{"sf1_id":2021153,"sf2_id":"rn9w8o2e","title":"Chapter 16: Restitution","author":"HeatherOBunn","words":9830,"posted_at":"2023-07-09T15:09:00.000Z","tags":["Arrest","Bathing","Bunny","Captivity","Cat","Chapter","Doe","Erotic","Fox","Kitty","Novel","Pet","Police","Predator/Prey","Rabbit","Sex","Shower","Thriller","Traffic stop","Vixen","pine marten","taunting","tom","toy"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2021153-chapter-16-restitution","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rn9w8o2e","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/9b/17/9b17b3f5-e304-43a8-95c7-6dda1a79405c","description":"#16 of The Murderess of Maplesburg: Reign of Terror\n\nEllie and Jason begin their journey to Wolfsbane, but a traffic stop has disastrous results.","content":"Chapter 16: Restitution  \nJason and Ellie were out of bed in time to say goodbye to Eli and Evelyn before they  \nwent to work the next morning. They had breakfast, packed a few things in a single bag, and  \nstarted the drive to Prairie Meadows in Jason's dark blue sedan. The drive was fortunately  \nuneventful. Ellie drove the first half and Jason the second. No one bothered them any of the  \ntimes they stopped to refuel, grab lunch, or use the restroom. They arrived at the Prairie  \nMeadows Motel Deluxe nine hours later.  \n\"Maybe I should go in and book our room alone,\" Jason suggested after he parked in the  \nhotel parking area.  \nEllie cocked a long ear at him questioningly, \"Why?\"  \n\"Er, I just thought it would be safer. We're probably less recognizable single than as a  \ncouple.\"  \n\"We haven't had a problem so far,\" Ellie pointed out. She frowned, \"You're not  \nembarrassed to book a room with me, are you?\"  \n\"N-no! It's just because we'll be here longer. There's more time for someone to figure out  \nwho we are and call the police.\"  \n\"I suppose that makes sense,\" Ellie conceded. \"Alright. I'll wait until you get back.\"  \n\"I'll have to give them my name. Maybe you should wait with the car running in case we  \nneed to make a speedy getaway.\"  \nEllie rolled her eyes, \"Now you're being paranoid. Assuming they are looking for us, how  \nmany Jason Browns do you think there are? Just don't introduce yourself as Private Inspector  \nBrown.\"  \n\"I guess. I'm still leaving the car running.\" He climbed out and, trying to appear  \nnonchalant, sauntered into the hotel and up to the front desk.  \nAn orange-winged amazon parrot greeted him. The bright green bird wore an open black  \nvest with extra wide holes for his wings. \"How can I help you, Sir?\" the parrot squawked.  \n\"I need to book a room for two,\" Jason told him.  \n\"How big is your second?\" the bird inquired.  \n\"Er, smaller,\" Jason answered.  \nThe parrot cocked his head to the side, \"How much smaller?\"  \nEmbarrassedly, Jason held his hand at his shoulder.  \nSeeming satisfied, the bird glanced back at his desktop monitor. \"Will you want separate  \nbeds?\"  \n\"N-no, one bed is fine.\"  \n\"A feline queen?\"  \nJason blushed, \"Er, well, uh, she's um,\"  \n\"The bed size, Sir,\" the parrot clarified patiently.  \n\"Er, right, that's fine,\" Jason confirmed hurriedly.  \n\"I just need to scan your paw.\"  \nJason held out his left hand, and the parrot scanned him. The bird glanced at the screen,  \nnodded, and turned back to Jason. \"Your room is number 538.\" He slid a key card across the  \ncounter, \"Have a good evening, Mister Brown.\"  \n\"Th-thanks, you too.\"  \nJason hastened back out to the car.  \nEllie looked at him worriedly as he opened the door, \"Is something wrong?\"  \n\"Er, no, everything's set. We're in room 538.\"  \n\"Relax, kitty,\" Ellie chided. \"I told you it would be fine.\"  \nJason grabbed their bag out of the trunk while Ellie got out, and then they headed inside.  \n\"Stay behind me,\" Jason murmured as they approached the door.  \nEllie sighed exasperatedly, but she complied, walking behind him until they were inside  \nthe elevator. \"Remember the last time we booked a room together?\" she teased.  \nJason felt his ears getting hot, \"Yes,\" he murmured.  \nEllie grinned. \"After everything, you're still so bashful, Jason. If you're being coy to make  \nme want you more,\" her grin widened to show her large incisors. \"It's working.\"  \nJason's heart thumped in his chest as his blush intensified. If his seeming coy was what  \naroused Ellie, her brashness both aroused and flustered him. He wanted to pick her up and  \nnuzzle her head, and at the same time, he wanted her to take him, to shove him against the wall  \nor onto the bed and have her way with him.  \nThey reached the fifth floor, and Jason stepped out of the elevator first. He followed the  \nsigns to their room and swiped the key card to enter. Gingerly setting their gray canvas bag on  \nthe dresser by the tv, he crouched by the end of the bed and pulled up the sheets to check the  \nmattress for bed bugs. He then ran his claws through the carpet, looking for fleas or any other  \nparasites. Not seeing anything, he stood, yanked the top blanket off of the bed and tossed it in  \nthe corner of the room.  \n\"I'm guessing you don't really like to stay at hotels,\" Ellie commented.  \nHe glanced at her, \"I just don't want fleas, and they don't wash the bedspread.\"  \n\"I know. I just figured you were gross enough not to care,\" Ellie answered lightly.  \nJason started to protest, \"Just because I don't-\"  \n\"I'm joking, you doof,\" Ellie teased. \"What did you want for dinner?\"  \nJason shrugged, \"I don't know. I thought one of us should pick something up and bring it  \nback here.\"  \nEllie frowned, \"If you think that's necessary. If we're bringing it back, maybe we should  \nget pizza.\"  \n\"Do they make cheese you can eat?\" Jason asked curiously.  \n\"They do, but I get it without. I suppose we'll each have to get our own or the grease  \nfrom your side would get on mine. If you want to order two small ones, I'll have mine with  \nartichokes, spinach, and tomato sauce.\"  \nThe hotel had provided a booklet with some local restaurants. Jason looked up a pizza  \njoint and ordered their pizzas. It turned out they had a special high-fiber crust for fermenters,  \nwhich they added to Ellie's order. He got his with anchovies and pepperoni. He remembered to  \norder Ellie's without cheese. Ellie insisted on picking the pizza up since he'd paid for the room.  \nJason didn't want to let her go alone, but she reminded him that they'd be more recognizable  \ntogether and went on her own. To Jason's relief, she returned with their pizza without any issue.  \nAfter they had finished eating as much as they wanted--there was plenty of pizza  \nleftover--Ellie took Jason's tail and tugged him toward the bathroom. \"Come on, kitty. I think  \nyou're overdue on your shower.\"  \nReluctantly, Jason allowed her to lead him into the small bathroom. She adjusted the  \nwater then pushed him through the sliding glass door into the walk-in shower. The offensive  \nsteamy water sprayed down on him, and Jason winced. Once his fur was thoroughly soaked,  \nEllie stepped in front to wet down her own fur. She grabbed the bottle of shampoo provided by  \nthe hotel and poured a liberal portion into her hand before smearing the slimy liquid down his  \nfront. Jason stood obediently as Ellie cheerfully lathered him up. Upon reaching the tip of his  \ntail, she stepped up against him with her wet chest pressing against his soapy back and  \nreached a hand betwixt his legs, her soapy fingers gently fondling his genitals. Jason had been  \nanticipating her advance; even through the minty scent of the shampoo and the pouring water,  \nhe could smell the sharp scent of her arousal. His heart beat faster at the electrifying sensations  \nof her intimate touch.  \n\"I want you, Jason,\" she breathed. \"Rinse off quick, and then you're mine.\"  \nJason stood under the streams and ran his fingers through his fur trying to coax the  \nshampoo out as quickly as possible whilst Ellie stood behind the arc of the streams and  \nwatched him hungrily. When he was done, she stepped toward him, placed her hands on his  \nbelly, and walked him backward until he collided with the tiles of the far wall. Jason's heart  \npounded as he looked down into her smoldering brown eyes; they were practically glowing like  \nembers with the intensity of her ravenous gaze. Her hand slipped down his soaked belly and  \nwrapped around his erect penis.  \nShe grinned toothily, \"I knew this is what you wanted, kitty,\" she breathed. \"Pick me up  \nand fuck me.\"  \nHis body tingling with anticipation and his senses heightened so that the shower  \nsounded like a torrential downpour, Jason reached his hands under Ellie's arms and lifted her  \nrear over his spiny phallus. As he lifted her, Ellie drew up and splayed her legs such that one  \nlong foot was brushing over either side of Jason's hips. He lowered her down, and Ellie guided  \nhis penis with one hand, the other holding his shoulder. She let out a moan of elation as it slowly  \nslid inside her, her vaginal walls gripping him tightly. Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck.  \n\"Good kitty,\" she gasped. \"Now fuck me; I'll tell you if it's too much.\"  \nJason slowly lifted her up then eased her back down.  \n\"Faster,\" Ellie demanded.  \nJason lifted her up and down again.  \n\"Faster!\"  \nJason lifted and pulled his hips back and thrust forward as he lowered her back down.  \n\"Gah!\" Ellie gasped. \"That's it! Fuck me! Don't hold back!\"  \nJason complied lifting and thrusting as Ellie gasped and moaned until his arms were  \nburning and he could barely catch his breath. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer, and he  \ncame inside her hot vagina, his piping hot fluids mixing with hers. Jason gasped in ecstasy while  \nEllie gave a little cry of euphoria. Swamped by orgasmic pleasure, Jason didn't have the focus  \nto keep lifting Ellie, so he hugged her tightly to his chest. When his euphoric high had finally  \nsubsided, he looked down into the rabbit's adoring eyes.  \nShe beamed at him lovingly, \"I love you, Jason,\" she breathed. \"I'm glad you're mine.\"  \nJason smiled back, \"I love you too, Ellie. If I couldn't be yours, I wouldn't know what to  \ndo.\" He lifted her off of his relaxing peins and set her on the white tiles in front of him.  \nEllie watched interestedly as the pink member retreated back inside him, which made  \nJason a little embarrassed. As it disappeared, she poked a clawed finger into the hole after it,  \ncausing him to jolt up straight.  \n\"Ellie!\" he yelped in surprise.  \nShe pulled back her finger and looked up at him curiously, \"What? You were just inside  \nme.\"  \nJason's cheeks and ears lit on fire with embarrassment. He couldn't think of a response.  \n\"I'm going to get washed now,\" Ellie stated matter-of-factly. \"You can wash again or lick  \nyourself or whatever.\"  \nJason didn't want to get soaked again. He'd partially dried while they'd had sex. He sat  \ndown at the far end of the shower, pulled his right leg behind his head, and bent down to lick  \nhimself clean. Meanwhile, Ellie stepped back under the shower then shampooed and rinsed  \nherself. Finally, she shut the shower off, and Jason was able to exit the dripping chamber. They  \nwiped themselves with the white hotel towels then used the blow dryer to finish each other up.  \nThey both looked ridiculous by the end with their fur fluffed out in odd directions. Jason felt the  \nurge to lick it down, but Ellie wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her nose against  \nhis chest, breathing deeply.  \n\"Mmm, my sweet kitty, and now you smell sweet too,\" she murmured.  \n\"You don't normally complain,\" Jason remarked, a bit petulantly.  \nEllie looked up at him with a smirk, \"You always smell nice. Now you smell better.\"  \nJason didn't think taking a shower was worth it to smell better than nice, but he couldn't  \nreally be annoyed. Ellie was happy, and that made him happy. For that, taking a shower was  \nmore than worth it, infinitely more. Jason would live in a swimming pool if that were the only way  \nEllie could be happy. Fortunately, she's a rabbit and not an otter. Jason stroked her back,  \nsmoothing her fluffed up fur. He loved her just the way she was even if she tormented him  \nsometimes. Or maybe because of that, a little voice suggested in his head. Jason placed his  \nother hand on Ellie's head and held her as she continued to hold him. Maybe he did like that  \npart too, but he loved Ellie regardless.  \nThey sat side-by-side in bed, reading their respective books--Jason was reading A Tale  \nof Two Cities--until it was time to go to sleep. Jason switched off the light beside him and lay  \ndown. The bed was soft and plenty long for him even if the pillows were all overstuffed.  \n\"Turn on your side,\" Ellie instructed.  \nJason turned to face her, and she scooted over next to him, tucking her head under his  \njaw with the hot breath from her nose flowing over his neck. Jason adjusted one arm under her  \nneck and wrapped the other over her, pulling her in close against him. He could feel the rise and  \nfall of her chest with her gentle breathing and hear the soft patter of her heart. They gave him a  \nserene sense of security. All he needed was Ellie safe and by his side. Holding the rabbit he  \nloved, he soon drifted into peaceful slumber.  \n\\* \\* \\*  \nThe next morning, they ate the free breakfast at the hotel. Ellie had mushy oatmeal and  \na stale bran muffin, and Jason ate some spongy-looking eggs and floppy bacon. Jason checked  \nthem out and met Ellie at the car. Again, Ellie drove the first half of the trip, heading South. The  \nfinal leg would bring them back West, reversing their detour to avoid Maplesburg. Ellie hoped it  \nwouldn't be long before they were able to return there. After testifying before the King, they  \nwould return to Willowdale and wait until the vixen was removed.  \nThey'd been on the road a little over three hours when Ellie noticed blue flashing lights in  \nthe rearview mirror. Shit. She glanced at the speedometer: 75 mph, she was definitely  \nspeeding. She hoped that's all it was, but she briefly considered not stopping. But if it is just for  \nspeeding, I'll turn a ticket into an arrest. Either way, trying to outrun the police didn't seem like  \nthe best idea. She took her foot off of the accelerator and gradually slowed down as she pulled  \nto the side, stopping on the right shoulder of the freeway. She glanced over at Jason in the  \npassenger's seat: he was looking at her worriedly.  \nShe gave him a small smile and rolled her eyes sarcastically, \"The fuzz. At least they  \nwon't follow us the whole way like Katya.\"  \nJason still looked worried, but Ellie didn't have time to try to reassure him further as the  \npolice cruiser pulled up behind them and a swift fox in a dark blue uniform top marched self-  \nimportantly toward their car. Ellie rolled down the window as the fox approached.  \n\"Good morning, Officer,\" Ellie greeted lightly.  \nThe sandy colored fox frowned, \"Do you know how fast you were going?\" he asked  \nsternly.  \n\"Uh, about seventy-five.\"  \n\"I clocked you at seventy-six. The limit's sixty-five.\"  \n\"Sorry,\" Ellie replied politely. \"We have a long way to go.\"  \n\"Where you headed?\"  \n\"Er, Wolfsbane, I have a friend we're visiting there.\"  \nThe fox peered in the car at Jason, \"You and,\" he prompted.  \n\"My other friend.\"  \n\"I'm going to have to write you a ticket,\" he concluded.  \n\"Okay.\" Ellie didn't think arguing would do any good, nor did he seem likely to let her off  \nif she pleaded. She placed her left hand in the window.  \nHe pulled a scanner off of his belt and read her chip. His expression changed from sour  \nto surprised as he looked at the readout. Ellie felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. That can't be  \ngood.  \n\"Ellie Bennett?\"  \n\"Er, yeah, that's me.\"  \n\"It says here there's a warrant, no, a reward for your arrest in Maplesburg.\"  \nEllie felt sick; she responded weakly, \"I-I don't know anything about that.\"  \n\"I'll need you to step out of the car, Miss,\" he stated.  \nEllie's mind raced. Should she try to drive away? Should she grab her gun and hope she  \nwas faster? She gripped the steering wheel, panicked and without any good options for what to  \ndo.  \nThe fox clearly read her panic. He put on a softer tone and more relaxed stance, as he'd  \nprobably been trained to deal with frightened prey since childhood, \"Hey, I'm not going to hurt  \nyou. I'm sure whatever you did, they'll give you a fair trial. Don't make it worse by trying to run or  \nresisting arrest. I know I'm a strange predator, but I promise you'll be safe with me.\"  \nEllie glanced nervously at Jason: his sea green eyes were wide with fear. She felt the  \nneed to try to calm him, even if she knew they were in trouble. \"I-it's okay, Jason,\" she  \nwhispered. She slowly climbed out of the car.  \n\"Put your hands on the hood, Miss,\" the swift fox said gently.  \nEllie complied, and he patted down her t-shirt before taking her right hand and carefully  \npulling it behind her back. Ellie felt the first cold metal handcuff go around her wrist. Her heart  \npounded; her brain and instincts screamed at her to run. But she resisted them. She wouldn't  \nget far. The fox locked her other hand behind her back and ushered her toward the police  \ncruiser.  \n\"Wait! Can I bring my phone?\" Ellie requested desperately. If, by some miracle, she got  \naway, she needed to be able to tell Jason where she was.  \nThe fox looked at her dubiously, \"They won't let you have it in jail.\"  \n\"I don't think I'll be going to jail,\" Ellie murmured weakly.  \nHe shrugged and led her back over to the car.  \nEllie poked her head through the window to address the terrified Jason, \"It'll be alright.  \nCan you get my cell phone out of my bag?\"  \nHis hand shaking, Jason slowly lifted the blue satchel from her seat, opened the flap,  \nand peered inside. He looked up at her, his fearful eyes desperate and questioning.  \nEllie knew her gun was in the purse, but she didn't want Jason to get shot trying to save  \nher. \"Just the phone,\" she murmured.  \nJason slowly withdrew the tablet-sized phone and held it toward the window. The swift  \nfox accepted it, tried to stuff it into the top right pocket of his uniform, and then gave up and just  \nheld it.  \n\"Is that all you need?\" he inquired.  \nEllie nodded.  \n\"I assume your friend can drive, yes?\"  \nEllie nodded.  \n\"Alright. Let's go see why they want you in Maplesburg then.\"  \n\"W-wait!\" Jason cried. Oh Zeus, Jason no! \"T-take me too!\"  \nThe fox frowned, \"I can't do that. Don't worry. Your friend is safe with me.\"  \n\"B-but I, I might have a reward too!\"  \nThe fox cocked his head to the side, \"So what, you're turning yourself in?\"  \nJason nodded vigorously.  \nEllie's stomach was lead as the fox led her around to the other side of the car. Jason  \nheld his left hand out the window. Holding Ellie's right arm with one hand and setting her phone  \non top of the sedan, the fox scanned Jason's hand with the other.  \nThe tod examined the readout and then gave Jason a withering look, \"Nothing. You can  \ndrive yourself to Maplesburg if you want. I'd rather not have to deal with your car, and I'm not a  \nchauffeur.\"  \nJason looked as nonplussed as Ellie felt. If the Duchess wasn't the one who had put out  \na reward for her, then who had, and what did they want? The swift fox grabbed her phone and  \nled Ellie to the police cruiser and guided her into the back. He leaned in over her to buckle her  \nseatbelt, and Ellie couldn't help but smell his sickly fox musk, not quite the same, but close  \nenough to the evil red vixen's. The fox got into the cruiser and pulled back onto the freeway.  \nEllie saw Jason still watching as they drove by.  \nIt was a couple hours' drive to Maplesburg. Ellie didn't want to talk, but the tod turned out  \nto be very chatty.  \n\"I've never gotten a reward for arresting someone,\" he remarked cheerfully after they'd  \nexited the southbound freeway and started West.  \nEllie grunted in response. Hopefully, he'd get the idea and shut up.  \nHe glanced at her in the rearview mirror. \"You have the right to remain silent,\" he noted.  \n\"But you could tell me what you're accused of. The scanner didn't say anything.\"  \n\"If I'm not accused of anything, you should let me go,\" Ellie grumbled. \"You said it wasn't  \nreally a warrant; what if arresting me is illegal?\"  \nThe fox glanced back in the mirror worriedly, \"I hope it isn't. Why would there be an  \nillegal notice to arrest you?\"  \n\"How should I know?\"  \n\"You must have some idea of what you're accused of.\"  \n\"I don't have a clue.\"  \nHe glanced in the mirror again, \"If you really didn't do anything, then I'm sure it will be  \nokay.\"  \nEllie scoffed. He must not have been out of the police academy long. \"The last time I  \nwas arrested a cat almost ate me,\" she told him.  \n\"Zeus, really?!\" he yelped. \"That's awful! They're not supposed to put predators and prey  \ntogether unattended!\"  \n\"You can tell Lily that when we get there,\" Ellie grumbled. Then she remembered the  \nbobcat was on the run, \"Actually, I guess you can't.\"  \n\"What were you arrested for the last time?\" he queried.  \n\"Nothing. I was innocent then too.\"  \n\"They must have suspected you of something.\"  \nEllie sighed annoyedly. She wished he would stop pestering her. \"Murder, but it wasn't  \nme. It was that monster ruling Maplesburg now.\"  \nHe glanced in the mirror again, and his eyes lit up with recognition, \"Oh! I recognize you!  \nYou're the rabbit from the video.\"  \nEllie wondered if perhaps she shouldn't have revealed that fact. \"Maybe,\" she replied  \nnoncommittally. \"Depends which video.