Post by Zahara Matisse on May 21, 2016 7:05:25 GMT -6
Into the Woods
Friday, May 13th, 2016
10:44am
The trees jostling past as Katalina’s car bumped along the rutted, dirt-and-gravel road at least provided some distraction for Zoey as they made their way somewhat laboriously toward Lana’s home. It seemed to the young magician that her life was on an emotional roller-coaster mixed in with a physical bullet train. Finding out that she was slated to, for the second pay-per-view in a row, vie for the Xcel Championship versus Constance Chapin had brought back memories of their first match. It was a hard-fought affair that saw the champion retain, and with the sting of her first loss long since healed Zoey could look back upon it with some pride as her best performance yet and also a learning experience.
But to have to do so again in so short a time? She didn’t think...no, scratch that. She didn’t feel ready yet. Having only had one match since Nothing Else Matters and dealing with the aforementioned roller-coaster with all its loops and twists left her feeling, for lack of a better term, wanting. That her relationship with Katalina was now public knowledge took a large weight off her shoulders, of course, but it had also cost her a friend. Poor Zoey was just a confused bundle of nervous energy who had to put all her effort into just getting a smile to stay on her face nowadays.
But from the driver’s seat, all Katalina saw was a young woman enjoying the scenery, her chin rested in her hand while her bright eyes danced back and forth, perhaps hoping to catch sight of a deer comparable to Bambi. And when she felt her lover’s eyes upon her, Zoey would turn that smile on Katalina. And what red-blooded creature could resist that smile?
”Getting better, a little more natural.”
The domina comments reaching out to stroke a hand along the side of her lover's face.
”We'll get you back there soon, love.”
The young magician leans into Kat's hand, turning slightly to kiss her palm.
”Thank you for being patient with me. I guess I'm not fully acclimated to the ups and downs of wrestling just yet.”
But she WAS trying. For herself AND for Kat.
”That's alright, love. So long as you keep trying.”
Kat smiles stroking her thumb down along Zoey's cheek then turns when she spots something. Some lights hung up in the distance along the trees.
”I think we're getting closer.”
”"Oh? How long since you were here last again?”
The magician looked ahead, trying to discern landmarks though she had no idea what to look for. Katalina laughs a little to herself and quickly produces a letter from her pocket.
”I've never been but this is part of the directions I were given. 'Lights in the trees, ignore the children, don't go along the back.'"
Kat pockets back the note.
”Seems a little specific in some areas though.”
”"Honestly? This place gives me the willies already.”
Kat takes quick notice of this and gives Zoey a reassuring stroke along her arm.
”Don't worry, love, I'm here with you.”
She smiles as they soon arrive at the old cabin set in what feels like the middle of the woods. Kat exits the car first and looks around hearing no sign of civilization anywhere, not even from the highway they had to turn off of in order to get here. What she does hear is the sound of children's laughter off in the distance mixed in with a little singing. To Zoey it felt like some creepy, low-budget horror movie set. But Kat's words reassured her, making Zoey sit up a little straighter.
”"You're right.”
Meanwhile, Katalina does as the note suggests and ignores the children, or attempts her best, and comes around to the other side of the car tapping her finger against the window.
”So are you coming out? It's you who needs to talk with her, love.”
Exiting the car, Zoey moved forward along with Kat, up to the front door where she knocked with only a little hesitation. The door soon opens up with a blond standing there looking between the two. She doesn’t say anything but just turns and heads back in leaving Kat to look toward Zoey and shrug. She takes her lover's hand and enters inside closing the door behind them and turns to look around.
”Such a...lovely place.”
