Catarina's anger dripped away from her face, almost becoming kind when Aïtana stared back. But she never broke her gaze. Never stopped analyzing and studying. The other woman's face was cold and inexpressive, but things were never that simple. In the same position, Catarina would hide her own emotions. She would be a fool to assume Aïtana wouldn't. The spitting told her everything she needed to know. Disdain, frustration, defiance, and hatred. Meeting this with more hate could never help.

Cata was the one to break the gaze when she paced over to the cabinet in the far corner. She placed the candle on a small raised slab and opened the cabinet door. Strange glass and marble apparatus filled the shelves, placed in tidy and organised rows. Rags were folded and stacked on the bottom shelf. Catarina lifted one from the stack. She walked over to where the spit had soiled her carpet, and crouched down to clean it.

[color=c91414]"This was expensive, you know,"[/color] she said. [color=c91414]"I wouldn't do that again if I were you."[/color]

She stood and began toying with the rag before leaning against a nearby shelf, eyes looking her captive up and down. Her nails tapped on the spine of a wood-bound book. [color=c91414]"Aïtana, darling, look. To be frank, I don't like imprisoning people. It's disgusting, honestly. I don't want to have you as my prisoner any more than you want to be my prisoner..."[/color] she trailed off. The tapping stopped. [color=c91414]"So believe me when I say that I only want to know how you came to be here so I can avoid having to do this to others. It's just damage control, see?"[/color]

Cata closed her eyes for a few seconds and let out a long, defeated sigh. She slid the wooden book off the shelf and clutched it against her. Iron clasps held it shut, and strange shapes were burned into the back cover. [color=c91414]"I suppose if today is to be a day for honesty between us, then I should take the lead... I do admire you. You have strong morals, which I would genuinely love to hear about some time."[/color] Her eyes found Aïtana's as she lowered herself to the floor to sit down. They were playful and full of interest. [color=c91414]"Maybe after I've got you situated in a more appropriate cell. It's being outfitted to hold a guest of your esteem at the moment. It should be ready by tomorrow. But, I digress. You must have left traces, and so many people are wont to follow such clues. If they do, then they'll just wind up here, like you. You don't really want to get anyone else captured, do you?"[/color]