Titus seemed in an unusually cheerful mood for one expecting the end of the world. As Kataryna staggered into the kitchen at midday, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she caught him tossing pancakes. He was even whistling.
"Titus," she muttered, well aware that she had not achieved nearly enough sleep and that it did not appear Titus had even slept at all, "what are you doing?"
"Making breakfast," he said. "I know it's late, but after all what went on last night, I figured I'd let ya sleep in. Also figured you'd be in need of some nourishment for the day ahead. We've got to find the other Chosen Ones."
"Sleep in? I think I've got maybe five hours sleep, at the most, I'd hardly consider that sleeping in."
"Why, babe," he grinned, "you are cranky in the morning. Whatever did your boyfriend think of that?"
Kataryna scowled at him. "I would thank you not to bring memories of Daniel to the surface," she snapped. "I already feel quite horrid over what I have done to him."
To that, Titus could do nothing but change the topic. "What do you fancy on your pancake?" He asked. "Maple syrup, strawberry jam or stewed apples. Or all of the above?"
"Just the jam," she replied. Her head was throbbing and she felt as though something had crawled into her mouth to die. She attempted to lean against the wall, but her wings got in the way. Horribly awkward things that they were. And what purpose did they serve? Save to make her horrendously obvious and get in the way. It was not as if she could actually use them.
"Would you care to see if the two lovebirds are awake?" He continued, flipping the pancake so that it splattered all over the pan, an untidy mess. "See if they want any brekkie."
She was not particularly sure she wanted to disturb them - didn't Arron deserve his rest? Come to think of it, should Arron be sleeping at all, after a knock to the head like that? Somehow she did not think that a particularly good idea. She hurried up the winding staircase, noticing as she did so that the weight of the wings through off her natural dexterity. Cursed, useless things.
Hesitating outside the door, she could hear the murmur of conversation from inside. The two Lemurs spoke quietly - too quietly to hear the words. Kat reached up and tapped lightly on the door. The voices ceased.
"Titus has made breakfast," she called, "come down when you're ready." She glanced out the stained glass window at the end of the hall. It was grimy, as befitted Titus's house-keeping and seemed vastly out of place. The pattern upon it grasped her gaze for longer. The main centrepiece was a winged character, an angel, which did not strike her as unusual. It was only when she examined it more closely, that she realised something - the angel lacked in both muzzle and tail being flat of face and upright of bearing. It had one hand raised towards what she took to be a star, and in the other it held a book, pages open.
Closer inspection revealed the star to be shaped rather a little more like a mushroom. It was clearly some sort of ancient relic and probably priceless, so what Titus was doing with it in his house, she had no idea. Something like that belonged in a museum., not in a private residence.
Behind her the door creaked open and Aranaya and Arron stepped through, one at a time. Both of them looked thoroughly dishevelled and lacking in sleep. Arron sported a brand new bandage wrapped across his cut forehead and half his face. His right eye, just below the injury, was almost entirely bloodshot.
"Morning," Aranaya said, quite cheerily for her. Dark rings circled her eyes, brought on by worry, grief and lack of sleep, no doubt, yet there was no mistaking the sheepish grin adorning her usually solemn face. "Sleep well?"
"Not really," Kataryna replied, "the couch isn't the best of places when you've got wings to contend with."
"Oh," Arron replied, before Aranaya could say something scathing, "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. How are you feeling this morning?"
Arron touched the bandage and grimaced. "I've been better," he replied. "So what's the plan of attack?"
"I think first and foremost," Kataryna replied, "we eat."
Lunch was a fairly quiet affair. Noone, excepting maybe Titus, was in much of a mood to talk. Aranaya and Arron seemed perfectly contend to exchange sidelong glances and small smiles with one another. It was very cute, Kataryna reflected, but could not help but fill her with mild sadness and jealousy. Never again would she share secret smiles with someone special, no she had sealed that fate with the kiss of the razor blade. Daniel would never accept her back now and she did not blame him.
"So what's our plan of attack for today?" Kataryna asked, setting her knife and fork neatly to one side.
"You and I are going to return to the last place we saw Dario and see if we can't find some clue to their location. You two," he nodded at the two other Lemurs. "Go find your bedroom and get some sleep or you'll be no bloody use to anyone."
"My bedroom?" Aranaya queried.
"Just up the stairs at to the right," Titus sighed, feigning exasperation. "You know, all of you have rooms here, and you Lemur-kin are up in the attic."
"Stairs?" Kataryna's forehead creased with perplexion. "I don't remember there being more stairs."
"That's because there weren't," Titus replied, "until today." He smiled at Kataryna's confusion. "The House is special," he continued, as if that explained everything and turned back to the grill.
Since no more information was forthcoming, Kat decided to clean up and change before she and Titus engaged in their explorations. Arron and Aranaya likewise stumbled wearily off to view their new quarters.
"Titus?" Kat asked, reappearing at the kitchen door a few minutes later, "what happened to my bed?"
"The love birds didn't leave it in a mess did they?"
"It's…" she paused, feeling stupid, "the four poster bed is gone and there's a strange net-like contraption there instead."
"I imagine that great hunk of a bed has served its purpose then," he replied, not even casting her a glance. "I suspect you'll find the new one rather more comfortable."
"Is the house prone to doing stuff like this? Changing I mean?"
He chuckled, "the essentials stay the same, but you'll get used to it after a while. Believe me. Now, would you see fit to help me with the dishes, babe?"
"Please stop calling me that," Kat replied, although without any real malice. "I'm noone's babe."
"Everyone's me babe, tis a term of endearment," Titus replied, "but I don't mean you no disrespect. If you take it as such then I apologise." He tossed the tea towel at her and her hands darted out, catching it reflexively. "But you are living under my roof, and as such there are some rules you must abide to."
Kat got the message and smiled. "Yes … babe," she replied, eliciting a chuckle from the Feline. "So, if the house can change stuff around so easily - why can't it also clean up the dishes?"