LOG; i burn up from the monster within; CASSIA + JACK
who: Jack and Cassia.
where: a bar and then a hotel room.
what: An order of mindfuck. Violence, sexual stuff, yada yada. It's Cassia, you get the gist.
Lately, Jack had been spending more and more time at bars without taking someone home, instead of flirting he spent his nights focusing his abilities. He was learning to block people out and lock on to one specific person, or to dig deep enough to find anything he needed in someone's thoughts. The man and woman at the dark table in the corner were celebrating an anniversary with a little role-play, he found it sweet that they would do something so simple to spice up a twenty five year marriage. The young man sitting a few tables away from him had slept with another man and caught something but never told his girlfriend, he was drinking to forget about it. The woman at the bar was --
The woman at the bar was Cassia.
His fight or flight kicked in and he had the sudden urge to escape from the bar as quickly as possible but he knew the coward's route better than he'd have liked to admit, he lingered at his table torn between leaving and staying. He didn't want to take the coward's route he was so accustomed to walking down, he was a Seal and she was one of the Angels destined to help destroy the world he so loved. Jack frowned, he knew it wouldn't be right to do nothing. He sighed and took a few moments to focus on Cassia and her thoughts, she wasn't aware he was a seal or what his abilities were. He could do this. For Gabriela, for the Seals.
Jack pushed himself up from his seat and casually took the chair beside her, his hand running along the small of her back as he leaned in. "A pleasure to find you here, Cassia."
The typical outing meant that Cassia found a date to keep her entertained and that date would bow to her every whim over the course of the evening. Afrika had been one of the few who didn't do that. But he turned out to be nothing but another pathetic individual in the city. Like all of them. After him, her point of view changed and she rarely bothered to ask a man along to meet her. This evening, she even thought of asking Ernesto, but the thought passed away. He was taking too long to decide. He hadn't contacted her, hadn't said a word--if things continued down this path, then she would have to teach him a lesson like she taught Ines. These things were necessary.
Cassia was trying her best not to think of her pathetic team or the fact that they barely said a word on the community. What were they up to? Why should she care? Europa wanted to take down the stadium some time ago, but no one else took initiative. Unsurprising. They wanted to get on her about not treating them correctly, and yet at the same time, they couldn't do anything for themselves. No, no, they were the furthest thing from her mind as she sipped the drink in her hand and allowed her eyes to rove over the occupants of the bar. Surely, there had to be someone there who could entertain her. She was growing antsy; this feeling kept her from not wanting any lasting entanglements, but instead made her fickle. A large man one night, a smaller man another night.
Jack distracted her mind from wandering. You'll do again, she instantly decided. She was completely unaware of his status as a Seal, but did know about his capabilities in the bedroom.
"I never thought I would be so fortunate as to cross your path again," she said, leaning into him. "I was hoping to come across someone suitably amusing tonight, too."
He smirked, picking through her thoughts he could sense her approval, that had been simple enough. "I'd hope I did more than amuse you last time, you certainly left a mark on more than my memory if you catch my meaning." He dug a little deeper, stumbling on her thoughts about the other Angels, about Ines and what she'd done to her, her coping mechanisms. He hoped that if he looked hard enough he could find something to change her mind, find a switch to flip to show her what humanity could offer her, he wasn't finding much help in her memories.
"Shall I buy you a drink? Maybe I can be more than amusing this time around," he signalled to the bartender to get her another of whatever she was having, not that she would need alcohol for him to coerce her into an empty room somewhere.
Humanity had little to offer to her because she wanted it to have little to offer to her. Her family had always done well by her and she even had Angels that would have been willing to do anything for her--but she decided to mess that up. Because of her own instincts, because of her own superiority. That rejection was what he would find inside her. It was because she looked at humans while studying history and philosophy and found uncertainty, as well as a number of mistakes that could never be fixed. What greater motivation to reject that? Even if a small part of her knew she couldn't do it completely. If anything, that drove her.
"I hope you can." When the drink arrived, she brought it to her lips and took a slow sip, carefully splashing a little against her lips so that her tongue could dart out and brush against them. "But I hope you aren't planning on buying me too many drinks."
He would change her mind, he would find a way. If he got her alone, somewhere private, he could have better focus and find what he needed. He was positive there was a way to change anyone's mind. You just needed the right form of persuasion.
Jack watched her drink and kept up his smirk, no matter what he uncovered he couldn't let her know that he was up to something. He leaned in close, whispering into her ear, "Just say the word and I can do so much more than buy you drinks."
