“Mom, what are you doing here?” Kitty whispered, staring down at her feet before glancing up at her mother.
“I came to visit my daughter, is that a crime?” She asked, pushing past Kitty as she opened the door.
“Who is this?”
She paused, staring up at Takado.
“Takado, I’m Kit- Katherine’s boyfriend.” Takado reached his hand out to shake Ashlee’s.
Kitty hissed and slapped his hand away as she stepped in between her mother and Takado.
“I’m Ashlee, Katherine’s mother obviously. It’s nice to mee-”
“It has been two years, Mother. Where have you been?” Kitty snarled.
Ashlee glared at her daughter for a moment before taking a step back and crossing her arms.
“Honestly I thought you would have matured slightly in two years, but evidently you’re still a child.”
“Maybe I would have matured more if I had an actual parent at home raising me for the last two years.”
“Your father was murdered Katherine.”
“But you weren’t! You were alive and well and you made the choice to vanish without a trace. Now tell me where the fuck you have been.” Kitty screamed at her mom.
Ashlee groaned, rolling her eyes before they fell upon Takado.
“I’m sorry Dear, but this is a private family matter, could you please excuse yourself?
I’m sure I’d love to hear the reason my daughter finds it appropriate to have boyfriends in the house this late at night.”
“He is my family mother, and he is not going anywhere. He lives here, and so does my best friend.”
“Lives here?”
“Well you couldn't be bothered to so I had to find other roommates didn't I?”
“And what would your father think of this?” Ashlee hissed. Kitty froze, glaring at her mother, unable to speak for a moment.
“Takado, could you excuse my mother and I?” Kitty’s words were spoken cautiously and carried a poison Takado was not used to hearing in her voice.
“Kitty are sure? I don’t want-”
“I will call you if I need you. Can you please trust me and step away for a bit?” Kitty interrupted him.
Takado stepped closer, leaning over to kiss her cheek before retreating back into the room where their friends were waiting.
“Did I strike a nerve daughter dearest?” Ashlee asked, her smile becoming sinister after Takado had left.
“You have no right to speak about my father. You never even tried to do anything about his murder.” Kitty hissed back at her mother.
“At least I didn’t cause it.” Ashlee’s smile widened as tears filled Kitty’s eyes and her knees shook.
“I didn’t… I was just a child it wasn’t… I couldn’t have known.” Kitty struggled to speak, her sight began to blur from the tears.
“That does not change the it is your fault the hunters knew of us. We’d lived there since you were born and they had never suspected a thing. Until you opened your surprisingly large mouth for such a small child.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“So you can see everything you stole from me. I had everything I could ever need and because of your stupidity I lost everything, and yet you still managed to come out on top.” Ashlee snarled, stepping closer to Kitty.
“I lost my home, my money, my status and all because he left every single thing to you. He didn’t consider his wife at all in his will!
It all went you his daughter that might as well have killed him her damn self.”
“You lost… You’re concerned about the money you lost? You’re upset you weren’t in his will.” Kitty froze, analyzing her mother carefully.
"All these things you seem to be upset with me over… None of them involve my father’s death. Only the things you lost in his death.”
“What is your point?”
“You didn’t love him. You didn’t love me. You just wanted his money and giving him a child was the fastest way to get to it, wasn’t it?”
“How dare you. I loved your father, you insolent brat.”
“Did you? Is that why you abandoned me? Why no one has been able to find you for the last two years?
You weren’t even at his funeral, Mother.” Kitty spat at her mom.
“Don’t you dare talk as if you know me Katherine.”
“I don’t have to know you! You are disgusting and you will never see a single cent of my money.” Kitty glared at her mother, neither willing to back down.
“And here I thought we might do this the easy way.” Ashlee took a step closer, whispering in her daughter’s ear.
“I will get that money, Daughter. One way or another.”
Ashlee took another step towards Kitty and shoved her backwards sending her crashing through the glass staircase at the end of the hall.
Kitty began to scream, but it was lost as she hit her head on the ground and lost consciousness.
