Trigger Warning: Suicide/Attempted
Please proceed with caution. It's a very small mention, however I care deeply for the safety of my readers so please proceed with caution if you insist on reading the chapter.
Spikes inhaled deeply, hesitating for a moment before she stepped into her bar.
The only sound was the echo of Spikes’s boots on the tile as she made her way to the top floor.
She could have easily checked which supplies needed to be restocked online, but lately she preferred being out of the house.
Takado’s attachment to his mate had become insufferable, as well as Kitty’s blooming friendship with Sabbith.
Spikes growled under her breath.
She slammed open the cabinets under the bar, scanning the items briefly before exiting the room.
Spikes snarled as the young janitor bumped into her side, wetting the side of her pants leg.
“Sorry.” He scoffed before averting his gaze and returning to mopping the floor.
“Sorry? Is that all?” Spikes remarked. “You’re one of the only people here and all you can manage is a sarcastic apology to the only other person here?”
“With all do respect Ma’am,” He paused his cleaning to look into her eyes.
"That’s the reason I wasn’t keeping an eye out.”
“Go hang yourself.” Spikes snarled before turning on her heel and exiting the building.
“Spikes!” Her eyes widened as she turned to face Kitty, followed by Vincent and Takado.
“Hey, what’s going on?” She asked, surprised to see the three of them.
“We really need to talk. I’m sorry I have been avoiding you, but could you please hear me out?” Vincent stepped forward, reaching out for Spikes’s hand.
Spikes glanced at his hand, for a moment considering rejecting the gesture.
"Carissa, this is a big one. Listen to him, alright?”
Spikes looked up at her older brother, frowning before taking Vincent’s hand.
“Do you want to do this alone?” Kitty asked Vincent. The two exchange a glance before Vincent looked to Spikes.
“Yeah, I’ll meet up with you two in a bit ok?” Vincent responded.
Kitty nodded, taking Takado’s hand in her own before walking away to give the two some privacy.
“Not gonna lie, I kinda wish we were gonna see Carissa’s face when Vince tells her.” Takado chuckled.
“I do too, but they need some space.” Kitty sighed, casting a glance at the cloudy sky above.
"I know Spikes is really upset by the distance. Even if it was for a good reason.”
Takado wrapped his arms around Kitty, pressing his lips gently to her forehead.
"How are you feeling? You’ve been out of the hospital for less than forty eight hours and you’ve had a lot dumped on you.”
“I’m fine, Tako.” Kitty swatted him aside.
"I’d be at home in bed if I wasn’t.”
Kitty hesitated, turning to face him.
"Speaking of which, I think we should find a new home.”
“Why?” Takado questioned.
“The house isn’t safe anymore. She was willing to kick her best friend aside so she could gain the power and wealth that would come from marrying my father.
What else is she willing to do?” Kitty looked away from Takado, eyes locked on something in the distance.
“So you want to go somewhere she’s not going to find you?” Kitty nodded in response to Takado’s questioned.
She stepped around Takado, eyes still fixed on an overhanging area of Spikes’s building.
“What is that?” Kitty took a step closer as a shoe fell from the awning.
Her eyes widened in horror at the sudden realization that she was seeing someone’s feet hang from the side of the building.
Kitty’s hands covered her mouth as she took a step back. Takado’s eyes widened as he ran upstairs. Kitty sat down on the pavement, lips quivering as her eyes filled with tears. She sat frozen and unblinking until the feet were lifted from her sight.
Kitty stood, ignoring the vertigo that hit her as she ran after Takado.
“He’s alive, but just barely.” Takado spoke as soon as he heard her footsteps.
"I already called an ambulance. They’re on the way.”
Kitty nodded, her eyes glued on the young man’s unconscious body.
"How do… How do you know he’s going to live?”
“Well thanks to some knowledge on CPR, and the fact his neck didn’t snap I think he might be okay.” Takado stood, walking to Kitty and pulling her into his arms.
“It’s okay to be scared Kitty-Kat.”
Kitty nodded, pressing her face against Takado’s chest as she began to weep.
“You wanna do me a favor and go find Carissa?” Takado suggested, hoping to get Kitty away.
"She should probably be told what’s going on before medics and cops show up at her bar.”
“Why can’t you come with?” Kitty muttered, glaring at the ground at her feet.
“Because I have to be here when the ambulance shows up to let them know what’s going on.” His voice was gentle, patient as he urged Kitty to do as he’d asked.
Kitty inhaled deeply, catching a glimpse of the man from the corner of her eye.
”Ok fine.” She relented, feeling a wave of nausea hitting her.
Takado smiled, gently kissing her forehead before she left to find Spikes.
Kitty ran down the stairs, through the halls back to where she’d parted from Spikes and Vincent. She paused, scanning the area for either of the two.
