Chapter 10: Drawn to Her

Cateile was in shock at seeing the woman sitting directly across from her. It was the veiled woman from the docks! It was Cobrantes!

The young queen had a grace, a certain poise about her that she had only seen in her mother. But there was something more. She could not quite figure out what that was just yet.

Halfheartedly laughing and joking with Nara and Kilik, Cat's eyes kept gravitating towards Cobrantes. She was not sure what drew her so much to her, but she couldn't help it. Perhaps it was the mystery behind Cobrantes that intrigued her so much. Nonetheless she could not stop herself from stealing glances at her beautiful sister. Their eyes connected and for that moment, Cat could almost feel her reading her soul.

Whenever the chatter in the room would dim down, Cat could almost overhear bits of the conversation between her father and sister… and it was almost frightening. The coldness within Cobra's voice made her shiver. No one had dared to ever speak to her father in such a manner and her sister had not lifted her condescending tone the entire banquet.

"Cateile, is it?" Cat jerked her head up, eyes wide as Cobrantes called out her name to her. Goblet halfway to her lips, Cateile raised her eyebrows in question. Her throat seemed closed up as she was unable to reply an answer. Cobrantes' voice had a domineering tone to it. As though no matter what she said there was no room to reply to her. She almost…. scared her.

Cat watched as Cobrantes once again turned back to her father and then excused herself. She noticed the darkness flickering in her pupils. She noticed the way her mouth turned into a scowl of disgust when she spoke to the Heliar. She noticed… the way that Cobra's eyes held hers as she walked away with her advisor.

Although she had not much experience with someone like Cobra, she instantly knew. She knew deep down that she had to follow her. She had to have questions answered on why she was here. However brief a meeting it was, it still sent chills running down Cateile's spine.

Cat waited near an hour after watching her sister leave and politely excused herself. She couldn't comprehend why, but tonight seemed to be the only time to figure out the true meaning behind her sister's arrival.

Cobrantes stared off at one of the lanterns lit on the streets. It was the Moonlight Festival, and the streets were crowded with men, woman and children. All jolly and excited that the "Gods" have spared them another year. How sad it will be when they realize that their world will come crashing down around them.

"What's the matter?" Qemor leaned into Cobra's ear and traced her gaze to meet what she was looking so intensely at.

They had snuck away from the palace to go for a brief exploration through the city. They had surveyed Ipreya upon arriving, but not so much of Kajor just yet. The city was a lot larger than the seaside port connected to it.

"Nothing, I just was reminded of the firepit… on our first victory." Quickly snapping out of it, Cobra walked side by side with Qemor to a nearby stall where they were selling food. There were many pleasant smells of cakes, bread, and more in the air. Wafts of delicious smells filled her nose. It was almost a shame to remind herself that such things would be gone soon.

"Too bad their joy will be short lived." Cobrantes leaned into a nearby wall looking out into the faces of the joyful passerby's. Sighing, she looked up into the night sky and basked in the breeze that whipped through her hair. She almost felt calm.

Cobrantes' hairs on the back of her neck seemed to stand up. Closing her eyes, she leaned her ear towards the crowds of people to single out the different patterns of footsteps. She was being followed. Exactly what she had been waiting for.

"You have a visitor, my queen." Qemor stepped away and made his way into a nearby inn.

Cobrantes still leaned up against the wall and glanced out in the direction to where her sixth sense told her to. In the crowd near the food stall where she had just left, she saw a familiar silhouette. Cateile. She was hooded in a long brown cloak similar to the one she wore at the docks. She was pretending to look at the foods on the stall.

What a mischievous little brat. Although her younger sister was of a much mature age, her independence and stubbornness could lead her to her downfall. That was fine. She needed her for 'downfall', no matter whose downfall it is. It is never too early to bring her to the light, Cobra thought. After giving one final glance towards Cateile, she headed into the inn after Qemor. Beckoning her to enter.

Cateile ducked off behind a passerby as she trailed behind her sister. What was she doing? Enjoying the festival? Who knows? All she knew was that she would keep an eye on her for her father. That's the only reason she was out here in this festive city, right? For her father?

Cat got distracted several times by the jewelry, food, and veils at the stands lined up in the streets. Firecrackers were set off at one portion which nearly made her lose the trail of Cobrantes. If it were not for the tall man she was with, she would have surely lost them.

Cat caught back up to them fairly quickly. Although she was focused on her task at hand, she could not help but smile at the children having fun and the lanterns that lit up the night sky. This was the best part about the festival! Being a member of royalty, they were taught that it was dangerous to be out and about during this time. So, they had a banquet each year to celebrate with the elites of Kajor. Cateile of course didn't agree and had snuck out several times before either with Kilik or Nara. One time her brother Furok even helped to cover her tracks.

Oh! Cateile had noticed that the two had stopped walking ahead and were leaned up against a wall in front of Kvor's Inn. She swiftly turned to a nearby food stall so as not to get noticed and began conversing with the seller.