If she knew what he had in mind, she wouldn't let him go ahead with it. Cassia was as avoidant as any other person trying to ignore their complete problems. Walking into a room with someone who thought he could perform psychotherapy was far from a gratifying idea.
A slight chill moved down her back and she turned toward him. Cassia raised her hand and tugged on his shirt to pull him close. Her lips brushed over his as she moved off the stool and stood to her full height, which was currently increased by a pair of heels. "The word," she said softly as she pulled back.
He swallowed hard, standing and taking her hand, if he was nervous she wouldn't have noticed, "I know a place nearby." He left a few bills at the bar (it was more than enough to cover their tab), and guided her out to the street, there was no point in driving when a five-minute walk would do. It was a pleasant walk and the hotel was nice enough, and after a small talk with the girl at the front desk, Jack had aquired the key to his usual room.
He lead her up the stairs with hints and veiled innuendos, stolen kisses here and there (even if the knowledge of what she'd done made him sick). Once they were inside the hotel room, he tossed his jacket on a nearby chair and gave her an expectant smile. He'd wait until she was comfortable before trying anything.
Upon walking into the room, Cassia rested in one of the other chairs and pulled off her shoes. She made sure to stretch out her legs carefully as she moved, parting them at the right times to tease him a little bit. When she finished, she reached her hand back and pulled her hair down from its current state, allowing the dark strands of hair to pour over her shoulders.
She considered standing up and locating the bed, but instead, she lazily crossed her arms over her stomach and looked at him with a slight smirk. It was an expectant one, basically telling him to come toward her right now. They could start here, she figured.
... Well then.
He crossed the room and leaned into the chair, pressing her against its back, and kissed her hard. It was quieter in the room, fewer people to fish through for a solid thought and contact only made it easier for him to get access to her memories, if there was nothing he could use to change her mind he would do his best to find something else to use. He picked her brain as his hands roamed where they pleased, he was still a man and men did have needs. And it had been a while.
Even though she managed patience up to this point, Cassia didn't hesitate to unbutton his shirt. Her hands moved a little faster after the first two, tugging the shirt open more and literally yanking the buttons out of place to get to what she wanted. Her hands roved over his torso as she returned the kiss, legs stretching out with the action and sliding around his waist. It was an awkward position for the moment, but Cassia drew herself closer by sliding her arms around Jack's shoulder and making it so that he could just lift her up if he wanted.
He picked up on her immediate thoughts and picked her up with ease, quickly moving their bodies to the bed. His hand was travelling up her skirt when his mind began putting together her thoughts like the pieces in a puzzle, her thoughts and repressions and actions all falling into place. He broke the kiss (but not character) and pulled away enough to speak, his usual boyish grin tugging at his lips, "You aren't like the others, Cassia."
"Of course I'm not," she said rather arrogantly. If there was anything she was lacking, it certainly wasn't confidence. She lifted up to brush her lips over his chin, lowering down a little afterward to brush her lips over his neck. "You don't need to remind me of that fact."
He smirked, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face, "I was referring to the Angels."
He knew that would ruin the magical moment they were sharing but it was bothering him less and less the more he learned about her.
Something told her that this wasn't exactly a compliment. Cassia's gaze darkened and she raised her hand to catch his as it pushed aside a few strands of her hair. She shifted her hand down to catch his wrist, nails immediately digging into it. They were her normal nails--completely human in every way--but they would do enough. "I'm not like them, you're right," she agreed with a small smile. "I'm better than them."
He made a slight grimace as her nails dug into his wrist, he'd known that was coming but there was no point in stopping it. If she'd been planning to really hurt him, he'd have done something to stop her. "You really think so? Would Ernesto believe that? Or Ines? Just because you can hurt them -- or kill them -- doesn't mean you're better than them."
He looked deeper, "It's one thing to destroy humanity to save the planet, but to kill those working with you simply because you find them useless? That makes you better?"
"If they aren't actively working toward destroying humanity, then it's better to find someone who will," she retorted in a nonchalant fashion. "After all, if we weren't supposed to have replacements, then we wouldn't get them." Cassia dig her nails a little deeper into his wrist, as she didn't want to act yet. "Did you pick me up to question my logic, Jack? Because this really isn't amusing."