“Kitty, what happened?” Takado shouted as he ran out of the room. He froze at the top of the staircase at the sight of Kitty’s unconscious body surrounded by glass on the floor under the shattered stairs.
“Kitty…?”
“Takado what’s going on?” Sabbith asked, running from the room behind him. She covered her mouth with her eyes when she saw Kitty, tears filling her eyes.
Takado jumped down and pulled Kitty into his arms, shaking as he attempted to check her pulse.
“Who are you, and what did you do?” Sabbith growled at Ashlee.
“I’m Katherine’s mother, Ashlee. We… we started fighting.” Ashlee spoke up, her voice calm even though she spoke hesitantly.
“She tried to walk away, but I tried to grab her arm and when she pulled away she fell backwards.”
“Is she ok?” Spikes responded, having entered the room unnoticed.
“I don’t know.” Ashlee commented, turning to look back down towards her daughter as Sabbith climbed down to get to Kitty and Takado.
“Spikes wha-” Vincent inhaled sharply as his eyes fell on Ashlee.
“I have to go home. It’s urgent. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He whispered into Spikes’s ear, turning around to walk out the back door.
“What, why?” Spikes questioned, latching onto his arm.
“My best friend just got hurt don’t you think I’ll need you?”
“This is really important Carissa. Please just trust me. I have to leave now.” His voice was almost frantic as he continued to step away from Spikes.
She dropped his hand, turning back to the scene before her, watching Takado frantically hold Kitty as Sabbith called for an ambulance.
“Is that really all that happened?” Spikes asked, looking up to Kitty’s mom.
“Of course, Dear.” Ashlee said, softly placing her hand on Spikes’s shoulder.
“Why would I ever feel the need to lie to you?”
…
“Katherine?”
“Mom?” Kitty questioned as she struggled to open her eyes, only to find herself blinded by how bright it was.
“How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened?” Kitty felt reassured by the soothing tone of her mother’s voice. For a moment she stayed silent, beginning to drift back into unconsciousness.
“Katherine do you remember how you ended up in the hospital?”
Kitty’s eyes flew open, the bright lights stinging as the room came into view. Kitty turned her head to find her mother at her bedside.
“You did this. You pushed me.” Kitty hissed and attempted to sit up before buckling over in pain.
“Don’t force yourself Dear. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself again would we?” Ashlee responded, tucking a strand of hair behind Kitty’s ear as she smiled devilishly.
“Get away from me.” Kitty snarled at her mother, her eyes scanning the room for anything that could help her.
“I’m just being a good mother that checks in on her clumsy daughter. At least, that’s what I’ve convinced your friends of.” Kitty shook with fear as her mother grinned over her with satisfaction.
“Look into my eyes Katherine.”
“I said get out!” Kitty shouted, glaring at her mother as she met her eyes.
“You will not tell a soul that I pushed you. You will tell everyone you tripped when trying to get away from me, and you will forget about the money I plan on taking from you.” Ashlee ordered, her eyes glowing as she stared into Katherine’s.
“For now at least. And remember, Child, this never happened.”
…
Takado’s breath caught in his throat as Kitty walked into the lobby. Kitty snarled at a nurse that fussed behind her before turning her attention to her mate.
“Is everything alright Kitty-Kat?” Takado asked, gingerly reaching out to touch her arm.
“Yes, other than these people are having snit fits trying to get me into a wheelchair.” Kitty complained, making sure she was loud enough that the hospital staff would hear her.
“I’m pretty sure if I needed one they’d send it home with me, so I don’t see why I need one just to get to the car.”
“They’re just trying to make sure they don’t get sued for you getting hurt on their property.” Takado laughed.
“If I was going to sue them for anything, it would be their crap food. Not me tripping over my own feet.” Kitty retorted.
Takado stepped forward, wrapping his arms around the small feline.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Kitty ran her fingers through his hair, kissing his temple lightly.
“You’re such a worry-wart. Of course I’m okay, have you met me?”