The cabin was small and very much rundown looking. To the immediate right was the kitchen. Broken furniture mixed in with cobwebs stretching all over meant no one had been in that part of the cabin in years. The rest of the cabin was a single room with two doors at the far end. One obviously leading outside and the other to another room. Judging by the size from the outside it couldn’t be fair in size. Along the left wall was a clear glass display case with bodies positioned separated by a wall of glass in between them. The first was a dominatrix, dark hair with a the back portion of her head missing staring straight ahead as two blonds knelt by her legs. The one on the right with a hole in her head while the other has pressure marks along her throat. The next was a headless woman with a serving tray sewn to her wrists, on it a severed head. Kat swallows and looks to the final one where a woman with raven coloured hair simply stood. It didn’t look like much but the closer she got the more noticeable the gash across her throat became.
"Don’t breathe on the glass, it’ll smudge.”
Katalina looks down at Lana, seated on the floor with a picture of Constance Chapin in front of her and an old pen in her hand attempting to draw over the image but with no ink the pen only scratches into the film of the image.
"Don’t breathe on the glass.”
She warns again, this time looking up at Zoey.
"It’ll smudge.”
In behind Lana, pinned to the wall, were several other photos of Constance. Some candid, others professional. All of them having been given the same treatment as the one resting in front of her.
"You drove with your headlights on, didn’t you?”
She asks moments before scratching comes at the door where the two had previously entered. The noise draws Zoey’s attention, as nearly any noise or sight in this admittedly-unsettling place would have. Before she knew it her hand was clutching Kat’s arm as she turned her eyes on the door. Swallowing hard, she forgets for the moment about the, for lack of a better term, shrine to Constance and what she came here for.
”Wh-what...was that?”
Lana sighs placing her artwork to the side as Kat rests her hand against Zoey as well, just as nervous about this place. However, if Zoey’s this nervous then Kat at least tries to stand firm watching as Lana makes her way up to the door with a smile resting her hand against it.
"You little miracles outside, run along home. These two aren’t for you. No, no. No arguing, off with you now.”
She sounds both stern and loving, almost motherly to the noises from outside. In a short while, the noises end as Lana turns back around toward Zoey and smiles.
"So you wished to learn from me?”
Remembering in that instant why she was there, Zoey releases Kat and stands up straight again. She meets Lana’s gaze, albeit with a small amount of reluctance, and nods firmly.
”Katalina mentioned that you were skilled and I am in need of someone with your kind of physical skill to teach me for an upcoming match.”
Lana smiles but shakes her head.
"No.”
”No?”
"The target isn’t beautiful, more so she’s annoying.”
Lana points over to the wall of abused portraits of Constance.
"These are all hideous, pointless, there’s nothing in them that attracts the eye. Therefore, I won’t waste my time on meaningless projects.”
Had this been a few months ago, Zoey might have lost her temper a bit. But in her time with Kat, she’d learned the hard way about keeping her tiny-yet-fierce temper in check. One deep breath later, she looked over to Katalina with a light shrug.
”Well, then, I apologize for having made you drive out here for nothing.”
”That’s alright, love. It was a long shot anyway.”
Kat goes for the door but pauses and looks over toward Lana.
”Is it…”
"Safe? Yes.”
Kat opens the door and brings Zoey out with her. Once the two are in the safety of the car, the domina shivers letting her nerves out finally.
”To be honest, love, I really wouldn’t have let you train with her anyway. So...I’m quite relieved with her answer.”
The magician’s smile is sweet, natural...like it should be. She reaches over to close her fingers around Kat’s gently-trembling hand, trying to will some of her comfort and calm into the being of her lover.
”Still, thank you for trying. It means a lot to me.”
Bringing up that hand, Zoey kisses the back of it gently before rubbing her cheek against it.
”I’m not done yet.”
Kat smiles resting her cheek into Zoey’s hand.
”I’ve still got two more hopefuls lined up. Only...to be honest, Lana here was the best one.”
”That means I’ll just have to put in more effort with one of the remaining two.”
Despite the gentleness of her touch, Zoey’s tone was firm and desire would shine in her eyes. Still fighting to get back to that point she’d been at before their revelation, she nevertheless kept her spark. It was merely harder to grasp hold of lately. Katalina’s assistance meant the world to her and, bit by bit, the restraints on her usual positive attitude were falling away like so many broken chains.
