Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 15

Charlotte went to the dining room earlier than she was expected to. Two servants had not even finished properly setting up the table yet. One of them she recognized as Niffty but the other was someone she had not seen before. This servant looked very much like an overgrown cat that could stand on two legs,  it was scruffy and mangy like yet it wore a very nice suit and boots. She watched the creature open a bottle of wine with it's claws and then pour it into her glass.

"Not too much Husk." Niffty told her fellow worker. "I don't think she's much of a drinker."

"Whatever, more for me." He replied.

When Charlotte realized that they had not noticed her presence, she decided to keep herself hidden and eves drop in order to learn some information about what was really going on around here.

"Just what in hell does Alastor think he's doing with this woman?" The strange cat-like being called Husk said.

"Well you know how much he enjoys a challenge." Niffty answered. "He believes that giving Miss Charlotte a chance to outwit him will prove to be very entertaining."

"That makes no sense to me."

"Really? I'd think that you of all creatures would understand that."

"Why?"

"Well you are a cat and don't cats typically play with their prey?"

"I'm not that type of cat. I'm more of the keep to myself and sleep all day if I was allowed to type. I don't really hunt for my meals, I much prefer that they be brought to me."

"Oh is that so?" She said skeptically. "Need I remind you of the time we first met? When you stalked me and then put me in your extremely unsanitary mouth?!"

"Hey I coughed you up didn't I?"

"After holding me in there for God knows how long! Oh I had never been in anything so disgusting in all my life!"

"You're never going to let that go are you? Cut me some slack, I was completely primal back then and so were you."

"Oh it was so slimy in there." Niffty shuddered. "And your breath was ghastly!"

"Get over it will you? It's been twenty-three years."

"I still have nightmares."

"Oh for God's sake! I haven't tried to eat you since then and I couldn't even if I wanted to. You're too big to fit in my mouth now."

She listened to them go back and forth for an hour and not once did they say any information that would prove useful to her. As soon as they were gone she sat down at the table and waited patiently for Alastor to arrive. She knew he was in the room when could she smell the familiar scent of damp fur.

"Good evening sir." She said.

"You were expecting me?" She heard him asked in a surprised tone.

"I was eager to speak with you."

"Oh? Why is that? Could it be because you have figured out the answer to the little riddle I gave you?"

"I haven't solved it yet but I am still determined."

"Then why so eager for my company this evening?"

Her goal was to somehow convince him to show himself to her. But she wouldn't ask that right away. He would only quickly dismiss it. She would start small and try to get him into a real talkative mood. Maybe so talkative that he would accidentally let himself be seen.

"I wanted to ask you about somethings I've noticed in your castle."

"What things?"

"Well for starters one morning as I was getting ready I spoke of how I wished to see my father and then his image appeared in my mirror. And today I spoke of how I would like for their to be light in the corridor of where I stood and sunlight came through the rooftops. Could you please tell me what that means?"