She wouldn't kill him, not when she'd noticably entered the hotel with him, not when the staff knew him. He was at least safe in that respect. "Ah, I've never been one for humor. I'd meant to change your mind about humanity but I'm starting to see that's very likely going to happen. It really is a shame, you were quite the animal in the bedroom. Though I could say the same for outside of the bedroom as well, it seems. Do you enjoy those animal instincts of yours? Is that what makes you better?"
Her nails left his wrist and she rolled out from underneath him and sat on the edge of the bed. This annoyed her more than it should have. "You think you can change my mind about humans ..." she trailed off, her voice a little more distant than it typically happened to be. Her nose wrinkled as she considered his last statement. "Animals have lasted on this earth far longer than humans, but with the introduction of humans, so many animals have died because of their overpopulation. This is especially noticeable in Brazil with its rainforest, if you haven't noticed." Cassia smirked and glanced back toward him. He really was an attractive man. It was a shame, even if he would be dead eventually. They all would be. Once again, she was wondering why she bothered with humans. Why she bothered with these encounters. Because she enjoyed them. She enjoyed those few moments of feeling a man inside of her.
"It does make me better," she said after taking him in for a little longer. "I've been given this opportunity to see the world through their eyes, to understand their instincts. Humans are so petty."
He rolled onto his back and lay there, his feet hanging off the edge, "As much as you would like to deny it, you're just as human as the rest of us. Your powers can't change that." He closed his eyes, focusing on nothing but Cassia, one didn't need to keep their eyes open to know when an attack would come.
"Humans are petty, but we're so much more than that. We can create and love and think for ourselves. Yes, we're imperfect but that's what makes us such amazing creations. Look at what we can do, Cassia, we're gifted. Why should our lives be cut short to save a planet no one will be around to enjoy? If a tree falls in an empty forest does it still make a sound?"
Her eyes became narrow slits at she looked at him. It was only a moment longer before she started changing. The same transformation as all the other times, but it worked, and she liked it. Cassia crouched down in this feline form and far more intelligent than a normal panther. She considered her moves. She could hurt Jack in a number of ways, but she wanted it to be something that would hurt him when it came to what he believed he did best--or so she perceived. Her gaze drifted toward his waist, but instead, she pounced on him and slashed at his face. The moment the blood poured out from the gash, she quickly changed to ignore the longing for the taste of it. No. No.
It was too animalistic for her. He was right.
She remained on top of him, hand around his throat, nails digging into his skin, and a scowl fully formed on her lips. "Do you really think I'm human, Jack?" The other part was completely ignored. Animals could hear the tree. That was a given. Humans always ignored their existence and instead destroyed it. She sympathized with the animals. She did.
He cautiously raised a hand to wipe the blood out of his eyes, "I'm alive, aren't I?" He'd assumed he would still sense her thoughts while in animal form and thought wrong, he would remember that for next time -- if there were a next time. "Changing into an animal doesn't make you one, Cassia. You're better than that, aren't you? Smarter." He smiled. "You know better than to give in and become one of them but that's not something you'd like us to know, is it?"
She trembled, just a little. The fact that he could reflect everything she was thinking right back at her made her uneasy. I want to kill you. But she couldn't do it. It wasn't because of grasping on to humanity, but because she needed to do it in a more cunning fashion. "I want to kill you." Repeating the former thought, but he probably knew that. Cassia had a feeling he knew that. She dug her nails deeper into his skin. It would be so easy to change and kill him. Just a few actions. If she took on one of her other forms--that of a gorilla, for example--she could snap his neck with ease. It woud be so easy. He wouldn't stand a chance.
But she couldn't do it. Part of it was for the aforementioned reason--but he was right. She was smarter. A real animal wouldn't have times to make plans. They would just act on their initial instincts. He would be dead already.
But she wasn't human, not anymore.
Cassia pulled her hand back and smacked it against his face, taking care to drag her nails over the place she hit in her animal form.
Jack winced but kept his smile, coughing from her grip on his windpipe. "I don't suppose I'll be taking you to breakfast in the morning. Should I call you a cab? It would only be rude of me to drag you here and say what I did and still make you walk home."
He would regret saying all these things later, once she was gone and what he'd done had finally set into his mind. For now, he knew she wouldn't kill him, it was better for him to keep up the facade than to let his guard down anymore than he already had.
Her hand tightened a little bit more before she slipped off him and moved toward the glass doors that opened to the balcony. Cassia needed out of here. A cab wouldn't move fast enough for her. She would have to wait for it. "Keep the shoes," she said calmly as the cool night air hit her skin. The feathers covered her skin before she completely changed and flapped off in the night, gliding when she finally reached a point of comfort.
where: a bar and then a hotel room.
what: An order of mindfuck. Violence, sexual stuff, yada yada. It's Cassia, you get the gist.
