Gilded Cage

Once again only Arina and Carlisle were left in the courtyard. Arina had now grown accustomed to Carlisle, so she was seen wandering from one place to another without any care of Carlisle.

Carlisle, just like what he had done the previous weeks, enjoyed a leisure afternoon of tea and reading. What was different this time was that when it was nearly time for Arina's daily afternoon tea, Carlisle remained sitting. He did not go searching for Arina. Instead, he started eating himself. Arina was attracted by the sweet smell. She stood a few steps away from Carlisle, a big improvement from their first encounter a few weeks back.

Arina stared at the pastry on the plate intently. She tilted her head and walked towards the table where Carlisle was. In the end, she was standing next to Carlisle. Carlisle smiled at the thought that Arina no longer detested him to the point of not allowing him to come within a radius of 5 steps. She then lowered her head to peck at the pastry on the plate, like what she normally did when she ate, which was when Carlisle pushed the plate away from her. She looked up in confusion. Annoyance began to appear on her face.

"Now you have the look of the dumb bird I met." He chuckles. "But I'd rather get back my Arina. Don't you think so?"

Arina was getting more and more annoyed. She was about to peck at Carlisle when he stopped her. He placed his hand on her head and stopped her from pecking at him like a bird. Arina froze as soon as he placed his hand on her head.

"Arina?" he asked expectantly.

A slap echoed in the courtyard. Arina slapped Carlisle on the face and struggled out of his hold. Unlike last time, Arina's hand had became sharp claws. Deep claw marks ran across the once handsome face of Carlisle. Blood seeped out of the wound. Arina looked at the blood staining her hands and started to shake. She looked up and caught Carlisle's eyes. Carlisle was sure he caught a flash of saneness and fright in her eyes, but they quickly disappeared. She cradled her head in her arms again and began to rock back and forth.

Blood continued to drip from Carlisle's face. The wound was deep and even when the wound healed, deep scars would be left on his once handsome face. But Carlisle looked suspiciously calm, as if this was not his face. He drummed his fingers on the table. And in the process, the deep claw marks on his face healed themselves. The flesh that was torn apart joined together. Until at last, his face was back to the condition before the incident. The sweat peppering his forehead was the only indication that he used his power.

"Even my healing power does not work. Because it's not a real injury?" he mused.

He took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood away from his face. When he was presentable again, he squatted down in front of Arina. The incident just now frightened her.

Carlisle was at a loss. Arina was squatting in front of him and was shaking like a frightened small animal. But wasn't that what she thought she was? Something flashed in his mind, Carlisle began to stroke Arina gently on her head. She froze when he touched her hair, but slowly she began to relax.

"You're the same." Carlisle chuckled.

Listening to that, Arina raised up her head. She tilted her head in confusion when she saw Carlisle's uninjured face. She slowly raised her hand and gingerly touched his face. She looked truly confused.

Carlisle held back his surprise. Arina was definitely capable of more complex thoughts than a bird. He took out a bowl from the wooden box Janus left on the table this morning and sank the spoon he was holding with his other hand into the pudding. He brought the spoon next to Arina's mouth.

"Arina, we're human. We eat with utensils." Arina eyed the spoon with curiosity while Carlisle pushed the spoon closer to her mouth. Arina opened her mouth in response.

"Do you like it?"

Carlisle placed the bowl on the table and pulled Arina up from the squatting position with him. He pushed her onto a chair. He then repeated the process of feeding her.

"Arina, next time you have to eat by yourself. You know I have no such patience. This is an exception, understand?" Carlisle added a tiny tap on her forehead as warning. Before his hand touched her forehead, Arina quickly moved back like she was used to it.

Carlisle's laughter rang throughout the courtyard.