“Shut up. You would have been just as worried if the situation was reversed.” Takado commented, as they began to walk out the doors.
“Yeah but you wouldn’t have been clumsy enough to fall down the stairs like I did.” Kitty chuckled.
“I wouldn’t put it past him actually.” Kitty looked up, her eyes widening with surprise to see Sabbith standing outside the hospital.
“What are you doing here?” Kitty squealed with excitement.
“I had to come make sure one of my best friends was ok, didn’t I?” Sabbith laughed, giving Kitty a quick hug before letting her go back to Takado.
“I’m just surprised you’re here and Spikes isn’t.” Kitty commented, briefly scanning the area for her best friend.
“She had some stuff to take care of at The Den, Kitty.
We’ll see her when she gets home.” Takado responded, kissing her on the head. Kitty frowned, glancing at Sabbith and up at Takado briefly before letting out a small sigh.
“I suppose it doesn’t really matter.”
“I’m sure she’d be here if she could, Kitty.” Sabbith reassured her as they all walked away from the hospital doors.
“I know it’s just… I guess it’s unfair of me to expect her to be here.” Kitty grumbled as she shivered slightly against the cold air.
“No it’s not, Kitty. She should be here, but she’s busy trying to run a business right now.” Takado responded, taking his jacket off and putting in on Kitty.
“Business that I funded for her.” Kitty responded, the bitterness in her voice masking the hurt.
“Kitty that isn’t fair.” Sabbith scolded her.
"Why be mad at your best friend for not being here? Why not be angry with your mother?”
“My mother has never been there for anything.” Kitty replied, leaning against Takado.
“Her absence is normal. Spikes… She’s always been there though.”
Takado and Sabbith exchanged a glance before looking back to Kitty.
“So what happened anyways? Your mom said you tripped?” Sabbith questioned, eager to change the subject before Kitty’s mood worsened.
“No I-” Kitty fell to her knees, holding her head in her hands as tears fell from her eyes.
“Kitty what’s wrong?” Takado’s voice was panicked as he knelt beside her. Sabbith sat on her legs, brushing Kitty’s hair out of her face, maintaining her calm facade until Kitty could explain to them what had happened.
“I’m… I’m s-sorry.” Kitty stuttered as she struggled to stand.
“Don’t apologize, but the hell was that?” Sabbith asked, as Takado helped her up.
“Bad headache?” Kitty responded, but was unsure herself.
“The doctor did say I had a concussion so random pains could happen sometimes.”
Sabbith relaxed slightly, but Takado remained tense as he held onto Kitty.
“I’m fine, it’s over now.” Kitty reassured him, brushing her hand along his face.
“But as I was saying. Yeah I tripped. My mom tried to grab my hand as I was walking away.
I guess I didn’t realize how much force I used to pull away from her."
Kitty glanced at Sabbith, surprised to see that she looked almost angry.
“Are you sure that’s what happened?”
“As best I can, why?” Kitty asked, surprised to see her friend in such a state.
“No reason, just seems odd to me I suppose.” Sabbith responded before taking Kitty’s hand.
“Anyway, let’s get you home. It’s freezing out here.”
Kitty nodded enthusiastically as Takado led her to where the car was.
“I can’t wait to go home. Hospitals suck.”
“Jinx will be relieved to see you. She’s been even fussier than normal the few days you were gone.” Sabbith laughed.
“She’s probably amazed at how stupid I am for tripping over my own feet.” Kitty chuckled as Takado helped her into the car.
“I think that, just like the rest of us, she’ll be happy just to have you home.” Takado said, kissing her forehead before closing the door.
“Home…” Kitty sighed softly, ignoring the sense of dread that crept into the back of her mind.
...
“So why didn’t you go with Sabbith to pick up Kitty and Takado from the hospital?” Spikes asked as she took as seat beside Ashlee on the living room couch.
“I needed to call my fiance. Regardless, Katherine and I have always had a very rocky relationship.
I’m in no mood to act like a supportive mother only to have her complain about me.” Ashlee brushed her hair over her shoulder, turning to face Spikes.