Glancing back up after Cateile thought the coast was clear, she looked back over to where they were at the wall. They were gone! Hurrying along towards where they were last seen she looked up and down the street. She tried to locate them but to no avail. As a last resort Cateile threw the hood back off of her head and hurried up the stairs to the inn. IF they were here, she was trying to reach them before they disappeared into any rooms.

CRASH! Cateile ran full force into something hard. Her head hit something small, a trinket that men normally wore around their necks. A man! She had run into someone! Looking up into the man's eyes she realized that she was caught red handed! Cobra's advisor was staring down at her with a grin on his face.

"Come in, little kitten." Cobrantes invited Cat inside of the room. The room was lit with a few candles strewn across it. A fully dressed bed lay to the back of the chambers and a wooden table sat in the middle of the room with four chairs on each corner of it. Other than that there was nothing else in the room.

The sound of the wooden door creaking to a shut alarmed Cateile. The tall man stood leaned up against the door, whilst Cobra stood on the other side of her.

"Why are you following me, kitten?" The way Cobrantes called her made Cateile uneasy. For such an endearing pet name, she sure said it in an intimidating way.

"I…I wanted to talk…to you?" Cat spat out the first thing that came to her mind. Although still mindful of the man standing between her and the door, Cat tried her best to not show it.

"You wanted to talk to me…now? After twenty years?"

"I just found out that you existed."

"I know, little one. I know."

"You know?" Cateile's eyebrow raised, half expecting Cobrantes to call her out as a liar.

"Yes, because no one who knows of me would be so stupid to be this close to me." Cobrantes inched closer, grabbing a strand of Cat's hair between her fingertips. She twirled the curls in her hands and then let it drop back to Cat's shoulders.

"And what should I know about you?" Cat felt her hairs stand up on her arms. She tried not to make her voice quiver as she was still unsure about her 'new' sister. She had just noticed that when Cobrantes spoke any words with an S it seemed as though she were hissing. Especially when she slowed down her words it almost sounds like…like..a…

"Snake!" Cateile jumped tossing a snake across the room that had been wrapping it's way up her leg! Panicking she rubbed her leg to check for any signs of being bitten. The tall man behind her let out a hearty chuckle and was shortly accompanied by Cobrantes' own alluring laugh. Cateile just stared between the two of them as though they were maniacs!

"Please forgive me. It has been a while since I have been so amused!" Cobrantes strolled over to scoop up the snake that had been thrown across the room. The slithering beast wrapped around her forearm as she made her way over to a pot on the stand. She opened the top and placed it inside.

"Qemor. Leave us, you too are scaring the little girl."

"I'm not a little girl. I'm a woman now." Cateile turned back to Cobra after hearing the door shut tightly behind Qemor.

"No…. not yet. You're not anywhere close to where I need you to be…yet." Cobra sat down into one of the chairs alongside the table and motioned for Cateile to sit with her. She was so confused as Cobrantes seemed to talk in riddles. Not really divulging what she meant by this or the other.

The two women sat for a while talking about nothing of great importance. Cat mostly spoke about how she just found out that she had an older sister and her life within the palace. She spoke about where she used to play as a little girl in Helok Forest, the servants within her chambers, her newfound guardian, and more. Cobrantes just sat and listened, not taking her eyes off Cateile for a moment. The only times Cobrantes would speak she would be pacing the room, asking her questions about her life.

Cateile found herself often staring into a painting of her sister on the wall. She had long locks spiraling from every way on top of her head, the ends of her hair resembling snakes. She adorned a silver crown with red rubies bordering it and one large stone in the middle. The eyes of the portrait stared into her soul. She was in a trance. She felt calm and relaxed just talking to her sister.

"Come now, that can't be the only reason why you have come to me today, kitten. To hear about my passst?" There it was again. The slow hiss that Cateile often heard in Cobrantes voice as she pronounced her words. She spoke more slowly now. More alluring. Closer to her ear.

Cateile's eyes were still fixated on the painting on the wall.

How much time had gone past? She wasn't sure. The stories that she had been telling Cobra came easily. She didn't need to force it. She felt so open and relaxed with this sister that she had just met. Maybe that family bond had always been there?

"I do want to know about your past."

"Ask your father. Ask your father what he did to me." Cobrantes was stooped down next to Cat's ear now. Her hands cupped both of her shoulders. Her voice was quiet against her ear.

"Are you here for revenge against him?" Cateile didn't know what she was saying anymore. She was so fixated on that painting on the wall. All she could hear was the pain in Cobra's voice and wanted to know more! She practically could hear her sister's voice trembling with tears. She was drawn to her!

Cobrantes grinned behind Cateile. Her voice mimicking that of pain. Seduction was the art at which she mastered. Seduction came in many forms besides pleasure. Seducing men into loving you. Seducing anyone…into believing you. Whatever it took to aide her cause.

Not answering, Cobra caressed her cheek. She peered over into the portrait of herself and looked back at Cat in a trance. After verifying the state of the magic that she had used on the young woman, she bent lower, closer to her ear and began. She spewed words into her ear. Lies, deceit, to a certain extent. Making her believe one thing, while saying another until she had her right where she wanted her.

"And when the time comes for you to choose their life, over your soul… Choose wisely!"