“You told my brother before me?” Kitty’s ears perked at the sound of her best friend’s voice. She grew concerned at the tone of Spikes’s voice as she walked to in the direction she’d heard it.
“That wasn’t my intention. I needed to talk to Kitty and he’s not exactly willing to leave her side for more than two seconds since she got home.”
“We agreed no secrets Vincent!” Spikes snarled at him.
“Do you seriously think you should find out that I have a brother before I do?” Kitty snapped as she approached.
Vincent sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in his fingers.
Spikes turned her glare on her best friend.
"Do you seriously think it’s your place to butt into my conversation?”
“Yeah I do considering you’re not being fair at all.” Kitty responded, surprised at the sudden desire to protect Vincent.
"Also you’ve got bigger things to worry about. Some guy in a janitorial outfit tried to hang himself in your building.”
“What?” Spikes briefly though back to the man she’d snapped at. She shook her head, casting the thought aside.
“It doesn’t matter I’ll deal with it later. What I can’t deal with is Vincent acting exactly like Xander.”
“How dare you accuse him of acting anything like mo-hawk guy?!”
“Kitty it’s ok I’ve got this-”
“Screw you both. I’m going home.” Spikes snarled, cutting off Vincent before stepping into her car and driving off.
Kitty and Vincent exchanged a glance before sighing. Vincent turned to get into his own vehicle while Kitty’s eyes remained on Spikes’s jeep.
Something was wrong. Kitty could feel it in her gut, and yet she couldn’t put a name to it. So she ignored it and chased after Vincent.
…
“I think you moving is a great idea, Kitty,” Kitty smiled at Sabbith’s response to her idea as she ate her dessert.
“Seriously?” Takado questioned. He leaned forward in his seat to better address the girls and to absentmindedly bite at his food.
"Why do you think it’s a good idea?”
“Because I don’t think Kitty getting hurt was an accident.” Sabbith’s voice was quiet, her eyes glued to the table.
Takado visibly tensed, Kitty cast a confused glance at Sabbith.
“How could it not be? I remember tripping Sabbith. There was no funny business.” Kitty ignored the dull ache in her head as she spoke.
“Speaking as someone who has the ability to manipulate memories,” Sabbith’s eyes landed on Kitty’s.
"They aren’t always a reliable source of information.”
“You can manipulate memories?” Kitty’s eyes were wide with awe, even Takado seemed interested
“Yes but that’s not what’s important right now. Kitty haven’t you tripped over those steps plenty of times in the past?” Sabbith directed the two back to the main topic.
“Yeah… Glass stairs in the dark may have not been my best idea.” Kitty sighed reflecting on the amount of times she’s fallen.
“What’s the point Sabbith?” Takado chimed in, curling his free hand into a fist.
“None of us have ever come close to breaking or cracking that glass. Kitty’s is like 115 pounds, that’s four inch thick glass. I don’t believe her tiny frame was able to break through several of those steps.” Sabbith responded quietly.
“So it would have taken some demonic strength to push her through those steps.” Takado growled, his nails digging into his palms and nearly drawing blood.
“Takado-” Kitty reached out, resting her hand on his arm.
“I’ll kill her. No one hurts my cat and gets away with it.” Takado snarled as his eyes began to glow. Kitty threw herself into his lap and her arms around his neck.
Takado inhaled deeply, taking a moment to breath before he coiled his arms around Kitty’s waist.
“I’m okay Takado. Calm down.”
“He’s right though.” Sabbith’s comment startled Kitty.
“Ashlee shouldn’t get away with this. She’s even more formidable that I had originally assumed given the new information we have thanks to Vincent.”
Kitty gingerly touched her forehead as she tried to remember what had actually happened. Her head began to hurt, but she ignored it and continued to try to focus.
“Kitty?” She could barely hear Takado’s voice through the pain. She tried desperately to focus, to see through the lie her mother had implanted in her head.
Kitty could feel hands on her back, pushing her down before she screamed as the pain became too much for her to bear.
Takado held on to her as she cried. He gently kissed her temple and stroked her hair as she calmed down.
Sabbith’s eyes were wide as she glanced at Kitty and back up toward the small restaurant's kitchen.
Takado growled as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He quickly took it out, tossing it to Sabbith before returning his attention to his mate.
Sabbith resisted growling at Takado as she answered his phone.
“Hey Takado can you meet me and Spikes at The Den?” Vincent spoke as soon as she lifted the phone to her ear.
“It’s Sabbith. Takado’s occupied right now, but yeah we can be there. What time?”
“How about in ten?”
Sabbith glanced at the half eaten food at their table before sighing. “Yeah we’ll be there.”
Takado looked up at Sabbith, sighing as he took out his wallet dropping a fifty dollar bill on the table before lifting Kitty into his arms and walking out.
