“It’s almost as if he’s turning into a Werewolf. But he was already a Were, so his body has been trying to fight it off. In the meantime, however, he is semi-rabid.”
“Is there a cure?”
“Sree believes the blood sample from the Rabid Dr. Cassandra Kennedy gave you can be used to create one.”
“That’s it?” Karabi scoffed. “You just need to give him some blood from the same creature that made him sick? And that will make him better?”
“No, no, it’s not that simple,” Rohini said. “He will also need the blood from a fertile female Werecat. Which makes it a good thing that you’re here.”
Karabi turned to look at her mother then. “No one said anything about needing my blood.”
“I just did.”
“How long will it take to make? And can we wake Alex up?”
“The treatment should only take a few hours to make and administer. As far as when Alex will be well enough for us to wake, who can say for sure?” Rohini shrugged. “We’ve never actually encountered a Werecat with this ailment before. But I’d give it at least twenty-four hours.”
Karabi scoffed. “So help me understand. Exactly how will the treatment be made?”
“I don’t fully understand it myself but I’m not the doctor. You’ll have to ask your father to explain it to you.”
Karabi winced. Fat chance of that happening anytime soon. She glanced at Sree again. She knew he could hear them. They were standing outside the room. But not once did he look up to acknowledge Karabi. Just being back in that apartment with them made her felt as if she were suffocating. She wanted to get out of there as soon as she could.
She turned to her mother and pulled up the sleeve of her shirt. “Take my blood sample now, then,” she said. “I need to go.”
Rohini furrowed her brows. “You’re not going to wait for your friend to wake up?”
“I can’t hang around here for twenty-four hours, Mum. He knows my number. He can call me when he wakes up. If he wants to.”
Rohini nodded and led the way to the bathroom, where Karabi followed. Neither one of them spoke while the blood was drawn. When it was over, Karabi grabbed her coat and went to the door but Rohini stood in front of it, acting as a blockade.
“Please stay,” Rohini said.
“Mum, don’t,” Karabi whined. “You know I can’t.”
“You can. It doesn’t have to be like this. Stay, so we can all talk while we wait for Alex to get better.”
Karabi sighed and shook her head. The air in the apartment was thinning, the walls were closing in. “Not right now, Mum. I’ve been through so much already. I just really want to go home. Please.”
Rohini looked at her with sad eyes but she stepped aside. Karabi paused and flashed her mother a warm smile. “Thank you for helping him,” Karabi said. “He’s a really good guy.”
“I know,” Rohini said. “I could tell from the first moment I met him.”
Karabi cringed at that and pulled away when the woman moved in for a hug. But she was determined not to look ungrateful by bringing up the whole setup thing right now. “I-I’ve got to go,” she mumbled, opening the door and hurrying out of the apartment before she had to look at that woman’s breaking heart a second longer.
Chapter Fourteen
Karabi stood at the fence outside the lion’s den at the zoo. A few changes had been made to the habitat and she wanted to see what it looked like from the perspective of a zoo patron. It looked amazing. The new trees and rocks made the habitat seem a lot more natural while still being aesthetically pleasing. There was also plenty more space for all the young cubs to run around without hurting themselves now, and they immediately took to it. The adult lions, however, barely seemed to register the changes. Didn’t matter how many changes were made to the habitat. Either way, the fact remained they were still trapped in a cage.
Karabi knew that feeling all too well.
She knew he was coming while he was still almost ten feet away. She’d spotted him out of the corner of her eye about a minute ago. He came to over to Karabi so casually, with so much calm and coolness. As if standing by her side was simply where he was supposed to be. Never mind that it had been two weeks and four days since they’d seen or spoken to each other. But there was comfort now in him filling that space next to her. That space where it felt as if he was supposed to be.
“It looks so different here,” he said. “Even some of the animals seem different.”
“It’s spring now,” she said. “Things are changing.”
“It came so fast. Seems like this place was just covered in snow.”
“That’s because it’s going on three weeks since you’ve been here,” Karabi said. She finally turned to face him. Alex was more handsome than ever. He looked vibrant and healthy. He was wearing a shirt with a knit vest on over it. She could still tell he was firm and fit under there. Looked as though he’d been getting plenty of exercise and sunshine, whatever he’d been doing. He turned to look at her and the corners of his mouth curled up into a soft smile, lifting her heart up with them. “Where have you been?” she asked. “The zoo says you no longer work here. Your contract isn’t up until next week.”
“They called to tell me I was fired a few days after you’d left me at your parents’ apartment.”
“What? After all of the awesome work you’ve done for us? Did they say why?”
“They gave some vague explanation about not being sure I was the right fit due to all of my absences. They also said I exhibited some odd, inconsistent behavior. I’m pretty sure they think I was on drugs.”
“Oh no,” Karabi half laughed and half cried. “I could talk to them, tell them you don’t do drugs, you were just sick and had a lot of personal—”
“No, don’t,” Alex stopped her. “I don’t think I would have accepted even if they had made me an offer. I already have another job that I started last week. A bigwig who attended our zoo masquerade who contacted me. Said he loved everything about the ball and offered me a job right on the spot, as a dual event planner and finance manager at his firm.”