“I am surprised you did not attend however. I’ve heard you’re her best friend?”
“Oh I had some stuff to do for the club I own. I just didn’t realize I could do it online until Sabbith had left.” Spikes explain.
“I doubt Kitty would have complained to see her mom though.”
“You clearly don’t know that child as well as you think you do.” Ashley retorted, glancing away from Spikes.
“I think if you just talked to her that maybe things wouldn’t be so bad.” Spikes tried to urge Ashlee.
“Why do you even care if my daughter and I get along?” Ashlee asked. Controlling her tone from revealing her annoyance with her daughter’s friend.
“I want what’s best for Kitty. She’s my best friend.” Spikes responded, sadness seeping into her eyes.
"I wouldn’t know, but I imagine every girl needs their mother.”
“Spikes? I thought you were working at The Den?” Spikes turned around to face her best friend, missing the cruel smirk that spread across Ashlee’s lips.
“I was going to be, but I discovered I could do the paperwork online so I stayed home.” Spikes explained, standing to give Kitty a hug.
“You stayed home instead of coming with to pick me up from the hospital?” Kitty growled, stepping away from Spikes.
“What? Kitty, I didn’t find out I could do that paperwork online until after Sabbith had already left.” Spikes stiffened as she straightened herself.
“You could have still come.”
“There’s not really much of a point in taking two cars for one person Kitty.”
“So?” Kitty’s tone was bitter, as were her eyes as she spoke.
“So I figured I could just wait at home for you to show up, what’s the matter with you Kitty?”
“What’s the matter with me? I got a damn concussion is what’s the matter with me!” Kitty hissed at Spikes.
“This is the most serious injury I have ever gotten while we’ve known each other and you couldn’t be bothered to go with?
Did you even visit me at the hospital? Because I sure as hell don’t remember you being there!”
“How dare you accuse me of not being there! You were unconscious half the damn time. You can’t just assume that I wasn’t there.” Spikes growled at Kitty.
“The only person insane enough to be there every second was Takado.”
“That’s not true.” Sabbith spoke up, taking a step towards Kitty.
“I was there everyday as soon as I was done with work.”
“Ok so sue me for having a life! I have a club to run, a dog and your cat to take care of. The guy I’m seeing has hardly spoken to me since the night you tripped over your feet. I’m sorry I wasn’t there every second but I did go to check in on you.” Spikes growled.
“Why are you mad at me and not your mom? She was here too.”
Kitty glared at her mother and then back to her best friend.
“Because I didn't have faith in my mother to be there for me when I needed her. I had faith in you though.”
“Katherine, don’t you think you’re acting a bit spoiled?” Ashlee stood from her seat, turning to face her daughter.
“You stay the hell out of this. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” Kitty snarled at her mother.
“Leave her alone Kitty! She’s your mom, show some damn respect.” Spikes barked back at her.
Kitty paused, turning her icy glare on Spikes.
"Excuse me?”
“She’s your mom. You owe her some respect, and don’t you think you should be happy to see her after so long?” Spikes explained to her best friend.
Kitty walked up to Spikes, her face inches from the dog’s. She spoke quietly, her words filled with venom.
“This woman, who abandoned me after my father’s murder, is not my mother. She is the woman that birthed me and no more.
She is dead to me.”
“Kitty you’re being unreasonable.”
“Am I?” Kitty screamed at Spikes, grabbing her mother’s left hand and gestured to her ring finger.
“Because to me it looks like while I struggled to survive, she was off whoring herself around.”
“How dare you.” Ashlee hissed, pulling her hand away from Kitty’s grasp.
“I have every right to move on with my life. It has been two years Katherine.”
“Two years that you abandoned me, Ashlee. Does your fiance even know you have an eighteen year old daughter?” Kitty screamed, taking a step back from the two of them.
“Sweetheart, you need to calm down.” Takado’s words were gentle as he reached out for Kitty’s hand only to have her flinch away from him.
