PoV: Kitty
I lay in the hands of the woman who now owned me.
It seemed like so long ago that I had tried to kill her for the Nobility. She did not even know who it was that tried to assassinate her, and she legitimately never cared. This woman was SCARY. Extremely scary and had a twisted personality. Yet, she was also soft and kind to those she wished to be. Her mentality was disgusting and put those nobles to shame.
The House of Howard was an ancient noble family in the Kingdom of Arlin. It had roots in the kingdom's founding and before the Arcane Era, which they spoke fondly about. In fact, I recall a time during my training when one mentioned knowing about my species' creation and how their family was responsible for our creation.
That was absurd, but they believed it.
But I learned the ways of the knife, infiltration, and subterfuge. I was steadily gaining strength before I met the woman who was holding me now as I lay curled up in her arms. Her fingers lightly pet my head and arm fur, and it felt good. I found myself unconsciously purring. I hated it, I really fucking hated how she made me feel like this. Her scratches felt good; the pleasure she brought to my body was always amazing. She was skilled in manipulation, and it showed even to me. I knew exactly what she was doing; she even told me what she was doing.
Yet, I could not stop it.
More and more, I found ways to communicate like a pet that could not talk, than the Beast-kin that I was. More and more, I found myself seeking her touch like a house cat seeks its owner. I purred when I felt pleasure like a damn cat. All the while, she cooed, "Good, Kitty," with a fondness in her voice. It sent shivers up my spine as she said it and I wished to stand on my own two damn feet again.
But she played the carrot and stick to a masterful level that would leave even the nobility in awe. I found myself looking for the carrot more and more. She made me feel so good all the time, and every time I acted out, the punishment made me feel guilty.
She had captured me! She had kept me locked up and treated me well! The fucking audacity! Now I seek her touch, and I like being held by her in her sleep. I had to restrain the feeling of superiority I felt toward that new woman who was tied up on the floor for annoying the Mistress.
The worst part was that the ancient noble family had taught me anti-interrogation techniques. The pain they put me through was immense, and the ways to counteract the torture's manipulations were all there. I learned a lot; of the five I was raised with, I was the best at anti-interrogation.
And all that pain meant nothing in front of Mistress. She never interrogated me. She interrogated others in front of me, and I shuddered in fear. When she interrogated, she put the Ancient noble family to shame. Her ability to manipulate a body was intense. I shudder thinking about where that skill came from. What had she done before I met her? She was younger than I and had more skills to her name in every way.
I had been following her for years now, or even longer, for all I know, as I was unable to ask anyone what year it was, or day, or even the month. None of that mattered as Mistress laid a new problem at my feet. For the first time since she took me in as a pet, she talked directly to me. She did not treat me like a person, but she at least addressed me personally and talked to me like an adult.
It was surprising how good that felt.
How good it made me feel.
It made me feel important.
How much that made me like her more.
AND I FUCKING HATED IT.
I knew what she was doing.
But I could not stop the natural feelings.
She laid before me a timeline to break through or remain just a pet. The thing is, I was never getting away from this woman. I had a slave collar on. I could not leave even if I wanted to. So, if she could promote me from a pet to a battle pet, that would be a promotion.
If there was one, there was another in the future, right?
I felt at the peak of C rank for a while, and I got up and looked at the tiger woman before me. My Mistress and I felt the hate, and I felt that feeling of fondness. I felt the love I had for her, and I hated it. Fuck I hated how much I developed feelings for her. I still did not understand why I was told to assassinate her.
But did that really matter anymore?
Did it matter that I was a Beast-kin?
To her, I was Kitty, her pet.
I closed my eyes and hated myself, but I wanted to be a better pet. I wanted to be her battle pet. Disgust ran through me, and I hated myself for it, but would it really be so bad? I have had a much easier time with my Mistress treating me like a pet crawling on the ground than I ever had with that Noble house. I feel good in her hands; I never felt good in theirs. I was a tool to be discarded by them, happy if I returned. I was a pet to her, and I felt like she would miss me if I disappeared. She cared about the people around her, not really cared, but she acted to save those around her.
So, what was holding me back?
I shuddered, and something broke in me. My mind blanked, and I thought about it all and decided to embrace it. "NYAH~!" I heard my own voice cry out, and mana came into me, converting to agility. I cried out again. This time, the Mistress looked at me with a growing smile as she watched me, and I felt good.
This was no sadistic smile; this was one of pure joy, and I loved it.
I no longer hated myself for loving it.
For whatever reason, I broke through and became a B ranker the night she asked me to, and my glee and happiness were evident. The moment I finished, she took me into her arms. "You are such a good Kitty for Mistress," she cooed, and I melted under the scratches and pets she gave me.
I was a sucker for my owner.