Karabi laughed. “Well, that was a pretty awesome event. Congratulations on the new job!”
“Thanks,” he said. He took a slight step back as if he wanted get a better look at her. “So. How are you?”
She shrugged. “I’m okay. Not too bad, not too great. The more important question is, how are you?”
“I’m good,” Alex said. “Your parents took great care of me. I was up and about in a day and a half. My blood was completely free of toxins and I was in full control of the tiger by the end of the week. Your mother started introducing me to the Pride members who live there. They’re all cool about me not being a member, since I’m a new Cat and all. Also, there are those private woods on the property that your father and I have been using to help me practice hunting like a normal big cat. You never told me that your father was a tiger too.”
Karabi cleared her throat. “Yeah, he is. I’m glad they were able to give you all the help you needed.”
“Well.” Alex moved in close, entering that space right in front of her that sent her heart racing. “They couldn’t help me with everything. Apparently my increased libido came with the tiger. Not the bite.”
“You were horny before the tiger came out.”
“Mostly every time I was near you.”
She folded her arms. “Who have you been near the past couple of weeks, then, that proved to you your libido was still around?”
“No one,” he said with a chuckle. But then his expression turned serious. His blue-gray eyes burned into hers. “But I’ve thought a lot about you. Have you thought about me?”
She licked her lips and took a couple steps back to try to free herself from being pulled into his enticing energy. “Maybe.” She tried to turn away but couldn’t help but stare back up longingly at that delicious mouth of his. “Yes,” she changed her answer.
“You didn’t return my call.”
“You only left one message.”
“I didn’t want to harass you if you honestly didn’t want to be bothered. I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you, but I also wanted to give you time, if you needed it.”
Karabi blew air out of her lips and looked down at the ground. She finally got a guy who didn’t leave her a hundred messages and she’d still gotten annoyed with him. What was wrong with her? “I appreciate that. I guess I really wasn’t ready to talk to you yet.”
“Still on the fence about me, huh?”
She shrugged. “I’m still on the fence about everything. The Pride. What it is I’m looking for. You and me.”
“What could I have done differently to at least make you feel better about the you-and-me part?”
“Honestly? Nothing. It was more about me than you.”
Alex scoffed. “Oh no. Not the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ line.”
“No, hear me out. You were right. I’m hotheaded. Independent to a fault, and sometimes stubborn beyond reason. I’ve let you suffer because of my selfish pride. Not to mention, I’m the one who got you into this mess. I don’t even know why you want me. I’m broken. I’m not sure I deserve you. I’m afraid—I’m afraid that after you’ve spent time with me for a while, and really got to know me, you’d realize I’m not what you really want.”
He reached out and tenderly took several strands of her long hair, stroking them between his fingers. “It’s my job to decide what I want, not yours. And I’m certain I want you. Endearing stubbornness and all.”
Karabi blinked several times to keep her eyes from watering. “Why?”
“Why not? Because you’re not perfect? Who the hell is? You fell for me, even though I’ve been nothing but a mess from the day we met. You don’t need to be perfect to be with someone. Just be perfect for someone.”
“You’re on lunch break, right? Would you like to go someplace to get something to eat?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Thank you, but no. I still—I have some self-healing to do first.”
Alex looked disappointed but he nodded acquiescingly. “Well…whenever you’re ready to climb down off that fence, if you’re on my side, come look me up.”
“You’re going to wait for me?”
He shrugged with a grin. “I don’t know. Depends on how long you make me wait.”
She laughed softly. “Gee, thanks.”
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her sweetly on the side of her mouth. “You’re not the only one who has some thinking to do. I need to figure out what I’m going to do now that I’m a Stray Cat all alone out there in the world.” He straightened up. “I’m going to get out of here then. I’m starving. It was good to see you, Karabi.”
He started to walk away when Karabi called out to him. “Alex,” she said. She waited until he stopped and turned to look at her. “You’re not alone. My parents will look out for you.”
He gave her a long, thoughtful look. Then he smiled. “You’re right. They already do. Your parents are good people, Karabi,” he said. Then he left.
Karabi watched him walk off. The irony was that he was the orphan but she was the one who was the Stray. And she felt more alone now than ever.
* * * * *
Sree entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. He started taking off his jacket when he saw Karabi setting the plates on the table, and froze. “What is she doing here?” he asked.
Karabi had been wondering the same thing. She’d been thinking about them every day for a week and half, after Alex had visited her at the zoo. She wasn’t sure what compelled her mother to call and invite her over for dinner. Nor why she agreed to it. But Karabi felt driven to try to end the standoff between them. It was only a month ago that she was there, dropping off an injured Alex before taking off, but it seemed like ages. The apartment felt foreign yet a place she was very well acquainted with at the same time.
“I invited her for dinner and she accepted.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to talk with her.”
“Well, if she’s staying, I’m not.” He slid his jacket back onto his shoulders.
