Title: A Little Evil Comes A Long Way
Author: raug_moss
Pairings: Kahlan/Cara
Rating: NC-17
A/N: modern AU
A/N2: today I felt like it :D but with classes and work I'm struggling with arranging some quality time for me, a hot cocoa, my laptop and this story. enjoy though! more to come.
Chapter 1,
Chapter 2,
Chapter 3,
Chapter 4,
Chapter 5,
Chapter 6,
Chapter 7,
Chapter 8,
Chapter 9,
Chapter 10,
Chapter 11,
Chapter 12,
Chapter 13,
Chapter 14,
Chapter 15,
Chapter 16,
Chapter 17,
Chapter 18,
Chapter 19,
Chapter 20 Chapter 21
The day of the court hearing begins just as any other. Kahlan gets up and listens to the music that’s blaring in the apartment next to them. She has gotten used to it and simply uses it as a free alarm clock.
She takes a shower and gets dressed before entering the living room.
Dahlia and her latest conquest are at the door, saying their goodbyes. The woman pushes the door open with her hand just as Dahlia is about to close it. She stares openly at Kahlan and licks her lips unconsciously.
Kahlan smirks and straightens the jacket of her costume. Business and sex, just as Tess had promised.
She’s put her hair in a ponytail and even dared to highlight her eyes with some dark make-up.
The effect is pleasing to say in the least. With some physical help Dahlia manages to get rid of the woman to close the door. She then turns to Kahlan.
“Cousin, you look stunning.”
The brunette smirks.
“Thank you. I actually feel rather comfortable.”
“You’ll make her drool all over you.” Dahlia answers.
“You think?”
Kahlan pulls on the collar of her jacket self-consciously.
“Yeah, I know Denna likes you and she won’t be able to resist when she sees you in this.”
Dahlia smiles encouragingly but misses the look of confusion on her cousin’s face.
“Oh Denna yeah…”
Kahlan chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully.
The first thing that came to her mind wasn’t the platinum blonde but a certain detective. It isn’t Cara who she has a date with and yet her immediate reaction is to think of her. How odd.
“Do you think you’ll ever find her? The woman of your dreams I mean.” Kahlan suddenly asks.
Dahlia shrugs and cocks her head to the side.
“Even though I keep on saying that I’ll meet her, I don’t think she exists. I’m just too softhearted to look the truth in the eye, but still, there’s no such thing as love, let alone true love.”
“I guess you’re right…” Kahlan mumbles.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
With a wave of her hand Kahlan dismisses the topic.
A moment of silence passes before Dahlia starts bustling around the apartment to get ready for work. Kahlan watches her for a little bit until she is affected by her cousin’s busy energy and starts gathering her things as well.
“I’m a little worried cousin.” Dahlia says when they leave the apartment together.
“Why?”
“Because last time you went out without me you almost got killed. I really need you to be careful.”
Kahlan smiles and nods.
“I’ll do my best.”
They exchange a quick hug and Dahlia hails the next best cab and drives off.
Leaving a slightly nervous Kahlan to face whatever is coming her way.
It only takes her about an hour to find the court building and Cara is already waiting for her when she exits the cab.
There’s a moment of awkwardness between them, since the last time they’d seen each other Kahlan had been covered in blood, no less.
But when sea-green eyes widen slightly as they take in Kahlan’s appearance, the questions that still burn in Cara’s mind seem momentarily forgotten.
The brunette smirks in silent triumph.
“Kahlan.” Cara greets her.
She can’t stop her eyes from traveling up and down the brunette’s body.
“It’s nice to see you. You look… great.”
“Thanks.” Kahlan beams.
Of course she hasn’t met with Cara to exchange pleasantries all day and soon enough the detective leads her into the building and toward the court room. Without much further ado the blonde tells her to simply recall the events of that night for the judge and to identify the men who attacked her.
Kahlan nods and takes a quiet breath. Even though she has experienced many things in her life that others would classify as insane, she has never stood in front of a judge to testify.
The elderly man in a black robe nods toward her as she sits down in the witness stand. She calmly retells the story of what happened that night and it soon becomes evident that the men who attacked her are going to spend quite an amount of time in jail.
All the while green eyes are fixed on her, giving her silent support and encouraging her to keep on going. Her voice doesn’t falter a single time and she even manages to pin an ice cold stare on the men in the dock.
After that the hearing comes to an end rather quickly and soon Kahlan finds herself standing in front of the court house.
In a moment of heedlessness she’d asked Denna to pick her up right after the hearing, without mentioning why she’d wanted to meet her in front of a court house of course.
The sun has already set and the sky above her is darkening while the air becomes quite chilly.
Kahlan pulls her dark coat, a gift from Dahlia, tighter around her shoulders and shifts her weight from one foot to the other.
“You did well Kahlan.”
