Cat gently placed a set of teacups on top of a silver tray. She delicately placed a round, porcelain pot next to them and lifted off the lid with a cheerful tune. Reaching into a seperate bowl filled with a crushed, gooey substance, she lifted it off the cabinet and mixed it into the pot.

Like magic, the revolting material blended in with the pumpkin tea and it vanished quite completely. Catarina was an even better mood as she replaced the lid on the porcelain object. Swaying her hips, she picked up the tray and practically floated out of the kitchen, careful not to trip and spill what she had spent hours working on. 

Ever since Hallow was rejected by Leiah, Catarina had thought of creating a love spell for the human. She had never tried making one, as her job was to boil up curses and bewitch others. After reading through many books and putting together a bit of her own materials, she was finally able to create a potion that couldn't possibly fail.

It didn't take long for her to reach the princess's bedroom. She gave a few loud knocks, rearranging the set on the tray to make it all more appealing when Leiah came out.

The door clicked open, and Cat wore the biggest smile she could muster, despite noticing how miserable the young woman looked. "Princess? How are you feeling? I made some tea!"

Leiah stared at the beautiful cups and teapot without any emotion. She eventually stepped aside, allowing for Cat to walk in through. "I'm very sorry, Miss Catarina. I don't feel like drinking anything."

"But you have to try my recipe. It's pumpkin, with a little twist."

It was apparent that it would take quite a deep conversation to get Leiah to accept her drink, and so Cat decided to keep everything nice and warm while she seated herself on a small chair. "Very well," she continued, faking a sad sigh, "I understand. What is the matter, dear?"

Those words suddenly made Leiah's face contort into an ugly mask of pain and sadness. She quickly covered herself with her hands and turned the other way rapidly. Her voice was shaky and frail as she tried to explain what exactly was bothering her.

"It's awful! Hallow has been so kind and sincere...I was so cruel when I rejected him." Leiah used her sleeve to wipe her dripping nose. Once she felt confident enough to turn to her visitor, she tried to laugh her grief away and seated herself opposite from Cat.

Catarina had no idea what to say next, as she wasn't very well aquainted with human girls or their emotions. She figured she should show sympathy and agree with what she was told.

"Yes, you were very cruel."

Leiah's forged smile wavered, and she leaned back against her chair with a lost expression.

"But you do like him, don't you?" Catarina questioned slyly, attempting to get to the bottom of the lovesick girl's heart. Leiah blinked a few times, and she suddenly straightened up as if coming to an abrupt realization. In a low voice, she asked, "Where's Tyrell? He should be back by now. Surely, Hallow has sent word to him that father is awake?"

"Tyrell?" Catarina questioned suspiciously, "Yes. Yes he did send word, but do tell me what Tyrell has to do with all this?"

"Oh, nothing. I was merely curious that's all."

Cat couldn't be easily fooled. She cocked her head and wrapped her delicate fingers around the teapot handle. "So that is why you couldn't say yes..."

Leiah turned her head quickly, unsure of what the woman was trying to say. Cat laid her other hand on a teacup, sliding it slowly towards the princess.

"I may not know much about humans or their difficulties, but love is not foreign to most of us underground." The cat woman thought of her husband, and their daughter. She cared for them both deeply, and would do anything to make sure they were safe and out of harms way.

"I don't understand. What are you implying?" Leiah questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her. Cat only exchanged a small nod and lifted the pot, wearing a confident Cheshire grin, "Tea?". Leiah fell silent for only a moment, but she eventually nodded despite rejecting it earlier on. 

"Only a little bit," she reassured her guest, and watched as the steamy, clear, orange colored liquid filled her cup. Cat felt more relaxed than she did a few moments ago, and she began to serve herself as well, though she knew she wouldn't swallow a drop. With the cup now raised up to her face, the woman's pupils expanded even further as they devoured the sight of a naïve mouse falling into her trap. 

The poor princess had no way of knowing what would happen to her, and as she tilted her head back to swallow the rest of the strangely addicting tea, Catarina continued to speak. "You never did answer my question, your highness."

"What question?" Leiah responded, her eyebrows furrowed together as a sickening feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, wondering what she had eaten earlier on.

"I asked if you liked Hallow."

"A-ah...yes, yes I do." Leiah tried her best to not show how sick she was starting to feel. With a deep breathe, she exchanged an embarrassed grin with the woman. "I'm-I'm not feeling too well."

Catarina acted as if she didn't hear the last statement. She placed the cup down, it's contents untouched. With an almost eerie smile, she added in, "Yet you don't love him. You're in love with another, and you don't even realize it. This truly does complicate things."'

"Miss Catarina? I don't know what you're talking about, but I need help." Leiah could no longer hide how awful her inside were twisting. She fell off her chair, attempting to loosen her corset as strings of sweat began to form on her hair line. "Please, help me! I feel horrible!"

Cat calmly stood up from her chair, watching the princess writhe on the floor with little emotion. She let out a small 'hmph', picking up the teapot and lifting off the lid to inspect the inside. Her eyebrows slowly rose up, and she had to place the object aside before her jaw dropped as well.

"Dear me, " She whispered, not paying attention to Leiah's agonizing groans. "Dear, dear me. What have I done."

Cat knew she had created a love potion, but the vision she had received while staring at the cursed tea revealed to her that she had also put together a deadly mix that could only lead to one thing- death.  

She had to inform Hallow of what she had done, for she knew the results were satisfying...but there was something else that needed to be addressed. Something that could change everything. Taking many steps back, Catarina tiptoed out of the room and quickly shut the door tight behind her. She couldn't risk anyone hearing Leiah's screams of pain, nor could she risk allowing Leiah herself to make her way out of her room.

The woman chewed on her lower lip as she practically flew down the corridor, nervously keeping an eye out for her King. Whatever happened next had to be explained to him with great care, for Hallow wasn't one to receive bad news lightly...