Chapter Text
The black cat lay on his soft bed. Such a hated feeling. This comfort. This care. Narinder knew it was all just a lie. All of that damned Shepherd's attempts to instill even a shred of respect in him had failed. All because of his stupid smile.
A shiver ran through the God's body. Or rather, the former God. Now Narinder, trapped in a mortal body, could only recall with fear the cold gaze with which a pair of dark eyes stared at his weak body.
When his body first fell, the cat expected torture, expected pain. But there was none. Nor was there forgiveness. There was only… something else. Never before had Narinder felt so… pathetic. Like food laid out on a table before a guest.
"When will he stop? What game is this Lamb playing? He doesn't beat me, doesn't throw me in prison. No one even makes me work. I just take a bowl of food and eat… In silence. None of the followers speak to me. Why? Could the Shepherd have ordered them to?"
Narinder wondered in his tent, which was also set far away from the others. This uncertainty frightened him more than any torture. What would become of him? He was already used to pain, but not to… this.
His ears caught a quiet sound. Someone had entered his private domain. Had it been the old Narinder, he would have screamed and driven the intruder out with fury, but the only one willful enough to enter his tent was—
"How's it going, Nari? I see you're resting, huh?"
A cheerful, sweet voice interrupted the peace within his quarters. Lambert walked up to the bed and peered straight into Narinder's eyes, leaning close to his face. For a second, the cat was motionless, then he sighed and asked with undisguised irritation:
"What do you want, Shepherd? Have you come to gloat over me? Or have you finally decided it's time to finish me off?"
In response to Narinder's words, the Lamb laughed loudly and placed a hand beside the former god's head. It was close to his neck. Too close. Was this a threat?
"What are you doing? Lamb, will you finally answer me? What is the meaning of this whole circus you've staged in my— in your cult?"
Narinder corrected himself and propped himself up, fixing his three eyes with hatred on Lambert's face, which was glowing with a wide smile. But then the cat noticed something that made his hands clench on the wooden bed.
The corners of the Lamb's lips twitched. Something predatory replaced the usual, innocent smile on their face. The bottomless black eyes, which had previously frightened Narinder with their insincerity, lit up with something monstrously awful. That fire burned away any of Narinder's confidence; his words could not leave his lips.
"My, my… Don't you deserve a little suffering? No one speaks to poor Narinder, no one cares about him. Oh, but do you know who wants to speak with you? The very one who toppled you from your throne."
You. It was you. You are the cause of my suffering. The cause of my wretched state of body and soul. I hate you. But why? Why don't I snap back? Why can't I utter a single word? What—
"None of them matter. No one. Absolutely none of these mortals. Only me. Isn't that right, Nari~? Do you know what I love most about you?"
Silence. Narinder stared at the Lamb with wide-open eyes. His pupils darted about, searching for an escape. Just don't look at that face. Just don't see that smile. Just don't—
Oh no. Oh no no no. Why? What is happening? Lamb…?
Lips pressed against Narinder's half-open mouth, stifling any protest that could have escaped. Narinder threw his hands up, but they were seized by Lambert's hands and pinned against the headboard. He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. This was not a kiss. He was being devoured. Drop by drop, something was vanishing from his soul.
He closed his eyes. Not because he liked this feeling. Not at all. But Narinder didn't want to see this face. Didn't want to think about this feeling. But he felt it. He couldn't stop feeling their lips.
At last, the Shepherd allowed him to take a breath, then burst into laughter, looking at Narinder.
"Oh, what's this? Is the great God afraid of a kiss?"
Their face moved higher and reached the cat's ears, which stood upright from the tension. The breath from their lips reached Narinder's fur, making him flinch.
"Or are you just that pathetic? You're afraid, because you know you can do nothing. Even death won't save you. I'll bring you back to me. Again and again."
Their hands moved closer and wrapped around the former god's neck, making him open his mouth. But he couldn't inhale a single gram of air. In a last-ditch attempt, his hands tried to push the Lamb away, but they were too weak. He was too weak. Insignificant. Too… mortal.
Time seemed infinite. But he felt his vision blurring. Air did not reach his brain. He couldn't think, couldn't see. Darkness. Darkness surrounded him. Darkness devoured him. Darkness. Darkness and one last word.
"Sweet dreams, Nari."