Chapter 97

Third Person POV

It was almost boring.

Had had Lionel gone soft after her ‘death’? Maybe fatherhood had addled his keen brain. The result was the same regardless.

Katya was winning.

All she had to do was throw scarps of attention and the children’s affection was hers. The weak pup was more resistant. She was not concerned about that.

As for Lionel and Lupa…

She highly doubted their relationship would last much longer. Katya had long ago figured that ‘blunt’ force was not the way to go. The failure of all the moronic women before her was evidence of this.

No, Katya’s subtle approach was much better.

Cracks had formed in their budding romance. She was not surprised. One had to actually spend time with their romantic partner if they relationship had any hope of surprising.

Katya made sure to occupy their individual time.

The legal grey zone of their relationship and Katya’s marriage also worked in her favor. She made sure her lawyers would be ready to dig their heals in if Lionel so much as suggested a divorce.

Not that Lionel suggested it.

‘Did he even notice that he hasn’t brought up the subject?’ Katya mused to herself. ‘Lupa sure has.’

That only further deepened the disparity in those idiots dying romance. It would not take much more than a few nudges to have him wrapped around her manicured fingers once more. Lionel even appeared to be dropping the court case.

Katya just needed to sweeten the pot some more.

“What do you girls think about a special treat?” Katya asked the children.

‘What soft little prey they are,’ Katya thought as both girls perked up. Patti more reluctantly than Vera.

‘How did I birth pups of such inferior intellect?’ Katya inwardly growled. ‘Vera has no excuse, unlike her pathetic sister.’

Katya would rid her oldest of that softness as soon as she finished her task. It was unacceptable that a pup of her own flesh was anything less than perfect. She would not allow this.

It was why she had dumped Patti on the streets at birth. She’d been disgusted and enraged when the midwife warned her of the child’s inherent weakness. Katya washed her hands of the scrawny little thing.

Patti’s survival was not ideal. Katya did not regret her actions. But perhaps the pup could be of use to her now that she had proved her resilience.

“It’s a weekday.” Lupa cautioned from where she was watching.

Katya allowed ‘warmth’ to seep into her expression. “I know. I just wanted to award the girls for the good grades they both got on their spelling tests.”

Vera beamed. “I made a 92!”

“That’s good. I know how hard you studied.” Katya replied.

“Thank you for helping me!” Vera expressed.

Katya noticed Lupa flinch from the corner of her eyes. A dark smugness filled Katya’s heart. “I’m so glad.”

Katya then turned her attention back to the girls ‘mother.’ “I promise we won’t be long. Besides, don’t you have that big project coming up at work?”

Lupa inhaled deeply. Her grey eyes as dull as concrete as she thought. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

‘Yeah right,’ Katya purred inwardly. ‘You’re going to have to try harder than that if you want to step toe to toe with me.’

“It was my offer. No trouble at all.” She assured her.

“Okay. Please have them back before supper time.” Lupa gave in.

Katya held back her victorious grin. “Of course.”

Katya was not really a fan of yogurt parfait. Her tastes ran more on the luxurious side. But she drew the line at cheap ice cream.

The outing was pleasant enough. Vera chattered amiably. Prattling on about her day at school.

‘She has a head for gossip.’ Katya noticed. ‘At least she shows some sign of promise.’

The girl’s enjoyment was clear. But Vera had never been the problem. It was always the other girl that resisted Katya’s overtones.

“How was your day, Patti?” Katya gently asked.

“It was okay.” Patti replied quietly.

“Only okay?” Katya teased.

Patti stayed quiet.

“Surely an 87 on math test in cause for a good day.” Katya commented.

A half-smile graced her mouth. “Yeah. I can’t wait for Mom’s treat.”

“Mom always has fun stuff when we do good!” Vera chimed in.

“Oh?” Katya voiced. Never one to turn down free information.

This opens the flood gates.

“Last time mom turned the whole house into a treasure hunt.” Patti exclaimed.

“She even made maps and traps! Just like a real pirate movie.” Vera said excitedly.

“One of the traps spit chocolate sauce on us!” Patti added. “I was kind of surprised because mom doesn’t like to make a mess.”

“That is surprising.” Katya agreed. Dull Lupa seemed to straight laced.

“Does she always do activities like that?” Katya asked. Locking each piece of information away for inspection.

Both girls shook their heads. “Only when we get good grades.” Vera clarified.

Katya pondered if she could use this situation to turn the girl against Lupa. They were rather stubborn in their love of that woman. So she decided to dig further.

“What happens when you don’t get good grades? She doesn’t…” Katya drawled out in ‘concern.’ “…punish you, does she?”

Vera cocked her head to the side. “Punish?” Unnoticing of Patti’s narrowing eyes.

“She does not…strike you.” Katya commented.

“No!” Patti cried. “Mom would never hit us!”

Vera jerked her head back as understood Katya’s implication. “No. Mom just makes us study more if we get bad grades.”

‘Damn.’ Katya thought. ‘I better back off some for now.’

Katya purposely made her expression soften. “That’s good to hear. I just wanted to make sure my daughters are well-taken care of.”

Vera nods understandingly. “Mom takes good care of us. She loves us.”

Patti is noticeably colder towards Katya after that. All previous goodwill spent. The setback annoys Katya.

Unfortunately for her, all the girls talk about after is Lupa. Telling her what a wonderful mother she is. How much they love her.

‘Is this woman some kind of priestess of the Moon goddess?’ Katya scoffs quietly. ‘They make her sound like she’s perfect.’

Katya figured Vera only wanted to ‘comfort’ Katya with her explanations. But Patti...Katya knew she was snubbing her. It was only through the pups sneaky looks that she recognized the slight cat-like slant to the pup’s eyes.

It angered her. How could that weak, disgusting excuse for a pup have inherited any of Katya’s perfection? To have the arrogance to be so pathetic and walk around with evidence of Katya’s noble lineage.

It was this realization that also allowed Katya to decipher the haughtiness lurking in the pup’s gaze as she exalted Lupa’s virtues.

Katya’s blood boiled.

“I’m glad Nan has taken care of you. She sounds like a wonderful Nanny.” Katya remarked.

Patti bristled. “She is our mom.” She insisted.

“I’m your mother. I am the one who gave birth to you.” Katya said sympathetically.

“She raised me. Not you.” Patti defends.

Katya’s anger reaches a tipping point.

Katya’s expression sours. A terribly cold anger enters her eyes. The cat-like quality of them making the girls feel as though they are under the maw of a mighty beast.

The mask is gone.

Katya leans in closer. Blocking the girls from the view of others. Her sharp fangs peaking out from a snarling mouth.

“She raised you because she is as pathetic as you.” Katya hisses. Voice barely above a whisper.

Vera gasped.

“You were born so pathetic and weak.” Katya continues mercilessly. “I knew you would be nothing but a stain on my name.”

Patti felt her heart beating faster. A prickle of unexpected pain in her heart. These words hurt more than she thought coming from the woman who gave life to her.

“You and that woman belong in the gutter. With the rest of the useless commoners. Soon, your mommy will be back where she belongs.”

There is a lump in Patti’s throat that prevents her from speaking.

Vera eyes her hatefully. “What does that mean?”

“It means you should get with the program.” Katya replies darkly. “Nan won’t be here much longer…but I will be.”

“You two do not want to make an enemy out of me. I can make your lives miserable.” Katya warns.

Then she leans back. All signs of venom gone from her face. Her ‘motherly’ mask back in place.

“Now, let’s finish our yogurt.” Katya says cheerfully.