Rain soaked in every bit of information that Tyler was giving her, nodding silently to show him she was listening. A disgusted frown briefly passed over her face as she thought about how cruel humans could be to beautiful, innocent creatures such as the wild mare circling them.<br/>As the mare charged directly at them, Rain leapt up onto the gate of the ring when Tyler gave her a gentle push. Adrenaline and excitement coursed through her body, making her let out a short laugh of relief that they had avoided any kind of injury with an animal that big and fast. She didn't have to think about his question at all, instead eagerly nodding and answering him breathlessly with a short, "Yes."<br/><br/>Rain's eyes shone with the challenge as she waited for his signal that it was safe to return to the center of the ring. Gravitating to Tyler's side, Rain let out a loud whistle. The mare's ears flicked back as it took off along the opposite side of the ring, keeping the two of them in it's sights as it tried to avoid them entirely for the time being. Every time she slowed, Rain would either whistle or give a holler just as Tyler had done.<br/><br/>After several laps, the mare would charge them again. Making them both run to the side of the ring to avoid her dangerous kicking power. Every time they dodged the horse, Rain threw a glance in the direction of the house but ultimately kept her attention on the task at hand. Oh yeah, she could definitely get used to this life.<br/><br/>-----------------------------<br/>"Oh... Kaden," she said his name delicately, treasuring the sound of it. Tex had officially come to a stop, looking at Kaden in what seemed like complete surprise when he suggested he wasn't perfect. Her teeth bit into the inside of her lip as she began to pace again, wanting to get her thoughts out as clearly as possible so that he understood the depths of how she felt. Though, she did understand it might make him keep his distance from her if she went too far.<br/><br/>"Those things don't make you imperfect. They are a part of you, just like my past has left me with.. undesirable tendencies that will forever be apart of me. You're perfect just the way you are; the scars, your restless days and sleepless nights, the nightmares, they are just a part of the whole.." Tex paused again, sliding her small hands up and down her arms to fight off a sudden chill in her body and to help keep her anxiety from climbing any higher by speaking her mind as much as she was. It had been a long time since she was free to speak like this. And in some ways, it was very uncomfortable.<br/><br/>"Your rough edges and dominating personality are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. You're so courageous. I want to know everything about you, Kaden. Every moment I could ever have by your side would be wonderful to me. Even if you don't want me as anything more than a friend," she finished quietly, not even a single doubt crossing her mind. Tex only hoped that she had properly explained to him why she thought the way she did, however, it was entirely possible that she hadn't. Exhaustion was creeping into her body, making her feel as though her thoughts were beginning to get all muddled together. But still she paced.<br/><br/>It was only when Kaden had come to stand in her path that she slowed to a complete stop, staring intently at the floor so he couldn't see the flush of color in her cheeks from him being so close. As he tilted her head back so he could look into her eyes, Tex bit her lip and dug her nails lightly into the skin of her arm so she didn't cower away from his intense gaze. She was determined to not let her tendencies get the best of her with Kaden, he deserved so much more from her than just that, but at the moment, it was all she could do.<br/>A small frown creased her features as she tried to think about what more Court could have possibly done to her. A disgusted shiver ran through her body and made her stomach churn uncomfortably as somewhat distorted memories flashed to the front of her mind.<br/><br/>-----------------<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Sight was useless down here. Night and day held no meaning for her anymore. Black was all she could ever see until Court sent one of his perverted clients down with a lantern. Even then, Tex chose not to look. She had seen all she needed to the first time Court had dragged her down here. There was nothing in the cell except a thin, moth-eaten blanket and a steel ring in the middle of the stone floor that kept her shackled in chains made of silver.<br/><br/>Mildew was the only scent down here besides her own and the rats she shared the basement with. She was the only person chained down here. High-pitched squeaks and sharp nails scraped against the stone as rats scurried about, scrounging for food and gathering items to make their nests bigger with. The blanket did nothing to protect her from the icy, wet air surrounding her. For a moment, she bitterly considered giving it to the rats to line their nests with, but the feeling faded with a heavy sigh of hopelessness.<br/>Tex laid down on the wet, grimy stone, curling up beneath a blanket hardly long enough to cover her legs, let alone the rest of her body. It had been so long since someone last came down and her stomach had long since given up on the hope of food. She would die here, of that she felt certain</span>.<br/><br/>-----------<br/>The memory faded as Kaden's thumb brushed lightly over her bruises, bringing her back into the present time. Tears stung the corners of her eyes as she realized it had only been a recent memory. "I can't remember...I was hardly fed as it was so when i did get food..Well let's just say i wasn't very concerned about the taste," She whispered, disappointed in herself for not being able to give him the information he was looking for. His gentle touch soothed the sharp edges of her anxiety, helping to calm the intense feeling of panic that had begun to set in with the memory's resurfacing.<br/><br/>However, a frown tugged the corners of her lips down as she thought further about her stay. "Actually.. there was an old woman. I-I don't recall what she gave me but sometimes Court would send her down when i needed..uhm.. something for the..miscarriages. I guess she was like the doctor in a way," Tex offered, trying her best to hide how much that word hurt her. Miscarriages. She had stopped counting after the third and eventually she had stopped getting pregnant at all. Some part of her knew the truth; that she couldn't get pregnant any longer; but she didn't want to think about it. What if one day she wasn't enough anymore?<br/><br/>Kaden's deep, quiet voice drew her back and she focused on his touch, any concerning thoughts vanished. Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she lightly leaned her face into his hand and closed her eyes before meeting his intense gaze when he lowered himself to look at her.<br/><br/>"My choice will always be you." It was a simple statement. A statement that didn't force him to make a decision or take any kind of action he wasn't comfortable with. Instead, it was something that was as true to her as the sky was blue or the grass was green.  She followed it up with the brush of her lips against the rough palm of his hand. A kiss that was soft, sweet, and innocent in it's intentions.<br/>-----------------------<br/><br/>Court leaned forward in the old, rickety wood chair, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hand. Observing the witch's work with a keen, calculating stare. This spell would be the key factor in his plan to bring home his beloved Rain. It would ensure her willingness to stay in the future as well, he just knew it would.<br/><br/>"How will this work exactly? Why does it take so long?" He asked somewhat impatiently.<br/>"If you keep pestering me with your useless questions, it will take longer," the hag griped in agitation.<br/>With a sigh of frustration, he leaned back in the chair and folded his arms over his chest. Muttering under his breath about how he should've went with the younger, hotter witch. At least she would've been funner to play with.<br/><br/>"First I have to weaken her physical body, then her mind and finally her will. Once I've done all three, she will essentially be my puppet. After a certain amount of time, Tex will no longer exist. Her soul will vanish and we will be left with an empty shell. The perfect puppet. It is why I said you need to be certain. You won't get her back once she's mine," the witch explained as she tossed another handful of red powder into the cauldron before her.<br/><br/>Court nodded, waving her off. "You can have her. She's not the one I want." Was all he said before getting up and heading up the stairs, leaving her to do her black magic.