Love

Cara felt like it was a blow to her ego. Exactly what she was thinking earlier, she can't bare her soul to a person who just likes her. Selfish as it seems, she wants a clear-cut answer from Ashton even if she is not sure of her feelings herself.

"I know. I mean, I am not sure if I love him either. So it really does not matter if he loves me." She answered, feeling a little at ease that she stopped when they were making out. Cara is not the type of person who would be swayed by popular opinion. Taboo relationship with Ashton is not an issue. But them having a mutual love for each other is another thing.

"Let's just say they bound us to be together forever, so we want our relationship to be bearable. Thus the flirtations we project as a married couple." She tried explaining it in the simplest way she knows.

Percy still looked skeptical but accepted Cara's explanation none the less.

Cara turned over and placed both her palms on her chin. "Let's stop talking about me. Now can you tell me more about our family?" she asked with excitement in her eyes.

Percy loved the enthusiasm of the Sakalam. The two spent the night talking about the family Cara is yet to meet. Percy thinks Cara is a breath of fresh air; her overwhelming presence is mellowed down easily because, unlike other powerful leaders, she is humble and eager to reach out.

The next day, the three are in the library. Cara went up the ladder to reach the books that are on the second floor of the shelf. Ashton stood directly on a floor under Cara to give her space. Percy saw this opportunity to talk to Ashton.

"I see the way you look at the Sakalam." She whispered to him.

Ashton immediately knew how servants and witches relationships have been frowned upon for centuries. Especially that something widely known in their circle is that servants are incapable of loving witches. They automatically considered any relationships of witches and servants recreational, loveless, and lustful.

"It's not what you think." Ashton tried to defend himself.

"What do you think I am thinking?" Percy gave Ashton the chance to plead his case.

"I only want her to be happy. I want to serve her the best way I can." He said defensively.

Percy chuckled, "So are you not lusting over our dear Sakalam?" She wanted to be sure.

Ashton swallowed hard. It is such a lie if he would say that he doesn't, but their relationship is not all about that. But he knows what Percy wants to hear.

Cara was going down the stairs when she noticed the intimate conversation between the two. "Hmm, heart to heart talk." She said with a tone of bitterness. "They must have forgotten that my hearing is impeccable." She thought to herself while she was going down.

"I'm not. I only see her like a friend, nothing more." He said, to satisfy Percy's curiosity, even if it was a big fat lie. Cara's image comes first for him. He does not want Cara to be frowned upon by the family she is yet to meet.

Cara felt stabbed in the back and in the heart at once. "How can he say that after what we did? You don't do that to someone who is just your friend! Is he playing with me?" Cara was furious.

"clang!" sharp lightning hit the window near them, and the sound of the thunder followed it was so loud, like a bomb exploding.

The dark clouds covered the afternoon sky, it poured the rain heavily. Her mood affected the weather again. However, she pretended like it does not have anything to do with her. She acted like she did not hear a thing. Cara casually opened a book and sat on the couch.

Percy smiled, seeing how Cara's mood changed. She clearly knows that Cara can hear them. She got the reaction she wanted. "The Sakalam is furious." She thought to herself.

She tapped Ashton's shoulders. "Very well then." Percy went directly to the couch and browsed through her social media page to reach out to their faction. But as she was browsing her news feed, her eyes widened with the recent press release of the city police.

"Guys, you have to see this." Percy announced. The two moved closer to her. She played the video and turned up the volume.

"The past few weeks we have recorded very similar crimes. A serial killer or a group of them are on the loose and the target of the suspect is women. We are warning people, especially women, to avoid going out until we subdue the culprit."

The police chief was clear in his statement. They recognize the strings of murders as done by one person with a motive, but they did not say it.

Cara cupped her chin. "There is something fishy going on in here." She muttered.

Ashton agreed with Cara's assumption. "I think they did this because of our decoy events. They want to limit the movements of women in the city."

It impressed Percy how Cara and Ashton's radar at the same wavelength. They work well together, efficient and straightforward.

"We have to urge women to decline this advisory. I mean generally they are safer when they are not limited to move." Cara's idea was sensible, only if they could execute it better.

It was a lightbulb moment for Percy. "I think I can help." She smiled at the two.

****

"Women's right advocate gathered in front of the office of the police chief." Cara watched the news in their living room.

"Do your job! Do not interfere with our liberty to do our business however we want!"

Women shouted while raising their placards.

Percy talked to her friends, who are members of women groups. It was easy for her to urge this uprising since there are a lot of issues with the local law enforcements. They viewed this strategy of the Police as an infringement of their freedom.

What's more genius is Cara's idea of using sunglasses. Basically, it is the easiest deterrent for witch hunters to see who their targets are.

Like when people wear pink ribbons to cause awareness of breast cancer; this time they urged women to wear sunglasses to bring awareness for women's rights.

"Great job, ladies!" Ashton raised his wineglass to Cara and Percy.

"Cheers!" Cara and Percy raised their glasses.

"Don't drink too much. Tomorrow is our water event. We are going to the beach!" Ashton excitedly announced to the two ladies in front of him.

After a few rounds of drinks, Cara and Percy were totally out of it. "I did not know babes have low alcohol tolerance." Ashton scratched his head.

He called his staff to help him bring Percy to her room. Ashton carried Cara to their room. He was careful with her; she was mumbling words he cannot understand.

Ashton smiled at Cara's demeanor. His master is in her most vulnerable state and he is determined to do his best to protect her.

He carefully placed Cara on her bed, but he took this moment to stare at her with no one judging his admiration for the Sakalam.

"I like you, Cara. I honestly do." He said as he placed a blanket over Cara. He took a deep sigh. While he can display it to the rest of the world, he cannot do the same around the people that matter most to Cara.

Cara slightly opened her eyes and saw Ashton. She raised her hand and pointed at him. "Hey, you! Come closer." Cara ordered Ashton. He instantly followed Cara's wish and bent over to get closer to her.

"You've been a real bad boy. I am your wife, and how can you say you see me as a friend and nothing more? Did you not like the kisses we shared last night?" Her slurred speech did not hinder her from getting her message across.

Her drunken talk made Ashton all the more confused. He can't remember them making out. "Cara, you are obviously drunk. We have not kissed yet and for your other issues; let's talk tomorrow when you are sober." He said to make Cara feel a little more at ease. Ashton stood up and was on his way out when Cara stood as well. She almost fell out of balance but was able to grab Ashton and pull him towards her.

Good thing Ashton was quick to catch her. They look like they just finished a tango routine.

Cara held Ashton's face. "You are so unfair. How can you say that I am just your friend?" She claimed his lips, like the last time, soft and gentle yet wanting and yearning for his response.

Ashton did not fail Cara. He kissed her back. This is the first time he kissed her passionately on the lips, but it feels oddly familiar.

He likes how her lips feels on his. He loves the taste of her mouth. Ashton moved to her neck, tasting her and licking every inch of it. She groaned at the touch of his warm tongue on her sensitive skin.

"Ahh babe, you make me feel so good."