“Get out of my house Ashlee.” Kitty snarled.
"You’re not welcome here.”
Kitty spun on her heel and ran downstairs to her room, ignoring Takado calling out to her, ignoring the sudden pain in her head. She slid to the floor against the door to her room as tears threatened to escape her eyes.
Kitty kicked her feet, slammed her fists against the floor and screamed into her hair. She refused to let tears fall from her eyes.
She refused to give her mother that satisfaction.
After five minutes of screaming and thrashing she relaxed, leaning against her doorway, just as someone knocked softly against the door.
“Is it safe to come in now?” Kitty sighed with relief at the sound of his voice.
“Yes. I’m sorry.” Kitty moved away from the door and Takado rushed in, sweeping her into his arms.
“Are you alright Kitty-Kat?” He asked, gently kissing her forehead.
“I am now.” Kitty sighed, leaning against his chest. “I’m sorry for acting like such a psycho.”
“It’s alright, Kitty, You’ve been through a lot these last couple days. I think you’re entitled to one temper tantrum.” Takado laughed, brushing her hair out of her face.
“Even if it was a pretty bad one.”
“Did she leave?” Kitty asked, looking down at her feet.
“Yeah. I made her leave.” Takado responding, lifting Kitty’s head by her chin to meet his eyes.
“She’s not here anymore.”
“Thank you.” Kitty wrapped her arms around his waist, nuzzling her face against his chest.
“I don’t want to see her ever again. Does that make me bad?”
“I don’t ever want to see my father again. So I guess if you’re bad then I’m just as bad as you.” Takado pulled her away to look into her eyes. She smiled weakly at him as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her nose.
“I love you Kitty-Kat.”
“I love you Tako.” Kitty giggled as her phone began to ring. She eyed it suspiciously when she saw Vincent’s name on the screen.
She cast a quick glance back at Takado before answering her phone.
“Hey what’s up?”
“You’re out of the hospital now, right?” He asked, but it didn’t sound like he was concerned. His voice almost sounded panicked.
“Uhm yeah why?” Kitty responded after hesitating for a brief moment.
“Can you meet with me? I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Kitty glanced at Takado before returning to her conversation. “Like right now? I don’t know if I’m able to leave the house on my own Vince. I get random really bad headaches an-”
“Ask Takado to come with you then.” Vincent cut her off.
“Please Kitty. This is actually really important.”
“Takado, would you mind driving me into the city so I can meet with Vince?” Kitty asked, holding the phone away from her while she discussed it with him.
“I don’t see why not. Why, what’s going on?” Takado responded, stepping closer to Kitty.
“I don’t know, he just said it’s important.” Kitty responded to Takado before lifting the phone back to her ear.
“He said ok, where do you want me to meet you?”
“There’s a little shop on the edge of town. I’ll text you the address.” He responded, a small sigh escaping his lips.
“Thank you, Kitty.”
“No problem. Do you want me to bring Spikes? She mentioned something about not seeing you much.”
“No. I need to talk to you first. I’ll apologize vehemently to her later, but I need to face this on my own right now.” Vincent replied.
“Please hurry.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you soon Vince.”
“Yeah. Soon.”
Kitty hung up the phone and looked up to Takado.
“I just can’t catch a break can I?” She sighed with exasperation.
“Apparently not.”
…
“So what was so big you needed to see me now?” Kitty asked, sitting down beside Takado on the couch across from Vincent.
“When I first met you, you said your name was Marie right?” Vincent spoke softly, his eyes focused on something in the distance.
“Uhm, yeah but how is that relevant?” Kitty responded. She stared at Vincent for a moment before casting a confused look to Takado and back to Vincent.
“And then after I found out you were Kitty, you said your name was actually Katherine Marie Ashton.”
“Vincent what the hell is your point?” Kitty interrupted him before he could continue, stiffening slightly.
“You lied to me.” Vincent finally looked up to meet her eyes.
“It’s Katherine Marie Caine, not Ashton, isn’t it?”