\"  \nHe snorted in amusement, \"Obviously, the one accusing Her Grace of murder. Now I  \nunderstand why there's a reward for your arrest. What did you think would happen slandering  \nHer Grace like that?\"  \n\"It wasn't slander,\" Ellie replied tersely.  \n\"Riiight, it was the truth. Her Grace is a vicious murderer, and no one has ever noticed,\"  \nhe mocked her.  \nEllie didn't respond. She hadn't wanted to talk to the fox to begin with, and she wasn't  \ngoing to take the bait and argue further. Nothing she said would change his mind. Fortunately,  \nhe seemed satisfied with the knowledge of what she'd done and left her in peace for most of the  \nremainder of the drive.  \nWhile the uncomfortable trip seemed interminable, they did eventually pull up outside of  \nthe Maplesburg Police Station. It was under repairs; Ellie could tell it had recently been gutted  \nby fire.  \nThe swift fox frowned, \"I'm going to ask someone where the police are stationed  \ncurrently,\" he told her.  \nEllie watched his bushy gray, tan, and black tail bounce behind him as he trotted over to  \nthe nearest construction worker, a lynx in a yellow hard hat. The two carnivores chatted amiably  \nfor a few minutes, and then the fox returned to the cruiser.  \n\"It's just across town,\" he explained. \"They're in an old office building, but they're using  \nthe Courthouse dungeon as their jail.  \nEllie didn't like the sound of the \"dungeon\", but she doubted she'd be headed there  \nanyway. Perhaps there had been some mistake with Jason, but she was almost certainly going  \nto be delivered to the Duchess. Ellie felt another twinge in her stomach. How can this be  \nhappening?  \nThe fox took her to a run-down concrete office building and ushered her inside. They  \nwere greeted by a tiny, sandy colored fox with enormous triangular ears at the front desk of the  \nlobby.  \nThe fox--Ellie thought they were a fennec--looked at the swift fox in surprise. \"Who are  \nyou?\" they chirped. The fennec fox seemed to recognize Ellie, \"Hey! Aren't you the rabbit from  \nthat video?\"  \n\"I'm Officer Michaels, and this is Ellie Bennett. I picked her up a few miles outside of  \nPeatsburg. I understand there's a reward for her arrest.\"  \n\"I'll take you to the Chief!\" the fennec replied.  \nHe hopped out of his seat and led them back to the left. He was indeed at least half a  \nhead shorter than Ellie. Weird. Ellie didn't have time to reflect on the smaller predator long  \nbecause she was pushed into an office occupied by a grumpy-looking tuxedo cat. However, the  \ncat's countenance brightened as his eye fell on Ellie.  \nThe fennec announced them, \"Chief O'Connor, this is Officer Michaels of Peatsburg and  \nEllie-\"  \n\"Ellie Bennet,\" the tuxedo cat cut him off. He grinned toothily, \"Her Grace is going to be  \nhappy to see you.\"  \nEllie had been expecting this, but the confirmation that she was going to be returned to  \nthe vixen made her heart sink into her stomach anyway.  \n\"I saw there is a reward,\" the swift fox stated.  \nThe black and white tom nodded. He withdrew a check from the drawer of his desk and  \nslid it across to the swift fox. \"Just fill in your name. Her Grace thanks you for your service. We  \ncan handle things from here.\"  \nThe swift fox picked up the check and stared at it greedily. Ellie wondered how much it  \nwas made out for, but he slipped it into his top left pocket without letting her see.  \n\"Can I take my handcuffs?\"  \nThe cat nodded, \"Re-cuff her, Felix.\"  \nEllie stood stonily as the swift fox removed his handcuffs and the fennec fox replaced  \nthem with his own.  \nWhen they were done, the swift fox mussed her ears with one hand, \"Thanks a lot,  \nbunny. You made me a richer fox today.\" He nodded to the tuxedo cat, \"Chief, it was good to  \nmeet you.\" He turned and left.  \nEllie stared at the tuxedo cat, who regarded her contemplatively. After a few moments  \nshe asked the obvious question, \"Why only me and not Jason?\"  \nThe cat cocked an ear questioningly, \"Who?\"  \n\"My partner, Jason Brown, I assume the Duchess wants him too.\"  \n\"Oh, yes, the tabby.\" The cat looked at the fennec fox, \"I can handle her from here, Felix.  \nReturn to your station.\"  \nThe fennec bobbed his head and hurried out the door.  \nWhen he was gone, the cat withdrew another check from his drawer, \"There's a reward  \nfor him too, but I'll be damned if I'll turn a cat over to that psycho.\"  \nEllie's anger flared, \"But you'll turn me over?!\" she shouted.  \nThe cat replied calmly, \"I can only disobey Her Grace so far. Look at how it turned out for  \nSchulz. Besides, you were the one who slandered her; it's not illegal to sit by while someone  \nelse commits slander, pathetic but not illegal.\"  \n\"It wasn't slander,\" Ellie growled. \"You just called her a psycho. You must know what  \nshe's done.\"  \n\"But I'm not stupid enough to post it online,\" the cat responded. \"Maybe you should have  \njust disappeared if you didn't want to incur Her Grace's wrath.\"  \n\"That would have been pathetic!\" Ellie shot back. \"Knowing someone's a murderer and  \nnot doing anything about it, like you are.\"  \nThe cat glared at her angrily, \"I'm not going to end up like you or Schulz. You can be as  \nself-righteous as you want; it's not going to help you with Her Grace.\" He stood from his chair, \"I  \nthink I've taken enough lip from you. Let's go see how happy Her Grace is to see you again.\"  \nThe cat drove Ellie across town in what appeared to be his own personal car. They  \nstopped outside of City Hall, its red granite soft in the afternoon sun. The cat led her inside. In  \nthe vaulted entry hall, there was a pink marble dais topped with a stately, high-backed chair and  \na velvety indigo carpet that ran down the dais and almost to the tall glass front doors. Seated on  \nthe throne was the vixen, adorned in a shimmering golden gown. She was addressing a varied  \ngroup of animals standing before the dais. A badger and an enormous puma stood on her left  \nand right, respectively. Holding Ellie's arm, the cat marched her toward the dais, but when they  \nwere about halfway, the vixen spotted them and leapt up.  \n\"E-Ellie?!\" the fox cried with joy.  \nWith her guards and supplicants watching with expressions of shock and confusion, she  \nbounded down the dais and sprinted across the wide hall.  \nRUN! RUN! RUN! Ellie's instincts screamed at her. She probably would have, but the cat  \nwas holding her too tightly.  \nThe red vixen bounded up to them and wrapped Ellie in a hug, giving a joyful sigh. Ellie  \nwas crushed against the fox, forced to breathe her all too familiar sickly musk. The cat let her go  \nand stepped back awkwardly. The vixen petted Ellie's head with one hand while her other arm  \nheld her tightly.  \n\"Who found her?\" the vixen chirped.  \n\"An officer from Peatsburg,\" the cat meowed awkwardly. He was clearly a little  \nuncomfortable with how the Duchess had reacted to seeing the slanderous private inspector.  \nThe vixen looked down at Ellie, \"Peatsburg? Is that where you've been hiding? What  \nabout Jason?\"  \nEllie didn't know what Jason was doing, but she didn't want the vixen to look for him,  \n\"He, he's dead,\" she stammered.  \n\"No!