Cara suddenly appears beside the brunette.
“Thanks, I’m glad I was able to help.”
“You certainly did. A lot of people will be safe, now that those criminals are behind bars.”
A moment of silence stretches between them, both trying to think of what to say until a voice calls out for Kahlan.
“There you are!”
Denna approaches them with a big smile. She is dressed in a crimson red dress that matches the color of her lips. The dress clings to her body like a second skin and with her platinum blonde hair tied back in a ponytail she looks like a fantasy come true.
Denna stops in front of Kahlan and gives her a kiss on the cheek. The brunette allows it with a small stiffening of her shoulders.
“I was already looking for you dear. Ready to go?” Denna asks.
Kahlan returns the smile and nods.
“Yeah…”
She feels slightly uncomfortable and uneasily turns to Cara. The detective’s face betrays no emotions whatsoever.
“Thank you for your help. Have a good evening.” She says and with a polite nod she walks off toward her car.
Kahlan stares after her for a few seconds, and somehow a feeling of guilt settles in her stomach.
But what reason is there to feel guilty? She has done nothing wrong, and why shouldn’t she be going on a date with a beautiful woman? Cara has her boyfriend so she can have a girlfriend as well, right?
“Everything alright?” Denna asks and Kahlan spins back around.
“Yes. Fine. I’m ready, shall we?”
Together they walk to Denna’s car, a sleek black Mercedes, and Kahlan is mildly impressed at the interior of the vehicle.
Obviously Denna has more than enough money to afford such a car and yet she seems to like to spend her time in rather run-down strip clubs.
“So this gallery opening… what exactly will be exhibited?” Kahlan asks as she leans back into the seat.
“Oh it will be mostly photography, and some sculptures. I think some very talented artists are going to be there as well.”
Kahlan nods.
“I don’t know a lot about the art scene here, but I can appreciate beautiful things just the same.”
“Me too.” Denna replies and watches Kahlan from the corner of her eyes.
Kahlan smirks, pleased by the predatory glance. Her outfit really is doing its job and she definitely needs to remember to thank Tess later for it.
“I don’t want to appear completely clueless though. Maybe you can fill me in a little about the artists and their creations.”
During the rest of the ride they chat about art in general and their personal preferences until Denna stops her car in one of the better parts of the city.
They get out and Kahlan gasps quietly when Denna walks around to join her on the sidewalk because the platinum blonde is wearing murder high heels, probably about five or six inches.
“How did you drive in those?” Kahlan asks.
‘And how did I not notice them before?’ She adds silently.
Denna grins and looks down over her shoulder at the heels on her feet.
“Sometimes I think I was born in them.”
They both chuckle and Denna leads them toward a nondescript house front. A single black door swings open when Denna knocks quietly and a strict looking young man lets them enter.
“Let’s enjoy ourselves for a while, shall we?” Denna murmurs as she leans close to Kahlan.
The brunette nods and smiles genuinely at her companion.
The inside of the gallery is nothing like the outside. High walls completely in white separate two large rooms into smaller departments.
On each wall are several photographies, some in black and white and some in fascinating colors. The people at the gallery opening are dressed rather nicely, although not necessarily in expensive clothing.
Kahlan doesn’t feel as much out of place the way she did with Rahl at the dinner party.
Denna casually links her arm through Kahlan’s and leads her further into the room.
“I’ll try and show you some of my favorites here.” The platinum blonde whispers.
Kahlan nods and follows Denna through the rooms. From time to time they stop and talk about a statue or a photo. The platinum blonde knows a lot about the art that is being displayed and Kahlan enjoys learning more about it.
Denna even manages to draw some of the artists into their conversation and soon they’re surrounded by people while Denna eloquently discusses this piece of art or that époque.
Kahlan is satisfied with just listening to that calm and velvety voice, but Denna soon excuses them so they can step aside for a moment.
Kahlan hadn’t realized that so much time had already passed, and now her stomach starts complaining about the lack of food. Denna seems to feel the same way because she quietly suggests that they leave the gallery and go to a small restaurant she knows.
Kahlan agrees happily and not much later they enter a small, dark room with smells so seductive that the brunette fears she might be drooling.
The restaurant serves exquisite Italian food and it’s some of the best she has ever had.
Denna orders for them in fluent Italian and Kahlan stares mesmerized.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” She asks.
“I guess you’re going to have to stick around and find out.”
Denna smirks and reaches across the table to drag her fingertips gently across the back of the brunette’s hand.
Kahlan silently reminds herself that she needs to stay calm and allow the touch, because it certainly wouldn’t do to jerk away as if bitten by a snake.
“I really do wonder what your story is.” Denna muses and, sensing the brunette’s discomfort, takes her hand away again.
Kahlan lowers her gaze for a moment before she meets light blue eyes.
“Some stories better remain untold.”
Chapter 22