“How the hell would you know that?” Kitty responded, pressing herself against Takado’s side, glaring at Vincent.
“Because two years ago my mom sent me away from home to find someone. I’ve been looking for her since I got to Bridgeport.” Vincent’s eyes never left Kitty’s, though he hesitated briefly as he spoke.
“I’ve been looking for my little sister that I never got to meet.”
“What the hell does that have to do with me?” Kitty tried to keep herself from growling at him.
“My full name is Vincent Namir Caine, I’m the bastard son Curtis Caine never knew about.” Vincent responded, his eyes focusing on the ground at his feet.
“What the hell?” Takado murmured to himself.
“T-that isn’t possible.” Kitty stared blankly at Vincent, shaking her head as if to shake the very thought away.
“I was my father’s only child. He didn’t have any others because if he did he would have taken care of them.”
“Except he didn’t know about me. My mom left before he could find out she was pregnant.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because her best friend of the time has the ability to control a person's actions and even memories. Also known as compulsion, and she wanted Curtis to herself.” Vincent explained, despite the clear discomfort on his face.
“That was Ashlee.”
“My mom?” Kitty stuttered.
“How do you know that?”
“Because her compulsion isn’t a permanent one. She would visit me and my mom once a year to make sure neither of us would ever say anything about me being his child.” Vincent sighed and looked up at Kitty.
“It’s why I’ve been avoiding that house. I didn’t want her to prevent me from speaking about it before I got the chance to talk to you.”
“So my dad had a son… I have a big brother that I never knew about?” Kitty questioned. Kitty leaned against Takado’s shoulders in an attempt to steady herself.
“You did say you had always wanted a big brother growing up, didn’t you?” Takado joked, kissing the top of her head.
“If it helps you feel better I didn’t know about you until the day our father died.” Kitty frowned at Vincent, pulling a light chuckle out of him.
“How did you find out about me anyways?” Kitty asked, beginning to relax slightly.
“The day he died, somehow the compulsion was lifted slightly. My mother had always known about you. She just was never able to say anything until then.” Vincent paused, his gaze drifting back to the window.
“So she told me to leave and find you before Ashlee realized it’d worn off.”
“Why even bother trying to find me though? How does that benefit you?” Kitty asked, taking a moment to gaze out in the same direction as Vincent.
“You’re my little sister. I love my mom, but it gets lonely not having anyone else.
I can’t even begin to imagine how lonely you must have been. Especially after he died.” Vincent said softly reaching his hand out to Kitty’s.
“I wanted to meet you and maybe even become the family we should have been growing up.”
Kitty’s eyes watered as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.
“How do I even know I should trust you? What if you’re just lying to me?”
“Kitty…" Takado sighed, pulling her closer to himself hoping to help reassure her.
“When we first met. You approached me because you thought I looked like someone.
Who did I look like?” Vincent questioned her, looking into her eyes knowingly.
“... My dad.” Kitty whimpered as she struggled against tears.
“I’m not lying to you, Kitty. I just wanted to meet my family and warn you about Ashlee.” Vincent responded, standing from his seat.
“Maybe it’s my limited experience with her, but I doubt she’s here just to catch up with her daughter.”
Kitty and Takado stood together. Kitty sighed before looking up to meet Vincent’s eyes.
"I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I just think I need some time to process all of this.”
“That’s fine. I dumped a lot on you and I understand if you don’t want me around for a wh-” Vincent was cut off by Kitty wrapping her arms around him. He hesitated briefly before returning the hug, letting her pull away a second later.
“We can figure that out later. Right now I just want to focus on getting my mom out of the picture.” Kitty said, entwining her fingers with Takado’s.
“You already told her to leave and that she wasn’t welcome at the house. Shouldn’t that be the end of it?” Takado questioned, casting a confused glance at his mate.
Kitty and Vincent glanced at each other briefly before shaking their heads.
“Knowing my mom? There’s no way she’ll just leave..” Kitty stated as she made her way to the door, pulling Takado along with her.
“Not until she gets whatever it is that she wants.”
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