: Annnnnnnnd scene!
I hope this chapter turned out well, as I was really excited to try a chapter with someone hitting on one of the Madrigal spouses. I originally had a different idea in mind for Felix and Pepa, but this one came to me and I thought it would be fun.
I am of the firm opinion that you could throw Felix at an angry and storming Pepa and he'd have her turned to a puddle of mush in less than thirty seconds (and yes, this is based on their part in "We Don't Talk About Bruno").
Fun Fact: this chapter was (at least partially) inspired by "Apple Texts" and the various similar channels. Basically, it's a channel about text-based stories about conflicts ranging from cheating/divorce, familial abuse, cruel bosses, and more. I'd definitely recommend it if you have the time, it's pretty good.
In case anyone is wondering why Catalina suddenly crumbled at the end when she was so (stupidly) confident for virtually the whole chapter, she was under the impression that Pepa wouldn't do anything to her (as I imagine that many villagers would think that the "status quo" would continue after the magic returned) and wasn't scared of the kids at all. Once she was grabbed by the collar and had to look into those eyes, however...it didn't take long for her to realize that she had pissed off a woman who can and WILL beat the shit out of her and turn her into a pile of ash. Something like that tends to shut a person up pretty quickly. Self-preservation and all that:/
Overall, was this a good chapter? I still like the idea, but I felt...weird as I reread it before updating. Let me know how it turned out.
Constructive criticism ONLY…no flames, please.
Review, Favorite, Follow, and I'll see you guys next time:)