\" the vixen cried in horror. She hugged Ellie tighter. \"How?! Edgar said you'd both  \nsurvived!\"  \n\"C-car accident,\" Ellie lied. \"He, uh, was crossing the street and a truck blew through the  \nred light. It, it was horrible.\"  \nThe vixen stared down into Ellie's eyes a moment then breathed a sigh of relief, \"Oh  \nthank goodness, you're lying.\" She petted Ellie's head, \"Silly bunny, don't you think I know you  \nwell enough to tell? You're afraid for your friend, not grieving his death.\"  \nEllie's heart sank. She should have thought of a lie beforehand so that she could have  \ndelivered it more convincingly.  \n\"Don't worry,\" the vixen crooned. \"I'm sure now you're here, your friend will show up  \nsoon enough. He wouldn't abandon his bunny love.\"  \nThe tuxedo tom coughed behind Ellie, and the vixen looked up to regard him.  \n\"Thank you, Officer. You're free to go.\"  \nThe cat nodded awkwardly, dropped keys for the handcuffs on the white marble floor,  \nand hastily retreated back out the front doors.  \nThe vixen turned, still hugging Ellie to her belly, and addressed the crowd of baffled  \nanimals waiting before her throne, \"The second hour of royal court is canceled today. Come  \nback tomorrow,\" she called. She lifted Ellie across her arms and grinned down at her toothily  \nbefore calling again, \"Franz, Felicia, we're going back to my office. One of you grab the keys off  \nof the floor.\" She nodded toward the keys then marched triumphantly toward the curving marble  \nstairs with Ellie in her arms.  \nThe guards waited outside the vixen's office. Inside, at a smaller desk, was a red squirrel  \nwearing a sleeveless yellow, floral print blouse. The squirrel eyed Ellie bemusedly as the vixen  \ncarried her over to her own desk and then sat with Ellie in her lap.  \nThe vixen gestured to the squirrel, \"Ellie, this is Rose, my personal assistant. Rose, this  \nis Ellie,\" she petted Ellie's head. \"My bunny pet.\"  \n\"Her slave,\" Ellie corrected darkly.  \n\"Hush,\" the vixen scolded. \"Don't upset Rose with your ugly words.\" There was an  \nundertone of menace in her voice, and it was a poignant reminder of just how dangerous the fox  \nwas. She'd wanted to torture Ellie before. She'd threatened to kill her if Jason disobeyed. She  \nmight have been ecstatic to get Ellie back, but it still wasn't wise to upset her. Besides, what  \ncould the squirrel do about anything?  \n\"Isn't that the rabbit who made the video about you?\" Rose asked nervously.  \n\"She is, but she can't harm anyone anymore now that she's been returned to her rightful  \nstation,\" the vixen stated matter-of-factly.  \nThe red squirrel still seemed uncomfortable, but she nodded and went back to work on  \nher computer.  \nAfter several minutes, the vixen's badger bodyguard stepped into the room and placed  \nthe handcuff keys on the vixen's desk, \"I, uh, thought you might want these, Your Grace.\"  \n\"Thank you, Franz!\" she piped.  \nThe badger nodded his striped head then hurried back out of the office. The vixen picked  \nup the keys, unlocked Ellie's right hand, and then locked Ellie's left hand to her own left. She  \nnuzzled Ellie between the ears and used her right hand--now free from holding Ellie--to use  \nthe mouse of her desktop.  \nEllie didn't pay much attention to what the vixen did with her right hand the rest of the  \nday though Ellie did notice she spent part of the time playing Hearts against the computer. Ellie  \nwas more concerned about the vixen's left hand, which she'd rested on Ellie's thigh. The vixen's  \nsharp claws ran gently through Ellie's fur, but every so often one would poke her painfully. Ellie  \nwould yank the vixen's hand away from her when this happened, but it always ended up back  \non her thigh. Ellie didn't know the vixen's full intentions toward her, but the violation of her bodily  \nautonomy even beyond being forced to sit in the fox's lap was more than a little disturbing.  \nAt a quarter after five, the vixen shut down her computer. \"Are you ready to leave,  \nRose?\" she inquired.  \nThe squirrel nodded, \"Yes, Your Grace.\"  \nThe vixen looked down at Ellie, \"Rose is staying with me currently. I'm participating in  \nthe experimental training I devised though I can't take all of the credit. As a matter of fact, you  \nwere my inspiration, Ellie.\"  \nEllie frowned. She didn't like that the idea for the cohabitation training had arisen from  \nthe vixen keeping her captive.  \nThe vixen petted her head, \"So serious,\" she teased. \"You should be pleased you've had  \nsuch a valuable impact. If it weren't for you, I mightn't get along nearly so well with Rose and  \nHeather. You taught me a lot, Ellie.\"  \nEllie grunted in acknowledgement. Prey were still disappearing, and she knew the vixen  \nwas responsible. She hadn't changed at all! She's only gotten better at pretending!  \nThe vixen allowed Ellie to walk to the hotel; although, they were still handcuffed together.  \nThe red squirrel followed a few of her body lengths behind. Ellie wished she would run away,  \neven merely so Ellie wouldn't be humiliated further in front of another prey.  \n\"Edgar's going to be awfully happy to see you, Ellie,\" the vixen commented as she  \nunlocked the door to her apartment. She pushed open the door and led Ellie through with Rose  \nclose behind. \"Edgar!\" the vixen called. \"Come see who I have!\"  \nEdgar stepped out of a room on the back right of the main room, and his dark eyes fell  \non Ellie. Ellie saw horror flash across the pine marten's features, but it was quickly replaced but  \na forced smile. He crept up to her and swallowed nervously.  \n\"E-Ellie,\" he mumbled self-consciously. \"It, it's good to see you again.\"  \n\"Not the joyful greeting I expected!\" the vixen declared. \"Weren't you in love with her  \nbefore, Edgar?\"  \nRose's eyes widened as she stared at the three larger mammals.  \n\"Er, I, um, I only love you now, Your Grace. Ellie is a friend, but she loves Jason.\"  \nThe vixen nodded, seeming satisfied, \"True enough. I'm sure Jason will be joining us  \nbefore long. Ellie won't have to go without.\"  \nRose quickly disappeared through the door Edgar had exited. Ellie thought she looked  \nterribly embarrassed. Ellie herself was absolutely mortified. She hadn't realized how much more  \nhumiliating being made a toy in front of another prey would be. The vixen took no notice of  \neither of their embarrassment and nonchalantly fished the handcuff keys out of her shiny black  \nclutch.  \n\"I think with you and I to watch her, we won't need these,\" she addressed Edgar.  \n\"Besides, I'd like to take this off.\" She lifted the end of her golden gown. She released Ellie and  \nhanded her off to Edgar before stripping off the gown and hanging it in the dark walnut closet  \nbeside the bed. She turned back to Edgar and Ellie, \"Would you like me to have your shirt  \nlaundered, Ellie?\"  \nEllie looked down at the white, sleeveless blouse. I might as well have it washed. Then  \nshe remembered how the vixen had taken their clothes before. She shook her head.  \nThe vixen sauntered up to her, \"Very well, we'll hang it up for you to wear another time.\"  \nShe gently took hold of the front of Ellie's collar and began to unbutton her blouse.  \nUncomfortably, Ellie watched her furry, dark brown fingers with their sharp, black claws  \ngingerly working to undo the small, white buttons. With the shirt open, the vixen slowly slid it off  \nof Ellie's arms, lifting them along with the blouse. Ellie let out a breath of relief as the vixen  \nstepped back away from her.  \n\"Am I getting something besides grass for dinner?\" Ellie asked grumpily to break the  \ntension.  \nThe vixen finished hanging her blouse, closed the double doors of the closet, and turned  \nto regard Ellie pensively, \"Of course, Ellie, anything you want from the menu. If there's nothing  \nto your liking, I'll ask Clyde what else they could prepare. Are you under the impression I plan to  \npunish you?\"  \n\"You took me captive again. I don't really care what you do after that,\" Ellie sniped.  \nThe vixen frowned and strode back across the white marble tiles, stopping a step in front  \nof Ellie. Then, to Ellie's surprise, she actually crouched down so that their eyes were level.  \n\"I'm not going to punish you, Ellie,\" she spoke softly. \"I'm not angry about your video,  \nand I'm glad you left me when you did. If you'd been captured like I was, they would have eaten  \nyou. I know I've tried to hurt you in the past, but I don't want to hurt you ever again. When we're  \ndone here, we'll return to the estate, and we'll be happy, Ellie. I know you weren't happy there  \nbefore, but I'll do everything to make the estate your home too. If there's one thing all of this has  \ntaught me, it's not to take those I care for for granted, so I'll make sure you and Jason can be  \njust as happy as anyone else.\"  \nShe sounded so sincere that Ellie almost could have believed she'd begun to change,  \nbut she knew this monster hadn't changed. She was still murdering prey, and she thought Ellie  \nwas dumb enough she wouldn't know!  \n\"What's the point of this?\" Ellie asked scathingly. \"You really think I'm going to believe  \nyou want me to be happy? If you did, you'd leave me alone! Jason and I will never be your  \nwilling pets; we'll never give up trying to get away. And do you think I haven't heard all of the  \nreports about missing prey?! You're a murderer, and you're not going to stop until someone  \nstops you!\"  \nThe vixen stood back up, frowning again, \"You don't have to believe it, but that doesn't  \nmake it untrue. If you're determined to be miserable, I'll only work that much harder. One day,  \nyou'll look back on all of this animosity and see you were wrong. But the last person I killed was  \na carnivore, one of the cultists. I haven't killed a prey the entire time I've been here.\" She knit  \nher brow, \"No, there was the one, the rabbit the cultists forced me to kill, but no others.\"  \n\"So it's some other murderer who's been killing prey in Maplesburg the past couple  \nweeks,\" Ellie rejoined sarcastically.  \n\"I'm not the only killer in the world,\" the vixen stated simply. \"None of them have been  \nconfirmed dead, but it's possible one of the cultists or someone else is taking advantage of the  \nchaos to kill prey. The police are investigating.\"  \n\"Convenient for you since you're their boss,\" Ellie replied.  \nThe vixen shrugged, \"It generally is. I'm innocent this time, however.\"  \n\"I don't believe you,\" Ellie stated, deadpan.  \n\"Believe whatever you like,\" the vixen returned lightly. \"You belong to me either way.  \nNow, find something you like on the menu, and we'll order dinner.\"  \nEllie complied with the latter request. She hadn't had lunch and was getting hungry  \ndespite the disastrous events of the day. As soon as the four of them had ordered, Rose  \ndisappeared back into the other room. The vixen told Ellie she was only shy, but Ellie felt that  \nshe was being shunned by the squirrel. She probably thinks I'm some kind of weird pervert. The  \nred squirrel might have thought the same if she knew about her relationship with Jason, but Ellie  \nwouldn't have let that bigotry bother her. Rose's coldness in this instance, however, added insult  \nto injury.  \nEllie was enduring being held on her back in the vixen's lap while Edgar hovered nearby  \nin the line of sight for Ellie's rear when there was a knock on the door.  \n\"That seems rather fast for dinner,\" the vixen commented.  \nThe vixen scooped Ellie up, one arm going under her knees and forcing Ellie's legs into  \nthe air, then sat Ellie on the red-violet comforter beside her and hopped up. Ellie gave Edgar a  \ndirty look as the vixen trotted to the door, and the pine marten quickly looked away. Pervert.  \n\"Hello, Clyde, do you have something for me?\" the vixen chirped from across the room.  \n\"Yes, Your Grace. Someone dropped this off at the front desk with apologies from an  \nOfficer Michaels. He said it's for a Miss Bennet, and she was staying with you.\"  \nThe vixen accepted the item and turned to hold it up for Ellie to see, \"Do you recognize  \nthis, Ellie?\"  \nEllie recognized her cell phone. She was surprised the swift fox had gone to the trouble  \nof getting it back to her and had herself actually forgotten she'd insisted he bring it. \"That's  \nmine!\"  \nThe vixen thanked \"Clyde\" and sauntered back across the room with Ellie's phone. \"It  \nlooks a bit big for you,\" she noted.  \n\"I use it to read books too,\" Ellie told her. \"Can I have it?\"  \nThe vixen gave her a disappointed look, \"Seriously, Ellie? Of course, you can't have it.  \nAlthough,\" her dour expression brightened into an eager grin. \"There is someone I'd like you to  \ncall. Give Jason a ring; I want to talk to him.\"  \n\"I'm not unlocking my phone for you!\" Ellie returned indignantly. \"Do you think I'm  \nstupid?\"  \nThe vixen held the cell phone over her heart, \"I swear I won't look at anything. We'll talk  \nto Jason, and then I'll put it away.\"  \nEllie frowned skeptically.  \n\"I'm a vixen of my word!\" she declared. \"Isn't that right, Edgar?\"  \nEdgar nodded nervously, \"Yes, Your Grace.\"  \nThe vixen held out the phone toward Ellie, \"You want to talk to him too,\" she tempted.  \n\"You don't want him to worry you've been hurt, do you?\"  \nEllie sighed resignedly and shook her head. I have to tell Jason to stay away. This is  \nprobably my only chance. Ellie accepted the phone, unlocked it, and called Jason from her  \ncontacts. The vixen snatched the phone and switched it to speaker, holding it out face up. It only  \nrang twice before Jason picked up.  \n\"Ellie? A-are, are you al-\"  \n\"Hello, Dear!\" the vixen chirped cheerfully. \"Ellie and I were reunited this afternoon.  \nWe're at the Regina Hotel if you'd like to come join us.\"  \n\"Stay away, Jason!\" Ellie yelled. \"Don't let her get you too!\"  \nThe vixen grinned slyly, \"Thank you for confirming your presence, Ellie. Why don't you  \ntell Jason how you've been treated? You haven't been harmed at all, have you?\"  \n\"No,\" Ellie grumbled, angry at herself for providing the proof of her capture that the vixen  \nneeded. \"I'm still in one piece.\"  \n\"But you miss your dear kitty terribly, hmm?\" the fox asked with mockingly exaggerated  \nsympathy. \"You won't be happy until he's with us where he belongs.\"  \n\"Don't listen to her,\" Ellie growled. \"I swear, Jason, I'll beat the Tartarus out of you if you  \nturn yourself in to this creep.