Lately, Jack had been spending more and more time at bars without taking someone home, instead of flirting he spent his nights focusing his abilities. He was learning to block people out and lock on to one specific person, or to dig deep enough to find anything he needed in someone's thoughts. The man and woman at the dark table in the corner were celebrating an anniversary with a little role-play, he found it sweet that they would do something so simple to spice up a twenty five year marriage. The young man sitting a few tables away from him had slept with another man and caught something but never told his girlfriend, he was drinking to forget about it. The woman at the bar was --
The woman at the bar was Cassia.
His fight or flight kicked in and he had the sudden urge to escape from the bar as quickly as possible but he knew the coward's route better than he'd have liked to admit, he lingered at his table torn between leaving and staying. He didn't want to take the coward's route he was so accustomed to walking down, he was a Seal and she was one of the Angels destined to help destroy the world he so loved. Jack frowned, he knew it wouldn't be right to do nothing. He sighed and took a few moments to focus on Cassia and her thoughts, she wasn't aware he was a seal or what his abilities were. He could do this. For Gabriela, for the Seals.
Jack pushed himself up from his seat and casually took the chair beside her, his hand running along the small of her back as he leaned in. "A pleasure to find you here, Cassia."
The typical outing meant that Cassia found a date to keep her entertained and that date would bow to her every whim over the course of the evening. Afrika had been one of the few who didn't do that. But he turned out to be nothing but another pathetic individual in the city. Like all of them. After him, her point of view changed and she rarely bothered to ask a man along to meet her. This evening, she even thought of asking Ernesto, but the thought passed away. He was taking too long to decide. He hadn't contacted her, hadn't said a word--if things continued down this path, then she would have to teach him a lesson like she taught Ines. These things were necessary.
Cassia was trying her best not to think of her pathetic team or the fact that they barely said a word on the community. What were they up to? Why should she care? Europa wanted to take down the stadium some time ago, but no one else took initiative. Unsurprising. They wanted to get on her about not treating them correctly, and yet at the same time, they couldn't do anything for themselves. No, no, they were the furthest thing from her mind as she sipped the drink in her hand and allowed her eyes to rove over the occupants of the bar. Surely, there had to be someone there who could entertain her. She was growing antsy; this feeling kept her from not wanting any lasting entanglements, but instead made her fickle. A large man one night, a smaller man another night.
Jack distracted her mind from wandering. You'll do again, she instantly decided. She was completely unaware of his status as a Seal, but did know about his capabilities in the bedroom.
"I never thought I would be so fortunate as to cross your path again," she said, leaning into him. "I was hoping to come across someone suitably amusing tonight, too."
He smirked, picking through her thoughts he could sense her approval, that had been simple enough. "I'd hope I did more than amuse you last time, you certainly left a mark on more than my memory if you catch my meaning." He dug a little deeper, stumbling on her thoughts about the other Angels, about Ines and what she'd done to her, her coping mechanisms. He hoped that if he looked hard enough he could find something to change her mind, find a switch to flip to show her what humanity could offer her, he wasn't finding much help in her memories.
"Shall I buy you a drink? Maybe I can be more than amusing this time around," he signalled to the bartender to get her another of whatever she was having, not that she would need alcohol for him to coerce her into an empty room somewhere.
Humanity had little to offer to her because she wanted it to have little to offer to her. Her family had always done well by her and she even had Angels that would have been willing to do anything for her--but she decided to mess that up. Because of her own instincts, because of her own superiority. That rejection was what he would find inside her. It was because she looked at humans while studying history and philosophy and found uncertainty, as well as a number of mistakes that could never be fixed. What greater motivation to reject that? Even if a small part of her knew she couldn't do it completely. If anything, that drove her.
"I hope you can." When the drink arrived, she brought it to her lips and took a slow sip, carefully splashing a little against her lips so that her tongue could dart out and brush against them. "But I hope you aren't planning on buying me too many drinks."
He would change her mind, he would find a way. If he got her alone, somewhere private, he could have better focus and find what he needed. He was positive there was a way to change anyone's mind. You just needed the right form of persuasion.
Jack watched her drink and kept up his smirk, no matter what he uncovered he couldn't let her know that he was up to something. He leaned in close, whispering into her ear, "Just say the word and I can do so much more than buy you drinks."