“Is she going be okay?” Sabbith asked. Kitty’s skin had paled, her breathing was shallow and she could barely grip Takado’s jacket.
“She has to be.” His grip on the cat tightened as they walked to his truck.
…
Takado sat with his head in his hands as Kitty slept quietly beside him. The bar was silent other than Sabbith’s light footsteps as she paced.
“Takado, you have to try calming down. I doubt your negative aura is helping anything,” Sabbith said quietly, surprised when seconds later his aura vanished entirely. “H-how?”
“I’m able to mask or completely hide my aura. I may not be able to stop it from being negative, but I can hide it.” His voice was faint, almost broken as he glanced at Kitty.
Sabbith sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be fine. How could she not when she’s got such a good guard dog?”
Takado rolled his eyes, the smallest smile breaking his frown for a second.
Takado’s and Sabbith’s eyes flew to door as it swung open and Spikes walked in, followed by Vincent.
She walked up to her brother, her confusion quickly turning to panic when she spotted Kitty’s unconscious form beside him.
“What happened, is she okay?” Spikes questioned her brother as she knelt beside Kitty.
“She was trying to remember what actually happened the night she got hurt,” Sabbith spoke up.
Spikes stood up, spinning on her heel to face Sabbith.
“That doesn’t fucking explain what’s going on!” Spikes began losing control of her temper, but the slight hint of Vincent’s pheromones began to calm her, reminding her to keep her self in check.
“It’s called 'Ashlee used some kind of compulsion on Kitty to make her forget what happened and this is what happens when Kitty tried to fight it!'” Sabbith snapped back.
“Or were you too busy being a selfish twat to not even notice that the whole situation was suspicious as hell?!”
“That’s enough,” Takado snarled, standing and placing himself in between the two girls.
Spikes snarled in response, her eyes glued on Sabbith’s ready to attack. It was only a faint cough coming from Kitty that made all three canines turn their attention away from each other.
Takado rushed to Kitty’s side, turning her over as she began to vomit. Spikes stared in horror as Takado made sure Kitty didn’t choke and Sabbith pulled Kitty’s hair back.
“What is going on?” Spikes's voice bordered on frantic.
“Fighting compulsion has nasty side effects if not done properly,” Vincent responded quietly. His eyes dulled as he glanced at Kitty.
“I saw this happen to my mom a few times. Kitty should be fine soon. Mom usually cleared up pretty quick after puking.”
Spikes glanced at him, placing her hand in his. He smiled briefly at her before returning his gaze to Kitty.
“My head…” Kitty muttered softly.
“I wouldn’t know, but I imagine this is what a hangover is like. Everything hurts.”
Takado chuckled, kissing her head before helping her stand up.
“Thank gods you’re okay,” Spikes whispered as she rushed to Kitty, wrapping the cat in her arms. Kitty stood frozen for a moment.
She was surprised that Spikes would be so affectionate after how malicious she had been earlier.
“Of course I am. Have you met me?” Kitty chuckled “Although I feel kinda gross right now.”
Spikes rolled her eyes, squeezing the cat once more before releasing her.
“I’m sorry for how much of a bitch I’ve been lately Kitty. I’m gonna work on it, I promise.”
Kitty smiled at Spikes, flicking a piece of hair out of the dog’s face.
"It’s fine Spikes. I’m gonna go rinse my mouth out really fast though, okay?”
Kitty walked to the bathrooms and Takado began to clean up the vomit on the floor.
“You are such a good boyfriend, Takado,” Sabbith teased as she watched him clean the mess.
“My big brother’s been domesticated by a cat,” Spikes joined in.
“You’re not one to talk, Carissa,” Takado responded gesturing towards Vincent.
“You’re definitely going to have to move though,” Sabbith spoke up.
"This only proves that Ashlee did this and who knows what else she has up her sleeve.”
“Move?” Spikes questioned.
“It was Kitty’s idea. To get away from her mom,” Takado responded. He sat down after he finished cleaning.
“I know Kitty was probably thinking of moving into a new house, but honestly I feel like we should stay low key after this. Maybe stay in apartments for a while?”
“Apa-what?” Kitty nearly squeaked as she walked back into the room.
“Apartments, Kitty. Takado’s right, if you want to move in order to hide from your mom, then apartments are the best option for now,” Spikes chimed in.
Everyone jumped slightly at the sound of the door slamming open.
“I’m sorry but we’re not open for a few more hour-” Spikes stopped as her eyes fell on a familiar set of forest green eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Spikes. I tried to stop her, I swear. She was so insistent, though,” Nadine fussed from the doorway her fiery hair cut shorter than the girls were used to.
“Blade…” Spikes whispered as she scanned her mentor.
“Hey Pup. It’s been a while hasn’t it?” She responded, a smirk forming on her lips.