\"  \n\"Oh dear, such violent threats,\" the vixen taunted. \"But she'll really be happy to see you,  \nJason, as will I! Like I was telling Ellie, I'm determined to make the two of you happy living with  \nme at the manor! You won't want for anything. Be an obedient kitty and come back to your  \nowner.\"  \nEllie and the vixen both waited for what Jason was going to say.  \nAfter several seconds he meowed forlornly, \"Please, let Ellie go, Your Grace. I, um, I  \nknow you want to treat us well, but we can't live like that.\"  \n\"You can get used to anything if you try,\" the vixen declared. \"I'm disappointed, Jason. I  \nthought you loved this bunny. Would you really abandon her so that you could go free?\"  \nJason was silent again for a few seconds. \"No,\" he finally meowed wearily. \"If the choice  \nis being your pet with Ellie or living without her, I'll choose the former.\"  \n\"No, Jason!\" Ellie protested. \"Get away! Be free!\"  \n\"We'll be awaiting your arrival,\" the vixen concluded smugly. She ended the call and  \nhanded the phone to Edgar, \"Hide this somewhere safe, Edgar.\"  \nEdgar nodded and took the phone into the other room.  \nThe vixen plopped down onto the bed next to Ellie and wrapped her arm around her  \nshoulders. \"I knew he loved you too much to leave you,\" she piped cheerfully. She nuzzled Ellie  \nbetween the ears, \"You'll see. I'm determined, and when I put my mind to it, I always get what I  \nwant. We'll all be happy together.\"  \nEllie didn't bother to respond to the vixen's delusions, if that's what they were. Maybe  \nshe really had convinced herself Ellie and Jason would be happy; that didn't make it true.  \nThey had dinner, and then the vixen dragged Ellie to the head of her bed where Ellie sat  \nbetween her and Edgar while they watched television. The vixen flipped through channels,  \nnever remaining on one for more than a few minutes. The most interesting thing Ellie was able  \nto gather from this time-wasting exercise was that it was going to rain in Wolfsbane tomorrow.  \nShe hoped Katya would be alright without them.  \n\"There's never anything on,\" the vixen complained after what seemed like an hour and a  \nhalf of channel surfing.  \nShe turned the tv off, and Ellie was grateful for the relative peace and quiet. She was  \nless grateful when the vixen grabbed her left leg and dragged her off of the pillow she was  \npropped against then rolled over and pinned Ellie by her arms. Holding herself above Ellie, the  \nfox grinned down toothily.  \n\"There's my delicious little prey,\" she taunted. \"I'd almost forgotten how good you smell.  \nMaybe I ought to have a taste.\"  \nThe vixen lowered herself down, opening her jaws and reaching for Ellie's face. Ellie  \nstared into the fox's maw of dagger-like fangs; her hot, rancid breath washed over Ellie's face as  \nthe maw approached.  \nThe vixen pulled back and closed her mouth to smile amusedly at Ellie, \"Were you  \nscared? I told you I wouldn't hurt you, but I suspect there's something in that little bunny brain  \nthat just can shake that instinctual fear. How do you manage when you kiss Jason? Do you  \nclose your eyes?\"  \n\"I was only afraid I'd smother on your disgusting breath,\" Ellie rebuked. \"Why don't you  \ngo brush your teeth and leave me alone?\"  \nThe vixen rolled off of her and sat up. \"I suppose it is time we brush our teeth and  \nbathe,\" she declared. She took Ellie's hand, \"Come on, Ellie. You can share my bathroom.\"  \nShe dragged Ellie off of the bed and to the bathroom, closing them inside together. Like  \nthe rest of the hotel, the bathroom was finished with marble. The floor of the entire room,  \nincluding the shower, was white marble. The wall was white and pink marble while the sink  \ncounter and basin were pink marble on a sandy wooden cabinet base. In addition to the shower  \nwith its pale rose curtain, there was a large bathtub with its oblong basin carved into a  \nrectangular block of pink marble. The toilet, however, was porcelain.  \nThe vixen insisted on brushing her teeth at the same time as Ellie and stood next to her  \nat the sink whilst they polished their teeth with the minty toothpaste. When they had finished,  \nshe chirped, \"I think I'll take a bath. I haven't tried out the tub yet.\"  \nEllie was happy to have the shower to herself. She started toward the far end of the  \nbathroom.  \n\"I'd like you to take it with me,\" the vixen added.  \nEllie froze. Sitting in a tub with the vixen was one of the few indignities she'd avoided  \nwhile being held captive at the vixen's manor. Her heart raced as her need to run surged. Could  \nshe make it out of the apartment? Maybe if she ran fast, she could find a place to hide until she  \ncould get out of Maplesburg. Her heart pounding in her ears as she tried to think what to do, she  \ndidn't hear the vixen creep up behind her. The fox's powerful arms hugged Ellie tightly to her  \nbelly.  \n\"Shh, it's okay, Ellie. I won't do anything untoward to you. We'll just sit in the tub and  \nhave a nice soak. You like a nice soak, don't you?\"  \nEllie couldn't take it anymore. When Jason had been captive with her, at least she'd had  \nsomeone she could trust, someone to confide in and to comfort her. This time she was all alone;  \nthere was no one on her side. Tears of helpless anger and misery welled in her eyes.  \n\"Why can't you leave me alone?!\" she screamed. \"I don't want to be your pet! I don't  \nwant you to touch me!\"  \nTo Ellie's surprise, the vixen let her go and stepped back. Ellie turned her head to see  \nthe fox's countenance twisted with confusion and distress.  \n\"I-I'm sorry, Ellie,\" she whined. \"I, I just,\" she stopped and shook her head as if shaking  \naway her shock. Her expression turned to anger, \"No! It's not my fault you won't make an effort!  \nI haven't done anything to hurt you!\" The vixen stomped the few steps back to Ellie and roughly  \nseized her by the hand, \"You belong to me!\" she snarled. \"I could kill you if I wanted to! Be  \ngrateful I've shown you the mercy I have.\"  \nEllie glared at the fox hatefully, \"I don't belong to you. You think I do because you're sick.  \nI knew you hadn't changed.\"  \nThe fox sniffed reproachfully, \"I never said I changed; I said I learned. But it seems I  \nforgot one thing: your obstinacy. I'll give you a choice. You can bathe with me, or after I'm done,  \nI can handcuff you to the tub and see how you like soaking overnight.\"  \nEllie did not want to sit in a tub of chilly, used water overnight. If she didn't get  \nhypothermia, it would still be extremely uncomfortable, and it wouldn't achieve anything. The  \nvixen wouldn't be satisfied until Ellie obeyed, and she might decide harsher treatment was the  \nonly way to break Ellie to her will.  \n\"I'll bathe with you,\" Ellie muttered angrily.  \nThe vixen's visage instantly brightened, \"I knew you'd see reason! I'll fill the tub, and  \nthen you can have that end,\" she indicated the one with the faucet. \"And I'll take the other end.\"  \nEllie blinked in surprise, \"I don't have to sit in your lap?\"  \nThe vixen grinned toothily, \"You may if that's what you're asking, but I think if you put  \nyour legs between mine, there will be enough room for the two of us to stretch out.