If she knew what he had in mind, she wouldn't let him go ahead with it. Cassia was as avoidant as any other person trying to ignore their complete problems. Walking into a room with someone who thought he could perform psychotherapy was far from a gratifying idea.
A slight chill moved down her back and she turned toward him. Cassia raised her hand and tugged on his shirt to pull him close. Her lips brushed over his as she moved off the stool and stood to her full height, which was currently increased by a pair of heels. "The word," she said softly as she pulled back.
He swallowed hard, standing and taking her hand, if he was nervous she wouldn't have noticed, "I know a place nearby." He left a few bills at the bar (it was more than enough to cover their tab), and guided her out to the street, there was no point in driving when a five-minute walk would do. It was a pleasant walk and the hotel was nice enough, and after a small talk with the girl at the front desk, Jack had aquired the key to his usual room.
He lead her up the stairs with hints and veiled innuendos, stolen kisses here and there (even if the knowledge of what she'd done made him sick). Once they were inside the hotel room, he tossed his jacket on a nearby chair and gave her an expectant smile. He'd wait until she was comfortable before trying anything.
Upon walking into the room, Cassia rested in one of the other chairs and pulled off her shoes. She made sure to stretch out her legs carefully as she moved, parting them at the right times to tease him a little bit. When she finished, she reached her hand back and pulled her hair down from its current state, allowing the dark strands of hair to pour over her shoulders.
She considered standing up and locating the bed, but instead, she lazily crossed her arms over her stomach and looked at him with a slight smirk. It was an expectant one, basically telling him to come toward her right now. They could start here, she figured.
... Well then.
He crossed the room and leaned into the chair, pressing her against its back, and kissed her hard. It was quieter in the room, fewer people to fish through for a solid thought and contact only made it easier for him to get access to her memories, if there was nothing he could use to change her mind he would do his best to find something else to use. He picked her brain as his hands roamed where they pleased, he was still a man and men did have needs. And it had been a while.
Even though she managed patience up to this point, Cassia didn't hesitate to unbutton his shirt. Her hands moved a little faster after the first two, tugging the shirt open more and literally yanking the buttons out of place to get to what she wanted. Her hands roved over his torso as she returned the kiss, legs stretching out with the action and sliding around his waist. It was an awkward position for the moment, but Cassia drew herself closer by sliding her arms around Jack's shoulder and making it so that he could just lift her up if he wanted.
He picked up on her immediate thoughts and picked her up with ease, quickly moving their bodies to the bed. His hand was travelling up her skirt when his mind began putting together her thoughts like the pieces in a puzzle, her thoughts and repressions and actions all falling into place. He broke the kiss (but not character) and pulled away enough to speak, his usual boyish grin tugging at his lips, "You aren't like the others, Cassia."
"Of course I'm not," she said rather arrogantly. If there was anything she was lacking, it certainly wasn't confidence. She lifted up to brush her lips over his chin, lowering down a little afterward to brush her lips over his neck. "You don't need to remind me of that fact."
He smirked, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face, "I was referring to the Angels."
He knew that would ruin the magical moment they were sharing but it was bothering him less and less the more he learned about her.
Something told her that this wasn't exactly a compliment. Cassia's gaze darkened and she raised her hand to catch his as it pushed aside a few strands of her hair. She shifted her hand down to catch his wrist, nails immediately digging into it. They were her normal nails--completely human in every way--but they would do enough. "I'm not like them, you're right," she agreed with a small smile. "I'm better than them."
He made a slight grimace as her nails dug into his wrist, he'd known that was coming but there was no point in stopping it. If she'd been planning to really hurt him, he'd have done something to stop her. "You really think so? Would Ernesto believe that? Or Ines? Just because you can hurt them -- or kill them -- doesn't mean you're better than them."
He looked deeper, "It's one thing to destroy humanity to save the planet, but to kill those working with you simply because you find them useless? That makes you better?"
"If they aren't actively working toward destroying humanity, then it's better to find someone who will," she retorted in a nonchalant fashion. "After all, if we weren't supposed to have replacements, then we wouldn't get them." Cassia dig her nails a little deeper into his wrist, as she didn't want to act yet. "Did you pick me up to question my logic, Jack? Because this really isn't amusing."
She wouldn't kill him, not when she'd noticably entered the hotel with him, not when the staff knew him. He was at least safe in that respect. "Ah, I've never been one for humor. I'd meant to change your mind about humanity but I'm starting to see that's very likely going to happen. It really is a shame, you were quite the animal in the bedroom. Though I could say the same for outside of the bedroom as well, it seems. Do you enjoy those animal instincts of yours? Is that what makes you better?"