“Who the heck is this?” Kitty spoke up, walking up beside Spikes.
“It’s Blade, my old mentor... before she vanished the year I met you,” Spikes replied, her eyes frozen on Blade.
Kitty raised an eyebrow, rolling her eyes before walking past Blade to hug Nadine.
“You’re not even going to introduce yourself?” Blade commented watching the ebony haired feline hug Nadine.
“Well I assumed Spikes would wrap it up for me.” Kitty rolled her eyes, annoyed by the newcomer’s attitude.
"I’m Kitty. I’m Spikes’s best friend, so nice to meet you I guess?”
“Whatever, Princess,” Blade retorted, returning her attention to Spikes.
“How have you been, Pup? Nadi told me some unbelievable sounding shit on the way over here.”
“Seriously? You don’t even know me,” Kitty hissed. Blade turned back around, glare fixed on Kitty.
“I know your type. I don’t need to know you individually.”
“Leave her alone Blade,” Spikes barked, surprising her old mentor.
“Just because I’ve been gone for nearly three years doesn’t mean you can bark orders at me, Pup,” Blade responded, turning back to face Spikes.
Takado growled, taking a step closer to his sister.
“You don’t know anything about Kitty. I’m not going to stand for you talking down on her,” Spikes growled.
“Would you rather I talk up to your Hoitey Toitey cat?” Blade smirked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Spikes snarled at her mentor, her body shaking with the effort to contain herself. She was only vaguely aware of Vincent’s attempts to calm her.
Blade’s face switched from arrogance to concern as she took a step towards Spikes.
"... Don’t tell me it’s happening already.”
Blade turned back to Nadine frowning as the cat nodded in response.
“What’s happening already?” Kitty questioned, stepping forward towards Blade.
“She’s maturing. Some ‘best friend’ you are for not even noticing it.” Blade glared at the small cat. Kitty flinched, hands clutched to her chest as she took a step back.
“I… How would I know I’ve only read about the maturing process… You can’t just-”
“How long has she been like this and none of you noticed? If you ask me you’re all fucking retarded, especially you,” Blade’s eyes remained focused on Kitty.
“That’s more than enough, Jamie.” Nadine hissed at Blade.
Blade turned around, eyes wide with shock to find Nadine’s red eyes as slits. Even Spikes straightened her posture and stared at her old art teacher.
“N-nadi, I uh… But-” Blade stuttered, rushing to Nadine’s side.
“But nothing Blade! You have no idea what this girl has gone through or what she is currently going through,” Nadine continued to hiss.
“And even if she were not going through her own problems, you are not one to talk.
You vanished for nearly three years so it’s not as if you have done a better job of caring for Spikes.”
Blade recoiled, her gaze falling to her feet. Nadine sighed heavily, her eyes returning to normal.
She took one of Blade’s hands and smiled softly at her.
“So if you could shut up, be nice and focus on your pup instead of taking your anger out on my kit it would be much appreciated, Honey.”
“Aw Nadine than-... Honey?” Kitty raised her eyebrow at her old art teacher.
“Wait… Blade, my mentor, is the sweetheart you’ve been telling us we’d eventually meet?” Spikes questioned, eyes wide as she stepped towards the couple.
Nadine’s eyes widened, cheeks flushed as she struggled to find the words.
“You didn’t tell them?” Blade asked in an almost dejected tone.
“I… I meant to. It was just kind of hard to tell them when you weren’t around to introduce them to, and Spikes needed to make new friends instead latching on to something familiar,” Nadine glanced down at the ground.
“I’m sorry Jamie.”
Kitty and Spikes stared at the two women, utterly dumbstruck by the new information.
“If we’re all done arguing now, again. We kind of have some more important shit to deal with,” Takado muttered, pulling Kitty into his arms.
“No disrespect Nadine, but we have to go home and start packing.”
“I’ll text you to let you know everything that’s going on, Nadine. I’m sorry, but Takado is right, we have to go,” Kitty added. She rushed to hug Nadine before returning to Takado’s side.
“Spikes, are you ok?”
Spikes stood motionless, still staring at her mentor with wide disbelieving eyes.
“Spikes?” Vincent questioned, cautiously approaching her.
“You two were banging and neither of you bother to tell me?!” Spikes blurted out.
Nadine’s face flushed, and Blade nearly collapsed with laughter at Spikes’s outburst. Even Takado chuckled, shaking his head as he walked out the door.
“Come on Spikes. We’ll catch up some more later.” Kitty commented before trailing after Takado.
Spikes inhaled deeply before stepping forward to hug her mentor.
Blade hesitated for a moment before returning the hug, both silent.
“I’m glad you’re back,” Spikes mumbled before releasing Blade, and following Kitty out the door.