“Sree.” Rohini marched over to him and grabbed his arm. “Don’t you think this has gone on long enough? It’s been ten years that neither one of you was willing to put your pride aside. But finally, she has made the first time by coming here tonight. This is our daughter, Sree. Come sit down and eat. Let’s talk.”
“I have nothing to say to her.”
“Saying nothing says something too, you know,” Rohini chastised him. “Is that really the message you want to convey to her after all of this time?”
He paused, reflecting on those words. He drooped his shoulders and tossed his jacket on the couch, walking past them to go to the bathroom. He came out and sat at the table without looking up.
They ate in silence for a long while. Every once in a while Karabi and Rohini’s eyes met and they’d flash each other an awkward smile. So Karabi put her focus on devouring the meal—spicy chicken tikka masala with brown rice and garlic naan.
“This is really good, Rohini,” Sree said after a while.
“Karabi made it,” Rohini said.
Sree glanced quickly at Karabi, then looked off to the side as he spoke to her. “Thanks for making dinner,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Right this moment? Not really.”
“Are you still attracted to women?”
Karabi nearly choked on her food. “I will always be bisexual, Papa. I wish you wouldn’t hate me for that.”
“He doesn’t hate that you’re bisexual, you know that,” Rohini defended him.
Karabi lowered her eyes and twisted her mouth sarcastically. “Do I know that? Really?”
“If you don’t, you should,” Sree spoke up. “We’re a dying breed. You know how important it is that we procreate. You come from a long bloodline of Weres—you have strong Cat genes. We expect you to continue the lineage. You ignoring your Cat and fooling around with females and humans doesn’t serve any purpose other than to waste time.”
Karabi dropped her fork. Her cheeks were red with anger and frustration. What a waste of time this was. Her father was never going to change and neither was she. She pushed her chair from the table and was about to abandon the rest of her meal and leave when Rohini spoke up.
“Oh Sree, can’t you can find a better way to say what you feel than that?”
When Sree apologized and hung his head, Karabi sat back, stunned.
“Karabi, you know how much your father and I want grandchildren,” Rohini continued. “You are our only child and our greatest contribution to the world, to the Pride, to our family. Sure it would be great for you to have more Werecats for the Pride, but the truth is we always wanted more children than we were successful in having. You are the only chance we have of expanding our family. Your father is just so disappointed that you won’t marry, it’s easier for him to talk about rules and expectations than his feelings.”
Karabi took a deep breath. Then she scooted her chair back up to the table and took a long swallow of water from her glass. When she put the glass down she was able to see things from her father’s perspective a lot more clearly than she ever had.
“Papa, just because I am bisexual doesn’t mean I can’t get married or have children.”
“But will you get married?” he asked. “Will you have children? You don’t seem the settling-down kind. You never have. You haven’t ever considered anyone seriously enough to just bring home to meet us. Male or female. You don’t even take your own Cat seriously.”
“I’m only twenty-nine, I won’t even turn thirty until this summer. I have plenty of time to settle down. Why must you to try to rush me on this?”
“Why must you go so slow?” Sree asked. “What exactly are you waiting for?”
Karabi folded her arms and looked away. “I don’t know.”
“What is it that you need, Karabi?” Rohini asked.
“I have what I need. My freedom. My independence. The ability to be who I am, and no more or no less.”
“And are you happy?”
The question threw her off guard. “What?”
“Are you happy with your life, Karabi? I hear you saying you have everything you need, and that is good! But do you also have whatever it is that you want?”
Karabi let out a long, drawn-out breath. “Yes. I mean, no. I don’t know. I’m-I’m not sure I know what happy is anymore.”
No one said anything else for a few minutes after that, instead choosing to continue to eat.
“That Alex sure was happy to get to know you,” Rohini said, breaking the silence. “He’s such a handsome, intelligent young man. And he cares for you. You shouldn’t be too hasty in dismissing him.”
“Mum—”
“Yes, I like that one,” her father said. “He’s a healthy, strong man. Plus he’s a Tom. He’s nothing like that last one you were seeing. What was his name—Chaudhuri?”
Rohini poked Sree in the ribs. “What?” the older man said.
Karabi’s head shot to her father then her mother, then back to her father. “You know about Rao?”
“We know a lot about you,” Rohini said. “You are our daughter, and we love you. We check up on you all of the time.”
“What? How?”
“Cats have eyes and ears all over the city. You know that.”
“So you’ve had me spied on?” Karabi felt her temperature rising again but then she fully thought this over. “Did you have one of your spies watching me that night of the zoo’s masquerade ball? Is that who the stranger was in the alley that helped chase those Werewolves away?”
Rohini and Sree glanced at each other in a silent exchange. Then Sree looked directly at Karabi for the first time since he sat at the table. “It wasn’t a spy. It was me.”
“You? That was you in the alley? On the roof?” Karabi’s mouth fell open. “With a gun? Since when do you own a gun?”
“Well, I-I had heard that there was a rash of Werewolf attacks on young Queens lately. And when I heard you were going to a party at night, alone and without an escort…” His voice trailed off and he averted his eyes as he shoved some more food into his mouth so he wouldn’t have to say anything to incriminate himself further.
Cat on the Fence Page 14