Her nails left his wrist and she rolled out from underneath him and sat on the edge of the bed. This annoyed her more than it should have. "You think you can change my mind about humans ..." she trailed off, her voice a little more distant than it typically happened to be. Her nose wrinkled as she considered his last statement. "Animals have lasted on this earth far longer than humans, but with the introduction of humans, so many animals have died because of their overpopulation. This is especially noticeable in Brazil with its rainforest, if you haven't noticed." Cassia smirked and glanced back toward him. He really was an attractive man. It was a shame, even if he would be dead eventually. They all would be. Once again, she was wondering why she bothered with humans. Why she bothered with these encounters. Because she enjoyed them. She enjoyed those few moments of feeling a man inside of her.
"It does make me better," she said after taking him in for a little longer. "I've been given this opportunity to see the world through their eyes, to understand their instincts. Humans are so petty."
He rolled onto his back and lay there, his feet hanging off the edge, "As much as you would like to deny it, you're just as human as the rest of us. Your powers can't change that." He closed his eyes, focusing on nothing but Cassia, one didn't need to keep their eyes open to know when an attack would come.
"Humans are petty, but we're so much more than that. We can create and love and think for ourselves. Yes, we're imperfect but that's what makes us such amazing creations. Look at what we can do, Cassia, we're gifted. Why should our lives be cut short to save a planet no one will be around to enjoy? If a tree falls in an empty forest does it still make a sound?"
Her eyes became narrow slits at she looked at him. It was only a moment longer before she started changing. The same transformation as all the other times, but it worked, and she liked it. Cassia crouched down in this feline form and far more intelligent than a normal panther. She considered her moves. She could hurt Jack in a number of ways, but she wanted it to be something that would hurt him when it came to what he believed he did best--or so she perceived. Her gaze drifted toward his waist, but instead, she pounced on him and slashed at his face. The moment the blood poured out from the gash, she quickly changed to ignore the longing for the taste of it. No. No.
It was too animalistic for her. He was right.
She remained on top of him, hand around his throat, nails digging into his skin, and a scowl fully formed on her lips. "Do you really think I'm human, Jack?" The other part was completely ignored. Animals could hear the tree. That was a given. Humans always ignored their existence and instead destroyed it. She sympathized with the animals. She did.
He cautiously raised a hand to wipe the blood out of his eyes, "I'm alive, aren't I?" He'd assumed he would still sense her thoughts while in animal form and thought wrong, he would remember that for next time -- if there were a next time. "Changing into an animal doesn't make you one, Cassia. You're better than that, aren't you? Smarter." He smiled. "You know better than to give in and become one of them but that's not something you'd like us to know, is it?"
She trembled, just a little. The fact that he could reflect everything she was thinking right back at her made her uneasy. I want to kill you. But she couldn't do it. It wasn't because of grasping on to humanity, but because she needed to do it in a more cunning fashion. "I want to kill you." Repeating the former thought, but he probably knew that. Cassia had a feeling he knew that. She dug her nails deeper into his skin. It would be so easy to change and kill him. Just a few actions. If she took on one of her other forms--that of a gorilla, for example--she could snap his neck with ease. It woud be so easy. He wouldn't stand a chance.
But she couldn't do it. Part of it was for the aforementioned reason--but he was right. She was smarter. A real animal wouldn't have times to make plans. They would just act on their initial instincts. He would be dead already.
But she wasn't human, not anymore.
Cassia pulled her hand back and smacked it against his face, taking care to drag her nails over the place she hit in her animal form.
Jack winced but kept his smile, coughing from her grip on his windpipe. "I don't suppose I'll be taking you to breakfast in the morning. Should I call you a cab? It would only be rude of me to drag you here and say what I did and still make you walk home."
He would regret saying all these things later, once she was gone and what he'd done had finally set into his mind. For now, he knew she wouldn't kill him, it was better for him to keep up the facade than to let his guard down anymore than he already had.
Her hand tightened a little bit more before she slipped off him and moved toward the glass doors that opened to the balcony. Cassia needed out of here. A cab wouldn't move fast enough for her. She would have to wait for it. "Keep the shoes," she said calmly as the cool night air hit her skin. The feathers covered her skin before she completely changed and flapped off in the night, gliding when she finally reached a point of comfort.