\"  \nWhen the tub was filled, the vixen lifted Ellie inside--not that she couldn't have gotten in  \nherself without issue--and climbed into the opposite end as she'd suggested. Ellie kept her legs  \ntucked in. There were no bubbles, and Ellie could see the red fox's fur stirring with the  \nmovements of the water. The vixen slipped down to her chin in the hot water and reached out  \none foot to brush it over Ellie's leg. Ellie flinched at her touch.  \nThe vixen sat up and smiled at her bemusedly, \"I spent most of the afternoon holding  \nyou, Ellie. Why are you so afraid of touching me now?\"  \n\"It's weirder in the bath,\" Ellie grumbled. \"Not that I liked it then.\"  \n\"How so?\" the vixen asked.  \nEllie frowned, \"I don't know. It makes me uncomfortable. I feel like it's going to lead into  \nsomething sexual.\"  \nThe vixen blinked in surprise, \"Do you?\"  \n\"You understand!\" Ellie accused. \"You and Edgar did it in the tub when we were with you  \nbefore.\"  \n\"That was tame compared to what we do in bed,\" the vixen stated matter-of-factly.  \nEllie gave her a disgusted look, \"I don't want to hear about it.\"  \n\"I don't mind hearing about you and Jason,\" the vixen disclosed as if that should make  \nEllie feel better.  \nEllie didn't respond.  \n\"So you feel like bathing together is too intimate,\" the vixen concluded. \"You think it's  \ncouple-behavior.\"  \nEllie nodded perfunctorily.  \n\"Some people take a rubber duck in the tub,\" the vixen stated.  \nEllie frowned at the non sequitur. \"So?\"  \n\"That's the source of your confusion, Ellie,\" the vixen explained amusedly. \"You're not  \nmy partner. You're not even my servant like Edgar. You're my rubber duck.\"  \nEllie looked away; she didn't want to hear more.  \n\"A very lucky ducky with an owner who wants to take good care of her,\" the vixen  \nteased. She brushed her foot against Ellie again, causing Ellie to jump. \"So relax. I'm not trying  \nto seduce you.\"  \nEllie looked back at the fox distastefully, \"It wouldn't work if you were.\"  \n\"No? You called me alluring before,\" the fox jested.  \n\"I was lying,\" Ellie stated bluntly.  \nThe vixen only grinned at the insult, \"I could make you feel good if you wanted. If Jason  \nruns away, you won't have to go without.\"  \nEllie tucked her legs in tighter, \"I thought that wasn't what this was about,\" she shot  \nback.  \n\"It isn't,\" the vixen replied airily. \"Just for future reference, whether Jason comes back or  \nnot.\"  \nEllie didn't want to discuss the topic further. Fortunately, the vixen didn't press it. She let  \nEllie use the lavender shampoo first and, when they were done, helped her dry off with the blow  \ndryer after Ellie used one of the hotel's pink towels. Ellie was obliged to return the favor; at least,  \nit didn't involve physical contact with the vixen.  \nWhen they were both dry, the vixen hefted Ellie across her arms, \"Now we're going to  \nsleep together!\" she chirped cheerfully. \"Something so intimate, it's synonymous with having  \nsex! Is that more or less disturbing than our bath?\"  \n\"When you put it like that, it's probably a wash,\" Ellie grumbled.  \nThe vixen's mouth twisted, and then she chortled, \"Pfft, hahaha, was that a pun, Ellie?\"  \nEllie blushed, \"It wasn't intentional,\" she muttered grumpily.  \nThe vixen lifted her to nuzzle her ear, \"I like you, Ellie. I know we'll learn to get along  \neventually. Now come on, you lucky duck, let's go to bed.\"  \nEdgar was waiting beside the vixen's king size, canopied bed when they exited the  \nbathroom. He looked at them hopefully.  \nThe vixen regarded him contemplatively a moment then looked down at Ellie. \"Would  \nyou be alright with Edgar sleeping with us? He's been my bedmate most nights since he arrived,  \nparticularly since we've had a guest in the other room.\"  \nEllie eyed the pine marten suspiciously, remembering him staring at her butt before  \ndinner. \"Is there another bed for him?\" she asked.  \n\"There is,\" the vixen answered.  \n\"Then I don't want to sleep with him,\" Ellie concluded.  \nEdgar looked down dejectedly.  \n\"Don't worry, Edgar. You can have your turn another day,\" the vixen soothed.  \n\"He can have my 'turn' tonight,\" Ellie suggested. She knew the answer would be no.  \nThe vixen shook her head, \"I just got you back. I want to keep you close.\" The vixen lay  \nEllie on the bed and retrieved the handcuffs from one of the dresser drawers where she'd  \nstashed them. \"Would you like your back or belly facing out?\"  \n\"What do you mean?\" Ellie asked warily.  \nThe vixen held up the handcuffs, \"If I connect our right hands, I'll hold you with your back  \nto my front. If I connect my right to your left, your front will be facing mine.\"  \n\"Why can't we just lie next to each other?\" Ellie asked uncomfortably.  \nThe vixen narrowed her eyes threateningly, \"Or I could connect my right hand to your  \nright ankle and then,\" she let the sentence hang, so Ellie would have to picture it herself.  \n\"Back to front, right hands together,\" Ellie answered quickly. She didn't need to think  \nabout which way she'd be facing to know she didn't want her head down there.  \nThe vixen sauntered over to the bed and locked their right hands together. \"I would have  \nchosen front to front,\" she commented placidly. \"But it's your first day back with me, so I thought  \nI'd let you choose.\"  \nEllie didn't think it was a very generous concession. The vixen climbed onto the bed  \nbehind Ellie and picked her up with her free arm across her chest and her right arm under Ellie's  \nrear. The placement of her second hand made Ellie very uncomfortable, but it didn't last long as  \nthe vixen sat down at the head of the bed and let Ellie slide into her lap. Edgar was still standing  \nnear the bed, watching them.  \n\"Goodnight, Edgar,\" the vixen enunciated pointedly.  \nEdgar hastily retreated to the other room where Rose presumably was; although, Ellie  \nhadn't seen her since dinner. The vixen brought her free hand up to Ellie's head and ran it over  \nEllie's left ear. She petted Ellie's head then ran a finger down Ellie's cheek.  \n\"Are you getting sleepy, Ellie?\" she asked softly.  \nEllie was too uncomfortable to feel like sleeping, but she nodded anyway.  \n\"I am,\" the vixen divulged. She yawned. \"When Jason's here too, I'll sleep even more  \nsoundly.\"  \nEllie thought she probably would too but for a different reason. No! He has to get away,  \nEllie admonished herself. She didn't want Jason to be the vixen's toy. It was better that he  \nescape than for them both to become slaves.  \nThe vixen pushed down the blankets and lay down, taking Ellie with her. The vixen  \nturned over onto her side and wrapped her body around Ellie. Her bushy tail flipping up into  \nEllie's face. Jason has the courtesy to keep his tail to himself in bed. The vixen pulled Ellie  \ncloser and tucked Ellie's head firmly under her jaw before letting out a sigh of contentment. At  \nleast one of us is happy, Ellie thought sardonically. She wished the one were her.  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Murderess of Maplesburg: Reign of Terror","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2020757-chapter-15-frustration.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2021158-chapter-17-panic.json"}}