Her eyes admired the pattern inlaid in the back of her hand. Kate leaned over "whatcha looking at?". Lavender jumped and hid her hand instinctively "oh! Just lines and stuff..haha..". Kate's brow upturned quizzically and Lavender's hand basically moved toward the towering woman on her own. Kate held her hand softly "A SIGIL?! You made a deal with my brother!??!". Lavender laughed nervously "..technically he made one with me but yeah–?". Lavender played with the broom stick, scrunching her joints around it; Kate had found her some tasks to do to fill the time. "I'm definitely gonna have to have another word with him.." she mumbled. "Is it a bad thing?" Lavender asked. Kate shook her head "not necessarily, it just doesn't feel like he's giving you much of a chance?".

Not much of a chance? What was that supposed to mean?

"You're making me kinda nervous..". Kate gasped, slapping her mouth shut "gosh! Your right!! Sorry! It's really not a big deal. I think? Anyways! Lets get to the point, What did you guys agree upon??". Lavender recalled the night before. "He just promised to help me find a way home I guess". A troubling smile painted Kate's face "right, of course." Her tail curled in a little "let me know if there's anything you need during your stay then".

Lavender thought what such a look might entail but she wasn't close enough to this Kate to question such a thing. "I will" was probably a more fitting response anyways. She didn't want Kate to display such an expression but a bystander's words could only hurt whatever it was more.

She changed the topic "you knew I was awake right? So why were my ears the reason you let me stay?"

"I just assumed you wouldn't be scared of us since you're not a human".

Lavender paused, "aren't we both human".

Kate looked puzzled, standing still until she finally spoke "I mean.." she lingered on the last verse "Lavender, how'd you end up here?".

Lavender tensed, unsure if revealing the truth was a good idea yet, or if she could explain it at all. "Well, I'm not sure myself".

"Like you don't remember?".

Lavender shook her head " more like I don't understand—?". She decided to just take the dive "I was actually on my way to my friends house".

"Really? You've got some interesting friends, living so close to the demon's castle isn't everyone's cup of tea".

The demon's castle? Didn't that also mean Kate lived nea– unless.. That would explain the horns and tails. But how does one even go about asking such a thing? Who goes around accusing their friends of being demons.

"I guess they really are a strange bunch–wait! Kate? What ended up happening to my basket?".

"Oh you're right! It must be in the kitchen! something important? It sure smelt good! A gift for your friends?" Kate's tail wagged excitedly.

"Something like that" she smiled and the two headed to the kitchen. Lavender opens the basket, revealing some breaded pastries. She reached in and offered one to Kate. "I know we can't particularly leave but are you sure giving me one is okay? Aren't these for your friends?".

"I guess you could say they reached them," Lavender giggled.

Kate gasped "I'm as close as your friends are?!".

In a way?

The crunch of the sugared pastry sung as Kate plunged her teeth into it, the cream oozing past the dough "This is wonderful! You should become a baker!!" Kate giggled "Chaúr's got some competition~".

A door nearby creaked open and Kyle walked in. Kate, now another pastry in hand stuffed it in his mouth. He fought back pushing her off him but ultimately keeping the pastry wedged between his lips. He glared at her but quietly chewed on it. "I guess he outdid himself this time". Kate was about to speak but Lavender tapped her softly and shook her head. Kate raised a brow but dismissed her comment.

"Ok.... What's up with you two..?" Kyle questioned.

"Nothing nothing~" Kate hummed, elbowing Lavender to explain later.

"Right..." he gave them both a suspicious look, biting into the pastry once more and walking out.

—

Kyle made his way back to the library, licking the crumbs off of his fingers. His eyes scanned the several books he picked out. He pondered about his and Kate's own predicament; Comparing it to Lavenders. Had his father found a way to curse this girl to a similar fate. Was she some spy sent by the crown? She didn't seem the type able to kill. In fact her frightened expression plagued his mind. Was he too hasty? Had the deal struck between them really the right choice.

He sat down in an armchair and opened one of the books and began to read.